Bioware owns Dragon Age and all the characters, I own Jaya, though...
The King's Rose
Chapter 21: Heirs
When Jaya gave birth a month later, Alistair was pacing below stairs with Fergus joining him from time to time, oddly taking comfort in the occasional screams that floated down. Eamon glanced up to the younger men and shook his head, smiling as he remembered Connor doing the same thing to him. Though when they stopped, both heads shot up to Leliana and Morrigan, both held a bundle, one blue and one pink.
"Are... Is.." Alistair tried to say.
"They are healthy. No sign of the taint, if that is one of those foolish questions you are wondering." Morrigan replied.
"And Jaya's resting up, with Wynne healing her. According to Wynne, it went by surprisingly well." Leliana said next. "Jaya told us to introduce you to Duncan Maric Alistair Bryce." She gave Alistair the boy.
"And Eleanor Oriana Elise Fiona Rowan." Morrigan added, giving the girl to Fergus, the girl beginning to cry.
"Maker's breath. They're so cute." Fergus chuckled. "I remember looking at Oren like you are your son. That boy's got you wrapped around his finger already."
"It wouldn't be the first. I'm weak when it comes to these things. I was already under your sister's spell long before she joined the Grey Wardens." Alistair admitted, allowing Fergus to hold his son while he held his daughter. He was surprised when, as if knowing he held her, she settled down and fell sleeping. Glancing up, he wasn't surprised when he saw his wife walking into the hall. "I take it you don't know what 'rest' means?"
"I do, it's just there are more exciting things going on. Like seeing everyone happy. Or eating delicious food." She listed off before Alistair rolled his eyes and gave her Eleanor and Fergus gave him Duncan. She leaned close to giggle. "Poor boy looks like you. It's so cute."
"Puppies are cute. Even babies are cute.. This is not cute." He complained before noticing that his son did have his facial structure. "When exactly are we going to announce it to the adoring public?"
"Mmm. Maybe next week. Though, the sooner, the better. They do have not only Theirin blood, but Cousland blood. They'd get used to it." Jaya informed, unable to look away from her daughter. She was in awe at how the little girl reminded her of herself, yet had certain features of her father. "We might need to keep guards around her when she gets older." She sighed.
Fergus blinked and looked at his niece. "That's true. She'll have boys running after her hand by the time she's ten."
"I don't think so. Not if I have any say in it." Alistair argued, his fatherly side taking over. Everyone laughed softly, seeing the twins had fallen asleep in their parents' arms. "We'll show them off tomorrow. You, my dear, need to rest up." He ordered.
"Yes, your Highness." Jaya joked, bowing ever so slightly before having Leliana take Duncan from his father and follow her up to their room where, until they were sure it was safe, the children would sleep.
"You understand he'll not let that go, right?" Leliana stated, putting Duncan in the crib next to his sister.
"Mhm. That's what I plan on." Jaya winked, giggling at the bard's look. "Well, thanks to the taint and Wynne's healing, I pretty much am in my pre-pregnancy form. Going the past five months without has strained me." She admitted.
"Aww. You sure these two will sleep through that much, erm, noise?" Leliana motioned to the sleeping kids.
"If they're anything like me or Alistair when we're tired, nothing will wake them." Jaya mentioned, slipping out of her dress, leaving on her chemise.
"So many scars, yet each one has a tale, right?" Leliana mused, staring at some on her friend's back.
"Yeah, but I'll tell you when I'm not so frustrated." Jaya promised, shooing the bard out right as her husband entered. She fought a grin and went to brush out her hair for the night, trying to ignore the annoyed look on Alistair's face.
"You know how much I hate it when you do that, wife?" He asked.
"Hmm? I was just following your orders, husband. Or was it wrong?" She replied, finally unpinning what remained of her hair before reaching for her brush. The brown locks had gotten longer to a point she enjoyed tossing it to the front to brush it.
Alistair came up and took the brush from her, brushing her hair for her. "Not wrong entirely. If I didn't know you the way I do, I would've suspected I was in trouble." Replacing the brush, he smirked at her in the mirror. "I know that it's the opposite. I've been too good."
"You? Good?" She teased. "Here I thought I married 'a bad, bad man'."
"You did, love. And I hope you don't plan on sleeping for a while longer while I prove it." He threatened, picking her out of the chair and carried her to bed.
"Now that swooping was bad." Jaya teased lightly.
"Why?"
"You warned me. Never warn anyone when you swoop."
He rolled his eyes and captured her mouth to prevent any more sassy comments, stripping her while she returned the favor before he slid into her welcoming warmth, showing his indestructible goddess that he meant it when he said he was a bad man.
A week since Duncan and Eleanor's births brought about their public announcement and their own baptism. Under Jaya's orders, she wanted Mallol to baptize the children, just as she had done her and Fergus, who promised to stay another week to help out his brother-in-law with duties while Jaya took care of the twins with Mallol.
Jaya stared out the window, holding Eleanor over her shoulder, trying to make her burp while looking at the crowd gathering at not only the Denerim Chantry, but the outside of the Arl of Redcliffe's estate itself, eager to meet the Prince and Princess. She felt her beloved enter and glanced his way in the mirror. "You look more worried than they are, my husband."
