Chapter Seven-Justice is persistent

"There it is. Denerim, the heart of Ferelden. Just smell that city air," Anders said happily.

"It's rather reminiscent of Darktown, just with more sky," Fenris said.

"You should have seen it before the blight. It's a lot cleaner now," Anders said. "Although, I will admit it doesn't have the charm of Kirkwall's Tevinter style buildings."

"Perhaps rustic is a good style after all."

"Snob," Anders said. He twirled his staff and looked around. "Let's see, first we hit the Merchant's Guild, no wait, first we find a place to stay. I wonder if they still remember me at The Pearl?"

Fenris frowned. "We are not staying at a brothel."

"You're not staying anywhere in my city with that sword, elf," A guard Lieutenant said as he blocked their way through the gates.

"I'm a Warden, and he's with me. Back off."

The guard signalled for backup. "Elves are not allowed to carry weapons in the city."

Fenris looked at one of the approaching guards. "You do realize one of your fellow guards is an elf? Hmm, and I do believe he is armed."

"He's working for the us," the Lieutenant said. "We're short-handed and had to accept some of you knife-ears into the guard. He turns the sword in when he's off duty."

"Do you do the same?" Anders asked.

"I am not an elf."

Fenris put a hand on Anders' arm. "No glowing."

"Why, do you want to tear out his heart yourself?"

One of the new guards started whispering to the Lieutenant.

The Lieutenant scowled. "Rules are rules. No elf, who isn't working for us or a noble, can be armed."

"I am a Warden," Anders said. "He is working with me. Now get out of our way before I turn you into either a torch or an icicle. Your choice."

"Sir, the Wardens are protected by law."

"Are they," the Lieutenant said. "How do we know he really is a Warden? He could just be an apostate trying to hide behind the Warden's reputation."

"Sir," the guard said. Behind him the other two guards rolled their eyes.

"You are an idiot," Fenris said.

"He would have made a good templar," Anders said.

"He applied to join, but they wouldn't take him," a guard said.

"Shut it, you," the Lieutenant said. "In fact, don't these two look like dangerous smugglers to you? Just what are you trying to smuggle into my city in those packs of yours? Seditious materials? Drugs?"

"Hey!" Anders said as the guard stepped forwards and reached into the open flap of his backpack.

There was a yowl and the guard stumbled back, clutching his hand. "They're smuggling demon darkspawn in to the city! Take them into custody! I'm going for help!"

Anders looked down at his pack. "Who's a good kitty?"

"They lost all the smart officers in the blight, did they?" Fenris asked.

"Not all," one of the remaining guards said. "He's just got a very rich Daddy. You two might as well get moving. We have to think of some way of reporting this."

Fenris frowned. "How hard is it to say your Lieutenant is deranged?"

"Well, yes he is, but you can't just come right out and say that, now can you?"

"I would."

The guard waved them through the gate. "Go on. Enjoy your stay in Denerim."

They had just passed the gates when Fenris saw a templar advancing on them, the Lieutenant following a few paces behind. Fenris grabbed Anders' arm and squeezed.

"Ow," Anders said. "Let go."

"Do not let Justice out to play," Fenris said.

Anders scowled and a slight hint of blue ringed his eyes. He closed his eyes and swallowed.

Fenris stepped in front of Anders.

The templar walked up to them. "There's been a report of ... of a demonic darkspawn animal."

Fenris gestured to Anders. "Show him Pounce, mage."

Anders lifted Pounce out of his pack and scowled at the templar. "You're not taking my cat, templar."

"I'm not planning to, Warden," the templar said and gestured at man behind him. "Just following up on this guard's report. We can't be too careful."

Anders growled.

The templar took a step back and looked at him suspiciously. "I have a job to do, Warden."

Fenris stepped in front of Anders again, blocking the templar's view of his face. "The Warden's on edge because we've just come from Kirkwall. The templars there are ... overzealous and made it difficult for him to do his job."

"I've heard talk of the Gallows. Is it really as bad as they say?"

"Probably worse," Fenris said.

The Lieutenant scowled. "Are you going to waste all day talking to that elf? Take out that mage before he does something. He looks like a blood mage, I'll bet he's a blood mage."

"I'll bet I can beat you to a pulp with no magic at all," Anders said as he stepped forwards. "I once beat an ogre to death with my staff after I ran out of mana."

"That was after Oghren kindly removed three of his limbs for you," Fenris said.

"Damn dwarf had to go and ruin one of my best stories," Anders said. "Doesn't matter, this annoying guard is no ogre. Stand aside, templar, and let me have a go at him."

