Denerim Will Always And Ever Be Denerim

The morning after … tears and sorrow surrounded the hearts of everyone in Denerim. Yes, many had been there to walk alongside Duncan's bier to the Chantry yesterday evening. But, the unblighted light of day told the truth. Many did not survive. Those who did survive lost many family members and friends to the onslaught of the Archdemon and the Fifth Blight.

After the sorrowful procession to the Chantry, the city guard, soldiers, wardens and the warden allies were sent out to secure the city as well as they could. Once the injured and displaced were settled in secure locations, Cailan told everyone else to get some rest. Duncan's memorial and pyre would take place the next day, but the major reorganization and restructuring of Denerim would be delayed for a few days while the wardens investigated and secured areas of the city.

Elle was so very glad for that respite. She didn't even remember climbing into bed and going to sleep. All she recalled was the welcome warmth of Midnight beside her on the bed.

When she awoke, the majority of the elven guests had already gone home to the Alienage. The wardens made the Alienage and Market Square a priority due to the horrific darkspawn general fights in those locations. They marked off unsuitable areas to be more thoroughly investigated in the days to come. That meant that many of the small apartments of the Alienage were filled to bursting … but they were home at least.

Elle understood that feeling. Camelia left Elle a note that Duncan's service would be late-afternoon. But first, Elle threw on comfortable clothes and went in search of her father.

He was sitting in his chair looking out that large window facing Fort Drakon. He heard her come in. "Did you get any rest, my dear girl?" he said quietly.

"I'm ashamed to say that I went to sleep and only just woke up," she replied as she stood next to him. "Last night was something I'll never forget, while wanting dearly to forget it." She felt a tear roll down her cheek. "I shall miss Duncan."

Bryce reached up and took Elle's hand. "Ferelden is Maker Blessed. It always has been. But, this time, having the team of Loghain and Duncan, was more than we could have hoped."

"The Maker gathered all the right people here just when we needed them," Elle whispered. She smiled. "Leliana would be so happy to hear that I believe that the Maker would intervene when the Chant clearly says that he wouldn't."

Bryce sighed and stood, taking Elle in his arms. "If anything had gone wrong …," was all he said before he broke down in tears. He held onto his precious daughter and she responded in kind for many long minutes.

"We made it, Father. We stopped the Blight," she whispered in his ear. Then, she pulled back and looked at him. "Now, we need to put all the pieces back together. That's what we do, isn't it?"

He held her cheek in his hand. "Leave it up to my darling daughter to tell me the right of it." He hugged her again and then took a deep breath as he released her. "Right. Time for a bath and food and attending Duncan's memorial. We can check in with the Palace en route." Then, he reached down and handed Elle a sealed message. "Oh. This came for you a short while ago."

Elle started to open it, but then stopped. "Bath first. I'll read this after. Meet in the dining room shortly?"

"We can talk more then," he said.

Camelia had prepared Elle's bath, replete with Andraste's Grace petals. She soaked until the water was becoming uncomfortably cold. Then, she dressed in her drakeskin armor and weapons, which had been cleaned and laid out for her. "Whatever we're paying Camelia, it must be doubled," Elle whispered to herself as she took a deep breath and opened the message, fearing it would be bad news.

It was.

Lady Cousland,

Varric stayed at the Chantry last night and told stories to the children to lighten their heavy hearts. He was Maker-sent! The Warden Commander came to speak with him about Rance Amell since no one could find him. Varric said that Warden Amell had been killed by darkspawn while the wardens helped Varric get to the rooftop. They hid Rance's body in a locked room so the darkspawn wouldn't defile it.

A mage who had traveled here with me overheard the conversation and said that her mother was Leandra Amell Hawke. Varric said that you knew the Hawkes and could probably get word to her the fastest. If you could get word to Lady Amell Hawke, Bethany and I would dearly appreciate it.

Maker's Blessings on you and your family,

Ser Bryant

"No …" Elle whispered as she sat on her bed and cried again. She didn't know how long. She recalled the journey with the light-skinned mage, out under the sun for the first time in years. How grateful he had been for that small hood. And, how he kept Anders alive after that cowardly Templar attacked them. Interspersed were memories of people she'd crossed paths with in Ostagar, in Lothering, around Ferelden and in Denerim. She would never have any idea what happened to them. Faces of people she never formally knew that she would never see again.

Then, she reminded herself what she told her father. Time to put the pieces back together. Duty over despair.

She went to the communications room where a few elves were still working on messages that had come in and needed to go out. They took their duties seriously and never wavered. Anleese walked up to Elle and hugged her which only caused Elle to begin to cry some more. Only this time, Elle's tears were ones of gratitude. She would never be able to repay the respect and love shown to her. After a few moments, Greadon cleared his throat. "Do you have a message, Elle?"

Maker bless him for his timely intervention, Elle thought. Elle gave a final hug to Anleese as they parted, she wiped her eyes and said, "Yes, Greadon, is the bird for Highever available?"

"One of them left this morning to alert the Teyrna, but we have the other one here," he explained.

"Good," Elle said as she sat and composed the sad message to her mother about Rance Amell. As she was struggling to condense it into the small square of parchment befitting the message tube for a bird, Deidra rushed into the room.

"Lady Cousland! A ship full of Orlesian Templars and Seekers has just arrived at the docks. They've come to make us all Tranquil if we learned how to shapeshift!" Deidra said as she wildly looked around the room. Deidra was a Circle mage who had been instrumental in the comm network around Ferelden during the Blight. "The rest of us are downstairs with your father. The King and General Loghain are off to bar them from entering the city. We don't know what to do!"

"Can't you just fly away?" Greadon asked.

She turned a very frustrated look his way. "And, do what, Greadon? Always on the run."

Elle stood and paced. "Follow me," she said to Deidra.

They went downstairs. Most of the fear and outrage had been tempered and Bryce was pacing. "Do you all know where Soldier's Peak is?" When all the mages nodded, he continued. "Send for …" He was interrupted by banging on the front door.

"Let me in, Your Lordship!" It was Knight-Commander Greagoir. "I am not here to do anything to our mages!"

Elle turned to them. "Go upstairs to the comm room," she said quietly.

Once they were all gone … and Greagoir had banged on the door again … Bryce opened it and let him in.

"Where are they?" Greagoir demanded to know.

"Just what do you intend to do to the mages who were as important to the end of the Blight as anyone, Greagoir?" Bryce asked calmly.

"If we can just take custody of them, the Orlesian Templars will have no jurisdiction." Greagoir was interrupted from saying anything else by First Enchanter Irving and Alistair walking up to the door. They were having a hushed argument.

As they got through the door, Alistair said, "But, can you really guarantee that the mages who were as valuable as the wardens in ending the Blight will be protected from Lord Seeker Lambert?"

"Maker, is he here, too?" Elle asked.

"Yes, he's yelling the loudest on the docks. He's threatening an Exalted March," Alistair explained. He looked tired and angry … but the angry was definitely winning out at the moment.

Bryce said, "We would need a Divine before that could happen."

Greagoir sighed. "The Grand Consensus is supposedly very close to making that decision. I fear that Lambert feels the new Divine will not be as malleable as Beatrix, Maker rest her soul."

"So, that's why they are unreasonably pressing the issue the day after the death of the Archdemon in a country where everyone is beyond exhausted," Elle said.

"I've offered to make them all Wardens if they want, but the First Enchanter and Knight-Commander are against it," Alistair said.

At the top of the stairs, Diedra cried out, "I accept!" She turned around to where the other mages were hiding in the hallway. "We all do!"

When Greagoir took a step toward the stairs, Elle bravely stood in his way. "You are a guest in our home, Knight Commander. Please do my father the courtesy to speak before you do something rash."

Bryce gave Elle a brief "no pressure on me" look towards his daughter. No doubt a look that he's had occasion to use at other previous times. "I see," Bryce said. Elle could tell he was gearing up for negotiation when he began with his signature phrase. "So, their options are … one … to go to the Circle in Kinloch Hold under the protection of the Ferelden Circle's Knight-Commander." Greagoir and Irving both nodded. "Two … become Grey Wardens of Ferelden." Alistair nodded, as did all the mages now lining the upper banister of the stairs. "Or, three, fly away to all corners of Thedas where our actions, gentlemen, right here, right now, will define the rest of their lives: how they live, how they interact with the public, how they could turn to all manner of mischief because we have proven to them that we can no longer be trusted." He turned to Greagoir. "Who decides who your replacement would be, Greagoir?"

Greagoir was a smart man. He knew why Elle's father asked that question, but he wasn't going to keep silent. "It would be more than Lambert," he said quietly. "Irving would have a say as would Grand Cleric Elthina."

"But, who would ultimately make the decision?" Bryce pressed.

"Lambert," Irving said with a sigh. Greagoir didn't even try to deny it further.

"So, you must see that option one is not a very viable, long-term solution?" he asked. Both Irving and Greagoir frowned.

Irving added, "Teyrn Cousland, we have lost a great number of mages to this Blight." He motioned up to the thirteen mages upstairs. "We can sorely afford to lose thirteen more."

Technically, the mages could not be protected and would end up lost anyway … either to Tranquility or apostasy. "Do I really have to point out the problem with that argument, Irving?" Bryce asked.

Irving sighed. "No."

"Exactly, same answer: the mages would not be permanently safe in the Circle as long as Lambert wishes them to become Tranquil." He stopped Greagoir from saying anything further. "And, if you begin to argue that thirteen Tranquil are hardly valueless, I shall have to throw you out of my home."

Irving chuckled. "I see your point, Your Lordship, as does Greagoir." He turned to Alistair. "But, you are keeping secrets yourself, Warden Commander." He motioned to the mages. "These mages don't know what it entails to become a Grey Warden, do they?"

Alistair only turned to the mages and indicated that they should answer.

"We have to drink a Joining formula of darkspawn blood," one mage answered.

