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Three days later, Rhianna and Gauvain knelt before Grand Cleric Perpetua in the Denerim Cathedral, while she spoke the words that would bind them in wedlock. It seemed such a short time ago - and yet, another lifetime - when Rhianna had knelt in this very spot beside Loghain.
That had been the happiest day of her life, and would no doubt remain so. She had no illusions that the life that now stretched before her would bring any true joy, other than watching Gareth grow, first into a boy and later into a man.
Rhianna had wondered at the speed with which this new wedding took place - usually, the Chantry required an announcement to be read two weeks in advance - but Celene had smilingly assured Rhianna that the grand cleric - the new grand cleric; Elemena was dead - had no qualms about proceeding with the ceremony, in spite of the short notice.
"The only reason to wait," Celene had said, "is to ensure that there is no legal reason that would keep the two of you from marrying. But Gauvain has never been married, and it is common knowledge that you were widowed when your darling husband died at Ostagar. So, there can hardly be any reason to wait."
Not that Rhianna cared one way or another how quickly the ceremony would take place. She felt numb and hollow after all that had happened. She couldn't close her eyes without seeing the bloodstained ground in the middle of that courtyard, or hearing the sound Fergus' head had made when it rolled across the cobblestones. She couldn't sleep through the night without a nightmare waking her, and causing her to scream into the darkness. She was only clean because servants had come every day to bathe and dress her, and comb her hair. She only ate when they brought food to her, and led her by the arm to sit at the table. When they painted her face this morning, Rhianna didn't have the energy to complain. The only thing she managed on her own was to care for Gareth – to feed him, and change his clothes. He only left her arms when it was absolutely necessary.
No, Rhianna barely remembered anything of the past few days and today, she would do as she was told, speak the words she was meant to speak, and try not to collapse from the panic at having been forced to leave Gareth with a nursemaid.
Now, the grand cleric stood before Rhianna and this man she was marrying, one hand raised over their heads to give them a blessing. At least the vows were being spoken in Fereldan, rather than the Orlesian that seemed to have taken over every corner of the palace, where Rhianna would now reside.
"Gauvain and Rhianna, here you kneel before me, in the sight of the Maker. From this day forward, your lives are intertwined. No longer shall you walk your paths alone, but you shall walk side by side, hand in hand."
"My hearth is yours, my bread is yours, my life is yours.
For all who walk in the sight of the Maker are one."
She gestured for them to stand. "When you knelt before me, you were two separate people. Rise now, and greet the world as you shall live the rest of your lives, no longer separate, but joined as one."
Gauvain helped Rhianna to her feet, and afterward, she didn't have the energy to pull her hand away.
"Forasmuch as Gauvain and Rhianna have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before the Maker and this company, and have pledged their troth to one another, I pronounce they are man and wife, in the name of the Maker."
And with that, it was done. She was the queen to an Orlesian pretender to the throne. With just a few words, Rhianna had betrayed Loghain, and her family, and her country. Betrayed everything she had ever believed and everyone she had ever loved. All in the space of these very few minutes.
When they turned to face the congregation, Rhianna was vaguely surprised to find the cathedral packed full of people. So many people, and yet not a single face was familiar to her, other than Celene herself. They were citizens of Denerim, mostly, all of whom had been encouraged to witness the marriage of one of Ferelden's noblewomen to this Prince of Orlais. But for all that there were people packed into the pews, and standing in the aisles, when the couple turned, they were greeted not with cheers, but with a silence broken only by scattered applause from Empress Celene, and those Orlesian nobles who stood nearby. This was a political spectacle, through and through.
Hand in hand, Gauvain led Rhianna down the aisle, through the hushed and somber crowd, so different from when Rhianna and Loghain had been wed. She was barely aware of her surroundings, though, so consumed was she by grief and guilt. She just wanted this to be finished, so she could be reunited with Gareth. Her arms felt empty, and her breasts ached; it was well past time for him to be fed.
As the wedding procession made its way back to the palace by way of the market square, there was a commotion as a man pushed through the crowd, and leapt in front of her.
"Orlesian whore!" He spat on the ground at her feet, and looked as though he might strike out at her. Gauvain stepped close, and put a protective arm around her shoulder. Rhianna was too dazed and shocked to do more than stare after the man as guards dragged him away. Probably, he'd be beaten. Maybe killed.
Already, an innocent man would suffer for the choice she had made.
So be it. She felt too dead inside to truly care.
Her son would be safe. Nothing else mattered.
