Rest

Faren got himself cleaned up in the baths, ate some food, and retreated to bed, putting on his old pyjamas that hadn't used in months. It had been hard sleeping in armour, but the Deep Roads had been so dangerous and had called for it. To finally get his armour off felt so good. Now he had to clean it, but that could be done after a good sleep. Faren dried his hair slowly with the towel, only looking up when Zevran walked into their bedroom.

He and Zevran were sharing a room. Zevran who now looked nice and clean, and much more relaxed than he had been in weeks.

"That was the most amazing bath of my life," Zevran groaned happily, stretching his arms. "How are you feeling, my dear? Are you doing better?"

"Much better," Faren said. "A good nights sleep and I think I'll be almost as good as new, despite the injuries."

His arm was still very tender and sore, to the point it was a struggle to lift up. Wynne said she would heal him more tomorrow after she got more rest, but she still had Cobian's arm and leg to heal too, Ciara's back, Narascha's... well... probably everything... there was so much for her to do.

"I..." Zevran eyed his arm, frowning softly, but then looked back into his eyes with a smile. "I think that... while we have a comfortable bed, maybe you and I could have a little fun? I could show you some of my massages."

Faren couldn't help but smile fondly. "Aren't you still healing too?"

"As are you, but I will be completely gentle. Not a single one of our wounds will hurt. I swear it," Zevran promised.

He approached Faren and knelt down, lifting Faren's weak arm gently, and pressing a soft kiss to his hand. The one the Alpha had stomped on. Faren softened against him completely at that.

"I suppose there might be room enough for two people in this bed..." Faren began, eyeing Zevran, who grinned brightly.

"Oh yes, more than enough," Zevran purred, and gently cupped Faren's cheeks, his thumbs brushing over his skin.

Faren tugged at Zevran and pulled him up so he sat on the bed too, and moaned softly when Zevran pulled him in for a kiss.

.:.

Lawrien shivered in disgust.

Faren and Zevran were having sex.

She could feel it, and it was gross. Yes, okay, she was happy for them, but ew. Lawrien saw Leliana and Epona eye her oddly, while Lawrien sunk deeper into the bath.

"Are you alright, Lawrien?" Leliana asked.

Lawrien stared at her, then Lawrien nodded and sunk so low that her entire mouth was covered by the bath water. She was not talking about it.

"You look rather disgusted," Epona noted. "Did you eat too fast? I believe that is why Wynne told us to bath first than eat."

Lawrien shook her head.

She wished it was that.

Ciara walked into the bathing room, still drying her damp hair, and eyed Lawrien, before sighing.

"Again?" Ciara asked.

Lawrien blew bubbles into the water.

"Again?" Leliana blinked.

"Lawrien is an empath, so she can feel emotions, good or bad," Ciara hinted. "Mostly everyone is either sleeping or eating right now, but some are sharing rooms..." Ciara trailed off, eyeing Lawrien.

Leliana's jaw dropped.

Epona still looked confused. "Why does sharing rooms make her feel strange? Aren't they just sleeping?"

Ciara sighed. "It's Faren and Zevran."

Epona stared at Ciara wide eyed.

Lawrien groaned and sat up properly. "I'm happy for them, but it's so awkward!" Lawrien complained. "This used to happen in the Circle too, and the Grey Wardens, but at least they did it far enough away from my senses, but right now Zevran's emotions are all over the place. He's glad Faren is safe, feels guilty and blames himself for Faren's arm and hand being broken, and wants to provide comfort and joy and a bit of fun to distract him and peaceful sleep and it's all so nice, but ew!"

Leliana hadn't said a word, she was still staring with wide eyes, and her jaw was still hanging. Lawrien wanted to cackle at the sight. Weird to see a bard not know what to say.

"I must admit, that must be difficult, feeling so much," Epona mused. "I wouldn't have thought sex would count, but it does make sense. Sex can heighten emotional responses. What happens when you have sex yourself?"

Lawrien shrugged. "Not sure. I've not done it yet."

"You are still rather young," Epona said. "It makes sense."

"So far I've not been that interested in it at all," Lawrien admitted. "Maybe one day. Now can we get away from this topic? I need a distraction, and I think Leliana does too before she inhales the bath water."

Leliana's jaw abruptly shut at that.

