Char: Zevvin & Iron Bull
All That Glitters
Amor Et Deceptus
Zevvin was pissed. Outwardly, he didn't show it much, but Dorian could tell right away something was up with the small redhead. When Zevvin walked in the room, Dorian was just pulling on his boots. Zevvin was still dressed in his sleep clothes so Dorian assumed the elf had been up for quite some time.
Zevvin walked straight to his clothing he'd sat aside the night before, glanced at Dorian once, scoffed, then turned back to, angrily, pull his gear on. Dorian watched the redhead struggle with his arm bindings for a full 5 minutes before he walked over to the elf to give him a hand. "Can you believe her?" Zevvin finally blurted as Dorian tied the final knot on his arm bindings. Dorian sat down next to Zevvin and watched him pull his boots on. "My masters ? Masters? Who gives her the right to assume such a thing? I am owned by no one!" Zevvin seethed.
"Hmm, she really must have lost her mind to assume anyone owns the great Zevvin The Wise," Dorian said, raising an eyebrow when Zevvin simply nodded.
"Exactly! She has some nerve to say I was taught by humans to act a certain way — as if I don't have any free will of my own — She called me a slave! A slave! SLAVE! ME!"
"How absurd!"
"EXACTLY! If I went around making stereotypical assumptions about everyone I met, I wouldn't start a conversation with a Fereldan and I'd want to burn the whole of Orlais to the ground! Not to mention Marchers are annoying and the Creators forsaken Dalish elves and their crackpot theories of what was and wasn't!"
"She should be ashamed!" Dorian quirked an amused eyebrow as Zevvin stood and stomped his foot.
"Yes! She should be fired from a trebuchet— No, no!" His next words were all spoken in one breath. "I want to burn her alive, skin the scabs from her burnt flesh and hang her by her toes while wolves nibble at her fingertips and crows peck out her eyes— etiam?!" Dorian had begun to snicker causing Zevvin to glare at him and exclaim in Tevene. "Why do you find this amusing?"
"Who exactly are we talking about, Zevvin?"
"One of Leliana's pawns! I'VE BEEN TEACHING THE LOT OF RIFTRAFFS IN MINRATHOUS FOR DECADES! For her to-to just insinuate that my services to Tevinter had been commanded of me-" Zevvin balled his hands into fists and stomped his foot again. He dropped his head down and his shoulders began to shake. "THE NERVE OF HER! She's lucky I don't have access to my magic or I would have fried her ass and gave her as a snack to Jubbs!"
Dorian stood up and placed his hands on the elf's shaking shoulders. His grin had long since melted into a frown when he realized the elf was going from his normal complaining to something more.
"Breathe, Zevvin. Take a deep breath and breathe," Dorian said. Zevvin did as he was instructed and slowly looked up at Dorian with a frown. "I haven't heard you use Jubbs as a threat in a long time. What exactly led up to a conversation of her calling you a slave?"
The two stared at each other in silence before Zevvin pulled away from Dorian and crossed his arms. "Dorian-" Whatever Zevvin was going to say was interrupted by someone knocking at the door. Zevvin, with his arms still crossed, turned his gaze away towards the window on the far left side of the room. Dorian rolled his eyes and sighed. He walked over to the door and opened it.
Talim stood on the other side of the door, a look of surprise on her face. "Oh- I thought this was the Inquisitor's room."
At the sound of her voice, Zevvin stiffened. He gave a low growled cuss in Tevene and Dorian glanced over at him. "Yes, this is. It is also my room. Did you need something?" Dorian asked. He looked at her and had to keep the smirk from gracing his face when he noticed the elf's eyes narrow.
"Ah…Well…I was told to tell the Inquisitor that…breakfast would be served soon. Lord Bertrand is waiting in the dining hall for him." She nodded curtly.
"Yes, yes. I see. I will let him know. You may return to your duties," Dorian said. With that said, he shut the door in her face without another word. He heard her mutter something on the other side of the door in elven and he smirked. He turned and looked at Zevvin who was giving him an amused look.
