Authors Notes: Major fluff coming for the next chapter.
A time to reunite
Aurelia laid in bed stroking her ever-growing bump, with only 3 months to go until the baby was born, back ache had set in. She felt sad that Loghain wasn't here to share this pregnancy with her, she was starting to regret running from Ferelden, but for Aurelia, the longer she was away the harder it was to go back.
Anders walked into the room carrying a tray of food, he noticed Aurelia's sadness, he set the tray down and sat down next to her, "What's wrong, Princess?"
Aurelia sighed, "I miss him so much Anders, I want him to be here."
"So send him a letter, ask him to come," Anders squeezed her arm tenderly.
"What if he doesn't want too, he might not want the baby, he might not want me any more," Aurelia burst into tears, burying her head in her hands.
"Princess," Anders stroked her hair, kissing her temple, "To have won your love, he must be an amazing man, so of course, he would want you and the baby."
"And what if I was wrong about him? what if he doesn't?"
"Then you'll always have me," Anders hugged her.
"Thanks Anders, I will write to him, will you send it off for me?"
"Of course, let me know when you've done it," Anders smiled getting off the bed, "Eat, you got a growing boy in there."
Aurelia chuckled, "Alright Mother."
Anders chuckled leaving the room.
Aurelia rubbed her wriggling bump, she smiled, "A boy then, lets call you Aurain."
The bump kicked, seemingly in satisfaction of his name.
After a long nap, Aurelia's back felt better, with everyone gone out, she decided to go out herself to get some fresh air. She waddled around the shops, buying things for Aurain, she didn't realise that she had wondered off of the path and end up in a dark alley.
She turned back, only to be confronted by 5 men in flashy well made armour, lead by an Elf with blonde hair and tattoos on his face, Aurelia tried the sweet approach, "Excuse me, Gentleman."
The blonde Elf spoke to her, "Firstly, you vision of gracious beauty, I will have to take all of your money."
Aurelia pouted, "Ahhhh, you would mug a lone woman heavy with child?"
"Oh, but it does not show, although it would explain while you are glowing with loveliness, but I would imagine that would be a normal look for you," The blonde man said, smiling wickedly.
"Oh thank you, may I ask your name? My name is Aurelia Mac Tir," Aurelia bowed to the blonde man.
"I am Zevran Aranai, Antivan crow, pleaser of ladies," Zevran winked at Aurelia.
"Oh if that's the case, perhaps you can please me by not mugging me, I'll even throw in a sovereign or 2 for being so delightfully handsome."
"Well...when you say it so exquisitely from your delicate pink lips, How can I refuse?"
Aurelia laughed, "You can't, you are far too enamoured with me now, If you would like, I could bless your cheek with a feather light touch of these delicate pink lips."
Zevran gasped, clutching at his heart, smiling at Aurelia, "Now my beautiful goddess, you have me," Zevran waved off his men.
Aurelia approached him, holding out 2 sovereigns, she kissed him gently on the cheek, "You smell amazing, I bet you're a hit with the Ladies."
"Now that you mention it..., may I accompany you, I wouldn't want just a perfect vision of motherhood harmed as she made her way home?" Zevran held out his arm, which she gladly accepted.
"You are a delightful Elf, Zevran," Aurelia nudged him, making him laugh heartily as they walked back to Hightown.
Loghain paced around his study, Bryland wanted to speak to him and he suspected he wasn't gonna like it. He knew it was something to do with that brat of his, the one who helped drive Aurelia away, he'd like to strangle the girl with his bare hands.
Bryland knocked on the door, slowly entering, "Morning Loghain, trust you are well?"
"No I am not well," Loghain snapped.
"Loghain my good man, I know you have been single a long time and my Daughter needs a Husband. Would you consider marrying Habren?" Bryland asked carefully.
"Sorry Leonas, I am already betrothed to another," Loghain took a sip of wine as he turned towards the window.
Bryland looked at Loghain in confusion, "To whom?"
"To Lady Cousland."
"Strange, her Father did not mention this, he was the one who suggested Habren as your wife."
Loghain clenched his fists in anger, "Another attempt to keep me from his Daughter," Loghain threw his goblet against the wall, "Go and tell Bryce that his attempts to prevent me finding Aurelia and marrying her have failed."
