Well well...

“The time,” she stated flatly. “I told you all those years ago of the change brewing, and that change is upon us. I feel as if I don’t have the luxury to dictate who my son knows anymore, especially his father.”

She clenched her jaw and fought the urge to cross her arms and leave him there. Morrigan was pouring herself into her work with the eluvian and finding pieces of nearly lost magic. She was willing to go far for these things, but how far would it take her? Away from Kieran? Years ago, before the blight, she would have laughed at herself. A mother worried for her child and still fond of her Warden. The same Warden searching to cure the Calling that affected them all. She thought she needed some kind of precaution, in case…she didn’t know what. The unknown was infuriating. The only thing she did know was Kieran would find his father eventually and she would rather it be on good terms and with her present.

“I’m not telling you to make yourself at home, Aedan, just to come see him when you’re ready.” She knew he would come as soon as he could, even if it meant leaving something undone.

“I…Yes. I would love to see him.” Aedan ducked his head, looking down at his shoes. A chance to meet his son, to tell him…what? That he loved him, even though they’d never known each other? To tell him he had a place in Highever, at Aedan’s side, if he ever needed (or wanted) it? He wasn’t sure. He just knew he didn’t want to turn down this opportunity.

Aedan lifted his head and gave Morrigan a lopsided smile. He stood away from the railing, straightened his jacket - one moment he was awkward, stilted and sad; the next, there was no trace of anything other than an immaculate nobleman.

She raised a brow at his offered hand and quirked a smile. "A dance?" Morrigan quipped, but took his hand regardless. "The dames of court would be bereft to see you dancing with another," Her voice was teasing again, "the Witch of the Wilds no less." The ache in his voice was gone, she noticed. She wondered briefly how Kieran would react to finally meeting his father face to face.

The ballroom music was soft and far from them but enough to dance to. It was easy to lean into him and lay a hand on his shoulder, nostalgic but new again.

She clenched her jaw and watched him. “Your words could not harm me.” An obvious lie given the history between them, but it was far easier to fall behind the same mask she gave everyone else. Jabs at her person were not uncommon and she was all too used to them. “He is a very curious boy and not all that eye-catching. If he saw you, you didn’t see him. Although being the way he is, I highly doubt he would be able to not speak to you. Tis possible he has, in fact, never seen you in Skyhold. He is a special boy.” Morrigan swallowed. She hadn’t had time to think about introducing them, she wasn’t even aware Aedan was at Skyhold. Kieran was older now, less impressionable, and pestered her constantly about his father. Maybe just… “He is well. In love with the world as it were. He never wants to stay where I tell him.” She averted her eyes and smiled fondly. “If you ever have a moment of reprieve, I know he would be thrilled to see you. His feelings are far more important than mine.”

“Of course he’s special. He’s your boy.” Aedan stated it like it was fact. As if there could be nothing that Morrigan had a hand in that wouldn’t, in some way, be special.

He had very little trouble picturing the trouble Kieran would get himself into - climbing trees and exploring the hidden rooms and hallways of Skyhold, always trying to stay one laughing step ahead of his mother. It’s what Aedan had done as a child, after all, roaming the grounds of Castle Cousland without a care. He had a harder time imaging what Kiernan must look like. He’d tried to forget, tried to bury the intense desire he’d had to see their child, to have Morrigan by his side always. After so many years, it was hard to allow himself the luxury.

She clenched her jaw and fought the urge to cross her arms and leave him there. Morrigan was pouring herself into her work with the eluvian and finding pieces of nearly lost magic. She was willing to go far for these things, but how far would it take her? Away from Kieran? Years ago, before the blight, she would have laughed at herself. A mother worried for her child and still fond of her Warden. The same Warden searching to cure the Calling that affected them all. She thought she needed some kind of precaution, in case...she didn't know what. The unknown was infuriating. The only thing she did know was Kieran would find his father eventually and she would rather it be on good terms and with her present.

She tilted her head when he bowed to her, thinking it was silly how they kept formalities in place. Regardless, it gave each of them some control over an already uncomfortable situation. Morrigan chuckled, “Perhaps they will devour that poor soul before your return.”

She recognized the strain in his voice but made no mention of it. Morrigan sighed and watched his back, “Kieran is with me. He asks after you more times than I am comfortable, of course. He describes your face and speaks as if he’s known you his entire life. He must have already known you were at Skyhold.”

Morrigan’s lingering fondness for him frustrated her beyond her belief. When she was a girl, love seemed like a mystical type of magic that she desperately wanted to master. Now; however, she only wished she had never loved him. It would have made everything easier and much less frightening. Giving someone such control over her was not something she ever wanted to do.

“Wouldn’t be the first man to fall prey to the clutches of a pretty woman.” Aedan winced immediately after the words left his mouth. He hadn’t meant that to sound bitter, hadn’t meant it to be an insult. He looked over his shoulder at Morrigan, his face genuinely apologetic. “Forgive me, that was unworthy.”

Her mention of their son surprised Aedan, and he turned to look at her, leaning one hip against the railing. “How could he… He’s never even met me, Morrigan, how could he know what I look like?” He tried to think back over the children he’d seen at Skyhold - the children of refugees were common enough in the yard between the armory and the tavern, but he hadn’t seen any who carried his dark red hair or Morrigan’s delicate nose. Of course, he hadn’t been looking for any such signs.

