Chapter 4
The Archdemon flared out its wings as it fell to the ground, knocking Matthew and Alistair back a good 15 feet. Wincing, Matthew got up and surveyed the situation; after a long, grueling battle, it seemed that the former Old God had finally hit its breaking point. After Riorden had slashed the beast's right wing, sacrificing himself in the process, the dragon had crashed onto the top of Fort Drakon. Matthew and his group had fought their way to the top, and engaged the flying darkspawn, and that led up to the present circumstances.
He then saw Alistair stand, and remove his helmet. He paused, then a determined fire lit in his eyes. Oh, no you don't, Matthew thought. You are not doing this. Granted, he had performed the ritual with Morrigan that would prevent Alistair from dying if he killed the Archdemon, but Matthew was no expert on performing magic; there was always the possibility something had gone wrong.
With this in mind, Matthew ran up to Alistair, and kicked him in the side of his left knee. With a massive crack, the joint dislocated, sending Alistair to the ground, screaming in agony.
"Sorry, your Majesty!" Matthew shouted as he ran at the Archdemon, grabbing a greatsword sticking into a darkspawn corpse as he did so.
At this point, the Archdemon was starting to recover. As Matthew ran at the dragon, it struck at him like a snake. Ducking, he stabbed the blade into the monster's neck, and, sliding across the floor, opened a massive laceration across Uthemial's throat. Whining in agony, the dragon again fell to the floor. Matthew than stood up, and turned to his defeated foe. And here it is; the moment of truth.
With a snarl, Matthew lifted his sword into the air, and, ignoring Alistair's shout of "MATTHEW, NO," plunged the sword into the dragon's head. Suddenly, a massive, incredibly bright beam of light shot out of the spot where Matthew's sword had struck. Nearly blinded, Matthew closed his eyes. He tried to pull the sword out of the beast, but it seemed as if a thousand pairs of hands were holding the blade in the dragon's head.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, an explosion blasted out from the Archdemon's skull. As it did, Matthew felt a massive, living force exit from the dragon's body, than shoot away from Fort Drakon, straight towards the front gates of the city. At the same time, Matthew was blasted back, hit his head on the stone floor, and lost consciousness.
One month later…
Matthew stood in the Landsmeet chamber, happier than he could remember being in a long time. After he had slain the Archdemon, the darkspawn hoard had collapsed, and the monsters had fled in all directions. After Matthew had recovered from Uthemial's death throes, he had run back to the gates so quickly that many thought that he had grown wings out of his ankles. To his complete relief, Morrigan was unharmed, and the rest of his companions had escaped injury. Privately, Matthew asked Morrigan if the ritual was successful, to which she replied: "Are you really so great a fool as to have to ask that question?"
His mind once again focused on his love, he turned his head slightly to steal another glance at her. She was not wearing her usual ragged attire; instead, she was garbed in an absolutely radiant red velvet dress that Matthew and Lelliana had practically shoved her into. Lelliana had wanted to add golden embroidery to the ensemble, an idea that, at the look of Morrigan's face, was quickly dropped. However, though the dress was plain, Matthew preferred it that way; all the different fashions that came and went with clothing just seemed a complete waste of time to him.
Matthew's gaze than drifted to the man standing next to Morrigan; his older brother, Fergus.
As it turned out, Loghain had ordered Fergus to take all his men and perform a "scouting in force", which any junior strategist would claim negated the entire point of scouting. The path Loghain sent them in led directly into the main body of the darkspawn hoard; Highever's army was destroyed, and Fergus was badly injured and left for dead. Upon hearing this news, Matthew wished Loghain was still alive, so he could execute him again.
Fortunately, Fergus had been found by some Chasind hunters, who took him to their shamans for healing. He had only just gotten back to Fereldan two weeks ago, where Matthew was tasked with the heartbreaking task of telling him that his wife and son, as well as their parents, were dead, betrayed by Arl Rendon Howe, their father's closest friend. It had taken a full week before Fergus had even left his room after the news; Matthew had never seen him so defeated before.
Now, however, he was standing next to his sister-in-law, looking at his brother with inexpressible pride. Because of the matching rosewood rings they wore, many people assumed that Matthew and Morrigan were married, and Matthew encouraged the rumors. When Morrigan found out, she had yelled at him for an hour.
"Why would you let people believe that I would tie myself down in such a manner?" she had concluded. "Don't think of it as tying yourself down, Morrigan," Matthew had replied. "Think of it as another reason why one of the most powerful, and influential people in Fereldan has to do pretty much everything you say." That line of reasoning had been more to Morrigan's liking, and after that she had gone on with the charade without complaint.
