Five years later Anders found himself on his way through The Anderfels again. He had just left Nordbotten and was on his way down to Orlais for the last Magi Circle on his long list. He had just passed the Merdaine and was on a climb up the Hunterhorn Mountains.
Before he had left the last village of his old home country, one of the inhabitants had requested him to be careful. Rumour had it that there were many ambushes on caravans through the small winding paths that crossed the mountains. He didn't care much for it. He had been ambushed many a time by thugs on his travels across entire Thedas and he knew how to deal with such people. He may have grown older and physically less vigilant but his magic had become so much stronger. Plus he had Justice who held his taint at bay. He had given the man a few silvers all the same for the information and the man bowed to him in gratitude. Generosity was extremely rare in the Anderfels and Anders knew that it left a good impression.
As he passed a deer that just stared at him he remembered what he had done all these years and wondered what had become of his friends. After he had left Kirkwall and gone up north towards Nevarra to get to Tevinter. He had figured he'd be safest there as a mage of all places after what he had done. In Nevarra itself he had come across Hawke and Isabela who had reported they had split up with the others only a few days before they had met him. The only thing they knew for certain was that Varric had headed off towards Antiva. What had happened to the rest of them they did not know.
Anders saw a dwarven merchant coming down the hill with his carriage and pulled the hood of his mantle lower over his face. As they passed he inclined his head in greeting and got a lazy wave in return.
"The thieves seem to have a day off", Anders chuckled to himself as he turned around another steep bend in the road.
"That or the wares he had weren't of interest to them", Justice threw in.
"Bah, let them come if they wish to fight", Anders muttered," I'm almost done with my mission and a few lousy thugs aren't exactly a challenge in comparison to rabid Templars."
Indeed he had slain so many of them in the last few months alone he had lost count. Not like he cared. Who stood in his way would be eliminated and the freed mages were so thankful they always made sure he was well equipped for his journey to the next tower.
He smiled to himself as he remembered the last circle he had freed. One of the apprentices came up to him, a young girl no older than 12, and had given him a ring. She had said it was for good luck and happiness, that it had been her first enchanted object and she wanted him to have it. He fiddled with it on his right hand as he continued to remember fondly.
As the night came he had reached the top of one of the mountains and walked through the dark woods listening to the sounds of the night that gave him inner peace. He knew he'd have to rest soon but he'd need to find a fitting spot for it and figured that there might be a little stream nearby, he'd rest there. Where he was now the trees were especially thick and old and he wondered what stories they may have had to tell.
But then he heard a branch crack a few meters away from him to his left and slowly looked that way. There were two reflecting eyes looking at him from the dark and his heart sank a little. The thieves the man had spoken of weren't thugs, they were Dalish. If he was lucky it was only a scout, if he wasn't, then half the clan was probably already circling him at that point.
He looked around and saw a clearing near by, if he could just make it then he'd stand a better chance against the elf than in between these trees. He began to run towards his chosen spot and saw the eyes shift as well. As he ran he could hear multiple footsteps behind and beside him but he didn't dare look, he had to make it to that clearing. He was almost there when tackled to the ground, winded he could feel a sharp point on his spine just below his neck.
"Nicht bewegen, Magier (don't move, mage)", the elf on top of him growled in broken Anderfels with a thick accent, "Komm langsam hoch und wehe du versuchst was (get up slowly, but don't you dare try anything)."
The elf got off of him and Anders slowly got to his feet, his hands held high as the elf circled around him with a bow and arrow pointed at him. When Anders got a glimps of his captor he frowned, he was not dalish, he lacked the markings. He was also wearing a mantle with a hood pulled down over his face but Anders could still see his face rather clearly. He was young and handsome, despite the scars on the left side of his face and from the shape of his hood, was also missing his left ear. He then looked around and saw that there were at least a dozen other elves with him all wearing their hoods deep into their faces. They cautiously came closer, their eyes reflecting in the moon light, giving them a ghostly appearance.
"Was willst du hier? (What are you doing here?)", the one eared elf asked him.
"Ich bin nur auf der Durchreise (I'm only a passing traveller)", Anders answered," Ich bin auf dem Weg nach Orlais (I'm on my way to Orlais)."
The elf frowned then turned to the others.
"Garbhan, run back to the camp. I'm sure the Keeper has better judgment than us", he commanded in perfect Kings Tongue.
One of the shorter figures nodded and dashed off into the woods, swiftly running between the thick tree trunks.
Anders kept his eyes on his captor, he must have originated from Ferelden. But then what was he doing so far north?
