Timeless Tower

"It would be very dangerous and no ... you will be with me to see the King. I will not be leaving you alone."

Zevran smirked, "Ah yes but you know, lovely one, that I am full of surprises. But no, it is of no concern if you know. To tell the truth, I figured it would be good to find another assassin to watch out for her. I have the feeling she needs someone to be her shadow, be there for her every need and maybe ... well, she needs much from a man that will make her forget her past."

"It would be very dangerous and no ... you will be with me to see the King. I will not be leaving you alone."

Hikaru thought sbout that, she wondered what the king would be like. She kenw though that they were going there for a reason and not for some kind of social visit which meant that she really wouldn't get to find out much about him or what he was like.

"Ah yes but you know, lovely one, that I am full of surprises. But no, it is of no concern if you know. To tell the truth, I figured it would be good to find another assassin to watch out for her. I have the feeling she needs someone to be her shadow, be there for her every need and maybe ... well, she needs much from a man that will make her forget her past."

"Another assassin? Well I suppose that would be a good idea, you said that you're an assassin so I'd assume you would know quite a few others. I wonder though what kind of person the assassin would be?" Hikaru laughed quietly to herself "You say a man that can be her shadow and help her forget her past, that makes me think he'd be a bit like you."

"Yes. Assassins know assassins." He chuckled, "Not quite like myself but close enough. I don't want someone who can charm her more than myself. That would be bad for my reputation you know. Then again, she certainly needs something to keep her attention while she's trying to work things out. I'm afraid that our group has become isolated from each other and that does affect the hero."


He looked to her again suddenly having an idea of what to nickname her, "And what of you, my little flower? Do you think you can bloom with this group as a Warden or is it something else you would wish to be?"

Hikaru laughed once again "Yes yes your reputation as...well I believe that Nygozy called you the 'local smut puppy' earlier, though she also said you were fun to be around. I understand how the group becoming isolated would affect her though, it would be hard to go through a lot with a bunch of people and then go your seperate ways. Over a period of time like that a group can become very close"

She turned back just as Zevran ooked to her again. "And what of you, my little flower? Do you think you can bloom with this group as a Warden or is it something else you would wish to be?"

"Well I wouldn't say I'm much of a pretty flower....but yes I do hope to become a warden, if that is not pssible however I would still like to help. Maybe as one of the healers"

Zevran chuckled, "Yes she does have interesting pet names sometimes. I do appreciate what I have and enjoy it while I have it. Being a Crow you do not know when your next bout of happiness shall be. I have been lucky though, with Nygozy, as she has brought much amusement to my life. It is seldom very long before life becomes interesting when you are around her. Never a dull moment, I might say."

"If you wish to become a Warden then Nygozy will take you as such. I know she does not like to do so without a person's permission. It is not her way. And yes, you are a pretty flower. You smell so nice, your eyes are charming and your skin smooth as silk. I cannot imagine why you do not believe so."

"She does seem like an interesting person for sure, I must say my life has gotten much more intereating since I met her just a short while ago. I mean back in the tower, I studied spells, took various tests, answered to the first enchanter as well as templars and stared out a window wondering what was outside the tower. It was all very dull.

But in the past few days well." Hikaru smiled "I've made a camp with others, met the hero of ferelden, been recuited to help the group and possibly be made a warden. And of course I can't forget that I got to meet an assassin and live to tell the tale" Hikaru chuckled as she said that last part. "Nygozy is welcome to make me a warden if she decides to she has my permission and I give no objections."

She blushed slightly "Well I'm unsure of where you grew up ser but as for me, I was an Alienage elf for a time before going to the circle. Alienage elves are not really encouraged to think of themselves as any higher that the ground others walk upon, being in the circle teaches you no different. Thus I have never thought of myself as anything at all, let alone a beautiful woman."

"So you are the adventurous type who isn't satisfied with watching the world go by." Zevran was amused with that, "It isn't all that surprising to me. You have bright eyes which seem to want knowledge."

He chuckled, "Yes it has been quite an adventure for you since we found you. I'm sure that they can't teach you these things in the Tower or that they wouldn't want to either. They keep a tight reign on mages. It is good that you are out. It would be a waste for the flower to wilt in a gilded vase."

