Open Fields, Hidden Blades

The morning arrived at Castle Highever much like any other. Queen and Prince-Consort changed for the day, Aedan making sure to give Anora as much privacy as he could, but the act felt far less awkward than it had the previous night. They then walked to the main hall to join Fergus for breaking their fast. Though nothing was said about their discussion the previous night, Aedan was sure the smile on his wife's face came a little more freely that morning.

After their servants had packed up their plethora of luggage, the royal couple bid farewell to Teyrn Cousland at the castle gates. Aedan embraced his brother warmly.

"Take care, brother." Fergus murmured in the Prince-Consort's ear. "Try not to slay any more Archdemons, you hear?"

Aedan chuckled. "I'm still a warden, Fergus. That is my responsibility if any more happen to crawl out to the surface."

"Well, I'll be praying to the Maker that it never happens. You of all people don't need any more glory to your name. Leave some for the rest of us."

"I love you too, brother." Aedan smirked.

Then, the brothers Cousland parted and waved farewell as the royal entourage mounted their horses and carriages and began the trek back to Denerim. As before, Anora took to her carriage as Aedan took to his horse.

The journey was pleasantly uneventful for the first few days as they wound their way through the glorious Ferelden countryside. Thankfully the weather stayed co-operative for the caravan.

It wasn't until their last day of travel that anything peculiar happened.

The caravan came to a halt as the royal entourage passed by lush, open fields, many of the horses whinnied irritably at the sudden interruption. Aedan whipped his gaze around in concern. He could see no immediate reason for the delay.

"What's happening?" The Prince-Consort asked a nearby guard.

"I- I don't know my liege." The confused man replied.

The door to the Queen's carriage opened and Anora emerged from the confines. Strangely, she'd shed her usual dress for a set of fine travelling gear. She'd removed the delicate buns from her hair and had tied her golden locks back in a ponytail. She looked more like a wealthy adventuress than the Queen of Ferelden. Aedan idly noted that the look suited his wife very well.

Aedan beckoned his horse to approach. "Anora? Is something wrong?"

The Queen looked up to her husband with an expression torn between amusement and derision. "Of course not. I just wish to ride. It's too fine a day to waste huddled up in a box like this." She gestured to the fine carriage with a hint of distaste.

"Your Majesty, I must insist you stay with the carriages, it's safer inside." Ser Cauthrien was saying as she emerged from Anora's carriage. The knight was seemingly exasperated, apparently Anora had been arguing with her for a while now.

"Nonsense, can you see any threat at all out here?" Anora gestured pointedly to the surrounding countryside. Aside from the members of the royal entourage, the only souls in sight were the sheep in a field neighbouring the road, some cows littered a hill far off in the distance.

One of the sheep bleated into the silence.

"There is nothing to fear." Anora declared, turning towards a page who was holding the reins to a horse already bedecked in saddle.

Ser Cauthrien sighed. "Very well, allow me to muster some men then."

Before she could issue any orders however, Anora shut that down as well. "Absolutely not. You and the rest of the men will head back to Denerim."

"Your Grace, I cannot possibly allow you to travel unaccompanied."

"And I won't be. My lord husband will be at my side. He will keep me perfectly safe."

Cauthrien sent a look towards Aedan, no doubt gauging his capacity as a bodyguard for the Queen. For his part, Aedan wore light travelling gear but had his sword at his side. He was not at his most prepared for a battle, but he knew he was skilled enough to overcome most threats.

"Your Grace, please at least allow me to accompany you as well." Cauthrien was clearly unsatisfied.

"Ser Cauthrien, your liege has given you an order." Anora had mustered all the steel into her voice now. "I suggest you follow it to the letter."

Cauthrien clearly wanted to argue further, but visibly backed down under Anora's harsh gaze. "As you command, your Grace." The knight sent one more withering look towards the Prince-Consort.

Aedan read a warning in those eyes: Keep the Queen safe, or else.

