The next day they were down at the wounded coast again this time the entire crew was there though due to the unclear number of opponents they'd meet.
Of course Anders hadn't slept much last night with all the thought shooting through his head and he stood next to Merrill yawning as they listened to Hawke discuss their tactics with Aveline.
"So what we'll do is wait until Isabela returns with the report of how many there are in there", Aveline stated and gestured towards the big busted pirate.
"Sending me to spy on qunari? Do you really find that such a good idea, sweetheart?", Isabela questioned and stretched her arms over her head.
"You're the sneakiest person in our group of misfits, so it's not like we have much of a choice", Aveline countered stemming her hands into her heavily armoured hips.
"Fine fine!", Isabela acknowledged with a wave of her hand," I'll sneak in, draw a line on my palm for each couple of horns I see and then come back to show you I scribbled a load of inappropriate images instead."
"You better not", Aveline grumbled, making the pirate laugh as she entered the cave.
As the crew waited for the report, Anders looked around lazily, taking in the beauty of the wounded coast.
"Pretty isn't it?", Merrill asked and smiled up at him in her innocent way.
When the conversation wasn't about magic or mages, Anders liked Merrill. She was as gullible as it gets but she was always nice.
"Indeed it is", he sighed, watching a wail spray a fountain out of its air hole in the distance", I'm so glad I'm not cooped up in the circle anymore. Or I'd miss these things."
"Must have been horrible cooped up like that", Merrill said thoughtfully," but thanks to Hawke we're all here to enjoy the view."
After that Anders stopped listening to Merrill and just smiled at her. He was to tired and his head was to full to pay any more attention. When she had finally finished he smiled a little more at her and she smiled back before dancing off after Varric and making him smile as well.
Anders' gaze drifted around the group until he spotted the white haired elf sitting separated from the group on a tree stump, his back facing Anders and looking into the distance. The elf's ears seemed to droop as he made a deep sigh and Anders knew he was remembering what he wished to forget.
"He seems especially broody today, don't you think?"
Anders turned his head slightly to find Hawke standing next to him giving him his usual dorky look.
"Indeed", Anders answered and looked back at the man in question," sometimes I wonder what goes on in his head."
"How about: I hate mages!", Hawke jested but turned earnest again as soon as he received a glare from Anders and coughed politely," I've also noticed lately you two don't argue quite as much anymore. Have you settled your differences?"
"Not quite", Anders sighed as the elf's ears seemed to droop even more," but we're understanding each other a little better after we had a proper talk."
Hawke patted Anders so hard on the back, the mage almost fell forward and looked at his companion bemused when he noticed the other was giving him a big silly smile.
"Glad to hear you two finally get along! Oh Isabela!"
The pirate captain had returned and she did not look happy as she patted some dust from her thigh high boots.
"So?", Aveline advanced towards Isabela," what does it look like in there?"
"Dark and dirty", the pirate countered and blew a lock of hair out of her face," there's about 20 Tal-Vashoth in there. But 4 of them are Saarebas so it should be a rather challenging battle in there."
She patted Hawke's Mabari, Fionnlagh, who apriciatingly wagged his tail.
"Maker's breath that's a lot of Tal-Vashoth", Varric exclaimed, readying Bianca," But they're no match for us!"
"Then let us get this over with."
Anders looked to his left to find Fenris now next to him looking as determined and proud as ever. He smugged and nodded towards the others.
"I agree. We should get this done with ASAP."
And faster than he thought Anders and his friends were surrounded by Tal-Vashoth. The Qunari had expected them and were well prepared, so despite Anders' best efforts Merrill and Bethany had already fallen unconscious. Anders wouldn't have an issue reviving them if it weren't for those Maker-forsaken Saarebas constantly interrupting his resurrection spells. When he finally had a window he used the last of his mana to resurrect at least Bethany, just in case he should fall next she was the only other mage with a few healing spells. His hands glowing bright blue he concentrated as hard as he could and finally managed to resurrect the other mage. Bethany jumped to her feet and grabbed her staff to immediately freeze the Qunari attacking Varric.
