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Vhenan'ara	By : Arcanis_Born Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 6576 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Age, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from this.

Chapter List
- 62
- 63
Dragon Age: Origins is owned by Bioware, as with all its characters, the story as it deviates from canon is mine, however, as with the personalities of characters as they deviate from those in the game.
Chapter rated M (18+) for adult content.
Please do tell me what you think so far of the story! I would love to know your opinions!
Thank you all so much for your continued readership! It means so much!
Translations:
Mi bella: Antivan. "My beauty." Endearment Zevran uses for Riel.
Persona sin valor: Antivan. "Worthless person."
Perdóname: Antivan. "Forgive me."
Mi amor: Antivan. "My love."
Emma lath: Elvhen. "My love."
Ma vhenan: Elvhen. "My heart."
Su preciado tesoro: Antivan. "Your precious treasure."
Mi diosa: Antivan. "My goddess."
Ar lath ma: Elvhen. "I love you."
Ar lath ma'en: Elvhen. "I love you too."
Pronto a ser esposa: Antivan. "Soon to be wife."
Da'len: Elvhen. "Little child, or little one."
Aneth ara: Elvhen. A friendly greeting with whom one is familiar.
Ashal Mirthadra: Elvhen. "Honored male."
Mah'vunin: Elvhen. "Tomorrow morning."
Shem: Short for "Shemlen". Elven. Derogatory word used for humans. Means literally "quick children".
Shemlen: Elvhen. Literally "quick children". The original name of the Elves for the human race. Often used in a derogatory sense.

It was amazing how quickly things could change. Where a time of peace and happiness could turn so quickly to one of anger and distrust within barely the time of a heartbeat. And during those times, the mind would sometimes have such a trouble coming to terms with the change in events that it would leave the person confused and lost. Words would get misheard and actions would get misunderstood. And worst of all, the memory of these events would get so blurred that even later, it would be difficult to look back and see what truly happened.
This is exactly what happened to Riel. One moment she and Zevran were alone in the stream, laughing and happy at the new future that they shared. The next…
"What are you doing here, Templar?" Zevran seethed angrily at Alistair.
Alistair ignored the male elf standing in front of him, however, and instead focused past him to Riel. "Why didn't you tell me?" he questioned, disbelief and and bewilderment over taking his features.
"You do not speak to her! You speak to me!" Zevran again hissed, altering his position to once more block Alistair's sight to Riel.
Riel herself was so agast in shock that she just sat there, her mouth agape in stunned silence. Alistair's presence threw off her already fragile mindset to the point where she couldn't think or even react properly. Instead she remained still, not even knowing to cover herself with the blanket that now rested at her sides.
"Alistair! Please, let's just go!" Leliana called out as she rushed up to Alistair's side. Putting her hand on his arm, she tried to guide him away, yet he refused to be moved.
Ignoring both Leliana's concern and Zevran's threats, Alistair continued shouting past the assassin to Riel beyond. "Are you insane Riel? Do you have any idea what could come of this? A child with the Taint?! How could you be so careless?!"
Zevran took a step forward and held his dagger to Alistair's throat. "Do not dare speak to her that way! You have no place here, Templar! This doesn't concern you! Leave now before I break yet another promise!"
"Zevran! Riel! I am so sorry! Please, we'll leave!" Leliana exclaimed from beside the men. "Alistair! Let's go! Now!"
"You're damn right this concerns me! She-" Alistair pointed beyond Zevran to Riel who still sat on the rock "is pregnant! This changes everything! Grey Wardens are not supposed to be able to conceive! By the Maker… Do you have any idea what this means?"
"It means that not only do I have a woman who I love to protect, but a child - my child - who I will not think twice about spilling blood to protect!"
"A child?! Who knows what that thing is! It could be a child, a demon, or even a bloody Darkspawn!"
"That is enough!"
All three of them turned to see Riel standing a few feet away, her naked body aglow in a light shimmer of flames. Her beautiful face was impassive even as her silver eyes sparked in dangerous fury. And when a light breeze wafted by and lifted up her long black hair in a playful dance on the air, she truly looked beyond otherworldly. A creature born not of Thedas, but one who belong somewhere far more ancient and powerful than the Fade itself.
