Having waited until everyone was asleep, Dylan carefully opened the window glancing guiltily at Reece and Mathew who were snoring loudly, the sleeping potion having taken effect quickly. Trembling he concentrated on the spell, his body shimmering and shifting into the form of a raven. When neither woke up he flew up to the window ledge hesitating a moment more before jumping off and flying swiftly through the streets to the Arl's estate. He flew around the impressive building looking for a way in, seeing candle light in only one window. Cautiously he landed on the window ledge startled as he recognised the woman within.

xXx

Feeling exhausted from a brief sleep filled with nightmares of her prisoner's screams, Eloen slumped into the seat by the mirror on the dressing table and stared at her reflection. Grabbing the brush she began working on the tangled strands, wondering how to hide the bruise-like marks beneath her eyes. Rendon had given orders for her to end the torture and begin to adjust Jayden's memories to suit the narrative he was creating. She knew she should have ended the spell before coming to bed as Rendon no doubt had assumed she would do, yet her thirst for vengeance had seen her retire to her own room instead. Despite being plagued by nightmares and ignoring the urgent feeling to end the spell, she still took her time. It was barely past midnight; he could endure the spell a little longer. Putting down the brush she covered her mouth as she yawned, jerking back in the seat as she saw Anders standing behind her. Turning sharply, she saw nothing, but his image remained in the mirror. She swallowed hard at the sadness in his eyes. "I had hoped you would come back." She whispered. "I feel so alone." She shivered as he spoke, his voice a whisper through her mind.

"You need to stop hurting him, Eloen."

Frowning, she shifted slightly. "Why? He is nothing to you."

"This is not who you are."

"It is who I have had to become to survive."

"It doesn't need to be this way."

"What choice do I have?" She snapped, getting to her feet and glaring at the mirror. "You are dead, but I still have to live. I am fighting for a better world for those like us! I would torture him for a thousand years if it meant freedom from Templars for mages."

"This cannot be the way!"

"If you are not here to support me Anders, then leave!" Tears slipped down her cheeks as his image faded. "I didn't mean it, please come back. Anders!" A painful sob tore from her lips. "Anders please, please don't leave me!" Time passed in silence, but he did not return. Pulling on her robes, she wiped her face of tears and turned to the mirror. "Everything I do is to give mages a future without prisons and Templars. You of all people should appreciate that!" When there was no reply Eloen turned and strode from the room unaware of the raven watching her.

Heart pounding Dylan felt sick, to say she was unstable would be putting it mildly and he felt a rush of fear wondering if she was in the clutches of a demon. There was no way in and she had shut the bedroom door. He glided down catching sight of her as she walked along a corridor, before she turned a corner and was gone from his sight. He tried to fly faster, but there was no way to follow her and he desperately wished he had practiced taking another form. He was starting to feel shaky and knew his time was running out. He made a last desperate circuit of the estate, but finding no way in he flew back across the city, exhaustion hitting him as he dropped down into the alleyway, crashing to the ground in his human form. He felt gentle hands helping him up, startled to see Zevran. "I …"

"Not here." Zevran stated softly helping him into their base, sitting him next to the fire and handing him a regeneration potion. "I thought I would have to come looking for you; you held the spell for an impressive time. I believe even the delightful Morrigan would agree."

"How did you know?"

"I saw the raven leave your room and went to check on you."

"Please don't tell anyone."

"My lips are sealed my friend. Now, I assume you were looking for our mutual friend."

Nodding Dylan glanced at his trembling hands. "I didn't find him, but I did find Eloen."

Listening carefully, Zevran felt his blood run cold. "You suspect demonic influence?"

"I don't know Zev, but she was talking to something and it wasn't Anders."

Nodding Zevran glanced at the window thoughtfully. "At the very least you have given Morrigan her place to start. I believe she can take spider form and so will be able to go where you could not." He gently grasped Dylan's shoulder seeing guilt cross his face. "What you did was brave, my friend, if a little foolish. Now you need sleep and we shall say no more about this until Morrigan arrives."

"I could try again, maybe there will be an open window."

