Anders could only stare at the doorway he had seen Leigh go through what seemed like ages before. The longer she was gone the more his blood ran cold. Justice squirmed impatiently wanting nothing more than to be set loose on the Qunari. When the Arishok walked through the door and not Leigh, Anders fell to his knees. He could see the blood still dripping from the greatsword, knowing full well it was her blood. He did not look at the others for fear they would confirm his worst fear. Leigh was gone. He could hear Justice scream in his head. It was a scream of pain that echoed his own.
"Your champion is dead. Bring the thief we are leaving." The other Qunari nodded and went to grab Isabela. She drew her daggers taking a defensive position.
"You horned son of a bitch, I will gut you for what you have done." Her words came out like venom. The pain and hatred on her face was plain to see.
"You were the one who brought this upon her thief. It was your doing." Hot fat tears streamed from the pirate's eyes. She knew he was right. She did this to Leigh and there was no way to make it right. The daggers clanged on the floor, Isabela had no desire to fight. Her grief was too much, the Qunari who took her into custody had to half drag her. Before the Arishok was able to reach the door it blew in. Shattered pieces of wood and stone rained in on the stunned crowd. Bethany stood in the doorway with her staff leveled at the Arishok.
"I am going to kill you for what you did to my sister." Her voice was raw with rage. "She did not deserve this. She has never done anything, but help people and you kill her."
"You are not worthy to fight saarebas step aside now."
"You will fight me or die where you stand. I am not afraid of you." The Arishok drew his weapons and charged Bethany. She did not have time to react when the smoke bomb went off right in front of her and hands moved her out of the doorway. The crowd watched the Arishok disappear into the smoke only to fly right back out of it. Blood arced from his nose as he fell onto his back. He quickly scrambled to his feet weapons ready.
"I wasn't done with you yet." Anders head snapped up as did the others. Out of the smoke a very battered, but very much alive Leigh stalked out. "When you duel to the death you better make sure the person is truly dead before you claim victory." For the first time they all could see a look of fear in the Qunari. The Arishok himself looked to be in shock.
"Im...Impossible, I killed you."
"Yet here I am walking and talking." She gave the large man a feral grin and waved her hand to egg him on. "Come on coward fight me." The fear was now gone in the Arishok replaced by rage. He charged again, but this time Leigh was ready she flipped over his head and grabbed both of his horns. Her momentum slammed him back to the ground with a bone jarring crash. She somersaulted to her feet drawing both her blades. The Arishok got to his feet slowly, shaking his head to try to clear it.
"You are full of surprises human, but it is time to end this."
"I couldn't agree more." Leigh stood her ground this time when he swung at her. Again she had to use both daggers to stave off the blow from his ax, but this time she was able to maneuver herself in such a way that his attack with his sword was useless. Leigh lashed out kicking him in the knee. The sicking pop it made echoed through the throne room, as did his scream of pain. Knocking the ax out of his one hand, she brought her left dagger down across his chest. Hot blood splashed on her leather armor, but she paid it no mind as he tried to swing his greatsword at her. Leigh parried it, sending it flying into the near by wall. The wound she had given him was sapping his strength. The Arishok picked up his ax, but could not get to his feet. Leigh attacked again blocking his swing and burying her dagger deep into his chest. Blood started flowing out of his mouth, just as it had done hers when he had tried to kill her. With a flick of her wrist she twisted the dagger in deeper causing him to fall back onto the floor. "You should have just taken the bloody book and left. I did not want this."
"We will return one day..." His eyes rolled back into his head before he took his last breath. Leigh turned her attention to the Qunari that held Isabela. She took a threatening stance and they released the pirate.
"Take your Tome and leave now." The Qunari nodded and sank into the shadows. The nobles who had been standing there silently erupted into applause and yells of appreciation. Leigh sank to the floor breathing a sigh of relief. Bethany was the first to reach her. She crushed her older sister with a hug.
"Your alright, I thought you were dead."
"I would have been if you hadn't come in when you did. Your healing skills are better than you thought."
"Wait where is Cullen? I asked him to stay with you while I...there was no way for me to win against him was there?" Bethany looked back at the body of the Arishok and shivered.
