Laying the Best Plans

"So what do you think we should call him or her?"

"Hmm?" Anora questioned her husband with a raised eyebrow, as if the question was completely anathema to her.

"Well, come on Anora, we need to start thinking about names, don't we?" Aedan smiled. He reached his hand out to gently rub her pregnant belly soothingly. She was now more than large enough that there could certainly be no doubt as to her condition. "After all, it won't be much longer now."

The royal couple were relaxing in their own private lounge in the palace. It had become a place Anora in particular had taken to more and more often in recent weeks. Not that she hadn't always liked this particular room, but her preference was more to do with the fact that she was increasingly finding it a bit of a challenge to move about. It had been a long while since she'd last ridden on a horse after all, and she had even tired of taking carriage rides by now. The Queen was effectively palace bound, which suited Anora just fine, so long as no one wanted her to move from her lounged state. The lounge had a charming set of settees that Anora found most comfortable, which was where the Queen and the Prince-Consort were seated now.

Anora blinked. Then she raised a hand to rub at her face while she chuckled. "Of course. I'm sorry, I just never …"

"Never what?" Aedan asked, nonplussed.

Anora lowered her hand and Aedan saw there was more than a little emotion lingering in those wet eyes. "Forgive me. I just … haven't really thought that far ahead. For so long we've been trying, and then I was trying with Cailan before, I just … I think deep down, at some point, I gave up believing it could ever really happen." Anora cradled her belly protectively.

Aedan smiled as he moved from his chair to sit beside his Queen on the settee. "This is happening, Anora. We're going to have a child." He whispered in her ear before kissing her lovingly on the cheek. "A little prince or princess, all of our own."

That brought a shaky laugh from Anora's lips. "I know. Somehow I believe it when it comes from your lips."

"So you should." Aedan smiled warmly. "So, come on then, names. You must have some ideas, surely? You're in here so often, you must have thought about it at some point, even if only subconsciously."

Anora shook her head with a soft smile before she leaned her head back, gazing up at the ceiling as she considered. "How about a name from a previous king?"

Aedan nodded slowly as he thought. "Calenhad?"

Anora scrunched up her nose and shook her head. "Too prominent a name to follow. He'd forever be held up against Calenhad the first, there's just no way our child could accomplish the same feats as he. Besides, it would seem like I'm simply trying to bolster our child's legitimacy through association with a legendary king."

"I suppose." Aedan conceded. "Although, you could consider our child as something of a 'uniter' himself?"

"In what way?"

"Well, we only came together as a way of uniting the country following the civil war, and our little 'Calenhad' is the product of our union."

Anora stared at her husband with a mixture of confusion and disapproval. "That's an awfully … functional way of thinking about it."

Aedan chuckled. "You're right, it's terrible."

Anora shook her head with a slight smile. "I do hope you're going to be a bit more serious about this?"

"Starting now." Aedan smirked.

"Very good." Anora sighed. "What of Arland? If we're looking for symbolism, what better way than to name our child after a king who banished the Grey Warden's? We close out the period of Ferelden history without the Warden's presence with the child of one?"

Aedan narrowed his eyes in thought. "I seem to remember hearing tales of Arland killing many Couslands during his reign? I probably shouldn't approve of that one on principle."

Anora chewed on her lip a moment. "Hmm, you're right, probably not the best idea."

"Besides, do you really want to name our son Arland? What would we call him in private, Arly?"

"An even better point."

"Maric?"

The Queen shook her head. "Same issues as with Calenhad."

"I'm running out of kings here."

"Honestly?" Anora raised a dubious eyebrow as she glared at her husband.

"I was raised to be a soldier, Anora." Aedan held his hands up in surrender before her disapproval. "History wasn't really my priority."

"You were raised as the son of a Teyrn, just as I was raised as the daughter of one." The Queen countered. "I know for a fact you had the same amount spent on your education as I had on mine. I'm sure the history of the rulers of the realm was drilled into you just as much."

"Alright then, please enlighten me, Teyrna Anora." Aedan leaned back in his seat with a challenging smirk.

Anora rolled her eyes. "Before Maric, there was King Brandel."

"Wasn't Meghren the king before Maric?"

"We don't count the Orlesians." Anora muttered with a slight sneer. "And I'm certainly not giving any child of mine an Orlesian name."

"Of course, I should have expected nothing less." Aedan smiled. "So what was Brandel known for?"

A pause.

"Losing Ferelden to the Orlesian's mostly."

"Ah." Aedan nodded with a slight smirk. "Not your preferred choice I presume?"

"No." Anora shook her head. "Nor that of his father, King Vanedrin, who died in war against Emperor Reville."

"I have a feeling we're barking up the wrong tree here."

"I think you're right, dear." Anora sighed. "Let's forget history."

