It burned.

Aiden's left hand shot up, green engulfing his entire arm as the air around him creaked and moaned. Voices filled his head. One stood out and caused his heart tighten to the point he feared it would stop pumping.

Why did you leave me!

The angry tone belonged to Alistair. Aiden fought to block it out along with the rest. A streak of green cut across the darken sky, teasing an opening of the veil.

Open! Let me out! I can come home! I can find Riley.

He couldn't stop it even if he wanted to. Pain pulsed through his entire body as he manipulated the mark to tear open a rift. The screech of an envy demon nearly broke Aiden's ear drums.

"AIDEN!"

The sudden screaming of his name jerked Aiden up on his bed roll. It hadn't been a dream. Cursing, he scrambled away from the rift twirling inches above his head and managed to find a sword nearby. His companions and other Inquisition soldiers were already busy taking down the demons that poured out at an alarming rate from the tear in the veil. The mark sparked and brought the Inquisitor to his knees.

Fuck! It hurt!

Forgetting about the damn sword, Aiden had to bring his right hand to support his left. It fought him. Aiden tried to lift up his left palm to take charge of the rift, but it seemed to grow heavier by the moment.

"Seal it!" Cullen roared using his shield to bash an oncoming demon. He took that moment to glance over at the rogue and felt his heart sink. The elven magic was wrapped all the way up his arms and flaring up his neck. Aiden's usually blue glowing eyes now were swirling green. Cullen could see the agony etched into every line of his friend's face.

"Up we go." Dorian announced before hooking his arms underneath Aiden's arms and dragging the Inquisitor to his feet.

Aiden couldn't concentrate on anything else but the screeching and the pain. "I can't… Can't."

Dorian tapped the butt of his staff on the ground, casting a barrier around them in hope to separate Aiden from the chaos. "Focus, Trevelyan."

"Don't you think I'm trying?!" Aiden growled, hunching over., "It's like it's fighting me. I can't move my arm."

"Need some help then?"

"Shove it Dorian."

"Now, now." The mage shifted to take some of the rogue's weight. "There is no need for that when all I'm trying to do is help."

Aiden noticed the mage fumbling for something on his belt., "And now is not the time to show me your other staff."

Fingers closing over a vial, Dorian thrust it into Aiden's right hand., "Drink it."

The familiar hue of the liquid inside chilled Aiden straight to the bone. He couldn't do it. For months now he had stayed as far away as he could from any herbs that were in part of the toxic mixture that held such a power over his life. "Dorian."

"I know, I know." Dorian used his teeth to uncork the vial and all but shoved it down the man's throat. Later he would feel incredibly guilty, but . But if they needed to close the rift, and fast. Bigger and bigger demons kept pouring through. And despite traveling with a rather large group of Inquisition soldiers, they were struggling to keep up.

A familiar buzz settled over his racing mind, slowly calming it enough for him to think past the pain. Aiden, using his right hand as support, raised his hand towards the swirling green light and a tendril of green shot from his palm to connect with it. He knew if the potion wasn't swimming in his blood that he would be on the floor curled up like a babe and screaming in agony.

Soon the rift became engulfed and gave out a loud moan of protest followed by the howls of the demons being denied their chance to escape from the fade. A loud pop and then a calm fell over the camp site.

Aiden didn't wait for Cassandra or any others to ask after him before he dashed to the tree lines and purged the contents of his stomach.

Varric shouldered his crossbow and reached out to stop the Seeker from racing after him. "Let me." He insisted it. After all he had witnessed this a time or two before in the Approach. And judging by the look of sheer terror on Cassandra's face, the Inquisitor failed to inform her of said incidence. "I'll come and get you in a second, okay?"

Left with no choice, Cassandra sheathed her sword, nodded, and went to tend to any wounded.

Aiden braced a hand against the tree as his purging turned into dry heaving. Sadly, it wasn't enough to get the fucking potion completely out of his system. There was a calm inside him that shouldn't be there, not so soon after closing a rift. He clenched his marked hand and felt the magic start to recede back to his palm. Wanting the drug out of his body, Aiden continued to do whatever he could to make sure he completely emptied his stomach. But beneath the taste of bile and his lunch, he could taste the sweetness of the potion and he started to shake.

"You okay there, Charming?" Varric softly asked, cautiously approaching the Inquisitor.

"Does it look like I'm okay?" Aiden snapped.

"Here." Varric held out a water skin.

Hand trembling, Aiden took it and proceeded to wash his mouth of the sour taste. He would have to see if there was any mint left in his pack to get rid of it completely. "How worried is she?" Aiden didn't need to turn around and see the Seeker. He could feel her gaze burning a hole in the back of his head.

Varric glanced back, "On a scale of one to ten." He took back the water skin, "A twenty. I take it you didn't tell her about this happening in the Approach."

"Slipped my mind."

"More like you didn't want to add another layer of stress she already carries."

"Can you blame me?"

"No, but I also know that you have a lot of explaining to do to your new wife."

Yes, yes he did. Aiden pushed himself onto his shaky legs.

Thankfully, Cullen spoke first when Aiden and Varric returned to camp. "Are you alright?"

"As well as can be," Aiden muttered, trying to assure his wife with a small smile. It didn't work. "I thought I was dreaming. I didn't know what I was doing."

"Sleeping on the road isn't the greatest for regaining your rest after Adamant."