In short order, the Queen had mounted her steed and trotted up alongside Aedan. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was clear that Anora was an accomplished rider, keeping the horse under control with apparent ease. Perhaps the poor beast had been cowed into submission like Fergus had, Aedan smirked at the thought.

Even as the royal couple made to start riding out ahead of the caravan, Ser Cauthrien looked to be on the verge of objecting further. She held her tongue though, and the last Aedan heard of her was the order to move out once Aedan and Anora had rode out over the next rise.

Aedan kept a keen eye on the landscape around them, though in truth he hardly expected any real threat to emerge from the bushes. This was about as serene a region as could be found in all of Thedas. The other half of his attention he kept on his wife, wondering just what sort of game she was up to.

"So, do we have a destination in mind?" Aedan asked his wife idly.

"Denerim, of course." Anora answered, taking a deep breath of the clear air. "Eventually."

"Anora?" Aedan asked warily.

"Yes, dear husband?"

"What are you planning?"

"I just wanted to take this opportunity to ride out in the open air for once. It really is too fine a day to waste sealed away in a box."

"But abandoning the escort?"

"Cauthrien's a big girl. I'm sure she can find her way back to Denerim on her own. Or someone else will know the way."

"You know that's not what I meant." Aedan smiled.

"Oh, fine." Anora sighed irritably. "Don't you just wish to get away from all that, every once in a while?" She gestured to the caravan of royal guards now far behind them. "Of course I appreciate the need for security, but it can get overbearing don't you find?"

Aedan eventually agreed with a quirk of his head. "Fair point. So, what shall we do with our new found freedom?"

"For now, I think we just ride." Anora smiled.

With that, she spurned her steed onwards and took off at a run. Aedan had to act quickly to try and keep pace with her.

The pair galloped their way up the road, though Anora soon tired of following even that path's constraints. With nary a look back at her husband, the Queen diverted off at a junction into an open field. Aedan shook his head with a sigh but duly followed suit.

The couple eventually came to a stop at the crest of a hill overlooking a valley that wove its way through the country. The waves of lush grass dotted only by the occasional far off farm or scattering of forest. Quiet streams ran through the grooves and funnels of the vale.

Aedan looked to his Queen. Anora was gazing out over the scene before them with a curiously peaceful expression, her eyes softer than he'd ever seen. Her face relaxed into a content smile. Her golden hair wafting slightly in the breeze and the morning sun illuminated her face gorgeously.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" Anora asked quietly.

"She really is." Aedan agreed.

"I don't get to her see like this often enough. The Antivans have their beaches. The Free Marchers have their mountains. We have this."

"And what of the Orlesians?" Aedan asked with a wry smile.

Anora contemplated for a long moment, eyes narrowing perhaps more with distaste than thought. "They have the Dales, which was stolen from the elves in the first place, so they really have nothing."

Naturally, Aedan thought with a smirk to himself. Though the thought of Ferelden's neighbour and rival brought another thought to his mind.

"Anora?" Aedan began, biting his lip slightly.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry about Cailan, what you said the other day, about him and the Empress. I'm sorry that happened."

Anora quirked her head slightly as she regarded her husband. "It's not your fault. It just … is what it is, or was what it was, rather. It means nothing now." She eyed Aedan carefully for a few moments. "How long have you known?"

Aedan's first instinct was to pretend he didn't know anything about it, but something about the look in her eyes made him change track quickly.

"I found out during the Blight, towards the end of it all, actually. I happened to return back to Ostagar and I came across letters addressed to Cailan from the Empress, speaking of the possibility of a permanent alliance."

"Orlesian bitch." Anora swore darkly before sighing. "I had a feeling you already knew, I could read it in your eyes."

"I'm sorry."

"What for? You're not secretly Orlesian, are you now? If that is the case, I may well have grounds for a divorce." Though Aedan knew that was amusement in her eyes, he was also sure she was no doubt serious.

Aedan chuckled softly. "I just meant I should have told you sooner."

Anora shook her head. "It would hardly have made any difference. I'd already been aware for a while, had my suspicions of something untoward for even longer. Cailan was certainly not as old fashioned as you, Aedan." Anora smirked.

