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by rescuing others you rescue yourself
Anders, Ant and Ira meet new friends and rescue old ones
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A few months had made a world of difference to the ramshackle clinic. Lirene and the refugees who were on the same boat begged, borrowed and bartered for equipment, supplies, actual cots, everything Anders needed to have a functioning clinic. It became something of a haven for the Fereldans too, many of whom stayed back to help out with food or comforting the patients.

He had been in contact with Karl, letters coming and going as often as they dared, until recently when they had stopped. 

It was in a rather panicked mindset that Anders was trying to work through as he healed a woman’s twisted ankle. 

“Cia! I need a hand!”

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Cia is at his side in an instant. "Here," ey says quietly.

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“All right, lay your hand just above the ankle,” Anders says, and shows em how to realign the muscles and soothe the ache. 

Cia’s presence calms him somewhat, having the distraction of teaching em enough to turn his mind away from the dire scenarios he kept dreaming up. He should’ve just stormed the Gallows and- No! Anders squints, trying to stop the flood of spirit energy through him. 

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Cia focuses, but takes a moment to squeeze his forearm, nearly as in tune with his moods as ey is with Ilska's.

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Ilska glances back from where she's leaning in the doorway of the clinic, eyes concerned.

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“Thank you,” he murmurs to Cia, shaking his head to clear it somewhat. “How’s she looking?” He sends a quick pulse through the injured ankle, and finds that Cia has done it perfectly. 

“You’re gonna be just fine, Clara,” Anders says to the woman. 

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"Yeah, and I think we're done for the day," Cia says quietly to Anders. "You're not completely here."

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Cia's right, all the patients have been healed and the ones who are staying for observation are resting. Anders smiles at Cia and nods. "I'll get started on making the poultices, I think."

 

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Cia smiles a little. "Want a hand?"

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Anders wraps an arm around em and squeezes. "How did I live without you?" He says.

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"A lot less fabulously," Cia teases happily.

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Ilska's watching them fondly, a slight smile on her face.

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"Oh, there was a hole in my life, for sure," Anders laughs. 

He heads over to the space they have clear for making potions, and starts Cia off on grinding a few bits of plant while he fills a cauldron by summoning ice and then melting it. "We're going to need to head to Sundermount soon, running low on everything," he mutters.

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Ilska perks up a little at that. As comfortable as she's gotten here in the clinic, she still likes leaving the city.

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The door opens at that point, admitting a slim elf, who does not, immediately, seem in need of healing. But could perhaps use several good nights worth of sleep.

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"Well, break's over," Anders says, nudging Cia. He heads over to the elf, ready to help. 

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"We're closed," Ilska is trying (quietly, she knows Anders, and she worries).

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"I'm not here for healing," the elf says. "I'm looking for Anders."

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"Ilska, we don't close, we help everyone," Anders chides gently, but he's more fondly amused than anything else. "I'm Anders. Is everything all right?"

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"You need rest as well," Ilska protests mildly.

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"I have message for you. Of a private nature."

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Mage Underground, Anders thinks. He nods. "Come with me." 

He leads her towards the study/bedroom.

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She follows on silent feet.

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Ilska silently asks Anders if he wants someone else with him.

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Anders catches the look, and nods towards the door.

Keep watch for Templars.

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She nods sharply.

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The elf waits until they're alone to speak again. "My message is from Karl." Beat. "Kind of."

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The name thrills through Anders and his heart beats painfully in his chest. "You know Karl? Is he all right? What happened?"

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"He's...fine for now. We think. But we need to move quickly. The Gallows are a mess. We need to get them out."

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“Right, yes, of course,” Anders says, immediately grabbing his jacket. He slings his staff onto his back. “Do we have a plan?”

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"Sort of. A...friend of mine is causing a distraction. To get Karl into the Chantry."

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That gives Anders pause. "Why the Chantry? Why not the Wounded Coast?"

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"Because my friend isn't certain how long the distraction will last. And- Karl's not alone. Child won't make it to the coast."

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Anders could've laughed if he wasn't so scared for Karl. Both of them, adopting strays. Something meant to be in that.

"The Chantry will be well-guarded. This has to be quick and quiet," Anders thinks out loud.

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"There's a cellar, and a back way in. C'mon."

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"D- Anders?" Cia asks from the doorway.

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"Stay here. Cia. Make sure everyone's settled," Anders says, squeezing eir shoulder as he passes em. "You too, Ilska."

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Ilska clicks her tongue, narrows her eyes at his staff. "But-"

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"I need you here to protect the patients and Cia, Ilska. I'll be fine."

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"You better be," she mutters, but keeps her place by the door.

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"I promise," he says, making sure Ilska sees how seriously he means that. 

He turns to the elf. "Lead the way."

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She does, clearly having already plotted a route in her head for this. She's quiet until they're out of earshot.

"Protective children," she notes, leading the way through a grate that until she pulled it aside, looked very solid.

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"We came from Ferelden together. We've become rather attached to each other," Anders says. "I didn't get your name before?"

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"I didn't give it," she comments blithely. Pauses. "It's Raeli."

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"Nice to meet you Raeli. Thank you for coming to find me."

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"It was everyone's best chance."

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"I've been trying to plan a way to get him out for months. I have to know how you did it."

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"We'll explain everything once he's out. Up here."

Raeli scrambles up a crumbled set of stairs.

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Anders nods his agreement and follows her.

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And not too long after, they make it into the Chantry cellar. Raeli presses a finger to her lips, before collecting a bow and quiver from a barrel she'd obviously left it in earlier.

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Anders grabs his staff, spells already tingling in his fingertips.

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Raeli has put an arrow to the string as they move forward, her head tilted as she listens for threats.

She hesitates briefly at a door up into the main body of the Chantry. There's a faint clink of armour from beyond.

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"Agh, no. Not now," Anders mutters, gripping his staff tighter.

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Raeli gives him a sharp, concerned look-

(The clink moves on, well away from the door.)

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He shakes his head at Raeli. "I'll explain later," he mutters. 

