BioWare owns all but what I made up. : )
Oh, no worries, all, about me not playing the expansion, I am, just did Vigil. Got my Anders (hubba hubba), got my Oghren and talked bitchy to Anora, which was very enjoyable. Boy, do I hate that chick and not just because of my story, ROFL! I get to share it with hubby, which is good, I am not good at sitting for a really long time playing without breaks. I reach a limit and need a breather before I go back to it. Sharing with hubby where we trade-off who is playing is great, since I still get to play and I get to work on chapters, so win-win for me! Hopefully a win-win for you all too, even if they are a little slower.
So, our little Gnat is an envoy for one Empress Celene I of Orlais, and more. Celene holds Gnat's life as important to her, how and why? More will be revealed, and as Night Hunter MGS said, Kai seems to be uniting all of Thedas, power is sexy, : ) Except for Tevinter, but those guys are people sacrificing jerks and don't count, not to mention their weird Divine Father version of the Chantry when the Divine Mother is bad enough. So, no one likes them anyways, bunch of ass hats, LOL. So we get more of Gnat's story and why she is so important to Celene, so, great call Night Hunter MGS! And actually, I think you are right my friend, I read your mind, could that be considered ghostwriting? And really, you are that damn good, but what I really think is that you have impeccable timing. Better than mine, so I have the ideas kicking around in my head, but you seem know when they should be put down, besides being that damn good, : ) I bow to you, my clever friend, and all of you who have made this story what it is.
And a shout out to Phoenix Fire Lady too for some inspiration for Kai and Zev, a little clearing up between them of their relationship and a deeper solidification of their bond, which I had in mind, but your musings add some spice to the story. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, because a little conflict never hurts the old sexy stuff, only revs it up, yes? And now am I reading your mind too PFL? I need to learn to sell my telepathic powers and make some money. I won't spoil anything, but your review will give you more shout outs in the future. I am just glad that I am able to convey my ideas in an entertaining way and well enough that you all can follow along, as well as guess the possibilities of what is coming next. Or is knowing where I am going, too pedestrian, too predictable, I hope not.
As with every chapter, my personal thanks to all of you, what wonderful fans you all are. My thanks to those who put my story on favs, author, and story alerts. And special hugs and kisses to those who continue to take time out of their busy lives to review. You make my day, my week, my month, teally couldn't do this without you all. And thanks Lisette57 for saying it is worth waiting for, and everyone who has told me that. You guys make me blush, I have the best, brightest, and smartest fans. : )
Blessings!
Kai handed the letter and the contracts to Zev, "You can let her up now, she finally speaks the truth, and what a twisted labyrinth it was just to get to it, bloody bards." Kai grinned at Gnat to take any sting out of her words, "She really made us work for it, and I thought Crows were the only slick ones." Gnat grinned back and snapped the heel of her boot back into place.
Zevran chuckled at her, "You wound me, my dear friend! Of course, you Fereldans are plain speakers and straight to the point, you have not learned the art of word craft."
Kai grinned at him and gave her hand to Gnat, pulling her out of her chair, "I don't know about you two, but I am famished. Almost dying by ogre and that fever from the health potion has left my stomach chewing on my backbone," Kai lamented, "Not to mention playing psychotic interrogator as well."
"I meant to thank you for pushing me out of the way of the ogre, I admit, I have never fought one before. I did not know how fast something that large could move. I am sorry you were injured because of me," Gnat's creamy skin flushed.
"I couldn't let the ogre make you shorter, you're already small enough." Kai grinned at her and gave the girl's hand a little shake, "Though you were impressive in fighting the darkspawn. If you ever did want to be a Grey Warden, they would gladly recruit you, though they would be me, I suppose, as the Warden-Commander of Ferelden. So, let me know if you ever honestly want to join." Kai chuckled.
"I think being a bard is enough for now, though I am flattered. The Grey are a worthy group," Gnat grinned back at her.
