When Tally heard that the biddy program was going to be retired along with Alder a crushing guilt and regret laid heavy on her. She wanted the truth but she didn't want her to have to die because of her.

She knows she's lived a very long life but still she doesn't want to be the reason why it ends. A world without Sarah Alder in it? She hadn't realized how painful that would be.

It would be like severing their connection all over again. What had she done? Deep down she knew she loved Sarah Alder, it took seeing that disillusion for her to realize it. Even when she disappointed her she would love her regardless and she thinks that she's most definitely disappointed Alder as well.

So she ran as fast as she could, letting her feelings lead her to where she felt her. In her quarters still. She's not sure she's ever been in this part of the building before, it's on the opposite side of her office, used to be office.

She calms herself before knocking on the door and she waits, her heart is beating out of her chest. She's so scared to meet her gaze after what they went through a few hours ago.

She could feel her on the other side of the door, she pressed her hand over the wood where she felt her.

"Gen-Sarah?"

It felt so weird for Tally to call her by her first name, but she wasn't a general anymore and that was all her fault and calling her by her last name just felt weird to her too. This was all very weird for her, she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do.

"Please, I need to talk to you. I'm so sorry about earlier," Tally cried and rested her forehead against the door, "I just need to see you."

The door opened and Tally fell into her waiting arms, "What is it Craven?"

Tally could hear the rumble of her voice and she didn't have to meet her gaze to know she'd been crying even after she had walked away.

Alder righted her and closed the door behind her, Tally took a quick glance of the room before turning back to look at her. Noticing her long hair flowing behind her just like she saw in her disillusion and that night she went to confront her.

"I heard about...about them retiring the biddy program and this isn't what I wanted. I didn't know that I was giving you a death sentence. There must be something we can do so that doesn't happen?"

Alder glared down at her, "You are still such a naive child, Tally. Not realizing that your actions have consequences, consequences that you have to deal with. For better or for worse you have to deal with that."

"But, I…"

"Isn't this what you wanted!? Did you even stop to think about my side of the story? Were those even my memories you were seeing? Did you ever think that Nicte was influencing you?"

Tally's lip trembled, she was right about everything, she had been acting like a child. She was so set on the truth she didn't even bother to ask for her side of the story, even though she was stubborn too and wouldn't speak of it.

"81 wars I fought, I watched millions die, I gave my life for this country. For all witches so that we may have a future free from persecution from them. I made myself a dog to this government for all of you. I gave up everything and this is how you all repay me," Alder was crying angry tears as she clutched at Tally who made no move to hide her own tears.

Tally raised her hands to grasp her cheeks but Alder slammed her into the door, hands pinned to each side of the door as her fiery gaze bore into her. Tally couldn't bear the guilt so her head sagged to look at the ground.

"Please...please, let me help you. I'll do anything. I don't want you to die. I couldn't bear to live in a world without you in it."

Alder let out the combination of a laugh and cry, "You should've thought of that beforehand."

The older witch raised her chin to look at her and she stared into those eyes and saw the suffering that lay within.

"I couldn't understand how in such a short time someone could become my whole world, Tally Craven. I wouldn't have entertained such ideas till now. When I have nothing, not even my pride. You took everything from me. But I'm not disappointed, I told you to seek the truth after all."

Tally let out a whimper as their foreheads met and her wrists were released from their strong hold.

"I-I was confused, when Nicte got in my head. She showed me my greatest fear and my greatest desire. And it was you. I didn't understand. Any of it till you walked away. You're right, I've been so naive. But I want to understand. I want to know you, Sarah, not the general."

Alder pulled away and Tally's hands shot out to grasp her coat afraid she'd disappear from her.

"Please, don't go."

Alder's eyes went gentle as she peeled her grasp from her, "If you want to save my life, you will have to share yours with mine. Not like a biddy. But what's yours is mine and what's mine is yours."

She stepped away and went to her bedside drawer, removing a wooden box laced with floral carvings and from it she unfolded a purple cloth of some sort and brought it to rest in hands in front of the redhead.

And then it clicked for her, "A handfasting?"

"Yes, legally they won't be allowed to take the life of a military officer's spouse. But this will only be temporary, until perhaps we can find another way for me to live my life without biddies."

Tally gulped as she stared at the purple cloth, "Is that even possible?"

"I'm not sure, I've never researched it. The magic that this came from came from the cession. But I assure you I will not die without a fight. So what do you say, Tally Craven? This can be annulled at any time should you wish it to. I've saved this very cloth for a day when perhaps I'd wed but never imagined it'd happen since I cannot bear children and my whole life has been war. And also…."

"Also what?"

"I've never loved another. Despite what you may think I do not agree with the Imperatrix and her need to breed the strongest lines. Believe it or not deep down I am a romantic, I've just buried that part of me away. Till...now."

"Are you saying?"

There was a light blush to the older woman's cheeks as she cleared her throat, "I think I am very much in love with you and there is no need for you to reciprocate at all. I just felt the need to be honest with you, since I am no longer your commanding officer and…"

"I love you, too. I've been in love with you since before I even came here. Well, it was probably just a crush and hero worship at first, but now. I think this is love too. Like you said I'm young and naive and I have a lot to learn. And I'll make it up to you everyday for what I have caused you. So I am sure about this."

Tally wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at her as she placed her hand over the cloth.

Alder smiled and stood straight, she took the cloth from between their hands and raised her palm to hers, their fingers threading. It took some maneuvering but she managed to tie the purple cloth around their hands with the help of some magic, "Tally Craven, would you be my wife?"

"Yes, I will be your wife. Sarah Alder, would you be my wife?"

"Yes, Tally Craven, I will be your wife."

And the cloth surrounding their bound hands glowed and melted into their skin, disappearing.

"What happened?"

"This is our bond now, much like how we still had our connection after you were unbiddied. We are connected as you so eloquently have told me."

Tally blushed as they still grasped each other's hands, "But don't we need some sort of witnesses for this to be official?"

Sarah just stared at her with a look that reeked of sarcasm which Tally was so not used to and quite frankly it kind of scared her.

"If anyone wants to dispute this they'll have to go through me. Besides the bond is there, they can't break it," Alder held her hand tighter as she lifted her chin."

"Do I get a kiss?"

Tally just beamed at her.

"I suppose since you are my wife now, but you're going to have to earn the rest," Alder leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips filled with all of her sadness, love, and happiness.

Tally was crying by the time they parted, having felt all of that in the kiss, "I promise, I will do everything in my power to make things up to you. I will save your life."

"I have no doubt, you've saved me so many times already," she pressed another kiss to the young woman's lips.

Pulling away once more Tally grasped at her cheeks, "Will you let me help carry your burden? Will you tell me about your whole life?"

"Do you think you could handle that? You might find some more of my choices that you don't agree with."

"I understand now, why you did what you did. War is ugly and unfair. There are choices that are hard to make. I will carry that weight with you. I don't want you to have to deal with this all alone anymore. You don't have to be alone anymore."

Alder grasped her cheeks back, "Am I allowed to love? Do I have permission to live? Is it alright for me to lay my burdens down? Because I am so very tired, Tally."

Tally kisses her, "Yes, yes, yes, yes. Love me, please love me. Because I have so much love to give to you."

Alder lay with her telling her life from the beginning, of course not getting very far before both fell asleep. This was the most unusual marriage to happen between two witches, but also the most needed made from the purest unconditional love.