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Blood Promise	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4556 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware owns everything Dragon Age. I claim no ownership and make no money/profit.

Chapter List
- 46
- 47
- 48
Duality

Jordan wanted to go to the Gallows, but she had promised Anders she would meet him in his clinic. It was mid-morning as Jordan made her way through Darktown, the events of last night running through her head. She was still fuming over what happened with Bethany. She wanted to go to the Gallows and talk with her sister, find out more about how Bethany's life really was in the Circle, but that would have to wait until later.
Then there was the events at the Hanged Man. The party had been a nice distraction, keeping Jordan from brooding over Bethany all night. The dancing, the music, and her being able to dance with Anders had been the highlight of the evening. She had to stop as she thought about it, her eyes wondering to one of the large windows. He had appeared so handsome and carefree, smiling down at her and brown eyes shining. The way he held her close, his hand on her waist, guiding her as the music swept them away. Jordan had loved it, and craved for him to touch her like that again.
A loud bark startled her, and Jordan was brought out of her thoughts as Chance whined for her attention.
“What do you want, boy?” Jordan asked as she crouched down and started scratching behind both his ears.
The dog barked excitedly and wagged his stumpy tail.
“Are you eager to find out what Anders wants, too?” Jordan smiled at him as his big tongue drooped from his panting mouth. “Alright, I'm sorry. I won't stop and day dream anymore. Come on.” Standing, Jordan slapped her thigh for him to follow.
When they reached Anders's clinic, Jordan gestured for Chance to sit and wait outside. The mabari did as he was told, but whined when she went through the doors. Inside, the clinic was empty except for Anders who was kneeling on the floor, a little girl holding her right arm standing in front of him. To the side stood a man and woman, who Jordan assumed might have been the little girl's parents.
“It hurts,” the little girl whimpered, her eyes downcast as she protectively held her arm to her chest.
“Can you tell me what happened?” Anders asked in a calm voice. He smiled softly at the little girl.
“I'm not allowed to talk to strangers,” she whispered.
The mother and father went to say something, but Anders gestured for them not to. He then put his attention back on the girl, cocking his head so he could see her face better. “That's very true, you shouldn't talk to strangers. But your mother and father brought you to me so I could help you. If you'd like, we can exchange names, then we wouldn't be strangers anymore. My name is Anders. What's yours?”
The little girl peered up at him, her eyes bright and curious. “Are you a mage?”
“Yes, I am,” Anders nodded.
“Trina,” she whispered. “I-I'm Trina.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Trina,” Anders smiled. “Do you think, that because we're not strangers now, you could tell me why your arm hurts?”
Trina nodded. “I was playing on the stairs with Danny in the market while Mommy was shopping. Mommy told me not to play on them, but I was anyway. Danny then pushed me, and I fell.”
“You fell down the stairs?”
Trina nodded again as she looked away.
“Does anything else hurt, or is it just your arm?”
“My arm hurts,” Trina whispered.
“Okay.” Anders peered at her right arm, still tucked close to her chest. “Do you mind if I take a look?”
“No!” Trina shook her head hard. “You'll hurt it!”
“I promise I won't touch it,” Anders said kindly. “But I do need to get a better look so I can make it feel better.”
Trina eyed him suspiciously. “What are you going to do?”
“I'll show you.” Putting out his right hand, Anders showed her his palm. Within, the soft, blue glow of his magic pulsed. Trina looked on at it in wonder.
“What's that?”
“It's my magic,” Anders smiled. “It's what I'm going to use to make your arm better.”
Trina's eyes showed curiosity, but also fear. “Will it hurt?”
“Would you like to feel it?” Anders put out his hand to her, and with her left, Trina cautiously felt his magic on her fingertips. Instantly her face lit, eyes becoming bright and mouth opening with astonishment.
“It tickles,” she giggled.
“I promise it won't hurt, but you need to let me see your arm, okay?”
Trina took her hand away from Anders's palm, the amusement from her eyes having disappeared. She looked to her parents who nodded at her. She then brought her eyes back to Anders. “Okay,” she whispered softly.
Anders smiled at her and put out both his hands.
Slowly Trina took her right arm away from her chest. Her face grimaced, but Jordan wasn't sure if it was from pain or fear. When it was out as far as Trina would take it, Anders moved in a little closer, and placed both his hands on either side of her arm. The blue glow began to pulse within his palms again.
Trina whimpered.
“It's okay, Trina,” Anders reassured. “I promise it won't hurt. Remember, it tickled?”
The little girl nodded her head, but tears still spilled from her eyes and her lips began to quiver.
“I'll go fast. But talk to me, sweetheart. Who's Danny? Is he your friend?” The glow in his palms brightened and extended out.
Trina's eyes fixated on her arm and his glowing magic. “Yeah,” she whispered. “That feels funny.”
“But does it hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Can you tell me anything else about Danny?”
“He lives next door to me. And he's mean. He likes to smear mud in my hair.”
Jordan had to laugh at that. It reminded her of the time she and Carver used to be mean to each other. He liked to smear mud in her hair, too.
“Well, next time he does that, tell him to stop,” said Anders.
“I do, but he still does. I don't like him anymore.” Trina had taken her eyes away from her arm and looked directly at Anders.
Anders smiled sweetly at her then took his hands away. “How does that feel, Trina?”
Trina peered at her arm and her eyes widened again as she flexed her fingers. “It doesn't hurt!”
“Yes. I promised you it wouldn't hurt, didn't I? And that I'd make it better.”
“Mommy, look!” She showed off her arm to her parents. “It doesn't hurt anymore!”
Both her parents smiled, the woman having tears in her eyes.
Trina then turned back to Anders, and in one leap, wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a big hug. “Thank you, Anders,” she said in her sweet, little voice.
“You're welcome, Trina,” Anders said, hugging her back. They parted and Trina looked at him shyly. “Just remember to be careful next time you're on the stairs with Danny, okay? Don't let him push you down them again.”
