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Blood Bond	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4278 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Bioware owns everything Dragon Age. I claim no ownership and make no money/profit.

Chapter List
- 22
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Ambush

Arawin and her group had been traveling through the Brecilian Forest for a few days. Just yesterday they had crossed the Drakon River, north of South Reach and were now making their way west into the heart of the forest. So far the trip came with little sign of the Dalish. They had traded at South Reach, even asking if anyone had spotted a Dalish clan, but no one had any good information. Arawin almost found a reliable source with en elven servant, but was unable to obtain the information as whispers were going around the town. Arawin had been recognized by the fliers hanging up all over the arling. Morrigan and Sten thought it best to leave as soon as possible.
As it turned out, the elven servant was really planning on luring Arawin into a trap. The morning Arawin and the others left South Reach, they were chased after by several guards, the elf amongst them. Arawin had to be carried by Sten as she realized what was going on and tried to kill the elf. She couldn’t believe her own people would sell her out, but once she calmed down, and they had lost the guards, Arawin really couldn’t blame the elf. After all, times were tough, and there was a lot of money on her, Zelda, and Alistair’s heads. 100 sovereigns each, dead or alive, according to a flier she had read.
But now, on the fifth day since the two groups departed, Arawin was wondering if splitting up was a good idea, although she would never admit it. They weren’t able to trade very much, and were starting to run out of supplies. Soon, their only means of food would have to be Morrigan, as she could use her magic to hunt or even turn into a predator and capture their food. It wasn’t something the witch was looking forward to doing, but it wasn't something she was not used to either.
“How else do you think me and Mother were able to sustain ourselves?” she asked when Arawin questioned her. “Only I really went to Lothering, and on very few occasions.”
“Then you don’t mind?” Arawin asked. She didn’t want to make Morrigan do anything she didn’t want to do. If need be, Sten could probably hunt, but Arawin was anything but a hunter. She could cook and gather, but that was about it. There was also the fact that she didn’t know what to gather even though Morrigan had shown her a few things. With her luck, she would pick something that would kill them all.
“If I must, then I must,” sighed Morrigan.
They walked down a merchant's path just within the forest. It would go west before turning south and go through the Brecilian Passage to Gwaren. It was a dangerous road to take, as Arawin had to hide every time they came across travelers, but as they went deeper into the forest, they came across less and less. Arawin stopped hiding after awhile as it proved to be useless. There was nothing anyone could do in order to capture her even if she was recognized.
Arawin walked in front, with Kunjo panting by her side. Morrigan and Sten followed her, with Morrigan eager to get Sten’s attention as the Qunari had been mostly silent their entire journey.
“You are very quiet, Sten.”
“Only compared to some,” Sten said coldly.
“You just seem so inward, as if you aren’t even with us. Just going through the motions?”
“I am trying to figure out why you are here?”
“Excuse me?”
“It is evident why Arawin is here. She needs to deal with the Blight, though how she acquired her position is still a mystery to me. But you are no priestess. Shouldn’t you be running a shop, or a farm somewhere, rather than fighting?”
Morrigan raised her eyebrows. “You think to tell me my place, Qunari? You are very brave considering. And least you forget, I am the one who talked Arawin into setting you free.”
Sten kept his gaze on the road in front of them. “But you still do not belong here. You are a woman, and a mage. What purpose does a woman have on the battlefield?”
“What purpose indeed! Look around you, blind fool! There are women all over this land, warriors and mages both.”
“That has yet to be proven.”
“Which?” Morrigan questioned. “That they fight? Or that they are female?”
“Either.”
“So I am not truly a woman to you? Or Arawin? Hmm. ‘Tis interesting to know.”
Arawin stopped. “Quiet, you two. Do you hear that?”
“Running,” said Sten. “And screaming.”
Down the path Arawin noticed a young woman running. She ran fast, and stopped in front of her. “Oh, thank the Maker!” she panted. “We need help! They attacked the wagon; please help us. Follow me, I’ll take you to them.”
“Wait,” said Arawin. “Who attacked the wagons? And who are you?”
