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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
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Night Stalkers

It was pitch black out with no moon or stars making it a good night to sneak around in the shadows. Arawin followed Leliana through the trees as she lead her and Zevran to the village of Haven. It had been decided the three rogues would sneak into the village in the dead of night to find anything helpful in their search for Brother Genitivi and the Urn.
Following Leliana and sneaking around made Arawin remember her time in Denerim when she, Shianni, and Soris would sneak through the back alleys. The back alleys were the roads they took when getting around the city. They were safer then the main roads, at least for elves. On the main roads they would usually get harassed or threatened to be run over by the humans. It was something the three of them liked to avoid, though the back alleys came with their own dangers as well.
The alleys were used by all sorts of criminals and thieves. It was a haven for them to do their business without the threat of the guard looming over them. Most of the time, however, if Arawin and her cousins ever ran into any of the dealings going on, there was no confrontation, as they along with the others would summit to the unspoken rule of ‘don’t bother me, and I won’t bother you’. But there still were times when some of the men they came across would try and attack them, thinking two defenseless female elves with a weak looking male would be easy targets. Arawin would always show them how un-defenseless she really was by taking on three at a time and with no weapon but her fists. It was always a fun time, and Arawin missed those days, but as she kept behind Leliana, she couldn’t help but to think how not so delicate she moved.
Arawin had always thought her stealth had been good since she was almost never caught in the market when she did so. She found it easy to sneak past guards and to also sneak around nobles, picking their pockets. But Leliana seemed so much more delicate than she did with fluid-like motions that kept her body completely hidden in shadow and made very little if any noise. Zevran was the same way, only better. He was behind Arawin, and made no noise whatsoever. Every time she would look back to find him, she never could. He was wearing his black cloak, which helped him to melt into the shadows even more. It was starting to discourage Arawin as she didn’t like having him behind her without knowing where he was. But at the same time she was impressed by it, making her long for him even more, knowing he had probably used the same type of deftly moves on her in the nights they spent together.
“There,” she heard Leliana whisper. Arawin came up to the bard and crouched beside her to see what she was pointing at. “There are two guards now? I suppose that should be expected after we came through.”
Arawin looked through the trees and saw at the top of the stairs Leliana had pointed out earlier two guards standing, looking straight forward. Neither of them talked or even looked at each other. They were sentinel beings, standing guard and watching for anything unusual.
“They shouldn’t be a problem to take out.” Zevran’s voice was very close to Arawin’s left ear. She shifted her eyes over to see him next to her, hood down and eyes staring forward at the guards in concentration. “Shall I take care of them?” Arawin saw the assassin in him again, bringing up memories of Denerim and even the very first time she saw him standing in the road, waiting for her. She had to look away from him to keep herself from drifting. She needed to stay focused on their goal.
“No,” Leliana answered. “We can’t risk raising any alarms. Our goal is to find Brother Genitivi first, then deal with the villagers however we can.”
“Ahh, take away all the fun.”
“Come on, it shouldn’t be too hard to get past these two.” Leliana began making her way through the trees again. Arawin followed with Zevran close behind her. The three of them went up the steep hill, parallel to the stairs. Arawin was glad she hadn’t brought Far Song with her, as she knew it would have been more difficult to maneuver with both Fang and Dar’Misaan along with a longbow and quiver. Leliana was able to travel with her longbow quite easily though, but not only was it shorter than Far Song but also the only weapon she carried besides a small dagger at her hip. But Arawin knew Lisha would probably not have taken that as an excuse for why Arawin couldn’t carry hers.
When they reached the top, they hopped over a fence and made their way over to a house close to the edge. Leliana peaked inside then opened the window and slipped in. Arawin soon came in after her, along with Zevran. Once they were inside, Arawin went back over to the window and peered out into the dark forest. She whistled softly and after a few moments a black cat appeared on the window sill. The cat leaped to the floor and went to the middle of the room where it began to shift and grow, becoming human. Morrigan soon stood before them, completely naked.
“Oh my, Morrigan,” said Leliana. “Did you have to come in so dramatically?”
“‘Tis not dramatic,” said the witch. “Natural is more like it. And you elf, stop staring at me like that.”