Aedan narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Is that going to be held against me forever?"

"I think that would be a safe assumption, yes." Anora smiled before turning her gaze back out towards the valleys that lay strewn out ahead of them. "Come on then."

With that, she set off again, heading into the valley proper, the gentle breeze of the day brushing past them as the horses cantered on.

"Was Fergus well?" Anora asked idly as they rode. "I confess it was hard for me to tell, he seemed almost overcome with nerves whenever I was in his presence."

Aedan chortled. "I think he was fine, perhaps a little awestruck if anything."

Anora snorted. "That's one way of putting it."

Aedan was silent for a few moments, chewing over his private conversation with his brother, wondering if he should inform his wife.

"The longer you wait, the harder it will become."

Aedan blinked. "I'm sorry?"

Anora turned a sly eye towards him. "You have something you wish to say but you're not sure how to say it. Or perhaps not sure whether you should say it? Regardless, it's plain to see that something's bothering you."

Aedan blinked again. Then, he laughed. "Are you sure you're not a bard in disguise, not the Queen of Ferelden?"

"Contrary to popular opinion, I consider myself rather skilled at reading people. I would hardly have lasted this long as Queen without that particular skill."

The Prince-Consort sighed. "Ok, yes, Fergus did express some concerns he had to me in private."

"Oh? Do tell."

"He seems to think that there are disgruntled elements of the Bannorn who are … dissatisfied with your rule."

"And?" Anora prodded expectantly. "Is that it?"

"More or less. He thinks that there are some in the Bannorn who don't respect you because you lack military experience. Fergus claimed that there are some who think that I should have taken the throne for myself."

Anora turned her head to her husband with a curious expression. "I take it that by handing me this information, you've no intention of doing just that, have you? You're not about to stab me in the back and leave me in the bushes?"

"No! Of course not, you're my …" Aedan faltered as he finally registered the amusement in his wife's eyes. "You're teasing me."

"You do make it so easy." Anora smirked. "But none of this is news to you, surely?"

"Well, not really, to be honest with you. However, Fergus did seem concerned enough to advise caution."

Anora hummed quietly. "And is your brother normally one to be overly cautious, or do you think there's merit in his fears?"

"To be frank, he never used to be tuned into the political goings on of the country at all really." Aedan chuckled. "I think becoming Teyrn has changed him in that regard. I trust his word. I'm certain at least that he feels there is something to be concerned about, which makes me concerned."

"Interesting, he didn't disclose any names, did he? I suppose not, rats never reveal themselves until they are just about to flee the sinking ship."

"He did in fact. A Bann Galston has apparently been attempting to turn nobles against you in the South."

Anora regarded her husband with a look that was equal parts surprised and impressed. "Well, well. I stand corrected. Galston, eh? Of course it would be him."

"You don't seem too surprised by all this."

"Bann Tobias Galston, he has always been unhappy with my rule. Even when Cailan was King, he took offence to my stewardship of the realm. He even tried to petition Cailan to have me removed from key meetings and the general running of the realm once. He's little more than a misogynistic pig really. It doesn't surprise me at all that he's at the centre of trouble."

"I wasn't even aware of who he was." Aedan chuckled.

"He certainly isn't prominent enough to be concerned with." Anora shrugged. "He has no forces of his own. He only has a small piece of land his family's held for the last few generations now. Unless he marries soon, he may well be the last of the Galstons."

Aedan eyed his wife with a hint of a smirk. "You have these little titbits of information on every lord and lady of the realm, don't you?"

Anora responded with a sly smile. "It pays dividends to know each and every one of my nobles, especially the disgruntled ones. That's how I can keep on top of trouble before it grows out of hand."

Aedan narrowed his eyes as he pondered her words. "Wait a minute. Were you already aware of this conspiracy?"

"I'd hardly call it a conspiracy, Aedan, though I have had suspicions of something brewing for a while now." Anora murmured as though it were nothing of consequence. "Rule as long as I have and you develop something of a sixth sense when something unsavoury is afoot. Though, until now at least, I hadn't found any tangible evidence pointing to anyone in particular. I should thank your brother for confirming this."

