This was written for the CMDA Secret Santa fic exchange 2012, as a present for Persephone Chiara. Since I know how much she loves Loghain, I thought a little fluffiness was in order. Enjoy! Originally I went for Satinalia as the Xmas equivalent of Thedas, but I've read a number of very convincing discussions since then, so I changed it to First Day.

And since I really enjoyed writing it, there will be a second chapter soon (and maybe more).

Chapter 1 - Feastday Gifts

Loghain was slowly making his way through the snow drifts covering most of the Keep's backyard. He had spent the last two hours at the Mabari kennel, making sure the dogs were well-fed and groomed and didn't get too restless. Mabari were considerably more intelligent than the average dog, but they appreciated human company just as much. And he was glad to get away from the others at times, to be alone with his thoughts.

It was only five days until First Day, and for once the weather fit the season. Loghain had to admit the thin layer of snow lent a certain charm even to the forbidding walls and buttresses of Vigil's Keep. Inside, it was warm and comfortable, almost cosy. Under Mistress Woolsey's direction, the servants had put up holly wreaths and garlands, and the usual tallow lights had been replaced by real beeswax candles that gave off a soft, steady glow as well as a lovely scent of honey.

For the first time in years, he was actually looking forward to the festival. In the past he had been too busy to notice what time of the year it was, or too cynical to bother with it. Or both. This year, surrounded by his fellow Wardens, and in the company of the woman he loved, it was different. This year, he was in a serene and peaceful mood.

At least until the snowball hit him square in the face. Icy crystals got stuck in his eyes and made him blink, even as a second projectile hit him and cold water started to trickle down his neck.

"Rose!" The pert little giggle was unmistakable, and so was the pretty face peeking out from behind a wall of snow to his right, blue eyes flashing with mischief.

Rosalyn Cousland. The daughter of Bryce Cousland, who'd been his most loyal comrade-in-arms and his fiercest rival. Young, blond, full of fun and laughter, with a knack for making friends. The beloved scion of a noble family so grand they didn't have to bow to anyone save the monarch. So beautiful that under normal circumstances she would have had her pick amongst dozens of rich and aristocratic suitors, indulged by her doting father.

But these were anything but normal circumstances. Which was why Rosalyn had become the Commander of the Grey Wardens instead, the Hero of Ferelden, the Slayer of the Archdemon. Despite her beauty, she was anything but a blushing flower, as Nathaniel Howe had quickly learned when he had challenged her to a duel. Rosalyn was a vicious fighter with her two daggers, as well as one of the few people who could best Loghain with a bow. She was fierce, deadly and determined, and she hardly batted an eye in the face of the monstrosities they were dealing with on a daily basis. Blessed with a clear head for strategy and the instincts inherited from several generations of able generals, she knew exactly how to deploy her small contingent of Wardens to best advantage.

Rose. The woman he loved.

He hadn't even dared to hope she would spare his life after the Landsmeet. Sure, he had known her since she was a little girl, and he remembered her adoring glances at him whenever he came to see her father. But fate and political intrigue had placed them on opposite sides of the civil war's battlefield. He had been forced to side with Rendon Howe, the murderer of her family, usurper of their ancestral home. And she had become a Warden, part of an Order he had distrusted ever since they had made off with Maric and risked his best friend's life and the stability of the kingdom for one of their hare-brained schemes.

This time, though, he had been wrong, much as it pained him to admit it. He had underestimated the darkspawn threat until it was almost too late. And for that alone he would have deserved to die, in his own estimation. But she had pardoned him, forgiven all his errors and sins, and made him a Warden too, giving him a chance to redeem himself. Together they had vanquished the Archdemon, overcome the Blight. His daughter was still queen, even if she had to share the throne with Maric's half-witted bastard son. And to his immense relief Rosalyn had overruled the First Warden's orders to send Loghain to Orlais and taken him with her to her new post instead, claiming she needed his help.

A third well-placed icy projectile tore him out of his musings. Cursing silently he grabbed some snow and took aim, but she was too well fortified behind her snow drift. Loghain smiled grimly. Obviously she felt safe back there. Her overconfidence will be her downfall. This wasn't the first fortress he'd stormed.

