And so, here it is. The final stage of this story. Time to find out what happens next to Alistair and Elissa.

I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

0:8

"Do you remember when?
Oh we didn't even have to try.
We used to drift into each other
and let the machine wave us goodbye."

-

"Alicia, I know we've been over this a thousand times; but are you really sure that this dress isn't too – well, dressy?"

Elissa heard the giggles from her young handmaiden Alicia behind her as she was finishing off the finishing touches to her dress. Elissa wanted to pout, remembering how much she despised dressing up in showy dresses. It always managed to draw too much attention to her.

"No Milady, it's meant to be like that. After all, what else would you expect from a dress prepared for your wedding?"

There it was again. That word that she kept hearing constantly lately. Wedding. What should be, or is known as, every girls dream – was beginning to grow into Elissa's idea of a nightmare. Of course, she wanted to marry Alistair, but she didn't like how everything had to be ... overdone, in her mindset.

Elissa heard Leliana giggle as she sighed herself, and saw her move from where she was sitting out of the corner of her eye.

"Elissa, there's no use whining about it. You look beautiful; and if you behave I'll do your hair for you afterwards."

"If you insist." Elissa replied back, rolling her eyes whilst a faint smile played on her lips. Both she and Leliana knew of course, that she enjoyed Leliana styling her hair. It was about as 'girly' as she would ever get. Elissa knew and expected her hair to be fixed by none other than one of her closest friends, and the idea made her somewhat happier. It did nothing for calming her nerves however.

Of course, Elissa knew that this wedding had to be somewhat extravagant in some way. After all, the 'hero of Ferleden' was to marry the King of Ferleden and become Queen herself in the process. There was no better time for celebration. However, Elissa couldn't help thinking about her dream of having a small wedding instead, with only close friends to accompany them. It properly would have been easier for Alistair as well, who, although was beginning to grow more in his confidence in leading over time, was still a bundle of nerves over his new duty. Still, the idea would have to remain a dream, as it seemed impossible for such a thing to happen, especially with Ferleden waiting in awe for the royal couple to finally wed.

She shuffled on her feet slightly. Maker, she may be good on the battlefield, and she may understand the way in which monarchy and ruling a country worked, but Elissa always had trouble with public events, especially when she was to be part of the main event.

"There you are milady, the dress is finished."

Elissa shook her head, bringing herself out of her daze. She turned around, looking for where the mirror was in the room. Noticing it standing to the side, she looked at herself, and suddenly the colour in her cheeks fell. There was no way the girl staring back at her was, well, her. She turned and looked over her shoulder, admiring the back of the dress. The woman in the mirror looked beautiful, and full of nobility. Was this what she now had to change into?

Leliana walked over to her and put her hands on Elissa's shoulders, watching her over her shoulder through the mirror. A huge smile was spread across her face, like that of a mischievous cat. Well, at least someone was having fun playing dress-up.

"Aww Elissa! You look – beautiful! You know, I honestly do not understand why you don't wear dresses more often, because they look wonderful on you."

Elissa stood awkwardly in front of the mirror, playing with her hands, the nervousness in her stomach doing double take at her friends comment. Ah yes, the undesired attention that came with wearing such a gown – that was exactly why she didn't wear dresses that much.

"Erm ... thank you?"

"Alistair's going to do a double take when you walk out there looking like the princess you are."

"Your handmaidens right Elissa. He's going to be so shocked – in a good way. Now come sit on the bed so I can style your hair."

Leliana took her arm and pulled her over the bed, flopping on it herself with her hairbrush and various accessories laid out in preparation already. Elissa sat down in front of her, turning her back so her friend could comb through her long hair. She watched as Alicia picked up the scattered clothes from the bedroom floor, humming a tune as she did so.

"Elissa, why are you sitting so tense? Relax a little; otherwise you're going to moan that I'm pulling your hair when I start styling it any minute now."

Elissa sighed, not noticing she was sitting so rigid. She relaxed slightly, but her nerves didn't waver one bit.

"I'm sorry Leliana, I'm just – really, really nervous."

"Well, I think we've noticed that by the way you've been fidgeting for the past hour. Elissa, you really have to relax. You're getting married, of course that is a terrifying experience in its own, but it's also a joyful one. And what's more, it's Alistair. You two are so perfect for each other, and if you have my opinion, I suspect that he's busy drilling a hole into the ground with his own nervous pacing."

Elissa giggled slightly at that, knowing all too well that Leliana spoke truth, and that Alistair was properly much more nervous than she was right now.

"Your right, at least I'm not at risk from falling through the ceiling by pacing too much," both of the girls shared a giggle then, laughing at the image in their minds at the moment. Leliana put the brush down, and began to decide what she should do about her friend's hair in terms of styling it.

"You know Leliana; all this, at one time – I was beginning to believe I wouldn't get to experience it. Marriage, I mean. I'm, really glad I got this chance, even if I can't control my nerves right now."

Leliana took a hairclip out of her mouth, and placed it in Elissa hair. She smiled, understanding what Elissa was trying to explain.

"It – truly is a miracle. But, I think – it's good. After everything that's happened, the two of you are still together, standing by each other, stronger than ever. I think you've proven that you can overcome anything."

"And yet, here I am getting nervous over my own wedding." Elissa chuckled to herself once again.

