Ghosts of our past [Anders]

[Senior Enchanter Charlise]

DATE: 1st of Firstfall 9:40 Dragon
LOCATION: Small town in Northern Orlais, between Churneau and Ghislain.
TIME: 15:30

Humming to herself, Charlise walked easily into a nearby town, her Ring of Study was on her necklace chain which was tucked far underneath her dress neck and she left her robes and Staff with Ember, whilst ensuring that she had one of her Silverite daggers hidden, just in case.

Swinging a basket in her hands, Charlise went about picking up some supplies for her and Ember whilst Ember stayed on the outskirts. They really needed to find some of the others to work out where they were all reconvening. But for now they had to focus on the day to day necessities such as food, water and Healing Supples.

Itching at her neck, Charlise made sure that her necklace wasn't revealed but it felt odd not being in her robes and not having her Staff on her back, but it was necessary until Mages could be trusted again. Until then, it was just her and Ember, trying to find their Brothers, Sisters and children, last she heard they were trying to go to the Anderfels.... But anything specific she was not told, or did not know due to her time in the Infirmary.

Paying for some bread at the nearby market, Charlise tucked back one of her black curls before she started to walk again, her gait long yet with a strange grace and poise to it that few carried. Unfortunately, her dress (although not exactly what she would have wanted to wear in any situation!) showed her curves and length of leg, along with her strange ethereal beauty of her silver eyes, black hair and pale complexion as she tried to keep to herself to avoid an incident.

[Anders]

He wanted to avoid Andorals Reach as much as possible. He'd probably wait he hit the edge of Churneau before turning North to Perendale and make it around the Mountains. He knew the mages were gathering at the Reach, it was like a magic hot-spot. The Templar control was most likely very heavy there with all the mages. If not, it was going to be. It wasn't the ideal place for Anders. He wanted to stay far away from that place. If he wanted to live. He honestly didn't understand why the mages wanted to put such a target on their backs. At this point it was the survival of the fittest. And starting a mage city wasn't the best way to survive.

What he did three years ago was for the freedom of the mages, but what did they do instead? They were finally free and the Circles fell, but instead they kept themselves corralled like animals. It was probably those Aequetarians.

He kept traveling along the beaten path. Constantly moving like he wanted. Only times he stopped as at a nearby Inns for a good nights rest, or the local Tavern for a quick drink and meal. A small town was approaching in the far distance that would prove for a good rest stop.

It looked like a peaceful old town. It kind of reminded him of Lothering, before it was ravished by the Blight of course. There were nicely built buildings, happy people, a bustling Tavern, and busy marketplace. He stared at some of the food set out in the crates that watered his mouth. Anders calmly walked up to one of the stands, eying the luscious fruits that sat ripe and colorful in the Sun. His fingers wrapped around the body of a bright red apple before sinking his teeth into it. The merchant immediately stood up from his seat with an angry look on his face.

"Sir! You have to pa-" Anders stopped the man in mid-sentence, pulling out ten copper pieces from his pocket and handed it to him.

"Have a nice day." He replied with a smirk and wink, before moving on to the next stand with bread. He sinking his teeth in the apple once more, but didn't retrieve a bite as something else caught his eye. Long dark hair, silver eyes, pink lips; a pretty face with a stern expression. He'd seen that face before. A long time ago, but he still remembered.

"Hey, I know you!" Anders called out with joy in his tone, as he approached the familiar woman with a smirk.

[Senior Enchanter Charlise]

Smiling softly as she spotted a young child looking at an apple hungrily so Charlise walked over to the stall and paid for a few before bending down and giving it to the child. "There you go, dear..." She stated with a soft voice as the child smiled back and gave her thanks before running off with the apple as Charlise straightened back up.

Shaking her head, her ear picked up a voice so she turned and then came across an extremely familiar face as she willed for her cheeks not to flush as the figure approached, "It can't be...." She whispered to herself as she let her eyes examine the man in front of her. "What in Andraste's name are you doing?" She stated with quite a questioning tone of voice as she took him to the side, more specifically a somewhat narrow dark street where they could talk in private. Though that was becoming a bit of a mistake considering what little space there was between them now as she hoped he wouldn't comment on her maternal side.

"Anders, you better start explaining yourself this second or you'll be begging me to heal you!" She stated in one breath, which was a bit stupid on her part as her cheeks and neck flushed but she kept her Magic under control, for now anyway.

[Anders]

"My, my! Don't you give such a warm welcome?" It was just like her to act this way. He remembered how she was back in the Circle, she was always so serious and strict about everything. When it came to his humor that was. Though, there weren't that many that really got his humor.

Charlise and him were completely different people. Like most of the others in the Circle. She was one of the ones who enjoyed her life in the Circle. She "believed in the Circle and what it stood for". He heard that line a lot, and he never understood it. He didn't understand how someone could live a life like that. Locked up from the outside world.

Which is why he wasn't surprised by her reaction to seeing him. He couldn't imagine how angry she was with him about his actions three years ago. Despite the Mages being free from the Circle, she'd be one to see the bad in it all. But he wasn't going to answer without some humor to lift the mood. After all, she didn't explain herself.

"You haven't changed a bit, I see," he said before a chuckle. "What? I'm just eating an apple. What are you doing here?" He took another bite of the apple without taking his curious eyes off her. Yet, they still held a hint of sarcasm in them.

[Senior Enchanter Charlise]

Charlise furrowed her brow, "You try giving someone a warm welcome after they lit the final fuse which took away everything that you've lived for, a life you were happy with?!" She stated as she put her hands on her hips, thankfully having put the basket down for a couple of minutes. Though now Anders might get distracted, he was easy to distract after all.

She and Anders were different.... In retrospect perhaps too different which causes some similarities in some way or form such as they were both Healers. But that was probably were the similarities ended pretty much as she sighed before putting on a small smile. "..... Anders...... How are you? You look well, how've you been? Haven't seen you since........ Oh, prior to the Blight?!" She stated as she crossed her arms over, a small accusation hidden deep in there which Anders probably didn't pick up.

"Would you have changed when your life was turned upside-down and inside-out against your will slash choice?!" She replied to his statement whilst rising onto her tiptoes to accent her point, "There is no 'just anything' with you, Anders..... You made that pretty clear...." She added before sighing, "Me? Oh healing myself and a friend, who I rescued from who knows what kind of Slavery, trying to find some of the others from Andoral's Reach after that stand went downhill.... Otherwise, just getting some basic supplies?!" She added at the end in reply to his own question as she leaned back against the building. Her silvery grey eyes still locked with his, as serious as ever, even if her tone of voice changed.