Chapter Four-Justice Approves

Aveline frowned. "Garrett we have work to do. We can't waste any more time just sitting around drinking in the Hanged Man."

Garrett grimaced. "I need a break from busting my ass to help those damned Qunari when I'd much rather go unleashed Saarebas on the whole lot of them. Why am I doing this again?"

"Because it's the right thing to do," Aveline said.

Garrett snorted. "Yeah, that's your reason for being here. Not mine."

"I assumed the mage was doing it for the reward," Fenris said.

Anders scowled at him from across the table. "I'm here to help. Not for money."

"I was talking about Hawke," Fenris said. "Hawke the mage."

Garrett sighed. "There is no reward."

"There's no reward?" Fenris asked.

Garrett shook his head. "The Viscount asked me to look into it. I can't just say no."

"We are doing this to save innocents," Aveline said crossly. "Qunari or not, everyone is entitled to protection."

"I need another drink." Garrett looked across the room and sighed. "I need a lot of them."

Aveline turned her head and spotted Carver, in full templar regalia, approaching them. She reached out and took Garrett's mug away. "The last thing you need is another drink. Be civil."

Garrett snatched Aveline's mug, drained it in one swallow, and then gestured at Anders. "I'm not the one you have to worry about."

Anders gave a slight nod to the templar when he sat down at their table. "Carver."

"Magey."

Garrett sat up straight and looked suspiciously at Anders. "That's it? No complaints about the nasty templar watching you?"

"Uh, no? Carver's a good templar, and by that I mean he's a bad templar."

"Yeah? So, Carver, if you see an unsanctioned use of magic ..."

"I can be bribed."

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Garrett asked.

"Officially? My job. Word is a couple of apostates have been spotted in the Hanged Man. Be sure and let me know if you see one."

"Funny," Garrett said. "Unofficially?"

Carver lowered his voice. "Ser Cullen heard rumours of templar involvement in this Qunari kidnapping."

"Perhaps storming into the Chantry and accusing the Grand Cleric of staging a kidnapping was not ... particularly discreet, mage," Fenris said.

"Yes, well, however he learned of it, Ser Cullen thought it would be best if I accompanied you," Carver said. "It's for your protection. If there are any dead templars at the end of all this, then at least I'll be able to confirm that they were criminals. Then there won't have to be an investigation that might, oh, determine a couple of apostates slaughtered some templars."

"He has a point, mage," Fenris said. "Carver would be useful, and since the ... other mage doesn't mind working with him we may as well let him join us."

Garrett frowned. "Fenris, I'm getting tired of this. If you're angry at me for something, just tell me what it is, already."

"I am not angry."

"You keep calling me mage," Garrett said. "You only call me mage when I've done something to upset you."

"Hah! I told you it was an insult," Anders said.

"It is not."

"From you, it is."

Garrett groaned. "Didn't I tell you two to play with nice with each other?"

"I think that is them playing nice," Carver said.

"Can we just go and do our job before someone ends up dead?" Aveline asked.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ser Cullen left his office and walked down the hall. "Has that blighted prince turned priest and his elf left yet?" He asked one of the guards stationed at the entrance to the Courtyard.

"No, ser."

"Maker damn them. Have them brought to my office. I want them gone before Meredith gets into a snit. And guard?"

"Ser?"

"Be polite, but not too polite."

"Are you done harassing the mages?" Cullen asked as soon as Sebastian and Fenris were ushered into his office.

"Knight-Captain," Sebastian said. "Why have you summoned us?"

"In the future," Cullen said. "If you have any concerns about conditions in the Gallows, you should bring them to the attention of the templars. Do not go around brazenly asking the mages if they have been mistreated."

"What if the templars are the problem?" Fenris asked.

Cullen slammed his fist on the table. "We do not abuse our charges."

Just then a piercing shriek came from the direction of the mages' quarters. Fenris raised his eyebrows and turned an accusing gaze on the Knight-Captain.

Cullen sighed. "Mages have nightmares. It is a consequence of their curse."

"In the middle of the day?"

"At all times, at any time," Cullen said. "I thought a slave from Tevinter would understand why we must be vigilant.

Fenris scowled. "Former slave. This Circle has a pretty bad reputation, according to our sources."

"Sources? What sources?"

"Varric Tethras, for one," Sebastian said. "Kirkwall templars have a history of being unusually strict with mages."