The self esteem of Alienage Elves was well known to Zevran. He'd seen too many times how they were often beaten down. He nodded, "I've seen much in my life, including what happens in the Alienage. Personally, I hail from Antiva but I was originally Dalish."

"I do enjoy learning, the study of magic was one of the few pleasures of ling in the circle. Though I must admit that I am not one of the quickest studies, it can take me quite a while to learn a new spell or some other thing."

She nodded "That's true there are a lot of things out here that they don't teach you in the tower. They assign you a mentor and make sure that you're never far away from a templar. They give you a set of what to learn and when to learn it, if you exceede expectations and learn too quickly you get labeled a danger. If that happens you are made tranquil."

Hikaru shifted slightly on the horse, leaning back a little against Zevran. Though she felt embarrassed about it and sat up again

"If you learn according to their plan they test you, it's called a harrowing. I don't know what you may know about that already. But they throw you into the fade and pit you against a demon unarmed, they expect you to survive possession with jut your will. If you can resist the demon and manage to kill it you are made into a mage, if no you're struck down by templars."

Hikaru looked back at The Antivan. "I suppose I've bored you enough with my tales of the Circle. Why don't you tell me about yourself? You've said that you're a Dalish from Antiva and part of the Crows right?"

"From what I've heard learning new spells isn't easy sometimes. It takes precision like learning how to throw knives or use any weapon." He made the horse turn down a road at a t fork, "So they don't like if you are too slow and if you are too fast they get upset? They should be Crows with that. It's not unusual I suppose."

The trail was peaceful making the assassin smile. He knew there could be danger at any time but for now it was calm and he took advantage of what they had for the moment. Even so he kept vigilant, "I have heard of some of the things which were done in the Tower. The Harrowing was one Wynne explained. From her it seemed almost peaceful. Me, I could see past that facade. How could it be peaceful if you must face a demon alone with such little instruction? Pah. I believe they have been into too much herb smoke."

He looked down at her upturned face and smirked, "Nah. You have not bored me, my little flower. As for my childhood ... well, there is a lot more to me than one little lady can hold." Zevran smiled reassuringly. He liked Hikaru but it was a bit too early to tell her much about himself. He didn't want to scare her away, "But I worked with the Crows. It is a glamorous thing in Antiva."

"Learning a new spell can be difficult, though most mages have a spell type. Spells of that type are usually learned faster than other spells, mine happens to be healing magic. I learn healing spells faster than I would a fire spell, though that isn't to say some healing spells haven't given me trouble."

As the horse turned Hikaru noticed Zevran smile which in tun, made her smile. She was glad that the road was peaceful for the moment, she was also happy that Zevran seemed to be enjoying the trip.

"It can be quite scary, I'd only just taken my own harrowing. It was maybe a week before you came and the blood mage incident had happened"

The mage found relief that her stories were not dull to the assassin. She listened quietly to him as he spoke now. "As for my childhood ... well, there is a lot more to me than one little lady can hold. But I worked with the Crows. It is a glamorous thing in Antiva."

"I don't believe I'm so little, we're both elves are we not? I'm fairly close to your size if a bit smaller. And as for age, there cannot be that much of a difference between us can there?" She laughed "But all joking aside Zevran, I do respect your choice not to tell me. You have your reasons for not telling me about your childhhod, if you some day decide to tell me then I shall listen."

"It sounds like any field. Throwing knives is a completely separate skill as opposed to rapier or throwing stars. The basis remains but past that it's all different. For some it's easier with knives, others the stars ... you get my meaning. So ... is there a secondary line that you learned? What can you do, little flower?"

He smiled at her as they continued on, "Killing my first mark was not so easy either but I think it would be much scarier having to fight a demon on your own especially when those teaching you keep telling you how horrible they are then toss you into it alone. One would think that was a recipe for failure. Maybe the Templars really want more mages to fail. Most I have seen are not so kindly about mages."

A chuckle took form in his throat and he grinned, "Calling you 'little flower' and 'little lady' is but an expression for one so slight and pretty, lovely one. I see nothing that makes you so small but you are a lovely one. But yes, maybe some time we will speak of my childhood. I prefer not to frighten one so lovely as yourself."

