Compared to this, slaying the Archdemon was easy.

It's almost been a month since the Blight had officially ended. Eliisa stood by her brother, Fergus, with a sad smile on her face. Alistair was being crowned king, the golden was circle placed on his head and he turned to greet the crowd. She, with the rest of the court, knelt before him, bowing their heads in reverence. Although, she was more focused on watching Fergus to make sure he was actually able to do this stand, kneel, bow, whatever the king wanted, ceremony. At least this wasn't nearly as extravagant as Cailan's coronation, thank the Maker.

"He's talking about you," Fergus whispered to her in the midst of the king's speech. Eliisa gave him a side glance before gathering her skirts to walk to the steps of the throne room.

"May I present my betrothed, who will soon be your queen, the Lady Eliisa Cousland" she placed her hand into Alistair's extended one. Her stomach flipped nervously as he brought it up his lips and kissed her knuckles.

He learned court manners quickly

Giving him a nervous smile and a nod, they waited momentarily for the crowd to calm their cheering. She listened to him talk about her accomplishments, offering a boon, and an engagement present. Her stomach flipped again.

She knew she was supposed to say something noble, something honorable. Like 'I only wish to serve the crown,' years of tutoring and experience meant to be gracious and on your best behavior in front of royalty. That changes when the king happens to be your best friend, right?

"I ask only that which is my family's by right. Our lands and titles restored and those who were involved with the" she faltered, it's been a year but it still sticks to the back to her throat. They're in court, there are people around, don't give in to the spiral, don't show anger, and don't give details. She looked up at Alistair when he rubbed his thumb over her hand, a small comfort. She exhaled "…the injustice that my house has seen, be brought to justice." How many times did she just say 'justice?' She was never good at speeches, she could practically hear father's snicker 'that's my Pup' and mother chastising him.

"And it will be done, the Terynir of Highever will return to House Cousland and those who wronged your house will see the King's Justice," when did he get better at speeches than her? Relief washed over her and smiled at up him when he squeezed her hand. He moved to stand in front of her and gave the rest of his speech. Eliisa, admittedly, was not paying much attention to it. She focused on his back. He was no longer in armor she had become use to seeing him in. He wore a fine jerkin of deep red and gold and dark brown leather breeches, his father's sword at his hip. She was thankful he hadn't followed the Theirin tradition of a purple cloak and had opted for a fur lined black one. Nothing screams Ferelden like leather and fur.

Maker help her, he seemed to have slid into his new role so easily. Eamon's soft cough and Alistair's amused gaze brought her back. Something about what will she be doing? Her plans? Fergus' snicker was so similar to father's.

"Oh, ah, I will remain here, your majesty," she gave a teasing smirk "I believe you'll need my help."

Liar, you just don't want to go back with Fergus.

"Well, I didn't want to come out and say it…but I'm relieved you'll be nearby," he returned her smirk and a grin. "Ah! There's a group of Ferelden citizens waiting outside to get a look at their hero," Maker, no "I suggest you make a brief appearance before they storm the gate," she tried to return his chuckle, her throat too dry "Just tell the guard at the door when you're ready" another smile and the rest of the court started to disperse.

She took a breath looked around the room. Alistair talking to Eamon, her companions talking to nobles and the rabble, Fergus reassuring everyone who passed him by that he was, in fact, not dying at the moment. She pulled at her hair, the maiden braids were too tight. She had become accustomed to the messy bun worn while on her travels.

At least the handmaidens didn't try to style it in the double coiled buns, talk about adding insult to injury. She thought of Anora briefly before walking up to Alistair's side and linking her arm with his.

Affection. Love. Remind everyone this isn't out of politics, or guilt. Love. Love.

"My King," Eliisa smiled and tried her best not to drag her friend away from the man who put them both in this position. Of course, she didn't have to offer herself as Queen, she could have kept Anora as queen, she could have let him rule alone, or with Anora. She couldn't decide which fate was worse for her dear friend.

No, I'm the one who put the crown on his head, despite him being unsure. I owe my friend this, at least he will not suffer on the throne alone. She stood close to him, her hand still on his arm.

"So," she was brought out of her thoughts "we made it," she wanted to hug him. They had made it. It was an awful, painful year, she's glad she was able to turn in her armor for a dress, if only for a time. "I'm impressed, aren't you?" he pulled her hand from his arm and held it. The green and blue of her sleeves contrasted with his red and gold his own. "I was so scared I might…lose you but…here you are…And here I am. Not bad, right?"

Maker bless him, she nodded and smiled. It shouldn't have been possible, they shouldn't be both here, but they were. She wondered if she'd ever see Morrigan again.

"I bet it has something to do with that night, with uh, with Morrigan," she frowned when he looked away from her "Why you're still here, I'm not that dumb-"

"Alistair," she stopped him and squeezed his hand

Affection. Love.

