A/N: So, this Chapter went a bit sideways on me. I blame Cullen and Alistair for having a sparring match in my head that I just have to share.

Two days later, Aeryn found herself riding out of Skyhold with the Chargers. They were acting as her personal protection service since the fall of Corypheus. Dorian also was in their party, as The Iron Bull did not often go far from the mage. The party was traveling to the summer palace of the Ferelden Royalty, at the Warden Queen's invitation.

The Queen and Aeryn had become good friends, as they both understood the trials of leading against a threat to Thedas against overwhelming odds. It led to a remarkable friendship, with the two women often exchanging letters and planning visits. This time was slightly different as the Queen had retired from Denerim to a hold where the royal couple often vacationed. Aeryn read over the last letter she had received from Solona:

Dearest Aeryn,

As you probably know, I have retired from the royal city and am spending a great deal of time at the Summer Hold. Alistair convinced me that being in the more open air would do a great deal of good for myself and the babe I now carry. Personally, I think he was tired of fetching me a bucket in the mornings. Things are wonderful here, albeit a bit lonely. Alistair visits when he can, but it's never more than a few days. The whole time he is here, he's fussing over me like I am made from porcelain; it's like he forgets that I slew an Archdemon.

I was hoping that you might wish to visit, to provide me with some company, since I am sequestered here the length of the term. My servants are lovely, but if one more person calls me 'your highness' I might just scream. Please come and entertain me and I promise to do my best to be more fun than the average pregnant woman. We have some beautiful grounds here should you like to tour them and we will be free of obligations, seeing as none of the nobility are attending me at this time.

In other news, how are things at Skyhold? I know I have not been able to visit since the ball, but I hope it is still improving. How are you and Cullen? I have never seen him so happy as when you are near him.

I look forward to your reply and hope you will be able to spare some time to visit,

Solona Therin

Aeryn had replied in the affirmative, and the date settled. Now she was approaching the Summer Hold, greeted by the guards. She allowed the servants to unpack her things and see to her horse as she headed into the castle. One of the housekeepers led her to the sitting room and announced her to the Queen.

Aeryn entered the study and was quickly approached by a black Mabari. She held her hand down to let the dog sniff when she heard 'Bella, leave Aeryn be.' Solona looked radiant as she smiled and welcomed Aeryn. Her stomach showed a slight bump through the loose fitting clothes. A very old Mabari watched the new girl walk around the room from his comfy pillow next to her chair.

The women embraced, Aeryn careful to not put pressure on her friend's stomach. 'How are you feeling Solona? Anything you need?'

'I am well, other than this sprog growing in my stomach. He won't stop moving, it feels like a trapped butterfly.' She poked at her stomach playfully. 'How does that feel little one?'

'Well, in a few more months then he will be free and can annoy others.'

'Hear that sprog? Finish growing so you can be free…. And your Father's problem.' Solona smirked. She returned to her chair; Aeryn took the one closest to it. 'How was your journey?'

'The weather was fair and the roads were good. How often can you say that about going anywhere?'

'In my experience, next to never.' Dog woofed in agreement; he had traveled so much in his lifetime. He was quite liking his retirement of spending his days sleeping next to Solona's chair. Let his daughter Bella take care of the heavy lifting, she was one of many fine Mabari that called him father; she would protect their person. All that was left to him was to rest his bones and provide company.

'Agreed. Although the Chargers came with me. Cullen will hardly let me out of his sight without them. Although I suppose he'd prefer me to take a regiment whenever I leave the immediate area.'

'Oh I understand, after the end of the blight, Alistair would hardly let me alone. It was like he was waiting for some new danger to sweep me away just as I was safe.'

'That is precisely it! Those two are so alike. If I didn't know of Cullen's family, I would swear they were related.'

'Different, yet just the same. Remember the sparring tournament?'

Corypheus had been defeated and Skyhold was holding a festival to celebrate the end of the menace. It was a long celebration, with festivities planned for over a week. Josephine had pulled out all of the stops to make sure there was an appropriate celebration. Invitations were sent out all over Thedas.

One of the activities Josephine had arranged for was a sparring tourney, all in good fun, everyone set into brackets by specialty. Aeryn had watched a good bit of it, as it was the most interesting thing going on early in the day, however today she was just relaxing in the hall, talking to the Hero of Ferelden, she and the rogue got on uncommonly well and were on the way to a fast friendship. Then Sera happened.

