A question for my lovely lovely readers – do any of you have an account on BioWare's social network? I'm sick of not having friends there (lol) so if you are so inclined, look me up (same username: phoenixandashes :D) and add me! Or, let me know your username in your review or a PM and I'll find you :D

Warning: The latter part of the chapter (I don't want give it away but I also don't want to upset anyone) contains some mildly suggestive scenes of a homosexual nature. (You read right – so if male on male is not for you then don't read the last few paragraphs.)

Chapter Eight: Highever (III)

The spring night was clear but warm, and at a glade off the North Road two elves and a dog were settling down for the night.

Madoc was curled up in the tent, asleep but alert, his ears waiting for any sound of danger. Darrian was standing in the spa e between the fire and the tents, running through blade forms with two daggers ("Reach perfection with those first, then I might let you handle a sword," Zevran had said while Darrian had grumbled. It was odd dealing with two short blades when he was used to a longsword and dagger combination, but if it helped in the long run then Darrian would do as he was told) while Zevran fussed over the rabbit stew on the fire.

"Zev," Darrian said with a laugh as the Antivan tutted again and riffled in the pack for more spices. "Rabbit is rabbit. If it's hot and cooked through I'll eat it all the same."

"You might," Zevran said snippily, "but other people have developed actual tastebuds. Honestly you Fereldens – if it was dead and roasted through I swear you'd eat it, whatever it was."

Darrian laughed again and ran through the form once more. "Did you have charge of the cooking during the Blight?"

"Eventually, on occasion," he admitted. "Leliana and Wynne took turns more often than not. I'm not sure if you've heard the story, but I wasn't particular trusted near the food to begin with."

"Oh, I've heard the story," Darrian said with another laugh. "Sounds like you got a lucky, that's for sure."

"Hm... quite," Zevran said, reaching out to stir the wooden spoon in the pot. "So... how did you meet our illustrious Hero?"

"Elissa didn't tell you?"

"She didn't mention specifics, no. Only that you met in Minrathous."

"Ah," Darrian said, pausing in his exercise slightly to shake the stiffness from his shoulders. He stepped back into form and arced his blades through the air. "Well, as she said we met in Minrathous. I was a slave, being held in the dock warehouses with about a dozen others from Ferelden. I was singled out though – I tried to escape twice," he added with a cocky grin. "However, I was trussed up like a Solstice goose after the second attempt. A Grey Warden rogue crept in to ask if we were from Ferelden – once she had that confirmed she left, and Elissa, the rogue and another fighter come charging in, swords held high and set us free."

"That sounds like Elissa," Zevran said with a fond chuckle. "So I'm right in thinking you were an Alienage dweller?"

"You would be correct."

"Were you caught in Denerim?" Zevran asked, remembering the elves in the warehouses from the days of the Blight. "We ran across some Tevinter slavers there masquerading as Healers – we stopped them, but not before they had a chance to send a few shipments off to the Imperium."

"No, but by the sounds of things it may have the same group. The others I was with mentioned being duped by Healers when a plague erupted in the Alienage. I on the other hand was... handed over."

Zevran looked at Darrian quizzically and the Ferelden sighed, dropping his stance. "I was a criminal. A murderer, in fact. Whether Howe divulged the true nature of my imprisonment I don't know but... well. There you have it." Darrian grimaced and went back to his forms, staring resolutely ahead into the darkness of the trees.

Zevran removed the pot from the fire and divvied the stew out into their bowls. "Here," he said holding out the bowl to Darrian. "Stop that and eat something. And start from the beginning – I find it hard to believe that a person such as yourself would just kill in cold blood without provocation."

Darrian snorted and sheathed his blades, taking the bowl from Zevran and sitting on the log by the fire. "I suppose I was provoked, yes," Darrian said with a sigh.

"It was my wedding day -,"

"Oh? That's always a good start to a tale," Zevran quipped. Darrian snorted again and pulled a face.

"Aye well – it's not like I wanted to get married. But then I guess you know how it works in an Alienage."

"Actually, I don't," Zevran admitted. "I was raised in a whorehouse and then sold to my guild. I've only ever been inside an Alienage when working."

"Really?" Darrian said in surprise. "Well... marriages in the Alienage are nearly always arranged and nearly always happen when someone turns eighteen. In fact, you're considered a child until you're married. The parents of the child usually arrange the match or the hahren – our elder – when the parents are deceased. My father had arranged for a match from Highever, and Elder Valendrian had arranged one for Soris, also from Highever.