Alistair, who had just been officially crowned king, now turned to give a speech to the assembled nobles, so Matthew forced himself to stop reminiscing, and pay attention.
"My friends," Alistair began, "we are gathered to celebrate those who are responsible for our victory. Of those who stood against the darkspawn siege of Denerim, there is one, in particular, who deserves….. commendation; the one who led the final charge against the Archdemon remains with us still; an inspiration to all he saved that day." At this Matthew stepped forward, and ascended the stairway , until he was at the same level as his King and his friend. Alistair, with his characteristic grin, turned to Matthew and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you the Hero of Fereldan, the first Grey Warden to defeat the blight since Garahel four centuries ago." Everyone applauded, but none did with as much vigor as Fergus and Morrigan.
"My friend," Alistair continued, "It is hard to imagine how you could have aided Fereldan more. I think it only appropriate that I return the favor. Is there a boon you would request of Fereldan's King. If it is within my power, I would gladly grant it." "I ask that the Howe's pay for the slaughter of my family and the unlawful seizure of our lands." Matthew answered almost immediately. Alistair nodded, not surprised in the least. "The Howes are hereby stripped of the Arling of Amaranthine, and their status as nobles of Fereldan." Matthew stole a glance at Fergus, whose face had gone blank; no punishment would be enough for him, Matthew knew.
"Let it also be known that the Arling of Amaranthine will be granted to the Grey Wardens. There, they can rebuild, following the example of those that came before them." Alistair than turned to him, and, in a much lower voice, asked "What are your plans?" Matthew's thoughts immediately went to preparing his child for some unspecified catastrophe, but as it was only a month past conception, that would be rather difficult. Instead, he answered, "I will help my brother retake Highever, than I will likely return here." Alistair looked extraordinarily relived. "Well, I didn't want to come right out and SAY it, but I'm relieved you'll be nearby."
He paused, then added "Ah, there's a group of Fereldan citizens waiting outside to get a look at their hero, and who am I to keep them waiting. I suggest you make at least a brief appearance before they storm the gates. Just tell the guard at the door when you're ready." Chuckling, Matthew walked down to the main floor, and began mingling with the nobles, starting with what was left of his family.
Fergus walked up to him and said, "When I heard my little brother was not only a Grey Warden, but was also leading Fereldan into battle, I was surprised, to put it mildly. Father…he would have been so proud of you. I know I am." Matthew felt himself tear up; it was the greatest compliment his brother had ever given him. "Thank you, Fergus. Thank you so much." He paused, then said, "Fergus… I am so sorry about Orianna and Oren." Any strength of bearing Fergus had fell away, leaving him looking so defeated that Morrigan put a hand on his shoulder. "I know, Matthew. I've… been trying not to think about it." "That won't help, Fergus," Matthew immediately said. "Trying to ignore this will just make it worse. You have to look at your pain, acknowledge it, and let it go, or you'll only drive yourself insane." Fergus looked at him with the saddest expression Matthew had ever seen, and murmured "I don't know how." Struck by inspiration, Matthew took off his necklace, Reflection, and handed it to his brother. "Here, Fergus. While I was at the Temple of Andraste, a specter of father gave me this to help me move past my pain. I want you to have it now; you need it more than I do."
Fergus looked down at the necklace, then said, "Thank you, brother. I…I need to be alone for awhile." And with that he walked into one of the adjacent hallways. Morrigan looked at him, and then walked to her love's side. "Are you alright, love?" "No. Are you Morrigan?" The Witch of the Wilds immediately bristled. "Why must you always coddle me? I am a mage! I am more than capable of handling myself!" This forced a grin out of Matthew. "I was more concerned about your passenger." Morrigan started, then she smiled. "Your offspring is in perfect health, O Hero of Fereldan."
Matthew chuckled, then asked, "Morrigan, will you please go and be with Fergus for me; I fear I will not be able to weasel out of this celebration for something as trivial as my brother's emotional wellbeing." In what had to be a first, Morrigan looked nervous. "Matthew… I would not know what to say to him." "You don't need to say anything, just be there for him. You are his sister now, after all." "Very well, love." Morrigan paused, then whispered mischievously, "I do so wish we were alone together." Matthew laughed, and replied, "You don't wish it half as much as I." Laughing, the two lovers kissed, than Morrigan went to comfort her brother-in-law, while Matthew delved into a swamp of well-wishing politicians, and he would rather have faced the darkspawn hoard a thousand times.