Being greeted by the now familiar scent of sweat and urine was no surprise. Darktown really had its own charm. If it weren't for the blonde healer who spent countless hours here she was quite sure her visits would have been much less frequent. Maker that man would be the death of her with all his noble resisting.

It was no secret Hawke wanted more from the apostate she liked to think of as her own. Even Merrill had picked up on it and Siri swore she saw Varric at every turn, his hands clutching a piece of parchment just waiting for a good story. Hawke sighed heavily. Given their last mission and what had almost happened to that girl... She hadn't seen Anders for days and while he did hold her at arms length, more than two days without word was too much.

It was just to make sure he was alright. At least that's what she kept telling herself, it had nothing to do with the foreboding feeling she had been struggling with since Justice had reared his head and almost obliterated his own cause along with Anders himself. He had seemed so broken and her heart bled for him.

"Don't lie to me, boy, I've been in these sewers for days trying to find the healer. You were half dead this morning! Where's this apostate?"

"I don't know!"

Even as her heart turned to ice in her chest, Siri glanced towards the argument. A young boy, Daniel, was backed into a corner with a Templar looming above him. She recognized him as one of Anders urchins. He had a lung problem if she remembered correctly. 'Keep your wits about you Siri. One wrong move and you could make this situation far worse than it is.' With a deep breath she moved towards the pair.

"Daniel! I take it my tincture worked. Are you feeling well?" She put on her best smile and sauntered towards the child. He had seen her helping at the clinic and she prayed to the Maker that Daniel remembered her. The relief she saw in his eyes when they landed on her was palpable. "Of course, Lady Hawke. Thank you I feel much better."

Hawke turned her attention to the Templar. "Good evening. I do hope there isn't a problem. Has Daniel done something wrong?"

"Hawke? Didn't you move up to Hightown recently? I would think you wouldn't be down here again." Suspicion dripped from every syllable. It was no secret in Kirkwall that she was a friend to mages but thanks to their expedition into the Deep Roads her coin spoke volumes. Daniel, the smart child had removed himself from the corner and positioned himself behind Hawke.

She sighed dramatically, "No one wants to be here. However, just because I have gained wealth does not mean I have forgotten those who need my help. What kind of a person would I be to stand back and allow others to suffer just because they smell a little ripe?"

"Yeah, right. Have you seen the healer?" The clank of his armor as he shifted grated on her fraying nerves. 'By Andraste, I should have come sooner. Anders... I won't let them have you.'

Siri plastered a very innocent face. "What healer? My goodness I hope there's not a dangerous apostate on the loose. "

The glower the Templar bestowed her was less than gracious. With a grunt of disgust he turned away prowling, to Hawke's relief, in the opposite direction of Anders clinic.

Once the Templar was far out of sight she kneeled to Daniel's height and spoke in a hurried whisper. "Where is he? Where is Anders?"

"He's at his clinic. I was there right before the Templar found me."

"You did good child. Run home and do not look back." Siri patted the boy on the head and turned towards the clinic trying to seem as unhurried as possible. It would not do for her to be seen running to his aid. It would only give away his location.

Lamenting that she had left her faithful Thedas at her home. The mabari would have been a welcome companion right now, if just to have a warm being to reach out to. Her heart pounded in her chest as the clinic came into view. The lantern was lit. Her relief was quickly dashed though, the door was leaning to the left, the bottom hinge destroyed.

'No!'

Dropping all pretense she broke into a full run as noise from inside reached her ears.

"I don't care. He's not here now. Tell you what, we'll pay off one of those Fereldan squirts to let us know when he's back. Let's go. Ale and the Hanged Man are the only things on my list of things to do tonight."

"The Knight Commander wants this piss ant found. If we go back without actually searching the place she'll have our heads instead."

Kneeling by the doors Siri took stock of what she could see in the clinic. Her world stopped when she saw his staff. Anders never went anywhere without his staff. Sweet Andraste he was in the clinic. As her options presented themselves to her the situation looked desperate. If she announced her presence there would only be questions as to why she was there. She could easily take two Templars, but their disappearance would be noted, only bringing further scrutiny to her beloved. With determination she stayed silent listening to their search praying to gods she did not believe in that he would not be found.