"How is everyone else?" Epona asked, eyeing Ciara.

"Either eating or asleep, with the exception of Shale, but she is relaxing in the lounge and keeping an eye on our front door," Ciara said. "I've made sure there are glasses of water in everyone's room, with the exception of some busy people, and some food too."

"And the dwarves of Orzammar? How are they coping with our retreat?" Epona asked.

"I went and spoke to the Steward when he came to our door and explained the situation," Ciara said with a heavy sigh. "He understands that we need to rest and recover, and will keep the Assembly and the candidates in line..." Ciara's brow furrowed. "For probably a few days at best."

"I'll take that over nothing," Lawrien said.

"It probably will be the best we can get," Epona said, climbing out the baths, grabbing a towel and quickly drying herself off.

Her hair was so pretty out of its tie. It was so long too. Leliana was staring at Epona's hair too in awe. Epona always had it tied up, so to see it so long and flowing was really nice. Lawrien flushed when Ciara eyed her, and sank back down beneath the bath water again.

She could feel Ciara's curiosity, but mainly it was amusement. Lots and lots of amusement.

"I'm going to go to bed now, I'll see you all tomorrow," Epona said, and walked out.

"I supposed I'll go sleep too," Leliana said, climbing out too. "Don't soak for too much longer, Lawrien. You only just got rid of your fever."

"Thanks, Leliana."

Ciara remained silent until the door was shut and Leliana's footsteps faded away.

"So?" Ciara arched a brow, smiling like a cat that caught the canary. "Epona?"

Lawrien sighed and slumped against the edge of the baths. "Maybe. I don't know."

"No?" Ciara sat down at the edge of the baths.

Lawrien tried to think about it, but she had never had a crush before. Cullen had immediately fallen head over heels for Myra, for her beauty, her intelligence, her calmness and strength. Myra had slowly fallen for his kindness and his own gentle nature.

Not that Lawrien was entirely sure how that relationship would manage now.

The thought made her grimace.

"I think Epona is beautiful," Lawrien admitted. "Her hair is so pretty, and her eyes too, and she's so strong all the time. Everything that happened before she even joined us, how she kept going despite losing Tamlen and her entire clan to survive. That would break many people, yet she didn't once hesitate to fight alongside us after that. The Deep Roads terrified her too, but Epona didn't once ask to leave, didn't even take the option when offered. Epona's brave, she's strong, fierce, and just over all amazing."

"It certainly does sound like you have a crush."

"But shouldn't my heart race like the girls in the stories?" Lawrien asked. "A lot of them swoon or lust or something... I'm not... I don't know if I'd want to kiss Epona... I know you want to kiss Alistair, and do..." Lawrien's nose curled. "Lots of stuff... but it sounds so gross to me..."

Ciara chuckled. "You might feel differently in a few years, or you might not. You're still very young, we both are I suppose. There is a lot of the world for us to explore."

"But you love Alistair," Lawrien said.

Ciara softened. "Yes. I do."

"But how did you know?" Lawrien tilted her head.

"I guess over time it's just a feeling you develop," Ciara said. "Some perhaps faster than others, but for me it took time. I mean I've known him for a year and a half round about now, and we have done so much together, but up until recently I would never have admitted it."

Lawrien groaned. "It's too complicated."

Ciara chuckled. "Emotions usually are, even if you can feel everyone's emotional states. Now come on. Let's go to bed."

Lawrien grinned and held out a hand. "Pull me out?"

Ciara laughed. "No way. You'll pull me into the bath!"

Lawrien's grin sharpened. "What? No..."

Ciara retreated back with a giggle when Lawrien tried grabbing her ankles, but she missed. Ciara was too fast.

"Too slow!" Ciara teased, chucking a towel towards her. "Now let's go, before you become a prune."

Lawrien cackled. "I'll become wise with my old age."

"Or just have bad skin."

.:.

"Cobian!" Morrigan slammed open his door, making Cobian yelp.

"Morrigan?" Cobian blinked wide eyed at her.

He had just been dozing off in bed until she had attempted to kill him with a heart attack. He thought everyone had been sleeping, but evidently not.

"We need to talk," Morrigan said firmly, sitting down at the edge of his bed.

"...Can I put some clothes on first?" Cobian asked, a little confused.

What time even was it?

