Chapter 1

A destructed city surrounded the small, and wounded militia group on the top of a wrecked tower. The looming sky had turned even darker, casting a reddish glow down upon the great, black dragon that had crashed to the stone ground. Scattered fire's continued to burn loudly, as the others continued to fight the Darkspawn who had made their way up to the tower.

Fear crept into every single corner of the Grey Warden's body, as she heard a low rumbling. The gigantic, black wings of the Archdemon began to push itself off of the ground slowly. Swallowing all feelings, she reached around her chest piece for her greatsword only to feel nothing on her back. Without a moment's hesitation she began to sprint, using all the strength she had left, ignoring all the sensations of pain and fatigue that screamed from her body.

Gaining momentum she ripped a sword out of a dead Darkspawn's body, and continued to run forward, directly towards the Archdemon. It had fully stood up now, it's incredibly large body stretching out to full size. It's jet black skin had shiny marks of blood across it, and it's eyes were as red as the sky above. It let out a roar, that sent a shiver down the Grey Warden's spine. Clenching her teeth, she moved her heavily armored legs closer and closer to the dragon.

The Archdemon brought itself close down to the stone ground, and looked at the her through lowered eyes. It let out another shivering cry, it's sharp teeth gleaming in the night. Breathing heavily, the Grey Warden dived down underneath the dragon's open mouth, her armor screeching on the stone, sending sparks flying. Driving her blade into the dragon's throat as she slide, and then wrenched it out at the end of the neck.

A pained filled cry echoed throughout the night sky, as the Archdemon crashed down onto the ground again, followed by a stream of blood. But this time the Archdemon laid unmoving, showing no signs of life. Gasping for breath, anger replaced all fear. She raised the greatsword up above her head, and with a cry drove it into the head of the Archdemon, delivering the final blow.

A golden ray of light erupted out of the Archdemon, straight into the sky. The beam could be seen all around the city, and fights were momentarily stopped at the unusual sight. It seemed to be never ending, as the light continued to pour out of the dragon up into the night. The Grey Warden stood in it, attempting to get her sword and herself out. Again and again she tried to wretch her sword out of the skull but her strength had abandoned her.

Suddenly, the beam of light erupted causing the Grey Warden to be lost in an explosion, and bystanders to be sent flying back from the force. A blue ring was casted around the tower, sending a thundering sound across the city, and then suddenly nothing.
The sky had turned empty, and the sounds of fighting vanished, as the Darkspawn began to run cowardly away making them easy targets for the soldiers to defeat. But instead of killing the easy prey, many soldiers continued to stare at the tower, puzzled at what could have caused the strange event.

"Elaine! Elaine!" Alistair's voice was muffled by the smoke from the explosion. Nothing could be seen on top of the tower, just a thick black smoke. Alistair pushed himself off of the rubble, feeling the crunch underneath his hands. His boots clanked as he raced towards where he had last seen her. "Elaine!" He choked on the smoke, as he had began to breathe heavily. Heart pounding, and head wheeling Alistair had never felt so lost in his life, and it had nothing to do with not being able to find his way through the thick smoke.

A murmur, and thunderous clap caused a ball of light to fly by Alistair's head. And then another, and another. A mage was casting a spell, causing the smoke to clear away. Alistair clinged onto the hope that was still inside him, and stepped over the piles of rubble. Behind him he heard others beginning to stand up, but he only cared about what was in front of him.

Unknowingly, Alistair stepped onto a dead Darkspawn, and fell forward into the rummage. He just lied there, letting the feeling of dread rise up his into his throat, his windpipe closing in, but only for a second. Then he gritted his teeth, and pushed himself up onto his hands and knees. "She had to have made it. She had to." He thought to himself.

He crawled closer to the the corpse of the Archdemon when he saw it. A golden colour amongst all the black and grey rubble. He had found her. "Elaine." He breathed, and rushed forward to her. Elaine's body was folded in on itself, unmoving. Alistair kneeled by her side, and grabbing her head gently he moved it onto his lap. Biting down onto his inner lip, he lowered his ear down to her mouth. The smallest sound of a wisp of air left Elaine, flickering into his ear.

A cry of happiness left Alistair, as he lowered his forehead to hers. Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted his love off of the ground. She felt heavy in his arms. Though his feet stumbled across the stones, he did not allow himself to fall. He also did not allow himself to take his eyes off of Elaine's face. Her golden blonde hair was plastered to her face, with blood and sweat, and a slash went across the bottom of her jawline. Yet he still found her as beautiful as ever.

"Is she..." It was Leliana, but Alistair interrupted her.

"She's barely breathing. She needs to attention. Now."

