Jennifer laid upon a nearby cot in a pain induced sleep. Anders brushed the reddish fringe from her face and clenched his teeth. Hawke walked up to Anders and held out a piece of parchment. "This is all Ser Alrik had, looks like the 'Tranquil Solution' began and ended with him."
Anders greedily took the piece "Let me see that." He scanned the contents quickly as Hawke folded his arms over his chest. "The Divine… rejected the idea. Meredith rejected the idea. This was- not what I expected." He looked at Hawke with startled eyes. "Perhaps I should try talking with the Grand Cleric. Maybe she's more reasonable than I thought." He stuffed the letter into his coat. "Thank you, I will think on what you said."
Anders moved towards the door, "I didn't really say anything," exclaimed Hawke as he followed Anders, the mage had grabbed a roughly crafted glass and wooden bowl. He poured the contents of the glass into the bowl and continued towards the door kneeling down and setting the bowl upon the floor. Confused, Hawke tilted his head. "What are you doing?"
"Putting out milk." Anders turned, glancing at Jennifer briefly. "I miss having a cat around, but I think the refugees have scared them all off, or've eaten them." His lip curled in disgust. "You know though, I have been meaning to thank you. You don't need to stick your neck out for the mages here, but you have. You let those apostates from Starkhaven start over. Maybe they can be an example for the whole world." Anders grinned softly.
"Mages can't be treated guilty just by association." Hawke shrugged half-heartedly.
"I can't tell you how reassuring that is." They walked over towards Jennifer and Anders gently took her hand. "Sometimes you're the only reason I don't think I'm crazy."
Hawke chuckled, "And what about Jennifer, doesn't she give you any stability?"
"I think perhaps sometimes she adds to the problem." He smirked looking down at the unconscious woman. "But the way you both still believed in me after I almost killed that poor girl. I knew you meant it." His fingers gently rubbed over Jennifer's knuckles and her brow creased in her sleep. "I know at least you wouldn't say it just to make me feel better. You make me think I can really do this. Start a revolution."
"I didn't realize you were planning anything that big." Hawke admitted.
"No small changed would address the injustice that mages face. The Chantry itself must be overturned. There will always be mages born in Thedas, and sometimes… brought to Thedas." He looked sadly at Jennifer. "But Templars are made by men. And they can be unmade." Jennifer groaned in her sleep, signaling her approach to awareness.
"Why does this matter so much to you?" Hawke asked before looking down at Jennifer.
"You saw Ser Alrik's plan, how many Templars would prefer the mages to be nothing more than a mindless drooling babe. Emotionless, without a soul. He was enacting his plan on Jennifer, and she isn't even of our world! How can she be at fault for the prejudice that she was never any part of?" Anders huffed in anger. "In the Circle, they tell you day and night that magic is a sin. A mark on your soul of the Maker's hatred. But for all the talk of demons the most common death I've seen among mages is suicide. I couldn't bare… she looks upon magic as if it were a blessing, a gift. She thinks it's beautiful, it's only a matter of time before our world grabs hold of her views and turns her against it just like every other mage here."
Hawke smiled with new determination at his unconscious friend. "Together we'll win this fight."
Anders smirked once again. "Your faith inspires me. Sometimes, I fear I cannot do this. Not while I struggle with this Vengeance inside of me, but I know, you won't let me lose myself to him. Neither of you will." Jennifer groaned once again and squeezed Anders hand as her eyes fluttered. "Hush, love. I'm here."
Jennifer cringed as she turned her head. "Anders?" Holy crap! It stings!" She grabbed at her side, but Anders gently, but firmly, removed her hands. "Come now, one knife would and you're moaning like a baby."
"Getting stabbed was not a regular occurrence in my world, unlike here." Anders knelt beside her before taking the dagger and cutting away the bandages carefully. He peeled away the pad of linen soaking the wound, and his eyes flashed sadly. Jennifer smiled and placed her hands on his. "This is hardly your fault. I'm the one fighting to go down there and face my demons, so stop feeling sorry for yourself and focus on helping me feel better so that I can… erm… relieve myself." Her cheeks blushed.
"If you need to go- I can help you get up-" Anders started.
