This is it, end of the line. I wanted to thank everyone who fav'd this story and those who commented. I wrote this for myself, to get things out of my head and onto paper was therapeutic during a time of struggle for me. I am so glad that there were others who enjoyed it.
Thank you all! :)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The remaining hours of the day flew by; exterior defenses were checked and double checked, the hospital area was reinforced and all troops were sparring or getting their gear straight. I watched over the sparring rings, spoke to Herren to see if they needed anything and received reports on everything periodically. By the time the sun set my eyes were drooping as I stood on the battlements of the city wall, staring out at the expanse of Ferelden before me.
"Where are you, you blighted bastard," I whispered, my words carried away on the wind. Shaking my head, I took a deep breath and turned to walk back to the estate but I bumped into Leliana. She held out a report, smiling at me knowingly.
"Your Grace," she purred as she handed me the paper. "For you, from the Commander." My heart did a little flip as I took the paper.
'Your Grace,
We received your message and heard from your scout. Redcliffe is under siege. We will be sending troops in both directions as he states there is a group of 100 or so in Redcliffe. You should see us on the horizon morning after next.
Commander Alistair Theirin'
I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face as I let out a sigh of relief.
"We only have to hold them off for one day and they will be 100 short of their full strength. Thank the Maker," I said as I put an arm around Leliana. "Almost there."
"Yes, and we are ready, Your Grace," she replied with a wink. "Anything you need of me?"
"Have everyone join us in the War Room," I said as she nodded and went back down the ladder. My steps felt a bit lighter as I followed, making my way across the market.
I was only in my office a few minutes when Leliana entered, followed by the captains and mages, Shianni and two other elves coming in last. I smiled at them all in greeting and let them get settled, motioning for May to gather some drinks and food. When she returned I cleared my throat and everyone quieted down.
"I've received word from the army," I began. "They are splitting up. What troops are needed in Redcliffe will be sent however the rest of the force, the bulk of it will return immediately. We should see them the morning after tomorrow.
"That means we have an entire day and night we need to keep these creatures from destroying our city," I said as I looked down at the map. "With what we have set up I think we can manage but if anyone has any thoughts regarding any holes they've discovered or any fortification suggestions please express them now." Everyone looked at one another shaking their heads except for Leliana who elbowed Shianni. I locked eyes with the red headed elf and nodded.
"The Alienage is secure but the bridge," she said quietly. "It's exposed, a good spot to plant archers or mages around." I nodded, looking to the group of enchanters.
"We can do that," an older woman stepped forward and my jaw dropped.
Wynne.
"I will be leading the mages," she continued, "and have some set up glyphs that only something tainted with the blight can set off," she said with a sly grin. I smiled and nodded.
"Excellent, please see to it personally Senior Enchanter. Anything else?" I asked as I looked around the room, everyone shaking their heads. "Very well. Shianni, thank you for the suggestion. Let's do one last sweep tonight of the outer defenses and everyone please get some rest. Dismissed." Everyone crossed their chests and moved out of the room.
"Your Grace," Wynne said as she approached me. "A word?" I nodded and Leliana shut the door behind her as she left. I looked at Wynne and waited. "You look well, Kora." I smiled, pulling the woman into a hug.
"As do you Wynne," I said as I gave her a squeeze and released her. "I half expected to see you return to Redcliffe with the Wardens after they helped take down Uldred." Wynne shook her head.
"There was far too much work to be done to get the circle back together," she said then leaned in to whisper, "and that Elissa was not exactly a charmer." I laughed.
"She is a wonderful girl," I assured her, "you just need to break down that wall she has built up around her. A lot of pain there, believe me." I thought back to her family and Fergus, her brother. "Some of us feel as if we have already lost everything."
"Loss can be powerful, even overwhelming, but you cannot let it control you. Sacrifice is not based on what you personally have to gain, after all." She wagged a finger at me and I laughed.
"Some things never change," I said as I sat down in my chair by the window. "But I know you didn't stay behind to discuss Elissa." Wynne picked up a chair and brought it over.
"No, I didn't. I wanted to see if there was anything I could do for you." I looked into those watery blue eyes and smiled, remembering the conversations she and I would have in the tower.
