Chapter Ninety-One

Bitter Dissent

(WARNING - viewer discretion is advised!)

I glanced at my Templar escorts, "What about you two – as Templars, you have a sworn duty to hunt down Maleficarum; and considering these slavers are from Tevinter…"

Axel sighed but Alano shouted, "I love this job!"

Only 15 slavers guarded the entrance, and as such, they were easily dealt with.

Fenris stopped us at the mouth of the cave. "We must be careful; there were many of these holdings once, especially in the mountains, where slavers kept individual pens. They were designed to protect against raids by fellow slavers. No doubt that's why Almadrius chose it."

"Let's hope this isn't a waste of time," Axel sighed. I handed him a mountain dew. He smiled and took it; mountain dew was the number one soda in Kirkwalls' shops. Denerim sold more orange sodas and Danu took a liking to Coke and Pepsi.

I half wondered if Orlais would favor light or dark soda? The Qunari didn't touch the stuff – it was classed as unhealthy even in my stores so they didn't drink it. Somehow, that didn't stop them from trying the pastries, but they wouldn't touch soda.

We fought our way through the twisting cave – obviously it was nothing like in the games – killing any slaver, demon or skeletons we came across.

It was… easier than it should have been since Hadriana wasn't here. Unfortunately, there were no surviving slaves – I'd hoped… I felt mournful at the discovery. And I was outright pissed-off when we found a 4-year-old dead of blood loss.

Perhaps it was the fact that my own child was less than a year old; perhaps it was the fact that the child was a Sylph – an Earth Sylph – but I was pissed. I slipped into the protective state.

I heard Drake muttering a prayer for the child and picking her up. A child – a female child. I felt the earth as it was shaking lighting beneath my feet as I held my sending stone and called Dorian back.

"Calling back already?" he asked.

"Dorian – I have a task for you," my voice had dual tones – one was my own, and one was more lyrical.

"… Say the word." He sounded serious and suddenly sober.

"Almadrius – one of Denarius' cronies – has slain a Sylph child. I was to know if the Archon and Black Divine ordered it. If they did, I am going to war. She's four! Girls are… how did this sick bastard get her?" my shout shook the walls. If we hadn't already killed all but the main man here, we'd be surrounded.

"… I'll begin investigating at once; this cannot stand." He said.

"I want an answer in the next two days – after that, I'm coming to investigate myself. Tell Urian and Radonis – I bet they'll be so helpful in the investigation." I snapped.

"Of course, Ara – I'll get on it right away." I could tell he was truthful – it sounded like he was already moving around.

"I'm having someone contact Gale – he'll meet with you by tomorrow to aid in the investigation. His mate, Star, does most of the Diplomatic stuff in Orzammar anyway. Thank you, Dorian."

"Think nothing of it – you'd do the same for me and we'll be family in the future, will we not?"

I felt slightly better at his confirmation that he wouldn't have me step away from Bull. But I was still seeing red.

We sniffed out Almadrius. Fenris had him pinned in seconds and growled, "You have made quite the misstep, Almadrius. Killing a Fae – a child – has…"

Dorian was already returning my call? I answered, "Speak."

"The Archon has asked that I inform you; Almadrius is to be given to Danu to meet justice – if he is still alive. Even Tevinter abhors the slaying of children. The Black Divine is saying that, not only will we be investigating if Almadrius acted alone, we – Tevinter – will be making reparations for the death of the child. Pick a number – it isn't for gold."

I narrowed my eyes – what were they playing at? "10." I stated.

"… Very well – 10 slaves; all of which will be orphaned slave children. Freed and given to Danu as a show of faith while we investigate." I heard Radonis' voice.

It was… deplorable that the life of a child would save 10. It was horrifying… but I could do no more for the child that was already dead; the 10 'slave' children, however…

"I will send an envoy to Minrathous to retrieve the children."

I glanced at Almadrius and said, "Fenris – knock him out and tie him up. I want the whole council convened for his trial. He will pay for this. His stench is all over her; he did this personally."

Fenris did as I asked. Hawke said, "What about… her parents?"

