Friends Reunited

As the carriage drew closer, Cameron couldn't contain her excitement. She had tried to be on her best behavior, just to ensure that she was not left behind and even bribed Draco into acting proper as well in the weeks prior to their departure. When she had returned home from her last visit, she had quickly realized that she did not have many friends and that made leaving her new friend behind even harder. Most of the children her age looked at her rigidly and often called her 'Your Ladyship', things she had rarely noticed before. It depressed her greatly to realize that her only real friend was miles away.

Her Mother, in preparation of the Prince's Birthday Celebration, often told Cameron of Prince Calian's exploits as well as his achievements and tried desperately to gain her daughter's favor with the decision of marrying him. Eleanor noticed her young daughter's hopeless expression and told in a very 'matter of fact' tone, "Prince Calian is becoming a very handsome young man; I hope you two spend time getting to know one another. I'm sure you will find something that both you and His Highness have in common."

Cameron just frowned and look away, she liked Prince Calian well enough but her eyes always began to water thinking of him laughing at her when she was pushed into the dirt. She had hoped he would have been more receptive of her; Cameron thought he was in the same type of predicament and had little to no true friends as well. Perhaps it was different for him, being the prince and all.

"I'm sure, Mother, that there is something we agree on", she said in a huff, quietly thinking to herself, 'Like I really want to beat him silly. Well, I don't think he will be agreeing with that but oh well. On the bright side, at least Aleic will be there. I can't wait to see him.' She smiled wide at the thought; she had missed her friend greatly and could only barely contain her excitement.

Her mother, seeing her reaction gave a small smile and stared out to watch the road once more. The young Teyrnia had smuggled into her luggage a hand-made present for her best friend. She gently ran her hand over the large object, smirking as she thought of him. After the incident with Calian, Cameron quickly realized that Aleic was a very quick learner and agreed with his last letter that he was a natural with a shield.

She had never had much luck using one, much to her Father's disappointment, focusing more on just being faster and doing as much damage to an enemy as possible. She smirked to herself as she held a large cloth-wrapped gift tight to her chest. To help take her mind off the still long journey ahead of her, she opened a well-loved book she had brought with her from home. 'The Myth and Exploits of the Dark Knight, The Black Wolf of Highever' was one of her favorites, more so than 'The Art of War' even. She had found the book one day while rummaging through her grandfather's study. The book was dusty from years of non-use and there was a note written inside the cover, 'More myth, should be more careful.' She never quite understood the meaning of the small note in her grandfather's handwriting. It often spoke of the Black Knight of Fereldan, protecting the helpless from those who had been corrupted by power. She sighed heavily as she flipped to her favorite part, hoping to make time move faster.

The Royal entourage from Denerim had finally arrived at Castle Redcliffe. Prince Calian was glad to be finally out of the stuffy carriage, having been forced to remain inside for over a day. As he jumped from the slowing carriage, he inhaled the fresh air happily. While the young prince began to stretch his arms, his father emerged gracefully and gave a fulfilling sigh. He had not been enjoying the stuffiness of the ride either. He had spent most of the trip contemplating what would be done about his young son.

'The nobles want a decision, thankfully; Bryce and Loghain are patient, the other banns and arls are less so. Maker, I sometimes hate the Landsmeets.' He thought as he looked around him. "Perhaps some time away will make the choice clear. Maker willing, Calian will make his own choice." He sighed heavily with the thought.

As servants began to hurry towards the caravan, beginning to unload luggage and gear; a second carriage pulled up alongside. Maric smiled, recognizing the large dark haired man that emerged from carriage of Gwaren. "Loghain, my friend! It is always good to see you!" Maric boasted as he approached.

The Teyrn gave a curt bow as grabbed the good natured king by the arm, "The pleasure is mine, my friend. How are you holding up Maric?" He said in a jovial voice. "If I can get the Landsmeet to stop pestering me, everything would be better. And who is this pretty little thing? Surely, this cannot be little Anora?!" He said as she emerged from the carriage, a lady-in-waiting hot on her heels.

