Dragon 9:24, 11th Bloomingtide

'Nate, come to sparring grounds. I need to stretch my bones.' Mahria inserted her head through the door of Nate bedchambers. 'Don't slack, mind you. I don't have time to wait for you for ages.' Man glanced at her.

'You serious? Today King will come.' He stated. 'Your father and mother as well as my father won't be happy about that.'

'Like I care.' She grumbled. 'Shut it and come.' Nathaniel breathed a sigh and stood up. 'Will I ever say no to her? Or at least try to.' He put on his leather armor and proceeded to training grounds. As they came, they took their weapons, put on their helmets and started their training. They spar for an hour or so when soldier at the gate shouted that King and his welcome party are in sight.

'So we finish now or what?' Nate asked confused.

'Nah, we have time.' She answered and proceeded to attack him with her sword again. They didn't notice the flow of time nor the trumpets proclaiming that King and rest of the party arrived. King Maric alongside with his son, Teyrn Loghain, Anora as well as Mahria's and Nathaniel's fathers dashed on their horses through the gate only to see Mahria pinned Nathaniel to the ground.

'What is it now?!' Teyrn Bryce yelled. 'You're arguing again? Mahria, I told you to stop this nonsense.' He put his hand to his forehead and glanced at them in disbelieve. Mahria and Nathaniel stood up and approached guests to welcome.

'Nathaniel, why you embarrass me all the time?' Arl Renrodn said with his teeth clenched. 'Nevermind. Just greet our guests in civil manners, I beg you.' Both Mahria and Nathaniel took off their helmets. Her brown hair fall in mess on her shoulders, beads of sweat were covering her cheeks and forehead..

'She look like Rowan.' King Maric stated in disbelieve. His eyes were wide open, locked on her. When he stated that Mahria looked at him puzzled. That didn't last long, though. She kneeled before Maric.

'Your Majesty.' She started. 'I'm honoured to welcome you to Highever.' Then she stood up turned to Prince Cailan. Cailan also has looked at her in awe. And that was, what she was afraid of. He made some advance to her earlier, when they met in Denerim or Gwaren. She didn't want that. 'I need to tell Anora about that matter.' Nevertheless, now she bowed deeply, not thinking about much of it. 'My prince, it's an honour.' Then she turned to Teryn Loghain and bowed also. "Your Teyrnship, please feel at home in Highever.' Then she rose her head and at last she turned to Anora. 'Anora, my friend, why you haven't wrote about your arrival. You send me letter two weeks ago. I bet you knew about coming here.' Anora get off her horse and came to Mahria.

'You silly goose, if I wrote about that, there wouldn't be any surprise, would it?' Then two women hugged and exchanged kisses on the cheeks.

'At any rate. I'm sorry about the incident. I just happened to practice with Nathaniel. We lost track of time. And… as always I pinned him to the ground. He makes me highly irritated when he doesn't take me seriously.' Mahria stated and laughed.

'Yes, yes, I treat you like an egg.' Nate said. 'Your mother would kill me if there would be any scar on this beautiful face of yours.'

'Stop it.' Mahria growled. 'I told you many times. I. Am. Not. Beautiful. And I am not an egg.' She send him deadly glare.

Meanwhile Teryn Loghain watched those two in silence. He was shocked, his heart was stirred in motion when he saw young Cousland taking off her helmet as he racalled similar situation from the past. He also overheard shocked words of Maric. He couldn't believe what exactly happened. It was like Rowan, whom he loved deeply, was resurrected. She even said same thing as Rowan once. Although his daughter befriended her since young child he didn't noticed how young Cousland had changed over those years.

'That is my daughter for you. Not a lady to my discontent.' Teyrn Bryce sighed. As he said that Mac Tir regained his attention over talking around. 'But she is skilled warrior and that's what I'm proud about. But anyway, let's proceed to the castle. My wife and my son are waiting there.'

After this awkward welcome all party got to the dining hall to be welcome by Mahria's mother and her younger brother Fergus. After all greets Teyrn Bryce stood up. 'Please, my honourable guests, I'll show you to your quarters so you can change and refresh yourself. Then we have a feast.' He left with King, Prince and Mac Tirs.

'Mother, I'm going to-' Mahria started but was interrupted by mothers hissing.

'I can't believe how you welcomed our guests. Go now and put on the best dress you have or I will personally drag you to dungeons, my fair lady knight.' She grimaced at daughter. 'I have enough of putting up with your behaviour. Now off you go.' Teyrna turned on the heel and dashed through the dining hall to the servants to give them orders.

'I felt it will turn this way.' Nate stated. 'And I got my share of yelling at too. What a day.' He shook his head in disbelieve. 'Come on, you brute. Let's change or you'll really land in the dungeons.'

