Dragon Age
"The Relic"

Chapter Nine: Anders

As a healer, Anders was naturally outgoing and caring. He always wanted to help those who actually needed help. In the Wilds the locals learned that he was a healer and suddenly fugitive Anders had several patients. Mostly he healed minor injuries and broken bones but occasionally he got strange illnesses or something worth scratching his head over. Skyhold had healers, both conventional and mage, but when he was in Skyhold people flocked to him. People from Herald's ventured up or requested his services and those in Skyhold usually sought him out. When they didn't find him he found his own patients just walking down the hall. He had an uncanny ability to find someone who was sick as they were passing him.

Three days he'd been in Skyhold and he was actually relaxed, most of the attendees from the party had cleared out, however Sebastian was still there. That bothered him more than anything; bastard was probably waiting for him to leave. He was relaxed until about an hour ago, now he was a little aggravated and wanted to see the Inquisitor. When he asked Josie about Khrys' whereabouts she pointed him toward Cullen's office.

Anders was usually approachable when he was comfortable but not this time, he was aggravated so if anyone said anything in passing he didn't hear it as he moved with purpose through the rotunda and across the bridge to Cullen's roost.


Inside the office he saw Cullen and Khrys on the same side of the desk going over whatever important military information Cullen had for her. He respected Cullen as one of the few good Templars, he never wanted to hurt anyone; he only wanted to keep people safe. Mages, civilians, and Templars alike. He even forgave him for hauling him back to Kinloch after one of his escape attempts. In Kirkwall his feelings toward Cullen soured a little bit due to the tension between the mages and Templars until it all hit the fan and Cullen stood against Meredith. Anders actually felt like he could count on Cullen and even trusted him. That spoke volumes coming from someone like Anders who had such a checkered past with Templars.

"I need to talk to you, Khrys," Anders said bluntly as he came to stand before Cullen's desk.

Khrys and Cullen stopped their conversation and looked at him then to each other. "Umm…okay," she responded sensing that it was serious…at least serious to him. "Cullen, could you give us the room?"

The commander nodded politely. "Of course," he answered and withdrew passing Anders on the way out.

Anders' head followed Cullen out. The commander looked more haggard than normal, pale, scruffy, and tense. His bone to pick with the Inquisitor was momentarily forgotten and replaced with the healer in him. "He does not look well," he commented as the door closed behind Cullen.

"His tonic's not working anymore. Mornings are always rough on him now," Khrys informed and leaned back on Cullen's desk trying to figure out why Anders just barged in. "What did you need?"

Anders pushed Cullen's health issues to the back of his mind and returned his attention to Khrys. "Why am I the last to know that my son has joined the Inquisition?" Anders demanded in a curt tone.

"Maybe because you are a little unapproachable to Malcolm," she replied without thinking about the response and Anders blinked taking offense at that and stepped toward her.

"Are you giving me parenting tips? Is that what this is? You think you understand what goes on between me and my son?"

Khrys realized she made an error as soon as she said it; it wasn't her place to tell him how to raise his son or to get in the middle of whatever they constantly disagreed on. "Anders," she started and held up her hand in surrender. "I didn't mean that, I'm sorry, but you two fight all the time and, to be honest, none of us know why."

"Good," he replied sharply. "It's not your business. It's not anyone's business."

Anders was a bit like Dorian when it came to their children, overprotective and frustrating, so she decided to try the same tactic she used on Dorian. "He is looking for a place to belong, to do something. He can't stay locked away in the Wilds forever. He asked me and I said yes."

Anders scoffed and reminded her of Dorian. "You said yes…just like that? You didn't bother to talk to me or Tess, you just said 'yes'?"

Khrys rolled her eyes. "Not blindly…I questioned his reasoning and even had Dorian talk to him. I said yes," she answered. "You know what he can do…he's a powerful mage and an even better rogue. You can't let his talents go to waste in the Wilds."

"He's my son, Khrystabel," Anders snarled firmly. "My son. You do what you like with your daughter but Inquisition agents are killed, captured, or never seen again…" he trailed off as the heart of his objection came to light.

Khrys stepped toward him and was sympathetic to his concern. "Anders, Malcolm knows how to protect himself…you and Tess raised him well," she explained softly looking at his tall figure. "And I'd never send him out alone."

None of this was easing his concern, how could it when only half the truth was known. There were things that people didn't know, private things that involved his family that not everyone in the world needed to know about. "That's not the point," he snapped harshly and turned from her frustrated and worried.