"That still leaves us without a first name for our little king though."

Anora smiled at the words 'our little king' in particular. "Well, we could go a more traditional route then and name him after a relative who's passed on." The Queen turned her gaze to her Prince-Consort with a small scrap of sadness in her eyes. "We both have a few of those to choose from."

Aedan considered for a moment. As much as he loved his wife, he wasn't sure if he was happy with the idea of having a child called 'Loghain Bryce Therein', or vice versa.

"Perhaps my father's name wouldn't be the best choice for a future king." Anora conceded with a murmur.

"No, no. There's nothing wrong with it at all." Aedan objected, already hating the downcast nature of his wife's voice.

"Aedan, it's fine." Anora smiled a little. "Given everything my father put you through – you and the kingdom – it would hardly be right."

Aedan licked his drying lips. "Only if you're sure?"

"Absolutely. Besides, the last thing I want is for our son to be hated before he even has the chance to sit on the throne."

"True enough I suppose." Aedan smiled before switching to a smirk. "So, an Orlesian name is definitely off the table here?"

"Only if you want to stay married." Anora drawled with a roll of her eyes as Aedan chuckled. She considered silently for a moment. "Prince Bryce." She tested quietly.

"King Bryce." Aedan followed suit. "It sounds good to me."

"It does, I must admit." Anora conceded with a nod and a smile.

"Have we just found our son's name?"

"Perhaps, or we could call him Aedan?" Anora smiled.

Aedan grimaced.

"You don't like your own name?" Aedan quirked her head with a smirk.

"It's not that, I just think naming our child after me is a bit … narcissistic."

Anora chuckled. "Good point, no little Aedan's or Anora's then … Bryce." She tested once more.

"You like it don't you?" Aedan smirked.

"I do. It's distinctly Ferelden, strong enough on its own that it warrants no nickname."

"Is that a major issue here?" Aedan chuckled. "Whether or not our child gets a nickname?"

"Absolutely." Anora scowled. "When I was a girl, there were several maids and servants in Gwaren and the capital who'd call me 'Annie'."

"Oh? Is that so terrible a crime?" Aedan bit his lip to stop himself from chuckling at his wife's expense.

"It's not my name! I'd understand if I was called Annabelle or Annemarie, but Annie isn't even remotely close to Anora." She shook her head in disdain, staring off through the wall and at this horrendous memory. "Absurd."

Sometimes Aedan realised that he'd never fully understand his dear wife. This was one of those times.

"Right, but what if we have a little princess instead?" Aedan asked, attempting to bring them back on track. "We should try thinking of a name for her as well."

Anora barely needed to think on it for a moment before smiling. "What about my mother's name?"

"Celia? Queen Celia." Aedan tested.

"It doesn't have to be her first name." Anora offered. "But I'd like for it to be represented in some form."

"And maybe Eleanor for my mother?" Aedan suggested. "Celia Eleanor?"

"Or Eleanor Celia?" Anora quirked an eyebrow. "Queen Eleanor." She gave a nod and a quiet murmur of satisfaction. "I must admit, that has a nice ring to it."

"Queen Eleanor Celia Theirin." Aedan nodded before turning a curious eye to his wife. "Have we just settled on a name?"

"I think we have, dear." Anora smiled.

"Well, that was so much easier for a girl." Aedan chuckled.

Anora agreed with a murmur before smirking. "Curse you for having well named parents."

"It's the Cousland curse." Aedan laughed. "Celia's a beautiful name though."

"You don't have to pander to me, dear." Anora rolled her eyes. "Though you're right, it is." Then her face twanged slightly in annoyance.

"Is something wrong?" Aedan asked.

"It's my feet." Anora complained, she reached out one leg and rotated a foot. "They're aching again."

Aedan smiled as he moved to get up from his seat. "Here, let me."

The Queen merely regarded the Prince-Consort with a curious look as he moved to kneel down in front of her. Aedan took one of Anora's feet in hand, removing her shoe before seeing about gently massaging her foot.

"Better?" Aedan asked after a moment.

"Better." Anora nodded with a hint of a sigh. She leaned back into the settee leisurely. "Hmm, I could get used to this."

Aedan merely smirked a little and continued his work. They sat and knelt there in comfortable silence for a while. Aedan found his mind soon wandering from his wife's feet back to the matter of their future child's name. Bryce and Eleanor. Aedan smiled inwardly at the thought of each, though really they should also have a middle name for Bryce ready. He silently tested all sorts of names for a boy in his head, but nothing readily jumped out at him. Then, Aedan furrowed his brow as another thought came to mind.

"Therein." Aedan murmured softly.

"Hmm?" Anora questioned with a murmur, her head was flopped back against the cushions in a tranquil pose.

