Chapter 10
In the dead of night Anders was strutting alongside Marius down the Wounded Coast to Kirkwall. He was feeling ill at ease, which had nothing to do with the heavy darkness surrounding them, but everything with their destination. 'Are you sure this is a good idea? Couldn't we have better planned this meeting in one of the caves?' It wasn't the first time he posed this particular question. The words had whirled around his head for more hours than he cared to count but, to be frank, he been too afraid for the answer.
Marius grimaced. 'Take it from me, your clinic is at this moment the safest spot in the whole of Kirkwall and its far surroundings for you. For every mage, in fact. The Guard, as well as the Templars, have already searched the place thoroughly, they won't return. You should brace yourself though, they have completely wrecked the premises. I've tried to clean up as best I could but there was not much I could do and even less to salvage.'
An hour later Anders stood in what once had been his sanctuary. Despite Marius's warning he was shocked. He was the first to admit it never had been the nicest place in the city to start with, but now it was but a ruin. Everything was smashed to pieces; even the walls bore big holes and cracks as if they were crushed with mallets. For the briefest of moments his eyes fluttered to one particular part. It seemed to be unharmed. He bit the inside of his cheek. Extraordinary, he thought. Who would have thought... that specific part... unscathed and left alone... With a sigh he returned his attention to the harsh present. No need to mention this to his apprentice. He never noticed the very apprentice following his gaze and storing it away for, how knows, future use.
'Why would they do such a thing?' Anders asked with a choked voice.
'An act out of spite and frustration,' a voice sounded at the entrance. Both Anders and Marius spun around to see a Templar standing in the doorway. He had reddish hair and wore a neatly trimmed beard. Anders noted his eyes swivelled around as if scouting the place and he realised this Templar was far more intelligent – and thus dangerous – than the usual behemoth "hit them were it hurts" types.
'The Templars were livid when they found the place deserted and couldn't discover anything of import. They worked off their anger on destroying the place,' the man continued with a little humourless smile.
'And you must be Thrask,' Anders said, sizing the man up. He vaguely remembered he had seen him once or twice in the Gallows. 'The Templar who wants to help the mages.' Now he put it into words it even sounded more dubious.
Thrask stepped forward and offered Anders his hand which the mage, after some hesitation, shook. Thrask's grip was firm. 'Don't get me wrong,' he said forthright, 'it is not my intent to set all mages free; I want them to work together with the Templars. And I absolutely don't condone blood magic.'
'Neither do I,' Anders replied. 'And could you please clarify what you mean with "work together"?'
'It is my goal to put an end to the oppression. I don't want to abolish the Circle, that would be too dangerous, but I strive for cooperation and a certain amount of equality.'
'That is not sufficient,' Justice rumbled. 'It is total freedom we strive for.'
'Shut up,' Anders shot silently back fractiously. 'You have caused damage enough already. All this mess is due to you and your stupid actions.' He knew that was not entirely true and far from fair, but lately he had grown very tired of the spirit. Thankfully Justice kept quiet after his scolding. Out loud Anders said, 'And how do you think to accomplish that?'
The Templar smiled thinly. 'We can't accomplish anything while Meredith is still in charge. Her tyrannical reign will only lead to rebellion and destruction. So, our first goal should be bringing her down.'
Anders looked at him with a mixture of praise and suspicion. Orsino had mentioned that daring plan earlier, but he wasn't sure it was wise to reveal the first Enchanter's ideas or even divulge he had conferred with him. He didn't know how much Thrask was informed about Orsino's moves. Somewhat sarcastically he said, 'Any idea how? I'm sorry. I would like to offer you a seat but it seems your fellow Templars have all shattered them.'
Thrask waved a hand. 'Please, don't compare me to the likes of them. You know I'm here to discuss with you how to put an end to this kind of disgusting actions.'
'Meredith is unassailable,' Anders objected. 'We can't touch her.'
'It will be difficult but not impossible,' Thrask waylaid the argument. 'There are, for example, her weekly visits to the Chantry. On those occasions she is, of course, always surrounded by her most trusted bodyguards, but we have one valuable weapon, or even two.' He paused for a heartbeat, taking in Anders's sceptical expression. 'The first one is determination and second, though most important, one is the element of surprise. But only if we plan it extremely carefully.'
Anders started to pace the room. 'You mean to abduct or even kill the Knight Commander in broad daylight, in the middle of Hightown,' he said flatly.
'In this season it won't be broad daylight. And Hightown is a much more convenient place for an assault than the Gallows are.'
'How many Templars can you rely on?'
'I can count on nine trustworthy men.'
'Just nine?!'
'Keep in mind I have to move very vigilantly. If just one word of what I'm doing leaks out, not only my life will be forfeit but also that of the men and women who stand behind me. Not to forget the whole operation will be ruined. But besides those nine Templars, I can call upon at least twelve Circle mages.'
