Alecto sighs again. She and Zesh had been arguing—if it could be called that, neither of them was angry—for over an hour, and the qunari hasn't changed her mind one bit. Quite the contrary, she seems firmly determined to take part in the fray.

"Zesh," Alecto begins for the fiftieth time, but her friend interrupts her.

"Don't 'Zesh' me. Not anymore. We both know I'm not going to change my mind, no matter what you think." The qunari looks at her friend, frowning. "I'm not going to stand back while you're risking your lives."

'While yours is on the line' was what she wanted to say, but Zesh has decided to keep her feelings to herself. She cannot risk their friendship over a mere crush, because that's what it is, surely. Still, when she and Alecto curled up together at bedtime and she felt the aslept mage's soft breathing, she couldn't help but fantasize about what might happen if she and Alecto were something more.

Unaware of this storm of emotions and doubts in her friend's mind, Alecto continues trying to get her to reconsider.

"You're not a fighter, Zesh, not in the literal sense." She takes her hands and caresses them gently. "You're not made to hurt others. It's one of the things I like most about you."

Fortunately for Zesh, Alecto is not wearing her magic bandage, so she cannot see how deeply the girl's face blushed. Even so, she remains unmoved. 

"You'll need someone to help you in the rear. Someone who can help you move the wounded, care for them, organise supplies if necessary. I've seen many things during my travels, things that may be useful in the times to come." And she doesn't say that she could do more. Just because she does not care to fight, does not mean that she can't. She could call to the spirits of Valor, spirits of War. Ask them for help. Have them embody her. But, she does not do that anymore. 

"I need to help, Alecto. I can not stand aside and do nothing." Zesh says seriously. Shaking her head in frustration. "I am of this Veilguard, am I not? That means I should do what I can to help. And I can do this at least." 

Alecto remains silent for a few seconds. She understands her friend: she wouldn't hold her back either, no matter the reason. Besides, Zesh doesn't seem willing to change her mind in the slightest. Finally, she sighs deeply and shakes her head. 

"I know you can do this and much more. Just... just promise me you'll be careful. That you won't do anything foolishly heroic. Zesh," Alecto takes her hands, running her thumbs over the backs of them, "I need you to come back here, if that's what you want. I couldn't bear to return knowing that all I would find was an empty room because I had lost you."

Zesh looks at her in turn. There are so many things she wants to say to her, but above all, that nothing in the world could make her leave her side. But she doesn't. She just nods shyly.

"I can promise you that. No foolishness, if you don't do it."

"Okay," Alecto murmurs, with a very slight smile, "no foolishness.”

Zesh knows about the cruelty of war, but this goes a little further. It is no longer just that the darkspawn horde repeatedly attacks civilians and combatants, or that the cursed dragon spits ice spears everywhere. What surprises and terrifies her at the same time is the firm determination of these self-proclaimed gods to end everything in one fell swoop, bringing the dragon that ravaged Minrathous into the fray as well. 

The qunari strives to help those in the most imminent danger, getting them out of the most dangerous area. All those creatures that try to stop her never even come close. Because Zesh knows how to fight, even though she tries to hide it, it is not yet time to show her skills. That is why she has chosen to stay in the second line, acting as support. Her way of helping the wounded is not only to take them to the healers or keep them away from the enemy. Some wounds are simply beyond remedy. In that case, she helps them depart in peace, far from fear and pain. Every time she has to do this, her heart breaks, but she feels the gratitude of those souls she frees.

Although it does not distract her from her task, Zesh cannot help but look for Alecto whenever she can. The woman is a purple shadow that moves at breakneck speeds, but she is easy to spot once she begins to unleash her magic. She uses the water from the swamp to her advantage, harnessing it to power the lightning bolts that constantly shoot from her daggers. Zesh could even swear she saw her conjure a huge thunderbolt raven, if such a thing is possible. She just hopes she doesn't overdo her powers, even though she made her promise she wouldn't. 

Amidst so much destruction, Zesh pledges that if they survive, she will try to find the courage to talk to her friend. She is terrified of the possibility of rejection, but even more so of leaving this world without telling Alecto how much she means to her. Taking a deep breath, she hurries to continue her work. They will win this war, whatever the cost.

