If Anders had thought Beau was done with the questions, he was sorely mistaken. She had dropped the topic for the moment and left him to do whatever it was he did when he wasn't swamped with patients and returned home. She had plenty to think about.

She also was finding that she had plenty to do. Aveline, pleased with her success at dealing with some pesky Hightown bandits, had offered her another job. Another job completely off the books because she was already butting heads and getting into minor trouble with the captain of the guard. Given Beau's occasional disability to take things seriously, Aveline had stressed how important this was, and that secrecy was a must. She had also stressed that she had to go; Hawke was not to go off by her lonesome. Aveline had to be there to lend credence to this… thing, if it were to be resolved.

But… given that this venture required going to Sundermount… and he was a healer. Beau would admit, if only to herself, she was just curious about the mage in general. Promising Aveline she would meet her first thing in the morning, she headed off to Lowtown. Just to check in.

Anders had spent his time keeping busy with patients and monitoring his meager store of supplies, knowing he would eventually need to venture out. He usually tried to avoid Lowtown, he didn't want to deal with those who would attempt to mug him. The only other reason he ventured through any parts of Kirkwall was to either make his way outside the city for herbs and other ingredients he needed for healing medicines, or for when he needed to go to the market and couldn't find a reliable urchin to do it for him.

But on those occasions, he had to go out, which were very few, he did find himself looking for Hawke. Or the dwarf, or the other girl she had been with.

"Alannah, have your mother take this with her next meal." He said, passing a packet to the girl who immediately tucked it against her chest protectively.

"And it'll help my brothers?" she asked hesitantly, having watched him grinding the herbs. She was still unsure exactly what they were supposed to do even though he had patiently it to her, twice.

"Yes, the medicine will pass to him through your mother's milk." Anders reassured her, reaching out to pat her head. It had been somewhat quiet today, up until Alannah had come running in. His gaze moved past her and to the door, mildly surprised to find Hawke standing there, looking a bit awkward.

Alannah rushed out of the clinic, sidestepping the woman in the drab leather armor on her way.

"That girl looks familiar…"

"She should, that was Alannah. Her mother had a babe not so long ago."

Comprehension dawned in her eyes. "Oh yes, the woman we uh… assisted. Well, you assisted, I was your assistant." Hawke laughed, apparently finding that amusing, her green eyes sparkling before she stepped aside to allow an elderly man to shuffle by her.

Anders watched as she moved to lean against the wall, feeling a bit unnerved, knowing she was going to remain there and watch him. But as more people began coming in, he found himself distracted from her presence. It was times like this he wished he did have coin; he was sorely in need of cots. Actual cots, not the few poorly built wooden tables he had scrounged up with aid from Lirene. More rags and blankets would have been helpful too.

"Here."

He looked up; blinking sweat from his eyes as he took in the bowl of water that was being held out to him. He had no idea how much time had passed. All he knew was it seemed that he had been working non-stop. What was more surprising that it was Hawke offering this bowl to him. He hadn't realized how thirsty he was until just now and nodded gratefully as he took it from her. Anders drained it in three swallows, feeling awkward when she took the bowl away. Straightening upright, he stretched his arms over his head, feeling his back cracking and let out a relieved sigh.

"I've shut your door," Hawke informed him, almost hesitantly. "I didn't know if you were aware, but the sun has set and no one else has come in for a while."

"You've been here all this time?" he asked, astonishment coloring his tone. He really took her in, finally noticing that somewhere along the line she had discarded her chest piece in favor of what had been beneath it. Just an old threadbare blouse that was cinched at the waist with a thick leather belt, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows. When she nodded, he was a bit bemused. "Doing what?"

"Watching you, and I helped where I could." She admitted, her cheeks flushing with an infusion of color. "Washing wounds, applying compresses. I um, found your poultices and potions, you're running low you know."

At that, Anders was mildly alarmed. He was the only one who ever handed out the potions and as such, he felt no need to arrange them by use as he could identify them all on sight. "Oh Maker…" he sighed, walking over to the chest he kept them all in. The idea of her going through his things was simply maddening, did the woman have no respect? "What else were you into?"

"Just that, it was unlocked." She sounded oddly cheerful, not taking offense at all to his accusing tone of voice.

"It is rude-"

"To get into someone's personal belongings. In know. My mother has been trying to pound that into my skull since I was a wee girl. However, you were busy and there was a bit of a crowd forming."

