Chapter Text
She sees neither hide nor hair of her new wife and that suits Anora just fine. The youngest Cousland was put forward as the only viable option for marriage after Alistair threw himself at the Archdemon and ended the Blight with his own life. Fergus had been requested and he had declined… loudly. He however had put forward Elissa as a candidate.
"My sister is a Grey Warden and a woman, this way there is no heir but we retain an experienced Queen to heal Ferelden and Elissa finds peace after all she has sacrificed."
There was no argument from the other Lords and Ladies of the Landsmeet except Bann Ceorlic but no one paid him any mind. This way ended the Mac Tir line and her protests fell on deaf ears. Within the month she stood next to the Hero of Ferelden in the Great Hall of the Palace, reciting vows to love no other till the end of her days.
That had been months ago and she had barely spoken two words to Elissa. She'd catch glimpses of her here and there, usually sparring with the Queen's guard in the courtyard but the slender blonde kept herself to herself.
She was always there at dinner however, staring down at her plate and pushing the food around rather than eating. She was a little thing but Warden's appetites were famous and Elissa showed none of that. Erlina had informed her that Elissa did raid the pantry at night so that somewhat set Anora at ease.
"Are you alright Elissa?" Anora would ask religiously each day out of habit, she wasn't particularly concerned one way or the other if she was.
"Yes, your Majesty." was all Anora ever got in response along with a meek flush. How this one ended the Blight she would never know.
That was where the pleasantries ended however as they fell into an uneasy silence after Anora insisted for the thousandth time that Elissa stop calling her your majesty.
It took time for Anora to see any sort of change in Elissa's demeanor. A few months had gone past and the country had begun to heal. In that time Anora had grown lonely, Erlina was good company but there was only so much she could share with her handmaiden: she missed her king.
"You seem stressed, my Queen. Is everything alright?"
Anora stopped pushing at the food on her plate and snapped her head up in shock. Elissa was focused on her, her eyes scrutinising Anora's expression as she took a bite of the roast beef piled high on her plate.
The smile that broke over Anora's face pulled at her eyes and she fought to bring her face back into its neutral expression. "Tevinter, nothing I can't handle but I am… Wary of the Magisterium. I can't decide on a Ferelden mage to act as a liason."
Elissa took a moment to chew thoughtfully, her eyes sparkling under the candlelight. She really was rather pretty. "Wynne would be the best choice, she's shrewd plus she has a thick skin. Irving is too trusting and I don't think the Circle could stand to lose anyone else."
The taste of wine curled round tight lips as Anora smirked into her goblet. "Wynne it is. Thank you, Elissa."
Their dinners continued in the same fashion, Elissa finally eating and contributing to political decisions with Anora smiling more. Each day Anora found she had begun to look forward to seeing the young Cousland. Elissa had Bryce's softly spoken voice combined with Eleanor's striking looks, she would have made someone happy… rather she deserved someone who would make her happy.
Elissa had skipped this evening's dinner however and Anora found herself bereft of the company she had grown startlingly fond of. After her quick meal, she retired to her Chambers.
She followed her nightly routine as always; get out the dress, unlace the corset, get out those ridiculous buns and sniff the rose on the pillow.
The rose on the pillow.
There was never a rose on the pillow before. Anora stood unblinking as she processed the foreign invader. She roared for Erlina and the Orlesian elf scurried into the room.
"Who has been in here?"
Erlina looked bewildered, "No one who is not permitted your majesty."
Anora cast her eyes back to the single red rose lying atop her four poster bed. "No one who is not permitted… It couldn't be…" She sighed deeply as she came to a startling realisation, "Makers breath, Fergus you sly mabari." Anora spun on the spot, unable to hide the mirth from her eyes, "Erlina, by any chance did Elissa enter my Chambers today?"
The Queen already knew there was no one else it could have been and she looked forward to when she would next see her wife.
It was another four days until Anora would see her wife again. Four days that brought another four roses. This time Elissa had decided to join Anora for dinner once again.
"Thank you for the roses." Anora announced to the room, avoiding Elissa's eyes. It was a gamble but one that Anora would put a hundred sovereigns on. She just hoped Elissa would admit that it was her. The silence stretched on for a while so Anora filled the silence, awkwardly. "It's funny, no one sees who leaves the roses, almost as if they are masters of stealth. I thought about how many rogues are in the Palace and I deduced that you are the only one, therefore I drew my conclusion. If it wasn't you then I apologise profuse-“
“It was me, my Queen. It's fine I just… wanted to make you smile."
Anora couldn't help herself as she smirked behind her wine, "Well, it certainly did just that." She softened her eyes as Elissa flushed, "I have missed you these last four days." Her words were laced with a strange longing, "I find myself craving your company. Perhaps, if you find it agreeable, you would like to accompany me to the market tomorrow? I have no visiting dignitaries and I would like to get to know you better."
