The snow falling down was cold, but not nearly as cold as the mage's neck was starting to feel. In fact his entire body had been numb since the moment the Templars had pushed their captive down to his knees. He was a fugitive, on the run and heading for Tevinter. He had almost crossed through Wildervale, and finally had reached the city Tatervale within the Free Marches.
The mage had never thought he would ever cross into another "March" again due to his history, but fate had a funny sense of humor. So, if this had been fate, was this supposed to have been his true destiny? Tied down, staring at the woman who escaped with him as she was being pushed down against a tree stump.
The Starkhaven's Templars were not taking chances with any mage they came across this time. This time, Prince Sebastian was angered and he took every insult Anders had done in the past as a personal threat. Every mage was to pay the price for Anders's declaration of war, and the Templars were going to force him to see it before they would cut off his head in the process.
"No, you can't! You don't know what you're doing!" He started to call towards the executioner; to warn him. He tried to struggle against his restraints, but fear literally left his body stiff. He could hear the woman crying and pleading for her life, like so many others he had witnessed before.
The moment the templar raised his axe high into the air, Anders started to stand again. He made a charge towards the man but two other templars had been prepared to hold him back. Down came the axe; the loud thudding sound of the blade striking against the wood, and of course the sickening squishing sound of flesh being cut into. The woman's head rolled off the chopping block and remained planted face down into the snow. Anders's heart sank and he looked away, staring down towards the red stained blood that quickly began to mix into the snow.
"You're up next, mage." The executioner spoke his victim's title as if it were a curse and kicked the woman's body away.
Anders's body had started to glow. He couldn't control the spirit awakening inside of him, and by now he didn't want to control him. He lost a valuable ally, a friend in his struggle, and Justice was not pleased by what he saw.
"Quick! Before he goes berserk again!" The templar to his right shouted and started to drag the mage by his arm.
A white and light blue aura twisted and turned around him as Anders skin started to crack and break out into cracks of more light. He moved his arm back and snarled, ripping himself away from the templar's grasp. The rope was sanctified with a protective barrier to keep him from using magic; which left Justice to fight more like a barbarian, pushing and biting his opponents in order to get free.
"How dare you! You're the stain on this earth!" His voice echoed in a deeper, multi-toned resonance while managing to kick the Templar to his left away. "You'll die for your crimes! You'll all die!"
After the destruction of the Chantry in Kirkwall everything, as well as everyone was in chaos. This obviously brought the remaining chantry sisters together, well what was left. Leliana being one of them. She was thankful to not be in Kirkwall at that time Anders had done what he did. Though her heart was torn, as many she cared for were either killed or affected by this tragedy. But being as Leliana was, she could hold no grudge, especially with her kind of past. She had questions sure. But to be furious as everyone around her was, well there was no point since what happened there was nothing they prevent. So all they could do was move forward.
As she laid upon her cot her emerald hues fixated upon the lining of her tent. Her arms hovering above her head, as she rested her hands underneath her cranium. She was once again in her chantry robes. How she dreaded these things. But it was must be done, at least for the mean time. Averting her hues, Leliana bent forward looking past her feet and out her tent. The voices of shouting filled her ears. She recognized a few voices. Templar's? She thought to herself. Swinging her legs over, Leliana stood up and made her way out to the commotion outside.
As she had made her way over Leliana had been too late, she walked right into the aftermath of the Mage be-heading. Leliana looked the females head as it rolled, the blood seeping into the ground, and the lifeless body which laid there. Her brows furrowed in anger, a hand placed on her hip as she then pointed to the once woman. "What is this!?" She demanded with not a question in her tone really.
A Templar stepped forward as if to answer her, but as he did so Leliana cut him off guard realizing the male Mage was enraged. With widening hues, Leliana looked to the Templar's in disbelief shaking her cranium. As she began to step towards Anders. A concerned hand was placed on the sisters shoulder as if to stop her. Leliana looked back, a smile of reassuring came to her lips. She obviously didn't have to say a word as the Templar let go and let her go forward and do whatever she was planning.
Leliana stopped maybe mere feet away from Anders looking into his shining aura of blue hues. Turning around Leliana would jester the Templar's to leave.
"But!" Spoke one Templar.
"Go!" She commanded. "I've fought alongside the wardens do you not think I can handle myself with this?" Some Templar's glared at her words but some otherwise left. The one before spoke some few words before leaving. "Don't let him get the best of you or away. We're not finished with him."
Leliana rolled her eyes, turning her attention to Anders once more. She looked over his glowed figure before contemplating what to say. "The Templar's are gone now..." She paused looking over her shoulder. "You don't have to worry, all I want is answers. Please don't hurt anyone else."
He stood hunched from his position in the snow. The blood trailed down towards his boots but it was uncertain if it belonged to himself, to the woman he was escaping with, or to one of the Templars he had been fighting off. He hadn't really noticed the redheaded woman until acknowledging that she was the only last person standing. Justice was still seeing red for more blood in his eyes, and that reflection remained a light blue and lightening coursing in his hues. However what remained holding him back were the restraints; the ties that kept from using magic; otherwise he would have already coursed fire between his fingers.
"Answers?" He questioned in a rage of a mixed disbelief of what was requested of him and of what seemed to have been expected for him to give. His voice echoed with the fit of rage at everything around him: for not understanding, and for withholding compassion where it should have been given from the start. "The time for answers is over! Justice demands the debt to be paid in full. Blood for blood!"
Justice spoke true to his virtue, but the rage from it was obviously turned sour. While the fine line between of what 'Justice' and 'Vengeance' remained stretched mighty thin, Justice's impatience to take action was far too great to contemplate over it. There was another mage dead and at the hands of Starkhaven Templars and for that, he swore to have their heads.
But the man was struggling violently to break free from his binds. The frustration was obviously clear as he trampled around the snow field, tugging from one arm to the other in his attempts to break the sacred rope. In that heat of the moment, he was still the wild and raging animal. It wouldn't have been any surprise to have even find him foaming from the mouth, but the only feature that seemed permanently fixed on his expression was the distraught sneer from his lips.
