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Blood Bond	By : Hikari86 Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4278 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Bioware owns everything Dragon Age. I claim no ownership and make no money/profit.

Chapter List
- 35
- 36
- 37
The Exorcism of Connor Guerrin

“If you’re ready, then what needs to be done?” Zelda asked the first enchanter.
“Nothing except for all of you to step back and watch.” Irving turned around and addressed Wynne and Esumi. “Now which one of you shall go into the Fade?” Both Wynne and Esumi exchanged tense glances.
“Jowan,” said Zelda, making everyone stare at her.
“What? Me? Are you sure?” Jowan said looking shocked.
Irving turned on Zelda. “You can’t be serious?” he asked her raising an eyebrow. “Loose a blood mage into the Fade to meet a demon? What if he takes control of it?”
“This is Jowan’s chance to redeem himself. I know he can do it.”
“I don’t think...” Jowan tried to say.
“No, I agree,” said Esumi. “Jowan, you can do it. You just have to believe in yourself. Do you remember us having this same talk a long time ago?”
Jowan looked at his old friend with compassion and nodded his head. He then had determination on his face. “Then I’ll do it.”
Irving sighed. There was no way he could argue with both women. “You trust too much and too quickly,” he said shaking his head. “But I shall do as you ask.” Irving walked to the other mages and together they stood in a triangular formation.
“I’ll... do my best. I promise.” Jowan then placed himself in the center of the triangle and placed his gaze on Esumi one last time. She smiled at him, while he smiled right back. They both looked relieved to have finally found each other once more.
Zelda looked to see a smile on Cullen’s face along with relief. She knew he would be glad that Esumi wouldn’t be going into the Fade. Otherwise, if she hadn’t suggested Jowan, Esumi would have been the most likely candidate, and that would have been something Cullen would have fought. Zelda could tell from his eyes. He would have done anything to keep her from facing another demon, especially one as powerful as this.
It was something that Zelda could feel now. The presence of the demon’s powers in the castle. She knew what it was like now. It felt like the tower, only more thick, more–
A sudden groan sounded down from the ramp leading to the bedchambers. Everyone turned to see Connor standing in the doorway. He was covered in sweat with bloodshot eyes and clothes ripped and torn.
“Connor!” Isolde cried running to her son. The boy held up his hand stopping her advance while his other clung ferociously to the doorframe.
“Stay back, Mother,” he struggled. “I don’t... want to hurt... you...” It was still him, but the demonic voice underneath was there as well, echoing his every word.
“Connor? What is happening?” Isolde asked. She chanced a step forward, but was stopped when Cullen brought her behind him. He had sword in hand, ready to strike if need be.
“Stay back, demon,” he said, taking a step forward and raising his sword.
“Don’t hurt him,” Isolde pleaded. “He’s just a boy! He’s trying so hard!” The arlessa looked to Zelda, tears running down her face again.
“Cullen, stay back,” Zelda warned. “You can obviously see that it’s still him.”
“But the demon could take over any minute.”
“Then you mages hurry up!” she cried.
Quickly Irving, Wynne and Esumi reformed their triangle and faced in toward Jowan. They all raised their hands, magic beginning to crackle all around them. Irving began chanting, once he was done, Wynne said something similar, then Esumi.
A growl escaped from deep within Connor’s throat. A growl that did not sound human. “No!” he screamed as he lunged himself forward, going straight for Wynne who was the closest mage. But he never reached her when Zelda caught him in mid air and brought him down, rolling on the floor and pinning him in place.
Zelda pressed her back against the wall and wrapped both her legs and arms around the struggling boy. He screamed, scratched and fought her with tooth and nail to get free, trying to get to the mages right in front of them to stop the ritual.
“Come on, Connor,” said Zelda. “Fight her. I know you can do it.” The struggling seemed to slow, and soon stopped. Connor began crying dry tears, and Zelda held him firm but comforting. She placed his head on her chest and cradled him. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “It’ll be over very soon.”
The mages were all surrounded by a brilliant light, magic swirling around them. Irving, Wynne and Esumi chanting in unison as Jowan stood firm in the middle. His eyes were closed, and he looked concentrated. Then something flashed before him. A blue light began consuming his body as it made it’s way up from the ground. It consumed his legs, up his torso to his chest and arms, then finally it swallowed up his head. It flashed one last time before Jowan fell to the ground, unconscious. The magic then around them died and all three mages lowered there arms.
