Luckily for Leliana, Anders seemed to have portrayed the ownership of her given name as fluently as drinking wine in an aversion to water. He hadn't even given a second's thought to it when the name was called to his ownership. However, the suggestion of combining the dispute of wedding ideas left him on a bent stance. All of this talk of marriage and then children; left Anders a little unwound but he could put up a decent social front. He could only laugh a little more when Leliana managed to put more words in his mouth. Giving a slight wave to Eva as she left, the mage was able to finally relax.
"That wasn't as bad as you tried to insinuate." He smiled some after Leliana seemed to have relaxed as well. He looked back towards her proudly. "You see? Women love me no matter what you tell them about me."
Anders probably would have even continued in his boasting until he saw that Leliana seemed to have been thinking over to how and when to repay him. She seemed in such of a hurry to repay him; almost as if the action would have been a punishment. He glanced down for the moment she turned to tilt back a drink. Anders placed his hand on her shoulder for a comforting pat, and started to step towards the banquet setting that had the married couple sitting together.
"Slow down there… This date prefers either a high-paid meal or strong wine before he lets anyone place their hands where they want." He teased, in his own way to hint that he'd rather just have those repercussions dropped. He then moved towards table, seeing that Alexander was standing up to give a toast.
"My Lords, and Ladies, Grace, and Excellencies, our home is your home. Our wine: yours, and our feasts, open to all this joyous evening." Alexander announced and at last eased back into his chair. The applause rang loud among the people, followed by the music from the servants as other staff members made rounds to refill drinks and plates. The games were about to begin, leaving much time for groups among themselves to begin their chatter while enjoying the view.
Near the center of the fenced off stage, there was a section that was held strictly for a sparing display. The fight between two individuals was meant to be shown as a class act; in which only the few high-ranked Magisters would have spent their enjoyment in watching. When the soldier fighting against the other had at last placed a deadly strike against his opponent, the opposite man had spun some away and bowed to drop his sword to the floor. The winner had bowed to the clapping of the group around them and then turned lastly towards Anna and Alexander with another bow. Placing the attention back towards them again, Alexander lifted his hands and started to join in on the clapping.
"Nicely done, Magister Keifer. Why have not received a knighthood by now?" Alexander questioned.
"My sword arm's more rusty than you think." Keifer scoffed and then pointed his blade towards him. "But I am still strong to test the likes of you. Come."
Alexander glanced around the room and then back to Keifer again. "It was hardly a challenge that I gave, Your Grace. Please, do not take it as such."
"You are before your bride and peers, and you decline my proposal? What stain should show more shame: a loss or fear of losing?" Keifer asked as he looked around the room, walking in a displayed victory with arms still held outward.
Holding his head down for the moment, Alexander backed away from Anna's chair some and scratched his head to show more humbleness than humility. He raised his head once more and smiled to him.
"Forgive me. If it were not for my wife's Initiation Day, I would rush to you with a stead-fast heart."
"It's the blades, isn't it? Alright, alright." Keifer nodded and handed the losing partner his blade. He then signaled the man to leave in order to clear the center of the room once more. He reached for his coat and shirt as he started to remove them. Afterwards he unbuckled the belt that had his smaller dagger and sheath, and removed them to toss the floor.
Alexander pressed a finger to his lips in thought as he watched Keifer try to display just how vulnerable he was willing to prove himself. It was a trap. He knew it was a trap. Alexander just didn't know how the man was planning to attack without actually physically attempting to beat him down or to conjure up a demon. Of course he doubted very highly on 'death of pain' that Keifer would attempt something so un-sportsman-like.
Keifer reached up and braced his chest with his fists like a gorilla throwing out a challenge still and then bowed before him and Anna. "Wrestling then. Whoever hits the ground first wins. Is this more suited to your safety, Your Grace? Brother to Brother."
Now, being placed publicly on the spote—despite that it was a day of death for Alexander—he had no choice in the matter. He had to accept. He shook his head some with a light laugh and started to walk around the table. Reaching up, he started to remove his jacket and shirt as well.
"You just don't know the meaning of a refusal, do you?" He asked before turning back towards Anna and lifted her hand once more to kiss the rings she wore. "Then I'll dedicate this match to my future spoils, of course."