"I shall go and see to getting food and drink sent to the room. I will also check on Argus, who has been banished to the stables as he is a bit ripe, I will make sure he is fed. One of the servants here offered to bathe him, I agreed, but we need to make sure he does not take off the poor man's face. Wynne arrived here while you slept, my dear Kai, she is in her own room sleeping after a long journey. Our delectable witch friend stopped her on the road to tell her you were well." Zev grinned at both of them, gave a salute and walked out, shutting the door behind him. Kai noticed Gnat's eyes lingering on the door a few seconds after Zev had left, and the look gave Kai an uncomfortable twinge.
Then Gnat turned back to her, "So, you and he work for this 'griffon' I take it?"
"You could say that." and Kai went on to explain about 'The Silver Griffon,' and the Scath and about what they were attempting to do. She filled in the details of the stories Gnat had heard about the soldiers' disappearances, the Tevinters and the Crows. Kai left nothing out, and the tale was quite lengthy. It left her wondering just how big the book of Leliana's songs on her adventures was going to be, she shuddered to think on it.
Gnat's dark eyes got bigger, "You mean to say you are the one who did all those things?"
"Well, I didn't do them alone, I have a lot of talented help, Zevran, Oghren, Jarren, Morrigan, my Mabari Argus, all of whom you met. I have others who are helping me too, you will meet them later. And, I have my own group of spies and assassins, the ones that 'disappeared like smoke,' as you said. I guess you could say I am the organizer of it all," Kai shrugged.
"Don't let her fool you, Gnat, we are only as good this woman who leads us." Zev's voice came from the doorway as he entered the room followed by some of the inn's day staff with food on trays and pitchers with cups. They set it all down on the table in the room and left, "She has taken a group of people with different vocations, disciplines and personalities and brought us all together into a cohesive group, she really is quite amazing." Zev grinned, and Kai felt herself blushing.
"Well, why don't we sit and eat, and Gnat can tell us how she came to be such a good friend of the Empress of Orlais" Kai walked quickly over to the table and sat down in the hopes of changing the subject. Gnat and Zev followed and seated themselves, "So, what is your story Gnat?" Kai asked as she broke off a piece of bread, buttered it and dribbled honey on top.
"I did, as you surmise, grow up on the streets after my parents were killed by Chevaliers for simply being elven and getting in their way, I was only six years old. Even at six, I wanted justice, I wanted someone to do something, but the elves in the alienage, and they shook their heads and told me to learn to live with it. They told me that we are the lowest of the low and to accept it." Gnat's hands clenched into fists, "Bah, I accepted that they were a bunch of chatte whipped people who would lick the hands of those who beat them, just like any cur, and as quickly as they could too. I ran away, if I died on the streets, at least I was free, yes? It was a miserable existence, I lived off of stolen clothes and rotting garbage. I spent more days hungry than I care to remember and even more nights cold, hungry and afraid. I had to fight other children and even adults for the least rotted foods or best places to sleep. It is an animal's existence. I think it is partly why I did not grow much, food being what it was. Then, Madoyne found me when I was eight. She was the leader of a den of thieves, including a lot of orphaned children. She found me, took me in, trained me, she loved us, taught us to read and write, and taught us to respect ourselves and each other. She gave us a place, the outcasts of a society that forgot us, or tried to." Gnat looked down at her plate clearly it was a sad memory.
"What happened to her" Kai asked her softly.
"One of her orphans, one I grew up with, betrayed her to the Chevalier and the Chantry. He did it to get money and power and curry favor with our body politic, he wanted more, thought he deserved more" Gnat's face became fierce.
"Sounds like the man who killed my parents" Kai gave Gnat's hand a little sympathetic tug, "When I confronted him, his dying breath was spent saying he deserved more."
"I was sixteen then, a master thief and cutpurse. I watched as they brought her out from the dungeons to the chantry steps to display her, it was obvious they had raped and tortured her. I watched while they broke her hands with a mallet and cut out her tongue in front of everyone, then they threw her down the steps to lie in a puddle of filth. I had to leave her there until nightfall, when no one could see me fetch her. She was still alive, though I know not how. She scratched with her foot in the dirt two words, 'kill me.' And so I did, I stuck my blade between her ribs into her heart. She gave me such a look of love and gratitude. I tracked the one who did it. I killed him slowly" Gnat's eyes had become a dark blue, so dark they were almost black. One lone tear made its way down her cheek, Kai doubted she even knew it was there, or if she did, she was ignoring it. Zev put a hand out and wiped it away, Gnat smiled at him. Again, Kai felt that twinge, of what, jealousy? She huffed mentally into her own head.