The woman had made to turn, but stopped. She breathed in hard and fast, trying to catch her breath. Morrigan eyed her suspiciously. “Darkspawn,” she finally said. “They attacked the wagons. Please! My... my son!” The woman took off again, and Arawin grunted as she ran after her.
She could feel the others behind her, probably thinking the same thing. Arawin wasn’t sure why she was going to help this woman. She didn’t sense any darkspawn at all, but as they raced after the woman, she did notice smoke in the air. Even if it wasn’t darkspawn who had attacked her, there was still something wrong. But what type of wrong, Arawin couldn’t put her finger on.
The woman rounded a hill, and as Arawin and her companions caught up to her, they found themselves staring down into a small gully in the path. Boulders were scattered about and within were the remains of several burning wagons and dead oxen. What made Arawin suspicion, however, was that the oxen didn’t seem to be bleeding. There was no blood on the ground, and only their bodies could be seen. No human or darkspawn bodies anywhere, but the thing that really made Arawin aware was the woman. She stood in the middle of the burning wagons, a smile on her face, and next to her was an elf.
He had bronzed skin, and deep blonde hair. It reached to his shoulders, with a braid that started at both his temples and tied in the back. He too, look at Arawin with a wicked smile.
Lifting his arm, several things began to happen. Out from behind the wagons and boulders, fellow bandits showed themselves. There were many, perhaps twenty or so in count. They all readied themselves as they crept from their hiding places. Arawin could feel her own face lift as she gazed on at the scene. It was about time she was able to use her weapons again. Her companions thought the same. She could hear Sten unsheathing his sword, Morrigan grabbing her staff, and Kunjo growling. His body tense, ready to leap into the air. She began to feel Morrigan summoning her magic as the woman who had brought them here turned out to be a mage. She stood posed, ready to strike with magic crackling around her fingers. The two mages eyed each other, just as Arawin did with the elf.
There was a sound; something cracking. Looking behind them, they noticed a tree was falling, and each jumped out of the way just in time. Arawin jumped toward the front, tucking under and rolling, grabbing her swords within the roll, and straight onto her feet. In the middle of the roll, she heard the elf proclaim: “The Warden dies here!” Once on her feet, she made straight for him. If he wanted her, he’d have her.
The elf had his own twin blades ready. Their swords clashing together as Arawin and the elf connected. She could feel that he was stronger than her, but that made no difference. She had fought stronger foes before, it always ending the same. She was only too happy to be fighting him, and he apparently the same, as the smile on him face had not disappeared.
Arawin swung Fang, following with the longsword, but he was able to block both attempts. He tried to do the same, but Arawin was able to block his just the same. Their swordsmanship was similar, but Arawin soon learned that she was faster than him, but he was still able to block most of her moves. She tried to roll behind him, to stick Fang in his back, but he quickly turned and parried her. The smirk still on his face. It was beginning to annoy Arawin. Her goal was now to make it disappear. She couldn’t stand to look at it anymore. Why was he smiling so much?
Arawin grunted as she tried a quick fake to the left, and then attack from the right, but he blocked her anyway, still smiling. She gritted her teeth, growling as he smirked at her. Smack it off, cut it off, anything to keep him from staring at her like that! But Arawin noticed something else about the elf that was also annoying her. She could sense that he was holding back on her. He wasn’t giving it his all to try and take her down, and she couldn’t understand why.
Well, if he thinks he’s going to take me down with only mediocre swordplay, then he’s sadly mistaken.
And that smirk.
She faked left again, but also faked right. This upset him, as he tried to block her from the right. Arawin saw her opportunity and ran Fang to the left, slicing through his leather armor and into his abdomen. She felt her blade chip the top of his hip bone, and saw the smirk finally disappear. It was replaced with a face of surprise and pain. He crumpled onto her, dropping his swords. Arawin pulled Fang out, hearing the sound of metal on bone, and his shriek of pain as he fell to the ground. There he laid, motionless.
