Epilogue
Davyd and Velanna entered Lady Cousland's study. The hour was still early, just before dawn in fact, but the business before them was important and Velanna had refused to delay one minute longer than necessary.
"Thank you for coming, Velanna, Davyd," Lady Cousland said. "Please take a seat."
They sat across from Lady Cousland at her writing desk. The desk was piled high with paperwork. Between running the arling and her warden duties, she had mountains of it.
Davyd dreaded what was to come next, but it was inevitable. The darkspawn had been defeated. Velanna was still considered to be guilty of murder for the incident with the caravans. After all they'd been through, Davyd couldn't believe he was about to lose her to this, but there was nothing he could do.
"The local magistrate has requested that I hand you over to him for trial in relation to the caravans incident. You've already confessed the crime, a salient fact that I am duty bound as Arlessa of Amaranthine to communicate to him. You will undoubtedly be convicted," Lady Cousland said mechanically. Her voice took on a very formal tone. "You are charged with thirty-seven counts of murder and one count of insurrection. Do you wish to make a statement in your own defense, which I will communicate to the magistrate?"
"No, my lady," Velanna said. "It is as you have said."
Lady Cousland smiled, and drew a parchment from one of the myriad piles of paperwork and handed it to Velanna. "Read that please."
Velanna unrolled the parchment and read. "A proclamation of the King. Henceforth, any and all crimes committed by the Dalish Velanna on or before 3 Cloudreach of 9:31 Dragon, whether confessed or unconfessed, shall be pardoned and forgiven in full. In the name of the Maker, so let it be. King Alistair I."
The silence in the office was deafening.
"I do not deserve this," Velanna whispered.
Lady Cousland smiled. "Velanna, no one gets what they deserve. If everyone, one day, got what they deserved there'd be no one left alive once it was over. You've suffered enough for a hundred lifetimes. You are forgiven Velanna. The burdens of your guilt are no longer yours to carry."
"I..." she teared up. "I don't know how I can forgive myself."
"Of the things we have to learn in life, the hardest thing of all is learning to forgive yourself. You must, for your own sake. For both of your sakes," Lady Cousland said.
"The magistrate will be furious," Davyd said.
"The magistrate can sod off. Yes, I'm quite certain he will be very cross with me for a while," Lady Cousland said. "That old codger will live though. Also, Velanna, you have not taken your Joining into the Wardens yet. Technically, I should still have you carry out the ritual to become a proper Grey Warden. Instead, however, I am releasing you from your oath. Too much has been lost here, and it is so good to see the two of you having found each other. It actually kind of reminds me how I met Alistair. It seems you often find love in the strangest places in the most inconvenient circumstances. In any case, I will not saddle you with the Taint. I'm sure the Wardens won't be happy to lose such a promising recruit but, like the magistrate, they can sod off. I'm sure they'll find some way to carry on," she said.
"I'll remember to think of the poor magistrate and his feelings when I pray tonight," Davyd put in.
"So, what will you do now?" Lady Cousland asked.
"I think I'll sleep for a week to start with," Velanna said.
Lady Cousland laughed. "I can believe that. You will always have a place here at the Vigil, Velanna."
"I think I might still try to find Seranni," Velanna said. "You did help the Architect, after all. Maybe I can work something out with him. I don't know, but she's my sister. I have to try. I might also try to find my old clan. They might yet have me back."
"Ooohh," Lady Cousland purred. "A meet the family moment for you and Davyd. I bet that will be fun."
"Oh dear Maker," Davyd said. "I never really thought about that before declaring my undying love. Oh well," he shrugged. "Nothing for it now."
"My Lady," Velanna began. "I...thank you. The words are so inadequate. But thank you."
"Maker bless and keep you both," Lady Cousland said.
They walked down the early morning hallways back towards her quarters. She was walking slowly, hugging herself as if in some kind of pain. She finally stumbled to a halt and went to a knee, unable to continue. She made no sound, but Davyd could see the tears falling.
He kneeled and gathered her in his arms, kissing the crown of her head. A single sob finally escaped her lips. Davyd gathered her closer. "It's over," he said. "It's over. All of it is over."
Velanna poured out years of pent up emotion. The poison was cleansed, the knife was removed, and the nightmare ended.
She was free. She was finally free of her terrible burdens, or would be. Davyd wasn't so naïve as to believe that the pardon and release from the Wardens would simply make things better overnight. It would take time for his lovely Velanna to heal from so many wounds she'd suffered over the years. But she would, and he would be there for her every step of the way. He would stay by her side, to whatever end.
Velanna finally looked up at Davyd and he saw the relief in her eyes.
They rose together, and walked arm in arm into the rest of their lives.