So, this story was done, and then Trespasser happened, and I definitely needed a few more chapters to bring everyone's story up through there. I figure on 4 or so more chapters total, covering the events and aftermath of that excellent DLC, should get it done. (Seriously, if you haven't yet, you should really give it a try) Anyway, here we go again. I hope you enjoy it.
"I can't believe you're gonna make me wear a sodding dress."
Sera's complaining failed to get a rise out of Josephine. The diplomat instead continued to make adjustments to the white gown she'd procured for the occasion, while offering her opinion that, "You look lovely, Sera. I'm sure the Inquisitor will appreciate it very much."
"Fine," she grumbled. "Just finish up with it, yeah. Haven't got all day." As much as she protested though, she really did want to look nice for Herah. Most of the time, Sera was really good at not caring what anybody else thought of her, but this was different. Both the day and the woman she was sharing it with mattered, and so she stopped her complaining long enough for Josephine to complete her work.
"There," the diplomat proclaimed, rising to her feet. "That wasn't so bad, was it? As Orlesian dresses go, this one is positively simple."
"Probably true," Sera mumbled. Indeed, Josephine's own navy blue dress had a great deal more ruffles and layers and stuff that Sera had spent her life studiously avoiding learning about. "Stupid Orlesian ponces with their giant, stupid gowns."
"Come now, dear," Viviane declared, "It is a great honor to be married by the Divine herself, and we should not keep her waiting."
As the statuesque mage spun around, Sera took the opportunity to stick her tongue out at her. Unlike most of the Inquisition, Viviane had never stopped disapproving of her relationship with Herah, but as of today, she could officially suck it. Sera got the girl; Viviane could keep her stupid mud wraps or whatever she'd been up to with Herah at that spa thing.
As they walked towards the ballroom, Sera felt a flutter of nervousness in her breast. Even though the rest of the Inquisition bigwigs had agreed to keep things sort of simple, being at the center of a fancy to-do like this was still enough to unsettle her.
It's for Herah, Sera reminded herself. You don't get to marry somebody like her without some dumb ceremonies and stuff.
That thought made her feel better. She did want to marry Herah, more than she'd ever wanted anything in her life, and not being stupid anymore meant accepting what that involved, even if it was hard.
They reached the ornate double doors, where a pair of Inquisition soldiers in formal uniforms threw them open. Waiting inside were all of the old friends who had gathered for the Exalted Conclave: Varric and Thom (She'd tried calling him Blackwall but he'd insisted), Bull and Dorian, Cullen and Cassandra, plus a few of the Chargers and other Inquisition members who were here. She knew all of them except for a red-headed elf chick in a grey and gold doublet, but as Josephine and Viviane filled in behind her to complete the group, Sera only had eyes for one person.
For the ceremony, Herah had gotten a new dress uniform, this one dark blue and tan, and somehow, ridiculously, it made her look even better than the red one had. Well fitted but just a little snug in the right places, it emphasized her toned frame and full breasts nicely enough that Sera had to check to make sure she wasn't drooling. Once she met Herah's gaze though, she saw that her lover was just as entranced by her, her big, brown eyes hungrily drinking in Sera's appearance.
Bloody well worth to wear a dress if it makes her look at me like that.
Somehow Sera managed to make it down the aisle without tripping all over herself. When she reached Herah, the Inquisitor clasped her hands in her much larger ones, and immediately, the archer felt calmer. Herah was so solid, her rock in a world that liked to go to pieces if you didn't watch it carefully.
The two of them took up their positions in front of Leliana. (As far as Sera was concerned, that would always be her name, stupid Chantry rules be damned. Also, she would never stop looking funny in that hat, but just for today, she was gonna try not to laugh)
"Of all the gifts the Maker has bestowed upon us," Leliana began, "Perhaps the greatest is love. It exalts our moments of happiness. It lifts us up when we are weak. And it can bloom even when we least expect it. It is such a union that we are gathered here today to celebrate. Few could have predicted that these two people, Herah Adaar and Sera, would find each other and forge such an enduring union in the face of tragedy and war, but none who know them deny what a wonderful thing their love has been."
