The Best Present

"Watch your footwork!" Aedan barked out, arms folded with a disdainful expression. "Lighter on your feet!"

The soldier he'd been shouting at gave a brief wave of recognition and a slight wince, which provided more than enough time for his opponent to deliver a heavy smack on the arm.

The Warden-Commander shook his head with a sigh. He idly wondered just how and why he'd been lumbered with this latest batch of men. Half of them could barely tell the business end of a sword from the handle. The rest were better to various degrees, but only marginally so at best. They certainly wouldn't ever be at risk of joining the Grey Wardens.

Aedan hadn't made it an active policy to recruit Grey Wardens from the Keep's garrison of course, particularly as there wasn't the imminent threat of a Blight on the horizon to prepare for, but it never hurt to be on the lookout for fresh talent. Particularly as his Grey Wardens were now two members down. It was safe to say that the sorry rabble in front of him would not make the list of potential recruits.

"Here." Aedan huffed, annoyed as he strode forward and grabbed the sword from the lad who'd been smacked in the head. "Like this."

He nodded at the other boy who gulped nervously. Even with blunt, wooden swords, it was evidently a nerve wracking thing to be sparring against Aedan Cousland, the Hero of Ferelden. In short order, Aedan had disarmed his opponent and had him sprawling in the dirt at his feet.

Aedan turned back to the first man. "See how I did that?"

"Yes sir." The soldier gulped nervously. 'Soldier' was a misnomer really. He was most likely a farmer's son, maybe a stable boy, more used to wielding a rake or a broom instead of a sword. He'd probably only volunteered to try his hand at soldiering because he wanted to try his hand at a more exciting life than mucking out pig sties. Maybe he just wanted to see the famous Grey Wardens, or even the Hero of Ferelden, up close for himself. It was a familiar tale, one Aedan and the Wardens had witnessed dozens of times before, even after so many years since the victory over the Blight. They'd had to send away so many recruits over the years who were simply not up to the task.

The Warden Commander thrust the blade back at the boy. "Try again." He ordered, not unkindly, and then he paced back over to the fence to watch.

The lad performed only marginally better in the next bout.

The Warden-Commander rubbed at his eyes wearily. It was going to be a long day indeed. He wouldn't have minded as much if they didn't have to rely on such men and boys to man the Keep and maintain security throughout the Arling. After all, there were only five Grey Wardens in the whole of Ferelden now. Despite their renowned skills and prowess, they couldn't do everything or be everywhere at once.

Aedan sighed as his mind drifted far away from the training ground before him. While they'd never found where Anders or Justice had gone, they had discovered that at least one of the pair had likely fled North across the Waking Sea. The information came courtesy of an overly chatty sailor who'd apparently helped smuggle the warden out of Ferelden and thought the best way to celebrate it was by bragging loud and proud in one of Amaranthine's taverns. Though they weren't completely certain that the story was true or which warden it apparently was, the Grey Wardens believed it to be Anders, as the description came with a staff and the distinct lack of a decomposing stench. Where Justice was and why the two had apparently parted ways was anyone's guess. Despite that small success in learning a little, the trail had swiftly gone cold from there, and Aedan wasn't willing to commit his wardens to search the entirety of the Free Marches and beyond in the slim chance that they'd stumble across either wayward warden.

Instead, Aedan and the wardens had put their proverbial ears to the ground for any rumours and word from across the seas. Most of it was mere drivel and nonsense, though occasionally there would be a kernel of something interesting would reach them in the South. Tall tales mainly, like a suspiciously adept mage attack on bandits and brigands on the roads around Markham or a mysterious healer hiding away in the undercity of Kirkwall perhaps. There was little to suggest any such rumours had anything concrete behind them however. No, Aedan was increasingly sure that he'd never find out exactly what had happened and where the runaway wardens had ended up.

"How are they shaping up?"

The sudden voice spurred Aedan from his thoughts. He turned to see Nathaniel striding up to him with Sigrun in tow. The two wardens filed in to lean on the fence either side of Aedan on the other side of the barrier. Sigrun naturally had to settle for leaning on a beam rung lower than the two humans.

