He laughed some at Aragorn's suggestion of being too much to handle. Not that it really mattered to him whether or not he and Tess had done anything, but Anders was usually one to pry in such things. His cheeks blushed a little at the later mentioning of himself and Leliana. The invitation to a bath sounded intriguing; since the Commander did have a point.
"You know me, Commander. I'm not one to say 'no' to a pint." He said, turning and gratefully taking the lead onward. "Let's go. I'll keep your head above the water if do the same for me."
On their way into the bath house, Anders was able to trade his clothes in for a towel to wear around his waist. He left the clothes with the servants for the time being, and then eventually had rejoined Aragorn for that promised drink.
The place was slightly reconstructed since he had last seen it. The building was still made of stone, but they had added a few stone pillars within the actual bathing pool. There were stone steps where others could easily climb in to get to the waters below, but Anders found it better just to relax where is was shallow. He waited for Aragorn to open up the bottle of liquor until he could reach for the glass.
"Now, this! …Is probably one of the best moments I've had in a long time." He said out loud with a a proud grin. Tilting the glass up and taking a straight shot, he exhaled the steam from the hot water that surrounded them and placed his glass back down. He opened up one eye to look up at the ceiling, while reaching for a washcloth to put on his forehead. "Hm… Why didn't we ever do this back in Amaranthine?"
"Not sure if I will keep your head above water but below." The Warden joked towards Anders. A part of him enjoyed to mess with the mage for more than one reason of course.
After Aragorn had gotten the most estranged looks from passing by a few commoners on the way there. Mothers covering their children's eyes and women possibly gasping from the sight of the Warden in just his trousers. Though this hadn't bothered Aragorn, but instead put a cocky smile to appear on his lips. That once the duo had eventually made it to the bath house Aragorn quickly rushed to the baths, and to the edge of the waters, dropping his soiled clothing and stepped into the luke warm waters. Emerging himself in the depths, taking Anders lead in staying in the swallow areas where he sat down and rested his back against the surface.
Aragorn began to peak through one eye to the mage, and shrugged his shoulders to him in a quick response. "You have my guess." He stated plainly as he reached back momentarily and grasped the neck of the bottle not bothering with a glass but instead pushed the rim to his lips allowing the fluids to slide down and quench his thirst.
After a moment Aragorn sighed, sliding the bottle to Anders and rested his arms up, and above the waters. Aragorn happened to peak out of one of his closed eyes gluing it to the male accompanying him. "You know I've been meaning to speak to you…" He stated clearly as he dunked his arms back into the waters to wipe at his muscular physique washing away any form of dirt that accumulated through their travels. "About two things, alone. One is about Leliana; the other, the Wardens." Aragorn paused for another second as his eyes followed a passing by servant. Aragorn reached out of the waters to snap at the lady which immedialy grabbed her attention and she was brought to his side. "Can you give us something harder than this silly ol' wine?" Aragorn asked curiously. The servant had nodded as she began to part her lips. "Yes sir, but what?" "The hardest stuff ya got. Go to the tavern if need be, please." The maid shook her head and took a bow before retreating and tending to Aragorn's request.
"Now… About Leliana. Just know I will kill you if you hurt her. I know what I did was unforgiveable. And I know I have been hard on you two; but from here on out you will have my blessings as long you don't hurt her. As for the Warden problem, you do know you have a duty right; when you became a Warden. When I recruited you, and saved you from being taken away, again that you signed your life away. So my point is that I think you should come back. We could use you after all. A mage at that is very helpful."
Anders kept his eyes closed for the moment, but smiled some with the relief as he listened to the final blessing of him and Leliana to remain together. Though in the back of his mind, there would have always been the constant reminder to himself that Anders could not protect her as much as he wanted to. In fact, he rather expected Aragorn, or possibly even Leliana, to kill him if and when a certain time came.
The fine line of what he knows "as planned" and of what would be "by fate" was exceedingly thinning. Anders felt it; and in response to it, he had certainly appeared more needy and passionate to Leliana than ever before. It was the same way with the Champion; so Anders was well aware of how things were most likely going to turn out.
However, he didn't give a word to approve, disapprove, nor truly even a glimpse of gratitude. He had just allowed the thought to linger, for it was Aragorn's promise and deep down, Anders wanted him held to that. He couldn't live with himself anyway if anything had ever happened to Leliana. It would have been the second time he'd fail in trying to save-and-keep someone he cherished so dearly.
After hearing Aragorn mention about the Wardens, though, there was a quick grown of disapproval. The last thing Anders wanted to have been reminded of was anything he owed the Commander; but there was still even more to it. He reached up, waving his hand away at him blindly as if to signal to him not to remind him of 'those' favors. Anders thought by now, he would have been repaying back most of them anyway.
"When I start getting the worse of the nightmares, I'll return back to the Deep Roads all 'tainted' and 'ghastly' like the rest of them, Commander." He reassured, since Anders didn't really picture himself running a-muck like a heathen above the surface anyway. The mage may as well had been out of his mind, if he was to return underground again.
"You still haven't spoken to Commander Stroud or any of his platoon, have you?" He questioned, though he already knew the answer.
Of course he hadn't. If he did, Anders figured he wouldn't have been alive beyond the ship ride to Par Vollen those months ago. He understood, and remembered Aragorn mentioning that Stroud may have had his view, but that Aragorn had his own. That still would not have saved Anders from the 'hang-man's noose' if he was to return.
"For everything that I've done – I'll be hanged for sure." Anders explained and lowered his arms back down to rest. He shook his head from side to side a bit and sighed. "For all I know, the Orlesian Sector of the Grey Wardens see me as the worst thing since rat-droppings on cupcakes! And I told you before, if I was to return I would be killed, and I would rather like to live as long as I can."
"Well at least you have longer than I do." Aragorn began to mutter through his lips as it followed by a short sigh. "At least the king is gonna have to go before me though. I guess that's the bright side of things." Aragorn tried to joke, to bring not only his spirits up but also so he wouldn't have to think of the day as well when he would have to go down to those dreaded deep roads.
Aragorn began to glance to Anders as he was asked the question of Stroud. And after that he began to think. When the last time was when he saw that man. It had been sometime, but he couldn't recall when. "No I can't say I haven't… Though if you'd like I can make a nice noose and we can get this thing over and done with!" Aragorn questioned in a teasing tone, as a chuckle followed shortly there after. "Ah but I just thought I'd try. It would almost be like the old times if you came back. Except for the 'always looking for a good woman' thing that you always use to say. Since you now grew up and are no longer our little virgin."
Aragorn began to close his eyes and lean his head back relaxing into the waters. Waiting to hear Anders scoff of his last statement of him calling him a virgin. Though he knew it wasn't true. But for others 'outside' the box may have seen it that way. What kind of man would have a cat anyways names ser-pounce-a lot.
"Ser…" Whispered a voice from behind.
"Err huh…" Aragorn spoke out stumbled as he popped open his eyes to see the servant from before standing near him. Holding the bottle he requested.
"I got you're your drink. Its what you asked for. The stron—"
"Yes the strongest you have. Thank you m'lady…" Aragorn finished with a smile and with a extending hand he took the bottle and two little shot glasses.
He waited for the servant to leave the area before setting the two small glasses down and began to pour the sweet liquor. "Now Anders… How about you and I play a little game…? It looks like this is… Err… Whiskey. You ever have it?"
Anders did scoff at the 'virgin' remark, hardly even without thinking about it until later. There were many times he experimented in the Circle prior before coming to Amaranthine, but nothing worth mentioning—at least not now anyway. If the mage was still 'single' (?), it probably would have been brought out in the open though.
Hearing the sounds of a new drink being brought, and soon moments later, to have been poured, his brown eyes opened partially to see the slightly amber liquid. It had a pungent odor to it: on that distinctly reeked of alchohol, but a hint of sugar. It drawn in his attention, looking at the shot glass near him that was soon filled with it.
