Distraction: The truth Chapter 4

Wedding snapshots

This is done from quite a few peoples POV. It's only supposed to be a small wedding and this is the second wedding chapter I've written in about 4 months and I wanted something different. And this is where the story goes completely AU (not that a pregnant future 'Hero of Ferelden' isn't totally AU). You have been warned!

Thanks to both Erynnar and Ladyamesindy, who beta'd for me. You both Rock! :)

Teagan rose early to see the sun appearing over the horizon. Without Lydia sharing his bed, he had slept badly, missing being able to put his arms round her waist and feeling their child move in her belly. But it had been decided by Leliana and Eamon that the night before their wedding, they were to sleep away from each other. Lydia argued at first but Teagan could tell by the way Leliana pursed her lips that this would be one issue that the Orlesian bard would not back down on. And there had been plenty of arguments in the last week since he had asked Lydia to marry him, all between the two women. Lydia wanted things plain and unfussy. Leliana wanted everything the Orlesian way – bright colours, particular hair do's and lots of flowers. As it was, the dressmaker was rushing to get the dress finished, a plain ivory dress made to Lydia's specifications. If everything that the bard wanted was added to the dress, it would be another week alone before the dress was finished, a week they just did not have.

He dressed and made his way downstairs for breakfast. He wanted a hearty meal in him before his next difficult conversation. He almost wished it was about Orlesian trimmings or flowers in the hair. Maker knows it was going to be easier than what he had to say.

#=#=#

When Wynne helped Leliana dress Lydia in the wedding gown she'd had made for the occasion, she could not have been prouder than if it was her own daughter. Lydia was 'blooming' as the phrase went. She only wore a small amount of make-up, her skin a naturally beautiful colour. The dress itself was draped in pleats just under the breasts. There was no way she could pretend her bump was not there, which was why the seamstress had done a lovely job of emphasising her mid-term pregnancy in the long white dress. The wedding was purely for close family and friends. Teagan had promised a larger, more ornate wedding when they survived the Blight. When, she thought, that's what Lydia needs with those swirling hormones of hers, sense. She certainly had that in spades with Teagan. She smiled at her friend. Lydia had been on edge all morning, her nerves growing as the wedding hour approached. She knew that the young woman seated in front of her, had cried overnight. Without her lover to calm her nerves, she had given in to the fears that plagued her. When Wynne had knocked on her door, a plate of food in hand that she had barely picked at, Lydia's eyes were red-rimmed from crying. Wynne had never been to a wedding, there wasn't much call for marriages in the Circle tower but she knew that it was traditional for the father or another close member of the family to give the bride away. Alistair, bless him had stepped up admirably since Lydia asked him but she knew the young woman wanted family there. It was only natural.

A knock on the door made her jump slightly. After living from a tent, she had to get used to being in a building with walls and doors again. Wynne placed a hand on Lydia's shoulder as she rose slightly to go and answer the door. The elder mage opened the door and said, 'Yes?'

#=#=#

Alistair stood in front of the mirror brushing his still damp reddish-blonde hair into position. His fellow group members might tease him about his love affair with his hair, especially the women in the group, but on an important day like today, he wanted to make sure that he looked his best. He might not be ecstatic about Lydia marrying Teagan but he was glad that his Uncle was doing the right thing for his best friend. And no-one could deny they didn't love each other. That was obvious. He had seen Lydia watching Teagan as they spoke the night before and he saw the way they looked at each other. His stomach gave a lurch as he watched them. That was when he realised he was not so much been jealous of Teagan with Lydia any more, he was jealous of what they had. He wanted someone who looked at him the way Lydia looked at Teagan. That realisation surprised and pleased Alistair. He knew it would make walking Lydia down the aisle of the Chantry a much simpler concern if he didn't worry about getting angry.

Alistair realised he had been staring at his own reflection for some minutes. He had to have some food, the Grey Warden appetite was kicking in. He dressed and had a final fiddle with his hair in the mirror, when there was a knock at the door.

