The dreams were always the same. Fighting, death, and then fire. Leigh woke up in a cold sweat as she always did after those dreams. Of late she had been waking up alone, but this time she felt arms wrap around her. She leaned herself back into warmth those arms gave her. In moments like these she could pretend nothing was wrong. That she wasn't losing him to his cause or to Justice. She wanted to freeze time right here and never let it start again. In these most private of moments he was still her Anders. Not the abomination that everyone feared he was or the apostate hunted by Templar and Wardens alike. He was gentle and kind, everything she needed and wanted. She knew full well this will not last. She was losing him to everything and could not stop it.
"Another bad dream?" She nodded and drew a thin breath.
"It is always the same. It always ends in fire."
"They are just dreams love. I will never let anything happen to you." She smiled and twisted a little in his arms so she could see his face. His hair had come undone in the night's activities. She loved how it framed his face coming just to his chin. Her finger twisted in that hair and pulled him down to meet her lips.
"I know you won't. I just wish they would stop. I am afraid to sleep sometimes, because I know most mornings you won't be here to comfort me."
"Leigh...I want to be here, but..." Her fingers touched his lips to silence him.
"I know you can't tell me what you are doing or where you go. I understand, but it does not help ease my fear." She sat up and untangled herself from his grip. She got out of bed and went to the window to see the moon still hanging high in the night sky. She heard him get out of bed and felt the heat of him behind her, but she did not turn around. "I was thinking of leaving this place to my cousin and heading back to Ferelden. I want you to come with me."
"You would leave the others, your sister?"
"I'm not sure how much fight I have left in me Anders. Sebastian wants me to become the Viscountess and bring peace back to Kirkwall. I'm not sure I can."
"When did this happen?"
"Yesterday after the meeting with the agent of the Divine. He said it would be a perfect solution. Meredith would be gone and the mages would settle down. I am not so sure about either happening. Meredith might step down, but she will go right back to the Gallows and continue what she is doing now, just with less power. The mages would see this as nothing more than more empty promises. This is so frustrating!"
"What do you want to do?"
"What I want is to live a simple life with the man I love and forget about all this. But I know I can't and it kills me." She could not help the fat, hot tears from falling. Anders stood there helpless. He had caused these tears and he knew he would cause more before this was through. She turned around and buried her head in the crook of his neck. Her tears soaked his skin, but he didn't care.
"Shhh, love please don't cry. I'm sorry." His words sounded hollow even to him. He was sorry he was hurting her, but the cause he was fighting for was for both of them. If he could somehow bring freedom to all mages it would be worth it. Her sobs died out and she clung to him like he was going to vanish in a wisp of smoke if she eased her grip.
"You warned me, and I didn't listen. You told me over and over again you would break my heart and I thought I could stop it from happening. How foolish am I?" He opened his mouth, but words failed him. A loud pounding at the front door made them both stiffen. Leigh wrapped her house robe around her and headed for the door. Bodahn beat her to the door and looked up at his mistress warily. "Who's there?"
"Warden Commander Nathaniel Howe sent me serah. His wife is in labor and needs a healer." Leigh narrowed her eyes at the door and drew one of her hidden dagger that she had in strategic places all over the estate just in case. She opened the door and found the person she was talking to was none other than Sigrun. "Please we need Anders help." Leigh did not even get a chance to turn around to yell for him, he was right behind her with his bag and staff ready.
"You go I will be along soon. Sigrun were are they staying?"
"The Demon Slayer at the docks. It is the royal ship."
'Lead the way Sigrun." Leigh did not wait to see them leave, she ran up the stairs taking them two at a time to get herself up faster. She put on one of her old linen shirts and a pair of old leather pants. Her dagger belt she threw over her arm and her father's staff was now slung on her back as she slide down the banister.
"Bodahn we'll be back. Hold down the fort." The dwarf nodded and watched her leave. She caught up to Anders and Sigrun right before they reached the docks.
