Chapter 17
~Blood Ritual~

Alistair

The moment we all stepped in we heard a demonic laugh and clapping. Moving into the room we found the boy, Connor and Isolde standing next to him. Tegan danced and rolled on the floor, acting as a jester. Connor looked up at us, his deep black eyes staring. With some unheard demand Tegan stopped and walked over to him, sitting at his side. I noticed some of the guards in the room with the same blank look that Tegan had. The boy was controlling all of them, it seemed.

"So these are our visitors, mother?" "Connor" said his voice deep and unearthly. Dear Maker!

"Y-yes Connor." Isolde sputtered, shaking madly.

"And these are the ones who destroyed my soldiers? The ones I sent to reclaim my village?"

"Yes." Connors eyes looked over at Morriana, who looked one-third scared, one-third shocked, and one-third emotionless.

"And not it's staring at me. What is it mother? I can't see it well." Isolde looked up at Morriana.

"This is an elf. You've seen them before. We… we've had them here at the castle." Suddenly Connor lets out an evil laugh.

"Yes! Now I remember! I had their ears chopped off and fed them to the dogs!" he said with a wicked smile. "Shall I send it to the kennels, mother?" A sudden ager flowed in my but stopped when Isolde dropped down to her knees and grabbed his arms.

"Connor, I beg you! Don't hurt anyone. Please!" Connor doubled over, his hands on his head then looked up and suddenly his eyes were a color of blue-green and not black and demonic.

"M-mother?" He said, his voice now a normal kids' voice. I breathed a sigh of relief. This didn't seem as bad as we thought.

"Oh thank the Maker! Connor? Connor can you hear me?" Connor covered his face with his hands then shouted at her.

"Get away from me fool woman! You are beginning to bore me!" His eyes and voice turned again and Isolde shot up like she got burned. Connor turned back to us. "So tell us, elf, why have you come here?" Morriana stayed quiet for a moment, then looked at me. I shrugged and she turned back to him.

"I came to stop you." She claimed. Connor shifted angrily.

"But I'm not done having fun yet! Ever since mother sent the men away its been boring. I crave excitement!" The guards suddenly came to life and Tegan stood up drawing his sword. Maker's breath, why must this be so difficult? Connor seemed to change back again and when he noticed fighting was about to engage he fled, running right past us. We quickly got out our weapons and started fighting. I found Tegan in the fight and he got a nice hit on my arm. I bashed him with my shield enough to knock him out but not enough to hurt him.

Once all of the guards were dead Isolde run from where she had been hiding over to Tegan. He groaned as his eyes opened no longer showing signs of possession. Isolde gave a happy cry and helped him up.

"Oh, Tegan," she said once he was on his feet. "Thank the Maker you yet live. I would not have forgiven myself had you died." Tegan shook his head, trying to regain himself.

"I am… better now." He looked at Morriana and me. "We must decide what to do and fast."

"The mage." Isolde instantly said. "We must bring him here, should he still live. This is his fault. Let him fix it."

"Isolde this is more your fault than anybody else's." Morriana told her. Isolde looked as if she had just been slapped. Oh, Morriana don't do this! You don't want to do this!

"What?! How dare you suggest—"

"You're the one who wouldn't give his to the Circle where none of this would have happened and they would have taught him to control himself. You're the one that hired and apostate mage who is also a blood mage and an assassin." Morriana accused, folding her arms. My eyes widened. Maker, this girl is no doubt stronger than people give her credit for. No one has ever stood up to Isolde. Once again, she looked like she got slapped and the guilt and fear flooded onto her face.

"You're right!" She cried. "I… what kind of mother am I?! I put my son's life in danger and everyone else's! Everyone is dying because I was selfish." I looked at Sten and Leliana and told them to get Jowan for us. They nodded and headed off, drawing their weapons in case of anymore surprise attacks. I looked back at Isolde. As much as I always hated her, I know she does care for her son and that deep, deep, deep, deep…way deep down that she was nice and caring… very, very deep down.

"No, not selfish." Morriana said. I knew Morriana thought she was a bitch, but yet she looked like she felt pity for her. "You just wanted what was best for your child. Every mother does." I saw a glint of guilt and pain in Morriana's eyes but it vanished as quickly as it showed. Isolde looked at her.

"Yes. I do want what's best for him."

"Isolde." We turned to see Leliana, Sten and Jowan. Jowan stepped forward, remorse written on every inch of his face. "I know what I did was wrong, and I cannot take it back. But I truly did not release this demon." He then explained to her that Connor might have done so by accident and explained that it was Loghain who sent him to poison Eamon. Tegan looked at Jowan when he finished.