"I-I never thought you were," closing her eyes she placed her forehead against his own, "don't speak of yourself in that manner," she huffed a chuckle at his noncommittal grunt

"The rest of the Grey Warden's haven't arrived yet from Orlais, but they've already sent…questions" she raised a brow "What should I tell them?" she sighed.

I wondered when how long it would take for people to wonder why I am not dead.

She stood there, against him, listening to him breathing. She wanted to say she didn't know, that, of course, would never suffice. She couldn't put Alistair on the spot like that, either, not with the warden's. Maker knows it'll happen to him all the time as king.

Taking his other hand in hers she opened her eyes and stared at their feet

"You could tell them they were wrong," she tried to joke, although she was sure neither of them found it funny. She looked at up at him when he placed his hands on the sides on her shoulders.

"Ah yes, all you need is a maleficar willing to have your demon baby. Who knew?" Eliisa pursed her lips as he shrugged his shoulders, "No, I suppose I'll just keep that to myself. I can shrug and look stupid. It's a talent" she rolled her eyes and shook her head. He grinned at her again and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, causing her throat going dry again.

That's new

"Speaking of Morrigan, do you know where she went?" she felt a chill as he pulled away, why is it so cold in the throne room? "She vanished right after the battle. No goodbyes or anything."

"Oh? Personally offended are we?" she teased him and he made a disgusted noise "I don't know where she went," She paused, thinking "and I'm not sure whether I want to find her or not"

"Good riddance I say," she sighed at him but gave a tired smile "At any rate, these formal affairs drive me insane, I can't wait to be ah…" she raised her eyebrow at him when he stopped suddenly

"Yes?"

"Ah, hmm, I mean, I can't wait to get out of here, you know, alone, perhaps you can I could…talk…before well…the wedding plans," this time Eliisa made the disgusted noise

"Well if it's anything like the last royal wedding, it'll be extravagant" she placed her hands on her hips, as she did when she was thinking about something difficult. She looked around and noticed people starting to look at them, whispering

"Are they talking about the wedding?"

"Look at how easily they talk to one another,"

"Falling in love amidst all the fighting and death, so romantic"

Romantic, huh? That's what they're calling us? Good. Play your part Lady Cousland.

"In any case," she continued as he fixed his coat nervously "yes, of course we can talk later. Besides, I'm sticking around remember," she stomach turned at the thought of Highever "It's not like you'll miss me" she tried a grin for him. It seemed to have worked because he relaxed a little

"What are you talking about, 'Lis? I miss you every moment you aren't in my direct line of sight," she raised a brow and side stepped, causing him to laugh. She laughed with him, it felt good "See, look at that missing you already" he pulled her back over. She quirked her eyebrows worriedly when his grin faded

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, just…I know I asked you before but, are you sure?"

"Sure of?"

"Marrying me" she blinked at him

"Alistair," she thought of teasing him, joking to make the situation lighter. That's what they did right? Ignore the problem by joking it away? He just looked so unsure and perhaps a bit afraid. "I'm not just going to suddenly change my mind on this, I promised you I would stick by you, not matter what" she gave his arm a squeeze "You're stuck with me," whether for his own benefit or hers, he looked relieved.

Please don't resent me for this decision Alistair

"Well I can certainly think of worse fates than being married to a beautiful woman," he grinned, taking her hand and kissing it like before.

"Beautiful, huh?"

"Of course you are, and you know it" she twitched her nose, slightly embarrassed by his admission "You're ravishing, resourceful, and all those other things you'd probably hurt me for not saying." He grinned at her and smiled up at him.

"I wouldn't hurt you, Alistair," she adjusted his crown that had become slightly askew and smiled "there"

"And for that, my dead lady, I am grateful" she watched him kiss her hand a final time "I'll let you get to your adoring public. They want to see the hero of Ferelden, and who am I to keep them waiting" she bowed her head and curtsied. She tried to keep her ladylike composure when he made a face at her, one like when you take a swallow of milk and its gone sour. Something about 'I know were in public but' and 'even you? The 'my king' is enough don't you think', she watched him grumble his way back to Eamon who gave her a look before turning back to Alistair.

How much longer am I to deal with that man?

She prayed her face didn't give away her thoughts. She had argued until her voice was hoarse with Eamon, specifically about Alistair, many times. Probably too many. Alistair once told her that he was surprised her temper didn't cause "the Archdemon to take one good look, and decide it wasn't worth it." She glared and rambled in response, probably proving his point.

Ass she thought, affectionately, of course

It was different with Eamon, though. Eliisa was taught politics, about nobles, manipulation and how not to be manipulated. Alistair was not, and she would not let Eamon use him any way he wanted. In the end, he got what he wanted though didn't he? Alistair wore the crown and Eamon is now his chancellor, despite her…suggestions, that he wasn't needed. The only joy she received from this arrangement was the look he gave her when she announced she would be Alistair's queen.

