The Chantry was packed to the rafters, to the point where she wasn't sure if there would be a path left for her to walk through. Alistair hadn't wanted to be exclusionary, and she'd secretly delighted in the nobles that would have to rub elbows with commoners, so they'd thrown the doors open to the entire city. Of course, that meant even more guards, so even more people, but it was worth it to know that some of the ladies-in-waiting who stared daggers at her every day would be forced to the back of the hall. She'd planned to do her own scan for threats on her trip down the aisle, which had been aggressively cleared, but as soon as she stepped into his sightline Alistair commanded her entire attention. Even so far away that she couldn't see his face, she could see his nervous energy. She was no more able to look away than he was.

When she reached him, he took her hands gently. She saw he was crying, just a little, and she couldn't stop a smile. He smiled back and leaned over her. "I like your braids," he whispered, and then she was crying, too.

The ceremony had never been important to her, not really. A ritual to get through before they got back to the relationship that needed no formalization. Their vows lived in the clash of their swords in the ring, testing each other's strength. Their trust lived in their smiles, which were secret and small and ever-present. Their love lived in the bedroom, where they explored each other's bodies until they'd memorized every line. Their devotion lived in the straight, silvery lines on her back, in the ache in his shoulder that would never quite leave. The marks that they'd given themselves in service of the other meant more than rings ever could. And yet when he slipped it, trembling, over her finger, and stared at her with terrified love, her heart leapt with a painful joy that she'd never thought she could feel.

It turned out she was a romantic, after all.

But not enough of one to let him have it all his own way. After the ceremony ended and the Grand Cleric asked them to rise, she pulled him to her roughly. He had no time to react before she kissed him intimately and thoroughly, to the great delight of the watching audience. A few whistles sounded through the building. Then came the stamping of feet, and applause, and before she finished the cheering was deafening. She stepped back and was gratified to see Alistair blushing deeply. But then he grinned, a small one, and wrapped his arms around her again. The Grand Cleric seemed taken aback, but Elissa thought it was the best part of the wedding by far.

He'd insisted on her being formally coronated directly after they were married, the better to protect the throne. Her advisor side had seen the wisdom, but that side was growing ever smaller as she sat through the speeches. Fortunately, he'd also insisted that the more useless parts of it be excised, so it was much shorter than his had been. Arl Eamon had been outraged, but the way Alistair had coolly overrode his objections had done her heart good. Eamon had done nothing but make cutting remarks to her, out of the ear of his ward, since they'd found him in Denerim. She refused to give in to his desire to stir up trouble, but that didn't mean she didn't appreciate the unwitting backup.

The Arl watched her now, cold and fuming, and she supposed she could sit through this if it meant there was no question she could order him around afterwards. She sat straighter and stared at Alistair instead. He was warm and supportive, and she kept her eyes on him while the officiant spoke. When they placed the crown on her head he smirked. He mouthed silently, You're trapped now. She narrowed her eyes, and he grinned more broadly. Her decorum prevented her from making a rude gesture as she rose to the bows of the assembled. It did not prevent her from stepping firmly on his foot as he escorted her to their waiting carriage. Zevran laughed behind them when Alistair elbowed her back, and most of the ride back to the palace was spent in childish retribution until they had to kiss sweetly for all of the waiting staff to see.

Alistair knew that something had happened to time. Some mage or other had definitely done something to make it crawl slower than it usually did. He fiddled with his ridiculous sash while they greeted every single resident of Fereldan. Probably twice. Elissa stood next to him seemingly delighted with every guest, though he knew from the irritated way she smoothed down her gown that she was anything but. If she could do it, so could he. He plastered a smile on his face and soldiered on. At least Zevran was providing some amusement. "With as many dances as you've promised these people, you'll have the band here until well into the next year," he said to the elf.

"Isn't it marvelous? And those are just the ones spoken aloud! Some of the men here are very skilled with their eyebrows. My liege, if I could trouble upon you to wed again soon, I would be most grateful."

Leliana snorted, a genuine smile on her face. "As long as I don't have to deal with the security nightmares involved," she said.

"You think there's trouble?" muttered Elissa, bowing graciously to a gaggle of excited young men. Alistair gave them his best "eyes front" look, and they moved away quickly. "I have my daggers, if you need me."

