The next few days were an education. Elissa was astonished by the amount of preparation that had to take place before two people could embark on a journey. Although, of course, when those two people happened to be a teyrn and teyrna they could never travel simply. Immediately a rider was dispatched to the palace to inform the king that Elissa would also be coming to court, and to give the servants time to prepare the necessary extra space. At Gwaren, the castle was plunged into a frenzy of activity as bags were packed, the route decided upon and soldiers selected to form an escort. The clothes she had brought from Highever only a month before had to be packed away again and readied for transport to Denerim.
On top of the more mundane tasks, Loghain insisted on putting Elissa through her paces in the training yard. There were some who viewed the union between Cousland and Mac Tir with ill favour, and there was a possibility, remote but worrying, that an assassin would attempt to end her life while she was vulnerable. As a result, every moment that was not spent packing was spent sparring with Loghain, clashing blades and exchanging blows. She was prepared for his strength but not his speed, and so she spent most of the first day on her back in the dirt. After that she rose to the challenge and landed as many blows as she received, but she still ended every day with muscles screeching in protest at their violent use.
Their daily bouts served to highlight contradictions in her husband's nature. One night, after climbing exhausted into bed, she made the mistake of grumbling about the weakness of her left hand in swordplay. "Your opponent will take advantage of that weakness," said Loghain sternly, but lifted the maligned hand and pressed a kiss firmly into her palm. As his lips progressed further, first finding the crook of her elbow and then the sensitive skin of her neck, she thought her confession had been forgotten. But the next morning when they faced each other, swords drawn, he forbade her from wielding her weapon with her right hand. He gave her no concessions; if anything he attacked her harder than before.
At first she was furious that he would use an offhand remark made in bed against her, but she couldn't deny the improvement in her performance. Rather than confront him, as she had first intended, she watched him closely that night for signs of weakness and the next time they fought used what she had discovered against him mercilessly. He wasn't angry, as she had been. He was almost proud. Unbeknownst to either of them, he had taught Elissa more than to never expect him to go easy on her. More than ever before, she realised the importance of studying people when they thought they were safe, to remember whatever weaknesses they had should she ever need to exploit them.
By the time they departed Gwaren, Elissa was so exhausted she hardly felt able to travel. To her surprise, the first day of their journey invigorated her. The summer was not relinquishing its hold without a final burst of heat, so they did not have to ride through miserable weather. On the journey from Highever she had lacked companionship; now she not only had Loghain, but their guards were amiable. Best of all, one of their retinue had a fondness and talent for recounting old legends. Elissa was not romantic by nature, preferring to deal in the practical rather than the fantastical. Even so, there was something about leaning into Loghain in the dark, listening to hushed words that came to her across a fire, that deeply appealed to a hidden grain of romance. Retiring to bed after the first day of riding, pleasantly tired from the exertion and with the words of the storyteller still ringing in her ears, she decided that she liked journeys.
By the end of their fortnight long journey she was forced to revise her opinion. Every morning she woke dusty and sore from the saddle. She longed for a hot bath and a soft bed to collapse into, but the one night they hired rooms at an inn turned out to be disastrous. They spent a sleepless night on the floor after discovering the blankets to be filthy and lice ridden. The sunny weather she had initially been so grateful for turned out to be a curse. It wasn't pleasantly warm; it was hot. If she sweated uncomfortably in her relatively light leathers, she couldn't imagine how Loghain and their guards suffered in metal armour. She would have preferred rain or biting wind. That, at least, would have provided her with an excuse to wind herself around Loghain in their bedroll. As it was they ended every day irritable, lying far apart from each other, limbs flung out in an attempt to find a patch of coolness.
On the final day of their journey Elissa woke in higher spirits. Within a few hours she would be lodged in a comfortable suite of rooms at the palace. Yesterday's ride had brought them tantalisingly close to the capital. She had wanted to push on despite the lateness of the hour but Loghain had insisted they make camp and, annoyance aside, she knew he was right. She wanted the benefit of a decent night's sleep and a fresh gown before meeting the king and queen.