He turned against one of the trunks of a large pine tree after tripping over the dead woman's ankles. His head hit the wood and from there, an exasperated breath was forced out of him. Calming himself, and taking in steady breaths, the man tried to think. The more logical resolve he seemed to take in the less rage he seemed to have exercised out in return. It was a process that lasted for only a few short minutes but to him it seemed like forever.
Closing his eyes and rubbing his bound hands up and down against the trunk displayed his recent idea of breaking free. The cracks of white and light blue on his skin healed and returned to normal and after the moment of finding that his attempts seemed slightly in vain, the man opened his calm hazel eyes once more. He looked around the area, almost as if it was for the first time. His head then looked over towards the woman who was still standing, and his fractioned attempts to break the ropes slowed down to a stop.
"You… The one from the Divine… I remember you." He started to say as if waking up from a dream, but the dream was more of a nightmare in his saddened tone. Anders looked away, staring back down towards the snow in his moment of self-contemplation. "Who was it that sent you to find me? The Divine? The Starkhaven Prince? Or perhaps… 'she' …had sent for you."
Leliana's eyes fell down looking to the blood splatter, once untainted pure white snow was soaked in blood. This made her cringe, not in fright or disgust but of disappointment. If only she were here sooner. Her emerald hues then shifted up to Anders locking them onto his glowed ones which were actually memorizing for the most part. Demon or not. Or whatever Anders were to call it. She stood her ground, not budging an inch as he repeated her words... Answers. She nodded her head in response, a few stray strands falling in her vision as she did. "Yes." Was all she spoke.
She watched as he trailed away from her, she slowly and cautiously followed behind the Mage. The chains, they reminded her so much of when her and the Warden's had found Sten caged up. Left to die. Is that really what the world was coming to?
It wasn't until Anders fall almost brought her closer to his side, but she stopped herself from doing so. Not wanting to risk her life as Justice was out, even if his powers were substantiated. It wasn't until the marking on his skin diminished. Once she thought it was safe enough to step forward that she did, and kneeling beside him. Her hand reached out reassuringly, as she would rest it upon his shoulder. She felt a small urge to free him, but knew if she were too the Templar's would do worse to her than she could probably think.
Standing to her feet once more, she looked down on Anders nodding her head in a short reply to him. "I am Leliana, Sister of the chantry... And once known companion of the Warden." As she was asked who sent her, all she could do was shake her head in an unknowing way, while turning her back to the Mage. "Probably all of them combined. Everyone wants to get their hands on you after all... But the question is what are you going to do now... Now that your captured?" She asked looking back to Anders arching a brow curiously, her arms folding over her petite frame.
"Yes… Leliana was the name… or Sister Nightingale, from what I heard." Anders responded towards her introduction briefly and squinted his eyes momentarily shut.
He listened to her for the moment; uncertain as to what her answer had meant. Anders did know, at least, that Leliana was a special individual among only a few known factions to him. He knew already that she was a servant to the Divine (…the White Spire of which he grew to detest…) but only until just recently had he acknowledged of her traveling with the Wardens. Clearly, she was not one to glance over lightly.
Her words struck him, leaving the obvious impression that Leliana certainly was not going to release him no more than she was prepared to take his life.
"I'm going to do what I do best." Anders sighed with a half-jest but his eyes remained towards the ground. "If you're here to kill me, it would be wise to get it over with… I would rather have my life taken by the Chantry itself rather than the templar dogs that it sends after me."
"I guess I gained myself a title." Maybe it would just be easier to end his life now? After all once she was finished with him, the Templar's would obviously have their way. And they both clearly knew how the Templar's worked. Letting out a frustrated sigh through slightly pursed lips. She looked to his bindings, then to a sword, that once was a Templar's... Most likely. Her pace picked up once more as she trailed in the direction of the sword, leaning over, grabbing the hilt. The blood was still warm that stained the sword. She shook the thought from her mind, as she brought herself back to Anders and his side.
What was she going to do? Really end his life just so he didn't have to suffer or was it for other reasoning for what he did. No... As she rose the sword a few feet from the back of his neck she stopped to ponder for a moment. In that moment it made her believe what was stopping her? It was then that she did what she unexpected even for herself. Cutting away at his restraints. Freeing him from the grip of these Templar's at least if for a moment. Her hues would drop down, as she would also release the sword from her hand. "I guess this is where you leave..." She stated pausing if for a moment. "But first you owe me an explanation of why you did it. I don't want to hear your Justice's form of explanation. I want yours as well."
Anders had hesitated. He didn't have to look towards Leliana to feel her approach him once more. She was most likely guarded, and Anders could sense the heavy lift of the blade. It was a foreign objecting swaying under her controlled motions; slicing through the air. There was a soreness growing even more-so against his back; reminding him of his last request from a former lover. Why he was breathing to this day, he did not truly know.
He felt the ropes around him being sliced away and quickly the mage looked back towards the woman to see if what was happening was true. The moment Anders had felt one of the ropes break away, he jerked his arms apart to snap away the rest from their damnable knots. All he needed was just the one to have been loosened and within a matter of minutes, he was free: standing back to his feet and rubbing his sore wrists. How he hated the 'blessed bindings' the templars carried…
He had started to step to stay away, but Leliana's request had called to him. Turning back towards her, Anders pointed down towards the dead and headless mage a few paces away from them.
"Is this not reason enough?" He asked, in bewilderment and despair. Turning towards the dead, his hand opened up, calling for the spell of 'rock armor' if for anything else other than to cover his deceased comrade over and into a shallow grave.
"No…" He grumbled bitterly. "It never is; not unless you're one of us would you be able to understand. Even then there are those who deny our plight still."
"She's released the mage!" One of the Starkhaven shouted and reached his bow and arrow.
Anders looked up in time to have seen a slew of the ammunition sailing his way. He turned slightly, raising his hand to set the arrows on fire, but he didn't keep his control when doing so—nor had he felt the need to. When the warm ashes splashed against his face, all his flickering eyes could see past that was the cluster of templars lit up in a blazing heap. Their tortured cries of agony went unheeded aside from slight glare Anders had adorned their corpses in return. This was no small victory yet; not even for him. There would have been more soon; there was always more.