"Did you use me to get information out of Fergus?"

"Of course not. I had no idea he even knew of anything. Unless you think I'm skilled enough to make you volunteer a private conversation between two brothers freely, without you even knowing of my involvement."

Aedan didn't think that was too farfetched.

"Now, if I've used you for anything, it's for building something of a foundation for good relations with your brother. In case you've forgotten, Fergus is Teyrn of Highever, now the highest ranking nobleman in the kingdom, aside from your good self of course. It would certainly make things easier to have a constructive working relationship going forward."

"You hardly need me for that. Fergus is loyal to you, you're his Queen."

"And you're his brother. He is loyal to you above all. You are right of course, I am perfectly capable of building relations with my subjects on my own, but I'm also not too proud to recognise when someone else would fare better in my stead. In that, I would hope you'd offer me your aid from time to time, dear husband."

"You know, you're awfully forward about all of this." Aedan eyed his wife carefully. "I'd have thought you'd deny having anything even closely resembling a weakness, on principle if nothing else."

Anora levelled an almost patronising smile at Aedan. "I think at this point you've made it clear that you have no intentions of usurping the throne, or causing me any harm. You wouldn't offer up information on Galston if you meant me ill."

Aedan couldn't help but smirk mischievously. "Are you so sure? Perhaps I am simply playing the long game, trying to lull you into a false sense of security."

The Queen laughed. "Forgive me, Aedan, you are talented at many things, but political scheming is very clearly not one of them."

Aedan sighed theatrically. "And there go my bardic aspirations."

Another chuckle. "Surely the life of being Prince-Consort and a Grey Warden is enough excitement for one man?"

"Fair point." Aedan smiled. "I shall have to make do."

"Regardless." Anora continued with a smile of her own. "I think I can safely say that you've earned my trust at this point. I'm sure we can speak frankly with each other."

"I'll look forward to it."

"You say that now." Anora warned with a sly smile as their cantering horses crested a hill, the early afternoon sun shining bright overhead. "Our marriage is still young."

xxx

After a pleasant evening of riding the beautiful plains of Ferelden, Anora and Aedan finally arrived back at Denerim.

Naturally Ser Cauthrien was stood there waiting for them in front of the city gates, arms folded impatiently. Anora would have wagered every sovereign to her name that the knight would have chewed them both out for staying out so late, were they not her monarchs. The sudden arrival of their rulers on horseback was something of a surprise to the guards on duty at the gates. They recovered their senses quickly though and duly escorted Queen and Prince-Consort to the royal palace.

Anora let out a slight sigh when they were surrounded by a dozen protectors once more. At least they had managed to have a lovely afternoon together in peace.

Once back at the palace, the royal couple retired to their private chambers to refresh themselves after their ride. Anora bathed first, before surrendering the tub to her husband. She had to fight down the smile that attempted to creep up her face when Aedan looked at her as she passed by him, her golden hair slightly damp, cheeks still flushed from the hot water, her body covered only in a thick, fluffy towel. It was a most flattering look she received indeed. It was almost as good as the blush on his cheeks as Aedan excused himself awkwardly to get past her in the hallway.

As she returned to their shared room to dress, Anora thought back to the night in Highever and Aedan's … what was it exactly? A proposition, a suggestion, a proposal? Anora wasn't sure, but she knew she still wasn't quite sure what to make of her new husband. In many ways he was quite like her first, he was strong, charming and kind like Cailan had been. Yet at the same time, Aedan was oh so different.

She shook her head ruefully. Despite the obvious similarities, it wasn't proper to compare the two, it didn't feel right. As much as Cailan's attempted betrayal had hurt, he didn't deserve to be regarded so frivolously, neither did Aedan. Her new husband had been nothing but thoughtful and attentive to her, both as a Queen and as his wife. It was … refreshing.