"I considered running to find the Dalish that day," Darrian said with a laugh. "So many times. I really didn't want to get married."

"Was your bride-to-be that terrible?"

"No," Darrian said with a sigh. "No, I suppose she wasn't. She was beautiful, that's for certain, but she was quiet, reserved... not what I who I would have picked for myself if I'm honest. But then, as my father knew, if it was up to me I wouldn't have chosen at all. I wasn't cut out for a quiet family life, for the good of the Alienage or otherwise.

"Anyway, the wedding was about to start... when the Arl of Denerim's son decided he would make a trip to the Alienage. It wasn't the first time he had barged in with his friends to steal away some of the girls for the night, using the Alienage as a personal brothel, but it was the first time he was so open and blatant about it. And he picked on my cousin, Shianni."

"A-ha," Zevran said, "so that was the trigger?"

"No, no," Darrian said with a smile. "Shianni could look after herself – she knocked him out with the nearest available glass jar. But she didn't realise who he was.

"His friends whisked the unconscious moron away and the wedding got underway. We'd barely started, however, and Vaughan came back.

"I'm ashamed to say he knocked me out cold on the dias," Darrian said with an embarrassed grimace. "And when I came to Soris was hovering over me, and Elder Valendrian. The shems had taken our betrotheds and all the women in the wedding party. Six, all told.

"I headed back to my house and pulled my weapons out from under the floorboards – my mother was a Dalish," he said in answer to Zevran's questioning look. "She taught me all she knew up until humans killed her for being a troublemaker when I was thirteen. Anyway, with the help of one of the servants from the Arl's estate we snuck into the building through the kitchen, hoping to get to Vaughan's rooms and... well get the women out. By any means necessary."

"When you say 'we' you mean...?"

"Me and Soris."

"Ah, you're cousin in Highever."

"That's the one. Never really pegged him to be the type to marry a human but... well, she's a lovely enough lady," Darrian said with a shrug. "The trip through the Arl's estate didn't go well. Our cover was blown when... well, I blew the cover," Darrian admitted. "We tried to bluff our way and say we were taking the weapons back to the armoury but that didn't work, so I just threw a knife at the guy. We fought our way to Vaughan's quarters after that.

"We found one of the bridesmaids dead in one of the side rooms." Darrian swallowed. "Poor Nola. She must have resisted. When we finally got to Vaughan's rooms he was over Shianni and... we were too late."

Zevran looked puzzled. "We met a Shianni in the Alienage. A spirited and fiery redhead, as I recall."

"Really? That was her... Yes, we saved her from death... but not from Vaughan." Zevran's face fell in realisation.

"But you got her and the other women free, yes?"

"Not before I killed Vaughan and his two lordling friends who had touched her. We returned to the Alienage," Darrian continued, "and got the women to their homes before the guards arrived. When they did... well, there was no use hiding it. I was still covered in blood after all. Soris was with Shianni back at the house, so I handed myself over, took all the blame."

"And then Loghain sold you to fund his war," Zevran said darkly.

"Loghain?" Darrian said, confused. "No, not Loghain – sure he may have allowed it but it was all Howe's idea. I've met some slimy customers in my time – even swindled a few – but never so malicious and vile as that man."

"Swindled a few?" Zevran asked, his eyes twinkling. "Now there's another story begging to be told."

Darrian smiled and stood up, brushing off his legs. "Some other time, perhaps," he said, stepping into stance and running through the forms again.

Zevran stood up sharply and moved behind Darrian, hands reaching out and firmly correctly slight faults in his positioning. "I am curious," he said, stepping away from the younger elf to let him continue. "You said you did not want to get married – then you were willing to be considered a child for longer?"

Darrian sighed but continued in his movements. "It wasn't that – I just didn't want a family. I'm a poor example of an elf, really. It was infuriating to think that marriage and a family was a duty. Being a Grey Warden is a real duty. I think I'm rather good at it," he added with a grin.

Zevran cocked his head, intrigued. "But are you exercising your duty at the moment? Why not even stay with the Wardens in Weisshaupt or Orlais? Why stay with Elissa?"

"Aside from the lure of adventure and promise of excitement?"

