Shadows stalked the streets of Denerim; Zevran could feel them as they stalked him and his friends as they made their way to Howe's estate. It was like a noose tightening around his neck, like vultures swarming. No, not vultures, crows circling. Taliesin was here, close by, stalking his every step. Zevran glanced over at Eriana as they made their way through the empty streets. Now was the moment of truth, the moment where he either broke all ties with the Crows forever or the moment he turned on her. His stomach knotted up as he pictured her battered and broken body at Taliesin's feet. No, he would stand beside her, but to what end? Would the six of them be able to stand against a full Crow assault; should he warn her of the impending danger; would she doubt him? Zevran was glad that they had insisted that Leliana and Morrigan follow them to the Arl's estate, hiding in the shadows, ready to assist should anything happen; but would that be enough to give them the edge they needed? Suddenly, Zevran was worried, but not for his own life. Survive this encounter or not, his life was forfeit; the Crows would eventually find him. No, he was concerned for the woman beside him.

"Zevran," Eriana's soft whisper rang in his ears. He glanced up at her, unable to hide the concern. "What is it? Are you that worried about Howe? We can go back and come up with another plan if you want."

"No, my dear," he said, planting a kiss on her cheek. "There's an unease in the air; that's all."

Eriana gave him a funny look. "What aren't you telling me Zevran? You're hiding something, I can feel it."

Of course she could; he had become too open, too transparent to hide even the smallest things from her any more. However, he knew she had a lot on her mind, and for some reason, returning to the Arl of Denerim's estate was weighing heavily on her. He didn't want to burden her with any new problems; they could handle whatever the Crows could throw at them. "Nothing to worry about just yet; it's just a feeling, that is all."

They continued moving through the back streets of Denerim; Zevran's hawk-like eyes assessing every shadow, every nook. It was surprising then that it was Eriana who first noticed the well concealed traps. She motioned for Ogren and Wynne to drop back as she and Zevran moved into the shadows to scout the area ahead. Before he could do anything about it, one of the shadows moved on Eriana, pulling her away from him. Looking up, he saw Taliesin standing before him, his dagger pressed against Eriana's throat a sly grin crossing his old friend's face. He pulled her roughly against him, the dagger never leaving her warm skin. Zevran's stomach knotted up as Taliesin looked hungrily down at his Warden. His nightmare was coming true.

"Grey Warden," he purred down at her, "We meet at last. The Crows send their regards once again."

Zevran froze as Ogren and Wynne rushed up beside them. "Now, now, not a step closer," Taliesin said, tightening his grip on the elven woman in his arms. "Let's try to keep this civil, now."

"So they sent you Taliesin," Zevran said trying hard to keep his voice steady, "or did you volunteer for the job?"

Taliesin laughed smugly, "I volunteered of course, when I heard that the great Zevran had gone rogue, I simply had to see it for myself."

"Can you honestly blame me, my old friend; just look at her." Zevran said, trying very hard to keep his eyes on Taliesin's face, careful not to look down at Eriana, afraid to see her expression. Here he was, talking casually to the man with a knife at her throat; what would she think? But he had to stall him a bit longer; he had to give Leliana and Morrigan time to move into position.

Taliesin smiled luridly as he looked down at Eriana, "Yes, yes, quite pleasant, I'm sure. I just never thought you would be swayed so much by a pair of big blue eyes, Zevran." Taliesin glanced back at him, "Surely she is not worth throwing away your life's work. You can return with me Zevran, I can't say that I blame you for going rogue," he said as he ran a hand down Eriana's face. Zevran flinched for a moment, but kept looking at Taliesin. "But surely she has ceased to be interesting by now." As he spoke a hawk flew over the clearing calling shrilly, Zevran relaxed a bit, they were in place. "It's not too late; come back and we'll make up a story," he said sympathetically. "Anyone can make a mistake."

"That means she would have to be dead," Ogren pointed out.

"And I'm not about to let that happen," he said, finally allowing himself to look down at Eriana just in time to see a soft hint of a smile in her eyes.

"What? You fool," Taliesin shouted as he jerked Eriana back against him.

"I'm sorry, old friend, you should have stayed in Antiva," Zevran said as he signaled behind his back toward Morrigan. Suddenly, a white light enveloped Taliesin as Morrigan's paralysis spell hit him. Zevran knocked the dagger from the assassin's hand as he pulled Eriana from his grasp.

