Chapter 12. Homecoming Queen
The next morning Anora was already out of bed when Michael opened his eyes. He looked at her through half open lids first, without calling attention to the fact that he was awake. She was standing in her nightgown, with her back towards him, brushing her hair.
His eyes traced her slim curves. Then he closed his eyes and recalled last night. She had been so uptight at first, but when he had, well... seduced her, for lack of a better word, she'd been so very pliant.
She was quite a woman, he thought. He'd known many women before, but none had had her strength or intelligence. He suddenly wondered if she was up for more fun in the morning.
"Good morning, dear," he said lazily.
"Good morning, husband," Anora replied in a calm, professional tone.
Michael quickly shelved the idea of continued enjoyment in bed. She was obviously back to her old self again, he thought sighing inwardly. Getting out of bed, he looked for his clothes and began putting them on. He saw Anora glance at him and then leave the bed room.
"I'll be in the dressing room, husband," she said. "I expect to see you outside shortly."
"I'll be there," Michael answered curtly. He didn't like the way she suddenly seemed to try and order him about. If that was her idea of what their marriage would be like, she was in for a surprise.
He put on his breeches and boots. Then he grabbed the swords, tunic and belt, and headed out to wash his face.
He got out of the chantry just behind Anora and Erlina. He saw that Gavren was already up and about, so he went over to him and gave him the final orders for striking camp.
There were a lot more peasants looking curiously around the Black Griffons camp today than yesterday. Apparently, the outlaw's discipline and the lack of incidents had convinced them that they weren't very dangerous. Rumor had also spread that this was indeed none other than Teyrna Anora and her new husband.
Michael left Gavren to wash up, dipping his head in the water and then splashing his chest with the cold water to wake up properly. When he had dried himself off and put his tunic on, he returned to find Anora discussing with Gavren.
"You need to give me a horse to ride on and I really want you to buy a decent side saddle here. I refuse to look ridiculous when I return to Gwaren. "
Gavren looked at Michael for answers.
"A horse is no problem, Anora," Michael said. "What do you need a side saddle for, though? I've seen you ride a horse well."
"Of course I do," Anora replied, "but if this marriage is to be anything but a sad joke, I suggest you let me explain to your lieutenant how to acquire something to help me return in proper style. I do not intend to return to Gwaren with my skirts hiked up like some Chasind wilder woman."
Michael crossed his arms and looked carefully at her.
"First of all," he said frostily, "Gavren is my man and if you want him to do anything, you can come to me, and secondly, I didn't hear you complain about sad jokes last night."
Anora's eyes narrowed in fury. For a moment Michael thought she would slap him, but she managed to control herself.
"We're married now, husband," she replied just as frostily, "and if you intend to play adventure with my army, then I suggest you have the courtesy to let one of your little brigands find me something to ride upon, or else no one will believe your ridiculous lie about us eloping.
"And let me remind you husband, I don't intend to discuss your performance in bed, however embarrassing it may be, in front of others and I do suggest you do me the same courtesy."
Michael glared at his new wife and felt his blood pounding in his temples. Then he took a deep breath and composed himself.
"Dear wife," he said grimly. "I apologize if I dragged our private life into the discussion. Rest assured that I will make no reference to it again."
Anora watched him carefully, looking for any sign of mockery, but finally she nodded slightly.
"Gavren," Michael continued, "go find a good side saddle for my wife, will you? Take whatever funds necessary acquire that and whatever else she needs to ensure she returns in a manner befitting a teyrna."
Gavren bowed, with a relieved expression, and left them quickly. When Gavren had left them alone, Michael leaned closer to Anora and whispered.
"Complain all you want about your sad marriage, you know that last night was totally amazing."
Anora's eyes widened in surprise as Michael winked at her and smiled.
"You... you... conceited..." she stammered, her face scarlet.
Michael bowed and then he left her to make sure everyone was ready to leave. Behind him he heard her stamp her foot and leave.
Shortly after leaving White Farthing, they were hailed by a troop of mounted soldiers. The lieutenant in charge of the troop at first refused to believe Michael's explanation as he was here as the new Teyrn of Gwaren, until an exasperated Anora ordered him to stop questioning them and report back to the city that she was returning with her new husband.
The lieutenant looked pole axed at her announcement, but he collected himself and turned his troop around and rode away at the gallop.
This meant that when they finally entered Gwaren, late in the day, the streets were lined with curious citizens who flocked to see if the Teyrna really had returned and if it was true that she had married, too.
