Work Text:
9:31 Dragon
“It is with great pleasure and deep reverence that we gather here at Denerim, at the heart of our great nation to witness the union of two souls, chosen by destiny and the will of the Maker. Today, I announce and declare a new era of Ferelden, a time of unity and restoration.”
Elissa's attention wavered, the herald's voice fading to a distant hum as she scanned the vast assembly gathered before her. Amidst the sea of faces, she searched for those she had met in her lifetime - the lords and ladies with whom she'd shared handshakes and countless meetings with, the diligent servants she'd thanked on numerous occasions, the beggar she'd once offered a silver or two in kindness, the noble friend with whom she'd shared laughter and idle gossips with, the child of a blacksmith or stablemaster who had been her secret companion during her childhood escapades.
She longed to catch a glimpse of her eldest brother, Fergus, brimming with pride and encouragement, or her other sibling's smirking, teasing eyes, which always knew how to irritate her. She wished she could see the hooded gaze of her Father, watching his cherished daughter, his "Pup” as he fondly calls her, as she was joined in matrimony and bestowed the title of Queen, a coveted position, she once begged her Father for on her tenth nameday. She yearned to meet her Mother's teary eyes, her Mother who had nurtured and guided her, now witnessing the daughter she'd raised ascend to the throne.
But all she ever saw was the relieved faces of the commoners and nobility of Denerim, grateful to have survived the blight and joyous to have witnessed such a momentous and historical occasion for Ferelden, but their roaring applause and cheerful exclamations felt hollow to her. It is disconcerting how these same citizens cheered for a new monarch, how easily their loyalty to their previous ruler swayed. Elissa couldn't help but contemplate and question how quickly these people seemed to forget the Queen who had tirelessly served them for the past few years.
‘Do your years of service and sacrifice mean so little to them, Anora?’ she wondered with a tinge of bitterness.
“The Blight has been vanquished, and with it, the shadows that threatened to consume our kingdom. In these trying times, Ferelden has faced trials, but it has emerged resilient and stronger than ever before." The herald continued and set forth.
The Blight. A year of relentless terror, despair, and the insatiable hunger of the Darkspawn. Ferelden had seen better days, its once-green fields tainted with blood and devastation. Elissa couldn't help but shudder as she looked back on those harrowing times. Families were torn apart, homes reduced to rubble, and the land itself seemed to mourn. Her heart ached for the countless lives lost and the horrors witnessed. But her thoughts then turned to a more harrowing time wherein her own home was ransacked and she became a prisoner within its confines.
But her brother, the Grey Warden, rose as a beacon of courage and determination. With unwavering resolve, he led the charge against the Blight's relentless advance, rallying a band of warriors from all walks of life. They embarked on a perilous journey, each step drawing them closer to the heart of the Blight. Finally, in a battle that would define the fate of Ferelden, her brother confronted the Archdemon itself, and with blade and sheer determination, he slayed the creature, ending the Blight and saving their homeland from the brink of annihilation. He emerged from the battle, not only as a hero but as the symbol of hope Ferelden so desperately needed. As his triumph was proclaimed, a collective sigh of relief swept through the land. Ferelden was free from the Blight's clutches, but the scars it left ran deep, a painful reminder of the horrors they had endured.
With his newfound influence, her brother's return marked a turning point in the tumultuous history of the Cousland family. His reputation and unwavering loyalty to Ferelden not only allowed them to reclaim their ancestral homeland and the titles that had been stripped away, but it also provided their means to secure the throne. A political move that sent ripples of speculation through the ranks of the nobility. Many among the nobles began to suspect that these victories were not merely isolated acts of heroism but rather calculated steps in a grander scheme, fueling suspicions of the Couslands' ambition to attain sole rule over all of Ferelden. Yet these suspicions remained at a standstill in Elissa's mind, a quandary that she, her family and her new husband would inevitably confront in the years that lay ahead.
"In the presence of the Maker and the watching eyes of Ferelden, we declare Alistair Theirin and Elissa Cousland as our new King and Queen! With their wisdom, valor, and love for our homeland, they shall guide us into an era of peace and prosperity." The herald turned to face Elissa and her new husband, Alistair Theirin, and with a resounding voice, he presented them to the massive crowd below. The thunderous cries and cheers from both smallfolk and nobility alike served as an unwavering reminder of the weight of their new responsibilities.
Beside Elissa, Alistair stood tall and resolute, his eyes fixed on the crowd, and his arm raised to greet the crowd below, his actions seemed hesitant, obviously unsure of how to act, clearly apprehensive to break proper decorum. In her gaze, she perceived her new husband - a man born of humble origins, unaccustomed to the intricacies of courtly politics. He was raised as a peasant, far removed from the grandeur and opulence of the nobility. Yet, Elissa couldn't help but admire his unwavering spirit. Alistair was a man of rare kindness, forged in the crucible of life's hardships. His heart was gentle, his determination unyielding. He believed in the value of hard work and the power of a good heart, qualities he had honed during his time as a Grey Warden.
Though inexperienced at court, he carried with him a conviction that he possessed what it took to be king. In the midst of the crowd's adoration, Elissa couldn't deny the warmth that filled her heart. She knew that despite the differences in their upbringing, Alistair's kind and hardworking nature held the potential to lead Ferelden with compassion and humility. And Elissa swear with all her heart, that she will help hone and shape this man into reaching his potential and be the leader that many of his critics did not deem he is possible in becoming.
Alistair turned to Elissa, and with a soft, affectionate smile that illuminated his eyes, so warm and filled with love, he looked at her as though she were the center of his universe. His gaze held a depth of emotion that reached into her soul, making her heart skip a beat. In that tender moment, she felt a pang of guilt deep within her. Alistair's feelings for her were so strong, so unwavering, and she questioned whether she could ever reciprocate them in kind. His love and loyalty, the depths of his affections, were beyond measure, and she wondered if she could ever be deserving of such devotion.
As the crowd's cheers continued to wash over them, Alistair's adoration remained an unspoken promise, a silent pledge that he would stand by her side through whatever trials lay ahead. And in that promise, she found a glimmer of hope that perhaps, one day, she could match his unwavering love with her own.
But that is a matter she would gladly defer and face on a later date, as clearly pressing matters should haunt her in the months to follow. She matched her husband’s stance and likewise addressed and waved to the crowd below, her wave firm and stance filled with grace, her posture in accordance with her mother’s standards, and her head held high as the weight of her crown served as a stark reminder of her newfound stature and status.
As she stood at the cusp of her own destiny, Elissa couldn't help but wonder if her reign as Queen would bring the healing and unity that Ferelden so desperately needed after the Blight's dreadful grip had finally loosened, and the threat of a civil war that previously loomed was apprehended.
From that day on, her reign as the Queen of Ferelden began.