Love Comes Slowly: Solution
For the very first moment he couldn't quite believe his own ears - but into her heartbroken spoke about how truthful it is. "How... how long did you know about the child?"
She shrugged. "For a few days now - oh, bann Teagan," she re-burrowed her face into his chest again, "what am I going to do?"
Caressing her hair he spoke to her in soft tones, as if calming down a scared animal. "You have to take care about your own well-being now, my lady. This child deserves a chance of life, don't you think?" Waiting for her nod he continued: "And then, your brother and nephew will be overjoyed to have another person in the family, right?"
"But bann Teagan," she almost wailed, "that's it! I can't just come over and say 'hey, look, I'm a sister of current Teyrn of Highever and have a child conceived and born out of wedlock! Don't you dare to question the honour of my family now!' You know how quite a few of the nobles are. It would completely destroy Fergus' position on the Landsmeet."
Teagan thought for a moment. Only options for Amélie now were either retreat from public, give the birth somewhere no one would recognize her and let the child grow up in step-family, chose abortion or... get married. Get married - that would probably be the only possible thing now, since he doubted she would kill the child or give the child up. As she sobbed and clung to him, he felt strange need to assure her that everything will be okay, because... because he will take care of her.
"Marry me," he said suddenly.
Amélie looked up abruptly. "What?!"
"You've heard me," said Teagan, feeling calm all of sudden, calm and sure as never before. "Marry me, Amélie - I will take care of you both. You get someone who will protect you against the gossip, as well as father for your child."
"And what will you get out of this?" asked Amélie, suspicious undertone in her voice.
He shrugged, his stomach clenched uneasily - yet he couldn't let it show, lest he would scare her off. "A wife and a heir for Rainesfere. Please," he pleaded, "just think of it. Together with your brother we will be strong enough to stop any gossip from spreading too wide. Let me help you."
She gazed into his eyes with her own, searching for something. 'Did she find it or not?' he wondered. Looking aside, she only said: "Give me some time, my lord. I ask for half a day - I have to speak to my brother and think this over. Then I'll give you my answer."
Nodding, he released her from his arms, letting her collect herself before she left the memorial, too. There was a lot to think about for both of them. Are they prepared to marry each other? He felt attracted to her, wanted to touch her ever since he met in Redcliffe Chantry. Both of them were exhausted; she had been fighting ever since her family was murdered back in Highever, then the whole battle at Ostagar, Circle Tower and now he was begging for help to protect the village.
And she helped him, more than once. She saved him and his family before - now was his turn to help her protect hers. He only hoped she'll let him.
o.O.o
Bann Teagan,
please come as soon as possible to our family estate in case of an urgent matter.
Fergus Cousland
Teagan folded the letter into his pocket. It wasn't even the "half of a day" Amélie requested. Could it be that she decided so soon? With uneasiness gripping his heart he went to Cousland estate, to meet the way his fate will possibly lead.
Cousland siblings were already waiting for him. Fergus didn't tarry with pleasantries and went straight to the point. "Amélie told me you know about her delicate... problem and have a way how to deal with it."
"That I have," agreed Teagan. It was refreshing to find a noble who knew how to speak plainly. It looked that Couslands should be famous for that, since from what he heard about Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, they were exactly like their children; always polite and their speach ornate at one moment, honest and blunt when the time for it came. "As I've already told Amélie. Has decision been reached, or do you still need some time, my lady?" he asked, facing Amélie, who sat there motionlessly so far.
She nodded.
He felt his lips forming a gentle smile, when we went over to kneel before her, taking her hand in his. "My lady Amélie - then let me do this properly. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
She smiled sadly, her eyes getting unfocused for a moment. "I will, my lord."
They stayed like that for a moment, just holding hands and looking into each others eyes. Unknown to them, Fergus watched the whole exchange with wary eyes. 'If he hurts my sisted or will treat her badly, he'll pay,' he swore mentally. Yet so far, the bann who had been only a little older than himself, treated Amélie as something so delicate that it could shatter, if he touched it with careless fingers. And his eyes were full of... emotions Fergus didn't dare to voice or name.
Later, they made a deal how this marriage thing will work. They will marry as soon as possible, saying they decided on it a long time ago but waited for the end of the Blight. Leliana and Zevran will be asked for help in spreading the gossips. When the child is born, Teagan will accept him or her as his heir. Amélie will act as Teagan's wife and his second in every matter necessary.
When Amélie excused herself, saying she will look for Leliana and Zevran to ask them for help, Fergus poured two glasses of whiskey. "I hoped we could talk a bit more, bann Teagan. I have to say that I find myself a bit... curious about your reasons for this offer."
Nodding, Teagan sipped his drink and started a tale about the moments half eternity ago, when teyrna would write to Eamon and when he would meet the young lady personally, face to face and pommel of the sword to head. And the moment he realized that the gratitude he feels towards her is no simple gratitude at all.
o.O.o
"My dear Warden, may I say that you look lovely on this exceptional day?"