"This is my child, Alistair," Riel stated coldly, emphasizing the word 'child' clearly. "I will not have you disgrace this gift that I have given. Nor while I have you or this curse steal from me what happiness that I have found. I will fulfil my duties as a Grey Warden. I will see an end to this Blight. And despite how little you have shown to deserve such an honor, I will place you on Thedas' throne." Riel paused and shifted her gaze over to Zevran. "Alive," she added with intent to him. She opened her mouth as if to speak something else, yet stopped and turned her head to the side and frowned deeply. "We are not alone…" she managed to say before an arrow came whizzing through the trees and lodged deep into her upper shoulder from behind.
Instantly the fire that had been consuming Riel faded as she doubled over in pain.
"Riel!" came a chorus of voices all at once.
Kneeling in the water, Riel gritted her teeth as the pain from the arrow flowed through her. Immediately kneeling at her side was Leliana, while Zevran stood by next to her with his blades drawn and ready.
"Get her out of here!" Zevran shouted to Leliana as the first of the Darkspawn charged towards him.
"Can you stand?"
Riel barely heard Leliana through the roaring fire that crackled in her ears. Ignoring her friend's question, Riel turned and stood, her face a mask of pain and anger. Spying a charging hurlock, Riel's eyes narrows on the creature as she felt the power of magic swell from deep inside of her.
"Can't I have one moment of blighted peace?!" she cursed out as an electric bolt of energy flowed out of her outstretched hand towards the hurlock. The energy blasted straight through the creature and lifted it up from the ground, sending it flying backwards in the woods beyond.
The glare from sunlight on steel brought Riel's eyes to the left where she spied Alistair swinging his sword at a foul looking shriek. Then from over her shoulder, something whizzed past her ear and went straight into the back of the shriek fighting Alistair, dropping it down to the ground. Turning Riel saw Leliana standing behind her, bow in hand and already another arrow notched and ready.
"Riel! Leave!" came an accented shout from her other side.
With rising anger she watched Zevran duck and roll to escape the heavy blows of a hammer wielding genlock. His swinging blades caught the light of the sun and glittered, adding a strange beauty to his deadly dance of dodges and strikes. There was no moment to admire however as more Darkspawn spilled out from the thick forest. At least a half dozen of hurlocks and several genlocks spread out and began to attack in groups.
Outnumbered and quickly becoming overwhelmed, Riel strangely didn't feel any panic or concern at such a dire sight. Instead a calmness overtook her, starting in her chest and branching out through her whole body. Without conscious thought, her hands began to weave together the invisible energy of the world around her, tapping into and calling forth the powerful magic that existed within her very blood.
Riel lifted her hands above her head just as a dark cloud flowed out of her fingertips. Mouthing ancient words she didn't understand yet felt compelled to utter, Riel called forth the very elements of storm and fire and funneled it into the cloud until it was so large to cast a long shadow on the ground. Then with a powerful push she released the cloud, causing bolts of fire infused lightning to strike down on the ground below.
One by one the Darkspawn were skewered by the magic, letting loose terrible cries of pain and anger as the both fire and electricity consumed them from the inside out. Even shrieks hidden in the shadows were pulled from their hiding spots by the swarming magic, their echoing screams mixing with the dying roars from their cursed brethren.
A moment later it was over, the cloud of magic dissipating on the wind as the last of the enemies fell to the ground, their dead bodies giving off wafts of foul smoke.
Breathing heavily Riel fell down to her knees as exhaustion overtook her once more. However, unlike the previous time she called on such powerful magics, she remained conscious. Weak, but conscious.
At her side immediately was Zevran, his arm wrapped protectively around her. Bending his head down, he placed his hand on her cheek and lifted her eyes up to meet his.
"Mi bella?" he asked softly to her.
Riel felt tears build at her eyes as she saw a deep wound on his face. The water around her had turned red from blood, and she knew that there more places he was wounded as well. However, he seemed to completely ignore his own injuries as he held her to him, his concerned eyes searching over her.
"You're injured…" she managed to say.
Zevran shook his head. "It doesn't matter. What matters is you. Are you injured?"
"Blessed Andraste… Riel… your back…"
Riel closed her eyes at the soft curse from her friend. In all the months they had travelled together, Riel had always been careful about hiding the worst of her scars from those who accompanied her. The only one who ever saw the extent of her past trauma was Zevran. Even during the walk to the stream today, the blanket she had used to cover herself had hidden a majority of the very worst of her scars.
