Author's notes: With a lack of motivation, I've kind of faltered on this story a bit, however, I still tried to make it unique and creative but I don't really know if I achieved that. To my knowledge, the ritual I described in this story isn't actually in the game itself, and I know I may have violated the lore somewhat so I hope it's still believable but like I said, I've lost my motivation somewhat – sorry about that!

Cullen's gone mad;
Chapter Six: The Risk

Night was already creeping in when Alistair finally finished making the preparations for his friend. In that time, Synara had been able to explain in detail to Cullen what she would be doing. It was a big step for him, though he loved her, he was still terrified of magic, especially when it was being used on him, but he trusted Synara, none the less and that was enough for him. The three walked silently to the dungeon – Alistair's idea. He claimed it was one of the only places in the palace that would harbor the sounds of screams... should it come to that. His chambers, was the other place as when Synara made a joke about screams coming from there, Cullen glared at her. Of course, mentions of screams made Cullen even more nervous than he already was; Synara believed Alistair was just trying to scare Cullen further. The mage clung to Cullen's hand, she knew what to do but she was indeed nervous as well. Only once she had read about such magic and that was when she was younger. She'd never seen it being preformed or ever tried it herself. In honesty she didn't know what would happen and it only made her feel worse that she was doubting her abilities now – something she had never done before, not even when she came face to face with the Archdemon. Doubting herself now however, would only made Cullen even more uneasy and so she forced a smile of sheer confidence. Synara motioned for Cullen to sit on the ground. Thankfully Alistair had the place cleaned of its usual rancid smell and muck – no doubt the next prisoner would be thankful too. She exhaled deeply to calm herself as she crouched behind him.

"What do you need me to do?" Alistair said warily.

"Uh, just watch me, you should see my aura change if I need you to wake me… other than that, I wouldn't advise touching us… at least that's what I remember anyway." She replied with a slight nervous laugh. "Ready Cullen?" He shifted making himself a little more comfortable before stretching round to kiss Synara. She could tell he was wary too, but the kiss was more than welcome.

"Ready." He mumbled a little unsure.

"Lyrium please Alistair." He reached into his pocket handing the mage the small vial. She drank the entire thing in one before placing her hands on Cullen's temples. She cleared her mind and closed her eyes. A light blue mist escaped her body before slowly encircling the two – binding them together.

Synara felt like an intruder here – unwelcome. She believed this is how demons must fell while in someone else's private domain. It was extremely off-putting for her; this feeling made it hard for her to concentrate. Cullen had agreed for her to do this, although it did make her chuckle at how strongly he was trying to keep some memories from her – not the images of what he had done however, he would show her that, instead he was trying to hide what he dreamt about her years ago when she was just another apprentice still, when her innocence made him believe someone like her could never the danger the chantry said she was. It was sweet how much he really did care for her, but he was terrified of letting her know in case he scared her away. She would have liked to have been able to stay here, in the light, see the good in his mind, but she felt she was invading his privacy and she had evil to hunt.

The darkness was easy to find, she could feel it pulling at her – drawing her in even. Everything around her began to fade to black. She faltered at the pain that suddenly took over her body but she stood strong; she was to understand this was a side effect of entering a past dream.

Alistair became weary at the sight of his friend. Her face covered in pain as her aura dimmed to a darker shade of blue, he stood ready to separate them the very second she needed help.

"Cullen?" Synara called out. Her words echoed through the darkness. He should be here too, unless he was sent to her thoughts instead – a creepy thought. Synara wasn't one for closing off her mind to Cullen and if he saw some of the things she thought about him, no doubt he'd think she were some kind of perverted minx. Just then Cullen appeared in front of her, half kneeling on the ground, but when she reached out, her hand moved through him. 'That's disturbing'. She looked around; a purple prison surrounded them which she stepped out of instantly – it was not made for her. This much be Cullen's dream, she thought. A faint squeaking sound caught her ear. It was so faint in fact, that she wasn't sure if she really heard anything or not. Looking around something caught her eye in the darkness; something very small was running towards Cullen. Before it hit the light now circling him however, it transformed into the image of Synara herself. 'That's…very disturbing!'

"Mouse?" It too didn't respond to her, it couldn't see her there either – this was the past after all. Synara watched as her image caught Cullen's eye, he looked up in disgust. She had seen him look at her that way only once in her lifetime - when she first found him in the Tower before confronting Uldred. Screams began to chant and echo in every direction, they were so loud that they hurt Synara's ears – they frightened her even. Images of blood mages tormenting innocent templars surrounded them. Some mages cackled as they took control of the men and forced them to fight one another. Pure evil lurked in ever one of them. They enjoyed this – they got off on this in fact. It made Synara feel sick to her stomach. She cringed.