"Naturally."

"Honestly?" Darrian said with a sigh, dropping his stance. "I owe Elissa. More than my life, since that's so easy to give up for someone. I owe Elissa my freedom and to that end I'll follow her lead wherever she may go. Not that I would ever tell her that," he added, "since she would be horrified at the thought of someone bound to her in that way."

"Especially a friend," Zevran said quietly, Darrian's words voicing the very truth he had felt inside since the moment Elissa killed Taliesen.

x.x.x

Back in Highever, Elissa was packed and ready for Denerim. Her armour was clean and on its stand, Starfang and the Keening Blade in their specially lined box at the foot of her bed. She was wearing a worn leather jerkin and soft comfortable trousers, along with her new pair of embroidered boots that Soris had sent up to the castle. (She had tried to return them but the elf would have none of it – "If anyone asks, just say where you got them," he said, blushing. "They're a gift – the least I could do for you saving my cousin".)

Elissa paced the room twice. It was too late to socialise, and she knew that Fergus had already gone to bed. It was too late to train and she didn't want to start the journey sweaty and dirty from such exertions. That left going to sleep and that just wasn't possible right now.

Elissa took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She was going back to Denerim.

The rational part of her brain knew she was being silly. Denerim was not going to be a Blighted wreck like when she left, and from the sounds of things Anora had used her power wisely when rebuilding the city. She wasn't going to have to sneak around as an outlaw anymore and she didn't have to worry about fighting any battles. Hopefully.

Nevertheless she couldn't help but remember that Denerim is where he – Alistair – had died. As a result, sleep was eluding her. She huffed angrily and decided that she'd go to the study to try and clear her head – mayhap do some reading and raid the wine rack.

Elissa stoked the embers of the dying fire to drive some of the chill out of the stone and then went to the bookshelf to find a suitably sleep-inducing tome. She paused at the desk to look at the wall, surprised at what was latched there and scolding herself for not seeing them sooner.

Latched on the wall in place of an old ancestor's portrait was the Cousland sword and shield. She wondered how they got back to Highever, having distinctly recalled putting both into Levi's safekeeping at Soldier's Peak following the Landsmeet and Howe's demise, not wanting to have the shield damaged any more (the Cousland crest on the shield was marred by several dents, a magic burn mark and scratches from hurlock claws from Ostagar, the only battle she really used it in) and not wanting to carry the sword any longer. She had fulfilled the sword's use and needed to focus on the Archdemon... in addition to that, she had no wish for her family's legacy to be looted from her corpse should she have fallen.

Elissa reached up and lifted the sword carefully from its stand. Making sure she had the space and wasn't inadvertently going to slice any furniture, she spun the blade in her hand and ran her off-hand gently along its edge, going through an elegant and precise form – one that was light on the energy consumption and more about a display than anything else. At best it had you aware of the blade and where it went during its sweeping arcs – and it also meant she wouldn't get too worked up.

She tossed the blade into her off-hand and repeated the steps. She was about halfway through the form when a low voice interrupted her concentration.

"I've never seen a warrior so proficient with the use of both hands for blades," Teagan commented from the doorway. "You're ancestors would be proud to know that a woman of your talent and strength has wielded their sword."

Elissa lowered the blade and scrutinised the Cousland crest embossed on the hilt. "I'm not sure," she said. "I barely carried it during the Blight – it hurt too much to look at it. I used it at Ostagar, in the Circle and on Howe, but that was about it. Hardly a legacy."

"Maybe not in comparison to some of your other adventures," Teagan said. "But compared to some of your predecessors? Those are fine exploits indeed."

"Nevertheless," Elissa said matter-of-factly, stepping behind the desk to replace the sword on its stand, "it was never really mine to wield – I only used it out of necessity. It's in the right hands now." Elissa turned back to the bann with a sunny smile. "Wine?" she offered brightly.

"Elissa..." Teagan started. "You don't need to play the hostess with me. Are you alright?"

"I..." Elissa's false reassurance died on her lips as Teagan gave her that look – the kind of look which meant 'I know you're lying so quit it already', with a raised eyebrow and a sad smile. She turned away from his gaze quickly and set about opening the bottle.

"We're going to Denerim tomorrow," Elissa said, her hands shaking and struggling with the corkscrew. "I'm going to Denerim tomorrow. I can't help but think..." Elissa shook her head. "I don't think I'm ready for it."

