My entire body hums with nervous energy, my face plastered into a smile I've long since lost control over as I stare into Aedan's eyes, hold his hand, and slide a golden ring onto the finger of my best friend to a wave of applause from our friends and family.

I scan the crowd of familiar faces and new friends. Aedan's brother Fergus made the trip along with my sister Delilah and her husband Albert. The three of them stand together, my nephew Byron nestled between them. Aedan's army buddies mingle with Anders' new friends from Kirkwall, all of whom were included in the invitations after our night of drinking at the Hanged Man had led to Isabela, a Rivaini shipcaptain, insisting that the entire ceremony and the party to follow take place on her brand new ship 'to break her in proper'.

Most of all, Anders is here, charming in all black, standing hand in hand with Garrett Hawke. I meet his eyes and he returns my smile.

"I love you," I whisper, pressing my forehead to Aedan's.

"I love you, too," Aedan whispers back.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Isabela yells out from where she's draped across the helm. "Start snogging already and give us a good show."

I grin and Aedan laughs. "Better give the crowd what they're waiting for." He presses his mouth to mine and I open my lips, letting his tongue brush against my own as our lips work together and we close the remaining distance between our bodies.

Whistles and catcalls ring out from our friends and I pull back and put a hand in the air.

"Friends. Family. Thank you all for being here. Thanks to Captain Isabela for the use of this beauty of a ship. Thanks to Garrett Hawke for taking care of all the arrangements and the more than generous hospitality. Thanks to Varric Tethras for all the drinks. Thanks to my beautiful sister and both my wonderful brothers–in–law for making the trip from Ferelden. Mostly, though, thank you to the one person who made all this possible. The man who had me under a spell for so long that I didn't even know he'd worked his magic on me until it was too late. Who made me realize that no matter what, you can't fix every problem, you can't be strong as a rock all the time, and it's okay to just be who you are, even if that's not who you think you need to be. My best man, and one of my best friends . . . Anders come up here."

Anders, his face flushed hot and his eyes ducked toward the floorboards of the ship, makes his way toward us. "What are you doing? I don't want to . . ."

Aedan and I stand on either side of Anders and fling our arms around his shoulders. Aedan pulls him into a hug, then stands back and says, "You know, you're a son of a bitch, but I owe you. So thank you, Anders. Thank you for fucking him up, so I could put the pieces together again."

Anders laughs and blushes, then shakes Aedan's hand. "Thanks for always being there to clean up my messes."

Then it's my turn. I kiss Anders on the forehead then turn to look him in the eyes. "You put me through hell and back for three years, Anders, but you know what, it was worth it. Because all roads led me here and because I think we're both better people for having known one another." I pull him close, whispering words no one else needs to hear. "I'll never stop loving you, Anders. I'll always be under your spell. But I'm happy, and it looks like you're happy too. And that, I suppose, is all that's ever mattered."

I grin and shove Anders back toward the crowd. "You're next, okay."

Anders looks at Hawke, then at me, then back at Hawke and smiles. "Yeah. Yeah, okay."