"By the Stone human did you fly here?"
"Yes, you could say that. I know a few shortcuts on how to get around the city quickly. Just in case we need a fast escape." The closer they got to the royal ship the louder the screams got. Leigh shivered a bit at the sound. Anders moved faster than she had even seen him move before, as he cleared the ramp in two strides. Leigh saw King Alistair trying to hold back Nathaniel every time his wife screamed. Sigrun told Anders where to head, but she did not follow, she went and stood by Nathaniel. Leigh followed Anders and stopped dead when she got to the room. Shyira was panting and moaning, her small body was being held up by both Velanna and Queen Ashlyn.
"How long has she been like this?'
"About an hour. The labor was going along normally then..." Anders ran his hands over the very swollen belly of the elf and his eyes turned dark with worry. "What is it?"
"The baby did not turn the right way. It is trying to come out backwards and her small body can not take that. I need to try to turn him around before we lose them both." Another scream of pain made Leigh feel ill. She backed up and stayed out of the way. "Lay her down on some blankets. The rocking of the ship is not helping, but there is no way we can move her. Velanna get something for her to bite down on. Ash please hold her down. Leigh I need your help." She hurried and knelt by his side and tried not to let him see the fear in her eyes. "Your hands are smaller than mine, I need you to...reach in and turn the baby around."
"I...yes, okay." "Pash help!" "I am right here. I know you can do this." "I wish I did." "The poor girl is afraid enough she does not need to see a red glowing woman in front of her." Just listen to what he says and you will do fine."
"Everyone ready? Alright, Shy everything will be alright I promise you. I need you to relax as much as you can to help us." The elf nodded and gripped the queen's arms. Leigh heard the queen talking softly to Shyira and it surprised her a little.
"It's alright. I'm right here, just like you were there for me when I had Duncan." Shyira let out another scream as Leigh's hands slipped into her. Anders used his magic to ease the pain.
"Leigh slowly move him around so his head is facing you." Leigh nodded not wanting to try to speak. She never in her lifetime thought she would have her hands inside another person's body. She had seen her father do it, and Anders as well, but she was no healer. She could feel her body shaking and she tried to keep her hands steady as she slowly moved the wriggling baby around. She caught Anders smiling at her for a split second. His brow was furrowed with concentration. Once he was satisfied that the baby was in the right place he poured more of his magic into Shyira. "Alright Leigh." She pulled her hands away and grabbed a towel. "Shy I need you to push."
'I can't..."
"Yes you can. Your a strong woman, you have to be to put up with Nathaniel. Now push." The elf gritted her teeth and bared down. Leigh moved out of the way and let Velanna take her place to help Anders. After a few more minutes of pushing the sounds of a bleating baby filled the air. Velanna wrapped the wiggling little babe in a towel and cooed at him. "You did good Shy. He is a beautiful little baby." Shyira smiled weakly at Anders and laid her head back.
"I'm going to go tell the proud papa the good news." Leigh started to head for the upper decks of the ship til a feeling a dread hit her. "Something is wrong Leigh, her life force is fading." The sound of worried yells echoed behind her and she spun around heading back to the room.
"Anders do something!"
"I'm trying, she is bleeding out faster than I can heal her. Velanna help me!" Both mages poured healing magic into the small paling body of the elf. "Come on Shy, you can't do this to Nate. He didn't fight his way back from the blighted Deep Roads to lose you now."
"It is not working, we're losing her." Anders began to glow bright blue. Justice lent his power, but left Anders in control to heal.
"Maker please..." Velanna felt someone tug her out of the way and she nearly screamed at the sight before her. The red glow clashed with Anders blue one bathing the room in a eerie purple glow. Leigh or rather Pash knelt down and held out her hands over Shyira. Ashlyn and Velanna could only watch. "Can you save her?" Pash only smiled, her hand glowed a bright white as she held them over his hands. The room filled with a blinding flash and disappeared just as quickly.
