Elissa's eyes widened. Alfstanna was one of the last people she would have expected to come visit the keep, especially after Orzammar. Mentally she groaned, wondering how much more would be heaped upon her head before everything was said and done. Aloud, she asked, "Has she been here long? Did she say what she wanted to discuss?"

Kylon shook his head. "No, and no. She got here only a couple of hours ago, saying she was hoping to catch you on her way to Amaranthine. She just said that if you made it back today she would like to see you briefly. I invited her and her men to stay here for the night before setting out again."

Just what I needed, someone else to yell at me. Elissa nodded at Kylon. "I'll go speak with her now. Thank you." Kylon nodded and she walked past him toward the main hall.

Elissa's steps slowed as she approached the main hall. She felt grimy from the road, her boots were still dusty, and she wasn't sure how Alfstanna would receive her. After all, the last time she'd seen the woman, she'd been on the receiving end of a series of particularly unhappy looks. She didn't blame Alfstanna for that, but it was still uncomfortable. When she reached the door to the main hall, she paused to take a deep breath and let it out while she squared her shoulders. Let's get this over with. She turned the door handle and stepped into the room.

"Lady Alfstanna," she said as she approached the noble. "Thank you for honoring us with your visit." When she came close enough, she bowed in respect. "What brings you our way?" When she looked up, Alfstanna was … smiling?

"Please, don't stand on ceremony for my sake. I think we're past that." Elissa didn't know what to say to that, so she stayed silent. She didn't have to wait for long as Alfstanna continued. "I came here to thank you."

Elissa was stunned. "Thank me? What for?" Her confusion must have shown on her face, for Alfstanna's smile grew.

"Let's talk. Is there someplace more comfortable where we can sit?"

"Y-yes. Of course." Elissa led Alfstanna to the study, where they each took a chair. Once they were settled, Elissa leaned back a little and waited for Alfstanna to begin explaining her completely unanticipated change of demeanor toward Elissa. Alfstanna didn't waste any time and started immediately.

"When we were traveling together and when we first got to Orzammar," she began, "it was obvious to all of us that Alistair hadn't moved past you, despite what both of you were saying." Elissa groaned at the memory, at which Alfstanna laughed. "Exactly. At the time, knowing how close you had been during the blight, and seeing that you were still fond of him, I rather jumped to conclusions. I presumed that even though it wasn't happening at the time, that Alistair would eventually take you back as a lover and I would be left on the side only to produce heirs."

"I was afraid of that," Elissa murmured. She suddenly felt very sad. "If it means anything, I can reassure you that I have moved on and I don't intend to pursue Alistair."

Alfstanna nodded to Elissa. "I've figured that out since," she said. Elissa nodded for her to continue. "Nathaniel's jealousy over Alistair's attention to you didn't really help matters for me, especially since you were obviously uncomfortable with his behavior. I assumed that you were not particularly serious. At least until I saw you two at the proving." Alfstanna blushed a little when she said this. "I don't know what you two were talking about, but when I saw how you reacted to each other and the looks on your faces ..." Alfstanna paused a minute to collect herself as her blushing increased. "No woman who is thinking of another man looks like that when talking to her lover."

It was Elissa's turn to blush now, but she felt the smile form on her face at the memory of that short conversation. "Well … I'm glad that our lapse in decorum had a positive effect, I guess." Alfstanna laughed at Elissa.

"It had another positive effect, you know. Alistair noticed you two as well." Alfstanna shook her head, smiling. "That's what prompted the conversation you two had just before you left Orzammar. I don't know if you meant for this to happen, but what you told him, when you made him angry with you … you put me in the sudden, and welcome, position of becoming his confidante." Alfstanna sighed and a new, different smile came to her face. She cares for him. "He's actually giving me a chance now, when before he was just being polite."

Elissa sighed with relief. "He's starting to move on then?" Alfstanna nodded in agreement. "That's wonderful. I think you two can be really good together. I hope that you're both happy."

Alfstanna studied Elissa's face. "You really mean that, don't you?" Elissa nodded her agreement, at which Alfstanna's smile grew brighter. "Excellent. That makes what I have to ask all the easier."

"What you have to ask?" Elissa raised an eyebrow. "Should I worry?"

Alfstanna laughed. "I certainly hope not! I wanted to ask you to act as one of our primary witnesses for the marriage ceremony."

"Really?" Yet again, Elissa was surprised. "It's an honor, of course, but I'm surprised you thought of me."

"It's good for a number of reasons, I think." Alfstanna looked thoughtful. "There's the fact that, from the beginning, you've been a vocal supporter of our marriage. That says a lot, and we're certainly thankful for it. Then there's the political aspect. For us, it publicly enforces our political position of supporting you and the other Wardens in Ferelden, and for you, it reaffirms that you are supportive of the Crown. It might help with the lesser nobles' acceptance of you and possibly Nathaniel." At these, Elissa nodded. That did make a lot of sense. "Lastly, with you and Fergus as the official witnesses, it shows that we have the two singularly most important people in all of Ferelden as not only allies, but friends."