Aedan looked up at his wife with a carefully guarded look. "Does it bother you at all, that you're known as Queen Anora Therein?"

Anora raised her head from the back of the settee to gaze at her husband. "It's the best name for a ruling queen of Ferelden."

"You didn't answer my question." Aedan smiled slightly.

"I hope you're not expecting me to say that I should have taken Cousland, are you?"

"I wasn't going to suggest that. Though, if you were to insist …" Aedan winked.

Anora shook her head with a small twinge of her lips. "I'm afraid that would have been political suicide, dear. How could I claim to be the ruling queen when I've taken the name of my consort? I'm sorry."

"I know, but what about your own name though?"

"The name Mac Tir is too bound up with my father. He raised my family to prominence in the first place, after all. After everything he … well, I think it's safe to say that Mac Tir is no longer respected in this country." Anora finished, a hint of sadness touching her voice.

"I don't think that's true." Aedan murmured. "The people know full well that you're his daughter, and they still respect you for the work you've done. Besides, Loghain is hardly the first noble to bring some sort of shame to the family name. I'm sure there's been more than a few Cousland's who've done great wrongs in the past after all, and yet we've still kept our name throughout the generations."

"I was married to Cailan remember, King Maric's son. Connecting oneself to such a name will do wonders for your public image." Anora smiled. "And yes, you're right that there have been many other nobles in times gone by that have brought shame upon their family names, but my father was a commoner by birth. Although he was a national hero and became a Teyrn, he was always judged more keenly than those born of noble blood, especially in those early days. Without the weight of history to bolster one's name, the slightest misstep can topple you and your lineage."

Aedan shook his head. "You're doing yourself a disservice. Do you really think the Bannorn – the whole kingdom even – would revolt if you were known as Queen Anora Mac Tir?"

Anora inclined her head slightly. "Maybe not, no, but it certainly wouldn't make things any easier. It would invite awkward questions, and comparisons to the only other Mac Tir the kingdom has known."

Aedan shook his head again with a sigh at his wife's foolishness. "Anora, that's a coward's excuse. You know you're a damn good queen for this country."

"Thank you for saying so." Anora smiled as she picked her teacup back up.

The Prince-Consort continued. "There isn't a man or woman in Ferelden who would think any less of you for taking your own name."

Anora took a sip of tea before replying. "Maybe, Maybe not, but by living and ruling as Anora Therein, I am a continuation of the line of Calenhad, in spirit if not in blood. I am a sorely needed source of stability for the realm. I carry on the tradition that Ferelden is ruled by strong, independent monarchs. It is as much of a title as queen is."

Aedan murmured under his breath. "You know, Calenhad was something of a commoner himself, son of a merchant if I recall correctly."

Anora smirked. "So you do know a bit of history."

"A little." Aedan smiled back. "Only what hasn't been bashed out my head by darkspawn."

Anora chuckled at that.

Aedan's smile fell a little to something more serious. "What I'm trying to say is that you'd hardly be the first ruler to have come from less than illustrious stock. Whatever name you take for yourself doesn't change your heritage. The whole kingdom already knows you're not related to Calenhad by blood, nor are you to Moira or Maric even. You're the start of a whole new dynasty, so why not embrace that?"

Anora glided a fingertip around the rim of her teacup as she gazed deep into Aedan's eyes, appraising him. "That's an awfully romantic argument."

"Really? It seems rather logical to me." Aedan smirked. "And you do love logic, don't you?"

"I do." Anora murmured quietly, a hint of a smirk of her own tugging at her lips.

Aedan reached up to place a gentle hand on Anora's pregnant belly. "Just think, our child would be the first successor to Queen Anora Mac Tir, the queen who rebuilt Ferelden from the devastation of the Blight, the queen who united all the disparate peoples of Ferelden, and brought about peace to the realm."

"Are you simply trying to inflate my ego now?" Anora eyed her husband with a sly smile.

"Well, I never said that you'd finished writing that legend yet." There was a mischievous glint in the Prince-Consort's eye. "You've got plenty of years ahead of you yet to prove me right."

"There is still a lot of work to do in rebuilding the country." Anora sighed with a shake of her head. "Entire towns and villages have been wiped off the map, and there are still far too many divisions amongst the people to call the land united in any meaningful way."

"There's still plenty of time. I'd say five maybe ten years before you've rebuilt Ferelden into a great power fit to rival Tevinter at its peak." Aedan winked.

Anora rolled her eyes with a slight smile, though Aedan could see the mere idea amused her.

"But think about this." Aedan began more seriously as he stood up from his kneeling position and moved over to sit beside his Queen again. "Our child, our future prince or princess, would have your name."

Anora gazed off into the distance for a long moment as she considered. "Queen Eleanor Mac Tir." She tested quietly. "King Bryce Mac Tir."

