The Dragon and the Griffon
A/N: Draco Cousland is a Warrior whom Duncan recruited from Highever. Irasabeth Tabris is a rouge Duncan found in the Elven Alienage. This is going to be the story about how these two very different people become close friends and took on the Blight with their small band of misfit allies.
A big old thanks to my beta Lisa! You are a lifesaver!
PS: Alright sorry about the long absence but I am back and I'm gonna try flying this chapter solo without my beta, but I think she's helped me enough to where I think it's time for me to leave the nest and fly solo thanks for all your help Lisa!
Chapter 9: Beautiful Mercy
"Maker be damned I am about to fucking quit!" Draco screamed as he kicked at the head of one of the dead assassins near his feet.
Irasabeth laughed and patted the irate warrior's shoulder, "it's alright. I'll just pick up your slack." She teased.
Draco glared at her and shook his head, "go to hell Irasabeth."
The elf laughed as she walked over to the only living and unconscious man and tied him up. "Now then shall we wake him and ask a few questions?" She asked looking over her shoulder at the other two Wardens.
"May as well, we could see who sent an assassin after us," Draco said as he looked down at the elf and kicked him, "Wake up!" He snapped.
The elf grunted and jolted awake, and Irasabeth punched Draco's arm. "That was uncalled for Draco." She snapped at him as she knelt down, "don't mind him. He's a little cranky."
"I can see…and feel that. Truth be told I would rather have hopped that I would wake up dead, or not wake up at all." He looked up into Irasabeth's bright green eyes and felt himself entranced. "Although, you are a sight of beauty to wake up to. Are you sure that you are not an angel?"
Irasabeth blushed hotly and shook her head, "sweet talking is a little strange for an assassin is it not?"
The elf smiles from his bound position, "ah you see to some it is. But I am a man of many fine tastes, and women is in my tastes." He laughed a rich velvety sound that resonated through her body and made her tremble.
"Ah…um…."
"Who sent you?" Draco growled out dangerously, his patience at an end.
"Ah you wish to know so sent me? Fair enough, but first my name is Zevran, Zev to my friends. I was sent by this little tyrant of a man, Loghain I think was his name." Zevran gave a soft chuckle, "he defiantly wants your heads on a plate"
Draco pinched the bridge of this nose trying to stave off a headache, "of course he would."
"He's claiming that the Grey Wardens killed the king." Alistair pointed out, "remember what they said in Loithering?"
Draco let out a grunt, "why, I ask you, why. Can't we just ever have one easy run where it's like 'hey we have to go save this kid let's just ride our horses along the road' but nooooooooo we always have to be attacked! Then this shit happens!" he stalked off, "we've wasted so much time, we're making camp in the clearing over! Now!"
"But what about Zevran?" Leliana called calmly after him.
Draco stalked back, "can we trust you at our back?" He barked at the blonde elf.
Zevran chuckled, "I would be more worried about your front, but yes. I would be dead if I went back unsuccessful, I'd rather like to keep my head."
Draco snorted, "fine but you so much step a toe out of line I will kill you. You are not going to bring the blight down upon us because you want payment. Irasabeth untie him."
Irasabeth rolled her eyes as Draco walked over to the next clearing with Alistair and Leliana in tow. She shook her head as she knelt down and untied him. "Sorry about Draco, he's under a lot of stress. We all are."
Zevran rubbed his wrists and looked up at the beautiful red-headed elf. "I never expected to see such a vision of beauty, and a merciful one at that."
Irasabeth blushed hotly and coughed shouldering her bow, "such things you say. I'm sure you say them to all the women you meet." She stands and offers her hand to him, "c'mon, Draco's gonna need our help setting up camp."
Zevran smiled as he took her hand, marveling at the softness and delicateness of her hand. "Such beautiful hands my dear, hands of an artist that belong holding a paintbrush or wrapped in silk."
Her blush deepened as she dropped his hand quickly and began to walk off, "let's go." She muttered and hurried off.
