Elissa and Alistair slumped against the wall as Wynn healed them and the others. None of them had slept in two days, they were all weary but there was little time to rest.
First, there was the long fruitless march towards Redcliff only to discover the hoard had bypassed to the south in favor of attacking Denerim. So back to Denerim they'd scurried. At the gates they'd split into three units to make their way through the city and try to draw the Archdemon into combat.
Riordan managed to damage one of the monster's wings at the cost of his life and Avernus had destroyed the other and drawn it to the top of Fort Drakken before a tail slap threw if over the edge to his death. Now Elissa's unit and Sten's unit were readying themselves to face the final fight at the top of Fort Drakken.
Elissa called to Wynn, "Is everyone healed?"
"Yes."
"If you run out of healing spells, retreat to this position."
Wynn nodded.
Alistair pushed himself away from the wall and pulled her up to join him. "To victory," he said with a wistful smile.
"To victory," she replied.
The battle was a blur of screaming, roaring, blood and pain that never coalesced into something meaningful in Elissa's memories. There was the surreal moment when she ran towards the injured beast, grabbed up a fallen sword and slid beneath it cutting it open from chin to collar. She recalled plunging the sword through the dragon's skull. Then nothing, until she woke in a bed. Alistair sat at her bedside with a tremulous smile on his face.
"Elissa, my love," he choked on tears and whispered, "we made it." With trembling hands he smoothed her hair back from her forehead.
"Alistair, thank the maker, Alistair," she replied and pulled at him with weakened limbs.
He climbed into the bed next to her and held her close.
"How long have I been out? How many," she swallowed, "how many did we lose?"
"About 60% of our forces, but, my love, do not despair, we saved tens of thousands."
"What of our inner circle, and allies?"
"Of our travelling companions only Sten and Morrigan are missing. They were seen, in Denerim, the day after the battle but not since. The others all survived. Your faithful hound, lost a leg but he soldiers on. He won't be the first three legged Mabari to retire from service."
Elissa nodded.
"Aedan and the others in Soldier's Keep were fine. Fergus, the Guerrins, Bann Alfstanna and her brother, Grand Cleric Elemena, Ser Gilmore, Ser Cauthrien and Anora all survived. Most of the Banns and Arls were too old to fight and so they survived, their children were on the field in leadership positions. Many of them were lost but they did not die in the numbers that their troops did. The dwarves were the worst hit, it turns out that all the dwarves that came to us were forever barred from returning to their underground homes. Their families were well compensated for their sacrifice but it left many of them with little incentive to survive the battle."
Elissa started, "By Andraste's ass, Bhelen never mentioned that!"
"Indeed. Aedan's to be crowned at the end of the week. Fergus has been chosen to raise Ferelden's new King. Nora, Ser Gilmore and his orphaned nephews will also go to Highever. Teagan has been confirmed as Regent until Aedan's reaches adulthood. He is to be advised by a committee of three staffed by Anora, Alfstanna and what's his name from Dragon's Peak."
"What of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden?"
"At your brother's request, the Grey Wardens have been granted Howe's former Arldom."
"Really, do we want it?"
Alistair shrugged.
Elissa sighed, "You realize it will be a complete pain in the arse to manage Amaranthine."
"Probably not our pain in the arse. I imagine that some senior wardens will be sent to assess the situation."
"Hopefully, Weisshaupt will be smart enough not to pull them all from Orlais. Which reminds me, we need to decide what to tell them about Morrigan, Sten and that ritual."
Alistair shrugged, "Well, the truth, I think. Morrigan and Sten will be long gone by the time word reaches Weisshaupt. Sten will not expect us to lie about it, after all it was Riordan's call – they can't blame us for that."
She nodded.
"Ah, there's a mystery I should mention. It's a bit creepy. Riordan's body was stolen the night after the battle and Avernus' body was never found, as far as we know."
"Damn him. Well, I think that's our first order of business, we need to track down that crazy mage."
Alistair nodded. "I agree, we must find him, who knows what he'll do if he isn't contained. But the first you need to heal and accept the accolades of our nation of birth. Not to mention your brother may well want you to visit for a bit."
"Perhaps, but it may be wiser to go, sooner rather than later. So that we cannot be drawn into the political mess."
"Perhaps, you are right. Still that is a decision to be made tomorrow."
"I am glad we have a tomorrow to plan for."
"Me too, my love, me too."