Hopefully he won't have to. 

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"Don't worry about it," Raeli says pushing the door open, and making her way into the Chantry proper.

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Anders keeps close to Raeli, hunching down to be less of a walking mountain, but he can't stop searching every face to see the one he hasn't in so long, the one he wants to see most of all.

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Raeli's looking for something as well. And-

She's spotted someone, a small group, to the side, not far away from the altar.

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Karl lingers in the nearest shadowy corner, looking anxious, like any second he's going to be dragged back.

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There's a teen with him as well, closed in on himself, and half trying to hide in Karl's shadow.

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There's someone leaning near them - a Templar? Except apart from the armour, they don't seem very Templarish, and they're looking to Raeli like they know her, and they're not yelling for anyone else.

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"Karl!" Anders says on a breath, still trying not to draw attention to himself while tears of joy spring to his eyes.

And then he sees the Templar, and turns to Raeli, gritting his teeth. "Are you a trap?!"

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"If we were a trap you'd already be dead," the not-Templar says, lips twisting in a way that isn't quite human, and their eyes flash brilliantly, light searing under their skin.

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"This is the friend I was talking about, who- has been doing their best to keep these two safe."

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"...Anders? Is that really you?" Karl's voice is full of tears, and pure joy.

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Anders, all worries aside, can't ignore Karl a second longer. He runs to him, and wraps as much of himself around him as he can, crying into his neck.

"It's me, it's me. I missed you so much!"

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Karl presses kisses to his temple. "I thought I'd never see you again, Maker, Anders."

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The boy skitters back a little, away from the joyous reunion.

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"We should leave," the not-Templar says. "Before anyone actually notices us."

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Anders barely hears, lost in finally, finally, having Karl back, but Justice is always paying attention.

He pulls away to kiss Karl (Maker, he could drown in that feeling), and takes his hand.

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Karl kisses him back, blissfully imagining doing that all the time, but lets him pull away. 

He notices the boy has moved away from him. "Blaise, it's okay. This is Anders. I told you about him, remember?"

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He looks between them, a little concerned but-

But neither of them seem hurt, Karl seems happy. He nods. "I- yes, ser," he mumbles.

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Karl smiles warmly at the kid, and gently squeezes his shoulder, trying to be as comforting as he can.

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Anders heart swells, seeing Karl as the caretaker he always was to him, but he turns his attention to the not-Templar. "We can go to my clinic, it's in Darktown. You can lie low there," Anders says, but is still suspicious of them.

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Blaise goes still, and then leans a tiny bit into Karl's touch.

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"Let's move then," Raeli says quietly. "I'm starting to feel like we're being watched."

She starts forward, back towards the door they'd come in by.

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Anders follows, keeping a tight grip on Karl, like he could vanish any second.

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Karl hangs onto Anders just as tight, but also makes sure Blaise is following.

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Blaise stays close, while still being just out of Anders reach. (He might be as close as he can to trusting Karl, but he doesn't know Anders.)

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The not-Templar brings up the rear, watching their backs silently.

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They're nearly back to the exit back into the tunnel when Raeli stops, head tilting.

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"What's wrong?"

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"-Something's off. It's- Def?"

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The not-Templar's skin cracks and peels, and the light resembles a fantastical carnival mask. "We're being followed," they snarl.

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Anders doesn't have time to react to the magic of a disguise peeling away, whirling around to face their followers.

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The clanking of armour fills the space, as they're surrounded from both sides.

"Halt, apostate!" 

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"I have to wonder which of us you're talking to."

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Raeli's bow is drawn, waiting for the opportune moment.

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"Lower your weapons and surrender the apostate!"

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Karl stands protectively in front of Blaise.

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Anders seethes. 

"You will NEVER-"

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"-TAKE ANOTHER MAGE!"

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"That's a 'no'," Raeli says brightly. "Don't suppose we can avoid the fight?"

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"Abomination!" The Templars cry. 

They don't get much chance to do much else.

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Justice fires off spell after spell, then leaps at them, the end of Anders' staff turned into a spirit blade.

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Karl backs himself and Blaise as far from the fight as possible, and he stares open mouthed at Anders.

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Ilska barrels into the Templars behind them, the sword they'd managed to find her being used to devastating effect.

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The not-Templar lunges forward in time with Justice, tearing through Templars with glee.

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Raeli puts herself in front of Karl and Blaise, firing quickly, and surely.

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Karl brings up barriers for the fighters, and uses grease traps to get the Templars off guard.

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Even without their help, the Templars stood no chance against Justice. The spirit magic he uses cannot be silenced by them.

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Blaise mostly stays small, cowering away from the Templars, and the fighting, but a few gouts of flame scorch the ground, forcing Templars that get to close to him and Karl to back away.

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"That the last of them?" Raeli asks.

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The not-Templar flits around, nods. They're...possibly bleeding?

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The spirit of Justice fells the last, and then turns its fury towards the group.

"YOU WERE NOT VIGILANT ENOUGH! MY CRUSADE WOULD HAVE DIED AT THE FAULT OF YOU!"

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Ilska skitters away, shoulders hiked up, not quite snarling.

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"Oh, shut up, you're fine," the not-Templar snaps. "Let's go before more show up."

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"YOU THINK TO SCARE ME, DEFIANCE? YOU WILL FIND JUSTICE VIGILANT OF YOUR TRICKERY."

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"What have you done with Anders!?" Karl says, sounding terrified and furious.

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"I AM ANDERS."

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"Fine, stay, or go, but we're leaving, I haven't been staying here risking my skin to have Karl and Blaise recaptured now."

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"Def," Raeli protests mildly, but is already ducking towards their exit.

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"Wait! Defiance, please, we can't leave him behind."

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They stop, turning to look at Justice and Anders. "You want to get them recaptured?"

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"-Anders?" Cia's voice is quiet, and it's not clear when ey entered the room. "Justice, this- let Anders back out, we need to leave."

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Karl follows the newcomer's lead. "Justice, please, give him back to me."

