Open Arms Chapter 11
*Alanni*
She brought her dagger across the Templars throat and quickly stepped back as the body collapsed to the ground, blood staining the floor. Slowly she looked around. The floor was littered with bodies, mages and Templars alike all caught in a battle they had nothing to do with. She looked to her friends, each one replacing their weapons, covered in blood. She hardened at the sight.
"Are you ok, Hawke?" Varric asked as she too re-sheathed her daggers. She Nodded in response. "Are all of you ok?"
Her companions all nodded, and her relief showed on her face.
"Never better." She froze in spot as his voice reached her. She had almost forgot he was here. Almost. Turning around she knew she had to face the inevitable. She had trusted Anders. He knew her well. That made what he did all the more terrible.
"I do not believe she was speaking to you." Sebastian stepped up and took a place by her side.
Anders laughed and rose from the crate. "Maker Vael, haven't you done enough?"
"Anders don't! you know as well as I that this is not is fault. This was you."
He laughed again and shook his head. " So what are you going to do? Kill me? Are you going to kill the man you love?" a sick demented smile spread across his face. His arms opened wide as if waiting for the final strike.
"I think he should come with us. Make things right." Merill's voice perked up, small and almost silent behind her.
"And how do you expect he makes this right?" Aveline asked. "People died."
"What are you waiting for, love?" he moved closer to Alanni. "Come on. I know you can do it. You would be lying to your self otherwise."
"Anders! Stop it!" Isabella screamed from behind her.
"Why are you doing this?" Alanni managed to choke out. Her throat felt raw as her voice escaped.
"Why?" he crossed his arms and smiled up at the redden sky. "You lied to me! You say you always felt second to my cause, how do you think I felt? Always second when it came to him!"
"What does this have to do with anything?" she threw out her arms in frustration.
"You think I would sit back and do nothing while you ran off and played champion?"
she gasped. "You act as if I wanted this. As if I wanted to have the responsible for the lives around me! I HAD NO CHOICE!"
"We all HAVE choice!" he screamed his fist clenched. Alanni saw Sebastian flinch next to her, reaching for his bow.
"We all have choice." Anders repeated his words. "I have made mine." Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a small knife and handed it to her. "Now you have to make yours."
He rolled the knife into her hand. She stared at it, its bright red hilt screaming against her hand. The color of blood. The color that always seemed to surround her. She turned and faced Sebastian. She had always regretted not telling him. Not making the one decision she thought would benefit her. Make her happy.
But now was not the time. People were dying around her. The mages needed her.
"No." she stood her ground firmly and let the knife slip of her fingers.
"NO?" Sebastian sounded furious. "Alanni you can't possibly-" she held up her hand cutting him off. "Find him in the fight then. I will not give him the satisfaction of being a martyr." She glared at Anders one last time before turning to her friends and leading them away to the gallows.
*Sebastian*
He turned to follow silently. He didn't want to leave, not with the abomination alive. But Alanni made a clear point, him dying as a martyr would only fuel the flames that the needed to extinguish. Stopping at the head of the stairs, he turned and scowled at the mage behind him.
"Are you happy, Vael?" his voice was monotone.
Ignoring him Sebastian turned and went to follow his companions down the stairs.
"I'll always be second to you."
Sebastian stopped and froze, his heart pace speeding bit by bit. Slowly the words hit him. " And why should I even trust your words?" he asked with out turning around. He could see the shadows of his companions as the rounded the corner away from him. The shadows had stop.
Behind him footsteps echoed as Anders came into his peripheral. "Don't then. But trust these words. I will find you in the battle⦠before you find me."
A/N ok soo i thought i could write this better but i got stumpped. i love the idea of hawke and sebastian leaving anders alive so he wont be a martyr. idk what will happen with him but im sure ill figure something. R&R
