This is the third story of Queen Anora and Michael Cousland. The first in the series is "Luck and Destiny - A Marriage of Convenience" and the second is "A Rose among Thorns."

Chapter 1. A Royal Visit

It was late summer. The thin chilly mist in the morning was a sign of the approaching autumn. A long column of mounted men at arms made their way along the winding trail in the Brecilian Passage. At the head of the column was a group of dragon bone armored knights bearing banners with the royal arms of Ferelden. The Queen of Ferelden and her consort were going to visit Gwaren.

Anora sat in the gilded royal carriage with her chamber maid Erlina. She watched the familiar looking sight of Gwaren's forests of huge fir and pine trees.

It was the first time since her coronation that Queen Anora was going back to her home in Gwaren where she had grown up. She had not been there many times since she had moved to Denerim, when she married king Cailan. She felt a mixture of eagerness and nervousness. She was looking forward to seeing the familiar sights and faces from her youth, but she felt a little uncomfortable about going there with her husband.

Technically it was his home they were going to visit. She had granted him the title Teyrn of Gwaren at their wedding. At the time she had been a little uncomfortable handing so much power to him, but she felt sure that Gwaren was still loyal to her family and Gwaren was so far away, that it would be hard for Michael to build a power base there, without leaving Denerim.

Since then Anora had come to revaluate her husband. He had proven to be a very loyal, if sometimes difficult consort. She could still not make her mind up about whether she liked the role he had come to play in her court or not. He always bowed to her will, but usually not before he had questioned it. They tried to keep their important discussions privately, but he could find things to discuss almost any time. At times she found his questions stimulating. He was quick to learn and often had a fresh perspective on things. More often than not she would grow impatient and brush aside his objections to get things done though.

Maybe it would have been easier if he had only been her consort and ally and nothing more. But in the time she had known him, she had discovered that she had begun to truly care for him.

She had never intended to let romantic fancy influence her choice in partner. she had had no real interest in anything beyond what would further her ambitions. Her marriage to Michael had been just that, a political calculation to ensure that she achieved her ambition. Yet, now she found herself attracted to him in a way she had never felt for any man before.

It was thrilling, but also difficult. She found herself longing for his embrace whenever she got angry or upset, but half the time it was him she was upset with in the first place. How could a man be at the same time so annoying and so compelling?

It was all a big mistake, she thought humorously. She should have married Maric's bastard Alistair, and taken Michael as her lover instead. That would have been so much easier. Of course, she added to herself, back then she would have considered the idea of taking a lover totally absurd.

Anora sighed and let her eyes wander to Michael's broad armored back, as he rode on his favorite black destrier, a few yards ahead of her carriage. He was at least pleasing to look at, and there was nothing wrong with his physical fitness. They had more than once used a more intimate way to end their rows lately. Her cheeks colored slightly at the memory and she returned to watching the forest, but now and then her eyes drifted back to her husband

Michael himself also mused over the visit to Gwaren. It would be his first visit to the city that now was supposed to be his domain. He wondered wryly how much that title actually meant to Anora. Gwaren had been run by the same seneschal since the days when Loghain was Teyrn. Anora had assured him that seneschal Aiold was dependable.

He had tried to get Anora to tell him a bit about what he needed to know as Teyrn, but she had only launched into a torrent of names, places and figures tht meant nothing to him. Maybe now at least he would get a feel for what being Teyrn of Gwaren really meant.

As the sun rose and the air got warmer, they passed more and more settlements and the forest was replaced by farmlands. Michael carefully regarded the commoners they were passing. The people of Gwaren was a sturdy folk of loggers and fishermen.

He noticed that even if people moved away deferentially when they saw the royal banners, there was little of the fear and awe usually seen in the peasant's faces when a column of royal knights passed.

Michael kew that the inhabitants were stubborn and proud. The foot soldiers of Gwaren had a fierce reputation, especially when led by someone as capable as Loghain.

This was the place where his wife had been raised, he remembered, and she was the most proud and stubborn woman he had known in his entire life. When he had gotten married to the queen, he had been determined to do his best to be a good husband to her. It was a difficult resolve to keep at times. Whatever he did, it seemed to annoy her when he least expected it. Despite their often volatile relationship, he had to admit that he had come to respect her and even love her.

Eventually they reached the city of Gwaren. By then the sun was setting again behind them. The las rays of sunlight lit the banners above the city gate, as they entered the city.

They rode through the main street until they reached a small plaza outside the Teyrn's estate. Michael got off his horse and went back to help Anora out of the carriage. In front of them a group of dignitaries awaited them.

"Greetings your Majesty and welcome to Gwaren." A tall, hawk nosed man that Michael assumed was Seneschal Aiold, bowed and knelt before the queen. "And greetings, your Highness," he added after a short pause.

"It's so good to see you Aiold, I trust everything is well with you?" Anora said smiling and swept in front of Michael.

"The years have been kind to me, but eventually they do add up," the seneschal said and rose slowly.

"Nonsense. You look as sprightly as ever," Anora answered him warmly.