Aiden rubbed his sore neck from sleeping on nothing but a bedroll for almost a week. "Unless you have a magical Griffon that can carry me back to Skyhold, there isn't much to be done about that."

"Actually, there might be," Cullen corrected, motioning to his right. "There is a town not more than an hour or two away. I know you wanted to travel back together, but I think a night or two in a proper bed might do you good."

The thought sounded like heaven. Aiden flexed his mark hand. "I can't really find any argument to that suggestion."

Dorian also seemed pleased by it, "A bed. A bath. Food. When do we leave?"

Cassandra was tempted, but they were traveling back together for a reason. "We agreed that going back as one was the safest way home. Maker knows how many Red Templars are standing between us and Skyhold." There was also that unspoken fear that some Wardens might try to seek out the Inquisitor after everything that happened at the Fortress.

Cullen had a solution, as he wanted his friend to get a proper night's sleep. Saying Aiden looked like shit was an understatement. "I'll send a group with my Lieutenant and hang back with the rest for you all to return." A bed sounded enticing, but as Commander of the Inquisition forces, Cullen was obligated to stay with his men. That was the life of a soldier and Cullen wouldn't have it any other way. "So pack up what you need. You can make it well before night fall."

Once everyone broke apart, Cassandra put a hand on her husband's arm to stop him. "What was that?"

Aiden swallowed the lump in his throat. "I was dreaming about a rift." He looked down and watched as Cassandra took his hand between hers and studied the jagged green light etched into his palm. "I felt the mark, but I didn't know I was using it outside of the fade."

"You created a rift."

"Yes."

"Why aren't you more surprised?"

The moment of truth. Aiden laid his other hand over hers in hopes to stop them from trembling. "Because it's happened before, when I was in the Approach. I was going to tell you, but then everything with the Seekers happened that I didn't want to add to everything."

Cassandra opened her mouth and then shut it to trap her anger from spilling out in the form of yelling. It would do them both no good and only draw unwanted attention from the soldiers clambering about. She took a calming breath before speaking, "You need to promise me something."

"Okay."

"From this moment on, we no longer keep things from each other." She held up a finger before he could even think about arguing. "I don't care if you don't want to add to my worry, or stress, or for whatever reason you can dream up. I love you and care about you. I want to help you shoulder this pain. Your responsibility of being Inquisitor, or anything else, because that's what you do when you love someone."

Freeing his hand, Aiden brushed his knuckles over her marred cheek. "I'll promise if you do that same. I know you hold back on telling me when you're hurting or tired because you don't want me to worry about you. You're a strong woman, but you're not invincible. You hold it all in because you don't want to be seen as weak." He brought her hand to his lips. "You can never appear weak to me, Seeker. For Fade sake, you've seen me at my lowest point and you still love me. So I'm asking you to let me all the way in. Nothing in this world will ever stop me from loving you."

"Deal."

"Enough of the mushy stuff you two!" Varric called out causing a few brave soldiers to chuckle ever so slightly. "And get packed so we can be on our way for a real bed!"

Cassandra's cheeks began to burn. "I'm going to kill him."

To fluster her more, Aiden kissed the tip of her nose. "No you won't."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Cassandra just sat down on the bed before the door to the rented room opened and Dorian strolled in without invitation. She sighed. Maker. She longed for a bath and a proper night's sleep. "Everything okay, Dorian?"

The Tevinter smiled, "Fantastic. Up you go."

Her brows drew together. "I beg your pardon?"

"We need to get you bathed and dressed." Dorian tugged the warrior to her feet. "Now don't frown, it will give you wrinkles. A bride should do nothing but smile on her day. Or night in this case. Now come."

Cassandra had no choice but to follow as he dragged her from the room. "What are you talking about, Dorian?"

"I'm talking about you and your Inquisitor getting married of course. We found a chantry member who was more the pleased to offer her services. So we need to get you bathed. I'll find you some fresh clothes, or would you like a dress for the occasion?"

"I…ugh…" She struggled to process everything. "You two are really doing this? Why?"

"Because there isn't enough celebration in our quest to save the world. Plus, after all you've both done and sacrificed what he will have to do in the end, you both deserve this moment. To put your happiness first even if for a few hours."

Cassandra's heart swelled and found herself hugging the life out of the mage. Never a woman for many girly notions of dressing up and being the center of attention, Cassandra found the idea of standing in front of their friends and the Maker while pledging herself to the man she loved largely appealing. "Thank you, Dorian." Smiling, the Seeker pulled away to kiss the man's cheek.

His lips curved upward, "So what shall we wear, Seeker? Shall we shock the hell out of our resident storyteller and your husband?"

0o0o0o0o0o0o

The door to the bath swung open, jolting Aiden out of his thoughts and on high alert. He stopped, seeing Dorian gliding in. "Damn it, Dorian." Aiden forced his grip to relax on the lip of the wooden tub. "Ever heard of knocking."

"No much of that in Tevinter." Dorian kicked the door shut behind him.

Aiden scrambled to cover himself. "Do you mind?"

Chuckling, Dorian dropped some soap and a small jar of fragrance near the tub. "I have seen you naked before, my friend. I've treated numerous amount of your injuries." He turned, tossing a grin at the man. "Though, sadly, I have not been lucky enough like Cullen to see your-ah-weapon in action."

Groaning, Aiden sank deeper into the water, "I'm still waiting for you to explain to me why you are interrupting my bath."

