Chibichibi
Big Sis
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- #21
Re: A thread for any more DragonAge Fanfics i write
Chapter two!
Anders woke with a start, patting himself down as if to make sure he was still in one piece.
A sardonic voice from the side spoke to him. “Yes, because selling body parts brings a steady income.”
Anders blinked and focused his eyes where he heard the voice. It was dark in the room, or mostly. Moonlight filtered in from a window and he could just make out the dark haired man from before, sitting in a chair off to his right. “I’m still alive.” He said tilting his head to the side.
“Yes, and you’re still at the Vigil. And you’re in my bed.” The man grumped. “But the commander told me to put you here until you awoke. So here you are and now you’re awake, and we can go find you a bedroom of your very own.” Nathaniel stood and stretched the muscles that had started to cramp from his bedside vigil.
A knock at the door had him swearing underneath his breath. “I’m coming. Maker’s breath, have some patience.” He opened the door and glowered out into Zevran’s face. “Oh, it’s you. What do you want?”
Zevran grinned. “A little message from our esteemed Commander. Seems the Mage is now your responsibility. He just signed over the papers he purchased from that Rylok lady directly to you.”
Nathaniel blinked. Once. Twice. “WHAT?!”
Zevran shrugged. “If you don’t want him I’m sure that Templar lady would be happy to take him back.”
Nathaniel looked back over his shoulder when he heard the whimper and then turned back to Zevran. “I’ve never… I don’t want… Maker’s breath. Fine. Fine. If it keeps him out of the hands of those monsters, then fine.” He grumbled under his breath. “Don’t know what I’m going to do with him though…”
Zevran winked at him. “I’m sure you’ll be able to think of something.” The Antivan laughed and then waved as he walked away.
Nathaniel frowned. “What does he…” A look of horror flitted across his face. “After what’s happened to him? Zevran, you bastard.” Then he sighed and turned around. “Alright mage… Anders. What would you like to do first?” He asked as he rubbed his forehead. “Eat or find yourself a room?”
Anders simply looked at him quizzically and bowed his head. “If you are the one who owns me, am I not to stay in here? I wouldn’t take up much room on the floor, Ser.”
Nathaniel resisted the urge to bang his head against the wall in frustration. “My name is Nathaniel and no. You are not staying in my chambers. You will have your own, and if you feel a desperate need to see me, you know where to find me.” He sighed. “I don’t know what the Commander was thinking, but, you’re free to do whatever you want.” Then he paused, “Unless it includes leaving or hurting anyone here.” He amended. “You’re free as long as you don’t do anything stupid.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Can you do that?”
Anders pulled himself from the bed and nodded. “Then I want another bath. Can you show me where they are from here?”
Nathaniel pointed. “You go down that hall and make a left. It’s the second door on the right. The first door is the women’s bath, so unless you have a death wish, don’t go in there.” He flushed.
Anders stared at him, surprised, and let out a little snicker before he rushed from the room, trying to make it to the baths before Nathaniel changed his mind about leaving him unsupervised.
Nathaniel groaned. “This is going to be a long night…”
Anders slipped into the warmth of the baths with a sigh and just let himself relax for the first time in a very long time only to be startled by the sound of the door slamming open. He shrank back into the tub, thinking someone was coming after him when he saw... He blinked and stared. The person was very… short. And was swinging a bottle of something around.
The man took a swig from the bottle and Anders cringed as he saw some of it dribble down into the great flaming red beard. “So you’re the new recruit,” He said with a laugh. “Name’s Oghren!”
Anders retreated a bit farther. “Er… my name is Anders.”
Oghren settled himself into the very spacious tub and then grinned. “Bet you don’t know what I am huh? Though I learned a lot about you mages from Wynne.”
Anders seized on that. “Wynne? You… you were one of her traveling companions too? What happened? Where is she?” Then he stopped, because old habits die hard.
“As near as I can remember Alistair took that fancy collar off of her and let her go.” He chuckled. “I’m surprised the old lady didn’t head back to the tower and rain fire on those blighters.” Then he belched. “I bet you’re wondering what I am huh boy? The old lady didn’t know what I was either. Those blighters at the Tower didn’t teach you anything, did they?”
