Fergus found the burnt porridge to be as fine as the best meal he had ever eaten. Apparently, his sister and her...her husband Alistair were just as hungry as he, each of them polished off two bowls a piece. He peered at her suspiciously, "Are you sure you're not...?"
"Positive," she replied with a familiar frown, "It's a Grey Warden thing."
Alistair chuckled. "Well, that and we didn't stop to eat at all yesterday. I suppose that's why, even burnt this tastes wonderful."
"Hunger's the best sauce," Elissa and Fergus chorused together in a parody of Nan's voice.
Alistair's eyebrows danced towards his hairline.
"Sorry, dear. Our Nanny took over the kitchen once I was out of the nursery. Nan had a story or a saying for everything."
He nodded.
It was Fergus' turn to laugh. "What she isn't telling you is that Nan threatened to quit at least once a week because of our resident diabolical duo, Lissy and Red."
Fergus watched with a grin as his sister's face turned rosy. "Fe-ergus."
"Oh ho, turnabout is fair play. I told you I'd get even with you for all those tales you..." He couldn't finish. Everything reminded him of Oriana and Oren. Every time he pushed their loss to the back of his mind something would drag it forward again. "I'm sorry, I just...sometimes I still think, I can't wait to tell Oriana about this or Oren would love to have seen this."
Elissa put her arms around him and Fergus let himself relax into his sister's embrace. "Oh, Fergus. I wish, I wish..."
"I know, Lissy, I know. Don't waste time lamenting what can't be, it's Howe's fault not yours."
They cried together for the loss of their family, for the brutal way their lives had been stolen. Then just like always, they came apart at the right time. There was no awkwardness. There was no confusion. They were family and they were finally where they needed to be again, together.
"Now, sis, what is it you need to tell me that's got you tied up in knots?"
Elissa looked over at her husband affectionately. "See, you are in good company my love. You and Fergus are the only two men I cannot fool."
Alistair said, "Good to know."
"Come on now, Lissy. Don't change the subject. Compared to everything else that's happened how bad can it be?"
Elissa took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. "Do you remember about five years ago when you and Oriana took Oren to Antiva to visit her parents."
"Of course." His mind wandered back to the frustration of their visit. Oriana's very proper mother had never forgiven Fergus for eloping and consummating their marriage after a mere peasant's promise. "Maker, I have to tell Oriana's relatives..., I'm sorry Lissy. It just jumped into my head."
His sister smiled at him sympathetically.
"Continue, please."
"Just after you left, Father hosted a tourney."
"Oh, yes, that was quite the scandal, what with our newlywed King attending without his wife then losing his signet ring."
"Fergus, he didn't exactly lose his ring."
"I knew that, I just didn't think you'd been told. It's hardly, I don't know, proper, I guess. I suppose the rumour mill reaches as high as it does low."
"Yes, well, I didn't need to hear any rumours. I know because there was no maid, it was me."
Fergus stood up and then he sat down.
"Maker, Lissy, what were you playing at, what were you thinking?"
"It was a dare. Rory and Colin suddenly turned into complete idiots and I didn't understand why. I overheard them talking about getting someone to prove their claims by sneaking into the King's tent and bringing back a token as proof."
"Of all the idiotic stunts, Elissa Cousland you know very well those two never pulled off the ridiculous things they claimed to do."
"I do, but I had something to prove. So I dressed as a maid, but I went in the evening to the camp... I didn't know Fergus."
"You shouldn't have needed to know. Alright, enough...I know, more or less what happened in the tent. Maker Elissa, did you at least tell Mother?"
His sister looked down at her hands. "No. I told no one, until I realized I was pregnant. Even then I wouldn't tell Mother or Father the identity of the man. They pressed me for a long time until I finally admitted he was married. They, they believed I was willing at first but after Mother saw me around young men for a while she realized what had happened. She still couldn't figure out why I was protecting his identity."
