Anders waved some back to him proudly and gave a reassuring nod. "No worries on that…"
After slipping out of the bar, the mage had guided Leliana through the back alley's of Darktown. There was a crevasse past his old Clinic. It was further in and lower to the bottom of the last dark tunnels that only the mages of the Resolutionists had known about. Such people were mostly mages, willing to give their lives first before the location of their hide-away because they acknowledged how sacred that it was. The people in the dim lit caverns had known of Anders greatly, and much like in Tevinter, they idolized him. Upon entering, he was recognized as their General or otherwise coded as the Idol. His word was supreme here, and promised his words would lead them to freedom.
Anders stayed close to Leliana, guiding her to his hut where he was planning to stay for at least a few more months depending on how well orchestrated his battle in Kirkwall was going to play out. There were a lot of things that Aragorn, nor even Leliana probably had known, but a few of those secrets were slowly unraveling. He had known about informants moving throughout Thedas, and two-thirds of them were begrudged bloodmages. This was his act of desperation; not to make a point, but to have changed the world.
"And here we are: the Heart of our City." Anders spoke proudly, and lifted his arms towards the swarm of mages from different regions huddled in different groups to strengthen and hone their techniques for battles later. Anders opened the door to his hut and left the pathway for Leliana to walk inside. "I was quick to make adjustments to what was needed."
A short dwarf dressed in a hooded cloak rushed up to Anders from behind. He had dark hair peeking out from underneath his hood, a thick shadow of black hair and bright green eyes like two emeralds gleaming against the small fires of the campsite. Reaching up, he tugged on Anders's cloak from behind. "The Master wishes a word with you, Idol."
Anders glanced back over his shoulder and smiled some. "He's been very patient with me… Come on in. We'll speak along the way."
Leliana was unsure of this new place they walked upon, her hues continued to scan the area. Looking but not dwindling in one area so she wouldn't ruffle any feathers. She knew though that if she had stayed by Anders side that he would keep her safe. Not that she felt endangered. But had a feeling of being 'out of place' knowing that the mages could tell she was not one of them. Bringing an oddness to arise and stir inside her bones.
If it wasn't for Anders words she probably wouldn't have taken the chance to glance to him. And realize they were at his hut and he had opened the entrance for her to walk in. She smiled some at the place which she would call home for who knew how long. Either way she hadn't minded, as long as she was with him and they both were safe. "It's lovely." She responded and began to step towards and in the hut. But from a interrupting voice had turned her to glance over her shoulder and see the dwarf before them. All she could do was repeat with what he called Anders.
"Idol?" She questioned in a soft whisper, as her hues glanced up towards Anders in this to get an answer. But as the two had begun to talk to one another, bringing her too quickly on her heel and stepped towards the duo.
"Whos the Master?" She began asking, as she reached back scratching the nape of her neck in thought. "You so need to tell me everything Anders…" She asked with a nod but knew she wasn't going to step in now and ask a million questions, as now wasn't the time. "But of course at a later time when you don't have to speak to this, er… Master?"
"There are different code names in different cities for me, but the base of their words generally mean the same thing: Idol and Icon… 'Anders' was probably the first term and only true identity I took for myself. Still, I answer to them all just equally as I would answer to my title from the Anderfels." Anders reassured her and motioned his hand towards the table and chairs for Leliana rest in for the moment.
However, he and the dwarf followed to the desk that remained in the conjoined kitchen area. All the while, he was listening to the dwarf speaking about the battles around the Navarra lands—places that they had previously been, but nowhere near the Imperial Highway. This much had been of Anders's plan—and luck—so as to not have accidently bumped into such a disaster upon coming back to Kirkwall.
"The Master would wish to inquire about his property." The dwarf had asked after a while.
"Has he gotten my letter already? He is either fast or very close by…" Anders thought out loud and then moved towards the desk, bracing his arms upon it and lowering his shoulders so that he could look at the wide-spread map of Thedas on it. "He is safe and doing well. I trust that no harm will come to him upon his retrieval."
"Not as much as any other." The dwarf answered and folded his arms under his cloak.
Anders's smile had faded to a look of disappointment and he shrugged. "Well…I suppose I can't ask for too much then."
He paused for the moment and then quickly ducked low near his side of his desk. He retrieved a small piece of paper and upon coming back up, the mage handed it to the dwarf. "Here's the location… But tell him I said 'Not yet. There has been a slight wrench thrown into the works.' I'd rather wait this out and see what's to come of it."
"What's that, Serah?" The dwarf questioned upon sticking the paper in his pocket.
"A few things…actually…." Anders said and scratched his head upon standing back up. "For starters, I have a Black Knight whose a Tevinter Deserter, chasing after a Bloodmage of the same caliber—who so happens to be in service to the Prince."
"A Bloodmage serving Sebastian?" The dwarf asked in rather a shocked tone.
"My thoughts exactly…" Anders remarked and even chuckled some before moving back towards the dwarf's side to guide him back to the exit of the hut. "There's also the matter of the Grey Wardens recently running away with the Prince's right hand… Literally. So, …we are in for a shit storm. While it would be interesting to see the outcome of any of this, I'd rather just wait for the right opportuned time."
"Understood, Serah. I will deliver the message immediately." The dwarf nodded before exiting the place.
Anders folded his arms, staring back at the closed door for the moment and then turning away to walk to the exposed bedside. He sat down at the edge, and ran his hands back through his hair. As he thought over of what he had just done, his eyes stared down to the floor. Fenris had been his main bargaining chip and though Aragorn hadn't seemed to realize it much—or care—the Grey Warden Commander was Anders's safe passage. Though Anders would have rather stayed in Tevinter to do all of this, there were still other methods he could have attempted. Naomi wasn't going to budge from her position. Anders was going to have to make her budge; and using what pawns he had at his disposal was the only option he had left.
Leliana watched the two a while longer, her hues bouncing from one end to the other. Then stopping at Anders as he had pulled out that piece of paper, she drew closer but to take her seat and to unsuspiciously get a better look at this paper he handed off. Though being discrete caused her not to be able to see, making her whine inside and tell herself 'some kind of bard you are, or was' since she couldn't see a measly piece of paper.