"Cullen is out there. I think one of their fighters knocked him out because I found him out cold when I woke." Bethany got to her feet and ran out to find the Templar. She returned a few moments later with Cullen. His arm was draped over her shoulder as she helped him to a seat. Anders in the meantime wrapped his arms around Leigh crushing her against him.
"Are you hurt anywhere other than your head?" Bethany began healing the gash on the back of his head.
"No, I didn't see who hit me. I just remember a bright flash of red then a shadow before losing conciseness." He looked up and saw Leigh standing behind her sister and his bottom jaw almost fell to the floor. "Leigh! But you were...I thought you...thank the Maker your alive."
"I have Bethany to thank for that." From behind them Leigh heard armor clacking. She turned and saw Meredith and Orsino come in followed by a hand full of Templars. Meredith looked around and was struck speechless for a few seconds. Her eyes fell on Leigh who had a triumphant look on her face.
"Is...is it over?"
"It is over. The rest of the Qunari are leaving for good. Kirkwall is safe for now, but the Viscount is dead." The nobles began to murmur. Leigh could hear some of them calling for her to take up the office of the Viscount.
"It looks like Kirkwall has a new champion." The Knight Commander turned on her heels and started to walk out of the throne room. She stopped and looked at Bethany healing Cullen. "Knight Captain when you are on your feet again please escort the First Enchanter and his student back to the Gallows. I have to make sure the rest of the city is secure."
"Yes, Knight Commander." When Meredith and the nobles were all out of the throne room Leigh collapsed on the floor. Her adrenaline had worn off.
"Love, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Anders hands touched her face and she felt his healing magic running through her. He frowned and turned his attention to her side. The wound was half way healed, but still needed much healing.
"I am just exhausted. I lost a lot of blood before Bethany healed me."
"I need to get you home. A few days of rest and food will help." Leigh cupped his chin before planting a soft kiss on his lips,
"I'm sorry I worried you."
"Just don't do it again, even Justice was upset." She gave him a weak smile and leaned into his chest. Bethany and Cullen came over to where they were. Bethany's mind was reeling. She still could not figure out how Leigh was still alive. She knew it wasn't from her magic, not completely anyway.
"What was in that amulet?" Leigh turned her head up slowly and met her sister's eyes.
"It was a spell from Papa. A very powerful restoration spell." Anders looked down at his lover with a raised eyebrow.
"I've heard of enchanted amulets, but never anything like that. How did he manage that?"
"Your asking the wrong person. I know nothing of magic remember."
"Where is the amulet now?" Leigh dug the disk out of her side pocket and handed it to him. The magic it once held was waning. "Justice can you tell what spell it might have been?" "It is as she said, a restoration spell. She is very lucky." "I am the lucky one. If she had died...I don't even want to think about it." "She is here and well take solace in that." "I am believe me."
"Well what is the verdict?" Anders just shook his head and let out a light chuckle.
"I wish I could have learned from your father. He was quite a healer."
"Yes he was." Leigh felt Bethany's hand on her shoulder. The sisters shared a look before one of them spoke.
"If you ever do that to me again Leigh I swear I will heal you just to kill you myself."
"I have no plans on throwing myself on any blades anytime soon." Anders and Fenris helped Leigh to her feet and supported her weight between the two of them. Varric joined them after he finished calming Isabela down. Aveline had left them to talk to her guard and find Donnic. Bethany hugged her sister tightly then went with Cullen and Orsino.
"Let's get you home, love. You need to rest." With eyes half closed Leigh nodded. The last of her energy was spent. She felt someone sweep her up and carry her, but anything after that she was oblivious to as sleep took hold of her. "Thank you Pash and I am sorry you are now trapped here." "You are welcome. I do not see myself as trapped. I see it as a learning experience. I can learn much from you and you can learn from me. We both need rest. Sleep and give you body a chance to completely heal." Anders heard her mumble something while he carried her back home. He chalked it up to her being over tired. Once he got her out of her armor and into bed he went back to the others waiting in the sitting room of the estate.
