So "song" is from the "In Uthenara" codex entry. And I was listening to a song called "I am the One", from the soundtrack, when I wrote this. (That's how I was imagining her voice for the singing, if you were curious.) You can youtube it pretty easy. Just look for "dragon age + I am the one".

Watch out for spoilers, though probably not until chapter 3 or so. Please let me know if I like, forget words or destroy the english language or anything.

Disclaimer: As always, Bioware owns everything good, including Dragon age and Zevran and all that stuff.

Lyna

One week after Zevran joins the Wardens on their mission to stop the blight.

Lyna was sitting on the grass with her back against a large tree, just outside the camp, singing softly to herself as she scanned the trees for signs of danger. It was approximately two in the morning; second watch. Nobody else ever wanted second watch, since whoever did it got the least rest. Lyna didn't mind. Having her sleep broken up into four hour segments meant she couldn't slip so deeply into the nightmares. She hadn't told anyone that this was why she insisted on taking the watch every thing, but nobody really complained. She was slightly tense, since she had asked Zevran to keep watch with her tonight... that was why she was singing. Singing calmed her. She wasn't sure when he was going to make his appearance, but she was sure he'd say something outrageous when he did. He had been with them about a week, and so far she hadn't once managed to speak to him without the assassin causing her to blush to some degree. It was maddening. She knew the others would not approve of her damnable infatuation, or whatever this was... well, except for Leliana maybe. The girl was remarkably worldly for a cloistered sister. Lyna decided to get to know the bard better. Perhaps the human would even teach her some new songs!

Her mind drifted back to when she had asked him to join her...

...flashback, dusk, that day.

Lyna heard Zevran step up behind her as she set up her tent. She liked that he made an effort to make noise when he approached her unaware. In fact, he did that for all of the ragtag group, perhaps not wanting to ruffle any feathers and lose his head. She threw him a look over her shoulder when he cleared his throat. Hmm, he looked serious. That was new.

"What is it, Zevran? Is there a problem?" The Warden continued setting up her tent, wanting to get the horrible chore out of the way so she could rest her feet.

There was a pause, and then he said quietly, "Well, not exactly a problem, per se. More of a request." She waited, and then chuckled, asking, "Well spit it out Zevran. In the week since we've been traveling together you've hardly minced words."

She heard a chuckle behind her, though it sounded slightly strained. Hmm, maybe it was more serious then she thought. Finally done with her tent, the slender elf stood and was about to turn around when she heard, "Very well. I would like my blades and other equipment back, if I may, my dear Warden." She froze for an instant, vaguely surprised. Was that all? She turned to face him, a faint smile on her lips. She noted his guarded expression, trying to hide her amusement; what did he think she was going to do, shoot him for such a simple request? Just out of curiosity, she stretched out the conversation.

"And why do you want your weapons, exactly?" Lyna asked the question softly, masking her amusment at his vaguely uncomfortable expression. Aha! How the tables have turned you blasted elf. Make me blush every two minutes on purpose, will you!?

"Well, if I am not to be a weapon for you, defending your life with my blades, what am I here for? You have not made me do any menial chores like shine armor, though I did offer such. I feel rather useless without my weapons, just standing around looking pretty, as it were." He said all this with a furrow in his brow. Lyna could not restrain her grin any longer and smirked widely at him, mimicking his accent as she said, "Oh but you do it so well, my dear Zevran!"

He blinked at her, clearly surprised by her tone, and her words. For once he appeared to be at a loss for words. Bloody fantastic, oh this day was wonderful. Giggling, Lyna reached into her tent and tossed him his pack, his sword and dagger strapped to it and clearly visible. Delighted to have the advantage for once, she smiled at him and said, "Of course you can have your weapons back Zevran. It's been a whole week and you haven't tried to murder us all even once, and I'm sure we gave you plenty of chances." She paused, watching him as he strapped on his weapon harness, his blades forming a cross on his back. "And perhaps you would like some more responsibility as well? You may take second watch with me if you like." AH! Surprise again. This day was awesome.

"Marvelous idea, my dear Grey Warden." He had dipped into a short bow, and Lyna just smiled and went off to get some dinner before turning in for some much needed rest.

Lyna continued to sing softly, her mind on the assassin as she kept watch over the camp. She heard a twig snap behind her, and she turned her head, a faint smile on her lips.

Zevran

Zevran was standing in the shadows just beyond the tree where Lyna sat, mesmerized, as she scanned the forest. It wasn't the way the moonlight broke through the canopy to highlight her cheekbones or how the breeze ruffled her hair - her glorious ebony hair which was out of its usual messy bun for once, falling in silky looking waves to just below her shoulders. No... she was singing softly to herself. He didn't recognize the language, but the song sounded sad. Her voice, which was melodic and lilting even when she was angry, sent shivers down his spine as she sang.

"Hahren na melana sahlin
emma ir abelas
souver'inan isala hamin
vhenan him dor'felas
in uthenera na revas

vir sulahn'nehn
vir dirthera
vir samahl la numin
vir lath sa'vunin"

When she fell silent, Zevran realized he had been standing there for several minutes and perhaps now would be a good time to breathe. He drew in a shaky breath and stepped forward, purposefully snapping a twig as he approached the sentry. It was not a good idea to surprise someone who was standing watch for the night, after all. She turned her head, her full lips turning up slightly when she caught sight of him. Maker, she was lovely.