Anders felt strangely at ease and decided to be honest. “Oh, they taught us the important things, Ser. Like how to bow and scrape and perform whatever services our Masters required of us. Beating and using us when we didn’t comply in the manner they wanted.” He snorted. “And sometimes using us even when we did exactly what they wanted of us. Any hint of rebellion, imagined or not, was punished.” He spread his arms to show some of the scars he’d “acquired.” “So you can imagine what they did to me each of the seven times I tried to escape, and sometimes succeeded.”
“By the Stone. They treat you mages worse than the casteless!” Oghren was a little stupefied. “The old lady never mentioned anything like this.”
“Casteless?”
“Oh. Right.” Another belch. “I’m a Dwarf. We separate our people out into groups. The nobles, commoners, and Casteless. And then you have people like me who spend time on the surface. We’re surface caste. Not even welcome back home.”
Anders nodded. Oghren seemed willing to talk to him. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to find out more. “What do you… know about Nathaniel? The Commander signed my papers over to him. And he seems nice.”
“Howe’s little blighter, you mean?” Oghren scratched his head, “Well I don’t know much about him save he’s nothing like his Father. His father killed a very important family a year or so back and we learned that even before the massacre he was the kind of man to kick puppies.” Oghren snorted, “Took care o’ him though.”
Anders thought about that. “So… he’s a kind man. He won’t… mistreat me?”
Oghren stared at him. “You need to get out of that kinda thinkin’ boy. Within the walls of the Keep you’re a free man. Commander’s orders. And no one crosses the Commander. Not unless they want one of Zevran’s knives in their gut.”
“He’d really do something like that?”
Oghren chuckled. “Sneaky bastard is an assassin.”
Anders' brow furrowed. Nathaniel had mentioned an assassin, too. He had also mentioned that he was the commander's... He blinked. “Is the Commander… involved with this Zevran person?”
Oghren howled with laughter. “Yeah. The Commander and Zevran have been sharing a tent since before they picked me up from Orzammar. The Commander’s in love with him or something like that. Can’t imagine why. The Elf tried to kill him, or so I heard.”
Anders flushed. “The Templar lied to me then. They told me I was doubly cursed.” He frowned. “So that’s accepted out here? They wouldn’t kill me if they knew?”
“Kill you? By the tits of my ancestors, of course they wouldn’t.” Oghren laughed. “Just uh… stay away from me alright? I like women.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it… Oghren. You’re like a helpful Uncle.” Anders chuckled and slid deeper into the water. “How do they keep it warm? The bath I mean.”
Oghren shrugged. “Something about pipes running all through the Vigil.”
Anders nodded. “I’ll ask… Nathaniel then.” The he sighed and regretfully climbed out of the bath, dried, and then dressed. “I had probably better get back before they start looking for me.”
Oghren raised the bottle in some sort of toast. “Don’t forget to loosen up, boy.” And slouched down into the water to continue drinking.
Anders made a small sound of affirmation and went looking for Nathaniel. He found the man still loitering around the hallway outside of his room.
“Ah. There you are mage. Come on, then. Your room is right over here.” Nathaniel led him to a chamber a short distance away from his own. “It’s close enough that you can come and get me if you need to and so I can hear if someone starts giving you a hard time.” Nathaniel rationalized. “Not that I expect anyone here to really do that.”
Anders nodded. “I’ll go to sleep then, Ser. Thank you.”
Nathaniel waved him off. “No thanks necessary. Remember that you’re a free man here. And for Andraste’s sake, please use my name.”
Anders nodded again and stepped into his room, letting Nathaniel shut the door behind him.
To be fair, he tried to sleep on the bed. He really did. There was just something about the height that worried him, and so, a few hours later, he crept back down the hall and into Nathaniel’s room, hoping the other man would just let him stay there on the floor.
When he shut the door, however, the click jolted the man on the bed awake. “What?! Wha… Anders? What are you doing in here?”
“The bed, Ser. It’s… too high. Can’t I just sleep on the floor in here?” Anders sat himself on the small rug at the foot of the bed.
Nathaniel let out a groan. “No, you can’t sleep on the floor. But if it will make you feel better… blast it. Here.” He dragged himself from the warmth of his bed and pulled the mattress off of the frame and onto the floor. “Come here, mage.” He settled himself back onto the mattress and slapped it once before rolling over and going back to sleep.
Anders stared at his back a moment before crawling over and snuggling into the covers, hoping that Nathaniel wouldn’t force him out tomorrow.