"I've heard of it, but I never tried it." He admitted surprisingly honest. Anders was a Circle Mage, after all; and mages mostly drank wine if they were allowed to. When he escaped, he had been more accustomed to fruity drinks and mead since he was a light-weight. "Justice doesn't let me hit the hard stuff…"
He glanced down towards the water after he said that. It almost had sounded like he was a juvenile all over again, but he had to be careful! All the same, he didn't want to be viewed on like a child either; despite how confident and certain he believed that Aragorn would understand of his hesitation. Anders lifted the washcloth from his forehead and started to sit up.
"But he's not aware so, this'll be fine." He quickly said and looked towards Aragorn. "How do we play?"
Aragorn began to smile to Anders words of Justice. And as he began to part his lips in his smile, he grasped onto the neck of the whiskey bottle and in his other hand he took the two single cups within the grasp of his fingertips. "Is Justice your mother now?" He began to mutter teasingly. After a moment Aragorn began to glance into the cups between his hold as he set each glass down carefully once he neared Anders side. But he still held onto one glass, bringing it to his lips and tossed the sharp fluids back in a hastily manner. He let out a small shudder followed by a gasping for air, cough.
"…Now… This game is pretty simple." Aragorn began to speak as he peaked through one slightly shut eye to the mage. "We both repeat the rhyme until someone messes up. And the person who messes up must drink. The more the person drinks the more they mess up, excreta."
With reaching over Aragorn took the whiskey re-pouring himself another drink. Once the amber fluids reached the rim, before setting the bottle down he waved the drink towards Anders as he continued in almost a singing tone. "As for the chant… It goes something like… One crab with eight feet, painted horns - what a big crab. Blinking eyes, shrinking head, crawling, crawling everywhere. Two and Two, who should drink? Three and three, who drink first? Five and Five, who should drink? Two and two, you drink first…" With pausing Aragorn began to form a small smirk upon his thin lips. "So tell me mage are you ready? Just know… If you get too drunk I will not be carrying to naked ass back to the tavern. I'll let these servants pillage you instead."
Anders lifted one eyebrow after trying to understand the poem. The rules, he figured out were pretty easy; it was the poem that was going to be very difficult. He had a feeling that he was going to end up pretty wasted from this, and yet it didn't seem to deter him. Perhaps it was the slight peer pressure of it all. Anders wasn't certain.
After many rounds of the game, Aragorn and Anders were shouting the poem at each other, splashing the water with their arm movements and sometimes even acting out the words; in order to help themselves finish each time. They were both, pretty drunk but Anders did end up being more drunk than the Commander –mainly because he just could not handle liquor.
After taking a slight break, Anders found that he was having to take two shots again, since he screwed up the words way worse than his challenger had. This whiskey was like a liquid fire burning down his throat. He always had to exhale in surprise after drinking the shots. He reached up, rubbing his soaked hand over his face in order to wipe away the water that splashed on him, and placed the shot glass down.
"You know, ...I haven't had thiz mwuch fun since the time at the Pearl!" Anders started to snicker and looked towards the others who were bathing farther away from them, and the servants that kept walking back and forth to make sure no one would drown. "Only Isabela was buying, and I had to win a throwing knives contest against one of zee tenants. "
He paused briefly and laughed loudly. "She said—I'd sooner cross the sea … on an—hah-hah!—on army of four tavern wenches strapped together to make a raft! …I lost but still slept with her anyway. My charm's irresistible."
"Do you 'ever' shut up?" A grumpy voice behind him groaned.
Anders tilted his head, finding that it was a bit heavy, and ended up dropping it far back against the concrete to rest on. He looked up and then turned his head to the side to watch as Fenris carefully climbed into the bath near them. He was draped in only a towel as well, which ended up showing far more of his tattoos than he was use to revealing.
"You realize some of us have to sleep now and then." Fenris responded a minute later, giving Anders a slight glare.
"….Huh?" Anders blinked at him a couple of times while trying to focus his sight.
"All night long…" Fenris rolled his eyes and then started to mimic the voices he heard from last night. "'Maker'—this and 'Maker'—that! …Bleh… I would have pictured you awoken as a Chanter in the morning with all that racket."
Snickering some, Anders just shook his head from side to side and waved his arm up into the air in order to splash the elf. "Oy! Hush and get a drink…"
Aragorn began to arch an curious brow to the mage in his explanation of the game he happened to be playing at the Pearl. Him and Isabela, now that to him would be a very unlikely duo to do… Well anything together. But he was too plastered to think too much on the idea and instead didn't try to bother his mind too much of the thing. "Well it looks like Iz was busy with everyone but me!" The Warden whined. Though he could have possibly bedded the Pirate, he didn't. For some reasons he was unsure of at this moment so instead he decided to put the blame on the woman. "Damn Pirate, never took a glance my way. But a mage. Psh. I see how she is."
Pouring another drink, or rather sipping from the bottle itself, Aragorn began to tilt his head back upon hearing a voice; and with the bottle still pressed against his lips caused the fluids to rush down his throat, thus bringing a sputtering cough to emit from his lips. "Fenris (cough)… What (cough, cough) are you doin here?" After clearing his throat some and sliding the bottle to Anders if he happened to want another drink he began to look to Fenris. Seeing his questions already answered. And other things as well.
"Man your stacked! No wonder the ladies are always after you elf boy." Aragorn teased as he began to chuckle when Fenris spoke of Anders being a vocal one the night before. "Now, now Fenris." Aragorn began to butt in with a waving hand. "Don't be so hard on the mage after all we know how noisy you can be." He added with a nod. "How about you join us in this drinking game Fenny-fen-fen. It might be fun and make you out to be a fun guy and not such a tight-wad."
"When have I ever bedded a woman near—" Fenris looked towards Aragorn, even more puzzled than usual and started to frown for being called 'loud' about anything. Though his words had trailed off after the invitation of the drink being brought to his attention…
Now, that explained everything.
He pointed back at Aragorn, almost hypocritically and concluded out loud in a blunt tone, "You're drunk."
"You're sexy." Anders snickered, and tilted his glass back for another drink.
Appalled, Fenris quickly jerked his head towards Anders and started another pointing rant, "And you're drunker than he is!"
After drinking down his shot, Anders exhaled rather violently again. He paused some, realizing that suddenly Fenris was pointing back at him for some reason. So he tried to wipe off his stupor-expression to look at him seriously.
"Uh-…No?" Anders argued just minutes before a quick 'hiccup.'
Reaching out, Fenris snatched Anders's only shot glass, causing the mage to suddenly pout at him. The elf grumbled under his breath and started to walk towards Aragorn's side to grab the bottle. "Give me that… You're so drunk you can't even form correct sentences."
The elf poured himself a shot and quickly took it, just to pour himself another one because of Anders's behavior. He didn't need to exhale nearly as badly at all (in comparison to the mage) since he was use to drinking almost regularly, if needed. He moved towards Aragorn's opposite side –being that it was as far away from Anders as possible—and poured himself a third shot before returning the bottle back to Aragorn.
"You should be ashamed of yourself." Fenris continued his disapproving rant towards the male across from him. "You have a woman; you should be boasting about her."
"No." Anders stated almost seriously as he tried to keep himself from slipping lower into the water. He pushed himself back up against the bath in order to sit correctly once more. Raising his finger up into the air, he tried to keep his point valid. "There are two things you never talk about to other men- That'z women you're with and the women your friends are with."
Fenris scoffed and closed his eyes before taking half a sip of the whiskey in his stolen glass. "What about Isabela?"
Anders paused in his triumphant moment of declaration and then lowered his arm. "Oh… That's right. She's your woman, izn't she…?"
"What—?—No!" Fenris coughed and scowled at him quickly in surprise. "I meant that—"
"But you've slept with her too." Anders concluded quickly in his accusation.
"No, I didn't!" Fenris argued back and then shuddered a little at the thought. "And after hearing your confession, I'm really glad I didn't..."
"Really? Well, she was certainly into you. She always seemed to have had a fascination for elves…" Anders pondered after a while and then scratched his chin. He started to laugh some, looking between Fenris and then Aragorn. "Oh, come on. Certainly I'm not the only one to have slept with Isabela here!"
Fenris paused for a moment and tipped back the last half of his shot before turning to place the glass down for the moment. "I think you are."