"It is tempered with lyrium, a magical ritual and a drop of Archdemon blood," another said.

"I was unaware of the Archdemon blood part," Elle mused quietly. "Duncan didn't even mention it to Cailan and Loghain in Ostagar."

"Yeah, about that," Alistair added to Elle's thought. "Everyone here please forget all about that part. Seems there's a powerful darkspawn mage …." He turned toward Irving. "I believe you were here when the Architect showed up at the Circle, Irving?" When Irving frowned and both he and Greagoir nodded, Alistair added. "Anyway, the Architect wanted to make a sort of Joining potion against wardens back then and failed. Last we heard, he didn't know about the Archdemon blood being required. We'd like to keep it that way, please."

The young mage blushed who had spilled beans. "Sorry, Commander."

Alistair smiled. "Fortunately, I trust everyone here, so no damage." He turned and winked at everyone. "That may be naive, but I do trust all of you." He motioned up to the balcony. "Continue."

"We shall have thirty years of productive service to the Grey before the taint calls in its marker … that is if we are not killed in the line of a very dangerous, but vital duty," a third said.

"We keep Thedas safe through our vigilance and service," a fourth said.

"And, we keep our emotions and our magic," a fifth said.

"We won't turn into abominations, but, if we do, there are many wardens trained in Templar abilities to thwart darkspawn mages. We will be handled," the sixth mage said.

"We won't live in a prison," a seventh mage said.

"We will see the sky and breathe fresh air," the eighth mage said.

"We are already tested and harrowed mages, but we will continue to study magic in relation to ending the darkspawn scourge," the ninth mage said.

"We will be part of a military structure and will need to answer to our warden officers," number ten said.

"We will patrol our assigned areas … from the air and on the ground … to insure that the public will be truly protected from a very real danger," the eleventh mage said.

"We all respect and believe in the necessity of training for young mages. We all believe in the Circles. But, the Chantry has become blind and corrupted," the twelfth mage said.

Elle thought to herself, Seems like Anders has done a bit of coaching.

Diedra stepped down the stairs and bravely stepped up to Greagoir, daring him to cast a smite on her. "The Maker would be horrified at today's Chantry, Greagoir. You know this. They've addicted you to lyrium, needlessly. The warden Templars do not take lyrium and yet can fell the strongest darkspawn mage. As we will join the Grey Wardens, you should as well."

Alistair grinned. "That pretty much wraps it up!"

Diedra smiled and added, "We've aided the preparation of other Joinings, Commander." She turned to Irving. "We listen. We learn. We will protect." She turned to Greagoir, "We will be useful. Think about it, Greagoir."

Greagoir smiled at Diedra. "I have made my choice, Diedra. I have taken a vow that I won't rescind." After sighing, he added, "But, I shall respect your choices. Do not make me regret this."

Irving shook his head. "Let's go, Greagoir. We need to tell Lambert that they are Grey Wardens before he does something stupid." He looked at all of them. "I shall miss all of you. I have fond memories of each of you growing up in the Circle. Please, at least, come visit."

Alistair opened the door and said, "Come inside. We'll do the Joining here." Gorim stepped in holding a large crate. Following him were Anders and Odonna. Before he closed the door, Elle saw a number of wardens lining the courtyard of Highever House. Any Orlesians trying to press their way inside would be in for a serious surprise.

Most of the furniture throughout Highever House had already been pushed aside for its latest guests and there were many bedrolls available. Alistair chose the large chamber just before the family rooms for the Joining and everyone pitched in to prepare the bedrolls before they left the wardens to their business. The kitchen got busy making extra for the new wardens. Elle and Bryce only ate small bowls so that the mages could get a hearty meal when they woke up.

Twelve mages survived. An elder mage's heart was just not strong enough for the trauma of the Joining, even though Sadra had flown countless scouting missions throughout the Korcari Wilds. Anders was devastated and indicated that Wynne would be, as well. Sadra had been one of his instructors … always willing to listen to anything at any time … always willing to accept new ways of thinking. She was likely one of the strongest influences on Anders' own independent thinking.

Sadra would have never wanted to be made Tranquil. That was the thought that gave everyone a bit of peace.

Elle got permission from Alistair to ask Diedra if she could run a message to Highever to tell Mistress Hawke and Marianne about Rance Amell's death. It would be a sad first duty for the new warden, but she was more than willing to fly to Highever the next day. Marianne and Leandra wouldn't be able to make it for the pyre and memorial for the wardens, but they would know about the heroism of a family member.

As the mages were finishing their meal, another knock at the door put everyone on alert. "Can't hear any fighting outside, so let's not get too excited," Gorim said as he went to the door, pulled his sword and shield and opened the door a crack. He sheathed weapon and shield and opened the door. "Teyrn Loghain."

Bryce made it to the door first. "Maker's Mercy! Did Lambert try to fight his way in?!"

"Not, exactly," Loghain explained. "He wanted to, so I made him a deal. One on one combat to first blood. The loser leaves." Loghain actually smirked. "I was rather motivated. His Templar abilities had no effect on me, but he kept trying to use them anyway. Gave me ample opportunities to best him. And, as you can see, he didn't stop at first blood … only when the tip of my sword was at his throat."

Anders rushed over and healed Loghain's bloody arm and forehead. "A lot of Templars really are terrible fighters who rely on magic and lyrium. Surprised to hear that about the Lord Seeker, though. I wouldn't mind if you told us they were all dead, Loghain," Anders mumbled.

"Nor, would I, sir," Loghain said. "But, he yielded and they got on their ship and left. Bloody cowards sat out in the bay at anchor while we were fighting for our lives last night. Maker drown them on the way back to Val Royeaux."

Elle turned to Diedra. "Add a warning of a potential landing of Templars and Seekers in Highever."

"Maker," was all Diedra said with a nod. "I'll stop in Amaranthine and warn Arlessa Delilah as well."

Loghain nodded to Anders, "Thank you for the healing, Warden." Then, he looked at Alistair and said, "Are they all wardens now?"

"One of the wisest went to the Maker's Side from the Joining, but the wardens now have twelve new mage wardens," Alistair said.

"Lambert wanted to drag Greagoir back to Val Royeaux as well when he was told, but then we had our little sparring session and he seemed to forget about it," Loghain said.

A knock at the door heralded the First Warden and Varric. They entered and had big smiles on their faces. "Ah, good, you got some healing, Loghain. The King and I watched them until they circled out of the bay. All of the dock security guards have been alerted to notify us if any Chantry ships return." Rodrigo looked at Alistair and then laughed. "Lambert said that his first missive will be to the First Warden."

"Did he not see you?" Alistair asked.

"He did, but he never thought for a second that an Antivan was the First Warden," Varric said with a laugh. "Rodrigo just kept a stern, grim face to rival Loghain's face." He looked at Elle. "Ser Bryant and Knight-Commander Tavish stood with us and Grand Cleric Elthina has already sent a bird to Val Royeaux protesting Lambert's actions."

"We finally have proper Chantry leadership in Ferelden." Loghain shook his head. "Sadly, the Orlesian Chantry is as out of touch as I am and thought the First Warden was still Orlesian." He lifted an eyebrow to Rodrigo. "How did an Antivan unseat Orlesian control?"

"Love, mio amico. Love. You see, my sister and Prince Kradon of The Anderfels fell in love. They visited Weisshaupt frequently and built up quite a rapport with the officers and wardens. Even the Orlesians. Contrary to what you believe, Loghain, there are many Orlesians who are fed up with Her Radiance and her entire family. Many of those fed up Orlesians are now worthy Grey Wardens.

"Anyway, when the useless Orlesian First Warden went on his Calling, he named a rather unpopular fellow to take his place. Kradon requested the new First Warden visit them at the Royal Palace and he seemingly met an untimely accident en route. Truly, my friends. An accident." Rodrigo's eyes weren't sparkling, so Elle sort of believed him … but he was Antivan. "Anyway, Kradon reported the sad news in person and recommended me." Rodrigo shrugged. "I was already in line for command, so it made sense. I was surprised that I did not get more confrontation about it. Things are running rather smoothly." Then, his eyes started to sparkle. "I am certain the Crow wardens I left behind have nothing to do with this obedience."

"Regardless, you should be careful. Celene and Gaspard are ruthless," Loghain said. "No doubt they are angry that they can no longer snap their fingers and bid the Grey Wardens to do one or the other's bidding."

"Probably why so many Orlesians are tired of them," Elle mused, looked out the front windows and sighed. Everyone sobered quickly as they noticed the lengthening shadows stretching across the foyer. It was time to head to the Chantry.

En route, Elle and Alistair walked together. She looped her arm through his and said quietly, "Are you ready to say a few words about Duncan?"

He sighed. "Yes. Rodrigo told me this morning that he would call on me after he'd spoken and gave me a few ideas. The best of the ideas was to keep it short." He patted Elle's hand on his arm and smiled. "I like this."

She only smiled up at him and they continued their walk to the Chantry. The evening was beautiful. The sunset was magnificent … as if the Maker wanted the world to know Duncan was standing by his side.

Grand Cleric Elthina, all the Templars and Chantry folk were formally dressed and arranged around the pyre. Benches were arranged in concentric circles around the center pyre altar. Notes and flowers completely covered the walls around the area. There was no real order to the seating, but the front benches were empty as they arrived. Alistair was called up to stand next to Rodrigo and Elle went to sit with her father, Gorim, Odonna, and Varric. Midnight sat at attention at the end of the bench. Cailan, Anora and Loghain were also in the center circle.

