Alistair returns from speaking with Eamon. He has an anxious grimace on his face. "We're setting camp for a few hours. Try and get some rest. We will reach Denerim tomorrow."

Their group is set apart from the others. Intentional or not, they are always apart when traveling with others. Leliana glares at the dwarf. "Oghren! Leave Shmooples alone."

Oghren harrumphs. "Why? It's food. Not a blasted pet."

Solona watches as the wood is stacked. "Thanks." She tilts her head for a moment then starts the blaze easily. The fire bursts forth brightly before settling down to a warm and inviting glow. They gather around, setting up their personal spaces. Solona is feeling oddly out of place. She frowns at her doubts. These are still her friends.

Alistair hesitates for a moment before approaching her. "Sol, can we talk?"

She smiles up at him. "Of course." She notes a change in him. She lowers her voice. "Are you alright?"

"What? Oh… yes." Alistair's voice is distant and distracted. He scuffs his boot in the dirt and sighs. "No… I'm far from alright." He takes her hand pulling her back from the rest of the group. Confused, she follows him. He guides her for a while as he glances over his shoulder occasionally. Once they are some distance from the others he turns and looks at her, running his fingers through his hair nervously. "This is harder than I thought."

She shakes her head. "I don't follow."

He paces for a few minutes gathering his thoughts, with his back to her he stares at the distant stars. "Sol, we reach Denerim tomorrow. We may not fall to the archdemon and its final blow, yet there is a chance we won't even get that far."

Solona winces. "I know."

He approaches her, grinning awkwardly. "I care deeply for you. We've been friends all this time and truly, I have come to rely on you." Alistair stumbles over his words as they fade unspoken.

Solona's heart skips a beat and races to catch up. Oh, Maker! Just don't profess your love. I don't think I can stand it. She smiles suddenly nervous. "Alistair…"

He groans. "I know I'm making no sense." Alistair takes her hands. He presses his forehead to hers. "I'm sorry."

"There is nothing to be sorry for, Alistair." Solona voice is a hoarse whisper.

His hands slip to her hips. She lifts her lips to him. Her hands grip his waist, clinging to him. Slowly his lips meet hers. Their kiss is gentle and searching. He pulls her close against him. She whimpers. His tongue slips along her lips. She gasps parting her lips for him. Their kiss deepens. He moans his pleasure. "Sol…" His lips travel along her jaw to her neck.

She shivers. "Yes."

He groans growing very still. "Maker." He slows his breathing and looks her in the eyes. "I made a promise. I'll take care of you. I mean that. I won't go back on my word." He winces. "Eamon mentioned an heir. He…" Alistair chokes on the rest of his words.

Oh! She caresses his cheek. "You'll need a proper queen, one that will give you an heir. The Theirin line must be protected. Never think for one moment I would believe myself even remotely appropriate to be considered."

"And you were worried about hurting me." Alistair sighs. "You really need some happiness."

Kiss me? Take me? Make me forget my sorrows. Solona laughs, though there is no humor in it. "Alistair, living through this blight will be happiness enough for me at this point."

"Well it's a start." Alistair grins. He gently presses a kiss on her forehead. "What I was trying to get at is I won't allow my future unnamed queen to treat this child the way Isolde treated me. He or she will not end up tossed aside in the Chantry."

"Oh!" Solona blushes deeply. "Thank you…"

"You are still in love with Teagan. I'm not a fool." Alistair lifts her chin meeting her gaze. "If I thought for one second that you could feel what I do…"

"Would you find it odd of me to admit I'd just like to be able to feel anything right now?" She runs a finger along his lips. "I've been numb since Orzammar. Those broodmothers…" She shudders. "Hespith, Bhelen, Teagan…"

"Ugh, the broodmothers. Now there is something I could have lived my whole life without seeing." The bushes rattle some distance away. Alistair puts her behind him as he pulls his sword. She mentally reprimands herself for having left camp without her staff. Still she isn't utterly helpless. Alistair quietly pulls his shield from his back and readies his stance. A lone howl breaks the silence. Alistair sighs in relief lowering his sword and shield. Cully bursts through the brush knocking him on his backside. "Gah, Cully! You blasted slobbering menace."