The awkward silence that began to approach started to pass by among them for the moment. Well, that was until Anders's brain started to pull away from the shock of him being the only one to have slept with the pirate – and then back to reminiscing again.
"Who did you sleep with, Fenris?" He finally asked while dipping his head back against the concrete to rest again.
"Excuse me?" Fenris was quick to respond even then.
"You know… Back in Kirkwall." Anders explained, but he hadn't moved from his relaxed state. "You've had to have been with someone. You can't expect me to believe you managed to spend all those lonely nights in that big Hightown mansion alone, can you? Was it one of the elven women? …Or the Hawke's servant… what-was-her-name….? Oranna?"
Fenris scoffed some and looked away from him. "I wouldn't disgrace myself bedding one of their kind."
"But they're elves. They're just like you." Anders shook his head at the statement.
"They're not like me." Fenris argued quietly back.
Seeing as that wasn't going anywhere, Anders tried to think of another name-someone else that was actually closer to them all during their trails in Kirkwall. "Hm… Was it Merrill?"
"Absolutely not. What did I just get finished saying?" Fenris spoke sternly back once his head snapped towards the sound of the bloodmage's name.
"Well, it can't be Aveline… But if it's not her or Isabela, …and it's not one of the elves, …and not Merrill; then—" Anders's voice had trailed momentarily until another, more wicked thought crossed his mind and he held his breath momentarily. "…Was it Naomi?"
"I can't believe I'm entertaining this still…" Fenris sighed and folded his arms as he started to lean back against the walls of the bath in order to rest.
"Fenris." Anders requested as serious as his drunken stupor could allow and raised his head back up, letting the washcloth mindlessly fall to the water in front of him and splash back. "Did you sleep with her?"
"Why are you even getting defensive about this? You've moved on, haven't you?" Fenris asked curiously.
"I'm not the one on trial here'z; just answer the (hic) question." Anders demanded in his slight drunken pout. He fisted his hands up in anticipation for the answer, like an overly-emotional teenager.
Fenris blushed and closed his eyes; feeling his bottom jaw turn slightly stiff just before he spoke. "As much as I would enjoy seeing your head explode from your unjustified and fabricated jealousy issues, Anders—No. I did not have sex with your ex."
Anders sighed with relief and quickly leaned back, reaching blindly around him for another shot glass or a bottle of whiskey that just wasn't around. "Oh… Thank the Maker… … … Why didn't you?"
Fenris flinched from the question, but refused to answer. The truth had been that he wanted to—at the time—but Naomi never looked his way. She was so in love with the mage; and still is but would never admit to it. Such an acknowledgement kept Fenris out of her more intimate affairs.
"I mean, the two of you certainly got along well—off more than she and I ever did." Anders continued, much to Fenris's dismay.
"You were constantly in her bloody face, you drunken-twit." Fenris rolled his eyes and for the moment, actually sulked.
"I'm not (hic) drunk." Anders announced; completely disregarding the "twit" remark.
Aragorn began to arch a brow to Fenris' statement of him being drunk. It may have been true but still he didn't have to point it out. "So…" He muttered out like a child. He began to reach out for the whiskey, to sip another drink from the rim. But the feeling of the glassed bottle was taken from him. Brought his eyes to open from their closed state, as he began to whine, and give a small kick of his left foot towards Fenris. "H-Hey I wasn't done withs that." He pouted, as his arms began folding over his chest in a childish manner as he slunkened down into the waters neck deep.
His sapphire hues shifted from Fenris and Anders as they spoke of their intimate times with Isabela. Or more so Anders times with her. "She tried to throw herself on me!" He piped in when he heard if Anders was the only soul that had slept with her. "But I am as innocent as the darkspawn. Just ask… Err never mind." He whispered his last two words.
He didn't pay much attention to Anders 'jealousy problem' or Fenris' attempt to deter him. Instead he began to rise as the waters which eventually reached his chest and then he raise one hand as he looked to it, flipping it front to back in a memorized state of mind. He blinked a few times before throwing his hand in Fenris' face shaking it to him. "I'm melting!" He shouted, possibly breaking up the both of their conversation or towards the end. All he heard was something about the Champion, and a twit statement. Nothing to worry his mind over as something this tragic was happening to him. "Anders!" He pleaded, showing his hand to him now. "Fix it!?" Raising his other hand, he saw the same effect on the other. A worryful look plastered over his features.
Then it hit him. After moments of gazing into one single hand, that he thought he and Anders must've stayed in here longer than they expected. A sigh of relief passed his lips, as he began to stand to wobbly legs, bracing himself against the stone wall as he shakily made his way out of the tub. "You know. I think I may visit my favorite little red headed rouge." Aragorn didn't bother to look over to Anders as he said this, as he had almost completely forgotten that the mage and rouge were an intimate from his drunken state. Though a part of him knew he had been turned down by her before. But he couldn't remember as to why. "Hopefully Leli won't turn me down this time, eh?" He spoke out curiously to his own wandering mind as he trailed to his towel, draping it around his waist in a tie method at the side.
Fenris had soon came to find out just how wrong his safety was in residing near Aragorn, after listening to him. He watched as Anders tried to heal him when it was requested, but the mage was having a difficult time in concentrating on any spell. This was because the mage was drunk, but Fenris believed that maybe at least it had been for the best. He wouldn't want to find out what would happen if Anders had concentrated on the wrong spell and it worked or something nearly as chatastrophic.
Though hearing Aragorn moving to get out of the bath and talking about seeing Leliana, did ring alarms in his head. He could just picture how unpleasant something like that would end up going down. So, Fenris had to get up and follow after him.
"Uh…Aragorn, I don't really think that's a good idea. I think she's ill from dating mages." He started to say once he was back to his feet. He then started to look over his shoulder to find Anders. "Isn't that right, Anders?"
Though Anders didn't seem to have been paying attention at all. He was busy flirting with the servant girls for more drinks. Looking up at them, and tugging lightly at their skimpy stringed outfits to make them giggle.
"So, which one of you lovelies wanna form a (hic) raft for me? We'll show that bloody pirate wrong, eh?" He started to question, taking in a quick hold of one of the women's thighs and started to toss each one into the water.
"Anders!" Fenris shouted at him from the panic and then looking back to Aragorn; feeling the situation slightly change from bad to worse.
"Come on, men! I'm gonna (hic) build the biggest boob-raft to Kwahili Island! Where the milk and honey's always a flowing!" Anders said while trying to balance himself over the slew of women he pulled into the bath. The girls were giggling and splashing at him to make certain that his task wouldn't be as easy as he claimed.
"You have got to be kidding me…" Fenris stared at him blankly for the moment.
Aragorn began to glance over his shoulder as he was drying his scalp with another unused towel which he found. Possibly Anders, or maybe Fenris' he wasn't too sure at this point. He wasn't too sure either as to why Fenris had said this to him, it wasn't like he was a mage. "Oh don't worry Fenny even when Leliana was sick she still couldn't say no to this." He replied in a rather cocky tone, as he waved a hand up and down his suave body. "It must be my own set of charm."
The sudden splash had brought Aragorn to wistfully turn around like a cat scared out of its sleep or thrown into the water. Almost giving him a complete buzz kill. He looked to Anders and then Fenris, and lastly the giggling women floating around or near Anders as he swayed him with what he thought were smooth words. This brought Aragorn to shake his head in disbelief, even if he was drunk he wasn't one to throw himself at easy women.
"Have fun Anders." He shouted through the giggling and womanly chatter. "And Fenny keep an eye on the mage will ya?" He asked as he slipped out his towel off and took a fresh linen, pulling those on around his waist in a quick snap. "I don't need him drowning as I am going to be busy allllll day. Looks like were staying another night boys!" He exclaimed rather happily as he paced towards the door to make his grand exit and hopefully make it back to the Inn in one piece.
"Wait! Wait!" Fenris started to say just moments after the door was closed and Aragorn had left.
Now, he was stuck with a dilemma. He couldn't have Aragorn to suddenly arrive drunk at Leliana's doorstep for Maker-knows-what and he couldn't really leave Anders by himself to possibly drown. Fenris paced over and over with this issue and paused a moment with the vision of Anders actually drowning in his head. He started to smile, but then quickly shook his head. No, no… He couldn't. He would have to talk Anders at least down a small peg.
