A note: Well this took quite some time, but here it is! A monstrous thank you to all who have read and reviewed. This was my first experience writing a fiction and you have all made it a delightful experience. A thousand hugs to my beta Kubar and his patient keyboard! I think this is the end, at least as I had imagined it, but I'm a fickle creature at times...

Disclaimer: no no no, just sue me

Elissa sank down with her back to a wall. Using the Berserker skill always made her light headed.

Finally the city gates were theirs again. Against all odds they were victorious and alive. Lifting her face from her hands she saw Alistair straightening, finding capacity beyond his exhaustion to smile and clap a few of the surviving soldiers on the back. More were crowding him, he was more than their king, he was their hope of life.

She had seen it in their eyes as they watched Alistair jog easily up the stairs to speak to them. He might not have recognized it himself yet, but in time, and with a little prodding from Anora, he would. His words had been lost to her, but as she watched the reaction on the faces in front of them she saw that he had them all mesmerized. She felt a moments regret, he was a King made for battle and she was no Queen. He touched her hand briefly as he started descending the stairs to launch the assault, incidentally or not, she had tried to return a confident grin. With a sudden lurch in her stomach Elissa wished she had pushed him a bit harder. Would it really have been that impossible to roll over Morrigan, just once? But all these regrets were like sand sifting thought her fingers now.

She looked at her companion expecting him to feel the same way, but he was gazing at the city with narrowed eyes, face hardened by purpose, she shivered. Dramatically outlined against the flaming city Alistair had all the appearance of an avenging god. At his side Riordan was searching the sky with a far-away look. Was that the answer, letting go of sanity? Gratefully she excepted a canteen offered by Wynne.

"I hope you wardens have a plan." The enchantress declared.

'We have and it sucks!' "Why don't you bother someone in charge." Elissa answered, glancing over at Alistair. She could see that he was arguing with the Senior Warden which was nothing short of exceptional. Whatever that was about she had no desire to be involved, Riordan had probably told him that the small print stated that they had to be naked and do a handstand while decapitating the beast. 'Good luck with that!' She smiled bitterly to herself while emptying the canteen, wishing it was something stronger, much stronger. She heard Alistair summon her, when she could ignore it no longer she clambered to her feet and padded over. He met her half ways to mutter in her ear.

"Riordan insists we must split, that it would be too easy for the Demon to evade us if we stick together, does that really seem like a good idea to you?"

"Why, I guess when it comes to Dragons and Demons he calls the shots." Elissa hedged.

"What? Surely we have a better chance as a group." Alistair tried to argue.

Elissa felt so tired trying to figure out what was wrong or right, she felt as if caught in a maelstrom going constantly faster towards the center. When she reached the senior warden she solemnly extended her hand. This was not a man one wrapped around a finger, quite to the contrary, you would find yourself deflected and out-maneuvered without realizing how it happened. Well, at least now she was aware. She felt a flicker of sadness at not having taken the opportunity to get to know him better, but again, she had had a lot on her plate already.

"Well, It's been good knowing you Brother, Goodbye -and Good luck." the Warden did not miss the implication, she could see a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he took her wrist in return.

"Thank you Sister, and Good luck!"

"You're going up alone against the Arch Demon." Alistair protested, this is madness. "What chance do you have?"

"As much as you I suppose." Riordan bent to say something to Alistair alone. When the Senior Warden released him Elissa could see the younger man blinking back tears. Together they watched Riordan's retreating back. She went over and laid her head on her companion's chest, the fierceness with which he held her told her that he was severely shaken.

"I still think we would have been better off sticking together" Alistair muttered.

"Nah, It's better this way." Elissa stated, trying to force surety into her voice.

Alistair frowned. "Maybe!" he released her and squared his shoulders. " So, the Generals or the Palace?"

"As long as WE stay together I couldn't care less. You decide!"

"How I wish you would give me that line from you more often!" the King-to-be smiled kissing her neck.

"Every time we face an Arch Demon, I promise! I'm nothing if not biddable."

Alistair smiled and shook his head testing the straps of his shield before tightening hers a notch. "I can't lose you!" he whispered.

Elissa flexed her shoulders. "It's out of our hands now."

Alistair gave her a tight grin. "The Generals then! At least we'll save some people that way."

"You'll make a great King, you great oaf!" Elissa felt tears growing in her eyes.

"Hush, one step at a time, now we focus on staying alive!" he caught her chin to imprint the message.