When they had begun to speak of all their companions, it brought Leliana to raise her brows intriguingly as she listened but hadn't said a word. Just as it was a shock to them it was for her as well, for Sebastian having a blood mage under his nose. She had known Sebastian too well, and knew he would never allow such a thing unless those form of arts were hidden from him; which was a large possibility.
After the dwarf had left, Leliana had rose from her chair placing a hand on her hip and strutted towards the mage in a curious manner when he had sat down on the beds edge. "Do you want to tell me what that was all about?" She asked curiously and with her free hand, she reached out to cup under his chin to raise his head up so their eyes could meet.
"What was that you gave him... And what did you mean by location, and you with telling him 'not yet', not yet, what?" She paused for a moment dropping her hand to his shoulder as she gave a light push on his shoulders for him to sit back far enough as she stepped in and rose one leg after the other until she straddled the mage and sat on his lap. "You have a lot of explaining to do mister." She teased and reached out towards his features and gave a playful tap on his nose.
Anders looked up towards Leliana after he heard her first question; though he didn't answer her. His eyebrows had seemed to lift in a peeked interest, but upon the moment she began climbing into his lap he had given in to other small gestures in leaning back. This was mainly done to allow more room. He smiled some, giving a soft chuckle at her quick curiosity at the moment, and gradually moved backwards towards laying down.
"Oh, you ask too many questions, love, and the less you know the better." Anders seemed to surmise just as playful back. Raising his hands up, he placed them towards her cheeks and looked back into her eyes. His right thumb lightly traced over her lips in sultry manner, and his eyes glanced briefly towards the sight.
"You've trusted me this far, haven't you? If you can trust me for what I've done, then trust me for what I do." He mused to her, keeping close to his train of thought to being elusive. "I promised a world where people like us could be free to live and love without ridicule or terrene. This is my life's dedication… I shall see it through."
Leliana scoffed lightly from Anders comment of her asking too many questions, that she shook her head in a fast motion of a no response. "Nuh-uh… I'm a woman and I deserve the right to know everything." She finalized with a wide grin as she nipped playfully at his finger that smoothed across her pout. "But I could always try and pull it out of you; in other ways." She teased and leaned in towards the mage, hovering over him as her hands planted at each side of his cranium to hold her at foots length away.
"I have trusted you… It's just I would like to know what's going through that mysterious mind of yours at times ya know." She responded as she balanced herself on one hand and used her other to rake through his golden locks, watching as her hand seemed to almost disappear in the depths of it.
"I have to admit though…" She started with a pause, so her eyes could shift down and meet his when she confessed this feeling swelling inside her. "It's pretty attractive to see you command orders." She admitted proudly as she leaned in a bit further, their lips met in a short lived but passionate kiss. With her eyes closed she reached up, placing a rounded digit on his chin, as her single finger brushed across his lips when she pulled away. Her eyes came to a fluttering open, meeting his gaze once more. "And makes my body yearn for you just a little, tiny bitty bit when you do such things." She teased, waving a finger to him.
Anders raised an eyebrow and carried his smile to show that he was intrigued. His hands slid down along her back and towards her buttocks once more where he had squeezed rather firmly to press her waist closer against him. "Glad to know you can adjust… I'll probably be giving a lot more orders around everyone now that I'm placed here in direct contact of this city."
He tilted his head slightly towards her lips and returned the kiss playfully. His right hand started to clump together the ragged robes that she was wearing since Sebastian's capture of her. Bunching them up into one hand slowly until her rear was exposed, he started to rub his hands over her skin for warmth.
As much as having her easily accessible to him in this manner, Anders knew that she probably would have felt much better after a bath and some new clothes. So, he finally broke the kiss and lifted his left hand to hold the back of her head in an endearing manner. From there he had just held her, looking past her towards the ceiling of the tent and entangling his fingers into her hair.
"But no matter what happens, love, you will have my heart now, forever, and always." He spoke softly and cradled his cheek lightly against her own. He closed his eyes momentarily with the thought and for the moment, he had found his peace with her at his side.
"I'm like a chameleon; I can adjust to whatever you throw me in!" She exclaimed cheerful. "But are you sure it's alright, if I'm here…" She began to question with a raised brow. "I don't want to upset any mages, even if I'm carrying one now I doubt they would have little trust for an outside… Right—"
But she couldn't continue her endless questioning, as she felt his actions pursued upon her. And she couldn't look back hastily as she wanted when he had rose her garments up and his hand slid underneath. Causing a sigh of satisfaction push through her lips and bounce off his own moist ones from there passing bind of lips locking.
"You know if you keep doing that I will have to teach you a lesson." She teased with playful bite to the end of his nose, closing her eyes when doing so.
As she reopened them she drew back from the mage and smiled brightly to his words. That she reached towards his face and cupped his cheeks once more and pushed her palms in slightly so his lips would pucker out. "You know what…" She began to state with a short lived pause, but she had attempted to be as serious as one could be before breaking into a girlish giggle and smile. "… I love you, and always will." She concluded as she leaned down, pressing her lips against his.
The mage hadn't really answered her about Leliana's insecurities of where she was. The moment for that answer had pretty much been passed since one distraction had lead to another. His attention was drawn back to Leliana as she held him in place; as if trying to keep her statement to appear truthful enough for him to believe her.
Anders did; because he wanted to and because she was the remaining love and kindness that he held dear from the rest of the world. He couldn't determine if she had the best of him, but he was going to try—especially since she was carrying his child. For the first thing he was going to do was to show his love and how much he had missed her throughout the rest of this remaining night.
Claiming her lips in a joined struggle, his hands began to loosen the small rope that was tied around her waistline, and slip it off. A soft growl of excitement curled from the back of his throat once their kiss had ended and he turned his lips momentarily towards her ear. "I think you've been wearing this for too long…"
It had been a couple of days Anders had stayed with Leliana at the 'Special Zone,' the only last remaining place mages willing to retaliate against the White Spire remained. While Anders really didn't care for tunnels or living in hovels, he found that it was still a more comfortable place than the Gallows.
