Timeless Tower

Zevran was an attentive man, he had so been taught in order to notice things which others would not. Being an assassin did keep it's rewards as such, giving one abilities in attention which others, even those within a military position, would ignore. The subtlety of her words, flick of her hand, the way her hair brushed her cheek ... wait ... stop now, Zev. You're supposed to be listening to her story not checking her out for ... ok now don't look down there even if her top is short enough to see down the crevasse ...

He shook his head and smiled at her, hoping she had not caught his eyes wandering as she was not such as most women he had known. She was more tender and innocent, frail in a sense and very much a timid lady. To show any such reactions would surprise and scare her like a mouse. This one required subtle seduction to gain her trust.

Her words were sweet with the adoration of a child who grew up in a good household, a fine background of parents who loved her and molded her to be a good person. What if he'd had the same even with the overruling of the humans? His brother's father would have kept him if he had found him. Would that have changed Zevran? Certainly it would have as he would not have had to fight so much or compete in a do or die environment.

"It sounds like your family loves you very much, Hikaru. It is good to see someone who's family can mold them with such love and care. You make me wish to see them much more with each word you speak." He smiled radiantly, "And I am sure your little sister will have bloomed as prettily as you with both outside and inner reflections showing beauty."

Jez tended to talk a lot but there was one other thing she was good at, besides her healing arts, and that was letting others think quietly after having spoken so much. She noticed he was not so happy and waited calmly while walking. If he answered anything then he did and if he did not he did not. It didn't bother her either way. She was used to people ignoring her ramblings or just asking for her to recount, slowly, what her questions were. That was easy. Even though she was so swift at speaking she also remembered her words, almost always. There were times when being startled tore the information right out of her head but not often. They usually came back.

"Oh. Yes I should know better. Of course you would need the map to tell. We should see soon."

She smiled even though she felt a bit silly having asked without letting him see a map beforehand. It didn't haunt her long as the man spoke more and this time of slavers, giving her a cold look which made her gulp. He was a killer, you could see it in that eye, and he knew what to look for in others to see if they were the same. He knew she was no strong woman and was easy prey to those who would take them on.

"I find the thought interesting but no ... no I suppose becoming one would take a lot more." Jezarine stopped, looking towards the end of the hall where the King stood.

Alistair came forward with a smile and handed her the package he wished for her to take, "Jezarine. I see you have found your travel mate." He smiled at Kai even though part of him was inwardly amused at setting the man with this companion and part felt sorry for him, "There is a map in the top of the bag with Ny's location pointed out. I know where she likes to camp when in that area so she will be there. Safe journies. I wish I could come with you but I have court to attend." The look on his face said that was one of the many reasons he wished he could go with them.

Hikaru spoke of her family but, noticed Zevran looking her over as she did. She wondered to herself why he would do so, personally the mage did not find herself that interesting. To her there were people who had may stories and many different experiances that made them more interesting than she was. There was also the fact of her appearance. The mage blushed at that idea and slightly glanced down at herself. Dark hair, and an almost ghostly pale skin that had seen very little sun since entering the tower.

To Hikaru, her looks were simple, plain and actually quite boring. She possessed no real distinguishing features, not like the other elf with her. She glanced up at Zevran, his features were in contrast to her own in nearly every way. His skin was a tanned color with a dark tattoo on his cheek, his eyes were dark compared to hers. Even his hair was much different, it was a light blonde color.

As Hikaru went about noticing all of the differences the assassin smiled. It was a radiant smile that made the mage smile a bit herself, he spoke and she listened. "It sounds like your family loves you very much, Hikaru. It is good to see someone who's family can mold them with such love and care. You make me wish to see them much more with each word you speak. And I am sure your little sister will have bloomed as prettily as you with both outside and inner reflections showing beauty."

"Yes...I suppose all of that is true, they must have truly cared to go to such trouble for me." She looked dpwn quietly


Kai looked at Alistair, serious as ever. He wondered briefly if the king had intentionally put him with such a talkitve partner, if it were some odd joke. He soon decided that this was not the time to question the man's humor, he had to focus on finding this hero. The man shook his head a bit to clear the thoughts, he caught a look of, what he assumed to be dread on Alistairs face when court was mentioned.

He wondered to himself if a king who disliked his work so much was truly a wise leader. However, rather than voice his thoughts kai chose to stand calmly and quietly, with his arms folded across his chest as he waited.

Zevran rubbed Hikaru's shoulder and smiled pleasantly at her as they came closer and closer to where her family lived, "Do you believe your parents would be home at this time or should we go to where he works?" The assassin asked quietly as they continued on, "The King requested that we also see his employer. Is it true that his employer is not the nicest of men? That was the rumour that I heard at the castle."

The King seemed to smile a bit as Kai crossed his arms over his chest then looked at Jezarine who had just decided to comment on him saying that he'd have liked to have gone on an adventure as well.

"I'm sure Nygozy would be happy if you were able to come." Jezarine said not noticing the man wince at her words. He bit his lip and looked away as she continued, "But we should get going. I would like to get as far on the road as possible before having to camp out. I'm not crazy about being out without an Aravel. It is just too dangerous and I really don't like sleeping on the ground. There are bugs on the ground and that's just icky to sleep with them. Did you know that there is a centipede which can kill a man in very little time up north? That venom is really potent and I'd sure not like to put my sleeping bag out on ..."

Alistair suddenly looked up, "Was that I bell I heard. Oh I think I must be late for my meeting. It was great to see you both. Have a good trip. Tell Ny that I ... well, you have the letters so I don't need to ..." He turned suddenly and walked off with his guards.