"And have you watch as I do my business? No. As comfortable as I am around you, I'm not THAT comfortable." Jennifer folded her arms over her head and groaned. "Balls. I really need to learn to watch what I say." She chuckled nervously and Hawke burst into laughter before calling to Varric that his next favorite was awake now.
Varric swaggered over patting Bianca, "You had us worried, Smiles. I've never seen Bianca so choked up."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Bianca. I'll try not to be held captive next time, I swear. Not like I planned on making it a habit anyways." Anders prodded at the still oozing wound and Jennifer glared at him. "You know this is one of the main reasons I try to take better care of myself. So I don't have physicians poking and prodding when they can look with their eyes." Jennifer closed her eyes for a brief moment before her chest rose quickly.
"Jennifer?" Anders asked holding Jennifer's face in his hands.
Jennifer shivered before opening her eyes and smiling at Anders. "I'm fine. Just… I'm fine." Anders frowned but laid his hand softly upon the wound before conjuring his magic to heal the wound. When Anders deemed it fine, Jennifer left to hobble into the back to relieve herself. It was awkward as it always was being used to the finer points of indoor plumbing, but she managed without making a mess. When she gazed the basin on a small rickety wooden stand, she rushed over to wash her face watching in the water as it rippled from the droplets falling from her face.
-ooo-
As Anders, Jennifer, Hawke and Varric made their way through the cellar to the estate, Jennifer heard a faint barking from the floors above. Curious, she carefully made her way ahead, Bodahn was at the other side of the cellar door and looked sternly at Jennifer, "Please, messere, do something to quiet that mabari down? He has Sandal all in a fit." Sandal could be heard barking from the main entryway, clapping excitedly.
Jennifer nodded, hurrying with Hawke and Anders in tow, up the stairs to her room. Rascal was facing the wardrobe barking furiously. Jennifer tilted her head as she looked at her friend. "What is it?" Rascal barked again and growled and Jennifer looked at the wardrobe, the door was almost quivering. Hawke and Anders reached for their weapons. "Is someone there?"
"Please don't open the door." Came a terrified voice just on the other side of the wardrobe door.
"You caught a burglar! Good, Rascal." Rascal yipped happily bouncing within a tight circle before glaring and growling at the wardrobe once more.
"Please let me go. I promise I won't do it again!" The man exited the wardrobe. "My legs are cramping."
Jennifer smirked, looking at Rascal who yipped. "I can be sporting, you have to the count of five."
"You can't be serious!" The man looked horrifyingly at Jennifer then Rascal.
"One."
"But wai-"
"Two."
With a startled yelp the man darted out of the room and Jennifer turned to Rascal. "Three, four, five. Make sure our guest leaves quickly, boy." And the mabari bounded out of the door and towards the burglar. Hawke roared with laughter after he heard the burglar squeak from down the hall. Jennifer giggled before making her way towards the bed. Hawke left the two of them alone, and Anders moved around the room, making it more comfortable for Jennifer as she recovered.
Rascal pranced into the room with a smug look upon his face and strip of the man's trousers between his teeth. He leapt onto the bed, offering the scrap to Jennifer and she smiled. "A trophy? For me? I think we should have this framed." She giggled, scratching behind the dog's ears.
Anders pointed to the floor, glaring at the dog. "Down." Rascal whined and looked sadly up at Anders. "While I'm staying here there isn't going to be room for you in the bed. Understand?" Rascal tilted his head to the side and whined. He howled, showing his displeasure. "That might work for Jennifer, but that won't work on me. I'm a cat person." When Rascal looked at him dejectedly Anders sighed. "Cheer up, ol' boy! Maybe you can bunk with Sandal." The mabari bounced in place, tongue hanging out of his mouth and ran out of the room happily. When Anders turned towards Jennifer he paused. "Oh, don't look like I've just kicked your puppy, as you could see he's all well and good."
"But he's my baby! Don't I get a say in where he sleeps?" Jennifer asked, pouting.
"When we actually have children, yes you will decide where they get to sleep. Until then, the dog stays off the bed. At least while I'm around." Jennifer sighed before laying her head back onto the pillows.
"Wait… 'we'?" She asked.
"I was hoping you wouldn't catch that slip." Anders winced. "A discussion for another time, hmm?"