"Thanks honey," she said with a smile as she drew her weapons. Working back to back, the elves made short work of anyone who advanced on their position. Ogren, full of blood rage, sprinted head-long into the melee, his double-sided ax dismembering and decapitating those too slow to doge it. Morrigan and Leliana, unseen in the shadows took out the perimeter archers who died desperately trying to locate their attackers. Finally, the paralysis spell on Taliesin broke, and Zevran found himself squaring off against his old friend and mentor.

"Are you crazy, you stupid elf," Taliesin spit at Zevran as the two circled each other. "What could this life possibly offer you that you couldn't get with the Crows?"

"You would never understand, old friend; you have been a Crow far too long," Zevran said as he lunged toward him. Taliesin easily parried the blow but was unprepared for Eriana's attack as she appeared behind him, driving her dagger deep into the human's side.

Taliesin gasped, holding his side as he collapsed to the ground. Looking up at Zevran he muttered, "She better be worth it." Then he died.

Zevran immediately took Eriana into his arms and began inspecting her for injuries. There was a thin red line across her neck where Taliesin's dagger had cut the skin. He kissed her neck, licking the wound; tasting only the metallic tang of her blood, he relaxed. Eriana looked at him, a confused look on her face. "No poison, just blood," he said with a grin. She laughed and buried her head in his neck. "You know," he said into her ear, "with Taliesin gone, I have some freedom from the Crows. It will be some time before they send anyone after me, after all. In a way, I am free for the first time in my life."

Eriana glanced up at him, a worried look on her face. "Will you be leaving then? Now that you are free from the Crows."

"Ah, I think I may say," he said, kissing her gently. "You do make life interesting, my dear."

"Um, if you guys are quite done," Ogren said, clearing his throat, "I think we have some Queen or something to save."

Zevran reluctantly released his hold on Eriana, and the two of them stepped over Taliesin's dead body and continued through the alleyway to the Arl's estate.

Zevran had seen many instruments of torture in his life, both as a receiver and an administrator, but the things found in Howe's basement were beyond anything he had ever experienced. There were bodies hanging from the ceilings, impaled on the walls, and lying about in piles in the corners of the rooms. Howe was definitely a sick man, and not just because the entrance to the torture chambers were in his bedroom. However, the gruesome evidence of his acts weren't the only surprises hidden in the cellar of the estate. The moment they entered the basement, Eriana stopped short and began looking around, a confused look on her face. Zevran asked her what was wrong.

"I don't know; it's just a strange feeling, almost like Alistair is here," she said, looking behind her.

"What do you mean it feels like Alistair is here?" Zevran said, now equally confused.

Eriana shook her head, "I'm not sure why, but I can sense Alistair when he's near. But this isn't Alistair; the feeling is stronger somehow. It's odd."

Eriana opened the door that led them into a room of cells, as they walked into the room, a guard moved to question them. As he walked by a cell door, two arms grabbed him and skillfully snapped his neck. The unknown prisoner then pulled the guard into his cell and quickly emerged, dressed in the guard's cheap armor.

"Thank you for creating the distraction, sister. I've been waiting days for that opportunity," the unknown man said.

"Sister?" Eriana said with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, my name is Riordan, Senior Grey Warden of Jader, and you must be Eriana, Duncan's latest recruit."

"How in Thedas did you know that?" Eriana asked.

"Surely you can feel the connection. I felt your presence the moment you entered the estate, but I have been a Warden for many years. I suppose I am more sensitive to the taint." Eriana nodded. It must have made sense to her, but Zevran didn't really have any idea what they were talking about. It turns out that Riordan had been sent into Fereldan to find out why communications with Duncan and the Wardens had stopped and was captured by Howe once he arrived. The Wardens outside of Fereldan were preparing to fight the archdemon once Fereldan was destroyed and the horde moved on, but all hoped it wouldn't come to it.

"I'm sure you're weary from your imprisonment, Riordan. With that armor, you should be able to escape easily. Find Arl Eamon's estate in the market place; Alistair, the only other Grey Warden is waiting there. We need to take care of Howe and rescue the Queen," Eriana said. "We'll talk once we return, but let me say, I am very happy to have another Warden with us."

"Thank you for your assistance. Maker watch over you, sister."

The rest of the trip through the dungeons was equally unsettling. Howe had a vast menagerie of prisoners. Eriana was clearly disturbed by the brutality that they witnessed, but she was local enough to see the potential in each of the prisoners. The nobleman whose son they rescued would definitely side against Logahin as would the sister of the lyrium addled templar.