Arawin, satisfied with herself, then began to look around at the scene. She saw her companions fighting the other bandits with no real trouble. Kunjo was busy pulling a man down to the ground by his arm. The man screamed as the hound leaped on him, grabbing him by the throat and ripping it out. Sten stood swinging his greatsword in wide arches, cutting down several bandits at once. Morrigan, who had taken down the other mage very easily by injecting her with some type of spell that caused her to explode, had shifted into a giant spider, and had the most bodies surrounding her. Most were wrapped in tight silk cocoons. The few that remained tried running from her, but were stopped when she shot her silk at their feet. She would then come up to them and bite their necks, injecting her venom, before wrapping them in her silk.
Arawin noticed something buzz by her head, and when she looked up at the hill, she saw three archers. One of them released an arrow which hit Kunjo in the rear leg. He yelped and dropped the hand that was in his mouth. Arawin quickly looked on the ground and found a shortbow with a few arrows scattered about. Picking up the bow and an arrow, Arawin placed it in the string and tried to loose the arrow at the archers. Instead, the bowstring snapped back at her, hitting her arm, and only causing the arrow to fly a few feet. She cried out in pain and in surprise, dropping the bow.
“Sodding--” she cursed. Arawin picked the bow up again, and tried one more time. This time she was more successful, but only with not hitting herself. The arrow only went about a foot from her, even less than last time.
Frustrated, she threw the shortbow on the ground and made her way to the side of the hill, creeping up behind the boulders towards the archers. Stealthily, she came up behind the first archer and ran Fang through his chest. The archer cried out before he fell to the ground, dead. The other two looked on as they saw Arawin rip Fang from their companion. They made to fire at her, but Arawin was quick, and the second archer didn’t have time to shot as Arawin swung the longsword. It chopped off his head, and both his body and head rolled down the hill. A sickening thud could be heard as the archer’s body crashed into a boulder.
The third archer, however, released his arrow, and it hit Arawin in the foot, pinning her to the ground. Arawin tried to pull the arrow out, but it was too deep in the ground and the pain made it even harder. The third archer made to fire another arrow at her, this time aiming for her head, but he was fumbling a bit. Seeing her opportunity, Arawin grabbed Fang and threw it at the archer. Fang landing directly in his skull.
As soon as Arawin was able to free herself, she reclaimed Fang and wiped the blood and gore from it on the archer’s clothes. She looked down the hill at the ambush site and saw, now, a true bloody mess. Bodies everywhere with her three companions looking around themselves. As Arawin made her way down the hill, careful with her injured foot, she noticed Morrigan kneeling on the ground. She had turned back into her human form. Next to her, with silk tied around his arms and legs, was the elf.
“What are you doing?” Arawin asked as she came up to Morrigan.
“He is not dead,” Morrigan said looking at her.
“What? I thought for sure I had killed him,” Arawin moaned. “I must have aimed too low or something. Sod. I suppose that’s why you tied him up? I could just slit his throat right now.”
Morrigan shook her head. “I say we wake him. I would very much like to know why he attacked us. As you can see,” she said gesturing at the scene around them. “He is not an ordinary bandit. And he proclaimed you a Warden, meaning something was planned. ‘Tis most curious.”
Arawin replaced her two swords, considering what Morrigan was saying. She was right, the way things had been set up and how he called her a Warden was perplexing. Especially this far out in the Brecilian Forest.
“Alright. Go ahead and revive him. I’ll ask the questions.”
Morrigan waved her hand over the elf’s face and chanted a few magical words. Once she was done, she stood and Arawin and Sten joined beside her. Kunjo came up beside Arawin. He sniffed and growled at the elf as he began to stir. Arawin snapped her fingers and Kunjo stopped.
The elf fluttered his eyes open. He moaned a little and moved his arms and feet. When he realized they were tied, he stopped. “Mmm... what? I... oh,” he grunted. “I rather thought I would wake up dead. Or not wake up at all.” He stared up at Arawin and the others, his eyes slightly glazed over. “No, I must be dead, otherwise I would not be staring up at a beautiful spirit nymph.”
Arawin grimaced. Is he trying to flirt with me? No, he’s just delusional right now. “I’m not a spirit nymph. I’m the Warden you tried to kill, remember?”
“Ah, yes,” he said shaking his head. “I see you haven’t killed me yet. May I ask why?”
His accent was thick, and very foreign. Arawin couldn’t place where he might be from. She only knew he was not a native Ferelden. “That’s an interesting question to ask someone,” she said. “But if you really want to know, I’m keeping you alive for now because I want some questions answered.”
