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Persephone sat before the fire, head in her hands. She couldn’t get Morrigan's and Alistair’s faces out of her mind. She’d known both long enough to know they’d been hiding something. Morrigan feigned indifference. Like it was coincidence, her schemes would spare Alistair and Persephone from death the next day. She didn’t buy it for a second. Then there was Alistair. She could handle his anger and look of betrayal when she made him be king. She could justify it to herself. There had been a deeper hurt in his eyes when she begged him to do the ritual with Morrigan, and it wouldn’t leave her mind.
The door creaked open behind her, but she didn’t look up. Persephone couldn’t bring herself to look any of her companions in the eye now. Soft footsteps padded over to her, and a slender hand rested on her shoulder.
“Mon cœur,” Leliana said, voice soft. Persephone didn’t lift her head, sighing into her hands. She felt Leliana crouch next to her, her hand moving to cup her face. “Look at me, my love.”
Persephone lowered her hands, meeting Leliana’s soft blue eyes. There was no judgement or disappointment in them, and that was almost worse. She tore her eyes away and stared into the fire. Lips pressed together as Leliana swept her thumb over her cheek. The temptation to look back, to find comfort in the face of her love, tugged at her. She resisted.
“I’ve betrayed my two closest friends tonight,” Persephone whispered. Leliana stilled. She could feel her eyes still on her, questioning. “I… I don’t think you would approve of it, either.”
“Perhaps not, but I am willing to listen,” Leliana said, rising. She took Persephone’s hands and tugged her to her feet. They moved to the bed and Leliana made Persephone sit on the edge. She knelt before Persephone and unlaced her boots. Neither one spoke, letting the rustling of fabric and crackling of flames fill the space. It wasn’t until Leliana pulled the first boot that Persephone spoke. “A Warden must die to kill an archdemon.”
Leliana froze, and it made Persephone’s heart ache. She leaned down, taking Leliana’s face in her hands. “I won’t leave you.”
“How? Is Alistair supposed to kill it? He is King, now. The nation is in too much turmoil to cast that aside. Riordan died today. There’s no other Warden that can get here in time.”
“I know.”
“So, how are you meant to survive?”
“Morrigan… found a way,” Persephone murmured. Leliana pulled back a little, narrowing her eyes. “She searched her mother’s grimoire. We can perform a ritual that will kill the archdemon without killing a Warden. It… requires Alistair and Morrigan to have a child together. The taint in the child will draw in the archdemon’s soul, but it won’t kill the baby.”
“Alistair would never agree to that. And what of the child? What will happen to it by taking on this thing’s soul?”
“Alistair was reluctant, but he wants to die as much as I do. Morrigan wants to raise the child. She says it will have the soul of an Old God, but she will raise them alone. She’s sworn they won’t come for the throne.” Persephone looked away from Leliana, eyes on the carpet. “I don’t want to die. I don’t want Alistair to die. And… I trust Morrigan. She’s my friend.”
Leliana was silent for a long moment before she started to remove Persephone’s other boot. Once it was cast aside, Leliana joined Persephone on the bed and started to unlace her own boots.
“You are half right. I don’t like this plan,” Leliana said. Her work on her boots paused when Persephone took her hands, moving them aside so she could remove Leliana’s boots instead. She watched Persephone work a moment before speaking again. “But I don’t want you to die. Whatever it takes to keep you safe… No price is too high.”
Persephone pulled Leliana’s boot off and lifted her other leg to start on the second. They remained silent as Persephone worked. Once it was gone, they helped each other shed their armour. No words passed between them, the quiet heavy. Finally, they settled into bed. Both laid on their backs, staring up at the ceiling. After a moment, Leliana rolled onto her side. Persephone looked over, stomach twisting.
“I love you. Don’t forget that for a second, mon cœur,” she whispered as she took Persephone’s hand. Persephone rolled onto her side and opened her arms. Leliana settled into her embrace, both women holding each other close.
“I love you too, my grace.”
Persephone stumbled back from the archdemon’s corpse. Black ichor soaked into her hair and armour. It covered her skin, making it itch. She looked over to Alistair and Morrigan. A moment passed, and the three sagged with relief. It had worked. Persephone spun around, eyes searching the top of Fort Drakon for Leliana.