"Indeed, and someone may take after you with a broom. I am as eager as you to get to Will, but we cannot risk you. Should you be injured or unable to escape the estate you could not hold the spell indefinitely and once discovered, I suspect you would not leave there alive." He smiled as Dylan swallowed anxiously. "Come, you need rest." Ensuring Dylan reached his bed, Zevran slipped out of the house and climbed onto the roof, looking towards the Arl's estate in the distance. "Be swift Morrigan, I fear Will is running out of time."

xXx

Making her way to the dungeon after taking a detour to the kitchens to sooth her hunger pangs, Eloen unlocked the door that led her down to the lower level. Her footsteps visibly slowed and when she came to the door she hesitated, pressing her hand to the wood as though she could divine the scene within the room without having to enter. If her need for vengeance meant permanent damage had been done, she knew she would pay the price. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door, frowning. There was the stale smell of sweat and the blood at his wrists and ankles had long since dried, he lay still, his face neutral in appearance. Easing over to him she took hold of his wrist. His pulse was faint, as was his breathing. Trembling, she pressed her hands to his temples and stopped the loop of the memory; pacing anxiously as she waited for him to open his eyes, but minutes passed and he remained unresponsive. Cursing to herself she pressed her fingertips gently to his temples and tried once more to gain entry, startled to realise there was no resistance. Closing her eyes she wove her magic around them and stepped into his mind.

A temple lay before her in ruins, trees were still smoking from the fire that had destroyed them. Crystal pieces, some as tiny as pebbles and others the size of a small house littered the ground, smashed from whatever structure they had been. A rumble of thunder sounded in the distance and seconds later a flash of lightning darted through the dark clouds. She heard a fierce roar and span around, her heart pounding as she saw a huge dragon on a larger hill top. "What is this?"

"It is what is left of his mind."

Turning sharply, she felt a rush of relief to see Anders.

"You have to fix this Eloen."

"I don't even know what this is!"

"His mind is being consumed by his terrors. You must find him and protect him."

"Protect him!"

"Protect him and you protect yourself from the Regent's wrath."

Shuddering Eloen nodded, glancing around. "I have no idea where to start."

"Perhaps the temple may hold a clue."

Sighing, Eloen began picking her way carefully through the rubble towards the centre of the temple spying a large pool which appeared to be the only thing undamaged. She hesitated as she reached it, the water within seeming to sparkle. "What is this?"

"A doorway to his memories, you have access to them now and it is time you understood and accepted the truth. Place your hand in the water and think of me."

Frowning Eloen knelt down and placed her fingertips on the water's surface, concentrating on Anders she felt the water shift, sucking in a sharp breath as the water curled around her arm and rushed over her, plunging her into his memories. She saw his first meeting with Anders and their second, their journey together and the risks taken to destroy the phylactery. She saw the compassion and support they showed each other, the laughter and arguments, the pain and the love they felt for each other. She saw the Templars killed to save her friend and pulled back, staring at Anders in shock before she backed away. "Anders is alive." She shook her head, backing away. "I … I do not understand. If Anders is alive then who … what are you?" Anders seemed to glow golden before his image was gone and Eloen was staring at a spirit.

"I am Compassion. I had watched you for some time, felt your pain, but when you were told your lover had been tortured and murdered your screams echoed through the Fade and I could watch silently no longer. I came to you. I meant only to try and ease your suffering, but you had already done such harm to others and in doing so caused such harm to yourself, I could make little difference. I held you in my arms as you wept and when you woke you brought me with you, something neither of us anticipated. I tried to turn you from your path, I had hoped images of your friend and lover would encourage you, but still you continued to harm others and yourself. I tried to return to the Fade, but I have become too entangled."

Eloen stumbled backwards. "I'm possessed!"

"Demons possess, spirits guide and I have protected you from the demons of rage and pride that have sought you out." Compassion shook her head at Eloen's shocked look. "You have been tearing apart people's minds, you have let your anger and pride grow, how can it surprise you that it would attract the attention of demons? Did you think there would be no consequences to the magic you have been using?"

"I …"

"We have little time; our focus must be on him. He has never betrayed you and Anders loves him as a brother, you have seen that for yourself. Find him, help him to heal and perhaps you can begin to heal yourself."

