Once again thanks to all my incredible readers and reviewers! Megglesnake, Jinx1983, LadyCallia, PheonRen, Warrose, KCousland, and Liso66. Your reviews are what kept me going!
This has been a great experience. I love all of you.
There is an A/N at the end of the epilogue. It will say a few important things as to what I'm working on now. ;)
Bioware really and truly owns, but I play with their characters and win! hahaha! :P
Chapter 42 - The King and His Dalish Queen
Alistair's personal journal:
What to name a child that is the most important thing in your life? Well, besides your wife who is the light of your existence... We have discussed this, and even though Chantalle urges me to name him Duncan, I don't know if it is the right thing to do. I'm thinking more than ever for a name that is right for him because he is to become King of Ferelden in the future.
He is perfect. In every single way. He has the most beautiful dark blue-grey eyes in the world, but Fiona has told me that his eyes will change color. That all babies are born with bluish-grey eyes that change later. The only thing is that a part of me wishes terribly for him to have his mother's eyes. Those twin sapphires that are more precious to me than anything else.
I've been writing in the Keep log mostly, and not here in my personal journal. I have neglected writing these past months for far too long. Mostly because my life has turned into a whirlwind of things to do and problems to solve. Since there is a log at the keep for writing all the important things that have been happening, I simply did not have the energy to write again. I just wanted to take a bath, and lay with my wife after a long stressful day.
My life so different before, and now so changed. Drastic changes. Two weeks from today, I'm to go to Denerim and I will be crowned King of Ferelden. Curious that I am actually looking forward to the one thing I have been avoiding with all my heart. I thought I did not want to be king. The truth was that I did not want the responsibility of taking the crown because I was afraid of making decisions that could affect the lives of many. I thought that I would never make a good leader. This is why Duran led our small group during the Blight.
But when I became the Warden Commander, these things changed. I found myself in charge and I made decisions. And they did turn out to be good decisions. I forced myself to look for the best solutions and help others the best I could. And I think I did a good job.
Maker, I hope I did!
The one thing that helped me decide to take the throne was Chantalle's utter faith in me. She is probably the main reason why I am doing this. She believes that I could make a difference. Her unconditional faith in me fills my heart and keeps me whole. Her loyalty knows no boundaries. Maker bless her and keep her by my side always! She is my rock and my strength. I hope to be a good and fair monarch, but in truth if I didn't have her by my side ruling as queen, I don't think I would have ever accepted the throne. She thinks ahead, and is good and kind. She makes a decision and does not waver. She will make a great queen. I will never stop thanking the Maker and Andraste for bringing her into my life.
I am a better man, a better person thanks to her.
Chantalle is now as Taint-free as our child is. A miracle? Perhaps. And one that is not to be taken lightly. I will ask Fiona to give me some of her potion so that I can have the Taint reduced in me. I will do this for my love, for I cannot leave her twenty-six years from now. I will not do that to her.
Am I selfish? Perhaps. Did I want to become a Warden? Always. Do I want to still be a Warden after all I that I know today?
I'm not so sure about that...
Truth be told, things and people change and when one discovers long-kept secrets, when one sees that things are not always black and white but that there are many shades of grey...Well...
Let's just say that they are called Grey Wardens for a reason and leave it at that, shall we?
My love has finally woken up and our child is crying. I must stop writing now to be with my family.
Maker's breath! My family!
At long last.
Alistair closed his journal with a snap and a smile on his lips as he stood up and went to his wife's side. Chantalle was nursing their son and Alistair knelt on the floor beside them. The look on his face conveyed such love and adoration for the two most important people in his life that Chantalle's breath hitched slightly. Her loving eyes met and held his.
There were no words. Words would spoil this moment.
But there was the feeling of completion. The feeling of belonging. The feeling of total love and tenderness.
And these feelings would always be with them.
For the rest of their lives.
...