A flash of red hair caught her eye. She started running. She and Leliana slammed into each other’s arms, clutching each other. Leliana’s hands wound into Persephone’s hair, holding her close. Persephone squeezed her as tightly as she could, shaking.
“It worked?” Leliana whispered. “You’re here?”
“I’m here,” Persephone murmured, squeezing her eyes shut to stop herself from crying. “We made it."
The sun had just begun to peek over the horizon, the golden light streaming in through the living room window. Silence hung heavy over the cabin. Persephone and Leliana sat together in the chair in front of the cold fireplace. Leliana was curled in Persephone’s lap, head on her shoulder. Persephone held Leliana close to her, eyes closed as she listened to her breathing. Leliana played with the braid Persephone’s hair had been pulled back into.
“You will need to leave soon,” Leliana murmured.
“I know,” Persephone sighed. “I want to find a cure, but to leave you again…”
“You came back the last two times. I have faith you will again.”
“You and your faith,” Persephone said, laughing sadly. She shifted to stand, and Leliana moved from her lap. Cerberus padded over as the two women stood, butting his head against Leliana’s leg. She leaned down and scratched him behind the ears, wiping her eyes with her other hand.
“I’ll write you when I can,” Persephone said.
“I look forward to it,” Leliana said. She pressed a kiss to Persephone’s cheek. Persephone leaned in as Leliana moved away, capturing her lips in a proper kiss. Leliana laughed, blinking back tears as they broke apart. She held Persephone’s hand as she picked up her bag and went outside. She remained close as Persephone saddled up her horse, watching in silence.
Persephone finished saddling the horse. She took Leliana’s hands in hers. She opened and closed her mouth, as if searching for what to say. Instead, she kissed Leliana’s hands. The pair lingered there a moment before Persephone let go and mounted her horse. They gave a final wave to each other, both holding back their tears. Persephone kicked her horse forward, Cerberus on her heels, as she rode away.
Persephone waited in the corridor as the messenger entered the Divine’s chamber. Finally, they emerged and told her she could enter.
Leliana stood just inside, wearing the robes of the Divine. Persephone supposed it was Divine Victoria now, as opposed to Leliana, but part of her still saw that young lay sister. Who had insisted she be brought along to end the Blight. Persephone inclined her head as she entered, the door falling shut behind her.
“Most Holy,” she said, trying to suppress her smile.
“Maker,” Leliana breathed. As Persephone straightened up, Leliana flung her arms around her. Persephone laughed, holding Leliana close. They stood there for a long moment, wrapped in each other’s arms. Leliana finally pulled back, holding Persephone’s face in her hands. “Did you…”
“It’s gone,” Persephone said. Leliana choked on a sob, pulling Persephone back into her arms. Persephone rubs small circles on her back. “We have our whole lives ahead of us, my grace.”
Their rooms were silent. The candles burned low as Leliana sat at her desk, head in her hands. Persephone was in front of the fire, their hounds curled up across the room. The fire popped and Leliana’s head rose as she took a shaking breath. “I’ll need to make a statement. Rally the south for the dangers coming.”
“My love—”
“Persephone… I need to focus on work or I will fall apart.”
“Leliana, you lost a friend. Ancient elven gods are now roaming the world and putting us all at risk. You’re allowed a moment.”
“I am Divine now. That is a privilege for those without such duties,” Leliana snapped. Silence fell between the women. Leliana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. Persephone slowly rose, moving to her side. Leliana looked away as she approached, but Persephone still knelt next to her.
“Leliana, look at me,” she said. Leliana hesitated a moment before looking back. Persephone reached up and wiped away the tear. “I’m here. Give yourself a moment and then we’ll figure it out. Together.”
Leliana was still for a moment before she dropped to the floor, getting caught in Persephone’s arms. Persephone held her on the floor as she cried, fingers carding gently through her hair.
She would give Leliana this time. She would keep the weight of the world off her shoulders for just a moment and let her grieve. Then, when tears were dried, they would plan. They would piece things back together and Persephone would stay at Leliana’s side. No matter what.