Teagan stepped beside Elissa and gently took the wine bottle and jammed corkscrew from her, managing what her shaking hands couldn't. He poured out two glasses and handed one to Elissa, using his free hand to guide her to an arm chair.

"You'll be fine, I'm sure," Teagan said calmly. "You won't be required to anything nearly so much as last time. Just put in an appearance with the nobles to let them know you're alive and then you can come back."

"It's not that, it's..." Elissa trailed off and took a hasty gulp of her wine to fill the silence she made.

"I know," he said softly. "It reminds you of Alistair, doesn't it?"

Elissa closed her eyes and let her lips rest against the coolness of the glass. She nodded, once, and swallowed against the tightness in her throat and fought the burning sting in her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, setting her near empty glass on the table, "I can't explain it but I can't stop it either. Being back in Highever has been an emotional rollercoaster enough, but to be going to Denerim just makes me think of Alistair, and it just brings it all back. It's… been more difficult than I ever thought it would be."

There was a pause, the silence between them broken only by the occasional crackle and pop of the fire. Teagan then took a deep breath before speaking softly, as if he was carefully considering his words.

"You wonder don't you," he said quietly, "how did you live before? How did you live before that person was in your life – because truly you can't ever imagine being without them. Their shadow seems to dog your every step, reminding you that you are alive and they are not, but are you truly living now they are gone?" Teagan reached across to the table and refilled their glasses. "And then there are other people, people who knew your person, mayhap even cared for them, but then they aren't waking up alone each morning and feeling the loss of them all over again, they aren't walking around feeling like half of them is missing."

"That… I… yes," Elissa breathed, her previously indescribable emotions suddenly a bit clearer. "How do you know that?" she asked in a disbelieving whisper.

Teagan smiled sadly. "Because you're not the only one to have loved and lost." He hesitated, then unfastened the topmost buttons of his doublet and reached around the side of the collar, one finger finding a fine gold chain that was fastened around his neck, carefully hidden under his shirt. He unclasped the necklace and tugged it free, handing it over to Elissa, all the while not meeting her eyes, his gaze averted to the flickering flames in the fireplace.

Elissa took the locket from him and turned it over in her hands. A shield with a coat of arms was embossed on the front of metal case, a fox leaping over a sheaf of wheat – the Rainesfere heraldry. On the back on the locket was another coat of arms that Elissa didn't recognise, this time with a beaver over a pair of crossed hammers. Inside was a portrait of a beautiful young woman with long golden hair bound in a tight braid which fell over one shoulder. Her eyes were a deep brown and her full pink lips tilted in a half smile.

"Her name was Maylene," Teagan said quietly, not looking away from the fire.

Elissa kept quiet, sensing that Teagan was dredging up old and uncomfortable memories. She wondered who else knew what he was going to say, or how long he had been holding it close. Nevertheless, she was touched that he seemed to trust her enough to reveal this to her.

"A number of years ago, Rainesfere used to border three bannorns," Teagan said, "Redcliffe to the south, Lakesedge to the north and White Peaks to the west. White Peaks was even smaller than Rainesfere, its people hardened by the terrain, weather and hard work. The village was built on the cliff side of a pass into the Frostbacks, and their main income was from their mines – and their sheep, but mainly the mines." Teagan took a shaky breath and swallowed before continuing. "Some of the best silverite mines were housed in White Peaks, the veins running deep into the mountainside.

"The bannorn of White Peaks had been in the Russon family for generations. The bannorn itself was largely untouched by the occupation due to its surroundings and the clever deception of Bann Mathias Russon – he convinced the Orlesians that White Peaks' only commodity was its livestock, the mines having been exhausted years ago. He managed to conceal the locations of the newer silverite veins from the chevaliers, who reported the apparent uselessness of White Peaks back to their leader. A particularly slack-brained Orlesian nobleman was placed in charge of White Peaks, but he spent most of his time huddled indoors next to a fireplace, leaving Mathias to smuggle silverite ore to the resistance forces in peace.

"Maylene was the youngest of Mathias' four children, and the only girl. She was beautiful and strong… and stubborn to a fault. Her eldest brother died at West Hill, and her second eldest at River Dane, leaving only her and her third brother Riley as the Russons of White Peaks when her father died in 9:09.

