TW: mention of abuse and sexual assault
Zevran
The only thing keeping the bitch Queen alive was the dog, and the pun of that thought was not lost on Zevran. The wardens, Ashfur, and he had tried to rescue Queen Anora at the request of her handmaiden, Erlina. He smelled a trap form the start, but Alyssa thought the risk was worth it. Arl Eamon had pestered her enough to follow through, and Zevran was not about to let her walk alone into danger. Predictably, they were stopped at the last leg of the escape, but instead of rushing through, Queen Anora threw the wardens to the wolves. Though Alyssa could have slain Ser Cauthrian and her men where they stood, the conditions of Ashfur's and Zevran's release stopped her. If she and Alistair went willingly, the other two could go unimpeded. Zevran protested loudly with Ashfur at his side, growling in agreement. He almost got through to her before the Queen grabbed his arm and ran. When they were outside, Zevran reached for his daggers, seeing a red haze and tasting metal in his mouth. Ashfur jumped between Anora and Zevran, barking his fool head off at the elf. He had to bite Zevran to snap him out of it. No skin was broken, but he would have a nasty purple bruise for some time from it. They made their way back to Arl Eamon's estate to deliver the news and figure out what to do next.
Queen Anora dashed into the Arl's study, panic in her voice, "Eamon! I may have done a terrible thing!"
Zevran scoffed, "What's this? She throws her savior to the wolves, and now she has second thoughts? I'm still waiting for a reason not to slit her throat and toss her in the river. I haven't heard it yet." He gripped one of his daggers hard enough to whiten his knuckles.
"What in Andraste's name has happened? Are you alright?" Eamon said, worry plain on his face.
"The Wardens have been captured," Anora said.
The sound of blood rushing in his ears deafened Zevran from any conversation that followed. He already had one foot out the door when Ashfur raced up behind him and fell into lockstep. He never felt so alive as when he was breaking and entering. Add in a beautiful enchantress to rescue, and the guards at Fort Drakon had every reason to be afraid.
Alyssa
Alyssa's head was killing her. They were already cooperating. The beating that followed was completely uncalled for, but she wasn't surprised by it. As her eyes came into focus and the chill of the prison hit her skin, Alyssa realized she was naked except for her small clothes. Flashes of Lord Bennett's dungeon came flooding back in such a rush that she lost her breath and started gasping for air. She heard a man's voice next to her, and only then did she start screaming. He was shaking her and calling her name. 'Calm down.' 'It's ok.' 'You're with me.' None of this helped. Still disoriented and panic-stricken, Alyssa thrashed about to break his hold on her. He held her face firmly so she could see him and not the horror around them.
Soft brown eyes, faint lines at the corners telling of past joy, his voice gentle and familiar. "Alistair?" Alyssa sobbed. "Alistair…what happened?"
His shoulders slumped and he pulled her into a full-body bear hug. "Thank the Maker. I thought that blow to the head killed you. Then you lost it when you came to." Alistair kissed her brow. "You're with me. In…in Fort Drakon."
"Not Bennett's estate?" She trembled in his arms, partly from the chill and mostly from the terror.
Alistair shook his head, "No, not there. But I don't know what comfort that is, considering."
Alyssa took the next few minutes to breathe deep and clear her mind. She wasn't the only screaming in the prison. Faint cries of pain and shouts echoed off the stone, traveling down the corridors and filling any empty space they could. In the next cell over were several bodies, bloodied and stinking, all piled up in a disgusting rotten heap. She disentangled herself from Alistair's arms. "We need to get out of here. The others are probably safe back at the Arl's estate." She touched the thick metal bars of the cell door. "And I didn't say anything about staying put."
"What's the plan?"
She smiled, "Get help."
"Works every time," Alistair said. Then he fell to his knees and started groaning as loud as possible. That was Alyssa's queue.
"Help! Someone help, please! He needs a healer! Can anyone hear me?"
A disgruntled young guard lumbered over, muttering to himself. "Shut up! Maker's breath shut your fucking hole, woman!" He pointed to Alistair. "What the bloody hell is wrong with him?"
"I don't know. He just collapsed and started screaming. Please you have to help him," she squeezed out some tears to be more convincing, "He's all I have. I'll do anything."
The guard smirked, "I won't be cold tonight." He licked his lips as he fumbled with the keys. Alyssa stepped back. As soon as the door swung open, Alistair lunged at the guard and wrestled him to the ground in a sleeper hold. Seconds later, the guard was out.