Fenris looked at him worriedly but saw no hint of Justice in Anders' eyes.

The Lieutenant squeaked and stumbled back.

The templar sighed, grabbed the guard's arm and took a step away. "Seeing as there are no demonic animals here, you two can be on your way. Sorry for the bother, Wardens."

"Not all templars are unreasonable," Fenris said.

"Hmph," Anders said. "He's just young, they haven't finished twisting his mind yet."

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"Off you go, and try not to use that leg for another two days," Anders said as he waved off the last patient in the back room of a dockside Apothecary.

"How do you find them?"

Anders looked up. "The Apothecary? There's a sign right outside."

"No, all these ... patients. We haven't even been here for a week."

"There's always people in need," Anders said. "Justice thinks it's selfish of me to offer my services to The Pearl's workers for money. The only way I could shut him up was to also offer my services for free to the poor. I don't mind, it feels like home."

"You could have just taken Nathaniel's offer to give you a stipend from the Warden funds."

Anders shook his head. "No I couldn't. We're not really here on Warden business. It's bad enough that I'm using their name for protection. I can't take their money, too. Hmm, actually I'm pretty sure I would have taken their money quite happily, but there's no way Justice would."

"At least Justice let us take decent rooms in the inn. Speaking of which, we should head back. One of these nights the guards aren't going to back off about that ridiculous curfew on elves just because you're a Warden."

"Then they will die," Justice said.

"I would prefer to avoid that," Fenris said.

"Yeah, me too," Anders said. "Fighting our way out through the whole Denerim army would be a bit challenging."

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The clanging of armoured footsteps woke them early the next morning. Anders was up and at the window almost as fast as Fenris.

"Are they stopping here?" Anders asked as he looked over Fenris' shoulder. "Are they templars?"

"Yes, and no. They are Royal guards. Perhaps this is a response to your request to meet with Enchanter Wynne.

"It's a pretty big escort for one harmless Warden," Anders said. "Maybe we should sneak out the back way."

Fenris scowled. "Why would the crown want to start a fight with the Wardens?"

"I don't know, maybe the First Warden sent word that I was no longer under their protection."

"You worry too much. It may only be an honour guard. Denerim obviously reveres Wardens and you haven't been here long enough to change that. Get dressed, unless you want to be escorted to see the Enchanter in your small clothes."

"Huh, I kind of do," Anders said. "Just to see the look on her crotchety old face."

Fenris finished strapping his armour on and went to wait by the door. "They may not even be here for you."

Anders grimaced. "I think they are. There's another Warden with them. Andraste's flaming arse, do you think Weisshaupt sent someone to take me out personally?"

"Ugh, it is too early for this," Fenris said as he went to the table and picked up a wine bottle.

Anders pulled the bottle away from him. "It is definitely too early for drinking. Do you want to wait here or go meet them downstairs?"

"Downstairs," Fenris said. "There are more witnesses and escape routes there."

"Hah, and you call me paranoid."

"I am not paranoid, I am cautious," Fenris said.

"Ah, there they are, your Highness," the innkeeper said when Anders and Fenris walked into the common room. "The human is the Warden. Or so he says."

"Oh he's definitely a Warden. You can tell the city guard that he's not an imposter."

Anders squinted at the man who had been talking to the innkeeper. "Well, fuck me, it's Whimpering Al."

"Er ... um, you must have me confused with someone else."

"No, you were pretty memorable, there's not too many Wardens that show up in Kirkwall, you know. The Hanged Man ringing any bells? You got pretty intimate with its floor more than once."

"Oh balls, you were that Darktown healer? The healer that I heard about from ... other sources than myself."

One of the guards let out a stifled laugh before being elbowed by the guard beside him.

"That's his royal Highness Alistair Theirin to you, peasant," a different guard snapped out.

Anders gave a snort. "Uh-huh, and I'm the Black Divine himself."

Fenris slapped himself on the forehead when a couple of guards reached for their swords. "Idiot mage."

"Whoa fellows, he's joking," Alistair said. "About ... all of it. Just a bit of Warden humour, ha ha. Why don't you guys stay down here while I go discuss ... Warden things with these two?"

"So how did you manage to go from Lowtown drunk to royalty?" Anders asked as soon as they were behind closed doors.

"I have no idea," Alistair said. Fenris offered him a bottle of wine and he waved it off. "I thought I was done with all that heir to throne crap after I was exiled and Anora was crowned, but nope. Teagan dragged me back here and the next thing I knew I was stuffed into these horrible clothes, paraded before the nobles at a Landsmeet, and engaged to the Queen."