Rolling over, she frowned as she saw that Loghain had already vacated the tent. Usually he roused her if he woke first. She donned a simple tunic and breeches, betting that so close to their destination they would be allowed a leisurely breakfast. When Loghain appeared at the mouth of their tent similarly attired she saw that her guess had been correct.
"Come with me," he said abruptly.
She straightened from lacing her boots and regarded him with an arched eyebrow. "A novel way to greet your wife."
"The hour is far too early for niceties."
She smiled grudgingly. "On that point we're agreed."
Following him outside, she saw that a surprising number of their retinue was already awake and crowded eagerly around the fire. The bustle of activity became clear as the smell of roasting meat reached her nose. For the last few days their meagre meals had consisted largely of dried meat and stale bread. She didn't know who had tracked down fresh meat, but she could kiss them. Stomach grumbling, she veered towards the source of the delicious smell. Loghain's hand closed gently around her elbow, pulling her back on course.
"But-" she began, looking longingly over her shoulder.
"I've told them to save us some. The food is intended to keep them occupied for a while. I don't wish to waste the opportunity."
Very much doubting that there would be anything left for them when they returned, but intrigued at what he had in mind, she followed with only a little reluctance. He led her from the small clearing where they had made camp into the nearby trees. There was no path or track, Loghain seeming to follow a course by memory. The small racket made by their party quickly fell away and they walked a few minutes in companionable silence, which was a treat in itself.
The trees suddenly thinned and Elissa's eyes fell on what Loghain had been so eager for her to see. It was a beautifully clear lake protected from view by a thick circle of trees. She had to stifle a moan of anticipation. Although the day had not yet warmed up, and she could easily imagine how cold the water would be, there was nothing she wanted more than to submerge herself in the lake. She hadn't been able to bathe properly since leaving Gwaren, and the idea of sinking into cool, clean water was heavenly.
"Well?" said Loghain, and she didn't need to look at him to know he was smirking. "Is this worth delaying breakfast for?"
"It's perfect," she sighed, already tugging at her clothes. She stripped quickly, tossing her clothes into an untidy heap on the ground. Ignoring Loghain's chuckle, she hurried to the edge of the water before hesitating. She dipped a big toe tentatively into the water, shivering at the coolness that was not unexpected but still a shock. She had to immerse herself quickly or she would spend hours dithering here. Or worse, Loghain would grow impatient with her hesitancy and throw her in. Steeling herself, she waded in. When the water hit her chest she stopped and ducked her head beneath the surface. Teeth chattering, she launched herself forward gracelessly and began to swim, hoping that movement would warm her up. It worked. The exertion brought colour to her cheeks and feeling back to her numbs toes and fingers. Now the shock of sudden cold began to fade she could appreciate the feeling of finally being clean, of washing away the uncomfortable stickiness from days of travelling.
By the time she finished swimming Loghain had disrobed and joined her in the lake, standing waist deep in the water. She paddled over to him, splashing and making far too much noise. "Not a born swimmer, are you?" he said, lips twitching, as she reached him. Glowering, she flung her arms through the water, sending a small wave crashing over his head. He blinked stupidly, water dripping steadily from the tip of his nose, until Elissa began to laugh. Then he sprang into action, grabbing her wrists and pinning her to his chest before she could splash him again. "Now what are you going to do?" he murmured smugly in her ear.
Smirking, she raised herself on tiptoe and captured his lips in a searing kiss. His grasp on her wrists loosened until he relinquished it entirely in favour of gripping her hips, pulling her flush against him. She had planned to use the distraction to resume splashing him, but her traitorous arms wound themselves around his neck. They hadn't been this close since Gwaren, prevented by the constant presence of the many people that made up their retinue. Right now, however, the only reminder of the others was a dog barking in the distance. Funny, she thought vaguely. I didn't think there was a dog with us. Then Loghain's insistent mouth demanded her attention, and for the moment the dog was forgotten.