“So you plan on torturing me to get the answers, then?” he asked, almost seeming as if he liked the idea.
“If that’s what you want, sure.”
He only smiled at her, that same little smirk. “Well then, if I am to be interrogated, let me save you the trouble.” He shifted his body, making himself more comfortable. “My name is Zevran. Zev to my friends. I am a member of the Antivan Crows, brought here for the sole purpose of slaying any surviving Grey Wardens. Which I have failed at, sadly.”
Arawin raised her eyebrows. “Yes, you failed big time.”
“Ah, what can I say? It’s not everyday I come across a Grey Warden. Most who do never live to tell the tale. This, however, sets a rather poor precedent, doesn’t it? Getting captured by a target seems a tad detrimental to one’s budding assassin career.”
“Then that would explain it,” said Arawin crossing her arms. “You’re fresh, right out of assassin school, huh?”
Zevran cleared his throat, letting a slight “No” pass his lips.
Arawin let it pass. She was eager to get to the bottom of why he was sent to kill her. She wanted many questions answered. It almost made her sad that he was willing to cooperate. “What are the Antivan Crows?” she asked. She had never heard of them before.
“An order of assassins, of course,” said Zevran with a hint of pride. “Out of Antiva. I suppose you wouldn’t hear much of them out here, but where I come from we’re rather infamous.”
“Then people in Antiva must be incredibly easy to kill cause you’re order isn’t impressing me very much right now.”
“Oh, fine. Is that what you Fereldens do? Mock your prisoners? Such cruelty,” Zevran joked. Arawin could tell he was playing with her.
“Well, I am still alive, aren’t I? Otherwise, if you were a good assassin, I would be dead.”
“That was the whole plan,” he said slyly. “But unfortunately, plan failed.”
“So, you came all the way from Antiva just to kill little me, did ya?” Arawin asked, wanting to change the subject. If he was from Antiva, then that would explain his accent.
“Not precisely. I am originally from Antiva, yes, but I was in the neighborhood when the offer came. The Crows get around, you see.”
“Who hired you to kill me?”
“Not just you, the other two Grey Wardens as well. But it was a rather taciturn fellow in the capital. Loghain, I think his name was? Yes, that’s it. And a man by the name of Howe. He was especially interested in the human girl’s death.”
Arawin widened her eyes in surprise. “Loghian?”
“Mmm... interesting,” Morrigan commented.
“Yes,” Arawin continued. It definitely made things more interesting and real. Loghain had put out rewards for their capture, and now, apparently, he had hired an assassin to make sure the job was taken care of. “And Howe. Isn’t that the man who killed Zelda’s family?” she asked Morrigan.
“I believe so,” said the witch. “Though I’m not very familiar with Zelda’s back story.”
“So Howe and Loghain are working together,” Arawin said mainly to herself.
“They certainly looked like it when I met with them,” said Zevran.
“It would explain a few things, and why he would want Zelda dead. I wonder if she knows this?” Arawin pondered for a second before turning her attention back to Zevran. “Are you loyal to them? To Loghain and Howe?”
“No, I’m not loyal to them,” he shook his head. “I was only contracted to perform a service. Beyond that, I have no idea what his issues are with you. The usual, I imagine. You threaten his power, yes?”
“I threaten his right to be a moron, that’s for sure. And now what will happen that you’ve failed?”
“Well, that’s between Loghain and the Crows. And between the Crows and myself.”
“And between you and me?”
“Isn’t that what we’re establishing now?”
Arawin grunted. She was getting no where fast with him. “When were you to see him next?”
“I wasn’t,” said Zevran. “If I had succeeded, I would have returned home and the Crows would have informed your Loghain of the results... if he didn’t already know. If I had failed, I would be dead. Or I should be, at least as far as the Crows are concerned. No need to see Loghain then.”
“If you had failed?” Arawin questioned. “What? Are you saying you anticipated it? That doesn’t sound like something a good assassin would do.”
“What can I say?” he laughed trying to shrug his shoulders. “I am an eternal optimist. Although the chances of succeeding at this point seem a bit slim, don’t they? Ha, ha. No, I don’t suppose you’d find that funny, would you?”