"Your life is such a tragedy," Fenris said.

Alistair scowled. "You try dealing with nobles on a daily basis. It's not as easy as it sounds. And now everyone in Denerim will be calling me Whimpering Al. Thanks for that."

"Hey, it's not my fault," Anders said. "Blame it on Nate."

"Nate?"

"Nathaniel Howe."

"Oh that Nate. Another winner of the 'try to kill a Warden and get to become a Warden' game."

"He must have known who you were when I mentioned you at Vigil's Keep, would it have killed him to give me a little warning about not using that name in Denerim? He was probably hoping that I'd see you in the palace and trip over my tongue in front of everybody. Bastard."

Alistair winced. "Have you been spreading tales about me ... er, this Al character all over Ferelden?"

"Every chance he gets," Fenris said. "It's Anders' favourite topic, next to the plight of mages."

Alistair groaned.

"He's joking," Anders said and then his eyes flashed blue.

"This mortal could be useful," Justice said.

Alistair jumped back and made a gesture before reaching for the sword at his side. "Shit, shit, shit, he's possessed!"

"Templar," Justice growled as he took a step towards Alistair.

Fenris jumped on Justice and held his arms tight. "Stop, now. Put that sword down, Al. Justice is no demon."

"Justice," Alistair said as he backed up into a wall. "He's possessed by that fade spirit from the Blackmarsh?"

"How do you know about that?" Anders asked as his glow faded a bit. He frowned. "How lovely, I haven't been silenced in years, oh the nostalgia. Would you like to get a smite in just for fun?"

"I've read the official reports from Vigil's Keep," Alistair said. "I may have had a couple of ... not so great years, but I'm not a complete idiot."

"You are remarkably calm about Anders being an abom ... being possessed," Fenris said.

Alistair shrugged. "Possessed mages who try to make you a bloody paste on the walls are terrifying, but possessed mages who darn your socks are something else entirely."

"Are you referring to Enchanter Wynne?" Fenris asked.

Alistair nodded. "I take you've heard about her Spirit of Faith then."

"That's why we want to talk her," Fenris said.

"Darn your socks?" Anders said. "You asked Enchanter Wynne to darn your socks and she didn't light you on fire?"

"No, why would she do that?"

"Huh, she's really mellowed in her old age."

"Perhaps," Fenris said. "That is due to the influence of her spirit."

"Okay," Anders said. "So you're suggesting that while Justice makes me tear apart templars ..."

"Uh, what?" Alistair said.

"Not all templars," Anders said.

"He hasn't touched any in Ferelden," Fenris said. "Except for that group of them he took out just before he left the Wardens."

"What!"

"Hush, I'm talking," Anders said. "As I was saying, Justice makes me kill templars, and Faith makes Wynne ... darn socks."

"Well, when you put it that way ..." Fenris said.

Alistair pointed out the door. "Should I call my guards?"

"I won't let him kill you," Fenris said.

"I'm so relieved," Alistair said. "And yet I feel a need to tell your glowing friend that I am not a templar. I never took any vows. Killing me would be bad for so very many reasons."

"I should pay no attention to that silence you slapped me with," Anders said. "You're not really a templar, you just do an excellent imitation of one. Got it."

Alistair looked at Fenris. "So, you went a bit glowy there yourself, are you also possessed?"

Fenris snarled. "I am no mage."

"Hey," Anders said.

"... not that there's anything wrong with being a mage," Fenris said.

Anders rolled his eyes. "He's not possessed, he's just got those lyrium brands that give him some useful abilities."

"Lyrium brands?" Alistair said as he stepped forwards and took a deep breath. "That explains why the elf smells so good. Sweet, sweet lyrium."

Anders started to glow again. "Hands off my shiny elf, templar."

Alistair jumped back. "Not a templar! You know that's really, really disturbing, right?"

"Sorry," Anders said. "Justice didn't like you sniffing around his ... uh, lover. "

Alistair grimaced. "There are some things you just should not do with a fade spirit."

"It's not only Justice," Fenris said. "The mage gets involved, too."

"No details," Alistair said. "Wynne and Faith never ... uh, unless Zevran ... no, no I'm sure they never did anything like that. In fact, it was always just Wynne. I don't remember Faith showing up ... ever."

"Faith never took over Wynne's body, then?" Anders asked.

"Like a demon?"

"No! Like a ... spirit taking over a host. In a completely non-hostile, non-demony way."

"With the glowing eyes, skin cracking and the deep ominous voice?"

"Yes, that."

Alistair shook his head. "Nope, no, never. Are you absolutely sure ..."

