Lirene pulled back from Ander's embrace and peered at him through tussled hair, much like a mother examining a child. "We've been hearing you've been having some scuffs with the Templar's. Some of us feared the worst!"

Anders pulled back, and frowned. He turned towards Jennifer holding out his hand to her, ushering her forward. She complied, stepping up towards Lirene. "I'm not the one who got the worst of it, Lirene." Lirene looked at Jennifer and gasped, bringing a hand to her lips.

"Maker breath!" She looked between Jennifer and Anders.

"She's why I came here today. I need your help getting a few things, we might have found a way to reverse the Rite." He spoke softly to her. "But you're the only person I know who might be able to help." Anders bent forward showing her a list of supplies they would need for the right.

"I'm sorry, Anders, I don't have anything here that can help, and what meager donations I do get, are only just enough for the refugees." When Anders shoulders slumped she chewed on her lip in thought, "Although I do know of a few who might be able to help. I'll tell you what, I'll see what I can do."

Anders smile brightened his face, making his years of worry vanish in seconds. "Thank you, Lirene! If you weren't a married woman, I could kiss you!" She squeezed her tightly and settled for kissing her hand. She fawned and giggled, batting Anders away before both he and Jennifer left. He walked from the shop, peering around the market before turning to Jennifer. "We should head to the Hanged Man and asked Varric what sort of sources he may have to get us the lyrium we'll need."

-ooo-

Varric did not have the pull to get the lyrium. Anders was so sure, that Varric would have the means that he didn't give an alternative plan much though. Now he was stumped, and very nearly heart-broken. He cursed himself internally, he wouldn't have even needed the lyrium if he didn't need to enter the fade himself, but with it being Justice, there was no other way for the spirit to enter the fade. He had to find another root, some way to get the lyrium he needed, but he didn't know anyone who could get it for him.

He definitely couldn't talk to the Templars, and the Carta weren't an option unless Varric could talk to them, but Varric already made it clear that with the Merchant's Guild already breathing down his back, his association with the Carta had been lacking and so he was on 'bad terms' as it were. VOID! Three days had passed since he asked the man. Three days and he was no closer to getting a speck more lyrium that what they started with. And wished as he may, lyrium potions weren't pure enough to work with and handle. He needed the dusty residue of lyrium.

So he paced in his clinic, fervently wracking his brain for some idea, some thought in a promising direction. He didn't know what to do, he sat heavily in the chair next to his desk and frowned when he heard the tell-tale crack of well-worn wood. Thankfully the chair didn't break, especially since at that moment, Anders heard a throat being cleared. He frowned deeply in irritation as he recognized who the throat-clearing belonged to. "Get out. I'm busy." He barely turned to acknowledge Fenris before he placed his elbows on the desk and his head in his hands.

Fenris remained where he was.

"Did the magister's take your hearing along with your memory? I said get out." He turned fully towards Fenris now, standing but paused, something in the elven warrior's look making him hesitant, and cautious.

Fenris shifted from foot to foot peering suspiciously around the room. As if abominations and slavers were going to swoop down upon him and cart him back to Tevinter. Because swooping is bad…

Taking the hint, Anders folded his arms and glared at the broody elf. "If you have something to sa-"

"I hear you might be able to reverse the Rite of Tranquility on Jennifer." Fenris still did not look at Anders, his hands were clenched at his sides and he seemed… nervous.

Anders nodded. "Yes, apparently it was from one of the books she found at the squalid mansion you call home."

"I came to offer you something, something you have not been able to obtain, even with Varric's various resources." There! In his stance, in the shift of his eyes, Anders suddenly felt on edge. Scared, almost.

"Lyrium. And how did you gather the amount of Lyrium we would need to perform the ritual?" Anders stepped forward.

"By having it carved into my flesh, and ingrained into my body." Fenris snapped back, obviously tiring of the banter.

Anders froze. He didn't mean…did he? "You mean to tell me to use the lyrium in your skin to perform the ritual. To use you as the source of power to sustain the spell?" When Fenris only nodded, Anders stepped back, slumping into his chair. "Do you have any idea what you are asking?"

"I know the consequences of offering such a thing, and I know the draw-backs of the process. You don't need to talk me out of this decision, Maker knows I've already tried." He still stood near the door, near an escape, but what he was offering, how could he trust Anders with this, to he- It dawned on him that something of this importance could only logically be explained by one thing.

"You fancy her don't you? Even though she's a mage, you fancy her!" Overwhelming jealousy burned in the back of Anders' mind, deep into his chest. He shook his head, relieving himself of the emotion, this wasn't for him that Anders' was doing this, it was for Jennifer, and no matter how much he would distance himself, knowing who and what he was, one thing remained. He fancied her too, one could almost say, he loved her. Andraste's knickerweasles, how in the void did he manage this, he'd been so careful…

Fenris growled at Anders. "That is no business of yours! And what does it matter, if you need the lyrium to free her from being Tranquil because YOU were too careless to hide your magic in front of a Templar, then I will gladly give it. Probably more." Fenris stared at Anders, and vice versa . When Anders finally sighed into compliance and rubbed his head, Fenris nodded. "Am I to understand that lyrium was the only ingredient for your ritual that you still needed?"

Anders nodded, not bothering to look in the elf's direction.

"Then I will be here tomorrow." Fenris turned sharply on his heel and left the clinic, leaving a very confused and emotionally drained Anders to contemplate just how he was going to explain to everyone just what he had to do, Fenris' part in it, and how it wasn't his fault when Anders and Jennifer woke up to find a dead Fenris. Maker, he hope he didn't have to explain that part.

AN: Dum dum Duuuuuuuum! What will happen? Will it work? Will Anders die? Will Jennifer die? Will Fenris die?! I dunno, but you'll have to wait to find out! (evil laughter inserted here)