Letting Anna's hand go, Alexander then turned back towards Keifer and bowed in respect. Until the starting word came from him, they both remained still. However up on the spoken invitation, both men charged at each other with brute force, trying to twist the opponent's arm or grasp their shoulders to hurl them towards the floor.
Of course the sight had Anna standing quickly up to her feet in concern. Her eyes and widened and she started to rush down towards them. That was, until Anders had reached over to hold her back. She frowned some, looking at them and then back up towards Anders for any answers. The fellow Fereldon could only offer a bright smile and hope that it was encouraging enough.
"No matter what nationality they are, boys will be boys, Anna." Anders chuckled some and guided her to slowly sit back down and watch the match. "Let them prove what they have to."
Blinking a few times upon Anders words kind of threw her back for a moment. She wasn't expecting him to be so cocky. Then again she wasn't expecting Eva to take it so… Well? With the lies she had told her. She really was expecting her to see right through them. Taking a moment, Leliana started to cross her arms upon her chest as she cocked her head to the side. Her eyes held a disbelief in them as she began to finally shake her head. "Really? Do you think she would have been so understanding if she were to know the real truth?" She teased lightly.
"Here I thought we could have had some fun." She joked lightly, trying to ease the tension that she seemed to have built up over the past few days of secluding herself away from Anders presence. "Fine have it your way…" Pausing she sighed, the breath escaping her lips ruffling her bangs. "Just don't drink too much. I don't want you running out a room butt naked again."
Leliana found herself sitting a moment longer, watching as Anders had left. She forced herself to finally stand up, and grab upon a drink that she brought along with her for the ride as she followed slowly behind him. She halted herself eventually, once Anders did and once she had begun to hear Alexander's words out to the people. She was intrigued by the male who challenged him. One thing that was always fun to watch was two men sparing with one another. It wasn't until she heard Anders words that she began to look over to Anna who had stood by his side. She forced a smile upon her lips, as she nodded along with Anders statement. "He's right. I doubt he'll hurt himself. It's not like there's any weapons involved anyways."
Keifer had seemed to take an under-shoulder grasp which left him hurdling towards embracing Alexander's chest. His hand started to glow a dark violet and something was injected into Alexander's side. The dark haired magister above him had frozen, feeling the painful burn break his skin. It was a conjuring spell after all; a concealed blade of pure energy.
It was small, but since it was magic it grew to the point that it's sharpened end stuck out from the other side of Alexander's back. His body was shaking and he had almost gave away to the force pushing him down. His grasp around Keifer was firm though as he struggled to lift the man and stumble with him until finally, his body had turned away, forcing Keifer to have tripped down to the floor.
Naturally the dark purple energy had retracted back into the other magister's hands, but in return a river of blood started to pool down onto the carpet. The crowd started to gasp with worry of the sight while Alexander stiffly moved towards him. It wasn't the harmless game anymore—not when a Magister chose to use conjured weapons to strike blood against him. He raised his knee and with a harsh striking force landed his blow against Keifer's stomach. Reaching down, he grasped the man's hair to raise his head to look back up at him.
"That wasn't very sportsman-like." He huffed and swallowed back the blood wanting to form from his throat due to the wound quickly filling his lungs. Such magic could cause him to die and quickly if he wasn't aware of it. He placed his hand back over the wound to use what spilled blood around him in order to heal the injury.
"Forgive me, Your Grace. O-Old habit from battle." Keifer winced from the pain as he tried to explain any form of innocence that he could.
Alexander's grasp on his hair tightened and he slammed the man's skull back against the floor to knock him out. Once he was fully recovered, he looked back at the scar his healing magic had left on his chest. He wasn't the biggest fan of conjuring magic, but proof had shown today that he certainly needed to study it more for close encountered combat. He shook his head and looked towards his staff.
