Endings and Beginnings

An Alistair and Anora Romance based on the characters in Biware's Dragon Age

Chapter 1

Alistair inhaled deeply as he approached the door. He had been dreading this moment, but he wanted to honor Danielle's final request. Danielle, the beautiful, talented Mage, the remarkable and courageous Grey Warden, the Hero of Ferelden, his dear friend and lover, was gone. She had killed the archdemon and had sacrificed her life.

Alistair and Danielle had grown to care deeply for one another. Their friendship was strong and they were fiercely loyal to each other. The horror of what they saw as they journeyed throughout Ferelden during the blight drew them close both emotionally and in time, physically. Always passionate and deeply satisfying, their love making was born out of fear and loneliness and a shared need to feel the full beautify of life, in the face of death and despair. They loved one another truly, but they were not in love. Her heart belonged to another, and Alistair had not yet found the woman to whom he could fully give his heart.

Cullen was, to say the least, stunned when he opened the door and saw the King of Fereldon standing there. "It is cold out here Cullen. May I come in?" Alistair inquired.

"Yes, of course, please." Cullen said, still surprised that his stutter had not re-appeared since leaving the Tower.

Cullen's house was small but well built and comfortable. It was located just west of Redcliffe, near the south end of Lake Calenhad. It seemed right to Cullen to be able to look across the lake and see the Tower looming, knowing he was free its hold on him. And while the Tower could still conjure up painful memories, seeing it would remind him of Danielle. Those memories were the ones that sustained him through his bleakest moments.

Cullen had left the Tower not long after his horrific ordeal there. In the months that followed his departure, Cullen spent his anger at the Tower, at the Mages, at the Chantry, and at himself, building his house and tending to the small plot of farm land he had been able to purchase. New directions for his life began to take shape, and as Danielle had often encouraged, he began to write. Cullen began to believe that much of the Chantry's teaching, especially in regard to Mages, had somehow veered off course. He had also come to the realization that the treatment of the Circle Mages by the Templars was in part to blame for the tragedy that happened there.

Alistair gratefully accepted the tea Cullen brought him. He stood warming his hands in front of the hearth. As he stared at the fire, tears began to fill his tired blue eyes.

"Cullen. I am here to talk to you about Danielle." Alistair's voice was strained and cracking from emotion. "I had the privilege to be with her just before she died, and she made me promise to come to you as soon as I could." The tears that had been forming were now flowing freely. The thought of her, laying limply in his arms as she took in her last breath, was still painful. He composed himself and continued.

"She asked me to give you this letter and she wanted you to know that you still had her heart. She said to tell you that she would not be returning the amulet you gave her. She told me that it was a symbol of your love and it alone gave her the strength and courage to face the blight and to kill the archdemon. She wanted your love and strength and courage to be with her even in the world beyond. She also wanted you to know that she knew that words you spoke that day when we found you trapped in the tower, were the words of a Templar tortured and not the words of the man she knew and loved." Alistair could not continue.

Cullen's hands were cupped over his face, and he was weeping. Alistair moved towards the small oak table near the couch and reached for the decanter of wine. He poured a glass for himself and Cullen. They sat in silence for some time. Alistair could see the pain of regret etched on Cullen's face.

"She also wanted me to give you this. She had it made for you in Denerim." Alistair handed him a small velvet bag along with Danielle's letter. Cullen opened the bag. It was a heart shaped medallion attached to a beautifully tooled leather wrist strap. One side the name Cully was etched and on the other, Dani. Cullen smiled.

They talked into the early hours of the morning. Cullen shared his memories of Danielle. Alistair mostly listened, occasionally interjecting with something Danielle had shared with him about Cullen or with a tale that he imagined Danielle would have liked to have told Cullen herself, given the chance. As dawn approached, Cullen opened the letter. He read it silently with a few tears, several smiles, and an occasional laugh.

Cullen looked up at Alistair. "She mentions you." He said, and began to read from her letter. "Cully, please look after Ali. Help him if you can. I know he is the King, but he can be quite helpless sometimes. He will no doubt annoy you, as he does us all, but he is a good man, a fine leader, a cherished friend, and the true Hero of Fereldon."

Alistair smiled. So like Skye, he thought.

"Cullen, I must take my leave. I thought you might like to know that plans are underway to convert the Tower into a university, in honor of Danielle. My friends Leliana and Genativi plan to invite scholars from all of Thedas to study there. Leliana wishes to study Andraste and the interpretation of her words – or dare I say misinterpretation – by the Chantry, which I hear has become of interest to you. We need to resolve questions about the role of the Templars in relation to the Circle. There is much to be learned and much to be studied. Perhaps it is too soon to ask you this, but I would be honored if you would take a seat at Amell University. From what Danielle has told me about you, your knowledge and your personal experiences would be invaluable and would be most welcome."

