Aryana throws on a tunic. The only footwear she has are the awful templar boots. She pulls them on, her hands frustratingly slow with the awkward fastenings. Fenris stirs, but doesn't open his eyes and so she leaves him there, asleep.
The moon offers enough light for her to find Anders' tent. It is empty. There is a small noise off in the distance and she starts walking towards it. As the sound get fainter, she breaks into a run, crashing through the undergrowth in the heavy, clumsy boots. After a while she stops to listen again, but now there is nothing except the sound of her own heaving lungs. She has no idea which direction he has gone. If she goes much further, it will be difficult to find her way back to the camp in the dark. With a heavy heart, she turns around and makes her way back.
As she approaches the cluster of tents, Fenris runs towards her, half-dressed and disheveled. "Anders has gone," is all she says.
Wide-eyed and confused he takes her in his arms and holds her, smoothing her hair with his hands.
~~~ o ~~~
When sleep claims her, it is only to torment her with nightmares: the blank hopelessness of Anders' expression and images of him walking, alone in the cold, dark landscape. It is a relief when the sun rises, and she can finally do something.
She scrambles into some clothes and goes straight to Anders tent - still empty. She runs down to the river. Jason and Zevran are there already, bathing in the clear water.
"Ready to go?" says Jason.
"Have you seen Anders?"
"Not yet, " says Jason.
"He's not in his tent," she says. Jason shrugs.
" I can't find him anywhere," she says.
"Where's he going to go on his own?" says Jason, turning away and continuing with his ablutions.
A wave of frustration rises up inside her. She walks to the rivers' edge and splashes her face again and again with the cold, numbing water.
~~~ o ~~~
After they've packed up the tents and loaded the wagon, they stand around, looking at one another.
"This is ridiculous," says Rafe. "This entire facade is for Anders. Why would he risk wandering off in the middle of the night?"
"You had another row didn't you?" says Isabela, casting an angry look at Aryana.
Aryana shakes her head.
"What then?" says Isabela.
"He was upset," Aryana mumbles.
"Think!" says Zevran. "Where would he go from here?"
"Don't ask me. I never could second guess him." says Aryana, tersely.
"The sanctuary?" asks Varric.
"I have the only copy of the map," says Rafe.
"But he's seen it, and the man has a remarkable memory," says Jason.
"Storming off in a sulk was he? Hey Broody, isn't this your forte? Where would you go?" says Varric.
Fenris scowls.
"Well I'm going back to Highever," says Varric. "If he wants to find us, that's where he'll look."
"I'm not going back" says Jason. "It's not all about him. I've got my mind set on seeing Morrigan. I'll follow my own agenda now. Rafe?"
"With you," says Rafe.
"And I'll come with you," says Zevran.
"Me too," says Isabela.
"You go on, all of you," says Aryana, hearing a sharp edge to her voice that she hadn't intended. "I'll try the villages near here. If I don't find him, I'll go back to Highever." She turns, and Fenris is already beside her.
~~~ o ~~~
It is a quiet, sombre parting of the ways. Aryana and Fenris forgo the templar armor now, pulling shabby cloaks over the top of their normal attire. Aryana watches as Jason and the others depart. She stares at the empty road long minutes after they've disappeared from view.
Fenris brings his horse up close and places his hand over hers. It startles her, bringing her attention back to the moment.
"We should get on," he says, a glimmer of a frown crossing his forehead.
She sighs and turns her horse toward the rough road, urging it forward at a slow pace.
"I'm glad to be out of that templar armor," she says. "I don't know how you can stand being in armor all day."
"I like living," says Fenris, "and you get used to the weight of it."
"You get used to anything I suppose. Just as well."
He comes alongside her and catches her hand and the reins of her horse, pulling it to a stop.
"I should have been more patient, waited," he says.
"I don't blame you, Fenris." She feels tears prick the back of her eyes. "He set all of this in motion, we're just playing out the consequences."
~~~ o ~~~
On the first day, they ride into a small village on the north side of the road. Fenris pulls his cowl over his head as they enter the marketplace. While elves are not an uncommon sight, his tattoos generally draw attention and they need to keep a low profile. He stays with the horses while Aryana buys supplies in the marketplace.
Cheese, we need cheese. She goes over to a middle-aged woman who is unwrapping a wheel of cheese from its loose-woven cloth covering. The woman jumps when Aryana speaks.
"Is everything all right around here," asks Aryana, "people seem a little edgy."
"We've had a lot of templars through here the last two days. They beat up my cousin they did, and he don't know nothin' 'bout that renegade."
"They beat up your cousin?"
"Seems he looked like someone," she jerks her head and Aryana follows her gesture. A short distance away, sitting on a wagon loaded with potatoes is a slim young man with long blonde hair and a delicate, angular face. His eyes are black and his arms are badly bruised.
"Someone they're after?" says Aryana, weakly.
The woman gives a short scornful laugh. "Don't play the ignorant with me dearie. The templars are all over Ferelden looking for the apostate that blew up the Chantry." She squints and peers at Aryana. "Seems mighty strange if you aint heard about it."
"I've been on the road a long time," says Aryana.
"Huurrmmph," says the woman, looking unconvinced.
Aryana gathers up her bundle of goods and walks back to Fenris.
"We need to move faster," she says.
~~~ o ~~~
On the second day they come to Jader. It is much easier to be anonymous here than in the smaller villages. The rumor in Jader is that Sebastian Vale has rallied a large army and brought it to Ferelden to ride with the templars.