"In truth, Maylene should have inherited the bannorn: she was the more resourceful and practical of the two, and not so easily swayed by pressure or temptation, but Riley was in his twenties while she was barely seventeen. I had been the Bann of Rainesfere for a year by this point, having been thrown into that responsibility early on. Maylene and I were of an age and she helped her brother by organising the trade oppurtunities; Rainesfere was the main gateway for trade for White Peaks, the smithys in my bannorn thriving off the quality ore from White Peaks. We… spent a lot of time together." Teagan paused to clear his throat and take a sip of his wine.

"We could empathise with each other – I with a bannorn to manage and she with a bannorn to support – her brother didn't do a bad job, but he was ambitious. White Peaks wasn't big enough for him, so he furthered the mines, deeper and longer mines, to drag more valuables from the rock to make White Peaks great.

"Nevertheless the increased output meant Maylene visiting Rainesfere often, so neither of us questioned his decisions. If her brother knew of us, he said nothing, but I don't imagine he noticed. He never seemed to care for Maylene much. Jealous, I think, of her rapport with the villagers and tradesmen. It was because of his lack of respect for the miners and tradesmen that Maylene wouldn't leave White Peaks to come to Rainesfere – without her White Peaks would have suffered greatly. Eamon wasn't pressuring me to marry at this point, so I didn't press the issue with her. Only… only Isolde knew of our relationship," Teagan admitted with a blush.

"Isolde was in Rainesfere while Eamon was at a Landsmeet – she didn't like to be in Redcliffe alone in those earlier years, too many memories of the occupation, I think – and she caught us. She was surprisingly sympathetic over the whole thing, once we explained anyway – and once she suitably berated me for compromising a woman's honour." Both Elissa and Teagan laughed – Teagan at the memory and Elissa at the image. It was something Isolde would do after all.

Teagan's smile vanished to be replaced by his grim expression once more. "We were together like this for nearly two years… then one day Maylene came to me with some terrible news. In the process of extending the mines, Riley had come across some lyrium veins. Massive lyrium veins. Whether it was the lyrium or the ambition which addled his mind I don't know, but he thought to take on the Chantry in the lyrium trade – the dwarves had no control over these veins, so neither did the Chantry.

"Maylene wanted to stop him – his intentions would destroy White Peaks, she said, and I agreed with her. The veins should have been closed off for the safety of the miners, but Riley wouldn't be convinced. And we couldn't have brought it up at a Landsmeet, for then the Chantry would find out and exploit the mines themselves, still bringing danger to White Peaks." Teagan swallowed in an attempt to relieve the tightness in his throat, and Elissa was startled to see tears glistening in his eyes. "Had I know… had I known what would happen, I would have made Maylene tell the Chantry, regardless of what they may or may not have done."

Elissa reached over to refill Teagan's glass and, once she put the bottle down, reached across the gap between her chair and the sofa to put a comforting hand over one of his. He smiled in thanks, took another shuddering breath and pressed on with his story. "We went up to White Peaks to confront him, to try and persuade him to reconsider, to shut off the mines. He laughed in our faces and cast Maylene out of White Peaks. She was heartbroken that he would do that for the sake of coin but I comforted her as best I could.

"After that, she made Rainesfere her new home." Teagan smiled sadly. "The fates of the miners in White Peaks prayed on her mind constantly, but since she was technically no longer a Russon there was nothing more she could do – and she was stubborn, unwilling to let me bring it up at a Landsmeet or even to my brother. So we moved on with our lives, and hoped Riley would see reason on his own."

"Then when I finally proposed a couple of months later… well, Maylene wanted to let her brother know. And I let her – it was her choice, and though he wanted nothing to do with her she still loved him. I should have known that he wouldn't have forgotten that we knew about the mines so easily. He must have seen her as a threat – thought that she would use her status as my wife as an opportunity to bring it up at a Landsmeet or something to that effect.

"He had been using the lyrium his was mining to buy the allegiance of a number of apostate mages – around a dozen all told. And he sent them after Maylene.

"Some of the miners found out, I think, and got a message to the Chantry, because a large group of templars arrived in Rainesfere that same day – two hours too late. Maylene and I were in the study at the estate when they arrived. They stunned all the guards and myself – I never want to be on the wrong end of a paralysis spell ever again. I watched, helpless, as they took her. And one of the mages warned me against going to fetch her, saying my life would be forfeit if I did.

