A/N I'm writing this from the beautiful and not-so-sunny Stradbroke Island, where the phone reception is dodgy at best and there's no internet. So here I am down at the local video store (which is about the size of my bedroom) paying for the use of internet on one of their computers. We came over suddenly so I hadn't planned for it and thought I'd better not wait until I got home to upload this. *sigh* But the island seriously is gorgeous, google 'North Stradbroke Island'. Even in horrible weather it's absolutely stunning.

And here's some food for thought, Christopher Paolini has said that the original fates for Nasuada and Roran were very different from what actually ended up happening. Roran I assume originally became King, but what of Nasuada? The only alternate fates for her really seem to be death or leaving with Murtagh. What do you think?

Remember, you see an error, let me know :)

Thankyou again, to everyone who reviewed or added this to their alert or favourites list. As the first story I've ever uploaded every single bit of feedback really does mean a lot to me. Let me know what you think of this, the ending I picture for Murtagh and Nasuada.

Dedicated to Sen and Jack, for being perhaps some of the best friends it's humanly possible to have.

.oOo.

Close to Happily Ever After

.oOo.

The Nighthawks panicked when they heard Thorn's roar and Nasuada and Elva had to hastily keep the peace when they came over the ridge. They swore when they saw the dragon and recognised both him and his rider.

"All is well!" Nasuada called to them, holding her palms out to them in order not to attack. "All is well!" She said again laughingly. She was feeling rather giddy. "Men, I'd like to introduce you to my newest protector, Murtagh."

The Nighthawks held their tongues but Murtagh could almost see their thoughts, Murtagh Morzanson you mean, the one who attacked the Varden numerous times and was responsible for hundreds of deaths and your own kidnapping. He and Thorn hadn't taken up stances for fight or flight when the guards came so as not to increase their fear but it was hard under so many hostile glares.

It begins he said to Thorn.

At least they have lowered their weapons. It was true; despite their obvious distrust of them the Nighthawks had lowered their weapons.

Murtagh thought for a second. Let us hope that others are as willing to trust the judgement of their Queen as her personal guard are.

"Your Majesty," It was Garven who spoke, "I would ask to know the meaning of thier presence."

"They have been sentenced to the Queen's justice and Murtagh has just sworn an oath to me in the ancient language. He and Thorn shall serve his sentence as my personal bodyguards." She of course didn't mention that oaths were not binding.

The NightHawks looked in shock and uncertainty at each other, their Queen and their unwelcome visitors.

Before they could talk there was a laughing voice on top of another hill "Well well, what have we here?"

Most of the men, including Murtagh, swore. In the excitement they hadn't realised anyone approaching.

"ANGELA?" It was Elva who spoke, her voice managing to be surprised, incredulous, happy and perhaps a little worried. A few of the Nighthawks jumped again and turned to look at the girl, they weren't used to hearing outbursts from her.

Angela's mouth curved up in a smile, "Hello Elva, I hope you haven't been messing with too many Nobles since I last saw you." Nasuada saw Elva wince a little and was that guilt she saw on her face?

"Angela! It's good to see you," Nasuada said. "What brings you to Ilirea?"

The brown haired witch grinned down at them "Why, Your Majesty you know I always like to be where things are happening." They didn't know what to make of that, it was little enough of an answer. Typically she didn't explain how she knew things would be happening in the city. "And Solembum wants to have some time on that cushion by your throne." The werecat blinked at Nasuada.

After the appearance of the so-called herbalist (though Nasuada's suspicions that she was much more than that were very strong) the unusual party began to head back towards the city.

Nasuada had sent a few of the Nighthawks unwillingly ahead to warn the guards and the city what to expect. So, by the time they reached the city wall word had spread like wildfire and it appeared the whole populace had showed up to witness this unforseen event.

Here they met their first obstacle, there had been a great murmuring rising from Ilirea as they first saw it and the walls had been alive with action. Silence had slowly spread though as word was passed that the rumours were true and the Queen and the 'enemies' Murtagh and Thorn had been sighted.

The guards had either not cared about civilians all jostling for positions on the wall or had not been able to stop them, but the glares from civilian and soldier alike were hostile.

If animosity were ever a tangible thing, the air would've been too thick to breathe.

They halted some way away from the walls, Nasuada did not simply want to walk into the city. With all the people and emotions she knew it could very easily turn into a riot.