"Sounds good, doesn't it?" Aedan smiled.

"It is something to consider." Anora murmured noncommittedly, though Aedan could already see the gears turning in her mind. "I couldn't possibly make such a decision without thinking on it for a while first."

"Of course." Aedan nodded sagely. "I'd expect nothing less."

Anora regarded her husband with a curious look for a long moment. "Doesn't it bother you though?"

"What?"

Anora bit her lip slightly. "The idea that our children would bear my family name, not yours? I doubt many men would accept that so happily."

Aedan gazed back at his wife with a smile. "It doesn't bother me at all. I've been a warden for years after all, Anora. I didn't even expect that I ever could have a child, and even then, I knew that I could never pass on my name or any titles if I did. I'd accepted that long before we even married. The fact that we're here, with a child on the way now, is all I need." He smiled warmly at Anora's belly.

Anora looked to her husband almost forlornly. She reached out a hand to hold his, lacing their fingers together.

"Besides, we already are passing on the names of my family, aren't we? To our little Bryce or our little Eleanor."

Anora smiled. "So we are. I like our choices even more now."

"So you should, they are damn good ones, if I do say so myself." Aedan winked.

Anora chuckled softly. She gazed lovingly at her husband for a long, contented moment. Then, she placed her teacup back down on the side table and made to straighten herself in her seated position.

"Aedan, would you do something for me please?"

"Of course." Aedan smiled.

"Would you open that draw there." The Queen indicated the one at the top right of the desk at the side of the room. "There's an envelope inside, could you get it?"

Nonplussed, Aedan duly followed his wife's instructions. A simple rectangular envelope sat in the draw as expected. Anora's royal seal cast in ruby red wax holding it shut.

"Open it." Anora said softly as Aedan peered at the paper.

Aedan glanced at his wife curiously. Anora merely nodded towards the envelope expectantly.

"It's not even my birthday." Aedan quipped with a smile as he broke the seal with a faint crack and slid the contents out of the envelope.

There was only one sheet of parchment inside: A letter, very formal, very officious. A collection of seals and signatures crowded the bottom of the sheet. Aedan read through it as best he could. He was no rube by any means, but the document was so cluttered with jargon and what seemed to be formal gobbledygook that he struggled to make neither heads nor tails of it.

"Anora, what is this?" Aedan asked finally with a raised eyebrow.

Anora rolled her eyes but smiled at the same time. "That, my dear husband, is a royal edict, one that designates my chosen regent." She looked up to her husband with a warm smile. "You."

Aedan couldn't help but blink. "Me?"

"Don't sound so surprised, dear." Anora frowned.

"Sorry, I just- You've prepared a document that would let someone else take power away from you?" Aedan wasn't sure he was hearing this right. "You, Queen Anora, did this willingly, not under any duress at all?"

Anora's frown became a scowl. "I was hoping this would be a nice surprise for you."

Aedan bit back a chuckle. "Anora, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but- but can you honestly not see why I'm a bit confused here?"

Anora sighed. "Alright, yes I can appreciate that I can be … reluctant sometimes to give up control."

Aedan somehow resisted the urge to scoff. "Anora, you nearly ordered an invasion of the kitchen last week because the cook didn't make your breakfast exactly how you wanted it."

"I'm pregnant, Aedan." Anora reminded him needlessly. "It's not my fault I get sudden cravings for- for odd things."

Aedan supposed she couldn't be blamed for that at least. Sausages lathered in jam and cream for breakfast was indeed an 'odd thing'. She could certainly be blamed for how she reacted when informed that there were no sausages in the palace to be had, though Aedan would never dare say such a thing. Normal Anora could be scary enough when she was riled, a riled pregnant Anora could frighten an Archdemon into submission.

"Alright, but why, Anora?" Aedan questioned as he hefted the edict. "Why would you do this, and why now?"

Anora looked a tad uncomfortable. She took a few moments to formulate her response. She cradled her pregnant belly softly. "I've been thinking about it for a while now. With our child nearly due, I won't be able to rule effectively for a little while."

If Aedan was any judge, Anora fully intended to make that 'little while' as short as humanly possible.

"You've … You've already proven that you are capable of managing the kingdom well. I know that I can trust you to make the right choices, at least most of the time. Maker, when it comes to the elves, you can somehow manage things better than I can."

"Well, no one's perfect." Aedan smirked.

Anora let his comment slide with a vague scowl in admonishment. "It's only supposed to be a temporary measure of course, for when I am giving birth, or should I fall ill, and then …" She drifted off.

"What is it?"

"Then … then there's always the possibility that- that I might not see the other side of this …" Anora's fingers clenched into her dress slightly, worryingly.