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Justice stares at Cia, all fury and righteousness, and then-

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-with a flare of spirit magic, the blue cracks in Ander's skin disappear, and his eyes are yellow-brown again. 

"Maker..." Anders spins on the spot taking in the damage around him. And then- "Ilska! Cia! What are you doing here?"

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"Ilska was worried," Cia says stepping closer to him. "So was I. Let's- Let's just go?"

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"You-" a rather fatherly-like scolding coming to his lips, but seeing the looks on everyone's faces makes him pause. "All right. But you are getting a lecture later."

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"I'm going to need an explanation too," Karl adds.

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That gives Anders pause. "Yes. Yes, anything."

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"I can survive a lecture," Cia says, already heading for the trap door leading back down into the passageway.

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Ilska hovers, waiting for the others to go through.

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Anders takes Karl's hand in his again (is he shaking?) and follows Cia out, keeping one eye on Ilska.

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She follows once she's sure he's moving.

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Blaise stays close to Karl.

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Raeli and Defiance take the lead again, leading the way back down to Darktown and Anders' clinic.

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A large part of Karl believes this is some sort of dream. Or maybe a nightmare. 

He was out of the Circle, free for the first time in his life, and back with the man he loved, but what had happened to Anders? Was he some sort of abomination now?

He gripped Anders' hand tighter and lifted it to his lips.

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Anders tucks his head into Karl's neck. 

"I love you."

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Karl's eyes prick with tears.

"I love you," he says fiercely.

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Cia's watching them, smiling, almost happily.

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Defiance stumbles abruptly. "Rae-"

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"Right here," Raeli says, stepping closer. "C'mon home."

-Something happens, and Raeli glows briefly as the body Defiance was previously inhabiting slumps dead.

"-That's better," she murmurs to herself.

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Anders mouth drops open, and old arguments nearly come tumbling out of his mouth, but to say them would be hypocrisy. To scold Rae on taking in a spirit or demon, whatever they were, would be to deny that he was the same. And since Rae called herself 'home'...

"Your friend can...come and go from your body?"

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"Yeah," she confirms, starting moving again. "It's not...easy on them, but we can do it..."

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"Once we're safe, you must tell me how you did that."

His mind races, is this a chance to set Justice free? Return him to the Fade?

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"We'll see if we can explain."

And not long after: They're back in Darktown.

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Anders leads them back into his clinic. 

"Well. That was an adventure," he says, feeling a little more himself.

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He then rounds on Cia and Ilska. A lecture does form, a scolding about leaving patients alone with no help, but he can't help the relief he feels that they're both okay. 

He envelopes Cia in a hug, and reaches out one hand to squeeze Ilska's shoulder.

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Cia limpets onto him. "I'm sorry we didn't listen to you," ey says quietly.

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Ilska twitches a little, not quite away from the touch, and then leans into it.

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"If you don't mind," Raeli says quiety. "I could really use a good night's sleep?"

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Anders holds the siblings a little longer, then pulls away. "Of course. Anywhere there's a free cot is yours to use."

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Karl takes Anders hand. 

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"Our gratitude," Raeli says, tipping herself onto the nearest empty cot, leaning the bow and quiver against it.

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Blaise is loitering near the door, unsure what to do.

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"It's all right, Blaise. You're safe now," Karl coaxes gently.

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"This is a place safe for mages. Promise."

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He shudders, moves a little closer to Karl, then stops, realising that puts him closer to Anders, and-

Stops.

"S'loud," he mumbles quietly. "Everything- s'loud."

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"I know, but you will learn to tune it out. We'll work on it together."

To Anders: "Blaise is a spirit. Not sure what of, but he's very empathetic."

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Anders is interested in Blaise, from a very scholarly point of view, but he cannot help the wonder he feels at hearing Karl's patient, teacherly voice.

"I missed you, every day."

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Karl reaches up to pull Anders down to kiss him again. "I thought I'd only see you again in the Fade."

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Blaise skitters away slightly, watches them in confusion.

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"Dad-" Cia says, and then abruptly claps a hand over eir mouth.

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Anders breaks away from Karl to stare at Cia, open mouthed. Did ey just...call him Dad?

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Karl laughs. "Darling, you should've warned me you had kids!" He teases Anders.

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Anders smile is giddy. He actually giggles.

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Cia grins and skips forward, thrusting eir hand out. "M'Cia, that's Ilska."

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"It's lovely to meet you both." Karl shakes eir hand. "I'm Karl, though I suppose Anders has already told you that."

He gestures to Blaise. "This is Blaise, he's a friend."

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Blaise gives a tiny wave when attention is drawn to him.

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Cia softens eir smile. "C'mon, think we could all use some sleep?"

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"I'll, uh, keep watch?"

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"What's wrong, love?" 

So long apart, and he can still read Karl like a book. The familiarity settles on him like a warm blanket.

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"I keep thinking I can hear them. They were going to drag me off, and even though my phylactery is gone I still-" 

Karl sucks in a breath, feeling a little anxious.

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"Got it covered," Ilska says quietly. "No-one gets in without me knowing."

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"We've got the place pretty well warded as well," Cia adds.

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Karl smiles warmly at them. "Thank you both. That does help somewhat. And knowing Blaise and Rae and Defiance are with me helps too."

He wraps an arm around Anders' waist. "You're going to sleep too?"

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"How can I refuse an offer like that," Anders says, kissing Karl's temple. 

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"Not going anywhere," Raeli assures, apparently still awake.

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Lines of light flicker over her face into that carnival mask. "Put too much effort into getting you out to let you get caught now."

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"Very true. Wouldn't want you to waste effort," Karl laughs.

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"First things first, Ilska and Cia, off to bed. I'll check the wards."

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Ilska settles down stubbornly beside the door, leaning her head back against the wall.

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Cia on the other hand, heads back towards their bedroom.

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Anders opens his mouth to insist Ilska gets into her own bed, but knows that's an argument almost not worth having.

"All right, Ilska, but please try and get some sleep." 