"You didn't have to do that. Now she's really going to think everyone from Tevinter are evil bastards hell bent on controlling everyone," Zevvin mumbled. Dorian chuckled and walked over to Zevvin. He placed a hand on the shorter mage's shoulder and grinned.
"I think Corypheus is doing a fine job of that for us, don't you think?" Dorian grinned and Zevvin returned the grin.
"Indeed."
Dorian frowned. "What I don't understand is why Bertrand is specifically asking for you only to attend breakfast."
"Well," Zevvin sighed, "before Talim decided to insult me, she let me in on something I had already been suspecting since we first met Bertrand. He has a thing for elves."
Dorian crossed his arms and frowned. "And you're thinking of using that to your advantage to uncover something more diabolical than meets the eye, is that right?" Zevvin squinted up at Dorian.
"How did you even know?"
"Zevvin, how long have I known you?" Dorian smirked. Zevvin narrowed his eyes.
"You don't want to play this game, young man."
Dorian's smirk melted away into a scowl. He huffed and turned his nose up. "I'll have you know, I probably have much more embarrassing tales of you than you have of me. Like that crush you had on my magic instructor."
Zevvin's face flushed. He crossed his arms and walked passed Dorian. "Festis bei umo canavarum…" Zevvin mumbled in Tevene. Dorian laughed as he followed behind the elf.
…
..
.
Zevvin followed behind Talim as she led him to the dinning hall. Zevvin had to fight the others to allow him to go alone. He didn't want to appear too suspicious by coming in with another. He'd assured them all that there were a few of Leliana's men stationed within the ranks of the servants and one of the inquisition soldiers would be standing guard.
Zevvin sat down gingerly on the chair that Talim pulled out for him. She pushed the chair in and frowned down at him. "Be careful…" she whispered. "You won't be meeting with Bertrand, but -"
"Ah, Inquisitor."
Talim and Zevvin looked up at the newcomer. It was a man dressed in silver, plated armor. By the stitching and patching of the grey under coat of the armor, Zevvin knew it was Vanguard armor. But instead of the usual Griffon in mid flight on the chest plate, it was stained gold and red with the Tevinter Heraldry. Unruly curly, black hair framed a strong face. Deep amber eyes bore into Zevvin's own rubelite ones. Zevvin stood from his chair as the man approached.
"Avana, my Lord Inquisitor," the man spoke in Tevene. "I am Caelus Damian. I am an expert smith from Minrathous. I specialize in magic smithing."
Zevvin tilted his head slightly to the side and allowed a small smile to grace his face. Something was a little odd about how the smithy was introducing himself. He held his hand out.
"Avana. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Sir Damian. Please, call me Zevvin."
Caelus all but leered at Zevvin as he took the elf's hand in his and brought it up to his lips. He pressed his lips gently to the back of his hand. Zevvin had to fight the urge to snatch his hand away. His smile faltered slightly but he kept his bearings. "Call me Caelus, then, my Lord," Caelus pulled his mouth away from Zevvin's hand and gazed down at him. "I had heard stories of you, my Lord, and none of them have attested to the true measures of your beauty."
Zevvin felt his cheeks flush in genuine embarrassment. It wasn't very often people complimented his looks - hell he didn't believe he'd received many compliments at all, especially to his face - with the exception of Iron Bull...but that may have only been him trying to make him feel better...he couldn't possibly think that, could he? Wisper said so . Most people found him too intimidating to speak to. With the exception of Dorian, of course-but he was a brat and that didn't count. Dorian was like a child...an impudent child he felt like kicking in the shin right about now - "I apologize, but, I've heard very little about you," Zevvin said, finally pulling his hand away from the taller human and turning to look away from him.
Caelus chuckled, pulling away from Zevvin completely. "I'm sure you haven't. You are from Caimen Brea, are you not?"
"Ah, yes." Zevvin frowned inwardly. 'How much information about me is circling around in rumor pockets?' "I traveled a lot, however." Zevvin looked back up at Caelus and raised an eyebrow. "I had been expecting Bertrand but I assume it is you who I shall be having breakfast with this morning?"