"I am no healer! I am a blood mage!"

"Blood magic was not always used for evil and corrupt purposes. It was once sacred magic, used to bring life and healing. Long ago it was something beautiful and treasured."

"But I don't know that side of it!"

"I have the knowledge and you have the talent."

"You mean I have to accept you as part of me!"

"I am already a part of you whether you would wish it or not."

"How can a spirit of Compassion know blood magic?"

"Once the world was very different. Before the veil, spirits and people lived in this world together."

"Before the veil?"

"Indeed."

Eloen began to pace, stopping as a roar thundered from the hilltop and the dragon took flight. "I need to leave." She span around in panic, her magic failing her. "Are you stopping me from leaving?"

"You are as trapped here as he is. The only way to save yourself is to save him. I suggest we find him before the part of his mind tormenting him kills him. If that happens, we will all cease to exist."

"I have no idea how to find him." She shielded her eyes as Compassion's golden glow became brighter.

"I can follow his pain. Come, we should not linger here."

"Wait." Eloen moved back to the pool and trembling she pressed her fingers once more to the water's surface, this time focusing on Jowan. Moments later she pulled back gasping for breath, tears streaming down her face. "He spoke truly, Jowan is alive."

"Perhaps now you can let go of your anger towards him."

"I …" She slumped onto the stone work of the pool and shuddered. "Everything I did to him just to hurt him …"

"You cannot change what has been done, but you can choose to help him now."

"Why would he accept my help after everything I have done?"

Compassion hesitated. "I suspect he would not. This is not a physical realm, focus on your form and change it to something that will not be threatening to him." Arms on her hips Compassion tapped her foot impatiently. "You are a mage Eloen, this is not something that should be beyond you."

Shivering Eloen focused, moments later opening her eyes and looking at herself in the pool seeing a version of herself perhaps eleven years old. "There, hardly threatening."

"We shall see."

Leaving the temple, Eloen followed Compassion through the forest of blackened trees, the earth still hot from where fire had scorched it. They crossed a river bed, even the earth here blackened with fire. "Where is he?" She muttered. She wanted out of this nightmare world and away from a young man she had enjoyed torturing. It sickened her that the truth was he had only ever helped them. She hesitated realising Compassion had stopped, ahead of them was an oasis of colour, a stunning waterfall surrounded by trees; the leaves a patchwork of yellow, orange and crimson. Moving forward she froze at the low growl, a huge black wolf moving into sight. Her eyes locked on the boy whose hand rested on the wolf's back.

"You shouldn't be here."

Eloen glanced from the boy to Compassion, but the spirit remained silent. "I … I was thirsty." She indicated the waterfall. "I was hoping to get a drink." She glanced at the wolf anxiously at its growl, but the boy and wolf stepped back and she eased her way over to the water, taking a drink startled by how refreshing it tasted. She glanced at the boy who was watching her suspiciously, his tension building as she slowly sat at the edge.

"It isn't safe here."

"Where is safe?" She winced at sadness and fear that crossed his face.

"No-where."

Compassion moved forward smiling at the wolf who nosed her hand. "There must be one place you feel safe." She smiled at the boy. "Think of that place, put all of your focus on it."

Eloen stood as the scenery shifted and they were outside of a hut, again surrounded by trees. She gasped in surprise as the door opened and Anders stepped out, a dark haired, golden eyed woman following. They all turned at the roar of the dragon, the ground vibrating as it landed on the other side of the stream, the fierce beat of its wings causing them to shield their faces from the surges of wind it caused. Eloen frowned as a man in elaborate robes and mask leapt to the ground.

"The boy is mine. Hand him over."

Eloen turned as the wolf gave a fierce growl, the dragon responding with a terrifying roar. Feeling a rush of energy she turned, seeing both Anders and the woman casting a spell, startled as the water of the stream surged upwards before crashing down on the man and dragon, the pair for the moment at least vanishing. "Who is he?" She demanded.

"The Emperor of Orlais." The boy stated softly. "He wants to send me in pieces back to my dad." He glanced up at her. "How did you get here?"

"I'm not sure I can explain."