Cully huffs at him standing with his forepaws on his chest. Alistair tries to push him off. Cully nips at his hand. "Ow! Okay, I'm sorry. I should have brought you with us."

Solona shakes her head at the spectacle. "Come here, boy. Leave poor Alistair alone."

Cully nudges Alistair's hand gently and hops off his chest. He barks happily wagging his stub of a tail. Solona kneels beside him and gives him a hug. "For a wardog, you're an awful big softy."

Cully whimpers. Solona hugs him tighter. "I wouldn't want you any other way."

Alistair smacks the pup on his hindquarters before standing. "Oh I don't know, he could be a bit less coddled."

Cully turns on him, lowering his stance baring his teeth with a deep growl. "Or not… coddled is good!" Alistair raises his hands backing up a step.

"There is a stream down this way, isn't there?" Solona peers in the darkness.

"I believe so. Your feet hurting again?" Solona sighs and nods. Alistair leads the way with Solona and Cully following behind. He parts the bushes, Cully darts out first barking excitedly. Alistair pauses and clears his throat. Solona looks at him curiously prior to looking past him at the shore. She leans her head against his shoulder with a heavy sigh.

Teagan is kneeling beside the stream petting Cully. He looks up at the two standing at the edge of the forest; he gives them a tired nod. Solona slips past Alistair to the edge of the stream. She pulls her boots off and wades ankle deep in to the cold water. She sighs softly enjoying the numbing affect of the cold.

Alistair hesitates. "Well then, you aren't alone, you'll be amply protected. I'm going to see about getting some food." He rubs his belly. "I'm famished."

Solona's eyes widen excitedly. "Oh, do you think we have any more of those little crackers?" She nods with anticipation causing Alistair to chuckle.

"I'll give a look, if so I'll put them on your bedroll." He nods cordially. "Teagan…"

"Alistair." Teagan nods back. It takes him a few beats but he eventually turns his attention to Solona. He takes a seat near the edge of the water. Cully prances in to the water, splashing about and stopping occasionally for a drink. "How are you, Sol?"

Lonely. Solona forces a smile. "I'm well, thank you… and you?"

Teagan shrugs. "Torn."

Her smile fades. She tilts her head. She speaks softy and nods. "I see." Her heart aches. Why? Torn about what? She walks along the creek a bit refusing to ask.

"Seeing you again stirs up memories and old feelings. Ones I would react on if it weren't so immoral to do so." He watches her carefully stepping along the creek. Her robe hiked up out of the water up to her knees. The water slips smoothly over her feet, caressing her ankles. "Seeing you like this, so vulnerable, makes me want to react regardless of who I hurt in the process."

Hearing his words her knees go weak. Solona teeters in the water. She stares at him, open and unguarded. "Teagan…"

Teagan is up and to her in a blink. His arms slip around her waist. He pulls her body to him and he kisses her hungrily. Her fingers are intertwined in his hair. She pulls his lips to her, her hunger matching his. He lifts her off the ground backing slowly taking her with him, their lips never parting. "I try to be strong, Sol. Only when you are this near… I want nothing more than to be holding you, kissing you, and taking you as my own again and again."

She shivers in his arms. "Then tonight I am yours. Tomorrow we go to war and our separate ways."

He moans deeply. His hands sliding along her body and she stiffens with panic. He pauses. "Sol?"

"My body wants to give in so desperately. My heart is screaming to stop." Solona's eyes are closed tightly.

Teagan struggles and backs a step. "I… I'm sorry."

Solona shakes her head. "No, I'm sorry." She takes his hand and presses it to her belly. "I should have told you sooner."

Teagan looks at her confused at first. She chuckles and removes his gauntlets dropping them on the ground before placing his hands on her belly again. He feels the swell of her and his eyes widen. "Our…"

Solona nods slowly. "Ours…" He drops to his knees staring at her belly with awe. "I was told back in Orzammar. Wynne noticed before I had. I had no idea what was wrong with me. I was so excited and frightened." She shrugs. "I still am." He wraps his arms around her hips, pressing his cheek against her belly. "Your letter was waiting for me when we finally emerged from the deep roads. I've never felt so alone."