"You are rather enchanting, my dear Warden. What was that you were singing just now?" he asked, keeping his voice low and drawing out his words, hoping to incite that delightful blush. Ah, there it was! Marvelous. He sat down on her left, his back against the wide trunk of the tree and his shoulder just touching hers, a faint smirk playing around his lips.

Lyna

Damnit how did he do that. Clearly it was on purpose, horrible Antivan bastard... Oh well... Lyna cleared her throat and tried to ignore her burning face and the faintly spicy scent he had that she had not noticed before; they hadn't been this close since the day they met, and at the time the everything had smelled like death.

"It was a song of Uthenera..." She spoke quietly, not wanting to disturb the camp, her violet eyes on him. She noticed his blank expression and raised one delicate eyebrow. "Uthenera. Have you not heard of it?" The Antivan gazed into her eyes and shrugged, and she gained a thoughtful expression. "Hmm... how to explain..." She tilted her head back against the tree and looked up at the canopy, catching a glimpse of the stars through a break in the leaves.

Zevran

Zevran stared at her as she considered, his eyes tracing the lines of her tattoos, the curve of her delicately pointed ear, the line of her neck as she leaned back against the tree. He could see the unusual violet color of her eyes as she stared up through the canopy. The assassin wondered if her hair was as soft as it looked. Maker, did she smell nice... like wildflowers. Perhaps this was a good night to resume his attempts to talk her into his bed...

Suddenly, she began to speak, her voice low and lilting. "In ancient times, when our people were free, the Elvhenan were immortal. Our ancestors lived for thousands of years. In time, the elders would grow tired of life, and would step aside to allow a younger generation to take their place." She paused and turned to look at him, her eyes wistful. When she spoke, her voice held an unusual cadence, as if she was telling a story she well loved, but also reciting a tale etched into her memory for a purpose. "Uthenera is the Waking Sleep. Those elders who wished to step aside would prepare themselves, and then enter chambers that were half bedroom, half tomb, and enter Uthenara. They would slip into a slumber from which they would not awake for centuries, often never. In time, their bodies would deteriorate and the elder would know true death..." The elf paused again, her violet eyes fixed to the Antivan's golden ones. "As you can imagine, such rituals are no longer observed, not since the quickening was brought to us by the shemlen. We try to maintain as much of the old lore as we can, though."

Zevran was mesmerized yet again as the woman dropped a piece of his own history into his mind. His mother was Dalish, after all... Donning a playful smirk, the assassin whispered, "Ah my dear, such melancholy I see in your beautiful eyes. Surely we must speak on other topics, it pains me to see an enchantress such as yourself look so sad." She blinked at him and blushed again, her eyes sparkling in the faint moonlight.

"Shameless, you are. Fine then. Tell me of Antiva?" Zevran grinned at her choice of topic. And so they passed their watch - a full four hours - with the assassin spinning tales of Antiva and some of his earlier missions with the Crows. He spoke of Antiva City, where he grew up. He told her of the flowers and the leather; he laughed when she asked if his missing the leather was some sort of euphemism. Throughout it all, Zevran sprinkled compliments and he occasionally brushed against her side or rested his fingertips on her arm. Baby steps, he decided. He usually avoided women who required such patience, but he suspected this one would be worth the wait. He was amazed at her interest in his past; his few encounters with Dalish elves had been brief, but none had expressed much interest in anything beyond their own clan. Perhaps it was because her current "clan" was the Grey Wardens, which consisted of a single other member at the moment.

Lyna

When their watch came to an end, Zevran stood up quickly and offered her his hand, his amber eyes warm as he gazed down at her. Lyna smiled and reached up, eyes sparkling as she accepted his aid; she inhaled sharply when he pulled rather harder then necessary, causing her to stumble against his chest as his arms came up around her to keep her from falling. She blinked and looked up at him, her palm against the middle of his chest. She could feel his heart beating under her hand, and thought perhaps he had an irregular heartbeat when she felt it stutter slightly. One of his hands rested lightly on the small of her back, the other was warm against the skin of her arm. Oh blast, was he going to kiss her? Did she want him to? Surely she shouldn't let him do such a thing. They had only known each other for a week! She should back up. Why wouldn't her legs move?!

Lyna felt her face grow hot as she stared up at the Antivan, the faint scent of spices filling her nose as she failed to pull away for a what felt like forever. She couldn't seem to look away from his gold-colored eyes, and she shivered slightly when his hand came up to touch her cheek. She couldn't read the look on his face; it wasn't his usual playful look, or the flirtatiously leering one he gave when he was making his outrageous comments. This one was softer... more dangerous. He gently brushed her hair back behind her ear, his fingers leaving lines of fire on her skin as he whispered, "We should both get some sleep, my dear Warden." And then he stepped away, slowly, a faintly knowing look in his eyes as he watched her. Lyna blinked and picked up her bow, nodding in agreement and not trusting her voice. She didn't notice when he smirked quietly behind her as they went to wake up Alistair for his turn at watch, nor did she notice how his eyes lingered on her form when she slipped into her tent.

Shortish chapter, I'm just skipping ahead in their... courtship, or whatever. Chapter 2 is a little longer but just more character/relationship development. There will probably be more action in Chapter 3. That is as far as my planning goes for this part of the story. :P