"Alright, I'm all done. You can finish getting dressed." Wynne said to Elissa.
"Thank you again for coming here and doing this." Elissa said as she hurried behind the panel divider and put on her clothes.
"It's my pleasure dear. Plus it gives me a chance to see the baby." Wynne said as she walked over to the crib, and kneeled down. Then she started talking to the baby like most old ladies do, "Aren't you the cutest thing. Yes you are. I don't know who you look like more, your mother or your father. I hope you don't be stubborn like your mother."
Alistair came in the room as he hear Wynne talking and making baby faces to Baby Duncan.
"You know he can't talk yet, right Wynne?" Alistair asked as he looked at Wynne puzzled.
Wynne stopped what she was saying and stood up, and glared at Alistair. "If the poor boy ends up with your mouth, and Elissa's stubborness, he'll be in all kinds of trouble by the time he walks and talks." Wynne said with sarcasm.
"Am I good to go Wynne?" Elissa asked. "I hate to be a nag."
"Any other woman who gave birth, I would have told them to take it easy for at least a month." Wynne said sternly, "But, you're not like most women. You're strong, and your wounds did heal quicker than I expected with the heal spell I used. Physically I'd say you can go anytime, but mentally as you being a new mother, do you really want to leave the boy? He needs you."
"Thank you Wynne." Alistair said.
"I was talking about Baby Duncan."
"Oh, right."
"Alistair will you give us a moment, please?" Elissa asked as she came out from behind the divider.
"No need Elissa. I should go." Wynne said as she was packing up her potions and bandages in her bag. "I'm not your mother, and I understand why you need to go. Everybody needs closer. Farewell Elissa, farewell Alistair. You two became great king and queen, and you'll be wonderful parents."
Wynne left the room. Alistair stood silently, as he stared at Elissa. She wasn't dressed as the queen. She was dressed in what she hasn't worn since she slain the Archdemon.
"You plan on leaving now?" Alistair asked with disgust.
"The sooner I go, the sooner I can get back." Elissa said. "I gave specific instructions to Grace."
"Who's Grace?"
"Grace is the nurse maid who helped deliver Duncan, and who will help take care him while I'm gone." Elissa said as she opened the door and called Graces name. Then she bent down to pick up Duncan. Grace came in and bowed to Elissa and Alistair. Then Elissa left the room, holding Duncan and Grace following her. Alistair didn't move until he suddenly realized, Elissa really was leaving. So then he hurried down the hall to catch up with her.
"I have a ship waiting for me by the docks. I have to get there soon. The Captain said he won't leave without me but I don't want him waiting."
"You don't need to leave on ship, just take your horse."
"I received a letter from Fergus. He said there is nothing at Highever, but he did say he saw one local who survived and said most of the survivors left on a ship."
"So where are you meeting your brother now?"
"I'm not. I'm doing this myself." Elissa said as she stopped and faced Alistair. She gave Duncan to Grace and took a deap breath. "The rest of the note said for me to not bother, butI need to find out for myself. I know you don't approve, and you don't want me to go..."
"Damn right I don't want you to go!" Alistair shouted. "And what's worse, you act like you don't care that your leaving your son and me behind!"
"Grace take Duncan to the docks, I'll meet you there to say good buy to him."
"Yes your majesty." Grace said and kept walking.
"Alistair. I love you, and I love Duncan. I need complete closer to know for sure. Please let me do this. It's crazy, but I need this!" Elissa said as she looked at Alistair with sadness.
Alistair saw the pain in her eyes. He knew no matter what he said, she would go with or without his blessing.
"Maker, you are stubborn." He said, "Well, lets hurry. We don't want the captain waiting."
Elissa and Alistair hurried to the docks. Standing by the docks were Grace holding Duncan, and a man wearing a long coat with a captains hat. The man looked to be in an older man, nut not much older. Maybe in his late 40's or early 50's.
"My apologies Captain for you having to wait." Elissa said.
"No need to apologize your majesty." The Captain said. "It is a beautiful sunny day to set out at sea. Come aboard wgen you are ready." Then the Captain bowed and walked aboard his ship.
Elissa hugged Alistair, and gave him a kiss. "I'm coming back, you do know that." Elissa said.
"You'd better." Alistair told her.
Elissa walked onto the ship. Never took her eyes off of Alistair as the ship sailed further, and further, until she couldn't see them anymore. The Captain led Elissa to her room.
"You know it is a pleasure to have you aboard my ship." The Captain said, "Not only the Queen of Denerim, the Hero of Ferelden who slain the Archdemon. The Noble Cousland who became a Grey Warden. The stories being told about you were all true except for one."
"What's that Captain?"
