Redcliffe Castle- 9:35 Dragon
Bann Teagan Guerrin sat by the fireplace with his wife Leliana, his brother Eamon was in Denerim helping Alistair run Ferelden. The silence was comforting but was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"My Lord, there is dwarf here to see you"
"Send him in" he replied
"Good to see you Teagan you old Blighter, and you to Leliana" Oghren called from the door, water dripping off his beard and warden armor, pooling around him like a pool of blood.
"Good to see you to Oghren" Leliana said rising from her chair to hug him.
"No time for that mushy stuff, Rosa is in labor and is asking for you" Oghren replied.
Worry filled Teagan as the carriage came around the front of the castle. He, his wife and Oghren all piled in and went as fast as the weather and road allowed. The rains fell harder than Teagan could ever remember. Leliana prayed as they traveled as Oghren drank from a flask. The long road ahead seemed even longer as a silence fell over the worried companions. Teagan couldn't blame them in the five years after the blight, Rosaline Cousland Theirin had lead the gray wardens to another victory against the Darkspawn, and returned to her duties as Queen. The years past as the public and the world waited to see if an heir would be born. , for three years the couple tried and tried, each time Rosaline lost the babe. Darkspawn taint they whispered or a curse from the maker. The nobles pushed their daughter's and sisters in Alistair's path in the hopes that he would leave Rosaline. The warden herself once confided in him after the loss of the third that maybe Alistair should for the good of Ferelden. She had changed in those four years, Teagan thought back to the first time he met Rosaline Cousland, her chestnut hair pulled back into a regal bun keeping her face clear except for two curled pieces that fell to the sides. Her face was heart shaped and her skin tanned slightly from many days in the sun, but the blush on her cheeks a natural pink that matched her full lips. She had her brother's dark eyes and his smile. Her armor did little to hide her full chest and curvy hips. The sword of the Cousland family and the shield bearing the crest of her lost family on her back, making her seem like the heroes of old . She had helped Redcliffe with her companions, his now wife attended the wounded and sang to the little ones, it was love at first sight even though her roots at first caused a stir, it soon died down. Later at the wedding of the hero and the king, Leliana and him where honored guests at the wedding, heroes in their own right. They stood with the wardens, an honor that he would never forget. Alistair was dressed in his royal attire and the new royal seal the hounds of the Theirin family, facing the Griffin of the Wardens all surrounded in the Cousland leaves in a cloth of red. The crown hard won and retained at on his head, a weight he still had not come to accept, but with Rosaline at his side Teagan was sure he would do well. Rosaline was walked by her brother in a gown of white her long hair down, looking happy and deeply in love. She had given the Arling of Amaranthine back to the Howe's after she left a few months ago. Nathanial Howe and his new wife where friends to the royals, an irony lost on no one, as if the rumors where true Nate had tried to kill Rosa. In the place of old hate a lasting peace, a welcome change to the years of war. As the crown was placed on her head Teagan saw the Queen she would be and joined happily as the people toasted to the king and queen. As the castle came into view a long line of carriages from across Thadas where awaiting the birth of an heir. The three rushed past the gathered rabble of clamoring nobles. Shale stood watch over the hall allowing only people who were wanted near the royal chambers. Entering the room Teagan looked around, Zevran sat in a window seat and Oghren sat beside him along with another Warden, Sigrun. Oghren had told them that Nathaniel's wife was ill after the birth of his second child as the traveled. Fergus sat in a chair liking tired and pained, his sister was all he had left of his parents. Alistair paced quickly as Zevran and Fergus attempted to calm him as cries of agony came from the bedchamber. Wynne opened the door and walked out to find Leliana and speak to the assembled group. "My dear girl, she has asked you to join Velanna and I" she said, "Alistair do sit down you are causing a hole to grow in the rug"
Leliana nodded and joined the mages at the queen's side. Alistair ran his calloused hands through his hair and sat in the nearest chair and pouted, the worry clearly showing on his face. Fergus placed his arm around the king and gave him advice.
"You know when my wife gave birth to Oren it was hours before he came into the world" He smiled sadly , "Rosaline took a day to come herself , I thought that I had many siblings but behold just one little wrinkled baby girl"
"Really, a whole day" Alistair asked looking hopeful and a little more reassured.
"Indeed in Antivia the longer the birth the stronger the babe or so they say" Zev said from his window seat. . A cry of pain came from the room beyond, the warden Velanna quickly walked by on a mission and returned with a bowl of water and blankets.
