AN: PC is a good female, human noble. I picked Elicia as a random name.
Elicia blinked several times, but the more she tried to keep the image of her blood stained hands from memory, the stronger it came back. Only hours ago did she slay Lohgain in front of all the nobles at the Landsmeet. His corpse haunted her, and the sheer sadness she saw on Anora's face melted her heart. Still, it had to be done. Loghain had betrayed all of them and so many innocent people had perished because of his obsession with Orlais. Traitor or not, Loghain was no Darkspawn, and he was no Abomination. He was still human and, in a twisted way, a good man. Just a deluded and blind one.
Allistair reluctantly accepted his role as king of Fereldan, but it was easy to see that his mind was elsewhere. From the moment he commanded the nobles and their comrades to prepare for the final battle with the Darkspawn, she decided once and for all that Fereldan had finally found her king. She would stay by his side and ensure that he would survive this battle, even if she did not. She knew she could not suggest that Allistair stay behind. He would want to be in the front lines, proudly slaying all in his path in the name of the Grey Wardens. She knew he would want to make Duncan proud.
And then there was the matter of the Archdemon, the monster that crept into her dreams since she survived the Joining. Why was it that the Grey Wardens were needed to kill the beast? Was there a special skill they possessed that she was not aware of? This was a question that had continually lingered in the back of her mind. She intended to speak to Riordan about their particular roles in the death of the Archdemon. She felt just as helpless as she did when she first met Duncan. So many questions, and little to no answers. There was a knock at her door.
"Yes? Come in," she said. She heard a familiar clank of armor enter her room. There were only two in their party that would wear such heavy protection, and Sten truly had no reason to visit her at this hour. She was not surprised to see Allistair standing but a few feet from her.
"I… need to talk to you," he said. His eyes were sad, and his posture suggested that he was fighting to hold still. It was a habit of his that she had noticed when they first met. He was theatrical when he didn't have a care in the world, but when he was upset or sad, he remained very still.
"What is it, Allistair?" she asked.
He let out a deep breath and closed his eyes. "This is… probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. And you would think that killing Darkspawn left and right would be on the top of the list. Or even trying to be friendly to Morrigan or-" then he stopped himself. "No… no more games. Listen, Elicia, I just can't."
Not even the Frostback Mountains made her feel this cold. She could see it on his face. It was so clear, and it was something that she had expected to happen fairly soon since they gathered their contracted allies. It was somewhat endearing, watching him struggle to find the necessary words to express himself. It was one of the many things she loved about him. But Wynne's words echoed in her mind, and she knew that Grey Wardens would never lead a happy life. She stood and slowly walked to her love. She grasped his hand lightly and brought it to her cheek. "I love you," was all she said.
Allistair leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "I have to tear myself away while I can. You know as well as I do that you mean more to me than anything in the world. But we just cannot be, especially if I am to be king. Fereldan will want an heir… and being a Grey Warden just complicates everything. I am… so sorry."
He wrapped his arms around her and she held him tightly, cherishing the last moment they will ever have together. "I never wanted it to be this way," he whispered. "But the moment we became Grey Wardens, our lives were no longer our own. It breaks my heart to be away from you, but I have to do this. I cannot be selfish. Just know that the love I feel for you is true."
She couldn't hear more. Her heart was breaking, and no amount of Cousland training could prepare her for this type of pain. "I know," she said. She pulled away and looked into his eyes. It was true. She could see nothing but love, and she felt happy knowing that she was so treasured by someone. "I will do everything in my power to protect you, Allistair. Goodbye, my love." She walked passed him, leaving him in her room. She couldn't bear to stay another minute in there with him. Her mind needed to focus on something else. She needed to find Riordan and figure a way to kill the Archdemon.
Riordan was completely entranced by a small map he had made of Denerim. They had received news that the Archdemon had shown itself and was leading an army of Darkspawn to Denerim. "Damn it all," he spat. "We won't be there in time to fend off the first wave, even if we leave now."
Elicia watched as the senior Grey Warden paced around his desk, searching for the shortest and most efficient route for an army to use. "Are we sure that the Archdemon is heading for the capital?" she asked. Riordan was not even startled when she made herself known to him.
"It's the taint," Riordan said. "Just like we can feel the Darkspawn, there are times when we can feel each other." He finally pulled himself away from the map and faced her. "You seem distracted."
She pushed Allistair from her mind. This was now about all of Fereldan, and she could not falter. "I wanted to ask you about the Archdemon. Duncan never had the chance to tell us how to kill it, and I suspect it has something to do with the taint in our bodies."
Riordan nodded. "You are correct in your assumption. There really is no easy way of saying this, so I shall be forward with you. The final blow cannot be made by anyone but a Grey Warden. Essentially, the life force of the Archdemon will be transmitted to the Grey Warden and it will die; however, it will mean certain death for the one that inherits the spirit of the Archdemon. Should anyone but a Grey Warden kill the dragon, the spirit will find another host, and the Archdemon will be reborn."
"Then it is settled. I will make the final blow," Elicia said sternly. She was surprised at her own confidence, but it was supported by her desire to save Fereldan, and the desire to save Allistair.
Riordan blinked in surprise. "So quick to act, are you?" he asked. "As I am the senior Warden, it is only right that I strike the beast down. However, if I am unable to do so, the task will fall to you or Allistair. Our lives are shortened as it is. Do not be so quick to throw away such a precious gift."
She could not say anything. Tomorrow they would march to Denerim. There was never a moment when the end of her life was so evident. "No matter what happens in the final battle, please know that I am proud to fight beside you, Riordan."
He clasped his hand on her shoulder. "And I, you. Now, We should get some rest, we have a long journey and even longer battle ahead of us."
Elicia gave him a halfhearted smile and left his room. Across the hall, the fire from Morrigan's room caught her attention. The dark mage was speaking to someone, and they were both cautious to keep their voices low. She and Morrigan were never true friends, but there was a level of respect that she had for the mage. Perhaps, Morrigan did bond with someone along their travels, and she was saying her goodbyes or even looking for company. There were times when she found Morrigan teasing Sten out of amusement. Maybe something more was born from that amusement. It was not Elicia's place to decide which, so she left Morrigan to her privacy of her room.
When she approached her own bedroom, she was grateful to see that Allistair had left. She felt a wet nose nudge her hand and she smiled. Ari had snuck his way into her room as he often did when they were in Highever. He whimpered and whined, almost as though he knew what she had decided. She walked over to her bed and sat down on the plush covers. "Come here, boy," she urged.
Loyally, Ari came, and he sat next to her leg. She pet him, and lightly scratched behind his ears. "Thank you, Ari. I am undeserving of such loyalty," she said softly. He nudged her knee with his head and snorted. She smiled and kissed his head. "The next couple of days will prove to be very difficult. But this is why we worked so hard to bring Fereldan together. We will bring back peace to her lands. I could not have done this without you, Ari."
He stood and showed her that his tail was wagging excitedly. He barked twice and settled next to her again and layed his head down to sleep. Elicia did the same, and the moment her head touched the pillow, the tears began to flow.