Thus begins my first attempt at making things get a teeeeeensy bit steamy. There will be more of that in the future as well. For now this story is T, but it maaay get a little bit M in the future, depending on whether I think it looks too awkward or not.
Also, a note about Anders and Justice: I know he's all like 'blah blah blah we're the same!' but I just don't see it that way. It seems like there is a definite line where Anders ends and Justice begins, at least at first. Or I think so anyway. I feel like there a definitely moments that portray them as being separate, like when Anders tells Hawke in Act II that Justice doesn't approve. My Anders is gonna fight Justice a little.
Thank you again to all subscribers and people who favorited this. It means a lot and really motivates me! YOU'RE TOO GOOD.
Astrid
The Blooming Rose was certainly…something.
Scantily clad elven women with far too much pale skin showing beneath the dim lights meandered about with serving trays as men and even a few women sat at tables, drinking and talking loudly to one another. Gaudy statues, vaguely sexual paintings, and scarlet red curtains decorated the brothel, along with the trim and haughty looking men and women who were leading customers into private rooms upstairs. Astrid took it in with wide eyes, letting the desperate and mildly pathetic nature of the place sink in.
…And promptly saw Gamlen sitting by the bar, nursing a drink in one hand.
"Andraste's ass. You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, slapping a hand to her face in disgust.
"What is it?" Cullen inquired concernedly, hovering at her side.
"Do you see the scruffy looking old man at the end of the bar who's leering at the woman next to him?"
"Yes."
"That would be my uncle."
The templar looked scandalized. "Oh….I'm sorry."
"Me too." Astrid let out a grumpy huff of breath and promptly headed for the mousy haired woman at the center of the room who had been staring at them expectantly since they'd walked in.
"Do you need something, honey?" the woman asked, looking her up and down with distaste.
Astrid's eyebrows shot sky high at the woman, who put a little too much attitude in the word honey. Discarding any notion of friendliness or nonchalance she said, "A couple of templar recruits went missing. They were last seen here."
The woman was unperturbed. "You'll have to be more specific. We do a lot of…business with the templars."
Astrid didn't dare sneak a glance at Cullen for fear that he would implode with embarrassment. She wondered though, if he knew his brothers in arms frequented brothels. But then, what if he did? That was something she didn't want to think about. Pushing the thought away, she began to resume her talk with the rude worker, however the Knight Captain himself spoke up.
"This is serious. I don't believe you understand the gravity of this situation, miss," he said in a loud authoritative voice. "A young templar may be dead."
She sighed and beckoned them over to the bar. "Fine. I'll take a look at the books." A a prostitute with a heart of gold, Astrid thought. That's original.
The group followed, with Astrid facing the opposite direction as her uncle. It would be easier to pretend she never saw him than explain to her mother why she was at a whorehouse. What strange paths her life seemed to take.
"What a charming woman," Varric remarked quietly, giving Astrid a grin as the mousy haired woman flipped through the pages with an ugly frown. Astrid rolled her eyes and fought back a gag.
"We're looking for Wilmod and Keren's records," Cullen told her.
"Hmm. Let's see…Ooh Wilmod came here a lot."
Varric chuckled. "Yeah, I'll bet he came here a lot."
Astrid gave him a curious look. "What? She just said that. Oh…ewww."
"Are you sure he had time to be a templar?" the woman with the books asked, looking soley at Cullen. "You on the otherhand, I've never seen. I'm Viveka, by the way," she told him, looking up at the tall man through long lashes, standing straighter with her chest out.
"N-nice to meet you," Cullen said nervously.
Oh give me a break. "Who were Keren and Wilmod seeing here?" Astrid didn't even bother to hide her glare. She could flirt with him on her own time if Cullen came back to the stupid place. As it was, Astrid wanted to be done with this and get to bed before sunrise.
Viveka sneered at her before looking down at the records. "The both of them last saw…Idunna, the exotic wonder of the east," she replied flatly.
Astrid raised her brows as if to ask are you serious?
"It sounds a lot better than 'the tramp from Darktown," Viveka said in response. Apparently she wasn't a fan of 'the exotic wonder.' "She's upstairs, third door to the right."
"Is there anything else you can tell me?"
"Honey, I can write volumes on the things I know. But unless you want to know Wilmod's favorite position, I think you have what you need." Viveka folded her arms, shutting down on questions.
Fine. I didn't want to talk to you anymore anyway, Astrid thought as she and her companions made their way to the stairs. And your hair looks stupid.
"I like whores," Varric mused as they reached the second landing. "They've got a lot of spunk."