For Leliana's protection and reassurance, he made it clear to the other men and women that were there to be aware of his lover and to acknowledge her as such with the highest respect equal to how much they have given him. She wasn't to take in any part of the fighting though, nor was Leliana really allowed beyond the gates of the 'Special Zone' either. Anders couldn't risk having her in any danger, nor to discover anything that he had preparing on the Surface above them.
However, as far as Anders's actual presence beyond that remained, he was actually spending about equal amounts of time on the surface above the city as he was back down below in his 'Special Zone.' The mage was pretty drained from the gradually escalating stress. There was a waiting army gathering their forces and a Viscount, a Knight Commander, and a First Enchanter that he had keep a close watch over. The only thing that was pressing him now was an act to move—but he wanted it done within the right time or else everything Anders had planned up to this point would have all been lost.
This stress had eventually forced out a grumpiness in Anders. Not that he had meant for it to, and really didn't want it shown around his lover, but there was no doubt that it was there. As through such times Justice normally took over him. He was spending longer amounts of time within the body of the mage, and taking over most of the tactical problems and words of patience to the armies waiting around him.
No one questioned Anders for what he was, because in truth a good portion of the mages he was working with were in fact blood mages. He would have been seen nearly as no different than the rest of them. So the only true order he could keep among the people was the same amount that Tevinter had for their own. The person in charged to enforce such tasks was a man named Jowan, a mage that Justice had learned later on to be a bloodmage who escaped from the Kirkwall Circle.
For the moment, Justice had been away and on the Surface of the City. He had claimed there were a few things he needed to take care of-which was in a sense somewhat of a truth. In actuality, he was retreating to try and talk more sense into Naomi. The two were always harsh rivals, so much to the point that a rough romance was pulled out of it. The determination Anders had to force Naomi to see that she was not "evil" was something driven into Justice by now, to the point where she was on his mind a great deal.
What's more, if Anders could choose who infatuated him then so could Justice. Leliana was a distraction. Justice has said this many times to her and everyone else. He has even thought of it as his means to try and keep some form of communication to Anders over the matter. However, Anders had never listened to him. Not once had he ever taken his advice on this race between maintaining his precious "humanity" and completing his promise to every mage and their loved ones in Thedas. There was a price to everything, and Justice was seeing that.
So, for the person to have continued to check on Leliana and to keep her company was Jowan. The bloodmage walked towards the hut, knowing that only the bard was there at the time. Of course Justice had left, which placed Leliana somewhat in Jowan's care. He knocked on the door lightly and waited for her to crack the door open to let him inside.
"Leliana?" He started to question from the other side of the door. "My name's Jowan. Um… Serah Anders told me to keep you company while he was gone… He also said to make sure you were eating well. Is it alright if I come in? I've brought some fruits and vegetables from the town's square."
Leliana attempted to make herself at home, the best she could. And she had felt more at ease when Anders had notified the other mages that she was his, and to see her in his light. Making things for her to go, well, more smoothly. When she could, and with Anders even near she would drag the mage along, so she could try to make friends, even an acquaintance would be nice! It was the right thing to do after all, seeing as how she hadn't known how long they would reside here. For whatever reason that was.
She found herself not asking to many questions, one due to Anders irritability and Justice taking over and suddenly leaving for what seemed hours on end. It brought her to question what that spirit was doing, but not to worry her mind to much on the matter and keep her mind at ease, for herself and the child which she was carrying.
But she had to admit, not being able to train nor fight was getting to her. Almost putting her in her own form of a grumpy phase, and watching from afar as the mages had trained among themselves. It was understandable why Anders wouldn't want her to fight, and train even. But still, it was boring just to sit there and watch.
And that's what she was doing now, peaking out through a crack in their tent towards the mages, hunched over some as her elbows planted firmly on her knee caps and her palms were used as a resting stool for her head. She sighed some, finding herself lost in her own state of mind. That if it wasn't for the unexpected voice calling from behind her, she wouldn't had taken a moment to glance over her shoulder in fright of being taken out of her current state.
"Jowan…" She thought to herself as she pushed herself off her sitting place and slowly trailed over towards the door. "Why does that name sound so familiar." She whispered, and halted at the door as her mind concentrated further on the name. Maybe it was a mage she had heard of, that had to be it. Right? Summarizing this in her mind she nodded to herself and reached out to open the door… … And then her eyes met him. Blinking a few times, stunned at the sight before her and her first reaction wanted to slam the door in his face. As a overwhelming shock washed over her. But she froze, and overlooked the mage with wandering eyes before finally stepping to the side.
"Jowan…?" She whispered realizing now where she knew this name from. It clearly wasn't from being in this hidden place, but of when the Warden was so kind to free him back in Redcliff. She remembered it all too well actually. Him denying he had anything to do with Connor's possession, and the Arl's illness, but of course Leliana wasn't completely convinced, but she wasn't one to argue with Aragorn when he believed in something so strong. Which had confused her too! Since the man despised blood mages.
"Come on in." She finally added after a long pause of stating his name waving of her other hand, to guide the blood mage through. She knew things were different now, and Jowan was probably a different person now, maybe beside still having the skills of a blood mage, after all she remembered him saying he didn't wish for those things on the Arl or his son. So she couldn't hold it over his head after… How many years? Ten?
"Make yourself at home… I've no clue how long Anders will be gone… So the company is appreciated." She cheerfully said, and begun to stride in the dwelling to sit on an open chair. "Thank you for the, food. Though I wish Anders wouldn't worry. He has a lot on his mind as it is."
"I fear I may know more of the rumors of the man than the actual truth." Jowan smiled sheepishly to the thought and bowed his head some upon entering the hovel. He turned to close the door for the time being and then followed after Leliana to make certain that her food supply would be within well's—reach.
"I hear he's ripped Ogres apart with just his high magical aptitude alone…! He has the accent of a Ferelden too, and the Blight did start bringing those creatures in on foot; so it's not something I'd question much. The only thing that I have a hard time of grasping is his title. Many people claim him of the Anderfels, but he doesn't seem like a man who's spent much time there."
He placed the basket of goodies on the table, close to Leliana so that she wouldn't have to strain in any part of herself in order to grasp which fruit or vegetable that she wanted. Jowan's eyes had glanced down some then, and he grasped the backrest of the chair across from her and pulled it out so that he could sit down. He was intent on any continued conversation and to make sure that Leliana stayed within the hovel.