"T'would behove you to try." Morrigan stated coldly, an orb of flickering energy in her hand. "Lest I consider you also a threat."

Swallowing uneasily Eloen shifted slightly. While creations of the boy's mind, that made the woman and his version of Anders no less dangerous to her. "I came to help."

"Help how?" Anders demanded.

"The boy's mind is fractured due to … trauma. He needs to be healed or he will die. The heartbeat and pulse of his true body are growing fainter even as we speak."

Morrigan moved closer, her eyes narrowing. "What do you know of this trauma?"

"I … it is difficult to explain."

"Hardly." Morrigan spat. "For t'was you who caused it."

Eloen felt a rush of relief as Anders held Morrigan back, feeling sure she had been about to at least attempt to kill her.

"If she caused the damage, perhaps she can help to fix it." Anders soothed. "We cannot hold back the terrors indefinitely."

"How are you doing that anyway?" Eloen demanded.

"We were formed in response to those that torment him." For a moment his eyes flickered blue. "It has taken much and our time has grown short. We weaken while the terrors grow stronger."

Compassion moved to Jayden and knelt before him. "Perhaps we must go to the root of the fracture. The memory that caused such damage."

"No." Jayden whimpered, backing away from her, his hand tightening on the fur of the wolf. "I won't go back there."

"Child, I understand you are scared, but we will remain with you. You must confront the emperor to defeat him."

Jayden stared at her. "Beat him! I don't even think my dad could beat him and he's a warrior and a hero. The emperor is too powerful and he has a dragon!"

"For goodness' sake." Eloen muttered. "The emperor died long ago, he was created from one of your nightmares and that dragon isn't real either. This is your mind, none of this is actually real. You are not a child, stop pretending to be one!" She paled as the wolf let out a howl of fury before it leapt at her, the only thing saving her was Compassion moving swiftly between them, her golden light intensifying until the wolf backed away. She shrank back from Compassion's disapproving look.

"What she says is true, though it could have been put more compassionately."

"That's your role not mine." Eloen muttered.

Compassion moved back to Jayden; the wolf's gaze still locked on Eloen. "The memory you have endured repeatedly was one created by the Archdemon." She gently held his hands. "It only ever happened in your mind. You can take control of it; you have that power in this place. We will stand with you. He shall not harm you."

He nipped at his lower lip as the wolf turned to him; their foreheads momentarily touching. Sighing, Jayden nodded. "What do I do?"

"First you must reclaim yourself. You have not been the child who stands before me in some time. It might be best to take your adult form."

Jayden stared at her in confusion. "I … I don't understand."

"You have power in this place, you may appear to be a child because that is the age you associate with your fear of the emperor, but that is not the truth." She gently cupped his cheek. "Who is the young man you have become?"

Frowning Jayden glanced at the wolf before his eyes widened in surprise. "I … I am a Captain of the Denerim guard."

Compassion smiled as he shimmered into his adult form, armour gleaming, weapons at his sides. She moved closer, pressing her hand to his chest. "While it is true you are a Captain, you are something much more. Who are you?"

Jayden felt warmth in his chest and a vibrating sensation where he had taken a mortal wound from the Alpha at Ostagar. He met Compassion's gaze and took a deep breath. "I am Holy Andraste's Champion, healed and cleansed in her holy flame." He turned at the roar of the dragon, the ground shuddered as it landed, his gaze locking with the emperor.

"You are mine boy!" The emperor snarled. "I will send you back to your father in pieces."

Jayden stared at the man he had never met and yet who had been the cause of such fear unsheathing his swords, flame erupting around the blades. "I have been afraid of you for so long, you lurk in my mind, the shadow I can't shake." Jayden walked across the stream glancing at the Archdemon as it roared. "Silence!" It was a command, not shouted, but expecting to be obeyed.

Eloen raised an eyebrow as the dragon lay down silent.

Turning back to the Emperor, Jayden met the cold gaze. "This is my mind, you are nothing here, just as you are nothing beyond this place. I can't imagine what twisted you so much you wished to torture a child and I will never know, but this is over."

"You think I am that easily removed, boy?"