“It is done,” said Irving. “Now we wait.”
Immediately, Connor stopped any type of struggling he was still doing. Zelda saw as he closed his eyes and appeared to have fallen asleep. She loosened her grip on him and he sagged against her chest. Zelda looked to see Esumi make her way over to Jowan. She knelt down and took the mage’s head and placed it in her lap. The two women’s eyes met and something passed between the two of them. They each understood, and hoped that they had made the right choice. For Connor’s sake. For Jowan’s.
***
Jowan awoke to find himself lying on the ground, or at least what he thought was ground. It felt like it, smelled like it. When he opened his eyes, his vision was blurry. The scene around him was hazy, cloudy. Slowly he began pushing himself up, feeling tightness in his muscles. He rubbed his eyes, trying to bring them back to focus, but soon he realized that it wasn’t his eyes that were fuzzy, but the world around him was. He was in the Fade, and once he was able to see clearing, he looked around at the many wonders that it held.
The blurriness seemed to be at the edges of his vision, creating a tunnel type view that made the scene in front of him seem closer like looking in a spyglass. He looked to the sky and saw clouds floating across a purplish mist. The land before him rolled with hills and dipped down steeply at times. There were objects all about. Doors with only frames and no walls stood in places. Pillars raised from the ground with what looked like toys hanging from them with no visible string. A bed was behind him, raised in the air and tilted forward. The sheets and pillow didn’t seem to be sliding forward like Jowan thought they should. They only stayed in their place as if that was how they should be.
He began making his way from the area, looking around at the strange and disturbing statues that seemed to be scattered about the scene. “So this is the Fade,” he whispered out loud. He had never been in the Fade besides in dreams, and those dreams were never like this.
Slowly he made his way, following a path that seemed to be forming on it’s own as he walked it. Where it was leading him, he didn’t know, but something told him that he needed to follow it. That this path may be leading him to the demon and maybe even Connor. It wasn’t until he came to another area, another clearing amongst the pillars that he found him. Connor stood with his eyes closed, looking exhausted and tired. The boy was slumped over, standing next to another, hovering bed that was flipped over. Jowan went to the boy and bent down to his level.
“Connor? Connor, can you hear me?”
Slowly Connor opened his eyes and looked into Jowan’s. His eyes were glazed and dull. Red streaked across the white, and black bags hung under, making him look older than he was. “W-who are you?” he said once he got a good look at the mage. “Wait. I know you. You’re the one that made Father sick!” At the realization, Connor began backing away from him, gazing at him intently and with furry. “Get away from me!”
“Wait, Connor, please,” Jowan said as he stood, putting his hands in front of him. “I’m here to help you.”
“Really? Are you sure you’re not here to make sure you’re job is finished? Are you here to kill me as well?”
“No, no,” Jowan said, trying to think of what he could say to get through to the boy. “I want to help. I want to help you get rid of the demon that’s possessed you. Please Connor, Zelda sent me here to do just that.”
“Zelda?” The boy’s eyes widened at the mention of her name. He seemed to calm. “I recognize that name. Is... is she the one who promised me? Is she the one who said she would return?”
“Yes,” said Jowan, knowing that he was getting through to him. “Zelda has returned, and she is doing her best to help you.”
“By sending you?”
“Yes.”
Connor relaxed fully. “I remember her now. The one with the beautiful hair, eyes... voice. Whenever I see her the demon goes away. She’s scared of her.”
“Why is the demon scared?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because she doesn’t understand the darkness that is inside her.”
Jowan went on his knees and placed his hands on Connor’s shoulders. “Connor, listen. I will go and defeat this demon, but I might need your help.”
The boy’s face was plastered with sweat and a sad expression crossed over it. He was so tired and so beaten that Jowan didn’t know if he could. “I... I feel so cold,” he said softly. “Why is it so cold?”
“It won’t be.”
Connor closed his eyes and tears began running down his face. His fists clenched and his body shook. He then stopped, and his eyes popped open with a new determination. “What do you want me to do?”