"I don't have much time…. And I don't know if you'd even accept my thank you in return, but for now either you come with me or the ones lurking behind will take you down too." Anders started to speak to Leliana before stepping towards the blade that she had dropped. It wasn't a staff, but it was at least something for now. He motioned for her to have followed him if she wanted, but Anders was making a mad dash away from the scene.
Leliana began scratching at the nape of her scalp as her hues traveled down onto his fellow Mage. Before looking up to the dark skies above. She could have expected those words to come out of him. But maybe she was hoping of more of an explanation than that. She watched as the female was put to rest, in her mind she rehearsed a chant. Not wanting to offend Anders more than he had already been this night.
But when the words of one of the men's filled her ears, she couldn't hesitate but to look back at them. "But!" She countered as she hoped to get her words out and heard. "Two wrongs do not make a right, killing him will do nothing. And I know that's exactly what you Templar's were planning to do." Her words harsh but true. The Templar's obviously weren't listening as she saw the arrows plumping towards them. Unarmored she closed her eyes shut so tightly, as it was her only defense. It wasn't until she felt the warmth of the ashes hit against her cheeks that she reopened her hues. Looking back to Anders, she gave a sheepish half smile. Thankful he was there to save them both, at least that was until she heard the Templar's screams not even seconds later. "What are you doing!?" She commanded. "Doing this too them will bring only more ruin."
As she stood there, she knew she would have to leave. If not with Anders than by herself and soon. As she debated what Anders said for a moment longer. She had no choice. "Ugh I can't believe I'm even considering this." She muttered, as she picked up her pace but before leaving the battle field she grasped onto a sword tucking it too her side before leaving her past comrade's behind her, if you would call them of such.
Once Leliana thought they were in the clear, she slowed down her pace. Her stroll beside Anders steady as she kept up with him as best as she could in this horrible dress. Silence was all that passed between them before Leliana finally decided to break it. "Thank you..." Her orbs glued to the soil which slowly shifted away to look from the corner of her eye and then to Anders. "Where too from here?"
"Don't mention it. Really..." He forced a smile towards Leliana's display of gratitude; since he hadn't been around others for a while. It left him feeling socially awkward. "There's a village up ahead… I plan to rest there and regain my footing a little, if I can."
Anders looked back up towards the sky, seeing that the snow was starting to fall again. He motioned with his hand silently to beckon the woman to follow soon after turning in one direction that he knew to have been a sure one. Since he didn't have much else of a choice than to return to Tantervale. It was a death sentence for him, but he couldn't just leave his current savior out in the cold. He could always try crossing the river and reaching The Silent Plains tomorrow.
At least the city was not as cold as the wilds were beyond its limits. The walk was maybe but a few stone-shots away. The Templars wanted to have their killing done as silent as possible, which was why they had been hunting more ravenous beyond the city limits rather than inside the very core. Safe or not, Anders was quick to ruffle the black feathers from around his cloak and raise them against his neck and chin. Not much protection—he looked like a blackened chicken preparing to nest; but at least most of his face was covered.
They went to a worn down tavern and inn that rested near the entrance of the city. Anders had paid little stalling in opening the door and keeping it opened moments later for Leliana to enter after him. Once inside, he was able to finally relax—at least for a little bit. The people there knew of him, but they didn't know of his past actions. In fact they knew him by a completely different name…
Then the thought struck him from the moment upon entering and quickly he had to whisper towards Leliana briefly—but he wasn't given the chance.
"What's that being pushed in from the cold?" One of the bar wenches asked, pressing her breasts up and over the counter while she, herself looked as if she would have fallen over. "Is that Lyle, come back again?"
"Lyle!" The barkeep hollered, in hardly as half of a pleasant tone as the drunken woman and pulled her back down beside him. He smoked an extra-large cigar, and plucked it from between his teeth before pointing it at him. "You owe me two sovereigns for the drinks!"
Anders could not have appeared more red at the callings. He waved some to them while wadding between the tables and chairs. The bar section of the building was warm. The hearth was a giant stoned tablet in center of the room, burning hot coals similar to a steam room. The only difference was that this was the center for cooking as well; so cooking racks and meat hooks were lined over it. There was a small group of bards at the far end, but they seemed to have been dressed more like a band of gypsies. Two were playing flutes and one was playing the drums for music.
Once he did get settled though, he finally answered to the man from the section of the bar. "Aw, come on, Pops. I thought I was your favorite guy out here…"
"You were my favorite when you were paying." The barkeep reminded him and sunk his cigar back in between his teeth before turning away to wipe one of the mugs on the counter.
The barwench was quick to slap the barkeep's muscled shoulder and twirled away to walk towards them. "Don't be giving Lyle a hard time! He's family. You keep that in mind… Now… What can I get you?"
"The usual for me and… whatever my friend's wanting—" Anders mentioned briskly to the chipper brunette before quickly leaning back in his chair to speak a little louder towards the barkeep. "I'll pay you back, Pops, I swear!"
The man heard him, but he waved it off and turned away as to show as if he hadn't. His attention was more towards taking the current orders who wanted to pay.
The cold chills radiating down the sister's spine from the winter's night made a quick shiver emit from her body. She as well looked up to the sky, watching as the snow fell down to the Earth's soil. Reaching out with her bare palm she let a few snowflakes land, which immediately melted on contact. Pulling her hand away, she would tuck it under her upper arm as well as the other even if she held her sword close to her side. She watched as Anders found shelter in his coat, and saw how he looked she couldn't help but chuckle quietly since she didn't want to madden him in the least.
Looking up finally, Leliana saw the sights of a small city. A smile grew on her lips as she picked up her pace and walked through the door he held open for her. Once the duo had stepped foot into the tavern she heard a voice. None familiar to her ears of course, at first she ignored the woman who stepped up calling Anders by a completely different name. Her eyes were on something else at that moment. It wasn't until the woman repeated herself and the man in the background accusing Anders of not paying past debts. That she would actually glance over. But she decided not to embarrass the poor man and actually went along with it. But by her facial expression which held a 'oh really' said different.
