The more I traveled with her, the more fascinating I found her. Wren preferred being referred to as male in cities and other places with a large populace. Why was yet to be answered but I had an idea. Her way of fighting at long distance was precise, but she made me worry for her while in close combat. She became nearly feral then, using whatever tactics she could within the time given to her. More often than not, I saw her utilizing her crossbow as a weapon, but it still left too many openings. One cannot block blows from the opposing direction with both hands busy in the other. She could but it would take time. Even though she was well trained and able to carry that thing around, it risked slowing her down in larger fights.

"Zevran? Zevran!" I heard someone call from a distance. Yet, when I turned to the voice, there she was. Kneeling next to me, her wide eyes examining. When had I decided to lie down for a nap?

"Don't move. Try not to speak. You might be concussed. I am going to try and stop the bleeding. Wynne! Oh, sorry. I hope I am not causing you more pain, but I have to sit you like this to keep the pressure on and prevent you from moving about without thinking." Where had she found pillows in the forest? Not to mention ones so soft and comfortable. Her hands moved strands of stray hairs from my face and I felt myself sigh contentedly. This was a different side of her. She was so fretful. Was my injury terrible enough to scare her so? Or maybe I was hallucinating. Hmm.

My eyes were heavy but they opened once I heard a snapping above my face. I opened them to see her still above me but changed. Instead of next to me, she was behind me. Was my head propped up in her lap? That would explain the familiar cushion.

"No. No. Zevran. Zev! I need you to stay awake. You can take an amazing nap once Wynne has looked you over and given you permission. For now, I need you to keep those lovely eyes open, okay?" Her head shot up at something and she sighed with relief, her muscles relaxing with her exhale.

She never called me Zev.

Then there was Wynne next to me. How lucky I was to have the attention of two beautiful women caring so much for me?

"I saw what happened, young man. You need to stop getting caught unaware and letting people hit you on the head." Wren looked away but I caught the little telltale smirk that passed her face now and again. This one had a sheepish aspect to it.

"Somehow, I feel like this one was my doing."

"Did you hit him upside the head with your crossbow?" Wynne inquired with an arched brow.

"No."

"Then it was Zevran's choice to take that hit for you."

"I am not sure you will remember this after being healed...but, thank you, Zevran." Her thumbs caressed my cheeks absently and I let out an approving hum. For someone who claimed to not want me to sleep yet, she sure was making it difficult.

Wynne had the Warden gently remove me from her lap before she began healing.

"This is all I can do for now. The bleeding has stopped. Get some sleep now. It will help you heal." Obliging was all too easy as I slipped out of consciousness.

I awoke in a tent. The sound of a fire crackling nearby. Its glow suggested it was a good distance from where I rested.

Sitting up was difficult. Everything felt heavy and I made a note to question someone on just how long I was out. That someone would have to be Alistair. He was the one sitting on watch by the fire. Now what could be causing the simple man to make such a troubled face?

"Good evening, Alistair. Did the fire do something to upset you?" I grinned when he gave me an annoyed look. He also seemed a little relieved, if my eyes weren't deceiving me.

"Oh good. You're up. Wren will be happy to see you awake and walking. You were out for a couple of days." He made a face but shook his head.

"Um, thank you for protecting her. I saw what happened out there. I'm still not sure I trust you, but I'd be an ass to say you aren't trying to keep your word." Ah, the handsome warden felt bad for not being the one to protect her. Those were guilt wrinkles forming on his brow as he continued to stare into the fire.

Two days explained why my muscles felt so neglected.

"Of course. I would do the same for any of our comrades. Now, where is our dear Wren? Is she sleeping like the others?"

"Nah. She slept for a bit but, once she woke up, she said something about fishing and left." He jutted a thumb in the direction of the treeline and I nodded.

"Do not feel bad, Alistair. We all know that you would have protected her as I did if you'd been closer to her during the fight." I clapped a hand on his shoulder to assure him and then released him to head in the direction he'd pointed out. It didn't offend me that he was still wary of me. It showed he cared much for his fellow man. Most of our strange group had come to trust me by now, if not tolerate my jokes and flirtations.