“I won't,” she said, shaking her head. She then looked around shyly before leaning forward and giving him a kiss on the cheek. She then ran to her parents and buried her face in her mother's skirt. After thanking Anders themselves, the man and woman made their way out of his clinic with their daughter, examining her arm and marveling at his work. Jordan smiled as she let them pass before going in the clinic herself.
“Taking care of little girls and fixing their boo boos?” Jordan said as she went to Anders. “You're so sweet.”
Anders smirked at her, his eyes showing both he was happy to see her but also not. Jordan wasn't really sure if she understood it.
“Think you can take care of a big girl now?”
“Are you hurt?” Anders asked as he went about cleaning up the clinic.
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Did you forget already?” Jordan eyed him curiously. “Yesterday you came to my home and asked me to come here the following morning. It's morning, and well... here I am!”
Anders glanced at her. “Yes, I remember. I hoped you wouldn't, though. And I'm surprised you're even up this early. Especially after last night.”
“Yeah, I'm not exactly sure how the night ended,” Jordan said, scratching her head. “Care to tell me?”
“You got drunk.”
“So drunk that you couldn't take me home? Instead Isabela had to?”
Anders shook his head. “I would've, since I wanted to make sure you were home okay and didn't die from alcohol poisoning, but there was an incident at the Hanged Man. Apparently some very drunk men were blindfolding each other, then spinning around and trying to throw knives at a target. Instead, one of the knives ended up in a man's chest. The party pretty mush ended after that.”
Jordan bit her lower lip at hearing that. She might have been partially to blame for it. “So you healed the man, I assume?”
“Of course. Took him into Varric's room, pulled out the knife and I healed him. He was too drunk to notice he had a knife in him, anyway. He fought me at first, thinking I was taking advantage of him.” A trace of a smile graced Anders's face as he chuckled at the memory.
Although Jordan loved seeing his smile, even if it was small, she wanted to get to the real matter at hand. “So, since I'm here, can you tell me now what you couldn't before?” She raised an eyebrow at him, and Anders lost his smile.
“I shouldn't,” he spoke softly. “In fact, I should have never gone to your house last night. It was stupid of me.”
“Except it wasn't.” Jordan's hand absently went to her neck where she fingered the pendent. “Come on, please,” she smiled at him. “Tell me. You know I won't leave you alone until you do.”
Anders sighed, knowing all too well. “I really shouldn't. It would only put you in more danger than you already are, but...” He took a deep breath and fully faced her. “Have you been noticing how many tranquil there are in the Gallows' courtyard recently? And not just young apprentices who choose it either, or were forced, but older mages as well. Ones I know passed their Harrowing.”
Jordan eyed him curiously. She really hadn't noticed the amount of tranquil in the courtyard, but she was troubled at the thought. “I thought that was against the law. Once a mage passed their Harrowing, they were safe from being made tranquil.”
“Exactly,” Anders said, his voice and eyes hard.
Jordan had to laugh when she realized what he might have been thinking. “Are you imagining some kind of sinister plot to turn all the mages in Kirkwall tranquil?”
“I'm not imagining it,” Anders said, his demeanor not changing. “The templars are using the Rite of Tranquility to silence those who speak against them. They're working on a deliberate plan to turn every mage in Kirkwall within the next three years.”
“And how do you know this?”
“I have contacts within the Gallows.”
“Oh...” Jordan blinked at him.
“Jordan, this is something seriously, and I really shouldn't be telling you this, but when I'm not with you or working in this clinic, I'm helping mages escape from Kirkwall.”
Jordan continued to stare at him, blinking the only thing she really remembered how to do.
Anders sighed and went on. “I'm apart of a mage underground, a resistance against the tyranny of the templars. Myself, along with other apostates and some mages within the Circle are working together to free as many as we can. So far we've helped several mages in the Circle who were targeted.”
Jordan finally got her voice back. “Wait, a mage underground? Is it anything like the blood mages we killed?”
“No, nothing like them at all,” Anders reassured. “In fact, no mage in the underground uses blood magic... well... against templars. We've been very careful, and have so far been very successful, except for a few run-ins.”
“Such as?”
“There's a templar by the name of Ser Alrik. He's the one who did the Rite on Karl, and is the one trying to push the knight-commander to make every mage tranquil. I had a run-in with him last time I was in the Gallows. Fortunately, if it wasn't for my contact, I might not be here right now.”
Jordan's heart froze. She didn't like Anders taking such risks, especially if she wasn't involved, right there to help him if he needed it. She decided not to ask the details. They would only haunt her. “How many mages have you saved so far?”
“I personally, have lead five mages to freedom.” He stopped and looked at the floor. “When I took them to the rendezvous point on the Wounded Coast, each and every one of them went to their knees and kissed the ground, so happy to finally be free.”
Five mages, plus how many more the others might have saved. Jordan's lip twitched. She wanted to ask, but she wasn't sure.
Anders stared back up at her, knowing instantly what she was thinking. “I'm sorry, Jordan, but I can't save Bethany. Or at least, not now.”
“Why not?” she whispered.
“Back when this started, your sister was too much of a risk. Believe me, I thought about getting her out, but being an apostate for so long, and coming to the Circle, she was watched much more closely than the others. Not only did they fear she might resist, but they also feared she might try and escape. Trying to free her would have been too dangerous for all of us.”
“But what about now?” Jordan asked. “Are they watching her as closely now?”
“No,” Anders said, shaking his head. “But she's still too much of a risk. Mainly because of you.”
“Me?”
“You're nobility, Jordan. It's noticed when a mage from a noble family goes missing. If she were to escape, the first place they would go to is you and your mother. Even if Bethany wasn't hiding in your home, the templars would be ruthless in their search. They may even try and hang the two of you for not cooperating.” Anders's eyes became strained as he gazed at her.
Jordan understood his meaning, but she still couldn't help but to feel denied and hurt. Was it really her fault Bethany couldn't find freedom from the Circle? A thought then came to her, and her eyes widened as she peered at Anders.
“She's not my contact, Jordan,” Anders said, reading her mind again. “Believe me, I know how much you care for her, and I would not put her in such danger. She is ignorant to this, I swear.”