As they waited the other elves started whispering to each other all with different accents: Orlesian, Tevinter, Antivan, Fereldan and Anders was sure he also heard a Starkhaven one.
As the minutes continued to pass Anders' arms started getting numb and he sighed.
"May I drop my hands now? It's getting rather uncomfortable."
The one eared elf raised an eyebrow.
"Sure, you may. You are not from The Anderfels?"
"Originally I am", Anders replied and dropped his arms feeling his warm blood pulse through his vanes freely again," But I grew up in the Ferelden circle."
"Intersting", the elf muttered before looking over his shoulder," hmm looks like the Keeper couldn't make it, you got the second in command to decide your fate."
Two figures had appeared from the woods, the short elf had returned with a taller one. Anders sighed again. He would be lucky enough to bump into a load of hostile elves wouldn't he? Not to mention he didn't know what they planned on doing with him. Ever since the incidence in Kirkwall he had noticed that the numbers of elves in the major cities had diminished greatly. He never quite understood why but seeing how many there were around him at the current time he wondered if they had all fled for some reason.
The two arrivals came closer and the taller elf came up to the one that pointed his bow and arrow at Anders. With a swift downward movement of his right hand he commanded the other to lower his bow, which he did. Then the taller elf stood in front of him, Anders couldn't see his face properly but he could see the elf was mustering him from head to toe and especially eying up his staff.
"Great I'm going to be judged by the big stick on my back", he thought to himself and chewed on his lower lip.
The elf reached up and pulled his hood back and Anders shook his head slightly to get his greying bangs out of his eyes. He looked coldly at the man in front of him who had frozen in his movements making Anders frown yet again.
The hooded head tilted slightly to the left side. The elf was obviously confused and Anders prayed to the maker that he didn't recognize him and was considering turning him in for a ransom.
The elf reached up to his own hood pulling it back and making Anders' heart clench. White hair appeared alongside emerald green eyes and an all too familiar face.
He could feel tears swelling up at the corners of his eyes as he looked into Fenris' confused face. The elf hadn't changed much over the years he had only gained a few more wrinkles around his beautiful eyes.
"You were dead", Fenris muttered, his hand reaching up to touch Anders' face as if in doubt he were real.
Anders leaned his head towards the rough hands and closed his eyes, fondly remembering their time together so many years ago. He quickly opened his eyes again when the hands twitched away from him though and gave Fenris a sad look.
"You know this mage?", the one eared elf questioned Fenris, looking between him and Anders.
"Indeed I do", Fenris replied still seeming very confused," We will bring him back to camp. The Keeper must meet him."
The elves nodded in unison and all turned and began to march through the woods. Anders stayed with them still not knowing what to truly make of the situation. He walked beside his old lover and surrounded by the other elves, his head held low but always side glancing at Fenris. He so desperately wanted to embrace the elf, feel his warm skin, smell his wonderful sent, kiss his luscious lips. But he knew what he had done to him would have sat deep in the elf's soul over the years, he'd probably not forgive him.
"Ever since you blew up that Chantry,"Fenris began keeping his gaze forward on their path," the elves of the cities have suffered so much."
Anders swallowed dryly and bit his lower lip.
"The mages that escaped the circles", Fenris continued as he stepped over a thick root," the majority of them fled to Minrathus. The City is overflowing as I speak," he ducked a low branch," And the more mages that live in that city the more slaves are needed to keep them all served. Where better to find slaves than in chaotic capital cities, where the main forces of justice are used to keep mages at bay rather than take care of the already unprivileged elves of the Alienages?"
"I see", Anders stated quietly. As if his conscience wasn't bad enough. He had never though that freeing the mages might compromise the elves even more.
They reached a clearing in the woods as they climbed over a small hill. Anders' jaw almost dropped when he saw the elven camp. It was huge! Dozens and dozens of tents and land ships were gathered at the clearing and he was sure that there were almost a hundred elves rushing about between them.
They walked down the hill and into the camp. As they passed the rows upon rows of tents the elves stopped their daily business to look unsure at Anders as he passed. A group of children that played near one of the fires saw them and came running up to them to take a closer look at what their hunters had caught. When they noticed Anders' staff they immediately took a step back, fear in their eyes as Anders looked back at them.
They approached a large tent in the centre of the camp. It was richly decorated and had a large fire in front of it with two large tree trunks around the fire as seats. Fenris gestured to one of them for Anders to sit, which he did. He then dismissed the other elves who walked off in different directions into the camp.
