It goes without saying that BioWare/EA own Dragon Age and all associated intellectual property. I am just playing in their sandbox hoping I don't make a mess.
Chapter One
Kathryne Cousland rose to her feet and tried to slow her breathing. She stood on the roof of Fort Drakon facing the wounded Archdemon. Her chest ached from where the dragon had struck her sending her crashing into the fort's battlements and she could feel the pain of a hundred cuts received during the fierce combat she had endured to even get this far . She looked to her right and hoped that Oghren the drunken fool of a dwarf who had joined her quest in Orzammar and now lay on the ground beside her was alright. Moments ago the pair had used the distraction created by their companions, the archer bard Leliana and the mage Wynne to press in close to the Archdemon.
Oghren had landed a deadly strike biting deep into the shoulder of the dragon with his battleaxe and when it had reared up Kathryne had charged at the beast and used a two-handed thrust to drive her longsword deep into its chest. Unfortunately, both had in turn been caught as the Archdemon furious in its pain had contorted unexpectedly and struck them both with its massive tail before collapsing before them.
The Archdemon still breathed but its life was failing, Kathryne needed to get close and land the fatal blow quickly. She saw her family shield bearing the Cousland coat of arms on the ground but could not see her sword Starfang, perhaps it was still buried in the chest of the foul creature before her.
Lightning streaked out and struck the Archdemon and Kathryne's heart stopped beating.
"Cease fire! Cease fire!" she yelled and her voice carried over the roar of the fighting as though the Maker himself had spoken the words. "If anyone other than a Grey Warden lands the fatal blow the Archdemon will be reborn and all we have fought and bled for will have been for nothing."
Kathryne approached the head of the dragon grabbing an abandoned sword along the way. She paused and it was as though time stood still. She could see a great battle in the center of the roof where the allies she had gathered to her cause, the mages, Dalish elves, dwarves, and human soldiers, battled darkspawn who attacked savagely as they tried to save the Archdemon who called out to them. She looked at her companions who had joined her for this final battle: Oghren now standing uneasily with the support of Wynne and thought of his crude nature and love of drink but she knew also that there were few better to stand beside in a fight; Wynne, a powerful mage always ready with a spell or sound advice; and Leliana, the beautiful bard who could enchant the senses with tales and song and was as deadly with a blade as her mighty bow.
She thought of her mother and father dead at the hands of Arl Howe who had betrayed them under the banner of friendship. She thought of her brother Fergus dead at Ostagar, spared the pain of knowing that his wife and young son were also slain by Howe. Kathryne took some small comfort that she could face her family knowing that she had avenged their deaths and had slain that bastard Howe by her own hand and also later the traitor Teryn Loghain at the Landsmeet. Lastly, she thought of her lover and fellow Grey Warden Alistair whom she had made King of this land and who waited outside the city gates by her order to protect him from performing this final act, slaying the Archdemon and giving up her very soul in the process. She loved Alistair with all her heart and had seen the pain on his face when she had left him behind in relative safety knowing that she was walking to her death.
She grasped the pommel of her sword with both hands and raised it to strike. Tears fell from her eyes as she roared out a battle cry and drove her sword down, the point of her sword cleaving the dragon's massive skull.
Kathryne felt as though her skin was on fire and closed her eyes to shield them from a light almost as bright as the sun which poured from the Archdemon where her blade had pierced the beast. She was in so much pain that she prayed to the Maker for a quick release but she refused to let go of her sword until the Archdemon had fallen. Finally, she felt the great dragon shudder in death as she felt herself being thrown from its corpse and falling into darkness.
Kathryne opened her eyes expecting to see her family in the fade but instead she saw the familiar face of Wynne above her. "Wynne? What's going on? Am I dead?"
"I should hope not young lady you were grievously injured and a team of mages have been working for over a day to heal you but you are fine. Denerim is still being cleared and you are in camp outside the city," Wynne answered wearily but with compassion in her voice.
Kathryne panicked; did Alistair somehow manage to take the fatal blow? "What of Alistair? Does he still live?" Wynne looked at the young Warden and saw a crazed look in her eyes.