The Teyrnia of Gwaren was beautiful, bright blue eyes peering through her long, golden blonde hair shining in the summer sunshine and her dress of shimmering pale green flowed effortlessly around her. She slowly walked forward to Maric and gave a low curtsy. "Good Afternoon, Your Majesty." She said in a regal sounding voice.

"You needn't be so prim and proper with me Teyrnia Mac Tir. Calian, come over and say hello." He smiled towards his young son and gestured him over. The young prince approached cautiously and kept his head to the ground. He stood there; quiet for an awkward few minutes which made Maric chuckle to himself. "Calian?" "Hello." Calian said in a low, quiet voice; hoping to avoid all eye contact with the young lady before him. Anora gave him the same greeting as his father, dipping low and standing straight as though a string was pulled.

From beside the Teyrn's carriage, Aleic watched with a frown. He had seen the same reaction to Cameron when Calian had been forced to go give her a tour of the grounds. He remembered the discussion after the Teyrnia left as well, reprimanding him for distracting Cameron during her stay and keeping her from spending time with the Prince. He remembered the Arlessa requesting to throw him out of the castle, saying 'Quit protecting that boy! Let the wolves have him if he is not yours!'

Aleic sighed at the memory; these were not the thoughts he wished to be having when he knew his only friend would be there again. "Cameron should be here soon! Hopefully, Arl Eamon will allow me the afternoon off so I can visit with her." He wanted to show her Redcliffe; the Lake where the ominous Circle of Magi tower could be seen far off into the distance, the baker's shop that had the best breads and cheeses, Smithy's blacksmith shop where most of the arms and armor were made for the village. Aleic had been saving his coppers, hoping to show his gratitude from the last time Cameron had visited Redcliffe. There was no price he wouldn't pay to have a friend, especially one like her but he looked down to his small pouch with a depressing sigh. 10 copper bits was all he had been able to save over the course of the year and it seemed a meager amount compared to what others might offer. As he stood there, pondering what to do about his coin; he heard a loud female shriek from behind him.

Behind King Maric, a tall young girl with long black braided pigtails trailing behind her ran towards the startled boy; narrowly missing the monarch, almost hitting the flabbergasted prince and knocking down little Anora all in a rush to Aleic. "Cameron?" he barely got out before she tackled him to the ground. "ALEIC!"

Calian stared speechless at the scene before him, 'Who is that boy? How come she didn't greet me like that?' he thought as he tilted his head confused and the laughter continued from the duo, Cameron had Aleic in a head lock and was rubbing her knuckles into his head. Draco was quick to follow, jumping over Anora towards Cameron and licking Aleic's face repeatedly.

Giggling and barking aside, Loghain reached down in horror and helped his daughter out of the dirt, "Anora? Are you alright? Young Teyrnia Cousland seems like a small battering ram." He laughed as he looked behind the King, "Cousland, what in Andraste's name are you feeding her?"

"The usual, Loghain." Bryce laughed with Eleanor and Fergus in tow. "Greetings, Your Majesty. A pleasure to see you, as always. And you as well, Teyrn Mac Tir. You seem to be in brighter spirits, Maric. I had imagined that your head would still be repeatedly slamming into a wall after the meeting of the Arls and the Bannorn. I still don't understand why it is so important for you to decide on a bride for the Prince already. The boy is barely 11." Bryce said, a bit of irritation in his usually cheery voice. "You're telling me, Teyrn Cousland." Maric laughed as he rubbed the back of his neck, if had been quite a long day.

Anora clenched her teeth and hands into little balls; she could not believe how disrespectful one person could be. Her once beautiful dress, now sporting dirt and gravel and sprigs of grass stuck in her hair. She turned to look at Calian who now wore a look of disappointment and rejection clear on his face. Her eyes grew wide; her father had already explained what this gala was for. Calian was to choose a bride for when he became old enough, which would be her if she had any say in the matter. Her blue eyes narrowed as she stomped towards Calian, "Come on." She barked as she brushed past him. Calian looked up in shock at her order as she continued to stomp past him, fully expecting him to follow.

