Accord
Juliette stood on her balcony as dusk crept across the keep. She watched the torch-lighter going about his work and envied him his simple task.
Juliette was completely rattled. She had known that her brother, Fergus, would resist the idea of her and Nathaniel marrying, but felt shaken by the hatred in his eyes. He had been beyond reason, and his anger and pain had nearly broken her heart.
She remembered how straight-laced and serious Oriana had been. Upon first meeting her, Juliette had thought Oriana beautiful and polite, but not quite right for her boisterous brother, who loved a good racy joke and a pint.
Juliette had chanced upon the two of them before the wedding. She watched as Oriana laughed at something Fergus said, her whole face lighting up. It was clear, watching them, that Fergus adored her, and she him. Juliette then understood her brother's choice. She had never been so happy for Fergus in her life.
It made her ponder, what she would do if someone simply took Nate away while her back was turned. If someone's ambitions and desires overrode all decency, and they ended the life of the one person she needed most. Juliette shuddered at the thought and realized that while her own suffering had been great, she had not considered the shattering loneliness that Fergus carried. He had woken to find everything he had loved destroyed.
There was a gentle knock on her door and she raced to open it, desperate to see Nathaniel.
It was Fergus. "Juliette, may I come in?" he asked.
Juliette opened the door and stepped out of Fergus's way, allowing him to enter and looked into the hall, expecting Nathaniel to enter.
"He said he would speak with you soon. I asked him to let me talk with you first." Fergus offered in explanation.
"Very well,"she replied, as she closed the door,walking past him and back out onto the balcony.
Fergus spoke first, "Juliette, I am sorry for the way I acted. I was not..." he cleared his throat,"...prepared, for the events of today."
Juliette did not answer; instead, she looked out across the night sky.
"I have to say, Nate seems a decent man," he continued, "He is much like the lad I remember. It seems he did well during his tenure in the Free Marches." Fergus leaned against the railing next to her. "Nate has explained his feelings for you. I can see they are sincere."
She did not speak. In truth, she did not know what to say.
"Is this what you want, Juliette?" Fergus asked quietly.
"Yes Fergus, I love him. I don't want to be without him, ever," she answered, her voice full of emotion.
Fergus looked at her reaching, for her hand.
"This is hard for me, Juliette. I struggle every day at Highever," Fergus blinked and looked away. "But I accept that Nate had no part in it, and that it would be cruel of me to deny you contentment. You have my blessing, then."
Juliette was shocked. "What? I do?" and she threw her arms around him, her heart bursting at the news.
Fergus held her close and let out a 'whoosh' of pent-up breath. "I am glad to see you happy."
"Oh! Fergus, thank you!"
"I love you, baby sister." Fergus said into her hair.
"I love you, Fergus. Things will be happy again, you wait and see."
"I see you have told her then." Nathaniel said from the balcony door.
"Nate!" Juliette went to him and wrapped herself into his arms. He kissed the top of her head.
"See Jules, everything is alright." Nathaniel whispered to her.
Fergus watched them for a moment before interrupting. "You will need to plan a wedding, sister dear. Mother had a trunk set aside for you, for your wedding day."
"She did? I didn't know that." Juliette looked at Fergus. "Did it survive? Might I have it?"
"It did," he told her. "You could marry at Highever, Juliette. It would be proper and fitting."
"No, I don't think that..." Juliette began to refuse, fearing Nathaniel and Delilah's discomfort.
"That would be perfect." Nathaniel told Fergus.
"It's settled then. A month?" he asked his sister. "It would allow me a bit of time to finish the last of the castle repairs, and make ready to give you away. You could come ahead a week or so to finish the details."
Nathaniel knew she wanted to marry much sooner than that, but he had promised her they would do this the right way. The other nobles of Ferelden would expect marrying at Highever, and he knew that Fergus needed this. He also knew it would be a very long month.
The three of them spoke together for another hour, agreeing on a date and a guest list. Juliette had moaned at the idea of inviting the king and nobility, but knew that as the sister of the only Teyrn in Ferelden it was required of them.
xXx
With the hour late and Juliette ready to be alone with Nathaniel, Fergus kissed her goodnight. As she shut the door Nathaniel's arms came around her waist, and she leaned back against him.
"I left that room certain that he would never give his consent, and now he plans a banquet in our honor," Juliette reflected.
"The first of many celebrations for us," Nathaniel said to her.
She turned in his arms and looked at him. "How did you do it?" she asked.
Nathaniel sighed. "It was not easy, but he is your brother, and he loves you very much. I just had to stick it out long enough for him to see wehave that in common."
Juliette stretched onto her toes and kissed him.
"A month is a very long time, Nate. How shall we stand it?" Juliette asked.
"You shall find me in the sparring ring from now until I meet you in the Chantry at Highever."
She laughed and he leaned in and kissed her deeply.
xXx
Juliette spent the next three weeks locked away in her office. She had spent nearly that long away from the Vigil during her time in Denerim, and there had been a great deal to do. Soon she would be departing again for her home, Highever, to be married to Nathaniel. Her heart leapt at the thought - it was a constant distraction for her - but she was dedicated to ensuring that her Arling was well maintained, and redoubled her efforts to prepare it for her absence.
This morning, Juliette was harried. She would be spending today with Varel, but it would be her last until she returned from Highever. There was so much to do but she was already anxious for the day to end. She was ready to depart, and that promised to make this day a long one.
