The Silver Queen [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran whistles softly, glancing at Helene to double check the Zone is still up. "I see," he says quietly. "You're braver than I think you give yourself credit for."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I failed," she says quietly. "And then I failed to kill him when it mattered most. And then I was lost. I'm... I'm no hero, not anymore."

[Tethras Clan]

"There are many kinds of heros. Failing..." Zevran's voice cracks. "Failing doesn't erase the... the good done before. Or... or the good that can be done after." Hawke. Merrill. Aveline. Varric. Wynne. Gods. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Did you kill Tessa?" she asks, suddenly, shifting topics.

[Tethras Clan]

"Which one is Tessa?" Zevran asks.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"The one who attended to me personally. She slept in the chambers designated for my lady's maid."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran squints a little, trying to recall a face. "Did she used a spiked rod in combat?" At the way Coquette pales and nods tightly, he winces. "Ah. Sorry. Yes, she was one of the ones that attacked us in the cells underneath the manor. She got hit by the cannon fire, lost most of her legs, bleed out."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Good," she says, relaxing a little. "She had enough knowledge to rebuild his empire."

A pause. "What will you do with me?"

[Tethras Clan]

"Beyond what I already said?" He shrugs. "You are rescued, not a captive. When we arrive at Raplin's Oak, we will see to your recovery. If the healers say you are..." He gives her a slightly apologetic look, "sound of mind enough to care for yourself, then we shall give you the choice of joining the crew or being allowed to leave. Either there or along the path of our heading, with ten gold in mixed coin, two sets of clothing, basic gear and a list of names of people who might be able to help you get settled into your new home if we can offer such for where you disembark." He shrugs again. "Our standard 'welcome back to freedom' package as it were."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She chews her lower lip, warring with herself for a moment, then says, gently, "I'm no less dangerous than Tessa."

[Tethras Clan]

"And I am more- though not as dangerous as Helene," he adds with a smirk in the samsaran's direction. "Dangerous is not always a bad thing." He cocks his head to the side. "Do you plan to take slaves? Harvest the lives and wellbeing of the innocent or those weaker than you?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No. But that is not why Tessa was dangerous. Tessa was the key to Ozymandias' kingdom, not his Queen. With her, any enterprising Master could own a piece of Jalzaid's slave trade, but she was incapable of acting on her own."

[Tethras Clan]

"And you fear that if someone were to take you, they could too easily force you to... slip back into your role as the slave-wife of a monster," Zevran does not ask.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"My lord husband was short-sighted in many ways," she says quietly. "He saw only my... my cunt. He did not see my other skills. A smarter master could... it is unwise to let me go free."

[Tethras Clan]

Zevran snorts. "I was trained as both pleasure slave and assassin. On my own or on a leash, I am a very, very dangerous person. The danger I could be does not justify me being in chains. Nor does yours. If you fear freedom, then you are welcome to stay with us until you are ready to leave. Or not, should you choose to make this ship your home."