"Is there any way to destroy the demon?" he asked, putting a hand on Isolde's shoulder.

"Well, the quickest way would be to kill the child." When he said that Isolde let out a wail and hugged herself. Tegan quickly tried to comfort her.

"No," Morriana stated. "We are to going to kill the child. There has to be another way." Jowan thought for a moment.

"We could find a way to enter the Fade and destroy the demon from there. But that would have to include a lot of mages and lyrium, all which we don't have."

"But the Circle does." I suggested. "We can go back, they still owe us." I looked to Morriana for her opinion.

"Can you do anything now, Jowan?" What?! Help from the bloodmage?! He seemed hesitant for a moment before speaking.

"I have blood magic. I can do the ritual but that would include blood. A lot of it. All of it in fact."

"So… someone has to die?" Tegan said. Jowan nodded.

"Then let it be my blood." Isolde announced.

"What?! Isolde, are you sure?" Isolde looked at him, no longer afraid or guilty.

"He is my son. It is either he dies or I give my life so he may live. To me, that answer is very clear."

"Wait," Morriana stepped forward. "Jowan is there any way to do this ritual and not have someone die?" she asked. I lifted an eyebrow at this.

"Well, it's possible I could use two people and do something like a half and half." He looked to Tegan and Isolde, smiling. "I think if we could do that then no one would die. You both would be best for this. Connor carries blood from you both." They nodded and Jowan sent us to find candles and some power. He drew some sort of symbol on the floor with the power and placed down the candles. He pulled a knife and dripped blood on certain places then told Isolde and Tegan to stand in the center.

"Who will go into the Fade?" Jowan asked Morriana. I watched her as she thought then spoke.

"Morrigan." Morrigan came from behind her and went to her place with a roll of her eyes and a huff. I walked over to near Jowan, ignoring Morriana's confused look and placed my hand on the hilt of my sword and leaned down to Jowan and whispered,

"If you try anything stupid I will kill you." He looked at my, fear in his eyes, and nodded then looked back to Tegan and Isolde.

"I warn you, this will hurt… a lot. But you and Connor will still be alive afterward. Through this Morgan will enter the Fade and—"

"Morrigan!" Morrigan shouted at him, obvious that she doesn't like people getting her name wrong. I tried so hard not to smile.

"Right…Morrigan will enter the Fade and destroy the demon there. But doing this Connor will not be harmed and may not even remember a thing." Relief flooded Isolde's face once again, and Jowan started.

Words came from his lips as he slit his wrist and held his palm out to them. I couldn't understand the words, but every sense of my ex-Templar side wanted to kill him then and there. But I knew I couldn't. Suddenly a bright red light started glowing around Tegan and Isolde and then they screamed in pain. Blood shot out from their skin, nearly making me sick. Morrigan then tumbled to the ground, unconscious. After a minute or so Tegan and Isolde followed. The glow vanished and everything was quiet. Jowan dropped to his knees, panting.

So we waited. I didn't know if it was safe to enter the symbol and I didn't ask. I just waited. Finally, after what seemed like hours but could have only been minutes Morrigan shot up, breathing heavily. She shook her head and got her breathing normal, muttering that she had killed the demon. Leliana cheered with joy and jumped up and down, seeming like an over excited child. Well, I would have done the same, had I not been so concentrated on everything. I let out a breath I had no idea I was holding and smile. We all were, save Sten. I looked to Jowan, who was also smiling.

"May we move them?" I asked. He nodded.

"Sten, move Tegan to a room. Alistair, same with Isolde." Morriana said. "Morrigan, go find somewhere to rest, Leliana and Wynne, help me clean. And Jowan…" He looked up; ready for whatever she wanted him to do. "You go rest too. You deserve it." He nodded and stood, wobbly at first then left. I walked over with Sten and picked up Isolde. I carried her to one of the guest rooms, since we still had no idea what else could possibly be here. There was still blood all over her, but any wounds from where I came from weren't there, so I didn't worry about it. I left the room, after a check nothing else was in there and went into the hall. Without even knowing it a huge smile just broke on my face and I walked back to the main hall to help clean.

Okay, two things:

I know Isolde is like a total b### but, hey, wishful thinking, you know? So I wanted a story so that she's not all like that 24/7. Not for her, but so other's don't have to put up with it.

I know it could have been where she dies, Connor dies, or the Circle helps. So I wanted a change! At first when I thought of this it was supposed to be Morriana and Isolde. But then I thought it over and she's already been through a lot of crap and stuff. So, yeah.

Oh and 20pts to xMsAnaviax for guessing the question! At other random times I will try to add more for other people. Hope this means you get to be another follower, xMsAnaviax. ;)

Thanks to the reviews!