Update!

In this chapter we see a crazed (and slightly demonic) Garrett, a sensitive Isabela, a depro Anders and resourceful Varric.

Enjoy!

'Restrain him! Quickly!' Alric commanded as he took in the carnage before him. Body parts lay strewn across the room. A hand here, a leg over there, entrails hung from the brackets against the walls. Alric couldn't help but gag.

In the centre of the room a group of Templars were trying to subdue the cause of this horrific slaughter. The mage they had brought in a few days ago, the one with the 'special friend' tagging along, had done this. Alric stood by and watched as his men were throw across the room by the unleashed monster only to get back up again and renew their assault.

A sound behind him made him turn away. It was one of the recruits. He was holding a piece of paper in his hand. 'This is for you, Ser Alric.' He said and handed it over. Alric thanked him and turned back towards the commotion. The recruit made to leave but stopped when he saw what was happening in the room. He gasped and whispered something too softly for Alric to hear but it drew his attention anyway.

'Don't worry, it is under control.' He lied, 'Get back to your duties, Keran.'

The recruit nodded but hesitated in moving away, he was looking at the commotion with a rather conflicted expression. Alric cleared his throat making the young man jump. Quickly he turned and hurried down the corridor. Alric watched him leave before looking back down at the letter he had just received.

He opened it and swiftly scanned the contents. His eyes narrowed and he cursed loudly before crumpling the paper in his hands and stuffing it into the pouch that hung by his side. 'Senile, old bitch!' he growled and stormed into the room. He walked straight up to the mass of struggling men and pushed them out of the way.

The mage who had previously been so weak and quite was now a twisted abomination. Gone were those calm green eyes and that placid, handsome face. Instead Alric now only saw large black orbs that seared with hate. The thing laughed as Alric approached, showing off the rows of sharp teeth that glinted like daggers in his mouth.

Alric glared down at the creature before raising his hand high. 'Time's up.' He said cruelly and brought it down across the things face.

'Anders...?' Isabela said softly as she stepped into the room. The mage didn't answer her.

'Anders, you need to... You need to slow down. We've looked everywhere and there is still no sign of him...' She said and placed her hand on his shoulder. Anders pulled away sharply and turned to glare at her. She took a few steps back as a blue light flickered briefly in his eyes. 'How can you say that?' He yelled. 'James is out there, probably in some prison cell and-'

'James? Who is James?' Isabela interrupted. 'Anders? What's going on here?'

The mage looked like he had just kicked a cat. 'Fuck!' he cursed loudly and slammed his fist down on the table.

'Look, I don't know what's going on but you'd better start giving me some answers! I'm just as worried about Garrett as you are!' the pirate yelled, her voice cracking slightly.

Anders sighed and turned towards her. He could swear that he saw a faint shimmer running down her cheek. 'Well firstly...' He began, 'It's not Garrett anymore.'

'What-'

'And secondly...' he said taking her arm and pulling her towards a chair. 'You might want to sit down, it's quite the story.'

'I knew there was something different about him. I just never imagined that it wasn't him anymore.' Isabela said staring out of the window.

'He's still there, in spirit. You've met him once before on the wounded coast.' Anders said.

'What? I don't thi-' she stopped as realization dawned. 'That day we went to rescue the Viscount's son... When he freaked out and slaughtered those Qunari. That was Garrett, wasn't it?'

Anders nodded. 'He comes out every now and then, especially when James is under a lot of emotional stress. But I think that being 'dead' has changed him. He's a lot more feral and barbaric... Even a little bit demonic.'

Isabela turned towards him, a sad look in her eyes. 'You to really are made for each other...'

Anders frowned at her. 'Why do you say that?'

Isabela smiled slightly. 'You both have a little bit of a split personality.' She chuckled. 'Must be one hell of a foursome.'

Anders wanted to snap at her for saying something like that but he didn't. He walked up and took her hand. 'Are you ok?'

She smiled widely and stood up. 'Of course! Why wouldn't I be?' she giggled and patted him on the shoulder. 'Silly mage.' She said and moved towards the door. She turned just before stepping through and looked at him. 'We'll find him, ok? We will bring him back.'

Anders gave her a small smile and a nod. She smiled back before turning towards the door and leaving.

Anders sighed and leaned against the chair. He raked his fingers through his hair and shut his eyes, thinking.