Finally robed in a fresh dress, Anora turned to head for the door, but something out of place caught her eye. A vase, one that normally stood on the table by the window was lying on the carpet. The Queen narrowed her brow as she padded over and picked up the vase, running a hand over it as she checked for damage. The decorative piece was heavy, no doubt thick enough and sturdy enough to survive the fall without sustaining any harm. Why would it just be lying here?

A noise. The slightest hint of a creaking floorboard from behind.

Anora spun around on instinct, swinging the vase, she was shocked when her arms met resistance and the vase clattered into shards. A figure clad in blacks and dark browns hunkered beneath the unexpected blow, a wicked looking blade clenched in hand. Anora's eyes shot wide open in shock and fear.

"Anora?" The concerned call from her husband, followed quickly by the sound of jogging footsteps.

The hooded figure before the Queen swore in an unknown tongue. Was that Rivaini? Antivan? Her mind attempted to register for whatever good it would do her.

"Aedan!" Anora cried out, despising the shrill fear in her voice.

The jogging became a run.

The figure lunged.

Anora yelped as she jumped back, barely missing a serrated death. Her hands reached behind her for something, anything would do! She only found the table as she bumped into it.

Aedan barrelled into the room suddenly, clad in hastily donned clothes. The Warden Commander's eyes only took a fraction of a second to find the threat.

The figure glanced back at the arrival. Then, the assassin seized Anora by the wrist and in a moment had spun himself behind the Queen, her arm held painfully high up her back. Anora tensed as she felt the caress of the blade at her throat.

Aedan froze just as he was about to charge. Anora noted with dismay that he was unarmed. His face fell into a vicious scowl, one that surely only the now-dead had the misfortune to witness.

"Let. Her. Go." Each word was punctuated, low and menacing.

"No, I don't think I'll be doing that." The assassin drawled in Anora's ear, accent thick.

Antivan, it must be. A Crow? Anora's mind whirled.

Other than the pains of the dagger at her throat and the grip on her wrist, Anora belatedly realised that she had another pain in her other hand, the hand that wasn't clasped in an assassin's murderous hand. Anora carefully edged her gaze downwards. She found her right hand clenched and dripping with blood. Opening it slowly, she found a sharp shard of pale pottery, cutting deep into her palm.

The vase, Anora realised. She kept her hand closed.

"If you harm so much as a hair on her head, I will not rest until I have hunted you down and made you suffer." Aedan growled murderously through clenched teeth.

"You're going to back up against that bookshelf there." Unperturbed by Aedan's threat, the Crow indicated the one furthest away from the door with a swipe of his dagger. It was returned to Anora's throat before she could even contemplate making a move.

Aedan stayed frozen where he was, Anora could see his mind whirring frantically in his eyes.

"Quickly!" The Crow growled, impatient. "Your queen doesn't have all day."

"Come now husband, you don't want to keep the nice assassin waiting." Anora mustered all the courage she could into her voice. She gave Aedan a hard glare with a message she prayed to the Maker he would read: Play along, for now.

She daren't even reveal the shard she held, in case Aedan's eye movements gave her one advantage away.

"Listen to your wife, hero."

Aedan licked his lips. His fists clenched to bleached white. Then, he slowly began moving over towards the bookshelf, never taking his eyes from Anora or the Crow.

"Good boy." The Crow drawled.

Anora decided that she detested the Antivan accent.

The Crow began moving with Anora towards the door, slowly.

"You can't think you'll leave this palace alive." Aedan shook his head softly. The Prince-Consort's body was poised to burst into action in an instant.

"That's exactly what I'll be doing." The Crow sneered.

"You'll be cut down before you even reach the palace gates." Aedan promised.

"We'll see about that."

Everyone froze. The sound of footsteps reached all their ears. Heavy footsteps. Armoured footsteps. Lots of them.

"What now, Crow?" Anora jeered.

The Queen hissed in pain as her hair was yanked from behind, pulling her head up to face the ceiling. The blade at her throat bit into her neck.

"Give it up." Aedan commanded. "Let her go, and we will be merciful."

Anora somehow managed a snort from her forced position. "Don't you dare speak for me, Aedan."

