Anders paced the floor of his clinic, his anger rising by the moment. Since spring had broke over Kirkwall he had noticed more and more mages in the Gallows walking around with tranquil brands on their heads. Most of them were good mages who had passed their Harrowing. Chantry law made it illegal to make a mage tranquil if they made it through the Harrowing. He had heard from his associates in the mage underground who had been doling out this atrocity. Ser Alrik, the same Templar who had made his good friend Karl tranquil. The rage boiled in his blood, making him thankful he had not patients in the clinic. The warm salty breeze blew in from the bay overpowering the smell of rot and despair he had grown accustom to. He took a few deep breaths to calm his fury. He had to have a clear head to put a stop to this or he would get himself killed.
"Sovereign for your thoughts?" He had not noticed Leigh standing in the doorway watching him pace. Her voice eased some of his rage. With her around he could think clearer, it was harder to lose himself to Justice. An idea hit him for a second, then was dismissed just as quickly. He wanted to ask her help, but he feared for her safety if it went badly.
"I guess I am just going a little stir crazy with nothing to do. Please come in, I can make us some tea if you have time to stay." She pushed off the door jam and walked up to him like a stalking cat. Her new leather armor was light weight and showed off her curves. She had chosen dark charcoal gray making it easier for her to hide in the shadows. The shoulders were cut out as were a thin line that showed her belly button. The long leather vest coat dragged on the floor and swayed with her hips. Anders cursed in his head as naughty thoughts came to mind. She was driving him mad more and more each day.
"Tea sounds lovely, thank you." She looked around and noticed again no patients were present. It was just the two of them. "It has been a while since I have seen this place this quiet. No wonder you are going crazy."
"You would think I would welcome the peace of it, but it is too quiet. It makes me think that something disastrous might happen." She sat down on his cot not realizing it. When he turned back around he froze for a moment. More thoughts that were not proper came to his mind. They were alone after all, why shouldn't he just give into her. He shook his head to clear away the lustful images and handed her a cup. "How are things up in Hightown?"
"Snooty as ever. My neighbor told me off for having all manner of people coming in and out of my house. She swears I am running either a brothel or a mercenary band. My poor mother had to try to calm her fears. It did not help that Isabela was there at the time and cursed out the old bat out. I had to bite my lip to stop from laughing. I never wanted to be a noble, but my mother is happy that is what matters. She has lost so much since my father died. She deserves to be comfortable and I am glad to be out of Gamlen's house. He is family so I do care about him, but he is not my favorite person." She wrinkled her nose and gave a mock shutter. "So if you are so bored fancy coming with me and doing a few jobs?"
"I...I have something I wanted to ask you first, though it might be dangerous." He shifted his weight and stared at the floor. He heard the clink of her cup as she put it down, then the groan of his cot as she stood up to come over next to him. With her being shorter than him she could look up into his eyes even with his head hung low.
"All you have to do is ask, whatever it is I will help you. Even if it is to put Meredith's head on a pike." A nervous laugh broke from his lips remembering what he said to her the first time he met her.
"Have you been up to the Gallows lately?" She nodded placing a hand on his forearm. "Have you noticed all the Tranquil that are now walking around of late?"
"Yes I have. Bethany has stated some things about it in her letters. She questions why there are so many and even stated who she thinks might be doing it. It is rather alarming."
"Did she say who?"
"A Templar named Ser Alrik. Nasty piece of work that has been in the Gallows for years at least that is what Thrask has told me."
"Yes he is. I have had a few run ins with him these last three years. He is making Tranquil out of mages who have passed their Harrowing. By Chantry law they should be safe, but they are not."
"What do you mean run ins? Has he come down here and threatened you?" A warm feeling ran through him at the sound of her concern and outrage.
"The last time he came after me was when he set the trap for me with Karl. Though the coward did not show himself that day. When I first came to Kirkwall he tried to hunt me, but could never find me. I heard he even went as far as requesting my phylactery from Ferelden. I guess they did not give it to him or he would have caught me years ago." The look of horror on Leigh's face made him stop and stare at her.
"Please don't tell me this. I worry enough that the Templars might take you away when I'm not around. You make me want to lock you away somewhere to keep you safe."
"No one is locking me away again, not even you sweetheart." Anders poked her with his elbow gently and gave her a warmhearted smirk. "Though I bet you would treat your prisoners better than any Templar ever would."
"I guess you will never know since you won't let me keep you prisoner." Leigh batted her eyes at him as a wicked smile adorned her face. "She is baiting you." "I know she is. Thank you for stating the obvious Justice." "I will never understand mortals." "Come on you can't tell me that spirits don't know about love." "Only the spirits of compassion know what love is." Do I detect a bit of bitterness in that statement?" "That is none of you business, as you so enjoy telling me." "Ah, a sore spot I see." "As your companion Aveline likes to tell you, Shut it Anders." "Hello...Anders?"
