The Warden's and their little party had been on the road to Denerim for just over three weeks. Dragon's Peak was a smudge in the distance when they stopped for lunch. Due to the amount of time they were spending together, the band of travelers was becoming quite close. Protecting one another during skirmishes with small groups of darkspawn or bandits only helped to increase their bond. Deylan observed this new "family" contentedly. After leaving the Circle, he'd not thought to find the companionship that he'd had there again. He certainly didn't expect to find it among the Wardens. He'd never gotten time to know them but his experience told him that "normal people" were always suspicious of mages. He couldn't help but wonder if it was Ilaria. She'd drawn him and the others together at the Circle. Perhaps it was her here as well. He knew the others would follow his lead but he also knew that he was too impersonal to affect the kind of close knit feeling that was developing. Ilaria took time for everyone. She'd even drawn Morrigan out enough for the two of them to talk about magic. He could only surmise that it was her empathy. She had a gift for finding a way to get others to open up.
He watched Ilaria playing with Dax in the snow. They were currently playing some sort of chase. He couldn't help but smile as Dax knocked Arie over into the snow, making her laugh. He'd been puzzling over how to get rid of that dog since it had showed up just outside Lothering. It wasn't that he disliked the mabari; he simply had no use for him. Growing up inside the Circle did not allow for socialization with animals often and he had little interest in them in the first place. He wanted to give Dax to Arie but the mabari's imprinting made that difficult.
"Basra, the day grows late while we idle here. We should continue while we still have daylight." Sten was always frustrated by the need to rest.
"Very well, Sten." Deylan called out to the others to gather up and continue on. It was late in the afternoon when a young elven woman came running down the road toward them. She was pale and out of breath. She reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Please! Please, help us! They attacked the wagon. Please, we need help!" Before he could respond, she took of back down the trail. Deylan sighed and he and the others took off behind her down the trail leaving Wynne and Shale with Bodahn, Sandal and the wagon.
Deylan was himself only half surprised to come around a tight bend in the trail and find an ambush waiting. They barely avoided being crushed by a thick log as it fell to the ground behind them, cutting them off from escape. Rock sloped up steeply on either side of them pinning them in a narrow gully with the only exit through a band of assassins.
The attack began after a cry of, "Kill the Wardens!" from a blonde, heavily armed elf. Ilaria quickly shielded them from the arrows of the archers on the ledges above. As Sten and Alistair charged forward, blades bare, Deylan called out to the women behind him.
"Morrigan, take out the mage. Leliana, the archers. Ilaria, keep that shield up. As soon as the archers are down, pick off anyone you can." Deylan began draining the life out of the nearest assassin. He weakened quickly. The sounds of battle rang sharply in his ear. He looked up in time to see Leliana's well placed shot bring down a third archer as Morrigan defeated the mage she'd been struggling against. He felt more than saw Ilaria's shield fading. Almost as soon as it was gone, the distinct smell of lightning filled the air and he watched a brilliant bolt strike down a man attacking Sten. Choosing his target carefully, Deylan cast a mass paralysis spell that immobilized the remainder of their opponents allowing them to be quickly dealt with.
"Is everyone alright?" he asked. He glanced around at everyone quickly. Finding no one to be seriously injured he strode forward into the midst of bodies till he found the elven leader crumpled on the ground. "Leliana, fetch Wynne. Arie," he called. "He's still alive. I need you to keep him that way until Wynne gets here. Alistair, Sten, Morrigan, let's make sure everyone else is dead."
Zevran woke up slowly. It took several moments for his senses to return completely and for the world to come back into focus. The voices around him were only murmurs at first, indistinct and hazy. When his vision focused, he found a slight, pale woman leaning over him pulling a wet cloth over his forehead. It was only moments later that he realized he was bound to the cot he was stretched out on.
"Generally, I like to get to know a woman a little before the ropes come in to play but I think I can make an exception."
"Assassin, I have questions for you."
Zevran watched at the woman stood and backed away and the tall man who had spoken took her place standing over him. This must be the mage Warden. He fit the description.