With her voice magically magnified she spoke "People of Ilirea and the Broddring Kingdom, the dead King's two most powerful servants, the rider Murtagh and his dragon Thorn, have surrendered themselves to me and justice."

The city erupted with noise. The party could see little of what was going on and not make out any words in the cacophony but Murtagh was uncomfortably aware that many would be calling for his blood.

Nasuada allowed the city some moments to express themselves before speaking again and causing silence to fall as all listened to her words. "They have sworn an oath to me in the ancient language, a vow which cannot be broken. You are safe from them while they stay in the city and await my judgement."

Here voices were raised and the noise level increased but Nasuada drowned them out "I will confer with my advisers and Eragon, a hero of the war and Murtagh's own half-brother. Then I will decide their fate."

The nose from Ilirea was deafening. At least the tension in the city and the air had dissipated somewhat, Nasuada had been right, the talk of justice had the people a lot less fearful.

Murtagh wasn't so pleased about how that meant everyone was so eager to sentence him. Most of the civilians were probably hoping for death. It was wise of Nasuada to not reveal that his fate had already been decided, they would not have accepted that with as much grace.

They continued their approach to the gates and as they did so Nasuada spoke in a quiet voice to Garven, "I want word to be spread immediately through the city of how Murtagh was instrumental in taking down Galbatorix and saving my life. Have people gossiping of it in the crowd, in taverns, anywhere there are likely to be people. We need them to think better of him."

It had been judged best that Murtagh and Thorn did not accompany the Queen through the gates and the crowd; that could turn ugly very fast. Instead they were to fly over the walls and go immediately to the area that Nasuada had ordered be set up before they left this morning, in hopes it would be needed.

It was as suitable and secure a place as could be organised so quickly and they were to stay there until further notice.

While Murtagh chafed at the confinement he knew it was the smartest course of action for now.

As Nasuada and her remaining companions walked through the gates into the crowd she caught her breathe. There were people everywhere. They were all over the buildings, walls and everywhere else that might afford them a view.

The silence was profound. With all eyes fixed on her Nasuada knew that it would be so easy for a riot to start. All these people and emotions, if one should speak out against her how long before the crowd turned into a death trap?

Elva and the Nighthawks were on constant alert for danger, even Angela and Solembum were wary, but the crowd remained silent as the passed quickly through it and soon they were safe and Nasuada could breathe again.

Nasuada waited some days before telling the city her 'verdict' and during that time it seemed all of Alagaësia was in an uproar. She had seen fit to warn the other leaders of what she planned before announcing it to all her people. As such she spent most of her time before enchanted mirrors.

The dwarves had all been crying for his blood and without Eragon's support she was sure Orik would have never consented to her decision. As it was many factions of the dwarves were all for war against the human queen who would let the Kingkiller live.

The elves were calmer and any opposition their Queen, Arya, made to it was said to Eragon and not Nasuada. Nasuada also strongly believed that Arya was aware of their relationship. Their great love and respect for dragons also made them inclined to pity Thorn, who had been enslaved since his birth, and give them a second chance. Out of all the races they too most understood how the war would have been lost if not for Murtagh.

The urgals seemed to care very little about the verdict. But they respected Murtagh and Thorn's prowess in battle and would stand by Nasuada's decision.

King Orrin made almost as much noise about it as the dwarves, he wanted retribution in its deadliest form. Nasuada suspected though that a lot of his resistance was due to his unwillingness to place such powerful 'weapons' as Murtagh and Thorn into her hands and his distrust of riders and dragons in general.

Fortunately the combined support of the elves, urgals and Eragon with the few riders and dragons was enough to cease Orrin's resistance and put a stop to even the dwarves blood cry. Though Nasuada feared that Orik and the dwarves might never again be friends to her even with the alliance still standing, she was offending them greatly.

Her own advisors and people were often just as fickle. But they behaved much as she expected them to and the arguments her advisors gave against her decision gave way under her own arguments and calm determination. Many did not like it, but they could no longer directly oppose their queen. Many of them even thought it best for the rider and dragon to be constrained this way.

Murtagh and Nasuada were not able to openly see each other much, all eyes were turned their way and they could not afford the real reasons for his staying to be known. How would everyone react were they to know that their Queen Nasuada and Murtagh Morzanson were hopelessly in love with each other?

