Chapter 87 – A (Not So) Quiet Affair
A/N: Thank you to everyone reviewing and sending such kind messages. Your support means the world to me!
Two days.
Two days until the darkspawn army would be upon them. Serena and her group had arrived in Denerim just a day prior, and despite her newly advanced pregnancy, had barely taken time to sit down and take everything in.
Upon entering the city, she had been quickly shuffled along it's perimeter, her brother Fergus and the dwarf Faren showing her the different reinforcements and traps they'd set outside the gates. The makeshift defenses, wooden barriers with pikes sticking out at all angles, made the capital look rather shabby upon first glance. More wooden beams patched or reinforced multiple areas along the western wall, with the gate open to refugees. For now, anyway.
Beyond the main walls, there was the Alienage, and it's rudimentary defenses... the Chantry, the Marketplace surrounding the heart of the city, the arl's (not empty) holdings, as well as the royal palace. Even the docks required a quick inspection, which Leliana had mentioned many of the city's captains were working hard to spirit refugees out of Denerim as quickly as possible. To where, Serena didn't know. The Free Marches, perhaps? Kirkwall or Ostwick or maybe even Starkhaven? Anywhere but here.
And of course, there was the wedding.
Scheduled for that afternoon, Serena groaned, taking a seat on one of the empty Chantry pews. It wasn't that she had wanted something magnificent, she wasn't the type of girl to sit and dream of the perfect wedding day, but amidst a coming war, and only because the Grand Cleric insisted was quite unromantic.
They wanted to avoid another war of succession, she had explained. If, Maker forbid, His Grace fell in the coming battle, a Queen-consort wasn't enough. The throne would default back to Anora, when Serena carried a child of Calenhad in her very belly.
So this afternoon Alistair and her would be joined, officially, legally, in the Denerim chantry. Husband and wife. King and Queen. And their baby would be heir to the Ferelden throne.
"Anora must be seething," Serena murmured to herself, picking up a book from near her feet. A translation of the Chant of Light, a book she hadn't held for too many days, weeks, months. Opening it to the Canticle of Benedictions, she began to read.
"I figured I would find you here," Zevran said quietly, taking a seat next to Serena in the chantry.
"And so you have," she said with a small smile. "How long has it been?"
"Since I've set foot in a Chantry and not be intent on killing something?" Zevran laughed. "A very long time. I have been a Crow for too long, perhaps."
Serena set the book between them, still open, and grasped Zevran's surprisingly smooth hand in hers.
"Maker, my enemies are abundant.
Many are those who rise up against me.
But my faith sustains me; I shall not fear the legion,
Should they set themselves against me."
Zevran squeezed her hand, leaning his head back in thought. "And set themselves against us, they have. I am not a Grey Warden, but even I can sense them coming." He turned his almond colored eyes to Serena. "You cannot fight," he said simply.
"No. Not anymore." Serena sighed, her free hand coming to rest on her belly. "He's made it quite impossible, not that Alistair would have allowed be before..."
"He?" Zevran smiled, a toothy grin. "Do you know it will be a boy?"
"I don't- I don't know where that came from," Serena admitted, blushing. "Wynne and Alim couldn't tell, not yet. Something about magic protecting it or some such..."
The elven assassin shrugged. "A mother's intuition then, perhaps." He rose, gently pulling Serena to her feet. "Come. Your wedding is soon, and you are not even dressed for the occasion."
"Are you shaking, Your Grace?"
"Am I not allowed a bit of nerves? I'm getting married after all. And right before the city is sieged by darkspawn and a giant evil dragon... thing." Alistair adjusted his coat. It still felt bizarre to not be wearing armor. "I think I'm allowed a bit of nerves."
"I only tease," Leliana said with a smile. "You look very handsome."
"I feel very nervous. What if... what if..."
"What if what? What if she doesn't like you anymore?" Leliana rolled her eyes. "What if the archdemon crashes your wedding? What if it does? You may not have a weapon but know the rest of us are armed to the teeth, Alistair."
"I know, and I... I'm babbling. Don't mind me. Pretend you only saw me being kingly and such." He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep fortifying breath. "This is me, being kingly."
"Your Grace?" A sister of the Chantry poked her head in the room. "The Grand Cleric says it's nearly time."
"Right, right, right. I'm coming." Alistair threw a nervous smile at Leliana and followed the sister into the main hall, butterflies flapping erratically in his stomach.
"Ah, Your Grace, how lovely of you to join us." Grand Cleric Altina smiled, gesturing Alistair to a point a few feet in front of her small dais. "Your witness?"
"I'm here, Grand Cleric," Leliana said, taking her place behind Alistair.
"And the bride?" Altina asked.
"Coming," Zevran said, coming through a door on the other side of the aisle. "You know how difficult walking can be, what with the long dresses and veils and supremely pointy shoes..." Behind him, a figure clad in palest cream stumbled forward.
"Hello, my apologies. These shoes are borrowed and much too small..." Serena stepped toward the dais gingerly, her long dress trailing lightly behind her. She smiled at Alistair and took his hand. "Ready?"
"It's now or never," he replied, gripping her small hand tightly.
"Oh, I just love weddings," Wynne blubbered from one of the pews in the back. "Even small ones like this. Serena just looks beautiful, doesn't she? Despite that belly..."
Alim rolled his eyes from his place next to the older mage. Serena did look beautiful, and you only noticed her pregnancy if you could somehow manage to block out the shine of her happiness. Alim knew this wasn't the wedding either Alistair or Serena wanted- who could want a wedding planned in a day and forced upon you due to politics over love?- but you couldn't tell, not from the huge smiles on both of the newlyweds faces.
