WARNING: If you have not finished Dragon Age 2, then please don't read the prologue as it contains a huge spoiler. If you have beaten the game or don't care, then go right ahead and read, otherwise continue to Chapter 1: Uprooted. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy. Bioware owns everything Dragon Age.
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Prologue
It was a dream, that was the only explanation. She couldn't understand why he had done it, why he had lied to her, but the evidence was clear. It was right in front of her face.
The blast had shook the entire city, even making it all the way to Lowtown where they stood, the argument from before completely forgotten as everyone stared at the dusty sky. The beam of light had come from high in the city, right where the chantry had stood, right where there was now nothing but rubble and carnage.
Jordan looked over at him, at the man she thought she loved. He had done it, set the chantry to explode and he had used her to do it. "Anders..." she said in a shaky voice. "What have you done?"
"I did what needed to be done," he said. His eyes seemed to be unable to look into hers. He stared at her mouth perhaps, before focusing them on the ground.
Jordan still couldn't believe it. How did things end up this way? Had he really just used her? Was there ever a time he loved her?
"Maker no! This isn't happening!" Sebastian fell to his knees beside her as he stared up at the dust cloud. "Elthina, why didn't you listen to me? Why did she not leave?" He stood and turned a murderous gaze to Anders. "You! This is all your doing!"
"It is, and it was something that needed to be done." He was sitting down now, his back to Jordan, to everyone. He rocked back and forth slightly, not wanting to see when it was coming.
Jordan slowly went to him. "Anders, why? Was it the will of Justice?"
"I'm sorry, Jordan," he said still not looking at her. "I warned you I'd break your heart. I tried to warn you, but neither of us would listen."
There was sincerity in his voice, perhaps even tears. Jordan wanted to run to him, to hold him and tell him everything was going to be all right. But she couldn't, not with what he had just done. He had betrayed her, lied to her. He had just started a war.
"You need to kill him!" Sebastian yelled. "He needs to die for what he did!"
"Wait... no," Jordan said putting herself in between Anders and Sebastian. "Why do you say that?"
"He just killed the grand cleric, along with a whole lot of other people. Why are you defending him? He's a murderer and needs to be put down!"
Jordan had never seen Sebastian like this. He was usually very mild-mannered, chivalrous and gentle, always preaching about peace and giving yourself to the Maker. It was an act that eventually got tiresome, but Jordan's usual humorous mood kept people from wanting to shut him up for good. Now she couldn't even think of a single thing to lighten the mood. It was so dark, so horrifying that it scared even her.
"And you think you have the right to do this?" she asked him. Sebastian eyed her suspiciously, soon understanding what she was getting at.
"Maybe it isn't," he said taking a step back from her. "But if you don't do it, then I will. And I won't hesitate."
Jordan nodded and turned back to Anders. He was still sitting, still rocking, and still kept his back to her. Despite his fidgety stance, she thought he looked calm, almost as if he had prepared himself for this. Like he had prepared himself to die by her hands. She slowly walked over to him and he stirred, feeling her presence.
"Please," he said in a small voice. "Please Jordan, when you do it, put it through my heart. I'm so sorry for everything, and I just want to know what it feels like. I just want to know what it feels like to have the person you love rip your heart out." Anders lowered his head and Jordan didn't have to see his face to know it was streaked with tears.
She didn't want to do it, but there was no other choice. He had just murdered in cold blood, just started a war, and all in the name of Justice. She wasn't exactly sure she could see any type of justice in this, but there was no taking it back now. The damage had already been done.
"Hawke!" Sebastian yelled. "You can't hesitate."
"Right," she said quietly. Slowly she took out Edge. She stared at it as the blade gleamed in her hand. She placed her other hand on Anders's shoulder, squeezing it. He flinched only slightly. Taking the point, she placed it over the area she knew where his heart was and pulled back, preparing to drive it forward.