Hey everybody I'm back with another chapter. If you have any reviews, comments, thoughts both positive and any criticisms please leave them but be polite. Also a lot of credit to my epic beta reader ffdrake! Who helped me with this chapter.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter!


3

The Wedding Night

Royal Palace Great Hall

Music drifted through the silent streets of Denerim as the celebration feast began. The nobles sat at the table sharing stories while drinking and eating. Servants ran up and down the length of the table trying to attend to everyone needs. The stress had become so bad that Teyrn Cousland and Arl Eamon brought in their own servants to help. Tonan sat next to his queen on the table that was on a dais. He watched the festivities with a smile on his face.

It wasn't as chaotic as it looked, which was good. Though one of the servants did look as if she were about to faint. Bann Reginalda was undoubtedly the loudest out of the nobles gathered, she was drunk and cursing the recent troubles that had hit White River. A dalish clan had camped across the river and began to hunt for food, which did not make the locals happy.

A small group of dalish came across the freeholder who owned the land and the man demanded they leave. The dalish hunters refused and so the man killed one of them making the others flee. The next day the man ended up dead in his own home, his throat slit and a dalish arrows imbedded in his chest.

Relatives of the deceased man demanded retribution, but Reginalda would not force the dalish to leave as the man's death was very suspicious in her eyes. She wanted to find a peaceful way to resolve this. Her decision led to a small riot and the subsequent injuring of her daughter. She droned on and on about it, until she was politely escorted out of the festivities but her own men.

Bann Darby was showing off his trinkets to the others, bragging about their worth until the others were blue in the face. Eventually the noble collected himself and approached the royal table with his master blacksmith, a man named Tilver. Tilver presented a gift to Anora, a silverite breastplate. Tonan's trained eye told him it was of fine make. Anora looked at it dumbfounded but never the less she accepted the gift. As a servant took the breastplate away, Bann Darby bowed and left the hall with his host.

"Does the man think I am to ride into the thick of battle?" Anora whispered.

"No, he's just showing of his blacksmiths skills. Now that you accepted his gift Darby will spread the word to others that the queen accepted his works and his blacksmith will see more patronage." Tonan chuckled.

Anora glared at him as she realized she'd just been, for lack of a better term, used. "I'm going to sell it."

Tonan shrugged. "If that's what you want to do."

"It is, husband."

Her saying that word made it all feel real. They were married now and he was happier than he thought possible. He leaned in to kiss her, meeting her halfway as she too leaned in to kiss him back. Everyone in the room watched and cheered to the happy couple.

Tonan and Anora raised their cups to the crowd of on-lookers, both slightly embarrassed. With that display out of the way everyone returned their attention to what they were doing before. Happily talking, drinking and eating.

Loghain sat at the end of the table, nursing his drink. His mission to locate Maric had failed again. When approached he put on a happy face and joined in conversation, but his mind wandered when left alone.

Anora had spoken to him about Maric. She made it her goal to try and convince him to give up the search. She didn't want him wasting Gwaren's treasury on his search for Maric. Nor did she want his attention diverted from Ferelden.

He was convinced that Anora, with time, could sway her father. His new King and Queen needed Loghain to have straight head, to make use of his tactical skill if what his father told him was true and blight was coming. If the blight were to occur during his life time. It was not a thought to think too much on today. Pushing the blight out his mind he took a drink of wine.

The celebrations continued long into the night its end only coming about as everyone became either tired or too drunk to continue any further. For Anora and Tonan though the night would only end after they'd made love.

Tonan noticed that Cailan was sulking in the back of the hall. Drinking his favourite ale and talking to Arl Rendon Howe. The doors of the hall open allowing Warden-Commander Duncan to enter along with two other Wardens. The room fell silent as the three armoured, but unarmed warriors, made their way through the crowd. The nobles were unsure of what to say to them, they hadn't expected the Grey Wardens to attend the celebrations.

"Glad you could make it Duncan." Tonan said raising his goblet.

Duncan stopped at the bottom of the dais, his arms crossing his chest as he politely bowed. "Sorry were late your Majesties." He apologized.

Waving off the apology he motioned for the three to right themselves. "Don't be sorry. The Grey Wardens have an important task. I am overjoyed that you at least made it."

Everyone in the hall cheered at the Grey Wardens. Duncan nodded curtly at them all. "Thank you, your Majesty." The Wardens took their places at their own table as servants poured them all drinks and served them food.

Cailan abruptly dropped his conversation with Arl Howe and made his way towards the table. He had a goal in mind now. And he would not rest until he at least had a chance to speak with the Grey Wardens. Many nobles raised their eyebrows as they saw where he was heading, but he paid them no heed.

