The battle had been hard-won and Leliana decided she needed to take some time to herself so she could think.
"Why don't you check out the inn? I was planning to get us some rooms there, anyway. We can meet you there and, if you notice anything, you can fill us in when we arrive." Wren assessed her with compassion I recognized from when I told her stories of my past. Leliana appeared to be in a daze as she wandered in the direction of the tavern.
"Alright...I think I saw a smith here…" She heaved a sigh and I could almost see the burdens that perched on her shoulders. We all knew she cared for us and the things we went through but was too exhausted to show it. I placed a hand on the shoulder I was closest to before meeting her eye and looking to Wade's Emporium.
"Thank you, Zevran. I can go in alone if you guys want to meet me over at the market. I will be quick." The listlessness in her movements bothered me, but I felt a soft bed and bath might bring life back to her. For now, I could only let her brush me off and hope she was truly fine as she said.
"Well, not one but two depressed Wardens. Joy." It was strange to hear Morrigan's words and recognize the worry in them. Especially while she stood with us to watch our young Warden disappear into the blacksmith's shop. Fen' Harel sat between Alistair and me and whinged.
I took her advice and busied myself in the markets, going over to a woman with dark hair and enveloped in a purple dress. She smelled lovely and I could tell this was how she marketed her wares. While speaking with her I kept my eye on the door Wren was behind. It wasn't until I was done making a purchase that the door opened and she stepped out. There was a humor to her. What happened in there to make her smile so? Her eyes wandered over to where Alistair and Fen still stood before seeking out the rest of us. She nodded to me with her mischievous eyes and I gulped before remembering to return the gesture. The merchant, Liselle, smiled knowingly but simply wished me a pleasant evening.
"Warden, welcome back. I was certain one of us nearly went in after you had you not returned."
"If not all of us. How about we go and find this Brother Genetivi before nightfall?" Alistair's mood lifted some but not as much as Wren's.
"Maybe we can get a destination before joining Leliana." She agreed with newfound hope in her tone before leading us to the first house. The fourth door she knocked on opened to reveal someone that visibly unnerved her. The man introduced himself as Weylon, Brother Genetivi's apprentice, as he reluctantly welcomed us into his master's house.
Wren stopped as we entered the building, her nose twitching while Fen'Harel stared at the backroom door. The mabari was fixated and his mistress noticed. Her own eyes flickered from the door to Weylon's face. This fellow was growing increasingly uncomfortable and fidgety under her sharp gaze. Then she spoke some elvhen words to her dog that sounded a bit like a command and Fen'Harel charged towards the door. This spooked Weylon enough and he began running towards the dog. She whipped out her crossbow and called out to the man, warning him. When he ignored her, she sent a shot through his calf. The shock and impact sent him sprawling to the floor. Wren reloaded and kept her eyes on him as her faithful mabari dragged a foul-smelling box from the room. Weylon lashed out towards Fen and was subsequently struck by a second arrow. This one killed him.
"We have our destination, then." She stated after we all dug through the papers.
"So he must be at this Haven. How oddly remote." I noted over her shoulder.
"I have a feeling this is the real Weylon, but we should still have Genetivi identify him before making that assumption." Wren was mumbling as she yanked the arrows from the fake Weylon's corpse. She nearly wretched after a moment. How unusual.
"This body has been here for a while. This place reeks of death." She must have seen my inquiring look as she explained herself and turned away, making a beeline for the exit.
"Looks like your night is going to be a long one, Alistair." I shot him a look and his face reddened.
"Can we please just go to the inn?" He asked with his face in his hands. Hm. Odd reaction to knowing you're about to have a sex with a beautiful woman and in a real bed no less. I shrugged and reminded myself to ask about The Wonders of Thedas in the morning.
Our frugal Warden was trying to make it so that there were enough rooms for everyone to be happy and shuffled over to me. How curious.
"Zevran, I have a favor to ask."
"Ask away, Warden."
"Would you be able to get us like five rooms? I have plenty of gold but I-" I cut her off with a hand and an understanding look. I was probably the only one here with any real skill in honeyed words. Wren graced me with a grateful look before narrowing her eyes on some commotion to our left. Some armored group was proving to be an annoyance. It gave me an idea.
"I understand. Zevran will speak to the innkeeper." She rarely asked for favors and I was not about to turn down that face.