Chapter two!
Anders woke with a start, patting himself down as if to make sure he was still in one piece.
A sardonic voice from the side spoke to him. “Yes, because selling body parts brings a steady income.”
Anders blinked and focused his eyes where he heard the voice. It was dark in the room, or mostly. Moonlight filtered in from a window and he could just make out the dark haired man from before, sitting in a chair off to his right. “I’m still alive.” He said tilting his head to the side.
“Yes, and you’re still at the Vigil. And you’re in my bed.” The man grumped. “But the commander told me to put you here until you awoke. So here you are and now you’re awake, and we can go find you a bedroom of your very own.” Nathaniel stood and stretched the muscles that had started to cramp from his bedside vigil.
A knock at the door had him swearing underneath his breath. “I’m coming. Maker’s breath, have some patience.” He opened the door and glowered out into Zevran’s face. “Oh, it’s you. What do you want?”
Zevran grinned. “A little message from our esteemed Commander. Seems the Mage is now your responsibility. He just signed over the papers he purchased from that Rylok lady directly to you.”
Nathaniel blinked. Once. Twice. “WHAT?!”
Zevran shrugged. “If you don’t want him I’m sure that Templar lady would be happy to take him back.”
Nathaniel looked back over his shoulder when he heard the whimper and then turned back to Zevran. “I’ve never… I don’t want… Maker’s breath. Fine. Fine. If it keeps him out of the hands of those monsters, then fine.” He grumbled under his breath. “Don’t know what I’m going to do with him though…”
Zevran winked at him. “I’m sure you’ll be able to think of something.” The Antivan laughed and then waved as he walked away.
Nathaniel frowned. “What does he…” A look of horror flitted across his face. “After what’s happened to him? Zevran, you bastard.” Then he sighed and turned around. “Alright mage… Anders. What would you like to do first?” He asked as he rubbed his forehead. “Eat or find yourself a room?”
Anders simply looked at him quizzically and bowed his head. “If you are the one who owns me, am I not to stay in here? I wouldn’t take up much room on the floor, Ser.”
Nathaniel resisted the urge to bang his head against the wall in frustration. “My name is Nathaniel and no. You are not staying in my chambers. You will have your own, and if you feel a desperate need to see me, you know where to find me.” He sighed. “I don’t know what the Commander was thinking, but, you’re free to do whatever you want.” Then he paused, “Unless it includes leaving or hurting anyone here.” He amended. “You’re free as long as you don’t do anything stupid.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Can you do that?”
Anders pulled himself from the bed and nodded. “Then I want another bath. Can you show me where they are from here?”
Nathaniel pointed. “You go down that hall and make a left. It’s the second door on the right. The first door is the women’s bath, so unless you have a death wish, don’t go in there.” He flushed.
Anders stared at him, surprised, and let out a little snicker before he rushed from the room, trying to make it to the baths before Nathaniel changed his mind about leaving him unsupervised.
Nathaniel groaned. “This is going to be a long night…”
Anders slipped into the warmth of the baths with a sigh and just let himself relax for the first time in a very long time only to be startled by the sound of the door slamming open. He shrank back into the tub, thinking someone was coming after him when he saw... He blinked and stared. The person was very… short. And was swinging a bottle of something around.
The man took a swig from the bottle and Anders cringed as he saw some of it dribble down into the great flaming red beard. “So you’re the new recruit,” He said with a laugh. “Name’s Oghren!”
Anders retreated a bit farther. “Er… my name is Anders.”
Oghren settled himself into the very spacious tub and then grinned. “Bet you don’t know what I am huh? Though I learned a lot about you mages from Wynne.”
Anders seized on that. “Wynne? You… you were one of her traveling companions too? What happened? Where is she?” Then he stopped, because old habits die hard.
“As near as I can remember Alistair took that fancy collar off of her and let her go.” He chuckled. “I’m surprised the old lady didn’t head back to the tower and rain fire on those blighters.” Then he belched. “I bet you’re wondering what I am huh boy? The old lady didn’t know what I was either. Those blighters at the Tower didn’t teach you anything, did they?”
