Chapter 75: Exorcism (Neria)
The Grey Wardens, their companions and mages arrived at the dock in the village. They were immediately greeted by the twins, Kallian and Daveth.
- We need to save the boy urgently! Hurry up and follow me! - said Kallian.
- Lead us, child, - Irving answered her.
While everyone was going up to the castle, the Warden mages and Alistair talked with the twins and Daveth.
- So, how are things? - Daylen asked.
- We went to Denerim and got help there, - Aedan answered. - The help turned out to be not the most reliable, but we won.
- Well, we met my mother in the Waking Sea and then also took part in the siege, - Elissa added. - What happened in that tower of yours?
- Because of one bald bastard, chaos erupted in the tower. Neria and I saved the surviving mages.
- And you said that magic is not so dangerous, - Daveth noted. - Good thing I didn't go with you, but chose Elissa instead.
Having reached the castle, everyone met the rest of the group. Sten immediately approached the young Qunari in black armor. Neria remembered him from a vision in the Fade.
- Shanedan, kadan. I'm glad you're alive, - Sten said monotonously.
- Sten, I have found you, - the Qunari answered in the same monotonous manner.
- Yeah, this is the most emotional reunion I've ever seen, - Daylen remarked sarcastically. - Who is he anyway?
- This…
Kallian did not have time to answer, as Neria finished the line for her.
- This is Basarad, one of the warriors with whom Sten arrived in Ferelden.
- How did you know that? - Daveth asked in surprise.
- I... I was in the Fade and saw Sten's nightmare. It's a long story.
- Please let me pass, - Irving said, walking through the crowd. - Jowan?
The first enchanter noticed the apostate in the crowd.
- Irving... - the young man muttered.
Cullen approached the two mages.
- You must answer for your crimes! - he shouted, drawing his sword.
Theron noticed this and pointed his bow at the templar.
- You have no power here, - said the elf. - Jowan helps us here, and we protect him.
- He's right, - Daylen added, standing between Cullen and Jowan. - Jowan is under the protection of the Grey Wardens. If you don't like it, get your templar ass back to the tower and report it to Greagoir.
The templar put away his sword and moved on.
- Neria, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Jowan.
- It's okay, - the elf answered. - Jowan, I don't know if you're still mad at me or not, but I'm glad you're okay. How did you end up here?
- Loghain hired me to poison Eamon. I'm sorry I did this and I want to help you.
Irving stood at the main gate next to the Circle mages carrying lyrium.
- May I have your attention, - he said. - To carry out the ritual, I will need the help of all the mages present. All non-mages must remain outside. I ask every mage to take a step forward. Don't worry, since you are helping the Grey Wardens, you won't be sent to the Circle. I give you my word.
First, Neria, Daylen, Wynne and Jowan emerged from the crowd. Next came the old Qunari.
- I'll keep an eye on you, Saarebas, - Sten told him.
- That would be wise of you, - the mage answered him.
After that, a young Dalish woman in green rags stepped forward.
- I will help you. Just tell me what to do.
Daylen glanced at Morrigan, but the witch shook her head. However, after this, Kallian, Alistair, Theron and Leliana began to look at her disapprovingly, and she also joined the other mages.
- Everyone, follow me, - said the first enchanter.
Preparing the ritual in the main hall took about an hour. Neria got to know the Dalish woman, Merrill, and helped her with some parts of the ritual.
- Everything is ready, - said Irving. - We can start at any moment. We only have enough lyrium to send two mages. I assume Daylen and Neria will go, is that correct?
- No, - Daylen answered. - I'm giving up my spot to Jowan.
All the mages were surprised, but Neria expected this. Whatever Jowan has done in Redcliffe, he deserves a second chance.
- Send a blood mage into the Fade? - Irving asked. - Are you sure about this?
- Jowan started this mess, it's up to him to sort it out. And if he does something wrong, Neria will stop him.
- An interesting solution, young one, - said the old Qunari. - I like it.
- You rely too much on your old friend, - Wynne added.
- Well, then let's get started, - Irving concluded. - Neria, Jowan, get to the circle.
Neria and Jowan followed the instructions and looked at each other.
- Just follow me. Everything will be fine, - Neria said.
- A few details about the demon, - Daylen told them. - This is Mazikeen, the desire demon. I bet it will want to talk to you, offer you what you want. Don't agree or talk to it for too long. Good luck to you!
All the mages, except for the old Qunari, who left the hall, began to cast spells. Such magical power and the influence of lyrium made Neria dizzy, and soon she and Jowan found themselves on one of the islands in the Fade.