Aedan moved forward immediately to her side, dropping the edict to the floor. He took her hand in his. "Anora, that's not going to happen. Your healers are the finest in the kingdom. They know what they need to do to keep you and our baby perfectly safe."

"But it might." Anora persisted, staring into Aedan's eyes resolutely. "Aedan, we have to be prepared for that eventuality. If it does happen, you need to look after the kingdom before our child can come of age." She smiled a tad watery. "I'd trust no one else to do it."

"You're going to be fine." Aedan smiled as soothingly as he could. "It's just nerves, that's all. You've never had a child before."

Anora sniffed sharply, she rapidly blinked away any tears that may have gathered in her eyes. "Aedan, please, I'm not a child myself. I know there are always risks."

"There are risks in ruling a kingdom. There are risks in going up against the Empress of Orlais. Hell, there are risks in just getting out of bed in the morning, but none of that ever stops you, does it?"

Anora coughed a staunched, little laugh at that. She wiped at the lingering moisture from her eyes with her free hand.

"Anora, look at me." Aedan demanded softly.

Anora looked at him, an almost nervous apprehension lingered in the back of her eyes, behind the smile she'd put up on her lips and behind all the years of living as a strong, independent Queen.

"I promise you, you are going to be fine." Aedan swore, more resolute than when he had taken his warden vows, more sincere than when he had first told her that he loved her. "You're going to deliver our strong, beautiful little baby, then you're going to nurture them and watch them grow. You're going to teach them how to rule, and you'll scold them when they don't meet your bizarrely high standards."

Anora let out a choked chuckle. She sniffed a little. Her grateful smile was watery, but the anxiety had faded a bit.

"Then you'll scold me for teaching them the wrong things." Aedan smirked.

Another chuckle. "Someone has to."

"And you'll look forward to it all, but not as much as I will though." Aedan winked before raising his hand to caress his wife's cheek lovingly.

Anora held his hand there, almost desperately so. Her eyes shut tight, perhaps more to focus on the feeling of his touch than to stop her tears. "I love you, Aedan."

"I love you too." Aedan leaned forward to press a long, loving kiss to his wife's lips. He could feel the tension easing off of her body through his touch. The Prince-Consort leant his strength to his Queen gladly.

xxx

Anora woke slowly. She leisurely stretched herself awake, basking in the warm, early morning daze. Soon enough, she reasoned that she'd have to get up and see to the business of running the realm and so she reluctantly left her bed. A soft smile settled on her face as she cradled her belly lovingly. Maybe she was just imagining it, but every day it seemed to grow a little more. It couldn't be that far off now, surely.

Anora dressed and made herself ready for the day. When she'd been made certain that her pregnancy was not just a figment of her imagination, she'd made sure to order a range of dresses that would accommodate her growing figure. She was rather pleased with a few items in particular. It was just a shame that she'd be unable to wear them once her pregnancy was over. Oh well, maybe she could have them tailored to fit her after she'd regained her normal shape.

The day wore on much like any other. Anora received visiting dignitaries, she read reports and letters and just generally carried on ruling the kingdom. The only change to note was that when lunch time grew close, the Prince-Consort sought the Queen out in her study.

"Come on." Aedan smiled, taking his wife's hand in his and bringing her to her feet.

"Come on, what?" Anora questioned but she duly followed.

"You'll see." Aedan winked.

"Aedan?"

"You'll just have to wait and see." The Prince-Consort would not be moved on this it seemed.

"You know I hate surprises." Anora narrowed her eyes slightly.

"I'm sure this one will surprise you."

Anora was tempted to point out that that was indeed the point of surprises, to surprise, but she rolled her eyes instead and thought better of it.

Aedan led her through and out of the palace, but he did not take her out of the palace grounds itself. Instead he led her around the side of the grand walls. Intrigued, Anora couldn't needle any more of an explanation other than 'you'll see soon enough' out of her husband. So she rolled her eyes good naturedly and let him have his mystery.

The trail soon led them round the back of the palace, to the private gardens Anora often enjoyed. She had a nagging suspicion that something was out of place. It suddenly dawned on her that it was all too quiet. The gardens were normally a private place, with thick, high walls that separated the palace from the rest of the city, yet it was even quieter than usual. Anora realised that there were no guards about. Typically there were sentries positioned around and soldiers on patrol constantly. Right then and there, there was no one else but the Queen and Prince-Consort.

"Aedan, what's going on?" Anora asked carefully.

"Hang on, we're nearly there."

"Nearly where?"

Aedan merely turned a smile towards her and stopped walking. He let go of her hand and gestured with open arms ahead of them.

Anora blinked. Before the royal couple was simply a secluded little corner of the garden, a patch of well-kept grass that backed onto the palace's thick outer walls. Yet there was also a red and white checked blanket laid out upon the grass. A charming wicker basket sat in the middle, surrounded by empty plates and cutlery.