"Get his armor and weapons," she said. "Walk me as far to the main doors as you can. Hopefully, we'll find our stuff along the way."
Alistair winced, "It feels wrong to be dressed when you aren't."
She waved him off, "We can worry about my modesty later. Besides, he's bigger than me. I'd look like a dwarf in that breastplate."
"Fair enough." Alistair didn't have to walk her very far before they encountered a few more guards. They were playing poker with the Warden's equipment as winnings, which made locating their supplies and clothes much easier.
After Alyssa finished buttoning up her robes, she held her hand out and caught her staff mid-flight. "I'm gonna go set some fuckers on fire. You coming?"
Alistair slipped on his shield and nodded. "At your command."
Zevran
Zevran stared up at the walls of Fort Drakon, towering over him. Black smoke carrying a sour smell rose from the chimneys crowning the prison, sending a halo of death up from the parapets. Somewhere inside was his Warden, behind walls of stone, doors of steel, and guards of various talent. First things first. Getting in.
Ashfur let out a soft 'wuff' to signal he was ready.
"Let's go, my friend," Zevran said. "Just as we practiced."
They walked side by side through the first set of doors to the guards staining at attention. The guard on the left spoke first. "What's your business at Fort Drakon?"
"I am delivering this dog to your kennels," Zevran said with some authority. Ashfur barked in agreement.
The guard looked over at the dog and rolled his eyes. "I wasn't told we were getting a Mabari."
Zevran, channeling his inner Arlessa, huffed and demanded, "Look, I brought this hound no small distance. I am not leaving her without payment." He crossed his arms and looked pointedly at the guard. Another bark from Ashfur confirmed this.
"Look, I don't care— HEY!"
Ashfur had walked over to the guard and relieved himself right up the armor-clad man's legs. Zevran swore the dog was laughing on the inside.
"What in Andraste's name!?" The guard yelled.
His partner on the right side of the door guffawed loudly, "Good dog."
The main guard grumbled, "I've got to go change…this is disgusting." He lumbered further inside the fort, occasionally shaking his leg and leaving a trail of pee freckles behind him.
Still giggling to himself, the remaining guard instructed Zevran and Ashfur to wait in one of the side chambers while he retrieved the guard captain.
Ashfur whined while they waited. He looked up at Zevran.
"They fell for it. Now we only have to wait," Zevran said.
The Mabari cocked his head to the side.
"Don't look so surprised. I'm a professional."
They cleared the guard captain and were on their way toward the cell blocks. Enormous stationary crossbows lined the sides of the antechamber, with about a dozen or so soldiers milling among them. Zevran and Ashfur went mostly unnoticed until they came to the cell block, also guarded, but this time by a higher ranking soldier. Zevran knew that she wasn't going to be as gullible as the two idiots who basically let them waltz through without so much as a pat-down.
The pair looked at each other. "Don't worry. I have an idea," Zevran said.
Suddenly the door exploded outward a spray of splinters and cinders, sending guards running and ducking for cover. As the smoke cleared, Zevran saw the lovely shape of his Grey Warden step through the shattered remains of the door, staff in hand, and wreathed in flame. His heart fluttered, "Ah, my dear Warden. Did you miss me?"
Alyssa
It was Zevran that suggested drinks at The Gnawed Noble after the ordeal at Fort Drakon. Alyssa had tossed back three shots of whiskey before taking a breath.
Alistair sat next to her at the bar. "Do you want to talk—"
"No."
"Are you—"
"Yes."
"I've never seen you like—"
Alyssa slammed the glass on the bar top. "Gods damn it, Alistair, shut up!"
A few heads turned in their direction, but her outburst was quickly forgotten in the bustle of drinks and small plates being served. She heard Alistair speak to Zevran as he walked away, "You need to talk to her."
She heard the stool next to her creak softly under Zevran's weight as he sat down. His hand was warm on her arm. "I don't feel like taking, Zev."
"We can do other things than talk if you wish," he said. She could hear the smile in his voice. From the corner of her eye, she saw a glass placed by his wrist and a few coins left out for the barkeeper. The ambient sound of clinking glass and murmured conversations filled her ears, oddly comforting. It was such a contrast from less than an hour ago where the sound was so terrible. Soft laughter. Boots on wood. A door opening and closing. Zevran had motioned for the barkeeper to fill both of their glasses again. Instead of slamming it back like the others she had already had, Alyssa ran her fingers over the smooth glass lip and exhaled in a shuddering sigh.
"Like what?" She asked, finally answering him.
