Anora stood among the nobles as they greeted their new King. A man who had no right to be sitting on her throne, yet there he was. Looking all too pleased with himself. It made her sick to look at him. She wore the most pleasant smile she could to save face, but inside she seethed. He and that his elf bitch took everything away from her. They would pay. It won't matter much longer, she thought to herself. Her father wasn't the only one with deadly friends. She just had to be patient, play along until the time was right. Knowing what was to come mad the wine all the sweeter.

Kallian couldn't help but blush everyone time someone addressed her as the Hero of Ferelden. She didn't feel like a hero, just very lucky that things turned out as well as they did. Most she just felt relieved it was over. Death was not looming over her every decision. More than that, she just wanted this party to be over with so she could get out of the dress. She's only worn one dress before and nothing good had come out of that day. Dresses, she decided, were an invitation for trouble. Not to mention that she was one of only a handful of elves present. While most people looked at her like she was Andraste herself, some still looked at her as if she were disgusting. She had expected those and ignored them. The ones that stung were the whispers of her being the king's whore, which weren't completely wrong, she supposed, only he wasn't king then and it was more than what they made it out to be. She had loved him, a shem. Though none of that mattered now. He was king and a king cannot love an elf.

Slowly she made her way through the mass of people. She couldn't go more than two steps without someone stopping her to chat. She was running out of small talk and growing tired of repeating the death of the Archdemon. Had she been scared? Did she think about running away before the battle? What happened after? And her favorites; how did an elf manage all that? After all, she is just an elf. Apparently elf is more important than Grey Warden. Leliana had saved her more than once from breaking some poor noble's nose. Every time the bard got her out of that situation quickly she was reminded why the woman was one of her favorite people. Kallian was no good in social situations, especially not with shems. The alienage was beginning to look a lot like paradise.

"You left your hair down, I am surprised." Leliana said with a smile as she pulled her friend away from the crowd. Kallian shrugged and touched her hair. It was much longer than it had been a year ago when she set out with Duncan. Long dark hair fell in soft waves down to her elbows.

"Someone took all the ties from my pack. Can you think of anyone who would do that?" She asked as she gently nudged the bard.

"I'm sure they had good reason. Besides, your hair looks beautiful. You should thank this person."

"You don't suppose this person could smuggle me out of here?" Leliana shook her head.

"I don't think so." She sighed. So much for that idea. "He's looking at you."

"Who's looking at me?"

"Oh, I think you know." Kallian looked up to see those hazel eyes watching her. They looked sad as they watched her. Maybe he was feeling like she was after all. She forced herself to look away, resisting to urge to go to him and fold herself up in his arms till the world was right again. He looked like the king she knew he would be. Someday he would that. While she knew she made the right decision she would never stop regretting it. Movement from upper level caught her eye and she stilled.

"Kali?" Leliana asked, turning her gaze to follow the elf's eyes. Something small and silvery caught in the light, the King stood from the throne, the metal cup sounded loudly as it landed on the floor as the elf took off at a dead run, then everyone screamed.

Alistair watched the two women chatting, must have been something about hair the way the elf reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. Maker, how he wanted to do the same but he never would again. She made that choice for them when she put him forward as king. He had been angry with her for choosing for him. He didn't want this. He wanted to live out the rest of his shortened life with the Grey Wardens, with her. If he was honest with himself, he was still very angry with her but it didn't cloud his mind like it had before the final battle. He watched the bard lean over and whisper something to her and she looked straight at him. Those big, beautiful green eyes mirroring in own sadness, deepened with regret. Good. She should regret her decision. She looked away from him, back to the crowd of people that had gathered. He stood. He should find Eamon or someone to be social with.

Somewhere in the distance the sound of metal hitting to stone floor echoed. Probably someone who's already had a bit too much to drink he thought. Probably Oghren, though he hadn't seen or heard the dwarf for a while now. He shook his head and continued his search for Eamon when something slammed hard into his side, knocking him to the ground. The people screamed began to scream and rush towards the exits as some of the guards ran towards him. They pulled something off him and pulled their dazed king to his feet.

"Are you alright, Majesty?" One of them asked. He nodded and looked at the crumpled figure on the floor.

"Kallian!" He knelt before the woman on the floor and pushed her dark hair away from her face. Her green eyes were closed tightly as her breath came in ragged gasps. Blood spread over the stones beneath her. "Wynne!" He screamed, "Someone get Wynne!" He heard the scraping of metal boots on the ground as a guard took off in search of the mage. His eyes widened at the dagger buried to the hilt in her upper back. He gently pulled her up into his arms, being careful not to touch the blade and bring her anymore pain. "Kali, Kali look at me." His free hand caressed her paling cheek. Her eyes opened a little. The bright green he was so used to seeing was dulled and unable to focus. He felt his heart drop. "Wynne will be here soon. You'll be alright, I promise. " She smiled a little as he eyes closed again, blood spilled from between her lips. "No. Kali, you stay right here, stay with me. Please. Where is Wynne?" He shouted.

AN: Hello everyone,

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. I think there will be only one more chapter to go with this should you be interested but I haven't decided what's going to happen yet. I just needed to to something to take my mind of the situation at hand and this is what came out of it. Reviews are most welcome. Let me know what you liked, what you didn't, what needs to be fixed, your opinion in general. Please and thank you.

Ashes