"Sorry, blanked there for a moment."
"Justice giving you hell again?"
"No, yes. He was just voicing his opinion, rather loudly I might add."
"It is not a problem, I have gotten use to it these last three years. So back to the matter at hand. Is there anyway to prove he is doing this without permission of the Chantry?"
"I have a way of sneaking into the Gallows, but you have to swear never to tell anyone about it. It is a way for the Mage Underground to get mages out and free." Leigh crossed her heart comically, but her eyes told him she took this all very seriously, as he knew she would. She had done so much for mages since coming to Kirkwall, most of the time without any sort of reward.
"We will go tonight. Should I ask Varric if he wants to come or do you just think we can handle it." The thought of doing this alone with her was very appealing to him. Out of all their friends, Leigh was the sneakiest. She even gave Isabela a run for her coin, but there was safety in numbers.
"I think just you and I should be able to handle it. It will be a quick sneak in and out hopefully. I will meet you up by Tomwise after sunset."
"I will be there."
The day seemed to drag on for Anders as he waited for nightfall. He filled the hours with menial tasks around his clinic. Once sun began to set he made his way to the elf's stall. His mind was thinking ahead to what they would have to do he did not notice where he was going til he slammed into Leigh. The top of her head cracked him hard on the chin making him see stars.
"Anders? Maker are you alright?"
"I will be once I stop seeing spots in front of my eyes. Has anyone ever told you that you have a hard head?"
"More than once. I am so sorry I wasn't paying attention. Do you want to sit down for a moment?" He chuckled and shook his head.
"No, just remind me to never get you mad enough to headbutt me. You know if we ever need a battering ram we could use you." She glared at him, but a small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. He winced waiting for her to smack him, instead she rose up on her toes and kissed his sore jaw lightly. A small shiver of pleasure ran through him. He hoped she did not notice, but knew better. Leigh noticed everything.
"If we use anyone as a battering ram it would most likely be Fenris or Aveline. They have the most armor and enjoy plowing through things. Are you sure your alright?"
"I am fine. We should go and get this done as fast as we can. If we get caught I want you to run. I don't want you to get hurt."
"If we get caught then we fight our way out, together. I will not leave you behind to their mercy." Anders gave her a annoyed sigh, but did not argue. They made their way to the secret entrance located in a very dark, desolate corner of Darktown. The tunnels were well lit much to their surprise. "I thought this was a secret tunnel why are there torches lit?"
"These tunnels are also used by lyrium smugglers who supply the Templars. We need to be careful." Leigh was able to sneak them around most of the smugglers. Further in they heard the screams of a woman pleading for her life. A cold feeling came over Leigh, it was the same feeling she always got when Templars were around. Anders ran off ahead of her before she could stop him. He stopped at a passage door and carefully looked around the corner. There stood a small group of Templars surrounding a young girl. She was on her knees sobbing and pleading to go home. The girl looked younger than Bethany it was all Leigh could do to stop herself from running in the room.
Justice began to push at Anders to act. It took all of his will to hold back. He knew if he attacked he might hurt the girl or worse he would hurt Leigh. He wished they had brought others with them now at least then if it turned to a fight they had help. The more he listened to Ser Alrik's threats to young mage the harder Justice fought him. He wanted to run even though he knew it was a cowardly move. This is what he was fighting, corrupt Templars who used their position to oppress mages. So hard was his struggle that he did not notice Leigh creep into the cavern. Both of her Dalish daggers drawn and ready. It wasn't til her voice boomed in the room that he lost all his control.
"If you dare touch that girl I will slit your throat Alrik. Now back away."
"You will die for trying to help this blood mage escape." Alrik pulled his sword readying his attack.
"What, no I am not a blood mage. Please messere help me. I just want to see my parents again." Alrik turned and backhanded her. A roar from behind her left Leigh's blood cold. The cavern was bathed in a bright blue light making even the Templars back up in fear."
"You will never touch another mage again!" Anders ran passed her straight for Alrik. She knew he would never stand a chance against them all, even with Justice's power to help.
"You can't kill them all Hawke. Some of them are innocent. They are following the orders of their superiors." "I will do my best, but if they force me to I will not hesitate to save him or that girl. They are my priority." "Understood, I will help if I can." A sense of calm came over Leigh as she fought to hold off the other Templars. Using her knock-out flasks and pressure point blows she made short work of the half dozen Templars that surrounded them. Her battle was over before Anders' was. She could only watch the man she has come to care for trade blows with Alrik. She could see he was wounded, but he made no attempt to heal himself, he just kept fighting. "If he keeps fighting like this he will lose. Those wounds are sapping his strength." "Then I guess it is up to me to stop it. I will not lose him, I can't." "I know Hawke I know."