Re-sheathing his swords Jayden closed the distance between them and gripped the mask pulling it from the emperor's face. "Yes." He watched as the emperor crumbled into ash at his feet, the water of the stream rising up and washing it away. "The dead can't hurt me and you are long dead." Turning to the Archdemon he frowned. "You and I will face each other again, but not in this place." He remained still as the huge head moved towards him, the roar so fierce it hurt his ears, but he remained unmoved. "Enough. If you will not leave then you will be silent." He glanced down at the wolf who had joined him, the howl felt as though it was making his body vibrate. He glanced at Morrigan and Anders, knowing them for what they were, their eyes gleaming blue as their magic flowed and the dragon shrank to the size of a cat. "Not so fierce now." Jayden murmured, picking up the dragonling, rolling his eyes as it tried to bite him. "If I am to have a dragon roaming my mind it shall not, be you." He thought of Haven and the egg that had hatched, calling on that memory making it as strong as he could, only opening his eyes when he heard a huffing sound, the dragonling in his arms had violet scales apart from her nose which were golden. "I think you might like the Temple."

"I doubt it, given that it's a ruin." Eloen muttered, swallowing uneasily as his gaze locked on her realising she too was in her adult form.

"I will no longer let my fear control me." Jayden stated coldly, the dragonling climbing up his arm and curling over his shoulders. "But it seems I have one more enemy to vanquish."

"I came here to help you!" Eloen gasped.

"You came here to help yourself!" Jayden snarled. "I am no use to the Regent if I fall to madness." He shook his head. "But if you are here then it means my mind is open to you. It would appear I am your puppet as you once suggested. I once entered someone else's mind to help them and I was given a simple warning, if I died there my body died. So, it follows that if I kill you here, you can never control me." He took a step forward. "Perhaps this is the only way left open to me to avenge my sister." He hesitated as Compassion moved to protect her.

"Your mind does not have to remain fractured; we can help you heal, at least enough to enable you to return."

"And who, or what are you?"

"I am Compassion. Eloen's grief and pain reached me in the Fade and I sought to help her. Things did not go as I had expected."

Looking between them both Jayden let out a startled laugh. "Sweet Maker, you have a spirit in you!"

"I was unaware of her until I came here." Eloen huffed.

Jayden turned to the spirit. "You can't stay with her, there is nothing compassionate within her. You think you can change her, but she will change you. You will become as merciless as she is."

"I cannot leave, there is no way back to the Fade for me. This was not what I had intended, I sought only to help. I still seek only to help." She gestured to the battlefield of his mind. "You cannot function if your mind remains like this. We can help you."

"You can't expect me to trust her and I have no good reason to trust you either."

"True on both counts, but if you do not heal your mind, you cannot leave here and perhaps more important for you in this moment, neither can we. Time is running out and who knows what eternity will await us if we are all in this place when you cease to draw breath."

Sighing Jayden glanced between them, the wolf gently nudging his hand, the dragonling rubbing her head against his cheek. "Very well, how do you suggest we repair the damage that would enable us all to leave?"

Eloen glared at the spirit. "Compassion wants me to heal you with blood magic, as though that is even possible."

"Blood of the tormentor and tormented joined with the intent of healing is …"

"Our blood here is not real." Jayden interrupted the spirit. "Nothing here is."

Compassion smiled. "Nothing but intention of course. Your own journey in another's mind should have taught you that. Perhaps the temple would be a more suitable place to do this."

xXx

Eloen stood knee deep in the pool having argued herself hoarse with Compassion as to the folly of this course of action. Jayden stood opposite her, a darkness in his eyes when he looked at her that terrified her. The dragonling was standing on the wolf's back, the pair watching her, she was not sure what unnerved her more.

Compassion floated above the water. "Once your blood mingles you must concentrate on healing." She turned to Jayden. "Have you decided which form to enclose the memories to control your access to them?" At his nod she smiled. "Stay focused on your purpose, do not get lost in the memories."

"This is madness." Jayden muttered, yet he moved towards Eloen. "But I don't suppose things could get much worse." He drew the dagger across his palm and passed it to her.

