Bioware owns Dragon Age and all the characters, I own Jaya, though...

The King's Rose
Chapter 11: Stern Lectures

"Ferg!" Jaya laughed before staring again behind Mallol to see a red-head that had her thinking she was seeing the dead for a second. Getting out of Fergus's hold, she walked a little around Mallol as the red-head's eyes widened. More tears gathered in her eyes as she darted towards the man, who met her half-way and spun her around before hugging her tightly. "Gil! I.. I thought you died!" She blubbered, dragging him to the group. "Everyone, this is Ser Gilmore. Gilly, these are my friends and, most importantly, my betrothed, Alistair Theirin." She smirked when Alistair shuddered at the use of his last name before walking over and hugging his arm.

Gilmore blinked and bowed. "It's an honor, Your Highness. I hope you plan to keep JayJay happy."

Jaya actually hit her forehead. "Gilly!" She warned, trying to hide in Alistair's arm.

"I wouldn't dream of hurting her. And call me Alistair. I'm still not used to either the crown or my actual name." Alistair admitted, glad that his love was now glowing in happiness with the reunion of not only Mallol but even Ser Gilmore. He grinned down at her. "First it's Jay, then Shorty and Midget, now it's JayJay? You have more names than Zev has jobs probably."

Jaya shot him a look that had everyone laughing when he winced slightly before smiling. "If you use any of them, I might add you to the 'throw-to-next-hoard' list." She teased, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.

Gilmore watch the interaction with mixed emotion. He did love Jaya when they were kids to a point where they nearly promised to marry once they were older. He saw the same Jaya he fell in love with teasing Fergus while holding the arm of the King. He was also happy that she had found someone to keep her under control should she get too crazy. He had heard bits and pieces of a woman matching Jaya's description being at Ostagar, where King Cailan and the Grey Wardens were all killed. He was devastated at the news until he heard that two Wardens had survived. Gilmore knew that if Alistair ever hurt Jaya or made her cry after today, he would probably be second in line to kill him personally.

Jaya soon grew tired after a good seven hours of talking to Mallol and Gilmore, though, when the group had gone and left her with the three, including Fergus, she felt she was about to be lectured.

Mallol had been holding in questions all night. "Alright Jay. Let me ask you. Are you still a virgin?"

Jaya had, of course, been expecting it, but not with her brother and Gilmore present. She flushed slightly. "Well, no... The night of the attack, Dairren had joined me in my room... And well... There was... Fabian Gauthier... before Dairren.." She waved her hand out of habit when she was uncomfortable. "But, Dairren was the first one I saw killed in front of my face... Then... I put up walls against any form of closeness, be it love or friendship."

Gilmore was almost glad Dairren and Fabian Gauthier were dead, otherwise he would've killed them himself for taking something that Jaya should've given Alistair on their wedding night. "Yet... Alistair seems to have done something..." He began.

Jaya softened and smiled. "Alistair came in and almost literally swept me off my feet. He always makes me laugh and feel like I'm a normal person and not just the Hero of Ferelden or a Grey Warden." She smiled fondly of the memories she and Alistair had formed the past year or so. From the first dream of the archdemon when he had comforted her by teasing her to all the times they just chatted, about Duncan, the Grey Wardens or even himself. "He had snuck into my defenses with honesty and humor, sometimes at the same time. But mostly by being Alistair. He even gave me a rose not long after we started growing closer. I actually carry it around." She dug into her sleeve to a pocket where she kept the rose he had given. "See? He had said the most romantic thing. He thought of me when he saw this in Lothering and knew that if he hadn't picked it, the darkspawn would've tainted it. I had never received such a lovely thing before and that was all it took to finally have me trust him."

Mallol's eyes watered. "You love the man, don't you?" She asked.

"With everything I am. He has been the most amazing thing I thought I didn't deserve because of what happened at Highever. He kept at it with humor until I fell in love with him." She thumbed the petals of the rose fondly. "Whenever I'm near him, I can't help but smile or hold his hand. He helped me get past the things that might haunt me if he ever left me. When I killed Howe and broke down, he was there to hold me until I stopped crying. He was there when I saw my father while looking for the Urn of Sacred Ashes and made it known silently that he'd be there for me, no matter what. When I brought him with to face the archdemon, I was so scared he would take the blow instead and, despite... circumstances.. he wouldn't wake up and I'd be shattered."

Fergus smiled fondly. "You still worried. But, from what I see, he adores the ground you walk on." He turned serious. "So, have you and him done it yet?" He asked, becoming the big brother again, to which Mallol and Gilmore blinked to make sure he was still Fergus Cousland, Teryn of Highever.

Jaya blushed before nodding. "Yeah." She admitted before seeing the three of them look close to marching up to Alistair's room and strangling him. "I wanted it. Not long after he gave me the rose, he had stopped me and wanted to talk. It was so cute to see him blushing and sweating. Then he said he didn't want to be without me ever. That moment, I knew I felt the same. It was... like I had found a place to be loved."

Gilmore smiled at how she described the two of them together. She was still his Jaya, yet now she belonged to someone who had opened her to a point where she trusted him with everything. He hugged her. "You were always loved. By me. By Ferg, Mallol, your parents, everyone at Highever. And you always will be."

Jaya knew exactly what Gilmore was proclaiming. She smiled and kissed his cheek. "I truly wish I returned the feeling, Gilly. Perhaps.. You'll find someone and love her as much as, if not more than, me. You've always been an amazing friend and risked everything that night to see me and Mother safe." She hugged him like she used to, tight and burying her face in his chest.

Gilmore chuckled a little. "I'll try, JayJay. I will try." He promised.

Jaya turned to an elven woman. "Faina, please show Ser Gilmore, Teyrn Cousland and Mother Mallol their rooms. After that, you may retire yourself."

"Of course, my lady." Faina said, bowing and leading two of them away far enough to give the siblings alone time.

"Midget, I love you, you know that right?" Fergus stated more than asked.

"Of course I know, Ferg. And I love you, even when you annoy me. Will you, and by extent, Highever, give me away at my wedding?" She asked.

"It would give me great honor, sis. Now, get to bed or I'll hunt you down and make you sleep." Fergus teased before kissing her on her forehead and walking to join up with the others.

Jaya smiled and slipped into the room she was sharing with her love, startled when said man brought her up into his arms and kissed her neck. "Sweetie, you nearly scared me into going to my Calling early!" She stated as she relaxed against his tense frame. "Alistair, what's wrong?" She asked, turning to face him.

"Should I worry about you and Gilmore?" He asked.

She sighed. "No. Whatever I feel for him is more like what I feel towards Fergus. I admit, once when we were kids, I did want to marry him... But I grew out of the childish crush and instead found you." She answered, wrapping her hands gently around his neck. "I love only you, Alistair. Nothing will ever change that. I'll even show you." She smirked and tugged him towards the bed where she proved to them both that he'd always be the one she wanted.

Yup.. Ser Gilmore lives~ I wondered what happened. It is implied that he and Mallol died, yet... How? Or... HOWE? Get it?! ... I'll shut up now...
~~Skittles~~