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

The King's Rose
Chapter 20: Time for the Queen.

Alistair carefully removed his armor and slipped in gently to hold her against him, resting his head on hers when he felt her shudder and shiver, pulling her ever so carefully closer to his chest. When he was close to falling asleep, he felt her shift lightly and glanced down to see her silver eyes looking up at him confused. "Relax. You need to rest up, dear wife."

She sighed and cuddled closer. "I really need to stop rushing into things." She mumbled.

"If you did stop, I'd wonder what's wrong with you." Alistair stated, running a hand through her hair. "I found out interesting news while Wynne healed you."

"Mmm. How interesting, husband?" Jaya murmured, fighting sleep.

"We're going to have two little headaches." He said.

"So, twins.. Lovely.." She mumbled, smiling at the news. "Just means you'll turn gray faster."

"And you'll forever look lovely." He countered, sighing.

"I'll lose hair, no doubt. And go gray, too. Though, sooner." She replied, yawning and falling asleep, dreaming of her wonderful life ahead, minus the inevitable Calling. She knew for a fact that, even if he wasn't close to his, her husband would join her in the Deep Roads until they both went to the Maker, perhaps meeting her parents and Duncan.

Around Jaya's eighth month of pregnancy, she was finding it difficult to travel to nearby lands to help her husband dictate what to do. Under orders from Alistair himself, she stayed in court to judge matters while he took care of the bannorns surrounding Denerim. Wynne and Zevran stayed behind to guard her, Shayle and Sten leaving not long after the attempt on the Divine's life, Shayle wanting to make sure Cadash Taig stayed free of darkspawn and Sten needing to go deal with the Arishok. Caican went with Alistair on her behalf, knowing the Mabari would keep his temper cool.

She sighed as she listened to another dispute about trade not flowing between South Reach and Vintiver. She did agree to having some soldiers accompany both, but not one nor the other. She raised a hand up. "Enough. You two have bickered every month about something. When the King took the throne, you bickered about crops and that proved that we settled it. Now trade is indeed important, but I will not give one some soldiers while the other goes without protection. Therefore, I grant some protection to both of you." She ordered.

"The Queen has spoken." Bann Sighard, Jaya's appointed regent when Alistair took Eamon with, said. "That concludes this session of the Court of the Queen." He turned and went up to her. "Your Highness, you seemed out of it for the past few minutes. Are you feeling well?"

"No need to worry, Sighard. I'm just tired more lately due to the twins and my back does pain me a little bit." Jaya stated, getting help from Zevran to stand. "Thanks, Zev."

"Do not want you falling to the floor in an un-characteristic heap before the king arrives, my dear." Zevran stated. Sighard bowed and left the two alone. "I do hope you've chosen those to be godparents, dear Jaya."

"Of course, me and Alistair spent the past few nights discussing it. We'll announce them when my time comes." Jaya stated proudly before seeing a familiar witch, smiling. "Morrigan! And little Keiran. He's so cute." She said as the witch handed the child over, smiling at how the child resembled Morrigan a lot more than Alistair, for which all three were thankful for.

"And you are getting closer, are you not?" Morrigan asked.

"Mhm. According to Wynne, any day after tomorrow I'll be due." She said, giving Keiran back to Morrigan. "How long have you been there?"

"Since you yawned at the matter before this one." Morrigan stated, placing her son in the holder at her side. "The fool's returning today, I take it?"

"Mhm. Suppose to. He went out to West Hills to check in on Arl Wulff." She informed, rubbing her stomach and reaching for a piece of cheese carried by a passing servant and stuffing it into her mouth. "Isolde's been scolding me about eating too much cheese. I can't help it. It tastes so good." She moaned as she finished the cheese.

"Darling Jaya, must you make those noises? It makes me think our dear King has been neglecting you." Zevran said, a sly smirk showing he was teasing.

Just before Jaya said something she probably would've regretted, a soldier at the doors announced the king had returned and she strolled, she called it waddled, into the entrance hall to see her husband and Eamon entering. "You've returned, husband. Is everything alright with Arl Wulff?"

"He is actually considering giving West Hills to a cousin soon. He sends his apology for not being around here lately. He's been trying to locate them." Alistair informed, kissing her cheek. "How was your day, dear wife?"

"I think I have dealt with enough 'they said, they want' to last a lifetime plus one." She said, sighing. "South Reach and Vintiver are going at it again."

"Those two are more stubborn each month it seems." Eamon added. "How did you decide?"

"I scolded them by saying that they have been bickering too long and that if they needed protection, they both would get it." Jaya said. "I might just go hit them both over the head soon if they don't stop being stubborn."

Alistair and Eamon chuckled before Isolde joined them. "There you are, your Highness! I must suggest you eat something else that's not that... cheese." Isolde informed, holding out an apple.

"But, Isolde..." Jaya started.

"You must eat healthy, dear." Wynne said.

"Not helping, Wynne." Jaya muttered before eating the apple. "I think I'll be fat forever."

"Hardly. You look beautiful." Alistair complimented.

"You don't have a gigantic watermelon for a belly, husband." Jaya reminded.

"If I did, that would make it difficult to do things." He said, thinking.

"Exactly. Now that I'm up and walking, my feet are barking at me." Jaya said as Caican bounded in, barking. "Or it could be Caican." The Mabari woofed and waited eagerly to be petted. "Were you a good boy?" A bark in reply had her smiling. "Oh? And did Alistair behave, too?" A grumbling whine was the response. "I see." She nodded, grinning. "Apparently you lost your temper again, dear husband?"

"Only a little." Alistair admitted, glaring at the dog slightly before helping her into their room to have her rest. "I love you."

"And I love you. No matter what." Jaya replied, yawning and snuggling into her pillow in the way she often did when she was overtired.

Soon, I'll be debuting the babies~
~~Skittles~~