It was late when I made my way back to Anders Clinic. I just wanted to do one final check before turning in. I was surprised to see the door to the Clinic was still open.
A part of me wanted to believe that he was waiting up for me, but I knew it wasn't true. I turned my self into my alter ego and walked in.
Anders was awake at his desk working on the pile of papers strewn about. I could tell he was upset. He always worked when he was upset.
I jumped to the desk to see what he was working on. I jumped into the middle of the papers in catlike fashion letting him know that what ever he was doing it couldn't be more important than me. I got one quick glimpse before he picked me up and placed me back on the ground.
"Lady Katherine, No. I'm working."
Anders manifestoes. Andraste'sass.Not this again.
It seemed Anders took the time to copy his manifestos over and over, by hand. He gets points for determination, but how many copies of that thing did he really need. They kept turning up over and over. I'm sure I wasn't the only one tired I finding them everywhere. This needed to stop.
I jumped to the table again only this time I jumped to a corner to test his concentration. He didn't seem upset so I sat there with my tail curled up around my feet watching him work diligently.
My next move was a little more suddle. I laid out just a bit so I was sitting in a sphinx position. I twitched my tail around and even batted at some of the papers in my agitation.
I gave it a little more time before I then moved my paws out further. The very tips of my paws now laid at the edge of the paper he was currently writing on.
Nonchalantly I rose up pushing my weight forward and stretching out my back legs. When I settled back down I was half on the sheet. It caused Anders to stop writing and look at me.
"Oh, you think you're so sly don't you?"
When I received a playful answer from Anders I took it as permission. I rolled on to my side and playfully slapped at the feather quill in his hand.
"Alright, you win. I'm done."
Mission accomplished
Anders laid the pen down and took both hands and cupped my face. His thumbs rubbed against my cheek bones and I purred. When he stopped he leaned back in his chair and sighed.
Still purring I milked the exchange for all it was worth. I jumped into his lap and curled into a ball. Anders continued to pet me.
Purring was an odd thing. Humans didn't purr. But if I had to explain it I would say it's and emotion. Not the happy emotion people usually try explaining it with. I could be happy and not purr. It was more like contentment. Serenity. Purring was comforting and cats would purr even under duress to make them selves feel better.
I loved the attention, but doesn't everyone love a good back scratch. After what I deemed a suitable amount of time I got down. Anders kicked off his boots and went to his bed in the back of the clinic not too far from his desk. I jumped to his stomach as he laid there. He continued to stroke my fur for a while. His hand dropped. He was tired and weary from the day. I stayed there for a while longer. I dropped my chin to his chest and listened to his breathing. When his breath became slow and steady I knew him to be asleep.
It was my time to leave. This was usually how we ended most days. I jumped to the floor and thought about leaving. For some reason I decided to stay a little longer. I shed my transmuted form and grabbed one of the clean blankets from the pile of neatly folded ones. I covered Anders up. As I stood over him I watched him sleep and a small smile crept onto my lips. I reached down and used my fingers to sweep some of the hair fallen from his pony tail away from his face. I guess I should get out of here now.
I walked to the door. Before I could get there, there came a knocking. I looked back at Anders and he was still asleep. I could just barely see him on the other side of the accordion wall; his only source of privacy that kept his bed separate from the patient cots.
Without thinking I answered the door before the sound had the chance to wake him up. I wanted to let him sleep.
I cracked the door so only my face could be seen and looked out. There were two men and a very pregnant lady on the other side. One of the men was helping the other stand.
"Serah, please. Can you heal my friend?" the man said
"The clinic is closed. The lantern isn't lit."
"Please. My friend was in an accident today at the Bone Pit. One of the mine cars was thrown off its tracks. When he tried to catch it, it fell over on top of him."
The wounded man now tried to speak. "I thought I could walk it off, but it's no good. Please, Serah, I can't miss work. I can barely make ends meet as it is and my wife is heavy with child."
I laid my forehead against the edge of the door as I thought things through. WhydidIanswerthedoor? Waking up Anders now would be awkward. Anders needed to sleep. I didn't want to send these people away. Anders wouldn't send the people away.
I decided to let them in. I would look over the man myself. He was breathing although each breath seemed painful. He was sore. His right arm looked broken due to its discoloration and s shape curve at his wrist. Might have some broken ribs on the right side as well and possibly a flail chest. Fatal if left untreated, but easy to fix with magic. Not too bad all things considered.
I was no spirit healer, but I it would have been irresponsible of me not to have learning some basic healing spells. I lead a dangerous life running around like I do. So I learned the spells to knit flesh, Mend bone, and stop bleeding wounds.