Arawin kept her face straight. She didn’t find this funny. “How much were you paid? According to the fliers I’ve seen, we Grey Wardens are 100 sovereigns each.”
“I wasn’t paid anything. The Crows, however, were paid quite handsomely. Probably around the amount you mentioned, maybe even more. Which does make me extremely poor at the moment. I only get paid for a job completed. Being an Antivan Crow isn’t for the ambitious, to be perfectly honest.”
“Then why are you one? Especially if you don’t even get paid to do the job before hand.”
“Well, aside from a distinct lack of ambition I suppose it’s because I wasn’t given much of a choice. The Crows bought me young. I was a bargain, too, or so I’m led to believe. But don’t let my sad story influence you. The Crows aren’t so bad. They keep one well supplied: Wine, women, men. Whatever you happen to fancy. Though the whole severance package is garbage, let me tell you. If you were considering joining, I’d really think twice about it.”
“Thanks. I’ll take that under advisement,” Arawin said changing her stance. Her foot was beginning to throb.
“You seem like a bright girl,” Zevran said with slight intrigue. “I’m sure you’ve... other options.”
Arawin lifted her eyebrows again. There he goes with that damn flirting again. He sure is brave. “Why are you telling me all this?”
“Why not?” he smiled. “I didn’t get paid so I obviously wasn’t paid for silence.”
“Instead, it seems you might have been told to talk my ear off, then?” Arawin said pinching the flesh between her eyes. She was beginning to get a headache from him.
“Consider it something I’m throwing in,” Zevran winked at her. “And you’re the one asking the questions. As it is, if you’re done with the interrogation, I’ve a proposal for you. If you’ve a mind.”
Arawin sighed deeply. “I’m listening. Make it quick before I quiet you permanently.”
“Well, here’s the thing,” he began. He shifted one more time. “I failed to kill you, so my life is forfeit. That’s how it works. If you don’t kill me, the Crows will. Thing is, I like living. And you obviously are the sort to give the Crows pause. So let me serve you, instead.”
A laugh escaped from Arawin’s throat. “You must think I was born yesterday or something. Do you think I’m that stupid to trust you, who tried to kill me only moments ago?”
Zevran smiled at her. “I don’t think you’re stupid at all. I think you're utterly gorgeous, in fact! Not that I think you’ll respond to simple flattery. But I’ve done worse things when it comes to honoring the whims of a deadly sex goddess.”
Arawin rolled her eyes. Maker! “And what’s to stop you from finishing the job later, huh? You can’t tell me that in the Crows it’s first time or no time at all.”
It was Zevran’s turn to laugh. “Even if I did kill you now, they might kill me just on principle for failing the first time. That’s just how it is. Honestly, I’d rather take my chances with you. I can only get out by being with someone they can’t touch. So, naturally, that would be you.”
Considering his proposal, Arawin still had things she wanted to know, plus a few new ones. “Won’t they come after you? I doubt the Crows are just going to let you go.”
“Possibly. I happen to know their wily ways, however,” said Zevran. “I can protect myself, as well as you. Not that you seem to need much help. And if not... well, it’s not as if I had many alternatives to start with, is it?” He chuckled slightly.
Taking another step to relieve the pressure on her foot, Arawin looked down to see she was standing in a slowly widening pool of her own blood. She quickly averted her gaze from it so no one, especially Zevran, would notice. “What do you want in return? There’s something I’m sure.”
“Well... let’s see,” he considered. “Being allowed to live would be nice, and would make me marginally more useful to you. And somewhere down the line if you should decide that you no longer have need of me, then I go on my way. Until then, I am yours. Is that fair?”
His proposal was intriguing to her, even if she didn’t completely trust him. It would be nice to have another elf as a companion. “Why would I want your service?” she asked. “I already have a mage and a Qunari following me around. What could an assassin provide?”
“I can provide many things. I am skilled in fighting amongst other things. I could warn you should the Antivan Crows attempt something more... sophisticated...since they may or may not come after you again. I could also stand around and look pretty, if you prefer. Warm your bed? Fend off unwanted suitors? No?” He smiled at her with that same smirk again. It made Arawin narrow her eyes and huff, stomping her good foot.
