Thanks SO much Morninglight, CouslandSpitFire, Eynla, Shinkshinkshink and koguma for your wonderful reviews! I also want to thank those of you who have put this fic in your favorites and are now following it! It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside! :D Special thanks to my good friend and beta CouslandSpitFire and my friend Eynla for your support and suggestions! :D

Another chapter full of Anders's antics and silly ideas! I love my goofy Anders! :D Reviews are most welcome, I love reading your feedback! Next chapter, Hawke makes a dramatic entrance! Or not! Haha!

Bioware owns! :D

Chapter 2

They both bent down to loot one of the bodies at their feet at the same time and nearly hit each other's heads. Anders frowned and quickly advanced to the next one after finding only a pair of torn trousers in the bandit's pack. However, Isabela had already looted that bandit and the next one as well. Anders looked at her darkly when she was done.

"Oh, please! Continue looking at me like that, Serah, and you'll be on your own!" Isabela smirked. "You have to be quick and nimble to catch up with me."

"Oh, I like to take my time, when…and if…the moment is right," Anders purred as he walked up to her. "Fast isn't really fun if you want to….explore." He grinned when he saw Isabela's right eyebrow shoot up.

"Oooh, I like you already," Isabela said in a sultry voice. "I'll take the lead. Where are we going?"

"An inn in Hightown called 'The Quick Stallion'," Anders supplied.

"I know exactly where that is," Isabela smiled. "Right around the corner from my favorite place in Kirkwall as a matter of fact. Let's go, sweet thing."

Anders followed her and soon they were climbing the stone stairs that led to Hightown.

…

"'The Blooming Rose'," Anders read the sign in front of him.

"That's right," Isabela retorted as she continued walking. "That's my favorite place in Kirkwall. The inn we're going to is just around this corner. Ah! There it is!" she pointed right in front of her.

"We should remain hidden as much as we can. If they are sitting in the main room of the inn, I want to be able to eavesdrop on their conversation. Is there a back door?" Anders asked as he crept behind Isabela, admiring her shapely arse.

"There is always a back door for everything," Isabela smirked.

"So true, that…" Anders quipped. His eyes suddenly made out a wooden door at the side of a wall and he gestured to it. Isabela smiled back at him as she nodded.

"Yes, I believe this is where we want to go. Since you want to be stealthy, you should crouch as low as you can once we're inside. I can blend into the shadows easily. It's a real shame you're a mage…"

"Hmmm," Anders frowned. "I've thought the exact same thing. After seven escape attempts from the Circle, I was hoping to become more of a rogue, but it looks like I'm stuck with 'mage'…" he sighed dramatically.

"Shh! " Isabela warned as she opened the door a crack, slipping inside without looking back.

Anders crouched low and advanced quickly, shutting the door behind him silently. He was absolutely still as he identified the noises that reached his ears. Music and laughter - as well as loud voices - told him that a large group of people were drinking in the main area where the innkeeper was. He just had to find out if the Wardens were there or in their rooms. While he was at it, he'd listen in to their conversations to see what they were up to.

"What kind of people are we looking for?" came Isabela's disembodied voice from somewhere on his right. "Mages? Templars?"

"I'll know it when I see them," he whispered back, advancing slowly to the far end of the corridor to catch a glimpse of the main room.

"That's informative," Isabela's whisper floated up to him. He smiled as he inched forward.

When he reached the end of the corridor, he took a peek. At a first glance, he couldn't see anything but people dressed in noble clothes or armor. The smell of ale and cheap liquor reached his nostrils. I should get a drink after this. I deserve it. His eyes continued to scan the whole room, and he finally saw a group of four Wardens sitting at a table right next to the main entrance. He was too far for them to sense him, but not far enough for him to tell that they were wearing distinctive blue-striped Warden Armor. His eyes narrowed slightly as he fixed his gaze on each one trying to make out any details. If there was a high-ranking officer with them, he would be able to recognize him by the crest on the armor.

Isabela elbowed him and he had to bite back a grunt.

"What are you doing that for?" he complained as he turned back to her.

"Do you see anyone you know?" Isabela hissed.

"No. Nobody I know," he said and suddenly he smirked – knowing exactly what had to be done. "I have a favor to ask you though."

"A favor?" Isabela frowned. "You mean I have to do something else for you?"