"I remember you from Redcliff." He smiled some and reached up slightly to scratch his head a bit at the memory. "Of course, it's been too long since then… How is Ferelden doing, by the way? Have you been there recently? I've spent most of my life running and hiding from those lands."
Leliana couldn't help but chuckle lightly from Jowan's words of Anders magical aptitude. Hearing him from others, being put on this pedestal had brought a smile to her lips. Since she knew not only the man of power, but of what was underneath. And she loved every inch of him, even if he had an accent of Ferelden, home of the famous wet dog smell. "Yes that voice of his is very alluring." She responded, but raised a brow to his question on him being from Anderfels, she had never really questioned his origin much at least enough to convince Jowan, so she really could reassure the blood mage, and instead shrugged her shoulders to this.
When the food before her was set down she smiled with excitement, and reached in quickly with shifting hands from one fruit to a vegetable to a fruit again until she choose her wanted one. An apple, she overlooked the deep red hues, not taking much thought any longer into knowing Jowan from Redcliff. But when he had said such, it brought her emerald hues to peak over the apple, in mid-bite.
"Oh… Right…" She whispered, but smiled some due to the thought being put to her mind. "I remember, Isolde had you in that cell to be either killed by those walking corpses or just starved." She added with a shake of her head. "I swear I never got that woman from the get-go; locking you away as she did. Sure her kid was possessed but it's not like it was your fault… Right? Since she didn't want to send her only son to the Circle." She paused, retracting a arm around her stomach at the thought. "But I can understand her, I suppose. Not wanting to lose a child."
"… Anywho! Let's go and do something, yes?" She pleaded as she shoved an edge of the apple to bite, after all she knew she wasn't going to get rid of the mage that easily.
But before she could even stand and begin after him, she was halted by the sudden swoosh sound passing her ears, that she glanced about the area. Seeing nothing, she put her eyes on Jowan. And saw something hanging out his neck, a dart. Almost immediately she began to rush towards the mage that would otherwise crumble to the ground. "Crap, crap, crap! Where did that come from!?" She exclaimed in a frantic manner, as she rushed towards the blood mage kneeling near his side.
"From me." Spoke a voice from behind the rouge as a hooded figure stood behind her.
Leliana paused almost on cue from hearing a voice come from behind her. Obviously her senses were very lacking at this moment as she hadn't even heard this person help themselves in. "And who are you!?" She responded, with shock held in her voice as she turned to the stranger, as she waved a pointing accusing finger.
A low chuckle slipped past the hooded male, as he looked past Leliana to make sure the mage had been fully at rest before reveling himself. "It's me Aragorn." With that, he reached up and pulled his hood back and smiled brightly to the rouge.
Leliana's frustrated expression slowly, yet quickly changed to a thrilled one as she rose from her kneeling position and rushed towards the Warden, giving a welcoming hug. As she pulled back, she stepped aside to look to her thankful closed door, and then back to Aragorn. "How did you get here unseen? And how did you know where to find me!?"
The Warden pointed to his cloak and lastly to Leliana's stomach, which caused her to wrap an arm around her stomach through her light giggle. "Right… I didn't know you could feel the taint though…" She admitted rather sheepishly.
"Well there are many things you don't know."
Leliana raised her brows questionably at this statement, but shrugged it off quickly as she asked her new minded question. "Then why are you here?"
"I have to tell you something. It's about Anders, or Justice; whichever you want to look at it." He began to state with a crossing of his arms, as he kept a watchful eye on the mage.
"What about him, is he okay?"
"Yes, it's just…" He began to start, pausing to sigh. In which brought Leliana to step forward in curiosity. "I know how devoted you are to Anders, but… His inner persona is obviously not over the Champion."
"So?" Leliana questioned, not catching on as quickly as the Warden had hoped.
"Meaning I saw your man, in Justice form lip locking it with the Champion."
Leliana froze, blinking a few times as she hadn't taken notice right away to her drooping mouth. "… So, we kissed when I was with Anders, and—"
"That's different, I kissed you, and you didn't kiss me back. Don't you see he obviously still has a thing for her."
Leliana took what he had to say in, but tried not to take what he said to heart. After all he said he was Justice at the time, meaning he wasn't all there, right? "But you said it was Justice."
"So, do you really think if Justice has feeling for her that Anders wouldn't, the hard as stone spirit none the less!?"
Leliana stepped back, running a hand through her crimson lock as she tugged at the ends and released them to look from the corner of her eyes to the Warden. "Why are you telling me this?"
"To hopefully put some light on the matter, make you see Anders for what he is. So you won't get hurt later on. From his pursued desires—"
"Okay, okay. Just shut up." She pleaded and found rest at her last place, her chair to sulk her head.
Aragorn sighed as he reached back rubbing the nape of his neck. "Leli…" He started with a pause. "I hate to do this to you, come to you like this and tell you something that could hurt you… Come back with me? We've been worried about you, and this place. It's not you…"
"And what's me?" She began to question as she glanced up to Aragorn with a tilted head.
Aragorn halted in his tracks, blinking rather stunned a few times, at least that was until he picked up his pace and neared the rouge and kneeled in front of her, taking in her hands with his, in attempt to grab her attention. "You're a wonderful, amazing woman. Someone that doesn't deserve this… … This hiding, come back with me… I'll take care of you, and even the unborn child." He stated and with one hand he reached out to brush his hand along her stomach in a coaxing rub.
Leliana paused in a shocked manner, as she slowly tilted her head up, meeting his eyes in the same shock which she was feeling. Was he really trying to still win her over? She hoped by now he would of given up. "Do you really think I can just leave Anders, while I'm carrying his child…" She questioned, as she shook her head left to right before dropping it again. "Let me talk to him first. I need to know his reason."
It wasn't what Aragorn was aiming for but it was better than nothing. After all, he needed and wanted to keep the rouge safe. Even if it meant keeping her away from the one he called friend; if he could be allowed to call him that now.
"Alright… You know where to find us if needed." He reassured and released the rouge from his hold as he started to stand to his soles to trail towards the exit. But made due to make sure his hood covered his features before opening the door. "Err. Be sure to pull that dart out… I don't want the mage getting an overdose."
