Chapter 29
Alistair stood at the top of the dais in his gold ceremonial armor with Teagan, his best man, waiting for his future bride to walk to down the aisle. He couldn't believe that this day had finally come. It had taken nearly four years, but he was finally about to marry the only woman he had ever truly loved. Alistair felt Teagan tug on his arm as the wedding march began. Alistair looked down the aisle as Ella began to walk towards him. She smiled at him as she made her toward him.
Alistair remembered the first time he had ever seen that brilliant smile. The first day that he met her in Ostagar she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen and he tried not to ramble as he introduced himself to her. There had been such sadness in her eyes that he wanted to do whatever it took to make her happy and to see her smile, but he failed miserable until just before they were about to head over to the Tower of Ishal to light the beacon. Alistair had made some off-hand comment that if the King asked him to put on a dress and dance the Remigold that he would have to draw the line there. The comment had taken her by surprise - her face had light up, her eyes sparkled mischievously and she gave him that crooked wick grin of hers and in that moment he was hopelessly gone forever. There could never be another for him – it would always be only her.
Bella hated pomp and circumstance events, other than her coronation, her wedding would be the most opulent event she would have to be involved in. Fergus took her arm as she stood at the end of the aisle waiting to make her way down towards Alistair. He whispered, "Are you ready, Pup?" She nodded and they began to slowly walk pass all the nobles. She looked up at Alistair and smiled. Seeing him there at the bottom of the dais wringing his hands while he waited for her reminded her when he first gave her the rose.
Alistair held the rose nervously in his hand and said, "I picked it in Lothering. I remember thinking, how could something so beautiful exist in a place with so much despair and ugliness? I probably should have left it alone, but I couldn't. The darkspawn would come and their taint would just destroy it. So I've had it ever since."
Alistair took her hand and gently placed the rose in her palm, "I wanted to tell you what a rare and wonderful thing you are to find amidst all this…darkness and how lucky I am to have you in my life."
At that very moment Bella knew in her heart that he was the one. He would be the only man that she would love for the rest of her life. He had pulled her out of her own grief and showed her that life could still be good and with him it could be wonderful. She was hopelessly gone from that day on.
As Bella reached Alistair at the bottom of the dais, Fergus took her hand and placed it in Alistair's. Alistair led her up the stairs to the top of the dais and they stood together in front of the Reverend Mother. She looked breathtaking in her ivory and gold wedding dress that clung to her frame emphasizing every one of her lovely curves. He couldn't wait for this day to be over and to be alone with her tonight in his room.
The Reverend Mother had read from the Chant of Light for what seemed like ever to Alistair. She finally turned to her attention to them and said, "As Alistair and Bella exchange rings they have made it known that they would like to say their own vows. Alistair?"
Alistair took Ella's hand, smiled at her and said, "Ella, if the sun refused to shine there would still be you and me and I would still be loving you. Today I give you my all, nothing more, nothing less. Inspiration, my sweet Ella, is what you are to me and from this day forward I will love you till the end." Alistair kissed her hand and slid the ring on her finger.
Ella's eyes were brimming with tears and she took a moment to compose herself and then took Alistair's hand and said, "Alistair, today my world smiles because your hand is in mine and together we will walk the miles – your soul and my soul intertwined and together we shall go until we die. Today and every day, I give you all of my." Bella slid the ring on his finger.
They looked up at the Reverend Mother who quickly wiped a tear from her eye as she said, "I know pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."
Without hesitation, Alistair pulled her into his arms. He leaned into her and pressed his lips against hers - the world disappeared and it was just the two of them. Everything that they had been through had lead them to this very moment and at this very moment the world was perfect.
Epilogue
In the months that followed their wedding, Alistair and Bella fell into a comfortable routine of ruling Ferelden and raising their children together. As Eli predicted within a month after their wedding Alistair adopted his son making his family feel whole and complete. For the first time in his life he understood the true meaning of family.
Alistair adored his wife and would shower gifts upon her whenever possible. He knew how much Bella missed her Marbi, Max, so as a wedding present he gave her a Marbi puppy which she named Strider. Eli, Ella, and Duncan loved the dog and would fight over whose room Strider would sleep in.
Bella remained Commander of the Grey Wardens, but moved her headquarters to Denerim in order to be close to her husband and children. Bella continued to grow the Grey Wardens numbers and by the time that she retired as Commander, Ferelden had an army of 200 Wardens. Bella made Nathaniel her second in command and placed him in charge of Vigil's Keep. With the title of Queen, Bella renounced her title as Arlessa of Amaranthine and as a favor to his wife, Alistair, named Nathaniel Howe the Arl of Amaranthine so that the man could continue to bring honor back to the Howe name.
Nathaniel ruled Amaranthine with fair and just head. He had learned a great deal about being a good ruler from Commander Cousland and how not to rule from his father. He applied both of these lessons as he ruled Amaranthine and became very popular with the nobles and common people. In the years that followed, Nate had many lovers including a long standing relationship with Rhylyn, but he never found anyone to replace the hole in his heart that Brie had left.
Fergus and Leliana welcomed the first of their four children into the world one hour before it would have been Bella's birthday. They named their daughter Gabriella Eva Cousland – after her aunt and Leliana's mother. They nicknamed her Abby. Abby and her siblings grew up spending a lot of time in Denerim with their cousins. They Couslands and the Therrins were a very close family.
Zevran remained in Demerim close by his mi Bella Terso's side – aiding her in the training of Grey Warden recruits. He also aided Alistair whenever his special talents were called for.
Bella placed Anders and Kya in charge of recruiting and training from the Circle of Magi. Both of them took great pleasure in recruiting templars out from under Gregior and would invoked the right of conscription whenever possible. Kya and Cullen married at Vigil's Keep the following spring. Both the King and Queen were in attendance.
Bella decided to use Kal'Hirol as a Warden outpost for recruits to gather darkspawn blood for their joining. She placed Sigrun in charge of the outpost. Sigrun flourished there as she helped the dwarves rebuild Kal'Hirol and help reestablish the Legion of the Dead.
Avernus studied the Architect journals and was able to complete the Architect's ritual. It took over a year, but eventually darkspawn stopped seeking out Eli. Avernus continued his studies of the taint and Eli's blood and continued to make amazing discoveries.
A year after Alistair and Bella had their blood infused with Eli's they offered this life extending gift to all of Ferelden's Wardens. Avernus discovered that it was best to wait at least a year for new Wardens so that the taint had time to take hold and allow them to fight darkspawn more effectively. He also discovered that Eli's blood would not have as big of an impact on Wardens' whose blood was tainted longer than ten years.
Eighteen months after Commander Roland left Denerim, First Warden Blacwin arrived in Ferelden to question Alistair and Bella further about the dark ritual, Eli and his effect on the taint. Blacwin was ready to demand that Alistair, Bella and Eli accompany him back to Weisshaupt, but after spending less than five minutes with the young boy, Eli had him convinced that it would not be in the best interests of the Grey Wardens to take him out of Ferelden.
Eli, Ella and Duncan grew up together as siblings normally do with love and the occasional sibling rivalry. Eli and Ella did everything in their power to protect Duncan and to prepare him for the throne, but those are tales for another time.
*Author's note: Alistair and Bella's vows come from the song that has been mine and my husband's for the 24 years of our marriage, "Thank you" by Led Zeppelin.
Thank you to everyone that has been following this story. I appreciate you're reviews. One of my readers suggested writing a background story on how Fergus and Leliana meet. I have started the plotline and hope to have it up soon. Also, as the Epilogue suggests Eli, Ella, and Duncan's story isn't over.