"Anders, come on out. It's time to go." Fenris said and quickly turned around to him.
"No (hic) way! I'm on a quest to Khaliki Island!" Anders stated after successfully mounting four women just minutes before starting to sink again. "Breasts a-hoy!"
Fenris smacked his face at the image and started to walk towards the bath once more. "Stop making a fool of yourself. First of all, you're in a bath house – not the ocean, there's no such thing as Khaliki Island, and it would take a lot more women than that to float on—even if you 'could' talk them all into doing what you asked!"
"Don't crush a man's dream!" Anders pouted from his drunk state. He then flinched some and gave one of the women below him a cheesy smile. "Oh. Hey, don't crush a man's prized jewels either, milady…"
The women started to giggle more and shifted to where Anders lost his balance once again. Fenris groaned and turned away. He was going to need help. He'd hate to have to ask Tess – since facing her would have given him the chills but it was better than nothing. Shaking his head some, he left the bath house for Anders to fend for himself -or at least until Tess showed up. He was going to have to look for her at the Tavern, and then for Aragorn.
The moment Aragorn stepped outside a large breeze wisped past him. This brought a trembling yelp to shout from his lips as he pressed his palms over his groin to stop any other breezes from startling him. After he regained his composure, and glanced around for a clearing as he released himself, and let his arms crossed over his dampened chest as he hurried back to the tavern.
As he entered, he had gotten odd stares and whispers from customers. Aragorn didn't pay much attention to these people as he rushed through the tavern and made it to the end of building to were the rooms had been. He was on a mission, as he stalked towards the door of where he last knew where Leliana had been. Once he reached the semi-large door, he grasped on the door knob twisting the brass knob until he heard a clicking sound fill his ears giving him notice to slightly push the door open to a slight crack. As he did, he peered his head in. Seeing Leliana laying in the same exact spot where she had been before. Maybe she never woke up, or maybe she was taking a nap; as they had been in the bath house for some time. He wasn't sure which as he sneakily pushed the door open and stepped inside closing the door behind.
"Leli?" Aragorn began to mummer in a low toned voice, but it had reached her ears as he saw her shift within her rest and mumble something within her sleep. He picked up his pace once more, as he made his way to the edge, he reached out plucking the sheets with his rounded digits and lifted them up. He was stunned at what he saw, she was laying naked before him. Curled into a little ball, showing all those 'right' curves he missed so dearly. He took a moment to gawk, as he finally drew the courage to slither within the sheets and mold their body's together, her back to his chest and legs curled with his. A single sigh pushed through his lips and brushed across the nape of her neck and past Leliana's ear, causing her to tremble from the touch. His arms wrapped around her petite frame as traveling hands drew invisible childish drawings along her delicate skin until one palm had cupped her breast.
This immediately brought Leliana to gasp within her sleep as she rustled within her sleep. "…Anders?" She began to question, waking from her own slumber, but with closed eyes she turned and shifted her body to where she face who she thought was Anders.
"Not quiet." Aragorn whispered back to her ear, as he brushed his rough cheek against her own. His hands hadn't stopped in their venture, as his other hand reached back around her waist, and since she was facing him now; gave a tight squeeze to her rear.
"—Ar-Aragorn?" She questioned more in shock this time, as she tried to block not only the sudden embarrassment and shock but pleasure he was happening to give her. She didn't want him to be the one to please her this way, that she finally popped open her tightly shut eyes and glared his way. "Wheres Anders, what are you doing here!?" She demanded as she attempted to struggle from his hold.
"He's busy flirting with the servant women back in the bath house." He replied, laying kisses along her shoulder. "And by what I'm doing should be the answer for your second question.—"
Leliana of course didn't believe him as he spoke of Anders and his 'flirting' but she took a small wif in of Aragorns scent. Even if he had taken a bath, he still reeked of alcohol, that it was leaking out of his pours and possibly spilling the aroma on her. "Your drunk!"
"Nah. Just drunk for you my little minx."
Leliana rolled her eyes momentarily as she tried to push Aragorn away yet again. And failed… "Please… Aragorn. Stop!"
Aragorn smirked as his taunt fingertips traveled down from her perky breasts and went as far as to her lower regions. But not touching as he had only met her auburn curls. Leliana had stopped him, in the moment of his mission and grasped his hand. "… I…. Said…. Enough!" She commanded through a flustered complexion as she had no control of her next action, of drawing her small fist back and plunged it in the middle of his face.
This threw the Warden falling back off the bed, as he reached up cupping his nose with both hands as a guard. As he eventually pulled one hand away he saw a smear of blood across one hand. "You hit me!" He whined, realizing with each passing second that he was sobering from the pain.
"And you weren't listening to me" She fought back. As she rose up to sit on the bed with the sheets bound around her, as she had brought her arms to a criss cross over her chest.
The moment that Fenris had stepped out to chase after Aragorn was near the time that a second breeze came by and quickly blew past between his legs. He was running though, and didn't have time to catch the towel that fell from him. Turning back over his shoulder, Fenris saw his towel floating away with the wind, and his elven ears quickly picked up women screaming and pointing at his nude body.
He blushed, trying to cover himself, and reached for the towel –that just happened to snap out of his grasp and continue to float onward. Fenris knew he had forgotten something -clothes. However in this panic, (when the logical thing would have been to run back to the bath house) Fenris tried to chase after the towel. If he could just reach it in time before any of the guards showed up, everything would be alright.
Meanwhile, in the bath house, a group of Starkhaven templars had walked in and took Anders captive quickly. The Captain of the group was in fact a woman as well; rigid and angry. However, the rest of the men had seemed proud to have captured the fabled mage terrorist. Having him taken to the Prince of Starkhaven –or rather the New Viscount—would pay a great reward for those that would bring him his head.
"This wasn't (hic) part of the plan, boys." Anders started say and struggled some after the group dragged him away from the women and lifted him into the air to force him to wear a pair of rough tunic pants. "Kwahiliki-liki-(hic) is spuoused to be our goal!"
"The man's drunk off his arse." One of the templars spoke in a whisper to the Captain before slapping the magic restraints on him.
"Quiet!" The Captain snapped at Anders quickly after receiving her information. "You'll be hanged for all you did, murderer."
"Murderer? What did I do?" Anders asked in shock and reared back his head some. Then after a hiccup, and he lowered his head in thought and started to frown. "Oh, wait. That… Well, it's not like she really died; she just fainted. When she said she wanted a pearl necklace, I didn't know she meant-"
He moved the tunic downward to reveal his manhood and quickly the Captain of the platoon gasped, and then screamed. She quickly started to cover her eyes and pointed down at him. "Get that out of my sight!"
"It's kind of attached to me—I can't just throw it over my shoulder." Anders shrugged and swayed on his heels some. Though he gave a moment's pause in thought and started to grin. "But wouldn't it be cool if I could?"
"I said put it away! Cover it up!" The Captain shouted at him again blindly.
"Okay, okay… Andraste's blood—I thought you wanted to see." Anders shrugged some and after much struggling against the other templars to help him, he finally managed to do as he was asked. He then paused a moment and squinted his eyes at her. "You are a woman, aren't you? I can't tell from all the crow's feet."
"Shut your trap, ya filthy heathen." The Captain scowled at him as the templars turned to drag him off.
Meanwhile back outside, Fenris was having his own hands full with soon being dragged off to the city's jail. Apparently, he couldn't catch the towel in time, and ended up running straight into the city guard. So… Yeah. The Elf is now considered out of commission at least for a day or until someone would be willing to swallow shame and pay his fine for public indecency.
After collecting himself Aragorn began to finally push himself off the wooden flooring and stand to his feet in a defeated groan. "You know that really hurt." He continued to whine as he used his first three digits to work at the bridge of his nose. "I think you broke it."
"Don't be silly… Now you're going to take me to get Anders. If he is drunk as you said we don't need him to be alone." Leliana ordered, as she slid her legs over the edge of the bed and began to stand still with the sheet wrapped around her, the excess dragging behind as she trailed over to the dresser to pull out fresh attire for the day. "Go get ready."
