She stopped about 10 yards from the camp. She could see everyone sitting around the fire minus two people. She watched. Morrigan was definitely not there and who else? She saw Sten, Leliana, Wynne, Oghren, Alistair and Shale was standing near Bodahn's wagon. Then it hit her. Where was Zev? He left before she did. He had to have made back by now. She kept scanning the camp and grew more anxious every minute that she couldn't find him.
"Hello beautiful." said a whisper in her ear and she jumped.
"Zevran! What in the world is wrong with you?" She yelled at him and pushed him back from her. He took a step back and chuckled.
"I simply could not help myself." he joked. She just rolled her eyes and looked down at Max. He was staring intently at the camp. Everyone was eating now so of course he wanted to get going.
"Fine you can go ahead but try not to beg too much." He looked at her and darted off.
"Well now that we're alone" he trailed off as he kissed the back of neck. For a moment she was lost in feeling his lips on her, then her cautious side came up.
"We're too close to camp Zevran." she said stepping away and turning to face him.
"I don't think you've noticed but I can be very quiet." he chuckled taking another step forward.
"What about Alistair? He can sense the taint in my blood and he will come looking to see what he's sensing." she said as he cornered her against a tree.
"I think he would turn an awesome shade of red. I would like to see that." he said with his face just inches from her own. She was conflicted about what to do. She probably should be objecting more but she found herself falling under his spell.
Before she could try to think of another reason to object he was kissing her. She felt herself melting. All the feelings that she had felt on the shore of that lake where gone now. The only thing that mattered now was Zevran. He smelled of leather and forest. She felt his fingers running through her long chocolate hair and they rested on either side of her neck.
She needed to snap out of it. Was she really going to do this with him? She wasn't even sure if this just wasn't another conquest for him. She couldn't break free. Her mind was yelling for her to get a hold of her body but instead her arms reached out and drew him much closer to her.
"Keira? Are you out there?" it was Alistair yelling for her, right on time. Zevran pulled back and watched her.
"Answer him." he whispered
"Yea its just me Alistair. I dropped my pack and I can't find my pencil now. I'll be up there when I find it." she yelled back.
"Your a very good liar dearest Warden." he said with a chuckle.
"I better get up there before he comes searching for me." she said looking down.
"As you wish my dear." he said taking a few steps back and bowing. Before she could even think about staying and giving into her body's desire she took off for camp. She ran most of the way and stopped at the tree line panting.
"Are you alright?" Leliana questioned looking worried.
"I'm hungry." She answered. She walked over to her tent, threw her pack in, and grabbed her bowl. She walked up to a pot sitting next to the fire and opened the lid. Deer stew tonight. A very welcomed interruption of their usual diet of rabbit. She served herself a bowl and took a seat next to Leliana on an old log and next to Max who was laying on the ground waiting for scraps. Everyone but Leliana and Alistair had already retired to their tents.
"Have you seen Zev?" Alistair asked into his stew.
"No." She lied "The last time I saw him was here just before I left." she said taking a bite of her stew.
"We haven't seen him in some time. I wonder what he is up to." he said giving her a worried look.
"Your thinking he is out there setting a trap for me?"
"No. I think he is out in the woods waiting to fall asleep then he is going to kill you." he replied.
"Because he couldn't do that before!" she said with anger.
"HE WAS AN ASSASIN SENT TO KILL YOU KEIRA!" he yelled back
"Thanks for reminding me because I wasn't there when it happened!" she said grinding her teeth together.
"Alistair your still angry from fighting with Morrigan. Maybe you should just go to bed." Leliana interjected quietly.
"Fine." he said storming off. Keira looked into her stew and suddenly didn't feel so hungry.
"He's just jealous of Zevran." Leliana commented. She looked over and her red headed friend.
"What do you mean jealous Lel?" she said putting her bowl on the ground in front of Max for him to finish.
"Well you and Zev seem to have connection that you don't have with Alistair." she said playing with her hair.
"Zev has a connection with any woman that crosses his path." she said rolling her eyes.
"Thats true." Leliana giggled "The connection he has with you is different though. He seems genuinely interested in you." she said with a big grin.
"Where did you get that idea Lel?" she said shocked.
"I think everyone thinks that." she said giggling again
"I guess I didn't notice." she said leaning over and patting Max's head.
"You've been too busy to notice." she said standing up and stretching. That was probably true. Ever since Alistair had thrust her into the leadership role all she was worried about was stopping the Blight.
"What if he isn't? What if he just wants to take me to bed and thats it?" she said continuing to pet Max. Leliana gave her a serious look. Keira suddenly wished she could take back those questions. She had admitted her feelings without even realizing it. Leliana giggled.
"Either way. Would being pampered by a man who knows how to do it be so bad?" she said with a smirk.
"Well I am off to bed. Goodnight Keira." she said as she started walking towards her tent.
"Goodnight." she replied. She was now left alone sitting next to the fire with Max as her only company. Was Leliana right? Was it even possible for her to spend just one night with Zev and not expect anything more and when did she develop feelings for him? Her thoughts were swirling so fast in her head that she didn't even hear Shale approaching.
"It can go to sleep too if it wishes. I will watch camp tonight" she said looking down at her. Keira nodded and thanked Shale and made her way to her tent. Max, belly full, happily pranced after her. She held open the front flap to her tent and crawled in. Max did a few circles in front of her tent and laid down. She removed her armor carefully and into a pair a breeches and an undershirt.
She laid on her bedroll and looked up at the top her tent. She didn't know if she could get to sleep. Thoughts about Zevran swirled in her head and she couldn't get them to go away. Leliana's question wasn't exactly helping either.
She sat up and grabbed her pack. She opened it and grabbed her drawing book and pencil. She flipped it open to the page with the her most recent picture of the lake and moon. She flipped one more page to find a blank page. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea but she had to get her thoughts, no she had to get Zevran out of her system.
She rolled onto her stomach and ran through her memories of the night. Which one would she draw? She tapped her pencil on her book. Then inspiration struck like lighting. The image of him by the lake after he confessed about Rinna. She doubted many had seen him look so deep in thought or even so conflicted.
She set her pencil to paper and began drawing him. The way the moon reflected off his blonde hair and armor. The expression on his face, the emotion in his eyes. Arms crossed over his chest, head down. The sand beneath his feet the forest behind him.
Once she felt her picture was complete she put her pencil down and looked at it. A good picture by any means. She was still slightly embarrassed that she had actually drawn Zevran. Her heart pounded in her chest as she thought about him finding the picture. She knew that he would never let her hear the end of and tell everyone in camp about it. She could already feel her cheeks flushing. She slammed the book shut and shoved it under her pillow. She grabbed her blanket and covered up determined to get some sleep.