Cas met Alastair in the kitchen. "Hello, Princeling, how was your day?" Alastair asked jovially.
"Productive," Cas answered.
"Oh?" Alastair's eyebrow rose in exaggerated surprise. "Let's see what you've accomplished then."
Cas led the way out back to the pile of freshly chopped wood and Alastair whistled appreciatively. "Well, well. A productive day, indeed. And from royal hands unaccustomed to labor as well. Well done, Princeling, well done."
"Since you are so well pleased," Cas said, "perhaps you will remember your promise?"
Alastair smirked, an unfriendly expression, and nodded. "Of course. What is it that you would like?"
"The human hunter who is held captive here in the shape of a white dove."
Alastair froze momentarily and surprise flitted across his face, but he waved a hand dismissively in Cas's direction. "What story is this? That's quite an imagination you have there, Princeling. A hunter flying about as a dove? Nonsense."
"Nevertheless, I request the hunter as my reward," Cas said.
Alastair scowled. "Fine, then we shall find you a hunter." And he stalked off around the side of the house. Cas didn't know how long he remained standing alone in the back garden, but the moon was high in the sky before Alastair returned with a wolf on a leash. "Here's a hunter. Would you have it?"
Cas looked beyond the short brown fur and pointed teeth and saw the brightness of Dean's soul burning within. "Yes, I will accept this Hunter in the shape of a wolf."
Alastair jerked the wolf's leash back angrily. "No, this isn't right. You asked for a human hunter, let me find something else." He fled again and returned this time almost at once with an old man, face marred with lines, hair wispy and white. "Would you like this hunter?" Alastair asked.
The transformation into an old man did nothing to disguise Dean's soul from Cas and Cas nodded before Alastair had finished asking the question. "Yes, I will take this hunter."
Alastair reared back in surprise at that, his face becoming twisted and ugly in his fury. He shoved Dean toward Cas, and Cas had to rush forward to catch him before he fell. Alastair raged around the back garden, throwing the wood from the pile in all directions, ripping up herbs and flowers and weeds indiscriminately. Cas kissed Dean's aged and weathered face gently and when he pulled back he was holding his Dean again and the old man was gone.
"Hello, Dean," Cas said, ignoring the raging demon and the chaos around them.
"Hey, Cas," Dean answered, smiling and leaning back in for another kiss. He was pulled away viciously by Alastair.
"Ah, ah, boys, can't have that," he scolded, calmer now. "You asked for your Hunter, and you shall have him," he said to Cas. "Tomorrow we celebrate your wedding."
Alastair wasted no time fulfilling his promise. Before Cas rose the next morning the house was filled with demons. Cas had no idea how Alastair had contacted them or where they had come from, but Dean said it was best not to think on it. Cas and Dean stole off to the tower room as soon as the kitchen started to fill with the disturbing black and yellow eyed demons that Alastair summoned as if from the air itself.
Laying across the bed were two suits, one white as snow, the other black as midnight. Dean eyed them warily before turning to Cas.
"Cas, listen. Tonight… I know this isn't what you wanted…"
"Don't presume to tell me what I want Dean Winchester," Cas growled.
Dean's breath hitched and Cas found himself with an armful of hunter without ever seeing Dean move. "Cas," Dean growled, mouthing at Cas's jaw, "Cas."
Cas tightened his arms around his betrothed and kissed back as Dean's lips found their way up to his own. "Dean," he whispered between kisses, "I believe we are supposed to be preparing for the ceremony."
Dean snorted. "Yeah? I'm preparing for the wedding night."
Cas pushed Dean away reluctantly. "Get dressed, Dean. We have a long night ahead of us."
Dean smirked at that. "Yeah?"
"Yes," Cas insisted, "getting out of here."
Dean pouted. "That couldn't wait 'til tomorrow night?"
"I do not believe Alastair intends to let us live that long."
Dean sobered immediately. "Yeah, right." He moved to the bed and picked up the white suit. "I think this one is for you."
Cas took it. "Thank you Dean."
There was nowhere in the room for privacy and, reluctant to separate, they settled for turning their backs to each other while they dressed. Cas was pulling on his white dress shirt when Dean spoke behind him. "Hey Cas."
Instinctively Cas turned toward Dean's voice and caught sight of Dean bent over, pulling up his dress pants. He turned away quickly. "Yes," he answered, hoping Dean couldn't hear the breathless tension in his voice.
'Tonight, at the wedding feast, there's a good chance Alastair's gonna try something. Slip something in the food to kill me, or to make you forget about me."
"You don't think he'd kill me as well," Cas asked, frowning as he attempted to tie his tie with no mirror.
"You're his prize," Dean said, arms coming up under Cas's to help with the offending tie, "I'm just his Sam bait."
Cas frowned. He was nobody's prize. And Dean was no one's bait. "So we shouldn't partake of anything offered to us," Cas concluded.
"Exactly," Dean agreed, expertly adjusting Cas's suit and tie until both were settled to his liking. Only then did he step back, allowing Cas to get his first look at his betrothed in a suit.
"You like?" Dean asked with a smirk, doing a quick turn so Cas could admire the full package. Cas was speechless, taking in the way the suit clung to Dean in all the right places, and could only nod in agreement.
"Not so bad yourself," Dean said, eyes raking over Cas, making him burn with unfamiliar emotion.