They sat in silence for a while longer, Leliana playing around and styling Elissa's hair in various ways and styles. Elissa on the other hand, began thinking of everything – and not just her and Alistair - but what all of them had gone through as a group. After this, everyone would be going their separate ways – save for Morrigan who had left long beforehand. She had no doubt in her mind that they'd meet again sometime in the future, but Elissa still felt a small pang of sadness in her heart. They had all grown so close after all, like a family, and now that family was going to be broken up, their mission having been accomplished. In a way, today was the last celebration they'd all have together.

Leliana finished with Elissa's hair, and picked up the remaining accessories that were lying on the bed, placing them back where they belonged. She grabbed a small mirror, and showed Elissa what her hair looked like. Of course, it was perfect – and she looked less like the warrior she was then she had ever done in her life. Elissa smiled at her reflection, happy with the style her friend had chosen. Leliana on the other hand, only let out yet another laugh, watching her friend's expression of awe.

"You know, for someone who's so set against dressing up for any event, even her own special day, you seem happy with the final product."

Elissa felt herself blush slightly, Leliana only laughing more at her friend's slight embarrassment. Of course, Elissa would never admit it, but she didn't mind what her reflection was showing of her, even if it was different from whom she really was, what her identity was known for. She smiled again, this time filled with more strength, and looked up at her friend.

"Well, we have to make the best out of our situations, do we not?" She said, noticing that she was ready to break into laughter with her friend too.

It was then that they heard a small scream from outside the room, the scream that had come from Alicia. Elissa, suddenly worried about what had happened, began to walk quickly towards the door, only to be met seconds later by a certain friend entering her room. She looked down at her pet hound, and out at Alicia getting up of the ground to pick up what clothes she had dropped. Elissa laughed slightly, and turned to her hound.

"Honestly you, that wasn't very nice was it? You didn't need to knock poor Alicia over now did you?"

"Oh no milady it's fine! I didn't notice him running and – I think I walked into him more than he ran into me..." Alicia replied, giggling slightly at the hound.

The hound, sensing that he really wasn't in that much trouble with his master, let out a loud bark filled with happiness, and wagged his tail. Elissa just rolled her eyes, smiling at how mischievous he could be. Leliana on the other hand, was laughing at what had just happened. No matter where they were; in Highever, at camp, or even in a palace – Elissa noted that her pet knew someway on how to get himself caught up in some sort of mischief.

Once the giggling had subsided, Leliana was the first to talk.

"Elissa, I think your hound came to inform you that it's time for you to get married."

Elissa turned white again, her nerves returning to her in full throttle again. Unable to say anything, she merely nodded, and allowed Leliana to lead her out of her room. Leliana remained calm, the smile never leaving her face.

Alistair had never been so terrified in his whole life. And here he thought, being announced King at the landsmeet was bad enough, no one had warned him about the nerves he was facing now. He couldn't understand why he was feeling so nervous; after all it had been him that had proposed to her, and he loved Elissa more than anything. Yet, there was still something within him that made him want to run away and hide.

Perhaps, it had something to do with how public and huge the wedding was.

Or perhaps, he was just scared because it was Elissa he was marrying.

He'd already known in his heart of hearts that he loved her with all his being, but at the same time, Alistair still wondered why she loved him so much in return. To himself, he appeared to be nothing special – and, noting how lucky he was to have such a woman by his side, he often wondered why Elissa still remained and managed to put up with him. He'd never question her choice, and being with her made him happier than he ever felt he could possibly be in his life.

Perhaps the fear within him, was fear that today she decided that in fact, she didn't want to spend her life with him. If such a thing happened, it would crush him completely, but he would understand. To him, she was worth more than the world itself, and he'd do anything to make her happy – even at the expense of his own happiness. Maker, he wanted the waiting to be over so that everything could go back to normal, and not remain in this awkward, nervous way of thinking.

He hadn't noticed he was fidgeting, until he heard Zevran clear his throat. Alistair turned to the elf, and noticed him nod in the direction of where the entrance was.

"Don't look now, your majesty, but I think your Queen just appeared."

Following the assassins gaze, Alistair turned, and his eyes opened wide in shock. He saw her, well, he thought it was her. No, it had to be her – there was no one as stunning as her in the world. But, she looked, so different. Alistair's nerves vanished completely within that one moment, instead he stood there completely star stuck, smiling like the complete idiot he was.

Elissa stood before him before he even knew it, and Alistair noticed her cheeks were blushed red. She smiled, and he noticed that she was nervous as well. It was perhaps even possible that she were more nervous and embarrassed with herself than he had been with himself only moments before. He took her hand into his, staring straight back into her eyes. He bent down to whisper to her quickly, before they walked up the few remaining steps.

"Maker, but your beautiful."

He saw Elissa's blush deepen, but felt that her nervousness had soon fallen once he'd said that. It was in that moment that it was clear to him. Everything was perfect; they would be together forever, through the good times and the bad. But he had a feeling, that their futures together would be filled with many more of the good experiences waiting only for them.

Le Fin ~

And yes, they got a happy ending in the end :) It makes me sad that this is the last chapter in this mini-story, but either way, I really hope you enjoyed reading this. To all those along the way that took the time to review, add this story to your favorites & alerts, I thank you. So much. Your comments were such a pleasure to read, and I really enjoyed reading them all. It made me very happy. Again, thank you for them.

Review if you liked this chapter / this story. And perhaps we may meet these two in the future again for their adventures. Who knows what's in the future ;)