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As they walked hand in hand, they watched their two kids race up the path, laughing and screaming as they played tag. With the sun's rays shining through the forest canopy, it was shaping up to be another perfect spring day in Ferelden, with a hint of exhaustion. The previous night had brought thunderstorms, meaning their daughter Linnea had spent half the night curled up between both of her ma's for protection. Rauta, their son, had opted to join as well, not because he was scared of the loud thunder and bright lightning, but because he didn't want to be left out. They both took up any space left between Lilja and Lace. Despite the disrupted sleep that both parents had grown used to by this point, the rain had cleared the way for a beautiful day of blue skies and puffy white clouds, with a cooling breeze.
"I only took one kick to the kidney last night. An improvement to the typical three," joked Lilja. "How about you?"
Lace giggled. "Rauta doesn't toss and turn like Linnea does. Our daughter must get that from you."
"Hey now, I don't remember ever wiggling as much as she does." Lilja smiled as she watched their twins chase each other in and out of the trees to dodge the next attack from the other. "They're sweet. They must get that from you."
Pulling her close and wrapping her arm through Lilja's, Lace kissed her shoulder. "I think they get that from both of us. You are my sweet Warden Thorne, after all."
"Ah, my dear Scout Harding, always flattering me." Lilja reached out, plucked a small honeysuckle flower from a vine growing up the side of a tree, and handed it to her wife. "Some things never change."
Lace took the flower and smelled it, humming at the delicious sweetness. "Their birthday is coming up in a month. Any thoughts on what we want to do?"
"Well, for my seventh birthday, my parents allowed me to start learning how to blacksmith, and Linnea has started begging me to teach her," said Lilja. "I'm thinking we finally let her get a few lessons from me and my dad."
"Oh, she would love that! Hm, Rauta seems to be taking an interest in spirits and gardening. What would you think about taking him, well, both of them, on a trip to the Grand Necropolis?"
"See if Emmrich and Manfred can show him around the place? Teach him a few things?"
"Exactly!"
"That sounds like a great idea, my love," said Lilja. "He will love the wisps and the guardian spirits. So, that's their big gifts. Should we spoil them with a party and a bunch of smaller gifts as per usual?"
Lace laughed and nodded. "Of course. I'll send correspondence to everyone when we get back home."
Lilja leaned in close and placed a gentle peck on Lace's cheek. "Thank you, my love. You are truly the best. Once again, some things never change."