A Heavy Heart to Carry - PSL with apostasy

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I was a heavy heart to carry
my beloved was weighed down
my arms around his neck
my fingers laced to crown
I was a heavy heart to carry
but he never let me down
when he held me in his arms
my feet never touched the ground

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The door opens at his touch. Delilah Howe ushers him inside quickly and closes the door.

"Sorry we had to meet this way," she says quietly. "I'm Delilah. I'm Nathaniel's sister."

[apostasy]

"I remember. You asked Hawke to help find Nathaniel when he was in the Deep Roads," Anders replied. He's looking around for Nathaniel. He also assumes that if Delilah doesn't remember him it's because of Hawke. Not that Hawke meant to overshadow him, but because Hawke's presence was so overpowering it tended to be all you could remember. "It is good to see you, though we should have been welcoming you to our new home. Not like this. Where is Nate?"

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Delilah nods toward the next room and leads him inside. Nathaniel is lying on a bed, drawn and pale, his left arm bandaged tightly, his eyes closed.

"Nate?" Delilah sits at the edge of the bed and pats his ankle. "Anders is here."

Nathaniel stirs, eyes opening and searching for Anders.

[apostasy]

Anders goes to his side and kneels by the bed. He reaches out and puts a hand on the side of Nathaniel's face. "Hello love," he says. All of the tension he had been holding his body is released and tears come to his eyes.

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Nathaniel reaches up with his right hand to cup the back of Anders' neck and pull him down for a kiss, trembling noticeably.

Delilah smiles and steps out of the room, closing the door behind her.

"Aidan found you," he whispers between kisses. "I feared the worst."

[apostasy]

Anders strokes the side of Nathaniel's face and pulls up from the kisses to examine him. "Yes. I'm afraid I was rather rude to him. I'll have to make it up to him somehow."

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"Later." Nathaniel settles back, writhing a little against the bed. "Had to coach Delilah on removing the arrow. I'm in pain, but I can travel. I have passage for us aboard a ship. We'll leave at nightfall."

[apostasy]

Anders nods. "Once my magic has recovered, I'll heal you," he promises. For now, he strokes his hand through Nathaniel's hair. "I'm so pleased you're alive. I was worried I had lost you."

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"Magebane?" Nathaniel blinks slowly, frowning in thought.

[apostasy]

"Sebastian hired an ex-templar," Anders explains. "Just when I thought he couldn't get any less charming."

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Nathaniel releases a long breath. "Maker. We'll think of what to do. But they can't track us over water. Lie down with me and rest for a moment."

[apostasy]

Anders slowly moves into the bed, careful not to harm his shoulder. He presses up against him after a bit. "I love you."

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"I love you too." Nathaniel tucks Anders' head under his chin, a favorite position because he can smell his hair. "I'll never lose sight of you again. Today I was afraid my life was ending, when I lost you."

[apostasy]

Anders settles into that position easily. He puts an arm around Nathaniel. "I've lost everything so many times in my life. The thought that I lost you the same time I gave up Justice... I wasn't prepared for it." He strokes Nathaniel's side a bit. "But we're both here, and well enough."

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"Did they hurt you?"

[apostasy]

"They took pleasure in kicking me." And he probably had a bruised rib from that. "But it would have hurt me much more if you were gone."

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Nathaniel's good arm tightens around Anders. "Never again. We'll find a new life somewhere they'll never find you."

A sigh. "We should sleep while we can."

[apostasy]

Anders nods. "Sleeping is a good idea. I'll be rested enough that I can heal you when we woke."

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They sleep for several hours, until Nathaniel wakes in too much pain to go back to sleep until Anders casts a round of healing. Then they sleep again, until Delilah comes to wake them. The sun is going down.

"I packed everything for you. You'd better get going. They'll weigh anchor soon."

Nathaniel sits up and rubs his eyes before shuffling to his feet. He gives Delilah a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll send word when it's safe. Thank you for everything."

"Just don't join Thomas," she whispers back fearfully. Then she breaks away and looks at Anders. "Please keep him safe. All right?"

[apostasy]

He nods. "I will," he promises. "I love him more than anything." Then, after a moment. "It was wonderful to see you again, despite everything. Hopefully next time will be happier."

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"We have so little family," Delilah says, reaching up to hug Anders as well. "It's good to see it growing."

[apostasy]

He returns he hug and is pleased for it. Then he chuckles a bit. "I'm pleased to be a part of it."

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"Always." She gives him a kiss on the cheek. "I never saw him so happy."

Nathaniel slides an arm around Anders waist. "We need to go."

"There's dinner in your bags," Delilah says. "Daniel is asleep, but he whispered goodbye before you woke up. He wants you both to know he loves you very much, just as I do."

"Love you too," Nathaniel whispers back.

It's only a few minutes' walk to the shipyard, and the men slip aboard a jolly boat along with some sailors, who row them up to a merchantman schooner. The first mate leads them to the berth deck and pulls out a couple of hammocks for them.

"I know you're not sailors," he tells them, "but we'll need your help with chores in the morning. That all right?"

[apostasy]

"Of course," Anders responds. "We'll pull out weight." At least he'll watch Nathaniel while he works to ensure the wound really is healed.

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An harried sailor joins them, looking worried.

"Ser? There's a lady demanding to come aboard. She says we have a fugitive what she were takin' in."

The first mate looks keenly at Nathaniel, then Anders.

"Just how much trouble are you?" he asks slowly.