Cullen bowed his head for a minute and then stood up.

"Your Majesty, I thank you for doing this. I am humbled by your presence. I cannot begin to explain to you how I felt about Danielle and what she meant to me. When I learned of her death, my heart shattered into a thousand pieces. I mourn her loss and the loss of what was and what could have – no - what should have been. I believe this is what she would have wanted and it would be my honor to assist you."

"I am glad and I thank-you. Leliana is in Redcliffe and will be waiting for you." said Alistair as he extended his hand to Cullen. "Well I must be off. I look forward to seeing you again."

As Cullen closed the door he instinctively touched the medallion around his wrist. "Thank you Dani." he whispered.

~xxx~

With this last painful task out of the way, it was time for Alistair to take up his duties at the Palace. It had been a grueling trip. Shortly after his coronation, he had returned to Ostagar with Wynne and Rory and upon discovering Cailan's decaying body, saw to his cremation sending his body off with dignity. He had retrieved some of Duncan's weapons as well as some of the King's personal items, which he thought to give to Anora. He then traveled to Highever with Rory. Rory had become a Grey Warden at last. He had agreed to help re-build the Wardens of Ferelden and to manage Vigil's Keep. But first Rory wanted to help Fergus Cousland reclaim Highever.

On his way back to Denerim, he passed through Loghain's lands. They had been overrun by darkspawn and now served as a temporary refugee camp for those whose towns and villages had been ruined in the blight. Such utter destruction pervaded Ferelden. There was much work to be done.

When Alistair finally arrived back at the Palace, Eamon, now the King's Regent, greeted him warmly and they embraced. They sat together in Alistair's study, sipping some Antivan brandy, smoking cigars, and bringing one another up-to-date on what had been transpiring at the palace during Alistair's road trip. Alistair was not pleased to hear that Anora was still being kept under lock and key. For whatever reason, Alistair did not see Anora as quite the threat that Eamon did. Alistair had done as much of the King's business as he could from the road, and thankfully Eamon was in Denerim to make sure his plans were getting underway. He was saddened to hear of Eamon's decision to send Isolde away. Eamon could not forgive her the death and destruction her dishonesty and selfishness had caused in Redcliffe. Alistair had no love for Isolde and had himself been a victim of her petty jealousies, but it pained him to see how Eamon suffered. He could see that Eamon still loved her.

Alistair excused himself, as soon as he could, and slipped off to his room for a nice hot bath. Dirty and road weary, Alistair eased himself into the large tub and closed his eyes. He needed time alone. Just as he was beginning to relax, he was disturbed by a minor ruckus in his sitting room.

"Dear Maker, not this again!"

In walked Zevran being rough handled by two Palace Guards. Zevran had done all he could to ensure the castle was secure and the guards were trained well enough to prevent even a skilled assassin like himself from gaining access to the Palace. Evidently Zevran's training had paid off.

"But I am having my bath Zevran." Alistair whined.

"And so you are!" Zevran moved closer, eyeing the bath water a little too closely for Alistair's comfort. Instinctively, Alistair covered his privates with his wash cloth.

"Apologies for the interruption, my dear King. Your guards have caught me three times this week." Zevran said with a grin. "I think they are well enough trained now. I will return to Antiva for a time and then, when they least expect it, I will try again." Zevran said triumphantly.

"Fair enough" Alistair said. "But your leaving does not please me."

"So, you would like me to please you?" Zevran replied luridly. "Well that can be arranged my dear Alistair."

"Ah, never mind Zev. See you when you get back" Alistair grinned.

And with Zev's departure, the last of his companions had left the Palace. Morrigan of course, had disappeared before the final battle and had not been seen since. Sten returned to his lands and Oghren went off to Amaranthine with Felsi to get married. He too had become a Grey Warden and intended to join Rory at Vigil's Keep. Wynne returned to the Circle to help with the transition there, and dear sweet Leliana was helping to set up the newly formed University. He was hoping to hear rumors soon of a romance between her and Cullen. They shared much in common and Danielle would be so pleased.

With everyone accounted for, Alistair closed his eyes to think about the daunting tasks that lay before him. Alistair suddenly felt very overwhelmed by all that had yet to be accomplished and very much alone. Willy, Danielle's fine Mabari hound, had for some reason decided that Alistair was to be his next master, let out a forlorn whine.

"So sorry Willy. I guess I am not as alone as I think!"