“Where is she?” Jowan asked.
“Behind you.”
Jowan turned around only to be clawed in the face by a rough hand. He was pushed back, and landed next to the bed. Connor had moved out of the way and stood next to him, looking scared. Jowan felt his face to find blood. He brought his gaze slowly up, as he took in the form in front of him.
The demon stood in nothing but a sash that was draped across her hips, covering only the necessary parts. Her breasts were uncovered, full and firm. A chain hung loosely at her belly, connected to both her nipples. Her skin was scaled, and a shade of purple that was light on her belly and grew darker as it went across to her back. A tail with a pointed spade swung seductively behind her, while horns curled from her head. Her hair was a purple fire that blazed upon her skull. It was a form that most desire demons took when in the Fade, though their were others. Jowan had only seen illustrations in books, never one so close before. His heart raced as he stared at her, feeling her power as it oozed from all of her pores. It swirled around the area, caressing his skin and tantalizing his mind.
“So you are the one they chose to send,” she said in a sweet, but sickly voice. Below it he could hear the deep demonic voice. The same one that spoke through Connor in the real world. “I thought they would send someone more... worthy.”
Jowan quickly stood. He wasn’t going to let her get to him. Not with her magic and definitely not with her words. He grabbed the staff that was at his back and pointed it at her. “You’ll eat those words, demon. I’m more powerful than you think.”
“Oh really?” she said swaying her body and flashing her black eyes at him. “I can feel your power, and perhaps you are worthy, but must we fight? Must that always be the way things go? You are standing in my domain where I am most powerful. It doesn’t seem fair for us to fight. I suggest that we... converse instead.”
Jowan narrowed his eyes. He wasn’t going to listen to her. He had learned that much in the tower. “No. I’ve been given a chance to do something good for a change. I’m not going to throw it away.”
“Alas, that is sad,” the demon said, although she looked anything but. “Very well, then. If you wish a battle, you will have it. Let us see if your power matches your boldness, creature.” She lifted her arms and a bright light took over the area. Jowan had to cover his eyes before it died, and when it did, he found himself in a new area. An arena of sorts. He looked around to see that Connor was still with him. The boy looked drained and pale. Was the demon feeding off him?
“Connor, please, speak to me,” he said looking at the boy and shaking him. He didn’t know where the demon was, but he kept his senses up just in case she might attack.
“J-Jowan?” the boy said weak.
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Help me...”
“I’m trying, but...” He suddenly felt a cold chill and he turned to see the demon. She floated in the air, and cast a spell from her hands. Ice shot from her fingertips, traveling at the two. Quickly, Jowan raised his staff and a blue shield formed in front of them just in time to protect them from the spell. He then fired a bolt from the end of his staff. It shot straight at the demon, but she moved out of the way just before it hit her. He shot at her again and again, keeping her moving as he squeezed Connor’s shoulder and tried to talk to him.
“Come on, Connor, you need to snap out of this. I need your help!”
“What?” the boy said blinking rapidly.
“I can’t fight her alone. You know more about her weaknesses than I do.”
“But...” Connor whined. “I don’t know if I have any strength left. I’m so tired. I just want to sleep.”
“And you can sleep all you want, but first she must be destroyed.” Jowan took his hand from Connor as he channeled electricity through his being. It charged up his body from the ground before he let it loose from his staff. The lightning bolt flew at the demon, striking her in the chest and causing her to hiss with pain, but it didn’t seem to do much damage. Her eyes burned in their sockets and the fire on her head blazed with renewed heat. She lifted her arms and instantly the temperature lowered, wind began to whip around and ice formed on the ground.
Jowan placed up his arms. His robes only blocking the cold wind barely as they raced through the fabric. Connor clung to his waist, his head buried in his chest as he shivered from the wind. Jowan could feel ice forming at his feet. He couldn’t move and slowly it began to rise up his body and harden around him.
“Connor!”
The boy then suddenly opened his eyes and unburied his head. He was still weak and pale, but there was something different in the stare he gave. It was the same determination that Jowan had seen before the demon had appeared. Connor unlaced his hands from around Jowan’s waist, the ice not seeming to have frozen him there, then turned to face the demon. He lifted his hands, and Jowan watched as fire flung from his fingertips. The flames hit the desire demon and she shrieked with pain. Instantly, the winds stopped and the ice keeping Jowan in place melted away. He moved and went over to Connor, who had fallen to his knees.