But they talked often with their minds and saw each other before councils. Murtagh hated when they had to play parts though, she had to pretend to be debating his future and he the repenting criminal. He could have seen her more if he took on the disguise he had worn previously but he would not leave Thorn alone in a hostile city. For now he would make do with when Nasuada came in disguise to see them.

When she was coming back from such a visit she was stopped by Jörmundur, despite being in disguise. When asked how he recognised her he replied that he had known her since she could walk, he knew her too well for a disguise to work. "I also know you too well not to notice what's happening here. It's him, isn't it? The blonde man you danced with and spent so much of your time alone with is the rider." Nasuada was too shocked to reply "Half the city was alive with talk about how the Queen had fallen in love with a handsome stranger, but I didn't believe those rumours. Know though, all you're doing for his sake."

"I… How did you know?" She said at last. While Jörmundur had once tried to manipulate her he had since proved a valuable ally and supporter but even so, she wished he hadn't figured it out.

"You must've known the Nighthawks would realise something strange was up. Leaving the city in the dead of night with the Queen and returning with a stranger, than leaving again and exchanging the stranger for the rider?" He sighed "Be careful your majesty, is he really worth all this?"

Nasuada looked at him beseechingly, Jörmundur had been her father's right hand man, she wanted his support. "Yes" she said as she felt tears coming to her eyes.

Jörmundur looked at her and his shoulders seemed to drop a little "How long?" was all he eventually asked.

"It started back in Farthen Dûr and continued when I was imprisoned. I wouldn't have survived without him and…" she began to cry in earnest "and I love him…" she finished quietly.

Jörmundur just looked at her for a moment with compassion before drawing her to him in a hug and soothing her like she was one of his own daughters. They stayed like that for awhile, it had been a long time since Nasuada had been able to be comforted like this. Queens have to act in certain ways.

Eventually she pulled away and asked "Who else knows?"

"The Nighthawks all either know or suspect, though they won't gossip about it. I'm assuming Elva knows everything" Nasuada nodded "and I tend to think that Angela knows it too. There are a few else who know enough of the puzzle to piece it together and if you can keep the nobles from catching on that you dancing partner and prisoner are one and the same you might be safe from that quarter. Do you know of anyone else?" Once again Jörmundur was an advisor and soldier talking to his Queen. The change allowed Nasuada to gather her composure more easily.

"Eragon knows, I asked for his help. Arya as well is likely to know, whatever she didn't figure out was likely told to her by Eragon. I don't believe either are the type to tell people though, so we can hope the secret will remain fairly safe."

"Be careful, your majesty." Was Jörmundur's only reply as he bowed and took his leave of her. Nasuada reverently hoped few would be as clear-sighted as him.

Despite all the trials following Murtagh and Thorn's return to the capital the real test came on the day Nasuada stood on a balcony overlooking a sea of faces and prepared to make her announcement to the public.

The balcony was large enough for even Thorn, he lay there with Murtagh standing beside him in sight of the crowd. Aside from the Nighthawks, Elva, councillors and guards there were many important people standing with behind the Queen. Certain nobles were too powerful to be snubbed in this and Angela and Solembum seemed to always get their wish of being where things were happening.

Nasuada gave a short speech, detailing the crimes Murtagh had been charged with (she talked over those who cheered at his conviction until they were forced silent) and then told them all his part in getting Saphira and Eragon to the Varden and fighting against the Empire in the battle of Farthen Dûr, saving Eragon and Saphira when he could've taken them to Galbatorix and later how he manipulated Galbatorix into not assassinating her and saved her during her imprisonment and torture there.

Silence filled the air; it seemed everyone was hanging on to every word the Queen was saying. She had rehearsed this speech many times, had planned it out carefully and now it was all going according to plan.

She told of how Murtagh had stripped Galbatorix of his wards and enabled Eragon to finally kill the King while Thorn attacked the giant dragon Shruikan. She then explained how Murtagh had been tortured as she was and resisted the King, only when Thorn hatched was he unable to fight it any longer and was forced to fight for the King.

Murtagh didn't like people to know about him personally, he'd been judged his whole life and opening up had always been hard. But he knew that for people to accept him they must first understand him and while he didn't want their pity he wanted to be with Nasuada. If she could turn him into a tragic hero cursed by fate (though the last bit felt rather true) then so much the better.

Nasuada's voice continued to ring out as she continued to tell of how Murtagh had never loved his father, how he'd been scarred by him as a child and even how he hadn't been allowed to see his mother.