I walked to Drake and placed my hand on the girls' forehead as I let my tears for her fall. Using the power of the Queen of Danu, I searched… and said, "One is dead – an attack to take her. The other 3 are alive. They know that the girl and her father are dead. They are mourning – I will see that they are invited to the trial… and I will bring her body home to them myself. Goddess give me strength… what kind of monster hurts a child, Hawke? She was just a baby…"

I almost collapsed when he hesitantly put his arms around me. I began to cry harder – she was still warm when we found her. They'd tried and tried to get her blood and failed each time; they grew frustrated and cut her more and more – not realizing that they were draining her.

You couldn't take blood at all from a Fairy or a Fae Child. Sylphs over 30 could have their blood taken, but no one knew that. They had taken this child… because she couldn't fight back, but her father could. They thought she would be the 'safer' option.

A scream of rage and sorrow ripped from my through as all of this information flowed into me from my abilities as Queen.

Axel and Alano looked sad – and so, my opinion of both went up.

Still – the grief was overwhelming. When we left the place and went into my pocket realm – now with a jail and morgue – I was devastated.

I set up my council mirror – having plucked it from my home using the bag – and went through with Hawke. I had pleaded with Fenris to watch the prisoner until we could get some guards to gather him. Merrill was watching the morgue until I could find people to collect the little girl.

Bear came over to me – he had a desk in the corner of the council chambers where he did his work… just in case I popped in.

"B-Bear… Goddess, I… I need you to get me two guards… magic dampening cuffs… a-and the Parents of Willow from Lake in Water. After that… I need you to convene a grand trial for tomorrow. I also need an… armed escort… to collect 10 orphans… from Tevinter."

"… What's going on my queen?" he asked after he relayed the information to his assistant via sending stone.

"…" I couldn't – I broke down crying and Hawke had to explain, "A Tevinter slaver managed to get ahold of an Earth Sylph child – Willow, if I'm reading things right – and… tried over and over to take her blood. She's dead, Bear. We have both her body and her killer. We're currently working with our liaison in Tevinter to find out if this man – the killer – was the instigator or if he was following orders. The Archon and Black Divine in Tevinter are giving over 10 orphans – children that they considered slaves – as immediate show of faith while they investigate."

Bear hissed, "A… a child. I… Goddess. I don't think a child has ever been killed before. The whole of Danu will mourn with the parents when this gets out. They'll call for the mans' head."

"I intend to give it to them. Even the Goddess punishes those that… there are exceptions to every rule."

"I'll let you know as soon as her parents arrive; the guards will come to collect the man and place him in a cell within the half-hour. As for the armed escort, they will head directly to Tevinter to collect the children. I'll pull a few strings and get wind-melders; get those kids and get out at once. Those kids will be here in the week. A full council trial will convene in the afternoon tomorrow; and the press will be invited."

We had press – one Queen was from the early 1700s' and had the basic concept of newspaper; the first American newspaper was in 1690 – she brought it here since her husband was a journalist so she knew quite a bit.

And the Fae were great at inventing, recycling, and so on. The water Fae could pull the ink right from the paper and use it again in the next edition.

I sighed heavily. "Make sure the guards don't kill this man before we can put him on trial. I want justice – not… vengeance."

"It will be done, Ara. Rest assured."

"I don't think I'll rest tonight," I muttered.

Bear flinched, "I doubt that I will either. What will we do with the orphans?"

I opened my mouth before frowning, "I'm not sure yet. I'll meet them before I make any choices on where to house them… put… put them up in the family wing of the palace and have them well cared for. I doubt anyone here would treat orphans badly, but I want… after what I saw, I want to make sure. I need to be sure."

"I'll see to their care personally. Look – here are the guards to get the prisoner. You go back; I'll send for you when the girls parents' arrive."

I nodded and motioned to the two heavily armed guards – a Fairy male and Water Sylph female. The sylph spoke, "My Queen?"

I took a deep breath, "Come – I have a prisoner that needs escorting to the jail to await his trial in the morning. He's a human mage; hence the cuffs there."

They nodded and followed – we passed the open morgue door and I heard the intake of breath from the two soldiers. The man said, "… Did… did the prisoner…?"

