Dragon Age: Origins
Archdemon's Fall Drabble
Alistair & Caera Aeducan, Exiled Dwarva Princess
The dragon is finally grounded; it is weak, barely struggling. Its tail has stopped twitching, and it has long since ceased kicking out with its legs. She notes the distance of her fellow Warden and seizes her opportunity to complete their final task. She will rid her world, their world, of this evil, as is her duty as a Grey Warden, and leave her adopted country with it's rightful leader. He still doesn't believe in himself, but she knows he will be the best thing for this world. A world she has grown to love and call her own.
From across the rooftop (how did she get so far away?), he watches as she sprints further from him. He is still engaging his current darkspawn target; they are endless. Quickly realizing her destination; he is surprised to find that he is outraged. They discussed this (well, he talked while she nodded along), repeatedly, in the few short breaks they had as they marched their army toward the horde. As senior Warden this was his duty, his honor, really; she was to leave this one thing to him, if it became their responsibility.
Why did she never listen? Oh, that's right. You trained her not to listen, especially to you. You told her she was in charge; practically insisted on it time and again, from the very beginning. You told her you prefer following orders; forced her to believe that was what you really wanted. That you wouldn't step up to any form of responsibility. She had only been a Grey Warden for a few days when you first insisted she take the lead, and then you left her there to make all the decisions on her own.
She went against your express wishes and made you King of Ferelden, something for which you berated her soundly; immediately prior to breaking her heart and informing her she no longer had a place in your future life. The life she insisted was best for you and your people. She's barely spoken to you in days, and even then, only in an official capacity, only as it related to this final battle.
You can't let her end it like this; she doesn't understand, she doesn't know. What have you done? What have you forced her to do? What have you made her believe she must do? Is she about to leave you all alone? She's not allowed to do that, you can't continue alone. She should know better. Didn't you make her promise never to make you do this alone?
She glances back briefly and notices him frozen on the battlefield; about to be sliced in two. Then, she sees him roar back into the fight and inexplicably move in her direction. She lets out the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She closes her eyes briefly, and sends all the love in her heart toward him. She is safe in his love and she grieves he will never know that same peace.
She gains control of Duncan's sword, and charges the enemy. The dragon feebly rears it head as she slides beneath it slicing open its neck. She uses her momentum to swing herself up to plunge her mentor's sword into its battered head.
Her world goes infinitely bright at the same moment that his goes completely dark.