Ch. 2

Evanesce panted breathlessly as she stared at the fallen Archdemon. This was it. She had to deal the final blow. And…it was going to kill her. Ending the Archdemon would end her life, but…save all the others. It was time. She gripped her swords tight and tensed. A deep breath soothed her as the Warden sprang forward, moving into a run but a hand caught her and pulled her back. She spun to see who the intruder was.

Alistair's gentle brown eyes caught her green.

"Let me," he said in a calm, serene voice.

"What? No," the Warden objected.

Alistair just stared into her gaze.

"Alistair," she squeezed his hand with both of hers, "Don't you…don't you want to become king?"

"I do…well I do now, but…this is the greatest thing I can ever do for my country."

"But I…"

"I don't want you to die, Evanesce…"

"Alistair…"

"Shh…no…"

"This is crazy."

He chuckled.

"It's the sanest decision I've ever made." He smiled, "Except for loving you."

With that he leaned down and locked his lips with hers, entangling them as he pulled her close. When their lips parted he tilted his head and smiled.

"I love you," he whispered gently. Evanesce tightened her grasp on the King as he tried to pull away.

"No Alistair," she begged.

He shrugged her off and spun. He drew his sword forward and dashed at the dragon.

Evanesce, who was normally so strong, so put together felt herself crumbling as the love of her life slit the sword down the dragon's throat. He paused only a moment before shoving it in the thing's head. Light exploded from the villain's skull violently causing Evanesce to almost fall. Alistair held on tight to the sword as the Archdemon's energy shot through him violently. The Warden looked helplessly at him. She started to dart, but Morrigan caught her friend's wrist. Evanesce spun and looked at her. The Witch's golden eyes beamed sorrow. Evanesce yanked but the Shapeshifter's hand was iron. The Warden looked helplessly at her lover as the light ceased and he dropped to the ground.

"Alistair!" Evanesce screeched as she shot up right in bed. Sweat beaded on her hot forehead before running down her face. Her skin was on fire and her lungs burned. Her chest ached. "Alistair," she whispered realizing it was all a dream. She blinked back the welling tears and wiped the perspiration from her face. "Maker, it's hot in here." She threw herself out of bed and seized the pitcher of water that was sitting on the bedside. It was there with the intention of drinking, but she wasn't thirsty…only hot. So so hot. She flung the pitcher's contents at the fire. Water saturated the logs, extinguishing all the heat, and the only source of light.

The room was filled with pitch black.

Evanesce couldn't see a thing. She felt her way back to the bed and collapsed, gasping, panting. Damn it. Now she wanted something to drink. This wasn't like her. She never got so emotional.

As a Cousland she was prim and proper. She was a fast learner, and a savage warrior. She was passive, giving into all of her mother's and father's wishes.

As a Grey Warden she was strong. She took charge. She considered everything and desired to help everyone. It was where she reached her true potential, where she had discovered the real her.

Heh. Strong? She wasn't acting very strong.

But didn't she deserve to break down occasionally?

Evanesce sighed, and pushed her internal debate from her mind.

The Warden shook her head and stood. She felt her way to the sofa in the middle of the room. She felt around the seat until she found her leather pack. Blindly the Rogue undid the tie and snaked her hand inside. She delicately felt around its contents. Paper. Hm. The treaties. A few empty flasks, and one that generated cold. A health vile it was. Some soft cloth. Her extra underclothes. A rougher cloth. Those were bandages.

Then finally she felt it. The feeling of its soft, comforting velvet made her smile. She slowly traced her hand down its body and grasped it. Slowly, she pulled the small, beautiful red rose from its spot in the corner of her bag. She let her finger tips dance over the petals. The Warden smiled once again before placing the flower to her nose and inhaling. Mmm. How sweet the scent.

Evanesce stood slowly, and made her way back to the bed. She sat and then laid on her side. She adjusted herself comfortably, avoiding the covers of course, and tried to relax.

She pressed the soft rose to her lips. Mmm the smell always relaxed her. She wasn't sure how it hadn't wilted yet. Somehow it was still the same as the day Alistair had given it to her. It had been such a sweet sentiment. And its undying petals still were. She believed Wynne may have had enchanted the flower one night when the lovers slept in order to keep it living, but then again Evanesce wasn't so sure. She remembered what Alistair had said when he gave it to her, how nice it had been to see something so beautiful amongst all this darkness. Maybe the immortal rose was a sign of hope. It proved everything was going to be alright. This Blight would end and she could finally be at peace…with Alistair.

Evanesce smiled. It was wishful thinking.

Inhaling the scent of the rose, the Warden began to relax.

She wondered how long she had been asleep before her nightmare had woke her. It couldn't have been very long…maybe 10 or 15 minutes. Hm. She wondered if Alistair and Morrigan were…No no. She didn't want to think of that.

She took a deep breath and released it. She wanted him here with her. Not next door with Morrigan. She knew this was the best though.

Sigh.

Evanesce's thoughts grew silent as she began to relax and drift to sleep.

The sound of a loud bang snapped her mind back into the real world.

What was that?

It must have been nothing.

She closed her eyes and began to calm down when the sound of a tapping drew her attention.

Hm?

She focused her ears at the curious noise. Tap…Tap…Tap…Tap..Tap..Tap..Tap..Tap..Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sound of a gasp protruded her ear drums.

It was…coming from next door…from Alistair's room.

Oh no. No no no no. How could she hear them? The walls were made of thick stone brick!

She didn't want to hear this. She really did NOT want to hear this.

Oh Maker no. No. No. No. Please no.

She covered her ears.

"Uh," the sound of a gasp traveled to her as the tapping increased to a steady taptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptaptap.

Oh please let this end.

Evanesce covered her head with her pillow and squeezed her eyes shut.