Aedan moved forward and knelt onto the blanket. Opening the basket, he began to pull various foodstuffs free before placing them upon the plates. Sandwiches, cakes, pastries, everything was there. Even a pitcher of what looked like orange juice.

"What's all this?" Anora asked curiously, stepping forward gingerly as she looked around at the rapidly increasing spread.

Aedan paused in his work to look up at her. "Well, I just had a thought the other day. You're so busy already, and then when the baby comes, you're not going to have much time to take just for yourself. So, I thought that we should do something together, just us, while we still can." Aedan gestured vaguely to the food. "I thought, maybe a picnic? Not much I know, but, well …" He drifted off, a little embarrassed.

Anora blinked. "You did this for me?"

Aedan looked a tad uncertain as he stood once more. "Yes, that is, if you want to? If not, that's no bother. I just thought that maybe you'd like to get away from your desk for-"

The Prince-Consort couldn't continue, for the Queen had paced right up to him and had pressed a heartfelt kiss to his lips. The royal couple stood there a few moments more as Anora kissed her husband deeply. Aedan was more than a little flushed when they parted.

"Thank you." Anora said simply with a smile, moving into a hug.

"You're welcome." Aedan half chuckled. "I never knew you liked picnics so much."

"It's simply the thought of it, you oaf." Anora reprimanded lightly with a smile. "I want you to know I appreciate it."

"I certainly do now." Aedan smiled. "I'll have to prepare more picnics in future."

Anora withdrew herself from the embrace, throwing Aedan a playful glare before turning to look about the scene Aedan had chosen for their picnic.

"Did you get rid of all the guards too?"

"Just for a couple of hours or so. I thought you might want a bit of real privacy for a change." Aedan smiled. "It was an absolute nightmare getting Cauthrien to agree to this, let me tell you."

Anora chuckled. She could well believe it. "Well, I really don't know what to say. Thank you, Aedan, really."

Aedan merely smiled. "Well, we'd better tuck in. Otherwise I'll have done all of this just to feed the ants."

"Alright." Anora smiled in kind before letting Aedan help her into a seated position upon the blanket.

It really was a lovely little picnic. While she'd never been one to enthuse about any foods in particular, Aedan had somehow ascertained that she did in fact have a bit of a sweet tooth. In fact, her husband had picked out many of her favourite treats, pastries and things. She wondered when and how he had gathered this information. He'd even provided a few odder choices he knew she'd taken too recently as a result of her pregnancy addled taste buds.

"So, how are you on this fine day today, dear?" Aedan asked as he buttered a slice of bread, his tone far too flamboyant to be really his.

"What?" Anora chuckled through the scone she was halfway through eating. "What's with that voice?"

Aedan looked at her with that pleasant smile of his. "What?"

"That voice, it's absurd." Anora still chuckled a little.

Aedan merely smirked. "It seems to delight you, my lady." He winked, again with that voice.

"Stop it." Anora shook her head with a smile.

"Make me." Aedan sang.

Anora rolled her eyes. "I would if it didn't mean moving."

"Victory …" Aedan murmured, his voice trailing into a whisper.

Anora would have tutted at his foolishness were it not for the cream laden scone in her mouth. She resorted to rolling her eyes again instead.

Aedan smiled before cocking his head slightly at his wife. "You didn't answer my question though." He said, much more normally.

"I'm fine, Aedan." Anora smiled. "Our little heir's strong as ever." She cradled her belly affectionately.

"That's always good to hear." Aedan smiled. "Though I was hoping for a bit more detail on the magnificent mother of my darling child?"

Anora sighed. "Aedan, I'm fine, truly. You don't need to be so concerned all the time."

"Well, I'm always concerned for you." Aedan gave her a half smile. "Like it or not, you're stuck with me and my concern."

"I'm beginning to realise that." Anora shook her head a tad wearily. She narrowed her eyes slightly at her husband. "At least you're not insisting that I abstain from all of my duties anymore."

Aedan had indeed tried such a thing. He had wanted the Queen to avoid all forms of working for fear of stressing out the mother before the child could be born. Anora had quickly put a stop to such nonsense, although she had agreed to take things a little easier now that her pregnancy was advancing ever closer to term, though it was a very reluctant agreement of course. It was all started off by the emergence of a diplomatic trip that Anora was keen to make. Naturally, the agreement contained a clause that stated Anora would refrain from making any such journeys for the time being. It was one of the points Anora was most reluctant to concede to him on, but even she could appreciate the logic in not travelling great distances.

"Anora, you wanted to go visit Orzammar." Aedan shook his head incredulously. "That's on the far side of the kingdom. You couldn't possibly make such a journey while pregnant safely."