"Anora." Aedan rumbled, in a tone that bellowed: Now is really not the time.

Anora rolled her eyes, but could appreciate his point well enough with razor sharp metal at her throat. The sound of the footsteps drew nearer. To Anora's delight, they sounded hurried. She began to slowly manoeuvre the shard of pottery clenched in her fist. Ignoring the pain as skin and probably tendon twanged, careful not to show any reaction.

Then, Anora was being roughly moved again, this time back over to the other side of the room.

"Stay where you are." The Crow warned Aedan.

In the disruption of their movement, Anora managed to move her head down a little and her gaze found her husband. Aedan had approached a few steps but still dared not make a move. Anora swivelled her gaze and spotted the Crow's most obvious destination, the window.

"Can you fly, Crow?" Anora asked dryly. "I don't see any wings."

"I'd be more concerned about yourself, Queen."

"Who hired you to kill me?"

The Crow remained pointedly silent.

"Why not divulge? If you're so certain of your success, then surely you'd be losing nothing?"

"Anora." Aedan warned again, but the Queen ignored him.

Finally, the footsteps arrived. Anora was swivelled again to face the door. Her eyes found the most welcome sight of Ser Cauthrien and a half dozen men at arms. Given the size of the room and the delicate situation, only Cauthrien and two of the guards could enter the room properly. Each had silver swords drawn and at the ready.

"Unhand the Queen, now!" Cauthrien demanded, sword raised with menace.

The Crow didn't respond. Anora felt the tension of the situation resonate through the body close at her back.

"You've nowhere to run." Aedan said, cautiously approaching a step, then a second.

"Stay back!" The Crow warned.

"Aedan." Cauthrien warned herself, not taking her eyes from the Crow.

Anora swallowed thickly, the motion of it sliding her neck further onto the blade.

Aedan advanced a third step.

"I said back!" The Crow snarled, thrusting the dagger in his direction angrily.

Anora seized on the chance. She slipped the shard from her palm into the grasp of her fingers. In one movement, she flung her right hand up and over her opposite shoulder, aiming for her captors face.

She met thick then soft resistance.

A squelch rang out with a cry of pain.

The grip on her wrist weakened.

Anora pushed away from the Crow. But his grip held.

Aedan was dashing towards her. Anora reached as best she could towards him. He caught her with one arm. With the other, he grappled the Crow's blade arm, forcing the dagger out of reach.

In the same instant, Cauthrien gave a cry as she charged. The whistle of a blade skirted past Anora's ear. The wet slice of a sword making contact followed a heartbeat later.

A pained groan. The hand holding Anora prisoner lost its strength.

At last, Aedan wrenched her free. Anora was enveloped by his arms and was pulled away so quickly her feet could only drag on the ground. Anora shook with Aedan as his back hit the wall. They collapsed there.

Anora panted hard into her husband's chest, unable to see save for a gap of the floor through Aedan's arm and body. The sounds of scuffling behind her soon faded.

"It's ok." Aedan breathed, panting hard himself. "It's ok. You're ok."

Anora could only swallow thickly, her mouth stale and dry.

Then, her head was gently yet firmly swivelled as Aedan brought their gazes together, his eyes searching hers frantically.

"You're ok." Aedan repeated. Then his gaze hardened. "That was stupid, Anora! What were you thinking?"

Despite the shock that still swam through her, Anora met her husband's glare with a snarl of her own. "Do you honestly expect me to stand idly by when an assassin has a blade to my throat? When I have an opportunity to strike back?"

"He almost-!" Aedan began shouting, but his resolve faltered. "You almost-" Then he breathed a ragged sigh and hugged her close, clinging to her for dear life.

Anora found she had no response. Her own resolve was faltering. She clenched at her husband, grateful her face was pressed up to his chest.

After a long moment in each other's arms, Anora picked her head up, forcing her expression to lie neutral. Aedan appeared to be attempting to do similarly though his eyes were pained and wet.