That sounded harsh, she quickly reprimanded herself. Alistair was a good, sweet man, who actually cared about her not her claim. She should be much more grateful she gets to marry her best friend, instead of some man who only wants to be a Cousland and wants her lands. Like all the suitors she had met before the Blight.

Eliisa made her way down to Fergus, smiling thankfully at many of the noble's congratulations and comments on her, to her, above her, it was all just elegant ass kissing. Fereldan's liked to sneer at the Orlesian's for their Game, but really, she wasn't sure how this was any different. Of course, she had only visited Orlais a few times, and never engaged in their politics.

"You look positively ecstatic, dear sister," she rolled her eyes at her brother's quip but ignored him

"Do you need to sit down, maybe need some water?" she motioned for a random servant

"Not you too," she chuckled at his whine "I'm alright, nothing I can't handle, the only thing that hurts is knowing that's happened in the past year and knowing I was stuck, injured in some hut."

"Fergus, that wasn't your fault" she began "we all barely made it. Maker's breath, Al- King Alistair" she corrected herself quickly "and I nearly died trying to light the beacon. There's no shame in being injured and…" her throat closed "there…there was nothing you could have done…for Highever"

"I know. I know, I just wish I had been there when you killed Howe," she nodded in understanding. They were silent for a moment and she wasn't in the mood to break the silence "You should keep it. The sword, I mean. You were the one who used it to battle darkspawn and Maker knows what else"

"No" she stated firmly "It is a Cousland heirloom, and the Cousland heir, the heir of Highever, should be the one to hold it," She carried the sword throughout the Blight. It had sung as she cut down darkspawn, it was practically nostalgic when she fought the werewolves, it was sated when it was covered in Rendon Howe's blood.

However, she had come to love a new blade. Sten had found this metal, "star metal" if she remembered correctly, and had Mikhael Dryden craft a sword for her. "Starfang" it was called and it was the blade she used to drive into the Archdemon's skull. The significance of Sten giving her such a gift was not beyond her. It was still bittersweet to give up the Cousland sword.

"And soon, it will Eliisa Theirin née Cousland, not Eliisa Cousland" Fergus hummed thoughtfully.

"Mother would be nagging us to death at the moment though, yeah?" she smiled when he changed the subject

"Just you Fergus, I'm betrothed to the king, I think she would lay off me for a while, don't you think?"

"Pfft, no." she laughed out loud "You know she would be lecturing you on how you should be up there, with him, right now,"

"Probably," sighing she watched nobles come forward to give their condolences and greetings to the Teryn "We'll talk later Fergus," he nodded and kissed her cheek

"I'm proud of you Eliisa, everyone would have been so proud of you," swallowing the lump in her throat she turned and left him, before the tears could fully form.

She walked towards her companions, each giving her congratulations and words of joy. She placed a kiss on Oghren's forehead after he joked about the after party, leaving her red lip stain print on him. Wynne talked of how she would return to the Circle, with Shale, for a brief time and eyed her and then back to Alistair. Eliisa's lips twitched nervously, Wynne was fond of Alistair. No doubt she was worried about Eliisa's decision to throw him into politics and then her so elegantly making herself queen. Sten was standing stoically next to Lady, her mabari war hound. She expressed her gratitude when he told her he wouldn't look for her on the battlefield.

One thing at a time

Leliana hugged her tightly saying how beautiful she looked, however asking if Fereldan's had to add fur to everything.

"You lose citizenship if you don't have one piece of leather or fur on your clothing" she teased her friend

"I know you are teasing me, but I honestly think some actually do believe that," Leliana scrunched her nose and held Eliisa's hands, after straightening her bell sleeves "You look marvelous, such a wonderful shade of blue under a green surcoat, the neckline on your collarbone, just enough to show your amulet," Eliisa raised her hand to the piece of jewelry, it was what her father, or the image of her father, had given her during her test of faith in the Frostbacks. "Now if only it had some sort of pattern on it, instead of fur on the sleeves," Leliana muttered the last part under her breath.

After finding out her plans to return to Orlais, returning for Eliisa's wedding of course, she moved on to Zevran, who admitted he had nowhere to go. She offered to let him stay here, joking about needing an assassin or maybe needing protection from an assassin. He accepted graciously, kissing her hand.

Alistair will be thrilled to find out about this

She eyed a strange dog in the back corner of the throne room, away from everyone else. She blinked It couldn't be, could it? The hound paid her no mind, and didn't respond when she walked up to it.

The doors of the palace stood before her, she could feel the court staring holes into her back. Everyone had quieted down to barely a whisper and she swore she could hear everyone's heartbeat in the room. She took a deep breath, fearful of the crowd that was waiting. She may have been raised to take this on, that didn't mean she was ever confident enough for it. She held her head high.

You're the daughter of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, the Solider and the Seawolf, you're the hero of Ferelden, you're the soon to be queen, you battled Darkspawn and demons, no crowd can overcome you.

Eliisa pushed the doors open.