"Ho there Duncan." Cailan said delightfully approaching the aged Warrior.

The Warden-Commander stood and shook Cailan's hand. "Ah, pleased to see you again your Highness." Duncan greeted him in a manner befitting one of Cailan's station. Cailan sat down at his appointed chair that he had neglected from the beginning of the feast.

"How goes the training of the recruits?" Cailan shouted down from the royal table drinking a small amount of ale as he waited for Duncan's reply.

Duncan paused for a moment. "The training is going well." When Duncan didn't comment further Cailan grimaced and took a larger gulp of his ale.

The Wardens wolfed down their meals as if they had not eaten anything for weeks. An elven Warden made such a mess with the gravy Tonan thought that he might drown in the stuff. Cailan laughed as the elven man and the other Wardens joined in. To see such comradely within the Wardens was strange, he'd always thought of the order as too dark and depressing. Their task was an impossible one, fighting endless amounts of the vile darkspawn.

The festivities began to die down, many of the nobility had left already. It was time for Tonan to go to. He helped Anora out of her chair, her cheeks were red. She knew what was next for them as much as he. Raising his fingers he began to softly caress her left cheek. The intimate moment was interrupted by Cailan.

"Brother," Cailan began looking at him steadily but with a twinge of red to his face. "I need a word with you."

Loghain stepped in front of Cailan. "Not now." He said strictly but firmly.

Cailan refused to back down. "No, this is important."

Tonan sighed. Cailan was as stubborn as a Mabari hound. He would not back down even if he was facing the Grand Cleric. "Fine then. Loghain take him to my solar." He looked at Anora and saw the hurt in her eyes. "Don't worry love, I will be back. Make yourself comfortable in our room until I return."

Anora kissed him, igniting a fire within him that made him want to curse his brother twenty times over. "Don't be too long."

#

Cailan was nervous. He didn't know how to put what he wanted to say into words. How could he tell his brother that he was in love with the Empress of Orlais and that she wants to marry him! Loghain wouldn't support the marriage of course, he had too much hatred for Orlais, but he hoped that his brother would support the marriage. But maybe that was too much for him to hope for.

Loghain stood in front of Tonan's desk watching him. Loghain never seemed to like him at all. Cailan got the feeling that Loghain was always judging him, every mistake he had made and every step he took out of place was enough to justify his hatred for him.

"You're nothing like your father." Loghain said finally, with a hint of disgust, or maybe he had imagined that. "Maric was too soft on you, you're spoiled."

Cailan couldn't contain his angry. "Sorry, for not living up to my father's imagine. At least he had one son who did."

Loghain rolled his eyes and turned his back on him. "Whatever you have to say better be important. Your brother has been too kind on you. Letting you do as you please, you're a child still. All the nobility sees it."

Cailan clenched his fist, maybe he should punch some sense into Loghain. Maybe that would show the bastard he was a son of Maric. He raised his fist, ready and willing to send it to him…

"Cailan, Loghain. Enough. Both of you." Tonan yelled from the doorway.

Loghain turned and was surprised to see Cailan with his fist up. Giving him a disapproving look Loghain again turned his back on him. "Letting your anger get the better of you is not a good sign, lad."

Tonan walked up to his desk and took a seat. Cailan swallowed his anger down and released his fist. "I'm sorry brother."

Tonan just sat there staring at him. "So?" He said waiting for Cailan to say his piece. "What is it that was so important you felt the need to interrupt my wedding night brother?"

Cailan froze. He had a whole speech planned out for this moment. But now that he was standing here...he didn't know what to say. He had expected, or rather hoped, that Loghain would leave but instead the elder man stood stock still at the end of the table. Sighing Cailan took the letter from his pocket and placed it on the desk.

Tonan read the letter and his face said it all. "You what!" He yelled slamming the letter down on the desk and rising quickly to his feet.

Loghain snatched up the letter and proceeded to read it. His eyes widened as they scanned over the writing. "That harlot! So this is Orlais newest plan to retake Ferelden!" Ripping the letter into dozens of pieces Loghain threw the remains into the fire before rounding on him. "And you! You're blind enough to believe her supposed 'love' for you?"

Something snapped within Cailan. Rushing up to the legend Cailan's fist closed around Loghain's doublet. "Our arguments with the Orlesians are a thing of the past, a union like this will secure peace between our nations."

Loghain glared down at first the hand holding onto him, and then Cailan. Things may have progressed for the worse had a light sighing drawing both of their attention. From his seat Tonan was shaking his head. "Well, that's one way to look at it." Tonan said surprising both of them.