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it," he shot back at her. "I need you to first ask the innkeeper what room the Wardens are staying at. Then I want you to get close to –"

"Wait a minute!" Isabela protested audibly. "We're looking for Wardens, as in 'Grey Wardens'?"

"Yes. They don't know me, but I can't get close or they will…'sense' me," he said quickly. "It's a Warden thing. You, on the other hand, could serve as a distraction and possibly eavesdrop why they are here…"

"You're kidding right?" Isabela replied, disbelief written all over her face. "I don't mess with Wardens!"

"I need to know if they have come to Kirkwall because they're looking for me," Anders hurried to explain.

Isabela's jaw hit the floor. "You? You're a Grey Warden?"

"Unfortunately," Anders replied with a frown. "I used to be proud of that, but not anymore. I ran away from Vigil's Keep in Amaranthine because I had a falling out with the Warden-Commander there…The idiot brought Templars into the Keep to control us and I had to leave –"

"This just keeps getting better and better," Isabela interrupted, looking up at Anders's face with a hint of annoyance on hers.

He had a sad look of desperation on his face – not unlike an animal silently waiting to be slaughtered - and looked so vulnerable at that moment that Isabela sighed, shaking her head. "Ok, I know I'm going to regret this forever, but…I have an idea on what we can do to keep them from noticing you." Anders looked so relieved that she had to smile. "But you're going to owe me big time for this, I warn you!"

"I'll do anything you want me to, I promise," Anders nodded, his eyes twinkling.

Isabela smirked at this. "Looks like we're both on the same page, then."

"Oh, I keep all my promises. You won't regret it, you'll see…"

Isabela's response to this was to roll her eyes.

"Here's what I think we should do, but only if you are sure you can handle the innkeeper because you are going to have to invent a reason why you need to go to their room," Isabela said. "In other words, you'll need to lie."

"Oh, I already have one, not to worry!" Anders chuckled. "And I can lie easily if I need to, I assure you."

"Then go to the innkeeper and get that room number. As soon as you do, come back here and wait for me. Once I see you aren't around, I'll slip away from them and join you. Then we can both head into the room together."

"That's a great plan," Anders agreed. "I like it better than mine."

"Sweet thing," Isabela sighed. "Any plan is better than yours…"

…

Anders walked to the counter and smiled at the innkeeper, just as Isabela made her way through the crowd of drinking and laughing patrons towards the Wardens at the table. The innkeeper smiled back.

"What can I get you, Serah?"

He produced an envelope with the Grey Warden seal from his pocket, which actually was a copy of orders that the new Warden-Commander had given everyone before the Templars had arrived at Vigil's Keep, so Anders had never broken the seal. "I've got a missive for the Grey Wardens, specifically for the Warden leading the group here in Kirkwall," he said in a business-like tone.

"The Warden leading the group is in their suite, Sire," the innkeeper rattled off, his eyes glancing at the Grey Warden seal on the envelope. "He said he was retiring for the evening, and should not be disturbed. May I deliver it to him tomorrow morning?"

"I'm afraid that won't do," Anders frowned. "…I was told to deliver the missive directly to him…"

"I'm sorry, Serah, but I have my orders as well," the innkeeper replied.

Anders looked at him sternly, without saying anything for a while. The innkeeper started to fidget and lowered his gaze shaking his head. "Do you know you are signing my death warrant?" Anders finally whispered melodramatically, his eyes now pleading as they fixed themselves on the innkeeper's.

The innkeeper's eyes widened slightly. "Serah?" he asked in alarm.

Anders nodded, a pout forming on his lips. "Aye. They will keep me in one of their dungeons on bread and water before my head rolls…" he sighed. "Don't you know what the Wardens are capable of? Haven't you heard the stories?"

The innkeeper swallowed, his hand flying to his neck, as Anders fixed an eerie stare on him. He suddenly grabbed the innkeeper's collar and pulled him slightly towards him. "But you, Serah…" Anders's lower lip wobbled - his eyes moist with unshed tears. "…you can help me! You can become my savior! My hero! All I need is the room number and I'll slip this envelope under the door. I give you my word I will not disturb him!"

"Room 7, Serah! Just up the stairs to the right!" the innkeeper hurried to say.

Anders's eyes filled with hope and extreme elation, releasing the innkeeper at once. He caught the poor man's hand in his, giving it a squeeze and shake.