Anders watched them leave before looking back up at Fenris and taking a deep breath.
"Wait here", Fenris commanded and went into the large tent, the flap closing behind him.
Anders cracked his neck from side to side before looking into the dancing flames of the fire.
"Well at least I wasn't killed", he thought to himself and scratching his stubble.
He looked up again when he heard movement coming from inside the large tent and Fenris reappearing from behind the flaps, helping a second figure to walk.
Anders raised his eyebrows in surprise as he saw a familiar elven woman hold on to him with her arm around his shoulder. She was wobbly on her feet as she reached for one of the poles to not pull on Fenris to much. When her green eyes met Anders' honey coloured ones, her face brightened up like only hers could.
"Anders? Is that really you?"
"Glad to see you too again, Merrill", Anders replied and got to his feet.
"No, no, you stay right there! I'll come over and sit beside you!", she insisted and tried to walk by herself, but was immediately nudged by Fenris who then helped her on her way to Anders.
As she wobbled towards him Anders mustered her from head to toe. She was wearing a white, dress like gown and a dark green pouch around her right shoulder. She had obviously been resting when they had arrived and was still very week on her feet. As Fenris gently helped her sit next to Anders he could see her face properly as well. The years had been generous to her, from the young inexperienced looking girl he had known, she had turned into a beautiful wise looking woman, even with her hyperness obviously still in her. She spread her arms shakily towards him.
"Come give the blood mage a hug!"
Anders chuckled and embraced her petit figure. Even after all he'd said to her during their travels with Hawke she treated him like a good friend.
When they broke the embrace, Anders gave her a tired smile.
"I see you've gone up in life", he gestured towards the camp," being the Keeper of such a large clan."
She giggled as Fenris lowered himself beside her on the tree stump and looked silently at Anders, his face unreadable.
"Indeed. Although our "clan" is a mix of dalish and city elves so I don't know if it counts," she indicated towards the children that were trying to get a closer look of Anders," It's hard to keep track of so many. We only started off as two then more and more decided to travel with us and now I feel almost overwhelmed with-"
She was cut off when a croaky whine sounded from the bundle around her shoulders and it started to move. She smiled softly and reached into it.
Anders raised both eyebrows in surprise when she produced a tiny baby from it and held it up in her arms trying to calm it.
"I'm sorry", she excused it as she stroked her index finger over its cheek calming it," He was only just born this morning and is a bit of a whiner."
Fenris chuckled a little at the last remark. Obviously the baby had been crying for the most of the day.
"Well this is surprising", Anders said still a little in shock," Congratulations!"
He looked again at the tiny being rolling its head slowly back and forth. It had a tuft of jet black hair on its head and had its eyes firmly shut.
"That would also explain why she's so wobbly on her feet", Anders thought to himself with a new question forming in his head.
Before he could ask though, the baby pulled a discomforted face and began to cry again. Merrill sighed and handed it to Fenris.
"You take him. He doesn't cry as much when you hold him."
Anders' heart sank as he watched Fenris gently take the baby and hold it against his chest. The boy immediately stilled and relaxed as Fenris brushed the black hairs back over his head.
The loving face Fenris gave the baby answered Anders' question. He had moved on. Then again why wouldn't he? He had thought Anders dead for over 5 years. But that he chose Merrill out of all people was beyond him. He noticed Merrill looking at him with a sorry and sad face and instantly recognised that she knew what was going on. He gave her a sad smile in return and started fiddling with his ring again, watching Fenris hold his son and coo over him.
"Does he have a name yet?", Anders asked looking back at Merrill.
"I wanted to call him Leto", she stated and got a glare from Fenris straight away," But Daddy disapproves."
Anders chuckled a little.
"You could have told me you'd given birth this morning, you know?", Anders gestured towards her," I may be getting old but I think walking into a tent isn't beyond me yet."
"I've been cooped up in my tent for the past two days", she giggled indicating towards Fenris and the baby," The little one had me in labour for almost 10 hours and Fenris here didn't let me get up. Now I'm so weak I can hardly walk, so it's nice to get some fresh air out here. Thank the creators you showed up to give me an excuse to do so!"
That earned her another glare but she returned a cheeky smile.
"I'm sorry to interrupt", another hooded elf came running up to them very out of breath," But our hunters have sighted slaver scouts to the south."
"Venhedis", Fenris cussed," Assemble a few more hunters and wait for me at the pens!"
The other elf nodded and rushed off into camp.
Fenris then gently handed the baby back to Merrill and got to his feet.