Zevran’s mouth hung low with his eyes bulging as he stared at her. “I can’t help it! You are just so beautiful! You don’t know how long I’ve dreamed of this moment!”
“You’re impossible,” Arawin laughed. She then reached into her pack and pulled out Morrigan’s robes. She tossed them to the witch who began putting them on. “And if you don’t want him looking at you like that, Morrigan, next time shift back in a hidden place.”
“She just likes to show off her nice body” said Leliana. “It is rather lovely. You have an excellent figure, Morrigan. Everything in the correct places and in the perfect sizes.”
“Now you’re looking at me like that?” Morrigan said after she had everything covered. “Maybe I should've shifted outside. Those guards would've certainly kept the same expression no matter what danced in front of them.”
Arawin smiled as she shook her head. She also shut Zevran’s mouth as she passed him to get a look around the room they stood in. It was completely empty except for a few paintings and two doors and a window in the walls. She went over to one of the paintings and studied it, seeing what appeared to be a dragon flying in the sky above a snow-capped mountainscape. She then looked over at what was the front door of the house then to the one on the opposite side. Walking over, she tested the knob and found it to be locked.
“I think this is a waiting room,” said Leliana. Everyone else had also been studying the room. “But for what, I’m not sure.”
“Maybe the answer will be right behind this door,” Arawin said as she picked the lock. It was like deja-vu when the door opened. The stink wafted into her nose, making her gag. Zevran did the same as he was the closest to her.
“What is with these people placing dead bodies behind locked doors!” Arawin yelled as she moved away from the open room. She looked toward it, unsure of what to do. She didn’t want to go in the room, not just because of the smell but because of what she might find in there. If the smell was coming from Brother Genitivi, then they had come all this way for nothing.
“‘Tis not a dead body,” said Morrigan as she went in the room, the only one unaffected by the smell. “But very interesting indeed.”
Arawin knew she had no choice. Taking in a deep breath, she walked through the doorframe and stepped in the smelly room. It was the exact same shape and size as the one previous. Square, but it had no windows or anything that may suggest another exit. The room was still unfurnished except for candelabra hanging on the walls. Arawin went over and checked on one. The white candles were burned low and still slightly warm telling her this room had recently been used.
Arawin then saw across from the door an altar where two torches above still burned. She nearly gagged again when she saw what laid on top of it. The altar was red, stained from bright red blood. Entrails were lined upon it, arranged in a pattern Arawin couldn’t see as she did not want to get too close. But as she looked she did see something that disturbed her more. Coming down from the altar’s sides were two slides that ran into troughs which lined the room and went all the way around. The troughs were also stained red as well as containing pieces of rotting flesh. There were also red hand prints upon the walls, low next to the troughs.
“The pieces are animal, but the fresh blood is human,” said Morrigan.
“Really? And how do you know?” Arawin asked.
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
“You’re right, don’t answer. But what does this mean?”
“I know a few Crows who preformed rituals that looked similar to this,” said Zevran. “They would kill an animal and drink it’s blood, thinking it would give them special powers.”
“That sounds disgusting.”
“I never took part in one. It was just too weird.”
“This is horrible,” said Leliana. “Why would anyone do such a thing, and... Oh dear Maker!”
“What is it?” Arawin asked seeing the horrific look on her face. She was standing close to the altar, looking down upon it.
“That’s... that’s the symbol of Andraste! Made by the entrails.”
“What?” Arawin came next to the altar and saw that the organs laid out were indeed arranged in the likeness of the holy symbol of Andraste. It made Arawin’s head spin as she tried to figure what it all meant. She looked up at the wall behind the altar and saw a painting there. She had seen it before, but was too far away to determine what it was. The picture was that of a dragon close up. The dragon stood on all fours, wings spread wide with it’s head raised. Fire jetted from it’s mouth, going off the edges in a frozen roar that would have been ear splitting in real life. It was much bigger than the one Arawin had fought in the Brecilian Forest. At it’s feet knelt several human figures, small and weak looking compared to the might of the beast that raged before them. Arawin found she couldn’t take her eyes from the painting. They got wider as she got closer, staring at the magnificent creature.
“Urthemiel,” said Morrigan next to her. “The Old God of beauty.”
