Hello again dear readers!
I took a break from my essay writing and wrote this instead! I have a five page paper due on the book Broken Spears (it's a great book by the way) due tomorrow and I haven't even started writing it. I'm a terrible person, and you might think I'm terrible after reading this chapter, but I hope not!
Anyway, I hope you're all enjoying Kali's journey as much as I am! I admit sometimes I'm not always sure where she'll end up at the end of each chapter. I kind of let her guide and I just follow. Plus, you know Hawke and Cullen are just... well they're boys. Always getting in the way!
Thanks again to DalishEssence for the review and I'd love to hear from my other readers as well. Let me know how I'm doing. Hopefully I'm not too awful. Thanks for reading!
RussianBear27
Chapter 12
Garrett had gathered the necessary fifty sovereigns in order to invest in Bartrand's expedition. All that remained was securing a route into the Deep Roads. Luckily, Varric got wind of lead to a Grey Warden in the city. If anyone knew of a way into the Deep Roads, it would be a Grey Warden. Kali joined Garrett and Varric in Darktown. They headed for the clinic that the Warden had apparently set up to aid those in need.
Usually, Kali avoided Darktown, it made the Alienage and Lowtown seem classy and extravagant. Here the truly desperate scraped out an existence and would do anything for a little coin. Why this man had decided to open a healing clinic here was beyond Kali's understanding. Regardless, the healer had something they needed and they would brave the dirty streets of Darktown to get it.
"This is it," Garrett said as they approached a crumbling building, "I think." The building looked as if it used to be a small warehouse or storefront. Whatever it was, it looked abandoned except for a single blue lantern that hung over a massive door.
"Come on, " Varric urged Garrett onward.
As soon as they entered building Kali could feel a fade-touched presence. Normally, this would concern her as it would likely be a demon, but this was different. It felt troubled, but wasn't as painful as a demonic presence. Intrigued she followed the others as they approached the mage that was healing a small child. He concluded his work and the child reached out to his waiting parents.
Grabbing his staff, the Warden turned his attention toward the four approaching strangers. "This is a place of healing, and peace," he said steadily. "I sincerely hope you harbor no ill intent." He held his staff tightly, preparing for trouble.
Looking him over, Kali realized she knew him. He was from Ferelden, she had seen him the tower years ago. Everyone thought he had died or something. After his last attempted escape they had locked him in solitary and no one ever saw him again.
"Anders?" Kali asked.
"How do you know me?" He was genuinely surprised.
"Everyone knew you, Anders," Kali explained, "you're the only mage I know to escape Kinloch six times."
"Seven," he corrected, "the Templars didn't catch me the last time. Instead it was the Wardens." He let down he defense for a moment, then remembered he was surrounded by strangers. "Still, what are you all doing here?"
Garrett jumped in, "we need an entrance into the Deep Roads. Any help you can give us will save lives."
"The damned Deep Roads," Anders lamented. "What makes you think I'd give…" he stopped and thought for a moment. "How about this, a favor for a favor? I need help with something and if you help me, I'll provide you an entrance."
"What kind of favor?" Garrett asked, noting the mage's quick change in demeanor.
"I'll be honest, it's dangerous, but I have a friend that needs my help and I can't help him on my own." Anders replied.
"Alright," Garrett agreed.
"Just like that? You'll help me?" Anders was taken aback.
"It's kind of his thing," Varric explained, "helping people."
That night they met Anders outside the Chantry in Hightown. Surprisingly Anders didn't seem nervous, even though they were about to launch a rescue to save his mage friend from the Templars. Standing outside with him, Kali felt the presence of the fade again. Something was off with Anders, but she couldn't quite place what it was. She kept quiet. There was no point in bringing it up without more information. She still was on her guard around him.
They entered the Chantry with Anders, and the silence was deafening. It was the middle of the night, but the stillness of the great sanctuary was strange. Following Anders to the upper level of the sanctuary, the silence was disturbed only by their footfalls on the stone floors.
They found Ander's friend standing alone by the prayer candles, his back to them as Anders approached. "You shouldn't have come, Anders," he said in the telltale monotone of the Tranquil.
"Karl, what's wrong," Anders hadn't quite grasped the situation.
Karl turned around, a sunburst brand marred his forehead directly between the eyes. It was a recent wound, still unhealed and the surrounding flesh enflamed from the burn. "It is too late for me Anders. You should not have come for me."
"No!" Anders didn't want to believe it. "How could they do this?" he raged.
"Grab your friend and let's go," Garrett insisted. "We can sort this all out later, but we need to get out of here."
It was too late. A squad of Templars stepped out of the shadows and surrounded them. Anders struggled to control himself at the sight of them, but there was something inside him that he couldn't quell. The healer's rage was too great, and Kali felt a strong pull on the fade.
"You will not touch him!" Anders voiced thundered with a violent overtone. His eyes glowed with a light Kali had never seen before. It was if he was possessed, but Kali could tell it was not a demon.
Before anyone could make a move for their weapons, Anders attacked the closest Templar. Suddenly, they were tossed into the fray of battle. Anders, it seemed, could have handled it almost entirely by himself. By the time Garrett and Kali had taken town the Templar Lieutenant, Anders had annihilated the other four Templars. Varric had only been able to get a few shots off with his crossbow, Bianca. Yet, even after they were defeated his rage had still not subsided. His eyes were alight with the otherworldly glow, as he turned toward his allies.
