Tragic Endings New Beginnings
Prolouge: The Best is yet to Come
I would like to thank Janec Shannon and Evalyne for helping me and Beta reading for me, without their help I don't know what I would have done with this story. Check out their stories, they're both amazing writers.
Do you remember love
The heartbreak of love?
Nothing now but music of the night
I am forever in love
A lover with a fault
A lover with a fault
Allow it and you will have it
Allow it and love will be
Do you remember the time
When you were satisfied?
Do you remember the time
When you were laughing?
The world is wonderful
if you believe in it
Turn your face towards life
and constant hapiness in our midst
What happened to those days?
What happened to those nights?
Do you remember the time
When you were sorrowful?
Do you remember the time
Forever crying tears?
Was it me or you at fault?
Feeling used and lost
Why the fighting and
crying of tears?
There is beauty in the world
If you seek it out
There is joyous wonder in the world
Let's seek it out
~0.0~~0.0~~0.0~~0.0~
"I thought you were just like Calian," Loghain said on his knees breathing heavily. "A child playing at war… I was wrong. There's strength in you that I have not seen since Maric died…I...I yield," he finished, his head hanging in defeat.
The emerald eyes of the young Warden gazed at the man before her. He was a treacherous snake that deserved to lose. "You'll die for what you have done-" She had started but was cut short when she saw Riordan approaching them.
"Wait! There is another option, the Teyrn is a warrior and a general of renown. Let him be of…use. Let him go through the Joining."
Sage had to do a double take, was Riordan really saying what she thought he was saying? Had he taken one too many blows to the head while in Howe's cell? "That's insane!" she cried.
Riordan sighed and looked over at the woman before him. She seemed like the type that would listen to reason… At least he hoped she would prove to be.
"There are too few of us. It's not a matter of what we like. It's a matter of what we must do. Our duty is to slay the archdemon. We are not judges. Kinslayers, blood mages, rebels, carta thugs, common bandits. Traitors," his eyes landed on Loghain as he spoke the last word. "Anyone with the skill and merit to take up sword against the darkspawn is welcomed amongst us. There are three of us in all of Ferelden and there are…" the old Warden hesitated for an instant, "compelling reasons to have as many Wardens on hand to deal with the archdemon as possible."
"The Joining itself is often fatal, is it not?" Anora asked with a firm tone. "If he survives you gain a general, if not you have your revenge. Doesn't that satisfy you?" the queen asked, her face was carefully blank but one glance at her eyes was enough to see the hope she was trying to disguise.
"Absolutely not!" Alistair shouted angrily . "Riordan, this man abandoned our brothers and then blamed us for the deed! He hunted us down like animals…he tortured you! How can you simply forget that!"
Sage gritted her teeth, both men had valid points. She couldn't forgive Loghain for what he had done but on the other hand, their numbers were too few already… And Loghain was a battle tried general. "No," she breathed. "Loghain has to die for his crimes…"
The young noblewoman could have sworn she heard Alistair mutter a quiet, "yesss" under his breath.
Loghain addressed his daughter when he saw her move to defend him, "It'll be all right Anora. I'm ready to meet my fate."
"Father," the queen whispered, a quiet plea to stand up and fight. For himself. For the good of Ferelden…
For her.
"Daughters never grow up, Anora," he answered her gently. "They remain six years old with pig tails and skinned knees."
Just hearing Loghain say that brought back memories of Sage's own father and she felt tears beginning to burn in the corners of her eyes. Her blood ran cold with realization, if she killed this man, she would be no better than Howe. She would be no better than the man who had slaughtered her family and friends.
She looked at Anora, who like herself, had tears forming at the edges of her eyes, she could relate to what the woman was going through. She had gone through the same thing when she left her parents behind to meet their fate… Only Anora would have to witness her father's death. Sage felt grateful that she hadn't been there to watch her own father's death.
Sage looked back at Loghain with a million thoughts running through her head all at once. She remained quiet as she raised her sword. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Alistair's eyes that held a strange and, yet almost disturbing, kind of relief and approval. . The young rogue turned her attention to
Anora. The queen hadn't turned away from her father who was still hanging his head. The woman seemed frozen in the spot she was in.
Finally, she looked back to Loghain, this once proud man now he hung his head in acceptance, waiting for the blow from her sword.
"Maker forgive me," she whispered, stepping forward for the final blow. The moment before she was to strike, something flashed before her target, and instead of Loghain kneeling before her blade, it was her father. He looked the same way he had right before she'd left him that tragic night. Quivering, Sage watched as his eyes looked up at her.
She stumbled backwards, as if her father had physically struck her. , "Monster…" he mouthed accusingly.
Sage dropped the sword, causing a collective gasp to ripple from throughout the crowd. Her father, the man she inspired to be like, called her a monster. The Warden dropped down to her knees, clutching the hand that once held the sword she mumbled. "I can't do it…I can't!" she gasped trying to hold herself together, though the tears that were burning her eyes. She wouldn't be like Howe, she wouldn't be a monster.
