Hi, guys! So I promise that I am still working on The Guardian. However, after I finished Dragon Age Origins the other night and started playing Dragon Age Origins-Awakening, this story took over my brain and I had to get it out!

This is my take on what happens during the six months between Origins and Awakening. I had my PC kill the Arch Demon but for the story, I do have Riordan killing him (Trust me, still trying to figure out how you can kill the Arch Demon and still be alive for Awakening)

I do not own Dragon Age! It belongs to BioWare!

One month after the End of the Blight….

After Riordan defeated the Arch demon, Rose realized how much she and Alistair had to do. Deciding what to do about Rendon Howe's lands, laying Riordan to rest in Felderan, informing the Orlaisian Wardens of his death, and so much more that Rose was not sure if they could handle it all. Sure, she was a Cousland, but since she hadn't trained for ruling like her brother, she was not sure what they could do. She always felt like she had made the right decisions but she did admit to some terrible ones. She put her head in her hands, trying to make sense of everything that happened.

Alistair came in, having just finished a meeting with Arl Eamon. He looked at his wife, happy to see her but not happy to see her distress. He had good news for her, which is something she has not had since the death of her parents by the hand of Rendon Howe.

"Rose, Arl Eamon said that hopefully within the next month, we can move out of his estate and back to the royal palace. They are almost finished repairs in the area there."

"That's good. I don't mind staying here but I'm sure the Arl feels like we are overstaying our welcome a bit."

"Nonsense, he loves us."

"No, he loves you Alistair. Remember, you are like a son to him, regardless of what he put you through."

"True, but he loves you as well. You've done amazing things in Felderan, especially with only the two of us as Wardens."

Rose smiled at her husband, who was scratching behind his ear nervously. She stood up and kissed him, laying her head on his chest.

"Thank you, Alistair. Sometimes…it all seems so much."

He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.

"Arl Eamon had some other news as well…concerning your family."

Rose looked up in shock.

"What do you mean? They're all dead. Howe made sure of it."

"Are you sure? I seem to remember you saying that you were not sure what had happened with your brother, Fergus."

Rose nodded slowly, not wanting to believe where this conversation might lead.

"Of course…but with everything that happened, the Blight, the Landsmeet, and just not finding clues, I just...assumed he died in battle, like Mother and Father."

Alistair smiled, moving to sit on the bed. Rose joined him.

"He is alive. He was injured at Ostagar and has been recovering since then."

Rose started to breathe quickly, tears in her eyes.

"Fergus is alive? I'm not the last of my line?"

Alistair nodded. Rose hugged him tightly, kissing him again.

"That is wonderful news! Thank the Maker! Alistair, thank you!"

"No need to thank me. Teagan was the one who discovered where he was at and informed Eamon. Eamon thought you would like to know."

"When can I see him?"

"Soon. He will be here for when we decided what to do with the Arling of Amaranthine. I've a mind to give it to him as well of the lands of Highever. How does that sound, my dear?"

"I love the idea. It's funny. My father counted Howe as an ally, never realizing that he coveted our lands. It would be poetic that the Couslands get Amaranthine after everything he did to us."

Alistair smiled, kissing Rose on her forehead.

"I thought you might enjoy the irony. Plus, it seems only fair."

"Now let's just hope that Fergus gets your sense of humor."

Two Weeks Later….

They had moved back to the palace, glad to finally have a place of their own. Rose was excited because Fergus was in town. She missed her brother, even though she had made great friends on her adventures.

But today was a somber occasion. Today they would lay Riordan to rest. Their messages to the Orlaisians had gone through and they had promised to send some Wardens to help them get rid of the rest of the darkspawn that were in Felderan. They had also sent a message to the First Warden informing them of the situation in Felderan. Alistair said that it would probably be a while until they heard something, but Rose was fine with that. She just wanted to relax for a while. She felt that they had earned it.

But they did need to get through Riordan's funeral first.

Rose really only paid half-attention to what Alistair was saying. While she had respected Riordan, she did not know him as well as Alistair did. She watched her brother, noting his longer than normal hair and dull blue eyes. Ostagar had taken its toll on him and discovering about the deaths of their parents and his own family had been a hard blow on him. Once she heard Alistair mention Highever, she paid attention, curious about what was going to happen in her old home.

"Teryn Fergus, I would also like to grant you the Arling of Amaranthine in memory of what was lost when Rendon Howe looked too high."

"Thank you, your majesty. I would like to give the Arling to the Grey Wardens of Felderan, to use so they can rebuild to their former glory."

Rose and Alistair looked at each other in shock. They certainly weren't expecting Fergus to do that.

"Brother…are you sure?"

Fergus looked to his little sister and smiled. He hadn't seen her since he left home to go to Ostagar to fight alongside Cahlin. But seeing how much his sister has grown, both as a person and a leader, he knew he was making the right decision.

"Yes. I thank you both for the generous offer, but Highever is my home. Taking Amaranthine would seem like too much for me. Besides, the Grey Wardens need a base of operations right?"

Rose smiled and went to hug her brother, whispering thank you in his ear.

If only everything else had only went as smoothly…

I hope to have more chapters up soon! Please review!