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So, Zevran

There are people in this world, who still see Zevran as flirt, sex addict, perv and generally unpleasant character, so let me try to shine some light over you and tell you about Zevran Arainai and how deep he really is.

First of all, what most of us straight up know about Zevran: he is Antivan Crow, an assassin of a guild, who is hired to slay two last remaining Grey Wardens in Ferelden, but he fails and to his own dismay, has now to serve Grey Warden, because he wants to stay alive.

Well, you are partially wrong.

First of all, Zevran took the Loghain’s offer not because of money or a fame, but because he had hoped this to be his last work. Literally.

You see, before he ever had any ideas about comming to Ferelden, Zevran lived in “Glorious Antiva city” and served as assassin. During his years in the guild, he fell in love with two of his friends and comrades, Rinna and Talliesen and they all three shared a polymorous relationship. At first it was sexual, but later it was pure love, at least comming from Zevran.

Everything would’ve been great, but Crows got informed, Rinna wants to betray them. That infuriated both Talliesen and Zevran, so they, per their oath of loyalty to Crows, had to kill the traitor.

I reality, Rinna was innocent, as she was a royal blood and got influenced to use her birthright to siege the royal throne of Antiva, but to her own dismay, Crows didn’t want that happening and she was a loose end. So assassination was ordered upon her and it had to be performed by two of her lovers.

As Talliesen and Zevran caught on her, Rinna realised she was set up by Crows and tried to plead with her loves, by saying the truth.

Talliesen was blindly loyal to Crows, so he called her traitor and refused to believe, while Zevran sensed Rinna is innocent, but still did the thing he was sent to do. Deeply in his heart he loved her so much, he could not accept false facts as truth, in contrary to other Crows, but the order was the order.

Talliesen took upon himself to kill Rinna, while she screamed for Zevran to help her and believe in her loyalty and love, but Zevran chose The Crows and ignored her pleads, despite his heart bleeding with a sorrow, guilt and hate to himself.

After with Rinna was dealt off, Zevran realised what huge mistake he had done, as truth came out. Self guilt and sorrow took on him and he just wanted one thing – death. He had failed in life so hard. He let the one he loves to get killed and love was his weakness. He didn’t want to live like this anymore.

Because of this pain, he left Antiva for the first time in his life, by grabbing the opportunity to take the assassination contract in Ferelden. That’s how Zevran found his way to the Wardens.

Zev knew either he gets killed by the Wardens during the assassination, or The Blight will end him in Ferelden faster, so he took his chances to the favour of Lady Death.

Zevran, despite his goons, never actually fought in his full strength during the ambush, as he believed Warden will surely kill him, but he never thought that Warden will take a decision to spare his life in combat.

Zevran only needed a second to realise that with his fellow Crows dead, he is temporary free, so he took a chance on survival and proposed Warden a deal: his loyalty in exchange of his life.

That wasn’t done because Zevran is being weak, or afraid of the death. No, this wasn’t because he is the sneaky rat, who wants to survive at any cost.

Zevran allied with Warden, because he finally met a force, able to oppose the Crows. That mere second as his life was spared, Zevran realised he was given a chance to one day be free and get his revenge on his former colleagues as not he was one to blame for Rinna, but they. He had met the person (Warden), who saw Zev not as expendable cannon fodder, but as a valuable asset.

Yes, at first Zevran saw Warden as one step towards his revenge, but later, as Warden starts to take interest in him and converse, Zevran sees them as a friend, someone he shares views with and can talk about his past and life. Someone who cares for him more than a whore or a gun to do a dirty job – someone who sees him as a person.

Zevran’s talk manner is very, special, as he uses alot of sexual references, crude, straightforward words and has very casual opinions on sex, but nevertheless he is insecure about Warden accepting his sexuality and the past, especially if Warden wants to get closer with him. Also he is afraid of falling in love and doing similar mistakes as before, so he tries to “discourage” Warden with his illustrous past

Zevran understands Warden is not from Antiva and not a Crow, so he asks them alot about their views, past, experiences and tries to “approach” them very slowly, while trying to know better, as a person, but in the same time trying to scare off. Basically his feelings are fighting inside.

Also another way on how Zevran expresses his warm feelings growing towards Warden is him introducing them with his past and sexual experiences, trying to observe how they react. He is reluctant to talk about being bisexual and sex favoring, and always asks if Warden is ok with that and if that is not a problem. Deep down Zev hopes his exploits will finally scare Warden away, as love for them will bring only a sorrow and pain to both.

If Warden is still persistent and it doesn’t bother them, Zevran can agree to have sex in Warden’s tent, as either Warden can ask him, or he will ask himself later (he and Morrigan are the only ones, who will accompany Warden with quite low approval, while Leliana and Alistair need very high one or their loyalty missions done, so they would ask themselves).

If Warden is romancing another of three romance interests, Zevran offers up to stand back, claiming he is a distraction, but deep down he sees Warden doesn’t feel the same as he does.

So after Zev and Warden have sex, from either’s innitiative, Zevran will ask if that was just one time thing or not. Doesn’t matter which answer Warden gives, Zev will slightly dissaprove, as he is confused if these are true feelings and if the thing he/Warden trully want is the same.

After the Landsmeet is done, Zevran’s old love Talliesen will approach the party and offer Zevran a way back to Crows, in exchange of betraying and killing Warden.

If Warden and Zevran never formed any relationship, friendly or romantical, assassin will turn against them, being killed by the Warden.

If Zevran is friends with the Warden, he will not side with Crows, but also will not fight them, leaving current party altogether, as he can’t choose whom to believe.

If Zev is in love with Warden, he will side with them, abandoning the Crows altogether and killing Talliesen and his fellow assassins.

After everything ends and team is back at the camp, Zevran will approach the Warden and will explain the situation with Talliesen.

If Zev was romanced, he will present his earring for his love. If Warden jokes about this being a proposal gift, Zevran will, in circles, confirm that. Warden can accept it as a proposal of Zevran’s love and continue the romance, or deny it and break his heart.

If Warden accepted the gift, Zevran will deny all the sexual encouters and will rage on Warden, for asking it. As Warden can ask why, Zevran finally will admit, he is torn between his own feelings. Warden can ensure him they feel love too or that they used Zev for fun.

If love was admitted, Zevran, doesn’t matter if Warden survives the last Battle, or dies, will always stay loyal to his love, never loving and getting with another one again, as he found his stability with Warden and he doesn’t need anything more.

During events of Awakening, Zevran travells back to Antiva and rejoins with Crows, but only to start betraying and killing them from the inside, in order to get rid of their mark in his life and to enjoy his new life with a Warden (maybe even to start a family) without ever having to worry about Crow threat.

Despite the past he was forced to be part of, Zevran chose to create his own future and finally took his life in his own hands. He is not perfect, he had commited crimes and he doesn’t hide that fact.

He purely loves and breaks all the stereotypes, because, despite his portrayal and past, his inside world is cardinally different and with a force of true love, he found, Zevran can embrace himself as he was truly is.

Man, I love my shameless flirt husband…💜💜💜