"How is she?" Isabela's voice was shaky and full of remorse. She did not even look up so she would not have to look Anders in the eyes.
"She will be fine. She just needs rest. I am going to stay up with her for a bit, but I am also exhausted. Could I count on all of you to take turns watching over her when I sleep?"
"Sure thing Blondie. I will go get Merrill and Sebastian to help also. Broody and Rivani will stay with you til I get back."
"Thank you Varric. Isabela could you try to track down Bohdan, Sandal and Orana?"
"On it." Without another word the pirate disappeared out the door. Anders turned to Fenris who had been very quiet since they entered the Viscount's Keep.
"I need to go to the clinic and get some supplies. Would you sit with her til I return?"
"Of course." Anders left through the cellar while Fenris went to their room. He quietly pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed. His hand wrapped around hers making her stir a little. Fenris kept his voice a barest whisper so as not to wake her. He prayed, thanking the Maker and who ever else would listen for her still being alive. He did not notice Anders standing in the door way watching. The mage decided to let Fenris have his time and went back to the study. He sat down at his desk and let his head rest on his arms. The tears he had held back for most of the night came unbidden. He was not sure how long he had been sitting there before he felt a nudge at this side. He looked over and saw Tovis staring at him. The hound cocked his head to the side and let out a faint whimper. In the dogs eyes Anders saw pain and worry.
"I feel the same way boy, but she is still here with us." Before he realized what he was doing Anders hand went out and started scratching Tovis behind the ear. The hound leaned into his fingers and gave a content whine. "I guess this means you are starting to like me." The answer came in the form of Tovis jumping up and licking his face. Anders held his hands up and gently pushed the dog away. "Alright, alright I like you too. Just don't get any ideas of being let back into the bed. Sandal would miss you." As if right on cue Anders heard the main door open and Sandal's call for the dog. Tovis padded off to play with his friend leaving Anders alone again. He took the opportunity to get some rest. The day had taken it's toll on him both physically and emotionally. He let sleep take him hoping to forget the nightmare of almost losing the woman he loves.
OoO
Leigh slept for the better part of three days. She got up to eat and to see her friends who came to see how she was doing, but most of the time she had no energy. Anders spent most of those three days hovering by her side, making sure her wound was healing properly. The inside damage was all but healed, but she had a nasty scar that still looked angry. On the afternoon of the third day she heard raised voices down in the main room. Stiffly she got out of bed and went to her door to listen.
"You do not deserve her." She heard the familiar lilt of Sebastian, but he sounded angry.
"And I suppose you do?" Leigh quietly opened her door and crept to the banister. She saw Anders standing with his arms folded over his chest glaring at the prince.
"At least she would not have to worry about meeting the hangman's noose. You will get her killed."
"I wonder something Sebastian, are you more upset she chose me over you or is it because I at least stand up for my convictions while you hide behind the Grand Cleric's skirt?" With a loud growl Sebastian grabbed Anders and slammed him against the wall. A flash of brown barreled in the prince latching on to his arm. Tovis did not take kindly to anyone hurting his mistress's companion. He clamped down hard on Sebastian's arm making the prince cry out in pain. "Guess he doesn't like you either." Anders sneered.
"Tovis release, now!" Leigh stood half way up the stairs and had a look of anger on her face. Tovis let go of Sebastian and slunk away back towards Anders. "What in the name of the Maker is going on?" Slowly she made her way down the stairs all the time her body ached.
"Nothing we were having a discussion and it got a little heated. You should not be out of bed Leigh."
"Bullshit, let's try this again. Why did you slam Anders into the wall?" Her eyes burned into Sebastian waiting for his response.
"I...I over stepped my bounds. I apologize ser mage. I let my temper get the better of me."
"Apology excepted. I did not help matters any." Leigh noticed the blood dripping from the prince's forearm. She gently took his hand and looked it over.
"Let me go get something to wash this out with so Anders can heal it. Can I leave you two for a moment with having to worry about coming back and finding you two at each others throats again?"
"I can go get it love you should not be moving around too much."