We would sit for hours and talk about magical theory, the chantry, even gossip about other mages and Templars but everything we discussed we kept between us. I couldn't help but think that if I had still been around that maybe, just maybe she would have shared her concerns about Uldred with me and I would have been able to do something.
"Kora," Wynne whispered, touching my hand. "What are you thinking about." I felt my chest tighten.
"I was thinking that if I had listened to Cullen I would have been there to stop Uldred." I looked at the floor, taking in a deep shuddering breath. Wynne squeezed my hand.
"You mustn't blame yourself for the poor choices of others," she insisted. Her face darkened a bit. "We all have something we'd wish we had done differently." I remembered in the game about her first apprentice and realized she had never told me about him personally.
"Wynne, he is alive." That statement made her gasp.
"What?"
"Aneirin, he is alive and with the clan in the Brecilian Forest. He may even be marching with the army as we speak since the Wardens invoked their treaties." I let her absorb that and patted her hand still on mine. "He was not killed by the Templars and he has let go of the past. You should too." I gave her hand a quick squeeze and stood.
"How did you…"
"I learned quite a bit in my time away," I said simply as she stood.
"And here I was trying to help you, to lift your burden," she smiled. "Funny how things can turn around on you." I laughed.
"Yes, and not always for the worse thankfully."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning I woke before the sunrise, sharpening my blade and strapping on my armor. Everyone broke their fast in silence, the early morning light barely breaking the horizon. When the scout came running into the main hall we all abandoned our plates and gathered in the market. I jumped up onto one of the shooting galleries and let out a whistle.
"HEAR ME!" I waited for silence. "I know that what will walk through those gates strikes fear in your hearts, please know I am not immune to those fears. The only comfort, the only motivation I can provide you with is the reason we are here.
"Our families and friends are counting on us, whether they are with the army or at the Peak matters not. Let us seek justice for those we've lost and those who have lost everything to these monsters!
"This is what we have been waiting for. This is why we stayed behind. To fight, to defend our city and to do our part to defeat the blight!" The crowd roared in response.
"First wave archers and mages on the walls! Infantry, first wave with Drake, second with Cranston. Reid, you and your people with me," I said as I turned toward Fort Drakon to set up a post.
Hours passed as the fighting roared on outside. Reports came in steadily throughout the day, most stating we were holding our own. By mid day the beasts hadn't broken through our defenses and we were feeling pretty confident.
And then Joshua flew in the window.
"Your Grace," he sputtered out between gasps of breath. "More darkspawn headed this way and the Archdemon is with them!" I put down the cup I was drinking from and stood to face him.
"How many?"
"A least a few thousand, maybe more Your Grace." As he caught his breath everyone in the room started mumbling to each other.
"Enough," I said loud enough to silence them. "Joshua, get some water then seek out Wynne. She will give you direction on where you are needed." He nodded, crossed his arm over his chest and left the room. I turned to face those who remained. "The plan remains the same, second wave will go out just before sunset. It will only be deployed earlier if absolutely necessary and only by my direction. Questions?"
No one spoke, no one moved. All eyes were on me, their wide-eyed stares making the fear and doubt in their eyes obvious. I sighed, knowing what they were thinking. I had been thinking it all along. We will not live to see the blight ended.
"What is important, what we must remember is that we are here to do our part to stop the blight." I walked over to the map table and looked down at the map, taking a deep breath.
"The Archdemon must be killed and it can only be killed by a Grey Warden. That is the bottom line. We have to keep these things busy long enough for them to get back and we must provide support once they arrive.
"Many will die," I lowered my voice as I raised my head, "even men and women in this room. I resigned myself to death when this plan was conceived," I looked Lyle in the eye, "because I do not fear death. What I fear..." I made sure to look everyone in the eye, "is dying without having given my all, without having taken as many of the darkspawn with me as I am able.
"The reason you are here is because I believe in you, all of you. I believe that you would all rather die than give up, that you do not fear death. Was I wrong?" Heads shook all across the room as a few mumbles were heard.