“Warm my bed? What am I, a lizard?”
Morrigan cleared her throat. “I think maybe he means something else entirely?”
“Oh,” Arawin said rolling her eyes again. “That’s a laugh. So, is that before or after you stab me in the back?”
“Tsk,” Zevran chimed, shaking his head. “These things you say, they must drive the men back home simply wild!” He shifted himself again and Arawin could see the hole she had made in his abdomen. It was still bleeding, and she knew he had to be in a lot of pain, but he was hiding it very well. “So what shall it be? I’ll even shine armor. You won’t find a better deal, I promise.”
“What do you two think?” she asked both Sten and Morrigan. “He tried to kill you as well.”
“I say his proposal is rather intriguing,” spoke Morrigan. “He could prove useful, although there is nothing stopping him from finishing the job later on. Whether the Crows will allow it or not.”
“I say no,” said Sten.
“And why is that?” Arawin asked him.
“Because he is an assassin. There is nothing to make him stop being one.”
“Actually, there is you,” said Zevran. “Crows don’t usually fair good when against Qunari. I believe it’s the size.”
“Pashaara,” Sten grunted. “You know how I feel, but I will follow whatever decision you make.”
“That’s good to know,” said Arawin. Something then came to her. “Are you any good at tracking?” she asked Zevran. “I assume you are for finding me in such a place.”
“It is one of my specialties,” Zevran said with pride. “It only took me a few days to find you. From eye witnesses and the few things you leave behind at your camps. It did surprise me, however, that you were taking the forest path. If I were you, I would have gone through the forest instead. Much better at eluding pursuers.”
“Do you think you could track down a Dalish clan?”
“I can do better!” he exclaimed. “I passed a Dalish clan camped just north of here not two days ago.”
“You did?” This was more than Arawin could hope for. She had not been able to find very much so far, and hearing that a clan was so close made her almost want to kiss him. “Can you lead us to them?”
“Sure, but I make no promises. The Dalish do not stay in one place for long. They may be gone by the time we arrive.”
“If you lead us to them, then I will accept your offer.”
“Then allow me to give you my oath.” Zevran bent his head down the best he could in the position he was in. “I hereby pledge my oath of loyalty to you, until such time as you choose to release me from it. I am your man, without reservation... this I swear.”
Arawin pulled out her knife and bent down, but she didn’t go for the silk wrapped around his arms or feet. In a quick motion, she placed the blade’s edge next to his throat, surprising him and causing him to be pushed into the ground. She narrowed her eyes at him and pressed the blade into his skin. “If you’re lying to me,” she said coldly. “And try anything! Know that I will not let you live again.”
He marveled at her. “Ooh, you’re rather an aggressive little minx, aren’t you? Lovely, too. I will very much need to keep my eyes on you.” His eyes brightened and she was caught in their glow. Arawin stared, unable to move as she looked into their golden honey color. She began to feel weak. It was the same feeling she felt when she looked in Nelaros’s eyes, and she remembered she hated it.
Arawin shook her head, clearing the fog away that was beginning to form. She grew angry at him and pushed him even further in the ground as she cut the silk ropes. He only chuckled at her, finding her reactions amusing.
When Zevran was free from his restraints, he rubbed his wrists and ankles. Arawin stood and replaced her knife. “Morrigan,” she said to the mage. “Could you please heal him?”
“And why do you think I should do that?” she asked slyly.
“Because I said so,” Arawin commanded. “And he’ll be more useful to us healed than he is now. Not unless you want to explain to Sten why he has to carry him?”
Morrigan snorted but said nothing more. She knelt next to Zevran and began searching through her pack.
“So you are to heal me, then?” said Zevran. “I must have done something right, otherwise I don’t see why the Maker would bless me with such lovely women.”
“Keep your hands to yourself, elf. Otherwise, I will make you worse than you already are.” Morrigan jammed some herbs into Zevran’s wound, making him cry out in pain. “Oh quit being a baby. You cry more than Alistair did.”
“You could be more gentle, you know,” Zevran groaned.