"A secondary line? Well I suppose that would be Elemental spells, I know a bit about things such as freezing things or starting an inferno or two. I'd have to say though, that the spells I use most often in combat are the fire spells. What I know of magic and spells is very little, compared to that of an enchanter."

"That is usually what the templars do, they try to set us up to fail. More mages failing means more mages die. And well...that means that there less for them to worry about. Though I suppose that means that there's something to say about a mage that can pass such a test."

Hikaru blushed once again, she was beginning to wonder just how much that would happen. The assassin seemed very skilled at making the young girl nervous, she wondered if he thought anything of it. "I know, but I must thank you again" she spoke more quietly now, still feeling nervous. "Like I have said, I respect your wish not to speak of your childhood. Though I am not so easy to frighten." she smilled up at him, the redness yet to fade from her cheeks.

"I am sure we can find someone who is capable of teaching you further skills and books that you would appreciate, no?" Zevran knew they could do this. It would not be long until other wardens came along to meet with their leader to join the Fereldan branch.

He breathed out as he looked down at Hikaru, "It is not too unlike that of becoming an assassin then. We are all out for ourselves and the teachers try to find tricks to exploit any disadvantage you have. You learn quick or you are dead. So our professions are rather similar in that manner."

"Well, we will see in time how you fare about my past." He smiled and kept the horse walking.

The time seemed to pass by quickly, even when they were quiet. Their horse kept going at a steady pace and they were lucky to avoid any obstacles. Finally they came to the walls of Denerim and looked upon the gate guards.

"I am here by the King's orders." He announced and handed a paper which the guard looked at then handed back, "Thank you my good gentlemen. Well now, have you seen the palace, my pretty?"

When they reached the gates of the city Hikaru felt a mix of emotions both excitement and nervousness pklayed with her. She watched as Zevran hadled the gaurd and began to look about with curiousity. She smiled lsitening to the assassin speak "Thank you my good gentlemen. Well now, have you seen the palace, my pretty?"

"No. Honestly I cannot say that I have, the only time I was ever outside of the Alienage walls was when the templars came to retrieve me. After that I spent all of my time in the Circle, within the stone walls of the tower. I've been walled in my whole life so it's quite easy to say that there is much I have yet to see or experience."

"Well then, that is where we are going first. You will be astonished then bored to tears, my flower." He rode his horse into the traffic, staying at a steady speed as they went along. There was no reason to hurry.

He had noticed a pigeon sent into the air after they had arrived so it was no small surprise that some armored men in the King's livery showed up soon after, just as they were going into the more populated areas.

"See that building ..." He pointed to a building, "That is where we first fought brigands within the city. You should have seen the battle. I came in at a precise moment that the King required assistance. It upset him to no end mind you, that he could not have done it without me." He chuckled as the guards took position around them, "It is a good thing that we could do this, no?"

"You'd be surprised by what I find interesting" Hikaru looked around the city as they walked through it steadily, she watched as both the common people and some armored men moved through the busy streets.

"See that building ...That is where we first fought brigands within the city. You should have seen the battle. I came in at a precise moment that the King required assistance. It upset him to no end mind you, that he could not have done it without me. It is a good thing that we could do this, no?"

The young mage listened with great interest to the assassin's story, laughing as he told of the king's reactions. Of the many things she was interested in, he was certainly one of them. "I'm very glad to have the chance to do this. It's been very enjoyable doing and seeing new things. I..." she smiled "Am also glad that the one to go with me on this trip was you. Your company has been very interesting and fun as well"

"Good. I think you will enjoy this too."

They got to the palace and were escorted directly to a huge library to wait for the king. Zevran sat down and grinned as he watched her reactions.

"The king will be with you when time permits." Their guide explained as mulled wine and appetizers were brought in, "Please make yourself at home and pull the cord if you wish further assistance or sustenance."

Zevran watched the man leave then relaxed, "They are always so stuffy but at least we get treats." He popped a small morsel into his mouth and lifted his glass of wine.