“He certainly is beautiful,” Arawin whispered. “And so familiar. I know I’ve seen him before, but... I can’t recall.”
“Then study it well. It will come to you and you will face him sooner than you know.”
Arawin took her eyes from the painting to stare at Morrigan confused, but the witch had already left her side. She looked at the painting one last time before the smell of the blood and entrails was beginning to get to her again. Her stomach flipped, and Arawin reluctantly took her eyes from Urthemiel to make her way out of the room.
Everyone else was already out, standing next to the window in order to breath in fresh air. Morrigan was the only one not there, however. Arawin found her next to the door, it open slightly ajar so she could peer out.
“I believe you should see this, Arawin.”
Walking over to her, Arawin crouched down to see through the crack. Zevran and Leliana soon joined them. Outside shadows moved along the path as villagers made their way up the steep hill. They carried torches with some dressed in regular clothing while others wore armor with blades strapped to either their hips or backs.
“Just simple villagers with torches and pitchforks, huh?” Morrigan mocked.
“So they might have better weaponry than I thought,” said Arawin. “But I still think we could've taken them. How much combat do you think those guards have seen anyway, living in such isolation?”
“You know Zelda wouldn’t have seen it the same way.”
“Me and Zelda have never seen anything eye to eye, so I don’t really care what she might say or think. Now, I wonder what those villagers are up to...”
“I think we should go and see,” said Zevran.
“Took the words right out of my mouth.”
They waited until all the villagers were up the hill before they crept out the door to follow.
***
They followed the villagers to the area where Zelda and the others encountered the young boy and where the store was located. The villagers still kept going, however, up another steep hill and disappearing inside a building at the top. Arawin and the others made their way after them, careful to still stay hidden.
“That’s a chantry they’re going into,” Leliana whispered. “Can you hear the chanting?”
Arawin perked her ears as they got closer. A soft hum was coming from behind the walls, growing louder as the door opened, then drifting away once it closed. “They’re having a sermon now? This late at night?”
“You’re Chantry does do weird things,” said Morrigan.
“Except this isn’t our Chantry,” said Leliana. “The Chantry I know doesn’t slaughter animals or humans for some type of sacrifice.”
“And how do you know? No body knows what may happen behind closed doors of anyone’s room.”
Arawin stared at the chantry, knowing Leliana was right. Whatever was going on was not what the Chantry she knew growing up did. “No matter,” she said. “We need to get in there and see what’s going on. I have a feeling if Brother Genitivi is alive, he may be in there. So come on.” She went to move, making her way to the door and out of the shadows but something grabbed her shoulders and kept her back.
“Where do you think you’re going, Hermosa?”
“Zev, let me go. The chantry is where we’re going to find our answers.”
“With all those people? Don’t you think it would be best if we knew for sure before disturbing their sermon?”
“You’re an assassin! What are you talking about?”
“Just because I kill people for a living doesn’t mean I like disturbing the innocent of their daily rituals. Besides, do you think I would still be alive if all I did was barge into buildings demanding answers? You need to be sure first before making such a drastic move.”
“You know, that’s the first sensible thing I’ve heard you say,” said Morrigan.
“Why thank you, my dear,” Zevran beamed.
Arawin growled. “I don’t care. We need to find Genitivi.”
“Then if you are so insistent, allow me,” Zevran said as he let go of her. He disappeared immediately into the shadows. Arawin tried looking for him, but was unable to determine where he went. She looked up at the chantry and saw nothing except for the glowing windows and a few human-shaped shadows swaying on the ground.
“He’s very impressive,” said Leliana. “Although I’m glad you’re alive, I am somewhat surprised that you are.”
“Thanks, I guess.”
“Well it’s true. He’s a Crow, they aren’t taken down very easily and they don’t give up very easily either.”
“But I’m a Grey Warden,” Arawin said turning to the bard. “A Crow has never been able to take down a Grey Warden.”
“Experienced Grey Wardens, maybe, but you’re just a fledgling while Zev’s dangerous and daring, more than capable to take you down. But maybe that’s why you like him.”
Arawin shot a glare at her, but Leliana only smiled. “I like him, yes, but as a friend, nothing more.”
“Uh huh, you sound just like Zelda before she finally admitted she had feelings for Alistair.”