"Then are you with me?" A few more mumbles escaped people's lips. I shook my head. "I said, are you with me?" More forcefully, a few men raised their voices as everyone spoke. "Are you with me?" Shouts and hoots came from the group, slapping each other on the back and punching others in the chest. I nodded.
"Good, then let's show these assholes something to fear! Move out!" I shouted and the crowd quickly dispersed, their energy palpable. Reid and I were left and he looked at me with a smile.
"Your Grace," he said with a nod as he moved to look over the map again. "You give them hope that their sacrifice will not be in vain."
"I did not lie to them," I said as I ran a hand over Denerim, "I will bare my soul for what I believe in."
"And that is why they follow," he said, "why I follow. What's next, Your Grace?" I gave him a smirk.
"We prepare for our guest of honor."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The screech that thing let out was deafening as huge purple balls of fire slammed into the ground, engulfing groups of soldiers at a time. Reid and I had taken his people out of the Fort and split them up to defend the two entry points the darkspawn seemed to be using, the market and the Alienage. Lopping off the head of a genlock, I turned to find Reid at my back and I grabbed his chest plate.
"Deploy the second wave!" I shouted and turned, facing the largest Hurlock I had ever seen only 20 feet from me and staring me down. "Shit, a general. LYLE!"
"On it Your Grace!" I heard him shout as he sprinted across the market to my side. I felt magic just behind me and glanced back to see Wynne.
"Go! I'll keep you alive," she said. Lyle and I nodded to one another and rushed the general.
Slash, stab, dodge, shield bash, dodge, the fight with this thing never seemed to end. I wondered if the hits I had gotten in were even affecting it as I watched Lyle move to flank it, slicing his blade across its calves. It screamed but the move only proved to make it angrier as it brought its greatsword down on me.
I got my shield up in time and used the pause in its attack to scan for openings in its armor. Just below the chest plate where it met its hip I thought I saw cloth and, before it could get its sword around again, I pulled Starfang back and ran it through as hard as I could.
Blood gushed from the wound as a guttural screech left the general's mouth. I yanked the sword back out and backed away as the creature slowly fell to its knees then face planted to the dirt. Trying to catch my breath, I looked around and spotted Lyle, a satisfied smirk on his face just as he let out a war cry and turned to find another foe.
The battle continued into the night and I watched, distressed, as our numbers lessened. At one point I searched for Reid only to find him lying lifeless in a heap of our dead. I shook my head and sought out another darkspawn to kill, to make his sacrifice seem worthwhile.
Hours crept by and I felt my body start to betray me, bones getting heavier and muscles tiring. Every once in a while I would feel rejuvenated and look up to see Wynne casting, knowing she was the reason. Then I would look into the eyes of someone near me and see the determination lingering, however feebly, as they fought for their lives. As I took down yet another shriek I turned to the east and saw it.
The night sky breaking for the dawn.
"Everyone!" I yelled, "Dawn has come!" Shouts of joy and cheers filled the air as we began to fight anew. The darkspawn I confronted seemed frightened as I charged at it and took off its leg, all the while a huge grin on my face. Another then another, my rage fueling me as I slaughtered my way through darkspawn after darkspawn.
"Your Grace!" I heard Leiana yell. "The army, it's here!" I nodded and whooped with joy.
"Tell them to open the gates!" I yelled back. She nodded and disappeared. As I turned back to the fight I felt my heart fall to my feet.
Bearing down on Lyle was a massive ogre.
Tightening my grip on Starfang I took off to intercept the beast, hopefully to change its course and give Lyle a heads up to its location. A war cry shouted, it glanced in my direction but kept thundering toward Lyle, growling viciously.
"Wynne!" I yelled. As she looked in my direction I pointed at the ogre. She caught sight of it, nodded and set up frost glyphs right in its path. The first slowed it down but the second froze it in its tracks. "Lyle!" He turned to face me and smirked, glaring at the ogre as he raced toward it.
Suddenly it broke free, swinging its arms around and taking out the second floor of a nearby building. I skidded to a stop, locked eyes with Lyle and nodded at Wynne before skirting around behind the gigantic creature.
