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Chapter Fourteen
Anders stood in the passageway, a few feet from the Warden-Commander's study, listening to the voices of the two wardens that were having a discussion within. The door to Arianna's study was partly ajar and the sound of their voices drifted out into the corridor, allowing Anders to hear bits and pieces of the conversation she was presently having with one of the male wardens. He had recognized the man's distinct nasal voice immediately as that of Rolan, a templar turned Grey-Warden that had been transferred to Vigil's Keep a few months ago. The mage suddenly had a very bad feeling about the nature of the conversation that was going on within the Commander's study, and he moved closer to the doorway so that he might hear their words better. Anders stopped when he had gone as close to the room as he dared, and listened intently.
"I'm afraid the decision has already been made, Warden-Commander. The Wardens will no longer harbor the mage. He is an abomination and he will be turned over to the Circle." Anders listened in stunned disbelief as Rolan continued to speak. "The First Warden is not pleased that you failed to inform Weisshaupt Fortress of the mage's activities, Commander. Nor is the Order pleased that you have been covering for him." Anders heard the slight condescending smugness in Rolan's voice and he fought back the urge to unleash a barrage of spells upon the man he had once considered a friend.
"Well I am not pleased that the First Warden did not inform me of the deal that was being made with the Chantry and the templars, or your part in all this. I am the Warden-Commander in Ferelden, and as such I should have been told that you had been sent here specifically to watch Anders." Anders could hear the cold rage in Arianna's voice and he could picture the flash of anger in her green eyes as she spoke.
Anders' eavesdropping was suddenly interrupted when he heard the sound of armored footsteps coming towards his location. He quickly moved away from the Warden-Commander's study and ducked into one of the storage rooms down the passageway. It wouldn't do for him to be caught eaves-dropping outside the Commander's room. He waited inside the room until he heard the clanking sound of the footsteps pass by the closed door and then continue down the corridor. Anders waited a few moments more until he could no longer hear the echo of the armored footsteps, then he left the storage room and headed back towards the Warden-Commander's study. He stopped and stood in the shadows along the wall when he saw Rolan emerge from the room, and then watched as the other warden strode away in the opposite direction. Once Rolan was safely out of sight, Anders entered the Warden-Commander's study.
Anders heard a loud crash and the sound of shattering glass as he passed through the doorway. Turning his head he looked to his left and saw that fragments of the glass vase that had once sat upon Arianna's desk, was now adorning a section of the wall that was quite near to spot where he was standing. He turned his head again to look at Arianna as she stood behind her desk, her body tensed in restrained anger.
"Redecorating the study, are we? Or perhaps the poor vase offended you in some way?" said Anders as he brushed off a few stray slivers of glass from his robes.
"Anders. Sorry. I didn't see you there." Arianna studied the mage for a moment. "Come sit down, Anders. We need to talk," she said in a strained voice.
Anders walked across the room and seated himself in one of the high backed chairs that sat in front of Arianna's desk. He watched Arianna as she stood there, looking down at the sheet of parchment that she held in her hand. Anders heard her swear under her breath as she tossed the parchment to one side of the desk before seating herself in her chair. He gave her a small smile when she looked at him again, and he saw both anger and sadness reflected in her emerald green eyes.
Arianna knew that Anders was waiting for her to speak, but she was finding it difficult to say the words that would chance his life forever. Yet she knew she must. She was the Warden-Commander and she had to carry out her orders. It was her duty, and she always did her duty. Arianna squared her shoulders and stiffened her spine, steeling herself for what lied ahead.
"Anders, I have received orders from Weisshaupt Fortress… and they concern you." Arianna paused and studied Anders expression. Unable to read anything in it, she continued speaking. "The Warden's have decided that you have become a… liability to the Order." Arianna paused again and searched Anders' face. His expression remained inscrutable to her. She glanced over to the side of her desk, where the tossed missive had landed, and then looked back at Anders. "I have been ordered to turn you over to the templars, Anders. You are to be taken back to the Circle." Arianna paused again as she struggled to control her emotions. "I'm so sorry, Anders…" Arianna's voice faltered and she stopped speaking.
"How long do I have before the templars arrive?" The knuckles on Anders' hands shone white as he clenched his interlaced fingers tighter together. To avoid looking at Arianna, he looked down at his clasped hands as they sat on his lap. He felt Justice pushing against the edge of his consciousness, felt his rage and need for vengeance- felt their need for vengeance- but the mage pushed back, and exerted his own control over the spirit.
"They will be here within the week, Anders. But it will not just be the templars… I have been informed that a group of wardens will be arriving to help the templars escort you to the Circle," Arianna replied with a frown of disapproval. "I don't understand how the Wardens can turn on one of their own like this," she said, thinking out loud as she gazed out into the room past Anders. As Arianna mulled over Anders' situation in her mind she fell silent and continued to stare out into the room, her expression as troubled as her thoughts were.
Anders raised his head and looked at Arianna. "I'm surprised the Order hadn't planned to just show up at the Keep and take me into custody… with no forewarning." Anders raised an eyebrow when he saw the look that passed across her face. "Oh, I see. You weren't supposed to tell me, were you, Arianna?"
Arianna leaned forward in her chair, placed a forearm on her desk, and shook her head. "No, I went against orders," she said with a wry smile. "But it wouldn't be the first time I failed to do as either Order wished… and I'm sure it won't be the last time."
"Yes…I've always admired that about you," said Anders with a quick smile. Anders expression turned serious as he studied Arianna's face. "Thank you, Arianna. You've been a good friend to me. I just wish… I just wish things had turned out differently."
Arianna was unsure as to what 'things' Anders was referring to, but before she could question him further about his statement, the mage rose from the chair, then turned and walked away from her. Surprised at the abruptness of his departure, she stood up and called out to him. "Anders?"
Anders stopped and turning around to face her he said, "I need to be alone, Arianna. And I need a drink…several drinks in fact." Anders attempted to smile but it was a strained smile- a pale comparison at best. He went to leave again, but Arianna's voice stopped him once more.
"Anders… I need you to promise me that you will not leave the Keep," she said softly. Arianna's green eyes met Anders' brown ones, beseeching him to understand and forgive her. She felt a quick rush of relief when Anders nodded his head yes, before turning away again. Arianna watched in silence as Anders, with head and shoulders bowed in defeat, exited the study.
Arianna stood behind her desk for a few moments longer, staring after the departed mage as the anger and sadness rose within her like a living vine, winding its way around her heart and throughout her chest, constricting her so that she could barely breathe. With a sudden fury and a cry of rage, Arianna picked up the stone inkwell from off her desk and hurled it across the room at the large mirror that hung upon the wall, shattering the mirrored glass into a multitude of pieces. Unable to bear the weight of her emotions any longer she collapsed into her chair and bowing her head, she let the tears stream freely down her face.