Fergus put a hand on his sister's shoulder. "You were a foolish but the price you paid far outstrips your mistake. I love you, little sister but I wish I could have spared you this pain."
"I'm...glad. Because Fergus, everyone is going to have to know."
"The child is Cailan's heir, Maker's mercy."
"His name is Aedan, Aedan Theirin, I suppose."
"Where is he?"
"That's just it, I'm not entirely sure. All I know is that he's in Denerim being raised by Ser Gilmore's sister but..."
"Aedan! That Aedan, he looked so familiar. Maker, he and Oren played together last summer during Landsmeet. Aine and Hamish invited him to stay overnight and play with their boys. Aedan was only four but Oren thought he was wonderful, chattered about wanting a younger brother all the way home. In fact, everyone remarked on how much more he looked like Oren than his own brothers."
"What's he like, Fergus?"
"Aedan has our dark hair but with hints of red, I'd bet he'll have a red beard when he's older. He's a ready smile but he's shy when he first meets someone. Aside from that he's a little boy, messy, loud and constantly in trouble."
Fergus squinted, remembering Cailan's features. "I can see the resemblance, to both our family and the Theirin's. He actually looks like a dark haired version of you, Alistair."
"Me!"
"Fergus! How did you know?"
"The rumours of Maric's bastard flew around the Landsmeet for years. When I came of age, Father told me the truth of it but I thought you'd been sent to become a Templar."
"I was, in fact I was conscripted by Duncan a scant fort-night before I was to take my vows."
"So, why are you putting my sister through this? Aedan's happy and Ferelden needs a Monarch who can lead, not a boy King."
"Fergus!" his sister warned.
"No, love, he's right to ask. I'm glad there's finally someone else here that will put your interests forward. I can't be King any more than Elissa can be Queen or a Teryna. Our vows to the Grey Warden Order require that we relinquish our birthrights and take no title other than Warden."
Fergus nodded. His grief threatened to swamp him. His sister was no longer his kin, in some ways. "What about your children?"
Alistair rubbed the back of his head.
Elissa spoke quietly. "In all likelihood, there won't be any, Fergus. I can't divulge Grey Warden secrets but suffice to say that the joining is more than a formality and there is a price to be paid to gain the powers we have to fight the darkspawn."
"I see."
"I'm sorry, I never meant to dishonour the Cousland name."
"Elissa! You have not dishonoured our name. Cailan dishonoured his name and while there will always be those who resent you for revealing his failure, I will never be one of them."
Leliana called out, "Alistair, you'd best be looking for very small game if you intend to delay much longer."
Both Couslands chuckled at the sight of Alistair rolling his eyes. "Why couldn't you send Zev for meat?"
"Because you can't tell marjoram from deathroot."
"Fine, make an issue of my ignorance, woman." He kissed her on the forehead. "I won't be long. Fergus, I'm glad we've finally met." Alistair extended a hand.
Fergus took Alistair's hand and drew him into a hug. "As am I brother, welcome to the family and congratulations to both of you."
His new brother-in-law wore a grin that threatened to crack his face as he left to gather his hunting supplies.
"Thank you, Fergus."
"For what?"
"Welcoming, him. He was afraid you wouldn't think him worthy of me."
"Are you kidding, I'm so relieved someone took you on before you became my responsibility."
Elissa elbowed him in the ribs, just like old times.
"Come along, I'll introduce you to everyone."
"If you don't mind, sister, I'd really rather catch some shut eye first. I haven't slept soundly since..."
"Of course, I should have known. I can't believe I was so insensitive. So do you want a tent, what am I saying, of course you want a tent..."
"Stop babbling, Lissy. That's a terrible habit, when did you pick that up?"
She muttered something he couldn't understand then called for Sten to give her a hand.
Fergus crawled into the small shelter stripped out of all his clothes and gratefully folded himself into the bedroll. His last thought was that if Oriana were here she would scold him for going to bed nude and unwashed. Thankfully sleep claimed him before grief could take hold.