"Let me save you some time, Warden. My name is Zevran, Zev to my friends. I am a member of the Antivan Crows. You've heard of us, yes?"
"I am aware of the Crows."
"I was brought her to kill any surviving Grey Warden's. I have failed, sadly."
"Who hired you?"
"A rather taciturn fellow in the capital, Loghain, I think his name was."
"Loghain! That traitorous, murdering bastard!" A second man speaking who fit the description of the other Warden, the one who was almost a templar.
"Yes, so are many of our clients," Zevran replied.
"What did Loghain tell you?" The first Warden asked.
"Not much really. I don't know what his problem is with you, though I assume it's the usual. Power and all that."
The dark haired Warden stared down at him thoughtfully before speaking. "I don't think there is much we can learn from this one."
"Perhaps not. But if you are done questioning me, I have an offer I'd like to make you. For failing to kill you, my life is forfeit as far as the Crows are concerned. You and your companions are ones who would give the Crows pause. Allow me to serve you instead. I could protect you should the Crows attempt again... not that you need protecting."
"Why should we trust you?" The second Warden again.
"Look, it's not like I had much choice in joining the Crows. They bought me, for a bargain I'm told, when I was very young. Since you still live, they will kill me if you don't. I happen to like living so I am willing to give you my loyalty in return for that small favor."
"Why would we want your help?" The first again.
"I am skilled at many things. I can fight well enough and I've gotten rather good at picking locks should you be looking for treasure. I can be stealthy if need be. I could also do other things... cook your meals, shine armor..." he dropped his voice as seductively as he could, "warm your bed? You won't find a better deal, I promise."
The Warden looked down on him evenly. For a moment, he felt hopeful. He may survive this after all. But the next words left a pit of cold in his stomach.
"Sten, kill him," the Warden said as he turned to leave.
"Wait!" The pretty little woman from before.
"Arie..."
"Deylan, please, just listen." Ah, yes, that was his name. "I've been to Antiva. The Crows are... a serious threat. Having someone around who is familiar with their methods could be helpful. Their entire government has changed because of the Crows. You and Alistair are just two Wardens." She looked passed Deylan at Zevran quickly before lowering her voice. "We need the help."
Deylan stood there for several moments, coolly regarding her before responding. "Very well. But Arie, I'm holding you responsible. We aren't going to be able to stop the Blight if he kills us in our sleep." She only nodded.
"What? We're taking the assassin with us?" The second Warden, Alistair, followed Deylan as he left.
"Are you sure about this, Arie?" Another pretty red head.
"Surely, I did not know there was such beauty to be found in this freezing little area of the world."
"As sure as I can be..." she responded before turning back to Zevran. "My name is Ilaria. It seems I am to be your jailor."
"Oh... and are you the one who so nicely tended to my wounds?"
"Your serious injuries were healed by Wynne. She is a much more effective healer than I am. This is Leliana."
"Welcome Zevran. I'm sure having a Crow with us will be a fine plan," Leliana greeted him.
"And I am assuming it was you who tied me up?" he grinned at her lasciviously.
"Ugh... maybe not." She turned and walked away in the direction of the Wardens.
"Zevran, I will warn you, I will kill you if necessary. I believe in what the Wardens are doing and beyond that, they are my friends. I will untie you now so you can clean yourself up. Please, don't force me to kill you."
Zevran found himself staggered by her sincerity. "I give you my word, mia bella, I will be on my best behavior."
Ilaria gently slipped her small dagger into the loops of the rope and cut the Crow free. Despite being only partially healed, he rose swiftly and gracefully, helping her to her feet.
"I pledge my oath of loyalty to you until such a time as you release me from it. I am your man, without reservation, this I swear."
She studied him carefully. "Shouldn't your oath be to the Wardens?"
"It was not the Wardens who spared my life."
"Perhaps not. But your loyalty should be to them, not me."
"You spared my life. My oath is to you. Through your loyalty to them, I shall be loyal also."
She seemed to muse over his words before nodding solemnly. "Come with me. I'll show you where you can clean up."
Zevran followed after her displaying a cheerful demeanor to hide the turmoil of thoughts in his mind.