The Winter's Queen [Magus AU]

[GamesMaster]

Zevran remains locked in his room for some time; long enough to curse Isabela for locking him in and fret over her continued existence both. Finally, the door is opened by one of the ice zombies bearing a bottle of whiskey -- and he is able to overpower the servant and escape. But where to?

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran pauses a moment to take a swig of the whisky, then shred some sheets to make a make-shift incendiary device. Just in case. That done, he takes a moment to think over his... Choices? Options, plans?
 Whatever. I should check to see if there's a room for Isabela. And... possibly check in on Merrill's as well.  I should... I can.. take a ghoul, even... one with her face.

[GamesMaster]

There is no doorplate for Isabela; there is one for Merrill, and one for Aveline, in addition to himself and Varric. Merrill's door is unlocked, but Aveline's is locked. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran frowns, then takes a deep breath. Best to check... After gathering himself, Zevran unlocks, then cracks the door open to peer inside.

[GamesMaster]

The stench rolls out, overwhelming him: rotting food, rotting flesh. On the bed, a pile of.... flesh, awaits, quivering. It's human, or it was once: bones, skin, organs, hair, teeth, all lumped together in bizzarre, nonsensical ways, bleeding and quivering. Red hair. Lean muscles. 

Curled around it, cuddled up on the bed, is Merr-- the ghoul. It gnaws on part of the exposed flesh of the monstrosity, almost listlessly, as though well fed. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran carefully closes the door again. Then takes a deep breath. Then another. He locks the door, then goes back to 'his' room to grab a candle and firestarter.

[GamesMaster]

While he's in there, he hears footsteps in the hallway once more, then a voice: "This way." It's not one he recognizes. 

The faint groan, that he recognizes.

[Tethras Clan]

Fuck. He glances around, then quickly readies himself just out of sight of the door and waits, listens.

[GamesMaster]

"In with the others?" 

"No, fool. She'd be eaten alive. Here, put her in this one. Mistress will want a plaque." 

"Yes." 

The door next to Zevran's opens. It closes again a moment later. Footsteps back toward the stairs.

[Tethras Clan]

Multiple foes, unknown type. Best to wait until they leave, Zevran tells himself. Commands himself. Once they leave, he slips out into the hallway, then into the room he'd heard they open a second ago.

"ma'bela," he murmurs to warn the pirate it's him.

[Isabela]

She lifts her head from the cot, blinking, then lowers it again when she hears him. She looks... bad. Gaunt, weak -- it's clear lifting her head was an effort. Her eyes are haunted, her stare distant. But alive. She is alive. She came back to him. 

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran lets out a soft noise, a grow and whine both. "Oh Isabela," he says softly as he moves to her. "What's been done to you, my love?" Kneeling next to the bed, he reaches for her, then pauses to judge her reaction.

[Isabela]

She reaches to take his hand. "The usual. I'm so worn out," she tries to joke, but her smile falters. "Can we-- retire to your place, perhaps?"

[Tethras Clan]

"It-" Zevran cuts himself. Oh gods, she was- because she was helping you, she was- "Yes, I think this... outing has to put down as... scouting at this point. Do. do you think you can move?" I won't even both to ask if she can fight...

[Isabela]

"Of course. I am-- I am Isabela. I can do-- anything." She manages. 

True to her word, she manages to get herself to a standing position, stumbling her way across the small room.