#=#=#

Leliana stood in the Chantry near the front. There was an odd mix of people and the smallest wedding she had ever been to. Yet it had been exactly what Teagan and Lydia had wanted. She smiled at Teagan looking nervous at the front as the Revered Mother came out. Alistair and Lydia walked down the aisle arm in arm and even though it was a small wedding, a few gasps and mutterings could be heard. As it was their friends, the gasps weren't negative. When Alistair had given his best friend away, he side-stepped into the pew next to Leliana. She smiled at him supportively and squeezed his hand. He turned to her and raised an eyebrow, blushing in surprise. She tried not to grin at his response but she found his naivety adorable. She watched Lydia and Teagan. Her friend looked amazing and even though it was the plainest dress, she was the most beautiful bride she had ever seen. Sad that the newly married couple wouldn't get to spend much time together, she thought.

'I need to speak to you soon. Alone' whispered Alistair in her ear. Now it was Leliana's turn to blush. What did the ex-templar want, she mused. She nodded, not sure she could talk quietly enough in the silence of the Chantry, with only the drone of the Revered Mother to cover her.

#=#=#

Shale wasn't sure why they were in a 'Chantry', with a group of people it barely knew, watching two people chain themselves to each other religiously. How very miserable, it thought. What if the two people hated each other? And then there was that fleshy thing that Shale had heard that couple do on the village green that time. The painted elf had tried to explain it, to say it could be 'fun'. It doubted it from the noises that were created. They had sounded like they were in pain. It assumed pain was what the whingeing warden had been in when a few darkspawn hit it once and it bled. Pah! These fleshy creatures made themselves vulnerable. In a talk with Sten one night, he said that pain could be overcome, that you could learn to ignore it. Why then did the whingeing warden yell so much when he just stubbed his toe? Shale only met the other warden, it as Shale called her to her face, a few days earlier when they came back to Redcliffe. It spent a lot of time rubbing its belly and making silly eyes at the braided man. The silly eyes were returned by the braided man but you would think he would know better, the age difference and creases on his face being obvious.

Shale saw it, the whinging warden whisper in the sister's ear and Shale rolled its eyes. It had seen it all before, whisperings and women going red and before they knew it, they were making painful noises under the statue on the village green...

#=#=#

Ever since Zevran had joined the Warden's party, it had been made blatantly clear she was not available. He tried of course but she would laugh and tell him 'Sorry, no go Zev'. Just recently, as her back was starting to hurt carrying the child, she accepted his offer of a massage – with Leliana in tow. He thought his luck was in until the two women made it quite obvious that if he tried anything, if his hand should wander anywhere it shouldn't, her mabari would have an extra something for tea that night and it wouldn't be his fingers he'd be missing. He blinked, trying not to wince although he himself had committed much worse in his time with the Crows. And here they all were at a quiet wedding meal with just friends and Arl Eamon in tow. The bride and groom looked happy though every so often he caught a dark look shared between another at the table and Bann Teagan. Interesting, an argument perhaps? The look was not picked up by Lydia, he noticed although she was sitting talking to Arl Eamon part of the time. The man had accepted the young woman into his family more easily than people expected. But if she had not been carrying the next Guerrin heir, he suspected his approval would have been slight. Eamon was a wily man, that one, a kingmaker and breaker. Zevran knew Alistair would be forced to accept his Uncle's notion of being King. Never mind, perhaps when all this was done Alistair would have need of someone with his...abilities. The assassin smiled to himself.

Perhaps the next time they were due to go to Denerim, it was time to take the naive Warden in hand, as it were. Zevran grinned at the unintended innuendo. It was time to visit the Pearl and sample its delights, to lose some of his...innocence, no?