Wren's reaction to me complimenting her was to stare at me in that almost blank way she did. It didn't faze or stop me because she tended to be like that with the others as well. The only time she got talkative was when it came to people talking about themselves. Her eyes lit up with wonder when I told her of Antiva. She was full of questions anytime I mentioned missions from the years before running into her band of misfits.

I spied the fish on the shore, telling me Alistair hadn't just given me a direction so I would leave him to his sulking. Wren had either been at this for some time tonight, or she was very good at fishing. It was a warm night, but there was still a chance of her catching something more than a fish. Careful in my approach, I saw her in the lake with an arrow poised in her hand. The usually covered rogue was in a pair of simple trousers with the legs rolled up to just above her knees and her breast band, exposing a curious array of pink lines that traversed her legs, arms, and back. Her water slicked hair a sign of her lengthy efforts. Too focused in her hunt to notice me, I watched as she moved in short purposeful increments, zeroed in on her target, aligned the arrow, and struck like an Antivan pitviper.

It was magnificent and it only got better when she noticed her success. A genuine smile lit up her entire face as she let out a cheerful laugh. A moment was all it took for the spell to break as she noticed me standing at the water's edge. I had expected her to become embarrassed in her unceremonious state of undress. Even after all these weeks of traveling together, I still had a hard time guessing her reaction.

"Zevran, you're awake." She sounded surprisingly relieved as she shuffled her way to add the fish to the pile, collecting them into a basket I assumed she'd obtained from Bodahn in exchange for part of the catch.

"Your fellow Warden tells me I was out for some time." With her much closer now, my eyes greedily roved over her musculature, soft skin, and the water droplets that covered most of her.

"Yes. You almost died saving my life. Are you sure it's alright for you to walk around? How are you feeling?"

"No need to worry any further, Wren. I am no worse for wear. Though, I am probably not okay for any fighting just yet. When I awoke, I felt like my body wanted to become one with the floor." I grinned over at her but stopped again when she giggled. Then she crouched to snag her shirt and pull it over her head. Wren turned to me, having fallen silent with thought once more.

"Zevran, I have a question." There was a nervousness about her. That or she was cold but no gooseflesh was showing itself. This was new. She was outright about having a question but rarely so uncertain in her inquiries.

"Zevran is game. Ask away." I shrugged, trying to put her at ease.

"May I hug you?" She leaned away from me as though expecting me to refuse but I was speechless for a few seconds. From the moment we met, Wren kept throwing me off guard. The longer I took to answer, the more things she did what I had never seen her do before. Her lips formed a line before turning her eyes down to the ground. Her body, as slowly as it moved, pulled further and further away from me, as though gradually turning herself into a ball. I wanted to reach out and comfort her, but worried she would run away.

"I apologize, hermosa luna. I thought I was dreaming again. Do you really wish to hug me?"

She nodded meekly and it was strange to see her so crestfallen before I even replied.

"Then there is no need to curl away from me so. Come, I would be a fool to turn away the embrace of such a lovely woman. Besides, you must be getting cold." I had barely finished my last word when she wrapped her arms around me. Did she need more proof of my well-being? I hugged her back even though I wasn't accustomed to such an intimate show of affection.

"You know, you didn't have to put your shirt on before thanking me so." I murmured into her hair. How often did she allow people so close to her? She gave a little snort as she pulled away but was back to that telltale smirk.

"That would be inappropriate." Wren stated as she stooped once more to collect the basket. Did my ears deceive me or was there mischief in those words?

"I see. You are probably also doing Alistair a favor." I quipped.

"I figured you'd understand. It doesn't take much for all the blood in his body to run up to his face. He still has watch for another hour. Can't have him passing out." She chuckled.

"Yet it is okay for me to see?" If this was going where I thought it was... Wren shrugged.

"You've seen women completely naked before. I doubted a breast band and some rolled up pants would affect you much. Seems I was right. There wasn't even a hint of a light blush on your face."

"Zevran doesn't blush." I decided not to tell her that I just enjoyed the view. She giggled before placing a hand on my arm.

"Hopefully, it is easier for you to sleep, though. Good night, Zevran." There was a genuine smile on her lips. I was tempted to see if she would let me kiss her if I were to ask nicely enough. It didn't feel right. The moment was so nice.

"Good night, Wren."

Then she walked over to the fire and set the basket of fish next to the other Warden. Saying a few words to him before heading off to her tent.