"I fear I will never find anyone
I know my greatest pain is yet to come
Will we find each other in the dark
My long lost love" - Beauty of the beast, Nightwish
AN: Oh yes, before you flame me, I got a review about missing things in Morrigans speech. I have misunderstood some of her expressions and I will correct them when I can. So sorry for the annoyance of it. And thank you Yvanna Silverstream for correcting me. I mean it, thats how I learn, aight? :) hugs
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S MISSING" Yelled the angry king over the entire main hall room. There were whispering all from the servants that were standing around. Zevran was leaning against the nearby pillar with his crutches next to him. Morrigan was pacing close by, her eyes narrowed and deep in thought. Zevran looked back at a livid Alistair that were shouting at the misfortunate servants. It had been strange, when Zevran woke up this morning, she was gone. He also noticed that her cloak and a dress was missing from her wardrobe. And there were no signs of a fight, which he would have actually have woken by if that would happen. He clenched and unclenched his fists. She would not have left him now, would she? Where would she had gone, and she would soon enough give birth to her child. He hoped nothing bad had happened to her, but he did not feel at ease. She had try to commit suicide not that long ago, she would not try that again? No, she wouldn't. So what happened?
After some hours of hearing Alistair yelling, walking around the palace, telling the nobles about what had happened and also made an official speech about the marriage having to be postponed. He hadn't given any reason why either, and the people were worrying. Eamon opened the palace door, grabbing everyone's attention. He ran hastily to Alistair and whispered something in his ear. Alistair had dispatched search teams in the capital to find Diana as soon as Zevran had explained the situation to him. Whatever the man was telling Alistair, it could not be good. It was growing near dusk and there was no sight of her anywhere.
"She would not have disappeared." Said the apostate behind Zevran. He turned his face and saw Morrigan walking over and stood next to him.
"I know." He muttered back. He was worried about her, being here wasn't helping at all.
"Do you have anything personal that belonged to her?" She asked. He was surprised, Morrigan actually sounded genuine sincere.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean something, beside clothes."
She had taken of his earring during the night, he recalled, maybe that could be seen as something personal. It sure was for both of them.
"She had an earring." He said, feeling a bit uncomfortable. The last person he wanted to share more intimate information with was the witch.
"If it held value to her, 'tis should help me to perform a locating spell." Zevran eyes widened and looked at her.
"Then we should try it now, yes?" She smiled and nodded.
They walked to his room, where he tried searching for the earring without exhausting the remaining strength he had left, tingling in his legs.
"Your back is not yet healed it seems." He heard her say.
"Evidently not." He scoffed back.
"haven't your mage healed you?"
"He has, but it takes time to heal such a delicate condition." He heard her laugh and she strode in front of him.
"Maybe with the magic that the Circle would deem pure." the assassin raised his eyebrow.
"Where are you going with this?"
She sighed and frowned, "you are frustrating to the point it twould seem impossible, you know 'tis?"
"Part of my assassin charm, or so I'm told." He said innocently, shrugging his shoulders.
"If you would let me, I can use my magic to heal you."
"And this magic you so dearly speak of will do what exactly?"
"Are you even listening? I can heal you."
"I like that part. But I suspect that there is something else to it or you wouldn't be acting so skittish about it."
She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, "You love her do you not?" His chuckling stopped immediately and he stared her in her eyes. She waved her hand in annoyance and satisfacion, knowing the answer from his sudden change in behavior.
"So my guess twould be that you would do anything to save her?" he gave a small nod – he would not deny that part.
"I can heal you with blood-magic, 'tis does not bother you, I assume?" He shook his head. Somewhat, he had lost the ability to speak.
"The price of a healed back is...your life-force." He tightened his lips.
"Tell me then, how am I more useful dead?"
"Don't be so ignorant, you fool. I said it will take some of your life-force not all of it." She was seething now. It was pretty hilarious how he could still get on her nerves.
"Oh, and how am I better walking around with a healed back, if I'm old as dust and can't walk because of my old withering bones?" He retaliated.
"I don't need much. You will lose couple of years but you will not age – not yet anyway." He still stared at the witch whom quirked her lips and then added in a tone dripping with acid honey;
"And I believe, that the -oh so mighty assassin Zevran- would do anything to save his beloved." He stared at her, and felt slightly puzzled with her statement. He of course knew he loved her, it was no illusion, but how did she know? The two of them had barely talked since she came back. He did want to get her back, and if she had disappeared somewhere he would never be able to find her fast enough thanks to his condition. He shuddered at the though of losing some years of his life, but then again, he is only alive thanks to her. It seemed a fair price to pay.