"Tethras ... the dwarf? There aren't even any dwarf mages! Your source has no right to judge us on how we deal with our mage problem."

"Is there a mage problem?" Fenris asked.

"This is Kirkwall. If your ... source is any good than you already know that there has always been a greater number of blood mages and failed Harrowings in this Circle than in others. We are not 'unusually strict' we are vigilant because we have to be."

"There have always been problems here?"

"Yes! This Circle has even been annulled a couple of times but the problems persist. We cannot afford to be lenient. It is for the mages own good. We must keep them under control."

"Has no one thought of moving the Circle to another location, or at least tried changing the decor?" Fenris asked.

Cullen made a face. "I'm sorry, but what decor?"

"The Tevinter statues. They were designed to intimidate and terrify slaves. Keeping them around makes the templars look rather bad, does it not? I suspect it is not good for the mages state of mind, either."

"The statues are a part of our history, they instill a sense of pride in ... oh all right. I admit, those statues are horrible, I don't know why they've never been taken down." He shrugged. "The Knight-Commander likes them, maybe all her predecessors did too."

"That says something about the Knight-Commanders," Fenris said.

"That they had horrible taste?" Sebastian asked.

Cullen rolled his eyes. "The statues are of no importance. Changing a few decorations and giving the mages soft pillows and ... and scented candles will not keep their demons away. Or are you going to tell me your Tevinter master lived a life without luxuries?"

Fenris snarled.

"That's a no, then?" Cullen said and then waved a hand over his cluttered desk. "I have work to do. I trust you found the mages had no complaints?"

"None," Sebastian said.

Fenris narrowed his eyes. "They seemed afraid to speak to us."

"That's your complaint?" Cullen asked. "That the mages weren't chatty enough?"

Fenris and Sebastian looked at each other. Fenris waved a hand at Sebastian.

"Not all," Sebastian said reluctantly. "We talked with some of the tranquil."

Cullen dropped his head into his hands. "Oh here it comes. I knew this would happen as soon as they reported you were interrogating Helena."

"She says she was made tranquil because of an illicit affair with another mage, that is a rather harsh punishment for an indiscretion."

"Relationships are fraught with dangers for mages. Dangers I would not expect you to understand, Brother Sebastian."

"Surely it's unreasonable to expect mages to be ... single their entire lives," Sebastian said.

Cullen's eye twitched. "I fail to see the problem. Most templars take a vow of celibacy, much like your own. We expect no more from the mages than from ourselves."

"Seriously?" Fenris asked. "Because the brothels are always stuffed full of templars whenever I'm there. I don't think I've ever seen a Circle mage with them."

"How often do you go to brothels?" Sebastian asked.

Fenris scowled. "Every time Hawke wants to investigate something. His first step is always to visit the brothels looking for information. A lot of times we do pick up a lead from one of the workers. I don't want to know what the templars are picking up from the workers."

"It is not the same," Cullen said. "Templars bending the rules are not dangerous, mages are. You must understand that they are not people like you and me."

"But they are people," Sebastian said. "And bound to make the occasional mistake. All of us do"

"They are mages," Cullen said. "Do you want one of them make a mistake and destroy all of Kirkwall?"

"Uh, no?"

Cullen waved a hand in dismissal. "Your argument is not even relevant. Since Helena was not made tranquil because of that affair."

"The tranquil have no reason to lie," Sebastian said.

"Or knowledge beyond their own experience," Cullen said. "That may be why Helena thinks she was made tranquil but in truth she was always ... volatile. Ser Alrik determined she was at risk of turning to blood magic. It was her choice to be made tranquil. Better that than dead."

"Ser Alrik," Sebastian said and exchanged a look with Fenris. "We have concerns about him."

"Any reason why? Or are you just playing a hunch? Did Alicia say something about Ser Alrik?"

"She said she was instructed not to say anything about him or other templars. Several of the other tranquil also answered our questions about their treatment by saying with they could not answer those questions."

"Being reluctant to speak with you is hardly proof of any wrongdoing," Cullen said. "However, in respect of your station, Brother Sebastian, I will have Helena's situation investigated."

"Would it not have been better to investigate before using the Rite of Tranquility?" Fenris asked.

"There was an investigation," Cullen said as he threw up his hands. "What do you think we are? Monsters? What is wrong with you, Sebastian, that you keep looking to find problems where there are none? Just a few weeks ago you tried to convince me that Anders, Anders of all people, was dangerous."

