Chapter four.
Anders
Anders could feel his mana slipping away, pouring out of his hands, his reserves depleting far too quickly as he struggled to heal the boy. The child was wasting away and required extensive healing, at the parent's begs and sobs Anders had continued, only stopping to chug the occasional lyrium potion as he poured his magic into the child. He drew on Justice's resolve, on his strength and his power and poured everything he had into the boy, praying to the Maker it would be enough.
Just as he thought he would collapse, the boy woke and took a huge gulp of air. The boy sat up slowly, slightly dazed and his parents embraced him, showering him in kisses. They all looked up and smiled at Anders as he slumped back against one of the pillars in his clinic. That look of pure elation always made his work worth it, knowing he had saved a life.
Anders had never been able to stay in one place for very long. He didn't like being controlled or corralled or pushed around. He'd always been a free spirit, a wanderer, constantly moving from one place to the next. But since merging with Justice he had found a sense of purpose, he ceased his aimless travels and escapes and finally had a reason to stay put somewhere. And for that he was very grateful.
Despite being exhausted he was suddenly on edge, Justice pressing at his mind, desperate for control. Anders pushed him down, but drew on his strength as he grabbed his staff and swivelled around to face the armed people now entering his clinic.
"I HAVE MADE THIS A PLACE OF HEALING AND SALVATION! WHY DO YOU THREATEN IT?" he bellowed at the intruders, Justice fuelling him.
"Well, we must have that look about us, Varric. Not even been here two seconds and we're already threatening stuff!" the woman that stood in front of the group chimed, making the dwarf to her right and the woman in the guard-armour laugh.
He looked at the woman that was staring at him sarcastically. She was Fereldan, he could tell that much with her pale skin. She was a beautiful woman, and the kind that a year ago Anders would have followed to the end of Thedas he thought to himself as he admired her red lips and playful green eyes.
This one uses her daggers to deceive you. She is a mage. Justice said bluntly to Anders whose eyes widened. A mage that was ashamed of her powers, another reason that his plight was so important! The Templars and the damn Chantry had bullied mages into blood magic and resorting to this sort of hiding. Anders wondered what had happened to the mage to make her completely abandon her powers and wear such a mask.
The dwarf and the guardswoman looked amused at their leader, whereas the boy at the back looked at Anders and only Anders as if he was the danger in the room.
"I find a mage that hides the fact she is a mage accompanied by warriors to be somewhat threatening. Ever tried knocking?" Anders asked, harshly. He would not befriend this woman.
"I did once and no one answered and pretended to be out! I was so sad! And oh Maker you've found out my secret, are you going to clap me in irons and send me to the Gallows?" she said playfully, raising her eyebrow again.
"Yes, and whilst I'm there I'm going to declare my love to the Knight-Commander and ask for her hand in marriage!" Anders laughed, dropping his guard.
"Ooooh! Can I be a bridesmaid? I'll throw the petals down as she walks up the altar chanting the rite of tranquillity! It'll be beautiful!" the woman retorted back, making Anders laugh even more.
"Do not drop your guard to this mage so quickly Anders, you do not know why she is here. She could be with the Wardens!" Justice bellowed in Ander's mind, making him wince.
Anders stopped laughing now and stared at the woman before him.
"You still haven't answered my question. Are you with the Wardens? I am not going back to the blighted Wardens, they made me get rid of my cat!" Anders snorted, angry with the memory of the new Orlesian commander that had replaced the Queen of Ferelden and how he had got angry at Anders and Ser-Pounce-a-lot saying that the cat had made him soft.
"I am not with the Wardens. I-wait they made you get rid of your cat?" she said with a coy grin.
"Anders do not drop your guard down again with this woman." Justice warned him.
"If you are not Grey Wardens then what do you want from me?" Anders asked, staring at the woman who in an instance went from coy to serious.
"We heard that you had maps for entrances to the Deep Roads, I would like to buy them," she said, her eyes watching for Ander's reaction.
Maker, she had beautiful eyes, Anders thought. They reminded him of Ferelden, of the green hills in the summer.
"I have no interest in your gold," he stated, and yet he was still staring into her eyes. Electricity sparked even though he felt Justice try to rein it in. For a moment, he felt like he did a year ago.
"This girl influences your thoughts too much already. Although her aid to get your fellow mage out of the Chantry as a trade for the maps she desires seems a lot safer than the plan you had for us to storm in," Justice said, his voice seemed on tenterhooks, well as much as Justice's voice could be.
"Although a favour for a favour…does that sound like a fair deal?" he asked her, still examining her face and eyes.
"It does, as long as it doesn't involve children or animals, then I am your girl!" she said playfully, smiling slightly.
The boy behind her seemed disgusted at the banter that he and the woman were sharing, as if it was insulting to see her laugh like this. Maybe he saw Anders as a threat; he did seem quite skittish, looking at the way out and Anders a lot.
"I came to Kirkwall to aid a fellow mage who is trapped in the wretched gallows. I suspect the Templars know something of my plans as they have doubled their patrols recently and he has not been able to pass me as many messages lately.
Help me get him out and you will have your maps." Anders replied, not allowing himself to be taken in by her charms. The woman had left Justice irked and that did not happen very often, he could still feel that Justice was annoyed. But that did not bother him as much as it used to, he smiled at the way she said your girl.
"That seems reasonable to me, just tell me where and when," she answered.
"Tomorrow at the Chantry at night, I will meet you in the courtyard. You never told me your name." Anders pointed out.
"No. I did not, but I tell you nonetheless since you asked me so politely. I am Hawke. My brother is the warrior behind me, he is Carver. The charming dwarf is Varric and the guardswoman is Aveline." She introduced them and they all murmured hellos. Anders got the impression they were not so keen on him, not as much Hawke was. She seemed like the sort of person who was energetic about most things.
"My name is Anders," he stated back to them.
"Well, Anders. I must go and get myself into more mischief for now, but I shall see you tomorrow!" she promised a glint of roguery.
He watched her walk out of the clinic and found himself lingering on the door.
"She will not want you Anders, especially if she finds out about me," Justice whispered sternly.
"Oh shut up," Anders muttered out loud and went back to his duties.