"... Ahhh… What? Uhhh." Zevran groaned and shifted against his restraints. "I'd rather thought I'd wake up dead, or not wake up at all?" Zevran quirked his brow as the lady warden knelt down in front of his and pointed the stiletto at his neck.
"Yeah, it seems we have a problem here." Elissa said and stared down the assassin. Zevran pressed his head back into the tree looking between the glare of silver and the piercing blue of her eyes.
"You're quite the aggressive little minx, aren't you?

Lovely too. But if it's questions

you're planning on asking me, let me

save you a little time and get right

to the point. My name is Zevran. Zev

to my friends. I am a member of the

Antivan Crows, brought here for the sole

purpose of slaying any surviving Grey

Wardens. Which I have failed at, sadly." Zevran explained quickly, as he heart thumped in his chest. He couldn't tell if it was the fear of death. Or excitement as the warden rested her blade on his shoulder and the cold metal sent a shiver down his spine.

"Well, I'm rather glad your bosses underestimated us." Elissa replied as she licked her teeth and pensively studied the elf.
"So would I be in your shoes. For me, however,

it sets a rather poor precedent,

doesn't it? Getting captured by a

target, seems a tad bit detrimental

to one's budding assassin career." Zevran responded.

"You know, ambushing heavily armed warriors on the road.

Is a piss poor battle strategy right? This happens to us like.

Everyday we go on a walk. There are literally darkspawn.
All over these trails." Elissa withdrew her blade and threw her hands up dramatically shrugging as she fell back on her butt and sat in the grass next to him.
"And we shouldn't stay here." Alistair interjected.

"Perhaps, if I may be so bold. You take me with you and I can tell you more." Zevran said, chuckling innocently.

"Tell me what? The Lohgain wants me dead? Or the Anitvan crows are funded by nobles throughout thedas?" Elissa asked and spun her stiletto around in her hand. The mabari walked up the zevran, and started to sniff his face.
"Hey Barkspawn, not leave him alone." Elissa warned. Barkspawn barked, nearly popping Zevran's eardrum and whined. "What's that? You like him?" Elissa quirked her eyebrow as the dog licked Zevran's cheek. Specifically his corner of his eye.
"Aww, he's a sad boy?" Elissa asked and pouted at Zevran.

"What?" Zevran asked in unison as Alistair who uncrossed his arms aggressively.
"He tried to kill us!" Alistair argued.

"Tell me really quickly Handsome." Elissa said and shifted closer.

"Handsome?" Zevran smiled as Elissa pointed the blade at him again. This time touching his nose with the tip.

"How did you become a crow." Elissa asked simply.

"I was sold to the crows by my mother as a child…" Zevran began to explain before Elissa gasped in shock. She pulled her blade away and got up quickly.
"No." She said stunned
"Oh yes, my mother was a whore with little money. I hear she got a good price for me despite how small I was. I Must have shown potential." Zevran reminisced. The noble lady eating up his sob story like candy.
"Barkspawn, set him free." Elissa said as the dog barked happily and bit the restraints Sten had tied.

"What!" Alistair shouted and tried to march forward, but Sten stopped him.

"You poor thing, what have those monsters done to you." Elissa sounded absolutely distraught as she pulled an injury kit from her bag and knelt next to Zevran and bandaged his wounded leg. Zevran, now released from his bonds, stared at Elissa hesitantly.
"Monsters?" Zevran asked.
"The crows, The nobles? The humans? There're so many evil vial creatures who parade around in masks claiming their holy or just. Meanwhile, little people like us get swept up in wars and murder for Whar? Coin and fame? Or a lonely death at the end of someone's poisoned blade? It's a barbaric life for us all isn't it." Elissa asked as she nursed his wound. She was delicate, and cared for him thoroughly before attempting to help him stand.
"I have a proposition to make of you, Zevran. If you care to hear it." Elissa said and smiled.

"What would that be." Zevran asked.
"One last question, what does your Loyalty cost?" Elissa asked.
"Well, if it's the threat of my life for loyalty. " Zevran pouted.
"Ah, the crows have a failure clause in their contracts don't they." Elissa said.
"Yes, my life is forfeit now that I have failed to kill you." Zevran said.
"What a terrible way to run business." Elissa said and Zevran couldn't help but laugh.
"Yes! Absolutely terrible way to keep your employees

Surprisingly, My loyalty actually costs very little.

Safety, Money, friendship... Pleasure.
I can assure you I am a very loyal person." Zevran was smooth, he could tell with the way the apples of Elissa's cheeks flared pink as she giggled. Her hand lingering on his as Zevran tested his ankle.