Somewhere below them a bell rang. Both men turned toward the window overlooking the back garden. "I believe it is time for the ceremony," Cas said.
Dean reached out and laced their fingers together. "Let's go get hitched," he said, and led Cas out of the room.
The ceremony itself was mostly a blur to Cas. He knew a moment of surprise when Alastair - who had insisted on performing the ceremony himself - launched into the angelic mating vows.
"Bound to me for all eternity and always in my care," Cas recited, eyes never breaking their hold on Dean's. Whatever their reasons for marrying, saying those words made everything real, and Cas wished it was his Father presiding over their joining.
Once Dean had echoed the vows back to him, in a voice gruffer than Cas had previously heard, Alastair lead them in another set of vows - unfamiliar to Cas, but clearly words that meant something to Dean.
"I do," Cas repeated solemnly, watching with interest as Dean shivered at the two simple words. He squeezed Dean's hand in comfort and Dean offered him a wan smile back.
"You may now join your Grace and/or kiss the bride," Alastair announced.
Cas frowned at the term 'bride' but Dean had already stepped in close to gather Cas in his arms for their first kiss as a mated couple. With Dean's lips pressed firmly but chastely to his, Cas reached out tentatively with his Grace and brushed gently against Dean's soul.
Dean gasped and Cas took advantage of it to plunder Dean's mouth with his own, but he pulled his Grace back. No matter what they'd just done, Cas would not force a bond that Dean didn't understand upon him.
Their 'guests' quickly abandoned the spectacle of man and angel making out, headed outside for the feast. Cas was glad to see them go, clinging to Dean like a lifeline.
"Cas," Dean breathed, pulling back from the kiss but not letting Cas go.
"Dean," Cas answered. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Dean said, but he sounded so uncertain that Cas pulled back to study his expression. Dean looked away and shrugged. "It's stupid. I just wish Sam had been here, even if it was… You know?"
"I too, wish for my brothers to have witnessed our joining," Cas admitted.
"That sounds kinky," Dean said with a grin, breaking the slight melancholy that had been stealing over them.
"Dean," Cas scolded, but there was no heat behind the word.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm a terrible human being," Dean said, "Let's make an appearance at the feast and then get out of here."
Cas nodded his acquiescence, and they wandered outside to the sounds of a party already in full swing. They took their places at the head of the table and endured several toasts in their honor, taking care each time to not partake of anything offered them for fear of it's effects.
Several hours and countless toasts later, Alastair nudged Cas. "I believe it is time for you to toast your new husband before you adjourn for the night." He said it with a smile, but it was clearly a command.
"What should I say?" Cas asked. He'd never made a toast before, and had no desire to repeat the bawdy and slurred toasts he'd been subject to throughout the night.
"Just wax poetic about his eyes and smile and promise to love him forever or whatever," Alastair said with a bored shrug.
Cas stood slowly, and Alastair tapped a fork against a glass to call for attention. When the crowd a had quieted, Cas lifted his glass and turned to Dean.
"Dean," he began, "you have beautiful eyes." Dean flushed bright red and there were a few twitters from the audience. "and an attractive smile. I promise to be your friend always and be there when you need me," Cas finished, sitting down at once.
There was silence for a moment and then Dean lifted his own glass and called loudly, "To my husband, Castiel."
"To Castiel," the crowd echoed and Cas, forgetting the danger, automatically raised his glass to drink. Dean lunged forward, knocking it from his hand.
Over the laughter of the crowd, Cas heard Alastair's scream of rage. Dean must have heard it too because he stood quickly, pulling Cas up with him. "Now I want to take my husband to our rooms and strip him out of his soiled clothes," Dean said to the crowd, winking dramatically. "Or maybe just soil them further."
There were more bawdy jokes and catcalls, but Cas heard none of them over the pounding of his heart, forgetting for the moment their plan of escape.
Dean had not forgotten, and led him not to the tower bedroom but into the kitchen. "Quick, change clothes and grab all the salt you can find," Dean instructed urgently, dropping Cas's hand at once and retreating into the hall.
Cas stood blankly looking at the empty doorway until Dean returned, already changed and carrying a shotgun. "Cas!" Dean barked, "snap out of it. It was your idea to leave tonight, and we need to go now, while Alastair's promise is still in effect."
Understanding blossomed in Cas's mind. "You will not be fully given to me - or I to you - until consummation," Cas observed.
Dean's face flushed red again and he looked away. "Yeah," he said, "so the demon won't bother us tonight. But by tomorrow he'll be looking to take his revenge." Dean was searching the cabinets now and he threw a few jars at Cas. "Here, find a bag or something to carry these in."
Cas nodded and began opening drawers until he found a knapsack. He shoved the two jars of salt inside as well as a jar of water, which he sanctified with a touch and a whisper. Dean took the burden from him and added a few items. "Is there anything you can mojo up so that Alastair thinks we're still upstairs? It'd buy us a few hours head start."
"Yes," Cas answered at once, picking up two of their split logs from the hearth and rushing upstairs. With a few words and a touch of Grace, the logs were tucked into the bed, enchanted to answer simple questions with sleepy words and soft noises.
Cas changed and snatched the feather Dean had given him - was it really only a few days ago? - into a pocket before rejoining his new mate downstairs. "The deception will be discovered in the morning," Cas told Dean as they slipped outside.
"We'll be long gone by then," Dean said grimly, grabbing Cas's hand and pulling him into the dark of the fast fading night.