Aragorn peaked up from narrowing his eyes to his nose, and blinked stunned for a moment. When his hand left his bloodied nose, he winched. "Ugh… Fine." He muttered as his half-way clean hand pressed against his temple to ache the throbbing pulsation pounding in his head. "Its not like hes gotten far anyways." He finished as he trailed off, out the room and towards his room to get semi-dressed.
After the two had gotten dressed and ready, separately. They wasted no time in looking for Anders. Aragorn took Leliana to the bath house first of course, finding him nowhere in sight. So instead of looking for him like a lost child looking for their mother, they asked the previous giggling servants of what happened to the mage. In which they had gotten a lead. Of course Leliana gave Aragorn the most death glares on the face of Thedas, in which brought a small sweat to form at this nape.
"What?" Aragorn happened to ask, as innocently as possible.
"If you hadn't left him this wouldn't of happened!"
"Oh yeah, have him be with me so I get caught with not turning him in, and get in trouble with the stark haven Templars!? Like I knew they were going to find him. Anyways I asked Fenris to watch over him. If you blame anyone, blame him!"
"Where is Fenris anyways?" Leliana began to question shifting her gaze around their surroundings in search for the elf.
"You got me. Let's just look for one person at a time eh?"
Leliana nodded to this as she trailed forward and past Aragorn. The two were in search again for the mage, and yes the elf. But Anders was the main priority knowing he was possibly 'caught'.
Outside of the village and heading towards the northeast, the templar group that had captured Anders was busy taking him back towards the Free Marches. The mage had risen his head slightly, feeling his aura pulse around him as he was being dragged along by chains. All of this had started to seem very familiar. He was being escorted by templars, chained down in magical restraints, and being lead to his… possible appending death…?
Yes. This was all déjà vu.
The cracks of light started to shine across his skin as he felt the sense of hopelessness take a hold of him. He knew he shouldn't have agreed to leave the Imperium. He knew he was going to be captured one way or the other. He just didn't remember how it actually happened. Though at the moment, all he really knew as that his head was very dizzy.
"What… have you done to me?" He started to ask; feeling a little drugged as they continued to drag him along.
"Shut up, already!" One of the templars demanded and jabbed him with the hilt of his sword into the mage's side.
"Maker's breath…" The second templar started to say and looked towards his partner. "First he insults the Captain, then comes close to defiling the city's emblem statue! What next?"
"Am I… drunk?" The mage started to ask out loud. Revealing by then, that it was Justice - but the spirit had never experienced hard liquor. He never had wished it for a reason; the spirit couldn't concentrate on his magic no more than Anders could have. Giving a heavy sigh, he shook his head. "Confound you, Anders! Blast you….!"
"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" The templar questioned him and turned around to raise the hilt of his sword again in a threatening manner.
"Halt." A deep voice had commanded from farther head of them.
The group looked and narrowed their eyes against the sun to see a darkened figure beginning to approach them. It was a man clad in black onyx armor. Imprinted to his left chest were metal designs carved into creation; showing that the armor itself had been custom made. His shield that he carried had the imprint of a Templar attached to it, but it wasn't kite-shaped like the rest of the Starkhaven's shields were. Though it didn't take nearly half as much to recognize that he was from the Imperium, but the helmet under his head concealed his identity.
"That man is a Tevinter Citizen you are trying to punish. It is against the laws of the land to execute such a one without proper authorization." The man started to address them once he came within hearing range.
"Get out of our way, Tevinter." The Captain demanded and folded her arms. "This man is a terrorist to Kirkwall, the Divine, and her Chantry. We don't need 'proper authorization' for such a one."
"He is an icon in Tevinter. I would ask that you'd reconsider your decision." The man spoke rather sternly.
"We don't have time for political debates on this." The templar that had been giving Justice a bit of physical abuse spoke upon approaching the man. He drew his sword and started to aim it towards him. "Take your useless papers, and your fancy shield and go shove them up your Black-Magic-Worshiping—"
Within a quick solid swing, the man in the Tevinter armor reached for his sword and sliced upwards into the air. Before the Starkhaven templar could even finish his sentence his sword-arm was cut clean off and tumbling into the air. The Starkhaven templar could barely even speak for the moment. Soon afterwards came a screeching and bloodcurdling howl that filled the Marches. His eyes were wide, looking up at the man with the large black helmet on.
"Do you not see the crests I bare?" The man demanded in a loud scowl, as he towered over the other; aiming his sword at the man's small opening between his helmet and his silver armor. "Where do you think I've been for three bloody years? I've been spilling the blood of countless pale-faced maggots, such as yourself! Dealing death is as common to me now as breathing!"
The other templars started to move forward and unsheathed their swords as they started to approach him. There was at least five of the others; excluding Justice – who at the time may as well been helpless anyway. The man in the Tevinter armor quickly jerked his head up towards the templar group that started to surround him and drew his arm back; mainly to show that could still kill the man if they persisted. In fact, he was planning to kill all of them.
"I will not ask again. Surrender your prisoner back to his rightful place!" He demanded.
"Men! Kill him!" The Captain demanded and reached for her sword.
The man in black armor slammed his sword down into his first prey, since the Starkhaven templars had clearly made their choice. His next move leaned forward to bash his shield against the nearest man approaching him, and with his sword arm, he shifted his weight to lift it and proved a breaking point between himself at the others who started to come close.
It seemed as if Leliana and Aragorn were searching for ages for the mage. They obviously expected to hear a shout or a scream of Anders being his drunken self by now. But no luck came their way; as they practically went into every public dwelling.
"Remind me next time not to let you two go out together." Leliana comment briskly as she sighed, with eyes still in search for Anders.
"You were asleep. It's not like you had a say in the matter. If you two weren't like Mabari's in heat then maybe you would be up in the morning to have stopped us." Aragorn muttered as he had been just looking ahead, unlike Leliana.
Dropping a jaw, Leliana shot her vision over to the Warden. Shocked at what just happened to fall out of his mouth. Mabari's in heat? Was he serious…? Scoffing some, Leliana wanted to reach over there and pound in Aragorn's head some. But ceased in doing so as what came next was unexpected for the both of them. The sound of not only common yelling but fighting occurring ahead of them brought Leliana to glance to Aragorn for a quick moment as she replied. "I'll deal with that statement later."
"I would love to see you try." Aragorn threw back in a cocky tone of voice. Even though Leliana was by far faster than he was, he knew he could endure better than she. With that said Aragorn began to lead the two towards the sound of the commotion and when they saw the sight before them. Not only were they shocked but confused at this unknown stranger.
Leliana didn't hesitate as she ran forth, figuring the single male before them was helping Anders. And she had a bad rap with the divine anyways so siding against them wouldn't be anything new. And by the looks of it Anders was still wasted. So he was in no position to save himself.
"What are you doing!" Aragorn shouted as he watched Leliana run into the midst of the battle.
"Helping!" She managed to shout back as she had no point to reach back for a weapon because there wasn't one on her, so instead she choose her own fists; along with her agility to keep the oncoming Stark Haven Templars astray a few feet.
Aragorn in the background watched in amazement. As his mind was still slightly clouded from the whiskey but was clearing and possibly much clearer than Anders. A part of him wanted to ask when Leliana had learned such talents, but instead he kept silent for two reasons to keep this not only in his memory of her being able to possibly take him down with no weapon, but also to stay out of eyesight of the Templars and Captain.
Two of the Chantry templars had turned their attention towards Leliana once they attacked. The black knight hadn't seemed to pay much attention since he already had his hands full from the three that were still attacking him. They were swing their swords against him, but the man kept his shield up against them. He was bashing more from his shield-arm than swinging at first. He took his blade and struck low underneath his previous guards to attack at the men's feet.
For some reason the Starkhaven and Kirkwall Templars were never really as guarded by heavy armor like most others of the others in Thedas. Their clothes were light with few metal fixings other than the helmet, the gauntlets, and the breast plate. Such an attire for protection only made the 'Black Knight' laugh, and he laughed more when he was striking them down.