“Me and Zelda are nothing alike.”
“Are you so sure? You and Zelda may have more in common than you might think. And don’t try and deny you’re feelings for Zevran. I know love when I see it. Trust me.”
Arawin turned her head away from Leliana, hoping the shadows concealed her blush. She hated the fact the bard could be right, and she hated how she felt as well. Why was she falling for him, a man that tried to kill her? She didn’t want to be in love or to be close to anyone really. The only ones she was close to were Shianni, Soris, and her parents, but look what happened to them. Her mother murdered, father suffering from both losing her and his daughter, Shianni raped, and Soris having to comfort her all on his own. Then there was Nelaros, the man she was suppose to marry. She didn’t care too much for him, or at least she didn’t think she did. But after seeing him killed, seeing his body on the floor with blood pooling on the sides, she wasn’t so sure anymore.
The ring on her finger began to burn as it always did whenever thoughts of that day would stir. Arawin twisted it, spinning it on her finger to relieve the pain. She needed to think of something else, a distraction in order to get her mind off the hurt. She desperately wished Zevran would return.
Something black pushed her against a tree and pressed itself her to lips. Arawin struggled at first before she realized who it was. She kissed him back without thinking. “Damn it, Zev!” she whispered harshly, pushing him away when they parted. “Don’t you ever do that again!”
Zevran only laughed at her. “Did you miss me, Hermosa?”
“Sod no!”
“Don’t lie, Arawin,” Leliana teased. “It looked as if you enjoyed his little sneak attack.”
“Oh, I know she did,” said Zevran. “I’ve come to learn what she likes and what she doesn’t.”
Arawin growled, wanting to attack both of them, wanting to kill something.
“If you two are done,” Morrigan moaned. “I would really like to know what you found out, elf.”
“Oh right,” he said. “Let’s see, I was able to sneak all the way around, but found no other entrance. And the chantry is packed. I believe the entire village is in there right now. Way too many bodies to sneak in without being noticed.”
“That’s it?” Morrigan said with a cocked eyebrow. “A world class assassin and that’s all you could find out?”
“What? I told you the chantry is packed with people and with no other entrances besides the one window and door in the front.”
Morrigan rolled her eyes. “Then I suppose it’s up to me, isn’t it?” She backed away from their sight. After a second, Arawin caught Morrigan’s robes and a black cat ran out of the shadows toward the chantry door. As Arawin and them looked on, a few last minute villagers, a young man and woman who looked disheveled and sweaty, came racing up the hill and opened the door and entered quietly. The black cat snuck in past them, just as the door was about to close.
“You know, if I was able to become an animal, there would be so much I could do,” Zevran reminisced. “So many women I could peek in on.”
“Is that all you ever think about?” Leliana asked.
“He’s a menace,” said Arawin. “And no, he won’t stop.”
“More reasons why you like him, I see.”
Arawin glared at Leliana but said nothing. She then focused herself on the chantry, hoping none of them noticed her sudden silence, although she was sure they did.
After several minutes of waiting, Arawin was starting to get anxious. She wanted to know what was taking Morrigan so long. The witch should have found something by now, but the minutes ticked by. She hoped they hadn’t discovered her and maybe sacrificed her like the animals they found in the house. It soon got to a point that Arawin began making her way to the chantry, ready to barge in.
“Hold on there, Hermosa. Morrigan knows what she’s doing. I don’t think they would be able to take her down very easily without us knowing.”
“I know, but she’s taking too long.” Arawin struggled against his grip but then the door opened slightly allowing a thin stripe of light to illuminate the ground. Arawin stopped as the light briefly darkened when a small body passed through the crack. A black cat with golden eyes came racing by her feet and quickly Arawin threw the robes toward the trees. Soon afterwards Morrigan reappeared beside them.
“Oh, no show this time?” Zevran said disappointed.
“There are more important things right now, elf, and one is that I believe Brother Genitivi is alive.”
“Really? So you found him?” Arawin asked becoming excited.
“Not necessarily. I crept around the room, looking at all the villagers and even having to evade a few dirty little hands before I came upon a hidden door. The door looks to be apart of the wall, but I could feel a draft coming from underneath it and I could even smell something familiar. I knew it had to be the brother became it was a smell I recognized from his house in Denerim, and he didn’t smell dead.”
