And because I'm such (an evil witch) kind person, here's chapter two of this little fic. Hot straight off of MS Word.

Again, spoilers - but if your reading this chapter then you should know by know what the spoilers entale. I don't own Dragon Age, though I wish I could own it. And I don't own the characters, although there are a few I wouldn't mind owning.

Anyway - read on.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

0:2

"Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance.
Another heartache - another failed romance."
-

It was the early hours of the morning, just a few hours before everyone would be up to march to Denerim. Elissa walked into the hall and was greeted by the rest of her group. She had agreed to leave Alistair in bed, but it had proved harder to escape from him without his knowing then she had originally intended. Still, she managed to make it to the hall in the end.

It was Leliana who walked towards her when she entered the room, worry etched on her brow as she looked at her friend.

"Elissa, what's wrong? Why did you tell Zevran that we should all meet here at this early hour?"

Elissa looked around at everyone. Her comrades, friends. They'd all been through so much together, that she knew it would pain them to hear this. But at the same time, she knew they would accept her wishes.

She walked to the middle of the room, and sighed. She turned back to Leliana, worry still laced upon on her face. It was then that she decided to talk.

"I – need a favour. A very big favour, and one that you all properly won't like at all. But, it has to happen".

The group walked in closer, worried and anxious at what she was about to ask. They only knew it involved Alistair – what with him not being in the room with them. But what it was? They couldn't find the answer in their minds just yet.

Elissa swallowed her anxious feelings, and put on her mask of strength once again. She then noticed Zevran in the shadows out of the corner of her eye; the only one in the room who knew the truth as to why they were grouped like this.

"Last night – Alistair and I – found out why it is a Grey Warden and only a Grey Warden that can slay the archdemon,' she paused, and saw everyone's curiosity grow. "To cut the story relatively short, the Grey Warden that delivers the finishing blow to the archdemon becomes a sacrifice. They're soul dies, along with the demon, and in effect – so does the Warden themselves."

Silence echoed the room as the reality of the matter sunk into everyone's minds. Alistair or Elissa had to die that day. It was then that the missing jigsaw peace was put into place.

"Why do I get the horrible, nerving feeling in my gut I know what you're going to ask of us?"

It was Oghren's voice that spoke first, breaking the silence. Everyone looked at him, then back to Elissa again, once confused faces now replaced with worry.

"Do you honestly expect me to do nothing? He's going to become King and – for that, he shouldn't sacrifice himself-"

"And what about you?" Came Leliana's distressed cry. "You're to be his Queen after all this; don't you think Ferleden will need you, that Alistair will? He's not going to be exactly happy when he learns of your plan –"She cut off, letting out a small gasp as the reality of everything set in. Alistair wasn't there. "Y-You had no intention of telling him – do you?"

Elissa looked away from the stares of the group. As strong as she was pretending to be, this was all too much for her. She knew the group wouldn't be overly thrilled about the idea – heck, she wouldn't either if their roles were reversed and it was one of them telling her they were to basically kill themselves.

"What of the other Grey Warden? The one we found in the Arl's estate – Riordan was it?" Oghren spoke up again. "Wouldn't he be a good candidate for this? I mean, the brute hasn't exactly done much since you freed him from that prison cell."

"Riordan has already agreed to being the one to slay the archdemon," Elissa replied. "It's just – we need to be prepared. In the event that Riordan fails that task for whatever reason, and someone else has to be sacrificed – I will be the one to do it".

Silence fell around the room. The group knew there was no swaying her opinion once it already stood. All they could do was hope that the time never came for her to fulfil this task. That Riordan wouldn't fail.

"Alistair being Alistair, he will not easily leave you alone on the battlefield, especially given the circumstances. If he has the chance, he will follow and protect you like some sort of lost puppy," Zevran spoke from the shadows he was still standing in. The mabari hound whined at that comment, as if wondering why Alistair had to be compared to a dog.

Elissa smiled sadly. She knew this would be said, and she had been prepared for that very statement.