After Elthina performed the evocation rituals, Cailan stood and put his hand on Duncan's chest. Tears were in his eyes. He cleared his throat and began, "We have lost a great man, a man with a wicked sense of humor and a rock solid sense of responsibility. He was born in Highever but was ordered away with his family during the occupation. His family tried to eek out a reasonable living in Val Royeaux, but violence in that city took both his parents from him when he was but a young man. It led to Duncan on his own in his late teens … ultimately leading to being recruited into the Grey Wardens of Orlais. My father went on a secret mission with Duncan and the Orlesian Wardens and that's when Duncan first returned to Ferelden." Cailan smiled at Loghain. "I'm certain Loghain has a different viewpoint on that mission, but he's promised me that he has changed his opinion of the young scamp Duncan was back then."

"Since that young scamp grew out of his Orlesian influence, I grew to respect him and value his guidance through this Blight," Loghain said. His own eyes showing a sheen rarely seen. "Without him, I believe we would be much worse off right now, to put it mildly."

What followed was a round-robin of comments and stories from nobles and commoners alike … some humorous, some serious, but all tributes to the respect Duncan had garnered in Ferelden. Oddly, a raven came to roost on one of the chantry walls nearby. Elle looked at it and wondered if it might be Morrigan … maybe Flemeth? The bird ignored Elle's pointed look, but it didn't leave either.

When Rodrigo finished his wonderful remembrance of Duncan's time in Weisshaupt before he returned as second to the previous Ferelden Commander Polara, he turned to Alistair, who stood and had to take a moment before speaking.

"Duncan was my commander. He was my mentor … and he was my friend. He was a hero to me long before last night. He just always seemed to know the right decision to make … well, until he made me Warden Commander, maybe." There were a few chuckles and smiles to that comment.

"A Grey Warden's life is dangerous and short. After about thirty years, wardening demands a return of its own … we go on our Calling. Usually a large feast in Orzammar is followed by entering the Deep Roads alone to fight darkspawn until we are killed." A few quick intakes of breath caused him to further explain. "I know it's probably not wise for recruitment to mention that, but it's important to know that Grey Wardens do their duty throughout their lives until the very end. All Grey Wardens are expected to handle their lives … and their deaths like this. Duncan was nearing his Calling. He saw the death of the Archdemon as his duty and his Calling combined. It was his honor to take that duty on so that the rest of us wardens could continue the fight." He put his hand on Duncan's shoulder. "Know that someday, we shall join you," Alistair said quietly. He looked up with a sad smile as all the other wardens in attendance said the same words.

Elthina looked toward Varric. "I understand that you may be able to tell us what happened on Fort Drakon last night, Master Tethras?" Almost as one, everyone looked in anticipation to Varric.

He took a deep breath and stood. "First, don't expect a long, involved story … don't even expect a very good one. I'm sorry." He took another deep breath. "I snuck away from Highever House last night, thinking that I would be witness to power and heroism and glory. A tale that would mesmerize the masses for years to come. I did witness all those things, but there is no way any storyteller could give it justice."

Then, Varric laughed. "As everyone knows, my stories seldom tell the factual events … usually, because facts can be boring. I embellish … a lot."

Even Loghain smiled at that.

"But … up on that roof, as well as the fight to even get there … hey, anyone got anything to drink handy?" he asked. Elle knew he was stalling, but she also knew the extreme courage it took to even try to tell this particular story.

Adalas was a new servant to the Couslands. Elle saw to it she was hired immediately after hearing she had lost her husband during the siege. Adalas rushed up with a filled mug and wine bottle from the back where she had been standing. No one missed her wiping her eyes as she set the bottle down near to Varric. "I thought some may be needed today, if Her Grace would allow it?"

At Elthina's smile and nod, Adalas continued, "If I may be so bold, you may think your telling will not be up to your standards, but it will. Many of us lost family up there and during the days and nights before. Anything you can share with us will be appreciated." She blushed and looked around, also smiling to the faces of other people nearby. "Forgive me for going on, Your Majesties and my lords and ladies."

"Nothing to forgive, Adalas," Bryce and almost everyone else said.

Once she stepped away, Varric finished half of that mug and took another deep breath. "Okay. Here goes.

"The night was cold and still and the sky was cloudless, even though the moons took on a reddish-brown hue from the fumes of the Blight. It was so thick that no stars were visible.

"The lead mage on our side came onto the roof of Highever House. 'It doesn't work!' she cried. 'Every time the riderless eagles get close to the Archdemon, it flaps those leathery wings and we get buffeted away!'

"She didn't have long to vent about that. Remember when I said that the sky was reddish-brown? Well, that changed when the Archdemon decided to fly over the roof we were standing on. The sky turned to purple-flame then! The startled mage almost didn't make it to the door to get out of the way.

"But, then … we got a surprise. Another dragon attacked the Archdemon! Just after we were doused with purple fire that made normal red fire bloom on all our ammo barrels, this red dragon dove toward the Archdemon! Unfortunately, we didn't get to see what was happening in the murky sky, but the sounds of screeching coming from above told us that a dragon fight was going on.

"While we ran out to douse our ammo before it burned, we listened to the sounds of the fight going on above. When the pair were clinched in a grapple, the sound got louder as they fell toward land. It got softer when they broke apart and flew up. The Archdemon would try to get away from this pis … uh, really angry red dragon. That happened several times until they crashed on top of Fort Drakon!

"Our luck was changing as that was just where the wardens wanted the Archdemon to be. Maybe Duncan paid off a dragon friend of the Grey Wardens? Maybe the dragon sighted at the Battle of the River Dane was so impressed that she had to intervene? We'll never know."

Varric shrugged and took another drink of wine. Adalas got up and filled his mug again and sat in the chair that Elle's father pulled up for her.

"Anyway, the mage turned to Elle and said, 'I must go now. Don't follow me. You know why.' Then, she turned into her magnificent eagle and flew up to that rooftop. Well, sh… heck if I knew why the mage wanted Elle to stay back, but it was probably a good idea for Elle. Guys just follow her around like mabari pups, you know. Her not going probably saved a lot of guys doing the heroic thing for the damsel in distress."

Varric winked at her narrowed eyes and frown. Elle had a feeling that Varric realized her look was directed to Cailan's laughter more than what Varric had said.

"Well, the mage didn't tell me I couldn't go. I took all the special Bianca bolts left in the barrel … not a lot left … so I also grabbed a couple handfuls of bolts that I'd have to load by hand." He patted his crossbow, now safely on his back. "For those of you who don't know, I named my crossbow Bianca. Anyway, I turned to Elle and said, 'I gotta go, too, Elle. You know why.'" After pointing to Elle's frown, he added, "Yeah, that was the look she gave me."

A number of chuckles were added to Cailan's. Then, Varric continued, "Elle and His Lordship arranged for a couple of Highever's best scouts to get me to the tower, which, fortunately, wasn't that far away. We had to duck into buildings or behind piles of rubble a couple of times, but the darkspawn were single-minded by that point. Gotta help the boss!

"Once we got to the courtyard, about fifteen wardens were finishing up a fight there. Finishing off drakes, of all things. Looked like normal ones, not blighted. Dunno why drakes would fight for the darkspawn. Maybe they wanted a turn with the Archdemon. I guess it is the baddest piece o … uh, female dragon in the sky. Heh, maybe that's why that red high dragon was so angry, eh?

"Anyway, Warden Rance was doing some healing to get everyone up some for the slog through the tower. Boy, none of them was glad to see me, but they didn't try to stop Bianca's help. The wardens had just defeated two powerful darkspawn … one in what was left of the Alienage and the other in the Market District. Guess the darkspawn generals wanted to do some shopping.

"Rance really tried to talk me out of going." Varric's face morphed into sadness. "In hindsight, I should have listened to him. I'll always wonder if my presence did anything to distract Rance somehow.

"The negotiation was that the two Highever scouts would return to Highever House. I had to swear that Bianca would do nothing to attract attention in any upcoming battles … that I would find a spot to wait it out. And, I mostly did that.

"The bottom floors were pretty easy. No emissaries." He chuckled. "There was one weird thing. We went through a room with dead darkspawn stacked against the sides all around this dwarf kid and a box of potions and armor patching kits. The wardens just walked up to him and did business as if nothing else was going on. I turned to ask this guy next to me and he just said, 'See all the dead darkspawn? He did that. We don't worry about him.' His name was Sandal Feddic."

"His father is Bodahn?" Bryce asked.

"I think that was the name on the side of the merchant chest," Varric replied.

"They were invaluable in Highever's city reconstruction. It would have taken much longer to repair the damage Rendon's mercenaries did without the Feddics' contacts."

Varric just shook his head. "Maybe they're just sent around by the Maker or Ancestors or Creators or something whenever disaster hits. By the way, he wasn't around when we left. Smart kid.

"We were making pretty good time. I hadn't worried once that I was going to miss everything and have to hear about it second-hand." He stopped at Elle's laugh. "Hey, I wanna get this right. It's important."

"Sorry," Elle said with a wink. "I applaud your desire for honesty."

Then, Varric's face slipped back into sadness. "The fights got harder the higher we went. The guys said we only had a couple more floors to go when darkspawn assassins made their appearance.

"The wardens' sense abilities found them out …" He paused a long moment. "Except one of the bastards slipped around and got Rance. Stabbed him right in the back. Like I said, I'll always feel guilty about that."

Alistair sighed. "Unfortunately, there was a lot about the darkspawn we didn't know before the siege. We knew there was a hierarchy of power in some of the squads we went up against … assassins we didn't know about until a day or so before the final battle. Generals we didn't know about until last night. Rodrigo is making everyone write up their experiences and perceptions to store at Weisshaupt for the future. I'm having copies make for here."

Odonna cleared her throat. "Take them all to the Shaperate and ask them to record them in lyrium as well as store them in Weisshaupt."

Rodrigo nodded. "Good idea. I might see if we can record them in lyrium at Weisshaupt also."

Alistair looked at Varric. "Anyway, chances are that your presence did less to distract Rance than his attention to his job … namely, healing and some offense spells when he could without endangering the other wardens. He was a good man. A good mage. A good warden."

Everyone took a few minutes to sit in silence, each in their thoughts.