"It's simple." Dorian squeezed out a fragrant liquid into his hand, smiled, and rubbed it into the Inquisitor's raven colored hair. Dorian dunked Aiden under the water to scrub the man's hair clean. Dorian waited until Aiden came sputtering to the surface. "You need to appear somewhat remotely human-er-I mean human elfish for your wedding, and not smell like a Mabari."

Aiden popped up in the tub. "My what?"

"Get the water out of your ears, Inquisitor." Dorian tossed Aiden a bar of soap and a wash cloth, "I said your wedding. Now clean up, I need to trim your hair and get you into something more than leathers and a wool tunic."

Aiden struggled to keep up with the rambling mage and now the wind whirl night to come. Self-conscious now, he ran his fingers through his dripping wet lock, "Why do you need to trim my hair?"

"Because right now you look like a Kirkwall pirate with your mullet. Vivienne might know how to cut hair, but she doesn't have my talent with a pair of scissors." The mage urged Aiden to start washing. His nakedness didn't bother Dorian. He didn't continue until Aiden begrudgingly complied. "I figured we'd keep the beard and tame it a little bit."

Aiden found himself grateful that Dorian didn't push the subject. The hair he could deal with. He was actually enjoying it short, but still long enough for his beloved Seeker to hold onto in her moments of passion. "I guess I can't do anything but agree since we both know you're far more versed in such areas." Aiden dunked himself again to wash away any lingering soap.

Maker this was really happening. The thought made Aiden grin from ear to ear. Cassandra wanted to stand in front of a Revered Mother and their friends and publicly pledge herself to him. To claim him as her husband so all of Thedas knew. His heart felt like it was about to burst with happiness.

He resurfaced and slicked back his hair. He'd never imagine that in a year and a half that he would find himself in such a delightful personal situation. To have friends. To have family who not only willingly chose to be, but cared for him greatly. The twisted images of the fade were nothing but a glimmer of light in his mind at the moment. Aiden prayed they would stay that way.

Dorian held up a towel. "On your feet, Trevelyan."

Aiden arched a brow.

The mage huffed and cast his gaze to the side. "I've got Varric running around town to find you the perfect clothes. More than a few town members are very eager to help do anything to contribute to the marriage of the Herald of Andraste."

Wrapping the towel around his waist, Aiden carefully stepped out of the tub, "And what will my beloved Seeker being wearing?"

"That, my friend, is a surprise."

"There is one thing that has to happen." Rummaging around in his backpack, he pulled out his journal to show the mage just what he wanted.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Cassandra stood in front of the looking glass stunned by her own appearance. The dress that Dorian found fit her frame perfectly. It was a classic blue cotton one with the neckline stopping right at the curves of her breasts. She let herself be talked in by Dorian to wear a corset that lifted and tucked in all the right places.

"My, my, look at how lovely you are." Dorian appeared behind the Seeker, smiling from ear to ear. The mage was dressed in a more formal set of robes that was also lent to him by a townsman. "I think it will take all of Trevelyan's will power not to drag you from the church and ravish you."

A blush dusted her cheeks., "That would be a shame after all the work you and Varric put into this."

"Cullen had a hand into it too."

She turned to face the mage., "Cullen is here?"

"I sent a raven halfway to the town when the idea came to Varric and I." Dorian held up a single blue Navarran flower and carefully tucked it behind Cassandra's left ear. "There. Thatt completes the picture. You do look beautiful, Cassandra."

"I know it's foolish, but I feel like a fairy tale," Cassandra shyly confessed.

"Well, you are a princess."

She playfully swatted at her friend's shoulder. "You're not allowed to tease me on my wedding day."

He offered his arm. "Now let's get you out of here before the Inquisitor thinks you've changed your mind."

Smiling, she hooked her arm through his. "Let's."

Cullen, dressed in a pair of trimmed leathers, a silk shirt, and a nicely fitted dark blue coat, awaited her just inside the Chantry. A smile lit up his handsome face. "You look radiant, Cassandra."

She smiled in return. "Don't you clean up nicely, Commander. You even shined your boots."

Cullen clicked his heels together on a laugh. "For you and Trevelyan, I made the sacrifice."

Dorian kissed Cassandra's scarred cheek. "I'll be inside." And with that, he slipped inside the main hall.

"I'm glad you're here, Cullen," Cassandra happily stated. "It wouldn't feel right if you weren't."

Cullen was beyond pleased to bring the Seeker a bit of happiness. A small part of his heart would always belong to her, but he knew her true place was at Aiden's side. Their happiness was enough for him. "Will you allow me the honor to walk you down the aisle, M'lady?"

Cassandra locked arms with the Commander. "I would like that very much."

Grinning, Cullen pushed the doors open.

And the breath was stolen straight from her lungs. Bathed in candlelight, with Dorian and Varric standing nearby, was Aiden Trevelyan. Leader of the Inquisition. Herald of Andraste. Keeper of her heart. He was dressed similarly to Cullen, though his jacket was a shade of blue that seemed to make his eyes grow brighter. There was silver threaded into the jacket cuffs and intertwined in an interesting pattern going down his black leathers. Her heart jumped into her throat as his scarred lips pulled up into a lopsided smile while running a hand through his freshly cut hair.

Dorian growled in clear disapproval.

