Ok so it's been a few months... hehe
Just wanted to thank everyone who has read this story and added it to favourite and watches and all that. Reviews really mean a lot and I really appreciate the input! Sorry for making you wait so long... :(
Anyway, finally decided to update this story after getting some advice from Xaiael. Thanx for the support man ;)
Hope you enjoy the chapter! Please leave a review or two... or three. *nudge nudge*
It was the noon day sun that woke him. Anders sat up slowly and stretched. He grinned when the room around him came into focus, sweet memories of the previous night playing through his mind. He turned to look at James but frowned when he found the bed to be empty.
Grabbing the borrowed clothes off the floor he quickly slipped them on before making his way out of the room. He could hear voices downstairs.
He found James sitting in his big chair in front of the fire. Isabella was sitting across from him. Her eyes lit up in a mischievous way when she saw him come down the stairs.
"So you finally got to it then?" she asked with a grin.
A slight blush crept up his neck as he glanced at James.
"You told her? Seriously?"
James shrugged sheepishly.
"I didn't have to. Apparently we were a bit... loud last night. Hightown is all a buzz."
Anders's eyes widened.
"I'm so proud." Isabela said, clapping her hands together and smiling.
"I guess we'll have to tone it down a bit then." Anders said with a small chuckle as he walked up to stand next to the chair.
"Definitely not." James said in a sly voice, his eyes twinkling up at the blonde.
This made Anders blush even more.
Isabela sighed deeply and stood.
"Well, I'd better be off."
James looked away from Anders and stood as well. He walked over and pulled the pirate into a tight hug.
"Glad you're back." He whispered.
"Hey, I need to spread my sails every now and then." At the raised eyebrows she received from the two men she burst out laughing.
"Ha! Not like that! Well not always anyway."
She pulled away from James.
"See you around." She said with a smile.
Just before she reached the door she turned back and with a wink said;
"Oh and boys, keep 'up' the good work."
She cackled with laughter as a deep blush spread across both faces again.
"What time is it?" Anders asked as James turned back to face him.
"Um, should be about an hour past midday. Why?"
"Wow. And you just left me there to sleep that long?"
James shrugged.
"You looked so peaceful. I didn't want to bother you."
Anders smiled and hooked his arms around James's waist, pulling him close.
"Last night was the first night in years that I didn't wake up from some kind of nightmare. Thank you" he whispered and placed a tender kiss on James's lips.
The younger man smiled sadly up at him.
"You never talk about your dreams. Is it because of the Taint? Or Justice?"
Anders sighed.
"Bit of both I guess. Last few weeks there have been new ones though."
"New ones?"
"In my dreams I-" his voice cracked with sudden emotion. James reached up to touch the side of his face. The blonde leaned into the touch. "I dream that I'm too late to save you."
James leaned in and kissed him softly.
"You weren't too late. Here I am, right in front of you."
Anders nodded as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"I don't ever want to lose you again."
"You won't. I plan on being here with you till the day we die."
Anders gave him a small smile and pulled him close again. They stood there for a while, simply holding each other. Suddenly James pulled back.
"Move in with me."
Anders's eyes widened for the second time that morning.
"What? You mean it?"
"Well you practically live here already. Might as well make it official."
"But what about the templars? Are you willing to involve yourself with me like that, in the public eye? It could bring even more danger to your door..."
"Anders, I don't give a damn about the templars." He looked up with a grin, "Besides, after last night the whole city knows we're together anyway."
Anders laughed at this. He was leaning down to give James another kiss when the front door flew open. Fenris charged into the room, Aveline following him in. She stopped in the doorway however.
"Fenris, what is it? What happened?"
The elf hesitated for a moment, glancing at the two of them holding hands before speaking.
"It's my sister... She's been sighted in Kirkwall."
The Hanged Man came in to view up ahead. James smiled as he recalled the 'club' night he had had there. Fenris was walking switly at the head of the party, Anders, Aveline and James trailing behind.
