Rumor Has It

Notes: Lena Hawke, with Lady Reya (OC)

Just a little something to celebrate the end of my not-posting-anything period. I wrote this to try and get back into the swing of things. It's no all that great, but it was fun to write. I would've used Evangeline Hawke (the one I usually use) but she's a blood mage and never would have become Viscountess.

As always, reviews are welcomed and loved! Also, feel free to drop a prompt or suggestion! As long as it's not Awakenings, I'll get to it in less than a week!

Reya's foot bobbed up and down in impatience. This is it, she thought. Time to see if those rumors are true. Her eyes flicked over to where her nine year old daughter, Ella, sat on the plush chair near the fireplace, playing with the hem of her new rosy pink dress.

Ella looked up to meet her mother's gaze, her blue eyes inquisitive. "How much longer?"

"I don't know, dear," Reya sighed. For once, she shared her daughter's excited impatience. To take her mind off of the unavoidable conversation, she called for a servant to prepare a bit of tea. As the elf was leaving the room, a knock sounded at the front door of the estate. Shooing the servant, Reya headed to the door herself, Ella trailing close behind.

The door opened to reveal Lena Hawke, Viscountess of Kirkwall and one of Reya's closest friends. A pale face appeared from behind Lena, quickly followed by the rest of little Daisy Hawke.

"Come on in," Reya chuckled, stepping aside so the girls could run off through the estate to play. Even though Daisy was only six, the two girls got along better than Reya could ever have hoped; especially after Lena's son, Ben, and Ella didn't get along well. Turning her attention back to Lena, Reya led her guest into the sitting room. "So, what's this news?" she asked politely, wondering if Lena's desire to talk about something "important" could be related to the rumors Reya had been hearing in the market.

Lena broke out into a wide smile, her bright blue eyes gleaming beneath her raven black hair. "I'm pregnant."

After all necessary congratulations had been made, Reya couldn't help but joke, "Again? Two wasn't enough?"

Rolling her eyes, Lena admitted, "I would've stopped at one. Apparently I just don't understand why we need more than one heir." She reached for a cup of tea that the servant had brought and grinned, "I told Sebastian that he gets to stay home with the baby this time."

Reya laughed alongside Lena, taking a cup of her own. "Where is Sebastian? I haven't seen him or Ben in a while."

"A hunting trip in Starkhaven." Lena set her cup down. "A bit of father-son bonding time before Mom gets all cranky again."

"There are rumors about Ben, you know," Reya said conversationally, trying to feign indifference. "I overheard some of the ladies at a party saying that you two are planning his marriage already."

Lena deflated. "Oh, Maker. I don't know how people find this stuff out. We aren't, not really. Well," she backtracked, "we were, but there's more important stuff to focus on. Besides, he's only eleven years old! He's got plenty of time to find a wife." With a sad smile, she added, "My kids are staying kids for as long as possible. None of this growing-up-too-fast nonsense."

"Well, that's too bad. I had Ella all prepared to fight for his hand," Reya joked, hoping that Lena would take some of it seriously. Practically every noble with a daughter Ella's age was already clamoring for how to best match their daughter with the son of Kirkwall's Viscountess and the Prince of Starkhaven. Reya, at least, had an edge – friendship with the parents of the groom – and she intended to use it to her full advantage.

From the other room, Ella poked her head around the corner and announced, "Ben is gross." She disappeared and the two girls giggled.

"I can't disagree with her," Lena shrugged. With a little laugh, she amended, "Actually, he's growing up to be a fine young man. He looks so much like his father." She cocked her head to the side for a moment. "So does Daisy, actually. Thank the Maker they got the good genes," she chuckled.

Reya said nothing, instead cradling her cup of tea in her hands and waiting to see if Lena would respond to her unspoken request.

Finally, Lena set down her cup of tea again and sighed. "A marriage between Ben and Ella is something we were hoping for."

"But…?" Reya added, deflating at Lena's tone.

"But," Lena began again, leaning forward to whisper, "that would make me my mother. I can't become my mother!"

Reya was taken aback. "So you aren't going to arrange a marriage?"

"Why would I?" Lena shrugged. "My mother never got to actually arrange anything for me, and looked where I ended up."

"I…I don't think Sebastian will agree with that. It's just not what nobles do," she argued feebly.

Lena shrugged again. "He'll get over it."

"But you're the Viscountess!"

"I've never liked that title," Lena admitted. "I like Champion. And rumor has it, the Champion doesn't like following the rules."