Ostagar.

Why she had ever agreed to come back this place was beyond her. This place held a lot of memories. This was where Fergus had come with his men, to join the great battle to defeat the Darkspawn and usher in an era of peace to Ferelden. Fergus had been so certain of victory when he set out from Highever, so confident that he'd be back in the arms of his wife. Oriana, who now lay dead with their son after the betrayal by Arl Howe.

Lyanna stood at the entry to Ostagar, lost in thoughts of Fergus, not knowing whether he yet lived.

Ostagar. Where Duncan and the Grey Wardens made their last stand with Cailan, and fell in battle after the treachery of Loghain. Duncan was a good man, and she remembered their first meeting at Highever. How young and naive she'd been then.

Ostagar, where she'd been inducted into the Grey Wardens after that mission to the Korcari Wilds and the eventful first meeting with Morrigan, who had since become a trusted ally, and yes, a friend too. That eventful joining ceremony that led to the deaths of the other Grey Warden hopefuls, yet Lyanna herself survived.

No, Ostagar held nothing but memories for Lyanna, as she looked around at the devastated wasteland that Ostagar had become since that last battle, the ground now covered in a blanket of snow. Lyanna shuddered at the memories that had overcome her upon the party's return here.

"Are you alright my dear? Are you cold?"

Lyanna turned at the all to familiar tones of the voice coming from her right hand. Always at her right hand, always at her side, a familiar presence, always there, always comforting. Alistair.

There was no way she would have dreamed of coming back to this place without Alistair at her side. Another memory of Ostagar came to her, seeing Alistair for the first time, the sun glinting off his armour as he engaged in a battle of wits with the mage. She remembered wanting to laugh out loud at this man with his sarcastic tones going toe to toe with the mage and the clever wit with which he'd frustrated the other man. She'd never believed in love at first sight, she was above all things a practical person but Alistair had found that chink in her emotional armour and had eventually broken down all her emotional walls and now she couldn't imagine what she'd done before she met him.

Ostagar held as many memories - if not more - for him as it did for her, yet he was the one concerned for her wellbeing. She turned and put her hand on his face.

'I'm alright, my love. It's just … this place. All these memories, Duncan, the joining, the other wardens, the final battle. I just …" She tailed off, unable to continue. Alistair covered her hand with his own and gently kissed her palm before replying.

"I know. Maker, this was the last place I ever wanted to see again. Duncan was like a father to me, his loss was devastating, and although I didn't know him, Cailan was my brother. To think of what happened to him here, it's hard. If we can lay those ghosts to rest by coming here, then I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

"And that's why I love you. No matter how difficult things get, I know that you're always there, right by my side." Lyanna took a deep breath and turned to the devastated wasteland of Ostagar, and reached for Alistair's hand.

"Let's do this. Let's lay Duncan and Cailan to rest. Together"

Alistair smiled warmly at her.

"Together, then."

Hands linked, they turned and entered Ostagar together, to lay the ghosts of the past to rest.