Leliana was memorized by the bards in the back. Her eyes almost glued to the group as she followed Anders to a table. Not paying much attention to his and some man's bickering, or friendly bickering at that. How she missed that though, being able to pick up an instrument. Or even dance whenever she pleased. Not much she did in the Chantry. Since that wasn't the way of the sisters. Them being sheltered and all. But maybe, maybe one day again she would be able to. Since it seemed she wasn't going to turn back anytime soon to the Chantry.
A sigh had passed through her lips, and her eyes averting. She looked back to Anders and then the barkeep woman. Whom she looked over in an automatic nature as she was asked what she would have. "Hm me?" She asked before looking around to the other patrons. "I guess I'll have an ale." She said shrugging her shoulders. "Might as well as I sinned already tonight." She added looking to Anders giving him a suspicious look that was also a kidding one at that.
Once it was the two of them... Again. Leliana's emerald hues would stare deep into Anders. Purposely of course, as she planted her elbows to the table and intertwined her fingers within one another while her chin rested on-top of her knuckles..."Now Lyle… Would you like to do some explaining?"
Anders watched as the bar wench had turned away with her given order and looked soon back towards Leliana. Her stare was branding into him, making the mage a little uncomfortable. Though in his retaliation, all he managed to do was shift out from his roosting position from being so far deep into his coat.
"If you insist…" He began and glanced around the room some and finally started to grin. "The 'Usual' is a mixed brandy of honey and cloves. They usually warm it here. Pops says the warmer it is, the quicker you're drunk!"
Reaching up to rub the back of his neck, he then started to glance away, "Aside from that… anything you've probably heard about me, I'll just save you the trouble and confirm most of it might be true—or might as well be. … …Except for the drinking rumors. Those are all lies."
When Leliana saw the look of him being uncomfortable, she did nothing but chuckle lightly. Resting her arms on the table as she rested her back against the chair. She listened as Anders explained this drink he had ordered. Arching a brow, she let out a sigh shaking her head in a left in right motion. Not exactly what she was asking but she would go along for the ride. "As long as you don't so drunk off your ass that I have to drag you somewhere to rest." She replied in a kidding tone. The least she wanted was to find a place to hide this Mage when he was drunk on-top of when the Templar's were out looking for them.
Looking up and past Anders she saw the barkeep coming back with their drinks. Placing them on their table, before retreating again. She waited to speak again until it were just the two of them. Her hands wrapping around her mug as she pulled it close to her lips taking a quick slip. "So why the name Lyle... Do you always use different names everywhere you go now?" She asked in a questionable tone while leaning into the table whispering for only their ears to hear. "And are you sure this is a good place to stay... Don't you think our friends will be looking for us soon?" She asked, putting a large emphasis on the word friends, clearly speaking of the Templar's.
"What? You don't think the name suits my handsome features?" He joked still. Though his eyes were still remaining a bit wary around the room.
Anders's eyes had made a side glance towards her when he listened to her speak even softer. While Leliana had mentioned of her warning about the next oncoming hunters, Anders was more wary over the other customers that were already there. In hindsight, it seemed the Nightingale to have had the impression that she was going to be forced to traveling with him from this point onward. It was hardly a situation the mage was prepared for; after all, he had recently lost someone for doing the same thing.
"The ones coming here would not know about what happened earlier." He replied gently, and a bit more serious. "As far as the man you saw in the woods concerns you, he's just a corpse. Now, I will be leaving here and then you are free of me. Is that understood?"
Leliana rolled her eyes at his joke. Even though she knew it was a joke she couldn't help but wave her finger at him. "Now don't be getting those thoughts in this head of mine. Just ask the Warden... I see a pretty flower and I might have to pluck it."
When Anders spoke of leaving on his own, she couldn't help but feel a bit angered, her expression showed this as her brows furrowed. Was he really going to leave her, after she freed him, after she put her life on the line to save his apostate ass? Shaking her head in a no response and slamming her drink to the wooden table, almost causing the flimsy thing to tumble over. "No..." She demanded with a short pause. "I'm going with you if you like it or not. You got me into this mess, now you're stuck with me... At least for now until we get to a safer place and then I deiced to leave... And don't think about leaving when I'm sleeping. I will find you, and you'll wish I hadn't."
The sound of Leliana slamming her mug down did startle a few who were around them. Anders remained a bit stiff; if not shocked from seeing how stubborn she was. He brought her here just for that sense of security; not that he really needed to. He shouldn't have had to!
"Are you fraternizing with a Chantry Sister, Lyle?" The barwench called teasingly.
Feeling a little trapped, Anders smiled up at her upon standing and soon reached for Leliana's shoulder; in order to help her stand up to her feet as well. "Ah, if only dreams could weaver as so…"
He hadn't explained much though. The mage just took Leliana with him down the hall of the tavern and soon up the stairs. If this Chantry Sister was going to be insistent on having a private discussion, Anders would have had no choice but to give it. He had little patience and little resolve as it was. Upon opening the door, he knew to have been his acclaimed room when he stayed at the tavern, he guided Leliana into the room, turned around and locked the door. Afterwards, he marched towards the window and checked to make certain that his escape route was still clear. When all of this had been checked, Anders finally could relax and give her the 'audience' that Leliana seemed to request.
"…Are you crazy?" He asked her when looking back to where he had left her standing. He then thought for a moment and started to correct himself briefly. "It is alright here; we can speak plainly in this room, for the most part."
Turning some to lean back against the wall near the window, Anders studied her and rubbed the five o'clock shadow along his chin. He could escape her if he really wanted to. He could have her frozen in place, in this room, and then vanish. There'd be no way she could track him down after a certain amount of time had passed, and Anders was confident in that thought—even if she was a person of a stronger significance than to what she made herself appear to be.
"I back-tracked my steps on purpose so that you could separate yourself from me without any problem." He finally explained while the thoughts still rummaged through his head. "…What do you want from me?"