"No matter, it's over now." Anora said, putting all her regal experience back into her voice. She was about to turn to survey the scene when Aedan quickly raised a hand and brushed a thumb on her cheek beneath her eye. Surprised, Anora followed his digit with her rapidly blinking eyes and was surprised to see it came away wet.

"Dirt." The Prince-Consort claimed.

The Queen smiled, clearing her face with her own hand. "Thank you." She whispered, before picking herself up and turning around.

The would be assassin lay motionless on the floor. A vicious wound had struck his right shoulder cutting down to the chest, leaving a crimson river running down his body. His face however was what drew Anora's attention the most. The sun kissed skin seemed to confirm the Antivan connection, the skin littered with old scars that had long ago healed. A fresh, vibrant red tear was cut from his nose to near his temple, via the eye. The eye had seemingly caved in or had burst even, and a gory mess dribbled down the cheek. As much as it made her stomach turn, Anora did not flinch away. She was silently grateful Aedan had his arm around her, providing physical support for her to draw from.

Cauthrien had the Crow's head held up roughly by the neck and at first glance it looked as though the knight had actually strangled him to death. She looked over as Anora stepped forward and released her grip on the body, letting it fall to the floor with a dull thump.

"Your Grace, I'm sorry. He took the coward's way out. Poison."

Anora looked closer and understood. A thin layer of frothy bubbles poked out on the Crow's lips. Cauthrien must have been trying to keep him from expiring before he could escape spilling his secrets.

"It's no matter." Anora declared, glaring down at her assailant with disgust. Then she switched her gaze to her bodyguard with a proud smile. "You continue to perform your duties in exemplary fashion as always, Ser Cauthrien. I cannot possibly thank you enough."

The knight held her head a shy higher. "I was just doing my best, your Grace."

Anora looked between all her soldiers present. "The same goes for you all. You've all had a hand in saving my life. Words cannot adequately express my gratitude. Just know that you have all made me so very proud this day."

"Ma'am!" The soldiers snapped to attention in unison, chests filling with pride.

"Alright, I want three full sweeps of the palace, now!" Cauthrien barked. "Not one stone unturned, not one soul leaves the grounds until her Majesty gives the order! Move it!"

Soldiers ran to their duties, a handful stayed to stand guard over the Queen, swords still drawn at the ready. Cauthrien remained as well, her trained eyes scanning for further assassins in every nook and cranny.

Anora let out a sigh and turned to face her husband. "And you. Thank you." She murmured with a smile that somehow verged on thee bashful. "I … forgive me, I know what I want to say, and yet I don't know at all how to say it."

"It's ok, I'm just glad you're alright." Aedan's lips lifted a little. "You had me scared me there."

"I …" Anora began again but quickly decided against words. She reached up with hand and lips to show her feelings with a long, tender kiss.

When she came away however, her expression fell into a bit of a grimace upon seeing the wet, red stain she'd left upon his cheek

"Anora?" Aedan questioned with concern, oblivious to the grim mark left upon him.

"I'm sorry, I seem to have …"

"Your Majesty." Cauthrien input from the side, pointedly glancing at the Queen's injured hand. Anora followed her bodyguard's gaze. There was a lot more blood than she first thought. "You need to see a healer."

"Oh Maker!" Aedan gasped, spotting the wound himself.

"Yes, I think you might be right." Anora murmured, experimentally trying to clench a fist before giving up with a hiss at the painful jolt that shredded through broken nerves.

"Come on, let's see about getting you fixed up." Aedan gently retook her injured hand and raised it above elbow height, presumably to stem the flow of blood.

"Aedan, please, I'm alright." Anora protested softly with a smile as she willingly let herself be pulled along. "I'm not going to bleed to death."

"Let's have a professional make that judgement first." The Prince-Consort's tone was not to be denied.

Anora rolled her eyes with a hint of a smirk at her husband acting like a protective mother hen. She looked back at her bodyguard in the slimmest hope of support. Cauthrien merely urged the royal couple forward with a gesture and motioned for the guards to follow.

Anora sighed. "Very well." Then she smiled affectionately at her husband. "At least I know I am well looked after."