Grey Sky Morning (DARBB Part 1 of 2)

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Grey Sky Morning (DARBB Part 2 of 2)

Title: Grey Sky Morning

Word Count: 7663

Rating: M

Warnings: Nudity, sexual content, blood, violence

Fandom: Dragon Age

Pairing: Nathaniel/Anders

 

Summary: With the disappearance of the Warden-Commander, Nathaniel has more than enough to occupy his thoughts; strangely, the only person he can think of is Anders. More than his lover, Anders was his friend, and Nathaniel finds it difficult to let go of him and move on. Things are only made worse when a missive arrives from Weisshaupt, summoning Nathaniel to the Fortress.

 He knows precisely what the First Warden wants from him; and Nathaniel must fight a battle between his heart and his duty.

 Author's Note: This was written for the Dragon Age Reverse Big Bang to accompany this lovely fanmix by itsadrizzit. The music and especially the way that the songs were put in order, evoked a strong feeling of regret, loss, grief, and that poignant, painful sense of losing someone you wanted badly to hold onto. The pairing (Nanders) was suggested by the itsadrizzit, but it was up to me, ultimately, to decide what pairing worked best with the music. For me, Nathaniel and Anders represented the tone and emotion of the fanmix extraordinarily well. I had a lot of fun writing this, and I worked very hard to get the emotion through without being overbearing. I really hope everyone, especially itsadrizzit, enjoys this story! <3

 A huge thank you to wadebramwilson for doing such an awesome job as my beta! :D

Grey Sky Morning
Part Two

 ~*~

           Resistance had been expected, but nothing could have prepared Nathaniel for what awaited them once they left the port at Cumberland and pressed north towards the Tevinter Imperium.

 

          Their journey, at first, was quiet enough. Fifty or so odd men and women marching through the woodlands with only their footfalls and the clink of their armor making any sound. Suspiciously quiet, Nathaniel had thought, and Bethany had echoed his concern, falling in step beside him with her eyes darting between the trees. “There’s been reports of maleficarum in these parts,” she said, hushed, as though to speak above a whisper was to invite danger. “We should keep our guard up.”

 

          “Look behind me, little girl. We’ve a small army. I did not bring these men for their charm and good looks.”

 

          Bethany smiled. It was small and tired, and it reminded him that she had gotten as little sleep as he had. She was a courageous girl, and a stubborn one, and he could admire those traits. Still, she prattled on about danger as though Nathaniel were truly so dim as to believe they would reach Weisshaupt without incident. He fully expected an attack, but when it came, he was surprised by it. He hadn’t expected such heavy resistance, or such powerful magic, and when they were finally done and the mages that had ambushed them lay dead or dying, nearly half of his force was decimated.

 

          “We should have brought more mages,” Bethany said.

 

          Her pointing out of the obvious did little to improve Nathaniel’s mood.

( Now you run... )