#=#=#

The wedding was over, the food eaten and the guests having had plenty enough to drink but not yet enough to drink the cellars of Redcliffe dry. Altogether Lydia Guerrin felt the day had gone as well as could have been expected. Even Mother Hannah's raised eyebrows at her condition didn't bother her. She knew to expect this and as Teagan had said, it was amazing how much the Revered Mother accepted with a generous donation to Chantry coffers. She watched her friends talking, the joking of some alongside the serious nature of others a sharp contrast. What a strange group they were. And yet most of the time they got along very well, even Morrigan tried to make an effort for today. The witch felt her eyes watching and turned to meet her gaze, a twitch of a smile about her lips. Lydia and Morrigan had never been close friends not the way that she and Leliana had. Yet lately the two women had come to an understanding of each other, something Alistair could never comprehend.

'Deep in thought, wife.' Teagan said as he sat next to her, putting a hand on hers.

She smiled, sure hearing him call her his wife would never get old. 'Just thinking. It's been a good day.'

He laughed as he sipped his whisky. 'Only good? I think it's been the best day of my life so far.

'You are a romantic aren't you?' She giggled, putting her hand over her mouth. Since when had she become such a simpering female? Her mother would be proud. For once thinking about her mother didn't make her hurt the way it usually did. Her family would be very happy about her choice of husband she knew.

He leaned over and in a low tone said, 'What would you say if I were to suggest an early night?'

'I would say it has been an awfully long day. And in my condition I need my rest after all.' She smiled as she kissed him on the cheek.

They made their excuses, leaving the rest of the friends to decide what to do. The night was still fairly young after all.

As they reached his, now their bedroom door, Teagan was just about to pick her up when she put a hand on his arm. 'I think it's a bit late for that, don't you?' Lydia said.

He nodded. Instead he opened the door for her. His news could wait for the morning, no need for it to spoil their night together.

#=#=#

The following morning, the group were at breakfast when Teagan and Lydia joined them. They were due to set off for Orzammar the following day, so would spend the rest of the time packing and preparing for their journey.

Lydia sat having a cooked breakfast and toast and coffee. She was going to miss this, it was difficult to produce a cooked breakfast on the road. She was also going to miss her husband so very much more. She swallowed hard but as a Grey Warden, she knew she had a duty to Ferelden. Only once that journey was done could she rest. The group were unusually subdued. Probably tiredness and too much indulgence from the night before.

When she finished her breakfast and was helping herself to more coffee, Teagan cleared his throat.

'I have an announcement to make. As you know you will all be leaving Redcliffe tomorrow. When you do, you will have an extra party member.' Lydia looked straight at her husband, wondering who he was talking about. One of the Redcliffe knights, Ser Perth possibly, sent by Teagan to protect her?

Alistair started talking. 'This is something I have agreed with Teagan.'

Lydia felt herself growing angry. 'I see. Well, don't hold us in suspense, though I suspect from your reactions more than just Alistair and Teagan know exactly what you're talking about.' Her eyes locked on to Leliana and the bard could not meet her gaze.

'I'm coming with you.' Teagan looked at his young wife, her face flushed with anger.

Lydia stood up and began to walk out. 'Teagan, Alistair and Leliana. I need a word with you. Now.' She turned as she reached the door.

Teagan lead them into his brother's study, closing the door behind them. Lydia stood and leant against the desk.

'How dare you try and take this group off me, Alistair! You never wanted to be group leader and now I'm pregnant you think you can take the leadership off me!' She heard her harridan voice bouncing off the stone walls of the castle. She knew she should drop her voice but right at that moment she didn't care and gave no mind to who heard her.

'And as for you Leliana, I thought you were my friend! It seems I was wrong, so very wrong. Your feelings for Alistair have lead you to follow him blindly.' Alistair looked wildly between the two women. There had obviously been some discussions in the week they had been alone together.

'It wasn't like that –' Leliana started but was cut off as Lydia continued. Teagan put a hand on Lydia's arm to try to calm her down. Instead she shrugged herself free of his grasp and turned on him.