"Give up mage you can not keep this fight up for much longer." Justice growled and charged at Alrik hoping to knock the heavily armored man off balance. His staff missed it mark and he saw a flash of steel heading for his neck. The twang of metal hitting metal rang out loudly in his ears as a jagged dagger stop the sword from hitting it's target. Alrik flew back from a snap kick to his face. Leigh had placed herself between Alrik and him, she was panting and sweaty, but otherwise unharmed.
"Try that again, I dare you."
"Out of the way bitch and I will finish this. Your little daggers are no match for my armor." Leigh gave Alrik a wicked smile before running at him. Alrik readied his shield and sword to defend off her attack, but he was not prepared for what she did next. With a flash of smoke she vanished right before his eyes. His eyes went wild looking around for her. "Show yourself!" Justice moved forward to start the fight again, but another flash of smoke made him hold his action. Alirk's eyes went wide and he tried to scream. All that came out was a bloody gurgle as Leigh's dagger twisted in his lung. Her other dagger moved quickly across his throat finishing him off.
"You will never hurt another mage again Alrik. Maker have mercy on your soul." She let his body fall to the cavern floor. "Justice let Anders heal himself now. Justice?" A small gasp of fear came from were she had left the girl.
"Get away from me, demon!"
"I am no demon!" The anger in his voice. "Have you never seen a spirit of the Fade. I feel the Templars hold on you, you are their slave."
"Anders stop the Templars have been taken care of."
"She is theirs and should not be aloud to live."
"She is a mage and she is also the reason you are fighting. Do not turn on her now Justice or you are no better than a demon." Justice turn around and snarled at her. At least with his attention on her the young mage was safe for the moment.
"I told him you would be trouble, that you would not understand our cause. If you side with them than you will share their fate." Justice raised his arm to call forth a spell as Leigh readied herself for the attack. If she fought him she knew she might have to hurt him or worse. It was not a thought she liked, then again neither was dying.
"Anders please don't do this. Please come back to me." She turned to the young mage who still was horror stricken by the sight in front of her and screamed. "Run as fast as you can now!" The girl did not think twice , she bolted like a scared rabbit and disappeared through the passageway. "It is just you and me now Justice. I don't want to fight you, but I will." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Please I can't hurt him. I will never forgive myself if I do." Justice let loose a bolt of lightning at her, the air sizzled around Leigh, but did not hit it's mark. A red bubble surrounded her, protecting her from the blast. Her amulet pulsed like a beating heart making Justice pause with confusion. A thin beam of light burst from the red jewel hitting the mage in the heart. The blue light in his eyes faded as he fell to his knees. The shield that had been protecting Leigh dissipated as did the glow from her amulet. "Anders?" "He will be fine Hawke, I only stopped Justice by making him sleep for now. You need to get him out of here soon. More Templars might come looking for their fellows." "I don't understand. Why his he so violent?" "Justice when mixed with fury turns to vengeance. Vengeance does not know mercy it is too blinded by hate. Anders hatred for what has been done to him has twisted Justice in to Vengeance." "But why am I or you not the same way?" "I am not bonded to you like they are. We are two separate entities. We can discuss this later. You must hurry now and get him away from here." "Thank you Pash, if you hadn't stopped him I..." "Do not think about that now, he is safe and will not have the blood of you or that girl on his hands."
Leigh made a sweep of Alrik's corpse. She kept one eye on the very still body of her friend and another on the other passageway. She found a letter the explained everything. Anders had been right, at least partially. Alrik was behind the Tranquil Solution, but it was his brain child and his alone. The part of her that felt a little sorry she killed him quickly died. This man was a monster there was no getting around it. A low groan from Anders made her return to his side. He sat up slowly with her help and looked around the cavern. The bodies of the Templars were strewn every were, but to his surprise he saw very little blood. A look of shock and dismay came to his face as he remembered what he had done. He tried to stand up only to fall back to his knees. All his strength was sapped from his muscles. He felt like he had been hit by a Templar's mana drain.
"Don't try to stand yet. You are injured. Here drink this it will help." Leigh handed him a elfroot potion to drink. His hands shook so badly that she had to help him. His wounds started to close and the strength returned to his body.
"Maker, Leigh...I almost...what have I done?"
"You tried to protect the mage. All but one of these Templars are alive. I killed Alrik not you so please don't beat yourself up." He looked at her like she was mad. Had she not noticed Justice tried to attack her or the girl? How could she be so forgiving?
"I almost killed that girl...and you! I need to get out of here. You have to stay away from me before I get you killed." He jumped to his feet and ran from her before she could stop him. His heart raced as he ran. Leigh's voice followed him, but he had to get away from her. Anders knew he could not trust himself around her anymore. He loved her too much to lose her.
