A/N This little codex entry was inspired by two other stories: Addai's "The Last Sacrifice" and Cadsuane's "An Unkind Fate", both of which I highly recommend. After their stories, a request went up for what Ferelden might be like should there be no Grey Wardens, and this is what came out.
A crumpled note found on the body of an unknown woman in a back alley in Cumberland.
Herein lies the last will and testament of Anora Mac Tir, once queen of Ferelden, now queen in exile of a land in ruins. I have seen what no queen ought, my country fallen to the Blight, and so now I record the things I have witnessed lest my beloved Ferelden fade away to history's memory.
What should have been Ferelden's victory as my father, Loghain Mac Tir, the Hero of River Dane, won the Landsmeet to unite his country against the threat of the Blight turned to tragedy when the archdemon struck while we were still yet weak. Our soldiers fought valiantly against the darkspawn but our troops had not yet recovered from the loss at Ostagar. Even the death of the rebellion's figurehead Grey Wardens did not end the civil war in time to save our country. What troops we had remaining fought bravely, but to no avail. Denerim burned, and with it Ferelden's last hope.
My father died a heroic death, after sending those that he could to safety, myself included. I observed from afar as he slew the archdemon atop Fort Drakon, then I watched in horror as the beast rose again, while my father did not. Those whose ships were not capsized in the following battle sailed by the light of Ferelden ablaze.
I have not seen my beloved homeland since the archdemon's defeat at the battle of Gherlen's Pass. I could not bear to see its destruction nor the death of my people as they languished under darkspawn occupation while the Orlesian Wardens waited. Three times have the Grey Wardens failed us now. First the battle of Ostagar where my husband fell, then when they led the civil war that caused Ferelden's doom, and third when they stood by as the Blight consumed my country. Maker forgive them for their pettiness. Could they not see that the execution of the ringleaders of the rebellion was a necessity for a united front against the Blight?
Now it is the Grey Wardens again who will claim the victory that should have been my father's. I fear nothing more than that the memory of Ferelden's greatest hero, a man who loved his country more truly than any, will fade away while the Wardens will be forever immortalized in his place. Gherlen's Pass will be remembered while Ferelden is forever forgotten.
If you are reading this note, my final wishes are that the tale of Ferelden's brave fight against the Blight be remembered and told again, that the name and deeds of Loghain Mac Tir not be forgotten to the sands of time. If these two are accomplished then I shall find peace at the Maker's side.
By my own hand,
Anora Mac Tir, Queen of Ferelden
