The Griffon Queen

Standing atop the battlements of Highever Castle made Helia feel powerful as a child. What could hurt her here, in her home, surrounded by people she’d known and loved for as long as she’d been alive? Sometimes, her father would place her on his shoulders and point to places in the distance and tell her about their land and their people. She always took comfort in the familiar sound of his voice, even when she didn’t understand what he’d been speaking of.

Now, standing next to her brother, all she felt was melancholy. Someone had hurt her, here, in the safest place she’d known, and she no longer recognized most of the faces she saw in the castle. Some had returned when her brother did, but others either didn’t or couldn’t, as so many had died. She didn’t blame the ones who chose to stay away. Could they also smell the phantom smoke on the wind?

“They’d be proud of us,” Fergus said suddenly. He glanced at her, obviously wanting to catch her eyes, but she didn’t turn. She didn’t want to cry again. “They’d be proud of you, especially, Lia.”

“Do you think?” Her voice was uncharacteristically small and she hated it.

He pulled her into a side hug and pressed a kiss to her hair. “I know.”

After a moment, Helia turned fully and wrapped both arms around him tightly. They’d had their reunion after the Battle of Denerim—had talked for hours, reluctant to let each other out of their sights after everything—but she hadn’t been home since that night a year ago. Alistair had been the one to talk her into it. She’d been reluctant to leave him and even more reluctant to go home, but she’d known he was right.

Not reluctant, she knew. Afraid.

The idea of returning home, only to see everything was different, was frightening. Even more terrifying was the idea that everything was the same, like nothing had happened.

They stayed like that for a while, not speaking, until Fergus finally pulled back and smiled down at her.

“We’ll remember them and honor their memory, but let’s be happy, sister. For us. Do you think we can?”

She thought of him and how they’d managed to find each other again, despite the odds, and how close they were now. She thought of her traveling companions and the joy they brought her, even on her lowest days. Leliana’s songs, Zevran’s wild tales, Shale’s dry humor, tending to her blades with Sten, the companionable bickering with Morrigan… but most of all, the warmth of Alistair’s smile and how proud he’d be of her when she returned to the capital.

“Yes,” she answered quietly, gazing across the grassy expanse outside Highever. “I know we can.”