Justice was trying to focus on his magic. The more that he held his hands out, finding that he couldn't concentrate on even the easiest of spells, the more that it angered him. He started attempting to climb back to his feet, and looked at his hands again. It was then he remembered that he was still handcuffed and chained by magical restraints. The mage growled and stumbled towards one of the templars that was keeping Leliana busy. He slipped his chain over the man's neck and wrestled him down; in the attempt of choking him from behind.
When every White Spire Templar had fallen, the only one left had been the Captain. The woman started to fumble in her words; backing up against the Marches behind her. "Y—You can't! You're a templar like us!"
The knight hadn't answered her. He only started to laugh more upon his approach.
"Stop! I-I command you to stop!" The woman panicked and dropped her sword. "You can't do this-!"
Within a fierce swing the 'Black Knight' brought his blade against the woman's neck and chopped off her head. The fountain of blood shot forth high into the air and coated over his armor. He pivoted, soon turning his blade towards Leliana next.
He hadn't given a warning nor gratitude; it was as if something had been released in his behavior. As it properly was; judging from his fighting style the mysterious man was clearly a Reaver and a Berserker. If he truly was a Templar, then the only thing he may have known from being one was the magic-cleansing spells that other templars knew. So, in the mind's-eye of this man, Leliana was no more an ally than she was an enemy. She was there among the opposition, and that seemed to have been all that mattered.
He started to charge towards her when suddenly something hard and silver struck his head.
The Knight stopped his tracks and quieted his battle cry. For the moment, he just stood there, staring at the rogue in his path and then briskly shook his head. He looked down at the ground, to see the templar helmet that struck him, and then looked over towards Justice.
"Did you just throw a sodding helmet at me?" He questioned and lifted his sword-arm towards him.
"Don't harm her." Justice warned; but didn't answer him. "I'll kill you if you do."
The man just cocked his head to once side for the moment and then took the time to step back. He then, sheathed his sword, almost in a flashy manner as to show that he wasn't going to attack the woman.
"I can't picture you doing a damn thing with the state you're in, mage." He mocked and then turned his attention towards the bodies. "What blighted idea justifies it to be wise in getting drunk outside of your damn comfort zone?"
Justice looked towards Leliana, more for the explanation, since he couldn't give one. His head was throbbing and he felt practically sick. Such things happen when a light weight decides to challenge a drink that's heavier than him. It wasn't fair! Justice was having to pay the actual price. He stumbled backwards and end up falling straight down into the ground again.
"I—I don't have to explain anything!" He shouted, more at his aggravation for losing his balance, and turned to one side, feeling sick again.
"No, no. Your kind never do, do they?" The knight sighed as he removed his helmet finally and loosened his fingers lightly in order to drag it from the slits in the eyeholes.
His long red hair (being as his most distinguished feature) flowed gently past his shoulders and towards the West until the breeze had died away. The man carried a strong chin and had pointed features of a native, but his skin was oddly pale to the comparison. The large circular scar across his neck looked ugly and deep, but it certainly had not been deep enough, since the man was still living and speaking well. Over-all, he should have looked familiar; since he was the leader who destroyed the Chantry within Tevinter lands.
He knelt down, searching one of the dead bodies before at last pulling out a key. His brown eyes glanced towards Leliana carefully as he walked to Justice along his path. He reached down, grabbing the dead templar by the underlining of his breastplate, and threw the body to one side so that it wouldn't have been near Justice anymore. Taking that time, the redhead undid the cuffs and soon removed the chains from the mage.
Justice only watched him for the moment and looked towards the chains that had bound him down. He didn't thank the man either; since his aura had felt… not right… Besides, Justice wasn't the type to give gratitude easily anymore. Though it seemed to him that the redheaded male didn't seem to care for words of such anyway…
"I am Ser Devarious Constantino of Nessum. I go by "Lasher"…and I serve the Black Divine and all His Eminence has blessed." He announced to him upon standing back to his feet. Looking down at Justice, he seemed to have been waiting for the moment when he would attempt to stand again.
"His… Who, exactly?" Justice question and rubbed his head some; trying to ease away his headache.
"The Maker and The Great Dragon Go—" Lasher started to answer, but then paused a moment and shook his head in disbelief. "Don't tell me you don't know of Tevinter's faith…?"
"In Ferelden, there are no mentions of dragon gods… at least not that I know of." Justice grimaced at him slightly and then started to lower his head.
Lasher reached up, forming a fist in his right hand and swiftly reached down towards his own left open palm as if to have caught it on cue. "The body of a bloody Andrastian! Hah! And Ferelden, to boot. Now, that's clever."
Justice grumbled some, since he didn't find anything that other said amusing. "What?"
The soldier hiked up his helmet and rested it against his hip and left arm as he turned away and started to take his attention back to searching the dead templars around them. "The Great Anders of the Anderfels destroying the Chantry in Kirkwall, wouldn't really make much sense. Too long to travel from there to Kirkwall—I mean, if you were going to bomb a Chantry, in that case, you should have just hit the sodding mother-lode in Val Royeaux!"
"Now, I can see a demon doing such damage, sod-it-all even a blighted mage even if he weren't Ferelden! So, you'll have to look past my skepticism of you being truly who you claim. I would go so far as to say that you're possessed right now—but that's only due to my brief templar training."
He paused for the moment and finally lowered his helmet down to the ground. Turning his attention towards the dead bodies, Lasher pillaged a bottle of blue liquid. He held high like a prize for the moment and then placed it down next to the helmet. Lasher then grasped the limb he had chopped off earlier and started to remove the metal armoring and gauntlets.
"But…" He continued and turned back towards the bottle and opened the cork with his teeth; turning to one direction and spat it away. He then proceeded to pour the liquid over the dead arm, giving the potion time to sizzle upon the contact of it's opened wounds. "I serve the Black Divine and I've been around possessions similar to this before. You seem harmless as long as you're respected, and as far as you're host's well-being is concerned-Well… No. I really don't give a damn either way, actually… But you are an icon for Tevinter, and that's the only excuse I need."
"I'm confused." Justice admitted and attempted to stand back to his feet carefully. "Very… What excuse?"
"To save your scrawny ass, of course!" Lasher scoffed quickly and raised the limb up to his mouth.
His eyes watched him and then shifted towards Leliana carefully as he bit down on the arm. He fed, chewing off meat and muscle from the bone and closed his eyes momentarily savoring the taste of fear from the dead templar's once-high adrenaline, and the iron content it contained. He took a few more bites, feasting off the limb as if it was actually a mutton. The sight was highly disturbing since it was clear from the distinct hands and fingers; that it was actually a severed human arm. Once he was done, he gave a slight sigh of undistinguished pleasure and dropped the chewed-down arm in order to reach up and wipe the blood from his mouth.
"I've been tracking the survivors from The Hundred Pillars for quite some time now. I didn't realize one of Tevinter's own 'icons' was involved with the Marothius White Spire purge. I wouldn't have even suspected it!" Lasher answered and at last raised back up to rest his right hand against the hilt of his sword. He leaned to one side, in order to keep his weight shifted, and looked towards Justice and Leliana both.
"Unless you were planning another bombing…? At any rate, seeing that you supposedly have diplomatic immunity and your rights were being obstructed, the situation sort of… forced myself to reveal where I was. At that given moment, it would have been my duty to do so."
"You killed these men over a diplomatic immunity issue?" Justice asked, raising a slight eyebrow even to this answer.
Lasher just laughed and folded his arms. "I killed these men because they were 'ignoring' the blighted issue! Wouldn't you? Tevinters generally are not pleased when the rest of Thedas overlook any diplomatic immunities …or peace treaties. When something can't be solved peacefully force steps in, or else there is no resolution."
When the fight had died out Leliana had payed little attention to the man in black amour. So when she heard the clanging of the metal making a connection with his scalp and Aragorn from the back shouting towards to Leliana to 'watch out' brought her to turn around and see the man she was helping trying to help was going to attack her. Thankfully though she didn't have to act quickly as if she could, as Justice had done before her, which brought a sigh of relief to pass her lips. "See if I help you again." She began to mutter, as she stepped aside bringing herself closer to Anders/Justices side.