"In a word: pitiful." Aedan muttered, turning back to the display of flailing swords before him. "They've got a long way to go before they'll be anything like ready for a real fight."

"It's not the first time we've been dealt a bad hand." Nathaniel murmured, watching the training with those keen eyes of his. "We'll whip them into shape soon enough."

"Just set them up against Oghren." Sigrun chuckled. "That'll be more than enough to get them thinking about their footwork right."

"They'd all just run for the hills, surely." Nathaniel eyed the dwarf sceptically.

"Exactly, would you stand your ground when Oghren's going berserk?" Sigrun smirked. "Better to run than get stomped."

"Touché." Nathaniel inclined his head in concession.

"I'm not sure I've much faith in any of them being fast enough to outrun Oghren anyway." Aedan sighed. All of their latest recruits were human, and all of them had a markedly longer stride than the dwarf, yet few of them had anything even approaching the dwarf's fitness.

Two of the recruits at the far end of the yard caught the Warden Commander's eye suddenly. They'd apparently taken it upon themselves to take a break early and were chatting amongst themselves.

"Hey!" Aedan barked, making both the slackers and a few of the other men jump in shock. "Get back to it! You think you'll be able to take a break with a darkspawn and have a chat with them do you?"

"S- Sorry sir!" One of them stammered out. "We were only just-"

"I don't care for your excuses, just get back to work, or you can walk now!" Aedan pointed angrily at the front gates. While Vigil's Keep was hardly in a desolate location, it was still a few miles from the city of Amaranthine or any other settlement. "Take your pick!"

Both lads' cheeks blossomed in embarrassment and they quickly got back to hitting each other in the vague approximation of a duel.

Aedan shook his head with a frown as he settled back against the fence.

"You ok there, Commander?" Sigrun asked a tad hesitantly.

"I'm fine." Aedan sighed, still scowling. Even as he kept his eyes on the field of recruits, he could just about tell that Nathaniel and Sigrun were sharing looks between themselves.

"You have been pushing them a bit harder than usual, don't you think?" Nathaniel murmured.

"And yourself." Sigrun added.

"They need to get used to hard work if they've any hope of becoming soldiers." Aedan said. "I won't have a bunch of farmers, who've never had to face up against anything but a few sturdy sheep in their lives, defending this realm against bandits, invaders and darkspawn."

"And yourself?" Sigrun asked.

Aedan sighed. "I'm fine."

"Really?" Nathaniel raised a sceptical brow. "Sigrun's right, you've been working flat out hard an awful lot lately, had them up at the crack of dawn every day for the past week or so now."

"Yeah, what's going on Commander? You've got us all a bit worried you know." Sigrun pressed softly. "They'll probably never say it, but even Velanna and Oghren are concerned you know."

Aedan turned a guarded look to Sigrun.

The dwarf merely smiled back encouragingly. It was impossible to be irritated at all with Sigrun.

Aedan sighed once more. "I suppose … I've just had more time to focus my attention here now that Anora's back on the throne is all."

"Right …" Sigrun began slowly as she considered. "But, she was on the throne for a long while before you had your kid. You never threw yourself into training the new blood here like you're doing here and now."

"Sigrun's right." Nathaniel nodded with a curious frown. "What's changed, Aedan? If anything, we'd have thought you'd be spending even more time in Denerim, with your wife and daughter?"

"I'm not avoiding my family if that's what you're thinking." Aedan scowled slightly.

"We weren't suggesting that." Nathaniel shook his head with an earnest look. "We're just trying to understand why you're always up at the crack of dawn here, practicing your sword play or reading reports and answering letters from Amaranthine. It's just out of the ordinary. The Arling hasn't seen this much of you in years."

"Yeah, not that we're complaining at all." Sigrun chuckled. "It's great having our Commander here in person. It's just, well, like Nate said, why? You've got your family waiting back home, don't you?"

"I know." Aedan half sighed, half growled at their persistence. "I just- Well, since the regency came to an end, I figured the best place I could do some good would be right here."

"Wait, this isn't you going on a power trip now you don't have the kingdom at your fingertips anymore is it?" Sigrun asked, perhaps only half serious.

Nathaniel sent her a disapproving glare.