"Take him away. Drop him off at the temple…" He finally said after trying to breathe normally again. He wiped the blood in between his hands and then pointed after Keifer once the staff members started to carry the passed out magister of the main hall. "And bill him for my next carpet cleaning…"
Anna hadn't made a move to stand but her eyes flashed in worry for Alexander once the magic blade had sliced him. Though, Alexander had proven able to take care of himself as he put his shirt and jacket back on, once back at the table he sat back next to her silently. She wasn't sure what to have said. She wanted to cry towards Anders or even Leliana. However instead, like any promising Tevinter wife, she had straightened his collar the rest of the way when Alexander popped his neck from side to side and walked back to her.
When he sat down, Anna was quick to give Leliana and Anders her reassured smile of comfort and followed after him. Quickly her hands moved towards Alexander's own in his lap afterwards. She looked at her husband still with concern in her eyes. But she hadn't been affectionate like she would have if they were alone. She didn't want to embarrass Alexander or show herself too soft to his peers.
"Just like I thought, my husband is strong." She said indifferently without a smile.
But deep down, Alexander was probably the only one to hear her hidden concern and worry for him. After all she had vowed to be there for him whether he wanted her or not. Even so, she still wanted that vow to turn into a growing love. Anna didn't want to be around all of these people. They were all fakes, kissing up to the person higher than them and trying to overcome them in order to take their positions. It was cold-hearted…no…it was a place made of stone hearts; which was even worse. She didn't know how she would survive.
"Naturally…" Alexander responded and still tried to calm his breathing some. He remained standing though, still being on his toes for anything else to come his way. Still, he was keeping a proper nod to those who clapped in his victory; preparing himself for any others that might challenge him.
"Alexander, Your Grace; I've been meaning to talk to you." One of the noblemen approached him with a towel. Alexander nodded in appreciation and brushed the towel against his skin to wipe away any signs of exertion.
"As I am sure the rest of Court is. I trust you are having a good time, at least?"
"That is no doubt, Your Grace, but I have been meaning to speak to you about the slavery shipments between Minrathous and Tantervale." The man's head wobbled some as he moved to hold it a bit higher to the air. "It would seem that the Free Marches have been eh… raided."
"First the Brecilian Forest and now the Free Marches. We may have a mole." Alexander shook his head with pity and moved to gather his shirt and coat once more to redress.
He knew better though, despite what he told the man. The issue stunk with that pirate gypsy he had met in Seheron, but the action for her demise was postponed since Alexander did at last reclaim Fenris. For now, he would just cover his tracks and strike at this 'Isabela' at another time-most likely whenever she decides to break in again.
"Don't worry." Alexander reassured the noble and started to smile as he looked around the room. "I'll send a couple of my best explorers to Orlais. They will immediately question the Queen."
"For your sake, the sooner the better. I heard about your return from Seheron." The Noblemen mumbled to him quietly and started to lean away once more. This had caused the most fake puzzled look Alexander could produce as he looked to him.
"My return? Hah. Are you certain it was even me coming from the harbor? Seheron is hardly a place I adore."
"My sources do not speak unless they are certain. If I find you have anything to do with the Tomb of Cousland—anything at all, I'm going straight to the Black Divine." The nobleman warned. "You're not a Bannon, yet, Alexander and there are many people who would find it more fortunate if the position was left open."
"Indeed. To have such a wife, I am a lucky man. So by all and in every way, I do aim to please, Your Lordship." Alexander bowed though upon rising, slowly his file had started to finally fade. A chilling flash of cold reflected in his eyes as he stared at him in return. "Just remember whom you intend to bargain with in these lands. It would be wise not to test my bounds. Yes, I do find the stakes very much against my favor. I don't need your sweat to consider my… disposition currently averted from other affairs." Alexander paused a moment and glanced towards Anna as he continued to him.
"Despite what the noblemen of the Court may think, a Tevinter Magister will find other means to lay claim to what he wants. I am still the sole benefactor to my family's name, so I hardly have any interest to some tattered book. However, I can assure you my very will already causes and with-holds wars just as easily to a mere sneeze, and Tal-Vashoth are not kind to new lands."
"You dare to state that you have the Tal-Vashoth in your pocket, is madness." He scoffed in disbelief.
"Nevertheless," Alexander paused as a prideful smirk started to appear once more, "if there ever comes a time that I am stripped of what is promised to me, do pray that you are able to take my corpse."