Swatting Cailan's hand off of him Loghain gave his new King a level look. "A naïve way of looking at it. The Orlesians are good at lying, they have an entire game devoted to it. They always lie." Loghain said with no attempt at hiding his contempt.

Cailan couldn't deny that all the nobility in the Orlesian Empire play the Grand Game, but Celene was the master of it and Cailan believed her love for him was genuine. In his mind there was no reason to lie.

"The Orlesians are a masked empire, they hide behind expensive masks but a dagger is hidden behind their backs waiting to strike when someone slips up." Tonan said this as if he was reciting text from a book. "They lure you in, allow you to become complacent and when your guard is down they strike at your back."

Loghain nodded in agreement. "We defeated them once and now they wish to be discreet about how they plan to invade Ferelden now. I will not allow a son of Maric to marry an Orlesian."

Cailan knew that he couldn't change their minds. "You're both wrong." He quietly said. "Brother, I expected you to understand."

"I do understand." He said. Cailan felt hope returning, with his brother on his side he could sway Loghain. "But…"

Cailan's heart sank, his hope faded. "I need a united Ferelden, this 'marriage' will surely divide the nobility. And if the Orlesians use this to take over I cannot risk it. I am sorry but I will not risk Fereldens future. You cannot marry Empress Celene."

#

The walk to the bedroom felt long and weighted. Cailan had stormed off in outrage after his decision had been made. Loghain told Tonan not follow him in the hopes that he would cool down and come to his senses. Cailan's words about their arguments being a thing of the past still rang in his mind. Orlais could be a valuable ally if and when the darkspawn invaded. But Orlais couldn't be trusted. And as it stood now there was far too much animosity between the two nations. Even if Celene was sincere about her love, the nobility in Orlais wouldn't stand for such a union and may even openly rebel against her.

Change would have to occur, and change is not always peaceful.

The whole situation had so many unpredictable outcomes. The coming months would be a challenge if Cailan decided to push this. Bryce Cousland would possibly support Cailan. The Teryn was a close advisor to him and he represented Ferelden in Orlais, meaning that he'd travelled their more than twice a year.

Arl Howe would be outraged and he would rally the nobility of Amaranthine against the marriage. Unless of course Teryn Cousland could corral his subject. It was harder to tell how the other nobility would react.

Shaking his head he tried to dispel the thoughts of his brother. It would be best to deal with Cailan in the morning. At the moment…he had a new wife waiting for him. And he did not need the image of his brother's disappointed face interrupting this moment.

Arriving at his room he could see a faint light emerge from the bottom of the door. Anora had been waiting for him, he could picture her now, reading a book while lying on the bed. He didn't want to tell her of Cailan's plan and Celene's proposal. She would have to find out later. He really didn't want to ruin her day.

Opening the door to their room he felt himself smile at the sight that awaited him. Anora was wrapped in their fur blanket reading the History of the Free Marches. The book wasn't surprising. She'd been reading up on the histories of other nations quiet frequently as of late.

Hearing the door open she looked up from her page and regarded him with a kind loving smile as she placed a bookmark in-between the pages. "I hope I didn't keep you too long, my love?" He cooed closing the door behind him.

"No not at all." She smiled. "I've only just went through three very long chapters about Viscounts and Viscountess'. It was all very interesting." She placed the book on the small table next to the bed. Tonan undressed to his undergarments and joined Anora, he wrapped his arms around her.

Anora ran her fingers up and down Tonan's chests in a seductive way. "So, what did Cailan want to talk about?" She asked.

Her question made him pause. What should he tell her? That Cailan wanted to marry the Empress of Orlais? Anora was not like her father, she would probably see the benefits in such a marriage. And while Tonan did see that, he also saw the other side of the coin along with Loghain.

"Some dribble about the Grey Wardens. It wasn't as important as he made it out to be." He lied drawing her to him in an attempt to distract her.

Anora broke the embrace and looked at him in the eye. "So he intends to join the Wardens?" She said aghast.

"No, nothing like that." Although maybe that would be best. "Like I said it wasn't as important as he made it out to be."

Anora took what he said as the truth. Though if she found out the truth he would surely face her wrath. He wanted nothing more than to push the whole business out of his mind and focus on Anora tonight.

Leaning forward Tonan captured her in his arms again all the while placing light kisses along her neck making Anora softly moan. "We will speak more on that in the morning." She said through passionate sighs. Pulling the covers up enough to cover the both of them Tonan proceeded leaving a trail of light kisses down her skin. The morning would bring a new day and hopefully in the coming weeks a future heir.