They take a room at an inn on the outskirts of the city.
"His disguise won't fool Sebastian for a minute," whispers Aryana, in the darkness.
They pack up and leave Jader before dawn.
~~~ o ~~~
On the third day they come to the settlement at Gherlen's Pass. The path they have been traveling is heavily imprinted with fresh horse tracks, as though a large force recently passed through.
"I have to look around," says Aryana.
He thinks this foolish, she can see it in his eyes, but when she urges her horse forward, he follows.
The stables are full of armored horses, templar horses. They count them silently as they tie up their own mounts.
"Fifteen," says Fenris, under his breath. "Too many to fight."
They make their way to the back door of the inn. The templars are inside, eating at a long trestle table. Fenris sits down at the other side of the room while Aryana sidles up to the bar.
"Ale, two," she says. The barman pulls a couple of tankards from under the counter and fills them from a large barrel. He slaps them down on the counter and takes her coin with hardly a word.
She sits down next to Fenris. They settle with the drinks, pretending to play cards while they listen to the faint strains of conversation that drift across the room.
Aryana feels a knot of anxiety as she looks at them more closely. These are no low-ranking novices. The marks on their armor distinguish them as experienced men. There is one in black armor, a striking albino with piercing eyes. As if he can hear her thoughts, the albino turns his gaze upon her. He contemplates her for a while, then turns back to his comrades.
As they continue their pretense, she starts to feel more and more uncomfortable. She looks over at the albino knight again. A prickling sensation runs along the back of her neck: the power of the man is tangible. He shifts his posture a little and she sees a flash of his cloak and an insignia: Knight-Vigilant.
A cold heavy feeling grips her. "We should go," she mouths at Fenris. They put away the cards and stand, then make their way to the door.
The albino's eyes lock onto them. He stands and claps his hands together for attention.
"Fellow Templars, pay heed!" He waits until the room is quiet before continuing. "I have received word - the renegade has been apprehended." A gasp goes around the room. The albino raises his hand in a benevolent gesture. "Brothers, sisters - the enemy has been neutralized by the Rite of Tranquility. "
The templars roar their approval, banging their tankards onto the table repeatedly, as they chant a cry of victory. Aryana feels Fenris' hand on her arm but she's frozen to the spot. The albino smiles directly at her. A cold smile. A smile of victory.
He knows. He knows me. Anger rises up inside her, she pulls her arm from Fenris' hand.
"He's baiting you," Fenris hisses. His hand grips hers so hard it hurts.
"I'm going to kill him, " she seethes.
"There's too many to fight," Fenris gasps with an urgency that pulls her back from the edge. He seizes the moment and pulls her toward the doorway with great force.
They spill out into the street.
"Run," he says, sprinting for the stables and pulling her with him. They run hard, her legs and lungs screaming at the sudden exertion.
Templars pour out of the inn behind them, but they have a head start and they are much faster than the knights.
When they reach the stables they swing around to face the onslaught. Fenris pulls his sword out, covering the front line. Aryana stands behind him, starting an incantation.
This will be a disaster, but I can't live without it. Anders face flashes before her. She remembers his voice, remembers the first time he kissed her. The words of her spell catch in her throat.
I can't give you a normal life. The whole world will be against us. The spell collapses in on itself. Her breath comes short and shallow as she tries to compose herself. Anders, Anders. Oh Maker, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. She chokes up. She can't think or breathe.
Fenris turns around, a look of absolute alarm on his face. "Get on the horse!" he yells.
She gets a foot onto the stirrup but it's too late. One of the templars grabs her wrist and yanks her to the ground, slicing a blade across her legs as she falls.
The pain cuts through her tangled thoughts and her core survival instinct kicks in, bringing a spell into focus. It shimmers in the air and then dissolves around his armor. She throws something more powerful, the most powerful thing she has. Mercifully, the templar is caught up in it.
Got to get some distance. The horse has bolted so she runs.
She wants to run faster but her legs won't obey. She glances down. Bleeding, it's bad. She can feel them approaching, hear their heavy footsteps and ragged breaths right behind her. She calms her mind, drawing on that inner strength that has kept her alive all these years. She turns, but there is no time for an offensive. One of the knights grabs her arm, throwing her off balance. Another grabs the other side of her and a third wraps his arm around her neck, pushing into the small of her back until she is down on her knees.
Out of the corner of her eye she can see Fenris fighting in the distance, templars falling around the fury that is his blade. She feels a momentary surge of determination and struggles, but she's lost a lot of blood and the scene starts to swim before her eyes.
The albino appears before her, staring at her for several long minutes before speaking.
"Do you think we templars are so stupid you can walk among us undetected, Champion?" He spits her name out, scorn riding on every word.
Her legs go weak and she slumps a little, head hanging forward. A rough hand grabs a handful of her hair, yanking her head back. She opens her eyes and the sky is bright. She hears a swoosh of wings and a loud cawing. A large black crow swoops down, grazing the side of her head.
It can't end like this.
The albino comes closer, his hand goes to her forehead.
"No! No! Don't you dare!" she hears Fenris' in the distance.
Fenris. My Fenris.
The pain has gone from her leg and the sounds of swordplay fade into the distance. The albino is in front of her, his hand reaches out towards her face. There is a rush of images through her mind: Bethany, mother, Anders and Fenris - passionate, angry, her all-consuming love. Then the weight of it all lifts from her chest and darkness closes in.
