The village of Amruth truly consisted of just a handful of houses, with only one inn to speak of—if one could even call the small shack an inn. It was more of a tavern. When the four of them entered, the young elven girl behind the bar looked utterly astonished. She lifted her skirts and rushed to the back, calling out, "Father, father, we have guests! Guests!"

Dina glanced around the tiny tavern, moving to stand next to Zevran. There weren't many people inside, perhaps around twenty men, all simple peasants. They continued their conversations but cast curious glances at the newcomers.

"It seems that a strange face counts as a spectacle around here. Especially if there are four of them," Zevran whispered, leaning towards Dina. Leliana and Morrighan heard him and nodded in agreement.

The innkeeper, a simple man, hurried over, wiping his hands in excitement. Unlike Tharoden, he seemed genuinely pleased to see them.

However, when Morrighan stated that they would need at least two rooms, ideally four, the innkeeper wrung his hands and looked around uncertainly. His wife soon appeared behind him and whispered something in his ear.

"I'm afraid I only have one room to offer. We seldom get any visitors, especially not in groups. But don't worry, we'll make do! The ladies can sleep upstairs in the room on the first floor, and we'll quickly prepare a small space down here for the gentleman. It's not very spacious, but it should be sufficient for one... Would you like to have a look?"

Zevran nodded to Morrighan with closed eyes, indicating he wasn't picky and could sleep anywhere. If this was what the inn had to offer, then so be it. Their hosts were clearly making an effort to accommodate them, bringing their orders to the bar and even setting out a basket of sweet grapes.

"Please, help yourselves; it's on the house! Sample from the harvest—we've got plenty! Just let us know if you'd like more!"

Zevran plucked two large grapes from the bunch, bringing his hand closer to Dina's mouth, and gently fed her one. Dina accepted it, feeling no discomfort as his finger brushed her lips. The innkeeper, his wife, and even their daughter watched the scene, but when Dina glanced at them, they all averted their eyes at once.

Zevran and Dina exchanged a smile, as if the innkeeper's family had already decided which of the three women belonged to the gentleman. Although Dina found this rural courtesy a bit unfamiliar after the bustle of the city, both she and Zevran had been born in villages.

"It's a bit like home here. Like when my parents were still alive."

Zevran watched Dina silently, perhaps lost in his own thoughts, remembering similar memories.

"Tell me, how obedient were you as a child?" Dina asked, breaking the silence.

Zevran let out a mischievous grin. "What do you think? If a ten is an angel and a one is a little devil, what score would you give me?"

Dina returned his mischievous gaze with a smile. "Maybe a two? A three?"

Zevran laughed. "I'd rate myself in the negatives! Wait... what about you?" He studied Dina's face thoughtfully. "Alright, let me guess... I'd give you an eight or even a nine. Did I get it right?"

Dina nodded with a smile. "Alright, fair enough."

"No backtalk? No cheeky remarks?"

Now it was Dina's turn to give a sly smile. "I didn't say I wasn't cheeky. I just didn't practice it as much. But I was certainly capable of it!"

"I can't wait to hear about one of your infamous cheeky deeds," teased Zevran, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.

Dina looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Well, once, I stole salt from my parents..."

"What?" Zevran asked, before bursting into laughter.

Dina nodded seriously, though she enjoyed seeing Zevran laugh until he cried. "Yes, really. Salt. Into my little toy pot."

"How much?" Zevran asked, still chuckling, wiping his eyes.

"Oh, a few pinches."

He laughed again, then pulled her close. "I adore you!"

Dina allowed herself to be drawn nearer, though under the watchful village eyes, a kiss was out of the question. Over time, she learned that Zevran truly expressed his love through touch. Even when they were sitting together, he would either wrap an arm around her or place a hand on her knee, showing in his way that this woman belonged to him. Then came the endearing words, like a flood. And Dina felt the most at peace during their quiet times together, often happy to simply be at his side. She loved just leaning against him, letting her thoughts drift while Zevran's attention wandered to others, to other conversations, or sometimes just watching him as he spoke, watching the line of his jaw and the way he smiled, a little dimple adding charm to his words. And she loved his touch.