"It is." Caelus smiled.
"Very well," Zevvin said, glancing to Talim, who had backed away into the corner of the room. She bowed and took her leave. Zevvin returned his gaze to Caelus as the man pulled his chair out for him. Zevvin resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he, once again, sat gingerly in the chair and, once again, someone - being Caelus- pushed the chair in for him. 'I am not going to like the rest of my stay here, I can already tell. This day has been dreadful...How I wish I had Wisper to speak to...' Zevvin sighed inwardly as he tuned back into whatever Caelus had been speaking to him about. Something about a dragon.
"It had to have been 30 metres wide, but I managed to take it down with a few well placed arrows and a well placed blow to the neck with my sword." Caelus was looking proud by the end of his heroic tale of besting a dragon. Zevvin propped his head on his elbow and pushed his plate away.
"Is this truly proper meal conversation? I mean I love blood and guts as much as the next guy, but hearing about such details while eating?" Zevvin scoffed. "You sound like a Fereldan." His eyes widened a moment later as he realized he had said that out loud. "I apologize, I thought I had...thought that." Caelus only laughed.
"You are a magister through and through." Caelus shook his head and let out another laugh. Zevvin raised an eyebrow but then shrugged.
"I suppose you're right, hm?" Zevvin picked up his fork and picked at the meat on his plate.
"I would like to ask you..." Caelus began, making Zevvin look at him. The human warrior sat down a napkin on top of his empty plate and rubbed the back of his neck. "Would you accompany me on a little stroll? The weather is gorgeous today and it'd be a waste to stay cooped up in the manor waiting for the start of the gathering."
"Sounds delightful." Zevvin smiled.
...
..
.
The morning flew by without much incident. Zevvin could say he genuinely enjoyed the outing with Caelus. Besides the man being a little more touchy-feely than he was comfortable with, he was rather charming and had many interesting things to talk about. They'd spoken about Caelus's childhood, growing up in Minrathous, and even the real reason he left the Imperium. It had nothing to do with him having no magical abilities, something that wasn't true as he was a mage just not that strong with his magic. It had more to do with his ideals and his preferences of bed partners. His father wasn't so much angry that he liked men, he was angry at the fact he liked elves and had been one of the few opposed to slavery.
Zevvin told him a little bit about himself. He let the human know he had lived most of his life in the Caimen Brea but had moved around a lot, working as a private tutor to people within Qarius, Trevis, and Minrathous. He'd let slip that he enjoyed riding and had even had his own Dracolisk that had been a gift from a friend.
For what might have been the 20th time that day, Zevvin felt Caelus place a hand on his hip. Zevvin looked at him from the corner of his eye. Caelus, taking Zevvin's lack of a negative response, again, pulled Zevvin gently into him. He smiled down at the short mage before leading them into another shop.
Zel'Ahna Gems
There was an elven woman behind the counter. The tanned woman looked up at them when they approached the counter. She tucked a strand of her braided, red hair behind her ear and smiled at them. When she glanced down at Caelus's hand, her smile faltered slightly. "Welcome to Zel'Ahna Gems. I'm Zel'Ahna, what can I help you two with?" She asked, looking between Zevvin and Caelus. Zevvin cocked his eyebrow. How in the world did an elf come to own anything within Orlais of all places outside of an alienage.
"I'm looking for a specific jewel. A multicolored Tourmaline," Caelus said. Zel'Ahna tapped her chin.
"I think I have exactly what you're looking for," she said. She turned around, purposely in Zevvin's eyes, bent down at the waist to dig in a low cabinet. Zevvin felt Caelus's grip around him tighten slightly before he felt a light pressure on his temple. He looked up to see Caelus gazing at him, almost dreamily.
