inJustice

"I know about the rings…"

He stood and began to pace, shaking fingers worrying through the strands of his shoulder length sandy hair. “You’re going to start seeing reports soon, about a Templar massacre and a tranquil mage. I-I need you to understand that I didn’t do the things they’re going to release in those reports. I’m not the man that left the tower with you, not anymore. I would never…” He turned to Neria, holding her eyes, willing her to see the man he was now and not the callous, self-centered he had been. “It was not me who committed those atrocities. But there is something you should know.”

Shaking hands covered his face, a long release if breath blowing between slightly parted fingers. “He wants to speak to you directly anyway. There’s nothing left to do but show you.” 

She watched him stand, and knew that while her words meant little now, hoped that they might bring him comfort later. Her brows furrowed faintly at the mention of a massacre, and when his words drifted off, she was already shaking her head. “Anders I know that. Believe me I have seen and experienced the difference sweet. You don’t have to convince me.” She wanted to move to his side, but it was clear that he needed to move freely, so she just twisted her hand in her skirt and watched helplessly. “Anders if you say you didn’t, I believe you.” She said softly. When he covered his face, she gave up her position of distance, and was halfway to her feet when the words ‘he wants to speak to you’ trumpeted through her mind and she faltered. “He who?” She asked slowly.

Neria dropped back to the couch, amber eyes never leaving the brilliant white-blue that pierced her. “Justice…what a surprise.” Had she tried some bad herbs? Was she dreaming? She reached for her own arm sluggishly and pinched it—hard. Nope. Very much awake. She stood slowly, her eyes narrowing as she moved toward the being that now apparently inhabited her dear friend’s body. “Oh Anders…” she sighed softly, her gaze flickering back to Justice’s.

“You could not survive forever in Kristoff’s body.” It wasn’t really a question, more an observation. She wasn’t sure she’d ever forget the sight of the dead warden’s body moving about the campsite, slowly decomposing. She’d tried to help, but there was little to be done once death had laid claim to something. She considered him silently and the added, “And you changed each other.” Ancestors she didn’t know how to feel about this. The Justice she knew had been a good being if a bit black and white in his perceptions (understandably), but if the words that had been tumbling from Anders’ lips just moments before were any indication…this Justice was ruthless.

With a curious tilt of his head he moved around the room, eyes walking over all the things held within it as though he could understand something of the woman who lived there by assessing its contents. "We merged because he offered." The spirit answered. "I could no more take his form hostage than could a demon. Anders saw that I was fading and wanted more time to discover how to send me back. This was the only solution he could come up with. I accepted. Now here we are." 

He spread his hands at this, moving the vessel's face into some semblance of a welcoming smile as he turned back to the elven woman still seated on her couch. "I knew that our minds would be in conflict for a time, and the influx of power from my form would be difficult to contain as we assimilated, but this one is strong. I knew he would weather the transition, and he has." He inspected the lines of his arms and hands once more, the smile remaining. "He has weathered this and so much more."