The smell of sweat and alcohol assaulted their noses as they entered. Loud laughter and conversation rose and well. The tavern was packed with people, more so than usual. Fenris stopped after taking a few strides into the room. He stared out over the crowd, his gaze finally settling on a young woman sitting alone at a table far off in the corner.
"Is that her?" James asked over his shoulder.
The elf nodded before starting forward.
The red head turned to look up as they reached the table.
"Leto! It's really you!" She cried and flung her arms around the white haired elf. Fenris flintched at her touch. She pulled away.
"Leto, it's me Variana. Your sister, remember?"
Fenris stared blankly at her.
"Why are you here?"
She hesitated.
"T-to find my long lost brother of course." She said with a smile, but something showed in her eyes that made James uncomfortable.
"Anders," he whispered, the blonde leaning in to hear, "Something is wrong here."
The two of them glanced around the pub. Most people were carrying on with their own business but every now and then some would glance over. Weapons gleamed at their belts.
"Fenris, I think this is a-"
He was cut off by a clap of thunder and a plume of smoke that filled the air around them.
Some people screamed and choked while others protested in colourful language to the sudden attack. James could barely see a thing. He could however feel the cold steel of the blade held to his neck and hear the sounds of struggle next to him.
As the smoke cleared he saw most people had cleared out of the building. Mercs surrounded their party, two men restraining Anders, another holding her own sword to Aveline's throat. Fenris was on his hands and knees, panting. Variana stood looking down at him. She whispered something to him in elfish. He spat at her feet.
"Excellent!" a deep voice said from somewhere behind the young woman. She flinched at the sound and stepped to the side to let the speaker pass.
"Danerius..." Fenris said in a menacing tone.
The magister didn't look down at the elf. He was staring at James, particularly his forehead.
"You've done well my pets. Both of you." He said with a grin that sent chills up James's spine.
"What are you talking about? I've done nothing for you." Fenris spat.
"Why, you brought me this wonderful gift. That's hardly 'nothing' my pet." He said and pointed at James.
Anders wrestled against the ones holding him.
"Get away from him!" he bellowed, blue light dancing in his eyes.
Denarius looked over at him.
"Now now, none of that." He said and with a flick of his wrist Anders doubled over in pain.
The magister smiled as the apostate's screams filled the air.
"No! Please stop!" James yelled, struggling to break free. The knife bit into his skin.
Denarius chuckled, lowering his hand. Anders collapsed to the floor breathing deeply.
"What do you want with Hawke?"Fenris asked from his place on the ground.
"Stupid elf!" the magister said loudly, kicking Fenris in the ribs, "I want to study him of course."
"Why?" Aveline demanded loudly, speaking for the first time.
"He's special." Denarius said with a grin. "That brand means he's been made Tranquil. It's quite obvious that he isn't. I want to know how."
"You can't have him." Anders said weakly from the floor.
"And what are you going to do to stop me from taking him, mage?"
Anders tried to lift himself off the ground but one of the mercenaries kicked him down violently with his boot. A loud thud rang out as his head hit the wooden floor. Blood spread out from under his hair. He didn't move.
James cried out and tried to break free again. He almost succeeded but another of the men stepped forward to hold him back.
"Such a waste of talent." Denarius said, turning his gaze back to James.
"Now, my new pet," he said walking over and brushing his fingers lightly over the mark on James's forehead, "Bow down before your master."
Yay for cliffies!
Haha I think I like making James the 'damsel' in this story.
Any questions feel free to PM me.
REVIEWS APPRECIATED
See you next time :)
...(hopefully it doesn't take months)
P.S: drew a quick sketch of James. Check it out (just remove the spacing between words and the slashes in 'c/o/m) thevoicesmustburn . deviantart . c / o / m / art / DA - 2 - James - Hawke - 335169667
stupid no outgoing link thing...