“And why would I want to do that? It wasn’t like you tried to have me killed or anything.” Morrigan’s smile broadened as she stuck her fingers in his wound, making him cry out again.
Arawin limped away from the two of them and began searching through the burned out carts. They were empty, and she figured the others would be as well. This appeared to be nothing more than a set up, made to look like an ambush. Arawin sighed and sat down on a rock. Her foot was hurting very much right now, and she knew she would have to ask Morrigan to look at it once she was done with Zevran. Kunjo came up to her and placed his head in her lap and whined. Absently, she stroked his head and scratched behind his ear. When she looked up from Kunjo, Arawin noticed Sten eying the dead oxen. She got up and made her way over to him despite the pain in her foot.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Interpreting.”
She followed his gaze to the oxen. The smell coming from them was disturbing. Flies buzzed around. “You’re not thinking of using them for food, are you?” she asked with a disgusted look.
“There are still parts of them that are edible,” he said pulling out his own hunting knife. It was much bigger than Arawin’s, and more crude looking.
Sten bent down and began cutting at the ox’s hide. Arawin retreated as fast as she could to get away from the stench that was let loose when he opened the abdomen. In her attempt to get away, and with the pain in her foot, she tripped, and landed in Zevran’s arms.
“I would be careful, my dear,” he said helping her up. Arawin struggled and shoved him away.
“Watch it!” she shouted. “And... are you healed already?”
“Your Morrigan is a most skilled healer, I should say so myself. Course, she could have been more caring, but I guess I did deserve it.”
“Yeah, you did.”
“Don’t you think you should go and have her look at your foot?” he asked with a smile. “I could carry you, if you prefer?”
“I'm just fine,” Arawin said, crossing her arms and turning her head from him. “Now, did you need anything, or are you going to bother me for the rest of the time we're here?”
“You are the leader, yes? And I did pledge my loyalty to you, so I came to ask what you would like me to do, hm?”
“I don’t care,” Arawin blurted out, annoyed. She was beginning to wonder why she had let him live in the first place. “Go stand pretty, like you said you would, or... I don’t know, go help Sten or something.”
“As you wish,” Zevran said bowing low to her. “By the way, it would probably be appropriate if I knew your name.”
Arawin stared at him aghast. “You don’t know my name? How can that be? You were sent to kill me.”
“Usually we don’t learn target names unless they are very popular people,” he explained. “It makes the killing harder, as it can get personal to know someone’s name.”
“So it’s easier to kill ‘the merchant’, than it is to kill ‘Tom’, right?”
“Yes, exactly. You have the jest of it.”
“Doesn’t make any difference to me, but whatever.” Arawin looked at him, but was careful to not gaze into his eyes. She didn’t want to feel weak again. It was horrible, and made her feel vulnerable. But she knew she had nothing to fear from telling him her name. If it was true of what he said, then having him know her name would be better than not.
She sighed. “My name is Arawin. Arawin Tabris.”
At the sound of her name, Zevran appeared shocked, but then hid the response quickly. His smile returned, and broadened. “Arawin. What a beautiful name. It just rolls of the tongue... Arawin.” He whispered her name and it sent shivers down her spine. The way he said it with his accent, and how he rolled the 'r' made her feel strange. The look he gave her afterwards once he saw the expression on her face made her head cloudy and hazy again. “It is a pleasure to meet you Arawin Tabris. I look forward to following you where ever you go.”
Arawin stared at him blankly, shaking her head. “Good,” she said getting back her mind. “Because I need you to show me where the Dalish camp is tomorrow. Once Sten is done, then we’ll leave here and set up our own camp for tonight.”
“Right away, mi querida. I shall go help Sten.” He smiled at her before leaving.
Arawin watched him leave as he headed toward Sten and the now skinless ox. She wondered about all the decisions that she had made up until now. Agreeing to have them split up, finding the Dalish, now letting the man who tried to kill them live and accompany them. She wondered if he had anything to do with her decision. The way he had looked at her, how he had flirted with her during their conversation. Arawin would be lying if she said she didn’t like it. She just wasn’t sure how she should act around him. It was going to be interesting, that was for sure.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins
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Blood Bond