Cassandra giggled. She liked the trimmed beard and new hair style. It was a cross between Dorian and Krem's. The hair on the sides were short, not thin like the charger. Styled more like Dorian's while the hair on the top of his head was largely left alone. Like Krem's, the hair was swept to one side instead of styled up like their resident mage. Well, that's how it started out until Aiden's interference. Now it was sticking up on all ends. The new look suited him for more than the long locks he kept when they first met.

Cullen gently tugged Cassandra into motion.

With each step, Aiden's heart filled with nameless emotions he could only equate to pure and complete happiness. His past, the fade, Corypheus. All of it didn't matter. All that that did matter was the vision that was Cassandra walking proudly towards him. He didn't blink in fear this would all be a dream.

Cassandra stopped in front of the Inquisitor, beaming and nearly bursting at the seams. "Hi."

Aiden's face glowed in the candlelight. "Hi."

The Revered Mother smiled. "Will you two please face each other and join hands."

Cullen squeezed Cassandra's arms and stepped aside.

Aiden held out his hands palm up and Cassandra happily took them in her own. She began to drown in the love shinning in his eyes. The Revered Mother spoke about the Maker, commitment, Andraste, and love. The words filled the air, but they seemed to be a blur to her. All that registered was Aiden's glorious smile and warm hands caressing hers. Was it possible to love a man so much?

"Now Aiden. Cassandra." The use of their name brought their attention back to her. The mother held their gaze. "You stand here in front of the Maker and love ones to pledge yourself to one another from this moment forward, and promise to one another with these ties that bind that you, you will have the strength and love one another. That you will accept the person as they are and not change them. Do you wish to enter this union?"

"We do," both agreed.

"Left hands only." The mother softly commanded taking the yellow swash of fabric from Varric. "Will you honor and respect one another and seek never to break that honor?"

"We do."

The mother draped the first part of silk over the couple's joined hands. "So the first binding is made. Will you share each other's pain and try to ease it?"

Cassandra squeezed Aiden's hand as they spoke as one. "We will." The silk was folded and draped over their hands. Her heart fluttered when the mother announced about the second binding.

"Will you share the burden of each other, so that your spirit grow in this union?"

Aiden's lips curved and echoed his lover's words. "We will."

Cassandra knew that in loving Aiden, she had to accept the burden of his responsibility as Inquisitor. Had to accept that the mark branding the very hand she held would bring him pain and accepted the task to do whatever she could to help ease it.

"So the third binding it made." The Revered mother moved another part of the silk. "Will you share each other's laughter and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other."

"We will."

"So the fourth binding is made." The older woman tied the yellow silk together, pressing their hands tightly against one another. "Aiden and Cassandra, as your hands are bond together, so your lives and spirits are joined in trust and love. The bond of marriage is not formed by these bindings, but rather the vows you have made in front of the Maker. Above you are the stars and below you is earth. Like the stars, your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow." She placed her hand over theirs. "May these hand be blessed this day. May they always hold each other and have the strength to hold on during the storms and stress of life. May they remain tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their wondrous love. May they build a relationship founded in love, and reach in caring. May these hands be healers, protectors, shelter, and guide."

Aiden's finger's flexed under Cassandra's. It had been her hands, her gentle touch, that gave him his first moment of peace. Her hands and love that pulled him from the darkness. Healed and guided him through the hardship of leadership. He wanted to tell her all of this and more, but found his throat clogged with emotions.

"Now the rings."

Cassandra felt Cullen shift next to her before leaning over to place two silver rings in the mother's open palm. They were simple, yet elegant with a series Avaar knots intertwined in the design. The slimmer band held the name 'Trevelyan' while the other read 'Seeker'. Tears filling her eyes, she turned to smile at the Commander, utterly overwhelmed with gratitude for his efforts in making this moment perfect.

"I will now ask you to seal these vows you shared with each other by giving and receiving of rings. The perfect circle of rings symbolize eternity." The mother handed the rings to the respective person. "Your mage friend has even enchanted them so that so as long as the other's heart beats you will know as the rings will remain warm. Maker forbid, it should ever stop, than the metal shall grow cold. If parted and one is thinking about the other, a streak of gold will circle the ring."

Aiden's hand trembled as he slid the knotted silver band onto Cassandra's finger. Seeing it there, a design of his own making, made pride fill his chest. Now the world and the Maker would know she belonged to him.

Unashamed of the tear that slipped down her cheek, Cassandra adjusted their bound hands in order to place the band on Aiden's scarred and slightly crooked finger. She gasped when the metal on her own finger began to warm from the enchantment.

"The precious metal came from the ground as a rough ore and was heated and purified, shaped and polished," The mother continue., "Something beautiful was made from raw elements. Love is like that. It comes from humble beginnings, made by imperfect beings. It is the process of making something beautiful where there was once nothing at all."

"This," Aiden rested his other hand over hers, "Is worth fighting for until there isn't a breath in my body. I swear to the Maker you hold so dear, Cassandra, that however many days I have left in this world will be spent loving you with all my heart."

Cassandra repeated his gesture and stroked her thumb along the inside his marked palm. "I swear by the Maker and the Holy Andraste to spend every day we are blessed with to love you with all my heart."

"Now kiss!" Varric hooted causing the group to laugh. "Kiss!"

He rose his free hand to cup the back of her head to muffle her laughter with his lips. Just like the moment in Adamant, Aiden felt complete. Felt like a better man. Grinning like an idiot, Aiden nipped at her bottom lips before pulling away. "With all my heart."