Jordan was beginning to feel her anger boil, but sighed with relief when Anders reassured her Bethany had no dealings with this underground mage resistance. Yet she still didn't understand why Anders had kept this from her for so long. Or even why he was telling her about it now. “What's going on, then?” she asked. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“Because my contact in the Gallows asked me to seek outside help. You in particular, since you can be trusted.”
“What kind of help?”
“Because of what happened last time with Ser Alrik, we believe there might be hostility on this run. We want to be cautious and have more hands just in case the templars decide to investigate and attack. But... shit, I shouldn't have told you this.” He turned away from her, and began fumbling with something on his desk.
“Okay, well you told me,” said Jordan. “Can't take it back now. So when are we going?”
“You're not going,” Anders said without looking at her.
“Excuse me?” Jordan raised an eyebrow. “I do believe you are mistaken. You can't just tell me something like that, say you need my help, then tell me I can't come.” She went around his desk and forced him to look at her. “What time are you suppose to meet with your contact.”
Anders glared at her, his brown eyes showing frustration. “You just don't get it, do you?”
“I might if you actually told me.”
“There's a very high chance when we go down there, templars will be waiting for us. If you get hurt, or captured...” He had to look away from her, his hands gripping the edge of his desk, turning his fingers white. “They won't go easy on you, Jordan. They won't care about your status or your name.”
“I think I can take care of myself when it comes to templars,” Jordan said, eying him. “I've pretty much been dealing with them my whole life.”
“Yeah, running.”
“I'm not abandoning you, Anders. Especially not now that you've told me about this mage resistance you're helping with. And that you were nearly captured yourself by a templar.” She forced him to look at her again. “You don't need to do this by yourself. You know I'm always there for you.” Jordan made sure to show him in her eyes she really meant it.
Anders quivered slightly under her gaze before shaking his head and backing away from her. “You shouldn't, Jordan.”
“Why?” she asked, staying in place.
“Because... I'm not good for you.”
“I think I know what's good for me and what isn't.”
“But you don't fully understand what's going on,” he said turning to her. “You're risking yourself just knowing me. The knight-commander has become ruthless when it comes to apostates. She's having her templars raid mage families in the middle of the night. Set curfews. And any apostate the templars do find are immediately made tranquil. No Harrowing, no inquisition. Just straight to the brand.” Jordan could see his brown eyes darkening as he spoke. This was something that bothered her just as much as it did him.
“If you think the templars are going to capture you, they won't,” she said. “They'll have to go through me first.”
Anders fully faced her. “They'll kill you. Supporting apostates is a hanging offense.”
“They have to capture me first before they can hang me.”
“Jordan...” Anders said as his eyes softened. “Do you not understand? The thought of them hurting you... Everything I've done to control this... I don't care. I would drown us in blood to keep you safe!” He looked at her as if he was truly frightened of losing her. “This is why you can't be with me. Why we can never be. Seeing you hurt... not just from the templars, but... also from myself. I'll only hurt you.”
“Anders...” Jordan stared at him solemn. “I'm not going to let you go. Nothing would hurt more than losing you.” She looked away from him, towards the doorway. It was true, it would hurt to lose him. It would be the same as when she lost Bethany.
Anders saw it in her face. “I'm sorry,” he said. “I just want you to have a normal life. It's what I know you deserve.”
But I don't want a normal life, Jordan thought. It was something she wanted to say out loud, but knew that even if she did, it would lead no where. And I deserve you.
They were silent in the clinic before Jordan finally spoke. “I'm still going with you,” she said softly.
Anders sighed, knowing no matter what he did or said, there was no stopping her. After all, she did know the tunnels that lead underground to the Gallows from her smuggling days. Even if he left without her, she would just follow. “Alright,” he said. “I'm suppose to meet with my contact in an hour. If you really want to come, then we need to leave now.”
“Thank you,” Jordan nodded. “And please, don't hide anything like this from me again. It would kill me just as much to lose you, I hope you know.”
Anders nodded slightly but didn't say anything. He then lead her out of the clinic before locking it. Once Jordan collected Chance, he took her all the way to the other side of Darktown.
***
“What are you two doing?”
Anders stopped and glowered, his hard eyes fixed on Fenris when the elf come around a corner in front of them. “What's it matter to you?” he said harsh.
Fenris matched Anders's glare, the two staring each other down like dogs about ready to fight over territory. Jordan stepped in before either of them could begin to argue.
“We're just investigating something,” she said, knowing Anders more than likely didn't want Fenris to know about the mage underground. “What are you doing here, Fenris?”
“He's with me.” Varric came around the corner behind Fenris, smiling at the two. “We're here speaking with one of my contacts, trying to figure out where DuPuis went. Is that what you two are doing as well?”
“Uh...” Jordan looked to Anders for help. If it was just Fenris, then they would have been able to get away, maybe, but not with Varric. He was too nosy.
“No,” Anders sighed. “We were actually on our way to break into the Gallows.”
“Oh? Trying to get Sunshine out?”
“Unfortunately no,” Jordan said, crossing her arms.
“Then what are you two doing?” Varric raised his eyebrows to both of them.
Jordan shrugged at Anders. There was really no hiding it, especially from Varric. If it was just him, Jordan was sure Anders would have explained it to him already, but Fenris had to be there.
Anders glared at Fenris, then looked to Varric. “Just come with us, I suppose, if you really want to know.”
“Alright, Blondie, lead the way.”
“But we haven't finished with what we're suppose to be doing,” Fenris growled.
“I know, but my guy can wait,” said Varric. “Besides, this sounds interesting, whatever these two are doing.”
“Breaking into the Gallows? There's only one reason I can think of for why they would be doing something like that.” Fenris's burning eyes found Jordan's.
“If you don't want to come, you don't have to,” she said.
He appeared to lose some of his anger. “If you think I'm going to let you break into the Gallows with the abomination alone, then you are mistaken.”
Anders turned his head sharply to glare at Fenris, but said nothing.