"So how did you go from thief and cutpurse to bard and close friend of the most powerful person in Orlais?" Zev smiled at Gnat, while handing Kai a peach that he had cut up. Kai took it but watched his face as he watched Gnat, wondering at herself and her uncomfortable thoughts.
"Well, she wasn't the most powerful person in Orlais when I met her, and I use the word 'meet' in the loosest sense of the word. Celene is a good person, her uncle, the former emperor of Orlais, and her cousin Meghren were not good people, as you all know. Meghren, your country had direct experience with, yes?" Gnat glanced at Kai, "But the emperor was just as bad, Meghren was his lover and displeased him. As punishment he was sent to the 'backwater' kingdom of Ferelden to rule it. Celene always hated her uncle and his actions. He was a spoiled man, petty and cruel. Meghren and he were cut from the same cloth. Celene hated what her uncle and Meghren had done to Orlais and Ferelden, when I met her, she was trying to take the crown. She was fourth in line to get the throne if the emperor should fall."
"I had heard that she arranged for his untimely demise, and that she outmaneuvered three older cousins to take the throne." Zev grinned, "If this is true, then Orlesian politics are just as messy and dangerous as Antivan politics."
"Oui, they are 'The Great Game,' which is not so great, and it is very dangerous for anything labeled with a name as innocuous as the word 'game.' Celene has never confirmed to me the rumor that she indeed had his life cut short, though she would if I asked. For her safety, should I ever be caught or tortured, I do not ask that question of her. But I would not blame her if she did.
"I heard that before he died, her uncle was planning on invading Ferelden once again, to crush it once and for all, he planned on selling the citizenry to Tevinter as slaves and repopulating Ferelden with Orlesians. It was to be partially as revenge for Meghren and also for the embarrassment to Orlais. All I know is that he died and there were three cousins fighting each other over the throne. She was only seventeen when she put in her bid to rule, she managed to outmaneuver two of the cousins, but the third was far more cunning and dangerous. He hired bards to eliminate her on two separate occasions. I met her when the first attempt was made. She was in the market shopping, I was picking pockets, I was thinking of taking her purse. She did not warrant as much protection back then, she only had two guards, and I did not know who she was. As I drew near her, I noticed a man dressed like a beggar with one arm and a rag over one eye. He was holding a begging bowl, his one arm holding it close to his body, because of my height. I saw what the others did not. His other arm was not missing, but his hand under the bowl held a very small dagger, I knew it had to be poisoned. Celene was about to put coins into his bowl, getting close enough to get scratched, I pushed her away from him, knocked the bowl out of his hand, and grabbed his 'missing arm' revealing the dagger he held. It was a good thing I am quick or her guards would have killed me on the spot. When they confirmed what he had been about, they gave the man to the Chevalier, then, she took me to her home. She fed me, gave me pretty clothes to wear, and we talked all through the night, I never left. Have you ever met a person and felt as if you had known them all your life, well, Celene and I are sisters of the heart. From then on, I was her personal confidant and her guard. Celene sent me off to be trained by one of the best bards in Orlais, I also spent time learning from the acrobats who perform shows for the nobles. I learned to be more flexible, to roll, to tumble, to climb, and I learned how to spy and to assassinate, my skills as a cutpurse and thief were built upon. The second attempt on her life went no better than the first. I killed them easily. And her cousin, well, he died suddenly and tragically, and at such a young age, too." Gnat shrugged and grinned, "Poor man died in my arms, in fact – so sad."
Zevran laughed, and even Kai had to chuckle, "When she took the throne, Celene began changing the way politics work in Orlais, she felt she needed to clean up at home first. When she finally got things underway, she started to correspond with your King Cailan. She wanted to make amends, to seal a lasting peace between Orlais and Ferelden. Celene's father does not approve of this at all, but that does not stop my lady, my lady, c'est formidable, no? Cailan also felt that the trouble with Orlais should be left in the past that they should look to the future, their letters became more personal. She told me she fell in love with him when they finally met in person. It was a very brief meeting, only a few hours. She told me he was funny, kind, brave and thoughtful. They discussed Cailan's setting Anora aside to marry Celene and produce an heir, or heirs, of both their bloodlines, this would tie the two countries together better than any treaty on paper. And they discussed the Blight that both she and Cailan knew would be coming, he told her that his father Maric had been told there would be one and he wouldn't live to see it. Cailan didn't want to panic the people."