"Your time in this place is not over yet child of the Dales. Wake and greet your son." Shyira's eyes fluttered open and she slowly sat up off the floor.
'What...what happened?" The cooing of her baby was the only answer to come to her. Both Velanna and Ashlyn still stared at Leigh, trying to figure out just what had happened and what she was. Shyira even gave her a wary look and scooted back towards her friends. "What are you?"
"I am a spirit from the Beyond."
"Not that I am ungrateful, but why did you help me? I always thought spirits did not care about mortals." Pash gave a soft laugh and shook her head.
"Most do not and those that do are called demons, who only want to possess what they can't have. I am Compassion, the essence of love and mercy."
"But you possess Serah Hawke do you not, doesn't that make you a demon?"
"It would if I was in control of her. She asked me to help, but this body and her life are her own. I make no decisions for her, nor do I ever want to." Anders could feel sadness in Justice as Pash spoke, and guilt. She was far stronger than he ever could be. She did not lose herself to Leigh's emotions like Justice does to his. "Leigh is very special to me, as are those she loves. I wish no harm to anyone."
"You said my time was not up, how would you know that?"
"It is what you mortals call...a figure of speech, but I was right since you still live." Ashlyn met Anders' eyes silently asking for an explanation. It did not go unnoticed by Pash. "I think I will let Leigh explain she is less unnerving than I." The red glow faded leaving Leigh clutching her head.
'Maker I hate that." Anders could only give a weak laugh. "It's not funny, my head feels like it is about to split open."
"I know, welcome to my life." Velanna leaned over and whispered in to the queen's ear.
"I don't know whether to think this is romantic or to be scared shitless?" The queen shrugged her shoulders. She was not sure how to feel either. She was very grateful that Shyira was alive as was her son, but the sight of two spirit possessed mages was a little unnerving even for her. Wynne's spirit had never manifested itself in front of her.
"I need some air." Leigh stood up and teetered a bit, but righted herself quickly. "I will tell Nathaniel to get himself down here." Anders stayed and made sure Shyira was completely healed.
"Well Anders it certainly seems you have finally found someone that is just like you."
"No, she is better than I will ever be Velanna."
"Why would you say that?" The elf folded her arms against her chest and gave Anders a look he remembered hating when they were Wardens together.
"She has much better control over herself then I do. She did not grow up in the Circle, so she was not spoiled by them. She grew up free." Shyira gave Anders a sad smile. She had spoken to him at length years ago about some of the things he had endured. She wanted to understand why he hated it so much and got a pretty good picture of why.
"Your free now Anders, you must let your anger go."
"I'm not free Shy, I know it appears so, but I am just as caged."
"By Hawke?"
"Maker, no! She is the only salvation I have had these past six years. I love her."
"Then let it go what happened before. Take this fresh start and run with it."
"I...I want to but..."
'But what? Stop punishing yourself and be happy dammit."
"And the new mother has spoken." Ashlyn put her hand on Shyira's arm to calm her down and to also hand her the baby. Nathaniel stood in the door way and smiled.
"Hawke told me I needed to get my arse down here and meet my child. So is the baby a Thomas or a Talia?"
"Thomas." The normally stoic Warden broke out in a goofy fatherly grin.
"Careful Nate your face might crack if you smile anymore."
"Shut it Anders." His voice lacked any kind malice. He clapped the mage on his back making Anders yelp. "I can never thank you enough my friend."
"You don't have to thank me Nate. I was happy to help. You are a very lucky man my friend."
"I know. Hawke is waiting for you on the deck. She looked a little green."
"First time helping with a birth."
"Tell her I said thank you as well."
"I will." Anders excused himself from the room so the happy parents could bond with their baby. Ashlyn and Velanna followed right behind him. Ashlyn broke off to find Alistair and Velanna went to speak to Sigrun. "Leigh?"
"Over here."
"You alright?"
"Other than the splitting headache I'm fine. I'm sorry if Pash scared them."