Anders strengthens the wards along the doors.

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"I will," Ilska assures him.

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Blaise still doesn't seem to know what to do, or where to go.

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"Why don't you find a quiet spot in here to settle down in, Blaise?"

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-Yeah. He can do that. He finds a corner, and curls up in it.

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"Do you need a blanket or anything, Blaise?"

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He shrugs.

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"Blaise, you are allowed to ask for things to make you comfortable."

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"I- um. May-maybe? Please?" He flinches as he says it.

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Anders is quick to grab him one, and hands it to Karl.

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Karl wraps the blanket over Blaise, making sure he's completely covered. He then gets the fire going in a nearby brazier.

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"Th-thank you," Blaise mumbles, curling tighter into the blanket. "You- don't- thank you, ser."

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"You're welcome, Blaise."

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Anders rests a hand on the small of Karl's back once he stands back up. To be able to do this, be so affectionate in public, it's like a drug. 

"Come on, you need rest too. A proper sleep."

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Karl wraps an arm around Anders in turn, leaning on him.

"As long as you're not out of my sight, I'll do whatever you tell me to," he says, a little love-drunk.

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"Go sleep already," Ilska says from the door.

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Anders laughs and waves at Ilska, and then he and Karl disappear into the other room to sleep.

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The next morning, early, Cia slips out of the room to start on breakfast.

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Anders has been awake for some time, Justice thrumming angrily about not getting things done, but Anders doesn't want to move out of Karl's embrace. He's dreamed about it for years, and now he's finally got him back.

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Cia reappears a little while later carrying two bowls. "Morning, sleepyheads," ey says quietly.

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"Thanks, Cia," Anders says quietly, smiling at her.

He gently shakes Karl. "Hey, love, breakfast."

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Karl stirs, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "I don't think I've slept that well in years," he mumbles. 

He catches sight of Cia. "Morning, and thank you," he says, propping himself up and accepting a bowl.

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"Eat up. I'll get started in the clinic," Anders says, kissing Karl's temple, and then Cia's right after, heading into the main room.

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Cia leans into the touch. "Uh, so, I don't know if Blaise needs to eat?" ey says a little cautiously to Karl. "But, uh, you might need to coax him into it."

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"I haven't ever seen him eat, but there's no harm in trying." 

Karl gets up, groaning a little, and follows Anders' lead out into the main room to find Blaise.

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Blaise hasn't moved from his corner, but is watching everything with wide, alert eyes.

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Raeli is awake, and running through a series of stretches.

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Ilska's still leaning near the door, possibly asleep, but it's hard to tell.

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"Morning, Blaise," Karl says, crouching in front of him. "You hungry?"

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He looks down, shrugs. "S'always there."

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"But now we have a chance to fix that." 

Karl grabs another bowl for Blaise. "Here. Eat up."

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He starts to reach out for it, stops, pulls his hand back, looks around.

"Safe? You're- not going to- You're going to- eat? Too?"

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Karl shows Blaise his own bowl. "Of course I am. Wouldn't do to insult Cia and refuse her food."

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"Th-thank you," he takes the bowl, cradling it between his hands.

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“You’re welcome. Eat what you can,” Karl says, encouraging. 

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He nods, and slowly starts to eat.

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Raeli appears at Karl's shoulder. "You doing okay?"

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“Yes,” Karl says, without sarcasm. He means it entirely genuinely. “I’m free. Maybe they’ll come looking, but right now I get to live without the threat of Tranquility.”

He smiles brightly at Raeli. “I can’t thank you both enough.”

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"Hey. We were glad to help." She squeezes his shoulder. "And we're not going anywhere. Except perhaps somewhere we can see the stars when we sleep. I swear Def is allergic to ceilings."

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Karl laughs. “I can see the appeal in that. Ceilings are overrated.”

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"I'd offer to let you come with us, but I think Anders might object."

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Karl looks over to where Anders is already healing his first patient, and his face becomes very fond. “I don’t want to be away from him yet. We’ve been separated for years.”

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"As it should be," Raeli agrees with a smile. "These past few months without Def...they've been...strange."

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“Like a piece of yourself missing,” Karl agrees. “It gnaws at you.”

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Raeli's eyes glow. "Never think we regret it," Defiance says quietly.

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Karl envelopes Raeli and Defiance in a grateful hug. “I owe you both my life. Thank you, so much.”

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Anders looks up from healing a dislocated knee, and smiles softly at Karl. Safe, finally. And here with him. 

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They hug back warmly. "It was the right thing to do."

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Cia pokes Anders' side playfully. Mouths: 'Lovestruck'.

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“Yes, fine, go bother someone else,” Anders says, poking em right back. 

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There’s a young boy loitering outside, wringing his fingers. 

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"Hey?" Cia says gently, smiling softly at him.

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He flinched, but relaxes a little when he sees ey aren’t going to hurt him. “I’m- I- Lirene asked me to b-bring a message?”

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-That's never good. "What is it?" ey keeps eir voice gentle.

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“She says th-that the Templars- that they’re going to raid Darktown- that someone got out la-last night and they won’t st-stop until they find them.”

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-Shit. "Thank you," Cia says. "Wait-"

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Ilska appears at eir side with an apple and a couple of coppers that she holds out to the boy.

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The boy takes them nervously, and then bolts.

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Cia pivots and hurries back into the clinic. "Dad, Templars are- they're gonna raid Darktown."

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Blaise noticeably flinches, and the flames around the clinic surge and flicker anxiously.

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"They're looking for me," Karl says. He doesn't sound scared at at all, but his look at Anders says that he's worried.

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"We'll say you've been conscripted. That you're a Grey Warden now, they can't touch you," Anders grips Karl's hands in his own, tightly, like he could disappear.

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"That wouldn't stop Meredith, love. We're-" Karl heaves a deep sigh. "We're going to have to run."

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Raeli is on her feet. "We can head out to Sundermount," she suggests immediately. "They aren't going to follow us out that far. They'll likely think you died trying."

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"I'm coming with you."

