Rina sat up suddenly, panting. She quickly glanced all around her, trying desperately to find the source of her fear, but everything looked normal. She picked up the controller to her PlayStation and focused on the TV. She could see her character standing in the corner of a room, facing the wall. She couldn't help but laugh as she realized that she had fallen asleep while playing Dragon Age, again. She continued to giggle, relieved, as she thought of the dream she had conjured due to her obsession with the games. Getting all the achievements wasn't enough, no, she wanted to experience everything with every character, with every configuration of her party. At this point, she knew the games so well, she no longer needed to look at the map or the quest list.
She turned her head, as the door opened and Steven, her husband, walked in. He glanced in her direction, and continued in without saying anything. She hung her head down. She had been putting this off for long enough. "Look, Steve," she called out. "Maybe… maybe we should talk."
He turned back to look at her. "What?"
"Look at us," she began. "We hardly talk anymore, you completely ignore me most of the time. I don't know how to fix this without you talking to me!" She pleaded with him, as she couldn't live like this anymore. They were barely roommates, when they were supposed to be spouses. "Please, talk to me. What's going on?"
He looked at her dispassionately, and spoke in monotone. "I've been rethinking my life choices that I've made for the last six years."
"Six…" her heart lurched. That's how long he's known her. "So?" she asked, not really certain she wanted to know.
He looked away and sighed, "so, I don't want to be married anymore."
Rina sat up suddenly, panting. She quickly glanced left and right, noticing there was nothing in the small room to cause her heart to be racing. It took a moment to realize that she was in the room where Taliesen and Zevran had placed her, which meant… she had been dreaming. It took a few minutes, and a couple of slaps and pinches before she decided she was now awake. Unless it was a dream within a dream… No, she laughed at herself. Because THAT would be ridiculous.
It was odd, during the dream, she had been so shocked, like she hadn't known it was coming. She somehow couldn't remember all the time that had passed, how she had turned her life around, and realized how unhappy she truly had been. Once she woke up, all her memories returned, and she was no longer upset. Perhaps it was less a dream, and more of a reliving of the past. Either way, not something she really wanted to dwell on. She was more concerned with how to get out of here, and back home.
She stilled as she heard voices, but no one came to the room she was in. She stood slowly and walked quietly to the door, placing her ear on the wood. The voices became somewhat clearer, though she wasn't sure if it was because of her new position, or because they were getting louder and louder.
"This … insane Zev! How … do this? We have … chance against … -ardens!" she couldn't make out everything Taliesen was saying, but she thought she could guess the meaning clearly.
"You can't … stand!" Zevran shouted. "… is no we! I must … this, and you … stop … want to die!"
"I can- … help …this. You … on … own now… won't … by and watch … destroy …"
Rina could hear how emotional the conversation was becoming, and felt like some sort of intruder. She lifted her head, and went back to her position against the wall.
It didn't take long until she heard rummaging, and finally the slamming of a door. A few moments later, the door to her room was unlocked, and swung open to reveal Zevran.
"Come on out then, it seems luck favors you today little dove." He calmly said without looking at her. "You are free to go. I won't be taking you to see Jasmine today."
Rina clenched her fingers together, unnerved by the sadness on his face. "Are … are you, all right?" she asked hesitantly.
"Not really, no," he said honestly, surprising her and himself. He quickly put his defenses back up. "Do not worry little dove, I may be down for a moment, but you will be pleased to know I will be back up in no time," giving his eyebrow a wiggle as he said "up."
Rina rolled her eyes. "And, the moment's gone, well done," she teased him. She was glad for the sudden change in demeanor, as she didn't want him to know how much she wanted to reach out to him in that moment.
"Well," he said, "if we are not … having a moment, then I must prepare for my journey to Ferelden. I have a contract to execute, as it were." He guided her towards the door and opened it for her. "It was a pleasure to meet you little dove. I wish you well." He gave a small bow, and gestured towards the open door.