"I don't think she scared them, just surprised them. She saved Shyira's life. I have never seen healing like that before."
"She called it Mercy's Touch. She used it on you in the Deep Roads after the ogres used you as a kickball."
"I will have to thank her when I see her next. You did really well in there."
"I was scared out of my wits."
"So was I the first time I had to help deliver a child, at least you had some experience watching your father. I had to stumble through with only a kid to help me."
"They look so happy." Anders winced when he saw the expression on her face. She was envious of Nathaniel and Shyira, but her face also showed sadness. He reached for her, but she shrugged out of his reach. "I am going to go home."
"I'll have Sigrun walk me home later then. I want to stay and make sure Shyira is alright."
"I will see you at home then." She didn't look at him as she left. Her shoulders looked slumped and her walk heavy. Anders' self loathing hit a all time high watching her walk away.
"You know Anders for being one of the smartest men I have ever met, you have to be the dumbest shit to let her walk away like that." He jumped and found Ashlyn standing against the railing of the ship.
"Commander I...I didn't see you standing there."
"I have told you before Anders you can call me Ashlyn or Ash, we are friends you know." He nodded numbly. His expression reminded her so much of Alistair's when she first met him. The kicked puppy look broke her heart. "Why did you let her go like that?"
"She...I...don't know."
"She loves you, you do see that right?"
"Yes and I love her, I don't see what you are..." Before he could register what she was doing Ashlyn's hand whacked the back of his skull. "Ow, what did you do that for?"
"That was for being a dumb shit."
"Maker, I never thought someone so small could hit that hard."
"Would you like me to call Sigrun up here and let her have a go."
"No, no that is quite alright. She hits harder than you do." He rubbed his head and hissed. "I am going to have a bloody lump back there thank you very much."
"Keep it up and I will make your other head match."
"What the hell did I do?" The burning look in his Commander's eyes told him she knew what he was planning to do. "Shit, he told you didn't he.
"Yes, he did. What are you thinking Anders? You will throw away everything good in your life for what?"
"I don't expect you to understand Ash, you have lived free your entire life. Mages don't have that luxury."
"Anders, I get why you want to do it, but that is not you. The man I know hated violence, especially against innocents. What happened to him?"
"He lost hope somewhere along the way that there would ever be a peaceful solution to this. The day I fused with Justice is the same day the man you knew died."
"He did not die, I still see him in flickers and shadow, but he is still there. It is not to late to stop what you are planning."
"You told me to fight for what I believed in. To try to change how mages are treated and now you are telling me not to fight?"
"Anders you are a smart man, you can fight this fight without violence."
"How,when they treat us like rabid animals? I've seen people treat their pigs better right before they slaughter them for dinner!" Their loud conversation brought most of the Wardens up from the lower decks. Even Alistair had come up to see what was going on.
"So your answer is to prove them right?" Anders growled in frustration, but it was just his, Justice stayed quiet. The spirit's respect for Ashlyn was too great for him to lash out at her. "Come with me for a moment."
"Is that an order Commander?" She glared at him, but shook it off. A wicked smile graced her lips as she grabbed his ear and dragged him with her below decks. It is not take her long to get him to what looked to be a study aboard the ship. She released his ear and went to a chest filled with scrolls. After rummaging through it for a few moments she found the bunch she was looking for.
"I want you to read this."
"What is it?"
"I found it in an old temple where Andraste's ashes were kept. At first the sister thought it was a recounting of Maferath's last days. Once she broke the cipher she found it was something totally different. She tried to get a copy to the Divine, but she was told to drop the subject. A contract was put out on her life and luck had it that is was someone I knew that took the contract and talked to me before he fulfilled it. She is safe for now, but the Chantry wants her silenced because of what is in these scrolls."
"How will this help me?"