The Queen shrugged. "I could have gone by sea."

"The dwarves live up a mountain."

"Maybe a magically stabilised carriage." Anora mused, more to herself than her husband.

Aedan sighed with a hint of a chuckle. "You're impossible."

"I am your Queen." Anora corrected him with a smirk.

"Queen or not, I'll still have Cauthrien chase you down and drag you back if you even think about setting foot outside the city." Aedan grinned.

Anora scoffed, more playful than not. "Cauthrien would never do such a thing."

"I think she would, she's almost as concerned for you as I am."

Anora could well believe it, her bodyguard had always been vigilant of Anora's safety, but news of her liege's pregnancy had made the lady knight stick to Anora like a fly on a succulent piece of meat. It was almost overbearing at times. Truly, she couldn't even imagine what Aedan had said or done to get the Lady Knight to give them even this little bit of privacy.

"Fine, I suppose I could visit the dwarves another day." Anora sighed dramatically.

"I'm sure they'll be able to survive in your absence."

"Well, what about you?" Anora asked, turning back to her husband. "I feel like we just talk about me and the baby nowadays. How are you, really?"

"I'm fine, knowing that you're fine." Aedan answered with a hint of a smirk.

"That's not a real answer and you know it." Anora scowled.

Aedan shook his head slightly while his grin only grew. "Anora, my beautiful wife isn't far off from having my child. How could I not be anything but happy?"

"Stop that, flattery will only get you so far."

"I'm always keen to test that theory." Aedan retorted with a twinkle in his eye.

"Well, I don't want to hear about your 'beautiful wife'." Anora smirked a little herself. "I want to hear about my handsome husband. What's going on in his little world? What's new with the wardens he so courageously commands?"

Aedan chuckled. Anora had long ago noted that alliteration seemed to please him somehow. It was a useful trick to use every now and then when she needed to persuade him. Sometimes she did it just to see that smile. "Well, other than slaving away all morning to arrange a delightful private picnic for my dear, beautiful wife, not an awful lot, truth be told."

Anora rolled her eyes at her husband's foolishness, but still she smiled. "I presume by 'slaving away' what you really mean is ordering the palace cooks to prepare this meal for us?"

"I will neither confirm nor deny such heinous accusations." Aedan winked.

Anora couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well, other than that, I've done my morning training and then supported my downright gorgeous wife in the throne room of course. She happens to be a queen you know." Aedan murmured to Anora, as though she were merely a passer-by to whom he was gloating about his marriage to.

"Is that so?" Anora played along with a smirk. "Tell me, what's it like being married to a queen?"

"Oh, well it's marvellous really. She's a wonderful woman, intelligent, compassionate to her people. Woe betide you if you're an Orlesian though, she doesn't like them at all you know."

Anora scoffed lightly. "Sounds like an almost fictional woman. I'm certain you're exaggerating."

"Nothing fictional about her, I'll have you know." Aedan scolded her playfully. "The Queen is such a beauty as well, let me tell you. Not to mention the sex is downright fantas-"

Aedan was cut off by a pork pie being forcibly inserted into his mouth. He half laughed, half coughed the food free as he tried his best not to choke.

"You're an absolute child." Anora shook her head, her cheeks thoroughly flustered.

It took Aedan nearly a full minute before he was able to retort without spluttering. "So says the woman stuffing food down my throat."

Anora resisted the urge to shove another pastry into his face. Instead, she sighed. "I wish you wouldn't be so vulgar."

"This is the first I've heard of you objecting." Aedan smirked at her. "You've always been quite happy with my vulgarity in the past. Several times a night in fact."

Though she knew that they were completely alone, Anora still threw her flustered gaze around in fear of anyone nearby. "Aedan!" She reprimanded with a scowl. "What if someone were to overhear?"

Aedan merely chuckled. "There's no one around, Anora. I made doubly sure."

Eager to change the conversation even so, Anora cleared her throat and put on a more serious expression. "So, do you have any other surprises planned for me today?" She quizzed with an expectant eyebrow.

"That's the best part." Aedan smirked. "It appears that you have no plans for the rest of the day."

Anora levelled a sceptical look at her husband. "I think you'll find that I do, dear." She could think of several meetings she had planned with her courtiers just off the top of her head.

A coy smile. "I think you'll find that I've taken the liberty to rearrange your calendar a little."

"Aedan …" Anora began with a look that verged on reproachful at first, but had already changed to a fond smile by the end of his name.

"Enjoy it." Her husband smiled back. "The court can handle themselves for just one day surely. Besides, it's not every day I can get you away from your desk. I'm not about to give that up now."

