A/N: So this is going to be a three part story of possession as the title says. It's going to get a little crazy, I'll warn you of that. This is inspired by the movie 'The Rite.' If you haven't seen it think Exorcist and Emily Rose. Lol This is AU. I've taken a lot from the Chant of Light and tried to make it like a real world exorcism rite. Lots of angst and horror. Thanks for reading. Oh and a big thanks to Saga Svanhildr and Brelaina for betaing this!

"Possession"

1/3

Been to hell! I can show you the devil!
Down you fell. Can't hold yourself together
Soul to sell. Down here you live forever
Welcome to a world where dreams become nightmares!

-"Been to Hell" by Hollywood Undead

It started with the whisperings of a magister. Before his last dying breath, soft utterances of Arcanum were made as his finger pointed to Hawke. She knew something had changed when Fenris ripped Danarius's heart out of his chest. She chose to ignore it then. That had been her first mistake. Ignorance was not bliss, and it was a lesson that was hard learned. Fenris knew that his old master wanted the lyrium markings for some reason. "How little you know, my pet," he had said and it was something she had forgotten until the spirit entered her.

How long the spirit had been in Danarius, she hadn't been sure. It was something that it had been able to hide from her. She had known enough about demons, spirits and abominations from the lessons she overheard her father give Bethany. How the magister had been able to mark her was old magic. She had spoken with Orsino about it before she found out the truth about the old First Enchanter. He tried to use it against her. Maybe that was why Meredith wanted to arrest her. She had denied it of course, but that had been more for the sake of her friends than her own.

Her second mistake had been to kill the only healer that had been on her side. He was a friend, a dear one at that, but his crime was punishable by death. Was it mercy that the hand of death had come in the form of a friend? Hawke watched as Anders closed his eyes with a small smile and muttered a thank you in hopes that his friend Justice, who had been corrupted by Vengeance, would be free. Her knife entered his chest, at the heart where he requested. She turned her back on the fallen corpse ready to take down the mages that threatened the city, only to be turned against by the very side she had chosen in the end.

Anders would have known what to do. He would have been able to help. Poor Bethany. As soon as she had found out what Hawke did, she had studied relentlessly about healing. During their second year in Kirkwall she had taken to becoming sort of an apprentice healer to Anders. The extent of her abilities was unknown, but she promised to help. Hawke would have preferred if she hadn't, but there was no stopping her. Now she just had to rely on the unproven abilities of faith.

Her last mistake had come in the form of a naïve Dalish elf that had captured her friendship. Even after Merrill's Keeper had died to save her, she had continued her dealings with demons. Her dealings wouldn't have attracted the demon out of the Fade. But then again, it told her it had been waiting. If it wasn't Merrill, it would have been Bethany, but at least her sister wasn't stupid enough to actually attempt to make a deal with a demon due to false promises. Hawke stared at the elf in front of her who had ranted for the past few minutes about the demon she had stolen from her.

"Tell him!" Merrill cried. "Tell him what you did!"

Fenris stood between the two. His ice cold glare went to the blood mage and a low growl escaped him. "Watch your tongue, witch," he warned her.

"Why did you do it?" Merrill asked Hawke, ignoring the man.

"You didn't heed Marethari's warning," she explained, "You would kill us all for your foolishness." Fenris turned to look at her. The surprise on his face cut her deeper than any sword could. His faltered features hardened quickly.

"Why did it choose you?" Merrill persisted.

"You are… possessed?" He asked quietly. "How?"

"Mages aren't the only ones that can be possessed," she told him, "I asked Bethany to help. She's First Enchanter and I am the Viscountess of Kirkwall, a place where the Veil is too thin. The demon wishes to use me to release its brothers. I am not ignorant to its wishes. I can't fight it for much longer, Fenris."

He looked away from her. "Why didn't you tell me?" It was a damnable thing, Hawke knew. It could have broken the trust between them that they worked so hard to build. But she was no blood mage and her intentions were noble, if not insane.

"I wanted to, before she came in, staff at the ready," she told him and turned to Merrill. "You will thank me later." The demon was old. The demon was powerful. The demon wanted someone precious to her. She couldn't tell anyone, least of all Fenris. He didn't need the guilt, and if she knew him as she thought she did, she knew he would only blame himself for the magister's actions. She didn't want to tell him how right he had been about those markings. She didn't have the heart to.

"You should have let me deal with the consequences," her friend yelled at her.

Hawke shook her head. "If you knew the consequences, you wouldn't have made the deal in the first place."

oOoOoOo

Love made people do strange things. Hawke looked out of the window of her estate as Fenris busied himself with finding ways to secure the room where they would have the exorcism performed. She sat at her desk and pulled out parchment on which to write. She wrote a goodbye letter to Bethany and then made her will just in case this whole thing went…badly. A small shudder rolled down her spine. A thin film of sweat formed across her brow and she wiped it away with the back of her hand. It was getting closer.