“I'm not really only with him,” said Jordan. “I've got Chance with me. And Varric now. Plus you need to lay off him a little. Anders is not an abomination.” Jordan gave him her own cold look, one that told him to back off. She really couldn't figure out why he was in his current mood. Last night Fenris had appeared cheerful, or as cheerful as he gets. Then after her dance with Anders, he had disappeared, and never came back the rest of the night. No one knew where he had gone or why he had left. Jordan had an inkling, but she didn't want to think on it much. He had already stated he wasn't interested in her, yet sometimes he acted differently. Such as now, when he caught her and Anders making their way to the Gallows, saying they were going to break in. No doubt, he assumed they—or at least Anders—was up to no good.
Fenris's eyes darted to Anders, sharpening, before going back to hers and softened a little. “I hope you know what you're doing, Hawke.”
“Do I ever?” she smiled.
Fenris rolled his eyes.
“Come on,” Jordan chuckled.
They followed behind Anders and Varric. In hushed whispered, Anders quickly explained to Varric what they were doing, and what he was involved with. Varric didn't seem pleased, but Jordan couldn't tell if it was because Anders hadn't told him about it sooner, or if it was because he hadn't known about it himself. After all, Varric knew everything that was going on in Kirkwall, or at least, so he thought. Fenris listened as well, but didn't seem very happy about it. He kept quiet, however, though Jordan could see him shifting his jaw from time to time. When they finally reached the location where they would enter the tunnels that lead to the Gallows, Anders turned and peered at all three of them.
“Do not tell anyone about this way into the Gallows,” he spoke. “It's a secret that has saved the lives of several of mages.”
Fenris grunted. “With any luck, we'll simply be mistaken for thieves and not conspirators.”
Anders glared at him, but only for a brief second before turning to Jordan. “Are you ready?”
“Of course,” Jordan nodded. “Let's go.”
Anders sighed, still not happy with Jordan coming with him, maybe even more so now that Fenris and Varric were coming as well, but he had no choice. They knew about the resistance. Knew he was going under the Gallows and there might be trouble. Nodding his head, more to reassure himself, he took them in the tunnel entrance.
***
The entrance was dark, but as they went further through the tunnels, Anders eventually let out a small globe of light that went ahead of them, illuminating the area. Jordan had been in these tunnels before, knew them well. Most of the tunnels were natural, carved from nature like an underground river had flowed through them long ago. There were a few man-made tunnels that linked the natural ones together. This was how most of Kirkwall's underground was, which was why it was so hard to navigate. One could literally go anywhere in Kirkwall from the tunnel system, but only by those who knew it well enough. Others just got lost and were never seen again.
As they came to a wider cavern, sunlight shined through the cracks in the ceiling. With the natural light, Anders let the little globe fade.
“So can you tell me what happened the last time?” Jordan asked, coming closer to his side.
“We were caught, that's pretty much it,” he said without looking at her.
“How'd you get caught?”
Anders sighed. “The mage we were helping to escape let it slip what he was doing to one of his friends, hoping she'd come with him. He was a new mage, just finished his Harrowing, but his attitude didn't settle well with the templars. He was always talking back to them, standing up and defending himself along with any other mage the templars might have been harassing. As you can probably tell, he wasn't very much liked. Ser Alrik decided to use him as an example for his 'Tranquil Solution.'”
“'Tranquil Solution?'”
“What he calls his plan to turn every mage in Kirkwall tranquil. He also plans on going beyond Kirkwall, beyond the Free Marches. If Ser Alrik gets his way, every single mage in Thedas will become tranquil. And it'll start as soon as they start showing signs of magic.”
“You mean he would even turn little children tranquil?” Varric asked.
“Ser Alrik is ruthless,” Anders explained. “It wouldn't matter to him if it was a child or a full grown adult. All he would see is a mage needing to be put down.”
“I don't really see what's so bad about his plan,” said Fernis.
This caused everyone to stop and stare at him. Jordan's mouth dropped while Anders's face grimaced in a snarl. “You would seriously condemn all the mages of the world to the life of a simpleton? To have their minds sundered?”
“There are some mages who I believe deserve to be made tranquil,” Fenris glared. “That way they can no longer threaten people's lives.”
“No mage deserves to be made tranquil,” Anders said, matching his glare. “It is not a way to live. Most mages would die rather than be branded.”
“It's still a pleasing thought. With no more mages, demons could no longer gain entrance to our world, and the threat of abominations would no longer be a concern.”
“Are you not hearing what you're saying?” Jordan asked, budding in before Anders could say anymore.
“I am,” Fenris said, staring at her. “I'm seeing a world with no mages.”
“You're seeing a world with no magic. No more healing. No more building. No more of pretty much the life we know. Is that what you want?”
“If it wasn't for magic, my people wouldn't be in slavery right now,” Fenris growled. “If it wasn't for magic, I wouldn't have endured a painful ritual to be given these markings! I might actually have a life, a family.”
Jordan glared at him. “You don't know that. If it wasn't for magic, your people might not even existed. Elves started out with all having the gift of magic. If you don't know the story, I suggest you ask Merrill.”
Fenris scowled. “Another mage that probably deserves the brand.”
Jordan fumed. “That's enough, Fenris! I will not have you talking about my friends like that. Maybe some mages do deserve to become tranquil, but you are not the one who decides.”
“And who would decid that, you?”
“No. The mages themselves will decide.”
Fenris gawked at her.
“Yeah, that's right, you heard me,” Jordan grinned.
“I'd give it up, Elf,” said Varric. “You're not going to win. Not with Hawke.”
Fenris looked away and snorted. Jordan hoped he was done, but she couldn't be sure. Fenris's opinion on mages and magic would never change, and neither would hers. Jordan turned to Anders and saw he was trying to keep himself in control. When he looked into her eyes, his own flickered blue, showing her Justice wasn't happy with their conversation.
“Shall we continue?” she asked.
“Right,” he said softly. “This way.”