"He's an abomination!" Sebastian said.

Cullen sighed. "Because he ... glows blue. That's what spirit healers do. They form a relationship with a fade spirit and channel that energy into creation magic. Granted if you are right and he is channelling a spirit of Justice that is a bit odd. Most healers seek out the gentler spirits, but it is still nothing to be concerned about. I thought I explained that to you."

"You did," Fenris said as elbowed Sebastian in the side. "He just has trouble letting some things go."

Cullen looked at them suspiciously. "Is that what brought this on? Anders said something about the mean templars in the Gallows and you two decided he must be telling the truth? That mage has always been a whiny little sod."

Sebastian looked annoyed. "I'm only here because Fenris asked for my help. As far as I'm concerned Anders should be locked up in here for everyone's safety."

Fenris growled.

"He's dangerous," Sebastian said to Fenris.

Cullen sighed and took several deep breaths. "Brother Sebastian, Kirkwall is in a delicate state right now. Between the refugees still hanging around and the Qunari getting more agitated after that problem with their delegates, the commoners are growing increasingly restless. It's really not worth stirring them up to bring one harmless apostate in."

"He is not harmless. He kills templars!"

"Oh not this again," Cullen said. He drummed his fingers on the table. "I thought Ser Rylock was lyrium-addled when she claimed he killed templars, everyone in the tower who had met Anders thought so. I have no idea what your excuse is. That mage was notorious in the tower for several things, but not for being dangerous. He's a snivelling coward who would probably faint if a rabbit startled him."

Fenris' mouth twitched as he fought back a laugh. "Is that what you told the Knight-Commander?"

Cullen glared at him. "It's the truth! The mage is useful, spirit healers always are, but hardly dangerous."

"I have seen ..." Sebastian started to say.

Cullen held up a hand to stop him. "You have seen what? A little fire or ice summoned with a snap of his fingers? I understand how frightening that may be to someone unused to magic, Brother Sebastian, but really, Anders cannot possibly be the dangerous battlemage you make him out to be. I have no idea how he managed to convince the Wardens to recruit him, and I'm sure he ran away from them the first time he came face to face with a darkspawn."

Sebastian scowled and looked at Fenris. "A little help?"

Fenris shrugged. "Anders is no magister."

"Quite right," Cullen said. "Sebastian, you better make up your mind, You cannot in one breath accuse templars of abusing mages, and in the next breath demand we bring in an apostate. Unless you are not worried about how we'll treat him, that is."

Fenris crossed his arms. "I have concerns."

"Then perhaps we should have your friend investigate our Circle from the inside," Cullen said. "There's been some talk about a Hightown noble who might be a hidden mage; we could check out those rumours as well. So tell me, elf, do you have concerns?"

Fenris sighed and let his arms fall back down. "No."

"Now, you two have wasted enough of my time. Go, and stop listening to delusional mages. Let us do our jobs in peace."

"He is no magister?" Sebastian said once they were back in the courtyard.

'He is not," Fenris said.

"Anders is dangerous," Sebastian said.

"Not to me, and probably not to you."

Sebastian scowled. "Are you at least satisfied that the mages are not being abused?"

"Are you?" Fenris asked. "I think Ser Cullen is blind to more than the mage's abilities. I don't like having my ... associates threatened either."

Sebastian rubbed his temples. "Ser Cullen has been flouting the law. It's not much of a threat when he says he'll stop turning a blind eye to Hawke's existence; mages really shouldn't be allowed to live outside the Circle. I will admit that there were far more Tranquil than I expected. I don't know. Perhaps Cullen's investigation will be fruitful."

Fenris stopped walking. "We should do more. It is disturbing how much loyalty the mage has earned simply by healing the poor."

"I have been saying that for years," Sebastian said.

Fenris scowled. "I didn't mean it like that. Anders is not the problem."

"What did you mean?"

Fenris turned and waved towards the Gallows. "Is there not a single creation mage in that place who can be trusted outside the Gallows? Not even with a templar escort? No mage out of the hundreds behind those doors who could help the poor? Anders wouldn't be so important to the common folk if there were Circle mages doing what he does."

Sebastian looked thoughtful. "Mages are not slaves. They cannot be ordered to help the poor."