They were about to leave to last room of cells when a voice called out from a forgotten cell in the back, "Hello, is anyone out there?"

Zevran heard Eriana's breath catch before she ran to the door. "Maker's Breath, Soris," she whispered before frantically opening the door and throwing her arms around the young, handsome elf who had been locked inside. For what seemed like an eternity to Zevran, Eriana and this elf, Soris he assumed was his name, embraced; then Eriana planted a light kiss on his cheek before pulling away, but keeping her hands firmly on his arms. "What in Thedas are you doing here?"

"Urien had me arrested a few weeks after you left the alienage."

"What? But I told them…how did they find out?" Eriana cried out, looking slightly pale.

"Apparently one of Vaughn's guards survived the attack and told him that there had been another elf with you. They came immediately for me."

Zevran saw her stagger a bit and fought the urge to move closer to her, but Soris was already there, his arms already securely around her, keeping her on her feet. "Sweet Andraste, have you been here all this time?" Soris nodded. "Oh, this is my fault, I should have been more careful; I should have checked."

Soris hushed her quickly. "It's okay; you're here now," he said as he stroked her hair. He planted a light kiss on her forehead. "We're going to be alright." He sighed and tilted her head up, "So I'm assuming you've not seen Valora since you didn't even know I was here."

Eriana sighed, "No, I've not seen anyone. The ailenage has been closed off for months; I haven't even seen my father."

"Closed off? How can they just close off the ailenage?" Soris asked.

Zevran stood at a distance, watching the exchange with feigned disinterest. The obvious affection and intimacy between this Soris and his Eriana was starting to turn his stomach. This was the second man today who had held his Eriana in his arms, and though this one was not holding a knife to her throat, he seemed as much if not more dangerous to him as the first. Jealousy and possessive fury tinged with a hint of despair ripped through him as he tried very hard to look away from the two elves.

"You mean," Soris continued, "you didn't use your clout as a Grey Warden to get in? At least you could have sneaked in or are you too good to visit us common folk anymore?" Soris said angrily.

Eriana stiffened and glared up at him, "You have no idea what you are talking about Soris Tabris! I have no clout, in fact me and the one other Grey Warden of Fereldan are pariahs wanted for regicide!"

"Regicide? King Calien's dead?"

Eriana nodded. "Along with all the other Wardens, we've been on our own for seven months. If we had gotten caught or arrested, we would have been executed immediately."

Soris looked down at her, stunned. "I'm so sorry Ana. I had no idea."

She sighed, "Listen, we can't linger here; are you strong enough to sneak back into the ailenage?" Soris nodded. Eriana reached down to her left boot and pulled out a hidden dagger and sheath and handed it to him. "Don't use that unless you absolutely have to; it's crazy sharp and you would likely lose a finger. Take it to a dwarf in the market name Dorgin; I bought it from him. Just tell him you the Warden's cousin, and he'll buy it from you, no questions asked, got it?"

Cousin? Zevran suddenly remembered that she did have a cousin named Soris. No wonder there was such intimacy between them; Eriana had often mentioned that she regarded her cousins as siblings. A wave of relief rushed over him; this was family in her arms, not an old lover. He was about to smile at his folly when he felt an elbow nudge him sharply in the side. "Cousin hey? I have to say, I was getting a trifle worried for you for a second there, elf," Ogren muttered with a laugh. So was he, but there was no way Zevran would admit it to the dwarf.

Soris was examining the weapon. "What is this made of?" he asked, turning the gleaming dagger in his hands.

"Silverite."

Soris gasped, "I can't take this; it's too much."

Eriana laughed, "It's my off-hand dagger that I store in my boot; I think I can do with out it. You need it more. I can't even tell you when I used it last."

"You launched it into the head of that bandit in the forest after you almost turned into a werewolf," Zevran offered. Eriana's head jerked over to where they were standing, and she blushed. Apparently she had forgotten that they were there.

She glanced back at a wide-eyed Soris and giggled, "It's a long story. Maker, I've been a bronto's behind, everyone this is my cousin Soris. Soris, these are my friends. This is Ogren and Wynne, she's a mage." She glanced up at Wynne, "Do you think you could give him a bit of a boost, Wynne?" Wynne shot a spell over a stunned looking Soris, and he shuddered a bit at the spell's effect. "And last but not least, is Zevran," she finished with a smile. Zevran felt Soris's eyes as he seemed to assess him. He glanced over at Eriana with a raised eyebrow. "I'll tell you later. But right now, you need to escape and we need to move out. If you can't get back into the ailenage, go to Eamon's estate in the marketplace. Tell them who you are, and they should let you in. If they don't, ask for Leliana and tell her about what happened with me and Thomas Howe; that should verify who you are."