"Read them and see. Our ship will be here for a few more days then we are heading back home. Come back and talk to me before we go." Anders stared at the scrolls in his hands and wondered what could be on them that would cost a sister of the chantry her life. He did not realize Ashlyn was standing right in front of him til her arms wrapped him in a friendly embrace. "Even after what you did and what you might be planning to do, I am still your friend Anders. We have been through the Void and back together. I have no regrets on conscripting you and saving you from that stupid bitch of a Templar, just for your own sake and that of Hawke's please read this and reconsider. You know I will always be here when you need me."
"I know, Ash. I can never repay you for what you have done for me, for us. I will read this and come back I promise."
"Go home and for Maker's sake take care of that woman who loves you so much." He gave a quick nod and left the ship. Ashlyn stood on the deck and watched him disappear into the night.
"Everything alright my love?"
"I'm praying it will be Alistair. I gave him a copy of the scrolls we found in Haven. I'm not sure if I did the right thing though." Alistair sighed and wrapped his wife in a tight hug. She turned in his arms and laid her head on his chest.
"He is a very lucky man to call you friend. You are always looking out for everyone, making sure they are safe and protecting them if they aren't. You need to have faith he will do the right thing."
"And if he doesn't?"
"Then he better remember who to turn to get his arse out of the fire." Her dark blue eyes twinkled in the moonlight as she stared up at her husband.
"You know me all too well."
"I know you never leave anyone you care about behind. You will fight to the bitter end to see that everyone is safe. It is one of the reasons I love you so much."
"I love you too."
"Come to bed, it has been a very long day and night." Ashlyn stood on her toes and kissed her husband's cheek.
"Yes it has." And she had a strange feeling this wasn't the end of it, but tonight she pushed her dread aside, tonight she would be happy for her friends.
OoO
"Leigh?" Anders wandered around their home trying to find her, but she was nowhere to be found. He flopped himself into a chair and rubbed the bridge of his nose. It had been weeks since Ashlyn and the others left. He had read the scrolls and it only helped fuel his anger. The Chantry had lied, not surprising to him, but what they did made his blood boil. They condemned a innocent woman to die just because they feared her powers. He remembered Pash had told him a little bit of it, but he had not completely believed her, now there was no doubt in his mind. Ashlyn had given him a few copies of the scrolls to do with what he willed, and he had seriously thought about taking it to the Grand Cleric. He knew it would do nothing, so he left it alone. Why would she believe a mage?
"Blondie you home?" Varric's voice broke into Anders' trail of thought.
"I'm in the study Varric." The dwarf stood in the doorway shaking his head. "What?"
"You look like shit Blondie. When was the last time you slept or bathed?"
"I...don't remember."
"Not good." Anders stretched and yawned. "Hawke wanted me to come check on you while she is helping Aveline with a little problem."
"So she thinks I can't take care of myself now, wonderful." Varric's normally friendly demeanor turned serious.
"She, like the rest of us are concerned for you or has Justice sucked all the life right out of you. Your moody, surly, and you are treating Hawke like shit. She has been spending most of her time either at the Hanged Man or the Chantry just to keep herself busy. As much as I like talking to her, I would much rather not have to see her with the far off look that she has been getting since you threw yourself back into the whole mage thing."
"I am doing this to protect her! You think I don't know I am breaking her heart? It is killing me to see her hurt, especially when I am the one causing it."
"You know she would hit you right now if she was here. Hawke has never been one who needs protecting. She is quite capable of taking care of herself."
"She has no idea what is at stake Varric, what they will do to her if they find out what she is. They won't take her to the Gallows or make her Tranquil, they will kill her. She is too dangerous to them."
"You don't give her enough credit Blondie, this is not the first time she has fought against Templars or impossible odds. She is a survivor."
"You know better than anyone there are things you can't survive." Varric held Anders' gaze, even when a bit of Justice started to surface.
