Chapter 50: The Wrong Thing

I press my lips to Anders's, and feel a split second of panic when he doesn't respond. But then his arms crush me in a tight embrace and I know he hasn't forgotten me either. His kisses are fierce and possessive, and when he finally pulls back, we're both breathing heavy.

"Maker, woman, you're like a drug to me," he says, sighing, and returns his mouth to mine for another, softer kiss.

I lean my forehead against his. "That's us, though, right? Always doing the wrong thing."

He smiles at me, and his kisses continue, gentle, urging. I feel my cloak drop to the floor. His hands start roaming my back and I begin to feel a familiar ache.

With one motion, he knocks the papers off the table and guides me into a sitting position on it. He kisses my jaw, and then my neck, and his name escapes my lips on a whisper. His hands pull up my skirt and he stands between my thighs, his mouth hungry on mine.

A voice calls out from the doorway. "Starting without me? Now that's not fair."

I bury my head in Anders's chest and laugh. I hear a soft chuckle from him as well before he pulls away from me. There's the Anders I missed.

"Isabela," I say, standing up and fixing my skirts. "Your timing sucks."

"Oh I don't know, it looked pretty good from where I'm standing," she remarks appreciatively. Looking to Anders she says, "I see what you mean about the sounds she makes."

He frowns at her, and she comments, "Hey, I'm not the one who left the door open." Turning to me, she add, "But it is good to see you two 'reconnecting', puss. He's been a grouchy shit ever since you took off. Maybe things will be fun again with you back in town."

"It's good to see you too. I was worried when I didn't see you before the Qunari thing."

She grimaces. "Yeah, about that...uh, never mind."

"Was there a reason you came?" asks Anders a bit impatiently.

"I ran into Fenris. He told me Norah was back, and had news about Talon," she reports. "Now, I think he knew what you two would be up to and sent me in to break it up."

I blush. Change the subject. She mentioned Talon. "Talon, yeah," I start, obviously deflecting. "Turns out my father is working for him, at least if my aunt is to be believed. She's a pretty good liar."

"The templar?" asks Anders.

"Wait, your dad is a templar?" asks Isabela, laughing. "Varric's going to love that one."

"He was a templar. As in formerly. He left the order and ran away with my mother," I say, shrugging. "It seems Colette only continued to hunt me because of pressure from Talon. According to her, either my father or Nikolaus told him something that made him want to capture me. I don't know what, but she implied that it has something to do with Cat."

"So we're going to see more of that bastard and his people," Isabela says. "I want to get back at him for what happened to Marco. I knew Marco, and he wouldn't have willingly served him like that. But puss, I don't want end up like one of his men. Maybe it's better if we stay out of his way."

"I agree, the man is dangerous. From what you described before, he's involved with something dark, probably demons, or blood magic," says Anders.

"I know," I admit. "I came back to warn everyone. I made you all a target, and I'm sorry. Unfortunately, I don't think leaving will help with this one. I mean for starters, I don't even know where to look for him. I just know he'll try again eventually."

"When were you going to mention this?" Anders asks accusingly.

"I...got a little distracted," I say, my face hot. He smiles a little at that.

"Isabela, can you get everyone together at the Hanged Man tonight?" I ask. "I'll fill them all in then."

"Right. I'll just shut the door on my way out then," she says, grinning. She walks to the door, and backs out, slowly closing it. I laugh again.

The look on Anders's face isn't encouraging when I turn back to him. "Don't shut down on me now, Anders; we were doing so well."

"You don't understand. Things changed while you were gone. The injustices against the mages have grown. More and more Tranquil are being seen in the Gallows courtyard. I couldn't stand by anymore. Justice and I...I fear it's too late for what we could have been, Norah."

"What are you talking about? What have you done?" I ask gently, touching his arm.

"Nothing I want to involve you in," he says, and his brow furrows.

"Let me help you," I say.

"Maker, no. No, none of this will come back on you," he insists, and I'm even more concerned. "No matter what happens, I'm glad I got to see you again."

"Why does that sound like a goodbye?" I ask, and a sick feeling starts in my stomach. He doesn't answer. "Damn it, Anders. Talk to me." When he still doesn't respond, I turn to where I know Cat is. "Cat, help me."

She just shakes her head, her eyes downcast. "You knew what I thought of this from the beginning."

I pound my fist uselessly against his shoulder. "I still love you," I say, the words ripped from my lips before I can hold them back.

"I know love, and I'm sorry," he says. "Justice and Vengeance are too intertwined now. It's hard to tell them apart. But loving you has been the best wrong decision I ever made. I wish things could be different."

"Then let them be different. Let me stay with you. You don't have to tell me everything; Maker knows I've had my share of secrets. But that kiss just now told me you still want me too."

He looks indecisive. "I never could say no to you," he says, sighing.

"Can I come see you later then?" I ask, anxious, but hopeful.

He nods. "I've been staying here again."

"Okay. I need to go see Fenris before I meet with everyone later."

He grabs my hand, stopping me. "Are you sure you want this?" he asks. "You could still go to him, have a better life. I can only offer you pain."

"Anders, we chose each other once before. I may have left for a while, but I still choose you."

Cat stays with Anders. I hurry to Hightown to meet Fenris, but there's no answer at his house. I remember he said something about meeting with Aveline.

I feel awkward going into the Viscount's keep, but Brennan tells me Aveline left some time ago. Odd. With nowhere else to go, I head toward the Hanged Man. I'll be early for the meeting, but I can get something to eat. As if on cue, my stomach growls, making the decision for me.