Anders tapped his finger on his chin. 'The Mage Underground Movement consist of about fifteen mages at this moment,' he said pensively.
'I told you I don't put up with blood magic and, pardon me for saying so, but your Movement is notorious for dabbling in it.'
Anders turned around and glared irritably at the Templar. 'Yes, I'm aware of that. I don't approve but it is your Knight Commander who more or less pushes them in that direction.'
Thrask heaved his hand in a pacifying gesture. 'I'm aware of that. And you can make use of their assistance in our fight, as long as you can guarantee me that they will stick to the conventional magic.'
Marius leant against a part of the wall that had remained undamaged and listened quietly to the discussion that had arisen. He smiled inwardly. They could scheme as much as they wanted to, in the end it was his plan that would be carried out. And that plan was taking more form by the minute.
Fenris carried Albran through the door of their bedroom and laid her delicately on the bed. He straddled her and lightly put his hands upon her shoulders. He bent down and murmured, 'Have you any idea how much I love you?'
She looked at him through half opened eyes. 'If I say no, what will you do?'
He gave her his most breathtaking smile. 'That would be the vital question, wouldn't it,' he whispered. 'How to convince you.'
She backed down a shiver when his husky voice that sounded like rough velvet entered her ear. His fingers tenderly trailed down the contour of her face, softly brushing away some loose strands of hair. Her breath hitched when his lips touched hers. Fiery bolts of pleasure rippled along her nerves and her hands gripped his upper arms.
'Fenris!' It was but a gasp, a wisp of air.
She felt him smile and he rubbed his nose against hers. He turned her on her stomach and removed her tunic and breast band. His hands caressed her and he started to ever so gently massage her. His mouth followed and she felt his warm breath swirl on her skin when he sensually whispered, 'Would this be enough, I wonder, or would you demand more evidence.' She could only whimper something incoherently. He loosened knots in her muscles she didn't even knew existed. It felt heavenly. Slowly he worked his way down her spine and all the time his soft kisses accompanied the deftly movements of his skilled fingers. When he arrived at the end of her back she was but a pool of quivering surrender, completely at his mercy.
He freed her of her trousers and underclothes. 'Should I give more proof of my love for you? Or are you already satisfied?' He almost ignited her with just his reverberating low timbre, that made her every sinew pulsate with want and expectation.
'Please,' she managed with difficulty.
He cupped her buttocks and squeezed softly. 'You have the most admirable behind I have ever seen,' he declared and emphasized his words with yet another kiss. He let his body glide over hers until he covered her. Somewhere he had undressed himself without her noticing, and now she felt his warm naked skin upon hers, his hard yet supple muscles touching every inch of her back. He nibbled her earlobe. 'You are so beautiful,' he breathed. 'And I want you so badly.'
At this, the last fragment of her sanity melted.
'What's holding you back?' she croaked. She was putty in his hands, especially when his voice floated around her. She wanted to drift on the deep tone of that voice, she wanted to dissolve under his fingers.
She sensed the presence of his erect shaft between her thighs and bucked. He touched her entrance and she let out a loud moan. He chortled quietly and turned her again. At this time she had become totally defenceless and couldn't care less about it. She was all but willing to submit to whatever he desired. His lips closed around a nipple and he let his tongue twirl around the rose peak while his hand wandered south and touched her sensitive nub, playing deceitfully lazily with it, sending hot arrows of delight through her body. She groaned helplessly. His mouth travelled upwards; he adored every piece of skin he came across until he reached her lips. The moment he started to kiss her and let his tongue stroke hers, his hardened length entered her core. He easily slid through her wetness until he filled her completely. He framed her face and looked into her shining eyes and at the same time he slowly began to move.
'Do you believe me now?'
'I have always believed you,' she cried.
'Will you believe me when I tell you I will never leave you?'
'Yes.'
'That I will never hurt you?'
'Yes.' Her voice was but a feeble sigh at this moment.
He tenderly licked the tears from her face and leant his cheek on hers. 'You mean everything to me. Don't ever forget that.'
Shortly after that her whole world seemed to exist out of pure ecstasy when he dragged her with him into a mighty climax that whirled her into a hurricane of electrifying feelings and emotions.
It took them both a long time before they were able to breathe normally again, let alone speak.
'Oh Maker, Albran,' Fenris finally panted, still boneless lying on top of her and struggling for air.
'You know, for some reason or another I always thought that make up sex would be a lot ... more rough,' she chuckled hoarsely. 'Not some kind of overwhelming love declaration.'
He heaved his head and touched her face. 'Disappointed?'
Albran laughed throatily, sniffing her last tears away. 'I think you missed the word "overwhelming" in my sentence, my wondrous husband.'