"You could have given them anything! Some of these bottles contain-"

"Lyrium, and there was one of a particularly interesting looking poison." Hawke was standing behind him now, her arms folded over her chest, and a scowl creasing her brow. "Your chest has the healers symbol on it, so I made an educated guess as to its contents before opening it."

"And you can identify these bottles?"

"Most of them, yes."

"Including the lyrium." He turned back to face her after closing the chest, this time locking it though the anger had left him. At her nod, he frowned. "Most people outside of mages, the Chantry and its templars, or smugglers, do not ever see lyrium."

"My sister is an apostate, I know what lyrium is."

"Your sister?"

"She was with me the day we came here looking for you." Hawke said flatly, shifting from one foot to the other. "I was trying to help, Anders, I meant no harm."

"I know, Hawke. I am… unused to people just pitching in."

"Or going through your things." she added unhelpfully, obviously trying not to smirk.

"That too." He brushed his hands off on the front of his robes. She had spent a considerable amount of time in the clinic today, even though he hadn't been aware of it and apparently, she wasn't ready to leave just yet. That was just odd.

"Can we talk?" she asked hesitantly.

"Aren't we doing that now?"

"About Justice?"

He should have expected that and on some level had been, suppressing a sigh as he turned to clean up the mess left behind after a long, productive day. "Yes?"

"You said you and Justice merged, but…" Hawke hesitated again, obviously trying not to offend him but also wanting to know. "That did not exactly look like a cheerful, happy spirit to me."

"Justice is not happy. Justice is righteous. Justice is hard." Anders tossed soiled rags into what used to be his wash bucket, perhaps a bit more force than necessary. "There was simply too much hatred in me, Hawke. Justice thought he would be able to overcome that, but… he was wrong. Whenever I see the templars, things that have always enraged me, things I could never do anything about… he comes out and he is no longer my friend Justice but a force of vengeance. And he has no concept of mercy."

Which explained the incident at the Chantry but also raised new questions about what Anders had said the last time about him and Justice being completely merged. It didn't seem that way to her and she wondered if he was misleading on purpose or just genuinely blind. According to Mother, a section of the Chantry had been blocked off because they were still cleaning up the mess, something about an attack on templars within the holy building itself. It was quite a scandal. Beau had plastered her most innocent and unknowing expression on at the news and steered clear of meeting Bethany's eyes the entire night.

"Can you undo it? Whatever it is you did to fuse and Justice together?"

"No, I don't think so. So far as I know, the only way to separate a spirit from a person is death."

That was not what she had been expecting to hear.

"Who is this?"

Beau had anticipated Aveline being less than pleased with additional help, mostly because this was meant to be guardsmen business and Aveline had gone out and recruited someone who amounted to being a vigilante. Beau being the vigilante in question, though hopefully, when Aveline made her report back to Jeven, she would leave her good friend Hawke out of it. Beau didn't need extra eyeballing from the local peacekeepers. Purposefully feigning ignorance, she glanced down at Varric. "This? This is-"

"Varric Tethras, don't insult me, Hawke." Aveline folded her arms over her chest, giving the other woman a stern look. "I meant the mage."

Beau knew Aveline had nothing against mages in general, but a loose mage was an apostate and the only apostate Aveline had shown the inclination to turn a blind eye on was Bethany. Of course, Beau couldn't be sure about any other apostates because she had never seen Aveline interact with any. "This is Anders," she said, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. He had needed supplies, she had been going anyway, it had seemed… right, to ask him if he wanted to come along or give her a list of things to watch out for. He had deigned to tag along, knowing what she was walking into, and even said something about being 'all right" in the battle mage arena. Whatever that meant, but she was grateful to have a healer coming with, just in case.

"Hawke…" Aveline's eyes closed as she pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling what promised to be a massive migraine beginning to form. "I don't have time for your crap today."

"He's a nice mage," Beau wheedled, failing at hiding her amusement.

One eye cracked open, studying Anders for a moment. "Is this true?"

"I'm housebroken and everything," he said, biting down the sarcasm. He was used to not being trusted, he was a rogue mage and a retired Grey Warden, he was probably not trustworthy. That never stopped the irritation from flaring though, or the sarcasm that came so readily.

"Great," Aveline rolled her eyes. "a pair of them."

