Silence falls heavy between them. Nathaniel has the reeling, dizzy feeling that he has stepped through a hole in time and is hearing someone else's words come out of Anders' mouth. Or maybe it was his own thoughts as a child, that she was better if he never spoke to her, never tried to smooth things over, just let her vileness wash over when it came and let it all go.

He lifts his hands a little, palms out, a show of surrender.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Either of you. Andraste preserve him from this madness.