"Rest easy child, I will return in a moment," Wynne said as her hand brushed Kathryne's cheek tenderly.
Kathryne felt as though she would burst if she didn't get some answers, she had to know Alistair's fate. She quickly dressed in a tunic and breeches that had been set out for her and sat down on her bed.
The flap of her tent opened and in came all her friends: Wynne; Leliana; Oghren; Sten the stoic Qunari warrior; Zevran the former Antivan Crow assassin; Shale the stone golem; her faithful mabari hound Sarim who approached her and began licking her face; and finally her heart Alistair. Her friends lived; she had not led them to their deaths.
"You had us all worried Kathryne," Alistair said and she could hear the happiness in his voice.
The joy she felt at seeing her closest friends filled her up and she embraced them each in turn but she had to know how she was still alive and she feared the answer. "I am so happy to see you all but please I need to speak to Alistair alone," she said and then added "it's a Grey Warden matter."
Kathryne received telling looks from Leliana and Wynne as if they expected that the reason she wanted to be alone with Alistair was because of their relationship, there was no way they could guess her true reason.
Once alone Alistair embraced her and kissed her tenderly. She met the passion of his kiss but then pulled away.
"Alistair, do you know why I am alive? Riordan said that the Warden who killed the Archdemon would die." Kathryne suspected she knew the answer but had to give Alistair the chance to tell her.
"I don't know my love perhaps the Wardens were mistaken."
"Alistair, answer me truthfully. Did Morrigan come to you our last night in Redcliffe and offer you a bargain to ensure that no Warden died killing the Archdemon?" she asked the tension rising in the tent. Kathryne found her answer when Alistair could no longer meet her eyes.
"Did that traitorous bitch who called me sister tell you that she also came to me with the same offer, asking me to convince you to lay with her and conceive a child which would receive the Old God's spirit once the Archdemon was killed?" she asked her anger causing her voice to rise. "Did Morrigan tell you that I refused her even though it broke my heart?"
"Please forgive me, I did it for you," Alistair said to her shamefully tears running down his cheeks. "I couldn't lose you; I love you too much and want to make you my queen." He reached out to caress her cheek.
Kathryne swatted Alistair's hand away from her. A part of her was touched that Alistair cared that much for her but that could not overcome her anger. She had spent enough time with Morrigan to know that the thought of her raising a child with the soul of an Old God could end up being worse than the Archdemon itself. Kathryne would not entrust such a child to the Divine herself let alone her. Morrigan had been so evasive when Kathryne had raised questions about the child and her plans so certain that Kathryne would jump upon any chance at continued life, wielding Kathryne's love for Alistair to try and bludgeon her into agreement. Couslands though were made of sterner stuff, Couslands do what must be done and so she had refused. She had thought Morrigan gone forever after the harsh words they had exchanged but now she knew that she would see the witch again and Maker willing Morrigan would not survive the meeting. Morrigan had used Alistair, played upon his fears and his naivety, and stained his honour and hers as he acted for her benefit.
"Alistair you did not do this for me – you did it for yourself. You've betrayed everything the Grey Wardens represent," she said barely a whisper. "I love you Alistair but you should have let me die up on that roof. I made you King because I believed you would be a great King, you have a kind soul and a generous heart and I was content to give my life for you knowing that you would live and that I could never be the queen you needed."
"What are saying Kathryne? We love each other, what more do we need?"
"Alistair, I was the raised as the daughter of a teryn, raised to lead and protect those I ruled and to place the needs of my people first. When I spoke to Riordan he told me that a male Grey Warden has a difficult time siring a child and that it was impossible for two Grey Wardens to conceive. This land, your Kingdom, you deserve a queen who can provide you an heir and we both know that it cannot be me." Kathryne felt as though pieces of her heart were ripped from her as each word left her lips. She looked down half expecting to see blood spreading across her chest.
"I don't care so long as you are with me, by my side, loving me."
"Damn it Alistair a King must think of more than his own desires. You lead a nation and your decisions affect everyone in this land. You have a duty that is greater than either of us and if you doubt my words ask yourself what Duncan would do." Kathryne pushed him aside and left her tent leaving Alistair alone with his thoughts. The tears she had held back now flowed freely.