By the time she spoke her sentence of Murtagh and Thorn (mentioning that Eragon agreed with her) the crowd was completely hers. She could not make them forget the terror the dragon and rider had struck into their hearts or his actions against them but she did make them believe that the sentence she gave them was both just and fitting.

They cheered Nasuada for her ruling, they loved their Queen and were relieved that because of their oaths Murtagh and Thorn would be unable to wreak havoc. That they were to become their Queen's strongest protectors felt right too. It was a measure of their Queen's power, many thought, that the right hands of Galbatorix were now servants of Nasuada.

When finally it was time for Murtagh and Thorn to swear their oaths they moved up beside Nasuada and bowed to her, reciting the vows that had been agreed upon. When it was done the crowd cheered, few had forgotten that Murtagh and Thorn had never been captured or slain in the final battle and were still somewhere in the world. Now their minds could be put to rest. They could not break their vows.

Murtagh and Thorn were then free to begin their service to Nasuada. They stayed by the Queen at nearly all times, though few could imagine just how much time they spent with each other.

In public, they were Queen and sworn protector, in private they were young and in love.

In the weeks leading up to the official ceremony (nobles from the Kingdom and foreign leaders were all invited to witness it) Nasuada and Thorn became much closer and Murtagh spent many hours alone with his Queen. For she was his Queen in a way she was to nobody else.

Murtagh and Thorn were given freedom of the city and flight, though not allowed to stray beyond (as though the guards could stop them if they wished to leave) and Murtagh found himself adapting to palace life easily.

His early life may have given him a strong distaste for those court intrigues and ruthless power-plays ever present in Galbatorix's court but despite that and the horrific upbringing his father gave him Murtagh was still used to luxury. Oh he could do without it fine and liked the freedom being away from it all brought but it was something he'd grown up with and it came to him easily.

While he was still treated with suspicion and not at all like the Noble Lord he had been under Galbatorix's rule there was still something to be said for having a comfortable bed, lavish dinners and just general comfort.

The library was fast becoming one of his favourite spots, particularly when he was reading on one of the couches with a certain beautiful lady asleep against him.

At least one member of the Nighthawks resigned his duty because of Murtagh's presence. His brothers had been slain in battle by the rider and that Nasuada would let him live he couldn't forgive. He wasn't alone, while the general population still hated him with a passion they had little or no fear of he and Thorn now. This wasn't always a good thing. Twice assassins came for them, no doubt payed by those with deep purses and while both times Murtagh easily held them off it made them uneasy.

What was worse though was when a group of drunken men decided to take matters into their own hands, give "that damned magic-freak and his dragon the justice they deserved". They were stopped, but there was bloodshed and it made the city uneasy.

But the absolutely worst thing happened after those attempts on Murtagh and Thorn's lives.

There was an attempt on Nasuada's.

They were fortunate, Elva's warning and Murtagh's powers were sufficient to keep her from harm. But it shook Murtagh – he was only by her side when it happened by coincidence and if he hadn't been she could well have died.

From that moment on Murtagh spent most of his time with or near the Queen. Elva was moved back into the Queen's bedchamber to provide extra protection and Murtagh slept in the adjoining room which had been the young girl's.

Then the guests began arriving.

Murtagh stood on Nasuada's left hand as she welcomed the nobles who were coming to witness his official vows. Most of those invited came, regardless of their person feelings on the matter.

When the Earl of Palancar Valley arrived Nasuada greeted him like everybody else. He arrived with his family, this visit also serving to present his infant son and heir to Queen and court. Songs had been made about Roran and the things he had done, most famous of all was the one in which he rescued Katrina from the Ra'zac. Because of that tale the Countess's beauty was almost legendary and many in the city had come to catch a glimpse of her as she left her carriage.

Murtagh admitted she was pretty, but her bearing and expression simply couldn't hold a candle to Nasuada.

After the formalities of greeting the Queen, Roran looked at Murtagh. If only my fate had been a little different he said to his dragon I would have grown up with this man.

The expression on the Earl's face showed that he was sizing him up, making a decision about him.

There was a tense pause, then Roran greeted him quietly, "Cousin" and left with a slight nod of recognition.

The gesture and greeting had been unexpected and Murtagh was surprised. He hid it, of course. But he'd been expecting to be ignored entirely by the man and his family.

He was sure he had Eragon to thank for the cordiality shown to him.