Maric watched curiously at the display as Calian sighed and just as he was about to turn to follow her, Cameron came barreling through again, lifting the prince up in a strange bear hug. "Hi Calian! It's wonderful to see you again!" She laughed as she quickly dropped him into the gravel to run at her 'Unca Maric'.

"Cameron! My, you have grown! You are getting more beautiful and stronger with every passing day!" The happy king quipped as he lifted her off the ground and into a strong hug. "I told you not to give her those sweets, Bryce. Now, she is all over the place." Teyrna Cousland smirked from beside her husband. "She behaved proper up until we arrived, that's something, right?" He laughed, watching the young troublemaker squirm down to her faithful Mabari hound and her friend, lost in their own thoughts. Bryce couldn't help but smile; it brought light to his heart to see his lonely daughter happy.

"Greetings, Your Ladyship." Loghain quipped as he gave a respectful bow. Maric watched as she stood at full attention, showing a large amount of respect to Fereldan's General. She placed her arm across her chest and bowed to him, "You as well, General Mac Tir. I am honored to finally meet you." She said as she stood straight, squaring off her shoulders in a military stance. The dark haired man laughed as he looked down at her, "More than a little intimidating for a 9 year old." Maric rolled his eyes at his friend's observation as Aleic stared hard at the ground, 'I'm just glad she's here.' He gave the thought a slow turn through his head as his cheeks became pink.

The young, energy filled Teyrnia spun on heel with a large smile as she looked to her friend. "Are you ready to show me what you've been practicing?" She asked with a curious smile and her hands on her hips. "Hello, Teyrnia Cousland. It is very nice to see you again. You look very nice today." Calian said his voice shy and quiet with s small bow, drawing Cameron's attention away from the other boy and giving the young prince a sweet smile.

Anora continued to watch the spectacle before her, her nails digging painfully into her palms. Calian began turning pink when young Cameron turned to face him, her cheeks becoming rosy as his face changed colors. The Teyrnia of Gwaren huffed under her breath as her father continued to make compliments about Teyrnia Cousland. She didn't understand why they would continue this adoration towards the rude and obnoxious girl. 'Just because I'm of common birth doesn't mean I don't deserve the same if not more respect than her. I earned mine.' She thought as she hands clenched tigher. After taking a deep breath to calm herself, she grabbed Calian by the arm and began to drag him towards the castle, telling him what they were to do for the day. Cameron watched puzzled as Calian cringed at her ideas of 'fun' and looked to her for help. She soon shrugged and walked with Aleic and Draco towards the training arena, she was excited to give her present.

"Okay, close your eyes" Cameron smiled as they approached the training arena. Aleic rolled his eyes at her request but submitted regardless. After a moment, she grabbed his hands and placed them something hard, covered in fabric. "Okay, you can open them!" she giggled.

Aleic stood there, curiously looking over the object in his hands. "Oh, um, thank you? You got me a serving tray?" He asked looking at the strange gift and wondering it's meaning. Cameron's face dropped at the comment, feeling as though she had insulted her friend. "Maker no, Aleic! I would never give you that!" she shrieked as she tore the cloth covering off. He stood in awe, "It's a shield." He almost whispered. "Yep! I made it myself, well; with some help." Sanded to a silken finish, on the field; the Highever laurel wreath was presented in fine grey and blues. She beamed as he gently ran his hand over the simple wooden shield. "I- Thank you Cameron." He looked to her shining face. "Think nothing of it, Aleic! I figured, someday; you'll be a knight and we would be fighting side by side. I would need someone like you to guard me." She thoughtfully said.

Aleic chuckled, "Of course, Cameron. You do just blindly run into trouble. Someone has to keep an eye on you." Draco huffed in agreement, which made the young girl's face cringe. "I don't always run 'blindly' into trouble. It just, happens." She said, a sneer on her lips towards the giggling pair. "Come on, I want to get a few rounds in before Mother drags me off to get dressed. I still don't understand why I have to dress all 'pretty'", she said, the word spat out like poison. "I think it's because your a Teyrnia, Cameron." Aleic snickered behind her as they all broke out their training gear.