I placed my hands on the man's injuries and hummed the enchantment. My hands lit up as I pictured the man's injuries mending. I watched his face, which was at first tense, relax. I held the spell a while longer until he breathed in sharply. The job was done.
The man sat up from the cot he had been laying and checked himself over.
"Thank you, Thank you, Serah."
His wife came to my side and thanked me again. "This means so much for us. He'll be able to get back to work. Is there anything we can do to repay you?"
"No. there's no charge for my services."
She smiled, but what she said next shocked me, "I'm so glad Anders has found someone to help him out around here. He works so hard and for nothing. I'm glad you're here for him."
I was stunned for a moment, I watched as the three of them left the clinic; the injured man on his own two feet. Once they were gone I shut the door behind them. I leaned up against the door my back to it and slid to the floor.
I would give them a moment to get far enough away without noticing me leaving. I hope this wasn't going to bite me in the ass. Good news is Anders slept through it.
The next day I went to the Hanged Man. It was my usual time to update Mr. Tethras. I had been in Kirkwall for so long now going to the Hanged Man was now a joy. I would walk in and the regulars would give a slight nod. Everyone treated me like I belong. And no one would try grabbing my ass anymore.
I stopped in the door way to Varric's room and leaned against the frame my arms crossed. "You don't pay me enough, you know that?"
Varric turned around from pouring a drink and laughed, "I don't? What makes you say that?"
"You told me I'd have to fight bandits and thieves; you never said anything about templars?"
"Are you sure? And telling you to watch the back of an apostate didn't clue you in?"
"Okay, you make a valid point."
Varric walked over to a drawer he kept his valuables in. He unlocked it and then tossed a small pouch of money to a nearby table; my pay.
I walked over to the table and claimed it. As I looked it over he started talking again, "So, I've been hearing some wild tails from Darktown recently."
"Have you? I don't know what you're talking about?"
"I heard there is a terrible beast stalking the area. Looks like a cat only ten times as large and glowing eyes. Some say when the animal stands up on its hind legs its tall enough to look a man in the eyes. It has sharp claws dripping with poison and a bite strong enough to shred through templar armor."
He paused for a moment as he took a seat in one of the chairs at the table, "And you don't know anything about that?"
I spoke defensively and without thinking. I even pointed a finger at him menacingly, "I made sure there were no survivor!"
Varric relaxed back in the chair and laughed, "That's what I thought, Bright Eyes."
I quickly realized Varric was just teasing. And my confession was just the sort of entertainment he wanted. If there were stories, Varric probably started them himself.
I put my hand to my forehead in defeat. "Just what am I going to do with you, Varric?"
I didn't hear if he answered or not. I was still with in ear shot of the main room of the tavern and a familiar voice quickly grabbed my attention.
I shouted at Varric, "Anders is here."
Without as much as a warning I cast my spell. I started to jump from one piece of furniture to the next to get my self higher. I made it to a ledge just in time. The windows in Varric's room were sealed. But I could still hide on the ledge. It looked as though the Hanged Man used the space to store supplies. It wasn't really Varric's room really, but a room he rented and had been renting for years now.
I crouched down low and listened intently.
"Varric, Just the man or dwarf, I guess, I wanted to see."
"What is it, Blondie?"
"I'm looking for a girl."
It looked like Anders wanted to say more, but Varric interrupted, "About time, I hear the Rivaini is easy."
Anders almost cringed, "Not like that. Lirene came by the clinic. She started asking me about the help I recently acquired. I had no idea what she was talking about. So she told me that I had a patient last night that came for healing. The man's wife spoke to her about it earlier today. I've never heard of the girl. It must have happened while I was out. It has felt like I've been neglecting my patient lately."
"So why are you telling me this?"
"I need your help to find her. You know everything going on in Kirkwall; surely you can find one girl."
"Well the lack of description will make things hard."
"Good thing I got one. She's a mage. Lirene said the women described her as red headed and young. She has bright green eyes. She seemed to remark on that quite a bit."
As I listened to Anders's description of me I noticed that it also pique the interest of someone in the hall. Fenris casually walked into the room, but remained quite until Anders finished.
"I met a mage like that." He said. And somehow he said the word with some smug self satisfaction.
Varric spoke with his friends in his usual manner. I couldn't tell for the life of me what he was thinking. Must be why he's such a good card player.
"You met a mage like that. Do tell, Elf."
"I was on my way home when I stumbled on to an all out brawl. It was one mage and several bandits. I watched for a moment and when it looked like they might have the better of her I pitched in to help."