Huffing in frustration Eloen drew the blade across flesh, such as it was, blood welling over the metal. Grasping his hand, she spoke the words of the spell Compassion had given to her. For a moment nothing happened, then she sucked in a sharp breath as their blood lifted and began to swirl around their clasped hands, the water of the pool rising around them, flowing in a circle, memories shimmering on the shifting surface. She forced herself to focus, the magic flowing through his mind soothing and gathering the scattered fragments. The water swirled faster making her feel dizzy, feeling the pulse of their blood as it kept them connected. She met his gaze, her throat constricting, feeling the hate that burned within him. She gave a startled cry as she felt the spell spin out of control, the water swirling faster, images flickering too fast to see before she stumbled backwards, their hands breaking contact. She gave a shocked gasp as a room formed around her.

At the table sat royalty, Seekers, Templars and the Divine herself. She stared in horror as they talked about harsher sanctions and restrictions for mages; realising that many were looking at one person in particular for direction. She sucked in a sharp breath realising it was Jayden, older but in his prime, there was a hardness in his eyes and posture that chilled her and then she realised his armour, staggering back as he was addressed as Lord Seeker. The room shifted to a battlefield, Jayden was on horseback leading an army of Templars and Seekers. She shuddered realising she was seeing an exalted march, hell bent on the destruction of mages. There were no Circles, no mercy, just death. She cried out as a hand grasped her and she was once more in the pool, Jayden glaring at her.

"Concentrate damn it!" He snarled.

Trembling, she finished the spell, wrenching her hand away from his as the blood shimmered to golden energy and then faded; the wall of water becoming the smooth surface of the pool once more. She moved back from him, her heart thudding before she glanced around startled. The temple was whole once more, magnificent statues stood guard near the pool and beyond the temple she saw structures of tree and crystal rising skyward in such intricate designs they defied belief. The temple was surrounded now by a forest of tree and crystal combined, archways forming from them as far as she could see, silver energy shimmering in each one. She flinched away from him as he walked past, his fingertips drifting over the formation of the nearest archway that stood within the temple itself. "I saw what he will become." She whispered to Compassion when he moved out of the temple to another archway, the wolf and dragonling following him. "He will destroy every mage."

Compassion shook her head. "What you saw was a glimpse of a possible future only, a side effect that can occur with this spell. What we have done today, the healing he has received has taken him further from that possibility. Now he is no longer fragmented, perhaps I can give him a measure of peace."

Eloen watched as the spirit became the image of Anora. "You can't pretend to be his sister. You know nothing about her."

"We are in his mind child, which was open wide thanks to your attention. I know everything he knows about her and a little more besides. His heart is broken and his mind is tormented with her death. His pain is tearing into me. I must try, it is my purpose."

"But this is a lie!"

"A lie made necessary by your actions."

Eloen shrank back at the harsh tone.

"I could not turn you from your course, so I must try to heal all you have torn asunder, or my being here, all I have given up to aid you was meaningless."

"You are a spirit, what did you give up?"

Compassion gazed at her with deep sadness in her eyes. "For all your power, you really have so little understanding. That must be remedied." Turning away from her, Compassion shifted her position so that she could approach Jayden from ahead of where he now stood. She would find a way to alter Eloen's course, even if it required force, but for the moment she needed to concentrate on the young man whose pain made her want to weep.

Taking a step away from the Archway Jayden froze, inhaling a sharp breath, as through the trees Anora approached.

"Jayden." Smiling, she moved to him, hugging him gently. "I thought I would be with mom and grandpa, but instead I have been walking through these trees for what seems forever. Where are we?"

Swallowing painfully, Jayden wondered if this was truly his sister, or if he had conjured her from his grief, neither wolf nor dragonling were reacting to her. "It's called the bond."

"Odd name for a place. You look so sad, brother."

"I … I just wish we had, had more time."

"I wish that too." She reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from his face. "You were right, I should have been prepared for other forms of magic. Rendon wishes to control you and the mage …"

"I know."

"You are stronger than they are, I believe that. Part of me wants you to come with me, I think you could if you wanted to, but there is still so much to do."

"I'm so sorry we lost so much time and I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

"It was never your job to protect me. I love you so much, you made my life so much better just for being in it, even when I was too stubborn and selfish to recognise it. Would you do something for me?"