Leliana looked around herself, the other patrons looking at her, and her actions. Slumping her head she closed her eyes for a second only to pop them open when she heard the barkeeps words. She raised her hands shaking them left to right frantically like a child. But as she was doing so felt Anders grasp on her shoulder. She could have retaliated against him, which sounded like a good plan but considering what they had just went through and were trying to avoid she went along with is lead.
As they entered the room, Leliana watched as he locked the door. Thinking the worse, she averted her eyes and took a large gulp of her ale as she made her way to some kind of chair that was in that room and sat down while she listened to Anders... Er... Fit.
"I think you're the crazy one." She started, mumbling through her cup. Hoping he really didn't hear that comment. But she said it so there was no taking it back. "You are a Mage after all, so you must be crazy." She joked, sliding her cup away from her grasp and onto a nearby table. When he said he back tracked for her, a curious look would plaster over her features... Now she was confused... Why would he do that? She shook her head as she stood up and made her way over to Anders, standing in front of him. Her arm extended out, her index finger erect as she poked him on the chest. "I want to go because..." She paused. "Because I'm tired of being left. You have to admit it might be fun. Plus you could use my help, and you know it."
Anders's eyes had briefly narrowed at her explanation. Of course, reaching up to fold his arms, the mage tilted his head and was quick to snipe back. "If you were to swear off your alliance to the Chantry, I suppose so. The real question is, why would I want your aid, Miss Nightingale, Messenger of the very Divine to the White Spire?"
Then the mage's eyes flashed some as he tilted his chin up and continued. "That's right, Hawke, told me about your little meeting. Besides, you should have nothing but hate for me… Or has the Chantry in Kirkwall been something even Justina VI could overlook?"
Leliana twiddled her fingers for a moment drawing back from Anders she thought on what he said. Would she swear off an alliance with the chantry? Yes, maybe in the meantime. She had left before to help many years ago with the warden so how did this make it different. Okay, sure he killed hundreds of people, but still she was going to find a way to make this better. Even if it meant befriending Anders. Who she knew wasn't as bad as others made him seem. Or so she tried to tell herself.
"Don't you think, if I go with you I can't help? Maybe if we go together I can make others understand. Make it so people won't hunt you... Or at least as badly." Scratching her head she thought of the name spoken Hawke... Hawke... Hawke... She repeated in her mind. "Ah yes, the champion... I met with her once, yes. As for overlooking your deeds. That will take time, and healing. Lots of it. This is why you need me. To help heal those wounds. Even Mages like yourself can't fix every wound."
Was she actually contemplating the idea of swearing off her servitude and beliefs? It was truly puzzling to him, if even for a brief instant. Then his thoughts recollected some after listening to Leliana's bargaining. There was no way Anders was going to allow himself to go down the same road with another person again. He closed his eyes; seeming as if he had practically given up when it was far from the truth.
"You can't be serious… There is not enough time in the world to heal my sin." He started to say and then stepped from her to walk towards the chair to sit down. "There is no one in Ferelden who can even justify my cause. I only regret of what innocent lives that have been taken within the wake of it."
He paused some, staring down at the floor, wondering why he had even explained that much to her. Perhaps, Anders had just been so tired from running or finally coming to moment of peace to mourn over the loss of his previous friend. That should have been enough reason for Anders to have insisted on Leliana not to follow him, but he wouldn't argue over the issue much further. It wouldn't get him anywhere.
Leliana followed Anders as he made his way to a chair stopping just a few feet away. She could see the confusion on him. She wasn't making much sense to herself either. But she knew if she went back now to either the sisters they'd hand her over to the Templar's and if she went to the Templar's she would be worst than the Dark Spawn.
"Well I'm serious." She started. "There maybe one person that can help us. Clear both our names… Maybe…" She hated to go to him, for just clearing their names. What if she were wrong and he handed them over… Shifting her body weight, she began to turn away from Anders as she didn't really want to face him if he didn't seem to fond of this idea either."Alistair can possibly help us?"
Leliana knew he felt bad deep down inside for killing those innocents as he said, this was one reason she was so determined to help him. She wasn't going to give up lightly either. She just needed to show him this… Somehow. Turning around once more, she began to kneel to the ground as she tried to look into his eyes as they gazed to the ground. "You need to let someone help you. Let me be that person?" She pleaded, instead of asking or demanding this time she was being thoughtful with her actions, her hand reached up and rested on his as she waited for his reply.
He remained silent for the moment. Anders wasn't certain how Alistair could help his situation though. The last time he had seen the man, he received quite a verbal slap from Meredith a few years back. The man practically turned one sarcastic cheek to it, since problems with the Empress Selene did need to come first in Ferelden's matters. It was nothing Anders held against the man either; mainly because he didn't really even know the man all that well. He knew he was a Grey Warden, and that was about it.
"I'm not sure if getting help from even a fellow Grey Warden would do much. For you, absolutely…but not me." He looked at her hand some before lifting his head back up towards her. "If you want to really help me, then stay by my side and trust in what I am going to do… In the near future, that is… Don't ask me of what it is or where we will be going. You'll know of the place when we are there."
But Alistair was king his word meant more than... Well almost anyones. Keyword, anyones. Letting out a sigh, she would roll her eyes knowing he was right... Again. What was it with men being right practically all the time? Still there had to be something she could do. She hated fighting and war, if there was a way to avoid it she would find it. Eventually. "Don't worry Anders I will keep you safe until we find a way to get you out of this mess." She said, a smile forming on her lips. "After all Alistair is so far away, I bet we'll get caught if we try and see him."
When their eyes met a curious nature came over her, as her head shifted to the right. Now he was going to take her? The ball of worryness that she held inside dissipated as it was filled with joy, and excitement. She couldn't help herself any longer and lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug that was most unexpectedly expected "So I can go with you?" She asked reassuring just in case of her ears were playing tricks on her. "But don't worry I'll try not to ask too many questions, I am a woman after all, and we ask questions without knowing at times." She added with a nod of her head, with a smile that was shinning from ear to ear.
