Dragon Age: Awakening

Chapter 9: Bonds and Concerns

Chapter 9: Bonds and Concerns

"And these templars just lock the mages away?" Justice asked, arching his eyebrows over at Anders, who nodded quickly. I had now tuned into their conversation and out of my thoughts about what this Mother could be, another talking darkspawn? I really didn't know the answer to all these questions and was not sure if I wanted to know what the truth was.

Justice scrunched his face up, "The Chantry teaches that magic exists to serve man, not to rule over him." Anders grumbled as he blew a strand of hair out of his mouth.

"That is unfair, you are not slaves." Justice said quickly as he rolled his shoulders back in annoyance.

"I escaped from the Tower." Anders sighed in defeat, "But the templars still found me, if it wasn''t for Katria I would be locked back up, and probably made Tranquil." Anders said the last part very soft, almost in a whisper.

Anders smiled weakly over at me, I nodded back at him with a warm smile.

Justice brooded all the way back to the Vigils Keep about the information Anders had told him, Nathaniel was watching the two warily.

"What's the matter?" I asked Nathaniel as we walked into the main hall of the Keep, he sighed and shrugged.

"Anders and Justice.. I know Justice is a good spirit, but what if..." His voice trailed off and he shook his head quickly and shrugged again before trudging back down the hallway.

I watched Nathaniel for a moment before stumbling around the corner and plopping down onto the plush couch in front of the warm fire, Anders joined me after a few minutes.

"You seem bothered," He smiled at the corner of his mouth.

I puffed air out of my nose and shook my head, I was deep in thought. After a few moments of silence I looked over at Anders who was watching me carefully with his burning brown eyes.

"It's just what that darkspawn general said, about a Mother." I furrowed my brow. "What could that mean?" I tilted my head at Anders who narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin.

"Mother.. like a broodmother?" He raised an eyebrow over at me, I sighed and pulled my bow off my back, leaning it against the soft couch. No no no, please let it not be one of those.

"That would make sense.. If she is intelligent, she could be teaching the darkspawn she bores to follow her." I said softly and began braiding my hair nervously, I didn't like this. Unintelligent broodmothers are dangerous in their own right, they give birth to other darkspawn, like a queen bee in a hive.

"Being a Warden is wearing on me." I laughed to myself, Anders raised an eyebrow.

"Would you ever leave?" Anders whispered, my gaze shot over to him.

"You can't leave." I said softly and turned my gaze to the crackling fire that bathed the two of us in a warm light.

"I'm not a hero you know?" I said after some silence.

"What do you mean?" Anders asked softly, closing the distance between us.

"I didn't end the Blight. I didn't kill the archdemon." I managed as I felt the sting of tears welling in my eyes, I quickly pushed away the emotion.

"I sacrificed everything in my journey, I was supposed to kill the archdemon." My eyes shot back to Anders who was listening intently, "My parents were killed. The Warden Commander who saved me from the same fate as my parents was killed." I said quickly, I could feel the anger welling up.

"And the only person I ever truly loved sacrificed himself.. to save me." I threw my hands up in the air and pushed up off the couch, "I couldn't even save him." I growled as I gritted my teeth, trying to keep the tears back.

I sighed deeply as two arms wrapped around me and pulled me into a warm chest, my anger subsided as I counted Anders heavy heartbeats.

My eyes popped open and I shoved him away, he arched his eyebrows and I could see the hurt and confusion in his eyes.

"I can't," I said quickly and ran down the hallway to my bedroom, throwing myself on the bed with a groan.

I held the pillow against my face and calmed my breathing and my racing heartbeat.

I couldn't get close to someone else, I couldn't let another person die.

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