However, there was nothing to shield her scars from sight now. Nothing to hide behind or use to cover herself. The horrible marks that were a testament to her past were now as visible as the scar on her face.
"Riel… What happened to you?" whispered Alistair.
"Look away from her! She is not some object or a persona sin valor to be gawked at!" Zevran angrily spat out.
Riel placed her hand on his arm and shook her head. "It's okay Zevran," she whispered softly to him.
"Mi bella?" he questioned back to her, his voice a soft whisper in her ear.
Riel stood and turned to face the other two, her head held high and her face cold as she regarded them. "This is what happens to my people when we are forced to live with humans. When we are denied even the dignity to our own bodies, and are forced to endure every perverse thought and inclination of the humans who own us." Riel's eyes shifted to Leliana and a small smile turned at her lips. "Some humans are not so cruel. In fact, they can prove themselves to be even closer to us than blood born kin. However…" Riel's eyes snapped to Alistair's then, the smile she held shifting into a lethal and cold sneer. "I have found that most humans are not so kind to those who are different than they are. Especially young girls, lost and alone, away from clan and family."
Riel stepped closer to Alistair and placed her hands on his shoulders. So shocked was he at her actions that he remained completely still, his mouth open yet no sound came out. She held his gaze for a moment, silent and searching for something even she didn't know. Then without removing her eyes from his, Riel spoke calmly, her voice carrying over her shoulder.
"In all the time that I have travelled with you, you have been crass, rude, and arrogant. You have shown callousness, and disregard for things beyond your understanding. However, I have kept hoping. Hoping that you would one day you would finally see what others of your kind do not. That even though I am different from you, I still bleed. I still cry. And I still live a life that is of worth and value. And that my people - the elves of not just of the Dalish, but all Elvhen kind - we are deserving of the same respect and kindness that humans offer to their own." Riel then paused and took a deep breath. "Zevran, remove the arrow, please."
Without a word Zevran came up behind her and placed one hand on her shoulder. "Perdóname, mi amor," he whispered to her before placing his hand on the arrow shaft and pulling it free in one swift motion.
Riel winced in pain, however she didn't remove her eyes from Alistair's the entire time. Even as tears welled in her eyes and she felt the warm trickle of blood down her back, she kept her eyes fixed to his. "We are different…" she finally whispered to him. "But we still bleed…"
Riel then turned away from Alistair and walked into Zevran's embrace. With her head on his shoulder, she did not see the cold and hard look Zevran gave to Alistair, nor the shocked and sorrowful expression Alistair held on his own face.
In that quiet moment, Riel took strength and comfort from Zevran's arms around her. She was was still exhausted from the release of magic, not to mention she was still not fully recovered from her ordeal in the ruins. With a sigh she placed a light kiss to Zevran's shoulder before walking past him to the rock that she had been sitting on earlier. With a pronounced weariness, she bent over and took hold of the blanket and began to wrap it around her herself.
However, her motions were interrupted by Zevran taking the blanket's edges from her. Startled at first, her confusion blended into a tired smile as he wrapped the fabric around her and tied it securely around her body. When the blanket was secure, Zevran placed his hand against her neck and pulled her to him, where he placed a kiss against her forehead.
"Come. Let me take care of you, mi bella…" Zevran then slid his hand down her body and rested overtop of her abdomen. "Both of you…" he warmly added.
Riel was too tired to speak and so only nodded her head. Zevran wrapped his arm around her waist and together they walked away from the stream and back to the camp beyond.

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"Mi bella, you need to see a healer…" Zevran softly said to her as they entered the araval they had been sharing.
Riel shook her head and smiled as she pulled Zevran down to the cushioned bed. "I only need you… Come lay with me, please…"
Compelled by his love for her and the sweet sound of her voice, Zevran obeyed without question or thought. After all, he was hers, to be commanded or used as she saw fit. When her hands began to pull at the clasps of his leather armor, again Zevran obeyed her wordless desires and quickly shed the cumbersome armor as well as his tunic and leggings underneath.
"Mmmm… much better…" Riel purred as she ran her hands over his chest. However her smile disappeared when she saw the deep wound that stretched along his side, from his hips to his ribs. "Maybe you're the one who needs to see the healer…" she murmured, her voice heavy with concern.
