Chapter 4

South of Dragon's Peak, Ferelden, Month 6 - Justinian, 9:02 of the Dragon Age.

The time came for Deedo to return to her world heavy of heart. Many words were left unsaid. She watched as a guardian realized the once close-knitted bond steadily unraveled. Her first friends stood as she cast her spell.

The Royal Palace, Month 5 - Bloomingtide

Rowan stayed at the castle, bid her farewells with the Elven lady in private. "Lady Deedolit, I miss you already. Denerim will not be the same without your bright light." Deedo smiled reflectively, contemplating the Queen's words.

"Oh, I am just traveling to Gwaren, you act as if I will never return."

Rowan found later the spell Deedo cast those years ago faded as she entered the King's bedchamber. At first bemused, but she understood, "Deedo: thank you, you have my apologies."

Deedo looked at Rowan. She smiled and shook her head. "Nothing to apologize for… ever. Just forgive me and…" Deedo sighed as saying her friend's name set Rowan in a melancholy regret. Taking the Queen's hand, she gave them a firm squeeze. The Elven Lady's reason for heading to Gwaren. It was near time for her to head back to her home. She needed to make the trip to say her goodbyes.

Deedo kissed the Queen's cheek and left her with the promise that she will have a small gift upon her return before she left for the Great Wood.

Gwaren Castle, Month 5 - Bloomingtide

Reached for the new Teyrn's hand, gripped her dagger in the other. "Will you give me your finger!"

"No!" Loghain rebuffed. Stomped back into the main hall of the manor.

"Please, it is simple. Honestly, you are so stubborn. You have bled on me more than just a prick from my dagger." Deedo wrinkled her nose in a mock pout. Though the statement true, she followed behind, not taking no for his answer.

"Loghain look!" Once distracted, she snatched the man's hand. The Teyrn tugged, then soon sighed as the deed halted his protest. She pulled a fire red gem and placed it against his finger. "Rowan." She whispered, and he heard her name as the first sweet, warm emotion brought light to the small stone. Deedo quickly removed it and kissed the grumpy man's finger. The stone he saw was blue in her hand.

"I will never tell." Deedo smiled, a hand over her heart. She went to leave her goodbye to Loghain, knowing he would not make the journey with her as she was about to head back to Denerim. To be with the young woman for whom the stone is for.

Loghain lay hold of her wrist, guided her to the master bedroom: "You are leaving?" His voice sounded much more solemn than he wanted. The door shut and latched behind him with an audible click.

"Yes, it is favorable time I return home." Fiddling with the stone in hand.

Curious as to the spell the Enchantress cast on the pebble in her hands, "What was it you did just now?"

"Your distrust in magic amazes me still, it is to be a gift." Over her shoulder, she gave her answer as she wove a minor spell on the tiny gem in her hand.

Loghain stood before her to see the shimmer of magic faded slightly: "What if I asked you to stay, be Teyrna?"

Deedo, dumbstruck, looked up. The confusion on her delicate face caused the General to smile. She exhaled sharply, suddenly shook her head. "I have not forgotten your words. Teyrna? No, much as the people would not accept an Elven Queen, a Teyrna is no better, yes?"

Loghain nuzzled her back, guided her to the bed. "You had saved my life, let us not forget that. Reconsider. Stay." He kissed her long graceful fingers, placed her hand over his heart: "You bring me comfort."

It stunned Deedo, the tender affection he put on display. The gem in the elf's hand hit the furs on the floor with his confession.

"I thought you saw me as a stupid bird."

Loghain chuckled, pressing his lips against hers. Deedolit did not return to Denerim until a month after.

Month 6 - Justinian, 9:02 of the Dragon Age.

Now they rode the three of them, Maric, Loghain, and she through a wondrous decorated section of the wood outside the castle walls, they dismounted and the Maric led her to a clearing where they now stood.

Deedo seemed to go back to her easy-going way just after the Prince was born, and the decision to leave that much harder, but she kept her word as she said her task done home was her destination.

"Home, it seems the time is right for travel. The beautiful colors, a personal garden?"

The shine in her eyes when the light caught them looked dull. She smiled thoughtfully. Loghain nodded his agreement, noted the decor should not be as it should. He swept the castle grounds before they left, and no word of anything off.

Maric stepped to her, reached for her hands. Her eyes widened.

"Stay, be with me, us… Do you have to leave so suddenly?" Wet, the King's eyes looked. Deedo smiled in kind, nodded her starlight head.