Until the barking suddenly sounded much, much closer. A loud splash startled them apart, and Elissa whirled around to see a dog paddling frantically towards them.
"What in the name of the Maker is that?" said Loghain incredulously, moving to stand in front of Elissa. With his bulk he stood a better chance against the dog if it turned out to be hostile. But somehow she didn't think it meant them any harm. It looked happy, almost deliriously so, and something about its excited thrashing was very familiar. Squinting, she saw that it wasn't just any dog. It was her dog.
"Conobar?" she cried.
The dog barked happily and redoubled his efforts to reach her.
"Elissa?" asked Loghain, puzzled eyes demanding an explanation.
"That's Conobar, my mabari. My mother made me leave him behind, she said – oh, it doesn't matter," she said in an excited rush. "How did he get here?"
As if in answer to her question a voice rang through the trees, calling for Conobar. Oh Maker, she thought as she realised whose voice it was. Oh Andraste. Please, no, anything but this. But her prayers went unheard. A man burst through the trees, stumbling to a halt as his eyes fell on the bathing couple. She was too far away to see the moment of recognition, but she knew when it happened because of the unconcealed horror on his face. "Elissa?" he spluttered.
"Fergus," she squeaked, throwing her arms across her chest and ducking beneath the water. Conobar, as poor a swimmer as his mistress, finally reached her and began to joyously lick her face. She relinquished a hand to scratch his head in greeting, grateful for his bulk shielding her from Fergus's view. She threw a desperate look at Loghain, silently pleading for help, but she knew he was going to let her struggle through this alone. His face might look impassive to anyone else but she had known him long enough to recognise the signs – the almost imperceptible twitch of his lips, the slight crinkling at the corner of his eyes – that betrayed his amusement. Resisting the urge to aim a kick at his shin, she called to Fergus, "What are you doing here?"
His eyes widened, almost bulging. "What am I doing here?" he repeated incredulously. "I'm not the one – No, there's no time. I'm hunting with the king and he could be here at any moment.
The words had barely left his mouth before Elissa began splashing noisily back to land, desperate for her clothes. Fergus hastily turned his back. With no time to dry off she struggled into her clothes, the fabric clinging uncomfortably to her wet skin. Conobar didn't help matters by pawing at her legs, demanding attention. When she finished dressing she bent to greet him properly, scratching a favourite spot behind his ear and murmuring softly. Loghain, clad only in breeches and apparently unconcerned about the king finding him half dressed, watched them closely. "I didn't know you had a mabari."
Elissa shrugged uncomfortably. She hadn't wanted to think about Conobar. She had fought hard against her mother's decree that he would remain at Highever, but she had lost. There were sound reasons, she supposed. Fear of abduction attempts, such as the one Viola could have fallen victim to, meant that they had to travel swiftly, and their hard pace might have exhausted him. Eleanor promised to arrange his transport at an unspecified point in the future, but Elissa was doubtful. A good war dog was a prized asset, and she feared they would decide he would better serve her father or Fergus. She told none of this to Loghain, instead opting for the simpler explanation of, "Mother insisted he stay at Highever."
"Foolish," he commented and Elissa eyes snapped to his, surprised by the irritation in his voice. "Separating a mabari from the person they are bonded to can only bring harm."
Head sinking, Conobar whined in agreement. "We're together now, Conobar," said Elissa soothingly, giving him a gentle nudge and indicating that he should roll over. He gave a happy bark and obeyed, flopping onto his back to expose his stomach for tickling. Loghain watched the scene with quiet amusement, his former annoyance dissipating from his face.
"Why Conobar?" he asked, pulling on his shirt.