Zevran lifted her chin up so her eyes met his. "I only need you…" he repeated back to her before kissing her passionately. Together they fell back to the bed, with Zevran hovering slightly above her own body.
As Riel's fingers glided around his back, a now familiar warmth began to mount inside of her. As Zevran deepened the kiss, tendrils of flames broke free from the pores of her skin and leapt from her own body to his where they quickly began to spread. Soon both of them were engulfed in the warmth of the fire, the passion they shared becoming the fuel for the flames.
Zevran let out a deep and relaxed sigh as Riel's hands drifted over the wound on his stomach. As before, the mysterious flames caused the broken and damaged skin around the wound to sew back together painlessly. Zevran lowered his head and rested his forehead against her chin as relief filled him. With closed eyes, he felt Riel bring her hands to his face next, where the deep slash he endured also began to knit itself closed.
"Mmm… much better… You are truly a gift from the gods, mi amor…" he purred in a husky tone.
Riel giggled softly as she returned to running her fingertips over his back. Alternating between light touches and deep scratches that would surely leave marks in his skin, Riel basked in the seductive moans and growls she elicited from him. Following the lines and swirls of his tattoos by memory, Riel couldn't help but grin widely as she watched Zevran writhe and arch under her touch.
"Like that, do you?" she whispered to him with a quiet giggle.
Zevran lifted his honey golden gazed to hers, piercing her with a look of pure lust and wonderment. "You have no idea…" he crooned to her before bending his head again and kissing her neck. "Perhaps instead I will show you…" Leaving gently nips against her skin, his lips and tongue tormented Riel with sweet bliss.
Riel arched her back as pleasure cascaded through her, pressing her bare chest against his own. Moaning deeply, her hands slid down his body down to his hips where her nails dug into the flesh there. Hearing his hiss of pleasure in her ear, Riel smiled wickedly and took the opportunity to lick along the edge of his pointed ear.
Zevran let loose a needful growl a split moment before he lowered his head down to her breast and took the mound into his mouth. Again Riel arched her back, her hands coming up to thread her fingers through his hair. With his mouth on one side of her, Zevran his hand to cup and lightly massage her other breast. Gently he suckled and pulled at her, loving the deep moans of pleasure he brought forth out of her.
"Emma lath…" Riel breathed heavily between deep moans.
"Yes, ma vhenan… tell me your desires…" Zevran murmured lovingly against her skin.
"Zevran…" she moaned pitifully, her face blushing from both pleasure and embarrassment. Even after all their time spent together, there was still a weight to words that she wished to say. Lodging in her throat, they refused to leave her lips, lost in shyness and self consciousness.
Zevran grinned wickedly, knowing how hard such things were for her. Yet still he took a curious sort of pleasure from watching her blush at his request. The way she would bite her lip in indecision and how her silver eyes would wordless beg for him to relieve her without her needing to voice the words. There was a sweet beauty in her innocence, especially how it exquisitely it blended with her divinely tempting and seductive boldness that she always showed.
"Now, you cannot tell me that after all this time you are still hesitant?" he lightly chuckled. Slowly he moved down her body, placing gentle kisses along her chest and over her ribs down to her stomach. When he reached her abdomen he paused to lightly nuzzle his nose against the skin there. Reverently he placed slow kisses from one hip to the other, paying special attention the direct center, where he stopped briefly to offer a quiet prayer.
Riel ran her fingers through his hair and smiled warmly as she watched him kiss her abdomen. "First you tell me what you are thinking when you do that…" she whispered to him.
Zevran chuckled lightly against her skin. "Only offering a prayer to the gods, mi amor."
"Oh? And what are you praying for?"
Zevran lifted his head and smiled up at her. "That you and su preciado tesoro remain safe and well."
"We will. As long as you are with us," Riel replied as her fingers lightly ran over his cheek.
Zevran closed his eyes and basked in the feel of her fingers on his skin. Turning his head slightly, he nipped gently at the tips of her fingers. "Forever, mi bella…" he murmured softly. A mischievous grin then overtook his face as he looked back upon her. "Now, your turn. So tell me, mi diosa… What can your humble servant do to pleasure you?"
