-Alistair-
I had been searching the city for over three hours. The Queen's second had not been anywhere she should be. Her quarters were empty, she had not been seen in the tavern, or the inn. I had come across a group of intoxicated dwarves and asked them if they had seen her. To my aggravation they had all said yes and proceeded to point in six different directions.
I had been wondering the city since; from the diamond quarter to the entrance to the deep roads and back with no sign of Leliana. There was a part of me that hoped I didn't find her, the conversation I was in need of having with her was not going to be pleasant. I wasn't even sure how I was going to even broche the subject, bouncing scenarios about in my head. All of them ended with me getting hit or her screaming absentees at me and stalking off. I sighed rubbing my face. I needed some fresh air, it would help me think, clear my head a bit.
I turned my steps towards the gates of Orzimmar. Mere hours and the dwarves would be ready, and the armies of the Grey Wardens would arrive from Orlais. Mere hours and I would have legions of soldiers at my disposal, many of which would not return from the dark depths to which I was leading them. The silence in my dreams would be misleading if I had not known better. The Dragon, Corbin had called her Azara the Fire Bringer, had to know we were manning an attack. Yet still she had kept impossibly quiet. No orders had been given no massing of her great armies of the darkspawn below. It was as if she knew unlike the dragons before her that her thoughts could be heard by us. The thought was unnerving. I grunted at myself. The dragon having any idea what was going on outside of her darkspawn horde was ridiculous. Yet Corbin had spoken of his curiosity of us, from his other life. He had said that the bond went both ways. That while we could see him in our dreams, his close proximity to us had caused our existences to mesh together. He had voiced his irritation at the fact that he had not been able to tell where one of us stopped and the other of us began.
I was ushered through the gates, and I breathed in the open air. It would be morning soon, but the night was taking its time in giving way to the sun. Just beyond the firelight of Orzimmar's gates, I caught her shadow. She was sitting, resting against a large pillar in the courtyard. I advanced slowly still unsure of myself and what I was going to say.
With a sigh, You will find, The trees are now turning from green to gold
You turn away.
With a deepening heart
No words to say .
That the world has changed forever.
And the sun is now fading.
I wish I could hold you closer…
The words touched me much the same as they had when I had first heard them. I had over heard Amaris singing it to Dur one night while Wynne tended to his wounds. The song had a calming effect to everyone who heard it, even Morrigan had not gone untouched.
"She always seemed so sad whenever that song escaped her." Lelianna stated getting up to greet me. "And I think I understand why now."
"Leli…we need…I need to say…something." I stammered. I kicked myself, I was the general about to lead thousands of soldiers to the worst threat we had ever known and I couldn't even talk straight.
"I know why you have come in search of me." Lelianna replied, a sad smile resting on her lips.
"You…you do?" I asked, completely thrown off guard. How could she possibly know what I wished to speak to her about? Perhaps Corbin had played both sides of the field. I could not blame him if he had, everything was at stake.
"You should be sleeping" Leliana scolded. "We march in a few hours."
"So you are with us…?" I questioned trying not to shuffle my feet awkwardly.
"I will do my part." She replied standing up to join me. We stood for what seemed to be hours as the sun slowly seeped through the darkness. There was some small part of me that recognized this could be the last time I saw this. The last time I felt the sun's rays on my face. Beside me I felt a small hand slip into mine. I smiled squeezing her hand gently. Beside her Shale stomped into view and beyond him a red tuft of Oghren's hair stuck out. To my left Leliana was flanked by Morrigan and Corbin, Dur in toe. I felt sadness at who was missing. Wynne, Sten…even that slippery Antivan crow Zevran. They had all done their part in helping us achieve the destruction of the last ArchDemon. It felt daunting having to face another without them.
It will be alright. She said quietly. I recognize the voice immediately. I forced myself not to look behind me. The owner of the voice was not there, could not be there.
This is why he chose you. This is why the darkness did not over take you. This is why you lived. For all that your brother was it was you that was destined for greatness. It was you that was meant to lead Ferelden into eternal peace. It was always you Alistair…Protector of Mankind…
Who Wynne? I thought. Who chose me?
Be brave boy, you have work to do. Duncan chided, coming and going from my senses much to quickly. My stomach turned to ice but beside me Amaris stuck out her chin in defiance and straightened to her full height. All five feet of it. I did my best to hide the smile spreading across my face.
"We do this for peace." Leliana muttered.
"We do this for those we lost." I offered.
"We do this because it's a nasty thing being a blighter…" Oghren began.
"But someone's got to do it." Amaris whispered.
**My immense apologies for how short this chapter is. As well as for how long it has taken me to pick this back up. I assure you the next two chapters are coming soon and will conclude this fic….or will it? ;) You'll just have to wait and see. But I promise I will not make you wait so long next time! Thank you to all the people that are still reading this. And sorry about all the emails on the last 5 or so chapters….technical difficulties forced me to delete and re-publish the last few chapters…well anyways good luck, be safe, and please review I hang on you guys' every word!**