Juliette finished lacing up her boots and hustled to her door. She hurried into the hallway and fairly raced down the stairs, breezed past Nathaniel in her haste. She stopped, wrinkled her nose, and turned around, looking back up the steps to see him standing there smiling at her.
"Nate! I'm sorry," she giggled and hurried up the steps to him. "I want to get through today and I'm a bit, uh, scattered."
Nathaniel laughed and came down a few steps to meet her. He leaned down and slowly kissed her, bidding her good morning.
Juliette sighed and sidled up another step so she could put her arms around his neck. They smiled contentedly at one another.
"You had better go before Varel comes looking for you," he said softly.
"Damn it!" and she kissed him quickly on the cheek and ran down the stairs.
The day that followed was hectic indeed. Varel and Juliette poured over the Keep's books, finalizing monthly payments to the various merchants and vendors that supplied the Vigil, she wrote to Weisshaupt informing her of her departure and her impending marriage; and two hours of planning with her guard captain for the expansion of the training grounds yielded great progress, but also created more work.
Finally, long after the lamps and candles were lit in her office, she and Varel agreed that little more could be accomplished.
"Allow me to say my lady, that I am most happy for you and Howe." Varel said gruffly. Juliette was shocked; Varel was rarely anything less than, well, Varel; it was why he was such a competent seneschal. This minor sentiment from him was quite touching.
"Varel, thank you, I appreciate that very much," she said.
"When you conscripted Nathaniel I ordered the men to watch him carefully, as I was certain he would betray you," Varel added. Juliette had suspected as much. It was like Varel to address each possible angle. "It is satisfying to say that I was quite wrong." he finished.
Juliette smiled at Varel and nodded. "I agree."
Varel rose and bowed to her slightly. "I shall see you in the morning, ma'am."
Juliette stacked the documents in the order that seemed most logical, and wiped her quills clean. She replaced the legers in the bookcases and secured the private correspondence. Blowing out the lamps and candles, she closed the office behind her.
She entered the main hall, sat down and picked over the remains of the dinner meal. She watched the slowing traffic of the men and servants. Anders appeared from the doorway and headed over to sit with her.
"Leaving on the 'morrow, are you?" Anders asked as he sat down with her. "You know, I've been thinking, my dear Commander, and I wanted to speak with you."
Juliette raised a single eyebrow and waited for Anders to continue, intrigued by his hesitation.
Anders looked around the hall making sure they were alone. He leaned in and said. "Intimacy is a key part of marriage."
Juliette's eyes bulged as she all but choked on her bite of lamb stew.
"Now, forgive me, I know that there were rumors about," Anders lowered his voice, "ah, you and the King, but I just wanted to let you know that, well, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have."
Juliette simply stared at Anders, completely at a loss for words.
"I myself have had, well, quite a bit of experience. I realized that with your mother gone that you won't get the traditional night before speech," he said. "So I just wanted you to know that I am happy to help and it will never come up again." Anders finished by holding up his hand, palm out. "Mages honor."
Juliette understood that Anders was trying to do something that was very kind. Smiling at him, she realized that two of her wardens had behaved rather sentimentally today. If this continued, she would have to lead an expedition into the Deep Roads for a manhood check.
"Anders, that is, uh, incredibly thoughtful of you. I truly appreciate the sentiment." she said "But I think that Nate has plenty of his own experience, and I am safe working it all out with him."
"Ah, well then, just wanted to make sure you were looked after." Anders said rising. "I really do look forward to seeing the famous Highever; I have always heard it was a warm place with good folk."
"It is," Juliette smiled looking up at him. "The Cousland's have worked to make it a peaceable and good place to live. And the ale and women aren't too bad either."
"Well then, next week can't come fast enough for me!" he laughed. "Goodnight Commander!"
Juliette watched Anders leave the hall and smiled again at the conversation they had just shared.
The next morning she was dressed and packed before the sun was fully up. She arrived in the hall and loaded her plate, saying her good mornings between bites. Finally, not seeing Nathaniel, she finished and hurried out into the courtyard, looking for him.
Nathaniel caught up with her at the stables.
"Leaving without a goodbye, then?" he asked as he reached her.
"Good morning! No, of course not, I was looking for you, actually." Juliette answered. "I am taking four men with me on the ride today. With any luck they shall return by tomorrow midday."
Nathaniel and Juliette walked her horse back out to the lower courtyard as the guard escorting her walked past to ready their own mounts. Varel walked down from the Keep and offered his greetings. "Commander, all is ready for your departure. Your personal pack is with Guardsmen Hill," Varel told her. "I wish you a safe journey, and will see you soon in Highever." Varel bowed and turned to go back up.
"Well, I suppose that's it then!" Juliette said smiling at Nathaniel. "I will see you at Highever in a week."
"Yes, you will." He kissed the top of her head and cupped his hands together, helping her mount. She was settled and he passed her the reins.
"I hope that the castle repairs are completed. I haven't been home in so very long." she told him.
"Fergus was confident things would be ready. I will see you very soon. Be careful. I love you."
"I love you," she replied.
Juliette tapped the flanks of her mare and rode to join the guard escorting her. Waving over her shoulder one last time, she disappeared through the Vigil's main gate.
Special thanks to Lisa for beta reading this chapter! I truly value your input!