Here it is Kiddies, the bittersweet end. Thank you all so much for your reviews, and your kind words. I hope you all like it. I was not impressed with the last few chapters, but I am happy with this one. Again, thank you all so much.

Poem is called "To my Dear and Loving Husband" by Anne Bradstreet.

Lyrics - My Heart by Paramore.

This heart, it beats, beats for only you
This heart, it beats, beats for only you

This heart, it beats, beats for only you
My heart is your's
This heart, it beats, beats for only you
My heart is your's

This heart, it beats, beats for only you
My heart is your's
This heart, it beats, beats for only you
My heart, my heart is your's

My heart is your's

Life without her was proving to be harder than he had ever imagined. Following the victory at Lake Calenhad, life in Denerim had returned to normal. For some anyway… When they returned there were celebrations everywhere. By day the streets were filled with merrymaking, and by night the streets were littered with drunken bodies. For one straight week the celebrating continued, until blessedly it stopped. That is when the mourning truly began. A grand funeral was ordered for Edana, and all of the soldiers that died during the battle. Alistair was among the commoner's, mourning along with them as if he possessed no title at all. The landsmeet had voted for a Statue depicting Edana, for her heroism but Alistair vetoed the idea. Edana would not have wanted that. For her, dying for her country was the greatest honor she could have had. She would not want to be immortalized in statue.

He compromised with them. At the mouth of the Brecilian Forest a statue was built of an Elven maiden in war gear. Though it did not resemble Edana, it did resemble her culture and people. Following her death, Alistair donated a generous sum of money to the Alienage in Denerim. He ordered the houses to be restored, raising the elves from their previous state of Poverty. The Orlesian Empress attempted to make a diplomatic apology, one that Denerim did not accept. For six years after the victory at Calenhad, a war waged between Denerim and Orlais. It ended only when the Empress was mysteriously assassinated, though her assailant was never found. Alistair did note that Zevran, who had taken a position in court as an advisor, had taken a two week vacation. Alistair had inkling, and rumors spread around Denerim that predicted the King had sent his pet assassin to dispatch the Empress, but they were not true. If Zevran did assassinate the Empress, he did it of his own accord.

With the Darkspawn threat gone, the Grey Wardens were made into an elite force. No longer was a joining ritual needed as no more darkspawn lived. They modified the ritual, making it a lot less lethal to the recruits. Those remaining Grey Wardens, who had successfully completed the joining by imbibing the taint, Alistair included, were still walking time bombs. The taint that flowed through the veins was still killing them slowly, but now there were no darkspawn in the Deep Roads. Because of this, when their time came they simply disappeared. Where they went no one knew, but they knew that they were dying in battle and with valor.

Kearney was declared a prophet by the Chantry, though in the following years they seemed to regret the decision. He was an avid voice among them, changing belief's and rules. Voices rose against the Prince, questioning the fact he was a prophet and damning his beliefs. Those in the Chantry who disagreed broke away, forming their own version of the Chantry. It was not popular, some branches in the neighboring Antiva and Orlais finding themselves persecuted and slain. In Denerim they were called heretics and liars. It was not soon after that the church left Ferelden, in search of a land free from persecution. A land they never found.

The years passed slowly, and his health began to fail. The taint began to sap his strength, his heart weakening with each passing day. Nine years to the day, he stood in his bedchamber staring into a mirror. He was dressed in his finest today, being a special occasion. Today was the day his son would wed, and for once in a very long time Alistair felt happy. He thought of Edana much this day, but missing her did not bring sorrow over him like in previous days. Today he was happy to see his son become a husband. Alistair stared at his graying features, noting the paleness in his face. He knew it would not be long until he would die. There was a knock at the door, and he turned in time to see Leliana walk in. He smiled at the bard, who had wed Arl Teagan after the battle at Calenhad. Eamon had taken up a place at Alistair's side, relinquishing his title and allowing Teagan to become Arl of Redcliffe. Leliana had wed Teagan shortly after, becoming his Arlessa and bearing him children. Alistair was proud of the bard, seeing her happy in her finery. He welcomed her embrace, hugging her tightly as he would had he a sister.

"Today is a happy day" She said, looking over Alistair sadly. Her eyes noted his graying hair, pale complexion and dark circles. He nodded and smiled, seeing the concern on her face. She opened her mouth to speak, and he shushed her by shaking his head. "Let's not speak of it." He knew she was about to say something about his late wife, and it was not that he didn't welcome Edana's memory. He simply needed to keep his clear head for his son's sake. He carried the memory and love for his wife with him, today as their son got married they both stood proud. He took Leliana's hand, and walked with her out of the room.

Kearney stood at the head of the church, his knees feeling weak. It was amazing how he had so much bravery during battle, but seeing his bride today made him feel as if he were being held up by very weak thread. All eyes were on him this day, and their gaze made him feel even more nervous. His eyes met his father's, and he gave a small smile to the man. Suddenly, a voice rose above the crowd hushing them. Leliana stood in a pew, her voice signaling the arrival of the bride. The doors opened, and in walked Ina. Kearney's heart rose into his throat as his eyes met her form. She was dressed in the most beautiful white gown, red roses woven through her dirty blonde hair. Her green eyes glistened with tears as she walked forward to him, her hands full of lilies. Suddenly the world ceased to exist, and all that remained was his beautiful bride and himself. When she reached him, he took her hand in his. Together they vowed their love and loyalty to one another, and as the Revered Mother introduced them to the crowd he pulled her into a kiss. The roar of applause echoed through the chantry hall as with a kiss they sealed their union.

After the wedding feast, the celebration rode on into the early hours of the morning. He found himself tiring, weakening. His eyes fell to his son, and his new daughter. He silently excused himself, and they both nodded as Alistair left. He entered his chamber, shutting the door behind him quickly. He barely made it to the chair before his legs gave out from under him. He sat trembling in the chair, his heart galloping in his chest. He closed his eyes, his heartbeat thudding loudly in his ears. Was this it? Was this how he would die? He thought of Edana, and waited for death to take him. Soon his heart slowed back to a normal rhythm, and he opened his eyes. A book lay on his bed, one he did not recognize. He stood weakly, and walked to the bed where he sat down next to the book.

He ran his hands over its battered exterior, the gold embossed words barely readable anymore. "The Rose of Orlais" it read. He pondered over this title for a few moments, trying to remember where he had heard it before. Something was stuck in the book, and carefully opened it the page where the marker was. His breath caught in his throat and tears leaked from his eyes. There in the book was a pressed dried rose, one that he had given her nervously twenty six years prior. He picked the brittle flower up carefully, staring at its blackened petals. He smiled, and then looked down at the book. A passage had been circled, and he read it carefully.

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

He felt as if she were there in the room with him, so close to him he could smell her. It was his time, he knew it.

When the morning came, news was brought to Kearney that his father was missing. They sent a search through the castle and market district in Denerim but it returned unsuccessfully. When they entered the King's chamber, they found that his golden armor was missing as well as his swords. Kearney smiled sadly, knowing what had befallen of his father. He would go into battle, and fall to be by his wife's side.

The Brecilian Forest is where Alistair met his fate, and as his life bled out amongst the monstrous Sylvan's he smiled. He could see her, though his world was growing black he could make her face out as plain as day. Her raven hair, her topaz eyes, her milky skin… He reached a hand up as his heart gave its last weak beat, and grasped her hand in his. The last words his ears ever heard were those from a phantom, its voice speaking from within him.

"Welcome home, Ser Templar."