"Why Riley didn't order my death I can only imagine – perhaps he knew that as a brother of an Arl my death would never go without notice or fuss. Nevertheless he seemed to be under the impression I valued my life to abandon Maylene. He was wrong.

"The templars followed the apostates to White Peaks, ordering me to stay in Rainesfere. I didn't. As soon as the vestiges of that spell had worn off I made for White Peaks myself with three of my knights. When we arrived, White Peaks was buried. Gone."

Teagan took a shaky gulp of wine and gripped the arm of the sofa with his free hand in an attempt to steady himself. "Two of the templars had managed to survive the disaster, fleeing the tunnels and taking refuge in an alcove in the mountainside. The templars tracked the mages and Riley into the winding mines of White Peaks, where they held Maylene hostage. There was a battle, involving magic and templar talents – and with the lyrium surrounding them, the templars easily overwhelmed the apostates. In a last bid for freedom one of the mages carelessly cast a fire ball explosion.

"But Riley's haste to improve White Peaks' fortunes meant he hadn't followed the correct safety procedures – the open veins were too long, too wide and too close together. The explosion shook the entire mountainside and the shoddy mines collapsed in on themselves, taking the mountain, White Peaks and Maylene with them.

"There was so much I could have done – should have done. But in my naivety I did nothing. And I lost May because of it. Of course Eamon found out about my relationship and the whole situation then, and chastised me for lying by omission but at that point I just didn't care. It took a year or so before I was fit enough to do anything useful – and even then I think that was only because I was sick of Eamon's Maker cursed lecturing. I never forgot her though – and I never will."

Silence reigned in the aftermath of Teagan's story for some time before Elissa stood up from her chair and stepped in front of Teagan. She leant over him to hang the locket back around his neck, her hand lingering on the pendant that hung in the centre of his chest. When she went to pull it away he reached up to grasp her hand, holding it over the locket and his heart. Their eyes met and locked.

"Elissa," he said gently, reaching up with his free hand to brush a tear off her cheek with his thumb. "You will never forget Alistair. You spent over a year together; day in day out in each other's facing unbelievable dangers at every corner, accomplishing remarkable things. No one will ever be able to replace what you had. But someone will be able to equal it, given the chance. You will always love him, but that doesn't mean you won't ever love again. It took me too long to realise that – don't waste opportunities like I did. As for Denerim…" he added with a small smile and a squeeze of her hand, "Denerim is much changed. And it's thanks to you and Alistair that it thrives like it does. Enjoy the celebrations and the ball because you helped it happen - plus enjoy watching your brother avoid every ass-kissing noble who wants his support at the Landsmeet."

Elissa laughed and at the gentle tug on her hand sat down next to Teagan. He put his arm across her shoulders and she leant against him, taking comfort in his warmth. They sat together in silence for a while, but before long Elissa had fallen asleep, her head resting against Teagan's reclined chest. Not wanting to wake her, the Bann of Rainesfere tugged at the blanket draped over the back of the sofa and spread it over their legs and settled back into the cushions. He watched the dying embers of the fire for a while longer, his hand idly toying with the locket around his neck before he too drifted off to sleep.

x.x.x

Zevran looked up as Darrian returned from the forest with a bundle of wood in his arms. "We'll be in Denerim by tomorrow afternoon, I reckon," he said, stoking the fire with a large branch.

Darrian dropped the pile of wood and made a quiet noise of assent. His movements were stiff and jerky, indicative of the tension that was evident through his whole body. Zevran cast a worried glance over his fellow rogue, knowing that such lack of composure was out of character for the younger elf.

"I've some contacts I can chase up while you're with your family," Zevran continued, feeding the fire while watching Darrian nervously palm his daggers, "and then I'll meet you outside the Alienage a little before sundown."

"Wh-what?" Darrian exclaimed, almost dropping his off-hand dagger. "You're not coming with me?"

"My dear Darrian," Zevran said. "Family reunions are not my forte."

"Well they're not mine either!"

Zevran raised an eyebrow at the shaky note in Darrian's voice and stood up, leaving the fire to burn. "You're a Grey Warden," he said cheekily. "A famed warrior of legend, able to face down darkspawn without so much as a blink and you're nervous about going to meet your own family?"

