Oh my...three chapters in 2 days..what in the world is wrong with me. I'm adding a thank you to my fellow writer Emerald Ryuu Feather, who also has an excellent Dragon Age story called Gifts of the Heart that is totally amazing! You're an excellent writer buddy! Keep up the amazing work :).
And now...Fire & Ice.
The man, Anders, was gazing at us threateningly staff raised; but instead of focusing on the danger he was posing, all I could focus on was him. I couldn't move...hell I couldn't even think straight. He was a handsome man by any standards, but it was his eyes that drew me in. Amber, whiskey colored eyes. I felt a shudder ripple down my spine, but I was ripped out of my reverie by Varric's short cough. I sputtered casting around for what I was going to say. I cleared my throat shakily.
"I-we...we mean you no ill will. I am just here to speak with you." I cast my eyes at the floor, embarrassed to the core. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Anders still hadn't released his defensive stance, and I was relieved when Varric chimed in.
"We're are trying to get an expedition together into the Deep Roads, and rumor has it that you were a Warden. Do you know of a way?" I raised my head a little to peer through my curtain of white hair. I let out a small sigh of relief when I saw Anders relax a bit, although still wary of us. I couldn't help but ogle and was ever thankful for my hair curtain hiding my face. Even his voice was captivating when he spoke...which he was currently doing and I knew I had to snap out of it or risk looking like a complete moron again. I brought my head up to look him in the eye as he spoke.
"What, did the Wardens send you to drag me back? Well I'm not going back," and here he muttered more to himself than anyone in particular. "They made me get rid of my cat! Poor Ser-Pounce-a-lot, he hated the Deep Roads." I didn't quite know whether to laugh...or take him seriously...so I said the only thing I could think of in a moment like that.
"You had a cat...named Ser-Pounce-a-lot...in the Deep Roads?" The small smile that crossed his face as he remembered was gutwrenching; and I chose to ignore the fact that my knees were turning into mush and attempt to focus, which wasn't working very well.
"Yes, he was a gift, and a very noble beast." His eyes shone with pride, lost in memory, and I couldn't help but smile. "He almost got ripped in half by a Genlock once. Swatted the bastard on the nose..even drew blood." I caught myself giggling and hastily blushed when Varric gave me a knowing sideways glace. Damn that know-it-all, smug dwarf.I was going to kick him in the shins next time the opportunity presented itself. I was drawn out of my reverie by Anders resuming his speech. "Blighted Wardens said he 'made me too soft', I had to give him to a friend of mine in Amaranthine." The sadness that tinged his words was heartbreaking, and I had to shake my head to snap myself out of it. I cast around for something to say, I settled on getting straight to the point. I could feel Isabella's knowing smirk boring holes into the back of my skull, and it was getting rather uncomfortable.
"Well, as Varric said, I am part of an expedition into the Deep Roads. Any information you could offer as an ex-Warden could help save lives." He became slightly uncomfortable as he spoke.
"I will die a very happy man, if I never have to think about the Deep Roads again. You have no idea what I have been through in order to get here...I'm not interes..." and here he broke off momentarily thoughtful. He seemed to be having a brief argument with himself, and shook himself out of it before continuing as thought nothing had happened. "Although, a favor for a favor. Does that sound like a fair deal to you. You help me, and I help you?" In a moment of Maker knows what my terrible sarcastic sense of humor got the better of me and I responded without thinking.
"Well now, let us be more specific. I don't do anything involving children or animals." Varric snorted in disbelief and I head Merrill and Isabella snickering behind me, causing me to flush absolutely scarlet. I was thankful he seemed to ignore the gist of what I had said, and he began to pace as he spoke.
"I have Warden maps of the depths in this area, but there is a price."His eyes pierced into mine as he spoke, the intensity of his planning was nearly overwhelming. He continued, taking a few steps towards me as he spoke. "I came to Kirkwall to help a friend, a fellow mage who is imprisoned here in the Gallows. Somehow the Templars learned of my plans to free him. Help me bring him safely past them, and you shall have your maps." He gazed at me hopefully, amber eyes burning into my own ruby ones. I found that I couldn't say know...to a complete stranger...I must be going mental afterall.
"Help my expedition make it to the Deep Roads, and you shall have whatever you need." He smiled, and my knees were putty. He chuckled as he spoke.
"You agree without even asking for my terms. What if I were asking for the Knight-Commanders head on a spike?" I would kick myself later for the grin that spread over my face.
"Is that what you are asking?" There was a twinkle in his eyes that was intoxicating.
"I will leave that up for you to decide." We spoke about what he had referred to as the 'plight of the mages' and he was surprised to find that I felt much the same way as he did on their conditions; and the fact that they should not be locked up for being the way the Maker made them. The longer we spoke the more intrigued I found myself at this man, this apostate healer mage. He had an appearance of once being a flamboyant character, with his brightly colored coat and feathered pauldrons much nicer than the average mage robes. But he was a very caring individual, driven to see his fellow mages free. I had to admire that, well...him...ok both. We parted ways after he instructed us to meet him at the Chantry at nightfall. We would be meeting Karl (Anders friend) there and we were to assist in case any Templars came to intervene. I sighed as we headed to the Hanged Man to wait for nightfall thinking back and shaking my head at my girlish behavior. Varric picked up on this and nudged me, interrupting my thoughts.
"So Hawke, I see you have a thing for handsome troubled men." He winked at me and I sputtered, flushing scarlet all over again. I tried to play cool.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Varric." He laughed, damn that dwarf...he may be one of my best friends in all of Kirkwall...but some days I could just...ooh. He interjected into my thoughts again.
"Ooh you know you, well especially you of all people Hawke, cannot lie to me. I have eyes and I saw what happened when you laid eyes on him. You flushed like a virgin on a pirate ship." And apparently Isabella had been listening into our little conversation, because she felt the need to interject her two cents worth.
"Its true sweet thing, I've seen a virgin on a pirate ship before and I think you would have given them a run for their money in the blushing category." I punched her in the arm causing her to grimace and shoot me a dirty look. Varric laughed, but continued his assault on my pride. Well what little I had left anyway.
"So you have a thing for the underdog, I get it Hawke, just be careful. If this Anders ends up sticking around we don't need a full blown war for your affection going on. I don't think Broody could handle anymore angst." They all burst into laughter at my expense...which was becoming a regular thing. If they kept it up I was going to be stuck in a permanent shade of red.
"I'm pretty sure that would never happen Varric. Knowing me they'll end up fancying one another and forgetting I even exist. So, no worries. Now can we drop this while I still have shreds of my pride left and get some dinner. I'd like to have a full stomach for once without having to worry about losing it after a battle with some raiders." They all chuckled, and I couldn't help but join in; Merrill looking somewhat lost but still managing to enjoy herself. We sat at Varrics usual table in the back enjoying our meals and a pint of what the Hanged Man attempted to call ale, and waited for night to fall.