Cassandra stroked a finger over his scarred and kiss swollen lips. "With all my heart."

"In the eyes of the Maker and the Holy Andraste," The Revered Mother's voice broke the couple's reverie, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. May they both shine on you and provide happiness during the hardship of your quest."

"Wife," Aiden greeted.

"Husband," Cassandra replied back.

"Now let's celebrate!"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The tavern was completely busting with music, dance, drinks, and laughter. The entire town seemed to be crammed into the building, all happy to help celebrate the union between the Seeker and Inquisitor.

Aiden accepted another mug and well wishes from a nameless patron before his gaze fell back to the dance floor.

Cassandra twirled around the floor to the upbeat strum of the guitar, her face flushed from exertion and wine. The warrior laughed and moved in time to the music while Cullen struggled to keep up with out tripping on his own feet.

Aiden hurriedly move his drawing instrument to capture the moment. He wanted to have a tangible memory of this night as the mark was quickly disorienting so many of the ones already implanted in his head. He also wanted Cassandra to have something to look back on and remember their time together once he was gone.

"Alright, Curly." Varric pushed his way through the crowd and thrust a large mug full of the town's most potent mead. "Take a break and drink up. Maybe you'll gain some talent in the meantime."

Parched from dancing, Cullen happily accepted the mug. "I bid you farewell, Seeker."

Cassandra pushed the Navarran flower back into place. "Are you here to dance with me, Varric?"

The storyteller shrugged. "I guess I can suffer one or two, seeing how it's your wedding night."

"When are you going to admit that you don't hate me anymore?"

"On my death bed." The confession caused them both to laugh. "Now prepare to be amazed by my dancing skills, Seeker. We dwarves might have short legs, but we know how to move."

The music changed and a drum and fiddle joined the guitar. Cassandra curtsied to her partner. "Action is louder than words, Dwarf."

Aiden laughed the moment Cullen dropped himself in the empty seat beside him and nearly fell out of it. Quick as ever, Aiden caught the mug before the Command was wearing it. After all, they were wearing borrowed clothes. "Good to see you letting loose, Commander Cullen." He handed him back the mug and took a sip from his own. "I wasn't sure you had it in you."

"It feels nice." Cullen nearly drained his cup in one big gulp. Hangover be damned. Tonight was about celebration. About toasting to love and happiness. "For the first time since I joined the order I feel like simply Cullen Rutherford. Not the man they trained me to be. I didn't know how much control they had on me until I broke their leash."

Lyrium. Aiden understood being bound to a substance just to function. To feel as close to human as possible. Understood the struggle not to give into temptation when the aches got too much to bear. Ever since Dorian gave him that potion his blood was humming and thirsting for more.

The Commander's golden eyes drifted to the dance floor and he sighed. "You're a lucky bastard, Trevelyan."

Aiden let his own gaze follow, nearly laughing at the oddness of seeing the rogue and warrior dancing together. "It meant a lot to her you were here. She does love you."

A sad smile tugged at Cullen's scarred lip. "And I her. She's my closest friend. I don't think I would be the man you see without her." He clasped a hand over Aiden's shoulder. The man barely flinched. "I have you to thank for that as well. Brother…"

Though Cullen was inebriated, Aiden knew his words were completely heartfelt and true. Aiden flipped to a new page to capture the scene as he mulled over what Cullen said. They hadn't gotten off on the right foot and Maker knew they had their issues over certain matters. But since their scuffle things had changed. Cullen became a confidante, something he didn't know he needed until bonding with the Commander over their chess games. Aiden shared his past, his faults, and shortcomings and never once did Cullen judge. In fact, Cullen offered to help him become a better leader the Inquisition leader along with Cassandra. Become a man who possibly might be more than Aiden believed he could be.

Aiden looked up from his journal and at the man he deemed to be his brother. Maker, if he thought his life could be like this during those nights in the dark cells, he would have thought himself crazy.

"Excuse me, Commander."

Both males' attention shifted to the woman standing near their table.

"Cullen," the Warrior corrected. "No Commander here."

"I'm Hera, and would be very interested in sharing a dance with you," Hera offered with a sultry smile.

Intrigued by the offer, Cullen straightened in his chair. "I would very much like that. I feel I must warn you that I'm a terrible dancer and will most likely murder your feet."

Hera's eyes sparkled. "For a dance with you, I think I'll be able to handle it."

Aiden gave the Commander a friendly push from the chair after taking the nearly empty mug from his hand.

"So," Cassandra's hips swayed as she sauntered her way over to his side, "I think I've danced with just about everyone except my husband. Shall we rectify that, my love?"

Maker's Breath! She was completely breathtaking. Aiden shifted in his chair, his body reacting to watching her breast heave with her short breathes. All he wanted to do was haul her over his shoulder, take her upstairs, or an empty corner, or anywhere in this blasted place, to ravish her. "I'm afraid even Josephine's forced teaching hasn't made me even remotely capable."

"Hmpf." Cassandra slid onto his lap, forcing the Inquisitor to put down his journal. One hand fell to her hip while the other slid down the exposed skin of her back until it rest on the swell of her ass. She released the last button of his jacket and began to play with his open collar. "You clean up nicely, Trevelyan."

