As the summer months brought with them an unusual wave of heat the Wilds flourished with life. Stepping nimbly through the foliage, a dark haired girl of four hunkered down and watched wolf cubs cautiously appearing from their den. She settled herself into a more comfortable position and watched for hours as the cubs played and fought while their mother watched them, occasionally nuzzling them. Something stirred within her, she had only ever known her mother and such affection that the she wolf displayed was rare. As the wolves moved back into their den; she found her way easily back to their home picking some wild flowers on the way, smiling brightly as she presented them to her mother.

"And why did you pick these? They are of no medicinal value."

"They are beautiful."

Raising an eyebrow Flemeth gazed down at her daughter. "Beauty is fleeting, one day you will understand that." Looking into golden eyes that mirrored her own Flemeth hardened her heart, for Morrigan to do what must one day be done she could not afford to be weak.

Morrigan watched wide eyed as a wisp of flame rose from her mother's hand curling around the flowers turning them to ash. She moved closer reaching up to take hold of her hand. "Beautiful." She purred. "Teach me."

Flemeth smiled warmly, a gesture Morrigan would never forget and knelt beside her. "Soon Morrigan, soon the magic will manifest within you and then I will teach you such wonders that you cannot yet imagine."

Morrigan's eyes brightened. "Promise?"

Flemeth nodded. "You have my word."

xXx

Jayden crawled across the room using his father's leg to pull himself to his feet.

Loghain smiled and scooped up his son who squealed happily, gently bouncing him on his knee. "Have you had fun today?"

Jayden smiled and grasped one of his father's braids, bringing it to his mouth.

Aelfraud smiled warmly. "He's a handful that boy, never stops moving from the moment he opens his eyes."

Loghain nuzzled Jayden's nose with his. "That's my boy."

Anora chuckled as Jayden squealed happily when she entered the room holding his hands out to her. She picked him up hugging him close. "You should be asleep little brother. Is father keeping you up?"

"Da da." He squealed clapping his hands.

Loghain chuckled and pulled Jayden back into his arms. "Let's have a story before I put you to bed."

Jayden gave his grandfather and Anora a goodnight kiss before Loghain carried him upstairs to their room; his father's soothing scent and the motion of walking almost sending him to sleep, but not quite.

Loghain settled beside the fire in their bedroom wrapping a blanket around his son signalling it was time to sleep, smiling at Celia who was brushing out her waist length hair. He pressed a soft kiss to Jayden's nose, extracting a braid once again from his sons grasping hands and curious mouth. "The sooner you go to sleep the sooner a new day will begin." Loghain soothed, smiling when Jayden blinked sleepily trying to stay focused on him.

Celia smiled and handed Jayden the cloth mabari she had made when he was born, chuckling softly as he brought it straight to his mouth.

"Now then, let's have a story." Loghain murmured gazing adoringly at his son. "There was once a man who had a farm hold in Oswain in the Western Bannorn. He had a son and wife and he worked hard to provide for his family who he loved above all things. He took pride in the accomplishment of growing food enough for his family and to trade, but one year the taxes imposed by the evil Emperor of Orlais were so high he could not afford to pay them."

Celia glanced up startled almost holding her breath to see what he would say.

"He lost their home and his wife and he and his son joined the rebellion to drive them out of his beloved country …"

"Makers sake darling must you tell that as a bedtime story?"

Loghain gently ran his finger down Jayden's cheek smiling as he grasped his finger. "I want my son to know the truth of what they are, of what they did to his family. One day he will be the Teyrn of Gwaren and it will be his duty to protect this country."

Celia settled next to her husband. "Darling I would not have you frighten him with such things until he is at least of an age where he can understand what happened."

Loghain nuzzled his son's nose. "I suppose you are right."

Celia kissed her husband's cheek. "No more talk of Orlesians tonight."

Nodding Loghain gently rocked his son, singing him a lullaby in his deep soothing voice. As Jayden finally closed his eyes, Loghain placed him gently into his cot. He moved to Celia and kissed her cheek. "I will just say goodnight to Anora love." He caught his wife's happy smile and pulled her gently into his arms. "Forgive a fool, I denied so much for us for so long."

Gently cupping his cheek Celia kissed her husband. "Hush love; we cannot change the past, all we can do is live now and make better choices."

xXx

Anora glanced up at the knock on her bedroom door smiling when her father entered.

Loghain smiled warmly. Anora was curled up in bed reading by candle light, her waist length hair in a single golden plait over her left shoulder; she looked so much like her mother. "What are you reading?"

"A book Nate gave me for my last name-day on archery."

Loghain smiled and sat next to her. "Now why does that not surprise me?"