He took them further into the cavern. They passed skeleton's and corpses or recently deceased men and dwarves. Lyrium smugglers, Jordan knew. This was the same pathway she and Aveline had used long ago when running lyrium for Athenril. She knew exactly where Anders was headed, right underneath the Gallows, to a trapdoor in a storeroom. Jordan had to wonder why he and the mage resistance used these tunnels. If it was the same ones lyrium smugglers used, then it was no wonder they might get caught by the templars.
“Any particular reason why you're using the lyrium tunnels?” Jordan asked him after a long moment of silence as the group made their way through.
Anders turned and looked at her. “Why are you asking that?”
“Because these tunnels are still being used. Maybe that's the reason you're getting caught.”
“No, that wouldn't be it,” said a new voice. It was right ahead of them, and stopped everyone in their tracks. Sacha came around the corner. “I suggested these tunnels when we figured out the lyrium schedule. You see, the templars get really edgy and more cruel when the next delivery is around the corner, so we know when not to use them.” She smiled at them. “Hello, Jordan. Nice to see you again.”
Jordan stared at her with wide eyes.
Sacha's own milky eyes searched, finding each of her companions before going back to Anders. “I see you brought more,” she said to him.
“It wasn't intentional,” he frowned. “Varric and Fenris just happened to catch us while we were on our way.”
“Ah. That would explain why you're late, then.”
“What are you doing down this far anyway?”
“I came looking for you,” said Sacha. “Noticing you were late, I told Ella to hide, and I came down this way to see if I could spot you.”
“Wow, hang on a second,” Jordan interrupted. Something just didn't seem right to her. “No offense, Sacha, but you're blind.”
“Yes, I am blind,” Sacha said as her eyes, yet again, fixed right into Jordan's. “Are you surprised to see me here?”
“I am, considering I didn't expect you to be Anders's contact. I mean...” Jordan wasn't quite sure how to say it. “You can't see, yet...”
Sacha's smile widened. “I have a unique talent,” she said. “Plus I know these tunnels very well.”
“So you can see?” said Varric as he eyed her suspiciously.
“In a manner, yes.”
“How?” Jordan asked, not understanding. She knew magic enough that it couldn't give sight back. Just as it couldn't heal a broken spine and give the person back the use of their legs.
Sacha's smile dipped a little, but still stayed upon her face. Her eyes shifted to Anders and he sighed.
“She uses blood magic,” he said.
A gasp came from Jordan, her surprise coming from many sources. Not only from the fact she was learning Sacha was a blood mage, but she didn't really understand how blood magic could help her to see.
“A blood mage, I should have known,” Fenris growled. He hardener his eyes in Sacha's direction.
Sacha only smirked at him. “I see you brought the misanthrope.”
“Not my choice,” Anders grumbled. “Believe me.”
“Okay,” Jordan said shaking her head. She needed to understand this. “How exactly do you see with blood magic?”
“I see two ways, actually,” Sacha said, staring at her. “I use the blood of others. It illuminates them, surrounding them in a red halo. Over the years, as I've honed my skills, I've been able to expand the halo to the immediate surrounding area. I can see you in detail, along with the area around you within a four feet radius. It's not ideal, considering I have limits. With one person I can barely see anything, while in a crowd I can pretty much see everything. But it does get tiring seeing the world in constant shades of red.”
“And the other way?” Jordan asked.
“That is a little bit more... controversial.” Sacha shifted her jaw slightly. “I can also reach into other's minds and see through their eyes.”
“Oh...”
“I don't do it often, only when I wish to see color, or want to see something in more detail than what the illuminated blood can show me. The problem with it, of course, is I can only see what the person is looking at. And there's the fact I might be discovered.”
“It's how I—or rather Justice—discovered what she really was,” said Anders. “We weren't very happy at first, but when Sacha explained herself, both Justice and I didn't think she was a threat.”
“Ha!” Fenris laughed. “You really think she's harmless because she's blind?” Fenris glared at both Anders and Sacha. He had only met the blind mage once, at least two years ago when he had accompanied Jordan to the Gallows to visit Bethany. They hadn't gotten along, even then, but Jordan knew it was because of how Fenris felt towards mages, even though it seemed as if he gave her more respect than he did others. Now, with this information, any respect he might've had for her was gone.
“I know what you think,” Sacha said slowly. “But you are wrong. I only use blood magic to see. I don't use it against others.”
“But you still use it to enter people's minds!”
“Only to see through their eyes. Not to control, not to read their thoughts.”
Fenris shook his head, his eyes malicious. “Just as all blood mages, trying to justify their reasoning for courting with demons.”
“Excuse me, but are you saying you do not wish for me to see?” Sacha said, looking shocked. “I might be a blood mage by the simple fact I use it, but I am not a blood mage by definition.”
“I'm saying you should have looked for another way,” Fenris growled.
“Believe me, I did try and find another way. I wondered if it was possible to try and heal my eyes, but it's not. Without blood magic, I would be totally blind, and useless. Do you know what they do to useless mages, Fenris?”
“I would guess, perhaps the same thing they do to useless slaves.”
“Worse.” Sacha's eyes narrowed and became hard. Jordan then saw it, the hint of red within her milky irises. She had seen it before, but only thought it was a trick of light. Now everything was beginning to make sense. That strange feeling she would always feel whenever she was around Sacha. Jordan cursed herself for not realizing what it was beforehand. Why had she been unable to detect Sacha was using blood magic? Maybe it was the same reason why the templars hadn't noticed yet. Sacha was only using it to see, and she had become so good at it, she could hide it even from those who were constantly searching. Only something she wasn't expecting, such as a spirit inside the mind of a mage, would notice what she was really doing.
“Worse?” Fenris said, still keeping his angry eyes on Sacha.
“You're smart, Fenris,” Sacha smirked. “What is it that all mages fear more than death?”
“They wouldn't make you tranquil, would they?” Jordan asked, unsure if she believed it.
“If I hadn't proved I was able to adapt and show I was still useful, I'm sure they would have,” said Sacha. “After that, I'm not sure what they would do with me, however. A useless blind mage is one thing, but a blind tranquil? That's even less so.”
“At least as a blind tranquil, you wouldn't be a threat,” Fenris spat.