"Yes. His country has turned him over to me for sentencing. Tell no one who this man is – I want him to have a fair trial; I don't want vigilantes killing him before he can see justice. You two will be assigned to guard the prisoner until the sentence is carried out – meaning that during the trail, I want you two standing close to him so he doesn't try anything."

"It will be my honor," the man said firmly. The woman simply nodded while glancing back toward the morgue.

Almadrius was still knocked out cold when we entered the room… actually, judging by the new lump on the mans' head, I should be saying 'knocked out again'. I lifted an eyebrow at Fenris. He shrugged, "The man began detail what he did to the girl and what she begged of him. He attempted to get a rise of me – I will admit he succeeded. It did not end well for him."

I nodded, "You will need to testify to what he said to you. Is that okay?"

He gave a quick affirmative before glancing at the guards, "Get him out of here – he's tainted the queens' eyes long enough for the day."

The two guards moved to pluck the man from the floor of his cell and swiftly retreated. Fenris pulled me into his arms, "Are you okay?"

I shook my head, "No… Goddess, no. What did he say? It will haunt me if you don't tell me…"

"Amatus – you do not wish to know. Please do not ask this of me. You will learn at the trial."

"D-did he… touch her? Fenris, I have to know, damn it. Did that bastard…?" I was hyperventilating. I didn't want the parents to find out at trial if that bastard had…

"No – he does not enjoy girls, Amatus. Almadrius… didn't like girls." Fenris muttered soothingly as he pressed a soft kiss to my temple.

I nodded, relaxing, "Thank you – I… I needed to know. I had to…"

We headed back down the hall and I stopped when we got to the morgue. I'd had no intention of stopping, but I heard something that made me.

I glanced in as Merrill sang Mir Da'len Somniar. And my voice joined hers – perhaps it was foolish, but… it felt like I needed to. It was as though we were merely singing a child to sleep rather than into her next life.

Elgara vallas, Da'len

Melava Somniar

Mala Taren aravas

Ara ma'desen melar…

Merrill looked at me, "You know Dalish lullabies, Lethallan?"

My lip quivered, "Yes."

"So… you know that your name in Dalish means 'me' or 'I'?" she asked. I appreciated her distraction as I blew out a small laugh. "Telling me that I've been referring to myself in the third person?"

"Pretty much," she smiled softly.

"Awesome… she looks so peaceful," I sighed as the smile fell from my face. The little girls dark skin was paired with dark green hair. She was adorable…

"Lethallan – you couldn't have known they had her." Merrill frowned.

"I'm aware, Merrill. But I want to know how they got her. What were they doing in the area?" I muttered.

"A question for her other parents." Fenris said smoothly.

We left Merrill with that question hanging in the air… and when I went to sleep that night, I didn't have my fun night with Hawke and Fenris. I was too depressed.

Cullen, Alistair, Kell, and Sebastian had all been summoned for the trial. I wasn't sure who did the summoning – but I agreed with it since this was the first trial for the death of a Fae child. I was surprised that Divine Justinia – and, as such, Cassandra Pentaghast and Leliana – were here.

Even more surprised to see that Gale had brought Dorian Pavus.

I sat at my throne in my palace – there were 3 chairs on either side of me. My throne was Amethyst in color – and right beside it, to the left, was a Sapphire chair in equal size; Alistairs' throne since he was a King. To his left was a smaller Emerald chair for Fenris and an empty Ruby chair for Bull (No one but my mates and guards knew who my fire mate was).

To my immediate right was a yellow Topaz chair for Cullen, then a gold and purple one for Sebastian and finally a moonstone one for Kell. If I took a 7th mate to round things out, their chair would be placed just past Bulls' – since, as it stood, from Kell to Bull it went 3 small thrones, 2 large, then 2 more small… I was half tempted to mate with Hawke for real just because the current placement bugged the ever-loving shit out of me. It wasn't symmetrical.

Only Bulls' seat was left empty – and each chair's back had the black silhouette of their creature; mine had an angel with arms outstretched, Alistairs had a dragon and so on.

Everyone stood when I entered the room – and only sat when I did. All the nobility had come, and the press, and even many non-nobles.

I spoke, "Bring him in."