Zevran watched her walk and smiled at the sway of her hips, "hm…such a beautiful woman." He chuckled to himself feeling that he could at least get something out of working with the Grey Wardens.
A few hours later Draco stood watch over the camp, his eyes trained on the forest in front of him as he listened intently for any sign of attack while his friends slept. He heard a slight noise and looked behind him to see Irasabeth walking from her tent to his perch, her bow on her shoulder.
"See anything worthwhile?" She asked yawning.
He shook his head, "no, it's quiet in the woods tonight, which is good for us."
"Or bad," she muttered.
Draco chuckled darkly as he got up and stretched, "I hope you made the right decision."
"With what?"
"The Assassin," he said softly, "you're taking a big leap of faith by not killing him and keeping him with us."
She sighed, "you have to have faith that not everyone is out to kill us. Even the ones who are out to kill us. He will be useful to us and I think there's more to him than we know."
Draco shook his head, "I hope your right. Stay safe."
"Sleep well." She said with a nod of her head, waiting for him to disappear into his tent before she settled herself down and began to pray to her gods in the silence of the night to make sure that they all made it to the dawn. A slight noise set her on edge and she notched an arrow in her bow and aimed, "show yourself." She demanded.
Zevran walked out with his hands raised and a small smile on his face. "I am quite surprised you heard me," he chuckled.
"Trying to finish the job?" She asked her eyes sharp.
"Not at all," he offered her a charming smile, "I merely wanted to make sure everything was safe for us while we slept."
She arched an eyebrow at him, "why do I not believe you?"
He sighed, "you are a very untrusting woman." He tisked softly, "to be so beautiful, yet so untrusting it is very unbecoming. It might even turn potential men away no?"
Irasabeth sighed softly and lowered her bow, "you are right Zevran. My apologies…life has not been kind to me as of late."
The assassin smiled a dazzling smile that would have sent Irasabeth to her knees if she weren't used to charming men, "no trouble at all. You are merely being cautious no? I would do the same if someone had tried to kill me just this morning."
She smiled and brushed a strand of her hair out of her eyes, "you are right, but I couldn't let them kill you."
"Such Mercy. Had I been in your shoes…I do not think I could do the same."
She shrugged a delicate shoulder, "I've done a lot of things that surprise me as of late." She sat back down and patted the log next to her. "Please, sit with me. I hate sitting up and being alone during watch. It gets lonely and boring."
Zevran smiled again as he sat down and admired her, she was truly beautiful in the moonlight and he felt something stir within him that he thought he would never feel again. But he quickly stamped it down and looked out to the forest, "so tell me about you."
"It's a long boring story." She said softly.
"tell me anyway, we have time."
She looked over at him, "why do you want to know?"
"You intrigue me Irasabeth Tabris, you are strong and beautiful, but there is something more to you than what you show. I want to know what makes the woman behind the name. I want to know her stories….her loves….her fears….her passions." With each word he drew closer his hand toying with a piece of her fiery red hair that fell over her shoulder.
She suppressed a shiver and her fingers toyed with the ring on her finger, which instantly caught his eye.
"You are married?"
She shook her head, "no, I was meant to be…he was killed by Shems the day of our wedding. He was a sweet man…I keep the ring to remind myself why I fight, so that everyone knows that elves aren't weak and aren't going to be kicked around anymore."
"So you became a Grey Warden to help the plight of the elves?"
"That is part of it. But to know the next part…well you would have to be a friend. And I do not know you well enough to tell you that part…not just yet. Now let's just sit here and tell stories. Tell me of Antiva."
He smiled at her cunning and nodded, "Very well." He smiled as he dove into a story that had been around Antiva for many years, while also thinking of how to bring her around to his side of thinking…and maybe his bed.
A/N: And there's the chapter, way too long in coming. I will try to keep more updated on this story. Thanks for staying faithful and keeping me going with your reviews.