Riel laughed and covered her face with her hands, hiding in the vain the blush that erupted over her features. She tried to curl her body to the side as embarrassment filled her, however Zevran placed his hand lightly on her stomach to keep her on her back. Riel knew that he was enjoying her torment far too much, especially by the gleam in his eyes her chuckled at her response.
"Come now… You are a woman who has faced down raging demons, rampaging Darkspawn, and foolish Templars. You have commanded dwarven Legionnaires, defeated vicious abominations and vile giant spiders. You cannot tell me that this causes you pause? Your own pleasure? Certainly not for a woman so lovely and courageous as yourself…" Zevran grinned wider as she pinned a glare on him. Although if it was due to his words, or the gentle way he ran the backs of his fingers against the moist slit between her legs, he wasn't exactly sure. Which only made his wicked grin wider.
"You are terrible, ser elf…" Riel mumbled even as her body instinctively began to writhe under his slight touch.
"Aye… That I am. However, I assure you that it is only in the very best of ways…" he replied with sly wink. "Hmm… Should I make it easier for you?" Zevran lowered his head and laved a long and delicious lick from the top of her pubic bone up to her belly button. When she twisted and bucked under him, Zevran smiled, loving her reaction to his touch. He then reached for her hand and placed lingering kisses against each one of her fingertips. "Perhaps we shall start slow…" he whispered huskily. "Show me instead, my beautiful goddess. Take this lovely fingers and touch yourself where you wish for me to kiss you… Do you think you could do that?" Again Riel blushed, but still she nodded. "Good. Now show me…"
With her face tinged red, Riel lifted her hand up to her mouth and ran her fingertips along her lips. Zevran chuckled and lifted himself back up her body. Once there he stared into her eyes for a moment before leaning down and capturing her lips with his own. Passionately he kissed her, letting his tongue seek and explore all the hidden areas of her mouth.
"Now where, mi bella…?" he breathed heavily against her lips.
Riel let her fingers drag from her lips down to her jaw, then further down to her neck. Obediently Zevran followed the trail, his lips and tongue moving slowly down her skin. Further down, across her collarbone and lower still until her fingertips brushed over her left nipple. Hungrily Zevran dipped his head down and took her breast into his mouth and suckled her. Riel arched her back and moaned while her legs began to rub against each other in a desperate search for release.
Zevran released her breast and ran his tongue over her nipple, allowing his teeth to lightly graze the puckered flesh while he watched her twist her body beneath him. By the gods, simply watching her move was enough to drive him to edge of his own climax. And hearing her moan and whispered his name as he pleasured her was almost more than he could handle. Yet he held himself back, pushing aside his own desires for her own.
Riel ran her hand over her other breast, her already perk nipple sliding in between her fingers as her palm gripped the flesh. "Touch me…" she managed to murmur softly.
"Gladly…" he replied in a lustful tone. Bringing up his own palm, Zevran slid his hand under hers, letting her guide his hand as to how she wanted to be touched.
With her hand over his, Riel pushed his hand lower down her body. Using her own movements to guide his, she showed him to lightly massage and caress her body. Going over her ribs to her sides, then down further to her hips. There she showed him how she liked to be squeezed and pulled, before moving his hand around to her round backside.
"Kiss…" Riel murmured, running the fingertips of her other hand along his lips.
Once more Zevran obeyed, licking and kissing her fingers. Riel then used her fingers to guide his lips back to her body, over her ribs and down to her stomach. Running a trail across her skin, Riel led Zevran's lips down lower, tracing a tantalizing line around her belly button and down even further. However her fingers didn't go to the part of herself that craved him most. Instead they drifted past that point, going along to the inside of her thighs and doing small circles on the sensitive flesh found there.
Reverently Zevran followed his goddess' guide, his tongue and lips painting her skin with drawn out kisses and licks that left them both breathless and needful. Zevran wasn't even sure who this was supposed to tease and entice more, her or himself. With his lips so close to her core, he could his mouth water for the chance to taste her. The beautiful and musky scent of her juices tantalized and tormented him as he placed loving kisses along her inner thighs, and he inwardly wondered how long he could resist before he found himself running his eager tongue up her wet and dripping slit.
"Please… Let me taste you… I am hungry for you, mi diosa… I need to feel you against my tongue…" Zevran pleaded to her between heavy breaths.
Riel brought her fingertips slightly upwards and used them to gently pull apart the two lips of her core. "Kiss…" she whispered once more to him.