Although the dragons' corpses lay lifeless in the middle of the swamp, that does not mean the battle was over, far from it. There are still monsters emerging from unexpected hiding places, trying to catch those who, in the euphoria of a future victory, had let their guard down.

Alecto, as the Crow she is, knows this is precisely when she has to be most vigilant. Exhaustion, relief and, above all, the realisation of what has happened had claimed many more victims than she could count, people who, like her, had survived the worst of the battle. No, she isn't like that. She is going to survive that day. She has to. 

Only when the last darkspawn draws its final breath and the woman confirms that there are no more enemies to finish off she allows herself to lower her mage knife. Then reality sinks in. The corpses of friends and foes litter the ground, and the whimpers of the dying give the scene a ghostly feel, with the mist from the swamp covering everything with greenish, foul-smelling fingers. Her head aches as if it is about to explode. Alecto knows the reason: she has overused the bandage that restored her sight, but she will deal with the consequences later. Until that moment, she has followed all the rules scrupulously, hasn't she? And, after all, overexertion was not exactly a whim. Still, she decids to wear it a little longer, just until she sees that Zesh is okay. 

She discerns the familiar silhouette a little further away. The qunari looks tired but unharmed, standing tall and magnificent among those around her.

"Zesh!" Alecto cries out. She sees her friend turn around and the concern mixed with relief in her eyes, and only then she rests her battered body and lowers the cloth that covers part of her face. 

Exhaustion hits her so hard that she almost falls to her knees. She hears Zesh running towards her, calling her name, and smiles. She wants to cry with pure relief, to hug her, anything. Zesh is fine, and that is all that matters to her at that moment. 

"You're... you're hurt!" The qunari's voice is trembling, full of fear, and she feels her hands running over her, making her show all her exposed skin. Searching, surely, for some sign of the Blight.

"Don't worry," she murmures softly, "it's not my blood. I'm fine. Well, my head hurts like hell, but I'm not injured. I won't have to go through the Wardens' initiation." Zesh's grunt tells her that her joke has not been well received, but she giggles anyway. "Don't worry. Today's not going to be the day I die. If you are fine, then everything is alright."

Zesh frowns, glad that Alecto can’t see her. She seems unharmed, more or less, but it is better to be sure. She takes her by the waist, gently but firmly, to make sure she wouldn't collapse at any moment. To her surprise, Alecto does not protest, but leans on her and lets herself be guided, meek as a lamb, to the healers to be examined.

Arriving at the camp, Zesh gets Alecto settle on a trundle bed, sitted on the edge. "Wait here, I'll grab a healer-."

Alecto stops her with a hand on her arm. "I just have a headache, I'm fine. I do not need a healer, Zesh." Zesh shakes her head. "I need to make sure- I can't- I don't know what I'd do if I lost you!" She exclaims, frustrated. "Please, just let me take care of you." Zesh reaches up to cup Alecto's cheeks, holding her. "I care too much to let anything happen to you." She didn't think about it, didn't even realize. One moment, she's cupping Alecto's cheeks, holding her gently, the next, Zesh is leaning in and kissing her. Sweet, and passionate. Tinged with the shaky adrenaline of the moment. She has no idea how long it lasts- A minute? Several? It feels like eternity when Zesh pulls away, shaking visibly with nerves. "J-Just let me go find a healer!" Zesh moves to pull away but Alecto stops her again, tugging her in closer.

"Wait. Zesh-" Zesh isn't sure what Alecto's gaze is saying right now. Is she happy about the kiss? Mad? She doesn't look mad. There's something almost like… Hope. The same hope that is reflected in Zesh's eyes. So she stops Alecto with another kiss, just a quick, gentle press. "Please, we can talk later." Zesh assures softly. "Let me find you a healer first though." She gently pries Alecto's hand off and offers a small, reassuring smile. Then turns and goes to find a healer. Make sure someone gives Alecto a look over, and make sure that headache isn't something more serious. 

