Anders looks surprised when Hawke doesn't immediately strike back; even if Hawke isn't a demon, he would have expected that, at least. Most likely he would have assumed Anders was, especially since he's fairly sure he's lost any trust the man once had in him now.
But he isn't a demon, or he would have attacked back, and he just... dispelled his attack. The realisation hits a little late, and for a moment Anders just stares, trying to make sense of what his eyes tell him most definitely just happened. He blinks, and half considers throwing a second spell just to confirm it, but that would definitely be pushing his luck. His stance drops into a slightly more relaxed one, to show he doesn't intend to try that a second time.
"I wouldn't think you'd been possessed, Hawke," he says, tone still unsure, trying to work out what's going on here. "But a demon might take your form in the Fade, make me think I'm seeing something I'm not."
He's explaining it as if he's talking to someone inexperienced with the Fade, someone who hasn't walked it time after time, the way all mages do. He also sounds as if he isn't expecting to be believed. He did just attack, and it's only luck that Hawke realised why. Actually, he wouldn't have thought that'd be enough to hold back his anger. The only explanation is that--
"I'm dreaming, aren't I?"
He says it with a sigh. This is his dream, his very own creation in the Fade, and that's why everything looks so real. He's actually dreaming about a Hawke who isn't angry with him now. Hawke, who opposes everything he stands for, who refused to help when he needed it most, and who most likely won't ever trust him again. Hawke, who is a threat to his cause, and probably the biggest one in Kirkwall. He's the only man who could sway Meredith, he takes down darkspawn and slavers without breaking a sweat, and he could easily stop Anders' plans if he found out. He could easily stop Anders completely.
And despite knowing all that, this is still a dream.
He sighs again. He isn't answering Hawke's questions, he knows, but what does it really matter? He's tired, even asleep, and... this is too bizarre to really deal with.
I WAS PROMISED 800 WORDS
But he isn't a demon, or he would have attacked back, and he just... dispelled his attack. The realisation hits a little late, and for a moment Anders just stares, trying to make sense of what his eyes tell him most definitely just happened. He blinks, and half considers throwing a second spell just to confirm it, but that would definitely be pushing his luck. His stance drops into a slightly more relaxed one, to show he doesn't intend to try that a second time.
"I wouldn't think you'd been possessed, Hawke," he says, tone still unsure, trying to work out what's going on here. "But a demon might take your form in the Fade, make me think I'm seeing something I'm not."
He's explaining it as if he's talking to someone inexperienced with the Fade, someone who hasn't walked it time after time, the way all mages do. He also sounds as if he isn't expecting to be believed. He did just attack, and it's only luck that Hawke realised why. Actually, he wouldn't have thought that'd be enough to hold back his anger. The only explanation is that--
"I'm dreaming, aren't I?"
He says it with a sigh. This is his dream, his very own creation in the Fade, and that's why everything looks so real. He's actually dreaming about a Hawke who isn't angry with him now. Hawke, who opposes everything he stands for, who refused to help when he needed it most, and who most likely won't ever trust him again. Hawke, who is a threat to his cause, and probably the biggest one in Kirkwall. He's the only man who could sway Meredith, he takes down darkspawn and slavers without breaking a sweat, and he could easily stop Anders' plans if he found out. He could easily stop Anders completely.
And despite knowing all that, this is still a dream.
He sighs again. He isn't answering Hawke's questions, he knows, but what does it really matter? He's tired, even asleep, and... this is too bizarre to really deal with.
"I'd really like to wake up now."