"I am tired of laying around. It is just in the kitchen I will be fine now stay put and behave or so help me I will beat you both to death." Both men nodded not wanting to anger her further. She went to the kitchen for her tincture of witch hazel to clean the wound. She put a pot on the fire to warm up some water to help with the washing off the bite. As she waited her anger still boiled. "I swear they act like roosters strutting and pecking. I will never, ever understand men." She rummaged in one of the cabinets for some clean linens to use, once she found them Leigh turned her attention back to the pot over the fire. Her ire still did not subside as fast as she would have liked it to. The more she thought of it the more she wanted to go back out and give the prince a piece of her mind. She closed her eyes and tried to calm her rage, but it would not cool. A dull roar made her eyes snap open. The sight in front of her made her scream as a rage demon slide it's way to her.
"I can feel your anger mortal. It is delicious." The demon blocked Leigh's only exit out of the kitchen.
"Get away from me demon!" It snarled at her and kept moving forward. A freeze spell hit the demon from behind as Anders and Sebastian burst through the door. The demon made one final swipe at her leaving a long set of burn marks on her arm. Sebastian held his shot for fear he would hit Leigh.
"Hawke, you have to get out of there I can't take a shot."
"I can't he has me blocked in." Her arm stung and her other wound did not allow her to evade the demon. It loomed over her not wanting to give up it's prey. "Anders help!" The fear in her voice brought Justice to the forefront. The blue glow clashed with the red aura of the demon.
"You will not have her demon. I will send you back to the Void." The demon turned it's attention to Justice and gave Leigh enough room to run. Sebastian took his shot just as she was able to reach his side. Between the two men they made short work of the demon. Justice turned back to them and started to walk forward. The prince leveled his bow at him. He had never been privy to seeing Justice, he always thought it had been a joke about Anders because of his dedication to mage freedom. Now he could see it was very real. Everything he had learned being a brother in the Chantry told him this was no different than a demon possession and he would not let this thing near Leigh.
"You will come no closer abomination."
"Sebastian, he is not an abomination. Please don't do this." Leigh struggled to get to to her feet. She hissed at the pain in her side.
"He is no different than that creature who attacked you. I will not wait around to see him turn on you."
"He will not turn on me now lower your bow." Justice held his hand out readying a spell. Leigh slide between the two and held out her hands to both. "I will not let the two of you kill each other." Tears began to well up in her eyes. "I have lost enough dammit, do not do this to me." Sebastian looked pained as he lowered his bow. Justice followed suit and put his hand down.
"I...I will leave. You know where to find me Hawke if you need me."
"What about your arm? You can't leave it like that."
"I will have one of the lay healers take a look at it." He bowed and slipped out of the kitchen leaving her alone with Justice. She fell to her knees trembling and crying. The blue glow got closer as Justice knelt next to her. His arm gingerly wrapped around her pulling her closer.
"I am sorry." His voice was soft, it took her by surprise. "We never meant for it to be like this."
"I know. They don't understand and I am not sure they ever will. I'm not afraid of you Justice. They don't see what I see. I see a good man in front of me and a benevolent spirit. The Chantry did this to him , made him hate with such conviction that it effected you too. I hold no love for what is done to mages. I stopped believing in the Chantry when the Templars hurt my father." Leigh shifted herself and hissed. The blue glow faded and the amber eyes she loved so much returned.
"Let's get you out of here so I can heal those wounds." She nodded and let him help her to her feet. She tried to walk, but ended up stumbling into him. As gently as he could he swept her up in his arms and took her back to their room. His hands glowed as he called forth his healing magic. Tending to the burns first then her older wound. "Your side is almost healed. Just a few more days of rest and I think you should be able to start kicking ass again."
"Watch out Kirkwall here I come." She laughed a little then her face turned serious. "If you two had not come into the room when you did..."
"I would like to know how in the Void that thing got into the house? Did Merrill do something and it just decided to linger til it found easy prey or is there something much darker working against you?"
"I know Merrill would never do anything to call a demon into our home. Maybe it was conjured by a blood mage I have gotten on the bad side of." She shivered at the thought.
"Most likely. You should rest I will check in on you in a bit." Her hand shot out and grasped his.