Sacha's eyes snapped on him. “I do not need to justify anything to you. What I did long ago is something I don't regret. It is a bed I made, and I will lie down in it. Whatever consequences I may have to deal with in the future, I shall fully. As for you, Fenris, if you do not wish for me to use your blood in order to see, then all you have to do is ask.”
“I don't,” he growled.
“Then so be it. You shall only be a black spot in my world of red.” Sacha then faced Jordan and Anders. “If we are through, I'd like to get back to Ella now. I'm pretty sure she's wondering where I am.”
“Oh, of course,” said Jordan.
Sacha took the lead, taking them the rest of the way through the cavern. Jordan wondered how it was she was able to see with them not in front of her, but then she remembered Sacha had said she knew these caverns well. She probably didn't need them in order to know where she was going.
Jordan still wasn't sure she understood it, but things were starting to make sense for her now. She has always been curious about Sacha, the way the mage acted, how she was able to function as if she hadn't lost her sight at all. Jordan had seen blind men before, some being able to function just as fine without their sight as well, but nothing like Sacha. Things were definitely starting to add up.
“Does Bethany know?” Jordan asked, bringing herself to the blind mage's side.
Sacha glanced at her and smiled. Her milky eyes with their hint of red glowing. “Yeah, she knows. She actually figured it out herself.”
“That doesn't surprise me,” Jordan grinned.
“She's a smart girl. Knew even before I decided if telling her the truth would be wise. There are only a handful of other mages in the Gallows that know about my secret. No templars, though. Not even the ones I can trust.”
“Like Thrask?”
“Thrask, Keran. Believe it or not, those are the only two templars I would trust with my life.”
“Yet you don't trust them with this?”
Sacha raised an eyebrow at her. “Would you? Even if I vowed to them I would never use the blood magic for anything but sight, Thrask at least, still does not approve of mages using the forbidden magics. Keran, however... well, with what happened to him several years ago, I would prefer not to bring his nightmares back. Not after Bethany worked so hard with him so he could get a peaceful night's sleep.”
Jordan nodded. That did make sense. “But you'd still think they might trust you, though,” Jordan said after she thought. “I mean, I'm sure you've been using it for a long time, right? And have never used it in any other way.”
Sacha put her gaze forward again.
“Right?” Jordan asked again, puzzled.
“Only once,” Sacha spoke softly. “Never again.”
Jordan stared at her confused, only to have something click in her mind. She remembered the story Sacha had told her a long time ago about how she lost her eyesight. A templar had done it. He had poured lyrium into her eyes because of a bet he had made with another templar. The result left Sacha completely blind. Yet several months later, the very same templar was found dead in the Gallows, all of his blood and bodily fluids gone, evaporated. They had suspected blood magic. There was an immediate search throughout the tower, but they found nothing. The mages were punished, of course, left to stay in their rooms for days without food. Some were tortured, turned tranquil, maybe even killed. Eventually the knight-commander allowed the mages to be released, the culprit never found. But of course she would never be found, because she was a mage no one would ever suspect.
Jordan continued to stare at Sacha. So she had used blood magic once to seek her revenge. But never again. Jordan wondered how she could be so self-controlled. Not even Merrill was like that, who had conceded to blood magic a few times when she thought there was no other option. It had been used to save Jordan's life most of those times, in which Jordan was thankful, but it was still times when Merrill had let herself slip. If it ever came to it, would Sacha eventually surrender to the power blood magic provided in those desperate times?
Sacha suddenly stopped and blinked several times as she looked forward. “No...” she whispered.
“What? What is it?” Anders asked behind her.
“Do you not hear them?” she said. “No! Ella!” She bolted forward, running the rest of the way through the cavern. The rest quickly joined her, and Sacha let them pass as they made to round a corner.
Jordan found herself in the lead, Chance right at her side with Anders directly behind her. It wasn't until they reached another corner could she hear what Sacha might have been hearing. Voices. One very deep and vicious, the other soft and pleading. There were also others, laughter. Jordan slowed her pace and stopped when she came to a small opening. Beyond the opening was another, smaller cavern, and inside stood several templars with a young mage within their surrounding circle.
“Ella!” Sacha covered her mouth as she looked beyond Jordan at the templars. “Damn it, I shouldn't have left her.”
“Why are there so many?” Anders asked, his eyes dark as he stood behind Jordan, peering in the cavern.
“I don't know.” Sacha shook her head. “They shouldn't even know where we are. I took a different route. Not unless... That bitch!” Sacha had to contain herself, not wanting to attract the attention of the templars just in the next area. “I knew I never should have trusted her.”
“Who?” Jordan asked.
“Never mind who. I'll deal with her myself if we get out of this.”
Jordan looked back in the cavern. Poor Ella looked frightened as she trembled before the templar that stood in front of her. Even with his back turned to Jordan, she knew he was Ser Alrik. She had seen him before in the Gallows, a templar she never liked. Bethany had told her things, and she had also heard more from others. Ser Alrik was not kind to mages, and had apparently only become a templar so he could personally deal with them how he pleased.
“No... please!” Ella begged. “I haven't done anything wrong.”
“That's a lie,” Ser Alrik said smoothly, cold. “What do we do to mages who lie?”
Ella's lip trembled as she stared around at all the templars around her. They were smiling sickly at her, enjoying her fear. “I-I just wanted to see my mum,” she pleaded to Ser Alrik. “No one ever told her where they were taking me.”
“So, you admit your attempted escape? You know what happens to mage girls who don't toe the line around here, don't you?”
Jordan felt Anders shift behind her. She peered back at him to see he was struggling. His hands gripped tight to his staff, posture ridged and tense, and his eyes glowed a bluish hue. “No,” he muttered. “Not here. Not now.”
“Easy there, Anders,” Jordan spoke softly to him. “Stay in control.”
His eyes flickered to hers and she could see the struggle within them. He was fighting Justice hard, the spirit raging behind his eyes. Jordan knew she needed to take care of this quick. She didn't know how much longer Anders could hold on, or if Justice was let out, what he would do.