The two guards from yesterday brought in Almadrius – rather roughly. He looked like he'd been treated well other than some rough maneuvering so I wasn't too upset.

"Almadrius of House Danarius of Tevinter – you stand accused of murdering a child through attempted bleeding; how do you plead?" I asked once he was moved to the spot in front of me.

He sneered, "Of course I tried to bleed the little bitch – but you cannot blame her death on me. I was unable to take her blood."

I frowned, "That's uncalled for – the girl you murdered was a child; refrain from using such language in my home. As it isn't widely known, I suppose now is the time to tell all. Fairies cannot have their blood forcefully taken. It will evaporate before it can even drip from the wound if we do not give our consent for you to take it. However, that does not mean it goes back into us – each attempt to take her blood was successful, you just didn't get to keep it. A child under 30 cannot consent to having their blood taken anyway so even asking them would not get you what you wanted. You killed her – by taking her blood over and over without allowing her time to recover. And, thus – you did kill her. Besides – it has already been very well documented that Fae blood doesn't respond to blood magic – what were you hoping to accomplish?"

"… I wanted to see if it would respond as a potion reagent." He bit out.

"So to do this, you captured a child – when you could have asked any adult off the streets of Danu? You could have come here and brought the idea to my attention. I do admit that it interests me and would have been more than happy to find volunteers or even donate myself." I was angry.

As the trial proceeded, Almadrius refused to name any co-conspirators; I knew he was lying, but he told the truth when he said Danarius wasn't involved. So someone had been, but he wouldn't give them up.

Fenris did his own testimony – telling us all that Almadrius had confessed to beating the girl in anger when she wouldn't – couldn't – explain why he couldn't get her blood. Almadrius had kicked her when she passed out from blood loss, thinking she had just fainted from pain. I was sick – literally, someone had to bring me a bucket during Fenris' monotone delivery of what Almadrius had said in the time he'd been locked up in Fenris' hearing range.

Even the Divine looked sick – and I discreetly had someone take her a bucket. Leliana was crying. Cass looked like she wanted to do those things to the Maleficar on trial before me.

Finally, I was fed up, "Are there any final remarks or questions before we move to sentencing?"

A hand rose above the crowd – it was one of the childs' parents; her mother. I motioned her forward. She was a Water Sylph; tall for a Fae. She was 5'10 with long seaweed green hair, pearl-colored eyes and light blue skin that almost seemed like sea-foam. Her name was Amber – unusual for any non-earth Fae and it really didn't suit her looks… Willow – the child – had been their only child.

People watched her movements as she approached the throne, "My Queen – I… What became of…?"

"Ah… Almadrius – what did you do with the childs' father?"

"Burned his body," he snapped, "I didn't want any evidence linking to me – I didn't… want to get caught. I just wanted to grab the slave and go home."

"Prince. My mate is a Prince; not a slave. You will do well to remember your place while in my throne-room." I snapped back. "Amber – as the grieving party, I want to hear your thoughts on his punishment."

"… I have discussed this with… my remaining mates, My Queen. I'm glad that you will give us a chance to voice it. We know that your majesty is softer natured when it comes to death – but that is what we ask. That he dies the same way he killed our daughter. Blood-draining."

I mulled it over, for the death of a child, it was fair to ask that the perpetrator be given the same treatment he gave his victim. Especially in a medieval time-frame like here in Thedas.

I took a deep breath and said, "My mates – I call for a vote. All in favor of granting the request of Miss. Amber, the bereaved, raise your right hand."

It was almost unanimous among my mates to allow the request. Only Sebastian held back from raising his hand – though I saw it twitch. Even he was not immune to wanting justice and revenge for a child. To be honest, when Cullen arrived, he mentioned how Anders had been muttering that Almadrius should suffer the way that the child had, so I knew Justice would approve.

But I also knew that an eye for an eye wasn't ideal. I could put a stop to it – veto the vote and find a less… torturous way for this man to die in penance for the little girl. But I was outvoted – and I had sworn at my coronation to be just. If I didn't follow through here…

"Very well. Do I have volunteers to enact this… punishment on the prisoner?" I felt sick. I knew I was pale and I could feel the bile in my throat. I knew that I should be the one to enact the punishment since I had decreed it – but I couldn't.