Anders wanted to believe in Leliana's words. To him, they would have been the words of hope, but nothing in his actions later would have given the impression of such, and he knew it. The mage's thoughts were startled a bit from the abrupt hug which had caused Anders to blush a little. Physical Contact. It had been something Anders had done his best to avoid for a long time now. Recovering from it felt almost like stepping out of a steaming hotspring with the vapors remaining fresh to his face. A small smile was forced from him and reached up to return what small of a gesture that he could before easing happy Leliana back down a notch. His hands smoothed over the shoulders of her Chantry robes and he gave her arms a light comforting pat before easing back into his position once more.
"I'll keep that mind." He affirmed while taking his eyes from her visual affiliation to the White Spire. "…The first thing that we should do, is grab a few pieces of Tess's clothing for you. Perhaps even some armor; I'm assuming that you fight-only by your titles… But right now, sleep should be the most important thing."
Anders nodded some and looked towards the mattress. "Why don't you take the bed? I can keep watch for now… And don't worry. I'm not going anywhere from here without you, I will swear to it."
Once Leliana had noticed what she had done. Hugging him that was, she shifted back. Her palms pressing lightly against his chest as she pulled away. Looking to his features she saw the red tint overcoming him, a smile began to form upon her lips as she shifted her head to the side stepping back some more while her hands rested behind her. She stayed silent, figuring he already knew of blush and she didn't want to intensify it by any means. When Anders spoke of her resting, and him staying up to keep an eye out. This brought the idea she thought may have been the best bet, for now. If not now, then she could stay up later while he rested. She nodded in reply, looking to him once more as she swiftly made it to the empty bed. Once she pulled the covers back she reached up, almost as if to de-robe herself. But hesitated, her hands dropping to her sides once more, as she decided not to. She didn't want to frighten the Mage or have his head explode from even more blushing. Finally she rushed to lay down, covering herself practically to her chin and in looking up, she smiled once more before telling her good-nights. "I'll see you in the morning."
As the morning rays shinned through the windows panes and the birds began to sing their daily morning chant. A flutter of the red-headed eyes opened reveling her hazel hues, looking from left to right and then again. She lunged forward, hoping to see Anders still in his chair she last saw him. But to her surprise it was empty. Leliana jumped from her bed, and hurried out the door as she began to rush down hall and to the tavern's main area. She stopped as she met one of the barkeeps, her body leaning into the table as she asked curiously her eyes didn't make real contact with the other as she did so, as her mind was else where. "Have you seen Lyle?" The barkeep shook their head in no response to Leliana. Of course this angered the female, her hands clenching into small balls, as her head began to shake in disbelief. "Figures..." She paused. "Do you have any wares?" She added, figuring she might as well take Anders advice and get the right armor before she left. With or without him.
"Sure do." She replied pointing to a chest of items for sale, ranging from armor, to weapons and anything else that would be needed for battle. Once Leliana had found armor to her liking, she once again made her way up to the room. As she walked into the room, the sole of her foot pushed against the door as to close it. Immediately undressing from her Chantry clothing, Leliana would toss her old and no longer needed garments aside, as she began replacing it with more dependable amour, along with her new bought weapons and supplies.
Anders had been soaking in the public bath. The towel was wrapped around his waist, and resting on a white large pummel stone was the rest of his belongings. The water was warm and the steam was heavy and thick around him. There were other people walking back and forth, but Anders found that it was easier to hide almost in plain sight; such as was the main reason to why he chose a small village and a change of his identity.
His head was tilted back and his eyes closed, seeming content at the moment, but his thoughts were anything of the sort. He couldn't believe of what he was thinking of doing; what he was accepting himself of doing. It wasn't just about taking Sister Nightingale along with him either; although that did play a huge part of his inner turmoil. Anders decided that maybe—hopefully—if he had stayed away from the hotel long enough, Leliana would have left without him. That would have been the better option than taking her along.
He had spent a decent amount of time in the tub; long enough to get clean but quick enough to avoid any voyeurs and suspicious people. Slipping his clothes back on, Anders reminded himself that he was going to have wash them at some point, but the cold weather here just made the attempts impossible without something just as properly warm to wear in return.
The mage left the bathhouse and shuddered from the cold; dragging along with him the large metal sword still. He didn't have a templar's sheath, and wasn't really preparing to arm himself with something any bloody templar would use unless it was a life or death situation anyway. Anders would be better off trading it in for coin. With that thought in mind, he headed back to the tavern to speak with Tess, the barwench.
The room had seemed empty upon coming in; of course since it was still in the early hours. Pops turned from behind his counter, and pointed an empty mug at him before drying it. "You missed your Lay Sister, Lyle."
"Did I, now?" Anders smiled, with a sign of relief and quickly pulled his sword back up to him in order to look at. "Oh well, no matter… I need to see if I can trade this in for some coins."
Pops scoffed some and reached for the handle, lifting it up some into the air, but only to test how level and heavy that it was. "I ought to just take this as payment for the drinks and rooms you owe me."
"Come on, now. You know I'll pay you back on those soon enough." Anders laughed and waved his hand some; wishing that Tess was around at the moment to sweet talk Pops for him. Anders was only good about that when it came to women.
Pops clicked his tongue some and flipped the sword over. "It's got a little silver in the handle, but the blade's pretty much steel…. And common. Did you swipe this off a guard or something?"
"N-No, of course not! A hunter found it in the woods and traded it for some squirrels I caught yesterday." Now, Anders had started to sweat a little; hoping that he didn't really look at the Templar Emblem of the handle yet. He sighed some and looked back towards the door. Certainly after this, he was going to leave. "…Look, take it as payment if you want, but can't get at least a little compensation or something smaller for myself?"
"For hunting, of course?" Pops started to ask while taking the blade and hiding it under his counter. When he returned back up, in his hand to give to the mage was a large steel curved dagger with a wooden handle.
"Yes, of course." Anders reassured him with a sigh and beamed instantly upon seeing what he had in trade. He accepted it quickly and tucked it near his belt of his feathered cloak. "Thanks, Pops. I owe you one."
"You always do." Pops huffed and turned back to drying his dishes.
