While Gabrielle was preparing dinner in what passed for evening down in the deep roads, she found herself sitting next to Anders again. There was still a charged atmosphere between them - one that she didn't quite know how to handle. She was attracted to him - but she wasn't sure if it was worth the effort. There was none of the sweet uncertainty about the man that Tobias had. He seemed to take their interactions calmly - as though he'd been through the dance many times before and knew the steps better than his partner.

She wasn't experienced in relationships outside the Tower. In the Tower assignations were rushed - carried out in storerooms and closets. There was little opportunity for privacy. Tobias and she had really only managed the actual... act... a few times and although it had been pleasurable - eventually - she had hardly had any time to learn.. technique.

Something told her that a good deal of Anders' time outside the Tower had been spent making up for that lack of opportunity. The thought made her shiver - especially coupled with the image she had in her head of him standing on the ledge releasing unchecked power. Being near him was distracting.

And he seemed to have taken her earlier outburst as a warning not to go near her again. Apart from the odd moment when she caught him looking at her he'd been nothing but friendly on this trip and part of her was kicking herself. If she wanted anything to happen now, it was painfully obvious she was going to have to instigate it herself.

All these things and more were going through her head when she felt him settle on the rocks next to her. She didn't know what to say or do around him any more and it was making her angry.

"So," she said finally. "What did you do when you escaped the tower?"

"The first time? Or every time?" he replied.

"How many times did you manage it?"

"Actually out of the tower and off the island - seven. If you count attempts - well, more than that. I started early. The first time I only made it to the Spoiled Princess, but I was only eighteen so..."

She'd gone through her harrowing at eighteen. So had Tobias... Her mind shied away from that.

"Why did you want to escape so badly?" she asked.

He laughed at her. "Why didn't you?" he saw her look then spread his hands. "Oh, I know you wanted to get out by the time we came and got you - but I remember you from the tower. You used to love it there. It was like you... belonged. What changed that?"

She pressed her lips together. "They stopped being what I wanted."

"Well, in my case they were never what I wanted."

"But you learned so much... your powers - they're exceptional..."

He grinned widely. "Why, thank you, milady," he said. "Yes I enjoyed magic. Who wouldn't love having all this power? It's... exhilarating. And it helps that I'm so... exceptional at it. But what's the point of power if you don't get to use it?"

"True."

There was a pause.

"How old were you when you were found?" he asked finally.

"Seven," she said. "They took me from the Denerim alienage. Really, it was a step up for me. Not that I remember much about it."

"See - if they find you early they have enough time to brainwash you," he said, and his voice sounded bitter for the first time.

"Why, how old were you?"

He flashed her a grin. "Fifteen," he said.

She whistled between her teeth. That was very old for a mage to be discovered. "What, didn't your powers manifest until then?"

"Oh, they manifested. But we traveled a lot, my family and I. Without a phylactery.." he spat the word out like it was poison... "the Templars had a very hard time tracking me down. Finally caught up with me in Denerim."

She felt a sharp pang of sympathy for him. "Did you try to find your family? When you escaped?"

He gave a short bark of a laugh. "No. I had other things on my mind when I escaped." A door had slammed shut in his face at that question and she guessed there was another story there - one that he wasn't willing to share. "But now..." he spread his hands and smiled, "I have all this at my fingertips. Life is good. And I do believe Gabrielle has finished cooking. Shall I serve you, milady?"

She smiled and tried to incline her head regally, but it ended in a surprisingly girlish giggle. Looking at him from under her lashes she saw his cheeks redden slightly, but he turned to the fire casually and busied himself with bowls and spoons. When he handed her a serving their fingers touched briefly and she definitely felt a jolt of.. something. She looked up at him to find him smiling a soft smile she hadn't seen before, his eyes darker than normal. He sat on the ground near her feet facing the fire and started to eat.

It took her a little while to catch her breath and do the same.

They found organised chaos back at the keep. The soldiers from Denerim had arrived and Sigrun was in the courtyard busily assigning them to barracks. When she saw the four of them she smiled and waved them over.

"Success?" she asked, running her eyes over the clipboard she held.

"Well.. in a manner of speaking," Anders said. "The tear is sealed. But we didn't do it." Sigrun looked up at him, eyes wide and mouth pressed together. Anders shrugged. "Whoever tore it in the first place has sealed it up again, we think," he said. "They're... covering their tracks. It bodes ill for our theory that there are other tears."

"Yes, if they're that efficient at closing them up there's no reason to think they won't go opening others." She let her arms fall to her sides and sighed heavily. "Well, at least the troops are here. Hopefully the mages won't be far behind."

"Who's in command of the troops?" Garic asked.

Sigrun shot a quick, furtive look at Anders. "Um.. the King actually," she said. "He said he was one of the only wardens who had experience with the fade. Which is true, according to Miranda. They were trapped in the fade at the circle."

Neria was watching Anders, but he didn't even flinch. "It would have been better if she'd come," Anders said. "We had that little trip in the blackmarsh, if you remember."

"Yes, well, I explained to the King that there were four other wardens here who had fade experience, and he acknowledged that. He wants to be able to break us up into groups - have at least one warden per group who knows the ins and outs. Obviously if we had more mages that wouldn't be so much of a problem..."

"You don't actually expect there to be tears in the veil here do you?" Garic said, looking a little pale.

"If I could tear the veil and it gave me an advantage in battle, I'd do it," Anders pointed out. "It's best to be prepared."

Sigrun gave a deep sigh. "I just wish we knew what was doing this. And a reason why would help as well."

"Um... I have an idea about that Commander," Anders said. "But I don't think you'll like it much."

She cocked an eyebrow. "An idea from you?" she said. "You can bet I won't. So how about we wait until you're cleaned up and had something to eat. Meet me in my study when you're done."

She stalked off towards the soldier barracks. Anders started towards the keep but Neria caught his arm. "What's this plan you're talking about?" she asked.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah... come with me to the meeting," he said. "I don't really feel like having it shot down in flames more than once."

"That good?"

"Actually it will probably need another mage - so your presence would be appreciated."

"I'll see you there then," she said.