When they entered into the underground of the fortress, Anders winced holding his head. Jennifer was at his side, her hand on his arm as he gritted his teeth. She gently kissed his temple and he straightened looking at Jennifer sadly, "Sorry love, being this close to the Deep Roads isn't as much fun as it seemed five years ago." He smirked and Jennifer kissed his lips this time, sliding her hands up his arms to his shoulders, smiling in understanding.

They roamed through the corridors coming upon a heavily built door and Hawke kicked it open. Large darkspawn with massive teeth and thick muscles were feasting upon fallen dwarves, ones that fled after Hawke defeated Rhatigan. They looked up, innards from the dwarves dangling from their maw, they let forth a guttural roar as their face twisted and they all removed their weapons. Through the halls they fought, removing the demons from their prisons, Hawke became more and more uneasy as they rushed through.

His father, his father had replenished the prison, with his own blood. It was heart wrenching to see the realization on Hawke's face when his father confessed, but he looked away in sadness when he learned why. He did it to protect his family, to start a life. His father was remorseful over what he did, hoping that his wife, Leandra never discovered what he had done, and more than likely hoping that his children never had discovered it either. Hawke's eyes shined with unshed tears as his father spoke those words and he turned quickly on his heel, hoping to escape.

-ooo-

Floor upon floor of darkspawn, a mad ghoul of a Warden-Commander, and ignorant Lieutenant this fortress was wearing on everyone, the tense set of their shoulders, the drop of their eyes. They had been roaming the corridors for days, puzzles, traps, creatures and magical beings. When they set camp, no one was alone, two on, two off. Sleep was a precious thing that was a commodity to come by.

Anders was fairing the worst. The taint within his blood agitating him, and causing the niggle in the back of his mind to flare when darkspawn were close by. When Anders clutched his head and closed his eyes tightly, Jennifer didn't even know if the mage could hear her. She gripped his face in her hands and called out for him, fear striking her heart. He looked up at her, pain lancing his eyes.

They continued on, down and out, out and down. Further and further into the belly of the fortress they scoured the grounds. When they came upon the deepest of the levels, that directly connected to the Deep Roads, they ground clung to their boots, as if to devour them into the very ground. Their legs burned with the trek through the tainted mud.

Deepstalkers, a reptilian looking creature with a rounded mouth tittered calling for help, hordes followed spitting toxic saliva at the group, it eroded leather and steel alike, Varric through his coat to the ground, kicking mud onto the garment to stop the burn of the fine leather. Farther still were spiders, big grotesque ones spitting and chittering assailants against the group and the deepstalkers, each other making a meal out of the other, save for the group. They hacked and slashed their way through the pathways, they came to a long stretch of paved stone, the group paused to tap their boots and clean their weapons. After a moment of eating and savoring what little bit of the water they could allow, they continued on.

A gunlock rammed into Hawke and Jennifer, knocking them back. Jennifer inhaled deeply taking in much needed air after landing on her back. She rolled backwards, and coughed, she felt the rejuvenating effects of Anders' spell and she leapt up to attack the enlarged darkspawn. Swipe, jab, spin, swipe. She repeated these over and over till the darkspawn turned slamming his shield into the ground, digging at the ground, they parted as the gunlock moved to make his second charge, he clipped Anders ankle, sending him sprawling on the ground, Jennifer was there at his side immediately.

Her hands hovered above his foot healing it as best she could before grabbing the mage and rolling away as the gunlock slammed his shield down where they sat, Jennifer smirked kissing Anders on the cheek once before rolling to her feet and bounding off towards the gunlock. The large beast fell shortly after as Hawke's key cleaved through its skull.

Anders healed his ankle with a sigh. Jennifer smiled at him cocking her hip to the side. "If I didn't know any better, I would say you are getting old." She snickered.

Anders laughed sarcastically before kissing her quickly on the lips and grabbing hold of her hand. He kneaded her fingers with his own, savoring their softness and warmth against the chill of the dank Deep Roads.

They continued on. Fighting and defending, killing and running, but when they came upon a spiraled path to the surface, everything tumbled apart. Anders doubled over, gripping his head tightly pulling at the hair on his head and pushing the heels of his hands into his eyes. Jennifer hurried to him, holding him in her arms as he gritted his teeth and cried out in pain. "Anders? Love? Anders talk to me." She cupped his face in her hands and he winced as blue white light flickered across his eyes, along his skin.

He gripped her forearms, his fingers diffing into her flesh. "Love," She whispered. "Anders, look at me. What's wrong?" Jennifer looked back at Hawke and Varric, both shrugged.

"I can't-" He grunted in pain as black mist swirled around him. "It's too much, the taint in my blood." He dug his fingers further into Jennifer's arms and she winced as his nails bit flesh causing scarlet beads to well up against his fingers. "Love, help me." She grunted again. "I will- not- be… controlled." His eyes snapped open, Justice glowered back at Jennifer, standing and throwing Jennifer down as he summoned two shades next to him.

Jennifer gasped, fear clenching her heart as she ran back to Anders, Hawke and Varric attacked the shades. Arrows, steel and claws whirled around her as she focused on the man she loved so dearly. Jennifer gripped his face in her hands once again, but Justice caught her by the shoulders. "Justice, please! He's not being controlled! Leave him alone!" Jennifer blinked away the tears as she pleaded with the spirit. He's mine. He's my Anders! When he growled and moved to throw her again, Jennifer leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him to kissed him deeply. Justice stilled beneath her lips, but still she pressed forward, deepening the kiss – her tongue begging for entry. When Justice finally began to relax, Jennifer pulled back and looked at Justice intently. "No one will control him, not even you." She brushed a stray lock of hair behind his ear. "It is not Justice to brand him a monster, I will protect him and you, just like you both have protected me." She rested her head on his chest and hugged Justice tightly. "I love you." The light in Anders' eyes vanish, leaving the brilliant honey gold. Anders blinked before collapsing to his knees. Jennifer fell with him, her hands feathering along his arms with a soothing spell dancing at her fingertips.

Anders smiled softly. "You're getting better."

"That's because I have a magnificent teacher." She smirked, but her eyes warred with confusion and worry.

He ran the backs of his fingers along her cheek and closed his eyes. "I'm so sorry, love, it seems the taint is stronger than I could ever have thought." How much longer do we have? How much longer till the taint changes you into something like the Warden-Commander? I'm so scared love…

Jennifer shook her head. "A conversation for another time." This time her smile was genuine and she helped Anders to his feet as Hawke and Varric made their way to them.

"All better, Blondie?" Varric smirked.

Anders nodded slowly. "Sorry about that." Jennifer gripped his hand tightly in hers. Each digit moving in between his, her thumb running across his. Her hear was hammering in her chest pain and sorrow tightened her chest as she realized. Maybe I don't have all the time in the world with him. Tears threatened to fall as they moved their way through the remainder of the prison.