Once Lyle had its attention I climbed up its back and thrust my sword into the base of its neck, right down to the hilt with a growl. It yanked its head back, almost throwing me to the ground as it flailed its arms around trying and get me off. I yanked the sword out and tried to gain my balance to strike again but the thing got a hold of me, gripping me in its monstrous hand as it threw me halfway across the market.
My right shoulder slammed into the door of Wade's shop making a sickening cracking noise as I fell to the ground. The pain was blinding at first but as my vision cleared I saw the ogre making his way through the battle, coming right for me. Sword arm a loss, I hefted my shield up and readied myself for his bombardment, knowing full well if I ran I would leave my back open. As it stopped in front of me and pulled its arms up it let out this roar that thundered through my entire body.
"Alistair, I love you," I said as I pulled my shield over my head, waiting for the final blow. The thing growled again, the same way it had when I jabbed my sword into it, and no blow came. I moved my shield aside to see what had happened.
"How many times must I tell you?" a familiar voice called out from the other side of the now dead ogre. Stepping out from behind the corpse Alistair came into full view. "You do not leave my side in battle, My Lady!" I laughed and cringed, my shoulder screaming with every move I made. I removed my helm with my left hand and shook my head.
"Hey, I'm wearing the damned helm, aren't I?" I asked as I tried to stand. Alistair rushed to my side, helping me to my feet.
"You're injured," he said, looking around and waving to someone.
"Not sure if it's dislocated or broken," I said, searching the ground for my sword. Lyle scooped it up and trotted over to us.
"Dropped something," he smirked. I sneered at him playfully as Alistair took it from him.
"Watch our backs, will you?" he asked. Lyle gave him a nod as Wynne appeared at my side. Without a word her hands began to glow as she placed them gently on my shoulder. I winced, almost biting clean through my lip as she made her way down my arm then back up again. The numbness gave way to tingling then just stiffness as she stepped back smiling.
"Be cautious, Your Grace," she warned as she wagged her finger at me and rushed off. I rolled the shoulder a few times, grabbed my sword from Alistair and gave it a toss.
"All good," I said as I started toward another ogre heading to the Alienage. I felt a strong hand grab my arm and yank me backward.
"Oh no you don't," he growled as he grasped my face with both his hands. His lips took mine as he shoved his tongue into my mouth, delving deep. I took everything he gave, grabbing the back of his neck as I devoured him. When he broke the kiss he grinned down at me, panting. I smirked.
"Never leaving your side, dearest," I said as I slid on my helm and nodded to the Alienage. He nodded and, pulling his helm over his head, we marched into battle.
Fighting our way through the Alienage and toward the estate I noticed the Archdemon was still flying over head. I punched Alistair's arm and pointed at it.
"Why is that thing still airborne?" I asked. He shook his head and looked around, then pointed at one of the palace towers.
"There!" he said. I looked up and saw Roman and Riordan standing on the roof, waving their weapons in an attempt to get the dragon's attention. I knew what was coming but it couldn't have prepared me for what happened next.
The dragon side swiped the tower, an attempt to knock the Wardens off but instead got close enough for the two of them to jump on its back. Riordan jammed his sword into its spine, making the monster shriek and jerk around in mid air. Roman came up behind him and, using Riordan for balance, spun around him to stand on the Archdemon's head. Hoisting up his greatsword, we saw him slam it into the base of the thing's neck right up to the hilt, the blade emerging from the other side.
The flash of light was blinding. Then there was a shock-wave that knocked me off my feet, flat onto my back. I blinked a few times, trying to process what had happened and sat up slowly to look around. What I saw would be ingrained in my memory for the rest of my life.
The Archdemon was lying lifeless on top of part of Fort Drakon, having taken out one entire wing with its fall. The darkspawn, apparently aware of what had happened, had started retreating through the Alienage and into the market district to flee out the main gates. I was in shock, trying to figure out if we had, indeed, won and afraid to think that we had in case…
"Hey," I heard Alistair say. I turned to look at him and he smiled that smile. He was kneeling next to me and had taken off his helm, his sandy blonde hair disheveled. He took off my helm and ran his fingers through my pony tail. "We won, Your Grace." I looked from him to the Archdemon then back at him.