Leliana nodded, and sheathed her bow, yelling at the others. "Head out, down the tower!"

Clutching onto Elaine's body a little harder, Alistair followed the group as they made their way down through the destroyed the city. It felt almost as she was getting heavier and heavier to carry, he could feel her slipping away. "We need to hurry." He begged. The group gave him a troubled look when they heard how worried he was, and began jogging faster, pushing through their fatigue.

The city was littered with dead bodies, of both Darkspawn and soldiers, and fires raged uncontrollably. The sky had turned back to a dark blue, but the stars were hidden still, only the large moon in the sky. At the gates of the city stood an army of men, covered in dirt, and blood. A general turned around and saw the group coming, "The King!" He yelled. The army cheered at the site of their king, and began to move to the sides to let him through. Alistair didn't hear any of the cheers, and was still simply staring at the unconscious Elaine in his arms.

"We need a healer, immediately." Leliana said sternly, her accent coming out fully.
The General recognized her serious tone, and began to quickly lead them towards the castle.

Alistair was rushed into the castle, the rest of the group stopping just outside of the front doors. The entrance was surprisingly empty, but as Alistair looked into the dining room on the left all he could see is rows and rows of beds, most of them with soldiers in them. Healers ran around treating as many soldiers as possible, the buzzing of magicka and murmurs of spells was all that could be heard. A feeling of nausea began to rise up in his throat and sudden flashes of the wounded at Ostagar came into his head.

The General ran ahead into the room, leaving Alistair in the front entrance. The General ran up to a healer that was wearing completely white robs with a leather bag across her body, and talked to her quickly, using big arm motions. The healer looked out of the corner of her eyes to the King, and the future Queen in his arms, and then beckoned Alistair forward, "Follow me your Majesty." Her voice was gentle.

Alistair followed the healer, through what was now his castle. But he could care less, if it meant that he had no one to rule it with. The halls he walked down were unfamiliar, and seemed meaningless if there was no one to walk down them with.

The healer turned the knob of a large ornate door, revealing a large bedroom. Alistair laid down Elaine on the bed gently, moving her hair from underneath her. He stared down at her face, but she just laid as still as before. Desperately he looked up at the healer, who had taken off her leather bag and laid it across the table at the base of the bed.

"I know this is a lot to ask your Majesty, but I think it will be easier for you to leave. I have no idea what she has undertaken, it will be a very long and hard process."

"Can you just tell me if ..." Alistair stopped, not being able to finish the sentence.

"I'll do my best your Majesty."

Alistair nodded, his eyes low to the ground, and let himself out the room, closing the door as silently as possible. Staring blankly at the wall for several seconds, Alistair tried to pull himself together but simply could not. He leaned against the wall, putting his forehead on his arm, and closing his eyes.

"Alistair." He opened his eyes, and looked up to see Arl Eamon standing at the top of the stairs, his hands in the pockets of his tunic. Alistair suddenly felt his face get hot, and stood up straight, the shoulder blades of his armor clicking together.

"No need to act formally. You have seen me in this state before, no?" Eamon seemed genuinely sincere, as he spoke to Alistair, his old eyes soft. "I will ask you to do something, that was asked of me in a similar situation and then I will leave you to attend to your betrothed. Speak to your people."

"I need her by my side if I am going to do that."

"Alistair, Ferelden is saved. The Darkspawn defeated. The people need to hear from their King."

"While my love lies on her death bed?!" Alistair raised his voice, his anger uncontrollable. "The only reason I agreed to be King was because she said she would be by my side for it! And now she could be gone at any moment!" Eamon's face remained blank while Alistair continued. "I don't know what to say to them. I'm not a King. And I'll never be if she isn't my Queen. I won't."

Alistair turned his back to face Eamon, more embarrassed now because of his emotions. He could feel hot tears running down his face, and this is not how we wanted Eamon to see him on his first true day of being King.

"You need to let your people know what she has done for them. So if anything happens, which I pray to the Maker does not, it was not in vain."

Alistair looked over his shoulder at Eamon, lips pursed and eyebrows pushed together. "Alright."

"Then on with the coronation." Arl Eamon said, stepping forward to him, and placing his hand on his back. "It'll be okay son."

Alistair felt himself tremble a little at the word "son", as he walked down the red steps, but he clenched his fist, keep his emotions at bay. Glancing back at the bedroom that Elaine laid in, he swallowed hard and then continued down into the main hall where a citizens had began to gather.

He recognized Leliana, Wynne, Sten, Oghren, Zevran and Shale all standing together in a small group at the back of the crowd, all with looks of pure concern etched to their faces. At the site of Alistair their concern seemed double, but all tried to put up a front of bravery for their friend, who was going through something that none of them could even imagine.