"I can't lose her" Alistair said standing up again.
"Now, Alistair our fearless leader will pull through" Zev said with encouragement.
"The last time Rosa nearly died and my son…" Alistair said softly.
Teagan nodded sadly in agreement, thinking back to the cold winter night almost a year ago exactly. The castle was bursting with joy at First Day, the snows had covered the markets below as the nobles of the Landsmeet feasted and danced. Alistair sat on his Throne with his wife and fellow Warden, Rosaline Cousland. The Queen looked as beautiful as she had when they first met in the Chantry five years ago. Her long brown hair pulled into its normal bun but allowing long ringlets of hair to fall down her back, her brown eyes and creamy skin standing out against the blue gown highlighted with the crests of both their houses and the griffin of the wardens, she wore which highlighted her large belly. She gently cradled her belly as she stood up and took her husband's hand.
"Friends my wife and I are honored to celebrate this start of a new year with you" he began, "and to celebrate the birth of our heir in the coming days."
The hopes and dreams of a nation rested on the small unborn babe, Teagan and Leliana agreed that it would lift the spirits of Rosa who felt she had failed. . He was brought back to attention when the Queen spoke, her strong but kind voice carried across the hall.
"My husband is to kind , but please continue and be merry " she said, her lips parting to reveal a winning smile that metaled even the hardest of heart including her Qunari companion Sten. She continued.
"Our home is always open and our hearts..." suddenly she stopped and cried out in pain.
Alistair called out for Wynne, his dearest friend. Hours later Teagan comforted the young king as he sat by his sleeping wife's figure. Wynne washed her hands as she spoke her voice wavering.
"Rosa is out of danger now, Dear boy" she began, "But your son was born dead, and I believe if Rosa was to do this again, it might kill her" she explained trailing off, her blue eyes filled with pity.
Rosa took it the hardest locking herself in her room for weeks. When she found she was with child again everyone worried, the court spoke in whispers and anything that might cause distress or cause the Queen to despair was kept from her. A loud cry from the next room brought him back to the present along with the loud cry of a baby. Alistair and Fergus both let out loud sighs of relief and Alistair shed a tear of joy. Leliana opened the door sweat clung to her face and made her hair stick to her head, her face bright and a smile. Velanna soon followed and allowed the men into the room. Alistair rushed in followed by Fergus and finally Teagan. The Queen pale as ever was propped up against large pillows, obviously weak from the labor. Alistair sat down next to his wife kissing her forehead and looking into her eyes with a deep love. Wynne entered from the next room holding a small, crying bundle wrapped in the blanket she had knitted for the babe. She placed the small bundle into Rosaline's arms.
"It's a little Princess" she said weary, but smiling proudly.
Teagan looked at the little Princess. She was pale like her mother with tuffs of dark brown hair, her eyes which would change with time as he knew, were a deep gray. She had her mother's face but her father's determined chin and the Theirin ears, large but they always grew into them. Teagan looked at Leliana her growing belly just starting to show, standing in the door smiling. Velanna teased the Queen and King by saying simply,
"And Howe said my ears where clownish" causing the room to break into laughter.
"When they tell the story of this night they will say she was quiet and peaceful" Leliana mused, "The Princess of Ferelden, the blood of heroes in her veins".
"What shall we call her?" Rosaline asked awed, her eyes filling with tears of joy.
Alistair's finger was wrapped in her tiny hands, and a smile uncontrollably growing on his face. The babe settled as all the company began to call out ideas.
"Perhaps Eleanor or Oriana" Fergus suggested, quietly.
Oghren and Sigrun offered a few Paragon names and Velanna said nothing.
"No, Avaline or another great hero" Leliana said.
"No, she must be called Rosaline after our fearless goddess" Zev suggested from the door behind Leliana.
Wynne suggested Eve; after all she was born in a great storm.
"It's up to you love" Alistair said looking at his wife.
"Kailanna Eleanor Cousland Theirin" she declared holding the babe close.
Teagan bowed to them all smiling,
"Welcome to Ferelden Princess Kailanna"
Lighting cracked in the sky as if a sign from the Maker that she was destined for greatness and little known to those gathered around the family that night she was. Teagan and Leliana left the room and to their rooms down the hall, the halls lit up with the birth being announced to Ferelden and the world. Rosaline sat by the window with her daughter in her arms. Alistair was in the council chambers below with Teagan and the other nobles of the Landsmeet. Kailanna began to cry her face, twisted into a look of discomfort. Her mother's mabari, Paws got up and looked at the tiny thing and put her head next to her mistress. "There, there little one" she spoke in hushed tones, rocking her back and humming a lullaby. Her daughter soon fell asleep and she wrapped her up in Wynne's blanket. The red yarn made the girl seem smaller and paler. Soon she would have to share her with all of Ferelden; all the expectations of the people fell to her week old daughter. The door opened to reveal her brother.