Dina softly brushed her fingertips across his cheek. Perhaps because of the gentleness of the movement, Zevran immediately turned toward her and smiled.

"Yes, my dear?"

Dina shook her head, signalling it was nothing. And it really was nothing. Only love.

*

That night, they said their goodbyes, and Zevran retired to the small space prepared for him, which just barely held a short bed. The three women made their way to the upstairs room, which the villagers had rearranged with three separate sleeping spaces. Morrighan took one of the beds, glanced around, and soon after, stepped out of the room. Dina sat on her bed, leaning against the wall, while Leliana perched on hers nearby. Perhaps she sensed the change in atmosphere with the two of them alone.

"Where's Morrighan going?" Dina ventured, hoping to shift the conversation.

"She says she's practicing, but really, she's attempting magic. She never gives up, unwilling to accept that she's not like her mother."

Dina nodded and went to the balcony. Morrighan was alone in the dark courtyard, swinging her sword. After each thrust, she would assume a pose like a spell, though nothing ever happened. Dina turned away and went back to the room, sitting down opposite Leliana. The girl seemed to know that something needed to be said between them.

Dina took a deep breath. "I'm sorry about what happened with Oghren. Alistair..."

Leliana shook her head, her gaze dark. "A stupid he is..." was all she said before snapping. "I just can't understand how he could be so...! I'm furious with him. He ruined so many things. Including... Oghren was our friend, and he killed him!"

Dina watched her. "Zevran killed him."

"Zev only did what he had to. If Oghren had chosen me, I'd have done the same. That's the rule."

Dina was taken aback by the affectionate tone she used. She waited for a moment before speaking again. "You two are good friends, aren't you?"

Leliana looked up quickly, then down, which Dina took as a bad sign. She turned away, but Leliana reached out and pulled her back. The redhead's face showed remorse.

"Dina, I see how happy you two are, and I'd say Zevran has never been like this. He loves you, truly. I mean it sincerely—I wish you both the best."

"I believe you. Is what Alistair implied... true?"

Leliana sighed. "Only partly."

"What do you mean?"

"Would you believe me if I said I hadn't bed with Zevran?"

After a pause, Dina nodded. "I think I would."

Leliana smiled faintly, squeezing Dina's hand. "I'll tell you everything because I don't want you to have doubts. What you see between us is more like the remnant of something."

"You mean, at one time... you and Zevran were together?"

"No, we were never in love with each other, if that's what you mean. Zevran wasn't even around yet when Morrighan and I met in a camp; that's where we met Alistair, who had just been removed from his father's county. We quickly decided to help him, and in return, he promised us a reward. Zevran joined us later. It was quite a large camp, with many adventurers passing through, both men and women, some we even recognized by sight. When Zevran arrived..." She shook her head, smiling slightly, "...he had kind words for every woman he could and flirted with them all. Naturally, he came up to us as well and immediately proposed to Morrighan, probably to provoke her. She, on the other hand, decided to take him into the group, and Zevran made a promise to Alistair, too.
I thought we didn't regret it; Zevran was a good fighter even then and, honestly, pleasant company. He made us laugh a lot. I know Alistair never liked him; he didn't trust him from the beginning, just tolerated him. But... I think he might have been a little jealous. You know, Alistair and I..." Leliana sighed and stared at the ceiling for a while.

"You two were close, weren't you?" Dina asked softly, almost able to see Leliana swallowing back tears.

"Of course," the woman continued. "Alistair and I had similar upbringings; we came from nearly the same background, and... well, let's face it, he's a handsome man with an impressive physique. I've always liked him."

Dina smiled back at Leliana, who continued.

"I waited for him to make a move, but he seemed... I don't know, he seemed more focused on Zevran than on me. I saw that Zevran's presence annoyed him, but I wished he would just ignore him. But..." She sighed. "Alistair couldn't get past his own fears. Eventually, he projected every wrong onto Zevran, just grumbled at him constantly, and it was like he'd forgotten about me. I felt myself slipping from his attention. He never really moved toward me."