Zevran didn't waste any time as he dove his head forward. Greedily he consumed her, licking and sucking on her core in long and fiendish pulls. As soon as his tongue touched her sensitive skin, Riel bucked upwards, the pleasure so intense that she came right then and there. With a throaty cry, she called out his name as her hips lifted up off the soft bed beneath her.
Zevran placed his free hand on to her sternum to gently hold her down while he tasted and licked at her. Swallowing down every ounce of her orgasm, he continued to push her on, driving her on to a next. Wildly Riel writhed, her hands fisting and clawing at the bed as she moaned and cried out in pleasure. When her first orgasm began to subside, Riel took her moved it down to her backside where she again covered it over top of his. She then guided his hand over to the juncture between her legs, moving his fingers close to the sweet spot at the base of her slit.
"Touch me… please…" she begged him in a soft moan.
Zevran chuckled against her before gently sliding two of his fingers deep inside of her. Again Riel bucked as a powerful moan broke past her lips. Zevran was there though, gently holding her down with one hand while he pleasured her with the other. Masterfully he worked her body with his mouth and fingers, finding the most pleasurable spots and wringing forth every bit of pleasure he could from her.
Twice more Riel climaxed before she finally started pleading for mercy. "Please Zevran… Please…" she mewled between heavy breaths.
"Please what, mi bella? Tell me. Tell me what you need…" he replied back to her, his voice thick with his own need.
"Make love to me! Please… I need you…" she pleaded desperately.
Quickly Zevran glided up her body, positioning him hips between her legs and his arms on either side of her. Once equal to her, he lowered his head and suckled lightly at the base of her neck before kissing up her throat to her ear. "Accept me then, mi diosa…" he softly whispered, his voice barely audible.
Riel's hands sought out the hard length between his legs and guided it to her, lifting up her own hips to meet his own. With a shift of her body he slid into her, both of them letting free a deep moan of pleasure as they once more became one. Slowly Zevran began to move, being careful to keep his weight off her as he moved. Riel wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled his closer to her, needing to feel his flesh against her own.
"Wait, mi bella…" Zevran stated with concern in his voice.
"What is wrong?" she asked, her own worry lacing through her words.
Zevran mentally cursed at himself, not sure how to explain to her his concerns without upsetting her. Finally an idea came to him. Without removing himself from inside of her, Zevran carefully positioned himself behind her. Kissing her shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against him so her back was flush against his chest as they laid on their side.
"I don't want to hurt you… Either of you…" he added, his hand drifting down to rest on her lower abdomen. To stave off any protests she may have, Zevran placed his fingers on her chin and lifted her mouth to his, kissing her deeply. He then took hold of her leg and draped it over his own as he continued his gliding motions inside of her. Returning his hand to her abdomen, he gently caressed her as he made careful love to her.
Riel started to argue, however she became lost in the building friction of their bodies. Riel covered the hand on her abdomen with her own and gently squeezed it. "Emma lath…" she moaned as she moved her body against his.
Zevran took advantage of their new position and guided Riel's hand down her body until her fingers rested overtop of the sensitive nub there. "Touch yourself, mi bella… I want to feel you pleasure yourself at the same time that I am inside of you," he purred into her ear.
At first Riel moved her fingers slowly, matching her movements with his strokes. Then as he sped up, so did she. As one they moved against each other, their bodies finding a rhythm as unique and meaningful as the love that they shared. It wasn't long before Riel felt herself cross the edge over into bliss, her back arching against Zevran's body as her head tilted back and a deep satisfied moan tore past her lips.
"I am there with you!" Zevran growled as he too found his release inside of her divine heat. His hips rocked against hers as both his mind and body exploded sending him into a deep and fulfilling state of euphoria.
Panting heavily, Zevran pulled Riel tight against him and lovingly kissed the back of her shoulder. A satisfied grin spread across his face as he nuzzled against her, lost in the sublime bliss of their post love making. With her wrapped tightly in his arms as she was now, Zevran experienced a sense of worth and peace that he never had even thought possible.
"Ar lath ma…" Riel mumbled as she lightly caressed the inside of his arm as he held her.
"Ar lath ma'en, ma vhenan," he whispered back to her before placing another kiss to her shoulder. "Now rest. I will wake you when the evening meal is prepared."