Astrid let out a mock gasp. "How could you say that in front of Bianca?"
The dwarf lovingly reached out to pat his crossbow. "She knows she's the only woman for me."
Cullen gave her a quick quizzical glance but Astrid simply shrugged. There was no explaining that relationship to anyone.
As they reached Idunna's door Astrid was faced with a conundrum. Should she knock or just barge in? Finally, she decided to knock. She wasn't in the mood to see just how exotic Idunna really was. After a few seconds a low and mischievous "Come in" echoed through the door.
The small group stepped slowly into the dimly lit bedroom where a slight woman wearing deep violet lipstick and a dress of several pink and purple hues stood, smiling confidently at them. Idunna, presumably, had shoulder length mahogany brown hair and fair skin that was nearly translucent. If you looked closely she wasn't truly beautiful, or very exotic for that matter, but Astrid could understand the appeal. She certainly had curves under her tight dress, along with a slim waist and the confidence to flaunt it.
"Idunna right?" Astrid asked. "Do you remember 'entertaining' a templar named Wilmod? He had dark hair, was pale, and...well, a little creepy actually. Or maybe Keren?"
"Wilmod, Wilmod…that doesn't sound familiar," the prostitute said innocently with a coy smile, her icy blue eyes dancing towards Cullen and Varric. "What are your names?"
Astrid was sick of whores and their charades. Did she have the word 'IDIOT' stamped to her forehead or did these women actually think she couldn't resist their charms?
"Idunna, I'm sure this act is very lovely for all the men who come here to spend time with you, but I'm already bored. Tell me what happened to Keren and WIlmod," Astrid demanded.
The prostitute's eyes widened with rage for a moment before slipping back into their innocent façade. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
Idunna turned and moved towards the bed, her eyes moving towards it alluringly as Astrid, Cullen, and Varric followed. She sat down on the luxurious bed and moved her thin fingers across it seductively as she stared deeply at them, appearing almost as if catching all their eyes at once. "Questions are so boring," she purred. "Why don't we have some real fun?"
"Hawke. Go easy on this...lovely creature," Varric mumbled, his voice in his smooth storytelling mode.
Ugh. Was he serious? She was worse than Isabela when she tempted men into buying drinks for her at the Hanged Man. Except Isabela could at least pull it off.
"You should listen to your friend," Idunna advised, giving her a predatory gaze.
Astrid didn't like that look. Not one bit. Something felt off. It felt warmer in here, the air felt thicker. Astrid could vaguely feel sweat pooling uncomfortably at the small of her back.
"We have to ask her about Keren. What's your problem?" the archer demanded, pulling at the collar of her jerkin to combat the crawly humid sensation on her skin.
"He's right," Cullen said at her left. "Surely someone so radiant could not have had anything to do with the missing recruits." The templar's voice was deep and husky in her ears.
A holy warrior calling a woman in purple lipstick radiant? There was no way Idunna was that appealing. Were all men so eager to throw themselves at any woman who could string together a few lines and stretch out on a bed? Actually, Astrid didn't want to know.
"I'm here on business. Keren. Wilmod," Astrid snapped, hating how dry her throat felt, how clammy her hands were at her sides. The sooner they were out of the damned place the better. How could Gamlen stand the humidity?
"Answer one of my questions first. Who told you about little old me?" Idunna asked, holding a hand to her chest.
Astri'd lips parted to tell her that it was none of her business, but found herself caught up in the prostitute's stare. Her emerald eyes grew heavy and she found herself entranced by the almond shaped outline of the woman's eyes, of her soft lips and slender, fair neck.
"It was…Viveka. She showed me…her books," Astrid exclaimed in horror, unable to stop the words from sliding from her mouth.
Idunna smirked. "That wasn't so hard, was it? So Viveka sold me out, did she? That drab, pathetic little street rat. She will be dealt with." She approached Astrid, whose body seemed to be frozen in place, and leaned close. "Just do one more thing for me. Draw your blade...and bring it gently across your throat," she whispered, her cool breath tickling Astrid's face.
Astrid found her fingers grasping her dagger and unsheathing it from her side. Her arm lifted without her volition as she struggled to combat the trance Idunna had drawn her into. Astrid's mind raced with thoughts of fighting magic, things her father had taught her years ago. It felt longer now, like centuries, as the tip of her blade brushed delicately against her neck. She was digging it in deeper now and blood was rushing to the wound as Astrid's head pounded. The sting of her throat as she slid the blade further was enough to make her break eye contact with the whore and she called out.
