Rose garden filled with thorns.

❝Messere, you can scale my battlements any day!❞

❝What's nobility like you doing in a dungeon like this?❞

❝I'd rather be beheaded than be denied a date with you.❞

❝Yes, I am indeed a wizard. Watch me make your clothes disappear!❞

❝What a fine set of chalices you have.❞

❝It seems as if my dragon has finally found a nice cave to rest in.❞

❝You wouldn't happen to know where a lonely knight could sheath their sword, would you?❞

❝Is that a knife in your armor? Or are you just happy to see me?❞

❝If I were a horse, I'd rather you mounted me without the saddle.❞

❝Would you care to see my long sword in action?❞

❝You look like a person in distress, why don't I save you?❞

❝Your chastity belt would look great on the floor of my sleeping ❞ chamber.❞

❝It's not the size of the staff that matters, but the magic within.❞

❝I am beset by this dragon in my loins, and only you can quench its fire!❞

❝Don't believe the rumors you've heard... the taint didn't affect my important organs.❞

❝Like a mare, I can be ridden for hours.❞

❝They say a knight is always as hard as their armor.❞

❝What a fine gown you're wearing, messere. Perchance may I talk you out of it?❞

❝I may not be a Chantry Member, but I can take you to the heavens.❞

‘’Oh, so I’m going to have to work for them am I?’’ Elias replied mirroringher smile. He could tell she was nervous and he knew no words could reassure her. She was scared and with every right to be. He would do his utmost to get them out of there though. 

‘’How about we say I’m a merchant, a carpenter and you have invited me in because I’m too build a new crib for Hope, a bigger one. No one will question that surely. Then we can go for a walk to assess the grounds or something. A tour maybe and then we just slip into the woods and don’t look back.’’

“Not intentionally, I’m not playing games. But when I feel the moment is right for a secret to be shared...It shall be,” she said with a nod of her head, not so much as a teasing smile present. Nerves were certainly taking hold, taking over any rational thinking she may have had, even if her fears felt ridiculous. 

“A carpenter... Yes, a trusted one at that. We can’t give them any cause to believe something is wrong or to distrust you in the grounds. Surely you could find your way to charming them before we never look back.” Even though she felt hesitant, Elena managed a gentle smile before she stepped and pressed a kiss to Elias’ cheek. “I will never be able to thank you enough for this.”

“A walk would be far better than being inside with a baby,” He mused, raising an eyebrow slightly as he watched their interaction. “And I don’t doubt it. A mother will always have my greatest admiration for the lengths she goes for her children.”

“And this would be her first time truly being outside, so far she is quite happy and is even beginning to smile. That sight alone is enough to never allow us to be kept inside for too long again,” she smiled with a glance to the child in her arms. “May we walk with you? I’m afraid good conversation is hard to come by these days, as you can imagine,” Elena said with a gesture towards the sour-faced guard.

“Well with a girl like this you will be invited to all the garden parties and, when she is older, the matchmaking mama’s will try and reap her up for their boys.” Vesparia laughed, “Maybe I should ask the blacksmith in Illyrium to create a weapon for you - just in case.” She winked.

“Oh please, no matchmaking for a long while yet,” she laughed with a shake of her head. “Heaven I’m not for her beautiful blue eyes to be breaking hearts just yet, I may need a weapon to fend off the suitors. But she and I can handle ourselves, I am sure. My mother taught me well and I intend to teach her just as well.”

“Why, thank you for your condolences but I get on without him, barely.” Rhosyn was being so honest, so easily. It made her uncomfortable but she could not help herself. She needed to connect with someone, anyone, save for Daemon. “I am sure that you will find that you are enough for her, and more. Mother’s are goddesses to their children, after all. No matter what they do.” She smiled once more and looked back at the guards. “So you must be very important to someone.”

“Of course you do, women are much more resilient than given credit for,” she nodded, gently beginning to shush the child in her arms as she began to stir. Strangers usually made Elena feel uneasy, sometimes she even felt that way around people she knew, but there was something comforting about speaking with another mother. It was like it was just what she needed. “I do hope you’re right, my mother certainly was to me,” she nodded before glancing quickly to the guard. “My daughter is the important one, but we are quite a package deal so I’m afraid we both must endure this for now,” she said with a gesture to the guard. “As if I am incapable of taking care of my own child.”

Elena’s answer sent Ves’ blood boiling. Stupid men! “Well,” she smiled back at the baby, “he is all the poorer for it.” She lowered her voice in a conspiring whisper and said to the baby, “Your mommy gets to have all this perfection for herself. And I will be inviting her for tea at least once a week so I can play doll.”

Elena smiled fondly as she watched Ves with the baby, laughing softly at her whispering. “That is very true, it is his loss,” she nodded, saying more for her own benefit over anything else. “Well it is about time I became more popular because of my daughter, we would love that,” she smiled. It was strange to think that she used to be so incredibly anti-social, not she was desperate to just get outside again. How the tables had turned.

“Thank you, I hope so as well,” He returned, bowing his head slightly in his thanks. He really truly did want children…eventually. “And you’re welcome,” He added before tilting his head curiously as he listened. He knew at times like these, it was safer to stay off the roads alone, but this seemed almost…controlling, the way the other man hovered just within earshot of the conversation. “I understand the sentiment, if I had a daughter and wife as lovely as you two, I’d want to keep you safe as well.”

Vesparia laughed at the other woman’s final statement, “Hope, it is a beautiful name for a beautiful girl.” Vesparia turned serious for a second. “Has her father seen her yet? I remembered you telling me that he was… Not very present.”

Elena’s smile was warm, proud to be able to say she made such a beautiful and pure thing, but Vesparia’s question caused her smile to falter. “No, he hasn’t seen her. He disappeared days before her birth and doesn’t wish for us to know where he is. But that is his loss, fool him for willingly missing out on this little girl.”