Khrys grumbled. "By the Creators, damnit, what is the point?"

"Malcolm is-…" he began then seemed to think twice and changed direction. "I love my son…no matter what anyone thinks or says or how often we fight; I don't want to see him hurt and the Inquisition has a tendency to lose agents."

"Anders, I'd never willingly place him in danger but all I can ask is that you trust me and him," she said softly her tone sweet and kind.

Anders ordinarily would have been fine with trusting her, he'd entrusted Malcolm in her care before but this was a different situation. There were things that she didn't know about, things that no one but a select few knew about. "You're asking me to trust you with my only child's safety to join an organization that is fending off threats from all directions; serious, dangerous threats."

"Anders, how many times have you saved my life?" she asked and he blinked confused before answering.

"I don't remember," He replied showing that his sense of humor was still intact.

Anders was credited with not only saving her once but twice. He took on the Nightmare at Adamant in a full rage and Vengeance/Justice extricated itself from Anders giving him and everyone else the opportunity to escape as the Nightmare was occupied with a very angry spirit. However, the second time was more personal. She had contracted some sort of illness that nearly killed her when she was five months pregnant. She could remember two things about that time: her crystal clear dream of Solas being there with her and a fever induced delirious image of Anders hovering over her. She remembered the worry and concern on his face and those white healing orbs from his palms passing over her head a few times.

"Once at Adamant, when you saved us all and again 16 years ago," she went on and Anders stood and listened quietly. "You saved me and Bree. Dorian trusted you with me and his child when everyone told him that I was going to die. And 5 years ago Bree got sick, I didn't want any other healer to touch her but you because I don't care what anybody says about you, what you did, who you were, what you are, I trust you. In all the time I've known you, you've never let me down…even when you were rapidly going mad."

Anders swallowed but was silent for a few moments. She could soothe skittish horses with that voice of hers and she successfully chilled him out. It helped mainly to know that Khrys wasn't just going to use Malcolm as cannon fodder, she was going to train him as an agent and he knew all too well what his son was capable of. "Who are you going to pair him with?"

Khrys shrugged, her first thought was Fenris but know Anders' feelings toward the Elf and vice versa she entertained others also. "Fenris, Loranil…maybe Cole," she rattled off and Anders actually seemed to accept that.

Anders grunted his thoughts and sighed. "Doesn't seem like I have a say in the matter…I'm sorry I…"

Khrys shook her head and offered him a smile. "Anders, it's no trouble," she said with a smile. "I've become somewhat of a professional at dealing with nervous fathers lately."

Anders' realized that he really didn't have a choice in the matter; he sighed again satisfied with what he had no control over. He gave her a slight chuckle, there was nothing more that he could say and it was frustrating for him.

The door opened and Cullen poked his head in. "Excuse me, Inquisitor, another report," he said quietly and Khrys gestured for him to come back in. "Still no word on Sutherland," he continued as he passed her the report.

Khrys took the report and read it as Cullen patiently waited. His eyes flickered to Anders who was staring at him with an uncomfortable gaze. "Headache, Commander?" Anders asked and Cullen brushed it off.

"I'm fine," he replied bluntly but Anders had heard that a 100 times from him.

"I can help you, Cullen, let me try," he pressed and Cullen's response was the same.

"No," he replied again bluntly and Anders sighed at his stubbornness.

"Khrys…" Anders appealed and Cullen grumbled.

"I said, no, don't go to her," Cullen snapped at the apostate that had irritated him since the day they met.

"Cullen, you've had that headache for three days…let him help."

"I have two children and my wife has been sick; of course I have a bloody headache. I don't need any help," he snapped again.

"I'll make it an order if it makes you feel better, let him help, Cullen."

Cullen didn't try to hide the grumble and irritated sigh. He visibly relented and gave Anders an irritated expression. The Healer smirked at his ability to antagonize the former Templar. "Hold still," Anders instructed as his right palm lit up with the familiar white orb of creation magic. The mage put his hand on Cullen's left temple and Cullen shuddered at the familiar tingling feeling associated healing magic.

There was nothing Anders could do for the widespread nerve pain that was associated with the Lyrium withdrawal. He could temporarily take the pain away but that was all. Anders closed his eyes to try to get to the root of Cullen's headache; if it wasn't due to the withdrawal he could heal it and call it a win. This wasn't the case this time; Anders strained a little trying to heal as much as he could. He added his other hand placing it over Cullen's chest, his strain became obvious and a few moments later he stopped and took a half a step back shaking his head sharply.