"Thank you." Zevran said as she let go and he could stand on his own. Alistair stormed away to pace behind the Qunari as he watched silently to the conversation. Elissa tapping her lip with her long delicate fingers as she studied the elf carefully.
"Alright, Zevran. My proposition. I want you to Help me,

We defeat the blight, become heroes of Ferelden
I can pay you for your trouble when we're done
Or your can volunteer to the aid of the grey wardens
And we will forget any crime here ever occured."
"Both those sounds good, but I'm guessing if I ask for gold." Zevran narrowed his eyes at Elissa who smirked wickedly.

"You would be criminal under investigation for the attempted murder of Lady Coulsand of Highever." Elissa blew Zevran a kiss, and he sighed in admiration.

"My lady, I offer you my services free of charge. May I ask the name of the champion I serve?" Zevran asked.
"You can call me Elissa." She said and offered her hand to Zevran. Who took it to kiss the back of it, not caring the blood stains on her gauntlets.
"Consider me you humble servant, Lady Elissa." Zevran said as Elissa giggle again.

"Alright that's enough." Alistair stepped forward and broke them apart.

"I'm watching you elf, if you try anything we will not hesitate to kill you." Alistair threatened.

"Oh relax, Alistair. Come on you can walk behind him the entire way as we go to the circle of magi. He can come up against the demons." Elissa said and took the lead.
"Did you say demons? I thought we were fighting darkspawn." Zevran asked.

"The circle of magi has been taken over. In order to help the Arl's son we must seek the mage's help." Sten said simply as he walked next to Alistair.
"Where do the demons come in?" Zevran asked.
"Ah some mage who went crazy turned everyone into abominations and we gotta find the first enchanter who hasn't been turned hopefully." Elissa said as she gestured to Zevran to walk next to her.

"I am beginning to think I should have let you kill me." Zevran said.

"That's a mood." Elissa sighed heavily.

After the long walk through the forest trails, they arrived at the outskirts of lake Calenhad. Sten and Alistair dropped their packs first at the campsite and immediately started to remove their armour. The sun had set before they stopped, and the group of exhausted adventurers finally sat down.
Elissa had perched near the lake, preparing a fire. Barkspawn, next to Zevran as he sat down on a fallen tree to rest his sore foot.
"What are you staring at? Hm. Do I smell tasty?
Trust me, I'm nothing but skin and bone." Zevran spoke as the dog whined.
"Come here boy, leave the assassin alone he's moping." Elissa called for the animal.
"I say let him eat the elf, why waste good meat on him." Alistair gruffed.

"We need all the warriors we can against the blight grey warden." Sten interjected and handed Alistiar a leather cloth to clean his armour with. The two of them scrubbing the blood from their steel to prevent it from rusting.
"I gave my word I would serve, I intend to keep it." Zevran said. "Besides I like this dog, he can bother me all he wants." Zevran added
"Well enjoy the attention while it lasts, we have more people joining us soon." Elissa said as the wood flared with fire. "Whew! Alright let's get cooking, I'm starving!" She said and pulled a well wrapped hunk of meat from her bag.
"When did you catch that?" Zevran asked.
"This morning, before we ran into you guys." She said and started cutting it up into cubes. Barkspawn laying next to her watching her curiously.
"Can I help?" Zevran asked, noticing the other two too occupied in the care of their gear.

"Find me some potatoes? I think it's in Alistair's bag." Elissa pointed.

"Hey hey! I got it." Alistair said and put his breast plate down to fetch the potatoes.
"Well then, let him cut them up for me. Go back to your armour. It's not a big deal." Elissa said and used fallen sticks to skewer the meat with.
"What if he decided to poison us." Alistair asked.
"Ah here we go." Zevran said with a knowing smirk.
"Oh baby, don't worry… Mommy has an antidote to everything." Elissa winked and blew Alistair a kiss.

"I told you already, I am not a test dummy for your witchcraft." Alistair said sternly, but was all smiles as Elissa giggled.
"Witchcraft? Why should Elissa be scared that you'll turn me into a toad?" Zevran asked.

"No! He's talking about MY poisons. Go ahead Sten, tell him what happened." Elissa said as Zevran delivered her some roughly cut potatoes and added them to a tiny pot to boil.

"He nearly died falling off a rock he believed to be a mountain he could climb." Sten said monotonously

"Can we not talk about that please and thank you. The scar reminds me enough." Alistair laughed coldly as he shifted his back to everyone.

"Alistair… Just so you know." Elissa's face was hot pink as she giggled more. "I kinda gave morrigan the same vials I use to mix my poisons in... so." the blonde wiped a tear from her eye. While Zevran stared at her in disbelief.

"So… what are you saying." Alistair had stopped listening, for his focus was on the kite shield pot marked with arrowheads.