"You know you can stay and keep me company now that it is just us."
"Til the next one of your friends comes in and tells me I am not worthy of you."
"Please tell me you don't believe that." The look on his face told her he did. She let out a ragged sigh and pulled him down to sit next to her on the bed. "Why do you think you are not worthy of me?"
"Because of what I am. I can never give you a normal life. You should be able to live without looking over your shoulder all the time. With me you could get hurt or worse if I was ever caught. I love you too much to let that happen."
"I have looked over my shoulder all my life Anders. I know no other way of life. I have just as many enemies as you do and not all of them are Templars. You want to know the reason I love you as much as I do? It is because I see the good that you do. You heal the poor and forgotten, you risk your life to save other mages from the Templars. You do all this good and yet you will not allow yourself to have something of your own. Aside from my father you are the most amazing man I have ever had the privilege to know. If that does not make you worthy than I do not know what will."
"Maker you must think I am a fool."
"No, I just think you are trying to be chivalrous, but I am not looking for a knight in shining armor. Had one of those before and it ended very badly remember. I want you. You may not be perfect, but you are prefect for me." Her fingers curled up under his chin turning him to face her. "I wish you could see yourself as I see you."
"And what do you see?"
"I see someone worth loving." She leaned forward without breaking eye contact. "I will never think you are not worth it, ever."
"Even if I do something to break your heart?"
"Even then. I will stand by your side til my dying day."
"That day almost happened. Promise me you will not go off and do that again."
"I swear I will never duel an Arishok again by myself." He gave her an annoyed look making her hold up her hands in surrender. "Alright, please don't look at me like that." The sides of his mouth turned upwards and she began to laugh.
"I love you, even though you drive me insane sometimes." He stood up and went to the door.
"Where are you going?"
"Nowhere, just shutting and locking the door." She watched as he shrugged out of his coat and kicked off his boots. "Now my love you need to lay back down and get some sleep."
"I'll be able to now that your staying in here with me. I find I can't sleep when your not in the bed with me."
"Funny thing is I can't either." He held out his hand and helped her up so she could get changed into her night clothes while he turned down the covers. Once they were both settled under the covers Leigh let herself drift off to sleep. She felt Pash stir in the back of her mind. She had been quiet for the past few days.
"I am almost afraid to ask this question, but it was me that brought that demon here wasn't it?" "Yes, I am afraid so. Your anger at Sebastian summoned it." "How do I stop it from happening again?" "You need to find a teacher to instruct you how to control your magic. Your connection to the Fade is strong and you must learn to guard yourself now. My powers can no longer bind your own since we are now of one body. You must tell him what you are Leigh. He can help you through this." "What am I suppose to say, oh by the way I am a mage who had her powers bound by a spirit that now shares my body? He will have kittens." "I don't think that is a possibility. He is human and a man. I know enough about mortals to know that much." "It was a sarcastic remark Pash. I need to learn to control this first before I tell him. He is worried about me being in danger enough without this." "Then who will teach you if not him?" "I could ask Merrill to help me." "I do not think it is wise to have the blood mage teach you. She can barely control her own powers let alone teach you to control yours." "I trust her Pash. She can help me." "The choice is yours, but I still say you should tell him and let him help you." "When I am healed I will go to Merrill if she can't help me then I will tell him."
"Love your talking in your sleep." Leigh opened her eyes and found him staring at her with a look of concern.
"What was I saying?"
"It was mostly mumbles I could not make it out, but you never did it before."
"I keep seeing the fight with the Arishok in my dreams. It..."
"I think I understand. He is dead Leigh and you are here safe with me."
"I know, but all the death he caused. I can still see the Viscount's face."
"Shh, I'm here." She hated lying to him, but she was not ready to tell him everything yet. Truth was it wasn't completely a lie. She did see the faces of the dead when she closed her eyes, she could even still feel the blade as it went through her body. She gave a involuntary shiver and a few seconds later she felt him use a warming spell. Leigh tilted her head up just as his lips brushed against her forehead. With a content sigh she laid her head back down on his chest letting his heartbeat lull her back to sleep.