Cullen felt a thousand times better as the headache and the nerve pain left him like a wash of water going over him. He let out a loud breath of relief; he hadn't felt this good in months. Only Anders had the power and talent to do this, every other mage healer that tried never came close.

Khrys furrowed her brow at the two of them, that wasn't a typical session with Anders. "Anders, are you alright?" she asked as the mage had bent forward bracing his hands on his thighs.

He nodded and composed himself. "That's some significant progression of the Lyrium withdrawal, Commander," he commented and stood up straight. "I just took the pain away…I didn't heal it but if you don't get a handle on it again it will kill you."

Cullen understood that, everyone involved with improving or reformulating his tonic knew that. The race was one because the speedy progression of Lyrium withdrawal would kill him and for Khrys, Ariel, his kids, and about a dozen other people that wasn't an option. He knew what it would do to him and he knew that his rejuvenated feeling right now was temporary but he wasn't going to waste it. "Thank you, Anders," he said sincerely and extended his hand to the mage that irritated him.

Anders nodded in response and shook the commander's hand firmly. "My pleasure, Commander."

"Inquisitor, if you don't mind, could we pick this up later?" he asked and Khrys giggled softly while nodding.

Cullen was pain free for the first time in a long time so he preferred to spend that time doing something other than being the Inquisitions general. The nearly 50 year old Templar quickly but politely excused himself from the Inquisitors presence and scurried out heading in the direction of his home across the top of the battlements above Herald's Rest.

Anders raised his eyebrows as Khrys went back to looking over the new message that came in. "Well," Anders began humorously as he looked out toward the commander rapidly disappearing from his sight. "Ariel better brace herself. Hopefully he bothers to take her upstairs and not right there on the bar."

Khrys tried and failed to stifle her laugh so it came out a snorting snicker. "I can picture it now," she chuckled.

"Pervert," Anders shot back with a grin.

Her glare was sarcastic as she turned to the desk laying the message down on it for Cullen to pour over later. "Not what I meant, Mage," she said and thought about it for a second noticing that was exactly how it sounded.

"Well, it's what I meant…I think I'm going to go find my wife now," he continued and chuckled as she rolled her eyes at him. "Inquisitor," he nodded and walked out leaving her to chuckle; she'd spent enough time doing girl talk with Tess to know that Anders had a monstrous sexual appetite. She chuckled to herself as he left.


Anders had every intention of tracking down his wife for a little play time, on the way across the bridge he grinned to him himself thinking of all the things he could and would do once he found her. Having a heart to heart with Khrys mellowed him out but aside from finding he wife to play with, he needed to find her to apologize for snapping at her.

Tess was to pick between he and his son and he hated that she was forced to be in the middle mediating their disputes. Malcolm was willful and stubborn, fine qualities but they were traits he'd inherited from Anders. There were things in Malcolm's life that were beyond his control and try as Anders might he just couldn't let them go. The Inquisition would be good for him, give him a purpose, something to do besides drive he and Tess crazy and pester the local Chasind tribesman, and Anders trusted Khrys and Cullen to keep him as safe as they could and not misuse his power and talents.

He made his way across the bridge and through the rotunda that had one of his absolute favorite features in it. That stunning mural painted by Solas, he thought that after what had happened between them 15 years ago and what had taken place since Khrys would have destroyed it out of spite. Anders wouldn't blame her, Solas broke her heart twice, he would have destroyed it, but, alas, the mural stood…depicting Inquisitor Lavellan's victory against the Darkspawn abomination Corypheus.

He had to cross the main hall to get to where he needed to go, in his travels he found Dorian and Balian actually seeming like they were having a quiet lunch at one of the tables. Dorian was different when Balian was around, not the nervous father or…whatever he was to Khrys, he was himself in all his sarcastic, annoying, charming, bluster. You could see that he loved Balian and could also see how much Balian loved him in return. There were complications, of course, no romance was perfect; Balian served Starkhaven and was about as loyal as a damn Mabari. Anders had nothing against the Elf, he was a damn good warrior and a good man but his loyalty to Sebastian made him cautious. One word from his master and he'd kill Anders without a hesitation. Balian's mother was the Clan Keeper so if there was any warrior who would work around magic to kill someone it was Balian and if it came to that Anders knew he didn't stand a fucking chance.

