Alistair hated not knowing. Zevran didn't give any clear answers. He'd never seen the assassin angry. He stopped hating the elf the moment he saw him walk in the gardens, holding her. Even if Zevran will not admit it, Alistair knew. He loved her. Otherwise his attitude wouldn't been so...obvious.
Diana had looked so fragile, covered in blood. He should have been there, to protect her.
Alistair was in Eamon's study, sitting next to the bard on the couch, where she put healing poultice salve on Anora's face, Zevran's punch had left a black eye.
"don't twitch!" Leliana's impatient voice said.
"It hurts." The queen whined
"No less then what you deserve!" Leliana whispered so low only Alistair heard what she said.
Riordan had just arrived in the estate and he asked Alistair
"How is our sister doing?"
"Not good. Wynne and Morrigan have been in her bedroom for several hours and no one is allowed to enter." Alistair sighed.
"I hope she gets well soon. We can't afford losing any more of our order." He said before going to his room.
"Leliana, since Zevran refuse to talk with me and Wynne is not...available. Can you tell me what happened?"
Leliana had just finished patching the queen's eye.
She looked at Alistair.
"I don't know how to explain it. It was horrible!" She said turning her face away.
The queen started to feel uncomfortable in their presence but remained to hear the story.
Leliana started to tell the tale, how they entered the fort, and how they found her, lying there.
"...and Zevran took her in his arms and refused to let her go until we came here" She smiled a little. I always thought Zevran was only a cold bloody assassin. I was wrong. You should have seen him. Poor Diana, I wonder if she'll ever recover from this. Those men...I had a traitors punishment in Orlais, it was nothing compared to what I saw."
Alistiar was at a outburst of taking his sword and go slaughtering anyone close to him. He never felt this angry before.
"Are they alive? The men?"
"No, we shot them down. Pity though, I would have liked to have a nice chat with them before sending them to their deaths." Leliana said darkly.
Anora had been quite during the entire time.
"I'm sorry for your friend. I did what I thought was best."
Both Alistair and Leliana stared at her.
"you did what you thought was best for yourself" Alistair spitted on the ground.
"I....I..." Anora tried to say.
Before Alistair could make a comment, they heard the door to Diana's room open. Without hesitation Alistair ran with Leliana behind him. Wynne had closed the door behind her.
She looked exhausted.
"Morrigan is trying to stabilize her. I need to get my strength back before continuing. I've healed the major wounds, except the ones on her legs." She said weakly when she saw the two companions.
"Is she awake?"
Wynne shook her head.
"I want a bath prepared in her room. We need to wash her. Leliana can you..."
"Certainly" Leliana said before hurrying off to find a servant.
"Is she ok?" Alistair looked at Wynne.
"Alistair, my dear boy. I think she will be fine. I will not give up on her!" She said smiling.
"Her wounds were...beyond normal torture. Sadistic bastard," she continued and tighten the grip of her hands.
"I heard that you were here, mage!" They heard Sten's voice behind them. He was holding a big basket filled with cookies.
"Sten..?" Alistair said while looking at it.
"Kadan told me she loved cookies, and they always made her happier. I only wish her well."
Wynne grinned at Sten.
"I bet she will be happy to have it Sten, when she wakes up."
"I will wait then," he bowed, put the basket in his room and left.
--
Zevran was still sitting in the gardens, caressing his bloody hand. He saw suddenly Sten walking towards him.
"Hi there my big qunari friend."
"Elf, I want to test your skills in battle!"
"Sten, this is not the best of times..."
"Kadan is hurt, we are stuck here. There won't be a better time"
Zevran stood up.
"Fine...I must warn.." Sten punched him in the face.
"Oh, you qunari fight dirty I see?" He smiled wickedly and pulled out his daggers.
"The battle had begun, it was fair and just!"
He had his Asala drawn, faced towards Zevran.
They walked slowly in circles.
Sten bursted at him, who jumped out of his way, kicking him on the side of his body. Sten groaned and swinged his blade towards Zevran's head. He ducked and kept circulating around Sten.
Sten was growing impatient.
"Elf, why are you not fighting?!"
"I am, my good qunari."
Sten tried to swing his sword again. Zevran blocked it with both his blades. Sten used his free arm to punch Zevran in the stomach.
He was taken by surprise and staggered a little and backed from Sten.
He rushed towards him again, Zevran ducked his blow and used the time to swipe his feet of the ground. He had both his daggers on Sten's back.
"You use the coward's way of fighting!"
Zevran grinned.
"Atleast I am the one who would still be breathing if this would be a real fight." He laughed at the qunari, as he now looked furious.