Zevran's eyes narrowed; was it this Howe's son who had hurt Eriana all those years ago? He glanced back at the two cousins as they parted ways. Finding her cousin like this had obviously shaken up Eriana more than she let on. "Are you alight my dear?" he asked after Soris had left. She shrugged her shoulders before moving toward the door, but Zevran caught her arm and pulled her against him, giving her a quick kiss on the forehead. "If he is half as tough as you then he will be just fine, my dear Warden."

"I know, I know."

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Grey Warden. Eamon must have truly lost faith in the Landsmeet if he is sending you to kill me," Howe said as Eriana walked into the room. Zevran quickly stepped up beside her, watching the Arl carefully. "Oh and look, not only do we have the pleasure of a Grey Warden but we also have one of the famed Antivan Crows. My, my, aren't we lucky. Don't think I don't remember you, elf. Perhaps your master will pay me when I return your head to them, after, of course, I finish the job you were hired to do."

Eriana did not waver, "Eamon didn't send us Howe; we're here for the Queen."

"Ah, so the treasonous bitch has you doing her dirty work, but, young Tabris, you always were one who was willing to do the bidding of your betters." Zevran saw her stiffen beside him as Howe continued. "Yes, I do remember you. So willing to please my youngest son, to bend to his will like the elven whore you are. It is simply too bad you have Eamon duped into trusting you. He will soon come to regret it."

Eriana had obviously heard enough because before Howe was even finished talking, her arrow was flying through the air. Surprisingly, Howe was able to dive out of the way before he was hit. The moment he was on his feet again, he charged directly at Eriana, daggers drawn. Zevran and Ogren moved around the room trying to take out Howe's guards as Eriana was engaged in a fierce duel with the arl himself. Even watching from the his periphery, Zevran could tell she was holding back, fighting cautiously, trying to wear the old man down before she made her move. Just as Zevran finished off the last of the guards, Eriana turned it on, her blades flying at a dizzying speed. Howe uttered a muffled cures as he tried desperately to block the dragon bone weapons, but Eriana was younger and faster and he was exhausted. She spun around him, drawing her dagger across his thigh before plunging the sword deep into his chest. Howe staggered and collapsed to the ground.

"Maker spit on you," he spat up at her as he lay on the floor, his blood pooling around him. "I deserved more."

Eriana knelt down, dagger still in hand, "I agree, but unfortunately, I'm in a bit of a hurry." With that, she brought her dagger slowly across his neck and stood up as he collapsed unceremoniously into pool of his own blood. Eriana glanced up at Zevran, "Now, let's get the Queen and get out of here."

"Warden, in the name of the regent, I am placing you under arrest for the murder of Rendon Howe and his men at arms. Surrender and you may be shown mercy."

And with that the trap was sprung. Ser Cauthrien was standing between them and the exit with a score of knights, a pair of mages, and a dozen archers, a small army sent by Loghain to apprehend his Warden, and Zevran was powerless to stop it. To go against them would be suicide, he knew this, but he could not simply let her go, that too would be suicide. He glanced over at Eriana, her face strangely calm as she fiddled with her ring. She looked up at Cauthrien, "I will stand down, but you don't know the whole story."

Eriana took a step toward the door, but Zevran caught her arm, "Amore, no," Zevran whispered before he realized what he had said. She turned back to him, looking intently into his eyes.

"We can't risk it, Zev; you know this," she said, placing a hand on his cheek. "Get them back safely, for me."

He felt her start to move away, so he pulled her to him, his lips crushing hers in a desperate, almost violent kiss. Far too quickly, she pulled back her head and whispered into his ear, "Have patience, my dear, patience."

And with that she was gone. He watched helplessly as she crossed the foyer toward Cauthrien's knights. A gauntleted hand crashed across her face, and Eriana collapsed to the ground. For the third time that day, his Warden was in the arms of another man; the third time must be a charm because this one succeeded in taking her away from him.

Okay, sorry for the delay in the update, back to work and all. I am kind of torn as to how I want to do this next part. I like Eriana being tough and breaking herself out, but Zevran coming to her rescue can be a tender moment too. I'll figure something out before this weekend. Hope you all enjoy this, and as always, reviews are loved and welcomed!