A/N: Alrighty. Got another chapter done so yay! For the ASOIAF fans, the post-wedding will sound familiar. That's because it's directly based off of Dany and Drogo's wedding in A Game of Thrones (the book, not the show). BUT...I did not write their wedding night because George did that so amazingly and I didn't even want to try to match what he did. If that disappoints you, I am sorry. Truly, I am. And finally, for those of you who are Skyrim fans, khal and khaleesi actually do have a meaning in their own universe. It's king and queen-respectively-in Dothraki, which is the language Drogo speaks. Many thanks to my beta reader (and sister) GrowlingPeanut.
Disclaimer: The wedding ceremony is not mine. It's Bethesda's. And the involved parties belong to either Bethesda or GRRM. Those people are not me and I am not them. But Dar'Jahza is mine.
Rating: M for implied sexual content and references to alcohol.
"Friends, family, acquaintances; we thank you for coming here today for the joining of a man and woman by the love of our mother Mara through the mouth of her most humble servant." Maramal smiled to himself and withdrew one of his hands from within the sleeves of his brown robe, gesturing toward the Jarl who stood by the doors.
Viserys nodded curtly and opened the nearest of the two, leaving briefly before reappearing with Daenerys at his side.
"Ah, here's the blushing bride now. Let's begin the ceremony."
Drogo sneaked a look over his shoulder at his soon-to-be wife as she walked up the short aisle beside her brother. Her eyes were fixed on the floor, but even without a full view of her face, he knew she looked beautiful. New silks had been purchased for the occasion and they trailed a few feet behind her as she walked, pale and delicate against the hardwood floor.
When she reached Drogo's side, Viserys released her arm and the caravan master heard him hiss lowly in her ear. "Make him happy, Dany."
The young woman looked up at her betrothed and he met her gaze in an attempt to ease her fears, earning only a nervous look in return. Maramal, on the other hand, beamed happily at the couple and raised his hands as he began the ceremony.
"It was Mara who first gave birth to all of creation and pledged to watch over us as her children. It is from her love of us that we first learned to love one another. It is from this love that we learn that a life lived alone is no life at all. We gather here today, under Mara's loving gaze, to bear witness to the union of two souls in eternal companionship. May they journey forth together in this life and the next, in prosperity and poverty, and in joy and hardship. Do you agree to be bound together, in love, now and forever?" The priest directed his question at Drogo who turned to fully face Daenerys before giving his reply.
"I do. Now and forever."
"And you, Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, do you agree to be bound together, in love, now and forever?"
She looked up at Drogo with thinly veiled fear and her answer left her lips at a barely audible whisper. "I do. Now and forever."
"Then under the authority of Mara, the Divine of Love, I declare this couple to be wed." Maramal allowed time for applause before continuing. "I present the two of you with these matching rings, blessed by Mara's divine grace." Another priest delivered the rings and the guests responded appropriately to the exchange. Daenerys moved to pull her hand away after the ring was slipped on her finger, but Drogo enveloped it in his own and held it as she gazed at him with confused apprehension.
"May they protect each of you in your new life together." Maramal smiled and touched his hand to the couple's entwined fingers. "I hope you two can be happy together."
As do I. Drogo cupped his new bride's cheek with his free hand and leaned down to press a gentle kiss against her lips. She hesitantly returned it and her pale cheeks were tinted a pretty shade of red when they pulled apart, though she would not meet his eyes.
They left the temple and the guests behind and reentered the relative quiet of the Riften streets. The peace would only last as long as it took to get out the gates; the caravan waiting outside would offer no reprieve until the moon came up.
"I should warn you, my lady, that the festivities are far from over. The caravan is anxious to welcome you and many will use this as an excuse to get rather more intoxicated than they should." Daenerys shot him a worried glance and he absently spun his wedding band around his finger. "Don't be concerned, I promise I won't leave your side."
As expected, the entirety of the caravan was settled outside the Riften stables and Dar'Jazha made his way through the crowd when he caught sight of them.
"Congratulations are in order, yes?" He shamelessly raised the bottle of skooma in his paw. "To our new Khaleesi. Come, you will join us now, yes?"
Drogo nodded and followed his appointed lieutenant, slowing his pace when he noticed that Daenerys was lingering behind.
"What does Khal mean?" she asked quietly, looking about with wide eyes. "And Khaleesi? Is that Khajiiti for something?"
Drogo shrugged. "I don't think so. I'm fairly confident that Dar'Jazha just created it to sound exotic and intimidating. It works, so I haven't discouraged it."
A very slight smile tugged at the young woman's lips and her new husband looked down at her with a frown. Drogo wouldn't pretend that he knew much about how to treat a young woman, let alone one he had just been married to, but he had thought that taking Daenerys away from her brother would make her glad. Instead, she looked nervous and afraid, and about ready to run at any sign of trouble. He had seen the bruises beneath her sleeves and hoped she didn't think she would have to endure more of the same.
The swarm of merchants, peddlers, guards, wives, concubines, and yelling children that ran up to the couple nearly threatened to break them apart, but Drogo stayed true to his word, pushing his way through the crowd and grabbing hold of his bride's hand to keep her at his side.
"They all love me..." Daenerys said in awe, staring out at the sea of smiling faces and reaching hands.
"As they should. You're their queen now. Who needs Elisif the Fair when the fairest maid in Tamriel is standing before them?"
She blushed and Drogo couldn't help but wonder if it was in response to the compliment or the fact that he'd called her a maid. Perhaps that was the only reason she still seemed afraid. Any young woman would be terrified of their wedding night if they had been married off to a stranger. Yes, that must be it. He'd try his best to ease her fears when the time came.
"I...that was very kind of you."