"Anders," Kali called to him.
"I am not Anders," he roared.
Kali, didn't listen. This was a spirit, that much was obvious to her. "Anders, listen to me. You need to calm down. It's okay now."
The glow in Anders' eyes receded and the man returned to his old self, exhausted.
"What was that?" This time it was Karl who spoke. The monotone of his voice had gone. "Anders it was as if you brought a piece of the fade here."
"Karl!" Anders fully snapped out of his tirade. "You're okay!"
"No, I don't have much time," Karl explained in his moment of clarity, "I can already feel it fading away. You have to stop the Templars, Anders. They are turning all the mages Tranquil."
"What?" Anders pleaded, "what are you talking about?"
"I'm running out of time," Karl turned desperate. "Please, kill me before I lose myself. I don't want to live like that."
"No… I can't," Anders refused.
"You have to," Karl begged him.
Kali put her hand on Anders' shoulder, "there are worse things than death, Anders. All mages know that."
Anders closed his eyes, knowing she was right. "I'm sorry, Karl."
"Don't be," Karl smiled at him. "Thank you."
Anders clutched his staff, readying himself for the spell that would end his friend's life. After a flash of light, Karl crumpled to the ground, dead. Anders didn't say anything. He just stood there letting it all sink in.
Garrett quickly searched the body of the fallen Lieutenant for a moment, before finally urging everyone to leave. It would only be a matter of time before someone discovered the mess and he wanted to be as far away as possible when they did.
Still reeling from the whole ordeal, Anders didn't say a word until they were back in his clinic in Dark Town.
"So," Varric broke the silence, "do you mind telling us what happened back there, Sparkles?"
Anders put his staff away, and sat down in a rickety chair. "That was Justice. A spirit, and a friend."
"You're possessed by a demon?" Garrett was alarmed.
"I didn't say demon," Anders clarified. "I befriended a spirit of justice a long time ago who was trapped on this side of veil. He needed a host, and I offered. I thought I could handle it, but my anger…"
"Corrupted the spirit." Kali finished for him. She had read a great deal on spirits in her studies and even met a few during her visits to the fade. "Spirits are the embodiments of ideals, such as honor, compassion, forgiveness, or in this case justice. They do not seek to possess bodies or even leave the Fade. Instead they're generally well meaning beings that can influence people, usually through dreams.
"Spirits have one goal and never waiver from their ideals. A human, however, has inner conflict. The possession of human could confuse the spirit and take on human traits it shouldn't."
"Okay…" Varric was clearly overwhelmed by the information.
"Is he dangerous?" Garrett asked Kali.
"I don't know," Kali admitted. "I have never heard of a spirit possessing a human." This did nothing to put Garrett's mind at ease, "But, I feel that if he were a threat the spirit would have already made that clear," Kali added.
"Well, I'm stuck with him," Anders added. "Anyway, my Grey Warden maps are yours. Things didn't go the way I intended, but you held up your end of the bargain."
While Anders went to fetch the maps with Varric, Garrett approached Kali. "I found this on the body of that Templar Lieutenant," he held out a letter. Reading over it, it was from a Ser Alrick berating the Templar for approaching the Knight-Commander with a, "conflicted conscious."
"Something is going on in the Templar Order," Garrett said. "You heard Karl, they're turning the mages tranquil."
"Do we have the time to look into before the expedition?" Kali asked.
"I doubt it. I will have Aveline look into it. Maybe the city guard can get us some more information." Garrett suggested.
"I could ask Cullen," Kali volunteered.
"No," Garrett's face darkened at the suggestion. "He could be in on it, Kali."
"Or he might have some answers," Kali was getting tired of his prejudice toward the Templar.
Garrett opened his mouth to argue, but Anders and Varric had returned maps in hand.
"We've got our entrance," Varric beamed, "in fact we've got tons to choose from!"
"We'll talk about this later," Garrett finished.
The walk home was quiet and awkward, though Varric didn't seem to notice. He was over the moon about finally acquiring the Warden maps. Though, he probably did notice their disquiet and just didn't want to say anything. When they reached Kali's apartment, the dwarf gave a knowing wink directed at Garrett and continued heading home alone.
The first rays of dawn were beginning to turn the sky a purplish pink, chasing away the stars. Kali was about to head inside and get some much needed sleep when Garrett told her to wait.
"What is it?" Kali asked tiredly.
"I know I've been kind of a jerk lately," he apologized. "I just don't want you to get hurt." Garret sighed and stared at the ground, "and to be honest, it's because I'm jealous."
"Oh," Kali was surprised. "Jealous of what?"
"Shit, I'm bad at this," Garrett muttered. "Of Cullen," he said quickly, "and you. Of everything." He approached her and took her small hands into his large palms. "You're amazing Kali and I don't want to lose you."
Looking up at him, Kali didn't know what she felt. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she felt like she might burst. Her head felt light, and her hands cold. What was happening? Was she really leaning into him? Why wasn't she turning away?
She closed her eyes as their lips met. They were warmer and softer than she expected and his beard was not prickly as she thought it would be. Wait, was she really enjoying this? Her eyes snapped open, and reality quickly set in. Pulling away, she opened the door of her home.
"I'm sorry," she whispered as she shut the door behind her. Garrett stood alone in the street, wondering if he had completely destroyed their relationship. He looked up at the sky in time to see the last star disappear in the light of dawn.