"Are you sure?" I asked, still afraid to believe. He nodded and motioned toward the palace. I looked to see my brother and Elissa walking toward us. "Caden!" I scrambled to my feet and ran to my brother, slamming into him and holding on as tight as I could. His arms clamped around me like a vice.
"Kora," he choked out. I looked up at him to see tears streaming from his eyes. Shaking my head I yanked off my gauntlets and wiped them away.
"No time for that," I insisted, "now is the time for happiness. Look!" I pointed to the dead dragon. "Look what we did, look what we all did!" He laughed and nodded, saying nothing. I turned to Alistair and smiled up at him. "We did it." He brushed a few stray hairs from my face and smiled back at me.
"Yes we did."
Most of the Wardens had joined us, including Riordan who had ridden the beast down to the ground, when concerns over Roman surfaced. As we made our way over to the Archdemon I thought about the ritual to save the Warden's life and stopped.
"Where's Morrigan?" I asked Alistair. He shrugged his shoulders and looked at Caden. He shrugged as well. "Seriously?" I huffed and hurried over to the dragon's corpse, searching for Roman but finding nothing. "How about this, where is Roman?"
"Right here little one," Roman said as he pulled himself off the ground and smiled. I ran to him and hugged him, secretly grateful to Morrigan for his life. "I honestly thought I would wake up dead." I laughed and punched his chest plate.
"Very confusing indeed," I heard Duncan's voice from behind me. I turned and smiled, giving him a brief hug that he returned. "Any idea how that happened, Your Grace?" I looked up at him with my best pleading eyes.
"Please don't ask me that," I begged, "I don't want to lie to you." He gave me a stern glare and a thought occurred to me. I took his arm and lead him away from the group. "Are you familiar with the phrase 'plausible deniability'?" His glare, if at all possible, became more stern.
"Kora…" he warned. I shook my head.
"If you don't know you don't have to lie," I insisted. His eyes didn't let up and I became desperate. "I promised! What would happen if I broke my promises to you?" I let that sink in and a few moments later his eyes softened. He gave me a nod.
"Alright, little one, you win," he said as I sneered at him. He smiled and, as I turned to walk back to the group he gave my pony tail a yank. "There will come a day when I will ask again and I expect an answer." I nodded.
"Deal."
"There you are!" Cailan shouted as he jumped down from his horse. I ran to him and he lifted me up, twirling me around in circles as I shrieked. He put me down and I kissed both his cheeks.
"I can honestly say I have never been happier to see you," I said as we grinned at each other.
"Agreed," he whispered, tweaking my nose. We laughed as Eamon approached us.
"Your Grace, good work! Your mother would be proud," he said as he smiled down at me. I gave him a nod.
"Thank you, Your Grace," I replied. "So, what now?" I looked at Cailan and he grinned.
"Now, we celebrate!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As the music started Cailan and Leliana went first, walking down the aisle with warm smiles and gently nodding to the crowd. Just as Leliana wore my family colors Cailan was dressed in a well tailored navy blue doublet and matching attire, the Theirin family colors. Caden came up beside me and smiled, offering his arm.
"I would be honored if you would allow me to give you away, Your Grace," he whispered with a smile. He was dressed in dark green, a suit I could picture our father in to walk me down the aisle. Still fighting off the tears from earlier I smiled and nodded, biting my lip as he gave my hand on his fore arm a gentle squeeze and proceeded to guide me to my future.
Every step seemed a struggle as I tried to steady my breathing and slow my heart beat. I felt myself begin to shake as Caden tightened his grip on my hand, glancing at me for reassurance. He must have thought I was ready to bolt but it was the exact opposite. I was afraid Alistair would be the one to bolt, so much so that I feared looking at him as we made our way toward the Revered Mother. When I finally did manage to look up at him my heart stopped.
His face mirrored mine, as if he expected me to turn tail and run at any second.
The dam finally broke as I felt tears dampen my cheeks, a broad smile crossing my face to try to convey my thoughts to him. No way was I going to run away, no way was I going to hide from my feelings for the man I loved ever again. In that moment I accepted the fact that he was mine and I was his, never would another come between us, never would we walk away so long as we lived. Never.
