The morning of the coronation started early, as Eamon had been making more preparations for the event than he had for the final battle. Only a week had passed since she had killed the archdemon, and the nation wanted a celebration. Everything was in place, and Zeriah could see Alistair's nervousness as Eamon gave them their instructions.
"Remember, Alistair, this is only your coronation. Zeriah, you will have one as well as soon as the two of you are married, which will be very soon, mind you. We already have many people working on it. You will, however, be by his side." Eamon explained. Zeriah nodded in understanding. Alistair seemed relieved by the news that he would not have to be completely alone. Zeriah yawned, knowing that today would be doubly long for her. A small group of wardens from Ansburg had arrived the day before, and before they started asking questions about the archdemon, Zeriah had told them they had a Joining ritual to prepare. After the coronation, Delnan would take the final step to becoming a warden. She hoped that he would survive. A knock on the door broke her from her reverie.
"Zeriah, may I speak with you?" Traven said, poking his shaggy head through the door. She nodded and stood, bowing her head slightly to Eamon before exiting. Traven led her to a room nearby where two of the Wardens from Ansburg were waiting. They stood as she approached.
"Warden Commander, it is good to see you again." The elven woman said, crossing her arms over her chest in a gesture of respect. Zeriah returned the action politely.
"What is this about?" she asked. Traven cleared his throat.
"This is actually about me, Zeriah." He explained. She arched an eyebrow at him.
"What about you, Trav?" she inquired. He took a deep breath.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking lately. Ever since…well, you know…I have been wondering where I should go and what I should do. I can't return to the Circle. I am certain they would welcome me back, but I cannot live with Neria's ghost haunting the halls." He admitted. She smiled sadly.
"That is understandable. What are your plans, then?" she asked. His blue eyes held hers.
"I was thinking of the time that we fought that dragon. After we defeated it and I had to save Leliana with…blood magic…you offered me a place in the Wardens and I told you I would think about it. Well, I've thought about it, and I would like to accept, if you'll still have me." He said finally. She stared at her friend for a long time. She knew Traven would be a great Warden, but the fear that he might not make it gripped her heart. She took a deep breath. If anyone could survive, it would be Traven.
"I would be glad to have you, Trav." She agreed. He smiled slightly and nodded his head.
"Thank you." He replied . Zeriah turned to the other Wardens.
"Do you have enough prepared for two?" she asked. They both nodded in unison.
"All will be ready, Commander." They said. She gave a sharp nod.
"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a coronation to attend." She said, turning and exiting the room.
She squeezed Alistair's hand as they stood outside the doors of the chamber. He glanced down at her nervously.
"Are you sure I can do this?" he whispered. She snickered.
"Now isn't really the time to question, love. And of course you can." She assured him. He grinned.
"I suppose you're right." He mumbled. She jabbed him with her elbow, making sure to hit him in the soft spot of his ceremonial armor.
"Don't mumble." She hissed teasingly. He grinned at her.
"I will try to enunciate, my dear." He replied. Both of them snapped to attention when they heard their names being announced on the other side of the door. Alistair shifted in his golden armor while Zeriah smoothed her emerald green dress. The doors opened and the two of them strode forward. Hundreds of nobles filled the hall, staring down at them with looks of adoration on their faces. As they reached the end of the hall, they knelt before the Revered Mother, who gave them a blessing.
"So let it be." Everyone murmured in unison before Zeriah and Alistair rose once more. The Revered Mother bowed to Alistair, who returned the favor. She turned to grab the crown and reverently placed it upon Alistair's brow. He murmured his thanks and turned to address his people. Zeriah watched as he made his speeches with his usual awkwardness. She smiled at him as he won over the nobles with his easy grace and his charming manner. When he finished, everyone cheered jubilantly, including herself. He took her hand and pulled her beside him. The cheers increased in volume and she smiled and waved at the public.
She noticed a figure moving through the crowd, and something seemed strange about him. He kept his head down, and all she could see was a mop of dark hair. It wasn't until the armored figure pushed to the front of the crowd that she realized who it was. She wailed and dropped to her knees in front of the hundreds of nobles. The guards started to move forward until Alistair raised a hand to stop them. The man rushed forward and threw his arms around her sobbing form.
"Shorty, people are starting to stare." He murmured into her hair. She lifted her head and threw her arms around his neck, unable to believe that Fergus stood before her. As the nobles began to recognize who had just embraced their future queen, cheers erupted, and murmurs that Fergus Cousland lived filled the hall. When Zeriah finally managed to stand, she could not let go of her brother.
"Fergus. Fergus I thought you were dead! How is this even possible?" she cried. He smiled sadly.