Zevvin inwardly frowned. He didn't very much like that look at all. "I have the perfect jewel in mind that would match lovingly with your own beautiful pink Tourmalines," Caelus said. He let his other hand brush across Zevvin's cheek. Zevvin tensed and outwardly frowned. Caelus, sensing he had probably overstepped by touching Zevvin's face, pulled back slightly from the short mage. Zevvin felt the man's grip around his waist loosen slightly. He was tempted to pull completely from the man but didn't feel like thrusting them into anymore awkwardness than that touch had caused.
"Here we are," Zel'Ahna said, gaining their attention. She placed a tray on the table with 4 different gems wrapped by a braided cord. The 4 Tourmalines were cut in different shapes and their coloring was slightly different. One of the Tourmalines was cut into a barrel shaping, it was deep green and red. The one next to that was the same coloring but it was a stone and shaped like an oval. The one next to that had a pear cut, it was deep blue at the top, trailing into green then to pink and deep red at the bottom. The one next to that was in a triangle cut and it was a mix of green and pink.
"The tear drop one. It is perfect," Caelus said. He took his arm from around Zevvin and picked the gem up. He turned to Zevvin and place it again the mage's chest. Zevvin looked up at him and cocked his head to the side. "This is the one. How much is it?" Caelus looked back at Zel'Ahna.
"The normal price for the Tourmaline plus the pear cut is 5 Royals and 50 Crowns," Zel'Ahna said, "but I will give you this for only 2 Royals."
"Thank you, Zel'Ahna," Caelus said.
"Please, it is the least I can do for all you've done for me, Lord Devereaux." She smiled at him and Zevvin raised an eyebrow. Caelus spared her a glance before looking back at Zevvin.
"May I use your back room?" Caelus asked.
"Of course, it is right through that door where it always is. Take your time, my lord." Zel'Ahna smiled. Caelus nodded to her and looked at Zevvin with a smile.
"I will be only a moment, Zevvin," Caelus said, brushing his lips against Zevvin's temple before walking towards the back of the shop. Zevvin swiped at his temple, narrowing his eyes slightly at Caelus's retreating back.
"You should be more grateful for Lord Paelus's attentions," Zel'Ahna said. Zevvin looked at her with a frown.
"Why is that?" Zevvin asked.
"He is a very generous man." She leaned across the counter and glared at Zevvin. "But do not read into his attentions too much. He is just being nice because he knows you're probably not used to it."
"Excuse me?" Zevvin crossed his arms. He felt his ire raising steadily as the elven woman smirked at him.
"If you've not noticed, the only reason he has taken such a fancy towards you is because of your hair. It reminds him of me."
Zevvin shrugged, less than caring. "Sounds like you're jealous."
Zel'Ahna's smirk melted away into a scowl. "Jealous of what? A slave drooling over Caelus in the hopes he'll buy them?" Zevvin stalked over to the counter and slammed his hands down. He glared up at the slightly taller woman who flinched away.
"Tine-ti vestra. Tua na se quae loquuntur tibi!" Zevvin growled in Tevene. "I am owned by no one!"
"I-I..."
"I am finished," Caelus said, making an appearance. He stared between the shaken store owner and the seething mage. He approached Zevvin and placed a hand on the tense elf's shoulder. Zevvin turned his glare to Caelus. Slowly, Zevvin's angry disposition dissipated with a slow exhale. "May I put it on you?" Zevvin nodded. He held his hair up away from his neck and allowed the taller man to place the braided cord around his neck. As soon as the cord touched his skin, he felt a surge of energy. He shivered and looked up at Caelus in confusion.
"What did you do to it?" Zevvin asked.
"The cord is enchanted with a magical ward that will help protect against all elements of magic. It isn't a very strong ward, but its something. Touch the stone," Caelus said, smiling. Zevvin did as he was told and picked up the multicolored Tourmaline. It was warm to the touch but he could feel the currents of magic in the stone. It sort of felt like...
"Storm magic?" Zevvin asked, looking up. Caelus smiled. As he begin to talk, Zevvin looked back down at the stone.
"The gem is enchanted with spirit and storm magic. The restoration enchantment helps speed up recovery when you're injured. The storm magic enchantment enhances storm magic."