“Perfect,” Arawin smiled.
“But the whole village is in there,” Morrigan warned. “And Father Eirik is a mage, more powerful than the one we already encountered.”
“What are they doing in there?” Leliana asked. “Is it a sermon?”
“I believe so. They were talking about light and purity and a whole bunch of other sickening things.”
“Alas, yet again I am deprived,” Zevran said disappointed.
“What now?” said Arawin.
“For once I would like to walk into a secluded village and find them having some type of mass orgy I might be able to join in on. You hear about it all the time in stories, although the one who joins in usually gets killed at the end, but still...”
Arawin shook her head. “You’re hopeless.”
“I know, I know.”
“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m in the mood to disrupt a sermon,” Arawin said rubbing her hands together.
“Shouldn’t we go get Zelda and the others first?” Leliana asked.
“It’ll take too long, we’ll get them later.” Arawin made her way to the chantry, forgetting about stealth and swung open the door. Light poured out from many candles and Arawin saw the room packed with villagers and guards. The ones in front stayed focused on the man standing before everyone as he preached, but the ones in back looked behind as Arawin and her companions made their way into the chantry. The villagers stepped aside as they passed, seemingly afraid of the outsiders as they forced their way in.
“We are blessed beyond measure; we are chosen by the Holy and Beloved to be Her guardians. This sacred duty is given to us alone; rejoice, my brethren, and prepare your hearts to receive Her. Lift up your voices, and despair not, for She will raise Her faithful servants to glory when Her--” The preacher stopped when he looked to find Arawin standing right in front of him, the villagers parted to the sides. Father Eirik glared at first but then smiled. “Ah... welcome. I heard we had visitors earlier today, although you do not meet any of the descriptions I was given. Are there more of you?”
“Yes, there is actually,” said Arawin crossing her arms. “And you won’t have to worry about them as long as you give me the answers I want.”
“All will be revealed in time,” he said stepping beside her. He then went to address the villagers. “My brethren, I’m afraid the sermon tonight will have to be cut short. I need to deal with these outsiders, so I hope you all can understand.”
“But Revered Father,” said one of the women. “We still haven’t had the sacrament yet.”
“Do not threat, my lovely, all will be right before you know it.”
She nodded and bowed to him before leaving with the others. Arawin watched the villagers walk out the chantry, most of them glaring back at her before crossing the threshold. When the doors closed, Arawin became very aware that none of the guards had left and they had now formed a loose circle around her small group. She didn’t let it show on her face however, when she stared back at Father Eirik.
“Whatever it is that you seek,” he began. “I’m afraid you will not find it here.”
“You don’t even know what I want yet.”
“It is pointless to try and hide it, my child. There is only one reason why you would come here. You are looking for the brother and trying to find the Urn of Sacred Ashes.”
“For once someone who actually knows who Brother Genitivi is,” said Leliana. “So apparently everyone was lying to us.”
“Anyone you might've talked to and asked about the brother told you the truth,” said Father Eirik. “I have told no one about him because there is no reason to worry my people. He is an outsider, a lowlander, one who sought out the Urn, and he was getting very close, too close in fact, so I had to do something about him in order to keep others from coming. But alas, you still came. I assume from your presence that Curt is no longer with us?”
“If you are referring to the morpher we found at Brother Genitivi’s home, then yes,” said Arawin. “He attacked us, so we took care of him.”
Father Eirik sighed and shook his head. “He is with Her then, at least.”
“So then if the Urn really exists, why don’t you just take us to it?” Arawin said. “Then we’ll just take a small pinch and be on our way, never to bother your village again.”
“I’m afraid I can’t let that happen,” said the Father. “You see, I had hoped to stop this with the brother, but apparently you are foolhardy to understand. Now, I must end it with you because if we just let you take a pinch and bring it back, then I know others will follow in your footsteps, wanting pinches of their own. That is not why this village is here. We are here to protect Her from disbelievers.”
