And now – we shall find out what happens in the final face off with the archdemon. This chapter was, well - difficult to write would be the understatment. Especially since, I had two different directions I wanted to go for in the ending.

I guess, this is the final version? Some of you may like this - some may not but, I guess, you should just read on and see :)

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

0:5

"White queen how my heart did ache.
And dry my lips no word would make.
So, still I wait."
-

Elissa and her group looked ahead of them, the doors to the rooftop only meters away. They had fought their way through the darkspawn hordes, manoeuvring through the layers of dead bodies who had tried to defend the path for them and only ended up losing their lives in the process.

But this was it. Behind the doors and at what would be in front of them stood the archdemon, the very thing the whole journey was based upon. Now would be the end, for one of them at least.

Elissa stepped forward, and walked up to the door, tracing the lines of the wood. In all honesty she was scared, no, terrified at what she would face when the doors opened. Nothing could ever prepare a person for their final stand, not even a Grey Warden such as herself. She mustered up her strength, pushing all fears aside as much as she could. Then, she pushed the door open forcefully, and she walked out onto the rooftop, the group following closely behind.

Bodies lay on the ground beneath them, soldiers and warriors alike who had fought just to hold the archdemon in this one area. But that wasn't what caused Wynne to gasp. Right in front of them, standing menacingly was the archdemon itself. Elissa gripped tighter onto her sword, trying to channel all feelings of fear into that of strength. She wanted nothing better but to turn and run away right there, run far away to place that it wouldn't her, a place where she could be happy. But she knew, as long as the archdemon even existed in this world; that could never happen. Instead, she put the masquerade of a brave face on, and pointed her sword up to the sky. Taking a deep breath, she then screamed a war-like cry.

"Attack!"

At the sound of her command, those around her quickly spun into action. Wynne began summoning spells in an attempt to halt the creature's movement, even if only for a little while. The elves that she had brought with her took their ground, and began firing arrows in an attempt to weaken the demon in any way. Shale ran headlong into battle, aiming to damage the back legs and falte its movements also, Oghren following shortly after.

The size of the demon itself was enough to show that it would not be defeated easily by such tactics though. Still, it was the one plan they had, so Elissa decided to throw herself into battle also. However, it didn't take long to realise that not much was happening in terms of weakening the creature. The archdemon cried out in rage, obviously angry at the attempt of the attack upon it. In response, it soon began to fight back, throwing those attacking it back time and time again.

Elissa found herself met with a wall for the third time around. She'd managed to cut a wound into the archdemon slightly, but it was still not enough to weaken it in any way. Wiping the blood away from her mouth, she pulled herself up. She soon felt Wynne use a healing spell on her, and instantly felt a portion of her strength return. At this, Elissa acted frantically, looking around her for anything she could use to help weaken the demon. Another weapon, a giant boulder that Shale could throw, anything. Desperation was beginning to set into her mind, and it was then she noticed it. Just a way away from where she had been thrown was a ballista. She smiled to herself. Yes, that would work perfectly! She pulled herself up from her crouching position on the ground, and began to run it. If she aimed it at the archdemon, Elissa could weaken it easily in only a few numbers of shots. It was much more potent than any of the weapons they were currently using, and would properly prove to be much more efficient also.

A scream pierced the sky in the direction from where the elves where, and Elissa looked around. Her face went white with shock. More darkspawn had emerged from maker knows where, and they were attempting to ambush them. Oh no, she told herself, no not now.

"Wynne, Oghren, Shale!" She called at the top of her voice. All three of them turned around to face her, and saw the darkspawn as well. Understanding what Elissa meant, they left the archdemon, and decided to act in defence instead. Elissa turned around again, attempting to run to the ballista whilst the chance was still there. A group of darkspawn ran towards her, but she simple cut her way through them as if they were not worthy of being her opponent. However, as she ran towards her new weapon, more and more darkspawn ran towards her, attempting to cut her down. At one point, a group tried to creep up behind her, and it wasn't until she heard them fall from one of Wynne's spells did she realise how close she had been.

Elissa reached the ballista after what felt like ages, worn out and breathing hard. Only her resolve was allowing her to push herself on past the limit. She prepared the ballista quickly, aiming it directly at the archdemon itself, who was still being attacked by the few elves that remained. Elissa noted that she needed to act fast if any of the small group were able to live, and tried to remember where the pinpoints were for attacking a dragon at its weakness. After all, it was the same concept, just on a much larger scale.

She attacked, very narrowly missing part of the demons legs. Elissa decided to clean up her aim, and fast. The archdemon was not oblivious to her attack, and had cried out once again in anger. Elissa had to hit it well in the next attack if she had any hope of bringing it down now.

Another shot, this time attacking the archdemon more violently. It screamed again, but this time out of pain as well as the anger it previously displayed. Only a few more shots she told herself, preparing to shoot for the third time. Again, she didn't want any chance for the demon to attack, so the next shot came shortly after the first success.

A few shots later and the archdemon was weakened. It let out a cry of pain yet again, only this time more desperate. The group stood back, the remaining darkspawn either running away or being killed in their retreat. The archdemon swayed where it stood, and, after a few moments was unable to stand any longer. It fell to a heap on the ground, unable to take the strain anymore. The archdemon was almost dead; there was just one thing that needed to be done for the nightmare to finally be over.

Elissa walked over to Wynne, Oghren and Shale, in a weakened state herself. Had it been any other situation, she would have given up by now, or passed out onto a heap on the floor due to exhaustion. But not this time. Now, it was different.

She looked up at Wynne, a sad smile on her face.

