A/N: first, thank you to everyone who reviewed saying they would love to see this scene. It took me a while to figure out, especially in a respectful manner. I did what research I could to base it on actual Persian wedding traditions (it's not comprehensive, meant to just touch on highlights), to hopefully this does some honor to what may have been done at the time.
Dastan nervously paced the antechamber to the great hall. Even with his years now of royal life, he was unused to the fine white suit he wore, topped with the flower garland hanging around his neck. Garsiv watched him with an amused smile.
"Not having second thoughts, are you?" his older brother teased.
"Never thought I'd be more comfortable facing a battle than a peaceful ceremony," Dastan muttered back.
"So you're not perfect at everything. At least you've gotten the chance to see her plenty of times before going through with it. Keep that image in your head, follow what the mula tells you to do, and you'll be fine."
Dastan tried to breathe as steadily as possible. His eyes kept drifting to the markings on his palms, at once both familiar and yet still strange to him. His life was about to change in many ways, he was just trying to keep up. But before he knew it, the door in front of him opened.
Garsiv accompanied him to the head of the assembled court, where two chairs waited along with a large mirror, two candelabras, and one lit candle on each side. King Sharaman and Tus stood to one side, men from Tamina's family on the other. Dastan accepted a cup of wine once he took his place in one of the chairs. The presiding mula gestured to the main entrance.
Though veiled, Tamina was also dressed in white and fresh flowers. She and her entourage of attendants instantly became the focal point of the proceeding. Dastan reached out to take her hands as she approached—she of course wore the betrothal jewelry on her right hand. After kissing her hands, he guided her to the seat next to him, where they shared bread and wine together.
Tamina's attendants held a length of delicate fabric like a canopy over both their heads, and the mula began to intone the blessings. The witnesses made their statements, the vows were pronounced, the rings exchanged. Dastan could just catch Tamina's eyes through her veil. Somehow he knew she was smiling.
At last they both received a taste of honey, for a sweeter life, stood up together, and made their way back to the main doors. Onlookers showered them the whole way with tokens of good luck. Once out of the great hall, Dastan pulled Tamina over to a corner.
"What are you doing? We're not yet in private, there's still the feast, and guests to receive, and—"
"We have privacy for this moment. For now, that's enough," he whispered to her. Daringly he lifted Tamina's veil just enough to see her face. Caressed her cheek with one hand. She scoffed, blushing, but allowed the gesture to linger.
Sounds of musicians striking up a lively tune from within the great hall reached them. Dastan and Tamina clasped hands once again, veil back in its customary place. Whatever destiny had in store, at least they knew they wouldn't be facing it alone. An intertwined future of their own making.