It was several days before anyone was fit to do much else other than lie in a bed.
As it turned out, the alliance with the Dalish had been Maker-sent (or rather, Creators-sent in their case). The Circle had far too few spirit healers to help the whole of Denerim and the army as well. The Dalish spirit healers numbered far more, and many of the Dalish were herbalists and healers in their own way as well.
Even so, there were many wounded that needed tending to, almost more than could be handled.
The darkspawn had fled after the death of the Archdemon, uncoordinated and scattered, but they had done a great deal of damage to the city before the Archdemon had been killed. Many soldiers were dead, and the civilians of Denerim had taken heavy losses as well. There was rebuilding to be done, wounds to heal, dead to cart away and bury. There were so many dead, of so many different peoples, that the cremations and burials would be taking place for weeks. Even the Vhenadahl in the Alienage had taken damage, several of its branches having been cut off and its trunk burned somewhat. Apparently, however, a Dalish woodswoman saw to it, and tried to help it as best she could.
Wynne had collapsed soon after the battle, overworked by both the fight and by trying to heal many people at once, and there had been a worry that her heart would give out. It seemed, however, that she was not done fighting yet, and she did recover.
Shale and Oghren fared the best out of anyone, Shale with but a few chips and dents and Oghren with a broken nose but otherwise fine.
Fiona's leg had been broken in two places, and Alistair had badly fractured his shield arm. The gash in Zevran's chest was luckily not infected with the Taint, but was fairly serious and needed a spirit healer to tend to it. Leliana had a concussion and a nasty cut above her right eye which would most likely scar. Morrigan had wrenched her left shoulder out of its socket, and needed to carry her arm in a sling while it healed.
Kitranna had strange burns that crossed her hands and went up her arms, that had seemed to have been caused by the magic that was released upon the Archdemon's death. She found it difficult to close her hands or hold anything, and despite the magical healing, the skin of her palms would take a long time to recover. Her Spellweaver was broken, the blade separated from the hilt, but it hardly mattered at the moment, because she could not hold it.
All of them were exhausted, the mages doubly so. The entire city had some damages where battle-weary mages had used the raw Fade to make spells, and their spells had backfired or simply been more explosive than anticipated. There were no signs of any demon summoning, which was good, but after that kind of battle even a demon would be tired.
Morrigan was worried for her child, and she was tired from the battle as well, but she still wished to leave as soon as she was able. Even having her arm in a sling did not deter her.
“Are you still going to leave?” Kitranna asked Morrigan, finding her collecting her things. She moved stiffly, still sore, and she smelled like elfroot and ozone, a sure sign someone had been healing her only recently.
“I must,” she said.
“You don't have to,” Kitranna insisted, looping her arm around Morrigan's good one. She couldn't take Morrigan's hands, as her fingers still refused to bend without pain. “Whatever you need to do—we could do it together—you're still hurt--”
“Please,” Morrigan closed her eyes and stroked Kitranna's arm with her good hand. “I must. There are things I must do, that I do not wish for you to be involved in.”
“Why not?” Kitranna demanded, her voice slightly choked.
“You have your own responsibilities,” Morrigan said. “And I—I would not see you hurt because of my decisions.”
Kitranna reached out and clumsily tucked a stray strand of hair behind Morrigan's ear, her hand flat and turned around so her knuckles brushed Morrigan's cheek. “I wish you'd stay,” she whispered. “I love you.”
“There are things both of us must do,” Morrigan murmured. She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to Kitranna's brow.
“I'm going to find you,” Kitranna said, pressing the back of her hand to Morrigan's face. “I'll find you and I'll help. Whether you want me to or not.”
“I am sure you will,” Morrigan said with a tiny smile. "I do not wish you to, but I have found that it is hard to deny your anything." She pulled away from Kitranna, and collected he things. “I—I do love you,” she said, after a hesitation. “I do.” she paused again. “If you have need of me, I will be there,” she said. “I can promise you that.”
Kitranna gave a watery, confused smile, and watched as Morrigan walked out the door.
It was several weeks later that Kitranna found herself in the main hall of Denerim Castle, watching Alistair's coronation. Anora was already Queen, so they just needed to swear Alistair in, as it were.
The hall was bedecked in somewhat slapdash decorations, and still smelled very strongly of elfroot, ash and blood, as it had been used as a makeshift infirmary. There weren't many people at the celebration, just Kitranna's people and those nobles who could stand up. It wasn't even a proper Chantry Mother crowning Alistair, it was a tiny Sister who couldn't have been more than twenty, who stuttered as she read the vows.
But still, Alistair was crowned, and it was done.
Anora and Alistair looked at each other. Alistair smiled, and although Anora didn't, she seemed to soften a bit as they descended into the sparse crowd.
Kitranna wasn't sure where to go from here. No one really was. The last time a Blight had ended had been hundreds of years ago, so right now, all anyone was focusing on was healing their wounds and getting the country into even the most basic of functionality.
So, Kitranna stood next to Zevran, and they idly watched the crowd.
“So, are you going back to Orzammar when this is done?” Kitranna elbowed Zevran with a grin. “Back to Queen Aeducan?”
Zevran smirked. “Perhaps I will,” he said. “But I believe I have some business I need to finish with the Crows.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes. Or perhaps I can simply return to Culwydd, and she will send her mighty dwarven assassins to take care of it for me. Who is to say?” he looked at her. “And what of you?”
“Me?” Kitranna pressed the palm of her hand to her chest, pleased that she could do it without pain.
Zevran elbowed her back. “What are you going to do?”
Kitranna shrugged and looked away. “I don't know.”
Zevran nodded with a knowing expression. “Ah, well, you do not have to know.” he patted her on the shoulder. “I am sure you will manage.”
“I'm sure I will.”
She spoke to Wynne and Leliana as well, who were hovering by the edge of the crowd together.
“Will you return to the Circle?” Wynne asked.
Kitranna shook her head. “No. I don't have to—Gray Warden and all.”
“Calenhad will need every capable mage it can get to recover from the demons,” Wynne said. “Are you certain you do not wish to return?”
Kitranna shook her head. “No—I'm sure you'll be fine on your own.” she looked at Leliana. “What about you?”
“I think I will help in the recovery here,” Leliana said. “Then—I do not know. The Chantry may have a place for me.”
Kitranna nodded. “Good. That's good.”
Fiona was on the other side, watching everyone with a distant sort of expression.
“Are you going back to Weisshaupt?” Kitranna asked her.
“I suppose,” Fiona said. “Although I am sure there are still darkspawn here.” her gaze darted to Alistair and back. “It appears Morrigan's ritual worked.”
“Yeah.”
“I am glad.”
“I figured you'd be happy.” Kitranna grinned. “Well, as happy as you ever are.”
Fiona glared at her. “I am glad you and Alistair still live,” she said. “But I worry about the ramifications of this choice.”
“You and me both,” Kitranna assured her with a sigh. She had the feeling that she and Fiona weren't worried about exactly the same things, but it was still nice to know that someone else was worried.
Kitranna moved on. She spoke to several others, Teagan, Alistair, Anora—but she couldn't help feeling the ache in her chest from one last missing person.
Morrigan should have been there.
No one had any idea where Morrigan had gone. That couldn't be forever, though. Kitranna would find her, someday. They'd come back to each other again.
Kitranna walked to the end of the hall, pushed the doors open, and walked out, into the evening light.