"Oh, I know there's trouble. It's a royal wedding with hundreds of guests and a group of assassins hates you. But don't worry. Zevran and I are ready. Enjoy yourself."

"Yes, I will be examining many people here in very great detail. Do not fear." Zevran kissed a proffered hand with gusto, but his eyes were serious.

Teagan and Wynne were studiously ignoring all of them and doing their jobs. Eamon was fortunately too far down the line to hear them, but looked annoyed anyway. Alistair thought they all lacked a true sense of fun.

"I'm sorry," whispered Alistair in the next break in the line, "did you say that you're wearing your daggers?"

"Well, yes. It seemed wise." She bit her lip slightly. "I know that's not very romantic."

"You'd be amazed at how arousing I find an armed bride," he said, and she relaxed. He raised an eyebrow at her. "So you must be wearing them against your hips under all of that thatness." He waved his hands to encompass her fluffy skirt.

She glanced at him warily. "Yes."

"So that means there must be some way to access them. Without taking off the whole dress," he said. Zevran leaned back to examine her. "There's a hole there somewhere."

He reached out towards her subtly. She shifted away. "Hey! Just because you think I'm your shield doesn't mean you get to manhandle me whenever you want. Shields can be very spiky, you know."

The line was starting to wane, thankfully, and the servers made motions that it was time for them to sit and eat. He followed her to the table and murmured in her ear. "Please? I'm so bored."

She called behind her. "Zevran? Entertain my husband please."

"Excellent! Your Majesty, which conquest should I tell you about today?"

It had taken longer than expected to eat, due to Leliana and Elissa insisting on several tests to make sure the food was safe. Luckily it was, and he wished he'd eaten it faster. He'd been pulled away halfway through to begin the dancing, and Leliana had assured him he'd be dancing longer than even Zevran at this reception. At least his first partner was known. He and Elissa danced gracefully, half of them. Her half. He just tried to keep up, mostly, and he was happy when the formal steps were over and they were joined by other couples. He relaxed a little into an informal closeness. She sighed contentedly up at him, her eyes sparkling, and he had to resist the urge to start searching for the holes in her dress again.

Which reminded him. "Do tell me if I'm about to impale myself. I have a big night planned."

She rolled her eyes. "They're sheathed." She held a finger to his lips to forestall a response. "No Zevran-like comments, please. Your big night depends on my participation, I believe."

He kissed her softly. "Fine. I'll be on my best behavior." He looked up and tensed. Leliana was signaling guards across the room. He felt the same tension in her, and he wrapped her closer without thought.

"Zevran sees trouble," she whispered, a careful smile on her face.

"So does Leliana. Do you think they need us?"

She shifted her hands so they'd be closer to her hips. "Zevran says no. They want us to stay out here." He tried not to look around, to keep his face neutral. "It's going to be fine."

He believed her. "Of course it will. We're unstoppable." She kissed him on the cheek, and they moved closer together. He ran his fingers over her back, over the scars he'd memorized, and knew they wouldn't lose each other now. The Maker was kinder than that. He owed them.

The song stopped, they moved apart and bowed, and that's when it happened. Not that anyone else noticed. Only two warriors with long battle experience saw the way the way certain servers moved, the way the guards shifted in unison to capture them at the elbows. One moderately clever one shifted out of the trap, only to meet Zevran's less-than-gentle embrace on the other side. New servers replaced the old almost as quickly, and the entire room looked exactly the same before the applause ended. Leliana signaled the all-clear.

Elissa raised her eyebrow at him. "That was anticlimactic."

"I'm fine with that. Let's get through the rest of this so I can be on my worst behavior, shall we?"

Leliana sought him out near the end of the evening. He was overjoyed to see her, a friendly face that he didn't have to be polite to, and led her to the dance floor gallantly. She thankfully didn't demand too much skill out of him, and they did little more than sway in terrible rhythm. He smiled at her. "Since I haven't seen you for a while, thanks for saving my life again today."

She waved her hand dismissively. "That was a terrible plot. Almost insulting. I only moved so late because I was sure it was a cover for something more elegant. Likely the Crows knew they would fail. I'd guess they're agents they wanted burned, and they sent them to pretend they're keeping their hand in. They'll treat with you soon."

"You got all of that just tonight?"

"Well, more than just tonight. Elissa agrees with me. Teagan could have seen through this clumsy of a plot."