Rina hesitated. She knew she had been lucky earlier that day with his timely rescue, and she knew good luck never held out for long. She didn't know why, but she needed to get to Ferelden. True, she really wanted to meet the wardens, perhaps even the entire party before she found some way to get home. But really, she didn't see how she could survive a day in Antiva alone.
"Actually…" she stopped at the smirk on his face.
"Oh?" his brow quirked up. "We are having a moment? How delicious…" he said as if savoring the word, as he began to close the door.
"No, that's not what I meant!" she exclaimed
"Oh." The disappointment seemed genuine, as he opened the door fully again. "Then I am truly sorry to see you go, but most assuredly, I will enjoy watching you leave." He eyed her up and down, making her feel like covering herself even though she was fully dressed.
"I want to go too," she said. "To Denerim," she clarified.
"Denerim?" he asked, suddenly serious, his face like a mask. "Why would I go there? Why would you?"
"But don't you have to meet your contact there? I thought…" she trailed off as she realized her mistake. She wasn't supposed to know the particulars. "Uh, I mean the wardens are in Ferelden, so it seems the logical -" She hesitated again, but settled on the truth. "I already told you. Before," she added, watching him flinch in remembrance.
"A story, from your homeland," he said dubiously. "Answer me this then, can you see the future?"
"Hell no," she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous."
"I? I am not the one being ridiculous," he said accusingly. He stepped closer, into her personal space and asked, "Why?"
She could pretend to not understand, but really, what would be the point? She was asking for a favor, she shouldn't antagonize him. "There's someone in Fereldan, a powerful witch, who may be the only one who can help me get home." His eyebrow quirked up, but he said nothing. "And… the wardens know where she is," she finished.
"And if I kill the wardens?" he asked.
"She can shape shift into a dragon. If the wardens aren't tough enough to kill you, I'm sure she would be happy to," she deadpanned and he roared with laughter.
It took a lot more convincing, and finally some begging before he agreed to take her along. He could see her suspicion once he agreed, but in all honesty he had simply wanted to see her beg, and quite the sight it was. It definitely grated her pride, and he could see it in the way her teeth and fists were clenched, but she did so nonetheless. He didn't dwell on his feelings, as he didn't quite understand them, but he knew he couldn't simply leave her to the wolves, or well, Crows.
He booked passage on a merchant ship traveling to Denerim and after packing essentials for them both, he handed her a pack and took off for the docks. He would use this week aboard the vessel to hammer out his plan of attack for the wardens. They were obviously clever, if the man that was essentially ruling the kingdom was unable to find and kill them.
Zevran turned and looked at Rina as they set foot about dry land again.
"You look dreadful my dear," he said chuckling.
"No thanks to you!" she hissed back. True enough, once she had told him her plans to accompany him, he had spent most of the voyage training her to be more aware of her surroundings. He hadn't let her sleep for more than a couple hours at a time before scaring her awake with some tactic or trap. He jumped out of so many corners around the ship that she had come to expect him everywhere.
"That's true.." he purred at her. She stopped and stared at him, wary. He laughed, "and now you will not be caught unawares, will you?" he asked.
"No," she answered, glad that there was actually a reason for the torture of the last several days, more than simply to torment her.
She hooked her arm in his, and let him guide her, as she was exhausted. When they finally made it to their destination, she was hardly surprised to see the Pearl.
He looked over, ready to make some sort of apology for the need to bring her here, but stopped when he saw the smile on her face and awe in her eyes. It made him smile as well, taking in the child-like wonder on her face.
He leaned over to speak in her ear, "So, you want to… go in?" He noticed her shiver before she turned her head.
"Can we?" she asked eagerly. He smiled at her excitement, "Really? What could we possibly do, together, inside a brothel? He grinned as her face fell into a sneer at his question.
"Ugh, why do I even try?" she muttered. He didn't answer, simply lead her inside.