'QUIZZIE!' Sera was screaming as she entered the hall at a run. Approaching Aeryn's table, she gratefully lowered her volume. 'Quizzie!' She slapped the table 'Quizzie, you need to take Queen Fire Crotch and get to the ring. They boys are being naughty!.' Sera took a step toward the door and realized she was only met with Solona and Aeryn's confusion. She grabbed them, one in each hand and pulled. 'C'mon Queenie! Quizzie!'

Solona looked at Aeryn. This was one of her inner circle, perhaps she'd have some knowledge of what was going on. Aeryn just shrugged back, answering the silent question. Without a compelling reason to stop her, they both followed behind the excited elf, doing their best to remain composed for the assembled nobility that was currently awake.

Eventually they reached the sparring ring and discovered it was swarmed with onlookers, and could hear bets being bantered back and forth. Today was bare-knuckles, not quite as exciting as weapon play if you asked Aeryn, but apparently a good match was going on. Sera was pulling them through the throng of people shouting, 'Queenie and Quizzie here, NOW MOVE!' Eventually the trio made it ringside.

'See? Naughty boys. Almost enough to make a girl go for some twig and berries yeah?' Aeryn would've smacked her had she been paying enough attention.

Aeryn was staring at the scene before her in shock! Cullen, her lovely, honorable, level-headed lover was stripped down to only his trousers, barefoot and bare chested, going hand to hand with the KING OF FERELDEN. Was he even thinking?What's worse is his majesty was similarly attired and they were trading quips. What are they thinking!

Solona was staring at her husband in shock; he was practically naked. He was wearing trousers, but nothing else, in the middle of a ring. Her eyes swept over him; it looks like the Inquisition Commander had already landed a few good hits, and maybe a kick judging by the size of the red mark on his side. After a few years on the throne, he was still a fantastic physical specimen and she couldn't help but feel a bit smug that that was what she got to take to bed each night.

Alistair dodged Cullen's swing toward his left side. 'Come on Commander!' he taunted, 'Don't tell me the Lion of Skyhold is merely an overgrown kitten.'

'Oh please your highness' Cullen ducked Alistair's uppercut 'are you sure that you haven't gone all soft sitting in you luxurious palace?' Cullen threw another swing at Alistair's midsection, making contact and forcing a grunt out of the man. 'Perhaps you should eat a bit less cheese?'

Cullen danced back out of Alistair's reach, waiting for him to attack again. Attack he did, swinging hard with his left, which was deflected, however his right made contact with its target. Cullen sidestepped the third blow however, giving Alistair a chance to continue his taunts. 'Come now Cullen, it must be true which I heard about inquisitor having a soft spot for felines.'

Taunting he could take, but he wasn't letting anyone drag Aeryn into this. She was mistress of this hold and he would not have her disrespected within it. 'Watch your mouth Alistair' Cullen growled out a terse warning before getting back to the fight. This time Cullen was swinging rapidly and Alistair blocking.

The king paid his warning little attention and continued 'It seems I hit a nerve. Are you her favorite kitten? Does she coo sweet nothings at you as you lounge in her lap upon the Inquisition throne?' He caught Cullen's wrist and pulled him close. 'Do you purr?'

Alistair was laughing a little too much and was caught off balance when Cullen twisted in his grip, causing the pair to fall to the ground. Aeryn was flushing bright red and looking to Solona for an explanation. Solona was ignoring her, trying to figure out the most creative way to murder her husband for acting like a complete ass.

The fistfight had devolved into the two men wrestling on the ground trying to pin each other. They managed to kick up a good bit of the sand in their scrambling. Aeryn couldn't believe that her lover was scrapping in the dirt with the king like they were both lads fighting over the pretty girl in the village. This was ridiculous. 'They are getting a bit out of hand don't you think?'

Solona looked over at her 'I am quite enjoying the view aren't you?' Aeryn nodded her assent, she was hardly going to object to the spectacle of two extremely handsome men, shirtless, grappling in the dirt. Well other than the fact they were being looked at by half of Thedas and not acting at all as befit their stations. In a more private setting however, this had potential.

Solona turned back to the fight, where Cullen had just rolled to the top, trying to twist Alastair's arm for a pin. It wasn't working. She continued 'but I suppose you are right. If we don't stop them soon we won't have any dance partners tonight.' She sighed, the fight wasn't going to end soon and it had devolved from a contest of skill to, well she didn't know what to call it. She looked at Aeryn 'You call yours and I'll call mine?'

'On three?' Aeryn affirmed. She wasn't surprised that everyone knew about her and Cullen. Well anyone with eyes, he had been her escort to every official function during the entire festival. She had no plans of entertaining anyone; it was her party after all. Also it was nearly impossible to slip away for the night without someone noticing the comings and goings of her chamber, being directly off the great hall. It also didn't help that Cullen was a handsome man and had admirers of his own. No one missed that he shared chambers with the Inquisitor each evening.

'One. Two.' Solona counted. In the next breath, shouts of 'HUSBAND' and 'COMMANDER' rang out from the side of the ring. Both of the occupants of the ring froze; the instinctive reaction of a male in trouble with the ruling female of his life. They were tangled in an awkward pile of limbs and muscle, with Cullen's forearm at Alistair's throat and his hand on Cullen's neck. They slowly and with as much dignity as they could muster, disentangled themselves and slowly walked to their respective women.

'What in Thedas are you doing? Do you WANT your wife to jump you in the middle of a sparring ring? Because this' Solona gestured to the half-naked men 'is how you end up with your wife jumping you in the middle of a sparring ring.' Alistair couldn't bring himself to look appropriately sheepish. He was too busy considering if he could get his wife to jump him in the sparring ring. 'No. You aren't thinking that! Stop it!' she snapped. 'Half of Thedas is here and you're the blighted KING of Ferelden! Or did you forget again?'

'I love you wife?' He tried to alleviate her ire. Of course he forgot again. She was really going to kill him; well she'd have sex with him first, then kill him.

Cullen meanwhile managed to look appropriately contrite when facing his lady. 'Commander, care to explain what you were doing half-naked in the sparring ring?'

'Well' he ran a hand through his hair, 'it seemed like a good idea to spar with the King, as an exhibition match.' Aeryn looked at him critically, not buying the excuse. 'Some of the men were wondering why I had not entered into the competition, and Alistair was lamenting that Solona didn't let him enter. So we decided an exhibition match would be good.' She raised an eyebrow. 'For morale' he finished.

'Seriously Commander, I do not need you broken. There are another TWO days of festival and I expect you to not butcher the dancing more than usual. You cannot do that if you've broken your body in some silly contest. There are plenty of men to fight if we need to improve morale at a victory celebration for saving Thedas. You do not need to be among them.' She was hissing at him, trying to keep from yelling.

Now Cullen saw through her anger, she was concerned for his safety. He lowered his voice, 'Aeryn, I can take a few hits.'

'Those weren't hits. That was scrapping like wild animals.' She stared at him, absentmindedly running a thumb over the split in his lip. 'Now Commander' her voice was low so as not to be overheard, 'I am going to run a bath for myself and you look like you could use one as well. You know how I hate to waste water.' Maker preserve him, he thought as he walked across the ring to get his clothes and boots, that woman was going to be the death of him.

'Oh Maker, Yes!' Aeryn giggled remembering the incident.

'A little Birdie, well actually a raven, told me that I would be expected at your wedding anytime now.'

'Damn it Leliana' Aeryn cursed under her breath.

'When will it be Aeryn? It had better be after the sprog arrives because I will tear a hole in the sky myself if I miss your wedding.'

'We aren't even formally engaged.'

'That doesn't mean you won't wed him. You are so good together; you are so good for him. Whatever the past, he's a good man, it takes you to remind him of that.'

'Yes, but generally one has to be asked before one is wed Solona.'

'If Leliana doesn't get him to ask, I promise, as soon as this sprog is born, I will come to Skyhold and beat a proposal out of him for you. I may be Queen now, but I still know how to wield a dagger.' Solona gave Aeryn a wink. 'It would be a crime if you did not marry. You two could be as happy as my husband and I are. That's not something that just happens every day.'

'Josephine and Leliana swear that it is covered. Enough talk of frustrating men. Onto pleasant things. I hope that shortly all of the presents should be unpacked. Nearly everyone sent something!'