Leliana sat in the room for a moment longer; she made herself comfy among the vanity in the room. Moving her head left to right, she looked at her reflection, as she then reached up tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Dropping her hands to the table, she would use as she planted them firmly to push herself up. She had no idea where to go from here. Maybe she would just brush up on her fighting skills, and help someone else since Anders obviously up and left her. As she trailed off to the end of the bed, she grasped onto a wooden bow, clasping it to her back before making her way out the door of the room and into the short corridor.
As she walked her eyes were almost glued to the floorboard, as she made her way through the people. In the bar side of the tavern she heard a voice that she recognized made her gaze up, ahead of her she saw Anders right away a slight rattled expression could be seen on her face. Reaching up, she raised her hands rubbing her eyes making sure her eyes weren't fooling her. After a moment passed and he was still there, a smile replaced the confusion on her face. Her stroll picked up until she stood behind Anders. She stayed silent for a moment, then as slyly as she could, she reached out tapping his shoulder. "I see you didn't leave me after all." She started a pause in her sentence as she brought her arm back to her side propping her hand to her hip as her hip shifted to one side. "I also see you don't smell nor look like a stray dog... You needed that bath." She teased lightly. "
"Ah-ah!" Anders beamed and held a finger quickly up into the air, and blindly held his other hand out towards Pops for the dagger's expectant sheath. "We've talked about this. It's surprise! You like surprises, don't you?"
"I knew it! You doing that role-playing thing again, weren't ya?" Pops quickly jabbed in and picked up his rag to wipe the counter down.
The sudden beamed expression Anders once had was quickly replaced now with a look of utter bewilderment and fear. "What? No! When have I ever given off that impressi—"
Pops turned his attention towards Leliana and started to take his bantering more directly to her. "If you think he looks good now, you should see how well he can clean up with a few Orlesian silks, a sharp razor and a comb."
"You're trying to make me freeze, aren't you?" Anders pouted back at Pops once the barkeeper finally handed him the sheath he was requesting. The mage idly started to tuck it into his pocket, while continuing his peppy chatter. "Maker. It's too bloody cold for any of that frilly stuff… and I don't want to turn into a Lyle-icicle."
"Mm! Lyle-icicle." Tess cooed, only hearing the after-math of Anders's discussion, when she came within ear-shot of the counter. "Now, that sounds yummy!"
She snaked her arm towards Anders, only to cause the mage to quickly squirm away from a possible grasp.
"Too early in the morning, Tess." Pops warned and bent over underneath the cabinet to pull up a large iron tea kettle. "He hasn't had his hang-over coffee."
"He only had one drink last night." Tess shrugged, more in surprise than anything else, and turned towards the counter to fill her current given orders. "Light-weight. I'm not even sure if he drank it all…"
"Yes, well… Thank you both for embarrassing me in front of my friend. Chances are, she'll be running for the hills the minute she walks out the door." Anders teased back at them both before turning away and motioning with his right hand for Leliana to follow him out.
"Oh you should of saw him last night." She added to Tess' words as she walked in further. Hearing her words of thinking he had only one drink and being a light weight. "Bundles of fun he and I had. If only it lasted a bit longer." She spoke, her eyes looking to Anders giving him a wink. Obviously she was trying to mess with him a bit. But she wasn't sure how Anders would take it. This never stopped her before though... Clearly.
Leliana's hues shot looking back and fourth between Anders and the old man. Following by a chuckle at his words of roleplaying. "Clearly there has to be much more than a few words to scare me away." She replied. Looking over, Leliana watched as Anders stood beginning to leave. And here she was just getting comfy too. "Leaving already?" She asked shrugging her shoulders, and she began to stand to her feet again. Making her way slowly behind Anders trail following him out the doorway. She halted in her pace at the doorway, looking back at the barkeep and Tess. Raising a hand in a short wave of farewell before walking out, and stepping foot in the open.
Once it was just the two of them again, and the door was closed behind the duo. A questionable look had smeared across her features as she began to cross her arms over her petite body. "I thought you left me." She spoke finally, breaking her silence. Her eyes averted away from Anders and too the city. She had no idea where to go from here. I guess they were pretty much on the run until either the Templar's gave up or they found a safe place for them both. "Well we should be off then?" She stated while raising her arms up, shrugging her shoulders, and shaking her head as she began to walk towards the exit of the city.
"To leave you, dear lady? Perish the thought. You're a ray of sunshine." Anders had beamed after hearing her statement. Although, his response was unclear if he truly had meant it or if he was only bantering back in return, he left the remark as it was for the time being.
His thoughts were still idly elsewhere; planning on retracing his steps towards the Minanter River. It was a grueling reminder to him that Starkhaven was bordering territory only east from where they were; which meant the woods would have been littered with Sebastian's precious guards. If he didn't have the guards out for them, it would have sooner been the Templars. Either way, Anders was screwed and his only hope would have been to keep heading north.
The area was quiet as the snow started to lightly fall again. Such solace was disrupted when the sound of a twig snapping was heard underfoot. Anders's smile had started to fade as he quickly turned around to see who it was following them. It was only a few split seconds later had he been able to hear the sounds of metal armor clinking together from the darkness. Templars, of course; the ones who had been tracking him down after the first platoon's demise…
"We have to move across the river. Quickly." He started to say, taking the Leliana's hand and moving forward fast.
The sprint was long, but Anders had been determined to pull Leliana and himself across this time. At least until they actually did reach the river. The water wasn't how he had pictured it. It was more ice than water, and the ice was thin. It was already cracking from the first two steps Anders had taken to get across previously. If only he had time to plan a safer way to cross, but he didn't. His only current goal at the time was getting across as safely as he and Leliana could. The two had to balance to keep from sliding on the surface, but sound of the ice cracking was closely behind them.
"Stop, apostate!" One of the templars shouted and started to chase after them, but the weight on the ice was too heavy, from where he stepped. It cracked underneath the templar, and down into the water he fell.
"Bloody Abomination!" The second templar started to curse and freed an arrow from his bow.
Anders hadn't looked back, but he did start to rush Leliana closer towards him. By doing so, his arm lifted at just the right angle to dodge a loose arrow. He spun slightly out of control from being startled, and in doing so slipped completely downward. The mage lost his balance and his left kneecap struck the ice even harder, causing the ice to crack nearly completely through from underneath himself and Leliana.
