Morrigan studied my face for a moment, as if she was looking for something impossibly small. "There is a way for you to kill the Archdemon and survive happily ever after. It involves old magic. Dark magic. I need to sleep with Alistair." I must have had the most peculiar look on my face, because my friend suddenly grasped my shoulders. "If you feint on me, Warden, I will shock you…so help me." I knew she was worried. "Morrigan, you know I trust you. I would move the heavens with my bare hands if it means not causing that man one minute of heartache. But please tell me…" She held up her hand and looked me over. "I need to produce a child. His child. Then you will never see me nor it again. Do you agree?" I swallowed hard. I felt a pang of jealousy but also a joy that shook me to my very core. Now how to get my chantry-raised, ex-templar mate to agree with this. Yes that should be easy. Then we can have tea with the Archdemon and put all this nastiness behind us. "You see Warden…I-I would miss you if you were to die. I would not be able to forgive myself knowing I could have done something. Now stop looking at me like that Mabari of yours, it's making me ill." I embraced her, feeling her tense slightly. "I'm hugging you. I don't care if you like it or not." I held her out at arms length and we laughed softly.

I knocked onto the heavy wooden door to Alistair's chamber. I could feel Morrigan shift anxiously to my left as the door opened. "Uhhhh this doesn't look good for me, I can tell when you women gather like this," He made a flurry of motion with his hand towards us. "It means I'm going to get it." I led him over to the bed and sat him on the edge. "Alistair…what if I told you we don't have to loose everything? What if I could tell you, that come the day after tomorrow, we can both wake up and feel the sun strong against our faces? What would you give for that?" His eyes grew pained and he furrowed his brow. "I would give up everything. I would do anything." Morrigan and I looked at each other. Alistair looked from me, then to her. The wheels were turning for sure. "You mean that our Morrigan has learned something interesting from her mother's tome? You mean it's not just a collection of lentil soup recipes and how to cook puppies?" I rolled my eyes. I'm sure he wouldn't joke around when she explained it to him.

Alistair looked at Morrigan as if she just transformed into a darkspawn in front of his very eyes. A mix of disgust and fear. Then he looked at me. My gaze unwavering. "I do not doubt your love, you should not doubt mine. Please Alistair…" I was pleading, practically on my knees and begging him to put his stubborn and wholesome nature aside. He looked over at Morrigan, his face a mask, "Lets just get this over with." Morrigan nodded at him, "I can guarantee you will not find it as horrible as you imagine." She stood up and lead him out of the room, Alistair paused and took a look back at me, and my heart shuddered slightly. This was a gift of life, yet I can't help my emotions…the jealousy that clawed around my gut like a cat. And then he was gone.

I woke up, my face buried into Alistair's chest. He had slipped in sometime late in the night I suppose. He didn't look or smell different. In fact he smelt clean and nice. "I had to bathe. I felt…dirty." He was awake and watching me. "We need to get ready, my darling." I childishly rolled over into the blankets and buried my head. "Tell the Archdemon to come back later." He laughed as he pulled the warm blankets off my body.

I took leave into my room, and saw Morrigan sitting on the edge of my bed. "About last night..it was very mechanical. You don't have to worry. He didn't enjoy it." I halted her and smiled sadly. "Morrigan I have no regrets. This was just as hard for you. After all, you will be swollen in a few months. Please stay at least for a while. We can take care of you both…" She got up and walked towards the door. "Remember our deal, Warden." And she left for the city gates.

Exhausted we rallied the remaining troops. One by one my friends walked upto me, lending their support. Zev grabbing my face and placing an exuberant, yet chaste kiss on my lips, much to Alistair's dismay. I held Wynne in my arms as she patted the top of my head. She would join the First Enchanter Irving on the top of the tower. I reached out to Morrigan and held her arm. "You may not be blood, but I would be honored to have my sister alongside me in battle." She looked me over and mocked "Oh look at the Warden getting all sentimental. Your almost as weak as the men now." She walked with Wynne towards battle. Alistair walked up to me, holding his helm under his arm. I felt the eyes of our comrades on us, as only three people knew of the dark ritual. I heard sniffles from some, their hearts aching for us. "Warden, fight well. Fight well and live." He held out his hand. I placed my open palm on his. "My Lord, you will come back to me. That is an order." He smiles and raises an eyebrow, he knows that tone of voice well. Alistair pauses before he puts on his helm, looking at me as if he would never see me alive again, the troops are eerily quiet, listening to our words. "Alistair, I love you." I speak clearly, loudly with my head high. If anyone objects now, Maker help them. He beams at me, gone is the shy young man from our early travels. He has been replaced by a king. "And I love you." A few whoops and hollers from the crowd made him place his helm on rather swiftly. Together, we made our way to the top of the tower.