"it was said of him that he knew how to bring sunshine, if anyone did." - If ever there was a capstone for life, I would hope this for everybody.

That was a beautiful read from front to back. I knew as soon as Anora sent a messenger that it'd be something urgent, and boy was it ever. Loghain, however, pulled his weight. His speeches to both the elves and Alistair were amazing. It's amazing how witnessing the consequences of one's actions will bring them to their knees.

Anora, however, won this for me. "And my father," got me. The devotion she has to her father through everything is nothing short of remarkable. I don't know what Loghain did to deserve it, but fuck me if she isn't a credit to him.

Overall, I love this story. I'm glad I read it.

It was what he needed. It was also what he deserved. But the fire always leaves something behind. And so Loghain is reborn.

I loved everything about this, but what I loved most was the scene with Anora. Dark, true, and effective all the more because of it. And Loghain would, absolutely, fight alone against the archdemon. Without knowledge or training. He's a soldier. He acts because he must. Wise enough to know defeat, but duty binds him still. I'm glad he changed his mind. It was extreme, but I'm glad.

And don't think I didn't catch the moment if Lelistair you threw in here. I see and appreciate it. You really have liked them for a long time, eh?

Deserved, but at least he's learning. It's amusing to me that it's Cyrion's impotence that drives Loghain to lose his nerve. So many things he's missed, so many things he's failed to see. While acting because he must, he forgot to see.

Better late than never, I say. The ghost of christmas future has always been the most frightening, and I look forward to seeing what that one has up its sleeve.

"not the one to put himself forward, the way Cailan had, but the one to always be there underfoot irritating people." - This was good. This tickled me.

Somehow, I wish he could've seen more. There're so many things to draw from when it comes to Loghain, but I'm glad you had it revolve around love, in a way. Familial. It's something he needs to remember the existence of.

Oh my goodness, it really is what I thought it was. Hah! Capital.

This is perfect for Loghain. Remorse and redemption are much more effective emotions than mere regret, and a chance at forgiveness is something he would never pass over.

I like his utter lack of conviction in his methods here. He is guided by duty - acting because he must, because he has no other choice. Given one, however, I should like to see what he develops into. Jolly old Uncle Mac Tir is something I would love to see!

I always love a good redemption story, and Dickens's tale is one of my all-time favorites. You captured the spirit of it, and who better to redeem than Loghain? I usually don't care for him, but you did a great job bringing him to life and balancing him out. A lovely take on a classic tale!

Amazing. No other words to describe this. You took Dickens' story and adapted it to this world in a way that was perfect. Pregnant Anora was... moving. The scene where she and the baby die of the taint horrified me so much I had to stop reading for a few seconds. And Loghain killing the Archdemon only for it to be reborn... That was powerful.
Truly amazing story, and the parallelisms with the original were supreme. I've always loved A Christmas Carol and this was a great tribute to it.

Came here on a rec from K-meme, and wow, was I glad I did. This was a very good retelling of the "Carol" story, and made me wish something like this could have been an actual game ending. The whole thing was very well done and totally in character. Every one of the scenes were believable.

Very nice!

This was a beautiful tale. Thank you for it!

Okay, excuse me. I'm a sobbing mess over here. This is really brilliant.

Fantastic story! I love the original, and you've done a great job of transferring it to the Dragon Age world. I also think this works very well with Loghain's character - I see him as someone capable of this sort of epiphany. Thanks for sharing! Adding this to favorites. :)

What a wonderful ending! You kept Loghain in character, too - no dancing a jig in the street and singing for him! :-D

Each time Loghain turned away Anora's messengers my heart quickened - I had a feeling it was something to do with the baby and each time I was urging my screen: "Go and see her, Loghain!" But I can understand why he didn't want to see her until he had something good to tell her - something laudable.

The uprising of the elves was brilliant, and realistically done - the elves still weren't sure whether to trust Loghain, even as his dagger pierced Caladrius' throat. The awkward truce between L & the Wardens was also very well done, and believably, too.

Maric Cailan was a perfect name for the baby. The final paragraph was heart-warming and hopeful. Thank you for such a lovely tale.

Firstly, as a Brit, I applaud your use of the word 'bollocksed' ;-) Excellent to see!

I felt absolutely furious at Esmerelle's callous disregard of the fate of the elves and how she saw their demise as an opportunity to make money - also her resolve to clear out the remaining Alienages in Ferelden - disgusting, and utterly, utterly plausible.

Very powerful and hard-hitting vision of tainted Anora and her dead baby being bundled away like chattels. "Good thing gold doesn't carry taint..." made me shudder. The fact that two of the men carrying the bodies were also tainted showed that the taint was spreading, unchecked, throughout Ferelden. A truly terrifying vision.

Your depiction of the Archdemon being born anew in another darkspawn host was just stunning. I'm rushing onto the next chapter to see if any of this can be salvaged...

Loved the parallel between the gigantic silverite-clad warrior, surrounded by weapons, and Edward Woodward's portrayal of the spirit of Christmas present, surrounded by food and warmth and joviality. His line came to mind as I read: "the milk of human kindness."

Trust Alistair to think of food before escape plans! Aww, poor Anora. I could imagine that would have been like a knife through Loghain's heart. I loved Loghain mentally urging Cyrion to DO something, to strike out, break free, and the realisation that the rest of the Night Elves were probably already in Tevinter. Loghain's gut-churning guilt, especially after Cyrion had defended him, and subsequent vomiting, were spot-on.

The final paragraph made me shiver. No more internal protestations, then, Loghain, that this is all a sick joke? I'm supposed to be doing things, chores etc, but-must-read-next-chapter...

Ha ha! I loved this bit: "Not, he thought, that he believed in the spirits. Or in Maric's ghost. Certainly not. But all the same, he scanned the room, still dimly lit by the fire, to reassure himself that no one was there..." Even someone as practical as Loghain, once alone, and in a dark room, lit only by the fire would succumb to their imagination. I could just imagine the fire casting flickering shadows which would make him wonder...

Poignant shadows of Alistair and Cailan there in Maric, and Loghain's words to his newborn daughter: "I'm never going to let anything happen to you," brought a lump to my throat.

Loghain's realisation that he had never loved Celia as he should have and that Cyrion, one of the Night Elves, was about to be sold into slavery at his own bidding were heart-rending. I fully expected Loghain to brush off these visions, as he did, but as he went back to sleep "...he saw the faces of Cyrion, Anora, and Alistair in the darkness." Wonderful.