"I have heard of this, there is a saying humans have for blondes." Sten stated.

"Oh really? I am fascinated to hear it." Zevran perked up.

"Oh Ha ha! Ya I hear you! Say it Sten. Right to my face." Elissa stood up and walked over to the qunari. Sten still sitting on the rock, with his breastplate rested on his knee as she crossed her arms in front of him.

"They are dumb." Sten said bluntly.

"You bastard." Elissa tongued her cheek and tapped her foot at him. The simple gesture made the dog cower and run for cover behind a rock.
"Did you feel that?" Alistair asked curiously his attention completely diverted from the conversation.

"Fine! I'm dumb. I mixed up morrigan's poultices with my poisons. By accident." Elissa admitted and walked away from Sten. The two of them at war with another through just their eyes before Elissa turned her attention to the scorned templar. "I have something for you." Elissa said innocently.
"For me?" Alistair asked rather stunned before standing up.

"It's kinda corny, but I might as well give it to you now. Given we're going to the circle of magi soon." Elissa said before her voice went quiet. She knelt down next to Alistair and handed him a silver pendant. Alistair gawked at it before he hugged her.

Zevran, now too far out of ear shot to hear their whispered exchange, turned his attention to the dog sneaking out from behind the log.

"These Grey Wardens are strange people. Incredibly Funny, but strange." Zevran stated to the dog. Who silently laid down next to his feet to watch the camp. "Who's a good boy." Zevran said and gave the dog a scratch between the ears.

"Hey, Zevran. Can we talk for a second." Elissa asked as she approached him. Zevran's attention quickly snapped to her in surprise. How did she get so close to him so quickly?
"You are a stealthy little fox too? With those tiny quiet feet of yours." Zevran said and leaned back against the log.
"Oh shut up and come here for a second." Elissa said and grabbed the elf by the arm and dragged him away from the log and into the brush. Alistair began to follow, but the dog stopped him. Licking Alistair's hand greedily, before using his teeth and begging for food.
"Hey what did I tell you about the biting. Naughty boy." Alistair sighed with a smile and ruffled the dogs floppy ears. "Roll over, you gotta earn dinner."

The templar was distracted, and Elissa walked with Zevran along the creek for a few paces.

"Listen, I know we got off on the wrong foot." Elissa said, before stopping. "Oh, no I didn't mean to… I'm sorry I split open your ankle. Makers breath that sounds worse out loud then in my head." she sighed before leaning back against a tree to breath.
"My lady warden, please calm yourself. To be honest, it was an honour to be sliced open by your blade. Your skills are impressive. The way you flipped off the tree. My it was like a panther in the wild." Zevran praised her.
"Me?" Elissa gasped as her face went pink again. "Excuse you, your footwork was crazy to keep pace with. I was out of breath trying to get you to trip up and you nearly split open my nose." Elissa covered her face defensively as Zevran approached her.
"Oh I'm glad I missed, though a scar on your face wouldn't make it any less beautiful." Zevran boldly placed his elbow on the tree and leaned close to Elissa.
"Excuse me this is my tree." Elissa said and turned to face him, her elbow jabbed into his chest as he leaned into her bubble.
"And?" Zevran quirked his brow as Elissa smirked back at him. "I wish to look closer, is that is a problem?"

Alistair, was pacing the fields and finally caught up on them. Lelianna at his side, they didn't approach. Their presence however, eased Zevran to give the lady extra space.
"It's not a problem." Elissa said, proudly standing her ground unmoved.
"You… are very difficult to read." Zevran commented crossing his arms as well. The warden's closed off stature completely opposite her sweet smile. Which melted his heart a bit. She had such clean teeth, and her lips were plum kissed and inviting as she spoke. Thought's of what a kiss would taste like tickling the assassins thoughts.
"That's because I'm not a book. Though I've heard stories of Antiva from my tutor." Elissa quipped and with a flick of the wrist revealed her stiletto blade. "You see I was trained by a handsome Antivan man by the name of Antonio Di Pasqua." Elissa said, the name making Zevran's ear twitch. Elissa suddenly pays very close attention to Zevran's expression making him feel exposed.