He smiled as the tips of her fingers stroked up the column of his scarred throat. She always made him feel so desirable despite the marks branding his body. Having her on his lap, being opening seen with him so far away from Skyhold, and the fact she publicly bound herself to him, still felt like a dream. "As do you, Seeker. Whomever lent you the dress deserves the highest honor the Inquisition has to offer."

"I wanted..." She licked her dry lips, fighting a deep blush. "I wanted to do this right."

"My heart nearly stopped the moment I saw you."

Cassandra leaned forward to whisper into his ear, "If you like me in it, then you'll love what I'm wearing under it."

A strangled, almost pained nose, caught in Aiden's throat. His hardened arousal pulsed and he resisted the urge to buck into her. "You're killing me, Cassandra."

Chuckling, she nipped at his earlobe, "I wouldn't want that. I'll make a deal with you, Husband. One dance, no matter how horrible it is, and then I'll let you whisk me away upstairs so we can make love until we both can't stand."

"You're such a temptress, Wife." Aiden grinned. "How can I deny such an offer?"

She drew away and was caught in the heat of his gaze. They were nearly black and blown wide with lust. An animal set on devouring its prey. And Cassandra was Aiden's. She almost threw the deal out the window. Almost. "Come, Trevelyan."

Aiden let Cassandra pull him to his feet, but he took her by the waist to guide her back onto the dance floor.

One dance turned into two. Two turned into three. After that Aiden lost count. The music stayed fast and the moves were simple enough. Yet, Aiden had no rhythm and two left feet. That of course, didn't stop him from enjoying watching the Seeker sway to the music. From enjoying her laughter when a random occupant or one of their companions gave her a quick twirl. From enjoying the feel of her pressed against him and every catch of breath that escaped her when the danced called him to lift her off her feet.

He should feel ashamed for experiencing so much joy so soon after the horrors of Adamant. After losing Alistair. The man should be enjoying this moment with them. He should be reunited with his warden. Be the one getting married.

"You're frowning," Dorian stated softly in the Inquisitor's ear. "Enjoy this while it last."

The made was right. Aiden fixed his expression by the time Cassandra completed her turn and flattened herself against him. If anything, Cassandra deserved this moment of interrupted happiness. She had sacrificed so much in creating the Inquisition. Even by choosing to be with him, Cassandra forfeited a piece of her heart, knowing that the mark would eventually consume him.

"I love you, Aiden Trevelyan," Cassandra whispered, curling her arm over the back of his neck.

His glowing eyes danced. "And I you, Cassandra Trevelyan." He let the name hang in the air for a moment. "I do understand if you'll keep your name. I know… I mean…"

Cassandra silenced him with a kiss. "I've always been proud to be with you, Aiden. Nothing will please me more than to take your name."

His hands shot to her face, drawing her tight as possible to him to plunder her mouth. This meeting of lips wasn't gentle. It was hungry. Demanding. Almost brutal. He all but forgot about everyone in the room until the crowd broke into applause.

Laughing, she drew away. "Take me upstairs, Trevelyan."

"Gladly."

They didn't even get two steps before somebody stopped them. This someone happened to be a dark haired boy, no more than five seasons, holding a bustle of flowers.

"'Cuse me." The boy tipped his head back to gaze up at the couple. "Daddy said a beautiful woman deserves flowers. So, I wanted to give these to you."

Bunching the skirt of her dress, Cassandra knelt down to smile at the boy. Judging by the welted petals and bits of dirt clinging to the roots, he had picked them himself. "What's your name, young man?"

"Jeremiah," He answered on a blush. "M'lady."

Taking the flowers, Cassandra made a big show of sniffing them. "They're beautiful, Jeremiah."

"Just like you."

Aiden grinned. "Lad has good taste."

"Jemmy. Come along now," his father beckoned.

Before he could skitter off, Cassandra kissed Jeremiah's cheek and his young face lit up brighter than the sun. "Good night, Jemmy."

"'Night."

Cassandra stood and found the rogue wearing an expression she couldn't really place. All she knew was that the dark look in his eyes left it hard for her to breathe. He looked dangerous, but she knew that this wasn't the destructive type. The only one in his wake was her.

"Upstairs," he growled, hand twitching at his side. Maker preserve him, Aiden wanted to take her right where they stood. He wanted to claim her. Seed her in hopes something would grow. "Now."

Someone hooted. Dorian, if Cassandra could place it. Another voice raised up to the balcony following them to their room. Maybe Varric. Or Cullen? She couldn't put much thought into anything but putting one foot in front of the other or risk throwing herself at Aiden.

Body taunted and control holding on by a single thread, Aiden shut and locked the door behind him. He even wedged a chair under the door knob for extra precaution. No one was going to interrupt them.

Laughing, Cassandra carefully set the bundle of flowers and the one tucked behind her ear on the bedside table. He watched her every movement. Watched her like a predator. Watching her like, if he didn't have her this very moment, he would go mad. She licked her bottom lips evoking a low growl from the Inquisitor. "Aiden." Her soft voice was all but drowned out by the sound coming from the floor below. Heart pounding like a dragon in her throat, Cassandra became enthralled in him.

He stalked across the room, taut and ready to pounce, his blue eyes completely feral. "I wanted to be gentle." Aiden cupped a hand over the nape of her neck and hauled her on the tip of her toes so their mouths were aligned. "But Maker, Cassandra. I can't…I just need you too damn much."