Her free hand went to her side and clutched it as pain struck there. It felt as if the demon was cutting her insides, gnawing at her bones, and it caused her to feel sick to her stomach. Was this what happened when a demon possessed someone other than a mage? She shuddered to think what would have happened if she had inherited her father's gift.

Hawke continued to write despite the pains that vibrated through her body. At the end her handwriting seemed so scribbled that it was illegible. Her hands shook violently. She still had one more thing to write.

She thought about what she could say, what she should say, and what she would say. Fenris wasn't a man of many words, but when he spoke, they were never without any meaning. What she wanted to tell him was simple and she knew he would understand.

My dearest Fenris,

I hope you'll forgive me.

x

oOoOoOo

Sebastian couldn't believe what he was hearing from Bethany. His ran a hand through his hair. How could she do that? How could she let her sister be so damn stupid? That was it. He wasn't going to keep an ignorant eye to the blood mage. He was going to go to Knight-Commander Cullen and turn her in if it was the last thing that he did. Fenris. Oh Maker, how was his friend handling it?

"What do you need of me?" He asked. His features were stern, but the purpose for it was to show the young Hawke that he was going to abide by her request.

"Seeing as there is no Grand Cleric here yet," she said quietly as Sebastian physically flinched at the memory of Elthina's death. "That, and there's no one else that my sister trusts. We need an exorcism. The Sisters say you're the best." Aye. He was.

"Do you know of the demon's plan?" he asked.

Bethany looked down as her fingers played with the front of her robes. "No," she admitted, "If my sister does, then she has not spoken of it." Sebastian could see the hesitation on the First Enchanter. Hawke had done this because of Merrill. Whatever the demon had planned, it must have been great enough to make the Viscountess put her life in danger. How the rogue managed to persuade a demon away from a mage was beyond him, though Hawke had always had a silver tongue that rivaled Varric's.

"I doubt that it has said its name yet," he said and grabbed all of the Chantry's relics necessary for what was to be done.

Holy relics were not the only ones needed for the task before him, but he needed his faith as well. It was his faith that had been wavering as of late, but he would not let the First Enchanter know. He tried to avert his eyes so she could not see, for he knew it would be his eyes that would betray him. He would convince her otherwise if she saw his doubt. Hawke needed him and he would be there.

"Doesn't knowing its name give you control?" She asked.

Sebastian gave the younger girl a small smile. "Yes," he replied. "Have you been studying Chantry lore?"

Bethany shook her head. "I've been studying the books in the Circle library." That did not surprise him. Orsino was once called the youngest First Enchanter in Circle history, but she had taken that tag to her name when she took his place. It did not surprise him that she would try to learn all that she could for situations like this.

"Aye," he said, "that is good. Perhaps we will need it."

"Will you need my magic as well?"

As a Brother it was expected of him to tell her 'no,' that his faith would be enough. As a realist, he knew better than that. "I'm not sure." Using a mage's method of lyrium to fight the spirit in the Fade was too risky because Hawke was not a mage herself. No one wanted to take the chance of poisoning her.

"Can you truly get it out of her?" Bethany asked. She choked in the middle of the question. He didn't want to see her cry, but he knew her golden eyes were brimmed with tears and stained red from holding them in.

"It will be in the Maker's hands," he told her. Andraste give him strength.

"I want to help any way I can."

Sebastian's eyebrows furrowed at the young mage who had to grow up so fast in her lifetime. "You might have to."

oOoOoOo

"Are these necessary?" Fenris seemed pained. Hawke looked at him and nodded. He knew better than most about the danger of demons, having witnessed unspeakable things in the Imperium. Merrill was long gone. If Hawke knew Sebastian well, Cullen was on his way to the Alienage to arrest her. It didn't matter if the Dalish woman was mad at her or not, she was still looking after her safety. Fenris fastened the last restraint to hold her in the chair.

"Will you stay?" She asked him.

"I will not abandon you," he promised.

Bethany was the first to walk in and Sebastian followed. The look on Vael's face was grim enough to affect the whole room. "Thank you for coming, Sebastian," she said as a greeting. The Chantry Brother nodded at her. Hawke managed a small smile for her sister. "You shouldn't be in here," she told her, "there is the possibility of the demon being drawn to you."

The youngest Hawke's lower lip trembled. "I'm not leaving you," Bethany told her.

Sebastian stood in front of Hawke with a book of verses from the Chant of Light. A black beaded rosary with the idol of Andraste dangling from the chain was tangled in his fingers. The demon in her could sense his hesitation. It was close to reaching the point where she would no longer be in control. Its power was like a dull finger nail scratching the inside of her skull. It was only getting more persistent as the time passed.

