Shared Fate - Part 2

Anders, Neria and Jowan were sitting in the back of his clinic. He had closed the building half an hour ago to tidy up, but Neria had pushed him so rentlessly to tell what was going on that he had finally given in. Formerly he probably wouldn't have said anything at all - after all he hadn't seen Jowan and the Elven mage since years - but things had changed. He needed to talk, otherwise he would one day simply burst.

Still he was expecting rejection and irritation from the two mages. But at least he had been able to get everything off his chest.

"So... you are hosting a spirit?" Neria repeated.

"Yes."

"Are the two of you able to decide when the one acts and when the other?" This was Jowan.

Anders sighed and stroked through his hair. "It's not so easy. We are one now. I cannot say where I end and where he begins."

Neria shook her head and took his hands. "You don't end anywhere at all."

He stared at her. She probably had no idea what these few simple words meant to him. Whenever he talked about what he had done, he received nothing else than scepticism or fear as reaction.

A small smile formed on Nerias lips. "You should see your face, Anders. Seems as if Jowan and I came right in time..."

He gulped, not sure what to answer, than asked: "Why are you here anyhow?"

"Because of her", Jowan answered, sounding a bit annoyed.

"Hey, I have not forced you to come with me!" Neria - still holding Anders hands - complained. "You could have stayed in the Brecilian forest with the others!"

The mage made a face, but didn't argue anymore. Turning her gaze back to Anders, Neria explained: "The Hero of Ferelden was quite a special man. He freed the Circle from Uldred and his followers and allowed some of the mages who weren't corrupted to flee in the chaos. I guess he did it for this woman who was with him. Maker, she really had strong nature magic..." Her voice sounded admiring. "Anyway: I was one of them and looking for Jowan once I was free. The Hero had allowed him to go as well, and in the end I found Jowan in the Brecilian forest, helping refugees to survive. And we stayed... until now..."

Curiosity was raising within Anders. "What changed?"

Her deep brown eyes met his. For the first time he realized that she had grown mature as well, no matter how young her face still looked like. There was wisdom in her eyes, pride and the stubborn person he remembered all too well.

"I heard about you", she stated calmly. "From other apostate mages who came to join us. And... I don't know why, but somehow I couldn't stay  longer. This life of hiding and protecting, of structuring and settling disputes, it is nothing for me. And I think in the end it's also not the right thing for Jowan. We both are... I don't know.... maybe we are not born to simply lay back and wait what is going to happen next...?"

"Well, I actually liked it", Jowan grumbled, sounding whiningly again.

Neria rolled her eyes and looked at him. "You started to HATE it! You were bored beyond belief!"

"Don't exaggerate", was all he answered.

Neria jumped up, pressed her hands into her hips and hissed: "Will you please STOP whining?"

Jowan frowned and looked slightly pissed. Anders laughed. "Maker, you two act like an old married couple."

"Sometimes it feels like this", Jowan answered dryly and got a smack on his shoulder from Neria. "Fortunately romance was never an option between the two of us..."

"I.... what?" Nerias hands went to her chest. "Jowan... how can you say that...." Her lips started to tremble, and for a moment Anders wasn't sure if she was making fun of them or was serious. Than laugther burst over her lips and shook her small frame while Jowan was shaking his head.

Anders eyes went in wonder from one to the other. He had no idea how he deserved to have these two back in his life, but he did not plan to complain. Life had taught him all too well that good times weren't permenantly, so he would enjoy the time they had together.

"Alright, Anders", Jowan asked while Neria was still laughing. "Do you have a guest room to share?"

"Not exactly", he answered. "My room is hardly big enough for myself. But we can prepare the two of us a sleeping area in the corner of the clinic and Neria gets my room..."

"What?" The little elf frowned. "Why?"

"Because it's what a gentleman does?"

She snorted. "Since when are YOU are gentleman, Anders?"

Now it was on him to look pissed. "I might have had... several relationships in the past, but this doesn't mean that I haven't taken care of my ... partners... whatever...."

"Playthings? Bedtime sweets?" Neria grinned. "Anyway: Although I appreciate the thought, it's really not necessary, Anders. Jowan and I slept in worse locations during the last weeks, travelling to Kirkwall..."

Anders nodded. "Alright, but let me get you at least some linen."

Neria shrugged. "Do whatever you like to do, Spirit Boy."

He froze and looked at her.

"What?" She raised an eyebrow and came back to him. "Would you prefer that we are not talking anymore about the fact that you have a spirit within you?"

"Normally people don't WANT to talk about it", he heard himself answer. "At least not in such a way..."

She frowned, than took his hands one more time and squeezed them. "Do you want to know what I was thinking when you told me about it, Anders?"

He nodded hesitantly.

"I thought that I never met such a brave, determined and convinced man before. You did this to save a friends life! You did this to save his strength for OUR fight! NEVER would I condemn you for what you have done!"

Slowly his breath left his lips. He was caught in her eyes, her voice... Maker, she sounded so convinced! Neria had always been captivating, even as adolescent, but now he hardly could take his eyes from her.

"Stop looking like an oaf", she finished and winked at him. "Although I know that I am quite impressive...."

"And humble", he commented dryly.

She grinned, but than her face turned serious. "Thanks for allowing us to stay, Anders. It's... were we should be... You aren't alone anymore. This is OUR shared fate..."