There was a sadness in her voice, even after all that had happened in the barracks. Dina squeezed her hand. "I'm sorry."

Leliana looked up at her gratefully, then waved her hand dismissively. "Ah, it doesn't matter anymore. There's no point in regretting Alistair. He may have caught my eye, but it seems he wasn't the one the Maker intended for me. And as for Zevran... well, he was never really my type. He was just... always there. I remember that night, we were sitting by the campfire after dinner; everyone else had gone, leaving only the two of us. He said something funny, as he often did, and I laughed. Then suddenly he asked if I'd like to take a walk. It was late at night, and I didn't understand what he meant, so I just asked him where. And he said, 'To my tent.'"

Dina wasn't sure why, but she didn't feel angry. She thought she would, but instead, she simply thought, yes, that's Zevran, always coming up with something clever and asking if he can get closer. Only now did she realize that Zevran had always asked her, too, before he touched her, if he could. Zevran never barged in; he always knocked first. And now, hearing about how he treated other women before they'd met... well, it was strangely comforting.

Even though she was prepared to hear things that would hurt her or be difficult to hear, she continued to listen to Leliana.

"I remember laughing, thinking he was joking, but then I saw in his eyes that he was serious. And I...," she hesitated, shaking her head, "I was worn out, and sad because of Alistair. I think that's why I said yes."

"So, what happened between you?" Dina asked softly.

"I let him hold me, allowed him to bring me some joy, but that was it. Right from the beginning, I told him I didn't want to make love with him, and he respected that. We just lay there together, he held me, and I thought of Alistair. Eventually, we fell asleep."

Dina said nothing.

Leliana looked up at her, clasping her hands in both of her own. "Please, don't be angry with me, Dina. What you see between us now is a result of that night. Although I never loved him romantically, neither before nor after, something shifted in my feelings toward him then. I began to feel a little connected to him, a bit more caring, more forgiving... he simply became a better friend. I still don't love him romantically; I just... love him as a person."

Dina gave a small nod.

"I wanted to tell you, especially now, after what Alistair put you through with his words. I want the best for you both; I genuinely wish the best for the two of you."

Dina took a deep breath before she replied.

"This all happened before I knew Zevran. So there's no reason for me to be angry. It may be hard to hear, but... Zevran's past is what it is. And I love him with his past, and I will keep loving him. Thank you for your honesty, Leliana."

She smiled at her.

"And I'm still sorry about you and Alistair. Have you ever thought about what might have happened if you'd shown him a bit more clearly that you were interested?"

Leliana sighed, and her mouth twisted into a wistful frown. "That part was my fault. I never smiled at him more warmly than I did at anyone else, never held his gaze for long... in fact, I mostly avoided him. And I laughed freely at Zevran's jokes because that was easy. Alistair never got any encouragement from me. No wonder he was unsure."

Seeing the gloom in Leliana's expression, Dina almost wanted to tell her it wasn't too late, but after what had happened in the barracks, she knew it very much was.

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Morrighan opening the door. The woman strode in, then stopped and gave the two of them a curious look as if they had been best friends forever, holding hands like that.

"So, what's going on here? What's all this deep conversation about?" she asked, though her tone suggested she knew exactly what girls tended to discuss in moments like these.

Leliana looked up and smiled at the dark-haired woman. "We're just talking about men." Her eyes sparkled with an invitation, as if to say, 'Care to join in?'

Morrighan gave a lopsided smile. "Oh! Not the blond one downstairs, I hope?" Her tone held a mix of disdain and a kind of fondness that only Morrighan could manage so cuttingly yet affectionately.

"Leliana said Zevran proposed to you the first day," Dina laughed.

"Yeah! Idiot..."

"And why didn't you say yes?" Dina teased with a grin.

"Eh! I obviously knew I had to spare him for you...!"

They laughed together.