Epilogue

It was a warm, spring day. The signs of renewal and rebirth were all around. The budding leaves, the blooming flowers, and the chirping birds the most apparent among many other signs. Melisende was heading west to Highever, Nathaniel by her side. They had been chasing down the last remnants of darkspawn all winter. They seemed to have dealt with the problem for now, at the least.

Fergus had invited Melisende home, intending to meet her on the road. She had not told him that Nathaniel would be following, but she didn't think he would mind. The two men had been friends a long time ago. Still, Nathaniel was a little uneasy.

"Are you sure Fergus won't mind? I don't want to impose upon him." Nathaniel asked.

Melisende smiled broadly. "I will throttle him with my fists if he finds fault with your presence."

Nathaniel chuckled, and then placed his arm around her waist, drawing her closer to him. "Ah, my little spitfire. What would I do without you?"

Melisende reveled in his embrace and then winked at him. "Besides, we were so close to the border of the teyrnir anyway, it would have been a shame to send you back."

They continued down the road, looking out for any signs of Fergus. A little while later, they spotted him on the road, in conversation with a few of his soldiers. One of them motioned towards Melisende and Nathaniel and Fergus turned around to view them.

"If it isn't my little sister!" he acknowledged happily. He walked over to Melisende and dragged her into a bear hug. He let her go and turned his attention to Nathaniel. "And is this Nathaniel Howe?"

Nathaniel nodded and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "It is good to see you again, Fergus," he managed to say. Fergus regarded him coldly for a moment, and then burst into ebullient laughter, slapping Nathaniel across his back.

"I didn't think you'd have the stones to ever show your face again in Ferelden. I'm glad you proved me wrong." Fergus regarded Melisende and noticed her radiance as she watched Nathaniel. "And I think my sister is doubly pleased."

Melisende blushed. "That I am brother. Now can we get a move on?"

Fergus chuckled and then motioned for the soldiers to lead the way to Highever.

"How is your sister, Nathaniel?" Fergus asked, a thoughtful look on his face.

"She is well. She was delivered of a son not too long ago."

"So she's taken. A shame." Fergus followed his soldiers with Melisende and Nathaniel by his side.

…

"You will be surprised by the changes I have been able to make in so short a time." Fergus said as they neared Castle Cousland. Melisende was dreading passing the castle. She wasn't sure if she was ready to be back there. As the castle came into view, Melisende noticed that indeed, it did not look so derelict as before. "We haven't had many darkspawn to deal with around these parts, so I was able to spend some time on rebuilding."

"You have done well, brother. Father would be proud." Melisende commented as the group stopped in front of the castle. She suddenly knew that she wanted to go in. "Can we go inside?"

"Of course." Fergus answered.

"Do you want to come?" she asked Nathaniel. He shook his head.

"I'd rather not. Crumbling structures make me uneasy… perhaps another time. Go with your brother. You need time alone with him."

Melisende smiled, and then followed Fergus into the castle. The soldiers stayed behind at the entrance, along with Nathaniel. She was amazed at the transformation. Only months ago it was ruins, a shadow of what it once was. Now it was slowly returning to its former glory. Her childhood home was re-emerging from the dust.

"Well done, Fergus. I see you have not been spending all your time with wenches and ale." She teased.

Fergus guffawed loudly. "Oh there have been wenches a plenty. But there is much more to running a teyrnir, unfortunately. It is not all cookies and ale."

It was Melisende's turn to laugh now. "Really and seriously how are you?"

"I am fine, sister. Just taking it day by day. And you? I see you are in a better state than last we talked."

"Yes, I am better." Melisende smiled, again.

"Nathaniel?" Fergus cocked an eyebrow at her. She couldn't, for the life of her, not smile. Fergus nodded his head. "I am happy for you then. Though I would never have thought you to fall for him, of all possible men."

"I never thought so either. Especially after what his father did. I hated him when I first met him. But you know, he is not his father."

"Yes, he practically grew up in the Free Marches. The last time I saw him he was a lanky, skinny youth. We used to go carousing in Amaranthine, ha ha." Fergus reminisced.

"Oh please, I don't want to hear about that."

"No, you don't. You were just an innocent little girl." Fergus laughed.

Melisende sighed, and then laughed with Fergus.

"Come now, I've something important to show you." Fergus said seriously. He led her away to the courtyard in the rear of the castle. Melisende viewed four stone markers sticking out of the ground.

"Their graves?" Melisende asked solemnly. Fergus nodded. "I didn't even pay my respects last time."

"I think they would have understood." Fergus said thoughtfully.

Melisende walked over to the graves. They looked well tended. Though she was not very religious anymore, she said a short prayer over the graves of her father, mother, sister-in-law, and nephew.

"I hope to give them a better memorial in time." Fergus mentioned.

"Are you at peace, Fergus?" Melisende asked.

"I am getting there. There is no use in staying angry. It won't bring them back. Somehow, I doubt that they would want us to mourn them forever."

"You're absolutely right. We will never forget them." Melisende said sorrowfully. She realized that although she was younger than Fergus, she would most likely die before he did because of the darkspawn taint within her. He would be the last of the Couslands, unless he re-married and begot another heir. She gazed at the grave of Oren, her young nephew whose life was cut too short. She thought of his peculiar way of saying "sword" by pronouncing the "w". She smiled at the memory.

"Last time I was here, I could think of nothing but their deaths, but now I can think of their lives. The memories they gave us. The way they shaped who we have become. Do you think of these things now Fergus?"

"I do." Fergus grinned. "I can remember many fine days."

"I don't cry anymore when I think of a future without them. Is that odd?"

"No, I don't think so."

They lingered by the graves in silence for a few more moments. Melisende removed her Warden's amulet and laid it on her father's grave. She silently thanked him for releasing her into Duncan's custody that night, for forcing her to live. She had been angry then, but she was grateful now. The last couple of months after the Blight, she had thought she could never return to her old self. She thought she would stay a dilapidated shadow of herself. But she was restored. Becoming a Grey Warden had redeemed her. She realized that now.

"I am ready to go," she said quietly to Fergus.

"Then let us go."