Varric finished his second mug of wine and Adalas poured in the last of the bottle.

"Finally, we got to the room right before the door to the roof. Easy right?" Varric threw up his hands. "Of course not! We were met with an emissary and two ogres! The wardens ordered me to find a corner or empty side room and not do anything to garner the ogres' attention. Fortunately, they smited the heck out of the emissary. I waited until he looked dazed. Then, Bianca put a bolt right between his eyes. He went down quick.

"The ogres were tough. I found a room to the side that had chests in it. I tried to keep my eyes on the fight while picking the locks. Good thing I did. They were full of healing potions and stamina boosting potions! I spent that fight skirting around the edge tossing healing potions to the wardens." He grinned. "Okay, Bianca may have also gotten in a few head shots on wobbly ogres.

"By the time the ogres were down, most of the healing potions were gone. We split up the stamina draughts. Warden Donza from the Anderfels stood on those final stairs before the roof, 'Not enough time to make any speeches. I just want us all to take a deep breath and focus.' He pointed to the door to the roof. 'Through that door is a fight we must win at all costs ... whatever it takes. We know we can do this. We know that it takes a Grey Warden to successfully kill the beast for good. We've trained for centuries to do this. We've sacrificed everything else in our lives for this. Remember Warden Mage Rance Amell! We are Grey Wardens!'

"We all stood and raised fists! 'Remember Rance! Remember the Wardens!'" Varric stopped a minute as everyone raised their fists and said the same, only they added, "Remember Duncan!" to the end.

"We had no idea what was awaiting us through that door, but we went through ... to a scene ..." Varric stopped and put his hands on top of his head to take another deep breath. "Gimme a minute."

Elle got up and embraced the dwarf storyteller. "I never realized until this minute how utterly impossible your job is, Varric," she said. Then, she pulled back and added, "And, how utterly necessary it is. What you've witnessed is what everyone needs to know. Everyone. The sacrifices on that rooftop must never be forgotten."

"I agree with Elethea, Varric, for what it's worth," Loghain said.

Cailan took Anora's hand and kissed it. "It will never be forgotten in Ferelden. We swear it."

Varric smiled. "Thanks, everyone." He took a long drink. "Okay, I've stalled enough. This is the part you guys want to hear. Loghain knows the first part."

"Don't count on me remembering details, Varric," Loghain added.

Varric smiled at the old general. "Just as we stepped through the door, Loghain points up to a swivel-mounted arbalest and yells at me, 'Get your dwarven ass up there and shoot that arbalest as often as you have a clear shot!'"

Loghain chuckled. "I do remember that."

"Wasn't Bianca jealous?" Elle asked.

"Nah, she understood. Monumentally large dragon required a monumentally large crossbow." Varric took a deep breath. "At first, the Archdemon was outnumbered a hundred to one. Then, its minions started to crawl up the damn walls and pour out of a small side door."

"Later, we found out there was a breach in the wall at the bottom of the tower," Loghain explained. "They found an alternate way up to the roof that bypassed the defenders at the main door."

Varric nodded. "I wondered how they found another way up. There were already too many people up there. That rooftop just isn't that big! The sword and shield guys were up front. The archers … Dalish and Fereldan … were plastered around the walls on the north and south side. Those were the sides where the stairwells and storage rooms were. The east and west side was mostly open."

He looked up at the sky and then continued. "The Archdemon decided it was too crowded, so even with arbalest projectiles sticking out of its sides, arrows hanging in its wings, slashes on its legs, the monster turned in a quick circle. That tail that was taller than a grown human and it took out the majority of the close fighters." He looked at Loghain. "Loghain had been positioned in front of me on the main roof and got slammed into the stairs to my arbalest perch. I pulled him up off the floor as the Archdemon roared and breathed out purple fire."

"Thank you for that, by the way, Varric," Loghain said, his own eyes taking on a haunted look.

"Father! You didn't mention that!" Anora said. She was aghast that her father, a man who was always invincible to her could come so close to death.

"To be honest, Anora, it got me out of the majority of the fight. It took until Duncan called a halt to non-warden offense for me to be able to stand." Loghain reached over and squeezed Anora's hand.

Varric paused for a long period of time. "The ones who didn't get slammed into a wall …" He looked up with a tear on his cheek. "They were sent over the edge. I'll hear those screams until the day I die."

Varric put his hands on his knees for a time. They could hear a few sniffs before he continued, "The Dalish archers renewed their deadly rain of arrows. They all focused on the dragon's right eye until it was punctured and gone. Then, they started on the left eye. The Archdemon dropped before it lost that one and Duncan ordered all non-wardens to cease fighting. Alistair had to go over to convince the Dalish to stop. They had lost so many by then, they were inconsolable and angry."

Varric looked at Alistair. "Alistair started by thanking them. He told them that Dumat's Archdemon could not be killed by anger and skill and rose again and again. He told them that it took a Grey Warden and sacrifice. One of those Grey Wardens was Garahal, the elf who slew the Archdemon and ended the Fourth Blight. He told them that Duncan, the Ferelden Commander of the Grey, would sacrifice his life to make certain Urthemiel's Archdemon would never rise again. He requested that they allow Duncan that sacrifice … a sacrifice he would have never survived to perform if not for their determination and undoubted skill to get us to that point."

"And that's why Duncan's decision to pass the leadership to Alistair was a very wise decision," Rodrigo said with a smile.

Varric wiped his eyes. "The elves actually stood tall and stoic as the wardens continued to battle the dragon until its head fell on the roof. Then, Duncan called a halt to all battle, climbed up the neck to stand over the head. There were still a few darkspawn skirmishes going on next to the north entrance. He called out, 'The death of the Archdemon will signal the end of the Fifth Blight in Thedas. It is the Grey Warden's duty … and our sacrifice. I accept this honor willingly and proudly. Now, everyone get next to a wall! We are unsure what will happen.'

"Those of us left lined up along the north and south wall. We all stood at attention. The ones fighting darkspawn put their backs against the wall. Duncan plunged his sword into that soft indentation behind the back edge of the dragon's skull, into its brain. A blinding light shot skyward. It was more than light, however, it was a massive force. But, Duncan stood there and didn't release his sword. He held it in. He made sure there would be no new Archdemon to plague Thedas. When the force stopped, the few darkspawn left on the roof started to run away like they knew what was going to happen. First Warden Rodrigo yelled, 'Let them go! Stay against ….' That's all he got out before a ring of power slammed us against the walls. A few too near the edge were swept off anyway." He took a deep breath and wiped tears off his face. If he had glanced around, he would have seen many do the same.

"Rodrigo and a couple of the wardens went in the door we had come out and brought out a Warden bier for the honored dead. No one said a word as we made our way to Duncan's battered and broken body. When the beam of light and force stopped, Duncan had fallen to the side. When the ring of power shot out, Duncan was crushed into a large toppled crate. We carried him down." Varric took a shaky breath. "You know the rest. And, here we are."

There was no applause, but even the haughtiest nobles wore sad faces. Elthina immediately stepped up and began the ritual lighting of the pyre. She handed the sanctified torch to Alistair who slowly lowered it. He whispered, "I'll do the best I can, Duncan."

No one knew how long they sat there. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts of what happened and how it mattered to them. The moons were fully risen … and visible in a clear sky … by the time everyone made their way to wherever they were staying for the night.

Elle wasn't blind to the fact that over the coming weeks, everything would likely return to "normal" for bloody Denerim … but that night everyone was joined in silence and sorrow, tears and hopes for a better tomorrow.

In hindsight, she should have made a sizable wager on Denerim returning to its usual intolerant, insolent, selfish ways … but, really, did it have to start the very next week!?

Cailan and Anora had opened the Landsmeet Chamber for an infirmary. Poor Wynne and Bethany were working their fingers to the bone. Anders stopped by to help from time to time whenever he could, but most of his healing took place during the inspection rounds of the wardens. Before they left Denerim to return to Kinloch Hold, both Irving and Greagoir promised to send at least one more mage to help with the healing.

After the memorials for the honored dead of the wardens and citizens of Ferelden, Elle and her father received a summons to the Reconstruction Tent. As they entered the large tent in the Palace courtyard, they found people streaming out of it. The nobles looked incensed … like they always did in bloody Denerim. Many of the commoners were smiling and giggling.

Elle and Bryce looked at each other and shrugged. Varric just grinned.

Anora, holding the newborn prince, put her hand on Cailan's shoulder. Poor Cailan had dropped his head on the table. Loghain was failing miserably at looking stoic. There was one other noble still at the table, Bann Sighard, who was rubbing his forehead. Four other people were around the large table with a well-marked up map of the city. Marbry was the manager of the stalls in the market. Sanga was the mistress at the Pearl. Of course, Ser Bryant no doubt represented the Chantry. And, Valendrian, of course, represented the Alienage.

Warden Ramara quickly entered behind Elle and Bryce carrying a large sheaf of parchments. "Here are the reports from the warden teams, Your …" She looked around and added, "Where did everyone go?"

Cailan looked up with a forced smile. "I reminded them that they had other more important duties, Warden." He saw Bryce. "Ah, sorry for not acknowledging you when you arrived Highever folk and Varric."

"The noise level had reached a pitch that was disturbing to the Prince, so his father suggested the nobles tend to their estates, reporting any problems to Bann Sighard or Teyrn Cousland … and the others report to Sanga, Marbry and Valerian with any problems to be brought before my father," Anora had a smirk on her face. "He's the Denerim Reconstruction Overseer by Royal Decree. Ser Bryant will be our liaison with Her Grace and the Chantry."

Sanga had a small smile on her face — she was the model of descretion, after all, but Marbry burst out laughing. When he could breathe again, he bowed to Cailan and Anora. "My most sincere apologies, Your Majesties and Your Highness … but, our gracious Queen did not do justice to our wise King standing and shouting for quiet and then pointing to the tent flap with one word, 'OUT!' Saying that only those of us still here should remain."

