Title: Mystery Is The Basic Appeal
Author: miss_m_cricket
Fandom: Dragon Age 2
Pairing: Fenris/Anders (Fenders), Bethany Hawke/Sebastian Vael, Carver Hawke/Nathaniel Howe, Cullen/Merrill
Comm: dragonage_kink
Rating: M
Prompt: AU where Templars are more numerous and the Chantry rules the land with an iron fist. But the Templars, as powerful as they are, cannot tell whether a man is a mage or not by simply looking at him. Enter Fenris, a man whose tattoos are so sensitive to magic that he can sense mages even if they never cast anything. He is sent to hunt and capture the dangerous and incredibly elusive apostate Anders, leader or the Mage Rebellion.
Mystery Is The Basic Appeal
"We have a problem."
Anders looked up from the mess that his office had become and blinked at the sight of Karl and Nathaniel standing there before his desk, both with serious expressions on their faces.
Well the serious expressions hadn't been as much of a surprise as their actual presence. Nathaniel had always been a serious sort that Anders had often teased for his lack of a sense of humour, and Karl, well Karl had once upon time been just as irreverent as Anders. That had changed though, first with the sun brand on his forehead and then with his possession by the spirit of Justice Nathaniel and he had dragged with them from Amaranthine.
This possession had allowed him to regain some of his connection with the Fade, restoring his emotions and personality, but his magic had been severed permanently. It had taken long weeks for Karl to grieve for the powers that had once flowed through him as naturally as his breath and then to consent to learning how to wield one of those broadswords.
In that Justice had aided, remembering well how Kristoff's body had moved, and he with it. Together they had adjusted so that Karl could become a passable warrior, invaluable in their struggle against the Mage Oppression.
Still there they both stood, across the desk from Anders, blue lines rippling across Karl's skin, as both the former Mage and spirit watched the leader of the Mage resistance.
"Since when have we not had problems?" Anders retorted to Justice's comment, leaning back in his seat and lacing his hands across his stomach, "It seems to me our lives have been nothing but problems ever since we decided to help the Mages fight back. Whose brilliant idea was that by the way? I owe them a candle, or a quick kick to the crotch."
"Justice was required," Justice growled back, the blue flaring more brightly as he focused on Anders, "Mages being oppressed was unjust."
"Fun as it is to listen to the two of you bicker is," Nathaniel snarked back drawing the attention of Mage, Spirit and tranquil, "This really is a problem Anders..."
"Velanna burnt dinner again?" Anders asked hopefully.
"No. And don't let her catch you saying that."
"It WAS burnt. You agree don't you Karl? Justice?"
"There was a...distinct taste of charcoal to the meal yes."
"See? My point exactly." Anders looked smug as Nathaniel rolled his eyes.
"Velanna isn't cooking today. Merrill is."
Anders looked pained.
"Have you managed to convince her that over ten cloves of garlic is too much for a soup?"
The silence from his second was answer enough and Anders groaned, letting his head thump down on the table, "At this rate the Templars will just have to follow the scent of our breaths!"
"Speaking of the Templars," Nathaniel continued doggedly, "The Knight-Commander sent for the Witchunter. He's here in Kirkwall."
Anders sat up sharply, all insouciance falling away, "THE Witchunter? The one who has been catching all those Mages?"
"The Witchunter," Nathaniel confirmed, "Mistress Selby was praying in the Chantry when the Prince of Starkhaven walked in with a Templar and were escorted immediately to the Grand Cleric's office. Meredith was there too."
"She also overheard the Mother that let them into the office boasting about how the Witchunter would bring all heathen mages to heel." Karl supplied, Justice having slipped back into a slightly more passive state, "She didn't know which one of them was the Hunter. No one said."
"The Templar, surely." Anders said, lip curling with distaste, "What wouldn't I give for a spell to blast all of them out of Creation."
"No," Nathaniel countered, "If it was a Templar ability they all would be able to do it. It must be the Vael."
"They're a royal bloodline of Archers. Like you." Anders retorted, "And you couldn't tell a Mage from your arse."
"My arse has less chance of being a Mage than other people out there." Nathaniel bit back, rolling his eyes, "Be serious Anders."
"I am being serious! How can we plan a counter offensive when we don't even know which of them is the Hunter."
"You must withdraw all of the Mages," Karl said, placing his hand on the mahogany of the desk, "Even the plants you have in the Chantry and the Viscounts office."
"Do you have any idea how long it took to get plants everywhere in Kirkwall?" Nathaniel barked. He was the one in charge of intelligence for the Rebellion, the one who gathered the information and filtered it into useable information for the revolutionaries, "We would be blind!"
"We cannot risk them being discovered!" Karl hissed back, Justice surging to the fore once more, "Their deaths would be an injustice and would serve no purpose!"
"He is dangerous I grant you, but we cannot react wildly without any information!" Nathaniel jabbed his finger down on the desk, "To do so would be foolish!"
"We need to know the extent of his abilities, without jeopardising our Mages." Anders spoke, leaning back in his chair, feeling weary under the weight of his command, "Get Merrill, and ask her if she will volunteer to bait a trap."
"What do you have in mind Anders?" Nathaniel's voice was soft, "What if he can tell she's a Mage?"
"Then we know don't we. Have them cross paths with Merrill where we choose. If he moves to attack or capture we respond..."
"It is very risky," Justice said softly, "What if he captures Merrill?"
"I would do it myself but..."
"No." Nathaniel, Justice and Karl spoke as one.
"...but I doubt you would let me." Anders smiled tiredly, "Ask her...don't command it."
"As you wish." And Nathaniel inclined his head.
"As you wish," Justice nodded and Karl moved out of the room.
Anders rubbed his face tiredly and Nathaniel's eyes softened with pity for his friend.
"You should get out more..." He said softly, moving behind the Mage leaders chair and reaching out to rub his shoulders gently, "Or at least delegate some of this. Bethany would help."
"I need Bethany where she is. Teaching the young ones." Anders sighed, leaning back to rest his head against the Archers chest, "You're right though...I need to get out. That's why I'm coming with you when we test the Witchunter."
He expected arguing, but was surprised when Nathaniel simply kneaded out a knot from his neck.
"I'd caution you. But I know you will ignore it."
Anders smiled blissfully, "And they say Nobles never learn."
This time he was right when he expected the light smack about the head.