"Zevran, one more word and you'll find yourself facing the ground, I swear," whispered Leliana furiously. She noticed Amélie was very close to breaking and Zevran's remarks about how good she looks - no matter how true they were - weren't helping. Zevran shrugged with apologetic smile. He wanted to help his friend, the one who spared his life and gave him a second chance. However, the only way how to help he knew was being flirtatious, since it always worked before.
Amélie gave him a small smile, tho. Sad one, but still a smile. Before she or anyone else could say anything, Fergus entered the room. "It's time, sis," was all he said - yet it was enough for her to pale even more and gulp audibly. Leliana quickly adjusted her veil and she took his offered arm, letting him lead her down the stairs, down the aisle to meet the man who was about to join his fate with hers.
The whole ceremony was at "do you marry Teagan Guerrin as your lawfully wedded lord?" part so soon that she almost forgot to say "I do." For her it was almost authomatic to repeat the vows, her whole being wishing it was someone else she was marrying. A young man of lopsided grin, unruly blonde hair and silly jokes. Instead, she was marrying a man she knew to be loyal, brave, just and kind. But what was he like behind closed doors? There were tales of men who were someone completely different in and outside their bedchamber. Now it was Teagan's time to repeat the vows and he did it as if... as if he actually meant it.
"You may kiss the bride now, bann Teagan," said the Grand Cleric gravely. Amélie's heart fluttered in her bosom as a trapped bird. Her husband lifted her veil slowly, gazing into her eyes with his own calm blue ones.
"May I?" he whispered and she found herself nodding with a shy smile. His lips descended on hers, touching only ever so slightly that she thought it was more of her imagination than anything else. But the cheering of her friends made it quite obvious that it was real. Her wedding was real.
'From this moment on, you are Amélie Guerrin.'
And to hell with the world, if she knew what to expect from it.
o.O.o
"I think congratulations are in order, yes?"
"And we both thank you, Your Highness."
'Thank the Maker for small favors,' thought Amélie while doing a curtsy. When the Queen heard about upcoming wedding of one of the Heroes of Ferelden, she offered her help in camouflaging the real reasons for its abruptness. Amélie was starting to see more of the real woman who was hiding behind all that royal pomp; woman, who was hurting just as she was and more - because she couldn't let it show, knowing she was loosing the man she loved due to all of his affairs and because she had no child she could take comfort in.
Teagan beside her laid his hand on the small of her back. They agreed that showing of a small signs of affection in front of the others would help in this cause, be it kisses on cheek, arm around shoulders, smiles and calling each other darling or my dear. As Amélie thought bitterly, just as usually there were voices of those who didn't agree with the marriage. Luckily those voices didn't sound on the ceremony but during the days before it.
First one was Isolde. Her voice, sharp and with thick Orleasian accent, rose in "Teagan Guerrin, what were you thinking by offering this woman a marriage?" and made her cringe, when Teagan stepped in her defense, shielding her from Isolde's bazilisk glance with his body.
"This woman, as you call her, Isolde, has a name. It's Amélie Cousland, soon Amélie Guerrin. And you better remember that because I'm not going to let this slide. Is that clear?"
Then there had been also quite a yelling match between Eamon and Teagan, too. "I'm sorry that so far I was just a trouble bringer, my lord," she whispered to him when they were returning to Cousland estate in a carriage.
He shook his head, taking her hand into his. "We needed to talk, Eamon and I, for a long time now. And it's time for him to realize that I won't bow to his every whim." He pressed her hand reassuringly. "I'm man of my word, Amélie. I won't back off at the first sight of trouble."
She only gave him an unsure smile she was giving him last several days in response to almost everything. At the wedding there were some rumors about abruptness of the wedding between the young Guerrin and young Cousland - but nothing what would really come close to the real reasons for it.
The wedding night couldn't be further from what both of them probably imagined before. No whispered confessions, declarations of love, breathless moans or snuggling into each other's wamth. No. They were bound to spend the night in the same room - Teagan as a gentleman slept on the sofa while Amélie slept on the bed; huge bed with silken covers and pillows, made for love making. With only one person in it, the bed was cold and just too big. The only moment the bed was positively warm was the morning after, when Teagan hastily snucked into the bed next to her and both of them played embarrassed newly-weds when the guests came into their room, greeting them into the first day of their new life together. Part of her relished the wamth of his body behind her, his arms around her, keeping her safe from anyone who could mean her any harm, while the other part of her shyed away from Teagan's touch, feeling like a whore for allowing another man to touch her when the man she loved, the father of her child died not so long ago. If Teagan noticed, he hasn't showed anything.
Now was time to rise and shine. And wait what did the fate in storage for them.