'And as for you, Teagan, I don't believe you did that! As we discussed previously, you have other commitments, other responsibilities. Your brother and Rainsfere need you! I don't want you to get hurt, what if –'

Teagan grabbed her by the top of the arms and held her in front of him. The fight went out of her some. 'As my wife, right now, YOU are my responsibility. As much as you hate it, it won't be long before you won't be able to fight. How are you to be a duelist with your stomach stopping your moves?'

'He's right, Lydia. This is the only reason I agreed to this. We need another fighter in the party.' Alistair moved across and put a hand on his friends shoulder. That was where she crumbled, her knees gave out under her and she sat heavily on a chair, her arms crossed over her belly as she cried.

'My love, Alistair doesn't want to take anything from you. But he is your second in the party. I knew you would not agree if I told you this by myself. I needed his support and that of Leliana's to tell you. You are so stubborn I knew you wouldn't agree to this if only I told you.' Teagan crouched in front of her, putting his hand on her arm.

'You know he's right Lyds. Alistair is certainly not wanting to take the leadership away from you. But as you grow into your role as a mother, you need him to look after the rest of the group.' Leliana used her nickname Fergus had for her.

'I'm the most unwilling leader, you know that Lydia but I'll lead the group, all without running them off a cliff. Or losing my pants.' Alistair heard a giggle come mid-sob.

'I agree though I should have spoken to you with Alistair and Leliana rather with the entire group. I'm sorry, that was badly done on my part.' Teagan apologised.

She lifted her head slightly 'You, you all really hurt me, you do know that? And Teagan I want to spend time with you but I don't want you to get hurt. If should happen to you, I don't know if I could forgive myself.' She rubbed her hand across her stomach and Teagan sat on the seat next to her, pulling her head onto his shoulder.

Leliana suddenly felt they were intruding on a private moment. She touched Alistair's arm and motioned for him to follow her. They could say their apologies later.

The closed the door on the two newlyweds and went out into the hallway.

'Well, that went better than expected.' Alistair said, as they walked back towards the Great Hall.

Leliana laughed, a sound that made him smile in return. 'Oh Alistair, you are funny. It went terrible. Only the grovelling and explanations we all did, helped rectify the situation, non?'

'As I say, better than expected. You know what her temper is like, only Teagan seems to make her see sense.'

Leliana shrugged and watched Alistair's reaction as she said, 'She loves him.' She smirked as his cheeks reddened slightly. She loved making him uncomfortable, it was part of his attraction for her.

Alistair cleared his throat and said, 'So in the time you and Lydia were alone together..'.

'Alistair we were hardly alone. Bann Teagan, Arl Eamon and the entire staff of Redcliffe were here also.' She grinned.

'Yes but I know what you women get up to, midnight feasts, girlie chats. In all that time did you ever talk about the rest of us, camped in the rain outside Honnleith with only a mad witch, a bird-stomping golem and a lecherous elf for company?'

'We may have spoken about a few party members.' She grinned at his eagerness.

'A few, hmm? So no-one in particular?'

'A girl has to have some secrets.' She teased.

'Really. Well I can always ask Lydia. She practically gave the game away when she was telling you off..' The voices died away as they walked round the corner.

Back in the study, Teagan kissed his wife on her head and said 'Are you sure you want me to come with you. I know I pulled a 'fait accompli' on you but if you really don't want me there..' His voice trailed off.

'I want you there but I can't deny I'm scared.' Lydia said, leaning on his shoulder.

'You're scared? I've never fought darkspawn in my life but when I married you, I agreed to take this on. You and the child you're carrying are my responsibility. Should anything happen to you and I did nothing to stop it, well I would never forgive myself.'

She sighed. 'I don't believe I lost my temper like that. I have some people to say sorry to, that's for sure.' She stood up and held her hand out to Teagan. 'Time for me to be the group leader again. Coming?'

He smiled and led her out of the room.