"Wait, hold up. What's this?"

Her daggers were removed from their sheathes. She would not loose him. He may never love her but she would watch over her apostate. These Templars were going to die and she would happily bathe in their blood to keep him from tranquility.

"Get out of there, abomination! Kerry! He's here!"

She peaked through a hole in the wood. He looked worse than she had ever seen him. The dark circles under his eyes were darker and if it was possible he looked even thinner. Did the man never eat?! She tunneled her fear and frustration into her best talents. Sliding into the clinic silently, banishing the trembling in her hands. She would not let them take him. They already had him in irons, she could feel the heavy weight in the air. The Templars had sealed his magic.

"You can end me. Go ahead! This injustice will end, even if it is not by my hand. You will pay for our oppression!" His face was set. She only took a moment to appreciate the fire in his eyes and the determination he exuded. Her love for him only grew as she watched his defiance. The Templars lifted him roughly by the cuffs. "The circle is where you are headed apostate, if Meredith doesn't make you tranquil herself. You've been a dagger in her side for months."

She was close. Neither the Templars nor Anders had seen her. Siri had been many things in her life, a sister, a daughter, even a mercenary and she drew strength from the bloodlust that came with the last. Very rarely did she enjoy killing, however, these men, these Templars would die.

"NO! You will not take us!"

Bright blue light suffused the room as Justice made his appearance. She watched as Anders threw his entire body weight to the left, his magics pushing against the Templars. She delighted in the blue flames that enveloped the Templars hands.

They both yelled, releasing their charge, but as quickly as he surfaced Justice was pushed back down. "You'll pay for that!" One of them screamed slamming Anders in the face with his hand. A dark pleasure rose in the rogue as she lifted her left hand poised to end this Templar. A split second before she struck warm honeyed eyes met her own and the relief she saw there almost made her collapse. She would not let him be taken.

Blood spilled from the Templar, gushing from his throat to stain the shiny metal of his armor. She delighted in the stunted breath, the gurgle of air and blood mixing, watching the realization dawn on his face that his time had come to an end. With the natural grace she was born with she shifted her right hip, placing herself between Anders and the remaining Templar. Her knees protested her position but she ignored the grinding sensation and pushed upwards with her strong thighs her murderous smile only getting bigger when she felt her blades slide in beneath the Templars breastplate and the resistance of skin and bones as she ended him. They would not have him.

The Templar staggered and fell to his knees, she met his gaze as the life drained from his eyes. "Know this before you die. They will never find your body. You will be forgotten like the piece shit you are."

Only when the Templar no longer drew breath did she take a breath of her own. Her hands, so steady and sure five seconds ago trembled. Her daggers fell to the ground as she turned to Anders. "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?!"

A very tired laugh met her inquiry, "You have the best timing."

She rose to her feet quickly extinguishing the lantern and shoving the door closed. She had to make sure they would not be discovered again. Satisfied that she would at least have warning enough to deal with someone if they tried to come in she moved back to his side. "Let's get you out of these." It only took a moment to release his hands, the irons falling the the floor with a heavy clunk. She ignored the burn touching him caused her. Now was not the time.

"If you hadn't been here... Thank you." He rubbed his wrists and let out a shuddering breath.

His voice washed over her and she turned away as tears burned her eyes. She blinked rapidly trying to contain herself. He was safe. Thank the Maker. She was grateful for the darkness they were surrounded by, Anders pulled away from any emotion, her relief was too obvious. "I am here to help," she whispered. "We cannot stay here. The Templars will not be long. Has your magic returned?"

A small fireball granted light to their environment. Siri quickly turned her face from him, she was always terribly blotchy after she cried. He couldn't see it, it would reveal too much. "Burn them. There can be no evidence."

The smell of burning flesh was nothing new.