"Please excuse me. I shall return in a few hours", he inclined his head and left, mantle billowing behind him.
Anders looked after him for a while before turning back to Merrill who had her gaze fixated on the large fire in front of them, her face sad and full of guilt.
Anders reached out and gently patted her knee and tears started falling down her cheek.
"I'm so, so sorry, Anders", she sobbed," If I had known you were still alive I never would have…"
"So you knew back then already?", Anders raised an eyebrow and rested his elbows on his knees.
"Yes, I always knew", she snivelled, gathering herself again," I saw the way you two looked at each other when you thought nobody was looking. I saw you go up to his mansion in high town at night multiple times… I'm just … so very sorry…."
She looked up at him with the same sad look she had had in her eyes when Marethari had died, pained with guilt and sadness.
Anders averted his gaze towards the fire again with a deep sigh.
"It's my own fault, Merrill. Not yours", he grabbed a nearby stick and started prodding the coals with it," I should have told him what I had planned… cus looking at this", he gestured towards the camp," my plan on keeping him and the rest of you out of trouble backfired, hard."
"Not for all of us", Merrill mused and looked at Anders fondly, her eyes still red from crying," I heard Aveline returned to Ferelden and that King Alistair gave her a good position in the troops and a big house in Denerim. She's got two children of her own now with hair as firey as hers. Varric is doing well in Antiva as well according to the last letter I received and Sebastian is now the ruler of Starkhaven."
"Yet you two are now constantly on the run", Anders murmured as he sat upright again tossing the stick into the fire.
"It's not all that bad. The people are nice and it never gets boring. Sure there's the odd slaver caravan but Fenris takes care of those."
They looked at each other in awkward silence for a while before Merrill looked down at her son again absently.
"You know, he grieved for you for years. He was an absolute wreck for at least a year after you "passed away" and I still found him often sitting in a dark spot on his own for three years after. And even now he never truly got over the fact that he wasn't good enough for you to have put him before your mission. He always blamed himself."
Anders felt his heart clenching again.
"When we noticed I was with child", Merrill continued her voice growing thick with sadness again," He promised me in tears that he'd do everything absolutely everything to keep me and the child safe, alive and happy. I've only ever seen him cry that one time and it broke my heart to see a man with his strength and willpower to be doing that."
Anders could feel the tears flowing down his cheeks now too. With all his good intensions towards Fenris he had only scarred him more, made his life even more miserable than it had already been all his life.
"All I wanted to do was make his life more bearable", she was crying now as well again," But not even with all the love I give him could I mend what you had done to him. That is why I ask you for one single favour, Anders."
He looked at her leaf green eyes as the tears now flowed over her cheeks.
"Tell him you're sorry."
Anders nodded slowly in agreement and then hastily whipped his tears off his face with the back of his hand and Merrill did the same.
Anders then looked down at the baby again it was starting to squirm a new and he knew it was going to cry again.
"Eeeh", Merrill started turning multiple shades of red and her ears started to sink," I think he's hungry. Do you mind just…"
Anders nodded understandingly and turned the other way to look into the camp and let Merrill have some privacy as she stilled the baby.
The camp was busy for the time of day and many of the passing elves gave him a curious glance, when they saw Merrill with him though they nodded their greetings to him.
"They fully trust a blood mage, irony knows no limits it seems", Anders thought to himself and then pushed his eyelids together. One of the passing elves, a woman around her thirties looked oddly familiar. When she stopped and looked at him with the same expression, he knew they must have known each other from somewhere. She curiously moved closer into the light of the grand fire and seemed to recognise him giving him a big smile. She was a beautiful example of an elf with long golden blond curls and dark blue almost black eyes. She carried a staff on her back and wore long skin tight robes in multiple shades of green.
"Anders?", she questioned and he nodded.
"I'm sorry to say you seem familiar but I can't point out from where I know you", he said slightly ashamed.
"Oh I don't expect you to remember me", she giggled giving him another big smile," I was one of the apprentices at the Tower of Magi in Ferelden almost 15 years ago. I was the girl that helped you hide from the Templars when you light Knight-Commander Greagoirs' robes."
A light ignited in Anders' memories. He remembered her now, she had been a rowdy amongst the apprentices but was always good with spells. Whenever Anders did something to bemuse himself and to annoy the Templars, she would always be there to cheer him on as he got dragged to his punishment.
"Fiona, wasn't it?", he questioned and she nodded excitedly.
"I didn't know you knew our Keeper", she indicated to Merrill who had now turned to them as well," You get around a lot I see!"
