"No, no I can't. I am thankful she waited until there was no witnesses, but I would've been terrified to see her go."

"To be fair, if you were here, she never would've had to." Raeli's tone is surprisingly light.

Anders dips his head. "Regretting that decision more and more every minute."

Karl wraps his arm around Anders, and tucks his head into his shoulder.

"You didn't think you had a choice. They understood that. And you're back. That's the important thing."

“I’d do anything to protect them.” There’s a flicker of blue lightning across his skin, and a feeling of approval. “Justice would too.”

"Glad to hear it. That makes...five of us? If we're counting spirits. Them and Blaise."

“Agreed. We keep the clinic as a sanctum for mage runaways and lost spirits.”

“With the occasional patient, of course.”

“It’s not really a clinic without patients,” Anders agrees. 

"And what of Varric and the Hawke twins? Allies?"

“We can count on them. The Hawkes have pull with the Viscount and the city guard, and Varric knows everything and everyone. He’s promised some help securing the clinic. I couldn’t say no to that.”

"That's good to know. Reassuring."

“We’ll need those sort of connections if the Templars come calling again.”

"Yeah. Let's hope that doesn't happen for a while. I don't particularly wanna see how Blaise and Ilska respond to Templars."

“Blaise has been through enough, and he has a tenuous grasp on this world. I want to see him safe, and confident he won’t blow away.”

“Nothing will touch him. Or Ilska and Cia. We keep this place safe, they have a home. Though we might need to clear up some more space.”

"Something to get on tomorrow, I suppose. You look like you could use some sleep as well, Anders."

“You’re not wrong, I haven’t slept well in a month.” He stretches, feeling a satisfying crack in his spine. “Thank you for being here and taking care of them. I can never repay you.”

"There's no debt in my eyes. Now, both of you, sleep. I have arrows to finish fletching."

“Yes, ma’am.” Anders heads back into the clinic, taking Karl with him. They both find it easy to get to sleep, finally free and together. 

A few days later, Talia Hawke steps into the clinic once more.

Karl notices her first. He heads over to intercept her. “If you’re here to pull Anders away on another fool errand, there are a few people who will take exception.”

"I'm aware," she says, her tone just an edge too sharp. "I asked him to come as a healer, I didn't expect him to feel obliged to say yes." Pauses, deflates. "I'm sorry, that- I deserved that. I came, I suppose, to try and make amends."

“We’re watching.” Karl nods at Rae.