"No, that's not it at all." Aedan shook his head earnestly. "If anything, it's more to do with what happened with Anders and Justice."

"Ah." Nathaniel nodded in apparent understanding.

"I've been neglectful, of you all, of the Keep, even the whole damn Arling." Aedan cast his hand out to indicate each. "It's been going on ever since the Blight ended, and I needed to stop it."

"Eh, you are married to the Queen and all." Sigrun smiled. "I guess we could cut you some slack while you help her keep the kingdom afloat."

"Exactly, we don't blame you for focusing your time on the Kingdom as a whole." Nathaniel added. "It's not like we've had another Blight to contend with here is it? Besides, Amaranthine pretty much runs itself these days, and you've always come whenever there's been a crisis to deal with."

Aedan smiled thinly. "Thank you both, but I think it's a bit more than that."

"What do you mean?" Sigrun inclined her head slightly in confusion.

Aedan considered for a moment before taking the plunge. "I think … I think in many ways, a part of me believed that I'd reached something of a fairy tale ending since defeating the Blight. You know, I'd won the war, killed the Archdemon, and married the beautiful Queen. I've achieved everything I could have ever dreamed of. There was no more war, no more sleeping in a ditch in the rain, nothing more to struggle against."

Neither Nathaniel nor Sigrun said anything at that. They both gazed off in thought.

"I think I'd effectively retired myself, to be honest with you both." Aedan sighed. "I'd fallen into complacency, and took you all for granted. I expected you all to keep things in line here whilst I was away, enjoying all the benefits of royal life at the palace."

"You could invite us over more often." Sigrun nodded with a small smirk. "None of us would complain you know."

Aedan chuckled. "I'll make sure to do just that."

"I suppose … at least you recognised it yourself." Nathaniel murmured quietly, eyes on the recruits and the battering of swords and shields. "I'm sure there's plenty of people who couldn't do the same, or simply wouldn't, if they were in the same position, not until it was far too late anyway."

"Well, it's not the first time I've had to buck my ideas up I suppose." Aedan shook his head with a smile. "Becoming a Grey Warden in the first place was a bit of an eye opener. I was very much the stereotypical 'spoilt noble's son' before then you know."

"I'd have loved to have seen that." Sigrun mused with a smirk.

Aedan chuckled softly before the seriousness returned to his eyes. "It's just a pity it took Anders and Justice leaving to do the same thing a second time."

There was a silence between them for a few moments, broken up by the irregular clacking of swords on shields and shins in front of the wardens.

"I'm sorry for abandoning you for so long." Aedan declared into the silence, looking between Nathaniel and Sigrun. "I promise, I'll take my duties as your Commander more seriously from now on. I won't abandon you all again."

"Eh, it's alright Commander." Sigrun smiled, nudging Aedan's arm with a fist. "If you do slip up again, me and Nate here will be the ones to run off next, then you'll be left with just Oghren and Velanna to keep you company. Won't that be nice for you?"

Aedan laughed at that. "Velanna would love that." He could already hear her exasperated groan of displeasure.

"She'd probably just burn the Keep to the ground." Nathaniel smirked. "Better that then live with an absent shem and a drunk, lustful dwarf."

Sigrun chuckled. "Remind us, why are you with her again?"

Nathaniel's smirk grew into a distinctly satisfied grin. "She has a certain charm about her, when you get past the prickliness."

"Oh yeah? I bet you love getting past those prickles." Sigrun snickered. "I've seen you heading to her room at night you know. How often do you two sneak into bed together by the way?"

Aedan was half tempted to reprimand the dwarf for such a personal question, but he couldn't deny that he was awfully curious himself. He was still somewhat surprised that the often irritable elf would even consider a relationship with a human of all beings. A fling with a darkspawn seemed more likely.

Nathaniel actually blushed a little, though there was definitely a pleased smirk barely hidden there, like the cat that had stumbled upon the finest cream. "We … enjoy each other's company enough." He murmured almost cryptically.

"Oh my." Sigrun chuckled. "That's an awfully formal way of saying you two are getting down and dirty every single night like a couple of greased nugs."

Now there's an image, Aedan thought reluctantly.

