Bound Together - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Fenris had not left Anders' bed since being brought to it. He awoke when he felt something brush against his face, blinking a few times. What he saw was the cat staring at him, its tail lightly hitting into him. It must've been roaming the house when he first saw Anders, or was very good at hiding its chubby frame. "Have you accepted me then?" he asked aloud, and then immediately rolled his eyes. Here he was, talking to an animal like he expected an answer. Part of him was glad the healer was asleep, or he'd never have heard the end of this. However, Pounce stood and stretched, walking up the bed towards Anders' head, and curling up next to it. His eyes were on the Elf, and Fenris could swear it was almost a pleading look. "This is my fault," he whispered.

"I could argue with you there," Connor stated as he walked into the room. "But we think we can help him. That is, if you're willing to brave the Fade." The thought of it sent chills up the warrior's spine, but he again took Anders' hand and squeezed it.

"I won't abandon him." The Warden nodded and sat down in a chair.

"Good to know. Feynriel apparently managed to contact this Hawke friend of yours, and his lover. So tonight when we all sleep, he's going to round us up and take us to Anders. With any luck, it'll be a quick in, get Anders, and get out before things get messy. However…" The Elf nodded, eyes going dark for a moment.

"I will not hesitate to kill anything that is after him."

"The Fade isn't always so simple, Fenris. But at least you're prepared for a fight."

"With Hawke and Merrill, it will be almost like old times."

"I admit, the prospect of working with a group again brings back memories. Not all of them good, mind you, but I've been getting rusty staying here."

"Anders had nothing but praise for you. The few times he spoke of the Wardens, it was about you and your various abilities." Fenris looked down and blushed slightly. "I admit, there were times I was a bit jealous of the… Legend of the Warden Commander." Connor blinked a few times, then tipped back his head and started laughing.

"I'm a mortal man like any other, despite what any bard tells you. I did what I had to to unite Ferelden, stop a Blight, and depose a madman. And then when the darkspawn threatened us again, I took a new group of Wardens with me to teach them a lesson. But from what you told me about your adventures in Kirkwall, you and Anders have been through a lot. It's good that he showed up your pathetic former master."

"Did you know Danarius?" Connor shook his head and frowned.

"Not personally, but we took in a young woman who was going to be his apprentice. I told her she was better off an apostate than an aspiring blood mage." Fenris went to agree, but then closed his mouth, eyes wide.

"Wait, she was going to be his apprentice?" An icy feeling formed in his chest. "She… Is she an Elf?" The Warden tilted his head, looking intrigued.

"Yes, by the name of Varania." Anger coursed through the warrior as he leapt to his feet, eyes narrowed.

"Where. Is. She?" he demanded. Connor stood, one hand instinctively reaching for one of his daggers, but he forced himself to remain calm.

"You two have some history, I take it?"

"She is my sister, and the one who told Danarius where I was." The human's mouth fell open a bit as realization dawned on him. Fenris had left out how Danarius had finally cornered him, but now it made sense.

"I'll be sure to keep you two apart, then. But Varania is our apprentice healer."

"A healer?"

"Said she needed to atone for something, and this was the best way to do it. Anders had similar reasoning when we first met, so I told her she could stay here and learn. Morrigan isn't the… Kindest mistress, but at least she can heal simple injuries."

"But Anders' injury is not simple?" Fenris wondered, sitting back on the bed.

"Apparently not. Varania can't figure out exactly what's wrong, but she knows there's more to it than the entry wound in his side."

"Entry wound?" Connor crossed his arms over his chest and sighed.

"Arrow. We didn't see it anywhere near where we found you two, so I'm assuming he pulled it out before taking a tumble." The Warden stood and gently patted Pounce's head, leaving the room. "Be ready for tonight, Fenris."

"I will be," the Elf assured him, laying a light hand on Anders' chest. The mage's heart was still beating much too rapidly, and he frowned. "Hang on, Anders. We'll get you out, and then we'll find Sebastian. And he will die for this." Pounce hissed slightly at the mention of the Prince's name, fur fluffing up. Cat and Elf locked eyes, and the warrior smiled in spite of himself. "You may not be a Mabari, but you are a fighter, little one. Make sure Anders' body stays safe until we return."
* * *

The Fade was a muted, shifting world of dull colors and odd silence. They were standing on a chunk of bare rock, a metal door in front of them. Fenris shivered in spite of himself as Connor looked around. Across from them, Hawke and Merrill shimmered into existence, along with Feynriel. "You're all right!" the Dalish mage said happily, running over and hugging the former slave.

"Anders is trapped in the Fade?" Hawke asked, looking bothered.