Balian was half sitting on the foot of the table snacking on something and chuckling at something Dorian had said while Dorian was seated with his back to the isle finishing a drink. "Oh, look, the sweet love birds. Wonderful flowers of romance blossoming in Skyhold…" Anders began as he couldn't resist the chance to needle his nemesis' bodyguard. Balian actually rolled his eyes at the interruption. "What are you still doing here?" he added the question unmistakably aimed at Balian.

Balian didn't answer; he wasn't easily baited by Anders or anyone. You could annoy him…Dorian was good at that but he had enough self-control to let it all roll off his back. Dorian, however, did respond. "Do you mind? We were in the middle of private conversation."

"Just curious when our Starkhaven 'friends' will be off so I can give them a proper farewell." Dorian cussed Anders out under his breath but his irritation was apparent. Anders cocked his head to the side seeing the remains of a hickey on the side of Balian's neck. "Though I don't think my sendoff will be quite as enjoyable as Dorian's apparently was."

Balian smirked causally taking a drink from his cup. "Few are," he replied and could feel Dorian's look, part of it was blushing and the rest of bristling to 'few'. "Did you need something specifically or did you just come here to test me again?"

Anders' chuckle made Dorian want to strangle the mage. He always did this, no matter what warnings he got. He antagonized Sebastian and Balian, part of him commended his spirit the rest of him wanted to toss him from the battlements. "It's always fun to test you…I wonder how far you would go. You've intrigued me…you serve Sebastian yet you don't want to kill me on sight."

Balian's half smile to the healer was enough to make Dorian weak in the knees. "Not yet," he said and Anders found himself actually enjoying the banter, as dangerous as it was.

Anders played along with the tight sniping that was going on between them. He believed Balian when he said he wouldn't hurt him or try to kill him unless Anders or Sebastian gave him a reason, still…bantering with the man didn't seem like the wisest course of action. "Oooo…and here I was going to offer you my services and have a go at that ruined arm of yours."

Balian still hadn't move from his perch on the end of the table, he scoffed and finished off his drink. "If my mother couldn't heal it 20 years ago when it happened you certainly can't. Magic doesn't work that way…for a healer you'd think you'd know that."

Ander smirked to him. "You under estimate my abilities as a Healer, Balian the Bear."

That garnered an annoyed expression as Balian glared at the ceiling then looked down at Dorian, he hated all those names people gave him. "I find the person who's spreading my bloody nicknames I swear I'll kill them."

Dorian stood stifling his chuckle at his lover's exasperation. "Alright, Anders, you've had your fun now please…go before he tosses you off the battlements and I have to explain that to Khrys."

Anders chuckled and slapped Balian's right shoulder. "Tell your Master I'll see him later."

Balian had to give it Anders…he wasn't afraid to rattle the cage and smiled slightly as Anders disappeared from him. "Man likes to gloat when he's untouchable."

Dorian scoffed. "Man likes to gloat period. Should have seen him when he was still possessed. Not as much humor…twice as dangerous."


Anders found his quarters empty, Tess wasn't there, it wasn't like he expected her to just be pining around waiting for him especially after he was a bit of an ass to her and to his son a few hours earlier. So instead of seeking her out he simply waited.

"Where've you been?" he asked as Tess closed the door. His tone was kind, not the snappy one he had earlier.

"Talking to Sebastian," she said with a smile as she walked up to her husband.

Anders' brow furrowed, his lovely wife confounded him sometimes. Knowing the animosity between her husband and Sebastian she still maintained a friendship with the Prince. Tess always did have a way with people; the ability to mediate between factions, to be able to stay on good terms was everyone when he could barely be tolerated by his own. Mages either hailed him as a hero or wanted his head on a spit. He didn't quite have the knack for people that his wife had. "And what did the pious Prince have to say?"

Tess shook her head to him. "Nothing that you would care to hear," she smiled knowing that it really wasn't anything he'd want to hear.

Anders slowly made his way toward her with an expression that she knew well, he was prowling, the mage wanted to play. "I remember you had a crush on him for a time…are you trying to replace me?"

Tess giggled quietly as he drew closer and closer making her look up to keep eye contact with him. "Well, he is quite handsome and sweet and nice."