"As a long time apostate you have to, I'd say", Anders chuckled.
She giggled but then looked back into camp.
"I'm sorry, my old friend. I'm needed to cast warding traps around our camp. We'll catch up later!"
And with that she ran off to a group of elven mages that were already waiting for her.
He turned back to Merrill who smiled back at him.
"I thought you might know her after hearing her back story, but I wasn't sure."
"I get around", Anders shrugged then gestured towards the baby," may I hold him?"
Merrill seemed a little unsure at first but then trustingly passed her baby to the mage. Anders took greatest care to not drop the tiny baby and held it in front of him. The baby way so small it fit on his both hands with ease and he held it closer to his face as it started to squirm a little. The dark green towel it was wrapped in moved with its kicks and Anders chuckled.
"A little fighter", he muttered and then stroked its cheek softly with his thumb. The baby opened its eyes for him then and he could see the same emerald green eyes its father possessed looking up at him. He could feel his eyes burning again when he realised he was holding a part of the man he once loved so much in his hands and then gently kissed the baby's forehead making it grab up. It softly tapped his stubbly chin and let out a little whine. He smiled at the boy fondly as it continued to slap its hands all over his face and he could hear Merrill giggle from his left. He then blew softly onto the baby making it whine again and slap him some more. He stopped when he noticed Merrill had stopped giggling and without moving his head looked up to find Fenris standing in front of him, covered in blood and sweat and his chest heaving. His gaze was stern and calculating as if he was trying to establish if Anders was a threat to his son or not and then their eyes locked. As they stared at each other in awkward silence the baby continued to slap Anders' face until it got a grip on the tip of his nose.
Fenris was the first to give up the staring contest and look back down at his son before throwing his mantle on the floor and walking past them.
"I shall be washing off all this blood if anybody should need me."
Anders sighed again and looked at Merrill who seemed even more awkward than him.
"Maybe I should get back to my tent and get some rest", she suggested and tried to get to her feet by herself.
Anders was quick to get to her before she fell and helped her back to her tent, holding her waist with one hand and holding her son to his chest with the other. When he pushed the flap aside he could see the insides of the tent for the first time. It was richly decorated with old dalish artefacts and paintings. Obviously Merrill had the say over the decoration of the tent rather than Fenris. Anders spotted a weapon stand with a blade of mercy on it in one of the corners and a mannequin like stand with Fenris' old armour assembled on it.
He helped Merrill to the bed that consisted of straw covered with furs on the ground and gently handed her, her baby. She placed him beside her on the bed and held him close looking back up at Anders tiredly.
"Thank you, Lethallin", she muttered and pulled the cover over herself.
Anders nodded and left the tent heading off in the direction Fenris had just a few minutes ago. As he walked between the thick trees, all sorts of things rushed through the mages' head. What would he say to Fenris once he found him, would the elf even want to talk about anything and what was going to happen with them in the future? As he walked it almost seemed like the woods passed him in a slow motion blur when he finally spotted Fenris in a stream up to his navel in water and with his head under a little water fall. The elf just stood there, his back towards Anders and the water flowing over his naked torso. Anders knew what he was trying to do, he had done it many times after what he had done in Kirkwall. He was trying to wash all thoughts and all guilt from himself but it never really worked. It only helped for a short while until ones thoughts caught up with oneself again.
Anders took another step closer and Fenris' ears twitched before he turned his head slowly towards him. The elf's eyes were blank and emotionless at first as they stared at Anders, but then slowly turned into a mixture of confusion and anger. Anders froze in his tracks and just stared back with his tired honey brown eyes.
"May I talk with you?"
Fenris turned his face back to the rocky wall in front of him and put his lower arms up against the wall.
"Do whatever you wish."
Anders walked up to the side of the stream and sat down next to it watching Fenris ignoring him and looking blankly at the rock wall in front of him, his white hair sticking to the sides of his face.
"I'm sorry I came to ruin your first day as a father", Anders started but immediately stopped when he saw Fenris snarl.
"Why?", Fenris asked," Why did you leave me like that? Was I that insufferable, uninteresting, bad a lover? Why? Why couldn't you just tell me we were through?"
Anders averted his gaze when the elf turned to look at him his face showing almost as much rage as it had when Danarius had come for him.