"We'll get him out," Connor vowed, stepping forward and extending a hand to the Champion. "Connor Cousland, good to meet you."

"I'm Hawke, and this is Merrill. Good to have you with us."

"I should explain a few things before we proceed," Feynriel brought up. "I won't be able to be with you, since I'll be maintaining the connection between your minds and Anders'. So keep your wits about you, and try to stay together."

"Do you have any idea what we can expect?" Merrill wondered, taking Hawke's hand. The young man shook his head and looked at the door.

"No. Just be careful. I can feel that his mind isn't whole, and doing or saying the wrong thing might fracture it for good." He seemed to fade out, but then spoke again: "Open the door, and Creators be with you."

"Blessed Mythal, watch over us and keep us safe," Merrill whispered.

"Maker watch over us," Hawke intoned.

"Andraste guide us," Connor added.

"I'm coming, Anders," Fenris said as he opened the door and stepped through. The others followed, and there beheld a puzzling sight: The landscape was a mix of various buildings and rooms. Fenris saw a large fortress in the distance, but it was being stabbed through by a tower. There was his clinic, but it seemed to be partially being taken over by not only the Hawke estate's main room, but also Fenris' bedroom. Three door stood at various angles and heights, and everyone just stared for a moment. Suddenly, Connor caught movement from the tower, and they all saw a boy drop from one of the windows and race across the ground, the robes he was wearing seemingly too big. He skidded to a halt at the door, having caught sight of the group. Merrill stepped forward, concern in her eyes.

"Anders?" she called. The boy's eyes widened, and he quickly opened the door and darted through. Merrill gave chase, even as Hawke tried to grab her.

"Stay together!" he called out, but to no avail. Merrill touched the door and disappeared, and then they heard laughter. Looking up, they saw a slightly-younger Anders walking towards them from the fortress, Pounce at his side.

"Well, isn't she a pretty one?" he said with a grin. "I might need to get her alone later." Connor stepped forward, one eyebrow raised.

"Anders?"

"In the flesh, Commander! Or at least, as fleshy as I can be in here. Come to visit after all these years?"

"We came to bring you back."

"That's not Anders," Hawke told him, scowling at the robed man.

"I'm not?" the mage in question asked, looking surprised. "I certainly feel like me, and I definitely think like me."

"The Anders I knew wouldn't hit on Merrill."

"We could share," the mage offered as Hawke blushed fiercely. "Besides, the Anders you knew is a pathetic shell." He pointed at the clinic mishmash, and they all saw a form hunched over a desk, writing.

"There you are!" Hawke called out, walking over. The figure looked up in surprise, then stood and went to the warrior.

"What are you doing here?" he asked softly.

"Bringing you back," Hawke told him, laying a hand on his shoulder. Fenris' eyes were flicking between the two Anders and the door Merrill had disappeared through.

"Something isn't right here."

"It's the Fade," Connor reminded him. "Even though it's Anders' version, it still plays tricks on you."

"Or maybe because it's my version," the younger Anders brought up.

"You have to leave," the clinic version told them, shaking his head. "It's not safe for you here." But Hawke grabbed his arm, even as Connor took his Anders' wrist.

"We're leaving," the Warden stated, pulling on the mage. But a smirk curled his lip, and Connor found his body lifted up and tossed towards the door. He hit it and disappeared, and Hawke attempted to draw his sword. However, the other Anders pulled him back into the clinic, ramming him into the third door as the other warrior also vanished. Fenris stood in shock as both Anders nodded at each other and calmly walked through the doors, leaving the Elf alone.

"Fenris, can you hear me?" Feynriel's voice called out.

"I can. Are the others still in the Fade?"

"Yes, but I won't be able to maintain all these separate points of view. Please find them and get them out!" The Elf sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. He started to head for the door that Merrill had gone through, when he saw a shimmer of light sitting on a rock between the fortress and the clinic. It appeared to be a suit of armor. "What are you?" he demanded, sword out now. The armor stood and walked over, and a familiar feeling washed over the Elf as his markings began to glow.

"I am Justice. Please Fenris, let me help you."

"I need no help from a Demon!" The Spirit sighed and shook his head.

"I am part of this world and part of the Fade. I can offer you insight and knowledge that not even another mage would have. If you wish to save Anders, take me with you." The Elf sheathed his sword and swallowed, staring at the door.

"Just so we are clear: I do not trust you. But if you can help me save Anders, I will work with you for now." The glow around Justice brightened for a moment, and he nodded, putting a hand on Fenris' shoulder and touching the door.

"It will suffice. Let's go."