Let the hugging memes commence. Yes, I know it seems a little ridiculous that Fia of all people is the ‘secret savior’ of Elden Ring. Yet, I’m almost positive she has saved the Lands Between from the tyranny of the Golden Order with her quest.
“How has Fia saved the Lands Between from the Golden Order?” you may be asking yourself. “Isn’t her ending just another variation of the Order’s keeping power over the Lands Between?” Well, yes and no. But mostly, no. Here’ why:
It is true that of the five confirmed endings, three of them deal with re-queening Markia as the ruler of the Lands Between and the Tarnished as the Third Elden Lord. And it is also true that Fia’s ending is one of those three. “Okay, so this is a closed case then. Fia hasn’t saved the Lands Between from the Golden Order if her ending re-crowns the Golden Order’s puppet.”
Well, no, that isn’t true. In fact, aside from the Frenzied Flame (who destroys the world) and Ranni’s ending (who remakes the world), Fia has done more to ruin the Golden Order’s plans than anyone else.
As a Deathbed Companion, Fia’s whole existence is absorbing a dead individual’s essence and transferring it to bring another deceased individual (usually of great renown) to life. Thus, Fia’s very being and identity rebels against the Golden Order’s “land without death” sacred tenet.
Moreover, Fia used her powers to directly attack the Golden Order’s base-of-operations: the Erdtree.
(Bandai Namco/FromSoftware-Elden Ring-Fia)
Fia’s entire questline revolved around her desire to bring back the fallen demi-god, Godwyn the Golden, to life and give birth to his children. That is why she tasks the Tarnished and her followers/servants (ex: Sorcerer Rogier) to scour the Erdtree’s roots to find the lifeless body of Godwyn.
Thus, by the Tarnished successfully finding and bringing Fia to Godwyn’s corpse, fighting off the corrupted former companion of Godwyn, the Lichdragon Fortissax, and allow Fia to revive Godwyn and give birth to the Mending Rune of Death, her quest to destroy the Golden Order’s power over the Lands Between is complete.
With her ending, death is now a vital aspect of every living Land Between creature’s life. The Golden Order ability to hold power and influence with each soul that is absorbed (rather than outright killed) through the Erdtree is ruined. Essentially, Fia and the Tarnished reintroducing death strips the Erdtree (and the Golden Order) of its power.
Plus, who knows what kind of powers Godwyn the Golden now has as the First of The Dead (which I think means he is now alive in a new form). His powers may now even rival his mother’s, Queen Marika herself.
Also, I think it is wrong to see Queen Marika as just a pawn of the Golden Order. Prior to the events of the Shattering, I would have agreed with that notion. But Marika clearly went against the Order by shattering the Elden Ring and was punished for it.
When the Tarnished defeats Radagon (Markia’s other half and champion of the Golden Order) and the Elden Beast to re-crowns Marika as their Queen, they are placing the Elden Ring in the hands of an entirely different woman/god. One who must be more cynical of the Order.
(Bandai Namco/FromSoftware-Elden Ring-Fia)
Thus, I find it impossible to see Fia as anything less than a hero. Her sacrifice (of either her life or her powers; it isn’t really clear in classic Elden Ring fashion) in resurrecting Godwyn and giving birth to his Mending Rune of Death child (with the Tarnished’s help, of course) saved the Lands Between from the Golden Order’s tyranny, while also maintaining a sense of order in Queen Marika’s re-ascension.
Images Sources: Featured Image: (Bandai Namco/FromSoftware) (Elden Ring)
In Text Image 1: (Bandai Namco/FromSoftware) (Elden Ring)
In Text Image 2: (Bandai Namco/FromSoftware) (Elden Ring)