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"And leave your patients? What about Ilska and Cia?"

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"We'd be fine, but it would be pretty damn suspicious if we were on our own. I'm not that good a healer yet."

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"We can all go together. I can come back for patients, I just-"

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"I don't want to lose you either. But you need to stay here. I'll...I'll come back when I can."

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"No, I can't- I won't-"

Blue starts flickering along his skin.

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Cia steps closer to him, touches his elbow a little cautiously.

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"No offence, Anders, but I can hide three better than six. Your disappearance will make them hunt further."

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"It'll be easier to hide smaller numbers," Karl agrees with Rae. "Once the hunt dies down I'll come back and it'll be like I never left."

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"I just got you back." Anders wraps himself around Karl.

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"We'll bring him back safe," Raeli promises. "I doubt it'll be long."

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"There has to be some way for me to-" No. I would only slow them down, and there is work to be done here and-

"ugh, no...Justice- stop-"

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"I WILL MAKE HIM STAY AND KEEP HIM SAFE."

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"You better," Karl warns.

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Defiance flares to life. "You can't kill all the Templars. What of your quest for the rest of the mages? We will keep Karl safe and bring him- home."

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"I WILL KEEP ANDERS SAFE AND WE WILL PLAN THEIR FREEDOM."

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"Good. You might want to quiet the light show down before the Templars show up."

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"YOU SHOULD MIND YOURSELF, DEFIANCE."

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"We do mind ourself. Yet it seems we must also mind you for the safety of those we protect..."

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Ilska is on edge, eyes flickering between the two spirits, clearly anticipating a fight.

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Blaise has tucked himself tighter into his corner, ducking his head down and covering his ears.

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“Can you bring Anders back? I want to say goodbye,” Karl asks, pleading a little. 

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The spirit looks at Karl for a moment. 

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And then Anders is back. “I want to come with you,” he says sadly, gathering Karl into his arms. 

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“Me too, love, but this way keeps our family safe too,” Karl says, then pulls back enough to kiss Anders. “I love you. Stay safe.”

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“I love you too,” Anders says, and then lets him go. 

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Raeli is loathe to break them up, but-

She rests her hand lightly on Karl's shoulder. "We should go," she says quietly. "Get a better head start."

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Karl nods. “Blaise?”

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Blaise looks at him, obviously uncertain, and like he's not entirely sure Karl wants him to go with him. "Ser? I-"

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“Come on, we’ve got to go. We’ll be back though.”

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-That gets him a startled, but definitely relived look. "I- yes, ser. Thank you."

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“Of course,” Karl says comfortingly, and looks to Raeli. 

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She nods to Anders and his children, and leads the way out of the clinic - she always knows at least three ways out of whatever city she's in, and Kirkwall was never going to be any different.

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Cia reaches out to touch Anders' arm. "They'll be back soon," ey says quietly.

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Anders smiles weakly at em. “Yes. It’s not forever this time,” he says. 

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Ilska comes closer again, relaxing, and smiling slightly. "Was nice to see you...that happy."

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That coaxes a more genuine smile from Anders. "Thank you, Ilska. It's good to know he's out there, safe, at least."

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"From what I saw of Raeli and...Defiance? Was it? They'll be just fine."

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"Yes. And now, we heal as many people as we can until the Templars make their way down here."

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Ilska steps back to the door.

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Cia nods, and will turn eir attention immediately back to their patients. Better to have as many of them out of here as possible.

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Anders heads to the bedroom to pull his Grey Warden robes on, and stashes his staff and notes for what he hoped would be his manifesto. 

He then joins Cia in healing patients. "I wish i'd thought to make you both up some robes as well," he says to her.

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"We'll be fine," Cia promises quietly. "We're pretty good at getting past Templars."

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"I wish you didn't have to be," Anders says, pausing mid-heal to hug Cia one-armed.

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Ey leans into him. "It's better now, even if we still need to hide sometimes."

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"I promise, you'll always have a home. Even if it is just this dingy clinic."

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"It's a pretty good home," Cia says decisively. "It's got...feeling."

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"I like that. It's certainly got that."

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Outside, in Ilska's view, a person in a hooded cloak settles by the stairs leading back into the main 'room' of Darktown.

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She narrows her eyes, and keeps a careful eye on them, along with everything else.

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Another figure appears, this time an elf, and they sit a little closer to the clinic.

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-This makes her a little uncomfortable, but two is still just a coincidence.

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Far off in the distance, there's some shouts and the clank of armour.

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Both the hooded figure and the elf don't move.

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Ilska keeps watching them.

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The Templars appear near the stairs, and start going through the homes there, while others interrogate residents. 

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"Anders," she says lowly over her shoulder.

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Cia stops casting, and starts running things Anders will need around the clinic.

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The elf stands, and walks to the hooded figure. They exchange a few words, then switch places. The hooded figure walks towards the Templars.

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"Halt!" The Templars yell, and then the sound of a chase gives out.

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-What the-

Ilska keeps watching, until she's sure the Templars aren't coming back.

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The don't seem to be, and hubbub in Darktown returns to normal as people clean up after the raid.

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"What's happened? Is everyone all right?" Anders asks, walking up to Ilska.

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Ilska shrugs still watching out into Darktown. "They...ended up chasing someone?"

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"You don't think it was-" He can't say it.

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"No," Ilska shakes her head. "They were long gone." Pauses. "It seemed. Odd though. Too...too lucky."

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"You're not wrong there. Who would stick their neck out like that for a mage?"

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"Don't like it," Ilska mutters darkly.

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"I'll send someone to go enquire with with Lirene. Hopefully it was just a helpful bystander."

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-Yeah, that doesn't look like it's reassuring Ilska. (She still doesn't really believe in people helping for nothing.)

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Anders squeezes her shoulder. "We're safe, for now. That's what matters."

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She leans into his touch. "Yeah, guess so."

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Cia appears to lean against Anders other side.

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He wraps arms around both of his kids (his kids), and holds them close. "We're gonna be okay."