“Good work,” he said helping the boy up. “Do you think you can manage?”
“I’m going to have to,” he said. “She’s still not dead yet.” Jowan looked to see the demon rising back up from where she fell, looking more hellish and angry than before.
“I know we can do it,” said Jowan. “We just have to work together.”
The boy nodded, and together they both stood to her, ready and able.
***
Many moments had passed since they sent Jowan into the Fade. Zelda had released Connor into Isolde’s arms. The arlessa sat on the floor, back to the wall, holding her son’s head in her lap. Connor looked to be asleep, and Zelda wondered if he really was. She wondered how much sleep Connor had gotten at all in the last several days, or ever since he first met the demon.
Everyone seemed tired, as most of them were either leaning against the wall or sitting on the floor. The only ones standing were Zelda, Alistair at her side and Cullen who was pacing back and forth. Rupee laid at Zelda’s feet. The hound had curled up beside her mistress and drifted into a deep sleep that it seemed only dogs could enter. Zelda envied her for that. She could feel her own weariness, not being able to remember the last time she had slept. It was starting to catch up with her as her eyelids began drooping and the world in front of her becoming a blur. She felt Alistair’s hands on her arms, bringing her close as she began to sway.
“You should get some rest,” he said to her.
Zelda shook her head. It felt like slow motion. “No. Not until this is done.” He didn’t fight her, and she didn’t fight him when he placed her head on his shoulder, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, and his own head resting on top of hers. It felt good to her, it felt right. Her mind was too groggy to complain or to tell her that what she was doing, what she was allowing, was wrong.
Cullen continued his pacing, the only one that didn’t seem to be tired or warn out. Watching him was tiring enough, as Esumi had even stopped following him with her eyes. She instead had them now fixed on Jowan as he laid silently in her lap. Cullen seemed impatient, angry even. He soon stopped and stared at the boy laying in his mother’s arms.
“It’s been too long,” he said, his voice sounding louder than it really was. “This needs to end, and it needs to end now.”
This woke everyone up. Teagan, who had been leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, suddenly startled. He shook his head and looked around the room confused. Leliana did the same as she rubbed her eyes from sleeping on the floor, her back against the wall. Isolde looked up at Cullen. A flash of fear went across her face when she realized what he was talking about. Instinctively she clung Connor to her bosom, leaning over him protectively. The templar stalked over to her, drawing out his greatsword and holding it in front of him.
“Please... don’t,” Isolde pleaded.
“I’m afraid I must,” he said.
Zelda shot her eyes open, realizing what he was about ready to do. In a quick motion, she pushed off Alistair and grabbed Silverbrand, running and placing herself in between Isolde and Cullen. The templar stopped cold, glaring at her.
“Get out of my way, Warden.”
“Don’t you dare,” she growled at him. Zelda held Silverbrand with both hands, shield forgotten on her back. She stood in a ready stance, waiting for him to make his move. The two challenged each other, their gazes dead locked.
“It’s been too long,” Cullen finally said, seeing she wasn’t going to budge. “We only allow a mage in the Fade to fight a demon for thirty minutes, and right now it’s been more than that.”
“Thirty minutes!” Zelda nearly shirked. “Are you mad? That’s not nearly long enough for them to face a demon of this power.”
“She’s right,” said Esumi. Cullen didn’t look toward her. “Please, Cullen. This isn’t the Harrowing. It’s an exorcism. They need more time.”
“I cannot allow it,” he said still not taking his gaze from Zelda. “It is my duty to make sure these things are taken care of. Connor is an abomination and must be destroyed. We tried another way, but it doesn’t appear to be working, so now I must do what should've been done in the first place.”
“No,” Isolde whimpered, bringing Connor even closer to her. “Why can’t you give him more time? Why?”
Zelda took a step toward Cullen. Her eyes hard and narrowed, daring him to do anything. “That is not your duty,” she said. “If it comes to it, then I said I would be the one to kill him.”
