Author's Notes: This is obviously an AU approach to the Dragon Age mythos. The Warden heroes are Aeden and Alice Cousland. I personally find I can appease all my OTPs if I have the Couslands as twins instead of just one Warden hero or heroine (Alistair x F!Cousland & Anora x M!Cousland, with hints of Morrigan x M!Cousland too).

I don't own any of Dragon Age, all characters and names etc. belong to Bioware and EA.

(In my canon, the Couslands and Mac Tirs have been friends for years and Anora spent her childhood with the twins and Fergus. The young future queen and Aeden fell in love and, even when Anora was promised to Cailan, maintained a strong relationship… The rest I'll fill in as I go.)

The year is 9:45 Dragon and right now Ferelden is at peace. Little conflict has risen since the Inquisition's disbanding and the country was prospering all the better for it. It had been a trying time for Ferelden's citizens who had had to battle Darkspawn, civil war and worse in little over a decade.

In the Royal Bedroom Aeden and Anora Cousland are lying in bed together having put their children to sleep in the next room. The servants had long left, Erlina being the last to take her leave, and the room was in a comfortable silence as the two busied themselves with reading. Anora scanned a motion from the Banns that had been delivered that day and Aeden a scroll he'd found in his eldest daughter's drawer. Anora's piercing blue eyes flit quickly across the parchment in her hand, admiring the boldness of the Bann's requests with mild trepidation. Her face was pushed into a sullen frown, brows knitted together in frustration as the seriousness of the Bann's request began to weigh in. This definitely should not have been an evening read.

Anora, her golden hair just washed and flowing down her shoulders, glanced across to her husband, his face a calm smile in comparison to her own. He was always this way, he had been since they were children; ever the diplomat. It was one of the reasons she loved him so much. Not the main reason, but one of them. "So, you were visited by the Inquisitor today? How did that go?"

Aeden didn't look away from what he was reading, but he chuckled nonetheless. "As well as you'd expect, given how much we were insistent they disband..." Anora had to expect some level of fallout over the Inquisition's disbanding, especially given how much good her husband felt the Inquisitor had done. However Anora had been outvoted by her Bannsmen and so had to go against Aeden's wishes, which had inevitably caused some friction between them. Resolved friction, but it wasn't a subject that was broached lightly.

"I know you wanted to keep them around." Anora sighed, but noticed his expression had not darkened. She knew he wouldn't fight, not now, but didn't want to start anything regardless. Instead she opted for humour, a tactic he knew she only reserved for him. "But it was agreed in the court. I could hardly state 'I'm sorry gathered nobles, the love of my life says otherwise...'"

He laughed, his head lolling back on his pillow. "Oh, don't worry, I know how diplomatic you can be. It's the same reason we have two children as it is." Anora giggles, placing a kiss on his cheek.

"What has Eleanor been writing about now?" She strokes his arm playfully, nodding at the parchment in his hands, before leaning back into her place and continuing to read. She gives up almost immediately however, being able to take no more that day. "More tales of her Father, Aunt and Uncle at battle?"

"Don't forget when she mentions her favourite godparents." Aeden smiled back at her, feeling the hair against his cheek as she rested onto his shoulder. Anora closed her eyes, focussing instead on Aeden's voice. It was so calm and happy. After so long fighting he was finally at peace. His laugh was a relaxing reminder. "I think she actually mentions Leliana more than she does me."

"Don't you mean Divine Victoria now?"

Again Aeden chuckles, his left hand tracing circles across his bare shoulders causing her to shudder. "Not when it's just us. She'd never let me call her that... There are a select few people who call us by our names. To the masses we are Queen and Prince Conso-"

"King!" Anora forcefully interrupted, startling her husband slightly. She sat upright against him to look in his eyes, hoping to reiterate her seriousness on the subject. "You are just as important as I am, beloved." She had never seen him as anything less than her equal, her partner. Having him say otherwise hurt her as much as any physical injury could. She loved him too much for that.

Aeden waved his hand dismissively, not too much as to disturb her. "Oh, I'm just a figurehead. You are the real power in this union." Anora laughs and carefully places the paper in her hand onto her bedside table. She the rolls over, lying atop her husband and smiles into his eyes.

"Well then, Prince Cousland, let us see what the 'real power' is going to do..." The two lock lips, their bodies rolling together against one another. Then a creak echoes through the room as their youngest daughter Jayne shuffles into the room, closing the creaking door behind herself.

"Mother... Father... I had a nightmare!" The girl was crying lightly, arms wrapped around herself as she stumbled towards the bed. She was blissfully unaware of what her parents had almost been doing, they were now shifting aside from one another and blushing heavily between smiles.

"What about, little warrior?" Aeden shifted upwards, azure sheets firmly wrapped around his waist. Anora could see the reassuring smile on his face, hidden only slightly though his dark stubble. It was the same grin he gave on their wedding day, the one that gave her the confidence to face Ferelden from the alter a second time. The real time. "I thought nothing frightened you."

"I dreamed I was stuck. I was in the castle and could not get out. No one else was here, I was alone..." Jayne was the spitting image of her mother, except for her eyes. They were a dark hazel colour and Anora loved the way they sparkled in the candlelight through any emotion. Just like Aeden's.

Aeden moved again, pulling Anora out her thoughts, patting the bed between the two of them; inviting their youngest daughter to lay down. The six year old wriggled between her parents, tears stopping and a smile breaking out on her face. The two parents, realising their night was no longer their own, kissed each other goodnight and snuffed out their candles. The three Couslands then went to sleep, none of them waking until dawn.

The next morning started with Aeden being hit in the face. It wasn't a deliberate action, in reality his daughter had simply swung her arm in her sleep. Anora, who had been quietly watching her sleeping child and husband, giggled under her breath. Aeden leaned over and kissed his wife, who returned it with equal force. He then slipped out of bed and tiptoed over to the bathroom door in order to bathe before starting the day. As he ran the water he heard muffled voices and the closing of his bedroom door. Turning around he was greeted by Anora, who now wore nothing but the bed sheet draped over her torso.

"I woke Jayne. She said she'd fetch Eleanor and get ready for breakfast..." She winked, dropping the sheet with a smirk. Aeden's eyes widened with surprised exitement. "I think we have time for some quick fun before then." She then stepped forward, slipping off his night shirt and wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his lips, smiling as hers made contact with his. Passion flowed between them, not lust, and the couple simply enjoyed each other's embrace. Anora let out a breath as their lips parted, looking up at him through her eyelashes. "I love you, Aeden."

Aeden smiled back at her, the reassuring grin returning, his hands roamed her hips as she pulled closer towards him. "And I you, my Queen. It has always been you."

This is my first FanFiction post so reviews would be appreciated. I might do more DA oneshots to continue this story if people respond well to it although I have a few ideas for some other stories too.

Thanks,

K.B. xx