This night would have been their honeymoon, it could have been if she'd been willing to bend. But both of them had too much honour to accept such a dark deal. Each had sworn to save the other, but ultimately it was she who was left behind.
It was hard to believe he was gone, she could almost still taste him on lips as he'd kissed her goodbye. He'd come a long way from the shy man-child who blushed when he offered her a rose. She smiled, thinking of how Alistair had slowly changed from an eager, but unsure, suitor, into a wonderfully sensitive and responsible man. Too responsible, damn him. He'd turned down the offer of a crown without a thought and did his duty as a Grey Warden.
Elissa blushed thinking of that last night they'd had together. Alistair had been very quiet after they had heard Riodan's revelation and she was afraid to ask him what was on his mind. When she had retired to her bedroom, after telling Morrigan to shove her evil bargain, Elissa has been surprised to find a large wooden box in her room.
Before she could open it, Alistair had appeared and swept her up into a passionate embrace. He actually lifted her into the air, despite the fact they were both still wearing armour, and then laid her down upon the bed. She forgot about the box then, as she watched him undress, no shred of his former shyness evident in his behaviour now.
When they were both naked and blooming in their desire for each other, Alistair had opened the box and a beautiful fragrance spilled out. It was full to the brim with pink rose petals. Elissa laughed as Alistair scooped up petals with his hands and covered her naked form with them.
"How did you get all these?" Elissa asked between giggles, the petals and Alistair's touch tickled her in various naughty places.
"Isolde had a rose garden, had being the important word," Alistair said, dumping more rose petals on her.
They didn't speak of the Archdemon, it was an unspoken agreement that wouldn't dwell on what would and could happen to them, they would enjoy the night regardless. Elissa lost count of the number of times they had made love that night, she had been pleasantly numb afterwards.
Even now she kept finding tiny stray petals in strange places on her body, they were no nuisance though, his were the hands that had put them there. The same hands that now lay lifeless, she sat there holding his cold hand as the roar of battle dimmed around them.
She looked down at Alistair's still face for what must have been hours, for the sun was now slowly rising. She felt Wynne's hand on her shoulder and Ser Woofington's cold nose against her cheek. Neither of them needed words to tell her it was time to let him go. She reached into her pack for the gift he had given her not too long ago.
The rose was faded and dead, the last clinging petal fell from it as she brushed it against her lips. Elissa caught the petal in her hand and held it tight while she laid the rose stem in his hands. Roses are pretty, but they don't bloom forever, eventually you have to let them go.