Anora grinned. "Probably because we both know Nate was practically born with a bow in his hand."

"Well from what I saw in the training yard yesterday you are coming along nicely with a bow yourself."

Anora beamed with pleasure at the praise. "I am getting much better. Tolman is giving me some pointers. He's really good."

Tolman was Aelfraud's elven man servant though he was treated more like family by the old man. He had spent several years with the Dalish when he was younger learning his archery skills with them, but had returned to city life missing his family.

"I see."

Anora narrowed her eyes. "You're not going to get all cross about elves and weapons are you?"

Loghain could barely suppress the smile; though Anora's temperament was more his own, sometimes her mother shone through. "No darling. I'm pleased he can help." He chuckled at the hug. "Don't read too late."

"I won't."

Loghain gently kissed her forehead. "Goodnight sweetheart."

"Goodnight father, love you."

"Love you too Anora."

xXx

Delilah gave a low sigh and sat in the Keep's garden carefully picking flowers. She glanced up and smiled as Nathaniel knelt beside her.

"Mothers favourites."

Delilah nodded; remaining silent as she carefully extracted each petal from the flowers, adding them to the small basket beside her. When she had finished she glanced up to her brother. "Want to come to the stream?"

Nathaniel nodded and helped her to her feet. It was a short walk, the stream flowing passed the Keep on its way to the sea.

Delilah knelt on the bank and took a handful of petals sprinkling them into the water. "Mom and I used to do this before Thomas was born." She whispered. "We used to make wishes."

Nathaniel smiled. "What did you wish for?"

"I wished for mom to be happy."

Nathaniel pulled her into a hug. "What are you wishing for now?"

Delilah flushed and glanced at the petals in her hand. "That my fairy godmother will come and take me away from the Keep forever and that I will live happily ever after."

Nathaniel smiled and took a handful of petals and sprinkled them into the water.

"What did you wish for?" Delilah asked shyly.

"That you live happily ever after."

Delilah grinned and hugged him tightly. "Let's make a wish for you too. What would you like?"

Nathaniel chewed at his lip. "I wish for Thomas to be kinder."

Delilah sighed. "I don't think that's possible."

"Why?"

"I've wished that every day since mom died and he just gets worse."

"Well maybe if we both do it, the wish will have more power."

Delilah nodded and they both sprinkled petals onto the surface of the water making their wish. She smiled and snuggled against her brother, the last of the petals gone.

"Why did you stop doing this when Thomas was born?" Nathaniel asked curiously.

"Mom said she didn't believe in making wishes anymore." She glanced up to Nathaniel. "But I do."

xXx

Jayden was nine months old when he took his first steps. Anora and Celia were sitting opposite each other with Jayden playing between them. He had crawled to his mother and used her arm to pull himself up to hug her, before turning and holding out his hands for his sister. Celia took her hands from his waist though hovered close. "Go on my darling, you have been itching to walk for days now."

Jayden reached out his hands towards his sister who smiled and encouraged him. Jayden took a tentative first step before he was moving towards her in what could only be described as a running stumble, falling hard against her giggling the entire time.

Anora hugged and kissed him in delight, lavishing him with praise and cuddles.

Jayden beamed and smiled at his delighted parents doing the same running stumble to his father who swung him into his arms grinning with pride. From that moment Jayden ran everywhere.

xXx

Teagan smiled as he found Alistair playing quietly next to the fire in the kitchen. "Alistair! Makers breath I've been looking everywhere for you."

Alistair grinned with delight and ran into his arms. "Teagan can we play now?"

"Yes of course. I hope you've been good and not been distracting Catherine." He winked at the cook who unsuccessfully tried to hide her smile.

Alistair shook his head solemnly. "I've been quiet I promise."

Catherine smiled warmly. "He's a good lad; sat quiet as can be, even rinsed off some beans for me."

Alistair smiled shyly at the praise.

"Good lad. Now, how about we go down to the lake?"

Alistair clapped in delight. "Yes please!"

xXx

Smiling broadly Teagan watched as Alistair played at the waters edge flicking the water with his toes, always looking back to check he was still there.

"Teagan paddle with me!"

Teagan took off his boots and joined Alistair in the water, laughing as Alistair splashed him.

"Wish you lived here too." Alistair said softly.

Pulling the boy into a hug, Teagan smiled warmly. "Alistair no matter how far away I am, I will always be here if you need me."

"Love you Teagan." Alistair murmured wrapping his arms around his neck and resting his head on Teagan's broad shoulder.

Teagan held him close pressing a kiss to the top of his head. "I love you too Alistair."

They stayed at the lake for the full afternoon; Alistair wearing himself out, yawning loudly as Teagan carried him back to the castle as the sun began its descent. He continued to yawn, barely able to lift his arms to help Teagan change him into his night clothes.

Teagan smiled to himself and tucked Alistair into bed picking a book from the shelf.

Blinking sleepily Alistair clutched his knight, giving the horse a kiss before putting it by the side of the bed and settled down for his story. They were barely two pages in when he dropped off to sleep.

Teagan watched him sleep for a little while before he sighed and leaning over placed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Sweet dreams Alistair."

"Love you." Alistair murmured in his sleep.

Teagan smiled. "Love you too Alistair." He glanced up and noticed Eamon in the doorway.

"You'll make a fine father one day brother."

Teagan sighed softly. "Maker willing."

xXx

"Where's my little brother?" Cailan shouted out, laughing as Jayden ran out from behind a chair and hurtled towards his legs, dropping to the ground and tickling him. Cailan had begged his father to visit Gwaren every day for a whole month desperate to see Jayden. Now he was on his feet he was much more fun. Maric had finally relented and had written to Loghain who had confirmed they would be delighted to have them visit.

Jayden squealed happily; squirming away from him and ran across the room, slamming into Maric's legs. He fell on his backside glancing up at Maric looking slightly stunned.

Maric winced and gently picked him up. "Sorry little man."

Jayden scrunched up his nose and then hugged his neck, before squirming to be down to continue chasing after Cailan.

Maric moved to intercept Jayden as Aelfraud entered the room, but Jayden immediately slowed and toddled over to his grandfather holding his hand to walk with him to his seat. Only when Aelfraud was settled and he had given him a kiss did he return to his previous activities. "You have quite the way with him." Maric stated settling opposite him.

Aelfraud chuckled softly. "He seems to know I'm a little more fragile than the rest of you."

Maric smiled warmly. "Fragile is not a word I would associate with you Aelfraud."

"Ah I am an old man now your Majesty, but I am a happy one."

"Will you join us today?"

"I wouldn't miss it, I'm curious to see how my grandson will react." Both men chuckled softly.

xXx

The Mac Tir's and Theirin's made their way down to the sea, to a shaded cove where the water was calm. Loghain gently put Jayden on the sand who glanced curiously at the ground before his eyes widened in alarm as his feet began to move as the sand did. He grabbed hold of his father's leg a soft whimper leaving his lips, tears welling in his eyes.

Loghain knelt beside him smiling as Jayden clutched his chest glaring at the sand. He carefully picked up a handful to show his son. "It can't hurt you."

Jayden glanced at his father and then held out his hand his eyes widening as Loghain slowly poured sand through his fingers. He looked at the sand again and still clutching his father's tunic he patted down the sand with his foot. He glanced up to Cailan and Anora who were watching barely able to suppress their chuckles.

"Come on Jay." Cailan coaxed.

Celia held her breath as she watched her son glance back to his father before he let go of his tunic and step by cautious step began to walk across the sand, until he seemed to find his feet and ran full tilt towards the water.

"Makers breath!" Loghain hissed racing after him catching him just before he reached the water's edge.

Celia and Maric burst out laughing as Loghain lost his footing and fell straight into the water, just managing to turn himself so he kept Jayden dry.

Jayden of course had other ideas and squirmed and wriggled until he was sitting on his father's knees squealing as the cold water washed over them. Jayden had seen the sea from a distance before, but to actually touch it was infinitely more exciting. Safe in his father's arms he splashed the water with his hands utterly delighted.

Loghain glanced to his wife and friend and joined their laughter, Anora and Cailan racing around him splashing water at each other.

They had lunch on the sand, though Jayden was more interested in the sea than food. He went around the entire group tugging them until they took him down to the water so he could paddle. When it was time to return to the estate he cried desperately and only stilled when Aelfraud pulled him into his arms. He continued to quietly cry; hugging his grandfather's neck, his eyes fixed on the sea until it was out of sight. He was back to his usual self by the time they reached the estate, running after Cailan who was desperate to make him laugh.

xXx

Loghain smiled as he glanced to the rug by the fire; Cailan was snoring softly, Jayden curled up next to him twitching in his sleep.

Maric settled opposite him. "Maker Jayden never stops, he has Cailan exhausted."

Loghain took a sip of wine. "I never expected such a reaction to leaving the beach."

"Just a little overawed I think." Aelfraud stated patting his shoulder before he headed to his own bed.

Celia smiled and wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. "You looked rather adorable in the water my darling."

Loghain rolled his eyes, but smiled and gently kissed her hand. "Perhaps we should take him back tomorrow, show him the sea will always be there."

Celia smiled and kissed his cheek. "If only all things were such a constant."

xXx

Author Note: Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed.