Rina rolled her eyes with a sigh. It was painfully (literally) clear that she was not having some sort of dream due to the dull ache in her head. With a start she realized that whatever he had given her was some sort of pain killer, and it was amazingly effective. The intense throbbing from minutes ago was now a constant ache that was much more manageable. Even so, no matter how hot this guy was, she didn't need a bedtime story, or some guy acting out his role playing fantasies with her. Although her mind threw questions out like, 'how do you explain everything that has happened then?' and 'hello, what about his ears?' and her personal favorite, 'who cares, he's gorgeous!'; she ignored them all in favor of reality.

"Riiiight…." She drawled out. "And I bet you're an assassin, part of the Crows too." Her words were practically dripping with sarcasm, though she noticed he perked up.

"So you have heard of me!" He pointed to her, almost like an accusation.

"Uh huh," she continued. "Sorry, but I'm not buying it. The Crows aren't real, Zevran isn't real. Either you're some freaky creep in a really good costume, or I'm somehow still dreaming." She noticed as she spoke that his smile became a frown, and then a sneer at her words.

He walked slowly towards her. "I suppose," He spoke nonchalantly, but his eyes were zeroed in on hers. "that to the common people, stories of me or the Crows can seem like a dream or a nightmare depending on your point of view. But, I assure you," he advanced on her quickly and before she could blink, his dagger was at her cheek. "It is true."

At this point, Rina could feel herself shaking. She knew her eyes must be wide open, but she couldn't blink, for fear that he would do something. This was not the Zevran she knew, he wasn't kind and funny. He was dangerous. 'And,' she thought, 'looks like he will enjoy hurting me.' His grin has a meanness, that grows bigger as her fear becomes more apparent.

"Now that we understand each other, my little dove, who are you?" He asked.

"R-Rina" She squeaked.

"Hmm, so I did hear that correctly." He continued under his breath, "I am happy I am not crazy like I thought…"

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing." His serene face instantly took back the menacing sneer. "Now is the time to prove your worth."

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"It is simple. Either you help us, and we get a ransom from your relatives and you go home safe and sound, or we take you to Lady Jasmine at the whorehouse who will pay your ransom and give you a new home and career." He chuckled as he saw her expression. "I did save your life after all… I should be compensated for my… services," he added.

"Sounds to me like you are the one who belongs in a whorehouse!" She lashed out, her anger and her fear warring within her.

He smirked at her again, and she thought of it as his default expression. "What a quick and clever tongue you have. I hope it is clever at more than words."

"Ugh," she said disgusted. "Does your Casanova routine ever work?"

"Casanova?"

"The infamous lover?"

He chuckled, "already you compare me to this infamous lover? I must have made a very good impression." She almost laughed at his innuendo, but didn't want to egg him on further.

"Look, uh…" she began.

"Zevran," he helpfully supplied.

"Right, Zevran. Look, I just don't believe you. Zevran isn't real. I'm obviously having a really long, involved dream…"she trailed off, trying to make sense of it all.

"Not just an infamous lover, but being in my presence is like a dream come true, yes?" he asked. Her eyes snapped wide again as she felt his finger sliding down her cheek. Somehow without her noticing, his dagger was replaced by his hand, and she hadn't even seen him move! She automatically recoiled back, moving so that he no longer touched her so that she could think again.

"Do I make you nervous, little dove?" His voice, low and soft made her spine snap straight.

"It's Rina," she said in a commanding tone.

He shakes his head, appearing to have thought about using her actual name and dismissing the notion. "Little Dove is more fitting. Beautiful and aloof, nervous and shaking when nearby a…" his voice lowered even more as his lips skimmed her ear, "predator."

Rina shivered. When did he get so close? Her eyes closed as she felt him tracing her collarbone with a finger. 'Think Rina! Think!' she told herself. She still couldn't believe this was real, but it surely felt real. So, assuming it was… what did she know about Zevran?

"Um… an Antivan Crow…" she mumbled.

"hmm?"

"...partnered with Taliesen and… Rinna."

Her eyes opened as she felt his hand around her throat. There was no pressure applied, but she could feel the threat, as well as see it on his face.

"And?" he asked menacingly.

She continued before she thought it through. "He wanted to die, so he took the contract on the Grey Wardens," she finished softly. The dagger was back on her cheek before she could blink.

"And now, you will tell me how you came by this knowledge," His hand tightened once around her throat to emphasize his point. "It would be very bad for you if you were to lie to me," he said.

'Should I tell him?' she asked herself. The steely anger in his eyes leaves no choice, so she'll try the super condensed version.

"Okay," she sighs, "but you won't believe me."

"Try me."

"I'm not from here," she began.

"Antiva? That is quite obvious." he interrupted.

"Wait, we're in Antiva?" she asked, brightening. "Hmm, it's warmer than I thought it would be." The noise he made sounded like some sort of growl. "And what do you mean, obvious?!"

He snarled, "I asked you a question. Either answer it, or die, your choice."

"Okay, okay, jeez. Freak out much?" she complained. As he lifted his dagger, she hurried to continue. "I don't know how I got here. Last night, I went to bed at home. Today, I wake up in a street, in different clothes."

"That explains nothing." He adjusted his grip on his dagger.

"I'm getting there!" she said sharply. "Back home, I heard a story. It was an epic adventure, full of danger, battle, romance, you name it." She spoke quickly at his pointed look. "There were many characters in this story, but one of them was an assassin."

He gave no reaction.

"He was an Antivan Crow."

No reaction.

"Named Zevran Arainai."

He paused and said, "I don't believe you."

"I knew you wouldn't," she replied calmly.

"Then why tell me this… this fabrication?" he demanded.

She looked him in the eye and said, "because you told me not to lie."

There was silence as they stared at each other, before Zevran finally spoke. "And in this… story, I take a contract to kill a Grey Warden?"

"Two actually," she answered.

His eyes widened. "Two legendary warriors, against myself?" he asked.

"Well, yes." she answered. "In the story, you were determined to die in battle, in a blaze of glory, as it were."

"Hmph," he grunted. "With such a clever tongue, I am surprised you could not give me a better story than that." She looked fearfully at his dagger as he raised his arm and drew it back. "Whorehouse it is then," he stated as he sheathed his dagger behind him. He noticed the look on her face, "Don't look so relieved," he smiled as she looked confused. "Soon enough, I'm sure you'll wish I had killed you."

Before she could retaliate, the door opened behind them, and Taliesen walked in speaking.

"Zev, you'll never believe what Anerio told me… oh!"he stopped as he looked at Rina. "So, your lovely lady has awoken at last." He looked back to Zevran, "are we writing a note, or taking a trip to see Lady Jasmine?" he asked.

"Jasmine," Zevran answered.

"Oh…" he smirked coldly at Rina. "That's too bad, for you anyway. I'll be sure to come visit whenever I can darling."

Rina never was adept at keeping her emotions off her face, and Zevran smirked at her as well when he saw the utter disgust written there. He decided to change the subject.

"What were you saying earlier Tali?" he asked. "Something about Anerio?"

Taliesen's attention returned to Zevran, and Rina breathed a silent sigh of relief. The guy was a sleaze ball.

"You'll never believe it, Zev," Taliesen said. "House Arainai accepted a contract for some Grey Wardens!"

Zevran felt his blood chill as he stood in shock. He turned his head to look at Rina, though he didn't say a thing.

Taliesen's eyes narrowed in concern and mistrust. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Grey Wardens." Zevran addressed Taliesen again. "Are you sure?"

"That's what Anerio says." Taliesen looked back at Rina again, trying to understand the underlying tension in the room. "He says no one is stupid enough to accept it though. I think the head of house is simply trying to rise up in esteem by biting off more than we can chew."

Rina stayed still and silent, unsure of what would happen next. She couldn't understand this Zevran before, and now she was unnerved by his silence.

"Come on," Zevran started guiding Rina across the room, though it was obvious he was speaking to Taliesen.

"What? Where?" Taliesen replied. "I want to try our new acquisition before we sell her off, so we know how much to ask for," he eyed Rina with a sleazy grin on his face.

"She'll be fine here while we find out about the contract," Zevran replied.

"Are you crazy?" Taliesen asked before Zevran had him by the throat.

"What did you just call me?!" he demanded. Taliesen grabbed him in return by the nape of the neck seemingly used to Zevran's treatment.

He spoke calmly, though his face was thunderous. "Zev, don't act recklessly. We can't afford to draw attention to ourselves," he voice became quieter, and Rina had to strain to hear him. "They may decide to give us this contract because of what happened on our last one."

Zevran winced, and his face showed the pain and regret that came crashing back on him. He took his hand from Taliesen's throat and cupped his cheek with his palm.

"I need to know Tali," he spoke, the emotion coming through. "It's important."

Taliesen gazed into his eyes for a minute, before sighing. "Fine," he said. "But let's keep in the background, okay?"

"But of course."

Taliesen grabbed Rina's arm and pushed her into a side room, that she honestly thought had been a closet. She heard the door lock after he had closed it in her face.

"Stay put sweetheart," she heard Taliesen call to her. "We'll get to know each other better soon enough."

Finding herself alone for the first time, Rina looked around the tiny room. There wasn't much. A chair, and some sort of pot in the corner. As she got nearer to peer into it, she realized by the faint smell that it was a chamber pot. And of course, as soon as she thought about it, she realized she would need to use it, and soon.

Having gotten that out of the way, she thanked her lucky stars that she didn't have to use it in front of either of the men. There was only so much her mind could take at this point. Her bathroom woes were quickly replaced by everything she had experienced today, from the Ugly Brute and his gang, to Zevran's flirt or be killed attitude, to Taliesen's not so veiled rape references. She started feeling queasy. 'This can't be real… right?' she thought. She reached up and slapped her cheek, hard. Nothing happened, so she tried again. And again. Finally, she hit her head against the wall, which only made her headache return. She turned around and leaned back against the wall. No matter how many times she tried to deny it, the reality of her situation could not be pushed aside any longer. She slowly slid to the floor as her knees buckled. Bringing her knees to her chest, she laid her head on her knees, closed her eyes and wished she were home.