"One of her letters mentioned that her Warden-Commander told her it was a Blight and that it threatened both our countries. I saw that Celene felt the way Cailan had, that our unhappy history was just that, history. And speaking of Maric, I believe he would have agreed with Cailan, Maric was a forgiving soul, it was Loghain who was not." Kai shrugged, "In fact I believe, no matter how Loghain tried to convince himself otherwise, that part of the reason he quit the field was to execute Cailan for what he saw as treason. He judged Cailan guilty of seeking aid from our former enemy, thereby laying Ferelden open for another Orlesian occupation, and he knew about Celene and the letters."
"You did not get to ask him" Gnat raised her eyebrow.
"He would have just denied it. I think there was a part of him that could not believe he had let his best friend's son and his king die. He couldn't face it, no matter how he justified it. I heard he had taken to drinking heavily. And Alistair, the only other Ferelden Grey Warden, fought him in a duel and summarily beheaded him, so, even if I had thought he would answer truthfully in the end, it is rather hard to get a dismembered head to talk." Kai gave Gnat a wan smile.
"Is he the Warden who died killing the Archdemon?" Gnat looked at Kai, who found herself with a catch in her throat. Still, it affected her this way.
"Ah, mi' gra," Alistair's voice spoke softly in her ear.
"Can't help it, beloved, it still hurts," Kai gave him a small mental smile. Out loud, Kai replied, "Yes and now we have Anora to deal with, she has turned out to be worse than her father and the Blight put together." Kai grimaced, "And lucky you, you find yourself right in the middle of it with us."
Gnat laughed, "Well, I am just glad I found you at last, I had been losing hope. No one seemed to know how to find 'The Silver Griffon.' And being Orlesian and elven didn't help, as people were suspicious."
"Yes, I apologize for that, I am afraid along with everything else we need to work on rebuilding, the repair of the intangible things will be the hardest." Kai laughed, "Well, Zev, Jarren and I were all going to visit the small town here and deliver some food, money and goods, courtesy of 'The Silver Griffon,' would you like to join us?"
"Oui, I will get into my armor and meet you and Zevran in the common room, yes?" Gnat smiled at them, and Kai nodded.
"Call me 'Zev,' my dear that is what my friends call me after all." He grinned at Gnat, and she blushed.
"Then I will meet you and Zev in the common room in a few minutes." Gnat smiled and left the room, again, Kai felt that twinge.
"So, our tiny friend dropped quite a pretty little bombshell on us, no?" Zev grinned at her, Kai just nodded, lost in her own very uncomfortable inner landscape. Zev gave her a look, "What is going on in that head of yours, my dear friend?"
"I don't know. You seemed very friendly towards her," Kai shrugged and blushed.
"I am not sure I understand what you mean" Zev stared at her, not blinking.
"Nothing, I don't mean anything by it, really." Kai felt herself blushing more and she wanted to end the conversation. She got up and went to the chest to get her own armor.
"You are jealous," Zevran continued to stare at her.
"No...I...well, yes," great way to speak in complete sentences, Kai. She felt herself flushing harder.
"And why should you be jealous, if anyone should be jealous, it should be I, should it not?" Zev's voice was quiet.
Kai bit her lower lip, she was ashamed. He was right. She should have known that it wouldn't work. If she needed someone to...well...be physical with, she should just go to The Pearl, "You're right, Zev, what happened with us was not planned, I swear on my parents' honor. I don't ever want you to feel like, what was it you said to me, like an Antivan whore to pleasure me and kill for me? You are not that, not now, not ever!" She clenched her fists, Maker. This was so hard for her to talk about. Fereldans just didn't talk about sex. She thought her ears would catch on fire, they were burning so badly, but she pressed on, "And I won't have you put in that position. What happened between us was due to...well...pent up emotions and not having physical relations with anyone in a long time, we can just leave it at that. You are my best friend, and I won't ruin it again, your friendship means more to me than anything. I have no other claim on you, and we have not pledged anything more than friendship to each other." She looked down, she didn't dare look at his face, what if he was angry with her again as he was after his rescue. She didn't want to go through that again, or lose him. What she was about to say made her heart squeeze painfully, but it needed to be said.