"Fergus please come in" she said happily
"Dearest sister, are you well?" he inquired
"I am better brother, tired but extremely happy" she said with a smile
Fergus looked at the sleeping baby girl in his sister's arms. To him she looked like Oren, and his eyes clouded, his betrothed was coming to Highever after the christening, but she would meet him in Denerim for it. She was a beauty and very smart he had been told and even offered to move he rooms to the guest quarters so he wouldn't have to visit the rooms where his family died. Rosaline looked at her brother and sadly sighed.
"I wish they were here to Fergus" a tear fell from her face, "they would be proud of us"
She closed her eyes and saw the last family dinner, her parents looking at each other lovingly after many years of marriage. Fergus held Oren on his lap as she laughed with Oriana, Oren fed Paws pieces of beef from his plate. Ser Gilmore and other men sat at the tables and enjoyed tales from the fair in town that week. Her father loved at her and smiled, and in her dreams he still called her his dearest girl, her mother still chided for not being ladylike and she caused Oriana to sigh as she promised to teach Oren to use a sword.
"I think so to Rosa" He replied.
Rosa smiled and looked up at her brother, they hadn't always got along Nate and him pushed her down in mud, pulled her hair and never let her play. When he married Oriana Rosa fit in a bit more neither her or Oriana had a sister and she helped Fergus become closer to her. When Oren was born Oriana ask Rosa to be his godmother, she accepted. Fergus was engaged again this time to the second daughter of an Arl. Her name was Bella; Rosa hoped that a wife and hopefully children would lift her brother's sprits and mend his broken heart.
"Would you like to hold her?" Rosa asked.
Fergus smiled and held his niece and for the first time in a long while he felt his heart open just a little. A week later Rosa dressed up in a gown of blue and gold and placed her crown upon her head, Alistair dressed to match. The little princess was wrapped in a gown of gold and a cloak of red matching the one her father and mother wore on their wedding day. The Grand cleric blessed her and the people of Denerim gave gifts. Their companion's, family and friends did so private after the long day. Arl Eamon gave them a cradle that held the now sleeping princess between Rosa and Alistair.
Wynne stepped up and gave Rosa a blanket of red of blue velvet embroidered with sliver roses and golden crowns.
"A princess should have a blanket made with love, I think of you both as my children and my friends" She said smiling.
'Thank you Wynne and we will always be in your debt and are ever thankful to you" Alistair said.
Wynne kissed the little girl on her head and sat down. Shale looked down at the babe and handed a finely made toy box carved with her parents adventures on the sides.
"This is what it and the other gray warden have made it is tiny, and squishy not at all like a golem" she said, "I hope the little warden will like it"
The other laughed at Shale's indifference but knew that the child would likely melt her heart. Zevran gave the princess a crown that she could wear until she got older as it could slide into a bigger size. Sten sent a pony with a note wishing them luck. Leliana and Teagan gave her a mabari to grow up with. Nate sent a set of daggers. Oghren and Sigrun sent a carriage. Fergus and Bella both arrived and to the surprise of everyone seemed to be getting along, they gave her gold jewels and Bella gave a doll. That night as Rosa and Alistair slept a dark figure entered the princess's nursery. Pale arms held the girl and whispered,
"You must be brave little one, your heart and soul must be strong" the voice paused, "My gift to you will be help and a protector, but you must wait little Princess"
Gently the arms put down the baby into her crib again and fled into the night. Kailanna began to cry and her father entered the room. He picked up the child he thought he would never have. He thought back to the day when he had to burn his son. The pyre was so tiny and his wife still too weak to leave their bed. Wynne stayed at her side, day and night and Leliana brushed her hair, sang to her, and told her stories. The night she found she was with child again, he went to the chantry and prayed. Now he was holding his baby girl. She gurgled and smiled at him, her little feet and hands moving. Rosaline stood in the door looking at her husband hold their little girl.
"Who's my dearest girl" he said
"I thought I was" Rosaline said.
"Well you, my Love, are mine but she is too" he said kissing her.
"She's ours" she said laughing.
They watched her sleep as the sun rose and the day began.