He laughed. "Where is Teagan, anyway? I expected him to be glued to your side." He looked around and saw his uncle surrounded by a group of suddenly very admiring noble ladies. "Ah," he said, embarrassed.

"Don't worry," she said. "We made our peace long ago. It was not meant to be. Which is what I need to tell you. Tomorrow I am leaving, to lend my services to the Chantry. A very old friend has asked me to do this, and I feel it's right."

He stopped moving and gaped. "You're leaving? Tomorrow? Why?"

"I can no longer fulfill the role you needed me for. Elissa has learned much and will likely be better at my job than I was, in her way. It's time for a change, for the good of Ferelden."

He shook his head impatiently. "I'm not worried about your job. Not that you aren't better at it than anyone ever could be, including my dear wife. You just stopped a group of assassins tonight without even interrupting the wine service. But who will take the place of my friend?" She looked down. "I love Elissa, and Zevran and Wynne and Teagan, but you're Leliana. The sister I never had. No one else can be that. Please don't go."

"I'll always be your friend, Alistair. The Chantry is not an enemy. Even if it were, I swear I would never work against you."

"That's not what I meant!"

Her cheeks colored a little. "I wish I could do as you want, but I can't. A friend asked this of me. I've given my word. Please don't make it harder. I know that you have a hard time letting some people go, but I am not some people. I ask you this as a favor." She smiled then. "And if you're thinking about causing yourself some injury to keep me here, don't give yourself the pain. What with you, Elissa and Zevran, I'm more than immune to that trick."

He sighed. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?" She nodded. He pulled her back into movement and folded her against his chest. "Okay. Two things. One, if this is because of Teagan, tell me and I will beat him senseless, even if he is my uncle. Two, if you're ever in Denerim and you don't stop in to say hello, I will stop saying the Chants entirely until you come back. I'll pray to the elven gods. I swear it."

She laughed against his chest. "Don't hurt poor Teagan, he's blameless. I swear it. And I will certainly stop in when I'm here. If only to test your new spymaster's capabilities." He kissed the top of her head. His heart ached as she hugged him close. She stepped away, and he let her go. "I'll come say goodbye tomorrow, if I can. Maker bless you both, Alistair. In fact, I'll make sure he does."

Finally it was over. Plenty were still celebrating, but the guests of honor had stolen away to their suite. And yet the waiting continued. He cursed the likely enormous group of blood mages that had certainly messed with his specific time bubble. He paced his rooms while the maids did whatever they were doing with Elissa. He'd growled when she disappeared into her rooms, but she told him that she'd been threatened with worse than death if she harmed even a single thread on her gown. It was some kind of heirloom now.

Given his mood, threads might have been all that were left, so he accepted her pronouncement.

Part of his frustration was almost certainly nerves. He'd hoped that their progressed sexual relationship would relieve the tension he felt, but if anything it had made it worse. They'd made love plenty of times, but it had always been gentle, fun, even a little silly. He didn't feel any of those things now. More like edgy. Possessive. Hungry. He didn't know how she would respond.

He looked over at his bed, the bed he'd lain awake in so many nights, thinking about her while she was away. He'd wished he was braver. He'd wished he hadn't relented his command and let her leave the city. He'd wished he'd ordered her to stay with him, always, no matter how unhappy it made her. In the daylight he'd known that was unfair, but in those dark, lonely nights he'd only felt aching need. He'd wanted control back. That feeling permeated his bed, even now whispered those thoughts into his mind every time he fell asleep. But she was here. Not just a body that was close enough. He'd ordered candles light throughout the room so he would see her face. He wanted to watch it while he dominated her.

His steps stuttered as shame washed through him. What kind of man thought that about the woman he loved? The woman he'd married? Just because she was his wife didn't mean she was his property. He groaned softly and wondered if it was appropriate to suggest they move to her bed for the evening. Then she stepped through the door, and he dismissed the thought immediately.

She wore a lighter version of her wedding gown, a scandalously shorter version. The material shone in the flickering lights and made it look like she was moving even as she stood still. Her feet were bare, and she wore no jewelry but the ring he'd placed on her earlier. Just looking at it brought out the possessive side of him again. They'd done… something with her hair to make it tumble around her shoulders, soft and light. He'd always imagined it that way. Did she know that? How much did she see in him?