Fergus and Elissa stood at the palace gates and watched Alistair getting off his horse and running to the wagon behind him. He reappeared with the loveliest woman Elissa had ever set eyes upon. Her delicate features and soft golden hair shone brightly in the sunlight, her smile brightened her entire face. When she got closer, she observed dark blue eyes the exact same color of...sapphires! Elissa bowed low in a curtsey.
Alistair blushed.
"Oh, I didn't know you had company Fergus, I hope we aren't interrupting anything, and please, rise my good lady!" He said with a smile.
Elissa smiled back at the young prince, grateful for his easy-going manner. She sized him up curiously as he and Fergus continued chatting.
"This is my sister, Elissa, Alistair. She went missing during the assault on our castle, traveling to Orlais but too afraid to stay in one place, for Howe was after her-"
Elissa nodded at the would-be-king and continued to look at him curiously. He seemed to be a good man, and kind too. He had an easy-going nature and was simply charming. She could see he resembled Cailan greatly too.
She felt a pair of curious eyes on her and turned to see that his wife was doing the same thing she was, but focusing on her and Elissa blushed at being caught but did not lower her eyes or flinch at Chantalle's scrutinizing stare. Chantalle blinked back and then she smiled.
Maker's blood! That smile was enough to light up an entire room!
The child in Chantalle's arms began to wriggle and stretch his little arms and Elissa immediately started to coo, getting really close to them. They were joined by an elven mage whom Alistair introduced as his mother and another mage a human one, who was standing near a red-head that smiled prettily at them all. Then a dwarf made an appearance. He nodded cheerfully to Elissa when he was introduced and made the funniest remarks she had heard so far.
"Well, I've missed this place! Such fun times we had when we were here last! Besides, nothing like the palace to bring a spring to our steps! It has the best ale in all Thedas!"
"Trust you to talk about alcohol," Anders muttered.
"Excuse me, sparkle fingers? If you say another word, I'll let everyone here know how you HELPED when Alistair's son was born," Duran shot back, a twinkle in his blue eyes.
Anders's jaw dropped at this.
"Let's all go inside, shall we? We have dinner waiting for you all," Fergus chuckled.
...
The Coronation was simple but elegant. All the nobles were gathered in the throne room and they watched eagerly as Alistair and Chantalle were crowned the rulers of Ferelden.
Alistair was crowned first. The Grand Cleric blessed him in the name of Andraste and the Maker. She placed the golden crown on his head as he knelt and then he turned to his wife, who was kneeling as well. Taking a smaller crow from a cushion on a table next to them on the dais, he put it on her head and proclaimed her his queen. She rose as well and took an oath to serve the crown and the people of Ferelden for as long as they lived.
Then, hand in hand, they both turned to all present and waved.
The crowd cheered them.
"Long live the King and Queen of Ferelden!"
Alistair waited for the cheers to stop, and for silence reigning in the room before he continued. He motioned to Fiona who was standing on the right of the dais, holding a bundle in her arms. Fiona approached Alistair and gave him the bundle.
It was a baby.
The nobles gasped in wonder.
"Lords and Ladies. I give you the Crown Prince of Ferelden. Prince Calenhad Theirin. Maker bless him now and always."
The crowed was silent and Calenhad opened his big blue-grey eyes and smiled up at his father, his tiny fists flailing about cheerfully as he made baby sounds, his eyes never leaving his father's handsome face who was looking down lovingly at him.
Many of the nobles sighed and some even had tears in their eyes. But there was one thing that was certain: The scene before them had touched them deeply.
All the nobles broke into more cheering and applauses as Fiona took the child again, this time giving it to the nurse who took it to the royal chambers.
"And now, lords and ladies. I have some announcements to make. I wish you all to be very patient with me. I'm kind of new at this," Alistair grinned and they twittered at his words.
Alistair went on to give out boons to some of the banns there. He focused mainly on those who had supported him for the throne, not mentioning the three that had opposed him, which were also in the room.
He had looked at them briefly and coldly, his eyes expressing what he felt. The banns had in turn looked very uncomfortable.
When he did mention them, they were taken aback.
"Gentlemen, I wish a private audience with the three of you once this is over, if you will?"
The three banns nodded and bowed, looking at each other nervously.