Jezarine watched as Alistair left then turned, "I don't think I heard a bell. Did you? Oh well let's get going before we get stuck here another day." She smiled at Kai then nervously went ahead of him and to the stables. She didn't think he would kill her as she was his charge for the trip but she wasn't thrilled about this tenure. Out in the woods with no Aravel and going towards where there were Darkspawn and possible battle ... on a horse no less. And here she thought Fereldans were not crazy about horses.

"Ah well...." Hikaru thought "My mother might be home but I believe my father would be working now, um wh-where..." she blushed "Would you rather go first?"

Kai sighed, Jez could really go on....and on and he couldn't believe all the details she passed over with no thought. The looks on Alistair's face, the waves of pain and emotion. Finally as if to read the assassins mind the king made a weak excuse. He slipped away and ended the rant.

"I don't think I heard a bell. Did you? Oh well let's get going before we get stuck here another day."

Kai held his hand over his eyes and let out a frustrated sigh "You can be truly dense." He said coldy, walking in front of her without waitimg for her reaction.

"Huh?" Jezarine started after the assassin, "Dense? I ... oh ... hey he ..." For once she was flabberghasted out of speaking as she considered what had happened, "That sneak!"

Jezarine walked about behind Kai without speaking for a while. She was working over what herbs she could find in the areas they would be going through and how she was going to cure them, treat them and ready them for use. Every now and again she would mumble an herb recipe as she worked out new combinations but did not actually speak to the man. Her mind was busy on her herbs instead.

It did not take too long to get outfitted and to get going. Jezarine tried not to bother Kai and kept her mind going by thinking of things that needed to be done.

((I think this can end the Kai/Jezarine part as the rest would probably only be boring travel ... unless you can think of something exciting.))

"Tsk tsk." He wagged a finger at her and chuckled, "Now don't you be so coy with me. I know you wish to see your father first because you are curious as to why it is asked of his work place." He placed his finger to the side of his nose, "So we shall go to see your father as representatives of the King."

Zevran took Hikaru's hand and led her through the city. He stopped off at a market and found a pretty shawl, bought it then tossed it to her, "There is a nip in the air." He stated, waited for her to put it on then grabbed her hand and started off again.

Finally they got to where Hikaru's father worked and Zevran knocked then smiled at an irritable guard as he opened the door.

"We don't need any more knife ears."

"Ah but ze King has sent us upon an errand." He handed the guard a letter which had the official stamp of the king on it, "This is to go to your master and we are to see him or her right away as well. It is official business."

The guard looked at the envelope then back at the two at the door, gaping, then moved to the side to let them in, "You will follow me and go nowhere else. Come."

Blushing Hikaru took the shawl. She started to protest but Zevran had already paid for it, so she slid it on. She lushed once more as he held her hand through the city. And when they got to her fathers work, she cringed, watching the guard. They had always scared her as a child and they did so now.

The kittke mage was amazed by Zevran's courage with the other mand and followed behind him, holding on tightly to the assassun's hand in fear.

They were escorted down the hallway and into a library then told to wait there. Zevran nodded then started walking around looking at the items about, "Had you ever been here? It seems rather nice except they don't tend to attend us knife ears all that well."

He smirked as he looked at some ornamental swords, "Tsk tsk. What a sorry set of weaponry. It looks like a mabari chewed these ones up."

Hikaru nodded nervously "I-I have been here before, long ago..." She spoke very softly, just bearly loud enough for Zevran to hear. Different pieces of memory came to her and she tried to put them together. "I-It's changed since then..." the small girl looked quickly around the room. "Th-there seem to be fewer guards than before...unless they're all elsewhere in the building."

The mages gaze followed Zevran as he examined the swords, geeting fearful as he started to pick one up to examine it. As she recalled, there used to be a human or two that would get fairly angry if they saw an elf touch the weapon. Unless of course that elf was doing some sort of polishing...

"Hmmm that must have been quite a while before, my pretty one." He put the sword back and walked to her side just as the door opened, "I take it that you are the lord of the manor? Is he ready?"

The man walked into the room with Hikaru's father and pushed him towards the two, "He's all yours. The man is getting too old anyway. Inform the king that the settlement was more than enough. You may as well leave now."

Zevran grinned, "Hello sir. Let's be going to the palace now. You can connect when we get outside." He put an arm around Hikaru and walked the two out of the place.

Hikaru blushed nervously as Zevran's arm went around her and she stared at her father as they left. It had been so long since she had seen the man, he still looked the same just a little older.

"Well now that we are out of there you can give your father a hug, no?" Zevran pushed her towards her father, "Mr Surana, I bring to you your daughter. She is now a free woman, in a sense. She has been chosen to work with the Grey Wardens of Fereldan and if she wishes she can become one as well. I believe that is a big deal and something to celebrate, no?"

"I can hardly believe she's my daughter, she was much younger the last tine I saw her..." Hikaru's father smiled and pulled the girl into his arms. After a long while he finally let her go. "So, my little girl who could bearly control her magic has grown into a fine mage has she? And been given a chance to join the wardens as well? I'm proud."


Hikaru blushed, she was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by all of her emotions for the moment.

Zevran smiled at the two and waited a few moments for them to get reacquainted then chuckled, "Yes she is that and she has impressed quite a few."

He bowed low and respectfully, "I am Zevran Arainai and I am here to inform you of great news. You are to come with myself and your daughter to get the rest of your family so that we may meet with the king and the Warden Commander herself."

"I am not sure if Hikaru knew that your wife was ill." Did she mention that or not? "Or I may have forgotten. Sometimes the memory goes when you have so much fun. Can she not take a trip to the palace, at least in a carraige or must she remain at home?"

Zevran shrugged, "Thank ze commander. She is the one who sets rules and makes us do things. Yet, I shall admit that I do like it when she sets me out to do some nice things for once. Ze darkspawn they get tiring after some time."