Morrigan eyed his chest, and her eyes widened. "No, no you may not," she said.

Cobian spluttered as his cheeks burned. "W-What? What does that mean?"

Morrigan shook her head. "Never mind. That can be for another time, even if..." she eyed him again, or more so his chest, then his arms. "How in the world did you get so muscular? You weren't this strong back at Ostagar."

"Uh..."

"Again, not the time," Morrigan dismissed him.

Cobian was so confused.

"I have been studying Mother's grimoire. Do you wish to hear what I've found?" Morrigan didn't really sound like she was asking, she looked more unnerved than anything else.

"You look a bit worried?" Cobian frowned.

Morrigan's brow furrowed. "Worried? I suppose. T'is not what I expected. I had hoped for a collection of her spells, a map of the power she commands, but this is not it..."

"Okay, what is it?"

"Here, in great detail, Flemeth explains the means by which she has survived for all these centuries." Morrigan's voice sounded rather distressed, and Cobian was stunned to see the fear in her eyes.

"A spell of immortality?" Cobian asked, but that would be no reason for Morrigan to be afraid. She would revel in the idea.

"If only t'were so..." Morrigan sighed heavily. "I told you that Flemeth has raised many daughters over her long lifetime, only that I've never met them, and always wondered why not. And now I know." Her voice darkened. "They are all Flemeth."

Cobian choked. "What? How?"

"When her body becomes old and wizened, she raises a daughter, and when the time is right she takes her daughter's body for her own. And I... I am to be her next host..."

Cobian frowned. "So while the demon within her keeps her spirit alive, or soul, or magical energy, her body will still wither from old age. Her demon must pass her along to the next body, and possess it like the original Flemeth had been. That would take a great deal of magic to perform, but Flemeth has always been a powerful witch. I suppose she must use her daughters bodies for a reason?"

"I am uncertain," Morrigan admitted, frowning deeply. "According to her grimoire, some hosts are better than others. The more a host is prepared, the quicker the transition will be."

"Prepared? I suppose that must mean she needs a mage to possess, and that mage needs to be powerful. We have all been growing stronger as we journey to stop the Blight, is that possibly why she sent you with us?" Cobian mused. "But why risk getting you killed? Is she that desperate or is there another angle I am missing?"

He saw Morrigan hesitate, but didn't try pry. He knew better when he saw her jaw tighten.

"I am... sorry..." Morrigan sounded pained, her face falling. "I... this has taken me by surprise. I would have thought I would have some notion, and inkling."

"It would make sense that she wouldn't tell you," Cobian said. "Why would you want her to take over your life?"

Morrigan bit her lip.

"How do we stop this?" Cobian asked.

Morrigan startled. "You... you are ready to help me end this so readily?"

"Of course." Cobian nodded. "Besides, it wouldn't just be me either. Do you really think Lawrien would let one of us be killed off when we knew we could try and help?"

Morrigan managed a small smile at that before her eyes hardened. "Then there is only one thing we can do. Flemeth must die."

Cobian frowned thoughtfully. "I wonder if that is even possible, or if killing her current body would just banish her for a time until she possesses another? I suppose we will continue to keep killing her until she no longer desires to go after you."

Morrigan nodded. "I will not wait about like an empty sack waiting to be filled. Flemeth needs to die, and I will need your help."

"You won't be able to be there," Cobian said. "If so she might be able to possess you right there and then, even if we kill her."

Morrigan grimaced.

"Besides, if Epona is correct, then you wouldn't be able to make the finishing blow anyway."

Morrigan flushed. "Excuse me?"

Cobian laughed uneasily. "Sorry, sorry, I just remember her saying how odd it was to punch Asha'bella'nar, or whatever name she uses for Flemeth."

"That damned elf," Morrigan grumbled, then shook her head. "I will need Flemeth's grimoire, everything else in the hut will be for the rest of you."

"We'll try and do this as soon as we can," Cobian said. "It might not be immediately unfortunately, but if we change course a little bit on the way..."

"We might circle round before heading back to Redcliffe," Morrigan mused. "Good thinking. The sooner this is done and over with, the sooner my mind will be at ease."

.:.

