Authors Notes: Alot of Fluff to come and Loghain getting emotional.
Life's little Surprises.
Anora walked into Aurelia's room hoping to spend some time with her, she knew Aurelia was in the early stages of labour so thought it best to check she was up to having visitors.
"Hello, you feeling up to visitors?" She asked gently.
"Oh, your majesty, come in," Aurelia replied with surprise.
"You can call me Anora, you are my Father's Wife, after all," Anora sat down on the bed next to Aurelia, "I need to know, do you love my father?"
"Of course I do!" Aurelia said with conviction, "He is a wonderful man and a great father, although you might have a different view on that."
"Possibly, he wasn't around much when I was growing up," Anora looked at Aurelia with sadness, "Does he ever talk about me?"
"Yes, quite frequently, your Mother too," Aurelia squeezed Anora's hand affectionately.
"Really?" Anora looked at Aurelia, surprise on her pretty features, "What does he say?"
"That he regretted the mistakes he made, wished he was a better Father and Husband, he speaks of Celia fondly, he really did love her very much," Aurelia wiped away Anora's tears with her thumb, "He thinks he left it too late and you don't need him any more."
Anora leaned her cheek into Aurelia's hand, "I'll always need him."
Aurelia pulled Anora to her and the 2 women embraced, "We always need our parents, know matter how old we get."
"He seems so different now," Anora commented absent-mindedly.
"Different how?" Aurelia asked.
"He's happy, for years he was so miserable and lonely, it made him look so much older than he is, now he's almost like a young man again."
"I hope he's happy, I try my best to make him as happy as he makes me," Aurelia chuckled, "Apart from the Cauthrien incident."
"Oh Maker, what did that vicious bitch do?" Anora was obviously well versed in Cauthrien's antics.
"Oh well lets see, she called me "The Whore" told me her and my Husband where lovers, used to stop me saying him, locked me into various places or took Aurain and left him places to make me look like a bad Mother. I nearly ended our marriage."
"So what happened?" Anora asked incredulous.
"I think telling him I was unhappy and telling him exactly why, shook him up and he banished Cauthrien or he would leave her in the cells to rot."
"Good, I hated her, I knew she wanted my Father, he was just blind to it," Anora poured both Aurelia and herself a drink and settled back into the bed, "So when did you fall in love with him?"
Aurelia laughed and blushed a little, "Believe it or not, it was love at first sight, when I was 16."
Anora laughed gently, "Why, what was so amazing about him?"
"He was so strong and confident, brood, oozed charm and grace, devastatingly handsome and very worldly-wise," Aurelia sniggered at her own giddiness when she was 16.
"It's funny, lots of women have tried to get his attention, now they are raging with jealously because you managed to get it."
"Hey, your Stepmother could have been Habren Bryland, I haven't seen her yet, I cant wait to throw it in her face. You'll learn to appreciate me."
"There's something about that girl that really bugs me and I do appreciate you," Anora rubbed Aurelia's bump gently, "You've made him very happy, made us closer again, gave me a Brother and soon, a Sister."
"I wish she'd hurry up," Aurelia whined, "Actually no, Papa isn't here, he'd hate to miss your arrival," Aurelia groaned in pain and felt the familiar wetness of her waters breaking, "Oh no!"
"Oh Maker, I'll get Anders and your Mother," Anora got off the bed but Aurelia grabbed her hand.
"Will you stay with me?" Aurelia asked, her eyes pleading.
"Of course, I'll be back with Anders and Eleanor," Anora ran from the room, shouting for Anders.
Anora, Eleanor and Anders ran back into the room, Evina and Harriet following with water and towels, Anora and Eleanor positioned themselves each side of Aurelia, Anders in between her legs, "Right, Raina has decided she wants to arrive now," Anders said.
"But Loghain isn't here," Aurelia said distressed, crying, she needed Loghain with her.
The decided it was hot for the hunt and decided to lay about on the beach, discussion had turned to women and Loghain was trying to make sure they knew he didn't want to be part of the conversation, unfortunately for Loghain, Cailan was going make sure he was included.
"Loghain, tell us what being married to the lovely Aurelia is like," Cailan asked with a smirk on his face.
"Go away Cailan," Loghain warned.
"Oh come on Loghain, tell us," Bann Teagan tried to get him to talk.
"He shouldn't even be married to Aurelia," Bryce spat.
"Not this again," Loghain sighed shaking his head.
"You've ruined my Daughter's life, don't you shake your head at me," Bryce got up ready to confront Loghain.
Loghain stood up and stormed over to Bryce, "You mean like when you tried to force her to marry Arl Howe, slapped her around the face, caused her to slit her own wrist and run away for 9 months. Don't you get it Bryce, Aurelia contact me, asked me to be with her, married me willingly, everything was Aurelia's choice. She wanted us to marry, she even took a fertility potion to make sure she conceived Aurain before she left and I went to her because there is nowhere else I wanna be."