"It has sustained them through hardship and victory, in the Valley of Sacred Ashes and the Deep Roads, though the months of war and the years of peace. and today they affirm that they want it to carry them through all the days that the Maker sees fit to bless them with. It is truly a joyous occasion, and I know they are pleased that those who have meant so much to them are here to celebrate alongside them. My words alone could never entirely do justice to this moment, though, and so, if you will join me, I have selected some verses from the Canticle of Transfigurations that may better serve."
"Oh, Maker, hear my cry: Guide me through the blackest nights…"
As Lelina launched into the scripture-y stuff, Sera noticed how much happier she sounded. She'd been in a perpetual bad mood back before leaving to become Divine, but now, she seemed like she might've gotten laid some time this year.
Once the chanting was over, it was time for the vows. Josephine brought up a green and gold cloth that displayed a pair of rings she'd scrounged up somewhere, one of them actually big enough to fit around Herah's thick finger. That can't have been easy. Sera had to admit that though she might be a bit of a fancy toss, Josephine could be pretty bloody handy too.
Herah picked up one of the rings. "From the first day I met you," she began, "I knew you were special. You've been by my side through the good and the bad, and no matter what was going on, you helped me to stay true to myself. I can't imagine doing any of it: Closing the Breech, being the Inquisitor, or going though the rest of my life without you." She held out the ring. "What I'm saying is, I love you Sera, and I want you to be my wife."
"Bloody hell yes," Sera blurted out before she could think of any more eloquent response. Herah slipped the ring onto her finger, and then it was the archer's turn to come up with something to say. She'd been thinking about what it should be ever since Herah said "yes," but she still wasn't sure. This part was never easy for her and so she just went with what she felt.
"You make it make sense," she told the woman who held her heart. "Lots of times, the world is screwed up and stupid, but then I remember that it's got you in it, and that makes things a whole lot better. Like there's a reason for all of it. I love you too, Herah, and I want you to be my wife."
"Oh, yes," Herah replied and Sera picked up the other ring, slipping it onto her right hand. Not the one with that frickin' mark. I'm not sharing. This hand's just for me.
Leliana smiled. "Since you are in concord, then under the light of the Maker and His prophet, the Blessed Andraste, it is my privilege to pronounce you wed. You may now kiss."
And kiss they did. Sera threw herself into Herah's arms and the Inquisitor lifted her up, spinning her around as their lips pressed together. The cheers of the crowd filled the room, but the thrill that ran through Sera's body drowned them all out. It's real. She's really mine, and I'm really hers. Forever.
No sooner had the ceremony ended then well-wishers begun streaming towards the newlyweds and Herah found herself quite glad that Sera had insisted they not turn this into, "A big, stupid, court thing." The Inquisitor could put aside her desire to peel her new wife out of that dress and kiss every inch of her body long enough to accept some heart-felt congratulations from friends but having to listen to an endless parade of insincere Orlesians pretend that they gave a damn would have been intolerable.
"The mighty Inquisitor and the carefree rogue. Not a bad little story, if I can offer my professional opinion." Varric grinned. "Of course, one of you should have turned out to be a princess or something, but I guess that mark on Horns' hand will have to do instead of royal blood."
"Do not pay him any heed, Inquisitor," Cassandra interjected. "It was perfect." Most people would have been surprised to see the that the Seeker was chocking up, but Herah, who knew of her love of the cheesiest romance novels Varric could pen, was not most people.
"Thanks, Cassandra." She clasped her friend on the shoulder with one hand, while her other stayed linked with Sera's. She wished she could be touching more, and giving up that contact was more than she was willing to do.
"Yeah, we appreciate it, Grumpy," Sera chimed in, before adding, "I bet it'll be you up here pretty soon."
Cassandra's eyebrows raised and her forehead furrowed in surprise. "I? Surely you jest."