"So, if you and she, Gnat, I mean. If you and she want to...well...you know, well then...um...just tell me so I can make myself scarce. And...um...maybe tie a scarf or something on the door handle, so I know to stay away. That way I won't accidentally...well...interrupt...um...come in the room before..." Kai let out a huff of breath, "She is gorgeous, not something I would ever be accused of, and she has a lot in common with you, childhood wise. And she is an elf, so that is something else you have in common. I think it would be lovely." Kai wanted to choke on those words, "I mean I think she is very attractive, and I don't even go for women, not even Leli or Isabela when they offered. But Gnat is something else entirely, and she is obviously interested in you outside of trying to get information from you. So, I say go for it." Kai blushed harder and felt tears creeping into the corners of her eyes. Sod it, why should this hurt so? "Not that you need my permission, that isn't what I mean! Okay, I am just babbling, and I hope you aren't mad at me..." Anything else she was about to say was lost when his lips covered hers, hot and devouring, while his hands cupped her face. She was wondering if she should picture a lamppost, though they really didn't have the time with Gnat meeting them in the common room. When he stepped back his amber eyes held amusement and exasperation?
"You have to be most infuriatingly arousing woman I have ever met, there is no other woman like you in all of Thedas." Kai, her lips tingling, blushed harder, "Of course I am jealous that you and Alistair have a bond that transcends death, but I am not jealous of your love for him or his for you, I understand how he feels completely. And I know you love me, my dear Kaidana, you have already proven that." He stroked her cheek, "As for something more pledged between us, you bring up a very good point." He reached around his neck and removed one of the earrings that she had hung on a leather thong back when he was comatose. He held it up to the light where the silver hoop with the translucent golden stones glimmered.
"You want me to have that, oh Zev, are you sure? It was hers. I don't want to take it from you." Kai reached and cupped the earring in her hands.
"It is not taking if I give it, with my heart, to you," Zev put it in her hand and curled her fingers over it, "I have only loved two women in my life, so, it is fitting that they both have worn this earring, no?"
"Only one problem, I don't have pierced ears, I mean, I considered it once. There is an elven jeweler at Highever, and he makes jewelry that looks like plants, silver ivy that trails around your neck or pussy willows in gold and pearls. He is so popular that nobles' wives and daughters come from all over Ferelden demand to have his work adorn their necks and ears. He made a necklace and earrings which looked like the branches of the rowan tree in silver, with garnets for the berries. It was the only time I lusted after jewelry, which I never really wore. I considered asking my father to get it for me as a birthday present, but he was killed before that could happen. Aaaand I am babbling again." Kai flushed harder and looked at the earring sitting in her palm. The light hit the stones, making them glow like honey or solidified sunshine, "I guess I could wear it around my neck."
"You don't understand me, my dear Kaidana, I want you to wear one in your ear, and I will wear one in mine." He smiled at her, "Then, you will only have to touch it to remind yourself that I am wearing mine, and my heart belongs to you." He laid his lips tenderly on hers before stepping back, "As to piercing your ears, and I think one up in the curve of your ear for this earring, and I can take care of that, or our dear bard could, I have no doubt." His fingers gently played with her earlobe, "But you are going to have to return the favor and pierce mine, no?"
She smiled and nodded at him, "I guess I can do that. I love you too, Zev." She blushed more, but grinned at him.
"There is one other thing I would ask of you, another promise. Then, we had best get ready to meet Gnat. I wouldn't want to keep her waiting too much longer, or she might think we are doing explicitly sexual things instead of talking, no?" He laughed when Kai blushed harder.
"What can I do for you, my dear friend" Kai touched his cheek.
"I want you to put the vallaslin on my skin." He smiled and kissed her and went to the chest to get their armor.