"If you think spirit guy scares me think again Blondie." This time Justice could not be held back. He burst forth and menaced toward Varric. To his credit the dwarf held his ground, though inside he wanted to run screaming. "What are you gonna do Justice squash me like a bug, fry me with lightning, or bore me to death with your rants about injustice." A loud growl sounded from Anders followed by a bolt of red light hitting the mage in the chest. Varric spun around to find Hawke standing behind him glowing a hellish red.
"Are you alright Varric?" The voice coming from her was not the one dwarf knew. He nodded to scared to reply any other way. His eyes fell on the now limp form of Anders splayed out on the study floor. "I am sorry to say Justice does not understand sarcasm. He takes things too literally."
"I hate to ask this, but you aren't Hawke are you?" The woman gave a short little laugh and shook her head.
"She told you of the spirit that helped her bind her powers when she was younger, yes?"
"Yeah, so you are she?"
"Yes Varric I am she."
"Is this a new mage thing, instead of demons the new rage is spirits?"
"It is not what either of us wanted. It was the only way to save her life after she was run through by the Arishok. I am not like Justice, I prefer to just watch and only step in when I have to." Her red eyes turned to Anders and sighed. "When Justice or Vengeance I should say comes forth I can stop him for a time and make him sleep."
"A handy person, or spirit to have around nowadays, Mister Grumpy is around a lot recently."
"I know, Anders has been driving himself to exhaustion and can not hold Justice back like before. I apologize on his behalf. Justice was not always thus. He is a very honorable, just not use to human emotions."
"And you are?"
"I have had much more experience with mortals than he has."
"Well, I guess Hawke was right saying that she and Blondie had a lot on common." The red glow faded and Leigh's gray eyes looked sad.
"Varric I am so sorry. You could have been hurt."
"Well you saved my ass, so don't worry about it. Do you need help getting him up to bed?"
"No, I will wait til he wakes up and help him there myself." Varric turned to leave, but Leigh stopped him. "How are you not phased by all this?"
"Hawke being your friend these past six years has never been boring and it has given me plenty of material for my stories. The main reason this does not make me run away screaming is your my friend Hawke, and as much as I act like I don't care, I do." Leigh smiled and hugged her dwarven friend.
"I don't care what anyone says Varric, you are the best friend anyone could ever have."
"And so are you Hawke, I was trying to remind Blondie of that, but Mister Grumpy decided he did not like my tone. Just don't give up on him yet, Choir Boy is not nearly as fun."
"Varric, there is nothing other than friendship between Sebastian and I."
"Tell that to him. I better get going Hawke before Isabela cleans out all the sad sops at the Hanged Man. I will see you tomorrow."
"Night Varric, and thanks again." Varric tipped his hand and bowed before letting himself out. Leigh turned and gave Anders a sorrowful look. She went upstairs and got a pillow and a blanket for him. After propping his head up with the pillow and covering him with the blanket she went to his desk and looked over his manifesto again. "Oh Anders, what is going on with you?" His writing was getting more and more erratic. Some of the paragraphs made no sense and others were more like threats than points of discussion. Beneath the manifesto she found the now well worn scroll that Ashlyn had given him. Leigh settled herself down and began to read the accounting of the last days of Andraste and the tale of her daughter. As she read it she felt Pash become restless in her head. A large wave of sorrow hit her like a charging ogre making her stop reading because of the blinding tears that came out of nowhere. She wasn't sure if Anders had heard her crying or if Pash's spell had finally worn off, but soon she felt his arms around her pulling her close.
"Love what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"I...it's not me, it's Pash, some...something about this scroll upset her." She handed him the parchment trying desperately to stop her sobs. "What is it?"
"It was found by the Wardens during the Blight. It was a ancient scroll written in cipher to hide it from the Tevinter Imperium. It accounts the last days of Andraste and the life of her daughter."
"She had a child?"
"Yes, and the Chantry covered it up."
"Why wouldn't they want her bloodline to live on?"
"Not if the child was a mage. A very strong one at that. From what I gathered from this scroll the woman was said to be the daughter of the Maker and her power was unmatched. She was feared by the higher ups in the fledgling Chantry. They hunted her and her Templar husband down, burning them like they burned her mother."