Arawin felt the hairs on the back of her neck stiffen as she continued to watch Father Eirik’s calm face. She felt the others behind her shifting, becoming aware of the impending danger that was starting to close in on them. She had forgotten about the guards who encircled them. Silently she cursed herself for being so careless. Quickly she tried to investigate the area without taking her gaze from Father Eirik, trying to use the technique Lisha had taught her, to always be aware of ones surroundings.
“But I am a devout Andrastian,” Arawin said, only lying a little. She was apart of the faith, but didn’t actively participate.
“You speak of the lowlander faith,” said the Father. “You still worship a silent Andraste, while we worship the real Andraste, and we must protect Her at all costs.”
Magic singed the air as Father Eirik grabbed his staff and went to swing it at Arawin’s head. She ducked, however, fully seeing the attack coming. Quickly she grabbed Fang and Dar’Misaan, sweeping them in front of her, but hitting nothing but air. Mages were tricky and she hated fighting them, especially without back-up for support. Arawin took a chance and saw that her companions had their hands full as the guards all attacked at once wit their leader.
Spinning back to Father Eirik, she lunged forward, swords swinging as they collided with his staff. He was a fairly decent fighter for a mage, and Arawin found herself having trouble at first, but soon began to grow the advantage as she could tell he was becoming exhausted from her many blows. She pressed her attack, swinging and parrying, keeping him on his guard. A well placed thrust with Fang found skin and blood which oozed out onto his robes. Father Eirik didn’t scream or moan from the cut though, but only saw his opportunity as he raised his staff. Arawin went to slide away from him, but found she was unable to move. Soon a crackle of magic swirled around her and she stared at Father Eirik in disbelief, wondering how she could have let him capture her like this. After being with Morrigan for so long, Arawin was able to tell magic signatures whenever a certain spell was about to be used. She had felt is several times when Morrigan had paralyzed an opponent, and had even been paralyzed herself by Morrigan in the elven temple when they had faced the dragon. Her ability to be aware of everything around her was still in need of fine tuning.
A ball of black magic then began to form in Father Eirik’s hand and Arawin knew exactly what is was as it was very familiar since it happened to be one of Morrigan’s favorite spells. She used it a lot, injecting the spell into an enemy then letting them go as she went after another. The one with the spell would then explode as the magic did it’s damage. It was actually very entertaining to see, but Arawin had no wish to be injected with the spell, but because she couldn’t move, she wasn’t sure how she was going to stop him. She tried screaming, but the paralysis spell even kept her from doing that.
Father Eirik grinned as he held the ball. “Hopefully She will forgive you your transgressions and not let you suffer much, though you will never be able to be by Her side, as you have killed and attacked Her followers, and that is a sin that can never be forgiven.”
He threw the ball and it landed in her chest. Instantly Arawin felt the pain as the bomb began pulsing, counting down till it would explode. At the same time, the paralysis spell wore off, and Arawin was free. She didn’t know how long she had, but she wasn’t going to let him get away. With fury and pain she ran straight for him and pressed both Fang and Dar’Misaan into his abdomen. The father had apparently not expected her to be able to move so soon or at all, as he had let down his guard. This time he did cry out from the pain, but instead of falling, he pushed her off very easily. Arawin fell to the ground, unsure how he had been able to do so, but soon realized why as the pain in her chest grew. Blood was pushed out her eyes and ears, clouding her vision and muting her hearing.
“Arawin!” She thought it sounded like Zevran, even though she saw him standing before her, his face and armor covered in blood. The pain in her chest of course racking her brain, unable to fully pay attention to what was happening around her. How many more pulses would there be before it finally would end? How much more would there be before her time ran out?
***
Zevran had stood behind Arawin the entire time, watching her back and keeping his eyes on the guards surrounding them. It was no surprise to him when they were finally attacked that she had gone for the strongest opponent. It was one of the many things about her that he liked. She didn’t hesitate, and always went all out in her pursuits. The only downfall was she wasn’t very observant of her surroundings. She would get caught up in her goal and completely forget about what was going on around her. He of course didn’t mind watching her back to make sure she wasn’t overwhelmed by guards creeping up on her, but he was surprised to see her being taken down by a single opponent. Zevran had nearly forgotten Father Eirik was a mage and had let Arawin’s own high self confidence make him think she could handle him by herself. When he saw the spell enter her body, he nearly froze, unsure of what he had just seen.