Anora rode, head held high, beside Michael through the streets of Gwaren. Michael had to admire her style. She really looked like a queen, whatever had befallen her. He wondered what this Alistair had that made people chose him instead.
When they reached the Teyrn's castle, Michael got off his black courser and offered his hand to Anora. She gracefully accepted it and let him help her off her own horse. Then she lightly took his hand and walked up to a group of hastily assembled dignitaries.
"Welcome home, Teyrna Anora," a tall hawk nosed man said and bowed to her. "We've been worried about you."
"Why thank you, Seneschal," Anora replied. "I do apologize for the haste of my leave taking. It wasn't my attention to cause undue alarm."
"May we inquire as to the reason for your sudden disappearance?" a large bearded man beside the seneschal asked.
"It's not much to talk about," Anora said airily. "I've married and want to introduce you to my new husband."
There was a murmur among the gathered noblemen. Only the Seneschal seemed unaffected by the news.
"So the rumor is true," the second man continued. "What a... fortuitous event, if somewhat irregular."
"Any irregularity is entirely my fault," Michael said, clearing his throat. "I can explain everything."
Anora squeezed his hand so hard it almost hurt, but he ignored it and continued.
"Teyrna Anora and I have been negotiating a marriage for some time. We wanted to keep it secret as the as the political situation in Ferelden is volatile right now."
"I'm afraid, however, that the Teyrna here made such an impression on me," Michael continued, "that I was overcome by my feelings and decided to elope with her. This of course put the Teyrna in difficult position: either decide to elope with me in the face of propriety or deny me and risk hurting my feelings. I'm very happy she chose the former."
The assembled nobles nodded and mumbled amongst each other. Anora leaned towards him.
"You lie through your teeth, but I have to admit you do it well," she whispered to him.
"Only politics, my dear," Michael whispered back.
The small gathering turned into a minor celebration, even if Michael felt that everything seemed dreadfully contrived and stiff. Anora seemed right at home though, chatting with officials, gossiping with nobles and introducing him to a bewildering number of people.
He did his best to keep up the facade he had donned despite his growing boredom. He told a wild tale of how he had eloped with Anora to marry in a village chantry several times, with such embellishment that some ladies openly professed their admiration at his romantic gesture.
As the evening progressed, Michael felt more and more trapped by the crowding nobles. He'd never really enjoyed this type of social gathering back in Highever either. His mother would always insist on him being present at those occasions, at least if there was some girl she could try to match him up with. It was never as formal in Highever as here though, and Bryce usually turned a blind eye if he disappeared after a while.
Michael excused himself and decided to take a short walk on the battlements to clear his head. Walking alone outside on the wall, he wondered about his future. He was a Cousland and he was loyal to his name and his heritage. Apparently that loyalty meant he had to put up with things like this, he sighed to himself. "I miss you Fergus," he whispered to himself. "You would've been a much better Teyrn than me."
He decided he could no longer reasonably stay away and walked back to the gathering. As he was about to go into the castle again, he saw Anora looking out the doorway.
"There you are," she said coldly, "I thought you had decided to run back to the forest, or something."
"I'm sorry, dear," he said and tried to smile. "You won't get rid of me quite that easily."
Anora snorted and turned to go back inside, when Michael called after her.
"Anora," he said and suddenly felt weary. "It's been a long day. Is there any chance we can end this party soon?"
She looked at him with an unreadable expression and then she gave him a short nod and left.
When Michael entered the main hall again, he saw that Anora approach the seneschal and speak to him in a low voice. The seneschal nodded and called for everyone's attention.
"My lords and ladies," the seneschal said loudly, "the Teyrna and Teyrn have had a long journey and need to rest and settle in. I suggest that we leave them be for now. I'm sure they'll be eager to discuss anything you might wish to discuss with them in court tomorrow."
The assembled noblemen clustered around Michael and Anora to bid them farewell and offer renewed congratulations. Michael did his best to be gracious, even if he could only remember the names of one or two of them.
When the last guest had disappeared, he turned towards Anora and smiled gratefully at her. She nodded, but began to fidget with her fingers, something he had noticed she always did when she was nervous.
"Apparently I'm a very lucky woman to have such a romantic husband," she said finally and sighed.
"Oh, says who?" Michael inquired humorously.
"Well, at least half the ladies here swear to it," she replied with a forced smile. "You can spin quite a tale if you want to."
"Oh, dear, if they only knew the truth," Michael said and shook his head.
Anora looked at him for a while, as if trying to find something to say.
"So..." she said finally, looking away from him. " I suppose we need to find a place for you to stay now."
