Chapter 6. A Day for Celebration

Anora listened with mounting exasperation to the squabble between several of the Bann's present in Court. She had never liked sitting in Court, and much preferred the closer, more orderly, meetings with just the heads of the administrative branches. Now it was an effort in willpower for her to not scream at their petty fights. All she could think of was the lack of news from Amaranthine.

There were plenty of rumors though. The city of Amaranthine had either fallen or miraculously been saved, or possibly both. Vigil's Keep was expected to fall shortly, if it hadn't fallen already. The Wardens, led by the Prince, was rumored to have disappeared into the Underworld to fight alone against source of the darkspawn invasion.

Anora, bit her lip. She remembered the muted discussion she had had with her father. He had explained that it was likely that he didn't have many years left to live, before he would depart for the Deep Roads. That's what Grey Wardens did. They went into the Underworld to die, fighting the darkspawn hordes.

She saw Teyrn Cousland argue with Bann Loren about a bridge tax. At first she had found it hard to believe that Fergus Cousland and Michael where brothers, but now she could see that they had very similar eyes. She cursed herself inwardly. She wasn't concentrating. The discussions where getting heated and several Bann's where looking at her to step in and bring order.

Anora opened her mouth and prepared to speak, when a commotion at the door made her halt. The door flew open and a guard almost stumbled into the room, staring wide eyed and panting.

" What is the meaning of this intrusion?" she asked irritated.

"I… I beg your pardon, your Majesty, but a courier has arrived from Amaranthine," the guardsman said.

"They… they have won, your Majesty. The Prince has led the Grey Wardens to victory. They have defeated the darkspawn and Amaranthine is free!"

Anora gripped the arm rest on the throne. The room erupted in commotion and spontaneous cheering. Everyone started to ask the guard for more details. Only Bann Teagan took the time to look at the Queen's pale face. He cleared his throat and said loudly.

"In light of these joyous news, I think that further discussion should be postponed. I suggest that we clear the room and reconvene tomorrow instead."

One by one the noblemen left the throne room, until only Teagan was left. He looked at Anora who still remained seated on her throne.

"Will you be needing anything, you Majesty," he said courteously.

Anora shook her head.

"No, I'm fine thank you," she whispered, eyes brimming with tears. "I'm fine."

When she finally rose from the throne, she gave orders that Denerim should begin preparing to welcome the Hero of Fereldan home.

Nigella worked diligently. She had lost her job at Arl Eamon's estate together with many other. Eamon seldom visited Denerim since Anora's coronation, but she had been fortunate enough to get none other than the Prince to send a good word for her, securing her a place at the Royal Palace.

She was scrubbing the stone slabs that made up the stairs to the main entrance in the Royal Palace in Denerim. A job as servant in the Palace was a fine and well paid position, especially for an elf, but the last few days had been harrowing.

The whole courtyard had been scrubbed and polished. A huge wooden podium had been erected and decorated with fresh flowers. Large urns filled with flowers lined the path in the outer courtyard from the gate to the podium. The royal arms of Fereldan was displayed on banners hanging from every window.

The Queen had been constantly moving to oversee every part of the work. If anything was short of perfect she would throw a tantrum at the guilty part. All the servants cowered in terror when she passed them. The carpenters had even had to tear down the whole wooden construction once, because the Queen claimed the proportions were wrong.

Queen Anora would accept nothing short of absolute perfection when Denerim prepared to greet the heroic Prince who had returned from the Underworld and saved the country from destruction once more. As the day progressed, more and more people started to line the streets, hoping to catch a glimpse of the procession, while merchants and peddlers where hawking their wares in the crowd.

Anora herself had angrily gone through six different dresses. She sat down to let Erlina arrange her coiffure, while she pondered if she would keep the current dress or not. Erlina combed her long blonde hair and then bowed and picked up a headdress that was meant to match the dress she wore. It was a small but pretty hat with a pearl studded cloth in the back to hold in the hair.

Anora snorted disapproving. She had never understood the Orlesian fascination with hats. Her father had insisted that real Fereldan women did not wear hats.

"Please Erlina," she said annoyed. "Take that thing away."

"But your Majesty. I think it would be most fitting and appropriate on the occasion," Erlina replied.

"Why?" Anora said frowning?

"Why the Prince is coming home after so long. He must miss you very much. Maybe he will be... passionate tonight. You only need to remove two pins here and it comes off. No need to spoil the mood with undoing all those braids, no?"

Anora's mouth formed a little O, when she realized what Erlina meant. She looked at the hat for a long time and then she cast down her eyes.

"Erlina..." she said hesitantly looking at her hands. "Do you... do you really think that he has missed me?"

Erlina carefully finished combing Anora's hair and regarded her.

"Pardon me your Majesty," she said carefully. "But all I know is that the lady who carelessly left a pack of letters under your pillow, she has a husband who misses his wife very much, I think."

Anora bit her lip, cheeks glowing, and she nodded wordlessly as Erlina held up the headdress again, and that was how she was dressed as she stood on the podium later, waiting to greet her husband.

The first sign that the Prince and the Wardens had arrived in Denerim was the sound of cheering crowds, that rose as it came closer and closer to the Palace gates. When the cheering started in the throngs of people clustered just outside the entrance to the decorated courtyard, Anora barely restrained her desire to tiptoe to see if she could catch a first glimpse of Michael through the archway.

Then the crowd inside the courtyard erupted, accompanied by scores of blaring trumpets, when Michael dismounted his black destrier, followed by the rest of the Wardens, and walked across the courtyard. As he stepped up towards the podium, grinning at his Queen, she could no longer resist a huge smile and came to meet him.

Michael thought that the celebrations would never end. He was tired and would have preferred to just retire early, but there was no escaping the speeches, cheering and the banquet prepared in his honor afterwards.

As huge state occasions go, the banquet was better than most though, Michael thought, even if he had to be the centre of attention. His fellow Wardens seemed to enjoy the festivities. Anders was entertaining a circle of young women with an outrageous tale of how he'd been chased by a love sick Templar. Even Velanna seemed to be smiling now and then, or as close as she ever would come to a smile, at least Nathaniel was looking her way.

The most remarkable sight for Michael was however that for once Anora seemed to really enjoy herself at a feast. She laughed a lot more than he was used to, and even giggled at Oghren's antics. And sometimes, when their hands brushed, he would find her looking at him with a furtive smile.

It was not until late at night, that they finally made their way back to the royal bed chamber. He felt a little woozy from the all the wine the servants had poured him. Anora stumbled in the gloom, giggling, and grasped his arm. Michael caught her and held her. She froze in his arms, and for a long time they just stood like that unmoving.

He listened to the beat of her heart, not wanting to let go, and afraid that the slightest move would break the spell. Then she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him like she had never kissed him before.

Afterwards, when he lay beside her in their bed, he took a last loving look at her. The light coat of sweat made her body glisten like a goddess, he thought. Then he blew out the candle and pulled up the blankets to cover her.

"Good night my Queen," he whispered as she snuggled closer to him.

THE END