So I asked for a volunteer – because then I wasn't asking someone to do what they weren't willing to do.

It was quiet for a moment as people seemed to deliberate if they were willing to do it… until Leliana spoke up from the back of the room, "I will do it, Sister."

Aedan being the Prince Wyvern as my brother made Leliana – his wife – the Princess Raven. Not that anyone outside of Danu knew that Leliana was considered a Princess here… and she wanted to keep it that way for the time being.

That was my Court – Ash was the Prince Rose, Aedan the Wyvern, Leli the Raven, Alistair the Dragon, Fenris the Wraith, Cullen the Lion, Sebastian the Wyrm, Kell the Tiger, Bull… the Bull, Fergus the Stag, and me – the Angel.

Of course, Ash's mates and kids all had tittles too – it was getting to be a headache to keep track of it all.

I gave Leliana a concerned look, "Are you sure?"

"I am – I have had… practice in this area recently. It would be no trouble to simply recreate what he has done." Leliana nodded in determination.

I took a deep breath – it felt like my throat was constricting – and said, "V-very well; you will be provided a room in the dungeon of the palace with all the implements that you will need. Now to the matter of Willow – the child Almadrius has k-killed. Dorian?"

Dorian stepped forward – and many people watched him in curiosity. When he got close, he gave me a flourished bow and said, "My most beautiful friend – from what I've gathered so far, the Black Divine, the Archon, and Magister Danarius had no knowledge of this cruel act against a child. In immediate retribution to your people, they have offered – and you have accepted – 10 orphaned children that were formerly slaved to be handed over to your people. Half of the children are to be elven children at least. However, we – as a country – will also accept to pay personal retribution for both the deaths of the child and her father to the family. They have but to name a wish and it will be done to the best of our abilities."

A swift murmur went through the crowd – 10 children would be coming here; all of them needing a home!

Amber said, "M-my Queen? What do you plan to do with the children?"

"Give them homes. Siblings among the children won't be separated, you understand. When they get here in a few hours, you and your mates will be the first allowed to interact with the kids and see if any of them will fit with your family. If they do, you will be allowed to adopt them – if not, then we will find different families. These children were considered slaves – this will likely be the first real choice they get. Please bear that in mind. I know it will not ease the loss of your child; it isn't even close to enough – I do understand the loss you feel. I have felt your pain. As your mate would know."

Cosmo – yes, the Cosmo that I met during the battle of the Vigil – stepped hesitantly forward. His pink hair and green eyes starkly contrasting with his nearly black skin. He was the tallest Fae I had ever met, being 6 freaking feet tall. The other female mate was a Wind Fae – and the father that had died was a Fire-Born Fairy.

He fell to his knees when he got next to his mate and said, "Ara… my Queen – thank you for the chance to adopt another child."

"… If it is your wish, I will do for you what I did for Plume." I said. The news about IVF and the success I'd had with Plume and Sapphires pods had spread like wild-fire here in Danu. The two pods were famous – the first joint-pods (Pods that go in together to get children when one pod or both were all one gender) to have ten children in one go all born in the same week.

They couldn't stop singing my praises – though I had asked them to stop; they couldn't help themselves.

"Yes." Amber choked up, "Yes – we… we want more kids; adopted, natural… we always wanted a large family."

"Then in one year, once you've had time to bond with adopted children should you be so lucky and grieve your daughter, we will do IVF. And when we do this, I will take in 10 Fae with the Gift of Healing to learn this procedure and teach to others. One year from today, here in the palace infirmary, we will have the procedure. Earth Lord Bear – find 10 Fae with the Gift. Cosmo… I'm sorry this happened to you, my friend."

He was crying – both in sorrow and in happiness; children were so important to the Fae. They were never likely to turn away an orphan – that's why there were no orphans in Danu. A neighbor or family member would open their doors to any child that lost their parents.

We had so few children – each loss was a blow to Danu as a whole.

Each gain was a joy to the whole of Danu just the same.