Leliana had shook her head in disbelief and nodded her head to him, watching as he took his leave from the hut and into the amidst of mages. Though she kept her eyes to the door a little while longer, she sighed. Finally pushing herself up and bringing herself to Jowan to hopefully end his unseen slumber.
It really had been hours before the serum was even close to wearing off on Jowan. By that time, Justice had returned to the hovel and looked around the inner building. He inspected it, with his eyes still glowing and casting imaged shadows over the walls. Though the hovel was still very well lit, it was lit by the candles that slowly burned there. He looked down towards Jowan how had been moved to sleep back into the chair and onto the table. Justice placed a firm hand over the man and gently gave his shoulder a small shake.
"On your guard, man. There is little time for rest here." He spoke in his usual slightly booming voice, which would have jolted any person who was already awake.
Jowan yawned some and rubbed his sore neck. Upon sitting up, he started to rub his eyes and looked towards Justice's direction. "Man… My neck hurts… And I'm still tired…? How long was I out for?"
"That's a good question." Justice said and narrowed his eyes slightly, as though to have studied him. His eyes then shifted back towards the door for the meantime and he spoke again. "Take the rest of the evening off. I'm sure it's safe to pick up shifts in the morning."
"Right… Thanks, General…" Jowan said between another yawned and got up to leave.
Justice turned, watching to make sure that Jowan was walking out safely. He waited until the man had left before finally turning towards the rest of the hovel and leaned his staff against the wall. He sighed some, reaching up to unbutton the feathered shall from around his shoulders and removed the cloak before at last taking off his shirt.
"Strange… He never sleeps during his shifts…" He spoke openly, bypassing Leliana on his way.
The possessed spirit moved Anders's body to the remaining basin to wash his hands and face—something that was more of a meditative practice for himself before doing more heavy thinking. As his thoughts remained constantly on the alert (for different reasons), he paused upon reaching for the towel and dried his face.
"Woman. Has that mage been sleeping on his job long?" He addressed to Leliana openly abrasive and tossed the towel back onto the cluttered counter before turning around to face her. The candlelight revealed only teasing sights of his well-toned skin, where the cracks of glowing light that spread over him remained too direct to elude any ambiance.
When Aragorn had left the hut, Leliana had done as he asked and almost right away that the dart was removed and well disposed of. Somewhere she knew Justice, Jowan nor Anders couldn't find it. After all if the mage had found out Aragorn was here, he would be angered, right? And she really didn't want to cause any friction between the two. And ultimately make it to where Aragorn would be in danger, which she didn't want.
She had to admit though, she had a lot of think to think things over, with Jowan out for the count gave her a lot of thinking time. A part of her knew Aragorn was doing this and telling her this to win her back, at least what his hopes were; and another part to keep her safe, as he said. But keep her safe from what; a broken, a shattered soul and heart? Didn't Aragorn do that to her, so what gave him the right to try and look after her now? But even after all this time, she had known the man for many years, helped him against the blight, and he listened to her endless stories as she listened to his cries and heart throbbing ones of losing his family. So she couldn't just ignore his word, not with the past they had.
Sighing some, Leliana dipped down sulking her shoulders into the table; as her palms concealed her features. She hadn't peaked through her covering of hands to look to the footsteps that neared the duo, she figured it was Justice/Anders. So she hadn't fully shifted her head up to look at the incoming person. And amazingly enough, Leliana hadn't said a word when Jowan had commented about his painful neck, or sudden feeling of tiredness.
She just waited until the mage had left to shift her spine back to the chair and fold her arms over her chest, while her hues shot to the corner of her sockets. She flinched some at the 'woman' statement he threw at, but again… Said nothing. It was unlike her to not speak, especially when the mage had returned from being gone hours at end. And instead of answering Justice she closed her eyes, shifted her cranium to the side away from the mage as she parted her lips. "So how is your friend the Champion, or should I call her your secret lover?"
The slight eyebrow Justice had cocked towards the question given to him was slightly one of surprise. He hadn't really expected anything except an answer from her. Instead he was being questioned over a completely different topic, and certainly of one he didn't anticipate. A part of him wanted to have brushed off the question and then to demand an answer about Jowan's condition—since such things were important to know. The other half of himself had the notion to merely entertain her curiosity, since she did seem to request it.
"She's just swell." He answered in a rather blunt tone but seemed vague to really define his relationship with Naomi. "A bit rattled with having to deal with the Viscount's current demands but nothing she claims she can't handle… But I didn't return here to still have her annoyance in my thoughts."
He moved forward and walked to where Leliana was sitting down. Looking her over with a slight tilt of his head, Justice remained looming over her. He could feel her anger radiating off from her like a slow boiling point, and while he understood the reasoning for it, at the same time he couldn't figure it out. Justice didn't feel that he had to answer this woman no more than he had to answer to anyone else. He was a 'cause; a movement' and he wasn't one to be judged by anyone he didn't want to judge him.
"Now that I've answered your question, answer mine." He said and started to fold his arms. "It is important to know how long that bloodmage has been slacking off on his duties. For all I know, he can be conversing with a demon and may need to be put down."
Leliana's lower lid twitched at the mentioning of Naomi was 'just swell' and he completely had done a 360 around the rest of her question, sure he answered her question to a point. But not the way she wished. So she sighed and readjusted her sitting position before shifting her cranium slightly towards the possessed mage, and peaked through one open eye to him. It was so hard for her to be, straight forward with him. Knowing that Anders was under there somewhere, but it was Justice who she was irate with, at least mostly at this point. Who knew what she would be like if she had even got a confession out of the spirit.
"He's not conversing with demons." She reassured in a whispered tone. As she had finally averted her hues to the forefront of the hut and pressed her palms against the arm rests of the chair to help her up from her sitting position. "Actually…" She began with a pause in her walk towards a bin, that she kneeled down and began shifting through it carefully. When she rose, she held between her fingers the used dart which Aragorn had used, and she flashed it towards the male. "I used this on him… I actually have been for some time now; I just forgot to take it out in enough time so he would be awake when you returned." She added with a nod of her head. "That's the reason I'm asking about you and Naomi… Do you really think you could keep me down here, and me be a good little girl and sit by and wait for you to return?" She finished with a poke to his chest with her empty hand, and with her other that held the dart, she tossed that aside, possibly on the table it wasn't completely clear to her as she just threw it without looking.