- So this is the Fade? - asked Jovan. - Daylen said that Harrowing is connected with the Fade.
- Consider this your Harrowing, - Neria replied. - Now let's go. We need to find the demon.
They had not gone far when the old Qunari emerged from the portal behind them.
- Are you a somniari? - Neria asked him. - A mage who can enter the Fade of his own free will? Why haven't you tell everyone right away?
- Because if I told everyone, I would be sent here alone, and it wouldn't end well. They say that kids are fear me. But the boy, if he's in the Fade, won't be afraid of you two. By the way, my name is Ox.
The mages walked carefully along the island. They came across the transparent spirit of Eamon, who shouted to them:
- I can't be saved, but I beg you! Find my son!
- We will do it, Arl Eamon, - Jowan told him. - And I'm so sorry.
- Look! - Neria shouted, pointing her finger at Connor entering the portal.
All three immediately began chasing the boy, crossing one island after another through opening portals, until Ox fell behind the others, remaining on a remote island. The chase ended on a large round island. Neria and Jowan took out their staves and surrounded the demon, who had taken on its true form.
- Fine, - said Mazikeen. - No more running. I can easily deal with you two. Especially here, on my own domain. So I advise you to negoiate peacefully. I have a lot to offer you.
- We are not interested in your proposals, - Neria answered.
- What a pity. Do you wish a battle? Then you'll have it!
The demon launched a lightning bolt at the mages, but Jowan was faster and surrounded himself and Neria with a magical shield. Then the demon disappeared, multiplying itself into several copies that surrounded the mages.
- The third one from the left is real! - Jowan shouted.
- How do you know? - asked Neria.
- Only it has black eyes, not white!
- Can you launch a Walking Bomb?
- Sure!
- Then attack! I will hold the shield!
Neria felt that she needed to trust Jowan, for some reason she knew that he would not let her down. The apostatelaunched a "walking bomb" at the demon he considered real, and all copies immediately disappeared.
- I'll take you with me! - the demon shouted and rushed straight towards the mages.
Jowan pushed Neria away and grabbed the demon by the claws, distracting it. There was an explosion, destroying the demon and severely wounding Jowan. Neria approached the lying mage, his face was disfigured and his body was bleeding.
- Let... me... die... - said Jowan.
The elf did not agree with him and slowly healed him using several spells from the healing school.
- I can't do this to my friend, - she said while Jowan's wounds were healing. - You won't be able to make things right if you die.
- I've done so many things, hurt so many people, even you and Daylen suffered because of me. Why don't you hate me?
- Because your blood magic is my fault. I should have guessed, noticed, stopped you, but I couldn't. But I can give you a second chance. Don't miss it.
Both mages returned to the real world, where the other mages and the returning Ox were already waiting for them.
- What happened? - asked Wynne.
- The demon is no more, Jowan killed it, - Neria answered. - Connor is saved.
The mages took Connor with them and left the castle. At the gate, they shared the good news with the rest of the Wardens and their companions. Everyone was happy. Davet gave Faren the two sovereigns he had lost in the bet. Kallian was talking about something with a red-haired elf crossbowman. Adela and Sereda praised the mages, and Alistair hugged Neria.
The joy was interrupted by Isolde, who came to the castle from the village, accompanied by knights and villagers. Seeing her son, she immediately hugged him, but at the same time pointed her finger at Jowan and said:
- Execute him!
Two knights grabbed the apostate, who didn't even resist them.
- I beg you, Lady Isolde, be merciful to him, - said Irving. - He risked his life fighting the demon.
- Because of him, my husband died, - Isolde answered. - I have the right to revenge. All the people of Redcliffe have the right to revenge.
Daylen intervened, standing in front of Isolde and the crowd of villagers.
- And I have the Right of Summoning, and I'm using it. From now on, Jowan is a Grey Warden recruit. I swear that he will have his Joining and become one of us at the first opportunity. Or do you have something against it?
Isolde was unhappy, but said:
- I agree only out of gratitude to you, Ser Daylen. Do with Jowan as you see fit.
The knights, hearing these words, released Jowan.
- Wardens, Circle mages, on behalf of all of Redcliffe, I thank you for saving my son. We'll go to the second floor, prepare Eamon's body for burial, and check on Teagan.
Isolde and her entourage went to the castle, and the Circle mages followed them.
- Well, mage, welcome to our glorious squad, - Daveth said to the shocked Jowan.