"Why did you do this?" He asked. Oh Sebastian, sweet Sebastian. Would he have done the same for someone he loved?

Their eyes locked for a moment and the demon purred into her soul as it pulled her into the Void. It was only Fenris's touch that kept her grounded. "I couldn't let it use her to get him," she whispered. Sebastian's eyes glanced behind her where Fenris stood. She closed her own eyes then, not wanting to look at them anymore. "Get this over with, please."

"Wait," Fenris protested.

Hawke opened her eyes and craned her neck to look at her lover. He moved in front of her and knelt down on his knees. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"This is foolish."

"Fenris…"

"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked, quickly cutting her off before she could continue.

"Do I have any other choice?"

"No," he said, "I suppose you don't." He cupped the side of her face with his hand. Hawke turned her head and kissed his palm lightly. He smiled.

"I love you," she told him. The look on his face was enough for her.

"Fight it with all you can," he whispered against her skin as he leaned in to kiss her forehead.

"I'm ready," she told the Brother. Sebastian nodded. He held up the rosary.

Sebastian looked back and forth between Fenris and Bethany. "Whatever you do, do not look it in the eyes when it speaks to you. Do not address it directly. We cannot let it leave this room." His eyebrows creased together. His brogue was thick. The demon lapped up his fear and hesitation to perform. "Do you understand?"

"Yes," they replied in unison before he turned his attention back to Hawke.

"Here lies the abyss, the well of all souls. From these emerald waters doth life begin anew. Come to me, child, and I shall embrace you. In my arms lies Eternity. Blessed are they who stand before the corrupt and the wicked and do not falter. Blessed are the peacekeepers, the champions of the just," Sebastian spoke. The words sent a violent shudder through her as the demon reacted. Her fingernails scraped against the wooden handles of the chair she was bound too. Her neck twitched and her head lolled against her shoulders for a moment. "Blessed are the righteous, the lights in the shadow. In their blood the Maker's will is written."

oOoOoOo

Sebastian watched as her body thrashed violently against his words. Maker guide her to the light. Guide her soul. Andraste help her fight. He ran a tongue over his lower lip. He couldn't fail her. She trusted him. He would not reveal his deepest sins in front of the demon. He had spent many days repenting for his thoughts and almost forswearing his vows for the act of betrayal that he had so desperately wanted. Bethany handed him water that was said to have been blessed by the Divine herself. He dipped his index fingers in the cool liquid and traced the symbol of the Maker onto Hawke's forehead. Her skin was so soft…

No. That was the demon. It had to be. He took a step back as she smiled at him. It was coming. He would not be lead into temptation. His feelings would not be used against him. He did his best to shield himself from its wicked ways with another utterance of the Benedictions.

"The first of the Maker's children watched across the Veil and grew jealous of the life. They could not feel, could not touch. In blackest envy were the demons born." A light laugh escaped Hawke. She tilted her head curiously as she looked at him with those eyes. They were as bright as the clearest sky. He watched as the color twisted and contorted into a deep red. He had seen those eyes before.

"Maker," he breathed out. Bethany and Fenris seemed confused and they both looked at Hawke. It was only Fenris that recognized it as well.

"No."

"Do not falter, Fenris," Sebastian warned him. The elf nodded slowly. "The one who repents, who has faith, unshaken by the darkness of the world, she shall know true peace."

"Peace? What do you know of peace?" Hawke lashed out at him. Her voice was not her own. "Hm?" It was the demon. Sebastian closed the book in his hands. "You haven't known peace in a very long time Sebastian Vael."

"Hawke?"

One dainty finger lifted upwards from her hand as she wagged it slightly in criticism. Her lips pursed together as she 'tsked.' "Lady Hawke isn't here right now," she said, "but if you'd like to leave a message, I'll make sure she knows, Prince."

"Are those her memories you're using?" He asked.

Hawke laughed. "You'll never know, now will you?" She asked. She winked at him. The looks she was giving him were ones that he had only seen in his dreams. "Oh I know you well, Sebastian," she continued and lifted her head slightly. "Would you like to know me as well?"

Sebastian could feel Fenris's eyes burning into him. "Nonsense," he lied.

"I can see into your deepest thoughts, young one."

"Who are you?"

"I am fear. I am doubt. I am that lingering sensation in the pit of your stomach when darkness creeps into you," she answered. Sebastian let out a low growl. He had no patience for riddles.

Sebastian pressed his palm against her forehead. "I command you, demon, to reveal your purpose and your name," he spoke with such reverence that the demon in Hawke shuddered slightly.

"I can feel its energy," he heard Bethany whispered. "It's very old, Sebastian…and very terrifying."

Hawke laughed. "Oh Brother Sebastian, you are going to have to try harder than that."