"Why not?" Sera smirked. "Maybe broody old Cullen. Or Varric. He's a big-deal, Viscount person now. And you two bicker so much, must mean something, yeah?"
Varric for once was stunned into silence while Cassandra's face turned about six shades of red all at once. "I… That is a ridiculous suggestion," she protested. "Now, if you will kindly excuse me…"
She hurried away in the direction of the drinks, and Herah did her best to suppress a snicker. "That was kinda mean."
"But most amusing." Leliana was smiling as she walked over to them, far more broadly than Herah remembered her doing in the old days. "And perhaps instructive. Cassandra needs all the help she can get with finding time for herself."
Herah gave her a knowing grin. "Finding time for yourself, huh? I'm thinking that's what you've been doing lately."
"You know me too well, my friend." She gave a nod in the direction of the red-headed elf, and the woman walked over to join them. "Inquisitor, may I present the Hero of Ferelden, former Commander of the Grey, and current Right Hand of the Divine, Nissa Surana."
"She just likes to list my titles." Nissa gave them a bemused grin, but though her face currently showed good humor, the iron will beneath it was unmistakable, especially to someone who had born some of the same burdens. This was a woman who had been through a great many battle to get where she was.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Nissa," Herah told her, extending her hand.
"You too, Inquisitor." Nissa's grip was strong for someone her size, her hands calloused from long years of fighting Darkspawn. "Her Perfection has told me a great deal about you."
"Good things only, I hope. So, are you sticking around for the Exalted Council."
"No, these days I leave the politics to my better half. My last grand council ended in a duel." She smiled at Leliana, who gave her a small nod. "I'm just passing through here on my way to round up some stray Templars who escaped Corypheus. When I heard about this wedding, though, I figured I couldn't pass up the chance to meet the woman who looked out for Leliana while I was indisposed."
"Hey, no worries. She did the same for me."
Sera laughed. "Yeah, red's got a mean knife. Figure you must be equal rough and tough, keeping her as your girl." She gave herself a skeptical look. "'Course, you're pretty red too, so I guess I might need a better nickname."
Nissa smirked. "I've got a few for her myself, but they might not be appropriate to tell other people."
Leliana shot her a glare that could cower an Arishok, and Herah chuckled. "I think we should probably keep mingling before we get you stabbed, Nissa."
"Perhaps true. And congratulations again, to both of you. Love isn't easy to get a hold of, especially not for people in our world. Take it from me; you should appreciate what you have when you have it."
Just then, the peel of the Winter Palace's bells broke through the chatter of their guests, and as the sound filled the hall, Sera gave her hand a squeeze. "Steal away a minute?", she asked. "Need to take this in a bit, just with you."
Herah nodded in the direction of a nearby pair of wood and glass doors. "I think the balcony should work fine."
They stepped outside, and were immediately treated to a spectacular view of the palace gardens bathed in morning sunlight. The bells were clearer out there as well, a rich ringing that seemed to mirror the happiness Herah felt. Whatever happened at the conclave, whatever she might have to do to make sure the Inquisition survived, she would have this day to give her strength.
"Sodding mad this," Sera said, shaking her head. "Palace bells for us."
"Yeah," she agreed. "Never would've thought I'd have those when I got married."
"Hear that," her wife declared to no one in particular. "That's our bells, nobbers. We frigging win."
She spun into Herah's arms and the Inquisitor held her close for another, longer, and more private kiss. This one was just for them, and so she let it get a bit naughtier, reaching down with one hand to caress Sera's ass through the silky fabric of her dress. The gesture earned her a pleased yelp and a hand of her own, this one trailing down the side of her breast.
"How much longer you figure we gotta talk with people?" Sera asked, running her other hand along the length of one of Herah's horns. "'Cause I got plans for you. Lots of real good plans."
"Oh, not too much longer, I think," Herah agreed with a laugh. The world might be heading back towards its usual state of trying to fall apart, but surely, they deserved a little time for themselves first.