Walking into the Hanged Man, I'm surprised to see Fenris already here, with Hawke, Aveline, and Varric. Corff is missing from behind the counter. He's always there; what's going on?

Fenris growls out, "Shut your mouth, Danarius."

The mage in front of him replies, "The word is master." Oh shit.

I release the clasp on my cloak and toss it into the corner. I free my staff from my back and make ready for battle. Danarius runs into the back hallway, and several men attack us. These must be Danarius's slavers. I call my magic to life, and cast a glyph of warding under Fenris. Noticing it, he glances back at me before turning back to Danarius. I wince. I hadn't meant to distract him, just help with a boost. I guess I should have noticed he didn't bring any mages with him. Hawke and Aveline give me shocked expressions, but I ignore them, and continue brandishing my staff.

The slavers are the first to attack. I sling spells from my staff, relishing the feeling of using magic again. A rush of power courses through me, and I cast Haste. Hawke twirls into the thick of the slavers, using her long daggers in the slashing fashion I had witnessed before. Aveline rams her shield into a target, knocking him prone, as Varric pins him to the ground with a crossbow bolt from his beloved Bianca. Fenris attempts to get closer to Danarius, but is intercepted by another of his men.

I notice a female elf standing off to the side. She doesn't move, just stands there looking sadly at the ground. Who is that? We never get many elves in the Hanged Man. Maybe she's new. I parry a dagger slash from my left with my staff, and get a few hits in myself with the bladed end. I cast a spirit bolt, and he loses his balance, slipping to the floor. Grasping my own dagger in one hand, I move in and find a vulnerable spot. I sheathe the dagger again quickly and look for my next target.

Danarius is still standing in the back hallway, out of the fight, a barrier surrounding him. Blood magic, from the looks of it. Great.

I work my way closer, but am confronted with a shade. It pops out of the ground in front of me, startling me. I dodge backwards, nearly tripping over a chair. This really isn't the best place for this fight.

I charge the fireball spell. Between my discussion with Anders and wanting to defend Fenris against Danarius, I have plenty of anger and hurt to fuel it this time, and I stun the shade with my first shot. Aveline moves in to take over. I move on inward.

A rage demon rises between Fenris and I, all fire and lava. The Winter's Grasp spell freezes it and holds it steady as Hawke puts her daggers to good use.

Another small movement forward. Fenris has reached Danarius, but can't get in close due to the barrier. I see a wobble in the magic, and I know what that means. "Fenris, his barrier is weakening, he won't be able to hold it much longer. Be ready," I shout, and give us both a boost with another Haste spell. The barrier falls, and Fenris lays into him with his claymore. I throw a few spirit bolts his way. Danarius is on the defensive, but damn, he's strong. He disappears in a another swirl of magic.

He reappears behind me, and I'm taken off guard. Before I can reorient myself, he twists my arm behind my back, and pulls me against him as a shield. My staff clatters to the ground.

I see Fenris's resolve falter, and I give him a tiny shake of my head. Okay, Norah, this is going to be difficult, but you can do this. You're familiar with the spell. Just focus. Control.

"As I was saying, pet. The word is master," he snarls, but I continue with the concentration. Releasing the spell, I feel the cold of magic shoot up my back. It hurts, but I can't stop now. Danarius's body stiffens behind me. I can't move out of his grip, but I can still speak.

"Do it, Fenris," I say.

He moves behind both of us, and I see the blue glow from around Danarius's body. I hear something hit the floor. The spell fades, and Danarius falls backwards. Unfortunately his arm hasn't released its hold, which means I fall as well. I wince at the pain in my shoulder. Fenris puts a boot on Danarius's chest, and helps free me. I stand, brushing off my skirt. I shiver.

Fenris storms over to the elf standing on the other side of the room.

"I had no choice, Leto," she says, her stance defensive. Leto? It dawns on me-the sister. "He was going to make me an apprentice. I would have been a magister."

"You sold out your own brother to become a magister?" he asks, his tone furious.

"You have no idea what we went through. What I've had to do since mother died. This was my only chance."

"And now you have no chance at all," he growls, moving toward her menacingly.

"Elf," says Varric from behind him. "Don't. It won't help."

"Fenris does as he likes," comments Hawke.

The glow starts again. "I would have given you everything." He moves toward the elf girl.

I'm moving before I even realize it. "Fenris, don't do this to yourself," I say and put my hand on his arm. The magic burns my hand like fire, and I hear the sizzle of my own flesh. He thrusts his hand widely, knocking me backwards. I land awkwardly, hitting my head on one of the support beams. I see stars, and can't seem to focus my eyes.

I hear Fenris say, again in that angry, gravelly tone, "Get out." I sense motion to the one side. Good, please don't let him hurt her, he'll never forgive himself.

Her voice sounds from behind me, "You said you didn't want this, but that's not true. You wanted it, you competed for it. When you won, you used the boon to have Mother and I freed. But freedom was no boon. I look at you now and think you got the better end of the bargain."

It's probably only a minute or two, but it feels like an eternity before my vision returns and the room stops moving by itself. I hold my non-burned hand to my aching head. Fenris stares down at me. He's covered in blood, and his expression is vague, confused.

"I thought you were going to tell me when you found her," I say weakly to him.

"You were busy," he replies, lips pressed in a tight line.

"I still would have come if you'd asked me." I look away, feeling guilty, and hiss in pain at the moment.

He flinches, noticing my injuries for the first time, and looks away as if he can't bear to see it. "Let's go," he says to someone over my head. "I need to get out of here."