Aedan swept a grand formal bow, using the motion as a screen to give him time to recompose his face. “ I am sure the ladies of the court will find some other morsel to manipulate while I am gone.”

He turned back to the railing, leaning against it with an air of nonchalance he didn’t really feel. Aedan wasn’t sure where he and Morrigan stood now - ex-lovers divided by different desires, the Hero of Fereldan and the Witch of the Wild standing on opposite sides of a yawning chasm…allies of the Inquisition and by default once again allies of each other.

She recognized the strain in his voice but made no mention of it. Morrigan sighed and watched his back, “Kieran is with me. He asks after you more times than I am comfortable, of course. He describes your face and speaks as if he’s known you his entire life. He must have already known you were at Skyhold.” 

That last noble lady had been bolder, more audacious than Aedan had expected - she’d slipped beneath the snout of his mask and pressed a daring kiss to his lips before he even registered the mischievous gleam in her eyes. She pulled away and was gone, giggling as she raced back to her friends, before he could say a word. Aedan found himself at a loss, for a moment torn between opposing desires.

He’d won yet another point in his little hunting game. She’d been very pretty, her lacy mask doing nothing to hide her fair skin or delicately upturned nose. He should be pleased with himself, should already be turning to find the next target for his game.

Instead, he was dissatisfied, a frustrated anger bubbling in his chest. All evening, he had been deflecting, catching kisses on cheeks and hands instead of lips, turning down interested offers of company and more, all for the sake of a relationship that he wasn’t even sure was truly official. True, they had spoken and kissed more than once, but Cullen had been reticent to label whatever they had floating nebulously between them. Out of respect for the commander, Aedan had been trying to be good - well, as good as one could be at a masquerade ball while playing the Game.

But that one noble lady had ruined all his good intentions. Whether or not Cullen was watching somewhere in the crowd, someone was sure to whisper about it within his hearing. Aedan knew how the Game was played in this regard - if he continued the hunt, the next lady or gentleman to approach him would try and one up the daring lady.

So instead, Aedan removed himself from the dance floor, bowing out and dodging out of sight. He found some silence and peace in the upper reaches of the library, and was just beginning to relax when he heard the swish of a lady’s heavy skirts. He was about to apologize and move again when he caught a look at who had followed him. He stared, caught by surprise. 

“You seem to be quite popular with the court. The ladies you have not yet danced with are no doubt bemoaning your absence.” Her eye had been on the Hero of Ferelden for an hour or so, watching him charm the nobles whether he meant it or not. Dancing was not an activity she enjoyed often, but she wondered if he would dare dance with her in the eyes of the court. Granted not many knew exactly who he was without him saying so, but Morrigan chose not to disguise herself. The court knew who she was, and that was a scandal on its own. She picked up her skirts a second time and moved past him before turning again.

Morrigan laid a hand flat on the eluvian she kept in her room. It was quiet now, its surface rippled and dull. She gave a click of her tongue and backed away to look at it in its entirety. Her reflection was distorted and barely visible in the surface. It didn’t double as a working mirror, though the few that had caught glimpses of the eluvian thought that’s exactly what it was.

“They must think me vain,” Morrigan snorted and turned on a heel to leave the room.

Kieran had found his way out of the garden again, of course. The boy never remained in one place for more than an hour it seemed. Skyhold proved to be extremely large; few places were restricted to him, unlike the Winter Palace. Excessive wandering would draw attention and maybe even questions of his parentage; questions Morrigan would prefer to avoid. Her boy would rather explore than study. Much like his father in that respect, she thought. 

However, Cullen stopped when he saw a boy, maybe ten or a bit younger sitting in the garden by himself. He looked bored as his feet kicked out on the bench as he waited, for what Cullen wasn’t sure. No other children played this far deep in Skyhold, most confined to the refugee tents as to keep a better watch over them.

Cullen approached, giving him a warm smile. The boy didn’t wish to leave at first, but throwing his rank around slightly, Cullen convinced the boy to play chess with him on a spare board he kept in the garden. Bringing him to a more secluded section of the garden, Cullen set up the board then went about the rules of the game.

The boy, Kieran, learned the game quickly and had a natural intelligence that Cullen admired. They were in the middle of their second practice game when footsteps approached. Looking up, Cullen noticed Morrigan standing there watching them. He scowled slightly, not understanding why everyone who had seen him at his worse ended up in Skyhold.

Her eyes narrowed at the man he played with, no doubt the one to pull him away from his books. He greeted her and -- was he beginning to sweat? -- made mention of the day’s weather. She barked a laugh at that.

“You fumble to the weather when the mother approaches, Commander? I did not expect you to be one to pull a boy from his studies.” In truth, she was used to Kieran neglecting the reading she gave him, restless as he was. At least chess kept his mind working.

She stepped closer and placed the books on a nearby bench. Kieran had barely noticed her presence, but now he glanced up at her, his expression changing to something akin to desperation.

“Play your game, little man, but when Commander Cullen’s duties call him away, let him leave.” She knew what he was going to ask before he started spoke and he settled back into his chair. Many assumed her to be a hard teacher and harder mother, but she knew far better than to keep a child of his age still.

Witch of the Wilds