52. Playing Dirty
One-okay, the only-good thing about spending the entire trip sick as a dog is that Sig and Aenya's good-natured teasing as we disembark is focused on that rather than the percentage of the journey Jowan spent in my cabin.
"I mean, seriously, boss, did you even get out of bed?" Sigrun ribs.
"Not once," I reply, tone slightly tart. Glad as I am to have solid ground under my feet again, my nerves are still a little frayed. "How 'bout you?"
"Alright, girls, play nice," Aenya scolds. "Can we keep movin'? Loiterin' like this is bound to draw suspicion."
"Salroka, we're in Ostwick," Sigrun points out. "No matter how much the Crows might be on the lookout for us in Antiva, I don't think we need to get all paranoid yet."
"You never know..." the redhead mutters, twisting the strap of her pack. "If he's bait, they may be watchin' all possible routes, not just Antivan docks."
While I tend to agree with Sigrun that Aenya is perhaps a touch paranoid, she is Zev's partner and has spent far more time actively studying and pursuing the Crows. "Little caution never hurts. And we need to keep moving anyway." My gait is still somewhat clumsy as I readjust to being on land again, and I nearly fall. Jowan catches my arm and hauls me upright. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it." He rests one hand on the small of my back, giving support without being oblivious.
I shoot him a grateful smile as we head through the city. What would I do without you?
"Hey, isn't there a Warden garrison here?" Sigrun comments as we wind our way down streets.
"I think so. Where'd you hear that?" I push back my hood to enjoy the rays of sun peeking between buildings. Ostwick is decidedly warmer than Amaranthine.
"Nathaniel, I think? He mentioned it in passing once."
"So, what, didya wanna visit?" Aenya prods skeptically.
"Not the best idea," I point out. "We aren't on official Warden business, so if the First Warden hears I dragged almost an entire team off on a personal matter-"
"Hey, we volunteered!" Sigrun protests. "It's not your fault Jowan worries about you like a mother hen, or that I wanna help out a friend. I don't know this Zevran, but if you two care about him this much, I'd just like to see some nug-humpin' bureaucrat stop me from helpin'."
Aenya laughs, the first genuinely happy sound I've heard from her since she showed up in my office, bleeding and panic-stricken.
"I'll just get an earful, Sig. I doubt there would be any horrific punishment. Unless there's a darkspawn resurgence in Amaranthine. And none of us sensed anything of the sort. Still, I don't like gettin' yelled at, so let's not tip the Wardens off that we're here, aye?"
"You're prob'ly right," she concedes, then grins. "B'sides, you'd prob'ly get lost tryin' t' find their base."
I scowl good-naturedly. "Low blow, dwarf. Totally true, but low blow all the same."
oOo
The best thing about the way the Free Marches work is that all the roads connecting the city-states are all well-paved and kept reasonably clear of bandits. They're also lined with inns, of varying levels of repute. So no matter how much progress we make today, we'll be able to sleep in real beds.
By the time it's late enough to force us to stop for the day, the best option available to us is the Falcon's Rest. Aenya actually deems it perfect as we step through the door; owners well-off enough it's not a total dive, but it's not upscale enough to draw attention either. As long as there's a decent bed to sleep in and food in the morning, I don't really care one way or the other.
It takes every other argument Sigrun and I can come up with to convince Aenya we don't need to keep a rigorous watch and she can actually sleep. By the time that discussion has wound down, Jowan's already asleep, pillow over his head to block out our noise.
"He never changes, does he, boss?" Sigrun laughs when she notices.
"Nope," I concur. "I've known him... sod, goin' on two years now and he's always been like this. Always been a bear to wake up, too."
"That's why we leave it to you, Commander. You're the only one that doesn't risk life and limb."
"Oh, shut it, he's not that bad," I protest. "I'm honestly worse."
"Yeah, but you're always up first, anyways. So we never have to worry about you bitin' our heads off," she retorts, kicking off her boots and claiming the bed across from Jowan's.
I can't really argue with that and settle for a snort of acknowledgement as I flop tiredly on the bed catty-corner from hers. My heels bounce off the bedframe and I just let my legs swing for a second before I sit up and-with a glance at the sleeping mage-begin undressing for bed as well. We did a good bit of walking today, but there's still a long way to go yet. Getting rest is important.
oOo
My dreams are weird; fractured memories mushed together with bizarre outcomes. As a result, I'm awake even earlier than usual. It's too cold and dark to go for a walk at this hour, so I stir up the fire just a little and sit on the floor staring at it. I pull my knees up into my chest and rest my chin on them as I watch the flames grow. My toes curl at the heat radiating from the fireplace while I lose myself in memories.
oOo
"...I think you're royally tough to kill. And utterly gorgeous. Not that I think you'll respond to simple flattery."
Weeks spent doubly on my guard because Alistair made me paranoid.
"Can you teach others to be assassins?"
A chuckle. "Hmm...I suppose the Crows are already furious, yes? What harm is one more tweak to their nose?"
Hours of practice, gaining finesse, being ridiculously proud of nodded approval.