"I lived 5 years in belief I was the one that killed you. That you hadn't loved me enough, to reconsider your mission. That you didn't trust me enough to tell me what you had planned. In those 5 years only one person ever cared for me! And she's in that tent with my son right now! I thought I might be able to start anew with a family of my own and finally be able to move on in life. And NOW", he started yelling and Anders flinched," NOW YOU DECIDE TO SHOW UP?"
The elf got out of the water and grabbed Anders by the scruff pushing him up against the rock wall, his marking flaring and winding Anders. The elf was as strong as Anders remembered him and his furious eyes pierced him as Anders looked back sadly.
"AND WHY?", Fenris continued to yell and shook Anders," WHY DO I STILL FEEL FOR YOU?"
Anders gently reached up and tried to cup the elfs' face. Fenris moved his head away at first but quickly gave in, letting Anders caress his face. His skin was still as soft as Anders remembered it an as he strocked his thumb across the elf's cheek, Fenris let him go. Fenris turned on his heels and walked over to where he had left his clothing, he picked up a pair of brown trousers and hastily put them back on. Anders watched him intently. Fenris had grown even fitter, no doubt due to the constant fighting and fleeing but with better nourishment than when he had fled from Danarius. When Fenris had put on a white long sleeved shirt with wide sleeves Anders walked over to a tree stump and slouched on it.
"I know it's insufficient and way to late", Anders began as Fenris straightened himself in front of him," But I am sorry."
Fenris chewed on his lower lip his face still greatly enraged.
"I figured if I let you free you'd be in way less trouble than if we stayed together after what I did to the Chantry. You'd have a clean vest and could move on with life and I'd be the only one suffering. But that greatly backfired I now see."
He looked up at Fenris who still stared back down at him angrily.
"And it never… not once… occurred to you that I might have not cared and only wanted to be with you?"
Anders lowered his gaze again, looking at Fenris' lyrium scarred feet.
"It doesn't matter anymore. It's to late. Now you have a family to care for. All I ask for is your forgiveness."
When all stayed still, Anders looked back up again. Fenris was giving him that calculating look again. After what seemed an eternity he seemed to have made up his mind and held out a hand.
"I can never truly forgive you for what you have done", he stated and Anders felt his heart crumble inside his chest," but, if you wish to redeem yourself I suggest you stay with our camp and help us get by. And once my son is old enough you teach him how to control his magic."
Anders shot him an amazed look.
"You already know he'll be a mage?"
"Calculating how the magic runs in my blood and Merrills", Fenris said bitterly," I'd say it's pretty clear he'll be one sooner or later. And I personally do not wish for him to come after his mother in terms of that."
Anders licked his lips thinking about the offer as he looked at Fenris' offered hand. After he had ridden Thedas of the last Circle what would he do then? He could hardly idle around the countryside, plus he was getting old and would need help sooner or later as much as he hated the thought. Also he'd have a purpose. Thinning his lips he took Fenris' hand and the elf pulled him to his feet.
"Before I settle in with your merry clan though", Anders said and earned a mistrusting look," I need to do one more thing."
"And that would be?"
They started heading back towards the camp.
"There is one more circle of magi left in Thedas that I must free. It is situated in Val Royeaux."
"A week's journey from here", Fenris muttered.
"When I have finished my mission I shall gladly return and help your clan. You have my word."
Fenris grunted and nodded grinding his teeth back and forth as he brooded.
"I have the means to get you there within a day or two instead of a week, but you'd have to get back on your own behalf", he offered as they passed the first tents of the camp again.
"How in the name of the Maker, do you want to cover that much land within 1 to 2 days?", Anders questioned sceptically.
"You will see tomorrow", Fenris replied simply," I'm sorry to inform you that we don't have any spare tents we could put up for you at the current time so all I can offer you is a straw and fur bed beside the grand fire."
"I'm not picky, Fenris", Anders chuckled as they got back to the tent," I've slept in far worse conditions."
Fenris nodded with a grunt and disappeared into his tent, returning shortly after with a bag and a few furs over his shoulders. The two men then made Anders a make shift bed from the items and Anders patted the result testing how soft it was, nodding satisfied.
Fenris then inclined his head and quietly disappeared into the tent to leave Anders to rest.
As the mage lay there and stared up into the star littered sky, he didn't know if he felt sad or happy about what had happened throughout the entire evening.
"You need to rest, Anders", Justice advised as Anders rolled to his side facing away from the fire.
"I know", Anders answered simply.
He soon felt the physical fatigue catch up with him and his eyes slowly shut as he fell into distorted dreams
Ok that's how far I've gotten with this fanfiction.
I do not know how fast the next update will be out... that's if anybody's interested in reading any more