"Do it." He croaked, inhaling deep breaths and tried ignoring the tingling of nervosity holding on to his chest.
She nodded and went behind him and pulled up his tunic. He got confused and chuckled;
"Was this just a way to get-aaah!" She placed her cold hand upon the broken spot in his back, and he could sense a freezing touch on his vertebrae. He gasped and clutched the wardrobes sides to decrease the pain. He felt her hand slowly turn hotter and instead of a cold touch, the opposite, feeling like hot lava took over. He could swear that his entire body was hurting and something was taken away. No doubt his lifespan, he thought.
Then it was over. The pain that he had grown so accustomed to was gone. He was doing some swift movements with his legs, and a genuine smile overtook his tanned feature. No aching pain, no more slow movements. It was gone. He turned and chuckled at a satisfied Morrigan.
"Thank you, dear."
She just nodded.
"Now, where is that earring?" She asked.
He walked fast over to the side of the bed. Feeling rather ecstatic about being able to walk properly once again. He picked up the small golden earring and smiled at the memories it hold, obviously he thought about the good ones, but she was ravishing when she had been furious, like a wild fire. Then he felt like something took a firm grip around his heart and squeezed it so hard and he needed to catch his breath. If something has happened to her, he wouldn't know what to do. He looked at the earring and heard her happy laughter echoing in his mind. He will find her, and if she had been kidnapped by some strange event, the persons responsible will pay dearly for it! He felt so hollow without her presence, even when they had been apart, he had known where she was. Now, he had no idea and that frightened him more then he wanted to admit. He had tried erasing all the thought swirling in his mind about where she could be, because none of them were particularly pleasant. He blinked his eyes and straightened his shoulders and handed the witch the earring.
She took it and just when she was about to start, the door barged open and a furious king stormed in. He had never seen the templar this angry, and he had seen it many times, most of them actually being caused by him. He saw his seething eyes flickering between the two of them and then focusing on Morrigan.
"WHERE IS SHE?" He bellowed at her. She looked bewildered at the king.
"What are you on about now, you twittering fool." She sighed heavily and massaged her nose bridge, as if taking away an annoying headache.
"You-you did something to her!" He exclaimed, waving his arms in desperation. His formal attire had lost all its charm, due to all the walking around he must have done in the capital, while being in the search party. Dirt had crusted in his once pure white suit. He had worn his armor, Zevran wondered whenever he had time to take it of and still wear that under it.
Morrigan snorted, "and what would that be?"
"You said something that upset her not to long ago! Don't you think I remember, you sneaky witch!" She stared at him, "Really, that's all you have in your so called arsenal?"
"Very not pathetic!" He sneered.
"I do not know where she is, you dim-witted imbecile."
"Then apparently no one knows where she is." His voice cracked and he sat on the bed, his hands going through his hair.
"By Andraste's flaming sword!" He raged and threw the bed side table against the wall. It broke and fell hard to the ground. He stood up again and headed towards Morrigan. When he inches from her, he asked, deviously calm;
"Do you know anything that could have happened to her?" Morrigan shifted in her position and took a few steps back. That didn't escape Zevran's notion, neither Alistairs.
"I only have a theory, but I need to perform this to conclude it before rushing like a lunatic." She turned and held the earring in her open palm, and mumbled something. The earring suddenly became engulfed in a shimmering red light. Morrigan frowned and then quirked her lips to a satisfactory smile.
"As soon as I will say an incantation, 'tis earring will lead us to our Warden. So I would suggest to you two to get ready." She said, and glided out of the room, the earring hovering over her head.
Alistair immediately headed back to his room, and Zevran went of his own wardrobe that stood in the far corner of the room. Opening it he saw his buckled armor lying there. He frowned and knew he had to get a new one. He wasn't fond of the thought as it would take time to adjust to a new armor. His daggers, boots, leather pants and gloves were all there though. He put them on and chuckled at is reflection. Even he must admit he looked "marvelous" in his white tunic and having armor pieces around it. He attached the potions and poison that were lying next to his belt and put it on.
He did some motions with his "new" legs and pulled out his daggers. His reflexes weren't like before, but he would train on the way, where ever she might be. He would be ready, for her. After a few minutes of practice, he walked out of the room. he could never stop smiling at the healing he received, even if the cost had been...it was worth it.
Zevran found Morrigan leaning against the pillar in the hall room, waiting for everyone to gather. She nodded at Zevran's presence.