Bryce smiled and stepped up to the map. "Wise indeed, Your Majesty." He looked down. "This is more organized than I imagined it would be after only a week."

"The first days were sane and targeted on helping Denerim. Then the nobility got word I was about to announce who was going to be in charge and they all showed up to yell about how important they were." Cailan threw up his hands … and then took a deep breath and smiled at Ramara. "The Wardens have been doing an exemplary job. They have been the reason this map looks so complete."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Here are the reports I just received …" Then, Ramara proceeded to mark up the map with the areas that needed to be priority for demolition. A couple hours later, the map was marked, a plan was in place and the City Quarter Managers (Sanga for the docks and warehouse districts, Marbry for the market and inner-city concourses and Valendrian for the Alienage), Ser Bryant (for any Chantry issues) and Sighard and Bryce (for the nobility) were up to speed. The Royal Couple would deal with unreasonable nobles, repairs on the palace and the mountain of correspondence that had gone by the wayside during the siege. And, oh yes, dealing with a feisty newborn!

The commoners loved seeing their queen walking around holding a newborn and still doing all those wonderfully manipulative things she always did to keep Ferelden up and running. For example, before anyone could say a word, Anora and Cailan declared that a Landsmeet was set for six months from the end of the battle. In a stroke of genius, Anora added that the nobility should be ready to address their personal issues there, freeing up Loghain and the city management and guards to do what they needed to do without noble interference … well, less noble interference.

And, so the days went on …

The wardens were extremely busy inspecting all the buildings for the Blight. Since the blight-covered Arl of Denerim's estate was a main conduit for the darkspawn, it was deemed irreparable and was scheduled for total destruction by controlled fire, one part at a time. The wardens would have to do that. Rodrigo sent for more of the Weisshaupt wardens knowledgeable about blight cleanup. Anders and Niall had a few ideas as well and were testing some alchemical formulae. What to do with the land after it had been cleansed was left for the Landsmeet.

Bann Franderel showed back up in Denerim. Indeed, he never left. It turned out that he heard about the solidity of the ground below his estate and simply barricaded himself in his basement with all his collections. Loghain got a thick pile of parchments from Franderel … which Loghain promptly put at the bottom of all the other requests.

A week or so later, when the stack became unwieldy, Elle and Bryce were recruited to prioritize said requests. So, they read through all of Franderel's packet and brought forward a couple that deserved attention and Marbry concurred. The road to the north of the Franderel estate — the one that went by his front gate — was a major conduit from the inner concourse next to the wall of the city to the Market District. It needed to be cleared or the merchants and builders would be hobbled. Franderel also mentioned that the City Guard needed to be better dispersed. This was true. Everyone was pitching in with the manual labor, including the guard. However, due to the Couslands' recommendation, Loghain worked with the Guard Captain to develop a schedule that included patrols as well as reconstruction.

Most of the rest of Franderel's requests went to the bottom of the stack and a few were lost. Such as, "all elves ... even elf wardens since they weren't doing anything anymore ... need to be ordered to disarm and help me re-display all my artwork." The other permanently misplaced request was that the elves could be moved to tents outside the gate so the remaining buildings in the Alienage could be used to store the nobility's furniture until repairs could be made to their estates.

Elle actually destroyed both the requests about the elves by ripping them up, wadding up the bits and throwing them into the metal stove they used in the large tent for warmth. Bryce, Loghain and Cailan all applauded the action before they got back to work.

However, no sooner had Elle done that, when Liesia from the Alienage ran into the tent with a message in her hands. Elle jumped, fearing she'd been caught by Franderel. Which made Liesia jump back and drop the message. "Oh! Maker's Breath, Liesia. I'm so sorry I jumped. I didn't mean to frighten you. I feared you were Bann Franderel."

Liesia just laughed and then looked curiously around. "Did you all not know he took ship last night? He commandeered a supply ship that had just unloaded and forced the captain to take him somewhere. At least, that's the rumor. His manor is mostly empty … at least, the expensive things went with him. No one knows why. I did work in Bann Franderel's kitchens. Now, I'm working at the Chantry for a while."

"Gone?!" Loghain growled. He handed Varric the entire stack of Franderel's demands. "Please put these into the stove as well, Varric. Take care not to burn the tent down due to the large amount of flammables."

Elle frowned. "He only took his expensive things?"

Liesia nodded and said, "But, I'm not here for that. Ser Bryant bid me give you this message immediately, Your Majesty." She curtseyed and handed Cailan a folded letter.

Cailan took the message and opened it. "Let's see … " Then, he just started to smile and handed it to Bryce.

Bryce opened it, smiled broadly and read, "To be announced throughout Thedas, the Grand Consensus, after much prayer and meditation, has come to a Maker-guided declaration that Revered Mother Dorothea shall be named Divine Justinia V." He folded it back up and handed it to a page. "Please run this to Queen Anora, immediately." Once the young page ran out of the tent, Bryce shook his head. "I can imagine that was not the result Lord Seeker Lambert was looking for."

With a completely straight face, Loghain said, "Now, the poor man can resign and live out his lyrium-addled years in peace."

Elle hugged Leisia and the two of them did a little dance. "It would seem that Leliana has been right all along. The Maker has not abandoned us." When she looked at Cailan, she noticed that he had a frown on his face. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes, Elle, I'm taking you off duty here and making the implementation of a communications network throughout Ferelden your primary goal. Once that is done and we've restored Denerim, you will be charged with the restoration of West Hill." He smiled then. "Of course, that's all pending what the Queen wishes of you as well."

"And, if there is any coin left here," Bryce added quietly.

"Actually, Your Majesty, that's pretty much in line with my own reckoning," Elle said.

"We will send you with a squad of Maric's Shield for your travels, Elethea," Loghain added. "Of course, you'll also have Midnight, Varric and Gorim."

Varric cleared his throat and said, "Yeah, about that … I'm gonna need to go back to Kirkwall for a few weeks, Elle."

Elle stopped and faced the storyteller. "It sounds serious, my friend. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Gorim laughed. "Pay up. I told you she'd say that. You were so worried she'd be angry."

Varric handed a sovereign to Gorim. "Yeah, fair enough, but the timing is bad. She'd have every right to be angry." Then he turned to Elle. "Remember those Deep Roads maps that Duncan got for me to send to Bartrand? Way back in Ostagar? He up and left without me. That was almost six months ago. The Merchant's Guild got word to me through my man Corth that they're going to sell the Tethras' seat in the Guild if I don't come back for it."

"I …" Elle started and then finished, "I don't really know what to say. What do you want to do?"

Varric shrugged and looked around. "I'm pretty attached to Ferelden right now. Dealing with those cut-throat surface dwarves is not how I want to spend my time. Anyway, Odonna told me that Lord Harrowmont and his entire house had been exiled to the surface after Bhelen became king. Harrowmont showed up in Kirkwall and contacted the Merchant's Guild." Varric laughed. "The guy made me an offer on the Tethras' seat plus Bartrand's estate that'll set me up for life. So, I need to go finalize the deal. Trust me. I won't take one second longer than I need to."

"So, you're leaving tomorrow, I take it?" Elle asked. Then, she hugged him soundly. "I shall miss you so much, Varric. We all will."

"Yeah, I just booked a ship that should get me there in pretty good time," he said. "I'm gonna miss all you guys, too."

"All right, let's get you packed and on your ship, Varric," Elle said. "Then, Gorim and I will take a look through Franderel's estate. He may have left something behind if he left in a hurry with no notice."

"Already packed and the ship doesn't leave until tomorrow, but he told me to sleep on the ship so he can push off whenever he gets permission to leave … so, I got 3 or 4 hours." Varric grinned. "Let's go raid the bastard's secret drawers."

Elle, Gorim, Midnight and Varric found more than one secret drawer in his estate, all stuffed with outrageous receipts of his purchases. However, he did miss one that he should have emptied … in his bedroom wardrobe, of all places. Inside was a copy of a letter to Gaspard, inviting Gaspard's chevaliers to use West Hill as a launching point to take over Ferelden and rid him of the "commoner Queen" and "idiot Theirin line".

Cailan and Anora sent a terse letter to all the leaders in the Free Marches, outlining what Franderel had done. It ended with a note that he would be summarily executed if he ever showed his face in Ferelden again. They also sent a battalion of Maric's Shield under Ser Cauthrien's command to Highever to check West Hill and make certain all the chevaliers were still gone. She was to leave some soldier's behind to make certain they stayed gone. Fergus happily added some of Highever's soldiers to the rotation. Elle made a note to set up a messenger post there whenever it was more settled. Loghain already had plans to make it into a training bastion for Ferelden's army.

While Varric was gone, Elle coordinated via bird and meetings at the Warden Compound with the warden mages and the communications elves who worked through the siege, to set up the initial ideas and skeleton of a Ferelden-wide network. It integrated the bird relay roosts already in service with some new ideas in other locations. Only non-mage personnel, birds and messenger riders were permanently assigned to any outpost. A new outpost near Kinloch Hold had just sent word that they were operational.

So far, they had posts being set up in Lothering, Highever, Vigil's Keep, Gwaren and Redcliffe. It was a beginning, but it was good enough for now to get information disseminated around the country. The new Divine was the first message sent in the new network. Elle be would traveling around Ferelden to visit all the locations and explain the plan to nearby villagers and nobility.

After only three weeks … Varric returned with all his personal belongings … and several locked chests that Elle could only guess were filled with a lifetime of gold. Elle was finalizing her network plans when he walked in. "Excellent!" she said as she soundly hugged him, along with Midnight barking and dancing around the dwarf. "Now, I'll have my friend back for another tour around Ferelden in a few weeks!"

Elle and her father permanently gave Varric his room at Highever House along with the sitting room next to it for guests or just personal time without being in a bedroom … plus, nondescript vaults for his gold that could be hidden around his room and various other places, known only to Varric.

