Ashes littered the air as she lifted the scorched metal from what remained of the Templars. Hawke lifted the heavy object into a back room and covered it in the available filth to deter anyone from uncovering any evidence. "Do you have any particularly unfavorable blankets?"

Anders chuckled darkly. "I think I can manage that." He rummaged around locating several items that fit her description. As he passed the contraband to her their fingers brushed up against one another and he almost groaned at the contact. Nothing was ever easy with this woman. Didn't she see the danger he posed to her? Even now his body sang being this close to her, and he burned with the need to claim what was his. 'No. She is not for us. We stand for all mages. Our cause is the only thing that matters.'

Justice's opinion was already out in the open. Had been from day one. And the blighted spirit was right, he would only love her and then break her when the time for his destiny arrived. With a mental sigh he turned to face her.

Siri Hawke was truly a vision, she had silky black hair that always seemed to tickle her chin and the oh so soft base of her neck. The sparse braids twirled when she turned to face him. Her tawny eyes almost seemed to glow in the present lighting. "You seem rather keen on keeping me alive Hawke. Had you not been here, even with the girl in those tunnels a few days back. I've never had a better friend."

He almost missed her flinch at the accursed word. He ignored the pain in his chest at her obviously fake smile. "What kind of a person would I be if I let you die? Your urchins would miss you dearly." She turned her face away to hide the flash of concern and the unspoken 'I would miss you.'

"Besides, who else will make sure I never get away from the smell of Darktown. We all have our crosses to bear. You can't hog all the martyrdom." Humor slid easily off her tongue. She had always been a good little liar, and her charm was legendary. She had a feeling Anders was one of the few who could see through that. However, if he knew he had been mercifully silent. "Let's go. You'll need to lay low for a few days and before you protest, I will be accompanying you at least until we leave Darktown. Do you have somewhere you can go?"

He gathered his staff and coat, not much else was worth taking. "I have a few contacts that can help me." 'Hopefully.'

"You're a horrible liar Anders." A smile, unbidden, graced his face. Maker he was gorgeous when he smiled. It was such a rare sight, especially recently. She pulled a small silver whistle from her pocket and blew, though no sound erupted from the trinket. Thedas would be here soon. The cellar had been unlocked since she had first heard the Templars begin rumbling about her healer, prudent planning.

She chuckled, "Come along Anders, I have a spare room."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

His constant rejection really should not be capable of causing her that much pain at this point. "Give me a little credit, I'm not going to jump you in your sleep. Don't be stupid about this or the risk I just took was for naught." She snapped, despising that her pain was obvious. "You say you cannot love me. That is fine, but please, let me keep you safe."

Her words felt like a knife in the heart. For three years she had stood by him, helped him save mages, lied for him. She visited as much as she could and donated blankets, supplies, and her own time to help his cause. He knew Justice could feel his agony.

'Please Justice. She supports our cause and she has promised not to distract us. I cannot stop how she feels or how I feel, please do not make me hurt her again.'

'The arrangement is acceptable.'

He was convening with Justice, he always got this little worry line on his left cheek when they were talking. Sometimes she truly and deeply hated the spirit for what he did. Justice was responsible for Anders lack of food, sleep, and all things most other people saw as requirements to keep their hearts beating. What killed her though was the happy twinkle she could spy every now and again when their cause was bolstered and she knew Anders cared for the spirit so she kept her concerns to herself.

Thedas' happy rumble broke the standoff. He trotted over placing his head under her hands, the smell of the mabari comforted her as she lifted her head in anticipation of Anders inevitable refusal. Maybe Varric could help?

"Alright."

Her shock must have been evident. "And Justice is good with this?" She intentionally lowered her face, shielding her eyes from him. Damn Andraste, stupid emotions!

"Yes." She was the only person in his life who even acknowledged Justice as a presence other than when he was being 'glowy'. The spirit rumbled at being referred to in such a manner but he settled down soon enough. Anders could feel a strange sense of curiosity coming from the spirit.

'She is... Different.'

'You're just catching that now?'

They departed Darktown, climbing the ladder into her cellar and scaled the stairs into her estate.

"Bohdan, please prepare the guest room."

"Right away my lady."

She tiredly started stripping her armor off while Anders stood awkwardly in the foyer. "Bohdan will see to any needs you have."

His gaze slipped to her face, pulled tight in a frown. Her eyes held a drained look and he hated that he was responsible for it. "Thank you." How he wished he could offer her more than words.

"I'll be heading out to see Isabela. You're welcome to the library, if you need it."

He bit down on the bile that rose in his throat. She always went to Isabela after... Encounters like this, when she needed to forget him. The only thing that stopped him from reaching out and showing her just how much he actually loved her was because it was just sex, he doubted the pirate even knew what love was. It killed him to let someone else bring her that release but she already sacrificed so much for him he could not deny her that one thing because, as ridiculous as it sounded, he knew if he asked her to stop she would.

He just hoped she wouldn't hear the tremor in his voice. "Well she stopped by the clinic yesterday so you should be in the clear." Maker that felt like ashes on his tongue. It should be him touching those lips and his name on her breath. Not that blasted pirate. He looked up from the ground to see she had approached him and was holding out a piece of parchment.

"I meant to give this to you sooner. It was on the Templar in the caves the other night. You ran off before I could give it to you." He took the parchment as she sauntered towards the stairs.

His heart jumped, they had denied the Tranquil Solution, the grand cleric and Meredith, both! Hope soared in his chest, perhaps there was a chance that compromise could be accomplished!

Her voice dimmed by distance caught his attention. "Mother? Are you awake?"

"Of course Siri. Come in."

"We'll be having a house guest for a while. Just until it's safe for him to go home. You remember Anders, right? The healer from Darktown."

"He is the sweetest man. He should eat more."

Her low laughter sent chills across his skin. "Well if anyone has any hope of fattening him up its you mother dearest. I'll be going out tonight but I will be back later. All right?"

"Have fun child."

"Do my best."

He could practically see the smirk on her face. She loved him and he knew it. The pain and pleasure this caused him was a heavy weight.

'Why does she affect you so? The only thing that moves you as much is our cause. She is only a woman.'

'She is. But whether she knows it or not, she is my woman.'

Justice was once more rendered quiet at the strength in that admission. He pondered quietly while Anders went to the library to gather parchment and ink. He could get a few more pages into his manifesto while not thinking about heated kisses or any other pleasures that would be offered to Isabela.