He took a step towards her and stopped. She stood with her hands folded in front of her, demurely, like an innocent maiden. Her eyes were downcast, but a smile played across her lips. Something was happening he didn't understand.

"Are you cold?" He asked the first thing that came to mind. He mentally slapped himself. He sounded like an idiot. She shook her head. He looked for humor to break the tension. "You'd better not be wearing daggers under that thing."

And then her eyes peered up from under her lashes with a wicked glint. "I'm not wearing anything under it."

Whatever was inside of him roared approval, and he couldn't keep it chained anymore. "Get in the bed," he said in a rough voice. Her eyes widened a little, but she did as he demanded. She sat on the bed, amused. He stripped off his clothing quickly, walking towards her all the while. Her smile vanished, and he studied her face closely as he moved. Was she afraid of him? Nervous?

It took him a long second to realize she wasn't either. She was excited. Her eyes were smoky, and she watched him like she watched him in the training yard, trying to sense the energy of his body and where it was going to go. He remembered Amaranthine. He had no intention of losing this bout either. She slid herself back on the bed as he got closer, and he moved quickly to cover her, keep her still. She rolled her hips up to his with a gleam in her eyes. He stiffened, then whispered, "Don't." He kissed her swiftly, punishingly. He couldn't stop himself, but she responded with equal force. To his surprise, she curled her fingers in his hair and pressed herself into him as she opened her mouth to him.

He felt rather than heard a moan that started from deep inside of her, and he tore his mouth away to work down to her neck. He bit and licked it eagerly. She tilted her head back to allow him more access, and he murmured his approval. Her hand still gripped his hair, almost painfully. He marveled at the feeling of her silky dress under his fingers, and she arched herself into his touch when he rubbed over her breast. He chuckled darkly and kept moving downward. Her breaths grew shallow and ragged when he reached the smooth skin of her thigh. Her free hand reached down to try to move his underneath her gown, and he grabbed it. He pinned it up above her head with a snarl.

She looked at him with parted lips, wildly beautiful, and he took her mouth again. He was just as demanding as before, but slower. Lazier. More teasing. When she'd submitted to his pace long enough, when she wasn't challenging him anymore, he moved his hand back down again. She kept hers above her while he worked his way down again, though he felt her trembling and needy. He slid his fingers up her thighs slowly, leaning back to watch her face. Her fingers curled, and she closed her eyes. He watched her bite her lip to keep herself from crying out. That was fine. He wasn't going to give her any choice.

He brushed over her lightly, just enough to confirm that she'd been telling the truth about what was under her dress, then removed it. At that she did cry out, in protest. Her eyes flew open, but he silenced her with a look. He drew himself up her body, rubbing himself along her in slow agony until his mouth reached her ear. He played his fingers up over her arm, still raised above her head, and waited until the other joined it. He lightly held them while he whispered to her.

"Later tonight, next week, our lifetimes, I will dedicate myself entirely to your pleasure. I am going to have you on every surface of this room and listen to those beautiful noises you make. We'll drink potions and have the most wonderful children in Thedas. I'll hold you while you sleep and won't get mad when you elbow me. We'll argue over what side of the bed we sleep on and how early is too early to wake the other person up. But right here, right now, I am going to take you, Elissa. I have waited far too long for you to be mine. And now you are. My wife. In my bed. Everything I want."

He used his body to shift her smooth dress up over her hips, rubbing against her deliberately. She smiled at him from the bed of her tousled hair. "As my husband commands," she said. Her voice was hot with desire, and it sent him over the edge. He entered her smoothly, finding her wet and ready. Not fighting him. Eager. He loved her with all of his heart.

As he rested inside of her briefly, feeling her surround him, she pressed her own lips to his ear. "For the record I like the left side of the bed." She laughed as he growled and kissed her neck hard enough to leave a mark. He moved inside of her, finally, roughly, and when he started to lose control she wrapped her legs around his back and let him. He put his hands on her shoulders and drove himself inside of her. Mine.

After he was spent she touched his cheek. "I love it when you're commanding. It's very attractive. Very royal." She hadn't found her own release, and her face was still dark with wanting. She rolled her hips lightly against him as she spoke.

He smiled again, softer. He felt more like himself. "Let's see what else I can get you to do for me tonight, then."