"I will return one day." Her mask in place, she nodded her head, looked into Maric's Sky-blue eyes.

Maric released her hands. He slipped a necklace from around his neck, on the end, a silver signet, the Theirin Heraldry. Slipped it around Deedo's, Loghain stepped forward and objected. Maric raised his hand to still him.

What he was doing was risky but for him, the one constant light in his life would have to depart. He wanted to secure this light... his light, by any means necessary. "This has been in my family passed down since they had made it. Was my Grandfather's father, my mother's, to me, now you… I… We… Ferelden will not be the same with you gone. I need to know you will be back for me… to help as you do."

"I will one day. Thank you, I accept your gift." she reached into her cloak, retrieved a silver, modest ring with a small dark stone fused in the metal. "I had meant to give this to you years ago—it will protect you. And help you see you are not alone in the dark." Deedo sniffed. She needed to leave. Her emotions were tamping her heart.

Loghain looked between the two of them, and his eyes narrowed. He cleared his throat, as he could see Deedo was growing visibly uncomfortable. Her eyes filled with tears. Was harder to say her goodbyes than it play in her mind.

Maric held his hand up, hurried to his horse, he came back with a box in hand, the lid, a Unicorn on one side, one she spoke of in her land, the other a Mabari, like the one that flies on the flag in Denerim. Handed the decorated box to Deedolit, he opened it, lined with soft black ermine, held a treasure. One his Majesty promised some time ago. Removed from it a golden circlet, it scrolled like her magic, solidified a sky-blue gem with smaller gems of the clearest quality.

Placing it on her head, she reached to touch the cool metal. Deedo blinked and smiled. She pulled the King down to kiss his cheek, then hurried to Loghain, pulled him close, slipped a grey stone in his hand. She nodded.

Feet from where Maric given her gifts, she opened the portal and Felwithe showed through: "Thank you for everything, I will be back." She tucked the ring away under her cloak, close to her heart. Stepped through, she turned to see them on the other side. She curtsied low. The portal closed, Deedo sat on the knoll weeping openly.

"Maric, did you just marry her?" Loghain pointed to the unoccupied space the portal once was.

Maric wiped a stray tear as he shrugged. Walked past Loghain to his horse, Loghain followed behind, mounted his, "Did you marry her?" Repeated himself.

"Queen Deedolit Meleth Theirin of Felwithe and Ferelden. As much as I love how that sounds 'convincing, the Chantry would be a sizable feat.' It is for when she returns, if ever. I thank you for being the ... witness." Maric clapped Loghain on his shoulder and kicked his horse into a start. The large grey stallion whinnied as he raced off towards the castle, leaving a flabbergasted Loghain to head back to his home.

Royal Palace, 9:05 Month 2 - Guardian of the Dragon Age, Birthing chambers.

They both heard the babe cry, strong and healthy. "It's a boy, your Majesty." The midwife announced as she set to clean the newly born Prince.

"Oh, Rowan, look at him so small." The Elven lady gushed. Following close on the midwife's heel, she's never witnessed a human birth. The enchantress was glad to have been part of such a miracle, as she rushed back to her friend, took her damp hand in hers. "He is beautiful, and you look more beautiful than ever." Moved wet brown curls from the Queen's pale face.

Rowan cried softly, "It will be your turn one day." Her voice was laced with exhaustion, a tired, grateful smile on the Queen's lips. The elf helped her to sit up as they brought the youngest, Theirin, swaddled to his mother.

The Elven smiled kindly: "It was by the will of the Goddess." She rubbed the back of Queen Rowan, silently applied Norrathian salve to ease her pain and speedy recovery.

Rowan had not heard what the woman beside her said: "Present him to Maric." The midwife handed the babe to the bright-eyed High Elf.

Her aquamarine eyes widened: "I dare not." Carefully held the boy. She smiled, caught herself having fallen in love with the firstborn of her friends. "Hello." She cooed in a whisper.

Rowan nodded, slipping into a slumber. Her young prince quietly listened to her husband's first love.

She stood gently cradling the boy; she looked back with a nod, a smile alighted with love on her dreamy face that looked as childlike as she seemed. Rowan heard as the wooden doors opened off the birth chamber. Rowan smiled to herself as the Norrathian Lady Deedolit Meleth of Felwithe presented her firstborn to Maric, one Prince Cailan Theirin.