Dorian – catching on that I personally knew one of the parents – turned to Cosmo and bowed again, "Ara has named me the Liaison to Tevinter since I was born there. You can get in contact with me through Gale over there, or through Ara. When you decide how my country can begin to make amends to you, please, do not hesitate to contact me."

Dorian had such a way with words – always adapting to the situation at hand. I did love him – and couldn't wait for the day he was a Prince of Danu as mate of my mate. I had already determined that his title would be 'the Prince Snake' since snakes were the sigil of Tevinter.

I stood on shaky legs – causing every Fae in the room to take a knee since court was 'in session' – and said, "Are there any other matters for me to hear today…?"

It was silent for a minute so I nodded, "Court is Dismissed for today – Cosmo, Amber and Cloud, you will be granted rooms in the guest wing of the palace until such a time as we can take care of the orphans."

I turned and strode swiftly from the room. I got sick the minute the door closed as I cried.

My mates all came through the door behind me.

Alistair cursed, "Ara – if it was going to hurt you this much, you could have just… vetoed the vote. You could have given him a different punishment."

"… it was unanimous, Alistair." I slid down to sit on the floor with my hands covering my face.

"No – Sebastian…" Kell began but I shook my head, "His hand began to raise. If even one of you had been truly against granting that punishment… I would have vetoed it – but you were all in agreement."

Sebastian looked ashamed, "I… I didn't realize that you saw…"

Fenris frowned, "Amatus – we would have understood…"

"I promised to uphold justice – and you all thought that this was justice. I had to allow it. Can someone get me back to the tent? I still have to walk home with Hawke and the others. Goddess…" I whimpered as my stomach churned again.

"Let them walk back on their own – just go to the house and rest," Kell said.

I snorted, "That wouldn't be nice."

"Hawke will understand," Cullen argued.

"… Ask him to be sure?" I pleaded with my mates. Kell instantly pulled himself back to his full height – he'd crouched beside me just like the others – and strode toward the mirror in my Imperial Bedchambers.

The royal palace had a 10-room suite they called the Imperial Chambers; I'd moved my council mirror there when the palace was finished. Of course, one room looked better than the rest – the Queens' personal chambers. Then you had a room for every type of mate – Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Moon – and then 4 extras; two styled for secondary mates and 2 styled as offices. The offices were each almost as large as the Queens Chambers – each had 4 desks; the Queen and her mates could pick and choose who took which desks as their 'office space'.

In the room I used as an office, Sebastian Cullen and Alistair also worked in – because all 3 did Danu paperwork to lighten my load.

The rooms were laid out with two solid desk – Cullens' in Inquisition style – and behind each were two tall, narrow bookshelves. There was a small square nightstand on one side of each desk for odds and ends like pictures or something.

The chairs were really cozy.

Kell and had desks in the other office, but they rarely saw much use. Of course, Bull would also have one and an extra if I took a seventh mate… I was told – by Bear, no less – that most of the Council was pushing hard for me to not only take a seventh mate… but for that mate to be Bear. It wasn't unheard of for a surviving mate of the previous regime to be the secondary mate of the new one… but considering Bear told me that he saw me as a sister, and I said he was like brother… both of us threw up a little at the suggestion.

Alistair hoisted me into his arms and began making his way toward the Imperial Chambers too – the rest of my mates trailing along. It was almost comical to have all these gorgeous men tailing me like ducks when I almost never felt pretty enough to warrant such attentions.

I sighed, "It is Monday…"

Alistair shot me one of his charming grins, "I did hope that you hadn't forgotten. Duncan is with Ash – I couldn't bring myself to bring our son to such a proceeding. I hope you'll forgive me that…"

"I'm glad – I wouldn't want to sully our sons' eyes with the sight of that monster. I just wish he'd… told us… who he was working for. The only thing I'm sure of is that it wasn't Danarius – he wasn't lying when he said Danarius hadn't ordered this." I frowned.

Fenris spoke, "It surprised me that he wasn't behind this mess."

"I agree – I do recall that Danny-Dumbass was going to make an attempt on our son to try and control Fenris. Was. I don't think he will anymore. For one thing, this child wasn't even related to me and I still approved torture and death by blood-drain; what would I do if it were my kid? For another – it'd be more leverage if the child he took was Fenris' not Alistairs. And I don't plan to publicize who fathered my kids past Alistair and Sebastian for obvious reasons; succession. So – I think Danny will end up following the original plan – not that he knows what that plan was and that we're already prepared for it…"

"What is that plan?" Fenris asked smoothly.

