Update 2/26/15:
Justice was disconcerting to Marian Hawke. The notion in general, yes, but also the physical manifestation. She found herself unhappy with how long the spirit spent talking with Anders as well. It was not prudent. Not to say she treated him with anything but the utmost respect. In fact, she rather preferred to have him close and friendly. Her main concern was for her adopted brother.
Her brother.
A smile snaked into her eyes as a thought came to her, though it had a hitch. And she wrote to Alistair asking permission she did not need. It took less than a week to get her reply- he would help her with the Orlesian wardens if her command was questioned.
"Consider this your boon," he had written, but she could see his intention in it. He still realized he owed her, and this was a small price. Such was the benefit of a best friend who ruled over a nation. As close to official as she could get, Hawke supposed.
Paper on her pocket, she went to the main hall and cleared her throat. Anders and Nathaniel were talking, Ser Pounce playing between them; both stood as soon as Marian drew attention to herself, straightening in the way she would only when trying to appear official.
"Anders, a word, brother?" Marian kept her demeanor cheerful, though she knew he would not be pleased with her solution. It was for many reasons she seemed this necessary, not the least of which was Carver's last communication explaining his crack-pot idea. Anders followed her lead, confused, to the office. It was a mess of papers, organized precisely as Mari needed. She pulled one from a stack of clean paper and began writing.
"I have a mission for you. A rather... extended mission."
"How do you mean, Sis?"
"You have heard me speak of my brother in Kirkwall, yes? My brother by blood, and my sister?"
"Your family, yes. You have mentioned."
That was a start. Now to give him what she hid from everyone. "What I haven't mentioned is that my sister is an apostate." She sat back in her chair. "So was my father. My young life was spent trying to protect the and their secret."
Anders leaned against the wall, obviously a little shocked. "Ok, I should have expected that."
Marian wrote on the page. "My brother has the brilliant idea to head into the Deep Roads to find some treasure and restore the family name. I am...concerned. If I could I would join him, but as the Commander I have responsibilities. Nevertheless, I would feel better if he had a Warden watching out for him." She looked at the blonde mage, pleading. "There is a Circle there in Kirkwall. I can only promise so much protection, but..."
Anders slid to the ground, fully stunned. "You mean to send me? Send me away?"
"I trust you," Marian corrected. "There is nothing more important to me than my family, Anders. You should know- you are part of it now." She flashed a brilliant smile, and the mage cursed. He couldn't refuse this version of Marian Hawke. She knew that much. He suffered from a sibling's weakness to a sweet younger sister. Anders was hooked, and she didn't even have to give a stern order.
"When?" was all he managed to ask.
Marian finished the letter. "Leave with the next ship in two days. Be discreet- this is a personal errand, so I can't officially send you, but it wouldn't be a surprise to have a recruiter in the area." She handed him the page. "This will explain. If the Knight-Commander tries anything, you hand them this." Then she eased, helping him from the floor. "Other than my request to watch Carver and Bethany, and maybe send a person or two my way if you suppose they really want to join, I suppose there's nothing else for you to HAVE to do."
The reality clicked. Marian knew he senses why she really offered him this opportunity. "So I have my freedom?"
Marian hugged him, tucking the page in his robe. "Like a bird, my friend." It was a gift, something she knew he had never experienced before now.
"Free. Like a bird. Or a cat- can I take Pounce with me?"
Mari softened as she smiled at him. "He was a gift, Anders. Please do." And with that, they went into the hall for one last drink before Anders had to back for Kirkwall.
000 - $$$
Oghren and Sigrun worked well together, completing styles well. Marian and Nate had likewise developed a technique that built on their strengths. Together, the four cut through darkspawn well enough it was nearly an art; they preferred to consider it a competition, one Mari or Oghren usually wound up winning.
The only difference this day was that more was at stake. The forces were split, trying to keep both Amaranthine and the Keep safe from the explosion of forces descending. Nate was glad to have Marian close, squeezing her hand as they entered the hall. Just as he did, she looked up and he felt every part of her tense. She also looked quite pale when he looked again, even as she stepped out in front of the rest of the group.
Nathaniel started to reach for his bow when he heard the enemy speak. "I owe you an apology, Commander. When last we met, I intended to explain myself."
Marian growled at that, louder than any mabari, as she warned her nemesis. "You... you experimented on me."
Silence took hold and Nate felt his heart lurch. She had declined to go into detail before, but he could see from her expression now that it had not been a pleasant experience. Then the Architect continued. "I restrained you only to prevent the misunderstanding that occurred with the rest of your order."
"So you DIDN'T attack the Wardens." The other three looked at her oddly, mostly because of the tone. As of she'd already realized that was the truth.
"I sent my Withered to ask Grey Wardens for help. I should have anticipated that you would view our approach as an attack. I am so rarely able to predict your kind."
"We don't predict ourselves," Marian offered, her eyes narrowing. "To be honest, this wasn't even the first time I have been the object of such an experiment. However, it is hard to overlook that you took MY men and bled them DRY."
"The Grey Wardens that were brought to me were already dead." Nathaniel watched as Marian met this darkspawn's eyes head on and glared. Neither flinched, or moved, and Nate was honestly afraid to be the one to break the mood. Then, calmly, Marian nodded.
"Howe." The reversion to his last name shook Nathaniel, and he knew this was not his Marian but Commander Hawke giving orders. "Take the dwarves and step aside. I'm going to listen. If I don't like it, we can kill him later."
"You will be welcome to try," the Architect assured.
There was no room for discussion, and Nate really did not relish the idea of insubordination. He did as she asked, staying just near enough to catch pieces of conversation and be available if needed.
The whispered snippets were disconcerting enough.
"I like my blood where it is thank you!"
"After it is done, I will leave to continue my work. I don't wish to lead..."
"An ally? Among the darkspawn?"
"You are...too generous."
"You understand the leap o faith I have to take here, yes? Next time, ask for volunteers."
"I will accept."
Marian stepped back to the hallway, a fake smile on her face. "Good news Wardens. We have some much needed assistance against this... Mother." She shuddered, "Let's go."
Nathaniel took her hand, pulling her back as Ohgren and Sigrun walked ahead. "Marian, what did you promise?"
"Nothing I will regret," she assured. "Though it may haunt my nightmares for a little while." She turned with a flippant smile. "Like old times, really."
Mari's hand was still shaking when Nate squeezed it, not stopping until he gave her a proper kiss. "For luck, my dear. Let's make this worthwhile."