The Lord patted his cheek firmly as he started to laugh. "Barely even your honeymoon, and here you are prattling threats like a scared war veteran! Don't worry, boy. If I ever dare to try, I'll be sure to leave your body stiff and cold. By the Void! I'll even keep you under Par Vollen soil."
Alexander hardly even flinched when he was soon being patted like a grandfather's imp. His eyes followed after the Lord while Anders followed the glance and started to lean towards the table to grab another wine glass. The mage swirled his wine in his cup before taking a supple drink.
"Ah, the Lords and Ladies of the Court." Anders chimed to identify in a charming, though very heavily a sarcastic tone. "Such eminence. So proud, so arrogant—"
"So full of shit." Alexander remarked, earning a snicker from the companion in return. He turned and smiled towards him next. "I dare say, it can only take one Magistrate to coincide with another. Outside of that, there is no room to function. I would take all of Tevinter Magisters… Strip the very Cabinet and Courts of the weak and untalented."
"But if they were all Magistrates instead, who would they step on?" Anders questioned soon.
"The Chantry…?" Alexander quickly answered and then had to turn towards him slightly in a rather well-needed explanation. "No, not the Black Divine, of course…but the White Spire. Now, there's an interesting target, don't you think?"
Of course at this suggestion, Anders was already brimming with an easy smile. He soon shrugged his shoulders in his reply. "You say that because you're a Tevinter, but in Ferelden, I'm sure you'd hold your tongue."
Alexander rolled his eyes some and gave a verbal groan while looking away to let the man continue. He clearly despised Ferelden lands and its policies nearly as much as he truly hated Par Vollen. Though he looked towards Anna once more and then back to Anders once more in a brief moment of exchanged glances.
Leliana felt her body budge forward just by a step as probably the whole crowd had when Alexander had been pierced. She couldn't help but possibly have a concerned look upon her face. Her attention then went to Anna who she knew probably was aching inside in seeing what just concurred. The thumping of the males head colliding against the floor caused Leliana to gaze up once more to the wrestling match gone wrong. Afterwards she tried to listen to that of the conversation of him and another, but was sadly out of reach of hearing.
Her emerald hues followed Alexander as he eventually made off the platform and near Anna's side. She said no words but followed slowly behind the duo. Upon making it to a chair Leliana made her way to set next to Anders Leliana looked past the fidgetiness of her hands and up to Anna and Alexander. Just as she parted her lips to speak a word to see how he was doing after that fun match she saw Anna's reach for his. A small smile began to form upon her lips and she stayed silent. At least for the meantime.
As quickly as her head dropped down as the conversation started it popped right back up. The stiffness of her back leaned back into the chair as her cranium began to shift to the side in a curious manner. Her fingers began to interlace, as she felt her muscles in her face begin to stiffen into a frown. "Really?" She started finally breaking her own form of silence. "Do you really think its wise to go against the white spire… Sounds outlandish and very risky to me…" Her attention then went to Anders who's smile got to her more than anything. In a reaction she reached over smacking him over the head with the back of her hand. "And you mister… Seriously after what I did for you… You better wipe that smile off your face or I'll do it for you. I know what's going through that mind of yours."
Anders flinched, of course, from Leliana's strike. His head ducked just in case a second was coming and he rubbed the back of his head. "Ow… Hey, watch it."
Anna blinked between the two, seeming a bit puzzled. "What's she talking about? What happened?"
"Oh… Starkhaven's not exactly thrilled I blew up the Chantry." Anders answered, giving the only guilty wince he could to the idea of his past actions. "In fact… I'm pretty sure all of Orlais, Nevarra, Kirkwall, and especially Ferelden are all not exactly thrilled. But Leliana rescued me from a couple of Starkhaven templars when she could have had me killed."
Anna paused some, looking from Anders and then towards Leliana. She placed a hand over hers and smiled a bit more genuine. "Well… I must thank you for not taking his life. There are so few who I can hold dear to me anymore… and Anders, is somewhat like family to me."
"You embarrass me when you say that… It's bad enough that it took me so long to remember you." Anders mentioned bashfully and lowered his head in response.