Cassandra struggled to remember to breathe as the heat of his words washed over her. Aiden stood before her, hair mussed from sweet, face flushed, and still half dressed in his formal wear, literally shaking to be unleashed from his shackle of control. Waiting on her to free him. "I told you before," he hissed, actually hissed, the moment she pressed her palms flat against his clothed chest. That hissing turned into a deep throat growl as they slid up the silk to push the jacket from his shoulder.

It landed with a plop on the hardwood floor.

Close now, Cassandra ran the tip of her tongue over his scarred bottom lip. The sound he made nearly made her knees buckle. "You never have to apologize for needing me."

Still struggling to remain in control for a moment longer, Aiden pressed her against the tall bed post with more force than he meant too. "I love you, Seeker." The words, once struggled with, now fell freely from his lips. He felt foolish now for all his fretting over the issue in the first place. Aiden cupped her marred cheek, his grip firm, afraid if he didn't hold onto her tight enough she would disappear like she did in the fade. "I never thought…Dared to hope to ever need someone like this. You are the reason I put one foot in front of the other. You are what makes it all worth it. Maker, if I were to lose you…"

His voice trailed off. They always acknowledged the fact the mark would take him from this earth. If he was to lose her, Aiden would fall straight back into the darkness.

Wanting to chase away the gloomy thoughts, Cassandra fisted a hand in his silk shirt to yank his mouth to hers. And it worked. Soon one hand slid down to the swell of her hip and tugged. She easily hoisted herself up and locked her legs around his narrow waist. She threw her head back, the new position settled her perfectly over his leather encased arousal. "Sweet Maker," she purred, rutting against him.

Aiden slammed a palm against the post to keep them upright. His heart pounded in his throat and his knees were knocking together. He pushed up the hem of her dress, bunching it at her hips, leaving her exposed. Stocking, garter belt, fancy small cloth. A surge of primitive want tore through his veins. "You're right, Cass." He couldn't even control his breathing. "I do love what you're wearing underneath."

"Remember," she felt the hand not supporting her run along the inside of her thighs, "the dress is borrowed."

Chucking, Aiden pushed the skirt up higher. He could feel the heat, see the wetness glistening on her inner thigh. "Oh Holy Maker, Lord of the Earth and its people…"

His choice of words made her giggle, "Dorian thought you might like it."

"You're such a temptress, Cassandra." Aiden slipped a finger beneath the band of the garter belt, pulled, and it snap back hard enough for the sound to echo throughout the room. Her gasp sent a bolt of fire straight to his already hardened cock. "My personal temptress. I will sell what's left of my soul to taste you, woman."

A smile played across her kiss swollen lips, "Your soul belongs to me, and mine to you." Cassandra took a deep breath, her breast, covered by the thin fabric of the dress, dragged across Aiden's chest. His grip tightened. "Always."

Aiden let out a surprise gasp and nearly lost his hold on her when Cassandra hooked two fingers in his belt. The tables seemed to be turned. No longer was he the hunter. Now he was the prey. And Cassandra looked ready to ravish to whet her appetite. Ever so slowly, he watched the Seeker undo the first notch. The temptress that she was kept brushing purposely against his swollen arousal.

"For fuck's sake, woman!" Aiden slammed his hand back against the thick bed post.

A wicked smile crossed her face. "All good things come to those who wait."

"Bullshit… You…" His word flattered, his mind going blank. The Seeker's sword calloused hands wrapped themselves delicately around his cock. "Shit-Shit-Cassandra."

"I want to do something we tried only once before." She slowly detangled herself from him and slid until her knees hit the floor. Cassandra looked up under hooded eyes.

The realization of what his wife wanted to do caused a moment of bone chilling terror. "You-You." He swallowed hard, struggling to keep any blackness from tainting this wonderful night. "You don't have too. I don't… Don't." Feeling her warm breath fanning across the tips of his shaft struck him dumb.

Cassandra placed a tender kiss on the head of his arousal. The catch in his breath made her feel more powerful than Andraste herself, blasphemous as that might be. "You're always so giving, and I've longed to do this again."

Despite his hands trembling, he unclenched the one bearing the mark so he could brush the tips of his fingers over the jagged skin running down her cheek. That memory of Crestwood played more than a few times in his head during those two months in the hot desert of the approach. In his current state of arousal, Aiden feared he wouldn't be able to control himself. "I don't want to hurt you."

She glanced up. "In all our time together you've never once hurt me. Nor have you pushed me out of my comfort zone unwillingly. Like always, we can stop at any time." Cassandra eased down the fitted leathers to expose more skin for her to feast on. She started by rubbing her cheek along the inside his thigh. The muscles trembled and she took in the earthly male scent and a bit of cedar that always seemed to linger on his skin. His fingers slid back into his hair, only barely holding on as he gazed down and waited. Anticipation filled his eyes. Holding his gaze, Cassandra wrapped one hand around the base of his shaft and took just the tip of him into her mouth.

Aiden's grip tightened in her dark mane of hair, fighting the urge to buck forward. The sensation of her hot velvet mouth wasn't something he could put into words. "Maker's breath, Cassandra." Agonizingly slow, she took him in further into her mouth until he could feel the back of her throat. He nearly fell over the edge right then and there. It suddenly became hard to breathe. To think. To do anything beyond feel In a desperate hope to remain up right, he slapped his hand against the bed post. "Cassandra."