"When they think you've been dead for three years? Yes," Darrian admitted. "Clearly the others freed from Minrathous didn't think to tell my family that I was with them, or Soris would have known I was alive."

"Is it possible your family isn't talking to Soris because of his choice in life-partner?"

Darrian paused to consider this. "Shianni – possibly. Maker knows she used to bend my ear back over some of my partner choices. My father, not so much – family means everything to him, regardless of what they choose. He knew I was, erm, adventurous," Darrian said with a sheepish grin, "but he didn't confront me over it. As for Soris, he was a second son to my father – he wouldn't cut ties with him just because he married a human."

Zevran stood opposite Darrian and unsheathed his daggers. Darrian stood ready, grateful for Zev's distraction, knowing a good spar would settle his nerves. They began, the metal of their blades crashing together ringing around the glade.

"How about a compromise then," Zevran said between attacks and parries. "I accompany you to the Alienage, see what kind of reception you'll be getting and play it by ear from there?"

"That would be best, I think," Darrian said, countering one of Zevran's attacks. "I may need you to verify my story as well."

"Consider it done," Zevran said. He blocked Darrian's blade and smirked. "Darrian I do believe you just got a bit faster."

"Really?" Darrian said. "Must be the nerves. I do have a habit of working well under pressure." He stepped out of the duelist stance and hooked his foot around Zevran's, knocking him backwards. Zevran, who had seen the move but not reacted fast enough to block it, reached out and pulled Darrian down with him.

The two elves crashed into the dust, Zevran's hands and daggers at his sides, Darrians daggers point down in the earth, one either side of Zevran.

Zevran turned his head to look at the dagger either side of him and smirked. "You do realise with a move like that, you'd be dead by now," he said, poking Darrian in his ribs with the hilt of each dagger.

Darrian swallowed, Zevran's face scant inches away from his own, the Antivan's breath fanning his cheek. "I didn't expect you to... grab me like that." Before he realised what he was doing, Darrian had tilted his head and pressed his lips to Zevran's.

Zevran was slightly surprised at first, but in the spirit of things decided to go with it. Before Darrian could pull away and apologise, Zevran reciprocated and wasn't disappointed.

The two rogues battled as fierce with their tongues as they did with their blades, both letting go of their daggers to touch their opponent. Zevran's hands went to the back of Darrian's neck to pull him closer and Darrian's hands crept down the side of his torso.

"Well, well," Zevran said as they broke apart for air. "That was... unexpected."

"What can I say?" Darrian said cheekily, turning his lips to Zevran's ear and nipping the tip gently. Zevran made no verbal response but his body stiffened beneath Darrian's. "You bring out the worst in me."

"Or best," Zevran said with a surprised gasp as Darrian went to his neck. "Depending on your perspective."

Darrian smiled inwardly and continued to kiss the Antivan's fluttering pulse. Zevran grabbed Darrian's hair roughly and pulled the other rogue up for another kiss before the Ferelden could accidently eek anymore noise from him.

Darrian's hands set to work on Zevran's shirt and peeled it aside, pulling his lips away from Zevran's and his scalp from his grasp to trail his lips down the sculpted torso.

"I thought such practices," Zevran said breathlessly, "we frowned upon in the Alienage?"

Darrian smirked against Zevran's golden skin and looked up at the Antivan with smouldering green eyes. "Of course they are," he said against Zevran's abdomen. "Why do you think I didn't want to get married?"

Zevran laughed lightly and threw his head back in pleasure as Darrian worked his way lower. His last coherent thought was that his week with Darrian in Denerim was going to be a lot more fun than he initially expected.

x.x.x

A/N: For those interested, the images picked for the coat of arms generally mean this:

Fox: One who will use all that he/she may possess of wisdom and wit in his/her own defense

Wheat sheaf: The harvest of one's hopes has been secured

Beaver: Industry and perseverance

Hammer: Honour; emblem of the smith's trade

Oof I'm glad I got this chapter done (for those of you who may have read the inadvertent spoilers when I accidentl uploaded my notes some months ago, you'll be aware I had Teagan's story written for some time). Next chapter update probably won't be for another week or two – still got a lot to write for that. Denerim, Denerim, Denerim – with Landsmeets and dancing, drama and family. Gonna be a big one (Unless I find a suitable place to split it. Hehe.)

Please review! :D They make me very very happy :D