Riel giggled softly and leaned back into him. "Intent on making sure that I eat?" she teased lightly.
"Of course! I am not just feeding you now, am I? After all, what sort of servant would I be if I were to leave my pronto a ser esposa and her da'len hungry and in need? Tsk, tsk… Why, you threaten my honor as a man to even suggest such a thing!" he replied with feigned hurt causing Riel to laugh. Zevran tilted her face up towards his and delivered a light kiss to her lips. "Sleep now, mi bella. And know that I will forever do everything in my power to give you everything that you deserve."
Riel turned her body and snuggled against him. "You already do, emma lath…" he whispered before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

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Zevran waited until he was sure that Riel was sound asleep before he carefully pulled himself away from her. Quickly he donned his tunic and trousers and slipped out of the araval that he shared with Riel. Outside the Dalish camp was busy with people going about their day while elven children rushed around playing or helping their elders. However, there was a thick feeling of tense apprehension in the air that wasn't there before. And as Zevran made his way past the various aravals and Dalish, he knew without ever asking what the source of new anxiety was.
"Aneth ara, Ashal Mirthadra," Lanaya greeted respectfully with a short bow as Zevran approached her. "It is good that you came. I was going to seek you out, however I overheard… You were busy after your encounter at the stream," she added with a shy yet knowing smile.
Zevran bowed in return to the Keeper, offering her the same respect she showed to him. "You do far too much honor, Keeper. I am but a servant to my lovely Lady Warden."
Lanaya looked to the few males and females elves around her, catching each of their gazes with her own. "Go now to your duties. We depart mah'vunin. Make sure we are prepared." Immediately those gathered nodded or bowed their farewells to the Keeper and left the two of them alone.
"So soon?" question Zevran with concern in his voice.
Lanaya nodded solemnly. "Leliana told me what happened not just at the stream, but in your camp as well-"
"There was another attack?"
"You didn't know? No, you wouldn't…" Lanaya sighed and shook her head. "It is no longer safer here. In truth, we should have never come so far south with the danger of the Darkspawn so close. However, Zathrian had insisted, even with the threat of the werewolves and the encroaching Darkspawn. The day he told us that we would be staying, I had argued with him, angry that he would endanger the whole clan over a 'vision'..." Lanaya lifted her hand and wiped at the corner of her eye. "However, the time for waiting is over. With two attacks so close to my people, I cannot risk staying any longer. What we discussed will have to wait."
"I understand, Keeper. Truthfully, it is why I have come to see you. You see, I was hoping that if you are to travel, that the Lady Warden and her people may accompany you. At least for a time, that is. We have business in Denerim, and perhaps along the way, should there be time to see to our plans…"
"I thought Leliana said that you were headed back to Redcliff to meet with the human arl?"
"As you know, that would heading back through the Southern Hills, and then through the Hinterlands. Places sure to be thick with those foul Darkspawn and other such evils of the ensuing Blight… With my lady's current condition…"
Lanaya raised her hand to cut off Zevran's words. "Say no more. I understand. Your people are welcome to travel with us north until we read the King's Road at the edges of the Brecilian forest."
Zevran again bowed deeply as wide grin overtook his features. "You are too kind, my lovely Lanaya."
"I shall speak with Leliana and have one of my messengers travel ahead to the nearest human village where they can find one of her contacts." Lanaya paused for a moment as she thought over the details. "She is surprising for a Shemlen woman. I never expected to actually find myself actually calling one of their kind a friend, but with her…"
"Our beautiful Leliana is certainly one of kind," Zevran warmly stated in agreement. "Her devotion to my lady Warden alone would be enough for me to think highly of her. She is definitely one to be valued in amongst our companions."
"I do have one request however… There is another Shem who may cause some problems among my own people should he travel with us…"
"I understand, and perhaps this would be another topic of discussion to have with our endearing redhead as well, no? After all, it seems that her lovely charms have even extended to the bothersome fool himself."
"I have noticed him following her around… Very well. I will speak with her. With luck and the Creator's favor, we shall be ready to travel by morning light. Have your people ready, and I will speak with Leliana about her contacts… And her foolish Shemlen." Layana paused for a moment and shook her head. "Whatever must she see in him, only the gods themselves know…"
"Believe me, Keeper," Zevran replied with a deep sigh. "I have wondered the same thing…"
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Vhenan'ara