"I know, and that's where I need your help. If, for whatever reason Riordan fails and is unable to slay the archdemon, I will be the one to slay it instead. However, I need your help stopping Alistair from following me in that scenario. Maker knows he'd feel guilty if he was there, he'd properly even try to sacrifice himself, and there's no way I can allow that. I need you to distract him – somehow. In any way possible, just long enough for me to reach the archdemon before he does. Please..." she was begging now. Elissa knew she would do anything to protect him from this fate, even if it meant she would have to beg for her friend's forgiveness, for his forgiveness in the afterlife.

The group exchanged glances with each other, contemplating the options that were available to them. Noticing there were very few, they came to a joined decision.

"Fine. In the event that Riordan's plan does fail, and he does die before he gets a chance to slay the archdemon. But only in that event; we will help you." Leliana said, hurt laced within her voice. It was evident that it was hard for the girl to imagine her best friend leaving the world, but that was just how things worked sometimes.

"We've followed your lead up till now Warden; we're not going to leave your side now." Oghren replied. It was shocking for Elissa to hear him speak in such a way, considering she expected him half drunk at this time of the morning.

She looked at all their faces, and smiled slightly.

"Thank you, all of you. I know this isn't easy for you – but – thank you".

"Perhaps, we should prepare for battle now? It'll soon be time to leave for Denerim after all." Zevran pointed out.

The group agreed and dispersed into different directions, going to their rooms to gather their weapons and armour. Elissa stayed for a while, watching her friends leave, silently praying that today she wouldn't have to cause them so much pain.

It was then that she realised she wasn't alone in the room. Turning around, Elissa noted that Wynne was still there, having not left when the others had. She had been very quite during the previous discussion, which was unlike her. Usually, Wynne made her opinion on matters known. Had it not been her that warned Elissa to prepare for heartbreak in her relationship with Alistair, and then later apologized, and gave the two of them her blessing?

"Wynne, what's wrong? Is there something you want to talk about?" Elissa asked, concern written on her face.

Wynne looked at the girl who was so much younger then she was, a sad look on her face.

"You haven't told him, have you?"

Startled, Elissa blinked, wondering what she was on about.

"I don't mean about your idea; I mean about your secret." Wynne answered. Elissa wondered for a second, and then gasped. Could it possibly be?

"But how could you – I haven't told anyone-"

"Of course you haven't ; but I can sense it, little one," the old mage smiled sadly, and Elissa could have sworn she saw a hint of tear in her eye. "He would have wanted to know, that much I can be sure of."

Elissa crossed her arms and looked away defensively, pain written on her face.

"It would be - unfair to tell him. Perhaps, if things were different – if something good happens and the archdemon is slain, and I'm still here – but, other than that he can never know." Elissa looked back to Wynne, feeling a tear slide down her own face yet again. "I'm not exactly full of options or cards to play to my advantage now, am I?"

Wynne shook her head sadly, understanding the pain Elissa must have been hiding back.

"No child, you don't. It is – unfair on you to say the least. And to think, I was so convinced that perhaps maybe, you both would have finally found happiness".

Elissa returned Wynne's smile with her own, etched in the same amount of sadness, but along with it – an essence of defeat lingered there too.

"I guess; I was just never meant to have that happiness," she sighed, and then looked sharply at Wynne. "You however, will not mention this to anyone. You hear? Not even Alistair. If he even knew what I was giving up –"her voice broke then as the horror of what she really was giving up hit her again.

Wynne could only feel her own heart breaking at the girl's loss. Elissa didn't deserve this, not after everything she'd done for so many people. All Wynne felt she could do, was respect her wishes, no matter how much she disagreed with her idea.

"Alright, I will keep it to myself as I have done up till now".

Elissa sniffed, and felt more tears falling down her eyes. All she could do was nod, she didn't want to look Wynne in the eyes, no, she couldn't.

"Thank you," she whispered, and allowed the rest of her tears to fall.

Elissa's secret - I wonder what that could be? :O

Chapter 3 will up soon, so stay tuned for that. Feel free to review if you like.