Anders' wicked smile was something she was used to. "You don't like 'nice men', Love, you like dangerous ones," he said matter-of-factly and snatched her close to him. Tess bit her lower lip, he was absolutely right. Her attraction to Anders was partly due to the danger that his 'other half' posed. Justice was dangerous and loving Anders was dangerous. She liked the violent side of him when he and Justice disagreed, even when Justice catapulted into Vengeance. She kissed him and giggled like a teenager as they tumbled back onto the bed.


The skies over the Frostbacks had turned stormy and grey but it wasn't raining, Skyhold was about to become a mucky, muddy mess. Anders leaned on the stone overlooking the courtyard and he could sense the storm coming in and could smell it in the air. His son had vanished after the spat that morning between them. His son had joined the Inquisition. That was something he was going to have to figure out how to live with, it wasn't that he joined, it was the danger that it posed.

Talking to Khrys and then to his wife convinced him that he had to accept this, as aggravating as that was. He didn't want to go looking for him, Malcolm knew nearly every nook and cranny of Skyhold so he'd probably never find him if he didn't want to be found. Taking that into consideration, he decided to wait.

After the argument with his father that morning, Malcolm went for a ride…a long one. His father was stubborn and bull-headed but then again, so was he. When it came to Malcolm wanting to branch out anywhere his father tended to get over protective and wanted to hide him away. Malcolm was a unique individual.

He had gone down to Herald's after his ride with some of the other agents that he'd met. On the way back up he and the rest of them got caught in a downpour that soaked him to the bone. He was soaked; his boots squelched on the stone and he was dripping water as he walked, he couldn't wait to get out of his soaked clothes.

Malcolm contemplated simply turning around and walking out of his chambers when he saw his father sitting in a chair with his feet propped up on the table. He didn't and closed the door behind him eyeing his father trying to figure out just what he wanted.

"By all means…make yourself at home," Malcolm commented as he shook his head sharply to shake the water from the rain off his unruly locks.

Anders chuckled softly at his son's sense of humor though he heard the curt tone, the lingering feelings from their argument earlier that day. He noticed Malcolm's appearance, wet from head to toe, and boots caked in mud. He's obviously been caught in the downpour. "Some people take their clothes off when they bathe."

Malcolm rolled his eyes and dropped his daggers onto the table Anders' feet were propped up on. "What do you want?" he asked getting to the point. He practically ignored the fact that he was there as he started to discard the drenched articles of clothing.

Anders rocked back in the chair balancing on the back legs as his son moved around the room behind him removing his muddy boots. "I'm sorry about earlier," He said after a long pause. Malcolm had moved onto trading out his wet clothes with dry ones but didn't say anything. "I didn't mean to yell at you." It wasn't the first time Anders had done that and Malcolm simply took it in stride. They had a strained relationship but it wasn't like they hated each other. He dropped the chair back to all fours and turned to see why his son was curiously quiet on the subject of 'father apologizing for being an asshole'. "Are you going to say anything or just pretend to be mute?"

Malcolm pulled the dry shirt over his head and felt better that his clothes were dry again. "What do you want me to say?" he huffed back.

Anders stood, realizing that he was going to need to make the first move here. "I just want you to be safe…you're my son, Malcolm, and the Inquisition is dangerous organization."

"Doesn't seem to concern you much when I'm running around the Wilds killing off Sebastian's bounty hunters or people who just want to kill you on principle," he shot back and Anders straightened, Malcolm had a point.

"Don't you dare think that I don't-…," he began to snap and then stopped himself, "It's a dangerous world for people like you…people like us."

"You don't have to say that…I'm out in it…all the time," he hissed and Anders sighed heavily relenting to the fact that he was stuck with this.

"Malcolm, I don't want to fight about this. I just want you to take care of yourself; I know I can't stop you from doing this and that I really shouldn't try to stop you," Anders said and Malcolm sighed. "Have you talked to Lily about this?"

That question caught Malcolm off guard and he blinked. "Uhh…," he stammered, "yeah…she didn't object." Anders nodded adding a half smile. "She actually encouraged me. Are we done here, Dad?"

Anders sighed heavily and nodded to him. "Yeah," he said awkwardly. "Yeah…just take care of yourself; there are very few people we can trust out there."

Malcolm sighed as he watched his father walk out, for as long as he could remember Anders had protected him. He was seven when his abilities manifested and Anders had taught him everything he knew. Anders could see the power in him even when he was kid but his power came with a drastic price and that was what Anders constantly protected him from.