Zevvin looked sharply at Caelus, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You know I'm a storm mage?"
"I had a hunch," Caelus said, smiling. "Even though you're using some type of potion to mask your magic energy, your personality...just seems like you were a storm mage. Beautiful, dangerous, and untameable."
Zevvin let up on his suspicious glare, but he was still on edge. Who was this man. "Thank you. This was...very thoughtful."
"Let us return to the manor, I'm sure your party is wondering where you disappeared to," Caelus said, chuckling. Caelus bowed slightly and gestured for Zevvin to walk ahead of him. "After you, Lord Inquisitor."
Zevvin smiled when he heard the elven woman behind the counter gasp and start stammering. Zevvin walked out of the shop as Caelus paid the woman. Zevvin couldn't help but notice he paid in full instead of taking the discount Zel'Ahna gave him.
...
..
.
Zevvin had his arms crossed as he walked alongside Caelus. The man kept his hands to himself since they left the shop. Zevvin was chuckling at some tale Caelus had been telling him about a horse breeder from Vol Dorma that had accidently sold him his prized stallion for just a few silver coins. "He was devastated. He'd contacted me with so many letters, I had to have a bookcase for them all."
"Did you give it back?" Zevvin asked. Caelus shook his head.
"I had grown fond of the horse. I sent him back a letter with a pouch of gold and in return he thanked me profusely," Caelus said.
"How honorable of you." Zevvin glanced at Caelus from the corner of his eye. Caelus was looking at him with a dreamy look on his face again. It made Zevvin extremely wary.
"Zevvin, this gathering...will bring together some...less than reputable people."
Zevvin turned his attention fully to Caelus. The two stopped walking and faced each other. "What do you mean?"
"I am saying to be careful." Caelus frowned. "Do not drink anything anyone but the servants give you." Zevvin raised an eyebrow. "There may be those who are trying to poison you."
"They aren't so fond of the idea an elf is leading anything, is that right?" Zevvin asked. Caelus nodded. "But there is something more you're not telling me, is there not?" Caelus paused. He smiled a moment later.
"You are very perceptive, Zevvin. I find it...refreshing." Caelus sighed and crossed his arms. "There are some who bring their servants here to sell. It is an illegal slave trade. I do not have much influence in Orlais as these nobles do so...I can't really expose anything. The most I can do is try to buy as many slaves as possible in order to free them."
"You were the one who invited me," Zevvin said rather then asked. "You need my help to expose this fiasco and stop those involved." Caelus grinned.
"Exactly."
"I will help you, but there is something you must know." Zevvin sighed. "I am not using a potion to mask my magic. I am unable to use my magic. It is locked inside of me." Caelus furrowed his brow with a frown.
"I see...this is the reason you have had agents everywhere?" Caelus asked. Zevvin blinked and tilted his head to the side slightly. Caelus grinned. "Change in the staff tipped me off. I do not think Bertrand has even noticed."
"So...you knew the inquisition was looking in on you?" Zevvin asked. Caelus nodded.
"I was sure that you wouldn't come here without first scouting out the place. I also mentioned I was a smith from Tevinter. It was a hunch that you would see this as useful to your cause."
"And inviting Dorian?"
"I knew you had some sort of connection with the Altus. I was hoping that connection was strong enough for him to convince you to come."
"Why the name Paelus de Devereaux?" Zevvin frowned.
"To keep this from getting back to my father. He'd probably send someone to kill me for damaging the family name even farther than I've already managed." Caelus sighed and looked away. He looked back at Zevvin. "I believe I have an idea. If you could pass along the message to your agents, we could quite possibly pull this off without bloodshed." Zevvin nodded.
"So what's your plan?"
"Well..."
Etiam (Tevene) = what (exclamation of irritation/surprise)
Festis bei umo canavarum (Tevene) = you'll be the death of me
Tine-ti vestra (Tevene) = stay your tongue/ shut up
Tua na se quae loquuntur tibi (Tevene) = you don't know what you're talking about