I came to the realization writing this, that I have never written a decent fanfiction. I hope to change that with this. In fact, I have high hopes for this one. Let's see if I can live up to them.
Reviews and constructive criticism would be much welcome. c:
Kirkwall had never been Anders' home. He had never had a home. Everywhere was nothing but a temporary escape from the one place he never wanted to see again, yet was forced to so many times over. He had found comfort in the companionship of Hawke and her companions for a time, but like everything
good in his life it was fated to end.
It was his own fault, of course; he had no one else to blame. He could have made a home for himself there. It wouldn't have been hard. Not with the friends he had. Not with someone like Hawke.
From the very start though, he knew he couldn't do it. He was tempted, oh Maker, he was tempted. Justice simply would never let him rest.
Hawke had let him live after everything he had done. But Anders hadn't escaped Kirkwall before hearing an earful of his closest friend berate him. She'd told him she hated him. He'd blocked her out after a while, but her words had stung. Because they were true.
When she had asked her companions if they thought she should spare him… only Merrill had spoken up in his favor. In that moment Anders began to regret every word he had said to her. How could she be so concerned for him, after every nasty thing he had said to her? Maybe her kind nature had been sincere after all.
That's why he had fled to Ferelden. He hadn't even heard about Meredith and Orsino's deaths until he reached Highever. Word had spread fast about how Marian Hawke had championed the mages of Kirkwall and resisted the Templars.
And so Hawke had finished what Anders started. Temporarily, anyway.
Anders had started a war: not something quickly finished.
Ferelden was the obvious option. Anders had spent most of his life there, and King Alistair was known for offering safe refuge for apostates: something the chantry had not overlooked.
News of what had happened in Kirkwall had not yet reached Vigil's Keep when a soaking wet Anders showed up on the Warden Commander's doorstep, huddling under his robes to keep dry of the pouring rain.