4E 182, 31st of Sun's Height...

Gwen stood ready in her room as Hillevi added the final touches. "Mum, it's fine." She smiled, looking at her over her shoulder.

Hillevi sighed, adjusting on last final piece before stepping back. "There. It's perfect."

Gwen looked in the mirror, astounded at the person looking back.

She wore a simple cream colored gown and a fur lined mantle of a deep royal blue with a golden trim. Her hair- which was usually braided- hung in large, loose curls. Her eyes were lined with a soft charcoal colored kohl liner, a soft dark blue powder coloring her eyelids. And at her brow sat a gold and sapphire circlet.

"You looked gorgeous, Gwen." Hillevi said, smiling and grasping her shoulders. "Are you ready?"

Gwen took a deep breath and nodded.

Ulfric stood, anxiously waiting near the thrones- having had another crafted and installed in the palace's main hall for Gwen- and he looked up as the doors of the palace opened.

"By the Nine..!"

He stared in awe as Gwen walked down the hall towards him and he was amazed that something so simple as her choice of attire could make her look so regal. The deep royal blue mantle trailed lightly behind her, its rich tone and golden trim brightening the cream colored gown beneath it. The large, loose hanging curls of her honey golden hair bounced gently with each step, accentuated by the gold and sapphire circlet at her brow. When she drew closer, he saw that her eyes were colored softly with dark blue powder and charcoal colored kohl liner.

Stepping up to the where Ulfric stood, Gwen found herself blushing when she saw him standing there in a deep royal blue tunic with golden trim and cream embroidery over black trousers and boots, the cloak she had made for him adorning his shoulders.

"Ah, and here's the blushing bride." Delin, the priest of Mara come to wed them, said. "Are you ready?"

Gwen and Ulfric looked at each other, nodding.

Delin smiled. "Let's begin the ceremony. It was Mara that first gave birth to all of creation and pledged to watch over us as her children. It is from her love of us that we first learned to love one another. It is from this love that we learn that a life lived alone is no life at all. We gather here today, under Mara's loving gaze, to bear witness to the union of two souls in eternal companionship. May they journey forth together in this life and the next, in prosperity and poverty, and in joy and hardship." He looked at Ulfric. "Do you agree to be bound together, in love, now and forever?"

"I do. Now and forever."

Delin looked at Gwen. "Do you agree to be bound together, in love, now and forever?"

"I do. Now and forever."

Delin smiled. "Under the authority of Mara, the Divine of Love, I declare this couple to be wed. I present to the two of you with these matching rings, blessed by Mara's divine grace. May they protect each of you in your new life together."

Gwen and Ulfric slid the rings onto each other's fingers, turning towards their guests as the main hall erupted with applause. They looked at each other, smiling.

"We did it."

"That we did."

The festivities were more impressive than when Gwen had returned home just a few weeks ago. Ally and friend alike were in attendance, Gwen's family sitting near where she and Ulfric had taken their place on the thrones.

"You had this made just for me?"

Ulfric nodded. "You are my wife, Gwen, and more importantly I view your opinions higher than any other's. I want you at my side, no matter what happens."

Gwen smiled at that, squeezing his hand.

As the hours went by, Gwen and Ulfric were showered with gifts, pleasantries, congratulations, all manner of things really. Gwen was even surprised that Ulfric had made a special condition, allowing Gwen's elven, Khajiit, and Argonian friends to attend the ceremony and enjoy the festivities with them. It was then at that point that she realized just how far Ulfric had come and was willing to go since she had met him. He grew as a person and as a jarl, even when she wasn't looking. It brought her great joy and she knew she couldn't be happier.

The festivities continued long into the night, even after Gwen and Ulfric excused themselves to turn in for the night. They both blushed when everyone cheered, knowing that they would be consummating their marriage.

Ulfric led her up to his- their- room and closed the door behind them. He turned to her, seeing her going over the books lining the shelves along the western wall. He smiled, removing his cloak as he came up behind her.

Gwen giggled when his beard tickled the nape of her neck as he pulled her hair back. She blushed and felt her body run hot as she let him kiss her neck, her ear, her cheek, then turned around and met him mouth to mouth as he came in for another kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck as his encircled her waist. They stayed like that for a moment before Ulfric pulled away and looked at her.

"How did I get so lucky as to meet such a remarkable woman as you?"

Gwen leaned into his hand as it rested against her cheek. "I could ask the same of you." She smiled, leaning forward to kiss him. She waited patiently as he pulled the ties of her gown loose, letting it fall to the floor around her.

Ulfric had forgotten how slender she was, but he could feel the toned muscles beneath her soft skin- her wounds having healed and turned into scars already. He kissed her and let her undo the ties of his trousers and remove his tunic, letting them fall to the floor next to her gown. He led her to the bed, pulling back the covers. They slid underneath and lay next to each other, feeling the warmth of their naked bodies.

They kissed each other vigorously, each one more passionate than the last. Ulfric ran his hands all over her body, her soft skin arousing him, up and down her arms, her sides, her legs until he reached down to rub her loins and kiss her breasts, making her gasp and moan. Gwen had never felt pleasure like this before and it only grew as Ulfric ran his hands up her arms and down her sides to her hips, positioning himself between her legs as he slid his cock inside of her. When she gasped, biting back a cry of pain as her virginity broke, Ulfric made sure she was alright before they continued. He began to rock her hips back and forth as Gwen wrapped her arms around him, her hands feeling every muscle in his back and shoulders moving. He moved his hips faster, penetrating her womb harder, earning a gasp here and a moan there from Gwen which only aroused him more. Faster and harder he moved his hips, his cock sliding in and out of her pussy. He began to reach his climax, quickening his pace once again until he felt his seed explode into her womb.

Ulfric pulled out of her, turning onto his back to lay next to her. He lay there with Gwen, trying to catch his breath and wrapped an arm around her when she rolled onto her side to nestle in against his chest.

"I love you, Gwen."

"And I love you, Ulfric."