Faren couldn't help but smile as he awed over Zevran. Zevran was fast asleep, snoring softly into his pillow, and Faren couldn't get over how someone as handsome as Zevran asked him if he wanted to have sex with him. It had been so amazing too, every part of it, even if the slight aches and pains from his injuries did protest a little, Zevran had been so gentle and tender the entire time.

Faren stiffened.

Zevran had asked him.

The cold realisation slowly crept up on Faren, and he sat up slowly in bed, trying not to disturb Zevran. Fuck, Zevran had asked Faren to have sex.

The last time Faren had sex was with Vaughan. He had been chained up in the dungeon the night before his wedding and forced. Faren had never had a choice.

Nobody had ever asked him before.

Vaughan had never asked. Not once in all their years together.

Fuck, why did he have to think about that now? Why did that suddenly pop into his head? Faren cursed quietly into his lap and ran his hand through his hair. He didn't want to think about that. He wanted to sink back into bed and enjoy being in Zevrna's company. Zevran who was absolutely amazing.

"Faren?" Zevran's voice startled him.

Faren looked up slowly. He hadn't heard Zevran stir awake, nor did he hear him shift to sit up next to him. Zevran was looking over him, his eyes narrowed in concern, searching over him.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" Zevran said, a furrow in his brow. "I am so sorry-"

"No, no," Faren cut him off, shaking his head. "You did nothing wrong. In fact that was the most amazing sex I've had in my life, trust me. I'm just..." Faren hesitated. "I'm sorry, I did not want to bring down the mood. I just... my mind is reminding me of bad things..."

Zevran frowned thoughtfully. "Would you like to talk about it?" he offered. "Or if you like I could give you some space if you need some room-"

"No, you don't have to leave," Faren said, then sighed heavily. "Fuck, I hate this. This was great-"

Zevran shook his head. "No, don't apologise. I may hate seeing you upset, but whatever trauma is coming back to haunt you is not your fault, my dear Grey Warden. I just wish I could help."

Faren frowned. "I... you know I used to work for Arl Urien, and that Vaughan made me suffer a lot during that time. I was his favourite servant. I unfortunately looked like a girl when I was younger, with long hair and soft features, and Vaughan loved that about me."

Zevran grimaced. "He..."

"Yeah, when I was fourteen he had his guards drag me to his room. I was kicking and screaming too, absolutely terrified out of my mind. You would hear the rumours, and you would hear about the bodies he left behind afterwards."

"The bodies?" Zevran's frown deepened.

"He murdered many of his rape victims," Faren said. "I got lucky. He liked me too much to kill me. Vaughan kept this up consistently for years, until the day of my wedding."

"Wedding?" Zevran startled. "You're married?"

"Nah, Vaughan crashed it," Faren sighed. "He took all the brides, because he wanted a 'party' with his friends, and it was short of 'female guests'. I tried to stop him, and got knocked out and taken with them too. After that Lawrien, Ciara, Epona and my uncle came and freed me, and we slaughtered our way through his guards to get back to the girls. I sliced Vaughan's throat, but somehow that wasn't enough to kill him. I don't bloody get it, who knows how that rat survived."

Zevran's frown deepened. "And the women you saved?"

"They were thankfully all safe. Vaughan managed to rough up my cousin quite badly, but she's a tough girl, she said she would be fine," Faren lied.

She hadn't just been roughed up, and now with the Alienage locked up like it had been when they last left Denerim... fuck, Faren was terrified for his family...

"He took you for the first time at fourteen?" Zevran scowled. "At fourteen? I know I enjoy sex, and yes, many Crows use it to assist with their assassinations, but it is not forced upon us. We are allowed to choose how we eliminate the target unless a contract states otherwise, but we bid on those contracts too. We know what we're getting into."

"It's fine." Faren shrugged. "It was so long ago that I barely remember that first night."

Lies. He remember every moment of it.

He would never forget that terrifying first night.

"I had only just realised that..." Faren grimaced. "That you were the first person to ever ask me. I think that's why I started thinking so much. I really wish I hadn't. I didn't want to ruin our night-"

"You haven't ruined anything," Zevran insisted. "No, in fact, you have put me in the same boat as Epona. I believe she wishes to bring you Vaughan's head, yes? I wish to do the same."

Faren laughed, a tired, but amused laugh. "You people are crazy."

"Considering everything we have been through so far?" Zevran chuckled. "I think that is expected by this point."

"True."