"Cullen, do something!" she shrieked.
"You will not harm her, blood mage!" a voiced boomed suddenly as the templar seemed to regain his senses. A blue light and a heavy energy fell upon her and Idunna and sent the dark haired woman sprawling back, falling to the floor.
"How did you...oh shit!" Idunna hissed in shock.
Astrid's dagger clattered to the floor and her hands flew to her neck, which was bleeding heavily. Thick red blood was cascading down her throat and staining her burgundy jerkin. Without a word, Cullen was at the bed, tearing a thick piece of blanket off and bringing it to Astrid. "Hold this to the wound, it will stop the bleeding."
Idunna was scrambling to her feet and making towards the door when the sound of Varric cocking back an arrow in his crossbow filled the room. "Don't take another step, woman. Bianca is very jealous and she's not pleased."
"Spare me, messere!" Idunna pleaded, her head hanging low in defeat.
"What kind of magic was that?" Astrid demanded, holding the cloth tightly to her wound and glaring fiercely.
"Blood and desire in equal measure. An art I learned from…elsewhere. Please don't kill me." For the first time, Idunna looked humble, weak even. If she acted like that from the beginning perhaps Astrid would have actually believed her innocence.
"You're going to answer my questions, now. And if you use magic I'll let Bianca do her worst," Astrid growled, glancing at Varric.
"Hawke, you need medical attention. Let the Order handle this," Cullen advised, looking worriedly at her throat.
Astrid shook her head. Her wound was small, just barely longer than an inch, despite its heavy bleeding. It could wait. She had things to settle with Idunna.
The blood mage didn't seem to care who Bianca was and nodded, not wanting to risk her death. "Tarohne put me here. To send biddable templar recruits to the sanctuary. Three Spear Alley in the Undercity." Astrid nearly snorted. And Idunna was mad about Viveka being a snitch. She wondered what this Tarohne would think. "I enchanted Wilmod and Keren weeks ago, but after they left these walls I know not what came of them. Please, let me live! It was all Tarohne's idea."
"Who is this Tarohne?" Astrid asked, ignoring her plea for now.
"She put me up to this. She said we can recreate the ancient Imperium. That mages can rule again, not serve. She said the templars cannot hold against us if we stand up and fight."
Cullen stiffened at that statement, eyes growing steely. Even Astrid frowned at that. All she wanted was for her sister and Anders to live equally as she did. She wanted to see Bethany get married and have children in peace; to never worry that Anders would be taken from his clinic in the dead of night. Why was it that a few power-hungry people had to always ruin it for everyone else?
"What about this sanctuary? How many mages are there? Is it d-, ah,-defensible?" Astrid was trying to concentrate but her vision was growing cloudy.
"People go in and out all the time. Sometimes a handful, sometimes more. There are traps. Magical traps. There's a hidden switch in the back. It turns them all off. Th-that's all I know," Idunna replied shakily.
The room was spinning now and the cloth at her throat was soaking. "I-I still think you're a bitch," Astrid mumbled. Her wound made her more petty than usual. "But I can't…kill you. Maker, I need a healer. Cullen, bring her to the Gallows, let the templars deal with the exotic…wonder."
"That can wait. Let me bring you to a healer," the man said with a frown.
She shook her head. "Varric can. Idunna will escape." The girl wobbled, and she put a hand on his solid chest to steady herself as he gripped her elbow with a warm hand. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart as his blue grey eyes studied her. "Thank you. I'll find Keren first thing tomorrow…"
"Hawke, stay awake. Varric, bring her to a healer quickly. I'll deal with that one," the Knight Captain said. He gave the girl a final regretful look before turning back to the blood mage.
"You've got it, Prince Charming. Come on, Hawke," the dwarf said, offering a shoulder for the girl to lean on.
Astrid's legs were going weak and her fingers felt numb. She had no idea how they would make it to Darktown.
Anders
Anders had been pacing around his clinic all night. After putting out milk for the poor, bone thin cats that tended to scrap around the area, he had been on his feet constantly, unable to shake the restlessness in his bones.
He'd tried to write a few more pages of his manifesto but stopped after just a few paragraphs, feeling that they were inadequate. For once the man wished there were patients that needed his assistance so he could keep his mind busy. Instead, all he could think about was that templar, how close he'd been to getting arrested, and the way the man had conned Astrid into meeting him alone.