The moment Aragorn heard the knights words of Anders not being able to be a damn thing, in his state caused him to finally step closer towards the mage and Leliana. But leaving her in the middle of the two males. "He might not be able to do anything but I can." He scoffed as his eyes shot towards the rouge beside him. "Are you okay?"
Leliana nodded her head as a quick smile began to form upon her full peach tinted lips. "Yes. Didn't think I could do that did you?" She asked curiously pointing to the fallen Templars.
Aragorn shook his head in a left and right motion. "Learn new things everyday."
Leliana jumped yet again hearing the thudding of Anders body falling to the ground below. With bent knees she followed, but in a more graceful manner. Lashers' words filled her ears but as she replied she didn't bother to look at him. "These two left to the bath house, and obviously got into too much then they thought they could handle."
"Anders couldn't handle it is more like it." Aragorn added, with a smile smearing across his lips.
"Oh and you weren't still wasted when you came—" The she halted in her words. Not wanting to speak of the act Aragorn tried to pull when she was still resting moments ago.
The two were not paying much attention to the new stranger. But when he suddenly had taken his helm off was the moment that brought not only Aragorn's but also Leliana's attention back to the one who called himself Lasher. Though the second Lasher stepped forward to release Anders from his restraints is when Leliana didn't leave her emerald hues from him. As she really wasn't too sure where to put this man at, on her good side or bad side. Sure he tried to attack her, but when she suddenly entered she said she was going to 'help' but wasn't too informative on who she was helping. Though by her actions it should have been clear enough.
All that was heard was silence from both Leliana and Aragorn as the two listened to these 'gods' that he spoke of. This brought Leliana to arch a brow as her arms crossed over her chest. "There isn't any mention of dragon gods in Ferelden." Leliana added with reassurance of Anders/Justices words. But it seemed as her words weren't heard as Lasher kept speaking, and speaking, and speaking. This brought Leliana to turn to her side, annoyed with this matter. Ignoring the male before her. At least until he walked to one of the fallen Templars, not only pillaging a vile of lyrium but also a dismembered arm.
"What are you going to do with tha—" She began to ask curiously, but then her own curiosity was answered. As he bit down into flesh, tearing ligament from ligament just brought her to close her eyes shut and shot her gaze away.
Aragorn stood stunned at the sight before him. Though gore and such things were a thing of everyday life for him, this was something else. That it almost caused a formation of vile to slither up his throat, which he swallowed down before it could pass to his tongue. "That's… Different." He whispered as he went to Lashers almost last spoken words to reply. "Anders is with me… If you want to know so badly, he's coming to Kirkwall with me to help me. That's all you need to know. So if there's nothing else I suggest take your leave."
"A Grey Warden needing help. There's a bloody shocker." The redheaded male mumbled under his breath sarcastically.
However far out of his element that he seemed to be, his confidence was never deteriorated in the slightest. Hiking up his helmet against his side, Lasher's hues remained staring at the man in front of him. He was practically sizing him up, studying the crest he wore as to take acknowledgement, and then to the heavy plated armor. There was his sword and shield as well; everything that bore the Griffon emblems on each of them. The man was a warrior, and probably a decent match to challenge.
"Wait…" His eyes narrowed some as a slow remembrance came to him. Lasher lifted his fingers casually, shaking them in the air to show that the wheels in his brain were turning. "…You were in Mirothius weren't you?"
Justice turned his head, looking towards his Commander, since he really didn't have a clue as to what the loud-mouth was talking about. Lasher laughed and then pointed over towards Leliana next.
"And you too! I'll be damned…" He said and then paused a moment, clicking his tongue against his teeth before at last lowering his arms. His eyes continued to shift between them, back and forth before choosing to speak again. "Dumat's Wing. You should've realized by now I sure as shit have no intention of interfering with you sods unless he's at risk from you two. But Kirkwall isn't the safest place for a mage either..."
He paused a moment, as the silence among them started to rise. The redheaded male then glanced towards the mage before speaking again. "Anders, was this by your choice or can I start carving out a few lungs?"
Justice grimaced some at the thought and crinkled his nose. "Lasher—"
"What? It's just for a warning." The redheaded male questioned, reaching back to tap his finger against the hilt of his sword still. "They'll only need one-"
"Lasher!" His voice then demanded quickly.
"It's a joke!" After hearing the risen seriousness in the mage's voice, Lasher responded quickly and inched back slightly after the shout; quickly removing his hand away from his weapon.
Justice rubbed his head some, trying to remember, but the last thing that came to his mind was him telling Aragorn that he had no interest in leaving Tevinter. There was an army to tend to, people to reassure, and meetings to discuss—but he was nowhere in those lands for any of this. He also –mostly out of courtesy—didn't want to have left Aragorn's statements against himself. Quite simply, he knew the Commander longer than this stranger.
"I am still a Grey Warden, and this man is—or was—my Commanding Officer." Justice explained as he reached up to rub his eyes for the time being; trying to keep his dizzy head from swiveling around. "They have no intention of harming me, or breaking my diplomatic immunities. In fact, a Grey Warden normally has those too."
Lasher scoffed and rolled his eyes slightly. "Your White Spire sure as the Blight—have a funny-ass way of abiding by them. Fine, fine…! I'll wash my hands of the matter."
He bowed his head to them in showing his departure and turned to start taking his leave. The man took about four steps away and paused once more. Turning back around, he started to smile real big again and started to shake his head.
"You know…. Now, this might sound a bit crazy… but I distinctly remember a pirate and bloodmage running around in your party as well." He began and reached up, idly rubbing the scar from around his neck. "You wouldn't happen to know where they'd be headed to would you? So far, the tracks have been heading in the same direction as yours."
"Mirothius?" Leliana began to question as she was pointed at by Lasher. Causing the rouge to blink a few times before she allowed her mind to be taken to the place he spoke of. She did remember someone 'charging' in but when he the group did she didn't get a good look at the fellow. As she was too concerned on getting out with the others to safety. "That was you?" She began to question, unsure if her own question would be answered as Anders/Justice and Lasher began bantering to one another again.
"That means you're the one that attacked not only Tempest, but also Arlen." Aragorn spoke aloud from his mind as he stepped forward. "So tell me did you dispose of them?"
The moment Lasher spoke of carving out their lungs brought the Warden to un-heistantly reach for one of his smaller swords at his hip. As he cupped his hand upon the hilt he listened. "You don't have to worry about the mage, he'll be safe in my company. I assure you of this. Unless we happen to get drunk again, which I can't make promises on him. But I know I'm taking a break on such acts." He reassured.
When Lasher began to make his departure, both Leliana and Aragorn, but mostly Leliana began to not only stand but turn to hopefully head back to the tavern. But Lashers next statement stopped her as she glanced over her shoulder to the male. She didn't bother to answer as she and Aragorn shot a glance to one another in almost a silent conversation.
"A pirate and bloodmage huh?" Aragorn began to reply as his gaze shifted from Leliana and to Lasher in her broken sentence. At least it was a relief to hear that the two were possibly safer than he thought they would be. "There not traveling with us. Sorry to disappoint ya… We separated way before coming to this village, so none of us know where there at, sadly."
"Except… They're going in the same direction." Lasher pushed onward, feeling his smile twitch a little to the right.
He reached up, rubbing his gauntlet-covered fingers through his hair to shake away any loose sweat and blood, and gave a light sigh. Starting to move back in their direction this time, he kept his eyes more towards the one who he figured may have been the actual leader –since it clearly hadn't been Anders. Lasher could tell at least, that the man certainly didn't care for him – of which he wasn't certain if he should have expected it or not. All the same, he did feel the tension from him and it left a great adrenaline rush for him.
"I have an ultimatum." He began, and stopped a few feet from them. Reaching up, he folded his arms and tried to have appeared as gentlemanly as he could. "I get the feeling we may have even started off on the wrong foot somehow… But… We are headed in the same damn direction, my duty would still be called into use if Tevinter's icon comes in any shit-storm arises - no offense – and there may be ways you're able to get through to that dumb-ass bloodmage and pirate for me for all I know."
His eyes glanced up towards the cloud as he continued in his honest ramble. "Since, I'm going to be following you from here on out anyway, why not allow me in directly? Or are you still sore about the Chantry issue?"