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Cia relaxes against him and smiles. "Yeah, we are. We got each other."

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"We do," Anders says, and hugs them again.

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Ilska grumbles a little, but it's almost definitely for show if the way she hugs him back is anything to go by.

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"Come on, you two. Let's get back to work."

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The Templars never do find them, but patrols increase and additional suspicious figures appear outside the clinic. 

A couple of days later, a weight-bearing wall collapses, crushing several Darktown residents. All of them are brought to the clinic, where Anders has been tirelessly healing every broken bone, punctured organ and bruise. 

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Cia's right beside him, fairly adept as a healer in her own right by now.

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Ilska's doing what she can to keep them from getting too overwhelmed.

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Anders directs Cia to a few injuries only he and Justice can feel, but for the most part he knows he can trust em. Ey's proven herself time and time again under his tutelage. 

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Ey takes the directions, knows that if Anders is telling em, it's there.

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A woman steps into the door, looking around, as though she's looking for someone, or something.

"Are you sure this is the place?" she asks over her shoulder.

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"I've had some people look into it, Hawke, this is definitely it," says a dwarf, coming in behind her.

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"Do you need healing?" Ilska asks them bluntly.

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"What? -No? We're- looking for someone."

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Anders turns away from the boy he's finished healing to glare at the newcomers. He goes to intercept them, grabbing his staff.

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"We're a little busy right now," Ilska's voice is low, and it's not quite a threat. "Maybe come back later." (Or not at all, not at all was good.)

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"I can see you're busy, but-"

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"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation. Why do you threaten it!?" Anders shouts, spells tingling on his fingertips.

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"-Okay, we're not here to threaten- Varric, let's just come back later."

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"That's right, Hawke, we're not here to threaten. We've got a question to ask of the Warden."

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Ilska hisses lowly, and is making herself look bigger.

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"If he's willing to actually, you know, talk to us?"

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"It's all right, Red, calm down. We're not here to interrupt services. We just need a chat with your Warden friend."

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-That probably has the opposite affect to what he was wanting.

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"Ilska, it's okay," Anders says, stepping between her and the newcomers. "If they know I'm a Warden they've come from Lirene, yes?" He directs that towards the chatty dwarf.

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"Yes, and she did not give you up easy. Whatever you did to inspire her loyalty definitely works."

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Ilska doesn't back away, but she does deflate slightly.

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"We have a business proposition for you."

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"I can't guarantee you'll get what you want." Anders keeps himself close to Ilska.

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"We heard you might have maps for the Deep Roads."

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"You're planning on going down there?"

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"There's an expedition being planned, yes."

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"You want to voluntarily go down there? I would die a happy man if I never thought about the Deep Roads again."

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"It promises to be profitable. I can't really turn profitable down."

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"What profit is there in the Deep Roads? Only darkspawn and nightmares down there."

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"Nevertheless, downwards we must go."

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"...have you come from the Wardens? I'm not going back to Ferelden."

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"Do I look like a Warden to you?"

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No, she doesn't, and more to the point, Anders can't feel the Taint in her. "You don't have to look or be a Warden to work for them."

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"Fair. But I'm not. Just working for myself and trying to support my-self."

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Anders regards them for a moment, and then lets the spells disappear from his fingers. “I’ll give you the maps and happily, I’d be glad to be rid of them- all though...a favour for a favour?”

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"-Depends on the favour, certainly."

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“A friend of mine, Karl, escaped the wretched Gallows. I need someone who is ostensibly not a mage to go there and find out if they’re on his trail. After that, the maps are yours.”

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Hawke considers him for a moment, and then looks over to her dwarf companion. "I think we can do that."

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“I think that can be done by tonight,” the dwarf says confidently. 

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“If you can do that, I’ll offer you my services as well.” The tone suggests he doubts they can. 

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"With an offer like that, we definitely can," Hawke says with a faint smirk.

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“Better keep your schedule free, Blondie. Hawke gets herself into all sorts of trouble.”

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"I get myself back out of it too. For the record."

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“Hawke said, lying through her teeth,” Varric says cheekily. 

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"Lies and slander," Hawke says cheerfully. "We'll be back with news from the Gallows."

She turns to leave.

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Varric salutes Anders, and saunters after Hawke. 

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“One of the stranger encounters we’ve had,” Anders says to Ilska, gripping her shoulder comfortingly. 

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"Y-You're gonna- leave?"

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“Not for good, I promise. They might need a healer to make sure they’re ready for this doomed expedition.”

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Cia slips up beside them, leans against Anders' side. "You better come back," ey says, trying for fierce, and sounding more lost.

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“Hey, hey now. I’m not going anywhere yet. Or at all! Maybe they’ll realise how foolish this is and put an end to it. Even Wardens don’t like the Deep Roads.”

He hugs em back. “Besides. Gotta be here for when Karl comes home.”

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"Yeah," ey agrees. "He'll be upset if you're not."

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Ilska steps close enough that she's nearly involved in the hug.

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Anders opens up one arm a bit wider, giving her the option if she wants it. 

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She slides under his arm, wraps her own arms around him and Cia.

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Anders holds both of his kids close, safe in his arms. 

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And later that day, there's a tap on the door, and Hawke steps back into their clinic.

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Anders is healing the last patient of the day, focused on setting bones back into place.

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Hawke watches him, one hand tapping idly at the sheathe strapped to her thigh. It's not an impatient movement, she seems at least somewhat interested in his healing abilities.

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Anders pulls the last bone into place, feeling his mana stretched raw, his energy scraping the bottom of the barrel. “Have we got any lyrium left?”

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Ilska appears at his elbow with a bottle. "Running low," she warns quietly.

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“We’ll figure it out,” he reassures Ilska, drinking from the flask deeply. 

He then notices Hawke standing by the door. He nods at her, and gestures towards the back of the clinic. “You’ll be fine,” he says to his patient, smiling, before heading to the back himself. 

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Hawke follows after him. "I realise I didn't introduce myself earlier," she says. "Talia Hawke."