"Now we only have to wait for the templar to show." She sighed.
He was stomping around, he just couldn't help it. He had been numb and unable to do this before and felt like bliss - that he was attached and full once again. Now only his heart needed the same comfort. Diana....
The night was upon them when Alistair showed up with some of his men. He was dressed in a golden armor, the kings armor. Aerian was among them, the assassin spotted, and he looked slightly nervous about joining the expedition. Eamon was running next to the king;
"Please, Alistair. You must see reason. You can't abandon your duty as a king, you just can't do this. They will find her with the help of your men." Alistair stopped and looked sternly in Eamon's eyes.
"She is my queen, therefore she is my duty. I will save her, and you won't stop me. Besides I'm the only Grey Warden available, and would never abandon a sister. I need to know all facts and the darkspawn are on the move, so I'm needed. Dispatch a letter to her brother, regarding this information - I'm now happy he could not be present today." Zevran frowned at this statement. Technically, she wasn't his, neither on paper or physically.
Alistair walked and stood next to Zevran and Morrigan;
"I see you healed." He stated to Zevran.
"Very clever, my king." He replied coldly.
"I have a favor to ask of you before we head out." Zevran continued quickly.
He gestured for the assassin to continue;
"I need a new armor."
"We'll get you one at the dwarven smith on the way." Alistair said.
"You-" He gestured to his men. "-will go outside the city walls and stay there for my command." The soldiers nodded and headed out.
"My spider senses are telling me she is not in the capital." He muttered to the two old time companions. He pulled his cloak around him.
When they were staring at him, he scratched his head and asked very bewildered, "What?"
"How observant you are." Morrigan's sarcasm was dripping.
"Oh, don't think I forgot what happened between you and Diana, and I will find out. The wedding is ruined..."
Zevran cocked his eyebrows.
"That is what enters your mind at this time?"
"What can you expect from a child with a five-year old mentality," Morrigan sniffed beside him. He stuffed a chuckle and tightened his lips. Alistair narrowed his eyes upon them.
"Hey, I'm might be slow but don't do this now. Not when she is..." He turned his head away.
"Lets get you the armor. I know some of my men will get the necessary supplies on the way and lets just go." He muttered and opened the gates and concealed himself with the cloak.
They all heard Eamon yelling after them but no one turned their head to reply anything.
As they headed in the city toward the smith, they didn't raise any awareness. Instead the group mingled and the city itself was in a uproar due to the postponed marriage so paying attention to the citizens was not on the people's top list things to do.
They reached the familiar dwarven smith Gorim that had his usual spot in the market district. After taking some measurements, Zevran got his new leather armor. He loved the new smell of leather, it reminded him of a long lost home that he didn't have any longer. Memories will always enlighten those easy days.
"Bollocks." Someone burped near Gorim. A red haired dwarf came out from the house behind the smith, and Gorim rolled his eyes and looked at the three customers.
"I'm sorry about him." He muttered. Zevran raised his eyebrow, he recognized the dwarf. Could it really be?
"My stout little dwarf, Oghren." He said happily, which made the little dwarf turn and burp even louder.
"Eugh, yes, must be. You can't smell this foul odor anywhere else." Alistair whined.
"pfft. Just because YOU-oou have been busy living fancy like ass-scrabbing princes in the palace and forgot about me doesn't mean I could." He was not making any sense, and Zevran sniffed disgustingly at the stench. He was drunk that was for sure, and Zevran knew the perfect well, cure - something Oghren would love.
"Oghren. We have a proposition for you!"
"We do?" The mage and Alistair asked in union.
After a few minutes that seemed like hours, the assassin convinced Oghren to go and take a bath and get an armor set and a weapon from Gorim and join them to find their lost Warden girl. Alistair and Morrigan had not seemed pleased but they had agreed to it. When they were done, the city was still a turmoil - even if it was past midnight by now. Zevran hoped that Alistair knew what he was doing.
Being outside the city, the templar's men were waiting for them. There were only a group of twenty men and a woman that were going on the search. Having Oghren back added the more humoristic conversations to take place between the lot, and kept the appearance up. Morrigan chanted her spell and the earring glowed clearly red and flew ahead of the group.
"So what now?" Alistair asked while all of them gazed the red glimmering earring.
"We follow." Morrigan answered.
"BAh, pike-twirler! Aye, follow the twinkie to lead us to our doom...let's go." Oghren muttered and they headed out in the depth of the darkness outside Denerim.