All Leigh could do was watch him run away from her. Her heart broke to see him like this. "Maker, this is a mess. When they wake up they will remember what happened and hunt me down. Shit! Shit! Shit!" "Where is your faith Hawke? Do you not remember one of my many talents is to make people forget?" "I remember, but how will they forget when Alrik is lying there dead?" "I will give them a different memory. Mortal minds are fragile things and subject to gentle urging. I will make them think they were attacked by lyrium smugglers and you came in to save them, but you were too late to save their leader." "Pash you are amazing, you know that right?" "I promised to protect you and I will stand by that vow. You are important Leigh, never forget that." "I am not sure I am that important Pash. I just can't stand to see good people kept oppressed and treated worse than livestock." "He is lucky to have you even if he can not bring himself to see it." Leigh let out a sigh and watched the red tendrils of magic touch the unconscious Templars. She knew she had to leave soon before they came to. Then she had to find the young mage if she could and help her escape Kirkwall before the Templars found her. Lastly she had to find Anders and try to talk to him. The red glow faded and she went to leave, a shadow passed in front of one of the torches catching her attention. The string of curses that left her mouth would have made Isabela blush. The shadow stopped dead and held up it's hands.
"You always did know how to curse, Leigh."
"Cullen?" Leigh stood her ground as he headed for her. She was in no mood to fight anyone else tonight, least of all him. "What brings you down here so late at night?" Her voice dripped sarcasm, but lacked her normal snarky flare.
"I found I have a group of missing Templars and one missing mage so I came looking for them. And here I find them dead and you standing over them covered in blood. Now what am I suppose to think about this Leigh?"
"They are alive Cullen, well all but their leader. I was exploring these tunnels seeing if there was anything valuable that I could sell and I stumbled upon them. I was able to chase off the lyrium smugglers that did this, but I was too late to save him. The blood is from fighting, it is not theirs. See for yourself." Cullen went over to one of the Templars and found him still breathing with only a few bruises here and there. "As for your mage I did not see them."
"I apologize then and offer my thanks for you aide to my men."
"Your welcome. I will take my leave then if you have it from here." He closed the distance between them much faster than she thought he could move in his heavy armor.
"Please wait, we have to talk." Leigh waited for him to continue making no effort to try to leave. She had had enough of running from him and the way he made her feel. "I know you hate me, but I never meant to hurt you. Not in Lothering or here in Kirkwall. I never wanted it to be this way." The way he looked at at her brought back memories of warm summer nights sitting on the roof of the Chantry. They use to just lay in each others arms watching the sun go to sleep and the stars come out to play. The hate she had for him melted away. She had a sneaking suspicion Pash had something to do with easing her rage. She would have to thank her later.
"I...I don't hate you Cullen. I said those words out of anger. I was young and still reeling from my father's death when I told you I wished you just die. I regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. I loved you and I was hurt by what transpired. With what happened three years ago, well I am glad it was you and not some one like Ser Alrik that found Bethany. At least with you I know you would never hurt her. As for what happened a few weeks ago, I trust him."
"You love him, don't you?" She heard the hurt in his voice, again a old feeling squirmed in her gut. Even after everything Cullen still had a place in her heart and always would. He was her lover, but before that he was her friend and confidant, just like Anders was now. It was not lost to her the similarities of these two men whom she had come to care deeply for. Both were forced into a life they did not want, both were passionate about what they believed and both cared for her well being.
"I care for him, yes, as I cared for you. He is not the monster you claim him to be. I have lived around magic all my life Cullen. It is dangerous in the wrong hands, but in the right hands like my father's it is a blessing."
"He is a very lucky man to have you on his side. You have nothing to fear from me. I can not bare to take anything else from you. I know you will never feel for me what you did before, but I don't want to be your enemy. Is there anyway we can at least be friends?" She did something he was not expecting and took both of his hands in hers.
"I would like that. Hatred takes too much energy and poisons the soul. I don't want to live like that." The smile that broke out on her face was the first real one he had seen from her in over seven years. He had missed that smile the most out of everything he left behind in Lothering all those years ago. "I have to get back to my home before my mother sends the guard to come find me. I know the Knight Commander has forbidden that I be able to see Bethany, but if I give you letters from me to her could you deliver them for me. I miss her."
"I can do that for you. I might even be able to let you see her, but I will have to work out how. I know you did not get to say goodbye and I regret that more than you will even know."
"Thank you, I really mean it Cullen. I am glad to call you friend again. I have missed you." Leigh hugged him tightly before leaving the cavern. He watched her go back into the tunnels and vanish into the shadows. He shook his head then returned to his downed men. "If I did not know better I would swear she could work magic with the way she can just vanish without a trace. Maker, please watch over her with Anders. She has no idea what he is capable of, but I will not hurt her again. Never again."