Epilogue: In Which Everyone Lives Happily Ever After- For a Value of 'Ever After' Meaning 'Approximately Ten Years'

Alistair and Bethany were crowned at the big 'we survived the Blight' party held as soon as Denerim was cleared of darkspawn and no longer on fire. It was very nice. Everyone was extremely happy to be alive, completely thrilled to have a new king and queen who had gone and fought an Archdemon, and absolutely hero-worshiped Olivia, who they were now referring to as 'The Hero of Ferelden'. Also there was really good alcohol and Olivia got to wear an actual dress for the first time since she was ten.

At the ceremony Alistair offered a royal boon to Olivia, considering that she had basically saved everyone. "If it is within my power, I will grant it," he vowed.

"Is it within your power to free the mages?" Olivia asked, doubting it.

"No, I'm pretty sure attempting it would just cause the Chantry to declare an Exalted March and attack us," Alistair admitted.

"Figured as much," muttered Olivia. "All I ask is that you do right by Bethany. Though I won't be giving up on the mages."

"Of course," said Alistair. "I'm also giving Arl Howe's arling, Amaranthine, to the Grey Wardens," he added to the gathered crowd. "So," he asked, turning back to Olivia. "What do you plan to do now? Because, even though we're friends, that not giving up on the mages thing sounds a bit ominous."

She smiled. "I promise not to start any violent anti-Chantry rebellions. And I'll stick around for at least a little while. I mean, Bethany's here and, besides, you might need me."

"Oh, thank the Maker," muttered Alistair. Olivia laughed. "Anyway," he said, "there's an adoring crowd waiting outside to see you, you should probably go give them what they want."

"Right," said Olivia cheerfully. She gave him a wave and headed down toward the doors.

In the end, Olivia only remained in Denerim for about a month before heading out to Amaranthine to lead Ferelden's Grey Wardens in getting rid of all the darkspawn left over wandering around from the Blight because, after all, someone had to and Alistair was kind of busy being king. Zevran went back to Antiva to, as he put it, 'bring down those damned Crows once and for all'. He and Olivia wrote to one another and she eventually, once the darkspawn stragglers were dealt with, joined him in his quest.

Alistair and Bethany became highly popular, beloved rulers and remained stupidly in love with one another. Nobody ever noticed that Bethany was a mage. Olivia blamed preconceived notions that made people generally assume that one could not be both 'mage' and 'warrior' at the same time and anyone capable of using a sword couldn't possibly have magic and vice versa. Bethany eventually admitted that particular prejudice was the reason nobody had ever noticed her father was a mage either, back when he was working as a mercenary. Olivia had always wondered about that.

Leliana took a group of clerics on an expedition to see the Urn of Sacred Ashes, and Haven eventually became a pilgrimage site-thought the Ashes themselves vanished. Olivia blamed the Guardian for the disappearance. Leliana herself ended up as the Divine's Left Hand- and spymistress.

Wynne returned to the Circle, which was swiftly rebuilt to its previous standard of horrible thinly-veiled-prison-ness. She never outed Bethany as a mage, however, which was only fair considering that no one else ever outed her as being possessed.

Now that the Tevinter slavers were gone and they had the only completely intact neighborhood in the entire city, the lives of the elves living in Denerim improved greatly. Alistair appointed Cyrion Tabris to his court of advisors. It also helped that Shianni, who was generally considered a hero, eventually became an elder as well and constantly advocated for her people.

Arl Eamon went back to Redcliffe and helped rebuild, though he and Isolde soon retired and left Teagan in charge. Connor was sent to the Circle.

The Dalish became much more accepted in Ferelden after having helped the Grey Wardens in the final fight against the Archdemon.

In Orzammar, King Behlen led societal reform, loosening the caste-related restrictions, increasing trade with the surface, and winning back several thaigs that had previously been lost to the darkspawn. For some reason people didn't seem to like this much- probably because the higher castes saw it as a threat to their own positions- and there were so many assassination attempts that Behlen eventually dissolved the assembly and ruled without them, causing even more controversy. Basically, everyone either loved him or hated him.

A few mad scientists found the broken pieces of the Anvil of the Void- which in retrospect Olivia really should have pushed into the magma after Carridin- and attempted to recreate Carridin's research, resulting in them all being killed by the golem they had created using a Fade spirit. Luckily, saner heads prevailed and the research was locked up, but there were still factions who constantly annoyed the Shaperate with demands that they try again.

Morrigan vanished completely after the battle, not even staying long enough for the party. A pregnant woman matching her description was seen traveling west through the Frostback Mountains months later. After that, though, nothing was seen or heard of her until everything had once more gone to hell in a handbasket.