"You know, Velanna would actually kill me if she knew we'd talked about any of this." Nathaniel scowled at the dwarf. He threw a wary glance over his shoulder.

Both Aedan and Sigrun laughed at his expense.

Aedan turned back to the training field, he could see now that the recruits were tiring a fair bit now. Though to give them credit, they had all stuck to the task this time. "Alright, let's call it there for now." Aedan called out as he stepped forward. He was greeted by a clamouring of relieved groans. "Good work everyone, get yourselves cleaned up and some dinner in your bellies, I want you all ready for some cross country running this afternoon."

Aedan somehow managed to suppress the smirk he felt coming on as he took in the beleaguered expressions of his recruits. Maybe it was already sinking in for a few of them just how much work was involved in being a soldier.

"Will you take care of them tomorrow?" Aedan asked Nathaniel as they both wandered back towards the Keep with Sigrun. "Give them some training or some tasks to do?"

"Of course, I'm sure we can come up with something." Nathaniel nodded. "Have them do laps of the Keep maybe. Are you going back tonight then?"

"In the morning, it's too late to head out now." Aedan looked over towards the horizon where the sun was slowly sinking behind.

"So that little speech you gave us was all nonsense then?" Sigrun quipped with a smirk.

Aedan sighed, though he knew full well that Sigrun was only teasing him. "No, it's just that I've absolutely got to head back soon. Anora would kill me if I actually missed it."

Nathaniel chuckled. "Of course, we understand completely. Don't worry, I'll see that they get put to work tomorrow. Maybe we will put them against Oghren, see how they get on."

"Try not to get any of them killed, will you?" Aedan smirked.

"We'll do our best, Commander." Sigrun smiled sunnily.

Aedan turned his head towards the forge just outside the main body of the Keep as they approached. He could hear the rhythmic clinking of hammer meeting anvil echoing out of the space.

"Herren, Wade!" Aedan called as he approached the forge. "Is it ready yet?"

"Is what ready?" Sigrun asked.

"It is, finally." Herren droned in that dry tone of his.

"Shut up, Herren!" Wade chastised his partner, in crime as much as life. "You should know well enough by now that you can't rush greatness!"

"You can't rush anything it seems." Herren muttered before turning away with a shake of his head.

Wade paid him no mind. "Here you are, as ordered!" The master blacksmith presented a small leather bound box to the Warden-Commander with all due pomp and ceremony that he could muster.

Aedan accepted the box gently and eased it open. His eyes widened a little at its contents and a smile grew on his lips.

Sigrun whistled in approval. "Wow."

"I bet that must have taken an awful lot to craft." Nathaniel eyed the master blacksmith.

"It may have taken a little longer than originally planned, but one can never be too careful when crafting art as I always say." Wade conceded with his usual modesty. "I hope it meets to your satisfaction?"

"It's wonderful, thank you Wade." Aedan smiled in thanks. "I'm sure she'll love it."

xxx

"Yes, that'll do nicely." Anora nodded approvingly.

The pair of maids who had either end of a stream of bright, pastel bunting both sighed in obvious relief as they were finally allowed to pin the decoration upon the wall. Anora let them have their moment of relief with merely a thin scowl as punishment. Though she could certainly appreciate that she may seem a tad obsessive to the casual observer, yet Anora was most keen to have everything perfectly in place.

Her daughter and heir didn't turn one every day after all.

Of course, Eleanor herself probably wouldn't even remember the décor Anora had painstakingly instructed her staff to put up throughout the palace, but that didn't mean that she shouldn't endeavour to make the Princesses' very first birthday a special one. It was a sentiment that was shared by many nobles and dignitaries from across Ferelden and even further beyond, for the palace had almost been overwhelmed by gifts and blessings from all over. Though to be frank, many had simply been thinly veiled attempts to curry favour from the Queen, or else tokens of courtesy given out of courtly protocol rather than through any real affection for either the Princess or her parents.

Anora had already seen and appraised many of these gifts and had swiftly redirected those she deemed unsuitable for her baby daughter to members of her household staff, or even to the bin for the most egregious examples. One extremely misguided soul had even sent the Princess a rather vulgar looking tome by a Mr V. Tethras. Anora didn't bin that particular item however. She currently had it hidden away by her bedside table for further appraisal.