"We were attacked by bandits in the wild. I was badly wounded, and a group of Chasind found me. They tended me for months. When I heard what happened at Ostagar, I wounded myself further trying to return to the fight." He explained. She touched his cheek.
"Fergus, I need to tell you-" she began. Pain filled his eyes.
"I know what happened, Zeriah. I heard what Howe did. I also heard that you killed him, and I'm glad that you are the one that did it." He growled. Zeriah wiped at her tears.
"I can't help but feel it was my fault. I couldn't protect Oren and Oriana, or mother and father." She whimpered. Fergus shook his head.
"The only fault was Howe's, Shorty. You did all you could." He assured her. She nodded and he smiled. "Now, let's get back to this coronation business, shall we?" She grinned as Fergus stood tall before kneeling before Alistair.
"I, Fergus Cousland, Teyrn of Highever, hereby pledge my ultimate fealty to you, Alistair Theirin, King of Ferelden." He announced loudly. A hint of mischief entered his eyes. "I also think you and I need to have a talk about you marrying my sister." He joked. The nobles in the hall laughed and lined up behind him. They stood for over an hour, listening to nobles declare their fealty. Alistair accepted all of the oaths, trying not to sound too tired as time went on. Finally, it was over, and the nobles began to clear the hall. Zeriah smiled at her betrothed.
"You did well, love." She promised. He returned her grin wearily.
"Thank you. Now, we have other business to attend to." He replied grimly. She sighed. The Joining.
"At last we come to the Joining. The Grey Wardens were founded during the first Blight, when humanity stood on the verge of annihilation. So it was that the first Grey Wardens drank of darkspawn blood and mastered their taint." Alistair said quietly. Two other wardens looked at the floor solemnly while he spoke. Traven's face remained impassive, while Delnan's lost a bit of color. Zeriah could not help but remember Ser Jory's frightened outburst from her own Joining. Alistair looked directly at her. "We speak only a few words prior to the Joining, but these words have been said since the first. Zeriah." She nodded slowly and turned to the new recruits.
"Join us, brothers and sisters, join us in the shadows where we stand vigilant. Join us as we carry the duty that cannot be forsworn. And, should you perish, know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten, and that one day, we shall join you." She said softly. Alistair stepped forward, blood-filled chalice in hand.
"Delnan Brosca, from this point forward, you are a Grey Warden." He said, handing the chalice to the dwarf. Delnan closed his eyes before drinking the dark blood. As he handed the chalice back, he coughed and his eyes went white. He crumpled to the ground and Zeriah closed her eyes.
"He lives." The elven warden said. Zeriah sighed in relief at the news before terror gripped her. Traven was taking the chalice.
"Traven Amell, from this point forward, you are a Grey Warden." Alistair said. Zeriah could not take her eyes away as Traven drank the blood. His eyes turned the same milky white as he collapsed to the ground. He twitched for a moment, and then he was still. Zeriah could feel tears building.
"Traven? Traven!" she whimpered. His chest did not rise and fall as it should. She dropped to her knees beside him. She felt Alistair kneel beside her.
"Come on, Traven." He muttered.
"Please live, Trav." She breathed. The elven warden sidled in and placed two fingers on Traven's neck. Alistair put an arm around Zeriah's shoulders and she cried into his chest. Traven wasn't moving. After everything he had been through over the last year, she couldn't believe he wasn't going to make it. Her heart ached as she realized that she was losing one of her best friends.
"Zeriah." Alistair said. She shook her head.
"No." she mumbled.
"Commander, he's alive." The elf said. Zeriah's head snapped up and she saw that her friend was breathing again. Surprisingly she cried even harder in her relief.
"Thank the Maker." She breathed. She leaned back and saw that Delnan was starting to wake up. His mossy green eyes flickered open and stared around the room with a look that was all too familiar to her. When Traven's blue eyes opened a moment later, she saw it there as well.
"Congratulations, both of you, on surviving the Joining." The elven warden said cheerily. Zeriah grinned at her friends. Their expressions of shock were amusing.
"That was…that was insane." Delnan said. Zeriah nodded.
"Try doing it when there's an archdemon running around." She pointed out. Traven nodded.
"That was probably worse for you. But it was still bloody awful." He commented. She chuckled and helped them to their feet.
"Welcome to the Wardens." She said with a grin. Traven smiled softly.
"Where to next, Commander?" he asked. She looked at Alistair with a grin.
"I have a wedding to take care of. After that, we'll see." She said, finally feeling as though everything was as it should be.
A/N: And that's the end of that. Don't worry, I'll tell you right now that i'm not done with these characters. More will be on its way. Thanks for reading!