After a rough struggle two Generals were down and the alienage had been cleared. Largely by the elves themselves, as if in their darkest hour they had discovered the power hidden within them. Elissa sincerely hoped they would never forget it. She knew Alistair wouldn't, that was enough for her. The pair nodded to each other and started down the gate towards the Palace. Suddenly Elissa's world lurched and her head jerked up as she rode the back of the Arch demon, the city was burning below her and she had the glorious taste of dragon blood in her mouth. She closed her eyes at the richness of it.

"Elissa! he jumped, he actually jumped!, Riordan is on the back of the Dragon!" Alistair's voice was giddy with relief and admiration. Elissa shook her head . She was still stumbling across a small square near the Palace, not flying, not anywhere even remotely compliant. The only blood in her mouth was her own. She felt immensely disappointed. She glanced toward the flaming rooftops and was caught again. The Dragon was bucking and swerving violently, she could feel it beneath her. It's huge black heart beating, the link between them forged in blood. 'As you die,I die'. With an effort that made her groan Elissa tried to wrench away, she could take no more. She fell to her knees panting with sacrifice burned into her brain. A void opened in her head, then shut. 'I hope you found your peace' Elissa sent, knowing it was to late.

She came back to reality at Alistair's insistent shaking of her shoulder. "Riordan fell, is there any chance?"

She shook her head climbing to her feet. "No, he's gone. There's only you and me now."

He nodded tightly. "Just as when we started."

"It's always been about you and me!" she affirmed, starting to move towards the place where the Dragon had spiraled down.

Halfway through the Royal palace Elissa felt like she had waded through blood forever, human, eleven, dwarven, darkspawn, it was all mixed in the horrible canvas that was her body. When there was a sudden lull from the screams of the fighting and the dying she felt it as foreign. Alistair was as exhausted and spent as she was, but his determination knew no bounds. When the doors to the top floor burst open and they stood face to face with the Dragon they found the strength to smile at each other fiercely. This was it!

She slid out on the rooftop. There were Darkspawn coming from every corner, but also allies. Her heart bled as she saw a company of Dwarves take the first brunt of the attack. She noticed the Dalish quickly dart to find position and Mages, unlike the other, untrained for battle, trying desperately to organize themselves. This was so much larger than the Wardens, this was all races uniting against a common enemy. Riordan might have been right about the fact that a gray Warden had to do the actual slaying, but the fighting and dying to get there was not exclusive to any weird Order. Elissa charged after Alistair, what else she could offer.

She did not dare to use the berserker this time, she didn't fancy the idea it would send her charging an insignificant hurlock instead of the Dragon. After downing wave after wave of Darkspawn together with her companions Elissa took an arrow in her armpit and fell to her knees. She tugged at it, but no luck. She glanced at the Demon, the beast was unable to take to the air again, but was capable of flapping out of reach. She broke the arrow a hand span from her body and lurched to her feet. Spitting blood she leaned back against a wall. Her head was spinning, she saw Sten with his sword dealing death like in a trance. Leliana, her face serene like in prayer back to back with Zevran who protected both her and Morrigan as she was charging her fists, again and again, sweat streaming down her face. Oghren and Wynne grinning at each other before the dwarf changed the next target. Sten was out of sight. Finally her eyes settled on Alistair, whirling like in a trance, precise chops mixed with vicious blows from the shield, his face shuttered, eyes half closed.

She was the weak link, had been from the beginning, Elissa sank to her knees. More blood was crowding her mouth. 'Oh blight!' she spat just as something heavy and foul smelling struck the ground next to her. As she dazedly turned to look her jaw almost unhinged and she had to blink rapidly. It was the bleedin' head of the bloody Arch Demon that's what it was! It had at least ten of Leliana's arrows embedded inside and the deep gorges of Alistair's sword left blood pumping from it's long reptilian neck. Mortally wounded, yes, but not dead! she could see the great eyes rolling. Not dead -yet!

She scrambled for her axe and cursed when she realized the beast was lying on it. Desperately she scanned around and saw a sword sticking out of a corpse nearby, she snatched it up, it would have to do.

As if in a dream she heard Alistair's voice calling out through the sounds of battle, but too far away to stop her. The mists were clearing from her head. She raised her face and looked at the sky one last time.

'Well, little miss fumbelfoot will be a great hero. Who would have thought that?' Alistair! I love you, but this one's mine! She sent all that was left inside to him. Lifting the sword with both hands she thought of her family. 'Father, I know I've kept you waiting a bit, as always, but here I come, and for once I haven't let you down.' With a smile she drove the sword right down the center of the monstrous head, the skull gave surprisingly easy, her breath was jolted out of her, she opened her soul. All pain and fatigue left as she was encased in searing light.