The graveyard behind the Keep was never intended to hold so many. Since Elaine's arrival she had buried many strangers, a few potential friends, and most of her extended Warden family. She looked upon the headstones that were beautifully created by Voldrik, a master stonemason dwarf who had originally come to the Keep to help with its reconstruction. In the center of the cemetery was a large griffon statue made from the granite they had discovered in the Wending Wood. The magnificent beast sat upon a stone base that bore the Grey Warden motto: In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death, sacrifice.

The new recruits had all arrived at the Keep over the last few days, and the Joining was somewhat successful. Seven of the ten recruits survived; but that meant three more souls to put to rest. During the funeral for the recently fallen Wardens and recruits, Elaine's eyes had constantly met with Anders'. She had attempted, unsuccessfully, to dissuade him from his own personal joining with Justice. Purely for selfish reasons; for fear of losing him, or worse - him losing himself. Elaine had fought, begged, cried, and threatened. None of her actions had changed his mind, however. Anders had made promises both to her and to Justice that he intended to keep.

It also hadn't help when Justice approached her the previous night, thanking her for allowing him the opportunity at a chance of survival. She had grown to love the spirit almost as much as she loved Anders, and the thought of losing him saddened her. In the end, Justice and Anders combined as one person was enough to convince her that their merging would be beneficial to all. Their joined forces would show the world that mages could be responsible with their magic, and they could also find ways to break the chains of mages throughout all of Thedas. It was a noble idea, one that Elaine supported, and she had hoped the result would be the beginning of hope for mages' freedom.

Before she could focus on their joining, however, they had some unfinished business with the darkspawn. Elaine and her companions, in addition to Alistair and the newest Wardens, made short work of the remaining darkspawn in the area. They removed the threat to the outer villages of Amaranthine with ease given their renewed numbers. It seemed for whatever reason that the darkspawn were not regrouping and returning; once gone, they stayed gone.

With the hope of no further battles on the horizon, Elaine lost her only distraction which prevented her from focusing on upcoming events. Alistair would be leaving. An old friend would be returning. A lover would merge with a spirit. And no matter what happened, Elaine would be left to deal with the unknown.

Elaine sat on Alistair's bed in his room as he packed his things for the journey back to Denerim. With the Joining complete and the new recruits settling in, Alistair had concluded his business at Vigil's Keep and would be returning to his home city. Several new potential recruits were already waiting for him there; news of the heroism of the Wardens was spreading, and the best of Ferelden were jumping on the Warden bandwagon. Though there was no Blight to contend with, there were still several tasks the Wardens were responsible for; bolstering their numbers was their first priority.

Alistair looked up at her, and paused in his efforts of stuffing his pack. He saw the faraway look in her eyes, one that he was all too familiar with. Too much on her mind as usual; she had the worried look of a pending Archdemon on her face.

"Are you certain this is a good idea," Alistair prodded, interrupting her contemplation.

Elaine smiled at him and shrugged. "Am I ever certain of anything? Remember, I act first and deal with it later."

Alistair laughed, knowing from personal experience what she said was true. "This is a pretty big act though. You're talking about allowing a mage to take in a spirit. That's as close to an abomination as I can think of."

Elaine shook her head. "Be careful Alistair, your Templar bias is showing."

"No," he protested and sat on the bed next to her. "My concern for you is coming through. You have no idea what this is going to do to him, to either of them. It may not be all kittens and rainbows like he thinks it'll be."

Elaine looked down in her lap, his words an echo of what she had worried about all along. "I can't talk him out of it. Maker knows I've tried. But he is determined, convinced it'll offer us a better future. He has such hope for this, such great plans for what they can do together as one. I can't deny him this."

Alistair took her hand in his. "Please let me stay. At least until it is over and I know you are alright."

Elaine denied his request. "You have a job to do, I will not keep you any longer than necessary." She squeezed his hand in appreciation for his concern. "I've been through worse, and dwelling on the worst case scenario is never good."

"Elaine," he spoke her name softly. "You do realize if it goes wrong you are going to have to kill him."

She gasped at the words, having not considered that possibility. After experiencing her Harrowing, she knew all too well delving into the fade could be dangerous, and a brief flash of the Templars who were prepared to take her life upon her return came to her mind. Would she have the strength to do it? Would she even be able to?

"Let me stay," he repeated. "Please."

