The nation of Ferelden and the city of Denerim particularly were plunged into deepest mourning following the death and funeral of King Alistair. The city was swathed in black for many a month following the burning of Alistair's pyre and a dark shadow fell especially on the inhabitants of the palace.
The queen nearly took leave of her state duties, turning the running of the nation over to her children. She was silent and solitary but for the company of Eleanor and Duncan, and complained of problems sleeping.
Eleanor recovered quickly from her wound. Though it had been serious, the quick application of elfroot by Lauthrin combined with the mysterious healing from her brother resulted in only a small scar. She did not suffer and permanent damage to her shoulder.
Nearly a year after Alistair's death, the queen was lost during an inspection of the Deep Roads beneath Orzammar. The dwarves that made it back to the city told of darkspawn that had ambushed them in what they had thought a secure area by tunneling through a side passage. Due to the queen's bravery, many men had been saved at the cost of her own life. This gained the royal family and the Grey Wardens further respect in the eyes of the dwarves, both commoner and noble, and cemented many bonds and treaties that had been made with the surfacers.
Eleanor and Duncan mourned their mother, but had known her passing would come soon. Not only had they suspected that she was plagued by the dreams the Wardens referred to as the Calling, but she also was clearly not herself since her husband's death. She had faded to all but a ghost inhabiting her rooms at the palace and had barely responded to anyone or anything for months.
After a suitable period of mourning, Duncan was crowned king of Ferelden, carrying on the Theirin name on the throne. After much private discussion between them, Eleanor left Denerim to join the Grey Wardens at Amaranthine. She underwent the Joining there and reunited with Lauthrin, who had returned there soon after Alistair's funeral.
Duncan was a good king and his reign continued the many reforms his parents had started between the Circle of Magi and the Chantry. He never forgot the words that his sister had repeated to him from the Chasind witch regarding their heritage and what mysteries they held. He puzzled over them during many a sleepless night. Though he could not use magic in the traditional way that the Circle mages could, he became known as the Mage King due to his diligent research into the ways and uses of magic.
And the peace of the Warden King continued for many years.
So this is the end of this tale, which has taken about seven months to write from beginning to end. Thank you so much for reading and stay tuned for (possibly) the further adventures of Duncan and Eleanor.