"Holy Maker!" Leigh's mind raced. Her dreams came flooding back to her.
"Leigh?"
"The dreams I have been having, this is what I had been dreaming."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, tell me in this scroll did it say she confronted her mother's betrayer and spared him?"
"You mean Maferath, yes...yes she did. How did yo...you haven't even gotten to that page yet?"
"I don't know, but I have been dreaming about this for three years now."
"Since you joined with Pash am I right?"
"Yes, but what would that...oh you don't think..."
"Only she could answer that."
"Right now she is being very quiet." Leigh took the scrolls back to finish reading them later. "Is Justice calmed down now?"
"For now, I have to go find Varric and apologize. I wasn't even mad at him, neither was Justice really."
"Then why did you look like you were going to incinerate him?"
"It was something he said. It made me angry."
"I know Varric can say things that make you want to rip your hair out, but I can't imagine what he could have said to you that would have pissed you off enough to let Justice hurt him." Anders turned away form her, but found her hand gripping his chin quite tightly.
"Oh no you don't, what did he say that set you off?"
"He said you were spending a lot of time at the Chantry."
"Yes I have, because of my play for the Viscount's seat. I have been trying to get the support of the Grand Cleric and some of the other nobles. Best place to get them is at the Chantry during confession. They already have guilty consciences why not use it to my advantage. Why would me going there make you upset?"
"I...it's nothing." Her grip almost got to the point of being painful on his chin. He knew the look she was giving him well, it meant just spit it out before I get really angry. "Alright, you win just stop looking at me like that. I'm afraid I am losing you. Not just to me throwing myself into the cause of the mages, but to Sebastian as well. He has so much more to offer you then I could ever do."
"Sebastian is a friend and will never be anything more than that Anders. Yes he is helping me try to sway the nobles, but that is all. Even if he was trying to take me away from you, he would never be able to. Your the only man I want in my life, even when you try to fry one of our friends." Anders gave her a weary smile, but his eyes twinkled with light.
"I know I say this too much, but I'm sorry and I love you."
"You can never say I love you too much. And you don't have to apologize to me, but I would to Varric."
"I do have to apologize to you, I know your suffering in silence while I, as you say throw myself into the cause."
"I know you are helping our fellow mages, who need you right now. I know what you are doing is important. I just hope when this is all over you and I can leave this damn place and make a quiet life back in Ferelden."
"I'd like that, but what if you do become the Viscountess?"
"I will hold the seat til the city is stable enough for me to appoint someone to take my place. I am not doing this for the long run, I don't have the stomach for politics."
"That could take years."
"Not with the help I am getting from Varric and Sebastian. Tops maybe a year possibly two if I meet firm opposition."
"There will be because of your views on mages. Most people are afraid of us."
"Right now more of them are afraid of Meredith and you would be surprised how many of the nobles have mages in their families. They tire of the abuses that their kin are forced to endure at the hands of the Templars."
"Then why haven't they tried to change things?"
"I don't know, but between the two of us maybe we can."
"You as the public face and me behind the scenes."
"Why not, you hate to have too much attention on you."
"That I do."
"So together we can do this."
"I am starting to think as long as I have you I can do anything." His lips searched out hers making her drop the scrolls in her hands. He went to reach for them to give them back, but she stopped him.
"Why don't we just leave that where it is for now, I have a better idea." He could see the lust in her eyes. It had been a long time since they had shared each others company in that way. His cause and her responsibilities being Kirkwall's champion have kept them apart.
"And that idea would be?"
"Meet me upstairs in a few minutes and you will find out." She gave him a seductive look and left the study. He cleaned up his mess in record time and raced up the stairs to be with her. Even after these past three years every time with her was like the first. His heart tightened with pain thinking about the future. Anders knew he did not have one, but he would make sure Leigh would. She would hate him for it, but this is how it has to be. There was no turning back.