Anders felt strangely at ease and decided to be honest. “Oh, they taught us the important things, Ser. Like how to bow and scrape and perform whatever services our Masters required of us. Beating and using us when we didn’t comply in the manner they wanted.” He snorted. “And sometimes using us even when we did exactly what they wanted of us. Any hint of rebellion, imagined or not, was punished.” He spread his arms to show some of the scars he’d “acquired.” “So you can imagine what they did to me each of the seven times I tried to escape, and sometimes succeeded.”
“By the Stone. They treat you mages worse than the casteless!” Oghren was a little stupefied. “The old lady never mentioned anything like this.”
“Casteless?”
“Oh. Right.” Another belch. “I’m a Dwarf. We separate our people out into groups. The nobles, commoners, and Casteless. And then you have people like me who spend time on the surface. We’re surface caste. Not even welcome back home.”
Anders nodded. Oghren seemed willing to talk to him. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to find out more. “What do you… know about Nathaniel? The Commander signed my papers over to him. And he seems nice.”
“Howe’s little blighter, you mean?” Oghren scratched his head, “Well I don’t know much about him save he’s nothing like his Father. His father killed a very important family a year or so back and we learned that even before the massacre he was the kind of man to kick puppies.” Oghren snorted, “Took care o’ him though.”
Anders thought about that. “So… he’s a kind man. He won’t… mistreat me?”
Oghren stared at him. “You need to get out of that kinda thinkin’ boy. Within the walls of the Keep you’re a free man. Commander’s orders. And no one crosses the Commander. Not unless they want one of Zevran’s knives in their gut.”
“He’d really do something like that?”
Oghren chuckled. “Sneaky bastard is an assassin.”
Anders' brow furrowed. Nathaniel had mentioned an assassin, too. He had also mentioned that he was the commander's... He blinked. “Is the Commander… involved with this Zevran person?”
Oghren howled with laughter. “Yeah. The Commander and Zevran have been sharing a tent since before they picked me up from Orzammar. The Commander’s in love with him or something like that. Can’t imagine why. The Elf tried to kill him, or so I heard.”
Anders flushed. “The Templar lied to me then. They told me I was doubly cursed.” He frowned. “So that’s accepted out here? They wouldn’t kill me if they knew?”
“Kill you? By the tits of my ancestors, of course they wouldn’t.” Oghren laughed. “Just uh… stay away from me alright? I like women.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it… Oghren. You’re like a helpful Uncle.” Anders chuckled and slid deeper into the water. “How do they keep it warm? The bath I mean.”
Oghren shrugged. “Something about pipes running all through the Vigil.”
Anders nodded. “I’ll ask… Nathaniel then.” The he sighed and regretfully climbed out of the bath, dried, and then dressed. “I had probably better get back before they start looking for me.”
Oghren raised the bottle in some sort of toast. “Don’t forget to loosen up, boy.” And slouched down into the water to continue drinking.
Anders made a small sound of affirmation and went looking for Nathaniel. He found the man still loitering around the hallway outside of his room.
“Ah. There you are mage. Come on, then. Your room is right over here.” Nathaniel led him to a chamber a short distance away from his own. “It’s close enough that you can come and get me if you need to and so I can hear if someone starts giving you a hard time.” Nathaniel rationalized. “Not that I expect anyone here to really do that.”
Anders nodded. “I’ll go to sleep then, Ser. Thank you.”
Nathaniel waved him off. “No thanks necessary. Remember that you’re a free man here. And for Andraste’s sake, please use my name.”
Anders nodded again and stepped into his room, letting Nathaniel shut the door behind him.
To be fair, he tried to sleep on the bed. He really did. There was just something about the height that worried him, and so, a few hours later, he crept back down the hall and into Nathaniel’s room, hoping the other man would just let him stay there on the floor.
When he shut the door, however, the click jolted the man on the bed awake. “What?! Wha… Anders? What are you doing in here?”
“The bed, Ser. It’s… too high. Can’t I just sleep on the floor in here?” Anders sat himself on the small rug at the foot of the bed.
Nathaniel let out a groan. “No, you can’t sleep on the floor. But if it will make you feel better… blast it. Here.” He dragged himself from the warmth of his bed and pulled the mattress off of the frame and onto the floor. “Come here, mage.” He settled himself back onto the mattress and slapped it once before rolling over and going back to sleep.
Anders stared at his back a moment before crawling over and snuggling into the covers, hoping that Nathaniel wouldn’t force him out tomorrow.
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