"Chantry issue…?" Justice questioned and looked towards Leliana and Aragorn.
"Oh, it was nothing—I was following the orders of my King. That's what a soldier does." Lasher looked away from the questionable lost tone in Anders's voice, since he didn't want it really explained anyway.
"An ultimatum?" Aragorn questioned quickly between Lashers broken words as he arched a brow and folded his arms over his chest. He wasn't too sure what this man had conjured up but he did have an idea. So it did bring him to be intrigued by listening to his idea on the matter. He couldn't help but laugh the second the words spilled out of his lips. He wanted to travel with them…? Sure he was following them. He knew this, now. How he was so blind to the fact along with the others that they were being followed, he had no clue. But his mind was brought back to the ultimatum, him going with them.
It wasn't like it wouldn't be the first time he took a murder, crazy yet skilled fighter under his wing per-say. But he couldn't help but look to both Leliana and Anders momentarily in his thought even though this was clearly his choice and not there's. In his past travels he never consulted with his party, not about Sten, nor Morrigan or even Leliana, cause yes she did seem crazy to that witch when they first met. But this was his decision, not theirs. "Fine." He finally stated, which happened to be cut off immediately by the female behind him.
"You can't be serious!" Leliana almost shouted, as she rose her leg up slightly to rush it back down in a firm stomp to grab Aragorn's attention. "He tried to attack me!"
"He could be of good use. I mean didn't you see how he fought?" Aragorn fought back, but obviously in a calmer tone than the females.
"Oh yeah he may be a great fighter, but wait till your sleeping and he'll tear one of your limbs off and have it for a midnight snack…"
"This isn't your choice…" Aragorn began as he sighed for a moment awaiting a hit from the rouge. But nothing came as she seemed to ignore him almost. "One thing, why do you want to find the pirate and bloodmage; is it to kill them? Or… Something else possibly? If so I can't let you take another step closer to wherever they may be. But if your promise me no harm will come of them, then you're more welcome aboard to our cheery little family."
Lasher had remained quiet, glancing back and forth between Leliana and Aragorn as they argued over him. It was actually, a little amusing; though he knew best to have kept out of it since he was granted permission to have accompanied them directly. This way was much easier on the nerves-well for him at least. No more snooping and spying from afar just because he happened to have been close-by.
Justice on the other hand had only waited until after Aragorn had made his decision, and glanced towards Lasher uncertainly. Even if he supposedly (or hopefully) had some kind of control over the other, Justice wasn't certain as to just how much.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Commander…" Justice mumbled, not really showing any approval, but yet not really a disapproval either.
"It's more of a personal matter. But you have my vow, I have no intention to kill either one of them. In fact, I'm trying to make amends…" Lasher only smiled widely at the question presented to him afterwards and turned his sights back to the man. He then leaned his head to the side and tapped his cheek idly in thought. "Unfortunately, we have left on bad terms, and they are… slippery sods to catch up to."
"I swear I should break your nose again." Leliana whispered under her breath as she grumbled some inconsistent words thereafter as she turned a shoulder to the Warden in attempt to ignore him. For the time being as she looked to Anders/Justice.
Aragorn stiffened, looking to Leliana as she spoke this and reached up to rub the bridge of his nose. Of course he winched, not only from remembering the past pain but also due to just touching his nose now even caused some pain. "Hey… That's not fair…" He whined, but then turned his attention to Justice as he was spoken too. "Oh don't be such a worry wart, Justice." Aragorn mumbled out towards the mage as a smirk formed on his thin lips at that moment as he dropped his hand back down to his side. He did look at Lasher though the moment he spoke to him out of courtesy; and took his statement of words for truth. "Well don't make me out to be a fool for trusting you then, eh?" Aragorn questioned, as he arched a brow as he shifted on the front ball of his foot to turn around to take a few steps back in the direction of the tavern. "We should get ready to go—"
But then Aragorn halted remembering they were also looking for not only Anders but Fenris as well. With a shift of his head, he glanced back to the group and yet again parted his lips. "Leliana take Justice, er Anders, whoever back to the tavern. He needs to rest up and allow his head to stop spinning before we leave. I'm going to go look for Fenris… Lasher, you can come with me."
"The City Guard may have already recognized him as a mage." Lasher spoke up and looked towards Tantervale for the moment and then briefly motioned to one of the guard's templar armor. "I don't know to what degree, but I would suggest disguising him at the very least… if we are returning back 'there' again."
Justice gritted his teeth at the thought, but alcohol was clearly clouding his normal judgment. "If I must, I must…"
Within a short while, Justice was wearing pieced together templar armor that luckily didn't have much blood on the ones that were chosen. He and Leliana snuck carefully back towards the tavern while Lasher and Aragorn had walked back into the city in search for their last team mate. The time passed on as the search had continued, though for the Leliana and Justice, it was a moment to rest.
"My head still hurts…" Justice complained, once he and Leliana had reached the rented room. "Why does it hurt? This isn't Tevinter, woman. Why am I even here?"
He tried to recollect his thoughts, but his memories were just as cloudy as if Anders would have attempted it instead. He remembered a drinking game, women, and …something that was like water…? There was no telling for how long though. Anders, most likely, had been partying for some reason. Though there wasn't much to celebrate, as far as Justice was concerned. After all, they were currently at war near the center heart of Nevarra. How they even passed from that unscathed and unnoticed was beyond him.
"What in the Fade is Anders thinking?" He grumbled and crawled on the bed, curling away and hugging a pillow to son sleep. "Dragging me out here against my will. I hope you know this is all your fault, woman."
Meanwhile, at the City Guard's tower, Lasher and Aragorn were having a little bit of trouble reporting a missing person. They had questioned the soldier who was currently there, but the man just shook his head in denial. It was as if the man had never even stepped outside before the incident; but surely he knew who came in and who left from there. After a while of his persistent refusing, Lasher had tilted his nose more towards the air and sniffed the area a bit.
"I smell a damn lie." He said and marched towards the man's desk. Slamming down the palm of his hand flat against the surface, the warrior then curved his armored hand to scratch against the wood. His eyes narrowed, burrowing down against the soldier who started to shrink back in his chair. "A wicked lie. You wouldn't want to lie to a Grey Warden Commander or to any member of the Divines, would you?"
The guard gulped a little, and shakily reached for his key. His head started to shake in his answer. When normally, he probably would have reached for his sword in the retaliation of the threat given to him, but the soldier clearly wasn't given enough time for any of this.
"Your soul will be eternally purified in the fires of damnation if you're crafting such wicked little sins." Lasher warned and held up his to accept the keys. When they were placed into his hand, he turned back towards Aragorn and waved the keys up happily before tossing them to him. "You said he was a knife-ear, right? I would suggest here first."
"Oy. You said nothing about an elf." The guard started to say and blinked a little at the reaslization of it.
Lasher glanced back at him briefly before going towards the door that lead to the different cells. "Aye-well... Some people see them more than for what they are. But that's none of your blighted concern, now is it?"
Finally after the two had made it safely back to the tavern, and into the room. A burst of a sigh pushed through Leliana's lips as she took a moment to rest against a wall as she watched Justice stumble to the bed. It was kind of odd to see him out and not Anders. She just had to hope also it wouldn't last as long as the last time. As she didn't want to try to pull Anders back either, just in case if Justice got all riled up by this.
She smiled some also seeing that certain amour on him. Knowing if Anders happened to be present at this time, he would be irate, but she had to admit the mage did look a bit attractive in the silver plated armor. She shook her head, as she finally pushed herself off her resting place, and took a few steps towards him in his rant.
"I think Anders drank too much… And that's why your head hurts so much." She responded with a point of her index to his cranium. "And you do know I have a name? Obviously you must like me a tiny bitty bit if I'm still around? So why not cut the woman things and use my name?" After a moment of reaching his side, she reached over the mage and tugged on the blanket to drape it over him. She couldn't help but arch a brow to his next set of words, almost causing her to reach over there and smack him over the head. But he was in enough pain, so of course she figured this was enough for him to deal with for now. "Just sleep. You'll feel better when you wake."