"Anything."

"Tell Cailan I love him and I'm sorry. Tell him I wish him nothing but happiness. He will love being a father." She sighed at the pain in his eyes. "I hope you find a way to forgive him." She hugged him tightly. "It's time for me to go now."

"We will see each other again, Anora."

"Not too soon brother, not until you have lived a long life and had a family of your own." She kissed his forehead and then turned and moved into the trees, turning back once to wave before she faded.

Tears blurred his vision and he sank to his knees and let himself cry. Real or not her words had touched a part of him he had thought closed off. When the tears finally stopped, he ran his hands over his face giving himself a moment to regain his composure.

Eloen turned to the pool while he was still distracted, she needed to ensure he never remembered it was she who had tortured him, the future if he did was too terrible to contemplate. Her fingertips drifted across the pool, her whispered words connecting her to it.

Jayden felt what she was doing, his anger growing, but his memories were safely within the archways and could no longer be accessed by the pool, now it had a new function, to contain whatever memories she forced upon him. He would remember everything she did to him and she would pay dearly for it.

Compassion, having returned to her spirit form, moved to Jayden. "The healing has only just begun, there is much left to do, but it is a start and will enable us all to leave this place."

"Thank you for your help, Compassion."

"I did the spell." Eloen muttered joining them.

"You did the damage." He snapped. "Expect no gratitude from me because you will receive none."

Keeping her distance from him Eloen felt a rush of relief as she moved from his mind, once more returned to her true body. She stepped away from him, but he remained unconscious, though his breathing was normal. Feeling tears slip down her cheeks she shuddered at the reality that her lover and friend were not lost to her, they were both still alive and that changed everything for her. Rendon had lied and she had no means to control his mind, he would use her and discard her, she had been lying to herself that it could be any different. There would be other ways to control the nobility and the Divine, but her priority for the moment had altered. Jowan and Anders were alive and she had to find them. "I cannot take your life, for it would mean losing my own, so I promise you this, you will have no memory of me or any of the magic used to harm you. You will not remember how Anders suffered, he would not wish you to know of it, I am sure, nor any memory of the emperor and his dagger. I will make you loyal to Rendon, as he will make you King and no King would be a Lord Seeker." She bent low to his ear. "I make you another promise. I will hone my magic and keep my ear to the ground and should you ever become a danger to mages I will destroy you and all those you care for." She stepped back glaring at her trembling hands feeling Compassion's disapproval. Now that she was aware of the spirit there was no ignoring her. She had to find Jowan first and together they would find Anders, she felt sure her friend would know of a way to free her from Compassion. Shudderingly, she linked once more to Jayden's mind without entering it and began to craft the memories she needed him to have, desperately trying to ignore Compassion's resistance.

xXx

Once alone, Jayden turned and walked to the pool, smiling in relief as a shimmering silver energy rose from the water taking the form of an elven woman, though she was transparent and he felt there was little left of her. He glanced at the dragonling who was balancing on the edge of the pool, trying to reach her. "It seems you will have some company." He smiled as the dragonling jumped into the water and darted around her playfully, the wolf sitting watching them with an almost amused expression. "I was afraid you would use all of yourself trying to protect me. I am sorry you used so much."

"It is my purpose to protect you."

"Still, I'm sorry." He turned to the pool seeing images flicker across the surface, shuddering as he saw Fergus take Vaughan's place in torturing him. The image distorted with the ripples as the dragon pounced trying to reach the people she could see. "Eloen doesn't waste any time, does she."

"You will be aware of these false memories, but you will know them for the lies they are."

"And those memories she is trying to remove." He murmured as he saw Anders in the cell.

"She no longer has access to them, but she will believe she has."

"And if I allowed access to enable her to truly remove them."

"Access to one may mean access to all. The choice is yours."

Jayden turned away from the pool unable to bear seeing Anders torture. "I can't take the risk." He waited until the images in the pool ceased, sensing when they had stopped. "Now I have to make them believe I believe Rendon rescued me from Fergus." He shook his head. "I am not sure I can be that convincing."

"Do not try. Use your pain and distrust, let them work to prove themselves, you need prove nothing.