Chapter 103

After leaving the Hanged Man, they set off to take care of some loose threads, and the first port of call was a house in Hightown. A well-dressed Orlesian answered the door and stared disdainfully at Emma and Aedan. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, Mr DuPuis, you can." Ten minutes later the two Wardens left the house. "Well, I don't think he'll be trying to follow in Quentin's footsteps." Emma glanced over to Aedan. "Too much?"
He shook his head. "No, I think threatening to freeze his balls and then hit them with a mallet was enough to keep him on the straight and narrow."

From there they went to Fenris's mansion, where she had a little chat with him about Hawke. She kept it brief, but he seemed to take her words to heart, as he gave her a brief hug before she left. Aedan eyed her. "You know, you really need to stop hugging all these men, Angel."
She laughed. "You're just jealous because he didn't hug you."

The next stop took them to the Gallows, where Aedan's status as Hero of Ferelden got them an audience with First Enchanter Orsino. "This is an unexpected honour, my Lord."
Emma smiled sweetly. "I hope you'll still think that after I've said my piece." She pulled out a seat and sat opposite him. "So, about these books that you've been passing to Quentin."
Orsino's face paled. "I don't know-"
Aedan stepped forward. "Don't bother lying, First Enchanter, we know you were friends with that murderer."
The mage's eyes narrowed. "Were? You're talking as though it's past tense."
Aedan smiled grimly. "Well, that's because he's dead. And I would strongly advise you to forget anything you learnt from him." A drop of sweat rolled down Orsino's face. "I didn't know he was killing people. I thought he was just researching the possibility of reanimating the dead." Emma leaned forward, rested her arms on his desk, and fixed him with a steely glare. "I don't understand how you can plead the innocence of the mages when you, their own First Enchanter, practices Blood Magic."

She stood up and there was a dangerous glint in her eye when next she spoke, "Over the coming years, things are going to get a lot tougher for mages in Kirkwall, and they're going to need a strong leader. Someone who will stand by them and not turn to Blood Magic at the first sign of trouble."
Orsino shot to his feet. "I do stand up for the mages. I would give my life for them."
"And not just your life, but also the mages under your protection."
His eyes widened at her statement. "I wouldn't do that!"
"That is exactly what you do, Orsino."
His face darkened with anger. "This is rubbish. How can you know that?"
"The same way I knew where to find Quentin's hideout, but really, how I know doesn't matter - what you do in the future does."
"You're a seer?" he asked incredulously.
"If calling it that gets you to believe me, then yes." She blew out an exasperated sigh. "There will come a time when you will need to make a decision: Do you turn to Blood Magic, thereby dooming your fellow mages, or do you grow a pair, and take a stand as a man, and not an abomination?" His skin became ashen, and for the first time since entering his office, Emma felt hopeful that she was getting through to him. She moved towards the door but turned back before opening it. "I could report you to the Knight-Commander, but I think the Circle would be worse off if you were removed as First Enchanter, so I'm going to trust that you will do the right thing."
His eyes were solemn as he made a slight bow to her. "I'll remember your words."

To say Darktown was unpleasant was a gross understatement; the place was dimly lit and the stench was indescribable. Emma's heart went out to the poor souls huddled in the dirt, their faces hidden in the shadows. However, as they drew closer to the clinic where Anders worked, her thoughts turned to him, and the question of whether or not he had merged with Justice. He turned quickly when they entered, and she saw the all-too-familiar flash of blue in his eyes. Her own eyes filled with tears at the knowledge of what he'd become, and she strode forward angrily and punched him in the arm.
"Ow!" He rubbed the spot. "What was that for?" It was then he noticed the tears rolling down her face, and he took a hasty step towards her. "Emma, what-" He stopped suddenly, and his face became shuttered. "You know, don't you?"
"Well, yeah. The flashy eyes were a bit of a giveaway. Why did you do it, Anders? I warned you nothing good could come of it."
A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Would you say that if you had to live in the Gallows? Or any of the Circles for that matter? You've got freedom because of your status as a Grey Warden, but other mages aren't so lucky. Do you even know what it's like living in one of those places? Being torn away from your family at a young age is bad enough, but you're not even allowed to have any contact with them from that point onward. You're under constant vigilance from the blasted Templars – as though they're just waiting for you to turn into an abomination."

During the tirade, his voice had steadily risen in anger, until Aedan stepped in. "Enough! I don't know what's going on here, but you can see she's already upset, and you shouting at her is not helping."
Anders swung his gaze back to Emma. "You haven't told him?"
"No, I was hoping you wouldn't go through with it." She wiped away the tears, and slumped down onto a rickety chair, feeling dejected at her failure to stop him, and only half-listening to Anders explaining what he'd done. When he'd finished, Aedan was too stunned to say anything, so Emma took the opportunity to answer his earlier accusations. "I've never lived in a Circle, but I do know what they go through, and I do sympathise with their plight. But there are faults on both sides; not all Circles are as bad as the Gallows, and not all mages are as well controlled as Hawke." She shook her head and made her way to the door. "Goodbye, Anders. I hope both you and Justice remember at least some of my advice."

Lastly, they stopped at Hawke's place and were lucky enough to still find him at home. Due to the size of his current living quarters, he agreed to take a walk with them so that they could have some privacy – which Emma was infinitely grateful for, because Varric was right, Gamlen's place did smell of old cabbage. She got right to the point. "Has Varric spoken to you about the letter I sent him?"
"Yeah, I've already spoken to Carver, and although he's not happy about it, he's agreed to stay and look after mother."
"Okay, good. Now one other thing." She handed Hawke a sealed note. "Keep this safe, and when you receive a message from either Knight-Commander Meredith or First Enchanter Orsino asking you to come to the Gallows in 9:37 then read this letter first. If you follow the instructions, it will hopefully save some lives."
He took the note. "Can I read it now?"
"I'd prefer you wait until 9:37." She gave him a hug. "Take care, Hawke."

It was on the ship back to Ferelden that she finally broke down; shedding tears of sorrow for the loss of the funny and friendly Anders she'd come to know at Vigil's Keep. Aedan held her in his arms, trying his best to comfort her.

The couple kept busy in the 6 years that passed after they'd left Kirkwall. They went searching for Morrigan after hearing rumours that she'd returned to Ferelden, and the subsequent journey gave them the opportunity to gain two new friends – Finn and Ariane – and to meet up with Morrigan herself. She was happy to see that the Wardens had survived the slaying of the Archdemon, even going so far as to ask after Alistair. In the end, however, she bid them a fond farewell and stepped through the Eluvian.

In between the occasional visits to Vigil's Keep and the odd mission or two from the First Warden, Aedan and Emma finally set up a home on the outskirts of Denerim, close to the Royal Palace. One of their first tasks was christening every room with some very passionate and imaginative love-making; it was so much fun that it became something of a tradition. Regular visitors to their home soon learnt to knock and wait for someone to open the door after rumours spread that King Alistair had walked in to find the two Wardens in a rather compromising position in the reception area.

Over the years, they kept in contact with Knight-Captain Cullen, Varric and Hawke, so when all three finally sent an urgent missive in 9:37, Aedan and Emma knew it was time to travel to Kirkwall again.