“Please, no!” Ella cried as she fell to her knees. “Don't make me tranquil! I'll do anything!”
“That's right,” Ser Alrik grinned wickedly. “Once you're tranquil, you'll do anything I ask.”
Ella was brought to tears. She sobbed as she stared up at Ser Alrik, horrified. The other templars chuckled at her misery. Jordan couldn't take anymore. She stepped into the cavern.
“You are by far the naughtiest templar I have ever met,” she said out loud. Ser Alrik and the others stared at her in surprise. “Didn't you know the Chantry frowns on templars who take personal advantage of their charges?”
Ser Alrik glared at her. “And who are you? The one who's suppose to take this little bitch?”
“I'm running a little late,” Jordan smiled.
“Perhaps your arrival isn't so late, after all,” Ser Alrik grinned. “I might have a use for you as well. Can't have too many slaves, now can we?”
“There's only one problem with that,” Jordan frowned. “I'm not a mage, idiot.”
“Makes no difference to me. You can still be tamed. Get her!” At Ser Alrik's word, the templars in the small cavern advanced on her. Jordan readied herself, but suddenly everyone froze when they heard the primeval cry.
Anders was swiftly at her side, but it wasn't him. Jordan looked with wide eyes as the blue rays glowed about his body. The deep vortexes swirled in his eyes as Justice glared at the templars before him. “You fiends will never touch a mage again!” he screamed. A surge of magic pulsed in the air, suffocating and lethal. All the templars were blown back, some hitting against the cavern's rock wall. Ser Alrik hit the ground and skidded across before slamming his bald head into the chestplate of a fellow templar. When he stood, a trickle of blood flowed down the side of his head, his eyes dark and foreboding as he glared at Justice. The two locking on to one another and not noticing anything else.
Jordan knew she had to do something, but there was no time. The templars were quickly back on their feet and charging forward. Ella cried out, scared out of her mind as she crawled out of the templars' way and cling to the side of the cavern.
“Chance, go protect her!” Jordan ordered her dog. With a bark of acknowledgment, Chance raced to Ella and placed himself in front of her, and growled at any templar who dared come near.
Jordan only got a quick glimpse of her mabari protecting the scared young mage before she had to put up her own defenses. A templar came hurtling toward her, his greatsword swinging at her head. Jordan caught it by crossing Edge and Fury together, then flung the heavy sword to the side before she spun and struck the templar's chestplate. Their armor was thick and heavy, and would give Jordan problems unless she could figure a way past it. She went around the templar and struck again, her movements much faster than his, allowing her to get in hits and duck his swings. Around her, Jordan could hear and see the others fighting. Fenris was in a duel with a templars bearing a sword and shield. Varric was still in the entrance-way, pointing Bianca and firing. Sacha had been backed into a corner, two templars keeping her at bay, while Justice and Ser Alrik battled it out, the pressure of Justice's magic palpable in the air.
Jordan had to get away from this templar so she could go help Sacha, the blind mage probably not being able to use her mana to fight or blood magic to see. The templar swung at her again, but missed, his sword hitting the rock and getting stuck. As he tried to pull it out, Jordan took the opportunity and rammed Edge between the plates on his left side, angling up and hitting his heart. When she ripped it out, he fell and convulsed on the ground before stilling. Jordan then turned her attention to Sacha, but saw the mage didn't need her help.
Sacha was battling ferociously, yet no magic was coming from her staff. She whipped it around herself, striking one templar then the other. She went back and forth, her body twisting, her staff spinning in the air, knocking on helmets and chestplates. One of the templars went to stab her in the side, but she blocked him with a smooth sweep of her staff. She then twisted it, hitting the templar in the hand knocking away his sword. Next she brought it down on his head, crushing his helmet. Blood came out of the slits, and she knocked the templar in the head one more time before defending herself from the second templar. He met a similar fate as his fellow templar as Sacha moved, spinning her body and the staff around it, then taking the sword end and sweeping it across his feet. The templar went down hard, crashing to the floor before dying when Sacha stuck her sword end between the templar's helmet and chestplate. She torn it out, blood splattering against her robes. She heaved and observed the area before meeting Jordan's eyes. Sacha smirked, and Jordan had to laugh.
Just goes to show you, don't underestimate the blind mage.
“Jordan, look out!” Sacha screamed.
The warning was in time for Jordan to dodge the blow a templar was about to give to her back. She rounded on the templar, seeing this one was a lot smaller than the others, his armor not as heavy or thick. He also carried with him two blades, a sight which made Jordan smile. A templar rogue, that was an interesting sight.
The templar moved before she did, their daggers colliding and striking in a wicked dance. Jordan found herself faster, but he was definitely stronger. His strikes were jarring against her arms, sending shockwaves through her body. Jordan went under one of his strikes, rolled on the ground and came up behind him. The templar spun and caught Edge before she could plunge it into his back. This sent Jordan off course. She stepped back, barely evading his blade sweeping across her face. She continued going backwards, blocking his attacks, but having a hard time keeping up with him. He was getting faster, his blows harder.
“Hawke!”
The templar was suddenly away from her just as Jordan's back hit the stone wall. Fenris was in front of her now, his body tense, eyes hard as he fought against the templar rogue. He brought his sword around, aiming for the templar's side. The templar tried to block it, but the greatsword was too big and powerful. It broke through his defense and struck him hard in the side. The templar went flying, hitting another templar that was going after Varric. The dwarf then shot a bolt from Bianca, the bolt embedding itself in the second templar's helmet.
Fenris went after the templar he was fighting. He reached down, his glowing hand phasing through the templar's chestplate and grabbing his heart. The templar screamed as he was wrenched from the ground. Jordan heard the telltale sound of his heart being crushed before Fenris dropped the templar's limp body. She then pushed herself from the wall, seeing all the templars were dead except for Ser Alrik who was still fighting with Justice.
“Coward,” Jordan said as she realized while she was occupied with other templars, Ser Alrik had placed his own comrades between himself and Justice. Now he was all alone with the vengeful spirit, fighting sword to staff.
