"I think three of these roofs are manned with soldiers and ballistas... Alistair, I need you to go up and give us..."

Alistair moved right next to me.

"Oh no you don't, Detra! I am not going anywhere! The Archdemon is right here and I'm going to end that..."

I grabbed Alistair's arm, knowing full well that he would argue with me.

"We will need your support, Alistair! You are the only one who can do this!"

Alistair shook his head, his mind made up.

"But I'm not going..."

"If I fail, Alistair, then it will fall to you. But right now, I need you on that roof, launching all the ammunition you can get into that Archdemon. Will you help us?"

Alistair just stared at me, both of our possible endings going through his mind and he wanted neither.

I pulled him closer to me.

"Don't let Riordan's death be for nothing. We can win this, but I need you up there."

Alistair put his arms around me and pulled me to him briefly and then moved back. He knew if he stayed any longer, he would not be able to go.

We had said everything we'd needed to say anyhow. He had been a Grey Warden longer than I and he knew better than anyone that this is just how it was.

"Good luck, Detra. I will put as many holes into that demon as I possibly can."

Eamon stood beside me when I turned back to face the group and he startled me.

"Will Alistair be safe on the roof?"

"I think that is the safest place for anyone right now seeing as how the Archdemon is no longer in flight."

Eamon nodded.

"Thank you for taking care of my nephew, Detra. I will not forget that."

"He is my friend, Eamon and I will always take care of him. And I need you to go with him too. This is no place for you right now."

"I will go and see about these ballistas. You can count on us."

I mustered what smile I could at him and then turned away towards Zevran and the rest of the group as Eamon headed towards Alistair.

"Sten, Zevran, I need you to go with Alistair and Eamon. Please...do not let any harm come to them..."

I turned to Zevran.

"Don't let him do anything foolish, Zev..."

Zevran flashed his trademark smirk and gestured to me.

"Do not worry, Detra. I will keep the King in line and make sure he does not try to save the world. I know that is your job. Good luck to you, my friend."

Zevran shook my hand lightly as he passed by and I nodded to him, unable to put anything into words.

Sten said nothing but he nodded to me as he followed Zevran, Eamon and Alistair amid the troops that were moving in to aid us. I watched the three of them disappear from sight and hoped I was not sending them to their deaths.

Now my full attention could be on the Archdemon and the three of us that remained moved forward.

"Are you both ready?"

Leliana had her arrow nocked already and Wynne's staff glowed as they both nodded towards me.

"Let us go then!"

We joined the mages, soldiers, elves and even civilians with cobbled weapons that rushed past us and we joined the fight before the Archdemon.

The Archdemon had righted itself minutes earlier and was slashing against our forces with its talons, tail and mouth. We had not seen any fire since it had fallen and hopefully we would not. Maybe it was unable to breathe fire any longer with its injuries.

I prayed that Alistair and the others made it to the roof in time to help us with the ballistas and we were not simply skewered by the Archdemon within minutes of nearing it.

Leliana let arrow after arrow fly into the Archdemon's flesh while Wynne built up another fire spell to loose but I needed to get close. None of my weapons were ranged and I could do nothing from afar.

Without warning, the air was all at once alive with electricity and the Archdemon was engulfed within it, screaming in pain.

I looked to Wynne to thank her for this but she was looking on as I was, just as confused. This was no spell of hers.

I traced some of the bolts and I again saw that figure of the one who had aided us with the troll earlier not far from our troops.

My eyes were not mistaken...it was Morrigan.

My breath stopped and I could only stare in disbelief that she had not run far from here, let alone joined the fight.

Leliana bumped into me, pushed by one of the mages rushing past.

"Is that...that's Morrigan!" Leliana shouted near my ear, pointing towards her.

As if she could hear us, Morrigan turned a bit towards us and I felt her looking at me.

I could not move.

I guess she had decided to help this time. Or she had simply gotten caught up in it and had no other choice.

Whatever the reason, her help was most welcome indeed. We needed everyone who was able to fight.

Then I heard whispers in my head and my eyes widened as I spun around to see dozens, if not more, Darkspawn headed towards us.

"Darkspawn!" many around us shouted at once.

Now these creatures I could reach with my weapon and I charged forward with a roar, my mind only on slaughter.

The group of us headed towards the oncoming horde was cut off as a wall of flame erupted between us and the Darkspawn, lighting a great many of them afire and blocking their advance.

Once again, this was not Wynne's doing as she was still casting when I looked upon her. We had many mages with us from the Circle and it could have been one of them.

Or perhaps...

Darkspawn routed for now, I turned back to find Morrigan but she was no longer where she had been. My eyes could not find her and my heart leapt into my throat when I thought something might have happened.

"Detra we need to go, now! The Archdemon is vulnerable!" Leliana shouted, grabbing at my arm and pulling me after her.

The Archdemon was roaring in more pain now and I could see more and more fiery missiles flying through the air, digging into its flesh and finding purchase. I hoped that Alistair had commandeered one of those ballistas and was safe. I hoped that they all were.

We continued moving towards our target and were followed by some Darkspawn who had made it through the fire. I could hear the desperate pleas of the Archdemon to its minions in my head again and I knew it would not be long.

"Watch out!"

The warning came too late as a plated talon came at me and all those around me and I found myself flung through the air. I landed with a thud against a nearby building and I saw flashing colors for a moment.

I got on my feet as soon as I could and headed back into the fray, coming up against some Darkspawn who had reached us and cutting them down. Leliana found me not long after, thanking the Maker that I was safe.

The Archdemon was now on its side, unable to stay on its feet and I knew it was time to close in.

Another tempest spell went through the Archdemon and its cries of pain were not so loud this time.

I must end this quickly.

I turned to Leliana as she pulled another arrow from her back and she turned to me, sensing my eyes on her.

I dropped my weapons and ran to her, grabbing hold of her face and pressing my lips into hers. I looked into her eyes after we parted and I smiled.

I knew I would never see her again.

"I love you."

Leliana's eyes widened with recognition and she was trying to stop me as I gathered my shield and sword again and dashed away from her, towards my fate.

Everything I had come to know was about to end.