At the mention of Fergus' name, Elissa's heart dropped into her stomach. She put her head in her hands. "Alfstanna … I'm not saying no to you, but you might want to reconsider the offer. Fergus … he's not exactly happy with me at the moment. If you have both of us right at the altar with you, witnessing the marriage, it could make everything really awkward for you."

"What do you mean?" Alfstanna sounded really surprised. "What happened between the two of you?"

"Rendon Howe happened." Elissa sighed heavily. "I didn't fill Fergus in on the details of Rendon's takeover of Highever. They were, shall we say, unpleasant. He found out anyway, and has sworn off the entire Howe family. We argued about it and he found out about Nathaniel and myself, and ..." Elissa took a deep breath. "Fergus has disowned me."

She heard Alfstanna gasp. "Disowned you? Isn't that a bit extreme?" Elissa looked up to see Alfstanna's eyes wide open in shock. "How long ago was this?"

"We argued when I was at Highever, just a few days before we met up with you on the way to Orzammar. I got the note asking to return my mother's signet ring to him on the way back." Elissa sighed. "You can see why he won't want me standing up there next to him, and since he's more important to the Crown …" Elissa shrugged. "He's really angry with me. Forcing him to acknowledge that I exist in front of all the other nobles might not be the best idea right now."

Alfstanna took a moment to get over her shock. When she did, her eyes grew determined. "I'll work on Fergus when he comes to Denerim," she said. "Assume, for now, that everything will be fine. If I can't convince Fergus to calm down, we can ask Teagan or Eamon at the last minute. Men and their pride!" She reached over and put a hand on Elissa's arm. "I'm sorry you've had to deal with all this, on top of the attempts to discredit your family's name."

Elissa shrugged. "It's not your fault. Thank you for trying." She wasn't holding out a lot of hope that Fergus' mind could be changed; after all, stubbornness was a family trait. She mustered up a faint smile before changing the subject. "Did my seneschal have someone show you your rooms for the night?"

"Thank you, but I won't take up any more of your time." Alfstanna stood and smiled at Elissa. "You just got back and I'm sure you have a thousand things to attend to. Besides, this was an unscheduled stop. I need to go to Amaranthine to see a jeweler and get back to Denerim." Elissa stood as well to show Alfstanna out of the keep. "We've called a Landsmeet just after the wedding, since the nobility will be there anyway, so we have an extra event to plan."

Elissa shook her head. "Because you didn't have nearly enough to worry about between now and then," she said wryly. "Please, be safe in your travels. We'll see you soon when we come to Denerim." She walked Alfstanna out of the keep and saw her and her guards off, then went to her room to clean up before lunch.

The unexpected boost left Elissa feeling optimistic. She even managed to eat a decent lunch, which Nathaniel noted, if the look of approval he gave her was any indication. It wasn't until she was standing in front of Eric and Ragnar afterward that the nervousness returned in full force, causing her to feel distinctly nauseous. Please, please, let them survive this. She did her best to avoid letting her fear show as she listened to Nathaniel say the words, "Join us, brothers …."

After Nathaniel finished, her world narrowed down to her, the chalice, and the two recruits who were standing in front of her. She handed the chalice to Eric first. "Ser Eric Bryant, from this moment on, you are a Grey Warden." Eric looked pale, but readily accepted the cup and drank from it. He didn't say a word. After a moment, his entire body spasmed and he fell unconscious to the floor.

Anders wasted no time going over to him and checking his pulse. When he looked up at Elissa, there was an enormous amount of relief in his eyes. "He made it," was all he said. Everyone breathed a little easier.

Elissa then moved to Ragnar. Please, let him live too ... She handed it to him. "Ragnar, from this moment on, you are a Grey Warden."

Ragnar looked at her, his expression unreadable. "If I die," he said quietly, "what about Erna?"

Elissa looked straight into his eyes. "She is welcome to stay here and live with us. We'll do our best to take care of her as well as you would." The answer satisfied him, for he took the chalice to his lips and drank. Elissa took it back from him and waited.

Ragnar stood for a long moment, not reacting at all. Then, after what seemed like a lifetime, she could see his eyes roll back in his head, covered by a white film. Then he … just fell backward. There was no expression of pain, no spasming, no sound at all. Anders went to his side and checked his vital signs. When he looked up, he was grinning.

"I think we found someone who's even more stoic than Nathaniel," he said. "He made it, Elissa. They're both going to be fine."

Elissa had barely enough presence of mind to hand off the chalice to Nathaniel as her vision went dark. "Thank the Maker," she remembered murmuring as she smiled before passing out.