Alistair then focused on the last two things he wanted to say. He cleared his throat and waited for the room to quiet down. The nobles had not expected the boons and were clearly overjoyed at the king's generosity.
Once the room was silent, Alistair's eyes fell on Lanaya, who was standing in the front, smiling.
"Lanaya, Keeper of the Dalish elves, please step forward," said the king.
She did so and knelt as a sign of respect and all that were there smiled at her gesture.
"Rise, Lanaya. Let it be known that the Dalish will be given the land in the Kocari Wilds, the ruins of Ostagar included. There they shall settle and finally have a homeland to call their own."
Everyone applauded and cheered.
Lanaya inclined her head and smiled.
"Thank you Your Majesty. We gladly accept such a wonderful gift and hope this will mean that the relationship between us will finally start to improve."
"I hope that as well, Lanaya. With all my heart," said the king.
He next turned to Shianni, who had been invited by him to the coronation as well.
"Shianni. The elves of the alienage here in Denerim suffered greatly, before and during the Blight. I wish to declare the alienage a bann, so that you can have your own rules and be treated with the respect that you deserve. Would you like to become the voice of the elves during the Landsmeet?"
Shianni was stricken dumb for a few seconds. Then she finally remembered that Alistair was the king and moved to kneel before him, but Alistair stopped her.
"No, Shianni. I am the king, but also a man that wishes you to have a voice. What say you?" The kindness in his eyes and voice nearly made her weep.
"Your Majesties are kind. I would gladly accept this," she said clearly, as she gazed up at Alistair and Chantalle.
"From this moment forward then, you shall be Bann Shianni."
Fergus was the first to begin applauding, and was quickly followed by the rest of the nobles in the room.
Soon, the entire room was cheering.
...
Alistair turned to the three before him and glared at them.
"Gentlemen. You are in this room for the sole purpose of listening to what I am about to say," he said coldly.
Bann Loren, Cerolic and Tergus stood there literally quaking in their boots, their heads bowed.
"You three opposed me directly a year ago. I know how the nobles in Ferelden can strike on those they consider their enemies without warning or preamble. Therefore I have already put together a writ, which has been signed and sealed by the Grand Cleric herself, and my chief advisor, Teryn Cousland.
"If at any given time, the life of my wife, my child or my own, is met with an unfortunate accident, or - Maker forbid - death, you three will be held responsible, and your lands and titles shall be stripped from you. You will be put to death as well as all the living members of your family. I hope I have made myself clear?"
"But, Your Majesty! That would mean that we would have to go through extreme pains to keep you all safe and free from harm for the rest of our lives!" Bann Cerolic protested.
Alistair smiled at him. His smile was a lopsided, sarcastic one. One of his eyebrows shot up as he regarded the bann.
"Then I suggest that you strive to keep us safe even with your very lives."
The three banns swallowed. They nodded at his words.
"Good. Now that we seem to understand each other, please join the rest in the banquet room. We have some celebrating to do, don't we?
...
Fergus and Elissa smiled at each other.
"It seems you were correct dear brother," she said. "You are indeed the Chancellor now, his chief advisor. I guess I will be Teyrna after all."
"Temporary Teryna, my dear," Fergus smiled.
"I must admit that they are both charming. And I understand now why you are doing this. He is a very good man. He deserves our help and support," she added.
"I'm glad you see it this way, little sister," Fergus's smile widened.
A voice coming from behind Elissa made her turn. She found herself looking down at the dwarf.
"Hello, beautiful! Want some ale?" Duran winked.
Elissa burst out laughing and took his hand, allowing him to guide her to one of the tables.
Fergus smiled to himself when he saw them leave. He mingled with the rest of the people, watching as Chantalle and Alistair winked at him and disappeared through the door that led to the corridors of the inner rooms of the palace.
Ah, those two! Never a moment apart from each other, and always seeking a moment alone like a couple of star-crossed lovers.
He grinned.
They were just what Ferelden needed in his opinion.
...
A/N: And on to the Epilogue and notes at the end...