"Oh really? No wonder we danced so well together on the battlefield." Zevran said, watching her with fascination. Her blue eyes sharper than the dagger she fondled uncaring for the blood which ran across the blade.
"You might be familiar with him, he was also an Antivan Crow. Still is actually… well that's neither here nor there. I can speculate whether he is alive or not. You know due to the pesty fine print of the job." Elissa rambled on. Zevran unable to keep his eyes off her fingers.
"How did a Ferelden Noble attain such a tutor one would ask. Though a silly man prying for details about your personal life would ask that." Zevran quipped.
"See, I knew you were gentlemen. I, ugh… never completed my training." Elissa was very animated in her speech. Frantic almost, and as she kept glazing between Alistair and Zevran. The elf could tell, her mind was running too fast to maintain.
"Ah, I see." Zevran hummed as she delicately shifted closer to the blonde.
"You know, being quiet is great and all and I know how to mix poisons, and dance circles around anyone. I'm just not very quiet about it." Elissa explained.
"You think I'm a better assassin then you?" Zevran asked.

"Well, no… I could see your trap from a mile away. That's why I brought all my warriors to fight you. And won"
"Yes, I remember how your dog tore apart my men as you savagely cut open my calve." Zevran said calmly.
"Oh this is going horribly." Elissa sighed and blushed a bit. Zevran knew right there, and before she could complain. Zevran kissed her on the cheek.

"Would you like to train with me? We could dance every night and when we finally fight the darkspawn. I won't need to hide behind all my warriors." Elissa blurted out and stepped away from him. She sounded rather scared, but her blush made his heart melt. .

"Only if you promise to keep me close by your side. So I can protect you too." Zevran said smoothly.

Elissa's giggles echoed off the trees, and Fritigern had finally caught up to them. Stalking from the trees the qunari hide amongst the foliage like a wild cat. Patiently waiting as the rogue began to train with their swords.

It wasn't until dusk, did they return to camp to where an entourage of adventurers meet up with the grey warden group. There was no way to Fritigern to approach, had Zevran turned on them? It certainly seemed that way.

Zevran was introduced to a few other ladies, both of whom were beautiful in their own right. Minute by minute, Zevran had believed he had truly died and gone to meet the maker, for the group he now travelled with made him weak at the knees. After dinner he retreated from the heart of camp to find a quiet spot to take a piss.

The moon shining on the water as the soft chatter of the ladies loomed behind him.

"Bless my evil little heart, how can I act innocent under those eyes hm?" Zevran asked himself, and was unprepared for the response.

"Because you steal what you like." Fritigern said and dropped down from the tree behind him. Zevran nearly tripped over his own feet and drew a dagger to an unarmed assassin.

"Fritigern!" Zevran esapersted.
"Shouldn't dual wield like that you might cut yourself. Besides, I'm not here to hurt you." Fritigern said and slinked up next to him. "Oh, you're in big trouble." He said with a sultry sneer.
"I'm in trouble? You abandoned us." Zervran responded, and had to relax in order to finish his business. Even with Fritgern staring him down and sneaking a glance.
"Enjoy the view?" Zevran asked.
"Making sure you're not hiding another blade. Though if you're going to stab me with that." Fritigern smirked.
"Oh shut up, what are you doing here? If they catch you."
"Oh they will recruit me to go fight darkspawn?"
"You heard?"
"I heard it all, you guys are, not very perceptive." Fritiern finally gave Zevran some breathing space as he paced around the tree out of sight.
"Well, I wasn't looking for you." Zevran breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm hurt, but not surprised. You know, I thought about killing her myself. While you guys were training earlier, but they way she moved. Oh. Zev I can see why you stuck around." Fritigern rolled off the tree to face Zevran as the elf finished tucking his clothes straight.
"You will stay away from her."Zevran threatened.

"Oh? Are my ears clogged or, was that a threat?" Fritigern scoffed.

"Zevran, are you coming back for dinner?" Alistair's voice called over the hill. The two assassins were in a deadlock stare.

"Ya, I'm taking a piss give me a minute. Unless you care to see." Zevran shouted back quickly. He was nervous, but the lie was slick. Alistair made an audible squeak as the knight surely tripped over some brush.

"Ya ya! Okay I'll leave you be." Alistair stuttered.

Fritigern crossed his arms and leaned against the tree, while they listened to Alistair's footsteps diminish. Zevran took a slow breath with a hand behind his back prepared to draw a dagger.

"A shame really, that contract was worth a lot of money. How am I supposed to buy my house now?" Fritigern asked, taking a step back from the elf.

"What? You are not going to fight me?" Zevran asked curiously.

"You? Why would I do that? I like my heart free of stab wounds." Fritigern covered his chest with both hands, and flashed a charming smile. "Besides, I don't want to kill you."

Zevran cocked a brow at the dark tone the qunari spoke in as he slinked away into the shadows. He was tempted to fling the dagger, but hesitated. Fritigern threw a handful of dirt in his eyes and Zevran threw his weapon as his reaction. The assassin was gone, his footsteps masked by the harsh winds which rustled the trees. The moon's light blocked out by the brush making it difficult to see as his grey skin camouflaged him in the dim light.