Bioware owns Dragon Age and all the characters, I own Jaya, though...
The King's Rose
Chapter 3: Royal Preparation
When Jaya and Alistair left Highever, Jaya remembered she, Leliana and even Wynne were to look at gowns for the wedding, which she hated. She'd rather wear her armor to her wedding than have to actually wear an actual dress. Zevran had a goofy grin on his face as they stopped down in Lothering to see how the repairs were coming.
"Wipe that smirk off, Zev, or I swear that it'll be the last thing you do." Jaya threatened.
"Oh, come, dear Warden. Surely you are not that afraid of what I think you are." Zevran teased, earning a harsher glare from her.
"It's not that I'm afraid, Crow, it's just... Nevermind.." Jaya growled, deciding to drop it for now. Inside, she wanted to be looking at wedding gowns with Oriana and her mother more than anything. Thanks to Howe, she couldn't even do that. In her mind, she would have her father be giving her away, Oren being the ringbearer and Oriana being her Maid of Honor. She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts before they made her cry. ''Mother and the others wouldn't want me mourning their loss too long.' She mentally chided as she saw where they met Leliana all that time ago. "Seems like yesterday you, me, Caican and Morrigan were going through here.." She mentioned to Alistair, wanting to get her mind off the depressing thoughts.
"Hard to believe that was over a year ago now." He mused. "Now, the rebuilding has to start. Don't want a surprise coming."
"Yes. That's the last thing you need now, Your Majesty." Jaya teased.
Alistair chuckled. "If something came up, I'm sure you could handle it, Hero." He jibed.
"I still think 'Hero of Ferelden' is a little too big of a title." She replied. "Couldn't you have come up with something less, I don't know, powerful?"
"But what better way to describe the one to end the Blight than hero? I thought it was good at the time." He answered.
"Not like I can get anymore fame than that... Add to that I'm the betrothed to the King of Ferelden, I think my ego might be good for a decade." She said thoughtfully.
"That you did at the Landsmeet, my dear." He reminded.
"True, but even if I didn't put you on the throne, I'd still have you all to myself half the time." She added.
"Yeah, there is that."
"Plus you still owe me that little promise you made at Ostagar." She reminded.
"I was joking then. I didn't think you'd take it seriously." He said, shocked.
"Still. I think Leliana knows the Remingold..." Jaya mused.
"Maker's breath." He sighed.
She glanced around and, being a Cousland, she went over to those that were having a little trouble with holding up support for a house. The surprised looks didn't phase her as, after a few moments, they joined her in building. "Alright. Remember to hold it up." She held a beam to prove her point. "Now, bring a few to support it."
While Jaya assisted the townsfolk with the house, Wynne, Alistair and Zevran were grinning. "She still likes to get her hands dirty." Wynne stated.
"I guess that's just her." Alistair shrugged.
"I must say, the future Queen'll be very difficult to keep inside." Zevran said, nodding. "She enjoys adventures."
"Yeah. But, she was raised in the most powerful terynir in Ferelden, she knows duty." Wynne mentioned.
Jaya wound up helping until the sun was ready to set, shocked that she had been helping for so long. "That should be able to handle a good amount of damage now." She commented.
"Thank you, Hero." The villager she had helped said, bowing.
Each time someone callled her 'Hero', she flushed at the praise. She returned to the campsite, yawning before waving at Zevran, who had volunteered to keep watch. "Make sur-"
"Nothing gets to stabbing you. I know that, my dear Warden." Zevran chuckled as she passed by.
Rolling her eyes, she entered her tent to grin as a passed out Alistair and Caican laying ontop, also asleep. Her eyes dimmed slightly as she realized these two were the only thing close to a family she had left, next to Fergus. But her brother was always at Highever and rarely visited. Caican she had since he was a pup, so he was her four legged son. Alistair was her heart that she had no idea she was even looking for, her restored soul and her soon-to-be husband. Smiling again, she slipped under the blankets and snuggled into his chest, giggling when Caican rolled and licked her hand, and Alistair's chest in the process.
Royal Palace, Denerim-Two and a half months later
Crowds gathered outside the bustling estate of their beloved king and his betrothed, both of whom had saved Ferelden five months earlier and the king proudly announced the next day that his betrothed had been the one to deliver the finishing blow. His coronation was that following day and ever since, the king and his betrothed rarely were without the other, whether visiting the locals or even travelling to see their friends. A grey haired woman made her way through the crowd, her red and silver robes making her stand out, a staff on her back indicating she was a mage, as she finally squeezed through to see three others she hasn't seen in a few months: an elf, a red-haired woman and a dwarf.