“You will die for your transgressions,” Justice growled. He raised a hand and flung a fireball at the templar. Ser Alrik blocked it with his shield before striking at Justice.
“You will be the one to die, demon! Then with you gone, I'll take all your mage friends and turn them into drooling, mindless tranquils. I'll have my way with them, and there's nothing you can do about it!” He lunged forward at the spirit, at the same time releasing a holy smite from his palms. It hit Justice hard, but he did not go down.
Justice growled, his teeth mashing, blue fire burning in his eyes. He glared at Ser Alrik, his hands then going up and grasping the templar in a tight, magical hold. Ser Alrik looked on, horrified, not believing what was happening.
“How?” he gasped. “How are you able to do this? I took away your mana!”
“You can't even begin to understand the depths of my power, pathetic mortal” Justice snarled. “You will die! They will all die! I will have every last templar for these abuses!” Ser Alrik screamed as the magic around him tightened. His armor caved in, bones breaking at odd angles. Blood was forced from the pores on his face. The gash on his head from before gushed with even more blood. Ser Alrik yelled, this his jaw snapped to the side. Both his eyes burst at the same time when his nose was crushed against his face, going into his skull. With a last brutal bend and crack of his body, Justice let go and threw his body to the side. He then turned and glared around the room, his eyes still burning and swirling with pure rage. He spotted Ella in the corner, still cowering against the wall. Chance barked and growled as Justice approached, but with a quick swipe of his hand, Justice sent the canine away, skidding to a halt next to Varric.
“Justice, stop this right now!” Jordan cried. She looked back to see Chance was fine, a little shaken, but able to stand. When she turned back to the spirit, she could see him glowering at her as he stood over Ella. “It's done,” she spoke. “The templars are dead. You can stop glowing now.”
Justice snarled at her. “Every one of them will feel my burn,” he spat.
“No, get away from me, demon!” Ella said as she scooted away from him, pressing herself more into the wall.
Justice stared down at her. “I am no demon!” he yelled. “Would you call me such? The one that has freed you from these injustices. Or are you the one that caused all this?”
Ella shook her head, tears springing from her eyes.
“But you are,” Justice growled.
“Don't touch her!” yelled Sacha. She went to move forward, at the same time, Fenris raising his sword.
“Don't!” Jordan yelled at both of them, holding up her hands. She was closer to Justice than they were, and felt she might be able to handle the situation better. “Anders,” she said, hoping he could hear her within Justice's rage-filled mind. “Listen to me! Fight him! That girl in front of you is a mage. We just saved her from being made tranquil!”
“No!” Justice roared, his head shaking. “She is one of theirs! I can feel their hold on her!”
Jordan went closer. “She's the reason you're fighting, Anders. Don't turn on her now!”
“Please...!” Ella begged beneath the enraged spirit.
Justice growled, the blue rays upon his skin appearing as flames. He wasn't hearing her!
“No!” Jordan screamed as he lifted his staff, the blade end pointing down at the frightened girl.
She acted quick, launching herself forward and tackling him before the blade could pierce. It only grazed the young mage, cutting a hole in her robes and scratching the suffice of her skin. Jordan and Justice tumbled, stopping when Jordan took control. She was on top of him, Edge at his throat.
“Anders!” she cried, tears pricking at the backs of her eyes. “Please! Come back to me.”
There was a loud moan that came to his throat. When he opened his eyes, brown stared up at her instead of blue. “Jordan...?” he spoke harsh, his mouth dry.
“Anders...” Jordan said softly, happy to see him back.
“But what...?” He pushed himself up as Jordan took her blade from his throat. He looked around the cavern, seeing the dead templars, seeing the shocked faces of everyone there. He then spotted Ella crying in Sacha's arms, her eyes glancing in his direction, only to be quickly taken away when she noticed him staring at her. “No,” he said. “What have I done?”
“Anders, it's all right,” Jordan tried to reassure as she got off him.
“Maker, no. I almost... If you weren't here...” He stared at her, standing and his eyes bright with fear and tears. “I-I need to get out of here.” He then ran past her, ran past Fenris and Varric, never looking either of them in the eyes.
“Anders, wait!” Jordan shouted, but he was already gone.
***
She didn't know what to do. Where had he gone? Why had he run? Jordan wanted to go after him, but she was torn. Anders needed her right now, but so did Ella and the others.
“You should go to him,” said Sacha. Jordan looked down at her. She was still holding Ella tight in her arms, the young mage crying with fright. “He needs you right now.”
“But what about you and the others?” said Jordan. “What are we going to do about Ella?”
“Don't worry about her, I'll take care of it.” Sacha placed her head on top of Ella's and said something Jordan couldn't hear. Jordan looked to Fenris and Varric.
“I've never seen him like that before,” said Varric, worried. “I don't know if it's safe to go to him now, but maybe...” He looked down the way Anders had ran. “Maybe you should. It's okay,” he said, seeing Jordan's own worry. “Fenris and I will stay and help Sacha. I think Blondie really does need you more right now.”
Jordan nodded, then turned to Fenris. He was gazing at her with sad eyes. No longer hard, no longer angry. Jordan wasn't sure how to read them. He then looked away from her and walked over to Sacha and Ella. “Come on,” he said, letting down his hand.
“Are you offering us your help, Fenris?” Sacha said, looking at him but not directly.
“She's suffered enough today. And I will help you this one time.”
Sacha grabbed his hand and he pulled the two mages off the ground. “Thanks,” she nodded. “You won't regret this, Fenris.”
“I'm not doing it for you,” he said before walking back to Varric. He never looked Jordan in the eyes again. Jordan wasn't sure why he was acting the way he was, but she knew it was his way of saying she should go as well.
With all of them telling her to go, Jordan took a deep breath and stared down the cavern. “Stay with them, Chance,” she said to her hound. “Fenris, can you make sure to bring him home when you're done?”
“I shall, Hawke,” he said, still not fully looking in her direction.
Jordan nodded, then made her way after Anders.

Paraphrasing from Dragon age 2
- 46
- 47
- 48
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Blood Promise