Summary: Of all the times to ask about her name, he chooses now?
Disclaimer: See every other 300+ disclaimers I've written since joining this site.
Queen's Quornor: I normally don't name characters without a reason. Phaedra, for example, came out of mind weasel where Malcolm met his daughter's spirit in the Fade the night before Leandra became pregnant. Every now and then, however, a name will come to me out of nowhere and I'll find out later how fitting it really is, or I'll pick one just because it sounds good. Aria was one such case, although I later came up with a reason for her musical moniker. It just didn't cross my mind to share the story until a friend asked about it. So here's another AndersxAria drabble, for you to enjoy! Oh, and people? Reviews are love! Try to find the movie reference!
What's in a Name?
"So are you ever going to tell me your real name?"
Aria looked up from her place on Anders' stomach, feeling one scarlet brow quirk high in surprise. This was a rather odd moment for such a question, given that he was still panting from her most recent intimacy lesson. Of all things for him to think about now, he picked her name?
"You could just tell me I'm no good at this," she suggested archly, " and help me hone my technique."
"What?" Anders looked at her with wide eyes, then frantically waved his hands in the air. "That's not what I meant, sweetheart! You did very well, especially for a novice bed partner. My mind sometimes wanders in strange directions while the blood returns to my brain. It just occured to me that you have a very odd name, that's all."
She sat up and folded her arms, frowning now. "What's wrong with it?"
"It sounds more like an alias than a name, especially for your family." He hiked himself up against the headboard and began ticking off his fingers. "Your mother is Leandra, your father was Malcolm. Your siblings are Carver and Bethany. Carver seemed a little odd until you told me he was named after a templar, so that explains him. But your name is a musical term." Anders looked at her, his amber eyes alight with curiosity. "It can't be your real name. So what is it? Marian? Mildred? Diana? Rachael?"" He appraised her, a smile tugging at his mouth. "You look like a Rochelle to me. Is that it?"
"My parents have no Orlesian ties. Why would they name me that?" Aria asked on a snort.
"Because it's pretty?" Anders shrugged. "I've heard you sing, sweetheart. You could easily make a living off your voice, if you wanted to. So did you, what, change your name to reflect your surpressed musical talent?"
She sent a quick jolt of lightning into his largest toe, making him jump. "Aria is my real name, Anders. I was named after music, much as Carver was named for that templar."
"Did you slide from the womb singing instead of crying?" he wondered, pulling his feet away from her.
She shook her head and crawled towards him, nestling herself along his side and laying her head on his chest, forcing him to wrap his arms around her. "I inherited my voice from Father," she began, "and he's the one who chose my name.
"You see, I'm only two years older than Carver. When our parents eloped to Ferelden, they dreamed of having many children. But for four years, there was nothing. They tried and tried to conceive, and no babies came. Mother became convinced that she was barren, and Father began visiting the local chantry every day, risking discovery so he could pray to the Maker for a baby. Finally, they discovered that Mother was with child." She smiled, remembering the joy her father had expressed when telling the story. "When she told Father the news, he threw his head back and sang to the skies, thanking the Maker with music instead of prayer. Father would sing to me while Mother carried me, after the day's work was finished and they had gone to bed. After I was born, he would do the same thing to make me sleep, holding me and crooning some lullaby he made up as he went."
"So your parents named you after the song?" Anders asked, looking down at her.
"Yes." She cuddled closer to him, closing her eyes in contentment. "Father sang what he called an aria of praise, and so I became his Aria. He called me his 'little masterpiece' when the twins weren't around. Mother referred to me as her miracle baby, because she and Father had to use fertility potions to conceive again."
"I think I would have liked your father. He sounds like a wonderful man."
Aria sighed and craned her head to meet his gaze. "Until I met you, I never thought I could find a better man than my father. I know he would have liked you. Except for a few differences, you really are very similar."
"I suppose being possessed does set me apart from him." Anders rolled onto his hip, facing her fully. His eyes danced with quiet humor.
"I wasn't referring to that, although it is a good point," she acknowledged with a grin. "What I meant is your lack of talent in the musical arts. Father had a beautiful voice. Yours, while pleasant to the ear, is not meant for singing."
"Then you can sing for us both, sweetheart." He hugged her close, tucking her head beneath his chin with a tender kiss to her her hair. "I'll listen to your namesake whenever you wish."
Aria smiled, beginning to hum her father's song into his heart.