Darktown, nothing about it appealed to anyone. Dingy, dark, and the stench could choke a dragon. It reminded Hawke that there were worse places than Gamlen's. Most of the poor saps living here were Ferelden refugees or elves. Aveline, Carver, and Varric had accompanied her to find this Healer-Warden. Maybe he would be amiable. Hawke snorted to herself. Who was she kidding; so far nothing has gone smoothly? Carver shot her a look and rolled his eyes.
"Care to share," He asked with some sarcasm woven in that Hawke hadn't failed to miss?
"Nothing, I was just thinking how easy everything has been for us so far," she smirked and shrugged.
Carver just shook his head. Varric shrugged unconcerned he already figured out that she used humor to deflect. Aveline looked at her, but was content to ignore her comment.
After a few scuffles with the criminal element that had taken hold here they found their way to the clinic. Hawke stood staring at the large doors. She could feel his magic already. Cool tendrils of soothing, soft, and healing. She allowed herself to delve more deeply into the sense of his magic she felt the spirit that helped him heal pure idealistic compassion radiated in waves of soothing comfort. Then she felt a righteous sense of justice, a simmering rage, a desperate need to right wrongs. Hawke recoiled from the unexpected feelings that she could feel from beyond the door. Quickly she sorted though the feelings from the people beyond the door.
"The Healer-Warden is complicated," her interest was piqued.
She inhaled bracing for what could come and pushed the door open. Her eyes were drawn to the tall mage with the strawberry blond hair and the blue healing energy that oozed off of him. She watched him intently feeling his magic all around her. She was vaguely aware of the boy being healed and the parents anxiously waiting. The boy sat up and the parents looked so relieved and grateful. The father patted the Healer on the shoulder in thanks as they left. Hawke's eyes hadn't moved still fixated on the healer. He slumped slightly in exhaustion and then suddenly turned to face them taking a defensive posture.
"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation! Why do you threaten it," The healer's voice had a duel tone and threatened as he asked?
She gestured for the others to back off. Aveline and Varric obeyed without question backing off to the door. Carver just moved closer and crossed his arms across his chest. Hawke sighed inwardly at her brother's stubbornness. She quickly glanced around the room making sure they were alone.
"I have no desire to harm a spirit healer," She spoke in a reassuring tone with a soft smile on her lips. She could feel his eyes on her, scrutiny, caution, and fear radiated off of him although his face remained implacable.
She wore a cotton dark burgundy tunic with deep purple and bright green embroidered trim. Over the tunic she donned perfectly fitted black leather armor adorned with stitched leaves of the same purple and green, her fingerless gloves and thigh high boots matched the leather armor. He could see several knives attached to her boots and belt. Her form fitting trousers were purple, but between the tunic and the boots he couldn't see much of them. He could see two daggers strapped to her back, but all he could see was the handles.
"What is she playing at? She had brought two warriors and a dwarf with a very large crossbow and she wants me to relax. Not bloody likely," Anders thought to himself.
Two of them backed off to the door, but the boy seemed to refuse to back off he even stiffened his posture. They weren't templars, mercenaries, maybe? Her voice conveyed a practiced calm that meant to sooth. Then her eyes lit up with a bright green glow from the fade as dozen multicolored sparks danced around her like butterflies before they dissipated harmlessly into the air. The boy beside her stiffened even more if that was even possible. Anders couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"Not a rogue and not a circle mage," He reassured himself.
Her poise, focus, and control were well beyond most mages that he met. Anders knew that she meant to fully get his attention and she succeeded rather spectacularly.
"Tari," the boy admonished!
Her eyes never left the healer. She watched his reactions play across his face as understanding and then resignation took hold. His amber eyes lingered on her then drifted to Carver and back to her.
"Carver, back off," she waved him away her tone dismissive and warning at the same time!
"Come on Junior," Varric beckoned him to the door. Carver reluctantly obeyed. Varric ushered him out of the door. Aveline followed.
"Now, where were we," Hawke asked in a glib tone? "My name is Lenatari Hawke; my friends just call me Hawke. We came in search of a Grey Warden that might be able to help us with an expedition to the deep roads," her voice business like and straight forward as she broached the subject.
"Did the Wardens send you to bring me back? I'm not going those bastards made me get rid of my cat! Poor Ser-Pounce-a-lot, he hated the deep roads," he got agitated as he spoke.