"… Can I explain later? I love you, but I can only deal with so many bad things at a time – I can't…" my breath was shuddered.

Fenris jerked a nod, "Of course, Amatus – from your words before, we still have a few years anyway."

I nodded and yawned; laying my head against Alistairs' shoulder. He was in white and gold Fairy Armor today – a newer design based on 'Angel' concepts rather than elements – and he looked really good.

Cullen wore brown and gold; Sebastian was in the same as Alistair; Kell had worn blue and white; and Fenris wore his usual.

I had actually worn a Fae Battle-Dress. It was white and – from the waist down – it was feathered. The chest was silver metal with gold-colored metal trim. The hips and shoulders had metal plates and it had gauntlets too. Under the feathered skirt was a more practical set of greaves that were Fae thin-leathers. Between the gauntlets and shoulder-plates? Chainmail was visible – though it was also stitched into the cloth under the chest-plate. Though the chest-plate was metal, to the untrained eye, it looked too thin to be any good against weapons.

This battle-dress had been created by the same seamstress that made the Kilts and my coronation dress. She was primarily an armorer, I'd learned, but her shop had people of all sorts of specialties working in it.

She had not only created this – she designed it. Along with the Angel-Styled Fairy-Armor.

I'd worn it today because I'd expected trouble; I was glad to be wrong.

Kell was returning just as we got to the Chambers – the mirror was in the 'living space' of the suit. He dipped his head, "As expected – Hawke does not mind. He is simply glad that justice was served."

I nodded, "Can… Can I take a nap? I know it's early, but I'm just… drained." It was only 11 in the morning. We'd started that Trial at 8 this morning and with everything that had been covered in it… and the Orphans were set to arrive at 3 in the afternoon, so I had time.

"Of course, my love." Alistair said and began taking me to my room. He mused, "I… feel bad for Cosmo – I'm recalling how he and I met."

"The mate thing. Yeah – not good considering now." I frowned.

"Wait – what?" Cullen asked.

"Cosmo and Plume – you remember Plume, Cullen? – well, those two had been part of a tourney to see who would be Aras' secondary mate when it was mandatory because she had been digging her heels in and making a fuss about not wanting a secondary mate. Plume won – Cosmo came in second; Plume had only male mates and he couldn't… he didn't want to be with Ara and was relieved. Cosmo made an ass of himself back then. Pushed far too hard. Looking back, I can see how he'd already been thinking of her as a potential mate since Ara acted just as protective of Sebastian when they started courting. The same Cosmo that just lost his young daughter was once in the running to be Aras' mate."

Almost all of my current mates frowned – except Sebastian and Alistair.

Sebastian said, "He did not seem so bad – even in his grief."

I nodded, "He has two remaining mates – and no children at the moment."

"Both of his mates are women – can he not have more? Not to sound callous…" Sebastian flushed.

"Children are still rare – the Fae won't enjoy the increased fertility until the children born after my ascension grow into adults. That's just under 30 years away. The 'special traits' of each queen only go into effect after the Queen takes up the mantle. So… without my own aid, most likely, Cosmo might not have ever gotten more children. That's why I made the offer. Okay – I really need a nap." I yawned. Alistair strode into my room without another word.

When I woke, I did feel better. Not because I slept, but because my mates were so… special.

"I'm sorry – you what?" I asked in amusement.

"We discussed this while you slept – if you wish to add Cosmo as a secondary mate…" Kell had caught on to my amusement and knew that I was wondering how they ever got onto this discussion to begin with.

"Alistair – my beloved King – didn't you already say not Cosmo a few years ago? I distinctly remember you giving me permission for any of the others in that room but not Cosmo." I asked with a giggle.

Alistair coughed and flushed, looking away, "Well… ahem… circumstances…"

"I don't want Cosmo – not like that. Now – we have children to welcome… come on," I shook my head with a smile as all of my mates exhaled in relief.