Zesh had just kissed Alecto. Kissed her! Oh mighty spirits. How reckless she was. But- Oh but she had kissed her back! Alecto hadn't run away screaming, hadn't panicked. Okay, that had been unlikely, but the real fear was that Alecto would tell her sorry, I care for you, but no.

She didn't say that. Truthfully, they hadn't said much at all. The adrenaline of the battle, the panic Zesh had been feeling, and the high of winning had come crashing down and they had reacted in the moment. Zesh only broke away to usher Alecto back to camp to have her tended to.

But, they can talk. Soon. As soon as the medics are done with her, they can talk. Zesh is so excited for the moment. She knows now- Or well, she thinks- she hopes- that Alecto feels the same. That the kiss meant something more than just an adrenaline rush in the heat of the moment.

She rocks from foot to foot anxiously, waiting for Alecto, when her eyes catch on a tall figure not too far away, standing at the edge of camp looking out at the battlefield they ahd left. No- No it can't be. "Kadari?" She whispers, low to herself. 

Zesh needs to know. She needs to see. She walks away from the medic tents, towards the man. The Qunari with red hair. "Kadari-" The man turns at the name, kaleidoscope eyes landing on her and Zesh's heart stops. That is not Kadari. "No." She whispers horrified. "They wouldn't- Not for me. How could they do this for me?" 

The Qunari's head tilts, confusion written on his face. "Who is this Kadari?" He steps closer to Zesh and she steps back in response. "I- I know you-. You're- Yes, you're what I seek, aren't you?" The Qunari looks to be in pain, frowning, crinkles forming near the eyes. "But- I am waiting for someone. Auran-." The man groans, pressing his hand to his forehead.

Zesh can't help it, she flits closer, hand fluttering near his shoulder. "You poor spirit. They botched the magic on you, didn't they?" She can feel it. A shaman tried to bind this spirit to their will, but it's corrupted. The magic fraying. It looks painful, the binding. "Let me help you-" She tries to say. 

But, it is too late. She doesn't catch the spirit reacting. Reaching for her in a blink and putting her in a tight hold. Her breath grows tight and her head light as air becomes thin. He's choking her out! Zesh smacks at his arm, elbows, and tries to get the larger man off. But the spirit is indifferent to her efforts. 

'Alecto…'

Her name is the last thought she has before she slides unconscious.

It has been quite some time since Zesh left, but Alecto still takes a while to realise it. It is not surprising: the whirlwind of thoughts and feelings swirling around in her mind is overwhelming. 

It's not that the idea had never crossed her mind. The way Zesh spoke to her, touched her, even looked at her when she thought Alecto wasn't noticing, had made her doubt her friend's true feelings countless times. But she had always dismissed the idea. "How silly," she had thought back then. Zesh would never notice someone like her; the qunari was looking for more than mere entertainment, and that was what the Antivana had always been, of her own volition.

She had been mistaken, it seemed. Unless it was a spontaneous gesture in the midst of the joy of survival, Zesh did see her as someone worth loving. Despite all her inner chaos, despite the emotional disaster that Alecto thought she was, her friend felt differently. And if there's one thing the Crow knows, it's that she doesn't do things lightly: she's thoughtful, cautious, and wouldn't let herself be carried away by a whim. She kissed her, intoxicated by her feelings, with a sweetness that overpowered her. And not only that, Alecto had kissed her back, without hesitation. Remembering it makes her stomach tingle and a smile lights up her lips. The truth is that Alecto has long been unable to imagine life without Zesh by her side, so much so that she was the first person she wanted to see when Horace gave her that magical bandage. 

Then she becomes aware of her surroundings and rearranges the fabric so she can find her more quickly. Little by little, the wounded are being evacuated and everything seems calmer. Alecto wants to find her, embrace her, and above all, to talk. Because she is beginning to understand that she is not just a companion, and that what she feels when Zesh is by her side is much more than she has been willing to admit until now.

But Zesh is nowhere to be found. Not in the healers' tents, nor with the rest of her companions. Terrified, Alecto searches among the wounded and dead, but to her relief, she is not there either.