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The rest of the day was spent first at the coronation of the new King and Queen of Ferelden, and then at a seemingly endless banquet in the great hall. Unlike that in the cathedral earlier in the day, here the atmosphere among the new nobility - Orlesian to the last man - was festive. There was entertainment, toasts were made, and stories told, and through it all her new husband sat beside her. He was attentive of her comfort, but kept enough distance that Rhianna didn't feel threatened. Later there was dancing, in which Rhianna refused to participate. She was unwilling to put Gareth back in the hands of the nursemaid again, even for a few minutes.
Finally, long after the sun had set, the party was over and Rhianna prepared to retreat to the rooms that had been given to her, the same suite that had once belonged to Anora.
But as she looked around for a servant, to ask that hot water be brought up for a bath, a messenger appeared: the empress wished to see her. Rhianna followed the woman through the palace, to one of the small audience rooms downstairs. Inside, Celene was alone, except for two of her guards and a woman who appeared to be a servant.
"Congratulations my dear, on your marriage." Celene's face glowed. "I have no doubt the two of you will be very happy. You shall soon learn that Gauvain is a lovely man. You have only to give him the chance to prove that to you." She stretched out her arms. "May I see your son?"
Rhianna's breath caught in her chest. She pulled Gareth closer, and turned slightly away. "Please, Your Radiance," she murmured. "Please. You promised no harm would come to him."
"A promise I will keep, and gladly," Celene said. "I have no intention of harming your beautiful son. I swear it."
She seemed sincere, so with hesitant steps, Rhianna crossed the room, and set Gareth carefully in Celene's arms. The empress cradled him gently, and a wide smile erupted across her lips - the first truly genuine smile Rhianna had seen on the woman's face. She gazed into Gareth's eyes, and cooed at him, and bounced him gently. Gareth's face broke into a smile, and happy laughter bubbled from between his lips.
"Madame Presd'eaux," she continued, her eyes rapt on the child in her arms, "you should be so proud. He is such a beautiful child. Such soft skin, and he has your lovely smile." She leaned down and placed a kiss on Gareth's forehead. "Such a beautiful child." She raised a hand and snapped her fingers, and the servant rushed forward. "Take him," Celene said, "and be gentle. He is to receive the best of care."
Rhianna felt as though her heart had stopped beating in her chest.
"What?" Her body began to tremble. "Oh, please, Your Radiance?" Rhianna took tiny, shallow breaths, for fear she might faint. "Please, may I have him back? Please."
"No, my dear." Celene sounded regretful, but a small smile played at the corner of her mouth. "I am genuinely sorry, but no."
"But you promised. You promised he would safe." Her breath came even more quickly, and single tear began to creep down her cheek. "Please."
"And I will keep that promise. Your son will be safe. He will be safer than any other child in all of Thedas. I am going to take him back with me to Val Royeaux, and raise him as my own. He will live in the palace, and have the best of everything that money can buy. The finest food and clothing, the best education." She paused. "You have no reason to fear for him, as long as you continue to do what I require of you."
"But I did what you asked! I've done exactly what you wanted. Please," she sobbed, "please don't do this. Please. Just let me have him. Please."
"I do appreciate how cooperative you have been to this point, Rhianna. It is merely to ensure your continued cooperation that I must do this. Surely, you can see how important it is for you to have the time, and the freedom, to fulfill your new duties as queen."
"No, please. I'll do anything you ask, just please let me have my son. Please, I'm begging you, please."
"You have nothing to worry about, my dear. No one will harm a single hair on his head. Our ship sails tomorrow at dawn, and I promise you, I will not let him out of my sight until we are safely back in Val Royeaux." With that, Celene pushed herself up out of her chair. She took Gareth from the nursemaid's arms and, with the guards close behind, strode quietly from the room.
Rhianna stood still and silent, as tears streamed down her face. Her whole body ached, and she felt as though her heart had been ripped from her chest. Nothing had ever hurt like this before. Nothing. Nothing could have ever prepared her for this agony.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to run after Celene, tear Gareth from that hateful woman's arms. She wanted to grab a sword, and run it through the empress' belly, and watch her bleed to death on the floor. She wanted to take Gareth, and run and run and run and run, not stopping until they were safe. Until she and her son were somewhere they could hide, somewhere they could live together, away from the rest of the world. Away from this miserable world that held nothing of joy or beauty in it anymore.
But Rhianna did none of those things. She didn't scream, or run after Celene. What good would that have done? Rhianna had nothing, not even a sword. Celene had an army. Even if Rhianna could have gotten Gareth away, Celene would have just taken him back again, and perhaps the punishment for such an outburst would have meant Gareth's death.
Better for him to be alive, even if Rhianna couldn't be with him, than for him to be dead, and gone from her forever.
Rhianna fell to her knees, and curled up in a heap on the floor. There, she sobbed silently until all her tears were spent.
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