He told of the new Grand Cleric in Kirkwall who was as hard-nosed as they come, but she gave a great deal of leeway to the First Enchanter there. She renamed the Gallows. It was now called The Free Marches Academy of Magic. (She agreed that The Gallows was a horrible name.) Anders was relieved that his friend Karl was okay and able to write more frequently.

Knight-Commander Meredith hated the loss of control and power. She was reassigned to Ostwick and the Circle in Kirkwall became tolerable. Many of Meredith's intolerant Templars went with her. However, even with all these positive changes, all the things Varric said about the city still painted a very bleak picture. The Circle was much improved, but the Viscount was an ineffective ruler. Elle was beginning to wonder if Denerim wasn't so bad, after all. Really.

As the days went on, more and more reports of darkspawn sightings were being made around northeast Ferelden. Alistair made Ramara the Warden Captain in charge of Soldier's Peak and her first order was to investigate all the reports and lend Arlessa Delilah any assistance she might require. Soldier's Peak now had a complement of almost fifty wardens. The plan was to pull Carver Hawke to handle Denerim. Alistair had his main office in Denerim, but he planned to follow Duncan's example and do more traveling than sitting behind a desk.

Elle was happy that it was looking like he'd be traveling with her on her tour to solidify the Ferelden network. She agreed to stops at Soldier's Peak and Ostagar. Plus, the warden shapeshifting mages were going to be using the Ferelden outposts and helping out the country when they were able. So, Alistair had to make certain the outposts and route was safe. Of course, spending time with Elle wasn't a bad thing, either.

Alistair and Rodrigo called the time after a Blight "The Thaw" — when darkspawn weren't quite ready to go back to the Deep Roads just yet. The troubling reports mentioned that the darkspawn seemed to be under the command of a powerful darkspawn leader of some kind. Alistair was afraid we were still being plagued by The Architect. Rodrigo said that he almost wished it was a darkspawn general and not the Architect.

Bethany Hawke loved that her twin would be joining her in Denerim. Leandra accepted the temporary request of assisting Bethany and Wynne in the infirmary. She planned to return to Highever once things quieted down. Marianne had fallen in love with a Highever guard lieutenant, Analin Mardon. He was from an old family in Highever and the Couslands were quite fond of him … Elle's mother was also fond of the excellent herbs and vegetables and flowers around the castle. So, they were very pleased that Marianne was staying.

King Bhelen directed some of his finest artisans to build a strong barrier door at a good choke point in the Deep Roads below Denerim ... and to double-check the branch of the Deep Roads under Lothering. That would take time, but the plans had begun. Rodrigo would be sending some the wardens he brought with him to Orzammar to coordinate that and help protect the dwarf artisans who refused to travel above-ground, of course. Odonna requested warden compound space in Orzammar and Bhelen seemed more than happy to give the wardens the old Harrowmont estate. It was now empty, after all.

It seemed that Elle was going to actually see Orzammar in person as it was added to the tour! Odonna was going along for that part, as was Varric.

Ironically, one of the newer wardens was the man whom Elle had tried to keep from becoming a warden all those months ago. Roddy Gilmore was given command in Lothering when Carver was transferred to Denerim. He was impressed with Alistair and the Grey Wardens and volunteered. He was now the Warden Captain in command of Lothering and Ostagar warden forces. Ostagar was a ruin, but scheduled to be cleansed of the Blight and reinforced in the coming years. Anders and Niall were testing their ideas on Ostagar's ruins before bringing them into Denerim.

Along with both her dwarf shadows, Elle and Midnight stopped by the Warden compound to check if she were required in any way. Today, the Warden-Commander beckoned her to join him in his office, asking Varric and Gorim to please stand outside the door.

When she entered the somewhat disheveled office, he shut the door and held her shoulders. "I just wanted to look at you for a few minutes," he whispered before he abandoned that and kissed her, gathering her in a fierce hug afterwards. "These few seconds of happiness seem so selfish."

Elle laughed and pulled back, still in his arms. "Happiness should always be a goal in life, Alistair." As someone outside his office asked, "Where is the Commander?" Alistair just put his head on her shoulder and sighed.

She let go of the hug and, as she had done at Ostagar oh so long ago, turned him toward his door. "See to your duties, Commander. I need to check back with Loghain anyway."

However, this time, Alistair stopped. "Wait, Elle … we … uh … need to talk. Let me see what's needed and I'll be right back."

Well, didn't that sound ominous, Elle thought to herself.

Before leaving to talk to his summoner, he showed her to a rather comfortable settee in front of a cheery fire. She made a note to make fun of him like she did her father … putting such comfortable furniture in his office. It was one of two settees in front of the fireplace. They were arranged around a triangular table which looked to be carved out of a tree stump and stained with a rich amber color before it was lacquered to a shine. The rug beneath it all was blue with golden Warden griffons circling the edge. Very Grey Warden-like!

In short order, Elle heard Alistair outside the door. "If you gentlemen would be so kind, tell anyone looking for me that I have left and should be back soon." She heard Varric and Gorim chuckle. Midnight just looked up at her with one of his charming doggie grins.

Alistair entered the room, shut the door, went to a sideboard and filled two glasses with a deep red wine. He had a tray of cheese in his hand which he put down in front of Elle before he went back for the wine. He handed her a glass, sat next to her and held his up in a toast. "To the end of the Archdemon … and me not screwing up too badly in this honor that Duncan left to me."

Elle clinked her glass to his. "So, let it be."

He took a very large gulp and set his almost empty glass down. "Okay, you prefer no dilly-dallying, so I'll get right to it. Rodrigo sat me down yesterday to discuss wardens and … romantic relationships. How some work, but most do not work." He turned and took Elle's hand. "I'm falling in love with you and the world knows it; hence, the discussion."

Elle squeezed his hand. "And, what did you say to Rodrigo?"

Alistair gave her a small smile. "I told him it was none of his business. Then, he told me that he was married to a woman who could not understand his duties. She ended up breaking his heart and returning to her family. He hasn't heard from her since." He turned to face Elle. "Am I wrong to think you and I may be headed for … well … a serious relationship?"

Elle took a sip of the very good wine. "I think that would be a possible future for us, Alistair." Then, she ate a cube of cheese and turned to him. She smiled. "I believe that I'm falling in love with you, too." She laughed. At his look of utter confusion, she added, "I've been wondering how you would be able to handle being in a serious relationship with me."

She smiled at his grin and stood up. After pacing a bit, she added, "Alistair, I'm committed to everything I have going in Ferelden and it means that I'll be on the road likely more than you … well, you'll be along on this first circuit. We must know what is going on in our country. Cailan, Anora and Loghain are counting on me to make that happen."

Her smile faded. "If we ever got that far … or further … in our relationship, I would promise you fidelity until we no longer walk Thedas ... but we would not be a traditional couple." She shrugged. "You inferred once that you might want children with me, but if we could not because you're a warden … I could live with that." She sat back down. "I'm not the heir for Highever, so I think my parents would understand." She raised an eyebrow. "To be clear, Mother would hate it and we would both never hear the end of it … but they would understand, I think."

"Rodrigo said that wardens do have children, but it's difficult. The taint doesn't make me infertile, but it does lower my … contribution … to the process." Alistair blushed. He hadn't done that in a while.

However, it did bring up an issue that Elle hadn't considered. "It doesn't mean the child will have tainted blood, does it?"

"Not as far as he knows." His face fell. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands. "Maker, this has gotten way more serious than I had intended at this point in our relationship."

He was rescued by Cailan … typical big brother just knew his little brother needed help. A knock at the door preceded Cailan just walking in. "Alistair! I need you …" Cailan stopped when he saw the two of them sitting on the settee, but not for long. "Good! You're both here! Come with me back to the Palace, please. It's vitally important."

"To Ferelden?" Elle asked as they got up to follow him.

"To Theirins," was all Cailan said.

Zevran walked in the door, but before Elle could exclaim how glad she was to see him, the Antivan rounded on the Ferelden king. "I told you to tell him … them … before they are blindsided." He narrowed his eyes. "I will, if you do not."

Elle could tell that poor Cailan warred between wanting to call for the guards to arrest Zevran and realizing that whatever it was that they needed to hear was that important. Cailan took a big breath and stepped up to Alistair. They were almost the same height, but Cailan was just a smidge taller. He grabbed a startled Alistair's shoulders. "Our father is back."

Varric and Gorim had stepped inside the door when Zevran entered. Gorim's chin hit the floor while Varric just said one word … "Shit."

Cailan frowned at the dwarves. "Is anyone else in the hallway?"

Gorim stepped out and looked both ways. "No, Your Majesty," he answered as he shut the door.

Then, Cailan pranced a few moments as he explained, "Zevran got information that our father was being held in Antiva ... so I sent him to check it out." He carefully looked around the room at all of the shocked faces. "He really didn't tell any of you? Good, that saved Zev from Fort Drakon. Anyway, Zevran found him and brought him back. He's in the family wing with Anora and Gareth. Father isn't certain how he wants to proceed. He may wish to stay 'dead'."

Alistair had to sit down. "Who was holding him?"

Cailan motioned to Zev who said, "I think Maric wishes to tell the tale, Alistair, Your Majesty."

"Are you all right, Alistair?" Elle quietly asked as she sat next to him.

He gave her a small smile. "Total honesty? I'm not sure." He looked at Cailan. "How long has he been here?"

"Minutes, Alistair. I came directly here." Cailan sat on the couch across from them. "I think I had to get out myself." He put his face in his hands. "It's what I wanted, but now I'm not so sure. Anora will never forgive me for not telling her."

Elle smiled. "You didn't want to get anyone's hopes up. Anora will understand after some time." When Cailan just peeked up at her, she added with a wink, "But, she will make you pay dearly." Then, a look of horror crossed her face. "What about Loghain?"

"Uh, oh," Gorim said.

