After six months of planning, the wedding date was finally here. My attendants were busy with my hair, and every aspect of my appearance. I've never been fussed over so much in my life, even as the daughter of Bryce Cousland. An elvish woman wove a pristine silver tiara through the short braids on the crown of my head, the piece would be my formal crown. I had ventured back to a Dalish smith to commission this a few months ago. I stood up as they expertly laced up my corset and dress. By the Maker I wasn't used to so many layers. I resisted the urge to run back and change into my wolf skin breeches, and admired the ensemble in my mirror. "My Lady, we must take our places," I nodded at the pair and made my way to the chapel. My heart thudded in my chest, and my mouth went dry. I was still not used to the crowds.
Music floated up, as the crowd turned towards me. I nervously clutched Fergus' arm. "My baby sister…you've fought Darkspawn, killed Howe and have slain the Archdemon. Please don't tell me your afraid now!" I stiffened slightly. Oh my brother knew how to push my buttons, and it wasn't fair that I couldn't cuff him at this moment. "Sleep with one eye open, brother.." I whispered out of the corner of my mouth, as he chuckled. Alistair, seemed miles away at the alter, yet I saw him smirk. No doubt he knew Fergus was teasing me about this. I'm sure Fergus got him as well, judging how fidgety he was up there. And then suddenly Fergus was placing my hand in Alistair's and kissing me on the cheek. It felt like I was skipping over moments in time, as I looked behind me in surprise, and saw familiar faces in the crowd. The words of the Revered Mother were a blur, until she asked Alistair to 'kiss his Queen'. It would be my turn to surprise him, I practically leapt into his arms, throwing my own around his neck. I could hear a ripple of laughter in the crowed, and his smile widened against my lips. He lifted me up slightly and spun around . We parted, and looked into each others eyes, laughing softly. The chapel thundered with cheers and hollers. We walked, his arm around me, as petals and rice rained down upon us, and stepped into a lovely caravan waiting to take us home. "Home" I whispered the word out loud. Something I thought I would never have again. "Yes. Something I dreamed and prayed for when this whole thing started. If someone told me my dreams would come true, and with you no less, well I would have probably smacked them upside the head! Can you imagine? We can just…be together. Finally." He slid closer to me and kissed my neck up to my ear, as I shuddered. "I can't wait till we're alone, my bride."
There was a door that separated me from my new husband. I nervously undid each lace on the final piece of clothing. Why was I so nervous? I have spent the night many times with Alistair before. But somehow we have held back. It wasn't until before the ritual, when we slept together without restraint or worry on who heard or knew. I opened the door, and walked out, Alistair giving me a low whistle of approval. I ruffled my hair slightly, baring my body to him. He grabbed my waist and held me to him, crushing my lips into his. I held my body against his, feeling the heat rise between us. I let out an almost feral growl as his strong hands worked over my flesh. I jutted out my thigh just so it would make contact with his groin, causing him to gasp. He grunted and rolled me onto my stomach, lifting my hips into the air before him. I gasped, surprised my silly, gentle Alistair could be so…so..aggressive. "You drive me crazy you know that?" he said through clenched teeth. I had never been taken like this, and my cries soon filled the room. By the Maker, where did he learn such finesse in the bedroom? He was a bumbling virgin like me when we spent our first night together. He lifted both of my wrists in his hand and held them up against the bedpost. "Hold on to it, I want to see my beauty's back arched. Yesss that's it, darling." I suppose he was taking my advice to heart, and was finally looking to satisfy his own needs first, and if it was to start here in the bedroom, who was I to complain! With a roar, he spent himself, with me climaxing at the same time. We collapsed in a heap on the mattress, his head resting against the small of my back. "You know," his voice rumbled lazily, "I'll have to thank that assassin friend of ours for the lessons." I stiffened. He…didn't….with Zev… "Alistair, you slept with Zev? After all the dramatics you gave me after you thought I was flirting with him that one time in the Deep Roads?" Silence. I could tell he was trying to understand what I just said. "He gave me advice for our sex life. Why would I sleep with him?" I laughed loudly. My poor Alistair didn't even clue in to Zev's dabbling with the same sex. " You know, he enjoys the company of men as well Alistair? I've caught him checking out your backside more than once." Alistair's face could have cooked an egg. "Oh." Was all he could muster. I could feel his cheeks rise in a wide smile. I smirked and closed my eyes. We fell asleep, and for the first time in a while, there was nothing. No Archdemon, no Darkspawn. Just the sweet serenity of nothing.