"All set, m'lady." A female servant told Evanna as she finished curling the Warden's long, reddish-brown hair. Evanna curtly nodded and smiled at her as thanks and dismissed her, then stared at herself on the mirror for a long time. Her eyes were rimmed with dark eyeliner, making her golden eyes stand out more. Her lips were a dark purplish colour, matching the gown she was wearing for the banquet.

"Well, I look just like I lost a lot of blood tonight, don't I?" she murmured to herself as she stood up and wore her boots underneath the gown. As she went out of her room, she saw Nathaniel waiting for her just outside the door.

"A pleasant evening to you, Warden-Commander." He politely greeted her, a smile adorning his handsome face, although it was mostly obscured by his mask.

Maker's breath… She offered him a smile of her own and put on her own mask as he held his hand out for her to take. "Shall we, m'lady Cousland?" He asked, his voice rumbling deep in his throat, sending shivers down her spine. She gladly intertwined her hands with his, her smile growing even bigger as they descended the stairs together for the whole crowd to see.

Zevran managed to sneak past the guards by posing as one of the guests for tonight's banquet. Everyone in Amaranthine was invited anyway, no? He smirked as he made his way inside, looking around for his victim.

"I assure you, Zevran. Once you see your target, you'll know. It'll be an easy job." Taliesen had told him.

Would it be one of my- her, former companions, then? He thought. As he walked among the crowd, he couldn't help but notice that a lot of women, and men, had their eyes on him. He only smirked even wider but as he turned his head towards where all seemed to look, his heart nearly dropped.

Even underneath that mask, he knew it was her. His heartbeat seemed to match the fall of her feet with each step she takes, and suddenly he's breathless. It is her. Flashbacks of their memories before replayed in his head, making him weak. He still remembers everything: the way her lips curve when she smiles, or how her hips sway gracefully when she walks. He remembers every inch of her body, for he once kissed it and worshipped it like she was his lifeline. And yet he all too willingly severed it and broke her heart. All because he was a coward.

"Evanna..." He found himself whispering under his breath, her name rolling off his tongue perfectly.

His heart squeezed in pain as he remembers how she pleaded for her life, how she whispered the words to him. Her eyes were shut, so she never saw how his hands shook as he held the dagger she gave him, or how he silently hoped that she would fight back because if she did, then he'll gladly lose to her and die by her own hand. Yet he knew she won't. She loved him too much, and that was the greatest mistake she's ever done. Now, he has to deal with the consequences and finish what he's started.

Being raised as a nobleman's daughter will get you acquainted with all the socializing you'll have to deal with during banquets, but that doesn't mean that you'll grow to like it. Evanna swore her cheeks felt numb from smiling at almost every guest in this banquet.

"Are you alright?" Nathaniel whispered in her ear, her arm still hooked on his. She leaned a bit towards him and smiled. "I'm just a bit tired, but I'll be fine." She said. She scanned her eyes across the crowd, and what she saw suddenly left her feeling weary and light headed. A familiar figure with blonde hair, staring at her from across the room. Then her attention was caught by a group of men waving their hands at them. She looked up to Nathaniel, who gave her a smile and said "Antoinne and the others. They're my friends from Antiva and Orlais. Do you want to meet them? "

"No, thank you. I've had enough meet-and-greets for tonight. I think I'll return to my quarters." She politely declined him and gave him a quick peck to the cheek before heading to her quarters.

There were lots of pretty women here in Amaranthine, sure, but his eyes only remained on one woman. Her eyes looked very stunning, her heavy eyeliner making her golden eyes look cat-like. The colour of her lips made her alabaster skin even more stunning. She looked very happy with this Nathaniel Howe, and the smile that graced her features made her even more beautiful. He can't look away, even when he felt her eyes find his. His heart seemed to stop as she stared, but quickly looked away and returned her gaze to the man beside her.

Maker, it hurts to see her with another man.

He's brought this onto himself, he knows that, but that can't and won't stop him from getting hurt. He knows that she deserves happiness, she's been through too much and he can't afford to be selfish, but that doesn't stop him from thinking: What if I never left her? Would I have been able to make her smile as much as that bastard does? He knows that she's deeply in love with that man, for he knows that look that she gives because she once looked at him the same way, but that doesn't stop him from wishing that it was him at her side, not this Howe bastard.

"Is that Arl Rendon Howe's son? Why is the Arlessa with him?" He heard a group of women gossiping behind him.

"But wasn't Arl Howe responsible for the late Teyrna and Teyrn Cousland's murder? Nathaniel shouldn't even be here."

"Shameful. To think that she would set her family's murder aside for petty attraction. There are more young and eligible noblemen here in Amaranthine, such as my son! Surely he'll be a perfect match for the Arlessa!" One of the women exclaimed

"Oh, my son would be a better choice than your son, Margarette. You think the Arlessa would choose your gambling drunkard son over a dignified and well-mannered nobleman like my son? I think not."

Zevran chose to walk away, irritated by the endless gawking of those pompous noblewomen who only seek more power. Your sons will never be good enough for a woman like her, he thought. Nobody will ever be good enough. Not even Nathaniel, or Alistair, or even I. With his brows furrowed together in disgust, he made his way into the servant's quarters, hoping that nobody would notice the disappearance of a single guest.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Chapter three will be uploaded tomorrow! Hopefully it's the last, and I do also hope that you enjoy the update. :)