'Not disappointed. Good.' He turned to his side and took her with him in his arms. 'What about we stay in bed until the wedding day and let everyone else do the stressing bits.'
'I totally agree,' she mumbled, utterly fulfilled.
But, of course, at that very moment Bodahn knocked at the door. 'Messeres? You have a visitor.'
'Oh bloody hell, not again,' Albran groused irritably. 'Why can't they just leave us at peace?'
And yet another Templar was waiting to deliver a message, albeit this time Meredith hadn't sent her Captain but one of her lieutenants. The woman looked flushed and embarrassed, though Albran didn't know whether it was because of the noises that had come out of the bedroom she undoubtedly must have heard, or that she felt uneasy she had to order her to come with her to Gallows, as she so eloquently stated, making Hawke raise her brow.
Even though, at that moment, the lieutenant was still convinced of herself and drenched with righteousness, a little splinter of uncertainty started to pierce her poise. Possibly her timing could have been better.
'The Knight Commander wishes to see you right away, Champion,' she said stiffly.
'I have no desire at all to see her,' Albran answered curtly, eyeing the Templar with such cold insolence Fenris could have taken lessons. 'Especially not right away.'
The woman shifted uneasily. 'In that case I have to arrest you, I'm sorry to say, so you better come with me on your own account,' she stated. It was clear that awkwardness started creeping in and was drilling big holes into her self-confidence. And it was about to get worse.
Fenris made an intimidating step forwards, all his markings ablaze. He wanted to make a not to misunderstand point. The Templar shrank back. 'The Champion has to come alone.' she squeaked. 'Without company, that is.'
The elf grinned very unpleasantly. 'It is always nice to find out your reputation does you credit,' he snarled. 'And I'm afraid everything you heard about me is true. Hereby I tell you Albran is not going to confront that bitch of yours on her own.'
'Those are my orders,' the woman wheezed pathetically and she almost fled the estate when Fenris took another step in her direction.
'My love,' Albran intervened with a badly concealed smirk, 'why don't we behave like obedient citizens and follow the nice lady to do the Knight Commander's bidding without protest?' She addressed the frightened Templar with a saccharine voice, 'And yes, Fenris is coming with me. After all, it is a well known fact he is my bodyguard, at least the noble aristocrats around here are convinced of that fact, and he would be a lousy one if he would leave me at your or your superior's clemency, wouldn't he.'
The poor woman burbled something incomprehensible but had no choice than to comply. All the way to the Gallows she tried to stay as far away from Fenris as possible. The elf had a hard time not to burst into laughter.
'You did what?' Varric stared incredulously at Fenris.
The elf nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. 'I knocked her flat out. She threatened to imprison Albran, I didn't agree. What of it?'
'You knocked her out and got away with it?! You should be halfway to Antiva by now! And you, you!' The dwarf turned heatedly to Albran and pointed an accusing finger at her. 'You never even thought to invite me to your intimate tête-à-tête with the Knight Commander? How am I supposed to keep my readers satisfied if I can't record at firsthand what happens with and takes place around their beloved Champion? And why are you still walking around free while we're at it?! And I mean the both of you!'
Hawke flashed him her most enthralling smile. 'I fear I owe Cullen more than one, after this incident. The poor man must have the worst time of his life by now. I truly admire him about how he handles and succeeds to mollify that deranged virago. It indeed is a pity you weren't present with you sharp quill. But with or without you, Meredith will be the laugh of Kirkwall tomorrow. I at least hope she will back down for a while. Trying to take me into custody, imagine that.'
She sat down and only when she took the glass of brandy Varric proffered, he noticed her hands were trembling, even though she tried to hide it. A sudden coldness hit him. He got the nasty feeling something ugly was waiting around the corner.
Thrask let out a big sigh. He wasn't exactly sure what had happened, but rumour had it the Champion's fiancé had punched Meredith unconscious in a fit of flaring fury. He grinned inwardly. It is what she deserved, he thought, a shame, really, he didn't finish her off while he had the opportunity. Would have saved me and this city a lot of trouble. A welcome side-effect was that whatever whoever could have noticed about his sneaking out of the Gallows, and meeting Anders in the Undercity, would keep their mouth shut. Nobody in their sane mind would risk Meredith's wrath at this time, not even with a story about a Templar bonding with a mage. He was extremely glad he didn't have to walk in the Knight Captain's shoes this very moment. Probably the worst place to be for quite a time.
The mages had all been sent to their cells but he knew there would be plenty of time and lots of occasion this evening to call a meeting. No other Templar, let alone the Knight Captain, would pay attention. And the Commander would just be busy to lick her wounds and shout at Cullen. Yes, this night they would hatch plans to get rid of Meredith for good.