The ceremony was short, by both Chantry and elven standards. A few verses from the Chant of Light about duty and the blood of sacrifice, and they were done. Alim could tell the Grand Cleric wanted to continue, but it seemed as if Leliana had talked her out of it speaking any more about blood, and justice, and martyrdom. "As if they haven't sacrificed enough," Alim murmured softly.
Rising with Wynne, he followed the couple to an antechamber where a small table of refreshments were being served. All of their companions were there, even Sten, looking very uncomfortable in an overly large cummerbund. Serena's brother Fergus was also in attendance, smiling and shaking Alistair's hand thoroughly.
"This may very well be the last peaceful moment we have for awhile," Alim said to Kallian, who's face was red with tears.
"I'm just glad it didn't end up like the last wedding we were at," the small blonde sniffed. "It is good to see a bit of happiness when the future looms so unsteady."
"Well said," Morrigan purred, seemingly to appear from the shadows themselves behind them. "Alim, a word, if you will?"
Nodding to Kallian, he followed the witch to the far end of the room, away from the others. "How can I help you, Morrigan?"
"So oddly formal with me all of a sudden. I wonder why?"
A small shrug. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with you flying off without so much as a toodle-loo," Alim replied, unable to keep the notes of bitterness from his voice.
"I was on a mission, to scout-"
"Don't lie," Alim interrupted. "Maybe the others can't tell when you lie, but I can. I know you did something in Redcliffe. Changed, somehow. You came back changed." He folded his arms over his chest, anger drawn in every line of his body. "What did you want?"
For the first time since he'd met her, Morrigan seemed taken aback. Almost nervous. "I merely wished to do so now, before the grand battle to come. I'll be... leaving, after. Normally I wouldn't bother to say goodbye to anyone, save perhaps Serena, but I had thought you and I-"
"You thought wrong."
There was a long pause where the happy exclamations of their companions seemed to seep back into the little bubble they had created around their conversation. Morrigan frowned, strange yellow eyes hooded. "So I see."
"I won't be used," Alim said, a strange emotion overcoming him. Fury. Not one he felt often. And... betrayal. "Not by you, not by the Circle, not by the Chantry."
"Strong words," Morrigan said, equally quiet. "I thought you a little mouse once, content to learn from books and ancient parchments. But there I was wrong, too." Golden eyes bored into Alim's, and the witch smiled, not particularly nice. "Well, whether you want it or not, you have my most heartfelt thanks, and goodbye. I doubt we'll cross paths again, after this."
"Yes, it looks like I'll have to search somewhere else for a lasting... anything."
They stood there, staring at one another for a minute before Morrigan seemed to catch herself, and quickly slid from the room.
"She's an enigma, that one." Serena appeared beside Alim, her eyes on the door where Morrigan had just exited. "Everything okay?"
Alim sighed. "Yes, she was just being... herself."
"Which is rather difficult at times," Serena replied sofftly. "Well, most of the time." She touched his shoulder lightly. "Thank you for coming to this. I know your last experience at a wedding was... less than stellar."
"Oh, well, yes. It was my pleasure, of course." Alim bowed his head to her. "You look lovely, Serena."
"Oddly enough, I feel lovely, for the first time since..." She rubbed her belly. "You know. It's been odd, this pregnancy. Too much magic and strangeness. I... I worry, and pray, and worry some more. I don't know if any of it helps anymore."
"Well, I can tell you that the worry doesn't do a bit of good." Alim placed his hand on her stomach gently, closing his eyes to focus. "They're fine," he said finally. "Growing and growing." He took his hand away. "Do they kick often? I had read that it was more frequent the later into pregnancy you went, and you must be at least seven months in now-"
"Yes, it... they? You said they, right?" Serena bit her lip, blue eyes wide. "They?"
"Ah, yes. I did." Alim smiled. "My apologies, but it is a they now."
"They," Serena repeated, awed. "Two. Two babies." She glanced over her shoulder at the others, who were now singing a sea shanty about an old man who fell in love with a sea dragon. "Don't tell anyone just yet, please? I... in case something happens, I just... two is a lot to lose. I can't... Not with the battle and Alistair and-"
The elf nodded. "You have my word, Serena."
She placed a quick chaste kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Alim." She smiled, nervous but genuinely happy. "They."
"They will be perfect." He wrapped her in a tender hug which she returned, grateful for his understanding.
The party was a welcome relief after the weeks on the road. Serena stuffed herself with tiny cakes and an awful sugary punch made by one of the laysisters of the chantry.
"Better enjoy it, my love. Who knows when we'll get another break? This is my wife!" He twirled her around in a circle, his cheeks red. Unlike her, Alistair could have an ale to celebrate the occasion. "Husband and wife! That's what we are!" He wrapped his arms around her, their foreheads touching lightly. "I love you, Serena. This has been the best day I could have asked-"
"Commander! Commander!" A young man burst into the Chantry, sweat pouring down his face. It looked as if he had been running all across the city. "I apologize for disrupting but our scouts have returned-" He took a few gasping breaths, hands on his knees. "D-darkspawn, west. In the Bannorn." He took a swig from the jug of water Zevran handed him, nodding gratefully. "Thanks, I ran here, from the front gates."
"How close are they?" Serena asked.
"How many exactly?" Fergus asked, joining his sister.
The man shook his head, face still red from exertion. "It's the horde, sers. The bulk of the horde. They're... they're here."