“Really?” Cullen nearly laughed. “Are you sure you can do something like that? Are you sure you're ready to face it?”
“I killed all those abominations in the tower, didn’t I? And I’ve killed before.”
Cullen snorted. “Killing a darkspawn is different than killing a human being. Killing an abomination who used to be someone you never knew is different than killing one that you did know. Are you sure you can do it? You may have promised the boy you would save him, but I’m just not seeing it in you. You can’t hesitate, not for one second. This is too big for you, Zelda. So just get out of my way and let me do my duty as a templar.”
“You’re duty?” Zelda nearly laughed. “Didn’t you hesitate when Esumi turned into an abomination? Didn’t you say you would kill her if that ever happened? Yet you didn’t. You ran right by her and killed Uldred instead.”
Cullen’s lip curled up over his teeth. “That was different. I saw in her eyes that she was still there. That there was another way of saving her. If I hadn’t have seen that then I wouldn’t have hesitated one moment.”
“So you’re saying you saw another option and took it instead?”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t you see that’s exactly what I’m doing?”
Cullen growled. “You do not have enough experience in this to know what you're doing.” He took a step forward, hoping she would move but she didn’t. Instead, Zelda swung her sword. Their two swords collided and rung throughout the room. There was more power in that swing than Cullen thought possible. She was definitely stronger than she looked, and perhaps more of a warrior than he thought.
“Don’t. You. Dare,” she spat at him.
The tension in the room was thick. Everyone stayed quiet as they watched the scene in front of them. Alistair wasn’t sure if he should say anything. He knew both sides. As a templar, it was Cullen’s duty to destroy any abominations that might threaten this world. Zelda seemed intent on waiting. She did after all say she would be the one to do it. She would end Connor’s life if it came down to it. He just wasn’t sure who’s side to take.
“Fine,” Cullen said relenting and bringing his sword down. Zelda stayed in the position she was in, never moving, never taking her narrowed eyes off Cullen. “If this is what you want, then so be it. But I will warn you, if you can’t do it, then I won’t stop just because you’re in the way.” He fully brought his sword down and stepped back. Zelda took a step back, but still kept her sword up. She didn’t release her stance until Cullen was fully away from her. She watched as he went over and stood over Esumi.
When Zelda finally relaxed, the realization of the matter soon hit her. Cullen was right. She wasn’t sure if she could do it either. It wasn’t like killing a darkspawn at all. They were foul, tainted creatures. Not human. Soulless. The abominations in the tower were people she had never met, never known. It was easy to cut down a creature that used to be a person you never knew. But this... this was different.
Zelda chanced a glance behind her. Isolde still clung to her son, never wanting to let go, never wanting to give up. It reminded her of her own mother and father. The way they held each other in their last moments. Her last image of them surfacing. But she had to shake it off. She couldn’t be distracted right now. She needed to think clearly. If she really was going to kill Connor then what would be her plan? One thing was for sure, how much longer should she wait? Zelda had no clue how long was too long. Would she wait an hour? Two? A day? How were you suppose to determine the time of someone’s death?
“Another half hour,” said Cullen as if he had read her mind.
Zelda glanced over at him. He looked at her unblinking. Perhaps she was easy to read right now, or it was something that was also on his mind as well. He may have been a templar, but did their training cover such things? Did morals and patience go out the window when it came to the safety of humanity?
Zelda nodded her head. Cullen nodded back, giving them a mutual understanding.
The minutes ticked by, and Zelda didn’t feel as sleepy as she had. No one did. This time it was Zelda pacing about the room as everyone either stood or sat. Cullen had made his way to the floor and sat beside Esumi. Alistair still stood, watching Zelda go about the room. A worried look on his face as he did so. He didn’t think that she was acting like herself. In the relatively short time that he knew her, it just didn’t seem like her at all.
Zelda would stop to occasionally check the time. Every time she did so, it seemed that only minutes had gone by. Why was time going by so slow? Wasn’t it suppose to go fast for something like this? She wasn’t sure what this meant. But soon Cullen stood and looked at her with the same hard look he had given to her before. Zelda stopped and knew that it was time.