Drogo looked down at her, taking in her delicate, flushed features and the slight parting of her lips. "I meant it." Taking her gently by the elbow, he led her toward the platform that had been set up and adorned with flowers for the newly married couple.
Sitting down on her right, he waved for some wine and watched Daenerys out of the corner of his eye as she took in the caravan around them.
As the festivities went on, Daenerys was polite enough to take the food that was offered, and she sipped on a glass of wine to avoid conversation, but showed no signs of increased comfort. It wasn't until it was time for the giving of the bridal gifts at sunset that she interacted with the guests at all.
"They aren't much, m'lady, but I hope you can enjoy them." Jorah Mormont knelt down before her and handed her a small stack of well-worn books that she took with a genuine smile.
"Thank you, ser. It was very kind of you to give me something so close to your own heart. Will you be joining the caravan with us when we leave?"
Mormont shook his head. "No, m'lady. My place is here at your brother's side. It would be an honor to serve you, but I fear that I cannot. My apologies."
"That's alright," Daenerys said with a smile, putting her hand over the knight's. "Serve my brother well, Ser Jorah, and you'll be serving me."
He nodded and stepped back to allow Dar'Jazha to approach the newlyweds.
The Khajiit walked forward and he bowed low when he reached Drogo and his bride. "For our new Khaleesi, Dar'Jazha has exotic and enchanted weapons. We wouldn't want any harm to come to you. These will keep you safe...yes. As will your husband."
At her feet he laid an intricately carved ebony bow, a whip with a dragonbone handle and a curved sword made of blue glass.
"May they protect you in this cold and inhospitable land."
Drogo could agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment. After having spent most of his youth in the blazing sands of Hammerfell, the seemingly constant deluge of snow in the hills of Skyrim seemed almost torturous. He had never been to High Rock, but he imagined that Daenerys probably felt the same.
"Thank you," she said quietly, running a hand along the curve of the bow. "But I'm not sure how to use these. Could I offer them as a gift to my lord husband?"
Lord husband. Drogo tried to keep his features schooled, but his brow furrowed at the title. It sounded so formal and insincere.
"My Khaleesi can do as she wishes, yes. If that is her wish, than it shall be."
As she handed the weapons over to Drogo, Dar'Jazha bowed again and retreated to join the others, nodding slightly at the Redguard when their eyes met and disappearing into the crowd.
After setting the weapons into the chest on his right, Drogo stood and looked down at his wife, meeting her timid gaze.
"The gift I have for you isn't much, but I hope it can serve you well in our new life."
Daenerys opened her mouth to reply, then gasped quietly as the crowd parted to allow Dar'Jazha through with a beautiful silver mare in tow.
Slowly rising to her feet, she looked hesitantly up at Drogo and smiled timidly when he nodded, going down to meet the Khajiit as he handed her the reins.
As Drogo walked down to join her he heard her murmur softly. "She's beautiful..." Daenerys raised her eyes and looked up at him. "May I ride her?"
"Of course. She's yours."
Carefully wrapping his large hands around her waist, he lifted her up onto the mare and set her down, marveling silently at how light and fragile she felt.
When the young Breton steered her away from the crowd, Drogo slapped the horse lightly on its haunch and stepped out of its way. Daenerys' long silver hair flowed behind her as she rode through the sea of people and Drogo heard the sound of carefree laughter as the mare shook her head and whinnied.
As they turned and trotted back toward the platform, Drogo saw the first sincere smile of their short time together gracing his wife's features. She returned flushed and breathless with laughter, smiling down at him from atop the horse.
"You've given me the wind."
Drogo smiled at her happiness and patted the mare's neck, running his fingers through its pale mane while Dar'Jazha returned with his own horse: a large, red stallion.
"The first ride." Dar'Jazha said with a purr, looking up at the couple with his arms crossed over his chest. "Khajiit will watch over the caravan until you return, yes."
Drogo vaulted up onto his horse and nodded. "We should be back before sunrise."
With that he turned and cantered off, waiting until he heard the hoof beats of Daenerys' horse behind him before he increased his pace.
He wasn't entirely sure how long or how far they rode, but by the time they reached their destination, both moons had risen and a shroud of darkness had fallen over Skyrim. They stopped beside a small stream, its surface glittering in the moonslight and breaking the silence as it flowed, gurgling over the rocks below.
After lifting Daenerys off of her horse and setting her down softly in the dewy grass, he secured the horses to a nearby tree and took a deep breath.
Turning back around, he walked over to his wife and stood towering over her, watching as a single tear made its way down her cheek. He lifted his thumb and wiped it away, turning her gently with his hands when she dropped her eyes and bringing his fingers to the laces on her gown. They came undone with little effort and her dress fell to the earth, pooling around her bare feet.
The light of the moons shone against her pale skin and sparkled in the silver strands of her hair, casting a gentle glow over her slender frame. He gently ran his fingers through the thin strands then turned her to face him, his hands falling to his sides.
Her gaze rose to his and she blinked, long lashes fluttering over deep lavender eyes filled with dread.
Drogo ran his finger along the barely pointed tips of her ears and resisted the urge to pull her against him when a soft sigh parted her full lips.
"We don't have to do this," he murmured lowly, though his dark eyes betrayed his desire.
Daenerys looked up at him with an expression he couldn't read and shook her head slowly, her voice a barely audible whisper. "No."
Gods, she's afraid of me. The thought made his stomach feel weak and he nodded curtly. He was leaning down to retrieve her gown when she spoke again.
"But..."
Slowly, she reached a hand toward him, taking his in her slender fingers and placing it against the swell of her breast. When he straightened up, heart pounding, she stood on her toes and wrapped a hand around his neck, pulling his lips down to hers.
"I want to." Blushing prettily, she dropped her fingers to the laces of his tunic and whispered against his mouth. "You're my husband now, and I...I want...you..."