“Arawin!” he cried running over to her, daggers shiny with blood as he took Father Eirik off guard and sliced across his throat. He was already weak from Arawin’s own surprise attack and gripped his throat as his blood gushed out from it as well as his abdomen. The mage fell to his knees and Zevran helped him to the ground with his foot before ending the father’s suffering by breaking his neck.
Arawin’s screams brought him back to her, crouching over. Blood was being pushed from all of her orifices: ears, nose, eyes, mouth. A bright black light was shining in her chest, growing with each pulse it sent through her body making it twist unnaturally and whither and arch upon the floor. He looked down at her horrified, unsure of what to do. If she had been poisoned or stabbed then his our expertise would have helped in dealing with her predicament, but he knew nothing of magic. He knew about the spell, knew what it would eventually do once it reached it’s climax.
“Morrigan!” he yelled, looking up to try and find the witch in the battle. He found Leliana dealing with several guards, firing arrows to slow them down and using her dagger if they got too close. Morrigan was on the other side of the room. It appeared as if she was trying to get over to where Zevran and Arawin were, but there were three guards in between her and them.
Morrigan didn’t have her staff which made spells use up more of her mana, but this was not a problem for her as she used the blood from the guards in order to cast. Lightning shot from her fingertips as one of the guards attacking Leliana fell to the ground dead. The lightning splintered through the air straight for the guards blocking her. It hit the first then jumped to the other two sending the smell of singed flesh into the air. The first guard screamed and he fell down dead with a large hole straight through his chest. The other two guards laid on the ground as well, twitching but still barely alive.
During the time Zevran was watching Morrigan, somehow Arawin had ended up in his arms. He looked down at her again just as the witch was making her way from the other side. He saw the pain in her face, eyes completely red with blood all over her face. It was another face that looked familiar to him, another face that nearly made him drop her and run out the door, but instead he only held her tighter and became more determined.
“Get out of the way!” Morrigan screamed at him. Zevran reluctantly did so.
“Can you help her?”
“Only if you shut up and keep those remaining guards from disturbing me,” she spat. Morrigan went straight to work, hovering her hands over Arawin’s shaking chest.
“Right.” His two daggers in hand, Zevran made his way over to two remaining guards making their way over to where Arawin was. He met them in just two steps, ducking their swings and twisting on his toes. Dar’Misu hit the leg of one of the guards while his Crow dagger hit the other. They both went down face first on the floor, smacking their noses. Zevran reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a small, clear flask filled with a greenish liquid. He threw it down on the ground, in between the two guards. It exploded with a green haze as the corrosive liquid splashed on the guards. It instantly began eating at their flesh, melting their faces and any area with exposed skin soon leaving nothing but white bone and a puddle of goo.
Zevran looked over to see if Leliana needed any help but saw she didn’t. She dispatched the last guard with her dagger, driving it at an angle into his chest before ripping it out and letting him fall to the ground. When he was sure Leliana was fine, he ran back over to Arawin and Morrigan, hoping that Morrigan had gotten to Arawin in time.
“I have always wondered why this spell seemed delayed with the darkspawn, hmm,” Morrigan mumbled to herself. “‘Twould explain a few things.”
“What are you talking about?” Zevran asked. “Is Arawin all right?” He didn’t need Morrigan to confirm it as he saw Arawin laying on the ground, her hands over her face. She was breathing, if heavily, but at least still alive.
“She is fine, though ‘twas a close call,” said Morrigan. “I was able to remove the spell right before it exploded.”
“Thank the Maker,” said Leliana as she joined them. Zevran was about ready to say the same thing, but kept his mouth shut when he heard Leliana.
“That’s... good to hear,” he said timidly. “But what were you talking about before, with the darkspawn?”
“Let’s just say,” stated Morrigan. “That for once, Arawin being a Grey Warden saved her life.”
“Uh,” Arawin moaned. “What happened?”
“You nearly died,” said Morrigan.
“I think your confidence got the best of you,” said Zevran as he looked over her.
“He just caught me off guard, was all,” Arawin said as she sat up. “But if everything is taken care of then let’s continue on.”
“You need to rest first,” Morrigan said keeping her from fully getting up. “I might've healed you but you’re still not one hundred percent.”