"Of course Loghain, forgive my rudeness," Bryland left the room in a hurry, afraid of another violent outburst.
Maric entered the room after hearing Loghain shout, he was starting to worry about his friend, he had been around when Celia died, of course he was devastated but this was completely different, "Loghain, tell me what is wrong, I've seen you grieve before, this is much worse."
"I miss her so much, I took me a year just to be honest with myself about how I felt about her, now she isn't here. She could be dead Maric."
Maric tapped his friend's shoulder, "She isn't dead Loghain, you know Aurelia, she is far too stubborn to die, especially when she has you waiting for her."
"I just want to know where she is, I feel so angry at her sometimes for putting me through this torture, I know why she left, but how dare she run from me, its been 6 months. I start to wonder if she has found someone who can give her more than I can."
Maric scoffed, "Cont talk nonsense, you can give her everything she could ever want, marriage, children, a title, security, love. She loves you Loghain, she wouldn't hurt you lightly, there has to be a reason why she is taking so long to contact you."
Loghain looked out of the window thoughtfully, he realised they never talked about marriage or children, "We never talked about marriage and children."
"Maybe she knew her Father too well."
"Possibly, in her letter, she hoped we could have that future, I could give her that future."
"So then we find her and you both can start your future together. Lets go and talk to that boy of mine and we can discuss a new strategy."
Aurelia walked into the servants quarters, she smiled at the 4 sleeping men, she made a mental note to herself, to joke at Alistair for still sucking his thumb, although she had to admit it was very cute.
She left the room, telling Evina to wait on breakfast for them and to let them sleep in. She left the house, talking a walk around Hightown, she approached a trader, looking at the wares. A pretty woman wearing chantry clothes stood next to her.
The woman spoke to her with an accent, "Oh, how long have you to go?"
"About 2 months now, looking forward to meeting him. I'm Aurelia," Aurelia bowed to the woman.
"I am Leliana, it is a pleasure."
"Are you from Orlais?" Aurelia asked.
"Yes, but my mother was Ferelden, are you Ferelden?"
"Yes, starting a new life in Kirkwall, what brings you here?"
"Same thing, I believe my home is next to yours, I see many men coming and going."
Aurelia blushed, "It's not what you think, they protect me in return for food and shelter."
"Oh I did not mean to cause offence, I confess you are lucky, they are handsome men."
Aurelia laughed, "Yes they are, not very domestic though," Aurelia winced in pain.
Leliana took her hands, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, my back is hurting again, I better head home."
"Let me help you," Leliana helped Aurelia walk carefully home, once inside Leliana immediately cleaned up the mess the men has made and talked Anders though Aurelia's impending labour.
"You boys need to more tidy, it's not nice for Aurelia to stumble over your mess," She scolded them.
"Are all Chantry sisters so bossy?" Anders asked.
"Yes," Leliana curtly replied.
Aurelia sat up in bed, writing her letter to Loghain, she ached to see him again, just to smell him and listen to his voice. She did not beg him to come but she made it clear she wanted him too, but ultimately, it was his choice.
"Anders?" She called out.
"Yes Princess?" He said walking into her room.
"The letter, will you post it?"
Anders felt jealousy in his heart, "Of course," He took the letter, leaving the room to let Aurelia rest.
He stood by the fire, holding it in his hands, he could easily burn it and when Loghain didn't show up, he could say that Loghain obviously didn't want to.
"What are you doing?" Alistair asked, appearing behind him.
"Aurelia's letter to Loghain," Anders held it up.
"Do not even consider it Anders, Aurelia cries herself to sleep every night, Loghain has a right to know where she is. If you wont post it, I will," Alistair said with a warning.
Anders thrust the letter at him, "Do it, he should know."
Alistair turned leaving the house. He had the letter sent the fastest way he knew how.
Loghain woke up to another day without Aurelia, but this day seemed so much different, like something was going to happen, he wasn't sure what, but the feeling was there.
He joined Maric outside with the plan to go hunting, "Nearly 8 months Maric, I feel something different about today."
"How different?" Maric asked.
"Like it doesn't seem so hopeless any more."
An Elf servant approached the men, "Sorry to interrupt my lord, a letter just arrived for Teyrn Loghain," The servant handed over the letter before bowing and taking her leaving.
Loghain studied the letter, Maric got impatient, "Open it man, it could be from Aurelia."