"I've sent for him. He might be there already … Maker, we need to go!" Cailan jumped up and headed for the door, assuming that everyone would follow … which they did.

Alistair leaned close to Elle. "Loghain may kill him." He didn't specify whether he was referring to Cailan or Maric. Elle feared it may be both. She remembered the broken Loghain who returned from that search for his lost friend. It took years of throwing himself into the protection of Ferelden and its monarchs to snap him out of it.

En route, Elle doubted if either Alistair or Cailan paid any attention to the people they passed — in the courtyard, in the entry hall, on the stairs, in the hallways — but she did. She always paid attention to things like that.

They all knew. Maric may decide to 'stay dead', but he wouldn't be able to.

Cailan opened the door to the private family room and there he was. Immediately, Elle was reminded of the myth that was Maric the Savior. There was still that aura surrounding him. Blessed by the Maker. People just knew he would save them. He would protect them. The man before her now might be thinner with graying hair and new craggy features, but he was also the same. He was holding Gareth, smiling at his new grandson. Not the smug smile of a noble who was better assured of his line … the happy smile of a grateful grandfather. He looked up at Alistair and his smile faded. He handed the young Prince over to Anora.

She looked over at Alistair and saw his eyes. They weren't angry, really. They were confused. He had come to grips with the fact that he would never see his father and now, Maric was here.

Loghain was standing to the side of the doorway to the nursery, leaning against the doorframe. Elle was surprised the two older men hadn't gone after each other yet. Perhaps he was waiting for Maric to relinquish their grandson. Cailan and his party's arrival had spoiled his timing for giving his old friend a well-deserved beating.

Or, maybe Loghain was glad to see Maric. Elle hoped for the later.

"I suppose it will be impossible to just slip away with this many people knowing I'm here," Maric said as he made eye-contact with Alistair, Varric, Gorim, Elle, Midnight, Loghain, Zevran, Cailan, Anora and Gareth … in that order. Yes, even Midnight got a few seconds of the older man's scrutiny.

Elle just smiled and said, "You really don't know the magnitude of your presence, do you."

He just smiled back. "So, the little girl who used to hide behind my throne has grown into a beautiful young woman."

"Thank you, sir, but that's beside the point," she winked at him. Alistair just gave her a look like she'd lost her mind. Elle turned to Anora. "May I show Maric something through the balcony doors, Your Majesty?"

Anora gave Elle a knowing look. "Of course."

Maric put his hands on his hips. "I'm not about to make a bloody announcement that I've triumphantly returned!"

Elle stepped to the door to the formal family parlor and beckoned to Maric. "You just need to peek through the curtains."

Maric sent a glare toward Cailan who just indicated Maric should follow. "Anora and I have always trusted Elle's intuition, Father. You should learn to do so as well." Elle was grateful that Cailan didn't include, "... even though she sometimes leaves things out."

Maric held back a few more seconds and then followed Elle to the beautiful double doors that opened onto a grand balcony. This was where Cailan's betrothal to Anora was announced … where Cailan and Brother Genitivi announced finding the Temple of Sacred Ashes ... where Gareth was presented to Denerim yesterday … where Cailan announced that Loghain's search for the King had been for naught six or so years ago.

He looked out. Even without looking herself, Elle knew what he saw. A crowd was gathering, awaiting someone to step out and announce that Maric had been found after all and had returned to Ferelden. She knew that even with the large Reconstruction Tent in the center of the courtyard, the rest of the space would be full of Fereldans. He leaned against the wall next to the doors. "Maker's Breath," he whispered.

"Tell us where you've been and maybe it'll steel your backbone to face Denerim," Loghain said. There were no emotions at play on the man's face, but Elle knew there must be a storm of conflicting feelings under the surface.

"That might help," Maric mumbled as he pushed away from the wall and headed back into the private family quarters.

Elle didn't miss the raven that flew into the small ventilation window in the room. She forced herself to curb her curiosity. Ravens flew anywhere they wished in Ferelden.

Everyone smiled to see a sleeping Gareth in Anora's arms. "I've arranged for some refreshments," she said quietly as she nodded toward a sideboard laden with a rather larger array of food and drink than there were people in the room at that moment.

Elle's father had arrived and awaited them there. He wasn't smiling, but he didn't look angry. He looked confused … a lot of that going around.

"Bryce."

"Maric."

Maric walked up to the wine and poured a full glass. After drinking that one … and another, he went to the chair nearest to Anora and Gareth and sat down. "Everyone find a seat. This may take a while." Cailan sat next to Anora while Bryce and Loghain chose separate chairs. Elle, with Midnight at her feet, and Alistair sat on a couch across from Cailan and Anora. Zev sat on the floor near the door while Varric and Gorim stood on either side of it.

Maric took a deep breath. "Let me start by telling you one thing first …" He looked gratefully at Cailan. "You likely saved my life by sending Zevran after me. Thank you."

Cailan took a deep breath that he must have been holding for a while. "Okay, I'm ready. Tell us what happened."

"As you all know, the official story was that I was heading to the Free Marches to meet the leaders of the port cities." Maric glanced at Bryce. "I know you were angry with me about not letting you go along, but I had a reason."

Bryce sat back in his chair. "And, what was that?"

"I never intended to go there."

"I knew it," Loghain mumbled. "Another stupid idea, no doubt." He walked over to the fireplace and threw his glass into the fire. It shattered into a thousand pieces. He rounded on Maric. "Who put this crazy idea in your head?!"

"Flemeth … long ago in the Korcari," Maric said quietly. To his credit, he didn't lower his eyes. He looked directly into his angry friend's eyes.

Loghain narrowed his eyes. "The same time she 'predicted' that I would betray you? Each time worse than the last? So, that wasn't the only drivel she shared with you?"

"She also told me that there would be a Blight in Ferelden." Maric shrugged. "She got that one right." He looked at Alistair and then Cailan. "And, that my son would end it." With a half-smile, he added, "Not sure which one of you she meant, but it seems that both of you were instrumental in helping Duncan kill the Archdemon."

Anora said, "While we were waiting for you all to return, I told Maric a brief report about the Blight." She smiled at Varric. "Perhaps Varric will reprise his story sometime."

"I'm sure you told him exactly what he needed to know, Your Majesty," Varric replied.

Elle looked up at Loghain. "He didn't tell you about the prediction of the Blight and his sons involvement in it?"

"No, Elethea, I insisted to know what he and Flemeth had talked about in private and he only told me about my supposed betrayals." Loghain stretched. "The sort of betrayal about me and Rowan you heard about, but there have been none since."

However, Bryce wasn't going to let the conversation get off topic. "So, where did you go? And, where did it go wrong?"

"I went to Antiva City … or, at least, that was the plan. The Crows took the ship and hustled me off to Velabanchel prison."

Bryce looked at Zevran. "How did you break him out of that?"

"I got there a few weeks before Maric was released by demand. He wasn't being mistreated, so I didn't rush anything that might arouse suspicion. I was still working on my plan when someone else broke him out," Zev answered and then nodded to Maric to continue.

"One night, everyone was awakened by a horrendous lightning storm. When my cellmate and I looked through the window, we saw a floating woman shooting lightning from her hands. She demanded my release. They let me go before she destroyed the entire place. I guess. My release surprised me." Maric then motioned to Zevran to tell his part.

"I went directly to Antiva City … in disguise, of course. It took a magic artifact that a mage gave me long ago … to help me escape Antiva. My skills were intact but I looked more like a seaman than a handsome assassin." Zev took a long drink of wine. "I proved myself useful as a prison guard and they hired me. Shortly after the lightning show, Merchant Prince Claudio organized a group to go after Maric. I snuck my way into that group. He knew who had taken Maric." He took a deep breath and leaned back against the wall. "Antivans have known about Yavana for a long time. The Beast of the Tellari Swamp … daughter of Flemeth. He released Maric so the Crows could follow and find out where she was."

Maric continued, "Claudio caught up with Yavana and me… and he had this extremely powerful mage with him, but the mage was giving the orders. He had a Tevinter accent. To be fair, that mage was an equal match with Yavana, so you can imagine how that meeting went. Zev and I didn't stick around to be introduced. During a magic battle between the two, Zev grabbed me and we ran away to a smuggler's cove south of Seleny where Zev's pirate friend was waiting for us. Her ship got us here."

"And, here you are," Loghain said with a frown. He looked to Elle. "What do you think he should publicly admit to, Elethea?"

She started when he asked her the question. She was just pondering that very thing. "Why did the Crows want Maric in the first place, I wonder. For the mage? Obviously, Yavana hadn't hired them … and why did they just keep him locked up for so long?" She turned a worried look toward Maric. "It must have been horrible."

He shrugged. "Actually, it was more boring than anything. They would interrogate me about stupid things, but never really hurt me. Once, the interrogator slugged me and his partner pulled him off and said, 'We aren't supposed to make him bleed, you fool!' And, they never did."

Elle looked at Loghain. "I wish I had a way to contact Flemeth again. She might be able to answer some of these questions."

"Again?!" Cailan, Anora, Loghain and Maric asked simultaneously.

"I told you that the red dragon who got things moving on the preparations in Denerim was Morrigan's Mother? Flemeth is Morrigan's mother. She was instrumental in our defeat of the Archdemon." Elle sat back on the couch.

"In her dragon form, she fought the Archdemon and grounded it atop Fort Drakon," Alistair said and he took Elle's hand. Maric noticed. "It was a long battle afterwards, but that was the only way we could have gotten it grounded."

Cailan rounded on Alistair. "Did you know that the red dragon was Flemeth?!"

Alistair only smiled. "No, but I trust Elle to tell me if or when I need to know. Sounds like we really didn't need to know until now." He looked at Cailan. "What would you have done if Elle had told you before the battle?"

Cailan frowned as Anora answered, "We would have gotten off target wondering what Flemeth was up to?"

