Page 72 of Whisker me Away
The ceremony was everything Freya had dreamed of and nothing like she'd expected. Instead of formal religious language, Miriam spoke about partnership and community, about the bonds that held people together and the courage required to build something lasting. When she asked for their vows, Kieran stepped forward with hands that trembled only slightly.
"Freya, a year ago, I thought I knew what I wanted from life. Independence, freedom, the ability to walk away when things got complicated. Then you showed me what partnership really means, and everything changed."
He paused, swallowing hard before continuing. "I promise to love your chaos as much as your strength, because both make you who you are. I promise to support your dreams while building my own, because we're better together than apart. I promise to face whatever challenges come with the confidence that together we can handle anything, because that's what you've taught me about love."
Tears were streaming down Freya's cheeks, joyful tears that spoke to dreams fulfilled and promises that felt as solid as the earth beneath her feet.
"I promise to be your partner in everything," Kieran continued, his own eyes bright with unshed tears. "Your support when doubt creeps in, your anchor when storms threaten, your safe harbor when the world gets overwhelming. But most of all, I promise to love you exactly as you are, for as long as we both shall live."
When Miriam turned to her, Freya's voice came out stronger than she'd expected, carrying across the grove with the samequiet conviction that had seen them through their darkest moments.
"Kieran," she said, reaching for his hands and feeling their completed bond hum with recognition. "You taught me that being strong doesn't mean carrying burdens alone. That accepting help isn't weakness, it's wisdom. That partnership means enhancing each other rather than diminishing ourselves."
She took a shaky breath, overwhelmed by the magnitude of what they were promising each other. "I vow to trust you with my fears as well as my dreams, because you've earned both. I vow to build something lasting with you, not just for us but for the community we love. I vow to face whatever comes next with the confidence that we're stronger together than either of us could ever be alone."
"And I vow to love you," she finished, her voice breaking with emotion, "not just for who you are now, but for who you're still becoming. For as long as we both shall live, and probably longer than that."
The kiss that sealed their union tasted like autumn and promises, like home and adventure and everything good that the future might hold. Around them, the grove erupted in cheers and applause, their community celebrating not just a wedding but the triumph of love over fear, partnership over isolation, hope over despair.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Elder Varric announced with obvious satisfaction, "I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Holt, partners in life and guardians of our community's future."
More cheers, more applause, more joy than Freya had thought possible to contain in one moment. But underneath all the celebration was something deeper, the quiet satisfaction of knowing they'd found their place in the world, together.
The celebration continued until the stars came out, with dancing and music and enough food to feed twice their number.But eventually the last guest departed, the last light was extinguished, and Freya found herself walking home beside her husband under a sky full of possibilities.
"Ready for the rest of our lives to begin?" Kieran asked as they approached the cottage that had become their shared sanctuary.
"More than ready," Freya replied, her hand secure in his as they stepped across the threshold into their future together. "Bring it on."
40
KIERAN
The cottage door closed behind them with a soft click that seemed to echo through Kieran's entire being. After hours of celebration, surrounded by their community's joy and well-wishes, they were finally alone. His wife. The word sent a thrill through him that had everything to do with the woman standing before him, still crowned with wildflowers and glowing with happiness.
"So," Freya said, her voice carrying a note of nervous excitement. "We're married."
"We are." Kieran moved closer, noting how the lamplight caught the gold flecks in her green eyes. "How does it feel?"
"Different. More." She reached up to touch his face, her fingers tracing the scar that bisected his eyebrow. "Like the world just acknowledged what we already knew was true."
"Exactly." He held her hand over his heart. "Can you feel it? How much stronger the bond is now?"
"I can feel everything." Her breathless voice whimperd as their connection flared with recognition. "Your contentment, your desire, your tiger's satisfaction at finally having me completely."
"Not completely. Not yet. The claiming ceremony made us mates, but tonight makes us married. Bound in every tradition that matters."
He began working at the small buttons that ran down the back of her dress, his fingers moving with deliberate care despite the hunger building in his system. The silk was soft under his hands, but not as soft as the skin it revealed inch by inch.
"Tell me what you want," he said, pressing a kiss to the curve of her neck as the dress began to loosen. "Tell me how you want me to love you on our wedding night."
"I want to feel you everywhere," she whispered, her hands working at his shirt buttons with growing urgency. "I want to forget where you end and I begin. I want to be so connected that we're sharing the same heartbeat."
"Christ, the things you do to me when you talk like that." His control frayed as her dress finally pooled at her feet, leaving her in nothing but delicate white lace that made his mouth water. "You're so beautiful, Freya."
"Your turn," she said, pushing his shirt off his shoulders with hands that trembled slightly with anticipation. "I want to see all of you."
When they were both naked, standing in the cottage's warm lamplight, Kieran felt the magnitude of what they were about to share settle over him like a blessing. This wasn't just physical joining. This was the final piece of a bond that would tie them together for the rest of their lives.