Loghain opened the letter, checking the bottom of the page, he fell to his knees when he saw not 1 but 2 names.
To my Dearest Loghain,
I know it has been a long time since we saw each other but the depth of my love for you is still as deep as it ever was. I have missed you more than I could ever tell you.
I travelled to Kirkwall meeting some Grey Wardens on the way, they took care of me, then I met some other unique people. I have a house here, the only thing that will make it home is you.
It scares me to write this letter, I worry I left you waiting far too long, you may have moved on or simply do not want me any more. If that is the case, I do not expect we will see each other again.
I must confess something to you, on our last night together, I took a fertility potion, it worked and at present I am 7 months with child, although by the time you get this letter, I will be closer to 8 months.
I am told it is a boy, I plan to name him Aurain Mac Tir. I hope he has dark hair like you, my nose and he will have the blue eyes we share. As I write this letter, he moves around inside of me, he cannot or I say will not stay still.
Whether or not you choose to come for me is your choice, my darling, I so desperately want you here with me when our son enters the world, but I will not force you here. I beg of you, do not come merely for our son, come because you want an US and a family together.
I hope you will join me. If you do, the Dock master will have details on where to find me.
Love from your Aurelia and Aurain.
"Loghain, what is it?" Maric asked, desperately wanting to know.
Loghain stayed frozen looking a letter, she was having his son, "Aurain," He whispered.
"Who is Aurain?" Maric asked confused.
"My unborn Son," Loghain looked up at his friend. Maric saw nothing but joy in his eyes, "I need to get to Kirkwall," Loghain got up and ran back towards the palace, Maric limping desperately trying to keep up.
Loghain burst into a sleeping Cailan's room, Loghain slapped his face, making Cailan jump up out of bed, "Good grief man, are you trying to kill me?"
"Shut up, I need the ship, I need to get to Kirkwall quickly," Loghain said, anxious to leave already.
"Why," Cailan asked.
Loghain growled, "Because Aurelia is in Kirkwall and she will delivering my son in little over a months time. I will not miss his birth, Aurelia needs me."
"Well go then, why are you here talking to me, just take the boat and go," Cailan ushered Loghain out.
"I'm going too, Loghain," Maric told him.
"Fine, let's go." Both men prepared to travel to Amaranthine to take the boat to Kirkwall. Loghain was running on Adrenalin, desperate to get to him beloved and their son.
As the boat neared Kirkwall, Loghain was still on edge, probably more so. 3 week travelling did nothing to quell his anxiety over Aurelia giving birth, memories of Celia dying as she gave birth to another Daughter plagued his mind, he could not bear to lose Aurelia and Aurain in the same way or ever.
"Calm down, Loghain, you will sink the boat with your pacing," Normally it would have irritated Maric but this time he understood Loghain's worry.
"I will when my son enters the world safely."
The boat came into the docks, giving one last rock before she settled down and she was tied to her dock. Maric and Loghain disembarked, a blonde haired man approached them, "Hello Father," Alistair quite plainly.
"Alistair?" Maric said in disbelief.
Loghain scoffed, "Great, another one of your Sons to deal with."
"And you must be Loghain?" Alistair asked, turning towards him.
"How do you know me?" Loghain narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"I am here to take you to Aurelia, it is quite fortunate that you arrived when you did, Duncan was planning to relieve me.
"Take me to Aurelia, now," Loghain demanded.
Alistair led them to Hightown, "We are nearly there, Aurelia wanted a home with privacy."
"She bought the home herself?"
"Yes, she lets us stay for keeping her safe from home."
"I...suppose I should thank you for that," Loghain said quietly"
"No need," Alistair said brightly, "Aurelia is truly special, I'm grateful to have met her."
Alistair pushed open the door of the house, ushering Loghain and Maric indoors, he noticed everyone scrambling around, "Evina, what's going on?"
"We are preparing, Lady Aurelia's labour has started, although it's not quite time," Evina said as she prepared water and towels, laying out cloth nappies to swaddle the babe's bottom, along with clothes to go over the top.
"Up there Loghain," Alistair pointed to Aurelia's room and watched Loghain bolt up the stairs.
Loghain entered the room, he watched Aurelia pace, she was heavy with child, her bump accentuated by the thin shift was wearing.
Aurelia turned, gasping at the sight of him, "Loghain!"