Dear Diary,

I awaken to yelling. Alistair yelling to be precise. "For maker's sake, you threw her so high she hit the top of the damn cave!"

"I've said I'm sorry, what more do you want?" Sten asks calmly.

"I want Elly to wake up!" Alistair retorts.

"I have nothing to do with when she wakes. She will wake when she is ready; the witch already told you that." Sten answers.

"It's already been 4 days," Alistair yells.

I groan weakly without opening my eyes. "Andraste's tits, Will you two shut up?" I reach up and touch my aching head.

"Elly," Zev breathes from my side. "Sweet maker, you're awake. Wynne, she's awake. "

"Zevran," Wynne says kindly making her way over to me. "Would you please get some hot water and some of the stew from last night for Elly? I need to check her over."

Wynne looks at Alistair and Sten. "You two, go to bed, I am sick of listening to you bicker." She commands.

They both leave without another word. To be honest I am amaze they went that quickly without argument but looking at Wynne's face I quickly understand why they did.

Wynne checks my vision and if I can move properly. "You are better. You had bad concussion, your brain was bleeding we had to reduce the swelling by taking turns healing you until it stopped."

"If this is better I'm glad a stayed asleep for so long," I weakly jest and then tears fill my eyes thinking about how hard my mage friends worked and how drained they must be.

Wynne looks at me. "Elly what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry you all to work so hard," I say with a sob. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Elly it's ok," Wynne says patting my arm. "Head injuries can cause you to be emotional. We are fine."

"Good because I'm not sure exactly why that made me so sad," I say tearfully but strangely enough steadily. "At least there is reason but it's weird."

Zevran returns with hot water and the stew which smells delicious. Wynne makes a medicinal tea which she says will help with my headache.

I try to sit up but feel shaky. Zevran noticing this comes to my aid, sliding a pack behind me. I look at him gratefully.

I sit and sip the foul tasting brew.

"I'll stay with her Wynne," Zevran says soberly. "Just tell me what I need to do."

"Thank you Zevran," Wynne says warmly, "I could use a rest. She can't eat too much yet as she may end up nauseous. Just a few bites and wait. I've made more tea. She can have as much of that or water as she can hold down. No alcohol!" She says firmly looking at us both like children. "If she complains of blurry vision or her headache gets worse. Come get me, it can indicate the bleeding on brain has started again. Elly should improve from this point but we need to stay vigilante."

I listen but barely comprehend what is being said as my head is pounding. Wynne leaves us going to her bedroll.

Then I notice a very large need louder than the pounding of my head. "Zev?" I ask quietly as not to make the pounding any worse.

"What do you need, dear warden?" He asks looking at me expectantly.

"I need to use the privy," I reply blushing lightly as I push the blankets back.

I realize I'm in a thin sleeping tunic. One of the few things I have left from Highever. It's so threadbare it's almost see-through. However nature urges me more than my embarrassment so I push it to the back of my mind. I attempt to stand and Zevran rushes to aid me.

"Do you want me to carry you?" He asks looking at my shaky frame.

"No, I want to walk there myself," I decide thinking about how thin the stupid fabric is.

He places one arm behind my back and assists me to walk to the area we had designated as the privy. It feels like the shaky walk is taking forever. He is silent as am I, not wanting to aggravate the pain in head. Once we get to the area that we had curtained off with a few extra blankets from Bodhan's wagon Zevran takes me through the curtain.

"Don't be embarrassed to call if you need help, Elly" He says quietly before going back through the makeshift curtain. Thankfully I find that I don't need to do so.

As we make the walk back I feel Wynne's tea take effect and the severe pounding is weakened to a dull roar.

"4 days?" I ask.

"Yes, we have all been quite worried about you." Zev replies, "I think Sten especially so, he hasn't left your side except to sleep."

"I think Sten sometimes underestimates his strength," I jest with a weak chuckle.

This brings a smile to Zevran's face. "I agree."

"We will have to try it again outside the limits of the cave," I offer with a small smile.

Zevran chuckles. "You would actually want to try again?" He asks a bit surprised.