'Stop it.' Mahria hit him in the arm. Then they left. Mahria went to her bedchambers, she washed herself quickly and started to put on the dress when she heard knocking. 'Who's there?'

'It's me, silly goose. Anora.' Mahria heard muffled voice behind doors.

'Come in. You wench. And help me with this rag.' She answered. She and Anora where friend long time. While Anora's mother lived, they came to Highever or Mahria's mother took her to Gwaren for visit.

'You will put rags on you? That's something. My room is next doors, by the way. Your doing?' Young Mac Tir entered the room with a smirk on her face. She didn't wait for reply as she proceeded to look at Mahrias dress. It was made of green silk, with laurel wreaths embroidered around sleeves and neckline of dress. 'How can you call such a lovely dress a rag. You should go and plough field, really, such a waste on being noble for you.' Then both of them locked their gazes and started to laugh and hugged. 'Oh, how I missed you, Mahria. I was bored in Denerim. And you haven't visit me in a year or so.'

'I missed you to, Anora. And we seen each other 6 months ago, stop whining... I had a lot of work with patrolling teyrnir and hunting smugglers and bandits.' She turned to take dress from the bed. 'Help me with it.' Mahria changed with little help of Anora. Then she turned to her. 'Anora, I need to talk to you. And this is serious.' Stated with sterned look. 'Tomorrow let's go to our usual spot.'

'When you say it like that I feel nervous, my dear.' Anora was confused. 'Can you tell me what is going on?'

'No. Not here. Not in the castle.' She answered. 'I don't want anyone to overhear what I want to say.'

'All right, friend, we'll go. But now I'm highly intrigued.' Anora face shown concerne. 'Anyway lets go to everyone.' They left to catch with everyone in dining hall again. In the hall all preparations were ready. Big table was set for a dinner, on top of it King was seated, next to him was Teyrn Loghain and on the other side Teyrn Cousland and his wife. Anora seated beside his father with Prince Cailan. Mahria sat by her mother, alongside with Fergus. Nathaniel and Arl Howe were seated at the other end. When all were sitting comfortably Teyrn Cousland stood up and gave a speech.

'My King, my honourable guests. I'm honored to have you in this castle of mine. Let's raise our glasses and drink for our well being.' Then Bryce Cousland rose his glass cup and drank a sip of wine. Rest followed him. 'Now, let's not prolong and eat.' Then everyone started to eat, drink and talk. After dinner everyone stood up from the table and formed smaller groups. Older were talking to themselves as younger gathered to share their news.

'Nathaniel, you performance at training grounds was splendid.' Cailan chuckled. ' Is it true that you never won to Lady Mahria?'

'Please, my Prince, don't humiliate me even more than I already am.' Nate smirked. ' Maybe I really should engage a serious battle with our fearsome Lady. Ouch.' Nathaniel howled and looked what was reason behind pain he felt in his arm. He looked at his arm, pinched by Mahria. 'What did I do this time?'

'You're talking nonsense, that's why I thought I should bring this to an end.' She exclaimed. 'And stop using honorifics. We know each other since we were toddlers, for crying out loud.'

'I'm fine with that. Tell me, Mahria, what attractions have you prepared for us tomorrow?' Cailan locked his gaze with her. She broke it and looked upon Anora.

'To be honest, tomorrow is ladies day. Anora and me are going for a ride.' She replied. 'So sorry to disappoint you, Cailan.'

'Oh. If that's so, then maybe Nate and I will also go somewhere?' He turned to Howe. 'How about that, buddy? Want to hunt a bit?'

'Sounds like fun, Cailan, sign me in.'

'If you two think about spying on us, then you're heavily mistaken.' Anora frowned. 'We want to catch up and talk in private.'

'That's right, my dear. Nate, it would be better if you really go and hunt, mark my word.' Mahria stated with threat in her voice. She wanted to add something but then her father called her.

'Mahria, come here child.' She left youngsters and walked to her father.

'Yes, father?'

'Please tell us story of your great fight with those bandits from month ago.' Bryce face was showing pure pride while she looked ashamed at father.

'Dad, you want to embarrass me in front of our guests?' Mahria felt uncomfortable. She clenched her hands together and look away.

'Perish the thought, my young lady. We were just talking about skills of your. Please share the story with us.' King tried to encourage her.

'Your Majesty,it wasn't anything special. Really. I heard better stories about glorious battles. Especially with You, your majesty or Teyrn Mac Tir. I just caught some minor smugglers, thats all.'