"The stories never described your beauty. But then again, no words can describe how beautiful you are your majesty."
"Do you always flatter all your guest who boards your ship?"
The Captain chuckles, "No only you, your majesty. In fact, I don't recall any pictures of you. I'm surprised nobody offered to paint a picture of you."
"I'm not fond of standing still long enough for someone to paint me. Plus most of the paintings never look like the person. I've seen some hideous paintings."
"I see. I have a friend who is a remarkable artist. He can paint a battlefield one handed and with his eyes closed. Maybe not that extreme, but I guarantee you won't be dissapointed, and you won't have to sit or stand long."
"Your very kind Captain, but people should know who I am by now without my face being on someones wall."
"Here is your room." The Captain said as he opened the door. "If you need anything your majesty, I'm at your service."
"Thank you Captain. I think I'll settle in now."
The Captain bowed and closed the door behind him. Elissa looked around in her room. The windows of her room gave her view of her leaving her home. There was a small desk with a an unlit candle lantern. Her bed was facing at a point that if she laid on her right side, she'd be facing the door, but if she laid on her left side, she'd be facing the window. She didn't bring much. Just her leather armor, her daggers, and a plane robe for her to be comfortable in before bedtime. As she looked out the window, she thought about the family she left behind. She hoped she didn't make a mistake. But at the same time, what's the harm of traveling on a ship. Once she found her answers, she'd take to first and quickest trip back home to her husband and her son.
It's been days out on the ocean. Elissa was sound asleep in her room when, she woke up to a loud bang. She opened her eyes wide open and she saw a flash of light through her window. There was another loud bang that caused Elissa to get out of bed. She quickly put on her robe, and ran to the window. It was remarkable as it was scary at the same time to watch and hear. It felt like the ship was being under attack by the Maker. She felt like she was hearing the Archdemon as she heard the wind scream and howled. The rain fell like stones, the charcoal sky lit up as spears of lightning shot down as if it was targeting the ship.
Elissa quickly ran to see what was going on deck, but as she tried to make her way outside, she felt the wind's force against her. He hair was being whipped from the wind, and the harsh of the rain stinging her face. She can hear the ship creak and moan as if the ship was being tortured from the wind's screams, the rain attacking, and the waves of the ocean pushing the ship back and forth like bullies pushing a little child around in a circle. The crew were scattering like ants, but the waves would crash onto the ship and tackle the crew one by one to the floor of the deck.
"Your majesty!" The Captain yelled. "Come! We have to abandon ship! The ship will not hold much longer!"
As the Captain lead Elissa to the lifeboat, everyone froze. They couldn't help but stare at a huge wall getting taller, as if it was reaching the sky, and closer to the ship. But it wasn't a wall, it was the ocean wave, and it was about to come crashing down on the ship. It went from a slow motion to completely crashing down. The crash felt like Elissa was hit buy a stone wall.
The ship was surrendering to the ocean, as it went on its side. The crew and Elissa were fighting for their lives under water. Every time Elissa found an opening, the ship would slowly turn more. She found an air pocket, and thought was free, but she found out she was inside the ship. She couldn't see anything. She heard the men screaming for their lives under water. She didn't have time to think. All she could do is take a deep breath, go back under and hope. She swam as fast as she could trying to find the surface, but then she felt something grab her leg and pulling her down. She looked down, and it was a rope that was attached to the ship sinking farther down. She scrambled trying to get her leg free, but the rope was tangled tight. She felt a pair of hands at her ankle, trying to help her get free. The Captain was scrambling as fast as he could to get her foot free. He knew there wasn't time so he quickly kissed her, gave her the air in his mouth, and grabbed a dagger attached to his belt and started sawing at the rope, not paying attention to the other part of the rope that was getting tangled up with him. Elissa's ankle was finally free and she swam as hard as she could to the surface, not paying attention to the Captain who was desperately trying to free himself from the tangle mess, but it was no use. The Captain's lungs felt like they were being squeezed smaller by the pressure. He felt like he was choking, and he coughed and gasped for air but all he could breath in was the see. He body went still, and his body was being dragged down with the ship.
As Elissa thought she was done she felt the wind and rain stinging her face. She let out a loud gasp for air, coughed and gagged. The rain stung like needles, but it was better than being under water for so long. She tried to swim, but the waves were rough and harsh. She found something floating. It was part of a door that belonged on the ship. She held on tight, trying to catch her breath. She wasn't sure if it was the wind howling, or the men screaming for their lives. Elissa screamed and screamed, but it was no use. She was freezing, and scared. She couldn't fall asleep, but she was getting weaker and weaker. As she laid on the door, she thought to herself about Alistair and he son Duncan.
"Goodbye my loves." She said softly, and fell asleep.