Elaine knew he would be the best choice to keep around if his worst case scenario were to occur, but she also knew he had to leave. He couldn't be here, it was a promise she had made. She quickly composed herself and stood firm. "You are leaving now, and that is final," she declared, hinting of her rank with the Wardens. "My personal problems can not override our duty."

Alistair nodded, released her hand and stood once again to conclude his packing. He made no further effort to remain, knowing far too well once Elaine made a decision there was no changing it. It pained her not to be completely honest with her reasons for pushing him away, and in truth she really wished he could stay. But plans were already set in motion, and there was no turning back.

She had been kicking random rocks outside the Keep for several hours. Darkness had descended upon the area, and Elaine had been outside for most of the day. She said her goodbyes to Alistair, watching with sudden sadness as his figure got smaller and smaller on the road leading away from her. She had no desire to go back inside, to mingle with the new recruits or pretend to smile and be happy, when so much was weighing her down. The impending arrival of the mage would make it all real, reinforce how life was about to change forever, and she secretly wished her old friend had refused her summons.

But as these thoughts crept into her imagination, so did the distant figure of a traveler on the road. Elaine felt the combined emotions of joy and comfort at seeing her again - mixed with anticipation and fear of what was to come the next day.

The hooded figure in the long black cloak approached her, steps slowing as she drew near. Elaine walked out to meet her and had to hold herself back from embracing her former companion.

"Oh get it over with if you must," the traveler said, aware of Elaine's need to hug her.

Elaine smiled brighter than she had in days at hearing the voice of Morrigan. She did hug her old friend, briefly out of respect, and then stood back a bit to see the changes in her.

"Wow," was the only comment she could come up with, after a thorough inspection of the woman standing before her.

"Yes I know, 'tis a sight to be seen I'm sure," the darker haired mage scoffed at her own appearance. Elaine didn't lose her smile at all as she admired Morrigan. Some things hadn't changed much; her hair was still pinned back behind her head, loose strands framing her stern face. Her piercing, golden yellow eyes were magnified by the charcoal she painted along her eyelids. The only noticeable difference was the obvious signs of her pregnancy; her breasts protruded a lot more than they ever had, and the large bulge of her stomach seemed to make her a little more... human.

"Gawk at me once we're inside if you please, before I fall over from exhaustion."

Elaine laughed and apologized as she turned and walked toward the Keep. "I appreciate that you came, Morrigan," Elaine said honestly. "I know this probably wasn't an easy journey for you."

Morrigan trailed behind her using her staff as a walking stick. "'Twas no trouble. In fact, I was closer than you think when you called."

Elaine looked back at her. "Really? To be honest I wasn't sure you'd come. I figured you'd be long gone by now."

Morrigan nodded. "I had assumed the same, as well. Unfortunately circumstances changed those plans and I had need to remain a while longer. Better for you it worked out this way, yes?"

Elaine responded with a less than convincing agreement, and Morrigan picked up on it immediately. She said nothing as they made their way through the Keep. Morrigan kept her hood up and cloak closed to avoid anyone seeing her face or her condition. Elaine had made sure no one would be in the area where Morrigan would stay for the night, and had plans to bring her to the castle in the morning.

"Allow me to settle my things," Morrigan said when they approached her room, "and then come speak to me. I will require some rest, but I wish to know why I was summoned."

Elaine opened the door to Morrigan's room and led her in. "My room is across from yours," Elaine explained. "If you need anything, please come get me. If you're hungry I can get you some food before you rest."

"Quit fussing," Morrigan insisted as she put her pack down on the bed. "A few hours is all I need, then we catch up. Agreed?"

Elaine grinned and resisted the urge to hug her friend once more, closing the door behind her and settling against it for a moment. Memories flooded her mind of the time they had spent together. Their friendship had certainly been a bumpy one, but being based on a mutual respect of their skills, it had blossomed into a kind of sisterhood. The small pain of guilt crept up within her as Elaine thought of Alistair, and how he would want to know Morrigan was here. She was carrying his child after all, and Elaine knew Alistair had already begun to regret letting her go.

Though the walk to her room was a matter of three or four steps, Elaine was having difficulty moving. She'd rest, speak with Morrigan and then bring them all to the castle the following day. As if prolonging the very brief walk to her room would prevent all further actions from happening, she briefly considered grabbing her things and running to catch up with Alistair. But as she entered her own bedroom, seated on the bed before her was the reason she was doing it all. She went to his open arms and clung to his embrace.