Varric reached up to slap Anders on his back, not bothering to hide his laughter. "Congratulations, Blondie, I think you just made the group."

"Blondie?"

Beau pointed to his head.

"I get that, but 'blondie'?"

"Move out," Aveline ordered, giving Hawke another scathing look. "If this goes wrong, I'll have your hide."

"You may have my hide any day of the week and twice on a holy day."

Throwing her hands up into the air, Aveline turned and marched off, muttering under her breath.

"I like her," Varric announced, watching the fiery redhead storm away. "She's got spunk."

"And a sword, don't forget the sword," Hawke ambled after her friend, knowing when they drew closer to this supposed ambush site, it would be game time. Up until then, however, she wasn't about to be all serious and broody, it might stick and then she'd be as miserable as everyone else around her seemed to be.

Varric fell into step beside her. "So, what is up with Blondie? Not that I mind the extra assistance of course," he bowed his head as Anders joined their stride, taking position on Beau's other side.

"I'm in need of medicinal plants," Anders could answer for himself. "And Hawke was kind enough to let me comer along."

Well, that was mostly true, so Beau didn't say a word. She already knew Varric was digging and she wasn't about to throw him a bone. "Bethany says hi."

"Trying to change the subject?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Fine, be that way. Where is Sunshine today?"

"Sick, she caught a bit of a cold and Mother insists she stay inside so it doesn't worsen."

"This fresh air probably would have done her some good, but who am I to contradict a mother?"

Beau personally agreed, some fresh air would have done Bethany some good. Being cooped up in that shack that never seemed to be clean no matter how they scrubbed, surrounded by the lovely odors and pollutants that wafted frequently throughout Lowtown, and then their ventures into Darktown… she probably needed fresh air to clear out the gunk that as building in her chest.

"Are you lot coming, or will you simply dawdle all day?"

"That was bracing."

"Shut up, Hawke."

Trying to ignore the blood that coated her, Beau leaned over to extend a hand to Aveline. "Are you hurt?" She helped her friend off the ground, looking her over for signs of injuries. She could see bits of blood, and some damage to Aveline's armor, but overall, she seemed to be in good condition. Perhaps a little bruised, but nothing serious.

"My pride maybe," Aveline began brushing herself off, surveying the scene around them. "Bringing the mage, Anders," she corrected herself. "It was a good call."

"Except for that one spell…" She didn't even have to say which one, they were both wearing the results of it in their hair. Not that she knew what it was called. "Ugh… I'll be washing this out for a month, Mother is going to kill me…"

Aveline winced in sympathy. She had lived with the Hawke's long enough to know that Leandra was a fine woman, but she had some… quirks. "I've got to head back. It looks like everyone is fine." She took in Varric and Anders, her lips curving into a scowl. They both looked pristine, nary a hair out of place. "Do you want to come back with me?"

"Not yet, I told Anders I would help him find some things he needs. Just as soon as I find somewhere to wash off these guts…"

"Saint Hawke, you are," Aveline said dryly. "Fine, if you must, but I have to get back."

"Enjoy the bath, won't you? For my sake?"

In spite of herself, a smile tugged the corners of Aveline's lips. "That I will, Hawke. Come see me when you're back, all right?"

Beau nodded and crossed her heart.

Varric looked between Hawke and Aveline, finally sighing and shook his head. "Are you planning on getting into any more trouble?"

"I never actually plan on getting into anything, it just sort of happens. Are you thinking of abandoning me as well?"

"Perhaps," his gaze moved onto Anders, eyes narrowing. "Behave, Blondie."

Beau groaned, rolling her eyes. "Varric, you're like the…. Older brother I never wanted sometimes."

"Just protecting my, ah…. Investment," he winked at her. "Look me up when you're back."

"Everyone wants a piece of the Hawke," she sighed, watching as her friends picked their way through what remained of the ambush site. She felt, rather than seen, Anders coming up alongside her. From the corner of her eye, she could see just how clean and gore free he was. "What was that spell?" she asked curiously, gesturing to her hair.

"Walking Bomb," he sounded apologetic as he took her in. "It uh, leaps from one host to the other once the initial host dies…"

"I noticed that. One goes boom and they all do?"

"If they're within range."

"Know of any cleaning spells, by chance?"

"I do know where a stream is."

That would have to do and Beau gestured for him to lead the way.