peopleofthedas | Under Orders Part 2

Stupidy me, didn't post this to the right spot.

This is the second part of my prompt response. I didn't include it in the original because I don't think it fits the tone of the first part.

Title: What if..?
Characters: Anders & Neria
Words: 500
Summary: Neria contemplates learning forbidden magic

Later, in their quarters, Neria ran a finger over his naked chest, lightly coated with ice. He closed his eyes as he let the delicious cold seep into him, taking away the muggy heat of an Amaranthine summer.

"Anders.." she said softly. He blinked his eyes open to see her chin resting on his chest as she looked up at him.

"Mmm?"

"What if I learned?"

"Learned?"

She sat up and crossed her legs. "What if I learned blood magic - the way they want us to?"

He bit his lip and sat up, pushing himself back on the bed until he was leaning on the headboard. "Do you want to?" he said.

She shrugged. "Whether I want to or not isn't the point. Would you... would you mind?"

"Would I mind? If you became a maleficar?"

She flushed and looked down. "Yes. I mean - you've always gone on about how much you hate blood magic... but you don't seem to hold it against Jowan..."

He put his head on one side and considered her. "I don't like the idea of you being in danger from the Chantry," he said. "And... it's no secret I don't like blood magic, but you know my reasons for that. Jowan is an exception to a fairly accurate rule. Most blood mages are not nice people, and they make the rest of us look bad. But I don't... Well I don't think you'll be damned or anything if you do..."

"So... "

He sighed. "I'd still love you, if that's what you're asking. And I'd still marry you. Although possibly not in a Chantry, not that they were going to let us do that any way....."

"But you'd prefer it if I didn't, right?"'

He made a face. "Yes? I..."

"What?"

"It's just a bit... well..."

"What?"

"You'll laugh."

She poked him. "Probably. But I'm going to make you tell me any way. So stop hedging."

"It's a bit.... yucky," he said.

She laughed.

Under Orders Part 2

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