He stood there for a while before the door flew open again. Varric, Isabela and an awfully familiar looking young man burst into the clinic.

'Blondie!' Varric cried and rushed forward. 'We've found him!'

Anders nearly fell over. 'What! Where? How-' he stopped suddenly when he noticed the symbol on the strangers chest.

In a flash he had his staff in hand and pointed it threateningly at the young man. 'Why have you brought this templar into my home?' he yelled angrily. 'Why?'

'Blondie, relax!' Varric said and stepped in between the two. 'This young man is the recruit we rescued a few years back. Remember him?'

Anders frowned. 'Keran, right?'

The young man nodded. 'Hawke saved me from those crazed mages three years ago. He even defended me, a templar, in front of the Knight-Captain. I'll never forget what he did for me.'

'Yes yes but what has this got to do with finding James?'

'Blondie.' Varric said, glancing at Isabela.

'It's alright Varric, he told me the truth.' Isabela said from behind.

'All right then.'

'Listen! Can we focus?' Anders said loudly, his anger growing.

'Yes, of course, sorry. Keran here says that a certain Templar named Alric brought in a prisoner a few days ago.' Anders shuddered. Alric was mage-enemy number one. 'Now, at first nobody paid any attention but late last night there was some kind of accident. A few templars were slaughtered by a black-eyed demon. I think you know what that means.'

'Garrett...' Anders whispered. Varric nodded.

'I was delivering a letter to Ser Alric when I saw him for myself. He looked... different, but I knew it was him.'

Anders nodded. 'And then?'

'Well, after I was sent away I hid around the corner and listened. Apparently Alric has been petitioning the Divine to bring about something called the 'Tranquil solution'...'

Anders's eyes widened. He had heard rumours of this and had recently begun looking into it, but so far he hadn't been able to find any leads.

'...I don't know if he's been successful so far but he said something to his men about moving ahead of schedule. He ordered them to take the prisoner down into the old smuggling tunnels. I feared what they might do to him so I went straight to the Hanged Man to tell the dwarf.' The recruit said pointing to Varric.

'Did they say when they were taking him?' Anders asked urgently.

'Sometime tonight.'

'Let's go then! We only have one shot at this!' Anders said and rushed towards the door.

'Right behind you, Blondie. Right behind you.'

James opened his eyes slowly. The light that shone from all the torches made him shut them again quickly. He blinked a few time before finally keeping them open. He looked around and saw that he was in a type of cave or mine. His face felt stiff as if there was some kind of dried substance all over it. Tentatively he licked at his lips and tasted something salty. He reached up to wipe at his face but found that he couldn't move his arms away from his sides. He tilted his head down to see why and gasped. They were bound to the wall, as were his legs, middle and even his neck. He struggled but couldn't budge.

'It is useless to struggle, mage.' A voice said close beside him. 'Those cuffs are rune carved and reinforced with lyrium.'

James tried twisting his head around to see who spoke. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a rather tall man wearing a uniform. The man stepped closer and fiddled with the cuffs that bound him.

'Quite the scene you pulled yesterday.' The man said calmly. James didn't say anything. 'You killed three of my men, you know?' the man continued but still James said nothing.

The man sighed and stepped back. 'Such a shame.'

From behind him there appeared four more men. Each was holding a long metal rode in their hands. One walked over and handed his rod to the leader of the group. He thanked the man and advanced on James, the remaining three following. As they approached the rods in their hands started to glow an ominous red.

The man to his left reached him first and placed the point of the rod against James's left shoulder. Numbness spread through him the moment it made contact with his skin. He winced as the numbness turned into a burning sensation.

Soon two of the other rods touched his right shoulder and chest. The burning the three brought together was overwhelming, making James cry out in pain. He gasped and tried to pull away but it was useless. He opened his eyes and looked up at the final man who had yet to add his burning touch. Upon quick glance James could see that the rod he held was slightly thicker and it bore some kind of symbol on its tip.

The man reached forward to touch it against his forehead. Time seemed to slow down as it drew nearer. James closed his eyes and saw flashes of memory, feeling a surge of emotion as each one passed. Happiness, sorrow, lust, anger, jealousy, shame. Each made their mark.

Suddenly there was a shockingly painful sensation between his eyes. He opened them and screamed as he had never screamed before.

Hehe, ok I know what you're thinking... 'How the fuck is he gonna keep the story going with a tranquil lead?'

Stay tuned to find out ;P

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