The elves came in force to witness the event and travel to the place their last Queen was slain. They might have fought against Thorn but he was still a dragon and they would come to see him sworn into service of a human Queen.

Nasuada didn't know how they felt about that, the dragon's honour was paramount to them and here she was having one swear oaths to her. If they decided not to allow it there was little she could do to stop them. The may have not come bearing weapons or as an army but the sheer skill they possessed and the amount of elves present meant that if they so wished it the Capital was at their mercy.

It made a lot of people uneasy. But Nasuada trusted they would respect the wishes of Thorn; and Arya knew the real reason this was all taking place and understood that the vows weren't binding. The elves would surely follow her lead.

Fírnen came with the elves and the green dragon and Thorn spent some time in getting to know each other. Thorn knew very little about other dragons and he gained much joy from the elves visit.

Nasuada wanted Murtagh's official vows to be as without ceremony as possible; a brief speech and then Murtagh and Thorn would enter, kneel before her and swear the agreed vows. Then she would tell him to rise and he would move to stand to the left and behind of her throne. Taking his place as her guardian.

There were no objections to be made by anyone, everyone there was serving purely as a witness. The Queen had already heard all objections and over-ruled them by persuasion, diplomacy or in extreme circumstances "by the power vested in me as Queen of the Broddring Kingdom and High Queen of Surda and Tierm."

Everyone was resigned to allowing him to swear himself and his dragon to service but not everyone was resigned to letting him stay there.

The months following the historical event were some of the most dangerous in Nasuada's rule.

Though the capital had come to accept the dragon and rider's presence quite easily the same could not be said for the rest of the country.

But even a year afterwards the turbulence had mostly died down and it was judged safe for the Queen to make an official visit to the new home of the riders as a gesture of peace and friendship. One was hardly needed, she still spoke to Eragon often, but it would remind people what powerful friends she had and how she was devoted to keeping her Kingdom safe.

So a month after the continent-wide celebrations in honour of five years since Galbatorix's defeat they were reunited with Eragon and Saphira.

Between all the various joys they found in the visit (notably Thorn spending time with the dragons there and Murtagh forming a proper brotherly relationship with Eragon) there was something quite unexpected.

While there Murtagh and Nasuada had to barely hide their relationship and they were given leave to act as two people in love should.

They were wandering, admiring the sights and the work that had already been built and accomplished when Murtagh turned and took both Nasuada's hands. Standing in front of her with a smile on his face he asked her to marry him. Here, in the place where they did not always have to wear a mask and play roles.

"I know we can never be normal and that we will have to hide it when we return, but I don't care. I just want you to be my wife."

The next day at sunset they were wed.

The ceremony was small and it was Eragon who joined them. Are there any relatives I haven't been the celebrant for yet? He mused to Saphira.

The days that followed were perhaps the best in their lives so far, for Murtagh and Nasuada nothing mattered but each other and all the world was bliss and love.

They had to hide their relationship again when they returned to Alagaësia but they were getting better at it. Oftentimes Murtagh would take on a disguise so he could dance with Nasuada and spend time with her in public and private without raising suspicion while a copy of himself he created seemed to be the one guarding the Queen. He had more than enough magic to make visiting her secretly an easy task and even those who knew of their relationship didn't know how much time they truly spent with each other.

It was to the dismay of all her suitors when it was revealed to the world that the Queen was with child.

Rumours abounded about who the father was and while Murtagh was one of those suspected few believed it to be truly him. Most of the time he was only mentioned as a potential father because of what a great scandal it would be and gossips seem to love nothing more than dreaming about a scandal involving royalty.

Nasuada and Murtagh had decided to have a child knowing the uproar it would cause, she had been expected to marry a powerful noble and have a legitimate child as her heir. Instead she was having a child out of wedlock and declaring that they would be the rightful heir to her throne. But they were going to get as close to happily ever after as they could and hence she was pregnant.

Fortunately her people had a great love for their Queen and any child of hers would have a share of that love. They would not turn against the woman who had led the Varden to victory and helped the realm back to prosperity simply because she was not wed and had no intention of doing so.

But still a lot of work was done openly and covertly to encourage the world to accept her child as the rightful heir. There would always be some dissention but by the time of their child's birth most supported the babe's position as Crown Prince.

