"Well, here we are," said the captain as the ship came into port. "Welcome to Kirkwall, sweet thing."

"How long are we staying in port?" asked Evaria.

"Probably not long," said Isabela. "You, on the other hand, can stay as long as you'd like."

Evaria looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

"Your debts are repaid," said Isabela. "We're even, sweet thing."

"Isabela... I can't thank you enough," Evaria began, but Isabela raised a hand to silence her.

"Wait to thank me until you've decided whether you like it here or not," she said. "If you don't, well, I'll be back in Kirkwall before you know it, and maybe we can strike up another agreement."

Isabela had been kind enough to let Evaria stay aboard the Siren's Call, as opposed to turning her in. All she asked was that Evaria do her share as part of the crew. She was so thankful to be getting away from Ferelden, Evaria was happy to do whatever Isabela asked. It wasn't as bad as Evaria would have thought a few weeks ago.

"Until we meet again, then," said Evaria.

"And we most certainly will," Isabela replied.

Evaria joined the throng of people heading into the vast city of Kirkwall. She listened to the conversation around her as she walked. As she passed into the city, she heard some of the guards talking.

"We'll have to stop letting people in, soon," said one of the guards. "Close the city."

Perhaps she had arrived just in time.

Evaria found herself carried on a current of people, not daring to stop for fear she would be trampled. When she found a small, empty alley to her right, she slipped away from the crowd of people, sighing in relief at her temporary refuge.

As Evaria watched the people coming and going through what she later learned was Lowtown, a realization dawned on her. She had never really considered where she would go or what she would do once she had escaped Ferelden. The fact that she was in a strange place with no plan or purpose settled on her like a heavy weight, pulling her down.

"Maker," she muttered into the empty alley. How very, very stupid she was.

The sound of movement behind her prompted Evaria to turn, staring into the empty darkness of the alley. Straining her eyes in an attempt to discern what was hidden in the shadows, she took a step backward, feeling an imminent need to get away. Just as she was about to turn back to rejoin the crowd in the streets, someone grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms to her sides, a knife pressed to her throat.

"Don't make a sound," the man who held her advised. "It will be your last."

Another man stepped forward from the back of the alley. "Just hand over whatever coin you've got, and we'll let you go."

"I-I don't have much," Evaria said. "Just take it."

The second man reached into the small pouch at Evaria's waist, removing the few coins she had.

"This can't be all," said the man. "Where's the rest?"

"I told you, I don't have anymore," said Evaria.

"Leave her be," said the man who was holding her. "Let's just get out of here."

Slowly, the man let go of her, his eyes never leaving her. Evaria was just starting to get her breathing under control again when the second man roughly introduced a rock to the side of her head.

"Are you all right?" a muffled voice asked.

Evaria's eyes flickered open slowly. She was only dimly aware of a hand gently shaking her shoulder. It probably belonged to the man leaning over her.

A relieved sigh escaped his lips. "I was starting to worry you wouldn't wake up," he said, and Evaria realized his voice was muffled because of the ringing in her ears.

The only answer Evaria could give was a low moan. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, and a fierce pain shot up her right arm.

"Hey, don't I know you?" asked the man, peering more closely at her face.

"What? Uh, no, I don't think so," said Evaria, trying to hide behind her hair. "I should go."

"Yes, I remember you from the Circle," he said.

"Could you say that a little louder?" snapped Evaria. "They didn't hear you in Orlais."

"Don't worry, there's no one around to hear us," said the man.

Her head finally beginning to clear, Evaria took a closer look at the man. It took a moment, but it was his blonde hair, tied up behind his head, that she finally recognized.

"I remember you," she said. "You're the one who kept running away from the tower. Anders, right?"

"And you're the one who helped a blood mage escape the templars. You've been free from the Circle longer than I have," said Anders. "Now do you believe that I won't give you up?"

"Do you think I'm really a blood mage?" asked Evaria.

"If you were, I doubt you would have let yourself be thrown down a flight of stairs in Darktown," said Anders. "So, no."

"Then I believe you," said Evaria. "Thank you, by the way. You could have walked right by me."

"I'm not the kind," said Anders. He looked down, noticing Evaria cradling her injured arm. "Come with me. I'll fix your arm."

Evaria followed Anders through the - streets? - of Darktown. It was a dismal place, dark, and it smelled something terrible. Anders led her to a small building, and gestured for her to sit down on a cot.

"Of course, if you'd prefer, you could heal it yourself," said Anders. "Some people are picky like that."

Evaria shook her head. "I was never any good at healing."

Anders laughed. "That's right, I remember now. You're better with fire. You almost set the entire apprentice quarters ablaze."

"But I didn't," Evaria reminded him "That's what counts. Where are we, anyway?"

"This is my clinic," Anders told her as he set to work on her arm. "I heal anyone who can't afford to get help anywhere else."

"That's very good of you," said Evaria, wincing as Anders's healing began to work.

"I do what I can?" Anders replied with a shrug. "How long have you been in Kirkwall?"

"I've only just arrived. Those thugs gave me a very warm welcome." Evaria flexed her arm, which already starting to feel better. "Thank you."

"I'm always happy to help, especially a fellow mage. Where are you staying? I'll take you there."

Evaria bit her lip and glanced downward, embarrassed at the memory of her foolishness. "I'm not staying anywhere, actually. I haven't had time to come up with a plan."

"You're welcome to stay here," said Anders. "I know it isn't much, but it's better than out there."

Evaria shook her head. "No, no I couldn't do that. I don't want to be an inconvenience."

"You wouldn't be," said Anders. "I can't let you fend for yourself, I know how hard it can be running from the circle. And I could use your help, here, in the clinic."

"I thought we had established that I'm rubbish with healing?"

"I can teach you," said Anders. "It isn't very difficult once you get the hang of it. I know you'll learn easily. I still remember what people said about your Harrowing."

Evaria thought for a moment. It was a plan, a good plan, and the only one she had. At least she would be doing something, would have a place, a purpose. The more she thought on it, the better it began to sound. "If you're sure it would be no trouble," she said again.

"Far from it," Anders assured her.

Evaria smiled at him. "I can't thank you enough, Anders. I will find a way to repay you."

She was so focused on what the future might have in store for her that she didn't notice Anders's gaze lingering on her when she turned away.