'Don't say minor, my fair lady.' Maric shook his head in disagreement. 'Teyrn Bryce said that was big band smuggling heavy shipment of lyrium.' Mahria sighed, King Maric was really good at making everyone do as he wanted to without command it.

'Very well, your Majesty, but I really don't recall much of the fight as I was in battle frenzy. Me and my patrol have scouted for those bastards for week or so but eventually we found them between rocky hills next to coastline.' Meanwhile Mahria was telling her story, Teyrn Loghain looked at her and thought that Mahria was really similar to Rowan but also she was different. This one wanted only to prove herself while Rowan already knew who she is in the world.

'What a shame that such a young woman with much quality in her must prove that she is a warrior, prove she is strong and capable to everyone.' He didn't pay attention to what Mahria said due to heavy thoughts so he started to listen to the story again.

'We've swooped on smugglers. I just shoot arrow after an arrow. I think ten of them were down by my hand, then jumped from my horse and finished five more. That's all. We took shipments and those who were left alive to work on farms and that's it. Nothing impressive.' Mahria finished story, blushing a bit. 'I'm not a hero. Real heroes are standing in front me.' And she bowed deeply in front of Maric and Loghain.

'My lady, don't say such things. One who makes stand is always a hero. You're young yet you accomplished great thing.' King Maric waved his hand and turned to Loghain. 'I think Rowan would like to meet her.' Teyrn looked at him with blank expression.

'That may be right.' Loghain replied shortly, and looked away.

'Now, please excuse me, Your Majesty, Your Teyrnship, I think it's time to rest. I'll take Anora to our chambers for her beauty sleep.' Mahria bowed and walked to Anora. 'Come, girl, let's get some rest.' Anora went to say goodbye to father, king, Teyrns Couslands and Arl. Then they left dining hall and went to Mahria's room.

Loghain escorted them with his gaze. He wouldn't expect such outcome of this visit. He heard some news about young Cousland but she was something else. He knew that she befriend his daughter. She often came to Gwaren, but he was in Denerim at this time. Up to this day, he met her only several times and she was just a child. 'Don't think about it, you old arse. She's not Rowan, she's not her.' He brooded. 'Yes, she's someone else.' His thoughts were interrupted by Maric talk.

'She really do look like my late Queen.'

'Oh, yes. Well. My wife comes from other branch of Guerrins family lineage.' Teyrn Bryce explained. 'She shares with late Queen Rowan same Great-great-great-great-grandmother or so. This grandmother of them served under Calenhad the Great, Majesty, and was his distant cousin.'

'Is that so? Teyrna, that would mean that it's also a branch of my family.' Maric looked really astonished by the news.

'Oh, they were distant cousins, Your Majesty. That's why Guerrins are also connected somehow to Theirins. And now Couslands with my children. But it was long ago, blood was mixed, new branches grow.' Eleonora chuckled. 'So it's hard to say we are all connected right now. It was back then. But yes, this great blood shows up sometime. Just like in Queen Rowan or my beloved daughter.'

'Yes. Anyhow, I think we should call it a day and rest. And start from tomorrow, please call me Maric again. How it used to be.' King stated and again he turned to Loghain. 'At any rate tomorrow we will have many things to do with Bryce, right Loghain?'

'Mhm.' Teyrn nodded. 'Thank you with warm welcome, Bryce, Eleonora.' Then they left with Cailan to their rooms.

AT MARHIA'S ROOM

'I can't believe you still have this tapestry, Mahria.' Anora stated. 'Not to mention it's weird to see my father hanged on main wall of your room.'

'He is not hanged, stupid. Tapestry is.' Marhia joked. 'And it was present from my father. What you think I should do with it? Throw it away. Never. Besides I just love the story of battle of River Dane. Your own father was a hero that day! Show some respect.'

'Eh, you're hopeless. You should have some paintings of handsome boys, preferably naked, hanged here.' Anora approached the wall and touched tapestry.

'You drooling leecher.' Flying pillow almost hit Anora's head, but she dodged. 'So, tomorrow put on something comfortable for a ride, I beg you.' Mahria pointed at her. 'Remember our last time? You wore a dress, Maker's balls, a dress! And you lamented all day long.'

'Right, right. That was a lesson, my dear.' Anora smiled. 'It was torn by the bushes and all muddy after that.'

'Hehe, and I remember your hopeless look.' Cousland laughed. 'It was priceless. But at any rate, we need to be fast. I don't want to be chased by Nate and Cailan. And I know they would like to go after us.'

'Yeah, I know. I concluded that as well. Now, my friend. I'm going to sleep. See you tomorrow mornign.' Anora waved her hand goodbye and left. As she left, Mahria walked to the arras.

'Naked boys, Andraste's flameing knickers.'