Elspeth forced herself to breathe slowly and deeply as she ran the polishing cloth down Yusaris' shining blade, trying to lose herself in the mindless, repetitive task.
"You are up late, my Grey Warden."
Elspeth jumped in surprise and nearly cut herself. "Zev! Didn't anyone ever teach you not to sneak up on people who are holding sharp objects?"
The elf smirked. "On the contrary, my dear. It is one of the things I am best at," he sat gracefully beside her. "Now tell me, what is it that keeps our fair and fearsome leader from her rest? Is it something I could help with? Some secret desire, perhaps? The way you caress that blade makes me…"
She held up a hand. "Don't. Start."
Zevran shut his mouth obediently, but his questioning gaze did not leave her face.
She sighed. "I was just… thinking. About Zathrian and… what happened with him."
One tawny eyebrow rose inquisitively. "Oh? That did not go as you had hoped?"
"Yes… no… I," she shook her head in frustration. "I don't know what I had hoped; I just… Zev, I don't want to be like him!"
Zevran leaned forward, resting his forearms on his bent knees, and studied her for a moment. "Well, you are much younger than Zathrian—but that goes without saying—you are also far more beautiful… and you have better hair," he reassured her.
That got a small, lopsided smile out of her. "Thanks… I think. Anyway, that's not what I meant. This whole time—since before Ostagar—I've only been able to think about one thing."
"Hmm, I know what you mean," His eyes roved boldly over her body. Elspeth glared, and Zevran was silent again.
"I mean sure, kill the Archdemon, end the Blight, save the world and all that," she waved a hand in the air dismissively, and it struck Zevran how incredibly alluring it was to see a beautiful woman treat matters of epic peril with such cool disregard (It also struck him that this attraction probably reflected that something was seriously wrong with him) "but the only thing I've really thought about—the only thing I've dreamt about has been getting to Arl Howe; making him pay for what he did to my family. That makes me no different than Zathrian, and look at all the pain he caused!"
"Shh," suddenly Zevran was kneeling in front of her, cupping her face between his hands. "If there is one thing you are not, my dear, it is a bitter old man. You will kill this Arl Howe because he needs to die, and that will be the end of it. Or, if you prefer, I could kill him for you. Or if you would rather I just take your mind off your troubles for the evening…"
Elspeth actually giggled at that, her blush hot against his palms. "You never stop trying, do you?"
"I told you; I am an eternal optimist."