Hawke smiled a crooked smile mirth crawled into her voice, "Wait, you had a cat named Ser-pounce-a-lot in the deep roads"?
"It was a gift, a noble beast, almost got ripped in half by a genlock once. He swatted the bugger on the nose, drew blood too. The blighted Wardens said he made me too soft. I had to give him to a friend in Amaranthine," The Healer explained.
"So you came to Kirkwall to escape the Wardens," Hawke asked?
"You say that like it's a small thing. Yes, I came here because there is no Warden outpost, no darkspawn, and a whole host of refugees to blend in with, and some reasons of my own," He explained.
"I always heard that joining the Wardens was for life," Hawke stated.
"That's only partly true. The hopelessly tainted by the darkspawn and plagued by nightmares of the archdemon parts don't go away, but it turns out if you hide well you don't have to wear the uniform or go to the parties," the Healer's response seemed more sarcastic than humorous.
Hawke schooled her expression, not sure what to make of the Healer. She watched the emotions play across his face as he thought about the deep roads. He crossed his arms across his chest.
"A favor for a favor, does that sound like a fair deal? You help me, I'll help you" the Healer suggested.
"Let's be more specific: I don't do anything involving children or animals," She smirked winking at him going for levity.
"I have a warden map of the depths in this area, but there is a price. I came to Kirkwall to aid a friend, a mage, a prisoner in the wretched gallows. The Templars learned of my plans to free him help me bring him safely past them and you shall have your maps," the Healer offered.
He remained serious in spite of her attempt at humor. The dour subject seemed to preclude wit she almost felt bad for trying.
"Do you think the Templars suspect anything," Hawke asked with some concern? "I don't really know. I have been exchanging notes with Karl through a maidservant in the gallows. Then the letters stopped coming," He spoke softly.
"He is your friend, how do you wish to proceed," Hawke asked with a sympathetic tone?
"I sent Karl a message to meet me in the Chantry tonight. Maker willing he'll be there, alone, but if there are templars with him I swear I'll free him from them whatever the cost," the Healer had passion in his voice with this declaration.
"Of course, I can't imagine having my freedom taken, I would help any mage be free," she said reassuringly. Inwardly she cringed at the idea of being locked up just because of her magic. The wrongness of it ate at her.
"Thank you, I will meet you outside of the Chantry tonight," the Healer said with hope in his voice. He looked her over again. The intensity of her piercing green eyes, her pale skin, short white wisps of hair framed her face, and she was petite. He towered over her. He extended his senses and felt no magic from her yet again. He found it unnerving to say the least.
She stared at him and grabbed his hand kissing the back of it as if she were a charming prince. "Ser mage, would you do me the pleasure of giving me a name which I can call you? Lest I should take to calling you 'Sexy Healer'," her green eyes lit with mischief as she charmed him.
His face reddened; she had caught him off guard. For a brief moment he remembered who he used to be and a smile slid over his face as he bowed. "My Lady, excuse my rudeness, my name is Anders," his tone much lighter and more playful this time.
Justice grumbled inside his head, "I do not understand the need for this type of interaction".
Anders sighed and all of the mirth left him as well as the butterflies in his stomach at his attraction to her. The smile disappeared as his demeanor stiffened. Justice's admonishment had struck a chord. He wasn't that man anymore, never again, lost forever to Justice and the cause that drove them both.
"I'll see you tonight," Hawke's voice distracted as her head cocked slightly to the side. She looked him up and down appraising something silently before she turned and left. "
Anders, she can sense us. She is dangerous. I don't like this woman," Justice warned.
"Don't be ridiculous," Anders reproached.
"She is more powerful than she lets on and I know she saw me," Justice complained.
Justice replayed the exchange for Anders as he had seen it. He could clearly see her connection to the fade. Then when she used her magic to make the butterfly like sparks, she lit up. The most beautiful white and green aura surrounded her, it almost blinded him.
Anders impetuously blurted, "That has to be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen".
"I don't trust her. She hides her magic and herself," Justice never did pull punches.
"Justice we fight for mages; apostates hide because they can't be free. She has agreed to help with Karl. I see a potential ally," Anders reassured the spirit.
"You find her attractive. That is dangerous," Justice admonished.
Anders let out a long sigh and stared at the door as she left.