The sun was rising and a red light entered the windows and shined down on Angelle's body as she lay on her side with her back to Anders. She was still asleep and only half of her body was covered by the bed sheet. Anders had been awake for almost an hour and had spent it just looking at her and the sunrise. Taking in how the red light made her skin glow, how it was reflecting in her dark brown hair. Her beauty became intensified as it seemed like her glowing body could warm up the entire room. He had tried not to touch her so that he wouldn't wake her. But when she turned herself to her back, allowing him to see all of her upper body, he couldn't help himself. As Anders caressed her soft skin, he felt a happiness embracing him that he hadn't felt since he merged with Justice. Angelle opened her green eyes that were intensified by the red glow around her face. Anders lost his breath as another wave of happiness fell over him and he began to smile.
"Good morning, love."
"Mmmm..." She smiled back at him. As she began stretching her body, Anders felt the blood rushing down beyond his waist. He was about to indulge himself in his desires, when he got interrupted by one overly exited mabari jumping on to the bed.
"See... this is why I prefer cats. I really don't like this open, slobbery, affection thing." He grumbled and the dog whined in responds.
"He is just happy... or hungry. Down boy."
Angelle got out of bed put on a robe and went into the next room to feed Conna. Anders was lying alone in the bed a little irritated by this development. Angelle returned quickly however, she went to the desk near the window to lay down her robe, when she suddenly started to stare out the window with a sad expression in her face. Anders got out of bed and stood behind her as he embraced her, putting his chin on top of her head.
"What is the matter, love?"
"It's not fair... Here I am free with you while they are trapped down there. In that prison."
"No it isn't, but this is why I fight... to change that." His expression turned grim.
"Things just keep getting worse. I had templars practically on my doorstep the other night."
"Are they hunting you?"
"Not me specifically... they were just checking the refugee camps again, but it is possibly I might need somewhere else to go... in the near future." He turned her around, looked into her eyes and smiled.
"Would here be an option?"
"Are you asking to move in?"
"Well... yes..."
"Way to kill the romance." She said teasingly.
"I thought you might appreciate not having step over the drunkards in Darktown every time you wanted to see me. What do you say?"
Angelle gave him a big smile, jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist and kissed him intensely as he stumbled back onto the bed. He had just begun to ravish her body with his hands, when she suddenly pushed herself of him.
"Oh... I just remembered something."
She got up and ran out of the room, leaving a slightly frustrated Anders on the bed once more. "I just can't catch a break."
"What are you doing?"
"Just wait. I'll be right there."
He sat up leaning himself on the headboard trying to be patient. Not a strength him or Justice possessed.
"Are you coming?"
"Be patient! I swear you're worse than the dog."
She came back smiling, with a small cloth bag in her hand. She crawled up onto the bed and sat down next to him.
"I should have given this to you long ago, but I was unsure if it would be safe because of Justice. Then later I kept it because it was something of yours and I couldn't bear to part with it. I hope you can forgive me."
She gave him the small bag. As Anders opened and pulled out the small glass vial, he starred at her.
"Is this... Is this what I think it is? How did you get it?"
"Before I sought you out I contacted Kinloch Hold and had them send me your phylactery. I was going to use it as payment in return for your help."
He instantly pulled her close and started to kiss her over and over. Then he pulled away and looked at her with a serious gaze.
"You don't know what this means to me. How many times I searched for it. But don't they know you have this? If they found out you no longer have it or worse found out you gave it to me, what will happen to you?"
"The Circle in Fereldan knows I have it, but I'll be fine."
"No. If they find out you'll be imprisoned or hanged. I can't let you do this."
"Your freedom is more important to me than anything. This way you can hide from the templars more easily. This is the most important thing in your life, please take it."
He cupped her cheeks.
"You are the most important thing in my life. I would drown us in blood to keep you safe..."
He kissed her and whispered:
"It would kill me to lose you."
"It will be fine, Anders. You're not going to lose me. Please... let us get rid of it."
He pulled her in for another kiss as a tear fell down his cheek.
"If you keep this up, my love, even Justice will fall in love with you." He chuckled. He picked up the phylactery, looked at it and then threw it with full force into the fireplace where it shattered.
"I wish I could tell Elissa about this."
Angelle frowned.
"Who is Elissa?"
"Are you jealous, my love?"
"Try to see if you are brave enough to make me jealous. I dare you." She grumbled sarcastically. Anders chuckled.
"You're adorable when you're jealous."
"Anders!"
"Alright, alright. She was Warden-commander, when I was in Amaranthine. She offered to let me escape during an attack on the warden keep by telling the Templars that I was dead. But when I was just outside the keep I turned around to help. The templars eventually came for me. They had branded me a maleficar and wanted me executed. Elissa conscripted me into the order and saved my life."
"Oh, I will have to thank her then. Why would she want to know about your phylactery?"
"Because her, Justice and I once broke into to a storage facility once, in order to find it. It wasn't there and instead we ran into a couple of grumpy templars. You should have seen their faces when she refused to turn me over to them."
"W-where you in love with her?"
"Ellissa is, and was at the time, married to the king of Ferelden. I did have I crush on her, but back then I was a very different person than I am now. And she has another great disadvantage."
"That so?" Angelle didn't look at him.
"She isn't you."
Angelle smiled as she noticed him using her own words against her. Anders pulled her close, cupped her cheek and kissed her.
"I love you... You know one of the advantages of being a warden, is incredible stamina." He whispered with a smile full of desire.
"Really? And what could I possibly use that information for?" She smiled.
"Well, I'll just have to show you won't I?"
He pushed her gently down on the bed and began to kiss her as she laughed with delight.