“I don’t have time to rest!” she nearly yelled. “Now where is that door you were talking about?”
Morrigan shook her head. “Right over here,” she said getting up and walking to the far right corner of the room. She placed her hand on a place that looked nothing like a door, but once she pressed hard, it opened, revealing a hidden room.
Arawin stood then made her way over to the room but stopped suddenly, holding her chest and falling to her knees. Zevran was immediately at her side.
“Didn’t Morrigan just tell you to rest?”
“I have no time for resting,” Arawin said through her teeth. She breathed in deep and slow to keep the pain in her chest from becoming worse.
“I think we have plenty of time.”
Arawin stared into his face and to her surprise, she saw worry. It was something she was not expecting, or at least not from him. “Why are you worried about me?”
“And why not, my dear Warden?”
“Because you shouldn’t be,” she said looking away from him. “Don’t worry about me. It’s not necessary or wanted.” Zevran tried to help Arawin to her feet, but she knocked his hand away and stood on her own.
“You are such a stubborn woman,” he said staring after her.
“I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t.” Her chest was still hurting, but she tried not to show it the best she could as she came to the hidden room.
By experience and expectations, Arawin covered her mouth and nose expecting the room to be filled with the foul stench of decay, but when she looked inside and saw no death or even smelled it through her hands, she uncovered her face. There was no rotten flesh smell like in Brother Genitivi’s home or the house they broke into. The only smell was that of old parchment and ink.
Stepping over the threshold, Arawin noticed that despite the small size of the room, it was completely packed with books and tombs. She looked closer and saw the writing on the binds of the books to be in a language she had never seen before. The characters were unusual, nothing like the common speak, and none of them Arawin recognized.
“Tevinter,” said Morrigan who came beside her. She had already entered the room and was looking at some of the books before Arawin had stepped in.
“Who’s there?” came a voice from behind the shelves. “If you’re here to end it, then I demand you show yourself at least.”
Both Arawin and Morrigan rounded the shelves to find a older, balding man propped up against the books. He was blindfolded with his hands and feet tied. Arawin crouched in front of him and removed his blindfold. “Brother Genitivi I presume?”
“Wh-who are you?” he said after blinking several times. “You don’t look like any of the villagers.”
“No, I’m not a villager. My name is Arawin and I’m a Grey Warden who's been looking for you.”
“A Grey Warden, really?” He was surprised. “I’d ask you why one such as yourself would be looking for me, but frankly I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re not here to kill me, or at least, I hope that’s not the reason why you were looking for me.”
“No, we’re here trying to look for the Urn of Sacred Ashes.”
“Ah, that explains it, then. And yes, I am Brother Genitivi. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Arawin cut the ropes binding his hands and feet. Genitivi rubbed his wrists and ankles as she did so. By the time she was done, Leliana and Zevran had joined them, standing with Morrigan in the background.
“How are you feeling, Brother Genitivi?” Leliana asked.
“Not very good at all,” he said. “I can’t feel my foot and I think my leg might be broken. I’m not a healer, so I don’t know.”
“Hmm.” Arawin examined the leg he indicated. She wasn’t a healer, so she didn’t know either. “Leliana, Zevran, why don’t the both of you go and bring the others here. I’ll have Wynne examine his leg so Morrigan can have a break.”
“So you’re giving me a break for once?” said Morrigan. “I do believe I am flattered.”
“Well, we do put you through a lot.”
“I’ll say. I’ve used more healing spells between you and Zevran these last few months then I ever have in my entire life! I swear you two have death wishes or something.”
“Are they really that bad?” Leliana asked.
“Yes. I’ve healed them more times than I can count, while I only healed Sten once, maybe twice, and that was for a minor injury.”
“But I just love having your hands all over me, my dear,” said Zevran. “You might not be gentle, but it’s still a nice touch.”
Morrigan scuffed.
“Will you two just go already,” said Arawin. “I’m sure the princess is wondering what’s happening. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was making her way through the village right now.”
“You know, you two need to start getting along,” said Leliana.
“You can lecture me later, now please go and get them.”
Leliana nodded with a sigh as she and Zevran left the room and out the chantry.

Paraphrasing from Dragon Age: Origins
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Blood Bond