We took the final step to the podium as Caden removed my hand from his arm and kissed it, offering it to Alistair. Alistair looked at me with a question in his eyes. I responded with a playful glare, toying with the idea of kicking him but deciding Caden may kick me for doing it so I held back. A small smirk came across his face as he took my hand from Caden's grasp and turned to face the Revered Mother. I gave his hand a squeeze that he returned, catching sight of a tear breaking free from his eye in my peripheral.
Everything the Revered Mother said was garbled as my thoughts for the future took me away. I saw Alistair, all sweaty and covered in dirt as he helped with the relief effort after the blight. I saw him holding our first born, tears in his eyes as he looked at me with wonder. Then I saw him standing by a fireplace, smiling that magazine-cover smile with silver streaking his blonde hair. My heart was swelling as I felt him squeeze my hand.
"As long as we both shall live I pledge my life to you, always," I said, hoping it was the right time, which it was. He repeated the words and I beamed up at him, the Revered Mother finally saying the phrase that makes every bride and groom jump for joy.
"And now I present the Arl and Arlessa of Denerim, Commander Alistair Theirin and Lady Kora Theirin," she said with authority. "In the site of the Maker, you two shall now be one. You may kiss your bride."
In that moment I turned to Alistair and it was as if time had stopped. All I could do was look into his eyes and smile and he seemed to be equally stunned. Finally, at Cailan's gentle urging (and by urging I mean elbowing his brother in the back) Alistair took my head in one hand and my waist in the other as he pulled me in for a long, deep kiss. I wrapped my arms around his torso as I heard the room erupt with applause.
I smiled against his lips and he against mine. I looked up at him, our lips still locked, and he look down at me, giving me a wink, then pulling away. We both looked out at the crowd and waved…
As man and wife.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Shit!" Elissa yelled as she stumbled into the dining hall. "I broke a heel!" I laughed.
"Take off your shoes, woman," I insisted as I yanked up her dress and grabbed for her foot. "I took mine off ages ago!" Leliana laughed, spilling her drink on Cailan's shirt.
"Your Majesty!" she gasped, "I am so sorry!" She grabbed a cloth from a nearby servant to try and blot it but Cailan took her hand and laughed.
"Leliana, please start calling me Cailan," he winked as she started to relax and smile. I saw a look pass between them that made my heart skip a beat and search for my bourbon eyed husband. I returned to the hall and smiled.
My husband. The thought made me breathless. Saying it out loud would have been near impossible without becoming light headed so I simply concentrated on getting through the nobility routine after becoming married. Boring as it was, it helped me to focus. As Bann Loren and his wife approached me Alistair appeared by my side, taking my arm and I shifted back to business.
We made sure to say hello to everyone, human, dwarf and elf alike, thanking them for coming, making small talk then moving on. I smiled, laughed at horrible jokes and dragged poor Alistair along with me. He played the part well, kissing hideous women's hands as well as complimenting them on their horrific choices in clothing and hair styles. He would have made my mother very proud.
As we waved to the last couple leaving the party I looked around and saw only wardens and close friends remained. I grinned mischievously at Alistair and took a glass of champagne from a nearby table, tapping it with a dagger I had strapped to my inner thigh, just in case. My obtaining it received more than a few hoots and hollers from the crowd which elicited a nasty glare from my husband.
"Everyone, please, I would like to propose a toast!" I shouted as everyone settled into silence. I looked to my brother who had his arm around his recently-wedded wife and smiled. "To my brother Caden, the Warden Constable of Ferelden! And my sister Elissa," I said, getting a giggle out of Elissa, "May they live a long and glorious life together as a married couple, as best friends and as Wardens. To the Kendalls!" Everyone cheered and drank as I took Alistair's hand.
"To my sister, Kora," Caden spoke up, raising his half full glass, "and her husband, my brother Alistair." A huge smirk took over his face. "May their life be filled with joy and many baby Theirins. Salud!" Everyone roared with laughter and drank. I looked at Alistair who shook his head even though the blush had started creeping up his neck and we drank.
"Many, huh?" I smirked at him. He laughed, pulling me close to whisper in my ear.
"It won't be from a lack of trying."