About forty-five minutes later, Anders knocked on Evelyn's door. There was no answer. He knocked again, slightly louder.
"Just a minute." He heard rustling and the sound of a trunk lid being firmly closed. When Evelyn opened the door, her eyes were red and he could tell she'd been crying.
He sighed, "Can I come in?"
She furrowed her brow, then shrugged and opened the door wider. He walked into the room, closing the door behind him.
He lifted her chin and looked into her face, "Are you alright? If it helps, I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision to make. I support his choice, though."
Evelyn took a step back, shaking her head, "It isn't that. I'm upset that he won't be here, but I don't fault him for it. I do understand why he's doing it. I'm just...not handling it well, that's all." She went over to the window and sat down on the sill, her hand resting on her tummy.
Anders studied her for a moment, then chuckled.
"What?"
"Well, we're probably leaving at a good time. I hadn't realized it before, but you're starting to show."
Evelyn looked at her tummy. She smoothed her dress over it, which allowed it to become even more obvious, "I have for a couple of weeks, actually. I've just been wearing looser dresses." She sighed, "You're right, it's a good thing Cullen's letter came when it did. I wouldn't be able to hide it much longer."
Anders walked up to her and pointed at her belly, "May I?"
Evelyn smiled slightly and nodded.
He held his hand over her tummy, a warm blue glow emanating from it, then smiled, "Everything's fine. Your baby is perfectly healthy."
"Well, I've had excellent medical care to ensure it," she smiled at him. Then she furrowed her brow and looked at his armor, a thought occurring to her.
"It's the seeker's job to watch over Templars, isn't it?"
Anders didn't know where this line of questioning was going, but answered, "That's a simplistic way of putting it, but basically, yes. Lately, though, we've been strained, ever since the Templars and the Circle of Magi broke away. My letters to the Divine have gone unanswered for a few weeks and I don't even know if she's still in Val Royeaux. I would assume not, for her own safety, so I have no way of contacting her. I also haven't received any letters from any of the other seekers and I've had to rely on...other means...of getting communications back and forth. With us leaving, if Isabella's contacts are as good as she says, I doubt I'll hear anything from them anytime soon. Why do you ask?"
Evelyn nodded, understanding what he was saying, "Because, I was just thinking. It's your job to watch over the Templars, and the first night I was here, you specifically asked me about him getting an assignment. Did you know?"
Anders fidgeted a little, he saw her reasoning and didn't want to upset her, "Not specifically, no...I knew as much as he did. That it could happen. I'd even go so far as to say that maybe I had a stronger inclination than he did that it would, but other than that, nothing certain." He took a deep breath, then continued, "Look, despite being married to you, and I don't mean anything by that except you are a mage, he's still one of the best Templars in the Order. He's built a reputation on setting an example and being someone his recruits look up to and respect. The Templars need Commanders like that and being that there are only fifteen of them in Thedas, I couldn't see how they wouldn't reassign him. He's actually in a very tenuous position. On one hand, the Templars want to be able to trust him; they need people like him in a position of authority. On the other hand, they're already suspicious because he's obviously mage friendly. Plus, he's still loyal to the Divine and he has an obligation to his family."
Evelyn thought about what he said. She felt as though she were going to start crying again, "Funny to hear you speaking so highly of any Templar, you know." She tried to manage a smile.
Anders smirked, "He's not just any Templar. Cullen and I have known each other for a very long time. I hate to say it, but he's grown on me. He's a good man." He paused, considering his next words, "I can see why you married him."
Evelyn shook her head, "I told you not to do that."
Anders was genuinely confused, "Do what?"
"I already told you not to pry into how I feel. That includes my family."
Anders shook his head, "Wow! And I thought I was complimenting your husband." He backed away a bit, "Sorry if I offended you, Your Grace. I'll just go crawl into a hole now." He turned to leave, then snapped his fingers, remembering why he had come in to begin with, "By the way, we're having a meeting about where we're going. You might want to come along. Or, you can stay here. Just thought you might like to know."
"I'll be right out, I just want to freshen up a little first." Hopping off the sill, she ran a hand through her hair then over her face, "I'm sure I don't exactly look my best."
Anders had his hand on the doorknob, "You look beautiful, my dear, as usual." He smiled at her.
Evelyn considered him, "You know, you're more like him than you think."
Anders laughed at that before opening the door, "Sweetheart, Cullen and I know exactly what we have in common." Then he stepped through the door and shut it behind him.