Elissa sat thoughtfully for a while, her sapphire eyes shimmering as the wheels in her head turned. "It would be good for the people to see us together. Very well, I accept."
Anora hid her heart sinking behind her practiced smile. She didn't want Elissa to think their outing was political, of course she had seen it would be beneficial to their rule to be seen together but this was purely an indulgence on her part. "That is a bonus but it was not my primary intention." she stood to excuse herself, "I will meet you in the courtyard tomorrow at midday.
With that Anora retired to her chambers, glad to see another rose placed delicately on her pillow.
Morning came with the warmth of the Ferelden spring and Anora woke to the sight of her roses on her nightstand and the promise of a stress free day. It was not often that the ruling monarch managed to orchestrate a day off but she was certainly glad for it as she hauled herself from her bed to stand before the full-length mirror. She wasn't unattractive though the blight had taken some of her more youthful features, the skin around her eyes had begun to wrinkle and her forehead wasn't as smooth as it once was. Others her age would have said it was time to visit Kirkwalls Black Emporium but Anora wasn't so vain she would indulge in the dark magic offered by Xenon the Antiquerian. No, she would grow old gracefully.
She turned off and headed to the vanity to fix her hair, opting to leave it hanging loose. The golden tresses falling in soft waves to highlight her delicate features. Lastly she selected a beautiful gold and green gown the same style as her everyday lavender and gold number. She was ready for a day of lazy shopping and good company.
Elissa was already waiting in the courtyard in comfortable riding breeches and a loose white linen shirt. Her hair was scraped back into a functional ponytail and the Cousland family sword hung from her hip. She was bending down to sniff at the rose bushes that made up the center of the garden.
"Looking to snag the next one for my pillow?" Anora half giggled.
Elissa snapped to attention, a blush on her cheeks. "Perhaps." Her eyes skimmed over Anoras figure and her blush deepened even further. "I am glad to see you are in good spirits… and if I may say so you look radiant, my Queen."
Anora cocked her head with her hand on her hip and a smirk on her lips. "Considering you are my wife I would say you most certainly may say so. I enjoy hearing it." She allowed her eyes to look over her Princess-Consort, "You also look rather dashing if i might say so, since we're exchanging pleasantries however you knew that."
Anora giggled as she wandered over to Elissa and sat her hand in the crook of her elbow. They began to walk together in the general direction of the Market. They had forgone their guards, Elissa could handle anything that came their way but these were peacetimes. Anora was clearly in fine fettle as she held the conversation. "I find it amusing that the two fairest noblewomen have ended up married to each other. I imagine there are many disappointed would-be suitors."
It was Elissa's turn to smirk as she looked down into Anoras mirth filled eyes, "Fergus would not have allowed me to be betrothed to anyone else. They would have been disappointed regardless."
"Is that so?” Anora asked absentmindedly as she nodded toward the people that bowed as they passed.
"I spent the night of the sacking of Highever in another's arms. Her name was Iona. Fergus knew of our tryst and he is aware of my leanings. Why he paired me with you though I will never know or understand."
Anora stilled, the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the marketplace coming from up ahead seemed so distant as she turned to face Elissa. "You do not find me pleasing?"
Elissa scowled at her, "I am not blind, of course I do. My concern is that you are not so inclined and you have been stuck with me. I am actually surprised you have not taken a lover."
The silence was deafening and Anora looked the angriest Elissa had ever seen and she braced for the venom that only Anora Mac Tir could deliver. Instead she watched that malice dissolve into something more sombre. "While it is true that the thought hadn't crossed my mind before, you are my wife and I meant it when I said I wanted to get to know you better. I will freely admit that our marriage started shakily however, recently I have decided to amend that… if you are willing?"
This time Elissa looked stunned. She nodded her approval. Anora slipped her hand into Elissa's, threading their fingers together. It wasn't unpleasant. Elissa's palm was calloused and clammy but their hands fit together perfectly. Together they walked in a comfortable silence to the market.
The stalls were full and the marketplace was filled with people perusing the wares on sale. Anora looked toward the areas that were devastated during the Battle of Denerim and she was pleased to see the Chantry had been fully rebuilt and the rest of the great buildings of the market weren't far behind it.
An antivan jewelry stall caught the Queens attention and she dragged Elissa over to the stand. "Are any of these enchanted?" She asked the shopkeeper and he smiled, his emerald eyes dancing under the midday sunshine.
"What are you looking for?" He asked in his thick accent, "To protect or to harm? Perhaps to make you more appealing, yes?"
Anora shot him down with a glare, "To protect."