Elissa let out a snort of laughter. "Aldous, my tutor in matters of history, was forever scolding me for failing to remember the facts about Highever's past. I was trying to prove that I remembered at least one of my famous forebears."
"And was he duly impressed?"
"Not particularly," said Fergus who had finally joined them now that Loghain was fully dressed. "I believe the phrase 'yawning chasm between your ears' was used."
"Thank you, brother," she said wryly.
"You're welcome, sister," he returned, grinning. His smile softened as he turned to face her properly, tugging her into a firm embrace. "It's good to see you," he said with feeling. Her eyes were suddenly and unexpectedly hot. Until now she hadn't realised how much she had missed Fergus, his gentle teasing and ready affection. A sudden pang of homesickness threatened to bring tears to her eyes. She was happier with Loghain than she had ever expected to be but leaving her family, the familiar jokes and well worn complaints as well as their ever present love, had hurt her more than she had known.
Loghain stood by silently. Perhaps he could sense the sudden swell of emotion, or perhaps he simply did not wish to intrude on the private moment between sister and brother. Whatever the reason, he waited patiently even though Elissa had conducted a great breach of etiquette by failing to introduce him. Realising that they were being unaccountably rude, she stepped out of Fergus's arms and stood at Loghain's side.
"Forgive me," she said, horrified at the waver in her voice. "Husband, my brother Fergus Cousland of Highever." Fergus bowed but was unable to conceal a smile at such a formal introduction given the circumstances in which he had found them. When he straightened she continued, "Brother, my husband Loghain Mac Tir of Gwaren." As a man of higher rank, Loghain's bow was a mere tilt of his head.
They fell into an awkward silence thankfully cut short by the sound of approaching hoof beats. The king, presumably, arriving at last. When he burst through the trees there was no doubting that he was indeed the king. He wore magnificent golden armour, no doubt cumbersome but worth the discomfort for the impression it made. She had never met Cailan before but she had seen portraits. To her surprise, she saw that the artists had not needed to stretch reality to provide him with a flattering likeness.
"Fergus!" he called cheerfully. "So this is where you have been hiding."
"Not hiding, your majesty. I have made a discovery – your missing Councilor and my sister."
Cailan urged his horse into a trot, skirting the edge of the lake to come to a halt next to the small party. As he dismounted Elissa and Loghain bowed, although the latter's gesture was as small at it had been to Fergus. "This is a pleasant surprise," said Cailan, slapping Loghain amiably on the shoulder. His eyes narrowed slightly but when he spoke his voice remained friendly. "Now, you have been hiding. Nearly seven weeks away from Denerim with barely a word. Anora is quite beside herself."
"It has been a long time since I visited Gwaren," said Loghain stiffly. "My affairs required careful attention."
"Say what you will, Loghain, I believe the reason for your absence is closer at hand. And who can blame you when the inducement is so lovely?" He turned his brilliant smile on Elissa and she couldn't help but respond with a smile of her own. When Howe paid her a similar compliment her stomach had turned, but she sensed none of his insincerity in Cailan. "You must be Elissa," he said, taking her hands warmly in his own. "I have heard much about you."
"All of it good, I hope. I would hate to have to send my brother back to Highever bruised."
He laughed delightedly. "Far be it from me to cause strife in families." He took her arm and led her away from the lake. She heard Loghain and Fergus fall into step behind them, murmuring quietly together. Tilting her head slightly, she strained to hear them. All interest in their conversation vanished when Calian pronounced, "You must join us on the hunt."
"I'm not fit to be seen, your majesty!" she protested.
"Nonsense! You're every bit as beautiful as Fergus described."
Elissa pleaded with him to allow her to return to camp to change into something more suitable. Her promises to be brief and return to him the moment she was ready fell on deaf ears. He wouldn't allow her to delay her share in the fun over unwarranted concerns about her appearance. Whoever Cailan was leading her to, she would face them in dripping and dirty clothes. She could only pray that Anora wasn't fond of hunting.