In the end, it was Fergus himself who became Teyrn of Highever. Lucilla had married the King, and could not very well have stewarded Highever herself as her new position, and Fergus suspected her husband as well, demanded she devote her time in court. Moreover, as Warden-Commander, she had to facilitate the rebuilding of the Grey Warden Order in, of all places, Amaranthine. Fergus did not envy her one bit, and knew she was delaying her journey to the Howe ancestral home.

"I had a conditional ascension as Teyrna," she explained to him as they strolled around the Palace gardens, days after they had found each other. "It was either I marry the King and become Queen and cede the Teyrnir to you if you are found, or be the Teyrna without marrying the King, or abdicate any and all of our family's claims in Highever, and let it pass to others. I could never let go of Highever, but neither could I leave the poor King by himself. So I accepted the Teyrnir with the condition that when you are found, you will be Teyrn, and I could do my duties to as Queen and Commander of the Grey."

"You accepted that deal, knowing I was lost?" Fergus asked.

"I never lost hope that you're still alive," Lucilla answered. "Were you not found, I would have sent men everywhere to find you. I would have scoured Ferelden just to find you, and believe me, I'm good at finding people. It's just a very good thing that you've spared us that, at least."

"But you remember that Father himself wanted you to be Teyrna?" Fergus reminded his sister, and sadness fell upon them both.

"I can't be Teyrna and Queen both," Lucilla said. "My life is not my own now. It's never been. And I envy you that at one time, you were able to find what I could never have."

Fergus strained to hear the words his sister left unsaid: that she had married out of a sense of duty, not out of love.

Lucilla then explained the details of a Warden's life—the life expectancy, nightmares, increased appetites and stamina, the secrecy of the Order, and all other things she had guessed about their elusive Order. She did not hide from her brother her disdain that from the moment their father bade her join the Wardens in order to save her life, her life ceased belonging to her alone. And she made no secret of what she thought about King Alistair: a man with a good heart and a sensible enough head on his shoulders, but one who was not well versed in politics and the intricacies of day-to-day administration.

"You have the chance to rebuild not just your life, but the lives of everyone in Highever," she told him kindly. "Of course, I cannot really compel you to go back home, but like Father, I'd remind you of your duty."

The two were silent for a long while. "I've thought about it, honestly," Fergus confided in his sister. "I still don't want to rule Highever. And our home will never be… never be the same again. But for you, and for our people, and for the memory of our family, I will take the mantle of leadership. I will take the Teyrnir."

"Nothing is the same," Lucilla concurred as she leaned on her brother. "But our duty remains, Fergus. You know that. Even at his dying breath, Father reminded us. We Couslands always do our duty."

"You are so calm in doing your duty," Fergus remarked. "I envy you that."

"It's because I never had anyone like Oriana whom I had to fight for," Lucilla said kindly, and she meant it. "If I had, I would refuse the Teyrnir, too. You were so lucky to have known love, brother, where I only knew duty. But such is the way of life."