"Serah! I don't know how to thank you enough! Because of you, I will live to see another day!" he grinned, relief written all over his face. He bowed low, grabbing the envelope and stuffing it back into his pocket. He was still thanking him when he turned and walked back into the dark corridor.

He already knew where the stairs were, having caught a glimpse of them when he and Isabela had first walked in through the back door, so he waited for her patiently in the corridor with a triumphant smile on his face.

…

Anders felt invincible, like there wasn't a problem in Thedas he couldn't solve. Leaning back, he drained his third tankard of ale, his warm, brown eyes holding Isabela's for a split second. He waited for her to turn away and studied her as she drained her tankard, noting that her body was probably one of the most attractive female bodies he had seen in a while. Smiling into his tankard he knew that she only wanted some fun, and would not demand a relationship if he bedded her – something that made her even more appealing to him.

He was now two sovereigns richer than he had been before and had a map of the Deep Roads in his backpack. He had nicked it because it might help him if he ever had to escape a group of templars. The templars hardly ever followed people into the Deep Roads if they could help it. Also, if anyone ever needed a map with entrances to the Deep Roads, he could sell the blasted thing and get some coin for it. He really hadn't the slightest idea why he had taken it, but the map was now lying at the bottom of his backpack and he was feeling gloriously relieved because the Wardens hadn't been looking for him after all. They were planning an expedition into the blasted Deep Roads.

That was one of the things he would never miss about not being with the Wardens any more. He hated the bloody Deep Roads.

For a split second he remembered how he had acquired the map. The sleeping Senior Warden was someone Anders knew and he had bitten his lip to keep the expletive from bubbling out when the man had turned over while he lay sleeping and Anders had caught a glimpse of his face. The Warden's name was Stroud. Anders had saved his life on one of his journeys into the Deep Roads with a pair of recruits. It was good to know that he now led a group of Wardens, since back then he had struck Anders as a serious, stern type, eager to climb the ranks. His eyes had fallen on a piece of paper on the table near the bed, which he clearly identified as a map. The next thing he knew, he had stuffed the document into his pack without thinking twice.

Isabela suddenly materialized on his lap with a half-smile on her face, interrupting his thoughts.

"How about fulfilling your promise, sweet thing?" she purred. "I'm ready for some sparkles…"

Anders smiled seductively at her, but before he could respond, she tilted her face and captured his lips in her own, kissing him hungrily. He kissed her back with equal intensity, his hands traveling down her back, one of them settling on her right thigh and working its way under her tunic and to her panties.

"I have a room upstairs," Isabela crooned into his mouth. "Follow me."

He followed her up the stairs of the tavern, and a dwarf with fantastic chest hair stopped them on the landing. Anders's eyes briefly rested on the dwarf's earrings and he felt a pang of jealousy as he sadly remembered he had had to part with his own to escape the Wardens in Amaranthine.

"Rivaini," the dwarf announced crossing his arms and staring up at her. "I thought our appointment was an hour ago?"

"Ah, yes…about that…," Isabela said then chuckled as Anders slid his hand up her arse, the sparks flying from his fingers. "I got….distracted…"

"I can see that," the dwarf nodded. "I thought you wanted to deal with the man and get it over with? Then maybe you could really relax with your companion here, without a cloud of responsibility hanging over your head?"

"Aww, Varric, don't get angry. I'm here, aren't I?" Isabela purred.

"Let's hope my contact is still around," Varric replied, and then grinned up at Anders, holding out his hand. "Varric Tethras, at your service."

Anders grinned and shook his hand. "Anders, apostate mage," he slurred, feeling a little tipsy. "Who is this person you have to meet, Isabela? Can I come too?" he turned to Isabela who nodded.

"I'm sure your contact is still there, Varric. He's at The Blooming Rose after all," Isabela smiled.

"Knowing how punctual you are, I'm hoping he's having a little fun while he's waiting for us at least," Varric quipped.

"The Blooming Rose?" Anders echoed thoughtfully. "Isn't that the place we passed to get to the tavern we were going to?"

"Yes. My favorite place in Kirkwall," Isabela sighed fondly. "It's a brothel."

"A brothel? I like this already," Anders laughed.

"Sorry to have interrupted you, by the way," Varric murmured to Anders.

"Apology accepted," Anders grinned, deciding he really liked Varric. "But you'll have to buy me a drink when we get back."

"We'll see about that," Varric replied with a smile. "How good are you at Diamondback?"

…