Mages and Templars: Joining Souls

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't finished Dragon Age Origins and/or the first part of Dragon Age II, you might be spoiled. You have been warned.










It happened. He still didn't really know how, but it happened. He could hear the spirits thoughts inside him as loud and clearly as if they had been spoken out loud. He could sense that Justice was as confused over this as he was himself. Maybe this had been a mistake...

"Stop thinking for a moment!"

'You don't have to speak for me to hear you, Anders.'

"I know, I just..." Could you be quiet?

'It is as confusing for me as it is for you.'

I know, but...

All of Justice's memories washed over him like a waterfall, with no concern for him, not giving him time to adjust to this change. It must be like this for him too.

'It is the same.'

He tried to remember himself that if they hadn't done this, Justice would have disappeared. He would have... died. If the spirits of the Fade dies.

'Thank you.'

- - -

It was raining outside. The lightning struck down in the distance, and it kept distracting her from her duties as the Warden-Commander of Ferelden. Not two years ago she would be outside, dancing in the rain, an apprentice of the Circle. She would be with Cullen and she would be happy just seeing him standing in the rain watching her.

But that was a long time ago. Before Jowan turned to blood magic and she helped him escape. Before Duncan recruited her too the Grey Wardens. Before the Darkspawn, before the taint that now was in her blood. Before Uldred and the blood mages destroyed the Circle and all that she loved. Before the war against Loghain, against the Archdemon. Before Alistair had made the Ultimate Sacrifice.

She had lost everything she cared about in just a few short months. And she still hadn't been allowed to grieve her loss. There was still too much that she had to do before she could allow herself to think about herself. The darkspawn was still a threat. Maybe it would always be. And only during times like these, when she was sitting in her room and the rain was falling outside the window, did she forget her duty.

But not for long.

"Commander Amell."

The spirit's voice pulled her back to the real world. She turned away from the window and smiled at her companion.

"How many times have I told you, Juctice? We are friends, I would prefer it if you-" She became silent as soon as she looked up. "What have you done?"

It wasn't the body of the former Warden from Orlais she was looking up at, but Anders'. With the spirit of Justice as it's owner.

"What did you do? Where is Anders?"

"I am still here, Hayden."

"What have you done, Anders?" Tears welled up in her eyes. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"It was the only way Justice could survive without switching to another dead body."

"I can help to fight against the templars. They should not be allowed to oppress mages like they do."

Hayden had to fight to keep the tears away. Again. Why did Anders survive this, how could he have to souls living in the same body when Alistair had to die. How could Wynne survive it and he did not? Was it because they were mages that they survived the possession? Then he would be alive if she had made the sacrifice. Even if it were not so, she would trade everything to have him back.

She turned away from them.

"Go." It was barely more than a whisper, her voice was shaking.

"Hayden?"

She wasn't even sure who was talking to her. "Please. Just go."

Her hands tightly clenched the windowsill as she heard him, them walk away.

She knew it wasn't their fault, but she couldn't accept what they had done. She couldn't accept the unfairness. Who decided who lives and who dies? Who decided that she was the one to survive when others died?

"It's not fair."

She didn't even get the time to grieve.