The Queen finally decided that she could indeed trust the maids with the rest of the decorations and went instead to go be with the birthday girl herself.

Eleanor had been spending much of the morning in the company of Ser Cauthrien. Evidently the Lady Knight had been roped into the Princess' games, for she was on hands and knees, mimicking what appeared to be a lion or some other large cat, much to Eleanor's obvious delight.

"I hope she hasn't been causing you too much trouble?" Anora smiled as she moved forward and swept the giggling Princess into her arms.

"No, not at all, your Grace." Cauthrien coughed as she straightened herself up smartly, once more inhabiting the proud stature of a knight of Ferelden.

Anora decided to let her bodyguard keep some semblance of her dignity intact and did not comment on the role play. "Well, I think everything's just about ready, shall we?"

"Of course, your Grace."

Anora carried her daughter out of the lounge and through the palace with Cauthrien at her side. The Queen made sure to try to direct Eleanor's attention to the décor that had been laid out in her honour, though the Princess wasn't all that interested. Instead she tugged on her lip idly with one hand and hung onto Anora's dress with the other.

Oh well, she was only one after all. It was probably too much to expect the Princess to take much interest in anything much other than her toys. Anora herself appreciated the decorations at least.

Once in the lounge, Anora couldn't help but smile at Eleanor's eye's widening in curiosity and interest at the pile of brightly wrapped presents that had been laid out for her. As the Princess had been such a good girl all day, Anora felt it was only right that they not tally any longer and got right into the pile. Soon enough, there was wrapping paper discarded everywhere as Eleanor worked her way through the small mountain of gifts.

Most of the presents were fairly standard tokens of respect if not a real affection. The most intriguing gifts came from those closest to the royal family, as well as a few prominent figures Anora had been intrigued to see go to such efforts.

Arl Eamon for example had sent a wooden model castle. It was certainly finely crafted and 'built' in the Ferelden style. Its high walls were awfully reminiscent of those that protected Redcliffe castle. It even came with toy soldiers and knights on horseback, all lovingly carved and painted with care.

Almost to Anora's surprise, the Princess had been gifted a pretty little dress from Hahren Shianni. It was a lovely rich green colour, with embroidered summer flowers around the rim. It was in fact a little too big for her as it was, but Eleanor would grow into it soon enough.

Then, from the Empress of Orlais of all people, Eleanor received a stuffed lion toy. Anora couldn't deny that it was beautifully crafted at least, even if it was a little ostentatious. Its mane was an intricate mess of plush fire and feathers, all made up in the vibrant blue and gold colours of Celene Valmont's house.

Eleanor loved it immediately.

Naturally, this horrified Anora.

The Queen did her very best to tempt the Princess away from the Orlesian toy, mainly by offering all the other stuffed toys she'd been gifted, but Eleanor clung tightly to the lion possessively.

Aside from that debacle, Anora had to admit that the day was just about perfect. In fact, there was just one thing missing to make the day complete.

Anora gazed out of the window, out towards the edges of the city. She couldn't see the front gates of the palace from this position, she didn't even think the road she spied in the distance was one well-travelled, but still she searched for a figure, a sign, anything really.

Where are you Aedan? The Queen thought, forlorn.

Ever since the wardens Anders and Justice had fled their duties, Aedan had taken it upon himself to make sure that his presence was felt by the remaining wardens. Anora could hardly object to such a move, in fact she approved wholeheartedly of Aedan taking claim of his rightful position more forcefully. However, silently she worried about what affect her husband's more frequent absences would have on their young daughter.

Anora didn't want Aedan to be as vacant from Eleanor's early life as Loghain had been from hers. Anora loved her father of course, but she was well aware that his frequent absence from her life had troubled her early years often. It was by necessity of course, her father had been needed to help run the kingdom, while her mother was needed in Gwaren in his absence. It was almost perfectly parallel to hers and Aedan's responsibilities with the kingdom and Amaranthine respectively.