No change had occurred. Both Jowan and Connor remained still, unmoving. Slowly Zelda made her way over to Isolde and knelt down before her. Isolde looked at her with wide, fearful eyes.
“Please don’t,” she pleaded softly. Zelda could feel her pain. She shifted her gaze down on Connor. The boy still looked like he was asleep. Pale, drained, but resting peacefully.
“You need to do it,” she heard Cullen say. His voice was forced and cruel sounding. Did he have to sound so heartless? But maybe that’s what you needed to sound like in order to do what needed to be done.
“Don’t force her,” snapped Alistair. “This is hard enough as it is.” Cullen shot him a narrowed glance but said nothing. “After all the trouble we went through to get here, don’t you think she has the right at least to do it the way she thinks is best?”
“You used to be a templar,” said Cullen. “You should know better.”
“Well now I’m a Grey Warden, as well as her friend, and I think I know her better than you do. She can do it, just give her time.”
“This is not right,” Leliana breathed softly. “Please say we’re not doing this.”
Zelda ignored all of them. She had to focus on the task at hand. She focused on Connor, not wanting to look Isolde in the eyes again. Not wanting to see a mother’s fear that she was about ready to lose her greatest treasure.
Slowly Zelda brought out her knife. It gleamed in the dull light of the room. She went to reach for Connor, but Isolde brought him closer to her. “Please don’t make this harder than it is,” Zelda said with as much sympathy as possible, still not looking at her.
“You promised him,” Isolde whispered.
“I know.” But it had to be done. An unfortunate incident that was created by a man who probably had no clue what was going on or what he had done.
Zelda reached again, her hand shaking. Isolde didn’t seem to be backing down, but she was also so pressed up against the wall that she had no other place to go. Grabbing his shoulder, Zelda gently pulled him out of Isolde’s arms. Zelda finally looked at her to see tears forming in her eyes as she let go of her son. She wondered why the arlessa was letting this happen. She was more hoping that Isolde would fight her, then it could have been easier, maybe. But now it was all up to her.
All up to me.
She brought Connor close, and placed the knife at his throat. She was ready to cut, ready to slice and end his young life. Her hand shook. Her body shook. The muscles in her arms tightened.
Connor stirred. She dropped the knife.
Isolde cried out and took him from her. Her tears of sorrow now turned into tears of joy as she took her boy and hugged him close. “Connor? Connor? Can you hear me?”
The boy moaned, shaking his head slowly from side to side as he tried to open his eyes. “Mother?” he said weakly.
“Yes my son. I’m here. You’re safe now.” She cradled him, taking him close and kissing him on the forehead. “Yes, you are safe.”
Jowan soon began to stir in Esumi’s lap. His eyes fluttered open, but he had to close them tight when the light nearly blinded him. He moaned, then squinted as he looked up into Esumi’s face.
“You did it, Jowan,” said Esumi. “You did it.”
“Lily?” he asked weak and groggy.
Esumi smiled down at him and shook her head. “No, but if you want me to be then I will. You deserve it.” She removed a piece of his hair from his eyes and bent down to kiss his forehead. Jowan closed his eyes then wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I’m so sorry for what happened,” he said. “Will you ever forgive me?”
“Of course,” she said stroking his hair. She then turned to Wynne. “I think he’s dreaming,” she said to the older mage.
“I’m sure he’s exhausted,” said Wynne. “It looks like we all are.”
Cullen had moved over to Connor to examine him. When he had declared Connor demon free, Isolde quickly scooped up her son and hurried into the bedchambers.
Zelda was still where she was. She had fallen back on her rear end, dreariness washing over her again. She barely felt it when Cullen had came by her. She barely felt it when Alistair had taken her in his arms.
“Is there a place we can rest?” Alistair’s voice sounded distant, echoing almost in her ears.
“Right this way,” she heard Teagan say, or at least it sounded like Teagan.
Zelda felt like she was floating. She saw the walls go by. Saw everyone disappear from her vision as she passed through a doorframe. She felt something soft touch her legs, then her back, then her head. She looked up at a ceiling, trying to focus her eyes, only to see Alistair’s face looking down at her. She closed her eyes again, only to feel gentle fingers stroking her check before she finally succumbed to the weariness that had been knocking at her door for days.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins
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Blood Bond