Anders wondered how she was doing, wondering if the man was boring her to death with warnings to stay away from dangerous apostates as she'd joked he would. Worse, he wondered if it was all just a sick ruse to arrest her without her friends to protect her. After all, harboring mages was almost as severe a crime as being one. Were they taking her to the Gallows, kicking and screaming while he stood there in his clinic, motionless like a mouth-breathing idiot? Maybe he should stop by her house and see if she was home, or ask Bethany for her thoughts on the situation. But of course, Bethany might not even know. It would be just like Astrid to keep it from her sister so as not to worry her, despite it being safer for her to have someone in her house know that she was out with a potentially dangerous templar.
STOP! Boomed Justice suddenly. Enough about this woman! Why do you worry so? She is not a mage and has nothing to do with our cause.
Anders sighed, wondering how he could explain it to the spirit, when he could not even explain it to himself. Instead he thought of the Grey Warden whose body Justice had controlled back in Ameranthine.
What does that have to do with-
But the spirit quieted at the image Anders was trying to sum up. His memory of her was weak, but he could still picture Kristoff's wife. She was beautiful, in a classical Orlesian sort of way, with her frail pale body and honey brown hair that fell against her shoulders, two braids pulled back from her face. He couldn't quite recall her name.
Memories. Justice's memories. Kristoff's memories. They all flooded Anders' mind at once. He saw a woman adorned in white, smiling brilliantly at an altar with tears in her eyes, heard a silky whisper close to his ears under a lazy moon, felt the pull of two illuminating cerulean eyes. He saw her again, looking at him, no, Justice, through bitter watery eyes. Aura. The name reverberated through both his body and mind, making him tremble. In an instant however, the sensation was gone and he was left gasping and sweating.
You feel for this woman…in that way?
"I…I'm not sure. I've never felt that way before," Anders murmured quietly. Did Justice fall in love with Kristoff's wife while he had inhabited his body?
I was confused, Justice explained, usually booming voice faint. What they had…
Before the man and spirit could analyze this further, the door to his clinic flew open with the force of someone kicking it. Anders reached for his staff, but there was no need as Varric and Astrid stumbled in, the girl looking horribly pale.
"Blondie, you've gotta help her," Varric panted. Anders' eyes traveled to her throat and the bloody cloth she was weakly holding to it. Astrid's half lidded eyes were tired and pained as she struggled to stand up straight.
"How did this happen?" the mage demanded, closing the distance between them and taking her hand that held the soaking rag so that he could look at the wound and she could lean against him for support. It was small but close to an artery. He was surprised she hadn't fainted or bled out.
"A blood mage forced me to do it. Rude, huh?" Astrid whispered hoarsely, her pale lips twisting into a small smile as she looked up at him.
Anders' brows furrowed. He wanted to know exactly what happened, but there was no time for questions while blood was still slowly leaking from her throat. Without a word, he scooped her up and headed for the nearest cot.
"At least ten pounds is armor," the girl mumbled, letting her head fall against him. Anders wasn't about to complain about having her weight in his arms. He'd imagined this moment more than a few times, only without all the bleeding and without Varric in the room. That certainly put a damper on things.
The mage chuckled slightly as he set her down, brushing a piece of hair out of her eyes. Her lips twisted into a slight smile at his touch, but against the ghastly paleness of her skin and the bloody mess that was her neck, it was a grim sight indeed, but nonetheless endearing.
"You're going to be okay," he promised, staring at her hard under the light of the few lanterns in his clinic.
"I-I trust you," she croaked out, following it with a wet cough.
You shouldn't, he thought sadly, but he selfishly was glad to hear it. Anders swallowed the lump in his throat and set to work. He grabbed a bag filled with ointments and potions that he'd bought at the market last week and leaned over her to examine the injury.
The man dipped a long finger into one of the several jars in the bag and procured a glob of a healing salve. He gingerly rubbed it around the wound, producing a sharp hiss from Astrid's lips.
"This will sting a bit," he said.
"I noticed," Astrid bit out, closing her eyes as he continued rubbing it in.
"I'm sorry," Anders whispered. He hated to see her like that, grimacing in pain. But it had to be done if she was to heal. "Drink this while I bandage you up."
He pushed a health poultice into her fingers and reached for his bandages and tape. It wouldn't completely close the injury but it would ease the pain.
"Can't you just magic me better? Like poof! All healed!"
"I could," he said honestly with a chuckle. "But it's important that I clean the wound. If I just 'poofed' it shut, it could get infected. I want to make sure it gets proper treatment."