Huffing some, Leliana turned upon her heel so her back now faced him and she once again crossed her arms and paced towards the counter, taking hold of two mugs, and pitcher of water, pouring herself a glass, and then another for Justice/Anders. As she set the pitcher down, she reached out taking hold of each glass in her hand and trailed back towards the mage, holding out the drink to him. "I have another confession… When you leave, so do I. To the surface and watch over you, or even have others do it for me… And I know you kissed the Champion… So would you like to tell me what that's all about?"
Justice felt his bottom jaw tightening some upon the moment that Leliana had flashed to him the dart. While he was a bit relieved that he wouldn't have to confront Jowan about any possible demonic possessions or conversations, the thought of Leliana sneaking out wasn't exactly easing his mind any better. Anders wouldn't want her leaving the 'Special Zone' since it was the only safety he could provide for her, and if Justice came close to even uttering the word for her to leave, he'd never hear/feel the end of it from his other half.
He leaned back some and turned to watch as the woman stood up afterwards and headed to the table. His eyes momentarily blinked and then narrowed from the wound of the dart rattling a shaky landing on the surface. It was yet another glare; which wasn't anything new—but it seemed to stem from a moment of surprise. To think Leliana had the audacity to talk him down in anything or to chew him out for his behavior (well in this sense—anyway) was outrageous to him. Though after a while, he followed after her, glancing down at the water that was handed to him.
"I don't appreciate being spied on." He stated and looked down to the water, almost suspiciously-especially after Leliana's confession of using sleeping/poisonous darts on the very people assigned to watch over her. Shifting back towards the table, he placed the glass down and turned back to her once more.
"And what I do is my own business…" His glowing eyes shifted towards the door coldly as he continued.
"Anders put you here for your protection against Starkhaven and any stray Templar or Seeker. Personally, woman, if you can't accept what's capably offered to you, then you can just as easily walk out that door. I won't stop you, but don't you ever dare attempt to come back! This place is the last remaining haven for those Anders believes he can protect. I aim to keep faith in that belief no matter the cost."
"I don't see the point in your frustration. You have a warm bed, freedom, and hot meals each day… far more than what most mages expect to have all at once in their lifetimes. Are you such a hypocrite to be that flustered over where one's lips have been?" Justice questioned and reached out, cupping the bottom of her chin to force Leliana to look at him.
His glare hadn't softened in the least, but his eyes did remained locked against hers. Tracing his thumb underneath her bottom lip, he touched along the silken skin to feel her lips' softness. Remaining silent for the moment, his glance momentarily dropped towards her mouth and then his expression had somewhat dulled.
"If I was to silence you… it would be your first time, wouldn't it?" He questioned and started to lean forward to her; leaving a light trace of his thumb over her lip in his indication. "It wouldn't be the first time for me, but it may be my last time with you."
Leliana glanced over to the side of which Justice had sent down the water, and fixated her eyes on it a moment longer, while listening to his response to her. She couldn't help but crack a smile, if a small one when he had spoken of her spying on him. Thank the maker he bought it, since she really didn't want to mention the Wardens name nor think it since she was afraid in all this anger she might blurt it out. But finally either way she shifted her cranium back to him, as her eyes still held the same glare and frustration as they had since he had arrived. "And I don't appreciate being treated as seconds."
Again she shifted her head to the side, as she had only wanted to look at Justice/Anders when she replied to him. At least some of the time, so he just knew how angry she was about this whole matter. But she couldn't help but shake her head next at his next words of Anders keeping her here for her protection. Was he trying to pull a guilt trip? Because that's what it seemed. But what had really gotten her, is when he spoke of her leaving, thus bringing her heart to stall and her to glance up from the corner of her sockets. She knew Justice was cold, and yes harsh. But still hearing it come out from Anders form, even if it wasn't him still brought her more silence than before.
"Don't you think Anders would be upset with you, if you allowed me just to. Walk out? …Don't get me wrong, I would never leave Anders, even if you tried to force me…"
It was true she should have been more grateful for what she had, for all she knew, she could of still been locked away in that cell. But she was human, had human emotions, and being a woman of pregnancy brought those to heighten even higher. "Don't act as if I'm not thankful for what I have." She began to response with a wave of her finger. "I—"
She began to continue but when she felt the warmth of Anders fingers brush across her, but with Justices doing. Brought her to freeze in place, what caught most of her attention were the eyes glistening like starry night through hers, bringing a harsh gulp to force its way down her throat. She hadn't heard his last words, but more so of his statement of her being a hypocrite which rang in her ears more than anything else. Causing Leliana to step back, thrash her head to the side and with the cup which was held in her hand, she tossed all while closing her eyes. All she heard after was a shattering noise, most likely the mug braking into several piece as she quickly shifted herself around. "Don't touch me… Why don't you just let Anders come back in possession of his body I'm done talking to you?"
Feeling the glass shatter upside his forehead and a shard cutting deep into his skin caused him to flinch. His lip had curled into a sneer, but not so much from being hit—rather than of her statement. Leliana was still implying that she could not accept Justice's actions being the same as Anders's own. That was a common fury that he and Anders had both shared in arguments many times against others many times before. After all, there was no exceptional way to describe themselves of being separate no more than being combined completely.
Without taking his strength into consideration, the spirit's grasp around Leliana's shoulders had tightened quickly. Within one fell swoop, he slammed her back against the table and took her wrists into his hands. From there he kept her pinned, and due to his kneeling forward, his waist had pressed slightly against her own.
"I AM Anders!" He scowled briefly in the sudden pike of anger. His eyes glared down into hers, still with heavy frustration. "I see and feel everything that he does. Every desperate murmur and every moan expelled from those lips, I have had echo in his ears. My ears."