It was almost too easy to forget that Aedan was an Arl along with all his other titles and accolades. His responsibility was not just to the wardens, but to the Arling of Amaranthine itself. While the city was almost notoriously capable of running itself, it still needed its ruler from time to time. So of course Aedan was needed to be away from Denerim for stretches at a time. It was only understandable. That didn't make the situation any less taxing to deal with for a young girl however. Anora knew that well, she wanted better for her own daughter.

Slight murmuring drew the Queen from her thoughts and she gazed down at her daughter with a smile. Eleanor was happily playing with her Orlesian lion.

"Isn't she beautiful, Cauthrien?" Anora sighed fondly.

"She is, your Grace." The Knight smiled.

"You know, I never thought that I could ever love like this." Anora chuckled as Eleanor tried squishing her new lion toy into the model castle. The lion was far too big to fit in through the gateway, despite the Princess' best efforts. "I don't know what I'd ever do without her now." Anora murmured softly.

"Your Grace?" Cauthrien asked gently, almost wearily.

Anora looked up at her Knight and bodyguard. Cauthrien wore an expression of concern. The Queen blinked, realising that somehow a tear had worked its way down her cheek. She brushed it off as casually as she could manage.

"Cauthrien, I want you to promise me something." Anora looked to her bodyguard and champion.

"Of course, your Grace."

"If anything were to happen, if we are ever under attack, I want you- no, I need you to promise me that no matter what happens, you'll protect Eleanor."

"Ye- Yes, of course your Grace." The Knight appeared confused for a moment. "It is my duty to protect you and-"

"Forgive me Cauthrien, but I need to be sure that you understand me explicitly." Anora's keen gaze bored into her bodyguard. "If such a time comes where you have to make a choice, if you are ever in a position where you can only protect one of us, I want you to keep Eleanor safe above all else, even before my own life."

Cauthrien blinked. "Your Grace, I swear to you that it will never come to that. I will never allow you or the Princess to come to-"

"Promise me, Cauthrien." Anora pressed. "My daughter's life is the most important thing in the world to me."

Eleanor mumbled quite content to herself as she played with her lion, completely oblivious to the weighted tension that hung in the air between the two adults above her.

There was a metallic rustle as Cauthrien got down on her knee and placed a clenched fist over her heart. "I swear to you, Queen Anora, I will protect the Princess with my life, even if it- even if it means sacrificing yours." She struggled to get the words out.

Anora nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Cauthrien."

There was a slight murmur as Eleanor pushed herself up onto her feet and waddled over towards the Knight. She mumbled something incoherent as she pressed the stuffed lion into Cauthrien's face. Cauthrien's serious demeanour melted away at once and she chuckled lightly.

"I think Eleanor thanks you as well." Anora smiled, idly musing how much more comfortable Cauthrien had gotten with Eleanor over the last year.

"But I promise you, your Grace, it will not come to that." Cauthrien looked back up into her liege's eyes with something of a sad expression.

"I hope you're right." Anora murmured as she watched Eleanor attempt to drag the Lady Knight into her playing. She thought of so many firsts and milestones that had yet to come for the Princess: Her first words, her first day at court, her first love.

Anora silently prayed to the Maker that she could witness them all.

xxx

The clatter of hooves off the flagstones was a familiar accompaniment to the welcome sight of Aedan's home. It was a quicker sound than it might normally have been as the Prince-Consort urged his steed onwards. He anxiously eyed the skyline through the cluster of buildings all around. Time was eating away into the afternoon fast.

Once inside the palace's outer walls, Aedan made to dismount quickly and retrieve a few items from the pouches on the horse's saddle before turning to head up into the palace proper.

"I'm not too late, am I? Or are you going to be in the doghouse too?" A voice suddenly chuckled from behind.

The Prince-Consort turned to regard the regard the sudden speaker with a glare. That was, until he recognised the tone and figure dismounting his own horse behind him.

"Fergus?" Aedan smiled wide. "Brother, I didn't know you'd be here?" Aedan asked as he went in for the hug.

"Ha! You really think I'd miss my niece's first birthday?" Fergus laughed. "Though it looks like you were cutting it close too brother."

Aedan sighed. "I was held up, there was a blockage on one of the roads and-"

"Alright, alright, leave your excuses for the mother of your little Princess." Fergus chuckled. "Maker knows you'll need them."