"This one." He pointed to a beautiful gold ring in a Nevarran style. It was like a patchwork of bones with a sapphire settled into the piece with thin skeletal fingers. It shimmered ethereally, "This one is Drakestone. It will boost your constitution and vitality."
Anora looked at the Sapphire and back to the pools of Elissa's eyes. "Yes, this is befitting the Princess-Consort. How much?"
"A hundred twenty sovereigns."
If Elissa had been drinking at the time she would have spat it out on reflex but Anora was unphased. She pulled a full coin purse and tossed it to the merchant before counting thirty from another. She picked up the ring and slipped it onto Elissa's hand where a traditional bond of matrimony would be. "That bare finger was annoying me."
"Thank you." Elissa whispered as she tightened her fingers around Anoras grip. The Queen met her consorts eye with a practically smouldering gaze. It was if something clicked in Anora, why she sought out Elissa's company more and more. She watched, enraptured as a bead of sweat trickled down over the exposed skin under the open 'v' of Elissa's linen shirt.
She was brought out of her trance by the insane shouting of a bystander, she turned her head and was surprised to see Bann Ceorlic red in the face and spouting off obscenities directed at… them?
"You two go against the Maker! If anyone should have been King it should have been Fergus! Not an old hag and the useless Cousland!"
Elissa looked to the ground and scuffed her feet whilst Anora rolled her eyes. "It's always a pleasure, Ceorlic. Have you forgotten this old hag led the army to battle and this useless Cousland bested an archdemon?" She smirked, "Unless you are simply jealous you were not considered a noble enough house to marry one of the Teryrn's daughters?"
"Do not rile him, Anora." Elissa whispered, "Lets just leave him be."
The unmistakable noise of a sword being drawn filtered through the din and Elissa acted fast. She drew her own as she grabbed Anora, pulling her flush against her body as her blade caught Ceorlics and bashed it aside. His blade flew through the air and skidded over the cobblestones well out of reach.
The youngest Cousland stood with the sword of her house pointed at Ceorlic's throat. Her hand was still and steady as if she were simply holding a feather.
Sergeant Kylon had been standing across the market when he heard the scuffle and the distinct sound of blade against blade and he raced to the scene, surprised to see Elissa in a stand off with Ceorlic, Anora tucked protectively under her arm.
"And it seems people are still willingly attacking you." He laughed at the scene before him. "You know, I'd think they'd have learnt by now."
"Obviously not." Elissa returned his chuckle. "You always appear in the nick of time Kylon, it is good to see you."
"And you my Lady." Kylon looked at the disarmed and shaking Ceorlic, "Attempted regicide I take it?"
Elissa nodded whilst Anora remained buried in her arms, shielding herself from the eyes of the onlookers who had gathered around them.
Kylon sighed and rolled his eyes, "Bann Ceorlic, for the crime of attempted regicide you are hereby sentenced to death. You will be hanged from the roof of Fort Drakon as a reminder to all Ferelden of the laws of our land." A company of guards surrounded the shaking Bann as he emptied his stomach onto the cobbles of the marketplace. "Princess-Consort?" He looked toward Elissa questioningly.
All it took was a nod and Ceorlics fate was sealed.
The guardsmen grabbed him by the arms and dragged him screaming from the marketplace.
As the silence descended once more, Elissa turned her attention toward the gathered crowd. "Good people of Ferelden." She began, "There is nothing more to fear, your Queen is safe and I will continue to protect her with all I have. Take note however, any attack on her will cost you your life. This I swear."
The crowd murmured and nodded toward the Princess-Consort and began to disperse. Elissa tightened her hold on Anora, dropping the Cousland sword to the dirt to better embrace her. "You are safe now." She murmured into Anoras golden hair and the Queen quickly turned her face toward Elissa and captured her lips with her own.
Soft. So very soft. Was Anoras first thoughts as a fire so bright swept through her at the smooth press of Elissa's lips. It was different but not unpleasant… certainly not unpleasant. There was no scratch of stubble, no overeager slobbering like a Mabari. It was even different from their first and only kiss on their wedding day. It transcended everything she had ever experienced with Cailan but in an eye-opening way. Her needs had been neglected so long that an almost primal arousal had unlocked within her. It was almost frightening and Anora wanted nothing more than to lose herself to these perfect lips that could guarantee ecstasy.
Dimly, she remembered where she was and abruptly pulled away, leaving Elissa's gaze smouldering but with a layer of confusion. She chuckled slightly, "Do not be dismayed dear wife. I- we are in the marketplace, I would prefer a little privacy. We are not adolescents after all."
Elissa grinned as she pulled Anora close to her, "Very well. Shall we continue this later then, my Queen?" She heard Anora mewl at those words.
"Perhaps."