She loved hearing her name fall from his marred lips. Almost like a prayer. Again, she fumbled a bit. Trying to find the right way to work her hands and mouth together to squeeze out the most pleasure. His breathless murmurs and deep rumble in his throat was her guide as she tested what was the right amount of pressure so not to hurt the tender flesh. After all, she was quite fond of it.

His fingers of his right hand dug into the wood so far he splintered the edges. Still, he fought to thrust into her wonderful mouth. So many times, he had seen this act where the receiver of this act would brutally drive himself into the giver until they couldn't breathe. Or make them gag so much that they would vomit and be forced to swallow it back down as not to displeasure the customer.

Stop it! Aiden shook the thoughts from his head and concentrated on the here and now. On the woman who loved him and who he loved in return. He felt her hands move over his thigh until her nails found purchase in the cheeks of his ass, urging him to move. "Shit. Cassandra."

At first, Cassandra set the pace until instinct kicked in and Aiden took over. He was careful not to move too fast or any deeper than she could handle. His fingers tightened in her hair, holding fast and steady, and with a grip that pulled a few strands loose in his efforts to keep himself in check. The fact she could make the mighty Inquisitor tremble was something she would never tire from.

Feeling the familiar burn, Aiden freed himself from Cassandra's grasp, hauled her to her feet, and then off them to pin her against the large bedpost with her legs wrapped around him. He frantically tore at the small cloth until her slick folds were exposed to him. Ever so slowly, Aiden eased a set of fingers into her heat causing her to curse him to the fade and back. "I'm going to take you right here. It's going to be fast and rough." He leaned forward to sink his teeth at the thudding pulse in her neck.

Cassandra buried her fingers in his hair and held on for dear life. "Then do it already, Trevelyan. No use standing about talking about it."

Aiden chuckled. "You're right as always, Seeker." He purred her title in the way he knew she liked it. Removing his fingers, he replaced it with his swollen cock, filling her in one powerful stroke. Like he promised, the pace he set wasn't slow. That would come later. They had the whole night to spend together in any way they liked. His nails bit into her bare thighs as he drove himself relentlessly into her, hiking her up higher on the bed post. "Do you know what I want?"

"You're asking questions now?" She managed between her wanton moans. "Hardly the time."

"Right again, but…" He brought his hand up to the column of her throat bringing her mouth to his until his lungs screamed for hair. The burning of his impending release was back and he could feel her walls start to shudder around his cock. He loved when they could reach this point together. "I want to spill my seed inside you. Again and again until your swollen and heavy with my child."

His voice, those words, backed with such emotions stole what little breath she had left in her body. She wanted to give him that. Longed to give him anything he desired. Never did Cassandra think she would love a man like this. So fierce and completely. She always scoffed at the books, at the women who needed a man to feel whole. To complete the puzzle of their heart. Now, thinking of even a day without the man losing himself in her, stilled her heart in terror.

Twisting, Aiden all but threw them onto the bed, driving himself into her one last time as they tumbled over the edge moaning each other's name. Or shouting. He couldn't tell and he didn't care if all of Thedas heard them. Never did and never would. This woman was, in the eyes of the Maker, his now and he had no intentions of ever letting her go.

When he came to, he found Cassandra shaking and it wasn't from pleasure. He pushed himself off her, bearing his weight. "Cassandra." Aiden caught her chin when she tried to turn her head to hide the tears. "Andraste's mercy, did I hurt you?"

"No." Fighting the tears were useless, so Cassandra gave into them. "You didn't hurt me."

"Then what is it?" Seeing her cry felt like his guts were being ripped out. "Please talk to me. I can't stand to see you like this. I'm not that strong."

Cassandra gently touch a hand to his cheek, tracing one of the numerous scars branding it. "After the life you've had, you deserve anything you want. I want to be able to give you everything you desire, but I don't…" Her heart shuttered and a sob caught in her throat. "I don't know if I can give you a child, Aiden."

"Cassandra." He laid his brow against hers, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up. But seeing you with Annabeth and the other children in Skyhold, then tonight with that boy, I just… Just wanted." He struggled to find his voice. "I wanted to leave something behind to show that, in the end, there was good inside me. To give you a piece of me when I'm gone."

Her grip tightened at the fate they both knew awaited him at the end of this quest. "You deserve to have someone carry on your legacy, but I don't think my body is capable of giving that to you."

"Maybe it's me." He hated thinking this her fault. "Who knows what those monsters did to me. They forced so many drugs into my system. I should have thought about that before asking you to join with me. Now you're stuck with-"

The Seeker silenced him with a kiss. "I love you. Nothing will ever stop me."

"We'll just keep trying." Aiden smiled in hopes to chase away the sadness from her eyes. He began to pepper kisses along her neck, drowning in the giggles he evoked from her. "And trying. And trying. And trying until we've made love in every nook and cranny in Skyhold."

It amazed her how quickly this man could change her mood. "I like the sound of that." Hooking a leg around his waist, she rolled until she straddled him. "I think we should start that trying right now."

Aiden's body was already hardening. "I like the sound of that." Reaching up, he carefully pushed the sleeve of her dress off her shoulders until it pooled at her hips. The site of the corset clinging to her frame and pushing up her breast had him whimpering like a wounded animal. "You are really trying to kill me, aren't you?"

A smile touched her lips. "Maybe just a little."

"Maker." He reached up to tug at the laces. "I love you."

"Good thing I love you too."