Anora chuckled with a slight shake of her head. She turned to gaze up at the clear blue sky. A pair of swallows fluttered about in the gentle breeze, chirping to each other in pleasing song. "Very well then, I suppose one afternoon couldn't hurt."

xxx

Anora's spirit was much lighter after the picnic. It had been such a lovely little diversion that she didn't even mind not having to return to her work so soon. At Aedan's suggestion, they again retired to the lounge to enjoy a lazy afternoon in each other's company.

It was bliss for the Queen and the Prince-Consort, it really was. Then, a knock at the door heralded a messenger.

"No!" Aedan near leapt to his feet immediately, making to wave away the man. "The Queen's not receiving anything else today."

"B- Begging your pardon, my Lord." The poor messenger stammered. "But this is for you, sir."

Aedan blinked. "Oh?"

"Take it from the poor man, Aedan." Anora pressed with a roll of her eyes. The sooner he accepted the message, the sooner he could get back to snuggling with her on the settee.

Aedan duly took the envelope gently. Even from her seated position behind him, Anora could see that it sported a peculiar silvered wax seal, but she couldn't see it fully from the settee. Her husband regarded the envelope with a slight frown for a moment, and then nodded his thanks at the messenger who turned and left the royal couple alone once more.

"What is it?" Anora asked.

Aedan merely shrugged with a shake of his head. He cut open the top of the envelope with a finger and pulled a page of parchment free. Anora watched her husband's expression turn from curious to something decidedly less comfortable.

"What's wrong?" Anora tilted her head, concerned.

Aedan folded the parchment in his hands. He raised a hand to rub at his chin and mouth in an anxious manner. "It's a message, from Amaranthine. It appears that two of my wardens have … vanished."

Anora blinked. "Vanished? What do you mean?"

"I mean they aren't there anymore."

"Well of course that's what it means." Anora rolled her eyes in irritation. "I meant are they lost? Are they in trouble?"

"No, it … it seems that they've run off." Aedan swallowed thickly.

Anora blinked once more. "No, that can't be right."

Aedan moved back over to her and handed out the parchment.

The Queen took it and read quickly. "Justice?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow. "Who is this 'Justice'?"

Aedan chewed his lip for a long moment. "A very … particular warden."

"Aedan, you're making very little sense here." Anora shook her head returning her gaze to the letter. "And Anders, why would he run away? He always struck me as one very fond of the warden lifestyle?"

"I don't know." Aedan murmured.

Anora was compelled to read the letter again, and then again. Confusion gave way to certainty, certainty that the letters sketched out in ink before her were real. That certainty gave way to anger. How dare they? How dare they abandon their oaths? How dare they abandon Ferelden? How dare they abandon her husband?

"Those traitors." Anora swore darkly, her face twisting into a scowl. She looked up to her husband again. She was mildly surprised that he didn't visibly share in her fury.

If anything, he looked broken.

Anora forced herself to soften her gaze and raised a hand to gently squeeze her husband's arm. "Aedan, don't blame yourself."

"How can I not?" Aedan shook his head ruefully. "They're my wardens. I'm responsible for them, their actions and their welfare. What if I've missed something?" He barked out a rueful chuckle. "Well, how could I not miss something? I'm never there, at the Keep."

"Don't." Anora snapped. "This is not your fault, Aedan. They swore their oaths to the Grey Wardens, to protect the people, to protect Ferelden. If they've truly abandoned those oaths now, that's not on your head. They should never need to be reminded of them."

Aedan lowered his head with a sigh. "Damn it, how could I have let this happen?"

"You've let nothing happen. None of this is your fault." Anora moved directly in front of her husband. "Look at me."

Aedan managed to drag his eyes up to meet his wife's. Anora could see the thoughts and doubts racing through his mind.

"Go to Amaranthine." The Queen commanded. "Go to your wardens and find out what really happened. If nothing else, they'll need the assurance that you're still in control."

Another rueful chuckle. "Two of my finest abandon us and I'm supposed to be in control?"

"Now is precisely the time to assert that." There was nothing but steel in the Queen's eyes. "The others will need their commander to look to. You need to show them that you're still there for them."

Aedan shook his head, his eyes falling to her very pregnant belly. "But you're nearly due."

"I'll be fine." Anora waved off his concern. "The baby can wait a week or so."

The Prince-Consort was evidently unconvinced. "I don't like abandoning you like this."

"You're not abandoning me." Anora stated with steel. "I know you'll be back soon enough." She quirked a small smirk. "If not, I'll have you hunted down like a mangy dog."

Aedan held her gaze for a long moment, his mind working behind those blue eyes. Probably calculating the logistics of the journey and just how short he could make the trip.

"I'll be back, as soon as I can." The Prince-Consort swore.

"And I'll be right here, waiting for you." Anora smiled, then she pulled Aedan's hand to rest over their unborn child. "We both will."