Another groan from the Prince-Consort as the brothers made their way up the palace steps side by side. "Maker, Anora's been so stressed making sure today was going to be perfect. She'll kill me for missing the morning as it is."

"Relax, I'm sure it'll be just fine." Fergus patted his poor brother on the back of the shoulder with a smile. "Just say that I was holding you up, talking about the good old days or something. Better the Queen directs her ire at me than the father of the Princess after all, I can take it."

Aedan eyed his brother with a raised eyebrow. He appreciated the gesture of course, but he distinctly remembered numerous times where Fergus was near cowed into submission by the mere sight of Anora. "You seem to be in good spirits?"

Fergus chuckled. "I suppose I am. Things have been looking up in Highever, brother."

"Oh?"

The Teyrn leaned in a little towards the Prince-Consort. It seemed that his beaming smile could only just be contained. "I think I'm in love."

"You are? Congratulations!" Aedan blinked with a wide smile. The news had taken him by surprise. He hadn't been aware that Fergus was even considering a new relationship. "Just so long as it's not Anora, I give you my blessing."

"Of course not you fool!" Fergus pushed Aedan in the shoulder with a laugh. "Maker, I'm sure she's had enough with the one Cousland."

"You're not wrong." Aedan chuckled. "So go on then, who is the unlucky lady?"

The little jibe clearly rolled off of Fergus entirely, for his grin was insurmountable. "Lady Matilda." He sighed, content. "What a woman."

"Well, congratulations brother. You'll have to introduce me one of these days." Aedan smiled genuine. It had been some years now since Fergus' first family had been so cruelly taken from him. If anyone deserved to find some happiness, it was his brother.

Fergus smiled back in thanks. "Thank you, and I will, I will, but today is little Eleanor's day, not mine. Come, let's hurry up before your wife sends out men to track you down."

It didn't take long for the brothers Cousland to wind their way through the palace to the private rooms Aedan shared with his wife and child. With a clap on the back from Fergus as encouragement, Aedan eased open the door to the lounge, hearing the soft rustling of conversation beyond.

Aedan's face lit up in a bright smile at the sight of Eleanor, laughing happily as she played with a little lion toy. Ser Cauthrien was kneeling by the Princess, murmuring softly as she joined in with Eleanor's fantasy. Queen Anora was stood over by the window, gazing out intently. Just by the slight tension in her posture, Aedan could tell that his wife was concerned. He didn't even need to read it in her face.

Perhaps she caught sight of movement in the reflection, for his wife turned almost in slow motion. Her obvious worry dissolving into relief at the mere sight of him and she quickly moved over.

"Where have you been?" Anora lightly chided with a smile. She quickly drew Aedan into a hug.

"Sorry for being late." Aedan returned the embrace. "The roads were swamped with the summer rains. It took me longer than-"

"Oh, enough with your excuses." Anora waved her husband off with an uncharacteristically wide smile. "You're here now, that's all that matters." The Queen turned to her brother in law. "And Fergus, it's always a pleasure to have you."

"Of course, I'd never miss my favourite niece's first birthday." Fergus smiled. "And don't worry your Grace, I came prepared." The Teyrn fished out a small wrapped parcel he'd been hiding behind his back. It was hardly the best wrapped present in the world, but it was clearly done so with love and a little ribbon holding it all together. It was also very clearly a toy mabari of some kind, judging by the shape of the thing.

"Thank you Fergus, I'm sure she'll love it." Anora smiled, though Aedan could have sworn the expression was tight lipped somewhat.

The three moved over to the Princess, Anora and Fergus diplomatically letting Aedan go first. He couldn't help but smile wide like a village idiot when his daughter's eyes lit up at the sight of him. Eleanor murmured something incoherent that he opted to pretend was an attempt at 'Daddy' and raised her arms expectantly. Aedan needed no further encouragement to lift her up into his arms.

"Hello there, my little Princess." Aedan cooed softly. "Has Aunty Cauthrien been taking good care of you?"

Eleanor responded with what could only be described as a happy gurgle.

"She has?" Aedan smirked, glancing over at the Lady Knight in question. "Well that's good to hear."