"Justice is no demon," Fenris said quickly. "I would advise you to never call him that."

"I'll just go tell Wynne you guys are on the level, and you can have a chat with her about your totally not a demon friend there."

"Not so fast, Ser King-to-be," Anders said. "We need to have a discussion about what kind of ruler you're planning to be."

"A not-too-bad one? I already have people telling me what to do and say at all hours of the day. I don't need any more advice."

"Do you remember Varric?" Anders said. "Varric who has a knack for telling stories?"

Alistair narrowed his eyes. "Yes."

Anders smiled. "Well, if you make me happy than I can have Varric make Wandering Al a legend in the Free Marches. People will be reading all about the heroic adventures of Fereldan's exiled Prince."

"Thanks for the offer, but ..."

"Or," Anders said. "The sad tale of Whimpering Al the ale-soaked fool of Kirkwall could become Varric's next bestseller instead."

Alistair crossed his arms and glared. "You know, I'm pretty sure threatening to blackmail me is a treasonous offence."

"Blackmail? Don't be silly, all I want is to talk to you about how your future subjects are treated. Mages in particular."

"This is a waste of time," Alistair said. "Wynne is one of the people who have been nagging me every damn day. You know, Wynne the mage."

"Pft, she's a Circle apologist. You need to hear from someone who knows the Circles need to be abolished if mages are ever going to be free."

"I'm never going to support dismantling the Circles," Alistair said. "Not after what happened at Kinloch Hold. Abominations and demons overrunning the tower was bad enough, I don't even want to imagine them overrunning a town. I'll see about making some changes to the Circles, but that's as far as I'll go. I don't care if your Varric has Whimpering Al turning tricks in a Darktown alley for a thimbleful of rotgut whiskey."

"Al has a point," Fenris said. "Besides, how much could you trust him to keep his word if he let himself be so easily blackmailed?"

"You stay out of this," Anders said. "Hmm, alright, forget Varric. If you let me talk to you about improving the lives of mages, then I'll teach you some moves that will have Queen Anora melting at your feet. You are planning to consummate your marriage are you not?"

Alistair turned a deep shade of red. "That's none of your ... I mean, I don't need any help with ... I already know how everything ... works."

Anders shook his head. "That's not what Isabela said. Cute but clumsy was how she described you."

Alistair frowned. "Did you people really have nothing better to talk about? Besides, cute but clumsy doesn't sound so bad."

Anders shook his head at him. "Picture your bride-to-be saying that. Now tell me it's not so bad."

Alistair winced.

Fenris got up and headed towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Alistair asked.

"To get you two some food. You'll be here a long time before Anders finishes ranting about the plight of mages."

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A few hours later Alistair sat hunched over in his chair and nodding every other minute or so as Anders walked around the room talking excitedly and Fenris lay on the bed with one arm slung over his eyes. Finally Anders stopped talking, went over to his desk, picked up a stack of papers and then dropped them in Alistair's lap.

"I think that's it for now. Take this with you, my manifesto explains some of my main points about mages in more detail."

"More detail? The Maker hates me," Alistair said. "Is that it? Can I go now?"

"Yes," Anders said. "Don't forget to show my manifesto to Queen Anora."

"I can't show her this! She'd send my head to the Divine on a golden platter."

"Oh come on," Anders said. "There's nothing blasphemous in there, it's all just common sense, mostly."

Fenris took his arm off his eyes and laughed. "You specifically mentioned Tevinter as an alternative way to deal with mages."

"It is! Not the blood magic and slavery bits, but at least they let mages have lives and, and families."

Alistair stood up and started edging towards the door.

Anders head snapped up and his eyes flashed blue. "We are not done, sit down."

Alistair held up the manifesto defensively in front of him. "You said we were done!"

Anders looked at the wall for a few seconds. "Oh, I see. Yes, we're done talking about mages, but Justice thinks I need to have a talk with you about the unjust way Ferelden treats its elven citizens now."

Anders waved at Fenris. "Shouldn't he be the one ranting about the elves?"

Fenris settled down for another nap. "I'm from Tevinter. As far as I'm concerned elves in the Marches and Ferelden have it fairly good."

"See?" Alistair said. "And I've heard that in Orlais the elves are slaves in all but name."

Anders frowned. "So you're saying that the way elves are treated here is just fine?"

"Well, no, but ..."

"It's wrong, but that's okay because it's less wrong then in other countries?"

"Uh ..."

"Sit!"

Alistair sat.

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"If Ser will have a seat I will tell Enchanter Wynne you are here," the servant said as he bowed and left the room.