Quickly he pelted her with a slew of snow balls, none of them aimed with particular precision. All he needed to do was make her seek cover so she couldn't see him advance. Two, three wide strides took him right next to the wall. Giving her no time to react, he was reaching over it with his long arm and grabbing her by the scruff of her neck. She squealed like a rabbit when he pulled her up. She was so slim and willowy he hardly felt her weight.

"Impudent brat!" Dropping her into a snow drift he proceeded to rub her face with snow until she cried for mercy.

"Loghain MacTir! You're not playing fair!" she sputtered, as soon as he let go. Her right foot shot out, trying to trip him up, but he had expected the move and evaded her easily. I know you by now.

"No. I play to win." Grinning at her protests, he threw her over his shoulder and carried her inside, through the back door.

"Loghain!" She was batting his broad back ineffectually with her small fists, but he ignored her and made his way up the stairs, avoiding the great hall.

"Be quiet! You don't want your Wardens to see their Commander like this, do you?" His gruff tone didn't quite succeed in hiding his amusement. "Though you're lucky, it seems. Where is everyone?"

She was giggling again by the time they were approaching her room. "Nathaniel took off with Velanna to explain about mistletoes. She seemed really eager for a lesson." Loghain rolled his eyes. "And Anders invited the dwarves up to his room for a game of Wicked Grace. I bet they're down to their last shirt by now. I was bored, so I went looking for you."

Pushing open her door, Loghain manoeuvred her through and kicked it shut behind them. "And found me. Now, will you behave if I let you down?"

He put her back on her feet and shrugged off his warm fur coat, but kept her in a firm grip. Her long, silky hair had come undone, and she looked mussed and rosy from the cold. She was lovely. But there was a deep frown on her face.

"I'm not a child, Loghain!" The pout made her full red lips even more delicious, and he felt a rush of heat at the sight of her.

"No, you're not. Most certainly not." Maker, she looked positively edible! Unable to resist her, he pulled her into a long, passionate kiss. "Rose!"

Rosalyn moaned and melted into his embrace. He kissed her deeply, losing himself in her sweet taste, the scent of her hair, the softness of her cheeks. Holding her flush against him, he could feel every shiver, every tremble running through her, and he knew she could feel his arousal as well. Loghain let go of her just long enough to throw off his pants and shirt before he lifted her into his arms again and carried her over to the bed. Her own clothes came off just as fast. He laid her down on the soft linen sheets and feasted his eyes on her.

She was so beautiful, with her pearly white skin, her nipples like tiny pink petals, her long golden tresses. His Rose. The first time they had made love, he had been painstakingly careful, as if she was indeed as fragile as a flower, hardly daring to touch her lest he break her. He had learned in the meantime she was a lot more robust than she looked, but there was still a kind of reverence in the way he touched her, as if he was in permanent awe of her beauty.

He would never fully understand why she let him have her, why she wanted him, a man so much older than her, a man who had wronged her in so many ways. But when he looked into her eyes all he could see was sincere love and admiration. And the shivers racing along her delicate frame left him in no doubt about her desire for him. What had he done to deserve this happiness after all the things he'd messed up, all the horrors he'd been through? Why would she choose to love him, when she could have so many others?

Loghain didn't know, but he was determined to make sure she wouldn't regret it. He took his time caressing her, making her tremble and pant until she begged him to take her. When their bodies finally joined, she was impatient, pulling him deeper inside her, her nails scratching his back in her eagerness to feel him, to be as close to him as she could possibly be. It hardly left him room to move, but his soft, slow strokes made her whimper with delight as she pressed herself ever closer to his body.

"Loghain." The urgency in her voice, the silent entreaty in her eyes made him come utterly undone. Pushing himself up above her on his strong arms, he let go, no longer holding back, until, with a final shuddering groan, he collapsed on top of her, feeling her join him in ecstasy, revelling in her small, helpless sighs.

When he opened his eyes again, she was looking at him, her gaze full of tenderness and affection. "Loghain. I love you."

His lips formed the answer, even though he couldn't utter a sound, and her face lit up brightly, like a flower opening up to the sun. For a moment his throat felt too tight to breathe, his heart constricted almost painfully, and he sent a silent thank you to the Maker for this unexpected gift near the winter of his life.

His perfect Rose.

As usual, I couldn't have done this without zevgirl's help and advice. Thank you so much, my dear!