Fenris lives in Hightown?
Varric egged Fenris on, "You don't say."
"We spoke for a moment and then she was gone. I started asking some questions. It didn't take me long to find out something."
He smiled smugly again and spoke almost with a grimace as he turned to Anders. "Have you tried asking Isabella?"
Maker. It's over isn't it? It's all over.
Anders gave a quick retort, "Oh I'm sorry. Were you talking? I didn't hear you. I'm still in disbelif. Tell me again how you came to the aid of an apostate?"
Fenris seemed a little upset as he kicked a chair out and sat down at the table with Varric. He had obviously not goated the response from Anders he was trying to get.
Varric asked the next question, "So, Blondie, Why do you want to find this girl?"
"Well at first I didn't, but then I started thinking about it and I thought; she might be in trouble. She didn't come for healing for herself. She's a mage and she may have thought it was a safe place for mages. And after hearing about Fenris dealings with her I still figure she might be in a lot of trouble."
Varric relented, "Alright. I'll ask around. I'll see what I can do."
Anders seemed relived and then took his leave. If I was the betting sort I would have put money on the odds that he was back to his clinic.
Fenris was my new obstacle. He was still seated at the table with Varric. And I was ninety percent positive that Isabella had told him my secret; same as Varric.Thatsoddingwhore. I did reserve the last ten percent out of hopeful optimism. But it was soon dashed.
"So where is she, Varric? I saw her walk in."
Varric bluffed for me, "I don't know who you're talking about?"
Fenris was not amused, "Do you really want to play this game?"
The two of them seem dead locked in a glaring competition. He didn't give Varric time to answer. Instead he raised his voice to a shouting level, "Come on out, Kat."
I had no reason to hide any longer. Even if I continued letting Varric lie for me, what was the point? He had already made it clear that he knew. I stood from my current position and started the progression of jumping from place to place until I was back on the ground.
I dissolved the spell that made me a cat and took a seat. "You called?"
Fenris was glaring at me now. It actually made me ponder if that was just his every day look; angry.
"You mages and your secrets."
"Oh you are such a hypocrite you sodding knife-ear. Everyone has secrets."
It took me a moment to realize what I'd called him. Sure it would make Hannah laugh when I'd call her that. To her it was a complement. However, it might offend and actual elf.
If he was offended I couldn't tell. He seemed to take the insult lightly and almost dignifying. Rather bold of him actually. A good quality.I tried to cover it up by saying something else. "So... Why were you looking for me?"
His eyes softened for a brief moment. He quickly turned his head almost as if he didn't want me to see him vulnerable. A reaction I bet he was hoping I hadn't picked up on.
I bit my lip at his response. It may not have been words, but I knew its meaning. I thought back the night we spoke. I remembered my flirting and how it had been out of desperation and distraction. And yet, His response to me must have been genuine. He had been interested. Enough to look for me anyway.
We were lucky to have Varric there. He broke the awkward tension. "So anyone need a drink, Hey, Norah send us some drinks up here."
I wondered exactly what the emotion was behind what Fenris was thinking. I knew I'd never get a straight answer. His body language was more than he probably wanted to admit on the subject. It did have me thinking I may have judged him too harshly before.
If I had wanted a shot with the elf, I had to assume that I'd blown it. But after a couple of drinks we had come to an understanding of one another. And that was enough; enough to sustain a friendship.
I knew he would keep my secret when he asked, "So, what are you going to do about Anders?"
I looked at him, "Don't worry, I'll think of something."
And then I looked at Varric, "Isn't that what you're paying me for?"
I stood from the table and started to take liberties with Varric's room; using the basin and mirror to freshen my appearance. I washed my face, neck, chest, and hands. I also sponged off my black leather and adjusted the straps and buckles. After tossing my hair through my hands to give it more volume I was done. I didn't want to meet Anders for the first time looking like I slept most nights out on the streets; even if it was true.
I turned around and faced my audience. They both looked at me amused. Varric voiced his amusement, "Getting ready for a hot date there, Bright Eyes?"
"What! When is making sure you look presentable cause to tease me about vanity?"
Fenris added, "I don't know. Don't think you'd have made the effort if you were meeting me."
My cheeks flushed and I could feel the heat, "I just wanted to make a good first impression."
Both Varric and Fenris laughed. But the former commented, "You look offaly flushed for it not to be true."
"I'm flushed because we've been drinking. And you two are drunk. That's why you're crazy."
I stormed out of the Hanged Man and left my two friends laughing their ass off. I could believe the nerve of those two. But, I had somewhere to be.