"Can they be asked? Have they been asked?"

"I shall bring the matter up with Elthina," Sebastian. "It would be good to weaken that abomination's influence in Kirkwall."

"That was not my point."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anders raced up the stairs and slid into Varric's suite. "Fenris is a traitor!"

Varric waved a hand and the merchant he was talking with exited hastily. "I doubt that, but go on, tell me all about it."

Isabela followed him in and closed the door. "This isn't going to be as much fun as I thought it would be when Anders ran up here all flushed and panting. I was hoping to hear about a kinky, glowy sex romp."

"You'll just have to keep writing your own," Varric said.

"Please don't," Anders said.

She pouted. "I can't stop now, everyone loved the part with the electricity trick and the latest one with the barrier trick was even more popular."

Anders frowned. "I don't have a barrier trick."

Isabela looked smug. "Garrett does."

Anders looked like he wanted to ask a question, but just shook his head and turned back to Varric instead. "Fenris has been busy in the Gallows, working with that Sebastian. They're plotting to drag Garrett and me to the Gallows. Merrill too, probably."

Varric scowled. "They are not. Have you been getting into your lyrium supplies again?"

"No! I ... they are up to something."

"Oh sweetie, everyone's always up to something," Isabela said. "But why on Thedas would Fenris suddenly decide, after all these years, to turn you in now?"

Varric shook his head. "Blondie, do you really think Fenris is the type to shag you one day and turn on you the next?"

"Shag?" Isabela asked. "What shag? When? And why didn't anyone tell me all about it?"

"There was no shagging!" Anders said. "Do you think that's it? I turned Fenris down and he doesn't know how to deal with rejection so he's going the revenge route?"

"I think you're losing it," Varric said.

"I'll handle this, Varric," Isabela said as she put a hand on Anders shoulders and pushed him into a chair. She snatched a mug of ale and gave it to him. "First, drink. Now."

He looked at it dubiously. "Justice doesn't ..."

"Drink it all," she said. "Good boy, now we are going to go find Gary and see if he can straighten your crazy little head out."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Stop dragging your heels, Anders," Garrett said as they headed up the steps to Hightown. "I will pick you up and carry you like a sack of potatoes if I have to."

"You should do that," Isabela said. "I'd like to see what a jealous Fenris looks like."

Anders glared at Isabela. "Would you stop that? I'm telling you Fenris is plotting against all of us mages, not ... whatever you think he's doing."

Garrett sighed and grabbed Anders by the back of his coat. "Alright, listen up. We are going to talk to Fenris about his recent trip to the Gallows, and then you will apologize to him for being such a paranoid ass. There is no way Fenris would ever stab me in the back. Or you."

"He's more the type to stab you from the front. Or rather rip your heart out from the front," Isabela said.

"What about Sebastian?" Anders said.

"Hmm," Garrett thought for a moment. "Nah, he's not the stab in the back type either. You'd hear the praying before he could get close enough to do anything."

"Hawke, get in here before the neighbours complain to Aveline again," Fenris said as he yanked the door open. "What is going on? I could hear you arguing half way down the street. I can assure that I do not stab ... associates in the back."

"I'll make this short," Garrett said. "Are you and Sebastian planning to turn in ... oh about three, apostates to the templars?"

Fenris looked confused. "No."

"See?" Garrett said as he turned to Anders and shoved him forwards. "Now apologize."

"He was asking the mages in the Courtyard all sorts of questions," Anders said. "They think he's a templar spy."

"I am not."

Garrett put his hands on his hips and glared at Anders.

Anders sighed. "Alright, then what were you doing?"

Fenris shifted from foot to foot. "I was trying to be ... supportive. Varric pointed out that you have been more than willing to fight criminal mages."

"Only when they do things that would label anyone a criminal," Anders said. "I don't consider just being an apostate a criminal act. Or taking out a templar who's hunting you just because you're a mage. Slaughtering a merchant on the other hand ..."

"I was trying to show that I do not hate mages; I do not hate you. I may often find you annoying, but I do not hate you. If I could get Sebastian to look into how the Circle operates then perhaps ... he has the ear of the Grand Cleric. They could make changes in the Circle."

"How did it go?" Garrett asked.

Fenris scowled. "I would not hope for much."

"Aw, that's too bad," Isabela said. "I think it was sweet of you to try. Wasn't it, Anders?"