"How can you make her happy? Someone like you, miserable, stone for a heart, left his first Wife and eldest Daughter to fend for themselves, you weren't even there when Celia died along with your second Daughter. What is to stop you from doing the same to Aurelia, what will stop you from abandoning her and the children, just like the first time?"
"Because I want to do it right this time, I will regret my treatment of Celia and Anora until the day I die, but I will not repeat those mistakes will Aurelia or my other children. Aurelia has changed me for the better, I love her. Now you can either, accept me as Aurelia's Husband or you can pretend she doesnt exist and leave our children alone."
"I'll never accept your marriage and I will find a way to end it!" Bryce spat.
"Father, don't be stupid!" Fergus said shaking his head.
"Excuse me?"
"Aurelia will never end her marriage, she's happy with the life she has made, now Mother gave them permission to marry and I freely accept Loghain as Brother. You can't do anything about it, Aurelia is a grown woman with children and a title."
"I just can't accept it," Bryce said sadly as walked away.
Harriet rode towards the group, "Teyrn Loghain!" He shouted, stopping the horse.
"What is it?" Loghain asked.
"Teyrna Aurelia is fully in labour, Queen Anora is with her, we must hurry," Harriet turned his horse around, racing back to the palace.
Loghain without any thought, jumped on a horse and rode as fast as the horse could take him back to the palace, his beloved needed him and when she needed him, he would move the mountains to make sure he was there.
When he got to the palace, he ran to his and Aurelia's room, "Loghain!" Aurelia called out as she rode out another contraction.
"One more push Aurelia," Anders told her, "Loghain, do you want to deliver her?"
Loghain nodded shaking, positioning himself between Aurelia's legs with Anders next to him to give him instructions. Aurelia had another contraction, Loghain with Anders help, eased Raina into the world. Loghain looked at her awestruck and shaking, she cried loudly, Loghain placed Raina into Aurelia's waiting arms, "You did it again, my love," Loghain said softly through his silent tears.
"My beautiful Raina, you can tell everyone that your wonderful Father delivered you into this world personally in his safe hands," Aurelia kissed her tiny Daughter's forehead.
Aurelia winced in pain, Anders looked at her with a bemused expression, "Aurelia, I need you to push again."
Anora took Raina in her arms, holding Aurelia's hand as she pushed again, Loghain looked upon another Daughter, he found himself laughing, "I told you there was more than one."
Aurelia laughed with him, "Alright Teyrn know it all," Aurelia took her second Daughter in here arms, quietly blessing the Maker for not one but two beautiful girls.
"She needs a name," Loghain said quietly, enjoying the feeling of having his beautiful family together.
Aurelia got lost in thought, eventually smiling, "I like, Celia," She said kissing her Daughter on her tiny nose.
Anora hooked a finger into her tiny Sister's grasp, stroking her fist with her thumb, "I like it, Raina and Celia," Anora struggled to contain the tears she had held back.
Loghain smiled at his Wife, he loved the fact that Aurelia wanted to keep the memory of Celia alive, it helped Loghain resolve the past and get closer to Anora again, he also loved the fact that Aurelia and Anora had developed an affection for each other.
Loghain took his Daughters into his arms, carrying them out to the waiting audience outside of the room, he walked up to Bryce as if Loghain was challenging him to ignore his own Granddaughters. Bryce looked at Loghain, he couldn't deny the joy in Loghain's eyes, Bryce tentatively took Celia into his arms, the tiny girl evoked memories of holding Aurelia for the first time, a child he was pushing away, only she wasn't a child any more, she was a Wife and Mother, it was time for him to accept that Aurelia was a grown woman, a strong, fierce and capable woman, looking at his Granddaughter, he made a silent vow to tell Aurelia that he was proud of her.
"I'm glad they look like their Mother," Maric said laughing, admiring Raina who was settled happily into Fergus's arms.
Eleanor walked out of the bedroom carrying Aurain, "Aurain wants to meet his Sisters," Eleanor held Aurain up to his sisters, at first glance, he was confused, looking at Loghain for answers, Loghain smiled at him. Bryce held Celia up closer, Aurain cooed happily, trying to give his Sister a kiss on her head.
Cailan laughed, "What a charmer that boy is."
Anora helped Aurelia into bed after her bath, "Are you happy with Celia's name?" Aurelia asked, suddenly feeling a little insecure.
"I am, thank you for everything, I'm glad my Father has a woman to share his past with, other women would be jealous,"
"Well, she was his wife, she made you, just because she isn't here, doesnt mean she ceases to exist, she meant a lot to you and Loghain, so she means something to me as well."
Anora burst into tears at her stepmother's gentle words, Aurelia embraced Anora, "We have him outnumbered now."
Anora laughed heartily, "That we do, I'm sure we can use it to our advantage."