Justice lowered his head down and upon that moment, gave in—at least briefly—to the deepened feelings he knew that belonged to Anders's soul. Such things proved difficult to fight from each other, after all. He pressed his lips to hers in a forceful and fiery kiss. It was a heated growing tension that built from frustration; certainly not the sweet and tender gentleness that Anders had always offered. When he slowly had lifted his kiss, his eyes opened back up, reflecting the light blue ambiance glow back into her hues as well.
"How is it you are to deny me? His passion for you is as much his as it is mine." He spoke surprisingly softer and tilted his head down towards the swell of her breasts. Justice started to sigh, feeling his anger calm—and even for a brief moment weaken; which was pulling Anders slightly awake. "…Leliana…"
Though before his lips could touch her skin, the image of Naomi calling for Anders in an endearing cry caused him to halt in his actions. He froze; feeling the fleeting moment of Anders even possibly awaking dashed away. Justice could barely even feel the blood from his injury gliding down his forehead. He just remained there momentarily, staring at her skin. Justice hadn't said anything though. He merely slid off from her and looked away. His footsteps carried himself towards the bed, where he slumped down and tried to sleep. The image in his mind, he needed to block it out for now.
Leliana couldn't help but winch from the sudden shove, and pinning down motion. Her first reaction was to reach out and smack next. But the spirit had thought ahead of time, taking her writs in hand making her immobile for the time being. Sure she could of used her legs even, but one reason stopped her, it being a very low move even for her, and her mind was also to clouded to think of such of a way to defend herself.
She glanced down towards his nearing body, and her eyes had widened. Not of fear but realizing as to where this was going. Sure she had teased Anders before of having moments like this with Justice but none of them were ever true and she had never thought of any of her words would come true, she just didn't seem to see Justice to act in this way. She wasn't sure what to say to Justice, as he spoke of him being Anders, hearing everything which spilled out and filled his ears. But she couldn't help but almost be lost in his words. As she was now looking up to him, no longer with the look of frustration, or anger but more so confusion. And even a part of her had almost wanted to apologize for her 'jealously' tendencies, almost.
She couldn't fight it, either it being his words which changed her train of thought, or something else. It seemed as if her muscles had loosened and she otherwise dropped her arms even if they were still in a bind. Her head tilted up, with her lips in a welcoming meet to his. It was true, it was unlike Anders gentle ones, something foreign yet the touch of Anders lips were all the same, maybe this is why she couldn't fight it. And if what Justice said what was true, then maybe Anders was able to experience this moment no matter how odd. When they broke, she had a moment to at least open her eyes from their molding kiss to glance down. And instead of shock which should have been coursing through her veins, it was passion to be held, and touched as he was about to do. That the whisper of her name being bounced off her slight heaving mounds, brought her to still.
She hadn't even taken notice right away to Anders slight awakening until the spirit had decided to walk away, and she was left there to think to herself leaning against the edge of the table. "Did, you…" She began to question, but shook her head not wanting to upset Justice worse than he was, not after arguing either.
After a moment, Leliana pushed herself off the table and stepped towards Justice hesitantly. As she took her slow and steady steps, she heard a crack emit from underneath the sole of her foot, not only causing her to winch due to being barefooted, but to look up from the broken pieces to Justice. And there she saw the blood streak down the side of his brow.
Slowly she hobbled over to the counter and took hold of a cloth along with some water poured into a bowl, damping the cloth as she neared the mage she pleaded. "Let me clean you up?" As she began to ring out the cloth in hand and sit on the edge of the bed awaiting his call to allow her or deny her of her help, to help him.
He groaned some, keeping his back to her and was facing the other side of the wall once he was laying down. His chest and shoulders were wet from the water that was splashed on him from earlier, but he hadn't seemed to show any notice of himself caring about it. His eyes were closed, but he could hear Leliana's questioning. He was just grateful to himself in the thought that his injury was on the opposite side; one of which he didn't have to put any weigh on.
He hadn't taken into consideration that there may have been a glass shard still embedded deep into his forehead. This normally was such a blow that could have very well killed if the shard was big and deep enough; though none of this was ever really put into thought. The entire past ten minutes were all pretty much ran from pure adrenaline, which normally numbed most pain anyway. All Justice knew for certain was that his head was throbbing, but that could have truthfully been the cause from anything.
"Just leave me alone, Woman. Your precious other half will awaken eventually." He grumbled and closed his eyes. Justice figured the sooner he could avoid Leliana, the sooner he could block out thoughts of Naomi—and in the end result in a faster track of awakening Anders. He sighed a little and tightened his hug around himself in the preparation for sleep.
"If I knew how to control when and how Anders becomes conscious, I would have allowed it long before now. It has to do with emotions… I take charge of them when he obviously cannot. When his strength returns, so will he." The Spirit stated rather bluntly; though not as an insult—but mere honesty, since 'Justice' was considered Anders's explained 'frenzy' on many occasions.
Leliana let out her own set of a groan as she had heard his woman statement… Again. She had told him possibly a million times she had a name. Giving a hint she would be grateful if he has used it. It's not like she called him demon, or spirit for Makers sake. Either way she didn't take his words for her next action and instead pushed forward, as she set down the bowl near the bedside and still with the cloth in hand she scooted/crawled and slithered over to him until she had met close enough to his back to give a tug at his shoulder to attempt to pull him down and get a better view at the wound she caused.
"We need to clean it up, whether you want to or not." She responded as she raised up a hand that grasped his jawline to shift his head to the side so she could give herself more accessibility to the gash. From there she examined it. Taking her hand from his jaw and gently searching for any glass shards. A sigh of relief fell over her as she saw none and sat back on her knelled legs, situating herself comfortably before taking her hand which had the dampened cloth to begin the cleaning.
The rouge arched a curious brow to his words of Anders emotions, and him being able to take over when he was least venerable, it had made sense. To her, seeing as every time Justice had come out was when Anders was angry. So she had already noticed this, but never had she been told when and how the mage could come to have his body back persay. It was all really a guessing game to her to try and figure such things out, as she really didn't want to pester Anders with such questions, as there was always something else going on at the time.
"You know…" She began to whisper back with a pause, with her diligent hand still working away at cleaning his somewhat dried blood and still newly spilled blood as well. "We should just put this behind us? I mean if I'm going to stick around there's no point in us arguing about this, right? After all the stress isn't needed."
