Mage, Commoner, Elf Part III


A/N: Here's to writing, editing, and having the chapter beta'd all in one day! Thank you so much to our guest, Judy, for the review! Such a simple sentiment made my day. :) I hope you all enjoy the happy ending! :)


The light padding of soft elven footsteps and gentle swishing of mages robes announced Liliwren's return to her room. Morrigan's ears moved slightly, and though her back was to Liliwren as she faced the fire, the upturn of her lips was clear.

"Back so soon, are you?" Morrigan happily mused as she turned to face her friend. Upon laying eyes on Liliwren, Morrigan's smirk became a scowl, and the coyness in her voice became contempt. "Oh."

The elven mage's eyes were red and brimming over with tears. "Morrigan, I'm so sorry. I - I couldn't…" Liliwren's voice broke as she approached her friend and attempted to deliver the bad news.

The mage from the wilds folded her arms across her chest. "I cannot and will not stand by and watch you throw your life away for that fool." she replied tersely, walking past Liliwren towards the door.

"Wait."

A third, velvety, deep voice filled the room. Liliwren recognized the timbre immediately, but forced herself not to react. She simply waited, staring into the fire, attempting to secretly dry her eyes while listening.

"Morrigan, I would like to speak with you, but I need to talk to Liliwren first. Would you wait for me in my quarters down the hall?"

"Gladly, my king," Morrigan positively mocked the man. Boots clicked on the stone floor as she left the room.

"Liliwren," he murmured her name like a prayer as heavy footsteps announced his approach.

A warm, slightly tanned hand clasped her shoulder. Heat and sparks from his touch practically burned through the fabric of her robe as the visitor's other hand brushed Liliwren's arm and gently spun her around to face him.

"Alistair," she breathed his name, though she had not needed to see his face to know it was him. She placed a delicate but firm hand on his chest to steady herself and create the slightest amount of space between them.

His bare, calloused hand moved across her face, wiping off a stray tear Liliwren had missed. "I'm so sorry…" he began, his caramel eyes searching her turquoise ones.

Liliwren tore her eyes away from his, and stepped away, looking down to the floor. "What do you want, Alistair?" She asked, her timbre a mixture of confusion, contempt, and hope.

"You."

The simple answer caused Liliwren to reflexively snap her head upwards and lock her gaze back on his.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I accidentally overheard something you said to Wynne back in Denerim after the Landsmeet." Alistiar looked down, embarrassed, and fumbled with his hands. "It's been, well, haunting me ever since."

Liliwren blinked at Alistair in response, not wanting to interrupt a word of what he might say next.

He cleared his throat, straightened his posture with confidence, and continued. "You said that you were foolish to believe that I could ever want you - a mage. A commoner. An Elf." Alistair took Liliwren's tiny pale hands in his own strong ones. "But then I realized that those are some of the reasons why I love you. Why we're good together. And why I couldn't imagine having anyone else by my side for the rest of my life." He paused slightly before uttering the next few words, squeezing gently on her hands. "As my queen."

Alistair's admittance elicited a breathy gasp from Liliwren; she never expected this turn of events. As stubborn as Alistair was, she was sure he had made up his mind, and she had certainly done nothing to attempt to make him change it.

"I only hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me - "

Liliwren interrupted Alistair - her silence had gone on long enough. "I already have, Alistair."

Swiftly and naturally, he pulled her in for an embrace, nuzzling his nose into her hair, breathing in her usual scent of juniper berries. "Thank you," Alistair whispered huskily into her pointed ear, squeezing her gently. He released his hold on Liliwren and reluctantly pulled away from her, letting out a heavy sigh. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business I have to attend to with Morrigan."

"Alistair," Liliwren spoke, stepping in towards him, placing her hand against his chest, this time sweetly, and fumbled the fabric slightly. As she looked up into his soft brown eyes, his hand found itself around the small of her back, his nose against hers. "Thank you," she softly spoke, planting the tiniest of kisses on his lips before releasing her love.

He smiled as he backed away towards the door, and just before he left said one more thing:

"No, my love, thank you."


Epilogue

"The Archdemon is dead, the darkspawn have been driven out of Ferelden, and we have put an end to the blight!" Alistair's triumphant voice filled the hall of the Landsmeet chambers accompanied by the cheers of nobles and soldiers.

"And while I'm sure you all can't stand to hear another piece of good news, that's exactly what I've got for you. Yep, that's me. The bringer of good news. At least for now. Well, let's hope it stays that way," Alistair cleared his throat, erasing the tinge of nervousness that had tainted his confident sarcastic tone.

"I've chosen a queen." Soft murmurs and whispers began to fill the chambers. "And before you ask. One: no, she hasn't bewitched me and I'm not under any sort of spell. Trained as a templar, remember?" Alistair pointed at himself and the silly smirk on his face. Eyebrows began to raise in the crowd, and he let out a small chortle. "Right. Anyways," the new king moved on to his next point. "Two: no, she's not a noble, so yes, that means she is a commoner, which given my upbringing, I honestly prefer." The crowd was now stunned into silence, all eyes on the king. "And three: should she accept, Ferelden will have its first ever elven queen." As expected, the last bit elicited a many gasps, a few smiles, a couple of chuckles, and a scowl or two. "If you haven't figured it out by now, she's also the only other remaining Grey Warden in Ferelden." Before anyone could dare to make a comment, Alistair continued. "Liliwren Surana, please step forward."

The entire chamber filled with silence, all eyes trained on their new King Alistair, and the Grey Warden Liliwren. A mage. A commoner. An elf.

Alistair nervously cleared his throat. "Liliwren, would you do me the honor of standing by my side, for the rest of our lives, as my wife and queen?"

She smiled softly as she placed one foot behind the other and bent her knees. "You need not even ask, my king." This time as she curtseyed, Alistair's heart fluttered and raced. Liliwren's turquoise eyes met Alistair's light caramel ones as she lifted out of the reverent posture. "It will be my honor, Alistair," she smiled widely.

Alistair grinned like a fool while the Landsmeet erupted with a surprisingly joyous response.

And this time, for the first time in the presence of an audience, Alistair kissed Liliwren without hesitation.