"Dear sweet Cullen," Synara looked toward her imposter self, it's words pussed with the same demonic chant she heard in her dreams. "Join us – I promise you'll enjoy it." It extended a welcoming hand towards it's prisoner.

"Never!" Cullen yelled charging at the prison wall. The demon merely laughed at him.

"Such a shame." It spoke again, its words calm still. "You'll just have to join your friends then." Synara looked on in horror as she watched her other self set Cullen alight with no warning, his cries went right through her. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she watched his skin bubble and boil – there was nothing she could do but stand there helplessly. She felt the sudden sensation of awaking.

Synara looked around cautiously. She couldn't tell where she was; surely she hadn't really woken up though. She heard the squeak again and a small mouse hole caught her eye. Another of Cullen's dream? She thought. Just then she realized where she was - this was the part of the fade she was sent to for her harrowing all those long months ago.

"Why did the spell bring me here?" She whispered to herself.

"The spell didn't – I did." She spun around. It was mouse, or at least the human form she remembered mouse had taken back then to try and deceive her.

"Are you really the one that's been harassing Cullen?" She asked rather amused with a slight laugh. The mouse she remembered was pathetic and weak; she was the one who had to convince the sloth demon here to teach him how to become a bear.

"So much has changed since you left me here Synara." Mouse hissed angrily. "The rage demon you defeated back then was so kind as to leave me his domain and everything that came along with it." Synara backed up looking around. She couldn't remember how she left this place the last time. She could also feel mouse holding her mind here – forcing her to stay with him, she couldn't simply command herself to awake as if she were merely dreaming. Mouse stepped closer to the mage smelling the air around her. "You have indeed become powerful – just like I said, it's was a great shame that your mind was severed from the fade when you drank that blood, connected with that of the Archdemon instead." Mouse let lose a demonic laugh that made Synara cringe, her ears felt like they were about to explode. This gave him satisfaction to see her weak before him. Still in his 'human' form he grabbed at Synara just like in her dreams when he took on Cullen's form. The pain was worse this time though, he felt more real than before - it terrified her.

Synara screamed out releasing Cullen from her grasp, he slumped forward as their connection severed and he awake unsure of where he was. Synara on the other hand did not, her aura turned black, seemingly encaging her.

"What happened?" Cullen asked weakly.

"I don't know." Alistair's voice was hasty. Cullen turned to see what had become of Synara as she screamed painfully again. Alistair reached out.

"Don't! She said not to touch her." Cullen demanded grabbing Alistair's arm.

"She also said to wake her if this happened." Alistair hissed back. None of them truly knew what to do; Synara herself didn't even think she'd end up in this position. Her words chocked out from the dream realm and into reality now, and for every word she spoke, more evil mist left her lips. Neither of the former templars had ever heard of anything like this before.

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"Mouse!" Synara gasp trying her best to fight him off. He had become a demon above the other classes. She had read about this when she was a student. Only one other demon in history was said to have changed his very being into that of something more – something beyond – something so powerful no mage could possibly resist it. But she wasn't just any mere mage now – she was a Grey Warden. The one who felt the Archdemon's final blow and lived. She called forth the fire element igniting mouse on fire. He stumbled back, releasing her as he did so and with a single thought, the fire left him. Synara tried to make a run for it as he followed. Her heart pounding so fast that she was afraid it might leap from her chest at any given moment. She needed to stall for time - remember how the other demon was killed. She searched her mind but only Cullen appeared.

"Templar magic!"

Synara turned at a dead end, mouse mere steps behind her. He reached out for her again - his fingers twisted evil. Panicked, Synara closed her eyes tightly letting her reflexes be her guide and when she did not feel mouse clap her, slowly she opened her eyes again she had managed to freeze him with her magic. She dashed under his arms and hurried in the other direction. She may have had the power to temporarily paralyze him but she never did have the strength to shatter anything once in this condition.

The thought finally came to her mind, but it wasn't good news. Panting for breath, she remembered the last demon like this managed to possess one of the most powerful mages in history; there he killed hundreds and thousands of people before he himself finally fell at the hands of 4 dozen elite templars – at least that's what she remembered the legend claimed.

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"We can't just wait this out, it's killing her." Cullen chocked furiously. Alistair took charge; he too wasn't keen on seeing his friend in such a state, but as soon as his hand entered the mist around her body, he felt a harsh shock and his hand unwilling drew back, his fingers blackened. Cullen thought for a moment, he cared so much for Synara now that he wouldn't let something like this happen, especially when he was the one that brought the demon to her. Cullen reached for Synara and the same thing happened to him. The pain from the sudden shock was unbelievably painful but he didn't care. He tried again and this time, with great force, managed to touch her. The pressure from the mist no longer focused on just one person loosened it's grasp on the mage. Cullen had entered the fade only to find it might already be too late - he saw Synara… sprawled on the ground – the demon next to her, tearing her very essence from her body…