Anora continued to exchange familiarities with the rest of the gathered nobility, while Michael waited silently behind her. In the end it was the seneschal Aiold who cleared his throat and asked Anora if she might do him the honor and introduce her husband to them.

"Of course," Anora said quickly and tugged at Michael's arm. "Seneschal, let me introduce you to the hero of Ferelden and my husband, Prince Michael."

Michael acknowledged the greeting a bit stiffer than he had intended. It irked him a bit that she hadn't mentioned the fact that he was now the Teyrn of Gwaren and right now she was actually as much his guest as anything else. Then he decided to get over himself and forced himself to smile. This had been her home for years, but he had never even been here before.

"We are pleased to welcome you home to Gwaren, Teyrn," Aiold said, making up for Anora's omission.

Michael smiled and nodded to the rest of the bowing and curtsying nobles. Then they both followed the seneschal into the estate.

The Teyrn's estate was small and rustic compared to Highever, but Michael immediately took a liking to it. There was something wholesome and honest about the place. He was suddenly struck by the absurd idea that Anora must have run in this hall when she was just a little kid. It seemed impossible to picture, but the thought still brought a smile to his face.

The servants and staff of the estate was lined up inside the main hall, bowing and curtseying deeply as they entered hand in hand. Anora walked up to a few of them and traded a few quick pleasantries.

"Nan," she said smiling to a grey old woman and kissed her cheek. The woman whispered something to Anora that made her blush.

"I told you never to use that name again, Nan," Anora chided her.

"It doesn't matter. You'll always be my little girl," the old woman said. "but aren't you going to introduce me to your handsome new husband dearie?"

Anora seemed to almost blush when she turned towards Michael, who watched the scene amusedly.

"Um... Michael, this is Elga, my old nanny," she said uncomfortably. "Nan, this is my husband, Prince Michael."

"I am charmed to meet you, my lady," Michael said smiling and kissed the old woman's hand.

Elga clucked merrily at his gesture while Anora quickly steered him away from her still red faced.

As soon as they settled in, a banquet had been arranged for them. Like most about the estate, the delicacies served was less spectacular and more wholesome than Michael was used to from Denerim. He found it a very pleasant change.

Anora seemed different than in Denerim too. She seemed livelier and more talkative than she used to be. She was constantly talking to the seneschal Aiold and other dignitaries from Gwaren. She was mostly talking business it seemed to him, but she still seemed to be in a good mood.

She hardly had time to say much to him, but he didn't really mind it. She was coming home after all. He knew how important it was for her to feel that she knew all the facts and numbers. No doubt she wanted to catch up with everything that was happening in her old home. Besides, he was a bit tired from the journey. Even with all the training he had received he never quite could relax on horseback.

"Tired, your Highness?" an older man across the table asked him.

"Yes, maybe a bit," Michael agreed and tried to remember how the man introduced himself before.

The man smiled when he noticed his discomfort.

"I am sorry if I left you at a disadvantage. There are so must be so many names for you to remember. I am Bann Odwin," he said.

"Of course," Michael smiled sheepishly.

"Might I ask what you think of Gwaren, your Highness?" Bann Odwin continued.

"It's far too soon for me to form an opinion, but from what I see, Gwaren seems to be a very good place."

"Of course, your Highness," Bann Odwin responded.

Michael found himself being a bit uncomfortable. He felt as if Bann Odwin was taking his measure and he wasn't sure what impression he was making.

"I have to admit to feel a bit at a loss here," he said after a moments awkward silence. " As Teyrn I should be responsible for the well being of the good people here, and yet my duties as Prince has so far prevented me from fulfilling my duties to Gwaren. It is my hope that I can rectify this now."

"No one is doubting that you have many pressing duties." Bann Odwin replied seriously. "You are not only Prince but Commander of the Grey Wardens too until recently. You are the hero of all Ferelden and a credit to your Cousland heritage."

Michael cringed a bit. He was never comfortable with the accolades that was heaped on him as the designated hero of the country. He had a nagging suspicion that much of it was because it suited Anora's ambitions anyway.

"Be that as it may. Today I would like to be here first of all as Teyrn of Gwaren," Michael said in an attempt to steer talks away from the mention of heroics.

"Indeed, your Highness," Bann Odwin said and nodded gravely.

Michael still had the nagging feeling that Bann Odwin was somehow waiting for him to say something, but he was too tired to give it anymore thought. He figured it was best to say as little as possible until he knew more about the situation.

The rest of the evening seemed uneventful to Michael. It was late when they retired to the room set aside for Anora and him. Michael was already in bed when Anora was finished getting ready for sleep. She stopped and gazed at him with an odd look.

"What?" he said. "That look of yours. What have I done?"

"Oh, nothing Michael," Anora said and looked a little sheepish. "it's just that... this is my old room when I used to live here. It just looked strange, seeing you in my old bed."

"Oh, afraid your parents will discover us?" Michael asked her grinning.

"Don't be stupid," she said, slapping him in feigned indignation as she climbed into bed.

"Michael, I'm really tired," she murmured, when she blew out the last candle and he put his arm around her.

"Well, good. So am I," he whispered back, and kissed her lightly on the cheek. And it was almost true.