Walking through the snowy fields made Leliana to gaze up as small flakes fell on her face, she closed her eyes ignoring where the two were completely going. Stepping to her tippy toes, she gave a random twirl of her body, while her arms were extended out. What she wasn't expecting was Anders to grab her hand and pull her along. Causing her to let out a gasp of air. "H-Hey! A little warning next time?" She whined, as her gloved hand grasped around his as she tried to keep up with him as best she could.
"Where are we-" She started to ask, but was quickly cut off by an unknown voice behind them. Causing Leliana to glance over her shoulder seeing the men in amour chase after them. "Great." She muttered, picking up her pace no long dilly dallying around.
When they met the river, Leliana halted as fear consumed her body. He was crazy if he were to think if she, Leliana was going to cross such a path. Was he trying to kill them? But she didn't have the time to argue as Anders still had his grip upon her.
Once stepping on the semi-frozen ice, she felt her feet slide from under her. And she began to see herself drift away from Anders in a backwards motion. She began swaying her body as if to stop herself. The sound of the Templar falling through the ice made her jump back, and then the second man's voice caused her to look up. Before she could react he had already shot his arrow straight towards them. "Cra-" She whispered followed by a slight grunt as that same arrow grazed across her cheek. She reached up placing her bare fingers, and pulling her hand back to see blood. She paid little much attention to Anders nor the ice cracking from under them. As she swiftly pulled out a arrow along with her bow, shooting it back to the Templar in the distance. Making a perfect hit to his chest. Causing him to fall to the ground.
Reaching down, Leliana held out her hand towards Anders to grab this time. Out in the distance she heard others coming for them. There wasn't much time. "Hurry unless you want them to catch you." She spoke, shifting her feet away from the cracked area of the ice. Knowing this river wouldn't hold their weight long. It was either the river or the enemy that were going to take them if they didn't hurry.
Anders was in a mid-panic from when he had hit the water. He looked back up towards Leliana's voice and took her hand. Of course this had started in a race of getting back to the surface as well. He rolled along the ice once he was pulled up, aiming farther away from the quickly arising cracks and Leliana. Though while he was getting up, the templar who had firstly hit the river had climbed back up. The soldier had his bow and arrow ready and had set loose, pinning Leliana against her left breast.
"No!" The mage shouted as his skin started to flicker and crack briefly.
He shouted, from the corner of his eyes, seeing Leliana falling backwards. His hands opened up, aiming towards the man and a wave of elemental ice started to shoot from the palms. The cold temperature solidified the ice, making their current stance a bit thicker, but his magic hadn't ended from just there. The frost and ice quickly had spread up to the soldiers, the one fallen and the last one to have shot his arrow, covering them both. He was freezing them solid until his anger had started to calm down a bit.
With little time, Anders started to carefully crawl back towards Leliana. He started to stand up and lifted her into his arms. He turned quickly and made a quick dash across the river, where he stopped, only to turn momentarily and use his fire ability to melt the ice of the large river. Standing across the back, and still glowing with his spending energy, Anders looked around the area and tried to think of what would have been the best option next.
"Hold on!" His voice whispered, but it was multi-toned and clearly more openly aware by another consciousness.
"We got'em on the run now, men! Don't let him get away!" The templars from the woods started to chant to one another as they were closing inward. More arrows started to fly, and in response, the mage growled, lifting his hand from underneath Leliana to roast the next onslaught of ammunition.
A cave remained nearby, leaving a carved out opening. It was hollow and dark; something of the unknown. It was the only thing Anders could think of on the spur of the moment to use. So he turned towards it and guided Leliana with him. He turned around once they reached the entrance of the cave. He had to place Leliana down just in order to raise up his arms high enough and concentrate on the ground underneath him. The end result sealed the Lay Sister and himself within the cave.
From there, Anders was finally able to take a moment to catch his breath. His body continued to glow, reflecting light from his skin and bringing the sight Leliana more into his sight. He started to slide down towards Leliana in concern.
"Leliana? Leliana, can you hear me?" He started to ask and the light started to dim away; almost as if the other spirit had resumed its docile position and Anders remained back in control. He needed to keep her awake but he needed to keep her calm too. "I need you to stay with me."
The last thing she heard in that moment of stillness was Anders voice shouting. Then everything had went blank. If for a moment, but as she looked down to her chest. Everything began to go almost in slow motion as her body collided within the soildness of the ice ground. She saw she was hit, and bad. Almost like a skewered piece of meat. She knew if she were to move the wrong way the slightst she was probably going to hurt something even more so than what the damage was done at this moment. Her bow fell from her grasp. She tried desperately to reach up and touch to her wounded area but the reaction of Anders hesitated her. "Anders?" She spoke softly her hues overlooked his features seeing the once glowed figure she saw just the other day.
When she was then cradled in his arms, she began to immediately feel the pain radiating through her. She flinched her eyes shut, trying desperately to ignore the pain but also ignore as the Templars screams and bellows of pain as well, from Anders on slaughter. In a way she wanted him to stop, but in a whole other she wanted those asses to get what they deserved.
Once they entered the cave, and Leliana had found a suitable resting area. Proping her back to a rock. She would look to the entrance, then Anders and then lastly to her chest. She began reaching up, but stopped automatically as she felt herself begin to gasp for air. She looked to Anders who had begun to make his way over. She gave him a reassuring smile, shaking her head as she summoned up the strength to say. "You're not going to lose me so easily... I'm fine." She teased, her hand reaching out to his, as she patted over it with her bloodied glove of her own. "Don't worry I've been through worse. I'm just glad they didn't get you. Or better yet both of us." She admitted, her facial expression holding out to a smile which cracked showing her true pain which she failed to hide from him.
Taking a moment she reached over and into her pouch along her belt-line, pulling out a vile of some herb. In a shaken hand that she tried to steady for him, she would hand him this. "Here. I'm sure you've seen this before it's an herb. It will hopefully stop the pain for the meantime at least." She paused looking away. "Open it for me?"