For her part, Cauthrien wore an amused expression underneath the calm and collected demeanour of a royal bodyguard. "Just doing my duty, my Lord." Cauthrien murmured modestly.

"And always so modest as well." Aedan turned back to his daughter with a smile. "And I hope you haven't been making any trouble for Cauthrien, or your mother?"

Another meaningless mumble.

"Good girl." Aedan pressed a kiss to his Princess' head. "And are you pleased to see your Daddy?"

Eleanor gurgled again, waving her lion up and down.

"Daddy." Aedan repeated with a hopeful smile. "Can you say Daddy?"

The Princess murmured another few noises, but nothing that even the most optimistic ear could mistake for 'Daddy'.

"She's only one, dear." Anora smiled as she sidled up to her husband and daughter. "She hasn't said anything yet."

"I suppose." Aedan sighed. His smile was not to be denied though. "It can't be much longer now though. It won't be long before you're talking our ear's off, won't you darling?"

Eleanor mumbled what might have been an assent. She brought the lion up to her mouth to chew on an ear.

"I can tell you from experience, these are the day's you'll miss the most." Fergus chuckled. "Just as soon as they start talking, they'll be talking back, and asking the most awkward questions."

Aedan chuckled a little as he considered. "Here, you want to say hi to your Uncle Fergus?"

"Of course she does." Fergus smiled wide, reaching out to accept his niece into his arms. "Here, you think that fancy lion's something special? Just wait till you see what I've got for you …" Fergus walked over to the settee with the Princess in his arms, bringing out the lovingly wrapped mabari toy. Aedan could see that Eleanor was distinctly unimpressed at first sight by the present, but Fergus didn't look to be offended.

Anora sidled up closer to her Prince-consort. "You cut it rather fine." She admonished lightly, not dropping her smile as she watched their daughter play with her uncle.

"I'm sorry. It was slower going on the roads than I thought it would be." Aedan responded quietly. He glanced up and out of the window at the far side of the room. The sun was rapidly disappearing off in the distance, casting the land in a ruddy glow. "Besides, I'm here now, aren't I?"

"You are." Anora sighed. "Sorry, I just wasn't sure if you were going to make it at all."

"I promised I would be here." Aedan looked to his wife with the utmost sincerity. "I'd never break a promise to you, or Eleanor."

"I know." Anora smiled.

"Besides, I think I have a way of making it up to you." Aedan smirked a little as he reached into a pocket and withdrew a small parcel. He offered it to his wife.

"Oh? What's this?" Anora asked with a raised eyebrow as she accepted the small package.

"Open it and find out." Aedan murmured with a smile.

Intrigued, Anora shed the parcel of its wrappings, inside was a small, rectangular box dressed in black leather. It had a hinged lid that Anora eased open with a quiet click. The Queen's eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight of a beautiful silver necklace, it had a single pristine sapphire set into it that shimmered in the light as Anora rotated the box.

"What is this?" Anora breathed.

"It's a necklace." Aedan supplied.

Anora threw him a glare. "I can see that, Aedan. I meant what is this for?"

"It's a gift. One of a kind actually, I had Wade make it."

Anora inspected the necklace a little closer, peering at its design and intricacy. The silver that held the sapphire at the centre of the piece swept up and back in a pair of attractive wings. It was clearly of very fine make. Not bad at all for a blacksmith more suited to swords and shields. "Why on earth did you do this?"

"What? Can't a man treat his darling wife?" Aedan teased.

Anora shook her head with a smile. "It's Eleanor's birthday, not mine."

"Well, that is true, but it's also the anniversary of the day you brought our beautiful daughter into the world. So, this is just a little way of saying thank you."

Anora had to bite her lip a little to stop her grin from overrunning her face entirely. "Oh Aedan, you sweet, silly man." With that, she pulled Aedan into a deep kiss.

"Shall I take that to mean you like it?" Aedan asked with a smirk when they parted.

"It's beautiful." Anora smiled. "A wonderful gift … but you know, you've already given me the best present."

"I have?"

Anora rolled her eyes good naturedly. She leaned in for another kiss but paused, her lips less than an inch from his. "You're here." She whispered lovingly before claiming his lips once more.