Satisfied with what he had achieved Anders grabbed for one of his spare magic potions and popped off the cork holding it closed to down it in one go. The familiar refreshing feeling rising in him as the potion refilled his mana resources, he chucked the bottle over his shoulder and turned to face the next Qunari. To his great surprise, in a bad way, he found the next Qunari upon him with his sword high above his head to lash it down upon the mage. Anders was just about to conjure a protective force field when he felt something tingle strangely through his chest and lower body. As the Qunari's sword came down a blue flash of light burst out from Anders' chest and cut the Qunari in half through the chest whilst roaring its battle cry. As the Qunari fell, Anders took a few steps back to fully see what in the name of Andraste's arse had just happened. The blue glowing figure looked back at him breathing heavily in its hunched posture and Anders recognised what had just happened and shuddered. It was Fenris, in his ghost warrior form who had swept through him to use the element of surprise on the Qunari.
"Thank you, Fenris", Anders yelled and saluted the elf, who nodded in return and ran off to the next opponent glowing like a star.
After that close call Anders also had the mana and time to resurrect Merrill who then used the scattered blood to fuel her blood magic. Anders then concentrated on firing fire and ice at the opponents, freezing them solid or making them scream in agony at the pain of the intense heat. When they were down to the last 3 Qunari Anders' chest was heaving with streign. The fight had been going on for about an houre and his energy was at an end, even with the magic and healing potions he couldn't fix his physical fatigue.
Another Qunari fell to Varric's bolt and the last two were cornered by Hawke and Avaline. So Anders decided he could finally allow himself to fall to his knees and hold himself upright with his staff. As the last two Qunari fell he sighed with relief and let his head hang, his long hair curtaining his face a little. He soon felt a wet nose sniffing his ear and a wet tongue licking his cheek. Anders grimaced but smiled and petted Fionnlagh who whined concerned.
"I'm okay, boy. Just a little tired", Anders reassured the hound which barked and took a few steps back as two naked feet came into the mage's view.
Fenris fell to his knees as well and held Anders by the shoulder with one arm to hold him upright and reached with his other into his pouches.
"What are you doing?", Anders asked looking tiredly at the other man.
Fenris didn't answer but pulled a stamina drought out of his pouch and pulled the cork out with his teeth to then spit the cork to his left, before holding the drought to Anders' lips.
"Drink!"
Anders parted his lips to let the potion enter his mouth. A warm fuzzy feeling spread through his worn muscles all over his body. He rolled his shoulders and moved his lower arm up and down. The pain and strain was gone.
"Thank you again", he thanked with a smile to Fenris.
"Always a pleasure", the elf answered and got to his feet again and helping the other man up.
"You two are getting along a little too well I'd say", Isabela stated with a smirk," I like that!"
"Just because you fancy having two men at the same time, you don't have to start seeing things", Anders jested and Isabela laughed loudly her voice echoing in the cave.
An hour later they were in the Viscount's keep and Aveline tore off the warning from the information board at the guard's quarters.
"Well done my friends", she declared," for this I will give you all a free round at the Hanged Man."
"Have I ever told you, that I love you?", Isabela purred and bumped Aveline with her hip.
"I'm flatter but I'm sorry to tell you I'm only interested in men", Aveline chuckled.
"Prude!", Isabela huffed and lead the way back towards the exit of the Viscount's keep,"and anybody who's to drunk to go home tonight is welcome to stay with me in my room!"
"I'll hold you by your word", Hawke called from the back of the group and Isabela winked in return.
"I'm sure Anders can cure hangovers", Varric joked and elbowed the tired mage.
"You sure you want to risk him burning your hair from your head when he's probably drunk himself?", Fenris asked the dwarf and earned a chuckle.
"I'll burn your hair in a minute", Anders threatened as they left the keep through the giant doors.