Chapter Text
It was the start of a new year. Hawke had defeated the Arishok almost 6 months ago.
‘Was it really that long ago’ Anders mused, ‘It seemed like it was only yesterday’.
He ceased his daydreaming and finds himself in the latest escapade for the mage underground. They had just rescued a group of five mages, three adults and two children, and were making their way through the maze of tunnels that riddled the underbelly of Kirkwall. The similar features the children share is an indication that they were both from the same family, possibly siblings or first cousins. Anders could see that the mages are frightened but determined. Probably the most determined they have been in their lives to get out out of the shithole known as the Gallows. Anders did his best to lead them to the path of freedom and they happily followed even if it meant going through the dank and smelly sewers of Kirkwall.
They’d run a long way since leaving the Gallows and most of them were tired but they could hear the sound of heavy plate metal boots in the distance so no matter how tired they were they pressed onwards.
Anders was trying to concentrate on too many things at once, the sound of the boots, the older mages walking ahead of the group a little ways but still look back at Anders for directions. The two magelings on the other hand are starting to lag behind. Justice churning inside him demanding that he tell the mages where to go and then go back and kill the templars following them.
Anders heard the oldest of the siblings, the girl Celeste, calling out quietly, “Please Messer my brother can run no longer,”
Anders turns around enough to scoop up the younger of the two children before he told the older lass to keep going, they’d make it out if they had the will too.
The sounds of plated boots were slowly getting closer as the group ran forward in search of freedom. Anders can’t help but be reminded of the many times he’d run from the circle and easily slipped into old habits. Habits that was good for keeping one person safe but not a group.
They were maybe two hundred yards from end of the tunnel where his Mage Underground contacts were waiting to lead the mages on the last leg of their journey when Anders noticed that the Celeste was nowhere to be seen. He called a brief halt to the rest of the group and handed the child over to one of the older mages before he starts back down the tunnel calling over his shoulder, “Head straight forward and my friends should be waiting at the end of tunnel for you. Do what they say and they will lead you to safety,”
“But what about y…” one older mages starts but before he can finish his question he is cut them off by Anders.
“I’ll be fine just keeping going. Celeste has lagged behind a bit and I have to find her then we’ll meet up with you at the end of the tunnel in a few minutes,” He said with his most charming smile hoping to put the other mages at ease even though his heart is in his throat with fear and apprehension. He didn’t know whether the other mages believed him or just wanted to get away from the Templars but in the end it didn’t matter because they listened to him and ran.
Anders resolutely turned back the way they came to continue looking for Celeste.
He backtracked his way through the tunnels and when finally found her his heart shank. In the distance he could see that she was being confronted by multiple Templars.
“You will never touch my brother again!” Celeste screamed she then proceeded to use Force magic on the templars that Anders never thought one so young could master.