"Not bad," Anders said as he looked around the office of Court Adviser Wynne. Complete with desk, bookshelves, fireplace, and a wine cabinet. "It even makes Irving's office look shabby."

"Mages are so oppressed," Fenris said as he looked through the collection of wine bottles.

"Don't start that again," Anders said as he checked himself in the full-length mirror in the corner. "What do you think? Hair loose or tied back?"

"When you said Wynne was one of your teachers in the Circle, you were referring to magic, were you not?"

"Of course I was. Spirit Healers are pretty rare and she was ... what else would I have been referring to?"

"You are primping, mage."

"I'm what? Oh, ugh. You are a horrible person with a horrible, twisted mind."

"Talking to yourself, Anders?" Wynne asked as she came through the door.

Anders put his hands behind his back and turned away from the mirror. "Enchanter Wynne."

Wynne pursed her lips. "Warden Anders."

Anders fidgeted.

"Are you going to introduce me to your friend?"

"Oh? Yes! This is the shiny ... uh, Fenris."

"Fasta Vass," Fenris mumbled.

"Watch your language, young man," Wynne said.

Fenris scowled. "Mage, I am not one of ..."

Anders stepped in front of him. "He's pleased to meet you, Enchanter."

"Hmm," Wynne said and then studied Anders for a moment. "Well, you have managed to turn our future King into a bundle of nerves in a single day."

"Me?" Anders said. "I only told him the truth. Shouldn't a King know how all his subjects are treated?"

Wynne waved a hand dismissively. "I wasn't talking about that. It will do the boy good to think about making a few reforms. You are quite naive, however, it won't be anywhere near as easy to actually make changes as you seem to think."

"He's the King," Anders said. "He should be able to something."

"Certainly," Wynne said. "But we don't want that something to be meeting a quick end on an assassins' blade, now do we?"

Anders sighed. "No, Enchanter."

"I digress," Wynne said. "What I was going to say is that you've made that poor man all fretful about his upcoming wedding."

"Oh, that," Anders said. "He needs help, I just made sure he knows it."

"I don't appreciate that," Wynne said. "It was quite unnerving when he walked in unannounced and asked me if I was a woman."

"Isabela said he was bad, but I had no idea he was that bad."

Wynne glared at him. "It just shows how much you upset Alistair. I really did not need him asking me ... those types of questions."

Anders winced. "Would you rather he asked Anora those types of questions?"

"Yes!" Wynne said. "There are some things a young couple should learn about together."

Anders snorted. "And you called me naive. Anora's probably planning to lead Alistair around like a puppy. Giving her the upper hand in the bedroom will only aid her in controlling him outside the bedroom as well. I'm doing the man a favour, admit it."

"I will not," Wynne said. "I forbid you to corrupt that young man any further."

Fenris raised his eyebrows. "I don't think corrupt is the right term."

"Sounds like a challenge to me," Anders said. "I have not yet begun to corrupt."

Wynne looked at him suspiciously. "From what I can see you haven't changed at all since your apprentice days. Was all that talk about being possessed a ploy to ... I honestly can't think of any reason to tell such a tale to Alistair."

"It's no ploy," Fenris said. "Why don't you just test him?"

"Test him?"

Fenris shrugged. "For possession. Or was the mage wrong when he told us that dem ... spirits will always manifest to protect their host when the host is threatened?"

"Most demons do manifest during times of stress, but I don't know if that means they'll always show themselves. It's hard to test that theory without already knowing if a mage is possessed or ... well, we do know in advance here don't we." Wynne said. "Odd that no one has ever considered such a simple test for possession before. Just how big of a threat are you talking about?"

"Just a little lightning should do it," Fenris said.

"A tiny, miniscule bit of lightning," Anders said as he tensed up. "Watch the face!'"

Wynne looked thoughtful and then sent a bolt towards Anders foot.

Fenris smirked when Anders yelped and started hopping on one foot.

"Hmm," Wynne said as she watched Anders eyes flash blue and gradually fade. "Interesting."

"You'd best test her now, mage," Fenris said.

Wynne frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Uh ... I don't think that's necessary," Anders said.

"Anyone can say they're possessed, it doesn't mean they really are. How do you know the Enchanter isn't simply delusional? Alistair said he has never seen Faith manifest the way Justice does."

"Young man if you are implying that I am insane or, Maker help you, senile, then I ... ouch!"

Anders threw up his hands and backed away. "Sorry, so sorry. Just making sure, um ... hello Faith?"

Wynne turned away from Anders and glared at Fenris who was choking back laughter. "Do you find this amusing?"

"Of course he does," Anders said.

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