"And so this is where we part our ways," Elissa said, trying hard to compose her emotions, mostly for that of her friends. Wynne on the other hand, was having a harder time holding on to hers.

"I wish this could end differently for you."

"Well, it could, but we both know that isn't, and never was, an option."

She turned to look at Oghren and Shale.

"Well Warden, I guess this is where our final stand ends," Oghren said, a look of sadness on the dwarfs face. "'Gotta admit though, it was a bloody brilliant battle."

Elissa forced a small laugh to escape her lips. "Yes, a brilliant one indeed".

"It – still appears to be stupid to me yet, I must admit, I will miss following it around on its adventures".

"Thank you Shale, all of you." She looked away from the three of them over the archdemon. It was time. "It was a privilege, being able to meet you all. Please, tell the others that too."

She walked forward, her eyes never leaving the demon. Her eyes were full of determination, yet still held the sadness she was trying to fight back within them. This would be where everything would end; her past, her present and her future. But, it was worth it. The life of one to save many, what greater honour was there in death other than knowing you would save so many more lives? If that was the case, why did she still feel sad? Shouldn't she be embracing this now? Hadn't she cried enough?

Remembering her own sword had been broken much earlier on when the archdemon had thrown her into a wall; she pulled a sword out of the clutches of a nearby dead corpse. She held it tightly, and stood still, bracing herself. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. The archdemon was nearly dead already – she could do it. She could kill it in one blow.

"Elissa no!"

Elissa froze at the sound of that, opening her eyes suddenly. She dared not turn around to face whose voice that belonged to.

"Shale hold him!" Came Wynne's sudden cry of desperation from behind her. It didn't take Elissa long to realise that Shale had done that only seconds after the mage's cry, as she could hear the persons attempts to break free.

"Damnit Shale, let me go! Please, let me go! Elissa don't you dare kill that archdemon; you hear me?! Don't you dare!"

Elissa felt a tear fall from her eyes. Fate was much too cruel for them; for him.

"Alistair .... I'm sorry," she whispered, more to herself than anyone else. She grabbed hold of the sword tightly again, and ran towards the archdemon at lightning speed.

"No! I said don't!" Came Alistair's voice as he continued to attempt to break free of Shales grip.

But it was too late; Elissa had already run towards the demon. She saw it watch her out of the corner of its eye, a look of defeat evident there – as if it had already gave up on living and knew too, exactly what its own fate was now. She jumped on its back, and plunged the sword into the archdemon's skull. The demon let out a cry; and at the same time a bright light erupted from it, capturing Elissa in its path.

She felt pain flow through every part of her body, terrible pain. It was as if her blood were on fire. She wanted to let go of the sword, but some other force wouldn't allow her to. It was as if she we're joined to the sword and she couldn't run away from what was happening to her. Elissa heard Alistair's distressed cry, and she felt her own heart break. She knew that if she could, she properly would be crying now. Oh how hard she'd tried to keep him from witnessing this.

Suddenly, the light exploded, sending her flying. She landed on the ground in a heap, and felt the darkness take over her.

Alistair got up, worry shaking over him. It didn't just happen, it didn't just happen! He kept telling himself over and over again in his mind. He'd find her, and she'd be fine. It was a joke. Riordian had lied; Grey Wardens could survive the archdemon. Oh maker, how he wanted to believe his heart right now. His heart was telling him there was a chance she would still be alive, whereas his mind was telling him to be logical and accept that everything was over.

He looked around frantically, and found her body heaped on the floor. He felt his breath catch, and he ran to her.

Alistair wanted to cry when he reached her. The woman looked so small, so frail just lying there. He knelt down beside her, and pulled her body close to his. It wasn't fair, maker it wasn't fair. It should have been him that died, not her.

"Elissa, wake up, please. Oh maker, this isn't how everything was meant to end." He cradled her closer, as if his own body heat could bring her back. Alistair felt as if his heart had been ripped out from within him. He would have done anything to help save her, anything. And yet he didn't. He couldn't, because she'd protected him. Meaning he'd failed in protecting her.

And then he cried; for Elissa, for his lost love, for his lost future happiness, everything. The cheers of the warriors down below dominated the skies, celebrating the death of the archdemon. The sound angered him. Why? Why were they cheering? What was worth celebrating?

"There's nothing to celebrate, nothing! If this is the cost of ending the blight, then it wasn't worth it!"

Wynne walked towards the broken man, Oghren and Shale following solemnly behind her. Wynne's eyes looked sharp, as if something had just struck her.

"Alistair," she began.

"Just go away Wynne, I-I want to be alone-"

"Alistair, would you shush for one second-"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is my crying too loud for you? Well guess what, I don't care! You lot – you knew what she was planning, and yet you just let her go ahead with it?! Why the hell would you even do that?! You even kept me in the dark about the whole thing-"

"Alistair would you shush for one moment?!"

Alistair shut up quickly, shocked by Wynne's outburst. She knelt down beside him, and looked at Elissa in a confused manner. She put her hand against Elissa's neck, only adding confusion to Alistair's emotions also.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Alistair-" Wynne stopped him sharply yet again, and turned to face him. He looked back at her, the face of a confused and broken man. Wynne spoke again, worry and urgency evident in her voice. "Alistair, I sense a pulse."

Haha yes, I love to leave you cliffhangers. Chapter 6 will be out soon, I wonder what that will hold? :O Your not far from the end now m'dears, not far now.

Oh, and yes, my itunes decided to play the most fitting song whilst I was uploading this, so everyone, go listen to Hoodoo by Muse.

Review if you liked this chapter. It make me feel better about it myself to be truthful.