"Good, minx, very good. However, if you grip the dagger like so-" his fingers shifting mine- "you shall have a better angle, yes? The more damage, the better."
Days, weeks, months spent watching each other's backs, a friendship and loyalty strong enough to weather a Blight, balanced on on a single offer; an outstretched hand and a way back to his old life.
"I'm sorry, my friend, but the answer is no. And you should have stayed in Antiva."
His obstinately loyal presence in the aftermath of Fort Drakon.
"Rahna?"
"I'm alright... None of my wounds hurt."
"And what about your heart?"
A diplomatic smile. "Time will tell."
Anora's ceremony. Crowds of humans and him, my shoulder to lean on, offering me company as I return to the Grey Wardens.
"...I promise not to get you in too much trouble. Well, no more than you get me into, anyhow."
Time passes, our paths part. I save an arling and he stalks a Guildmaster.
The royal wedding. A hand over my mouth and my elbow in his ribs.
"You know, minx, if you wish to have me at your mercy, all you need do is ask."
Catching up. Meeting Aenya.
Sheer terror when she shows up months later without him.
Sigrun was right, I decide stubbornly. Zevran's one of the best friends I have in this world, if not the best. I'd like to see some bureaucrat stop me from helping him when he needs me.
I just wish I knew where he was.
oOo
The sky's fully turned robin's egg blue by the time the dwarves drag themselves out of bed. I giggle at Aenya's hair; clumps of pale red sticking in a dozen directions. She scowls and works a hand through it so it lays, well, flatter. It's still a shaggy mess, but she seems fine with that.
"Dontcha need t' get to work, boss?" Sigrun teases, nodding toward Jowan's bed.
I groan. "S'ppose I should..."
She laughs. "Good luck."
I stick out my tongue at her. "Well, you two could make yourselves useful and go see about food while I work on him. Extra motivation always help."
"Oh, fine." Still barefoot, the dwarves head for the door. "Hopefully we'll be back soon," Sigrun teases.
"No rush," I mutter, rolling up my sleeves and twisting my hair into a messy bun. I ignore the wisps that drift free. I'll fix it proper later. Maybe.
With one final laugh, they're gone, and I turn my attention to rousing a certain mage.
It speaks to how long I've been doing this that I know bouncing on the bed knees first and yanking away his pillow-which is still over his head-won't get me so much as a grunt of acknowledgement.
"Jowan..." I sing-song, walking my fingers up his spine to tickle the back of one ear. "Time to get up, sleepyhead."
"Mmmm..." He gropes for the pillow that's not there anymore.
"Uh-uh, handsome. You need to wake up. I'd like to make some decent progress today."
"Rahna, lemme sleep..." He tries to pull the covers over his head, but I stop him before he even gets them level with his shoulders and lean close to whisper in his ear.
"No," I inform him, emphasizing the word as much as is possible in a whisper before sitting back on my heels and reverting to normal tones as I continue, "I'll give you five minutes. If you haven't made decent progress toward being awake, tickling shall commence." I poke him in the ribs to show I'm serious.
Jowan's knees pull up in reflex and he opens one eye just a sliver. "You play dirty."
I shrug cheerily. "I have to with you, lazybones. 'Sides, Zev needs us. I don't wanna lollygag."
The eye opens a tiny bit more. "Zev needs you. Can't I just stay here?"
I laugh and poke him harder. "Ah, I see how it is, ser mage. You'd rather stay snuggled up in bed than defend me from the inevitable danger that'll come with breaking someone out of Crow custody."
He finally opens his eye all the way, lazy grin curving his lips. "Yep."
"Cad." I hit him with his pillow. He tries to grab it, but I'm too fast and jerk it away so his fingers close on air.
He rolls over, supporting his weight on his elbows, and gives me a lopsided grin. "There, I'm up. You happy?"
"While you're not technically 'up' 'til you're out of bed," I can't resist correcting, "I do believe this is record time."
Jowan rolls his eyes. "Good for me. Do I get a prize?"
I laugh at the sarcasm dripping from the words. "I don't see why not..." Impulsively, I lean forward and kiss him. Just a quick peck on the lips that carries minimal risk of getting caught.
But just a taste isn't enough. For either of us. Jowan's hand is cupping the back of my neck by the time I move in for round two. I respond in kind, digging my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck as we test how long we can go without breaking for air.
Pretty long it turns out.
The moment-and the illusion of privacy-is shattered by a startled gasp, followed closely by a dwarven curse from somewhere in the vicinity of the door.
Sod, they're back. I rest my forehead against Jowan's for a moment, both of us wincing. "Told you she never knocks," I whisper before turning to face Sigrun and Aenya. The latter is smirking and the former gaping like she's never seen a kiss before.
"Oh, come on, Sig," I manage, "Aren't you the one who told me to kiss him breathless?"
A/N: And here we have another of those 'couldn't resist' things. *mad gigglefits* Also, I'm trying not to think about how narrowly Rahna's missing a run-in with Gabriel, because if he found out about her and Jowan, he would write Miri to tease that he knows something she doesn't. xD 'Twas very tempting.
