Roderick and Ana stand a foot apart, facing each other as the Revered Mother stands beside them. She looks at them in turn with a smile.
"Before we commence with the ceremony, I will ask this only once; is this truly what you desire?" She asks. Without looking away from one another, Ana nods.
"It is."
"More than anything." Roderick adds.
The Mother nods. "Very well. Today in front of the Maker and his bride we are here to bind these two souls until death do they part." She says. She picks up a richly embroidered ribbon depicting Andraste's life and death from table. "Now, clasp right hands."
As they clasp their hands, the Revered Mother mutters a brief prayer to Andraste to protect their bond as she wraps the ribbon around their clasped hands. Once finished, she smiles. "Now, say the words. Ana, you may begin."
Nodding, Ana exchanges a smile with Roderick. She raises her opposite hand.
"With this hand, I will lift your sorrows and share your burdens." She says. The Revered Mother hands her the silver pitcher. She pours some of the deep burgundy wine into one of the silver chalices on the small table between them. "Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine."
Handing the pitcher back, she reaches out to grab one of the long, thin candles from the Mother. Taking care to keep the flame away from her mouth to avoid extinguishing it, she rises it slightly. "With this candle, I will light your way into darkness and vanquish any harm against you." She lights the larger two wick candle on the table between them before handing it back. A well of happiness tinged with sadness falls over her as the Revered Mother then hands her one of her parents' rings. She holds it up. "With this ring, I ask you to be mine until the end of our days."
She slips the ring on his ring finger.
"Well done." The Revered Mother beams. She turns to Gilmore. "Now you, Roderick." Word for word, Roderick repeats the vows as he fills her chalice, lights the other wick to create a single flame and slips the ring onto her left ring finger.
The Revered Mother raises her arms. "Now, by the grace of the Maker and his blessed bride, I pronounce you two wed. You may now seal it with a kiss."
"Gladly." Rory mutters, reaching up with free hand to caress Ana's cheek and pulls her into a kiss.
Spotting the remnants of his meal still clinging to the edges of his mouth in the nearby mirror, Alistair quickly wipes it away with his clean tunic sleeve. Duncan had summoned him as he was eating and told him that it was urgent. He hadn't wanted to just throw the rest away so the lad had quickly lifted the bowl to his mouth and slurped up what was left of his stew.
He shifted from one foot to the other. He was confused to find that Duncan was not in his tent when he arrived yet was informed that he was supposed to wait by his mentor's guards. He practically jumps out of his skin as the flap opens and his mentor strides in.
"Good. You're here." Duncan mutters, walking over toward the chest at the far side of his tent. Alistair watches curiously as he rifles through the contents before shutting it once more. As he rises, he turns and Alistair spots the all too familiar large silver chalice used for the Joining. His brows raise. "Are we having the Joining now?" He frowns.
Duncan shakes his head, brushing past him to place the chalice and a few vials on the table. "Not tonight. Since Ana's brother, Fergus, has finally arrived, she and the other two will be going through the Joining tomorrow night."
Alistair gapes at him. "Fergus is here? Does Ana know?"
"She does." Duncan nods. "Normally we would have done it tonight but I've given Ana some time to spend some quality time with Ser Gilmore and her brother in case she perishes during her Joining." He frowns. "I need you go find Warden Elden. He'll be with the other senior Wardens or with the other mages. Tell him to begin preparations for tomorrow night."
Alistair nods, taking the chalice before disappearing through the flap to do as he's told. With a sigh, Duncan sighs. "Now let us hope that at least one of them survive."
Following their nuptials, the young newlyweds eagerly return to Gilmore's tent. Pulling aside the flap, Gilmore motions Ana inside. "After you, M'lady."
She giggles and ducks inside. "I can't believe it!" She beams as Gilmore lights the little lantern. "We're actually married!"
As he sets it down, he watches as a tear rolls down her cheek as she looks down at her ring. Turning to her he places one hand on her hip and brings the other up to her cheek. Using his thumb, he wipes away her tear as her luminescent blue eyes meet his.
"What is it, my love?" He frowns. "Are you unhappy?"
Her lower lip trembles as she shakes her head. "No. I would only be unhappy if you ever stopped loving me, Rory.
Moving her hair away from her face, he smiles. "Never. All of Thedas would have to burn to ash before that happens." He leans in and closes the gap as his arms wrap around her, taking care not to not press too hard.
Ana pulls away and Gilmore watches as she removes her bodice before dropping it beside her. Stepping forward, he grabs the ends of her tunic and gently lifts it off before setting it aside.
"I've dreamed of this moment." Roderick says breathlessly, kneeling before her. Her fingers run through his hair as he lifts the end of her undershirt, pressing slow kisses along the waistband of her trousers. Her eyes close and she bites her lip. He stops and looks up at her. "When you left the castle, you were never far from my thoughts. Every night I prayed I would return to you…" He smiles. "I also prayed that one day, you would finally be mine, properly."
Glancing down at him, she smiles. "And now, my dear husband, I am yours."
"And I'm yours." He pulls the string of her trousers and presses a kiss below her navel with each button he undoes before sliding them off.
Ana helps him with his tunic, undershirt and trousers before he lies her back on his bedroll. "Maker… you look like an angel, my love." He breathes. Her short hair is fanned out on the pillow and her long night shirt clings to her body as the lantern illuminates her flushed cheeks.
"Please." Ana whispers as she reaches out for him. "I need you."
He smiles as he kneels before her legs, gently pulling them apart before placing a kiss on the inside of her knee and up the inside of her thigh before crawling between them. He leans down for a kiss before trailing more slow, agonizing kisses along her jaw and neck.
"Rory…" She groans, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Please…"
He chuckles and places another kiss on her lips before smiling. "As you wish."
Positioning himself, he watches as she bites her lip as he takes himself in his hand teases her opening with the slick head of his cock before gently pushing it inside.
Her breath catches and he stops, frowning. "Am hurting you? I know you're still sore."
"A little." She says with a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine. Just try not to touch my side too much. It's still pretty tender."
"Sorry." Putting a hand on either side of her, he slowly pushes himself the rest of the way inside her earning a moan. Careful not to put too much weight on her, he begins pumping in and out between her legs, groaning each time to fully sheathes himself to the hilt inside her.
Unlike their usual couplings, they took their time. Every so often, Roderick stopped his thrusts to plant tender kisses on her lips or along her neck before beginning once more. Aside from Ana's residual tenderness from her attack, everything was perfect.