Sure enough, the man was amicable and not the innkeeper. He mentioned how we could have seven rooms if we got rid of the nuisances Wren and I had noticed earlier. The bonus was he offered to lower the cost of the rooms to the cost of the five we wanted if we made it a bit...difficult for them to leave. So they wanted someone to teach them a lesson? Perhaps this could ease some of the tension in our dear pointy-eared Warden. I relayed the information to her and she smiled darkly. The look showed one of her sharp canines and I admired the expression on her. It was dangerous and sexy. Ever the wonder to watch.
She suggested Sten and herself deal with them swiftly. Not a single arrow was even loaded into her crossbow as she used the hulking thing as a melee weapon. The true innkeeper seemed appeased by the heavily armored group's limping run as well. She thanked the odd pair and handed them the keys to their rooms.
"I'll leave you to figure out your arrangements. Thank you again, Zevran. Have a good evening." A hand gripped mine, a contact she rarely made with those in her company. This excluded her lover, of course. I watched as Wren ascended the steps with Alistair, leaning on him more than a little. The sight of them leaving together made me uncomfortable. A pang in my chest again and I glanced away from the steps to our bickering party. Our sly warden had handed me a key when her hand was in mine. Her palms had a roughness to them, like most who wielded weapons other than staves.
Was this a reward for my efforts or something more? I didn't think on it and simply slunk up the steps myself before the others could notice. The bedroom was very basic but there was a bed and a window with a decent enough view.
Dressing down to my trousers, I took to cleaning and sharpening my daggers. The craftsmanship on the one I obtained in Ostagar was marvelous and I wanted to keep it in excellent condition.
I was almost ready to sleep when there was a gentle rap on my door. Opening it, I was surprised to see Wren. Her feet were being fidgety and she seemed to be trying to peek around me as if to see if I was alone.
"Good evening, Warden. Is something wrong?" Now, what could this be about?
"Is this a bad time?" Her hands hadn't moved from behind her back.
"It is just you and me, Wren. Where is Alistair? Did you leave him all alone and defenseless?" I smirked and she rolled her eyes but shook her head, a small canine showing as she half-smiled. Leaning my weight against the arm I rested on the doorframe, I observed her casual clothing but focused on her arms.
"I just wanted to make sure I wasn't disturbing you when I stopped by." Bringing her hands forward, she revealed a pair of gloves.
Dalish gloves.
"I've been meaning to find the time to give you these. I bought them from Varathorn. I remember you mentioning once having a pair from your mom. I know these probably aren't much like them since every pair is handmade, but..." She was beginning to ramble in her nervousness and I just watched, my grin growing until she caught herself.
"Thank you, Wren. They are almost the spitting image of my mother's." I accepted them and moved to go and try them on, when I paused.
"Would you like to come in? I actually have something for you as well." I sauntered further into the room and took a seat on a chair while she remained in the doorway, curious and conflicted.
"It doesn't seem appropriate for me to enter your room at this time of night, Zevran. I can wait here."
"Warden, do I have to make another oath to you? I will not bite or steal you away...unless you wish it." Wren didn't need to know I was only half-joking and my statement mollified her enough to where she took a few steps into the room.
"I thought you might have found company for the evening," she admitted as she glanced out the window.
"Oh? And why would you think that?" The gloves may not have been the exact pair but they fit perfectly.
"I just figured it would be the best opportunity for…" Her bright eyes found my mirthful ones and she blinked. If she didn't have that deep black khol shrouding most of her face, she may even have been blushing for once. Chuckling to myself, I picked the box off a small stand and handed it to her.
"I apologize, Wren, I cannot help myself sometimes. Here." Placing it in her hand, she removed the top and gapped a little.
"Perhaps your next bath will be more relaxing. You have been so down lately...and I overheard your chat with Leliana about missing soap. Did you really used to make it in your clan?" She nodded absently as she held the box to her chest.
"Zevran, may I hug you?" Her soft request did things to me that I wasn't used to. Almost on reflex, I spread my arms to her.
"You always ask and my answer will always be the same." My heartbeat thumped faster than usual as she wrapped her arms around my midsection. In this moment, I felt the urge to kiss her but thought better of it.
"Thank you." When she pulled out of the hug, she was still smiling but it was much wearier than a minute ago.
"Of course. Now, we should both retire for the night, no?" I nudged her towards the door and noticed her pace was slow. I lowered my head so my lips were right by her ear.
"If you fall asleep on your way back, I fear how Alistair would react to seeing me carrying you back to your room." It was a harmless suggestion but she froze, shook her head in agreement, and quickly shuffled out with her new treasure. I sighed when I heard the door close behind her.
This was going to be a long night.