"Why did she help, Elle? Did she say?" Cailan asked.

"No, I haven't spoken to her since that night when she shapeshifted into her dragon form and made us think that the Archdemon was about to attack Denerim." Elle shrugged. "The giant eagles weren't working. Maybe the form was Flemeth's idea and she had a wrong to right for her daughter? That's just a guess, of course."

Zev leaned forward. "Such a shame that the eagle mages didn't work." She noticed him send a brief glance toward the raven. Elle just nodded.

"No, the air currents behind the Archdemon were too great to get close enough to rend the wings with the eagles' claws." Alistair shook his head. "I hate being indebted to someone like Flemeth, but we are."

Elle gave a small smile to Alistair and squeezed his hand. Then, she looked at Loghain. "I think Maric needs to tell about the capture and Velabanchel part, but perhaps not the Yavana part. At least not yet. Just say that an agent Cailan sent was the one who broke him out."

Bryce stood and paced before saying, "Say that you intend to remain as Prince-Grandfather Maric of Ferelden. You need to, at the very least, tell them you are not here to usurp Cailan's throne." Bryce had paced behind Alistair. He put his hand on the Warden-Commander's shoulder. "And, you need to recognize Alistair as your son."

"I can see your points … all of you." He stood and sighed. I've been in a prison for years. I need to stop hiding."

Elle smiled and put her finger to her lips. Time to hopefully out Flemeth. She motioned toward the ventilation window with the other hand. She looked directly at the raven. "What about you, Flemeth ... or Morrigan? What do you think?"

At first, the raven just stood there. Elle thought she may have been mistaken until the bird ruffled its feathers and flew down in front of the doorway to the formal family parlor … where it became Flemeth in her red armor and horned hair style. "Morrigan told me something that Duncan once said. He was right about you, Elethea. Perceptive and vexing."

Elle genuinely smiled at Flemeth. "To be fair, Zev also noticed."

It was almost touching how Loghain pulled his sword and stood between Maric and Flemeth. "What do you want with Maric, witch?"

"Always so polite, Loghain." Flemeth didn't laugh. "But, it's not such a very long explanation." She looked at Varric. "You know the story of Calenhad drinking the blood of a Great Dragon?"

Varric glanced at Elle as everyone turned gazes toward him. "Uh, yeah … but it's actually a Qunari tale that the Chantry calls a fantasy. Calenhad felt, from the day he could first think, that he had a destiny of greatness. As he got older … and found himself nothing more than a menial servant … he realized that he would have to actively pursue his destiny. It wasn't just going to come to him. So, he asked around and ran across a scribe who told him about the strength that could be gained from the blood of a Great Dragon. More searching lead him to … a witch … who took him to a Great Dragon who was near death, one that would be easy to kill and drink its blood. In turn, Calenhad had to promise future favors to the witch. It's said the blood turned Calenhad into the powerful leader who defeated tribe after tribe of the Alamarri until he had them all united." Varric lowered his eyebrows at Flemeth. "Was that you?"

"Yes." She stepped up to Loghain.

"Let her speak, old friend," Maric said quietly. He also said to Flemeth, "But first, you must apologize to Loghain about the threat of his betrayals to me."

Flemeth looked at Loghain. "I apologize. There was only that one act of betrayal … after years of longing." She looked around the room and ended with a smile toward Elle. "Fortunately, some other influences entered your life to keep you from other mistakes. Now, put away your sword and let me pass."

Loghain stood his ground for a few long moments, but then slowly sheathed his sword and made a very small step to the side.

Apparently she was satisfied with the slight give, because she only took one step closer to Maric … essentially giving only her left side to Loghain. Tactically better than her back, Elle thought to herself.

"Yavana's life has been spent watching over The Silent Grove in the Tellari Swamps as well as its various guests over the years." She turned toward the others. "The Silent Grove was built shortly after the collapse of Tevinter. The Grove's current guest is … was … a dying Great Dragon."

"Was?" Elle asked.

She took a deep breath. "I'm here for another warning, I'm afraid."

"The dragon is loose?" Maric asked.

"No, the dragon was never a danger to Thedas. A small amount of Maric's blood over several months would have allowed the dragon to reach a state of hibernation and survival." She shrugged. "A Great Dragon gave your ancestor power, Maric. It was only fair that you return the favor. Dragons are a part of this world that should be venerated ... not as gods, but as the keepers of everything wild and strong. Unfortunately, after the Antivan Crows and Magister Aurelian Titus killed Yavana, they took the dragon in place of you," Flemeth replied.

"What did Titus want with Maric?" Elle asked. She could tell that Maric was pretty unhappy about everything

"It's the blood thing, isn't it?" Varric asked.

"Very insightful, dwarf," Flemeth said. "Yes, it's the powerful blood of a Great Dragon."

"Why did you have Maric thrown into Velabanchel Prison, witch?" Loghain asked, his hand still on his hilt.

"That was Trade Prince Claudio's idea. A place to store Maric until Titus was ready for him. The magister had to find, excavate and plunder the uthenera resting place of a very powerful and ancient elf first." She turned toward Maric. "You didn't tell anyone where you were going, but you were still the King of Ferelden. I had no reason to look for you because I didn't know you were on your way to Antiva. After Loghain's and Cailan's announcement that you were lost at sea, Yavana and I resigned ourselves to the death of the last Great Dragon left in Thedas. One of Yavana's spies only found out you were in Velabanchel Prison a few days before she got you out." She looked at Cailan. "The effect of Calenhad's power only lasted through Maric's generation. Hence, why I did not try to convince you to come help and why the Magister didn't pursue you."

"So, why did this Magister take the dragon?" Elle's father asked.

"And, so, we come to my warning." She looked directly at Elle. "Part of the plunder that Titus found is an ancient elven artifact, designed and constructed by spirits friendly to the ancient elves. It is powered by the blood of dragons ... the more powerful the dragon, the stronger the source of power it is. Its use was the true reason for the fall of Arlathan. In use by elf against elf. Tevinter had nothing to do with the fall of Arlathan. They are only scavengers of the power that belonged to the Elvhen. Once it was empowered, whoever was in control of it became almost omnipotent."

"Almost?" Elle asked.

Flemeth smiled. "Power is its own worst enemy. Always. Therefore, it is fleeting." She looked at Maric and Cailan. "But, before Titus succumbs to his rage of power, he can ... and likely will ... do great damage to Tevinter and to the rest of Thedas."

Elle smiled at Flemeth. "Can you help us defeat Titus, Flemeth?"

The old woman laughed. "I should decline out of hand, Elethea, but I will not ... because of you, a human born with the intuition and intelligence of the Elvhen, a human who takes all people of all races at face value … until they prove untrustworthy. A human who is unique among all." She handed Elle a stone. "This is one of two sending stones. I have the other. Put your hand on the top of it."

Loghain looked like he was about to stop Elle, but she slightly shook her head and he stood still. Elle could feel the warmth of the stone. The hum and vibration was pleasant. "I assume that I'm attuned to it now?" Elle asked.

Flemeth turned Elle's hand over and dropped the stone into it. "Yes, only you can use it and you can only contact me with it. It is a priceless artifact. Please put it someplace safe ... someplace you can check on it from time to time."

"What will you be doing now?" Elle asked

"It will take time for Titus to reach the power he desires. I will be attending to Morrigan. She was more attached to Duncan than she let on." Flemeth sighed and frowned. "I've never had another relationship after that infamous one that put me on this current journey." She glanced at Alistair. "May your journey prove less contentious." Then, she turned into a small swift and flew out before anyone else could ask her any more questions.

Maric stared at the window that Flemeth escaped through and then looked at everyone. He took a deep breath and walked out onto the balcony. The crowd must have doubled as the roar and cheer went up.

"My fellow Fereldans, I am home ... but not as King. You have a King. I look forward to my new title of Prince-Grandfather with relish!" Once the cheers of, "Long live Prince-Grandfather Maric!" died down, he continued. He told them of his capture and imprisonment. He told them that the Antivan Crows kidnapped him and were trying to sell him to the highest bidder. They laughed when he shrugged and said, "I guess no one wanted to pay their price for me."

He told them that Cailan sent an agent to get him out and that was why he was standing before them. He called out both Cailan and Alistair and said, "My sons protected Ferelden in my absence." Elle looked out at some of the whispering people in the audience. She smiled to think that Alistair was now going to saddled with folks calling him "Prince", as well as Warden-Commander.

But, that day, they called out, "Long live King Cailan ... Queen Anora ... Prince Gareth ... Warden-Commander Alistair … Prince-Grandfather Maric!"

Maric didn't tell them about Flemeth. He didn't tell them about the Great Dragon nor the reason he was on that trip. He didn't tell them that a looming danger was on the horizon in future years.

Cailan took over then and the crowds cheered harder.

It was curious to Elle about the supposed power of this dragon blood flowing through Theirin veins. It ended with Maric ... and yet, Cailan was a good king and Alistair was a fine Grey Warden. Such was the way of legends. They never truly stand up to scrutiny.

Elle sensed a turn in her destiny. But! Dwelling on things like that would stand in the way of her plans. Get Ferelden connected. Work with Kinloch Hold to allow trusted mages to enter willing communities as healers or magical advisors with Templar protection ... not control ... protection. Oversee the rebuilding of West Hill. Pursue her relationship with Alistair. And, oh yes, make contact with the new Divine Justinia V.

Elle knew to take care where she stepped, lest that abyss Flemeth once mentioned open up beneath her when she would least expect it.

AN: And so ends my tale of Elethea Cousland. Thank you all for being patient! I must have almost as many words for this chapter in my slush pile as I've posted. ;) I've marked this tale as completed. Yes, there are things coming up … and yes, I've pretty much disregarded Dragon Age II and Inquisition. We'll see if I continue it. :)

So, I've read a few "self-insert" stories. Who knows maybe I'll try my hand at one of those, eh?