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“Anders. Would say nice to meet you, but that’s yet to be determined,” he says, with a disarming smile. 

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She gives that faint smirk again. "You wanted to know about your friend, and whether the Templars were still after him?"

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“Yes. Is there any news?”

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"As far as the Templars are concerned? Karl Thekla died trying to make his way to Sundermount. They're surprisingly certain of this fact for not having a body."

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His heart plummets, and a strange weightlessness comes to him, like a kite with its strings cut. Karl...no...

And then he hears the rest of Talia’s words and his world realigns. “They...they’ve been tricked?”

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"I'd say so, yes," she confirms.

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“He’s made it. And they’re off his trail. I- Maker, that’s a relief to hear!” Anders is laughing and he feels a much nicer feeling of weightlessness the worry gone from his body. 

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

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"You're welcome," she assures him.

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“I owe you the maps. Give me a moment, I’ll go and find them.” Anders disappears into one of the rooms. 

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Ilska walks in at that point, eyes narrowed at Hawke.

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Who looks back impassively.

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Anders returns with the maps. "Here. They're not complete, but they show a decent section."

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"I appreciate this," Talia says, holding out a hand.

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He hands them over. "If you ever need a healer, I'm your man."

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"Don't suppose I can convince you to join us?"

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Ilska hisses unhappily.

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Anders knows why Hawke's asked. He's a Warden, and a healer. What better combination for the Deep Roads? 

"I have duties here, but if you have need of me, I can't say no."

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"You can," Ilska mutters.

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It's not clear if Hawke is hearing Ilska's objections. "We'd be grateful for you presence."

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"When is the expedition planned for?"

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She fills him in on the details.

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Ilska continues to make her displeasure known with quiet growls and hisses.

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Anders listens, nodding along. "I'll have things prepared by then. If you could give me a list of illnesses or weaknesses your men have, I'll work on some things to ease them."

His heart clenches at each of Ilska's displeased noises.

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"We're pretty healthy on the whole, but I'll be sure to let you know."

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"Thank you. If you need me at all in the meantime, I'll be here."

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"Then I'll bid you good day," Hawke inclines her head slightly, and takes her leave.

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Once she's gone, Anders turns to Ilska. "I'm sorry, I have to repay them. It's not easy to fool the Templars the way they did."

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"How do you know it wasn't Karl and...Raeli? The elf. That managed it?"

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She's not wrong. They could've, and that made sense. 

"I don't know. Maybe it was them, and in that case, I'm going to help Hawke in order to keep her silence. To protect you and Cia."

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"You can't protect us if you're dead."

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"I also can't protect you if this Hawke doesn't keep her silence. I'll be in the Gallows and risking Tranquillity every day. I would rather miss a few weeks without you than forever." 

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Ilska looks away, angry and uncertain. "I- but-"

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Anders wants to hug her, and promise that he'll never leave her. The latter he can't do, but the former...

He loops one arm around her and hugs her. "I don't want to leave you alone."

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She leans into him, loops her own arms around him. "Just- come back. Cia-" Stops, doesn't say 'I can't look after Cia on my own, not any more', doesn't know how to express who important Anders is to her, even without everything he's done for Cia.

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"I will. Nothing will keep me from coming back to you and Cia." He hugs her close.

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That's not true, Ilska knows it isn't, but-

She leans a little more into him. She isn't going to be able to talk him out of this, she can tell that.

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Anders hugs her for a bit longer, relishing the comfort he gets from it, before gently pulling away. “Come on, we better get back to work. Clinic won’t run itself.”

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"Cia's gonna yell at us," Ilska sounds almost cheerful about that fact.

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“Oh, Maker protect us,” Anders laughs. 

He heads back into the clinic proper, hugging Cia one armed as he goes past. 

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Who pouts. "Aww. You had to go and spoil the effect of me yelling at you for abandoning me."

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“Ah yes, the best defence against getting yelled at, hugs.”

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"Honestly, think I prefer hugs. This way I don't hurt my throat yelling."

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“You can heal that, you know,” Anders jokes. He opens his arms for another hug.

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"True!" ey agrees hugging him. "I know at least three ways to handle a sore throat."

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“It’s good to know the clinic will be in good hands while I’m gone.” Anders rests his chin on eir head. 

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"-you are going then." Cia's grip tightens a little. "Guess they would need a good healer."

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"They're getting the second best," Anders says, smiling at Cia. "Don't worry too much. The darkspawn couldn't do me in back in Ferelden, they won't here. I'll be back before you know it."

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"I'm holding you to that. You're gonna owe me if you're wrong."

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"A debt I'm very happy to owe," Anders says with a smile.

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Ey pokes his side. "The point is that you don't owe me that."

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Anders laughs. 

Then he becomes somewhat serious, and pulls out of the hug to look at Cia very fondly. "I'm really proud of you."

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Ey looks down, blushing. "I had a good teacher."

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"Oh, really? You'll have to recommend them to me, I could use some extra lessons," Anders teases, delighted by that blush.

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Cia doesn't respond for a moment and then: "Da~ad."

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Anders grins hugely at that. "Yes, child of mine?"

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Cia giggle and skips off to get back to work.

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Anders does the same. 

A few days later saw him packing some potions and dried herbs into a pack, still arguing with himself about leaving with Hawke.

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"You can still change your mind," Ilska points out quietly as she appears beside him.

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“True. I could be contrary,” Anders says, smiling over his shoulder at Ilska. He closes the bag and does the tie. He slings it over his head. 

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Cia appears at that point, holding a package. "You're always contrary," ey says, and while ey's trying, eir tone isn't quite as bright as it would normally be.

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“Am not,” Anders argues without any heat. His heart sinks to see the look on Cia’s face. That might’ve been enough to turn him from leaving, were he a weaker man. 

“You don’t have to come to Hightown if you don’t want,” he says gently. 

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"Nuh-uh. You're not getting out of me threatening Hawke about what happens if you don't come home."

Pauses. Holds the package out. "For you."