No secret was ever made to the boy about who his father was, or to the twin Prince and Princess born some years later; despite fears that they might reveal the truth of their parents' marriage in response to being called bastards the royal children managed to hold their tongues. They spent a great deal of time with their father and his dragon and even in comparison to 'normal' families would be reckoned remarkably loving and functional.

As the young Princes and Princess grew the realm came to care less and less about their supposed 'bastard' status. Those who knew him personally recognised the Crown Prince was becoming a great leader and the people came to love him just as much as his mother. The twins also were much loved and many believed the Princess would eventually wed the Prince of Surda and one day be Queen of that southern land.

Murtagh and Nasuada had talked about that, some were still not too pleased about the fatherless heirs and among them was King Orrin. Wedding their daughter to his son would gain them his alliance on the matter and silence most of those calling for their children to be exempt from the line of succession.

But they did not want to arrange a marriage for their daughter and take the gift of choice away from her. How could they break so many rules to be with each other and yet force her into a political alliance?

As it turns out though the decision was made for them and years before such a marriage would ever have taken place.

The twins were rarely apart and after marvelling at the dragon's eggs that had arrived at the capital they snuck down to see them. The eggs were those being exchanged from one race to another in hopes that they would hatch and also some just come from their Uncle Eragon and the Riders.

There must have been something remarkable about the twins, because when Murtagh found them there were two new hatched dragons by his youngest children.

When the news became public many wondered at twins each becoming a Dragon Rider, they did not even know if such a thing had been possible.

But when Murtagh had seen them there, new made riders, he had cried.

He had wed the mortal woman who held his heart and had three beautiful children but always he'd been ignoring the voice that said 'enjoy it, you've only got one lifetime with them'. Now though things were different. His twins were just as immortal as him. He would not lose everyone through the passage of time.

As the years passed Murtagh magically changed his appearance too. Not a lot, but over time he made himself appear to have aged into his fifties or thereabouts. Nasuada's humanity was inescapable and his changes were for her sake, as she aged she would not have to watch her husband remain looking like a man in his prime.

She knew he was doing it, but was grateful. To him it felt rather right too, in his heart he was aging like a mortal man and not as the elves or his half-brother did. Why should he not look 40 or onwards when that was how old he was?

He had sworn to stay by Nasuada's side and protect her until her death, and so he did. She had lived longer than most mortal women and their love was still as strong on their last day together as it had been the day they married.

Most of Alagaësia and even beyond mourned the death of the Queen.

She was lain to rest in the hills where they had reunited and never had there been a more beautiful grave. Magic had helped make it and a spell without words did its best to ensure that it would stand for as long as the world should continue to exist. Whenever Murtagh would visit it would still be there, as beautiful as ever and he would gaze at the statue of Nasuada as she had been in youth.

The statue had been carved himself, a wordless spell of grief and love ensuring that it was a truer portrait of her than any physical tools could ever hope to capture.

Her passing had left him inconsolable. Even Thorn and his children could give him little comfort. But there came a time when the overwhelming strength of the emotion passed and though he missed her every day he was able to think of her without pain.

He lived with the Riders now, Thorn, Eragon and his two youngest children were all with him there and he was able to be happy again.

By his bed was a fairth of Murtagh and Nasuada dancing on their wedding day, a gift from Eragon. He had put so many spells of protection on it that it was likely to survive whatever should befall it. There were others as well, fairths that he himself had made. Nasuada pregnant, with their children, their eldest son holding his own firstborn child and the biggest of all, Nasuada and their children asleep against Thorn's side after a long day of excitement on the eastern shore of Leona Lake. One of the few days they'd been able to act as a proper family.

As time passed their love story became more widely known. It could do no harm for the world to know the truth now. A song was made, then two. It became one of the legendary love stories and even more popular because it was true. Girls sighed, hoping they'd have a man love them as the rider Murtagh loved the human Queen Nasuada and boys wished their own tale would be so epic.

None of them truly saw the pain and hardship that they both endured, they just saw the 'happily ever after' of being with your true love.

But Murtagh thought to himself that they very nearly did have a complete happily ever after. At the very least he was sure they had as much of a happily ever after that is achievable in this world and much more than he ever expected to possess.

And even if he should live a thousand years longer, he'd still never regret giving his heart to Nasuada and living that one short life with her. As the songs said, one lifetime with her was worth it should there be thousands that followed in which he would always miss her and always have a part of his heart lying there in those hills north of Ilirea.

.oOo.