"Mostly. It's not like I have any history with these things." Alistair said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Think of it as a miniature version of the coronation. That's all it is. It'll be over faster than you know it." She promised, blinking. "Let me guess: Fergus 'stole' Duncan again."
"What can I say? He's very stubborn about him. It must be a Cousland thing, I swear." He admitted.
"Or a Fergus thing. I wasn't that stubborn." Jaya said defensively.
"Really? I wonder who it was then that wanted to give Branka the Anvil against Caridin's wishes?" He teased.
"Well, I was torn. But you and Wynne both made me rethink it." She sighed.
"And yet, Oghren still left her for Felsi. Good for him." Alistair nodded.
"Oh? Did Oghren tell you that?" She asked, finally hearing the little girl burp quietly
"Maybe. You remember he does constantly like to be drunk. He mentions things." He replied. "You know, speaking of Branka, when we were heading to find her, why were you so jumpy when we saw the spiders?"
"Umm. Well.." Jaya fumbled, trying to figure out what to say. "I'm afraid of spiders." She whispered, not really wanting to admit she was scared of something other than losing him and the kids.
"What was that?" He asked.
"I said I'm afraid of spiders." She said, looking at her daughter, hoping she wouldn't get her fear of them.
"So, you're afraid of spiders." He repeated before smiling. "It's alright. I was scared of the archdemon."
"I saw that." She teased as they walked down to join the others. "Good thing an archdemon only awakens once every century or something like that, however long it takes darkspawn to get to an Old God." She looked from her husband to their group to see a Dalish elf that looked familiar.
"Ahh, here they are." Zevran announced. "Our lovely queen with the adorable princess along with our gracious king!"
"Zev. Really?" Jaya questioned before switching Eleanor to the other side. "You look familiar... Were you at the Dalish camp in the Brecilian Forest?"
"Yes, your Highness. I am Sarel." Sarel introduced himself by giving a tiny bow.
"Please, call me Jaya. What can we do for you? Is Lanaya alright?" She asked.
"Actually, she was wondering if you would allow me to tell the children here about the Dales and Dalish. I admit I was very cold to you when you first arrived. However, helping our hunters made me realize that if one shemlen can change, maybe the next generation could also change." Sarel informed.
Jaya blinked and looked to Alistair, who shrugged, as if saying it was up to her. "That would be wonderful, Sarel. Thank you. I just hope that the Dalish and us humans can know each other better. Same with those that live in the city." She smiled. "Now if you don't mind, these two are wanted by the public." She said, her smile turning into a motherly one at her children and Sarel nodded and moved aside.
Fergus blinked. "You really think the elves and humans will get along?"
Jaya sighed. "Not right away. But I hope one day they'll all be able to be friends." She admitted as Fergus handed Duncan to Alistair, smiling at the guards, who were waiting.
"Shall we leave, your Majesties?" One asked.
"Let's get this done with." Alistair groaned slightly, nodding.
The doors opened to a cheering crowd on both sides, guards insuring the royal family passage by creating a path to the Chantry. Each of the companions were on a step on the way down, Oghren and Sten on the ground. They would bring up the rear, in case of something bad happening, Leliana and Zevran would be right behind Alistair and Jaya, since they were the quickest of the group next to Jaya, Shayle would be in her own row and Caican and Wynne would be behind Leliana and Zevran.
Jaya inhaled and smiled at the crowd as she and Alistair walked down the steps, their friends first straightening before falling into their positions. She looked at her brother, who was on her left and smiled at him before looking up, as if feeling her parents were watching her at that moment.
Alistair watched his wife out of the corner of his eye and was amazed at how lovely she looked, even after the births. It was amazing seeing her with either of the children, the glow that entered her face was something he actually noticed had been missing since Ostagar. Even Fergus said that she seemed fit for being a mother, reminding him of their own mother. He looked to see that Mallol and the Revered Mother herself were waiting, as was the crowd that had gathered behind them. He, Jaya and the children entered, leaving their companions to keep the crowd away so they could do this alone.
A few hours later, the royal couple walked out and their king looked close to bursting in happiness as he raised a free hand to silence them, all waiting with baited breath, including those closest to them.
"People of Denerim, and by extension, Ferelden, I am overjoyed to announce Prince Duncan Maric Alistair Bryce Theirin and Princess Eleanor Oriana Elise Rowan Theirin! This day will be marked as a celebration of the most unique as it is rare that there are twins born in the Theirin bloodline. May you all protect them and watch over them." He announced, the crowd bursting out in cheers and applause until he silenced them again. "Also, your queen and I have chosen their godparents. Would you like to announce that, dear wife?"
Jaya giggled softly before smiling. "We choose Zevran Arainai, our closest friend, and, by extension, his own wife, Leliana Arainai. The other godparent was very hard to choose, but we decided on Wynne the mage for the godmother and Oghren as the godfather." She announced proudly, seeing the four's eyes widen and they all walked up and knelt down.
"We are honored, your Highnesses, that you chose us. We will watch and protect them proudly." The four replied in unison, getting the crowd to cheer again as Leliana took the princess from the queen and Oghren took the prince from the king, allowing the couple to lead back to the palace, where there would be a ball later to celebrate the children's own coronation, which was to be held in a few hours.
Long names are long... Well, it's gonna be easier later on...
~~Skittles~~