Sorry that it has taken me this long to get this chapter out everyone. We've been having some serious family issues that have prevented me from having the opportunity to continue, and with those wrapping up I'm hoping to get through at least Act 1 within the next few chapters.
This chapter in particular, as well as some of the following are going to paraphrase some of what is happening for the sake of my sanity as well as the flow of the story. This is Hawke's journal were reading after all, in case some of you have forgotten, so paraphrasing and liberties are allowed. Its a little different from my usual way of writing this story, but for now it was the only way I could find to push through the insane amount of writers block I've been experiencing, so please hang in there with me.
I want to thank all of you who have stuck it out so far and are rooting for me to continue! I couldn't have done it without you guys.
And now without further ado...Fire & Ice chapter 13: The Chapter in which everything gets really crazy!
Alice smiled as she set the journal in her lap, remembering back to those moments. Seven years, she couldn't believe she had been in Kirkwall for seven years. Time seemed to have flown by, and so many things had happened; both good and bad. She sighed, reaching to pick up the bottle of wine she had set on the desk, and took a swig. She chuckled when she heard the commotion coming from downstairs, it seems someone was having a wrestling match with Cookie in the foyer again. She smiled, picked up the journal again and began to read once more.
Night had finally fallen and we all decided it was time to head for Hightown, and our meeting with Anders at the Chantry. We had spent the evening enjoying our meal and speculating on some of our companions more 'personal' traits, that conversation being pursued more by Varric and Isabella than Merrill and I. Although I did get drawn in every now and again. We rose from our table and headed for Hightown. We walked in companionable silence, Isabella and Varric butting in with a few jokes here and there, and without running across much trouble. We made it to the Chantry and found Anders waiting outside. He greeted all of us, filled us in on what information he had, and we made our way through the doors. What we found once we were inside was not a happy sight...
Alice set the journal back down sadly. This entry was just another one that reminded her of all the death that had surrounded her life. She sighed remembering the look on Anders face when they found Karl, tranquil. Anders had been furious, and proceeded to cut down at least a dozen Templars without so much as blink. This was also the first time Alice had met Justice. Justice was an entirely new thing for her, she had never met a spirit being a warrior and not a mage, let alone one that had merged with a human; it was a jarring experience to say the least. She remembered every single second of that experience, and always would. It was one of those moments where through one of her companions strife they became one of her family; Anders not being excluded from this. She remembered the look on his face when he had ended Karl's life, the merciful choice instead of forcing him to live the remainder of his life as a Templar puppet; void of any emotion. She remembered his haunted face as he fled from the Chantry that night, and she remembered exactly what happened after she ran after him, worried for his safety, and his sanity. She looked down at the journal resting in her lap and skimmed over till she found what she had written about when she had found Anders back at his clinic, and settled back in to read.
I couldn't believe everything that has just happened. I followed Anders after we had found out that his friend Karl had been made tranquil. I had Varric and Isabella take Merrill home, believing that appearing by myself would seem less threatening, and I told them that I would meet them after I had spoken with Anders. I didn't know what to think about his little 'outburst' and I had to get to the bottom of it. I found him pacing his clinic looking harried. I approached him and he proceeded to explain to me about who/what Justice was and how they came to be one entity. I could understand why he had done what he did, in order to save his friend, and I could not fault him for it. I would have done the same in his situation, I knew that much. We talked for awhile, and he gave me the maps as well as offering his services anytime I may have need of them. I had tried to invite him to join us at the Hanged Man, not wanting to leave him alone to his grief, but he declined saying he had some things he needed to take care of. We parted ways, with me promising to visit within the next few days to see how he was doing. I left Darktown heading for the Hanged Man, and as I walked I was beginning to realize that I was in for some serious trouble. I had grown attracted to not only the white-haired brooding elf, but now the possessed gorgeous apostate...there was no way I could let Varric find out, he would never let me live this down. As I opened the door to the Hanged Man and locked eyes with the dwarf I affectionately referred to as my best friend...I knew that it was already too late, and I was in for one heap of a lecture when I sat down.