Thank you, Linette23, for letting me know about my chapter 5 posting errors. Here's the correct chapter. Sorry for the user technical problems.

Life is busy, my youngest is getting ready to graduate soon (heavy sigh). After last chapter, I felt that I need to lighten this one up.

I would like to offer my appreciation for those of you have followed my story and those of you have just started. Words are not enough for my gratitude.

I am sorry that I have not added to Forever (the sister story), but I did not want to give away the ending of this one. I will continue with soon.

Please enjoy! Galesong

Chapter 5

A New Encounter with an Old Enemy

(Chandra)

I felt a sharp pain in the crook of my neck. I ignored it in favor of the warmth that radiated beside me. I snuggled closer to drive away the chill that clung to the morning air. Small hairs tickled my nose. I reached up to scratch it. Spittle ran down the corner of my mouth to form a small pool. I mindlessly wiped that away too. Gradually, my senses returned and I was left with the undeniable urge to empty my bladder.

A vise-like weight fell across me pinning me in place. The man attached to it surrendered a content sigh. I forced myself to open one eye and then the other. Dawn was beginning to show its first light through the folds of the tent. Foggy shapes took solid form and I found myself staring at…

I watched in curious fascination as it stirred and pulsated under the confines of the blanket, "Is that a prince thing?"

"I'm a man. Apparently we do that sort' a thing," replied Alistair.

"Well, can you make it go away? It's blocking my view," I yawned. Only slightly embarrassed, I continued to watch it. It appeared to have grown more. If it were possible, Alistair would have turned fifty shades of red; instead I think I counted ten.

"Great!" Alistair looked painfully aware of his predicament. I laughed in amusement. He pulled the blanket up to his chin and held it there protectively, "Now that you've attacked my manhood, I think I'll just hide under this blanket and pray for an early death."

"Really? Well, we can't have that," I snatched up the corner and gave a playful tug, "can we?"

"You wouldn't?" rationalized Alistair.

I turned into light, looked over at the templar and mischievously grinned, "Wouldn't I?" I gave the blanket a final tug and stepped out of the tent.

"You're an evil, evil woman." I laughed at Alistair's rejoinder.

It's not that I was surprised to see everyone up and about; but rather I had hoped they wouldn't be. I looked up at the expectant stares of my fellow companions. Most of them were warming themselves around the fire. Morrigan, as usual, was attending her own fire. I tucked my hair behind my ears and straightened my shirt, "Yes! Umm, now that Alistair's wounds are healed…"

"Wait!" I heard Alistair tumble out the tent, "What about last night?" I turned and watched him hop on one foot as he tried to put on his other boot. I was astounded at how fast he could put on his armor.

"Last night?" I looked back at the interested faces of my peers, "Nothing happened last night."

"You know…the lake." I looked at Alistair beseechingly. He was completely obtuse about the matter and continued, "I…we would like to know."

"I-I inflicted spirit damage," I shifted side-to-side uncomfortably where I stood, "you know…crushed it telekinetically." I gave up an exasperated sigh, "Fine! I can hold my breath but I can't swim. Satisfied?"

"How did you end up in…under the water," Alistair interrogated.

I looked over at Sten and simply stated, "I deliberately walked in." Sten at least understood. I watched him nod his head in approval.

I looked back at Alistair, "It's not like you were in no position to do anything," I shot back. I turned and walked briskly away. Once I felt that enough distance was between me and him, I trotted to edge of the forest to a group of snow-capped evergreens.

I squatted behind the first tree I came to and sighed in sweet relief as I emptied my bladder. "Stupid, selfish templar," I muttered to myself, "Didn't he realize I did it to save him?"

I heard a twig snap close by, "Go away, Alistair, I'm attending to private matters."

I waited for a response. There was none. I hastily pulled up my breaches and stepped away from the tree, "You…"

"Yes, my beautiful grey warden. It would seem I have found you exposed and unguarded. Lucky for me, no?" replied my elfin assassin.

"I should have killed you when I had the chance," I replied as I searched for a weapon.

I shook my head in irritation. How could I forget the obvious? As much as I hated it, magic was still a part of me. The taint might surge through my veins, but magic was a living, breathing creature that consumed my entire being.

I swiftly extended my arms and rotated my wrists, clear white spheres of light hovered menacingly over my open palms, "Ready to die?"

"Well, here's the thing," I watched him slowly pull out his twin daggers, "I failed to kill you, so my life is forfeit." He stepped closer, "That's how it works, if you don't kill me, the crows will," he purred.

"Come no closer," I warned.

I watched nonplused as he stood before me and placed his blades on the ground one at a time, "Thing is, I like living. And you obviously are the sort to give the crows pause. So let me serve you, instead."

His piercing cobalt green gaze never left mine as he waited for me to respond. Seconds passed into minutes, and still no words came. Hissing sounds sputtered from my hands and we both looked down at my disregarded magic. Together we watched the magic dance atop my extended palms until it fizzled out and then we laughed. We laughed until tears ran down our faces and we could no longer breathe. Then we laughed until we could laugh no more.

"So, just how long were you standing there? I mean…how much of me was exposed," I asked.

"My, dear warden, you have a lovely a…"

"No! No, please don't say anything else," I interrupted. My face felt suddenly warm.

"I say you are beautiful because it is true. Should I not?"

"Umm, that's fine. What am even I talking about?" I threw my hands up in the air, "I don't even know your name."

"My name is Zevran. Zev to my friends," replied the impudent crow assassin, "I hereby pledge my oath to you, until such a time as you choose to release me from it." He inclined his head, "I am your man, without reservation….this I swear," he kissed my open palm.

I snatched my hand back and wiped away the kiss, "What am I suppose to do with you?"

"Well... let's see. Being allowed to live would be nice, and would make me marginally more useful to you." I smiled at the elf's earnest reply.

I twirled the ends of my hair thoughtfully then reached down and picked up his daggers, "You are better at using these than you have lead on?" I handed the deadly blades back to him.

"Oh, fine. Is that what you Fereldans do? Mock your prisoners? Such cruelty." He quipped.

"I want you to teach me how to fight using these. You will find I am already proficient with a sword," he raised his arched brow doubtfully, "I have had training. Also…I want you to teach me how to pick locks."

"But you're a mage, no?" He protested.

"You know what this is?" I held up small leather pouch filled with coins.

The assassin searched his person then grimaced, "You're a cutpurse."

I returned Zev's coin purse back to him. "It is a simple game of dare apprentices play on the templars," I shrugged.

"You would have me give away all my trade secrets?"

"You'd rather be dead?" I looked down at him levelheadedly.

"Ooh, you're rather an aggressive little minx, aren't you? Lovely, too," he smiled up at me as we started walking back towards the camp.

I stopped and looked him squarely in the eye, "Don't do anything to make me regret this or….I'll turn you into a toad and feed you to the darkspawn," I warned.

"Of that I have no doubt," he conceded.