"Of course," I reply as I stumble over a rock almost falling. Zevran is quick right us and steady me.

"Enough of this, I realize you are trying to be strong but this is ridiculous." He says reaching over to scoop me up like a child.

"It's not that," I say before I can stop myself as embarrassment floods through me again.

"Then what is it?" He demands.

"This tunic is so thin, it's scandalous," I say blushing deep red. Seems my head injury has loosened my tongue as well. I feel absurd saying it out loud. Maybe it's that emotional thing that Wynne talked about.

Many emotions pass over Zevran's features, mirth seeming to be the most prominent. But he settles on being serious. "I was worried about you, Elly. I didn't even notice."

"Thank you," I say wrapping my arms around his neck. He carries me back to bedroll and once settled he brings me more of that offensive tea. I sigh looking at it warily.

"It tastes terrible doesn't it?" He says grinning, "It's probably the same horrid stuff Morrigan made me drink. Although, I think she was trying to poison me."

"Naw, if she was going poison you it would taste good to get you to drink it or she would put it in your wine," I tease lightly.

"Probably," He chuckles slightly, "I have to say, it did help."

"Yes, it does," I say eyeing the horrid concoction as I work up the courage to drink it. I pinch my nose and take a sip. It doesn't help it is still horrible.

Zevran snickers at my attempt to not taste the horrid brew.

I look around and notice everyone is sleeping. The pounding of my head prevented me from noticing, how quiet it really was. "Zev, I'm keeping you awake," I say guiltily knowing how much the assassin loves his sleep.

"No worries, Mi querida, Right now, I can't think of better reason to stay awake," He says smiling.

"I bet you say that to all the girls with concussions," I tease lightly.

"Well, I'm sure I could find more excuses if given time," He purrs.

I chuckle inwardly shaking my head at him.

"You think you can eat now?" he asks gesturing to the bowl and spoon.

"I'd like to try," I say, it smells delicious but my stomach feels shaky as my legs did when I was walking. He sits down beside me. Then he hands me the bowl and some bread.

I take about two bites before setting the bowl down.

"Too soon?" Zev asks concerned.

"Yea," I say feeling nauseous. Wordlessly, he brings a bucket over to me. I nod gratefully before making use of it heaving my stomach contents into it. As I heave I notice Zevran has moved to my side and is holding my hair back as he places a cool wet cloth on the back of my neck, which makes me feel better immediately. As I push the bucket away he hands me another cup with water this time. I swish my mouth, pulling the bucket back to spit into it, before pushing it away again. He quickly takes it out of the cave to empty it. Before coming back to sit beside me

"How did you know to do that?" I ask curiously pointing to the cloth.

Zevran chuckles lightly. "I've had too many nights with far too much wine or liquor," He explains smiling.

"More tea?" He asks lightly.

I nod feeling drowsy. I hate the taste of the stuff but it seems to be keeping the pound of my head down to a suppressed stampede level.

I drink the tea quietly. Noting that other than waiting on me he hasn't moved from my side. Looking a bit closer, I can see he is exhausted. He even has dark circles under his eyes and I wonder briefly how long he's been awake. "Zev you should get some rest, you're just as tired as Wynne." I say concerned.

"I'll be fine, dear warden," He protests.

I sigh. "You don't need to watch me sleep." I try to say firmly.

"I told Wynne, I would watch over you," He maintains stubbornly.

"Now who's being ridiculous," I mutter sitting forward to pull the bedroll from behind my back. I untie it and lay it out as best I can beside mine. "You can sleep right here that way if anything happens, you will wake."

He looks at me skeptically.

"Fine, your choice," I say laying down as I pull up an extra cover to over my now slightly chilled body. I know it's manipulative of me but I turn on my side away from him and shiver purposely under the blanket. I know he will feel compelled to keep me warm. But Andraste's ass! He needs sleep. Stubborn man. A few minutes later I feel him lay down the bedroll beside me and put an arm around me. I smile to myself drowsily and snuggle into his warmth "Thanks Zev."