Justice was growling from the tug of his chin being pulled into one direction, but not really fighting against her either. It was a long disgruntled sigh rumbling deep from his chest to show displeasure; a beast willing to the foreign touch but not nearly in the better of moods to be handled from the social interaction of it. He remained silent, feeling the wet cloth being pressed against his skin. Justice closed his eyes, but the slight sneer on his face remained.
"Your stress is different from mine." He responded after listening to her attempts for peace between them. "You carry the child of a mage within your physical burdens. That is something—in this body—I wish no part in physically experiencing."
Something placed a slight pressure against his injury; and though his first reaction (if it would have been Anders) would have been to yelp, Justice didn't display even the slightest to be satisfied. Instead, his eyebrows furrowed together, and after a while he lifted his hand over hers to guide away the cloth from his wound. Covering it, his hand started to glow in a healing spell, and soon the actual wound was quickly healed. Once it was done, he reached towards the grasp she had over his chin and lifted it to pluck her hold away so that he could turn and relax back to his side once more.
"It's done." He announced out loud and soon turned away; opening his eyes momentarily before closing them again. "Now, unless you need healing, leave me be… Go do whatever it is women do… but stay within the 'Special Zone' and take heed to my warning. Too many have given their lives just to keep this area a secret. If you leave this haven again you'll crush this heart…and you won't be allowed back."
He paused some and glanced from over his shoulder towards her once the silence started to settle in between them. "And stop drugging your guard. We have enough problems from the Templars than having to question our own people's safety from each other…"
Leliana took little notice to Justice's irritated-ness and had mostly kept her attention to the gash in his brow. She had no idea how she was going to explain this wound to Anders when he came too, so thinking of something was probably the best thing to do. Figuring as it would keep her from arguing further with the spirit. But this hadn't lasted very long seeing as he happened to begin his talking to her yet again. Causing the rouge to drop her hand to her side which held the cloth and look to him as he spoke to her.
"You're right, my stress is different than your own. But that doesn't make them any more or less than each other's." She responded.
Shaking her head she pushed forward again, cleansing the scrape and was then surprised by the slight push he gave her hand, causing the rouge to sit back and watch as he healed the wound. A slight smile began to form at the corner of her lips as she scooted towards the edge of the bed. Seeing as Justice had turned a shoulder to her. Causing her to shift until she stood to her feet, taking the bowl in her hands that was placed on the ground and laying the clothe in the water, watching as it sank to the bottom.
She nodded to his words, as she set the bowl down on the table and took a moment to glance back towards his back which faced her. Even though she had possibly cut her foot on the shards from walking up to him in a concerned manner; she still didn't want to ask him for any favors.
"I'm fine…" She lied with a slightly smile pulling at her lips. "Just… Rest?" She suggested curiously as she stepped forward to put some kind of footwear on and begin to trail toward the exit/entrance. "And I won't drug anyone anymore, I promise." She responded with a slight huff pushing out her lips. "Just don't push me to have to watch you… I'm going out, not far. Just to give you some alone time to yourself." She concluded and grasped towards the door to take her leave.
The door had closed, and outside the land had seemed peaceful. No one was staring towards the hut or to Leliana anymore. They had seemed to have gotten use to her presence, and understood that she was to be taken care of above mostly of anything else. So, the evening's routine of keeping the fires warm for cooking, telling camp stories and cleaning remained while the would-be soldiers were practicing throwing sticks and rocks to better their aim when channeling ice spears later.
There was a lot of talk about a woman searching through the sewer holds of Darktown, in search of a mage. They say she was nowhere near the old Clinic to the famous 'Anders' but she had never broken though the last barrier in order to find whoever she was looking for. They also had said she was a pirate, who looked more desperate than any noticeably Templar. Still, her search was to remain unanswered for the mages were not about to stick their necks out for just anyone. It was the talk of the paranoid city, sharing the tale over and over again.
"Have you heard about the pirate woman searching for our Icon?" One of the men had questioned to Jowan after handing him a warm mug of mead to soothe his aching neck.
"Yes, yes… I know all about the paranoid tales of the woman. Obviously another trap. No sense in sticking our necks out for something that pretty." Jowan stated and took a sip from his cup.
"She claims she's not working with the Templar's though; just a poor woman in trouble." The man frowned some and leaned forward in his slight whisper. "I hear she swears to be discrete as well."
Jowan choked some and started to laugh, looking back to him. "Discrete? Have you seen her cleavage?"
The man opposite from him blinked some and stepped back; heading towards his seat near the fire. "So then… You've seen her already…?"
"I figured everyone has at least seen her once…" Jowan shrugged after lowering his mug once more.
As Leliana trailed outside she was clearly not sure where to go; seeing as how she mostly stayed in the hut till now. But she couldn't stay there, since she didn't want to be arguing any longer. And tossing another mug at Justice would of seemed appealing if he happened to continue to frustrate her again.
She hadn't pay much attention to those around her, as she mostly kept her hues shifted down towards the ground; watching her steps and nothing more. And if it wasn't for Jowan's voice she wouldn't have lifted her gaze up to look to the familiar voice.
She quickly scanned the area, blinking a few times in search for the mage, and eventually her eyes came to him. And she smiled briefly, coming up with the thought of passing the time speaking with the mage, and she had picked up her pace and trailed towards the male and whom he was talking to. But she couldn't help but overheard as she stepped closer, making the rouge shift her head to the side as she crossed her arms over her chest in a questionable manner while listening, not giving notice she was standing behind him just yet.
Was he talking about her favorite little pirate? It clearly would be the only pirate who was looking for Anders and who would claim to be discrete, even with her nicely put structure on her chest. She couldn't keep it in any longer, and extended an arm to tap the mage on the shoulder to grasp his attention. "Feeling any better?" She asked curiously, dropping her arm back down to her side as she stepped up and sat next to the mage, joining herself in this conversation.
"Are you talking about a pirate by the name of Isabela?" She continued to question, as she leaned in, not waiting for a reply seeing as it clearly would be the only pirate looking for their 'idol' "You know if you want we can go see her, she knows me. And it might be helpful to everyone to tag me along if you ask for her help. In whatever she is offering."