"A pity, Lay Sister… and here I thought you were casting away your religious values by being with the Great Anders." Alexander mused some and tapped his chin lightly in thought. He leaned back into his chair, glancing over towards Anders once more. "You didn't kill the man, but you knew that what he had done was a direct insult to the White Spire and to Justina VI. You do realize that he will not stop in his cause, correct? …Why do you think Tevinters like myself would welcome him; revere him as a hero? Why are the mages in Tevinter even free in these lands?"
"You declared your independence and had cut your nation off from the rest of Thedas's fabrications of religion." Anna thought out loud, quickly and to the point. She soon had turned towards him curiously. "So, this Black Spire is kind of like … a polar opposite to the White Spire?"
"Yes and no. We have similar beliefs, but we do not see ourselves as evil incarnate. To prove this, we must bring justice to ourselves and take responsibilities for our behavior." Alexander nodded to the comment and shrugged. "Of course, the templars here are welcome to advise us, but nothing more."
"And that's how it should be for everywhere." Anders added in his desperation of showing Leliana of what he wanted. Surely by now, she had known, of course.
"All I'm saying is the White Spire pushes and abuses in beliefs that are either untrue, or at the very least vague to prove. These abuses will stretch the patience of its victims to the point where it will seek out help." Alexander remarked and placed a wine bottle down after pouring it into his glass.
"Kirkwall and Nevarra have already reached that point." Anders announced, looking towards Leliana this time. "For what I've done, there is no turning back. All that can be done is delay the inevitable; and I'm tired of waiting."
"And you shouldn't wait." Alexander suggested and sipped on his wine. He placed the glass down on the table once more and started to lean back into his chair. "I am confident that the White Spire would crumble if we were to ever raise our arms."
"Do you think Magisters would aid others against the Andrastians?" Anders finally asked, unable to contain the anticipation of Alexander's ideas. He wasn't certain of all of the magister's complete motives, but he liked where it was going so far.
"The White Spire has more than enough people influenced." Anna warned them both and looked back towards her fingers as she started to count them off. "Why, over two thirds in all of Thedas, …excluding the Dales and the Qun…and maybe one or two Gypsy religions sprouting here and there—"
"Pft. Who cares? Justina VI is high past her prime; the old broad needs to be impeached." Alexander huffed and then folded his arms. He moved towards following after him as he continued.
"And I trust I am not the only one who thinks so…? If any type needs to catch the Magistrate's under-toe, it should be a religious faction; one that preaches a hatred for magic. Alas… Outside of Tevinter, I am just a rambling demon worshiping blood mage..."
"Or a freakish abomination. Welcome to the 'Understanding of the Andrastian Faith,' Your Grace." Anders remarked dryly and folded his arms.
"Mm. Stop the 'Chant of Light' ride, I want to get off." Alexander added just before taking another brisk gulp of his wine.
"How can you just sit there and—and…! I'll have you know that I am an Andrastian; and Leliana is one too-at least I think…" This time, Anna did huff and looked towards Alexander with a slight appalled look. She then turned her head and folded her arms. "Well, I know that three people in front of you are at least Ferelden."
"Aw… Is my little Anna an Andrastian after all?" Alexander smiled to Anna's bitterness and teased her when he reached out to put her arm around him. "That's cute. Did you slit your wrists while praying to the Maker too?"
"No…!" Anna responded and tried to appear as stiff as she could from him. "I'm not a Loyalist… I'm a Libertarian."
Alexander's eyebrows lifted some and he turned away with a smile. "Oh, really? …Then I don't see the problem."
"Anna, the Libertarians are gone. They divided that faction and succeeded into the Equaterians and Loyalists…" Anders frowned in a slight pout to her. "…Now, I may be Ferelden, and once even an Andrastian convert, Anna, but… I'm sorry. I cannot follow a religion that implies that I am a sin just because of how the Maker created me."
Leliana looked to Anna's hand which cupped over hers. She blinked a few times before shifting her cranium upwards to look at her as she was spoken to. She couldn't help but shrug her shoulders for a short reply as she gave a warm smile. "Well you know me; A big softy." She started only to pause for a moment, to then put her emerald hues upon Anders. "I was kind of close to taking his life. Sword to neck, that kind of thing, but as he kneeled there I couldn't help but feel bad. I would of never forgave myself if I didn't give him a second chance… But your welcome anyways." She finished in a small pat with her other free hand upon Anna's as she leaned back into her chair.