Astrid didn't reply, swallowing against his cool fingers brushing against her throat as he taped the gauze wrappings over it. Anders smoothed it over her flushed skin with shaky fingers, trying and failing not to meet her eyes, to not think about how soft her skin was. Without his mind's consent, his hand slid up her neck and past her jaw, to twine his fingers in her hair and cup the back of her head as his thumb traced her cheek.
His amber gaze met her eyes, warm and green and so, so open. She was blinking slowly and tiredly, fighting to stay awake, but looking at him in such an honest and vulnerable way. "Thank you," Astrid murmured softly.
Anders watched her for a moment, taken by the innocence in her face. The same bold and audacious girl who he'd seen kill demons with a single arrow to the forehead and gut gang members like fish. Astrid looked tired, but peaceful.
Suddenly a throat was cleared behind them and they both recoiled, looking away from each other. "So I take it she's going to make it, Blondie?"
"She'll live for many more of your stories, friend," Anders replied with a smile.
"I think that deserves a pint!"
"As long as it's on you," Astrid chimed in, grinning lazily.
"But," the mage said. "I'm still wondering how exactly this happened," Anders said, motioning to Astrid's throat.
"Well you see," Varric began. "Hawke, Prince Charming, and I were led to question a beautiful woman of the night known as Idunna, exotic wonder of the east, the fabled prostitute who had charmed her way into the beds of countless men and women across all of Thedas; known for her wide eyes, and enormous-"
"Woah," Hawke interjected, slowly sitting up in the cot. Anders reached out a hand to help her.
"-knowledge of blood magic," Varric continued. "The temptress easily gained the favor of the strong and silent Knight Captain, and even the incredibly witty and remarkably handsome dwarf, but the resilient Hawke was unimpressed. However, when our hero grew impatient with the cunning Idunna, the prostitute summoned a powerful spell channeled by lust and blood, and commanded her rival to cut her own throat."
"Which I did," Astrid admitted with a scowl. "I can't believe she actually hypnotized me, even for just those few seconds. I thought I knew enough about magic to combat it."
"She must have been a powerful mage," Anders said. "Still, I would have expected the templar to be able to handle it. His training revolves around being able to ruin mages where they stand."
"He smote her magic when I alerted him to what was happening," Astrid said in defense of the man. "She had us all fooled. But Cullen is bringing her to the Gallows, and I found out the location where the templars have been taken. I plan on going tomorrow. Will you join me?"
"Of course," Anders said without hesitation. "But how will 'Prince Charming' feel about that?"
Astrid shrugged. "If he has a problem he can stay at the Gallows. I need you."
I need you. Anders nearly groaned in frustration. As a healer, sure, but he wanted it to mean more. Why did he ever turn her down all those weeks ago?
Because she's a distraction, Justice pointed out.
Oh right. But a beautiful distraction, Anders thought longingly, watching her get up. She stretched her arms out and a flash of skin revealed two dimples at the base of her back before her jerkin slipped into its proper place. Andsraste's knickerweasels…
She aids the templars!
Not often, Anders persisted as she turned to smile brightly at him, looking her usual composed self, aside from the blood still coating her skin and clothing. Astrid no longer looked the vulnerable patient, instead standing tall and confident, even as she let out a yawn.
"I suppose it's time for me to go back to Gamlen's," the rogue announced with a sour face. "Though I don't think he'll be home yet…"
"I'll walk you," Varric offered.
Astrid thanked him and turned back to the mage, who was standing awkwardly a few feet away, rubbing the back of his neck with a rather clammy palm.
"If you hadn't been there tonight…" Astrid trailed off, shaking her head. "Thank you. I…you-you're a great friend."
Anders wanted to tell her that he was an awful friend; that great friends didn't push away the people they care about the most and then pine after them for ages afterward. More so, he wanted to tell Varric to just go to the Hanged Man so that he could push her against the wall and kiss her until her lips bruised, and then heal those wounds as well.
Instead he gave her a wry grin. "You're saying that now, but when the next holiday rolls around you'll beg to differ. I'm just the worst at giving gifts."
Astrid smirked but raised a fine brow in a way that said she saw right through him. "You know, I'm starting to realize why Aveline gets so cross with me when I deflect with humor."
"It's my one defense against you," Anders replied, sounding more miserable than he'd intended.
Astrid paused then, opening her mouth once before shutting it abruptly. "I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Anders," she said finally, before slipping out the door and into the shadows of Darktown.
The dwarf meanwhile shook his head with a small smile before following in her wake. "You've got it bad, kid. Do yourself a favor and listen to your heart, not that voice in your head."
Anders sighed, standing alone in the shoddy dirty clinic that he called home. If only things were that easy.