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“For me?” Anders is a little surprised. He takes the package with trepidation. It feels...like clothing? He unwraps it and-

“A coat? Where...how did you get this?” He says, a little breathless with wonder. 

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"Made it," Cia says, bouncing a little. "Do you- do you like it?"

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He takes off his bag to put the coat on. “You made this? It’s...it’s amazing. Thank you so much.” He hugs both his kids. “How in Thedas did you keep this a secret? You’re getting far too sneaky.”

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"We've always been sneaky," Ilska points out.

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"And Lirene let us leave it at hers while we were making it."

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“You’ll both make excellent rogues some day.” He hugs them a little closer, wanting to imprint the impression of them into him forever. His kids. His family.

His

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They hug him tightly in turn, a little desperate, but mostly content.

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Anders is loathe to let them go, so even when he gently pulls away, he keeps a hand on them both. “Well. Let’s go see what the fine people of Hightown are up to this morning.”

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"Stepping on the people of Lowtown and Darktown and pretending we don't exist?"

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"Obnoxiously ignoring the fact that their entire city was built by slaves?"

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"Being oblivious to pickpockets?"

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“Caring too much for Orlesian fashion that is probably made by elven servants?”

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"Now that's a real crime. What even is Orlesian fashion?!"

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"Oh, I don't know. If I had destroyed an entire culture and built an empire on the ruins, I'd probably dress like I decided to wear everything at once."

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"Every empire is built on the ruins of someone else's culture."

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"Very true, it just smarts a little that it happened to the elves twice. Can't lay down a foundation before another empire comes their bloody way."

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"...Yeah," Ilska agrees. The closer they get to Hightown, the twitchier she gets.

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Anders reaches out to wrap an arm around her. He feels plenty twitchy himself. "I may be Andrastian but I will never understand the Chantry. What possesses someone to constantly tear down cultures they don't understand? And then the mages. Where to even start!"

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"Yeah," she agrees quietly. "-But. Let's not have that rant right in the middle of a load of Chantry-abiding citizens."

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"You're right. Better to go and have it in the Chantry itself. Though what would Karl say if we just got him out and then I was dumped in the Gallows?"

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Cia pokes his side. "No getting yourself dumped in the Gallows. I'm pretty sure Ilska has a plan to get you out, but."

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Anders smiles, but there is a hard glint to his eye. "Don't you worry, I'm far too pretty to get locked up."

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"Can we avoid even risking that?"

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“Am I aging you beyond your years?”

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"Uh-huh. And I'm pretty sure that's our job."

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“We’ve never been a conventional family.” Anders squeezes her shoulder. 

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"Best family though."

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Anders heart thuds happily, and all he can do is smile. 

At least, until the final set of steps to Hightown are before them. 

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Ilska leans a little bit closer into him, trying to be reassuring.

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Anders takes a moment, and a breath, and then starts heading up the stairs. 

These particular ones empty out in the market, across from the Merchant’s Guild.

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Hawke's stood outside, with their back to them.

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There's a man about her age with her, and the two appear to be talking quietly.

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Varric is having what seems to be a spirited debate with another dwarf, who is red with anger. 

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Anders takes Cia’s hand in his left and Ilska’s in his right. “Well. Better head over.” He feels strangely bereft. 

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"Last chance to change your mind," Cia murmurs.

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Anders presses a kiss to Cia’s temple. He closes his eyes and tries to imprint the feeling in his mind. 

He then heads towards Hawke, keeping his expression neutral. 

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The man makes a tiny gesture with his head, back towards Anders.

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Hawke turns, and a faint smile crosses her lips. "You made it then."

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“Yes, I have emerged from my cave. This the group, then?”

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"Bartrand apparently has a few more people we're waiting on. At least, I think that's what his argument with Varric is about."

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"I lost track a while ago. I'm Henri."

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“Anders. These are my kids, Cia and Ilska.”

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"Pleasure to meet you all. Have to say, I'm thankful to have a, by all reports, good healer on board with this."

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"Yeah, about that," Cia says, eyes intent. "You better bring him back safe. Or else."

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"I'd mind her, if I were you," Anders says, bumping Cia with his hip.

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"-I am actually genuinely terrified," Henri says frankly. "How did that much threat get into that small a package?"

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"Learned from my older sister," Cia says brightly, gesturing at Ilska - who is doing a rather good job of being intimidating in her own, more looming way.

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"Our intention is definitely for everyone to return in one piece," Talia assures. "You have my word."

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Anders squeezes Cia's hand. "Hear that? One piece."

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"You better be," ey says, squeezing back.

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Anders hugs em, and Ilska. He doesn't want to say the words, doesn't want to put even more dire importance on this moment. Better he just make sure with his actions that they both know how much he cares about them.

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They hug back, perhaps a little tightly, perhaps a little desperately. "Come back quickly."

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"I promise I'm coming back. One piece or no pieces."

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"Good," Cia states firmly, forcing emself to step back, still clinging to Ilska. "I- we'll see you then."

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"See you soon," he swears.

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"We're ready to go," Talia says quietly. "When you are."

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Varric and his brother finish their discussion/argument, and start gathering the rest of the expedition together.

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Anders nods and falls into step beside Hawke, looking over his shoulder to watch Cia and Ilska.

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They look a little lost, Ilska's arm looped around Cia's shoulders, Cia pressed into eir sister's side.

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"We'll get you back to them," Henri promises. "By hook or by crook. Me and Tal have your back."

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"Yes," Anders says simply. 

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"All right, let's start moving out!" Bartrand calls. 

Varric heads over to Hawke. "Ready to earn your fame and fortune?"

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"As we'll ever be," Talia confirms with a firm nod.

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"Then let's go find out what the Deep Roads has in store." Varric leads the way, just behind his brother.

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The Hawkes set out, their paces matched evenly with each other - long practice clearly apparent.

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Anders follows behind, casting one last look at his kids, before turning away, feeling that he's left a part of himself behind.

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"He better come back," Cia mutters quietly to Ilska.

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"We'll make them pay if he doesn't."