"Drink. Sit with each other. Enjoy the calm." Zevran rubbed the back of his hand against hers. "Not everything needs to lead to a tumble."
Alyssa smiled. Grimaced was more accurate. "They couldn't hold me this time."
"Indeed, they could not."
"You still came for me."
"Until you send me from your service, Warden."
She smiled honestly this time, "You know I hate it when you talk like that." Their eyes met. Her heartbeat quickened, looking into his golden eyes, like the first time on the back of Bohdan's cart. Alyssa leaned in closer, and Zevran slipped his arm around her waist. Their lips were less than an inch apart when she heard a voice that made her blood run cold.
"Little fox."
The glass shattered in her hand. Alyssa leaped off the barstool and grabbed her staff.
Alistair was at her side in a flash, blade drawn, "Alyssa, what…." He clapped eyes on the man standing a foot away from the bar. Lord Bennett and his elven servant. "Maker's breath."
Lord Bennett ignored Alistair and focused on Alyssa, "You've finally come home to me. I was so worried after you disappeared before the ceremony. Come along now. You have much to catch up on, starting with our long-delayed wedding night."
Maybe it was the whiskey that loosened her up, but when Alyssa's surprise wore off, she was able to get a good look at the man she had been terrorized by for almost a year. He was average height, not the towering visage she remembered. Graying hair, coming out of more than just his head, spindly arms, and stains all down his robes. She tapped Alistair's arm to have him move aside. Bennett smiled broadly, revealing brown and yellow teeth set in too much gum.
Alyssa laughed. A short bark at first, but then it built into a hearty belly laugh that brought tears to her eyes.
Lord Bennett's face turned as red as it possibly could. "What's the meaning of this?"
"I can't believe it," Alyssa gasped for air between laughs, "I was scared of you?! You miserable old codger. I've been running from you for months now."
"Hold your tongue, wench! I'll not have a bitch born whore like you insult me!" He pulled back his arm and swung it at her, full force.
Alyssa caught his wrist. Her laughter vanished, but the flames never manifested. Lord Bennett's face twisted in rage, "You dare—"
"This is mine now." Alyssa's voice was granite. "You had me tortured for weeks, and then you intended to rape me. Probably every night for the rest of my life. I have fought my way here through dangers and hardships you will never know, hidden away in your keep." She twisted his arm hard enough to spin him around. "I'm not that scared little girl whose father you had murdered." She pulled it behind him until he yelped. "I am a Grey Warden." She grabbed his hair and bent his head backward until her mouth was near his furry ear. "If I catch you again, you will beg for death before the end."
Alyssa pushed him forward hard enough to send him spilling out onto the ornate rug. Every eye in the tavern was on the two of them, with the few guards there completely dumbstruck at what they were seeing. "I'm giving you one chance you sack of filth. Get out of Fereldan and you can keep your life. Stay, and I'll take it from you."
Bennett's servant tried his best to get the shamed lord to his feet. Bennett shoved him away as the lord regained his balance. "You are still legally my wife, and there's nothing you can do to change that. You belong to me."
"I belong to myself." Alyssa smirked broadly, "and when you die, your fortune passes to me. Why would I want to change that?"
He screamed the foulest insult he could call to mind and lunged at her. Alyssa caught him in the gut with her staff and pushed him back.
Translucent whips of flame wrapped around her limbs and flickered sensually upward, becoming more opaque by the moment. The Warden Mage, wreathed in dragon fire, stood towering over the simpering lord as he scrambled toward the door. She pulled back the fire as early as breathing. Not one item around her was singed, not even the rugs. "Wow. Door didn't even hit his ass."
Alistair waited one more moment before he swooped Alyssa into his arms and hugged her, kissing both her cheeks. "That was spectacular!"
"Yeah, we need to go drinking more often," she said. Her voice was shaking a little, but it was outweighed by an overwhelming feeling of relief.
"I was so worried. Back at the prison…" Alistair put her gently bacon her feet. "I don't understand. What changed?"
For a moment, Alyssa didn't know how to respond. "Me. I think I changed. After all we've been through." She looked over his shoulder. "Where did Zevran go?"
Alistair turned to where Zevran was seated moments ago. "That's a good question. He was right here."
They looked at each other when it dawned on them.
"Should we stop him?" Alistair asked.
Alyssa looked at the door, mulling over her options. As far as she was concerned, she fought her battle and won. What happened after wasn't important. She turned to Alistair, "How about a bottle of Orlesian honey wine instead?"
"Make it a Sun Blonde Vint, and you have a deal."