"So she's here then," Anders asked after a few moments of holding Elaine. She nodded as she stood to remove her formal armor she'd worn to the day's funeral. "And your refusal to make eye contact with me means you're still having doubts?"

Elaine ignored his question while she finished changing, exhausted from all the talking they had already done on the topic. She climbed into bed behind him and settled herself under the blankets. He adjusted his position to look at her, and gently moved long strands of hair from her face.

"I am avoiding reality," she finally spoke after a few moments. "I wish to imagine this is just another night, the two of us together, with no worries about anything."

Anders grinned at that thought, and quickly removed his robes and joined her under the covers. "This is a plan I can agree with," he said moving in to kiss her neck.

She laughed at the sudden attack and playfully pushed him away. "My dear mage, it seems you have lost your robes!" She gasped in mock horror as she peaked under the covers. "And oh my, did you know that thing grows?"

"That thing," he said in a low whisper in her ear, "is going to invade you several times throughout this evening." Her skin reacted to his breath on her neck, bumps of pleasure forming on her arms and legs. "But," he said as he moved to her other ear, "you have entirely too much clothing on."

Elaine couldn't help but keep up her act. "I am a proper woman ser mage, I wouldn't dream of sleeping nude…" she tried to say, but the last word turned into a moan when he brushed against her breast. "I might…" she tried as the other breast caught his attention, "…need to answer the door!"

Anders ignored her silly protests as he lifted her shirt and moved to kiss her stomach. She arched her back at his touch, and from the gentleness with which his lips and tongue tasted her skin. He ran his hands up and down her ribs, sending waves of magic through her, enhancing her senses. She felt the warmth invade her insides as he directed his healing magic to caress her muscles, and she was suddenly helpless with desire.

"You taste so sweet," his said, his voice a bit husky as he pulled away to look up at her. He moved his hands from her sides to her stomach, running them up from her naval to her breasts again, watching the expression on her face as he focused his magic on her nipples. She threw her head back at the sensation, warmth and need building between her legs, unable to make a sound from the overwhelming pleasure of his magical touch. He kissed his way to her breasts, mouth replacing hands, and the heat and friction of his tongue nearly sent her over the edge.

"Anders," she gasped wanting him more than she ever had before. Her hands dug into his back as he brought his arms around her and lifted her closer to him. A soft kiss on the nose, a passionate plunge of his tongue in her mouth, and then her shirt was removed quickly. His arousal was clear when he pressed against her, and she assisted him in removing her few remaining clothes.

He lay her back down gently, refusing to let his lips leave hers as he guided her hand down his torso. He pressed her hand to his hardness, and held it there, as he teased her entrance with its head. He could feel how ready she was for him, and with one swift movement he was deep inside, stretching and filling her so deliciously. He pulled away from her mouth briefly to watch her reaction to his invasion, smiling at her before his lips came down to claim hers again. The sound of their combined moans and flesh meeting flesh heightened their arousal more than either thought possible. Anders seemed to touch every inch inside her, and his tongue did the same in her mouth.

Elaine felt herself growing dizzy with desire. When he withdrew his lips from hers, she opened her eyes to meet his warm gaze looking back at her. He slowed his pace within her, wanting to savor each moment. His fingers entwined in her hair as his lips returned to her throat - to that sensitive spot that he knew drove her mad with desire. She closed her eyes and took it all in; his lips on her neck, his hand on her breast, and the thrusting that continued deep within her. The random thought that this could be their last time together crept into her mind, and though she tried hard to ignore it, her tears proved she couldn't.

Anders felt the wetness on his cheek and tasted the salt in his mouth. He turned his head to look at her and confirmed she was crying. His hand lifted to stroke the hair from her forehead, though he didn't stop thrusting his hips. Instead, his expression changed, knowing what she was thinking in that moment, and he intensified his movements with purpose and determination. "I love you Elaine," he said looking into her eyes, needing her to really believe it, as if his own life depended on it.

She looked up at him with nothing but love in her eyes and smiled, ignoring the tears they now both shed. She moved beneath him to match his thrusts, and they continued to keep their eyes locked as both reached their climax simultaneously.

Anders remained within her, aftershocks of their orgasms causing spasms between them both, and he buried his head in her hair. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, tickling her sensitive neck, as she pulled him closer by wrapping both her arms and legs around him. He held her close as well, changing their position so she was laying on top of him, and yet they remained connected. He stroked her hair and rubbed her back as she lay with her head on his chest and concentrated on his heartbeat.

Tomorrow their worlds would change forever.