"You are treading dangerous waters. I have insisted that we are a part of the company that destroyed the archdemon!" Zevran complained a very clear accent prominent. He had a lithe build, was smaller and shorter than one of his companions, with pointed ears. "Why I should assassinate you all!"
One of his companions, a red haired, pale, slender woman laid a hand on his shoulder. "Zev, darling, relax.. Once Wynne- Oh! Wynne, perfect timing!" Leliana sighed happily, a thick accent showing.
"What are we gathered out here for? Truly Alistair knew of us coming?" Wynne asked.
"Och, no. These sodding guards think we're just fanatic fans." Oghren suggested, belching a little. His beard had two braids on both sides of his face and he wore black armor that was once worn by the dwarven Legion of the Dead. He sounded like he was drunk when he spoke. "Look good Wynne, for the five bloody months that've passed."
"Thank you, Oghren. Now, allow us passage. We were summoned by the king himself." She announced.
"Yeah, right. That's one I've heard before. No entry, no exceptions." The guard stated just as the doors opened, showing a brownish haired man and a dark blond haired man.
"Pardon him, guys. He's new to the ranks. We were waiting for you." Fergus replied.
"My lord! Your Highness! I am truly sorry. I had no idea you were receiving others." The guard apologized.
"No harm done, Kayan. Resume your duties." Alistair ordered as they entered the hall. "Again, thanks for coming. I truly have not a clue what to do in this situation. Even Fergus tried everything." Alistair's hazel eyes showed concern even when he tried to lighten the mood. He wore a blue studded shirt and black pants when not entertaining the public, which was rare. Otherwise he wore golden armor made by Wade the armor-smith in Denerim. The armor was made of drake scales from when he and his friends traveled Ferelden to unit against the Blight.
Fergus grimaced. "I would say she definitely inherited our mother's stubbornness. She insisted that since Morrigan vanished, she wanted Leliana and Wynne to talk to." He wore a red shirt similar to what his father, Bryce Cousland, wore, but a lighter shade of red and brown pants.
"Where is she?" Wynne asked.
"Upstairs in her quarters. Been up there ever since this morning, really. Right after breakfast, too." Alistair replied, pointing over his shoulder to the left staircase to where said woman was. "When Shayle threatened to break the door down, as a joke, she didn't reply. But I've heard her pacing up there from the study."
"We'll see what's wrong... Would you mind coming, Fergus?" Wynne asked.
"Why not? She is my sister, after all."
The three proceeded up the stairs and walked past servants and guards until they reached the room. Wynne raised a hand and knocked four times in a pattern that her friend could decipher if she wasn't worrying.
"Who is it?" She sounded worried, something that was rare for her.
"Wynne, Leliana and your brother.. Please open, child." Wynne suggested calmly.
There was a slight pause before a click was heard and Jaya peaked out from behind the door. "Oh.. Is.. Alistair hiding somewhere?" She asked, her head darting left and right looking for said man.
"No, dear. He's downstairs with the others, worried about you." Leliana replied gently as the door opened to let the three in before it was shut again and the woman that had opened it paced back to where there was evidence she had been pacing before, a very distinct trail going ahead, left, back and right in a very large square on the brownish ornate rug.
Jaya began her pacing again as she spoke. "I don't know what to do. The wedding is less than a week away and I'm extremely nervous, to be honest." She stopped and twisted her finger in a way that the three remembered as her way of showing she was nervous about something. A pine green dress, similar to her mother Eleanor's dress that she wore before the infamous Cousland Massacre, didn't hide the fact she wore no shoes or boots.
Fergus chuckled at the gesture slightly as he spoke. "Little sister, you have faced an archdemon and a horde of darkspawn and this scares you? Well, I may remember what Mother said to me... 'Don't be frightened of a future with the one you love.' or perhaps she told me to lay off the spirits..." He joked.
"I've never been married... And I was hoping you could help me... That and my dress might look bad. I'll be right back. I want your honest opinion.. That means you too, Fergus." Jaya glared back as she strolled to the wardrobe room, her hand resting on the door handle.
"I always give my best opinion... At times." Fergus joked as his sister nearly threw a nearby pot at his head before entering the closet, the silver eyes flashing like the daggers she trained with long ago.
"Must you joke with her like that?" Wynne asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I've always done that. To relieve her tensions, to make her smile, to make her forget her troubles or simply to help her vent out." Fergus explained before his sister reappeared. "Wow... Is that... Oriana's dress?" He asked, shocked at the outfit.
Cliffy again! *Evil Laugh*
~~Skittles~~