Grasping onto the wine bottle Leliana had begun to pour herself her own drink. Eventually placing the bottle back in the middle between the four of them as she took a quick sip from her glass. She shook her head at Alexander's words, her optics intrigued upon her glass as she swished the fluids around in a circular motion. "It's better to have pity than hatred." She replied, as she set her drink down upon the table to cross her arms over her chest. She looked to Anders as Alexander spoke of Anders stopping at nothing for his cause. She couldn't help but look down in defeat. Deep down she wished she could help him. Someway… But she knew that was foolish thinking. "You're right. What he might have done was against my teachings but I still feel as if I should follow him. As long as he allows me; I just try not to look at the bad but the good."
As Anders and Alexander went back and forth between speaking of the White Spire, Magisters, Justina VI, and whatever else came out of their mouths eventually caused the rouge to twitch her eye uncontrollably for a moment. She was sooo very tempted to break her silence but she knew she wasn't in Ferelden and the ways of life here were completely different here than there. So her beliefs meant nothing here. All she did was let out a sigh, as she forced herself to lean forward as her hand grasped upon her cup, bringing it to her lips to take a large gulp. Mostly to keep herself silent and not say something she may regret later on.
"We might be Andrastian Anna but there's no point in arguing with people that rather not listen. It gets nowhere." Her cranium shifted to Anders as he spoke of himself being a sin. Her expression changed to a distraught look as she reached over placing a hand on his shoulder as she gave a playful shake which immediately changed her appearance to a bright smile. "Come now? You a sin…!?" She couldn't help but make her tone a tease. "Here I thought you were an angel. You must have been putting blinders on me this whole time then."
"But it is what the Andrastian faith teaches. Andraste suffered at the hands of magic, so the teachings frown on all forms of it." Anders frowned towards Leliana, showing of how serious that he was to the idea of the religious teachings around him. "As an Andrastian, you cannot turn a blind eye to that."
"We don't." Anna urged with a slight tilt of her head. "We understand that magic is dangerous and those gifted with it should be more responsible. But to go against Justina VI, would be to go against Andraste and even the Maker. Even if I'm a Libertarian; even if I want mages to have more freedom to look after themselves, I don't think I am ready to pledge a war against those that I worship."
"Then you have turned a blind eye to your own people." Anders retorted back.
Anna started to sigh and glance away. "Anders-"
"No. He is right, Anna. You cannot have it both ways." Alexander reached for his wine glass next and started to sip it. "Either you support the freedom for us or you don't."
"But... But it shouldn't have to be so extreme!" Anna frowned, seeing the failure in her arguments.
"Such is the requirment when a change is needed in the world." Anders shook his head adn glanced more towards the floor. "Honestly... Do you think I haven't thought about this? I've struggled for years over this entire concept. I don't want to go against the Andraste or the Maker, in my actions, but if I am to be shunned and hated I would rather it be because of the things that I have done than just because of what I am... And anyway, it's not as if I could ask forgiveness over anything now."
"Anders, Anders, Anders..." Alexander sighed and started to laugh upon standing up. He turned around towards him and reached out to pinch his cheek. "Stop with this mellow-dramatic pining for the Maker's forgiveness or I will give you such a pinch!"
As Anders quickly glanced up towards him and rubbed his cheek in a bit of confusion, the Magister smirked at him and turned to walk around him. He placed his arm around him as he bent forward to reach the Ferelden mage's eye level.
"Open your eyes, my friend. See of what this land can offer you." Alexander promised and motioned his hand towards the crowd of other Magisters, Nobleman, and Apprentices. "These people may not be Ferelden, but they can and will look to you as a Hero in your cause."
Anders hadn't said anything, but he did look towards teh people; giving Alexander time to stand up on his own. THe Magister pated his shoulder and started to walk more towards the crowd.
"I'm going to start sending them home for now. I have plans though, so don't go anywhere." Alexander smiled from over his shoulder for the moment.