Immediately Zevran and (more surprisingly) Morrigan dropped down to her side, while Alistair stood in horror at his lover's actions.
"Then I will," he threatened.
Sage wiped her eyes and stood up, she knew he wouldn't give up but she made her choice. She knew what she what was at stake but she still stayed strong.
"Alistair, no!" she stood up suddenly, her voice was commanding even as her legs trembled under her. "Loghain surrendered, there's no honor in killing a man who has given up!" she reasoned and felt Zevran place a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Please Alistair, revenge won't bring Duncan back," she had stepped into forbidden territory by saying that but if it would get through to him then it needed to be said.
He stomped over to her and gripped her leather armor. She flinched at his rough handling of her and the anger burning in his eyes. She had never seen him like this before. "You killed Howe… You got your revenge for your loved ones, didn't you?" he accused. "So let me have mine!" he whispered as he lifted her off the ground.
She winced at his words. "Howe gave me no choice!" she cried out desperately trying to make him understand. "But Loghain has surrendered…"
He dropped her but before she hit the ground, she was able to catch herself before her body hit the ground. Despite Zevran's desire to yell at the Templar and scold his for letting his emotions cloud his judgment, the assassin held his tongue in favor of letting Sage fight her own battle, but he would however jump in if she needed him.
The Templar glared down at the two. "I didn't think you would act like this, Sage," his voice was a low heated whisper and a shadow crept over his face.
Sage rose to her feet, refusing assistance from both the witch and assassin at her side. She was a Grey Warden and, though she might not like that fact, it was her duty to act as was expected of one. And if Alistair had forgotten what that meant…
It was her duty to show him.
"Alistair," she started, her voice beginning to quiver. "Remember what you are. You are a Grey Warden. Think for a moment, would Duncan really wanted you act—"
Suddenly, Sage felt a strong grip on her right arm and then was pulled up to meet Alistair's furious gaze. Her eyes widened in shock at the pure rage she found there. "Don't you dare talk about Duncan like you know him!" he shouted darkly. "That's it, if you're willing to let that traitor live, than I'm gone! So chose," he demanded, glaring down at the girl who held his heart.
She looked in his eyes, hoping to find some sort of emotion there other then anger and hate. "Alistair…" He looked away from her. "Alistair, please, I'm begging you... Don't make me do this. Don't walk out of my life," she whispered, still trying to hold back the tears. She soon felt his grip on her loosen then finally he let go of her completely. The young noble looked at his hands which were both down at his sides.
"Then chose me," he whispered, almost pleadingly though he still refused to look her in the eye.
She looked away from him. "Alistair...you can't…I don't-I can't… kill him," she stuttered.
He turned his back to her. "I never thought… I never expected this from you, Sage," he walked away, ignoring Eamon's orders for him to return. "Have a good life," Thrown casually over his shoulder as though she had never meant anything to him. Then he was gone. He had walked right out of the Landsmeet and out of her life.
She wanted to run after him. She wanted to grab his hand, pull him back, and beg him to stay with her… But she knew she could not. She still had a bigger problem to deal with.
She still had to defeat the Blight.
~0.0~~0.0~~0.0~~0.0~
As Sage looked around her, she took stock of her companions. The Archdemon roared at her with such ferocity that the very sound of it made her blood feel like it would freeze within her veins.
She shook off the paralysis and looked around noticing the how worn out her friends and Loghain looked, she needed to end this quickly. She would make her final stand and kill the beast. She would be the one to sacrifice her life, for she had nothing else left. The rogue glanced over in Loghain's direction. The former Teryn still had a daughter to watch over but what did she herself have? She lost her family to Howe and she lost the man she loved because of Loghain. The warrior was struggling to stand, once steady on his feet the older man made his way over to her.
"I'm making the final blow," he told her. It wasn't a request.
The red head gritted her teeth and glared at his back. "No!" she ordered coldly. "As the senior Grey Warden, it is my duty to make that sacrifice!" she ordered, trying to get in front of him.
She tried to rush past him, planning on darting around him and beating him to the old god, her smaller stature giving her the benefit of speed, but his arm shot out just as she was about to pass him and knocked her down. "What the hell, Loghain!" she demanded coughing after having the wind knocked out of her.
He gave her a sad smile. "I'm an old man. I've lived my life but yours is just beginning," he told her gently.
"What do I have to live for?" she sneered. "I lost my family to Howe and Alistair to you. Tell me Loghain, what do I have to live for?" She was shouting at this point, tears running down her face.
For a moment, it seemed as though the old Teryn wouldn't answer but as he turned to face the archdemon, he replied quietly, "That lover boy of yours isn't dead. Go find him."
He began running towards the archdemon, Sage's frantic screaming and the dragon's furious roar nearly drowning out the last words Teryn Loghain, Hero of Ferelden, would ever say.
"I must redeem myself."
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Keep reading the best is yet to come ;D