Hikaru smiled "That we do." She looked about the palace happily. This room was one of thr biggest she'd seen and the books it held. Oh she could't believe how many of them lined the countles shelves. Sure the tower had it's own impressive collection but it was nothing like this. All of the books here were on various subjects rather than all on magic.

The girl turned her attention away from the books. She looked back to Zevran, lest she forget he was here. She smiled to him unsure what to say. She seemed happy that he appeared to be relaxed and happy.

Just as figured, Hikaru was very interested in the books which lined the room. This young woman was one who would try to learn as much as possible. That was a good thing, was it not? He figured it was. That kind of devotion to learning would be of great help in the future.

"Find something to read. The king is likely to take a while. You might as well enjoy yourself." He smiled to show her he had no problems with her taking time for books rather than himself, "It isn't like I will be leaving you alone either. I'm going to rest for a while and maybe find a book for myself as well."

The mage gave him a little smile as she turned and looked about the various books. There were so many of them that she wasn't sure how she would ever actually pick one. Finally she found one that seemed to be on the subject of Ferelden and various other locations. She went to read it as she awaited the king, she was excited to read and learn about all of the places that she never imagined being able to see.

Zevran watched Hikaru from the side of his eyes but relaxed. As an assassin he took his pleasures where he could and to be able to sit back and not have to move all over was a pleasure he appreciated. Not to mention that his rear end was sore.

After a couple of hours, two men in the King's livery came in preceding the man himself. A mage came in behind him, used some form of spell then left. The king makes a motion for the guards to leave then smiles as the door closes.

"Sorry about the magical scan but a certain assassin once told me it was best to be sure than dead." He grinned comically as he looked over at Hikaru, "Oh. Hello. Has our Nygozy gone and acquired another mage?"

Zevran stood up with a cocky smirk on his face, "You must introduce me to this intelligent assassin some time. I am sure his wealthy pieces of advice could be helpful to me." He teased as he was that assassin, "As for this young flower, her name is Hikaru. Ny saved her from the Templars in the Tower. She was framed of being a blood mage."

The mage was quick to turn her attention to the king as he entered, she listened for a moment as he and Zevran spoke to one another. She blushed a bit as Zevran comolemented her and explained her story to the king.

"I'm glad to get to meet you ser." She smiled to him politely but she kept fairly quiet for now, she hadn't dealt much with royalty. At the most it was always lower classed nobles from her time in the alienage or it was the leadership of templars and enchanters from the circle.

She had to admit that the king had so far seemed different from those she followed before but, if this girl had learned anything about leaders and especially nobles from her past, it was to only speak if required.

"Well, you are quite a respectful, Hikaru." He smiled widely, "In private it is just Alistair. Just plain Alistair. I do appreciate being able to just be me sometimes. You would not believe the pandering around a king."

He sat down and looked at Zevran, his voice becoming one of long suffering, "What is wrong now? You were supposed to stay with her."

Zevran snorted, "She sent me back, your kingship." He grinned, wanting to have Hikaru involved instead of becoming bored, "But I do have a plan. Hikaru? If you remember what we discussed, could you tell Alistair?"

Hikaru listened quietly to the men as they spoke. "What is wrong now? You were supposed to stay with her." The tone in the king's voice changed and made her wonder what they all went through together. She was surprised when Zevran suddenly brought her into the coversation.

"She sent me back, your kingship. But I do have a plan. Hikaru? If you remember what we discussed, could you tell Alistair?"

"I believe that we discussed that you thought of having another assassin hired to guard her didn't we? You thought she required someone to be her shadow right?"

"Just as you said, pretty flower." Zevran smiled at her then turned to Alistair, "I have called for some before we left not expecting this to be a contract."

"Bring in another assassin to be her bodyguard?" Alistair rubbed his chin as he worked on this idea. He looked saddened by some thoughts as he sighed, "That was supposed to be your job but if Josie won't accept that then we have to do something else. Maybe following the oracle's word will be a start over for her."

Alistair stood and shook his head, "The ones you called have arrived. I give leave for you to look them over and for Hikaru to help with choices. I have already seen the men in training but this ... this is something more to your expertise and needs a woman's consideration. Will you help in this, Hikaru?"