They both stood up and when they were gonna continue their duel they got interrupted by Leliana.
"Ah, if it isn't my favorite bard" Zevran said not paying attention to Sten who used the opportunity to punch Zevran hard in the stomach so he fell down. Sten faced his blade on Zevran's chest.
"You win, Sten," Zevran said. He did not wish to continue the duel.
Sten nodded and helped him up.
"So Leli. Any news about our Warden?"
"No, Wynne had to rest, she regained her strength in a matter of minutes. I called for a bath in her room. Which should be done soon,"
"She lies in her bed in dried blood. Wynne wants her clean." She continued.
"Is she awake?"
"No." Leliana switched from her grim face to a happy smile
"Aw, Zevran. You love her don't you?"
Zevran was completely taken by surprise.
"I can see it in your face. This is so romantic. The feared assassin falls in love with he woman he should have killed!"
Zevran remained silent, he didn't even have a cocky response.
Leliana continued her babbling, finally Zevran interrupted her.
"My dear Leliana, there is more at stake then your talk about me and the Warden, no?"
Zevran walked in the castle, knocked on Diana's room, not waiting for a response he walked inside.
The bathtub in the corner of the room was almost filled with water. Wynne and Morrigan was sitting on the side of the bed. He saw blue beams pulsating, coming from Wynne's hands over her. Morrigan was only holding the old woman's wrist, it looked like she "borrowed" her power to the healing mage.
They were both irritated at Zevran when he walked in.
"I'm not leaving!" He said firmly
They were both to focused to argue with him. He saw her face. Most of the bruises were gone. He sat down on the bed next to her.
"Do not get to close, elf" Morrigan snapped at him.
"Oh, so fiery" Zevran grinned.
When the bath was complete. Zevran helped carrying Diana. He put her gently in the bath. Wynne poured healing poultices in the bath, while Morrigan searched her bag for healing herbs. The water almost turned red immediately, and the stench was horrible. A combination of blood and rotten eggs. They helped holding her up, washing her face and body from her dried blood. Zevran noticed only now all the wounds she had, Andraste's grace, it was many.
They had to call for another bath, Zevran added an oil from Orlais this time, one he stole from Leliana at some point, to live up the odor. Now it at least smelled rotten eggs with a mixture of honey. It didn't make it better. He sighed.
After some hours bathing her, they took her out. Wynne changed the sheets and linen in the bed. She had a nightgown out for Diana. Zevran put it on her, took her in his arms and put her gently back in bed.
He took her hand, kissing it.
"She's going to be fine." Wynne said
"When is she going wake up?"
"Give it time, hopefully she will tomorrow."
Zevran nodded, kissed Diana's hand and just when he was about to leave, he felt a firm grip on his hand. He looked at Diana, she had not awaken, but she had tighten her grip around the assassin's hand.
Wynne looked at Zevran.
"Seems like she doesn't want you to leave," she smiled at him.
"Well she is now fine, and our task here is done." Morrigan said standing up.
"Thank you Morrigan for your help."
The apostate mage frowned
"I only did this because if our leader died, the dim-witted fool Alistair would lead us and that would, well, yes, result in painful death," and she went outside.
"Hm, such cold feeling are always refreshing." Zevran said, Wynne chuckled
"She just don't want to admit that she, like the rest of us cares about her. She had that act up since Diana killed her mother."
"It's true!"
He used his free hand to caress Diana's face.
"You're quite taken with her, aren't you Zevran?" Wynne suddenly sounded serious.
"What makes you think that, my dear Wynne?" He said innocently
"Oh, I may be old but I am not stupid, I've seen how you look at her, your eyes can't lie."
Zevran remained silent.
"I have watched you two for a while. I've seen Diana up and downs with you. How you intentionally drives her insane to not admit your feelings. I daresay that she is in love with you. I know when a man can drive a woman nuts, if she does not push him away...it has to mean something."
Zevran sighed at Wynne's attempt to get him to talk.
"Yes, I do admit this. I care for her, deeply, more then I should. I think I might cry about my feelings. Can I talk about them while lying in your bosom?" Zevran faked a crying voice, he did not wish the conversation to continue. Mentioning Wynne's bosom always shut her up.
"Don't be such a child!" She frowned.
"Well I think I can leave you alone...Are you going to stay over the night in her room?"
"I will not leave her side unprotected." He said.
"Good, I need my rest, and she's healing fine. I will come here first thing tomorrow," and she was off and closed the door behind her.
Diana's grip had not loosened.
Zevran smiled at this, laid himself on top of the covers in a comfortable position, pulled her closer to him, her normal scent had begun to take over the horrible stench, he loved her fragrance. He fell asleep with her in his arms.