"Did you really think I was going to betray you to the templars?" Fenris asked.

"Um," Anders said and froze for a moment before giving Fenris a half-smile. "I sort of did. Sorry, Fenris. Uh ... could you please stop looking so hurt? You're making Justice feel all ... all funny."

"Like he wants to rip off all of your clothes and then pounce on Fenris?" Isabela asked.

Anders grimaced. "More like he want to ... hold the elf and ... um, cuddle him."

Fenris' eyebrows rose. "Cuddle?"

"Really, Anders," Isabela said. "You need to stop using the poor little fade spirit as an excuse. Justice won't let me get drunk, Justice wants to cuddle the pretty, shiny elf. I suppose it's all Justice's fault you want to rip templars apart, too?"

Anders winced. "The no drinking bit is all Justice I assure you."

"And the cuddling?"

"Justice!"

"Sure, buddy," Garrett said. "I'll bet Justice was a real hugger before you two merged."

Anders frowned. "He was stuck in a decaying corpse. No one ever touched him."

"So there were no cuddles between you two?"

"Eww. No."

"No hugging? No intimate fun times?" Garrett asked as he made an obscene gesture.

Anders, Isabela and Fenris all looked appalled. Garrett turned a beseeching look at Isabela who just shook her head at him.

Anders covered his eyes. "Moving on. Justice didn't have any ... physical wants in his old host. Now he does and it is really freaking me out. I'm not sure all these ... feelings are good for Justice. I mean, he did once tell me that demons are spirits corrupted by their desires."

"Justice is no demon," Fenris said.

"I know that," Anders said. "But ..."

"Whoa," Garrett said. "Okay, are you trying to tell me spirits shouldn't have desires?"

"Uh, yes?"

"I might be only a hedge mage ..."

Fenris snorted. "Hardly."

"... but that's a load of bullshit. Corrupted by desires is hardly the same as not having any desires at all. I mean really, what was Justice in the Fade?"

"An embodiment of the mortal concept of Justice."

"So - his entire existence revolved around the desire to seek out injustices and right them."

"More like a need than a want, but I see your point. Still, the longer he's part of me, the more feelings he seems to get. That can't be good."

"Is this the same Greagoir I met in the Pearl?" Isabela said. "You turned into a real stick-in-the-mud. Let the spirit have some fun."

"I agree," Garrett said and then narrowed his eyes. "Wait a minute. Your real name is Greagoir? Why would you let Isabela know that and not me?"

"What? No! That's just the name I used in taverns and brothels whenever I ran away from the Circle. Some of the templars got their skirts in a twist over it, but a few of the younger ones thought it was hilarious that they could go around bragging about dragging Greagoir out of yet another brothel."

Garrett looked confused. "If you say so."

"He was the Knight-Commander when Anders was in the Fereldan Circle," Fenris said to Garrett.

"How do you know that?" Anders asked.

Fenris shrugged. "Varric. I wanted to know how your Circles worked, he helped me find out a few details."

Anders grimaced. "Great, now Justice is getting ... squishy feelings about you again."

"Oh, I get it," Garrett said and then got a disgusted look on his face. "Gah, Meredith in the Blooming Rose. Bad thoughts. Getting back to Justice - I think it's fine if he's started showing some feelings besides anger. Don't get me wrong, it's great fun when he tears templars apart, but how can I put this? If he does end up getting corrupted then you'll be better off if he's corrupted by lust than rage."

"Garrett!" Anders said.

Garrett help up one hand. "Possessed by a rage demon. Bad."

Garrett held up the other hand and waggled his fingers. "Possessed by a desire demon. Fun."

Fenris eyes widened and he snarled. "Hawke, is that your idea of a joke?"

Anders turned and cast a bolt of lightning at Garrett.

"Hey!" Garrett said as he rubbed his slightly smoking chest.

"Just checking," Anders said.

"Checking what? Oh, you jackass," Garrett said just before throwing his own lance of arcane power at Anders.

Anders stumbled back a step and his eyes flashed blue briefly.

"Still only one possessed mage in this room," Garrett said.

"Doesn't hurt to check," Fenris said with a nod to Anders.

"Yes it does!" Garrett said. "Ow."

"Do you think you can do that once a week or so?" Fenris asked.

"If you want me to, sure," Anders said.

"You two need to work on your trust issues," Garrett said.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx