Everyone bustled around, preparing for the coronation. His coronation. The one of a royal bastard. A little tidbit enters his mind; something useless Zevran told him what seemed like forever ago. The Antivan Royal line stemmed from royal bastards many times over.
Would his child be a royal bastard? Would they never glean the look Rome got when she was bathing in victory? What about her kindness? It is rare to see such selflessness. He remembered thinking about that when she first told him what happened in Highever. How many people would honestly keep going strong after that?
He watches her silently. Rome is leading the preparations the best she can. Leliana had been called by the Chantry in Orlais, for something or other. She's radiating calmness as everyone else around her finds problems and other maladies that the Princess-Consort herself needs to deal with.
Alistair also notices Kuma who is lying very near Rome's side. Every few moments Rome pats the top of his head. Every once in a while a passing servant will drop of scrap of meat or a small biscuit for the dog. A portly noble woman approached Rome and being ticking off problems that Rome needed to remedy. Rome smiled and nodded.
He watched as Kuma nudged the woman's leg, as if telling her to go away and leave his master alone. When the nobles had finally left her alone, Rome slipped away. Kuma followed her into a hallway away from the Throne Room.
Alistair followed her trail, hiding in the shadows. Maker forbid one of the nobles catch their would-be King sneaking off.
"And there is my beautiful Warden."
She tossed him a look, a tired smile gracing her prominent Cousland features.
"Off hiding again? You won't be able to hide for very long, as clumsy as you are."
"I resent that!" He countered. He sauntered over to her side, taking her calloused hand in his. She complained one night that the maid girls fretted themselves to death over her hands. The calloused hands were a way of life, for a very long time. They didn't bother her much.
"Oh? I remember trying to help set up camp with Wynne and you and Kuma were rough-housing, knocking over the two tents already set up."
Kuma whined slightly at this. Alistair winced. They had gotten a scolding for not watching where they were playing and that she and Wynne had been hard at work so he and the others could sleep in a dry tent. He noticed a sad smile on her pretty face.
"It won't be as bad as you think. There'll be plenty of chances for you to leave and go schmooze up some foreign leaders."
Alistair wrapped his arm around her small waist, and they walked with hips bumping.
"And be as cruel as to leave you here to fend for yourself? I think not, dear love."
The kitchens were quiet, dinner was well over. Rome found a package of cookies and jumped back onto a counter. She munched on one quietly as Kuma sniffed around.
"Find any giant rats, boy?" She asked, a knowing smile playing on her face. Kuma growled, making her outright laugh. "No, I don't suppose you would. We might have a giant infestation though. I suppose that's an adventure for another day."
Two servant children ran through the kitchen, a little girl giggling when the boy tried to catch her. Rome sighed and took another cookie.
"What are we going to do when the Council demands we have children?"
"Tell them there's already a little child borne of a Bastard of the Throne and an evil forest mage out there somewhere?"
Rome's boot connected with his side.
"We have time, love. There's no use in worrying about it right now." His voice was soft. He knew that she had been thinking of these sorts of things. What was expected of them as a royal couple and how she couldn't live up to the standards that were set. Even if she had easily broken the mold of what was expected of her before.
"You're right. I know, I know. It's something you're not used to hearing." She worked to hide a smile, but it didn't work.
"Ooh, not at all. Just give me a moment to let this settle in."
She laughed, and before he knew it, her lips were on hers. She tasted sweet… Rome broke away and slid off the counter. She took his hand and gave him a look. He quite happily let her lead him to their apartments.
A/N: I don't even know what I'm doing anymore.