Teagan kisses her belly. "I had no idea." He looks up at her, confusion etched in his face. "Sol… I…"

"I couldn't tell you, Teagan. I didn't want you to stay with me out of duty." Teagan looks as if he wants to argue, she gently presses her fingers against his lips. "You made your choice. I accept that. Now I need you to be strong. I need you to be ready to take responsibility for our child. As a Grey Warden, I cannot raise her." Tears well in her eyes, "If I know our child is raised by you, with love…" Her voice chokes. "Alistair will be king. He's promised to look after her but I'd rather know she is being raised by you, if you're willing…"

"She?" Teagan stares at her belly. "How…"

Solona laughs. "I haven't a clue, truth be told. I say she one day, he the next because saying it is just so heartless."

"What about the blight, the archdemon!" He shakes his head. "You can't go in to battle. Our child-"

"Will be fine and more protected than most on the battlefield." She cuts off his argument growing suddenly weary. "Have you seen the people that I travel with? They are each fierce warriors, mages and fighters. Each of them will protect me far better than you can imagine. I trust each of them with my life and the life of our unborn. Do not try to tell me that I cannot go to battle against the archdemon because you will not win that argument." She steps back out of his grasp.

He sits back on his heels. He rests his palm on her swell once again and sighs heavily. "The thought of losing…" He lets his head drop as well as his words.

"It's almost time to travel again. I need to get some rest. I will ask you again after you've had time to think on this. It is my hope that you are willing to raise our child." She walks around him and gathers up her boots. "Cully!" Cully stops in his tracks, water splashing all around him. He gingerly steps out of the creek shaking any loose water from him.

The walk back to their campfire is suddenly very long and very lonely. Cully silently weaves the path for her to take safely returning her to her companions. She pauses at the sight of Alistair. He turns and sighs in relief. "I was wondering if I should come back to fetch you." He holds out his hand. "I saved you some crackers!"

Solona chuckles and takes the offered crackers. Wearily she sits on her bedroll and nibbles on one. "Alistair…"

Alistair takes a seat beside her and munches on some cheese. "Hmmm?"

"He knows." She takes a shuddering breath.

It took most of the morning and into the afternoon to gain access in to Denerim. The bulk of the darkspawn had dug in and spread out determined to keep them out of the capital. Riordin being the senior Grey Warden gave them strategic advice yet left the decision to Alistair and Solona.

Solona spoke with the Dalish. They readily agreed to aid the alienage and the city elves. Alistair left the knights of Redcliffe at the front gates. The Legion of the Dead headed for the palace. The mages secured the market.

Riordin worked quickly and alone. Unfortunately he fell as he grounded the archdemon. His brave act gave Alistair and Solona the advantage they needed.

High above Denerim the wounded archdemon fought fiercely at the top of Fort Drakon. Such will and strength horrified Solona. She hesitated, wide eyed and whimpering at the sight of him. "How…"

She takes a step back finding she is stopped by a wall. She looks up realizing she's pressed against Sten. He quirks his eyebrow and looks pointedly at the dragon. His moves are deliberate and significant. He draws his sword, readies his stance. "Come, Kadan. The moment has arrived."

Alistair arrives moments after them, black blood of the darkspawn splattered and smeared across the majority of his armor, shield and sword. "You know from below, he didn't look so big…" He gives her a grin and nods at Sten. "For Ferelden!"

Oghren, Alistair and Sten charge in dodging claws, tail and beak as best they can. Wynne immediately begins her wards. Morrigan casts her spells. Cully stays beside Solona refusing to leave her side while she casts her own spells.

Zevran pauses taking in the situation. He gets a mischievous grin. "Leliana my sweet, will you give me a hand?"

Leliana lets an arrow go and turns her attention to him. "What can I help you with?"

Zevran points at the ballistae and they run towards the nearest one. Positioning the ballista takes what feels an unnecessary long time until he gets the hang of the gears. "Oh, I may hit-"

The archdemon lets out a roar and takes flight, or attempts to. The dragon is only able to lift perhaps 10 feet off the ground, yet it is enough for Leliana to let the ballista arrow fly gracefully through the air. The piercing scream echoes in their ears. Leliana gasps and staggers.

Zevran grins triumphantly. "I would wager, that hurt him."

They look dubiously at the large arrows opting to go to another ballista rather than attempt to reload the current one. Again and again, when the dragon tries to take flight, Leliana sends a ballista arrow to pierce him. They reach the last ballista. The archdemon's right wing is rendered useless; its left is pierced by a heavy ballista arrow. It rears its head letting out a scream of frustration. Leliana releases the last arrow. It skims along the underbelly, the metal scraping along its scales ripping most, slipping past others. She takes a deep breath. "That's the last. Let's go."

Leliana doesn't hesitate, she falls in pace with Zevran stopping just beyond the dragon's reach. Zevran slips under its wing brandishing slices with his dagger at its tender underbelly. The dragon is staggering in pain.

The men back away from the dragon. They are panting and injured. Solona steps closer to Alistair. She winces at Alistair's pain and sends him a healing spell followed by a rejuvenation. Alistair gives her an exhausted grin. He looks from Morrigan to Solona and grabs a firm grip on his sword. He presses the blade of his father to his forehead, closing his eyes briefly. Solona tries a vulnerability hex followed by a paralysis spell yet even in its weakened state the archdemon is able to shrug off her paralysis. "It's hexed! Now, Alistair."

Solona runs closer throwing any spell she can at it to distract it. The archdemon hazily raises its head letting out a scream that shakes her to her core. Thrashing its head searching for her, Solona boldly stands before it summoning a tempest of lightening to weaken it. "Sol!"

The archdemon's foot rises above her. She's fully focused on her spell so it doesn't veer off and endanger anyone else on the tower. Alistair runs with all he has gripping Maric's sword bringing it deep into its exposed neck. He turns and looks where Solona was standing but only sees the immobile foot of the archdemon. "No!"

Seething with rage and frustration, Alistair raises the sword over the archdemon and impales its head, sinking the blade to its hilt. The death of the archdemon is felt by all on the tower. The power held within its body streams in a bright beam of light that can be seen for miles. Alistair knows this is the moment. This is the moment every Grey Warden is prepared for. The soul of the archdemon will seek him out killing them both. He holds on to his father's sword, refusing to look away. The pain that rips through him causes him to throw his head back as a scream is torn from his soul until he collapses.

Alistair pulls at his armor. The neck is a bit snugger than he'd like. He looks at it and sneers. It's a lot shinier than he'd like. He looks at his reflection and groans. It's a lot of gold and silver and…

Alistair has a sudden urge to run. He glances towards the outer doors longingly only to be greeted by a low growl. He sighs. His shoulders droop. "Oh, like I'd get very far?" He rolls his eyes at Cully and walks slowly towards the double doors of the throne room.

He nods stiffly at the royal guards. They both salute before pulling the doors open for him to enter. Alistair stands at the entrance staring at the sea of faces and swallows hard. Cully huffs at his heel. "Right then…"

Alistair walks down the center of the room, his head held high as the crowd cheers for him. His steps do not falter. With each step he feels renewed and determined. He glances to his right looking for Wynne. She isn't there. Feeling silly he chuckles softly to himself before reaching the front of the throne room for his inauguration.

Alistair Theirin, the newly crowned king of Ferelden stands before his people gathered in the palace to witness this occasion. He feels humbled, awkward and suddenly very alone. He raises his hand to his people and bows his head respectfully before them. "My good people, we have fought hard to get where we are today. Many have sacrificed everything to keep Ferelden free. While this blight has ended, we must remain ever vigilant." Alistair pauses. A small smile graces his face. "Unfortunately our hero is unable to join us today. We owe her much. In her honor we shall celebrate our freedom as I know she would wish us to."

A far off pained look crosses his handsome face. He waves to all and steps away lost in thought. Eamon is quickly at his side. "Alistair, just hold on a bit longer, my boy… erm… my King."

Alistair chuckles, "Eamon, I'd be honored if you would stay in Denerim for a while. We both know I'm not the most political minded sort."

Eamon bows humbly, "it would be my honor."

There is a hushed urgency that ripples across the room. Voices of many begin to murmur excitedly. Alistair looks around expectantly. A side door is thrust open. Leliana bursts through the crowd coming to a skidding halt before him. Her face is beaming as she smiles up at Alistair. "It's a boy."