The Thane (Cullen Rutherford AU)

Chapter 14

It has been over a month since Floria's death, and in that time, Red Lion hold has thrived. As is avvar custom, Floria's body was dismembered and offered to the Lady of the Skies. To be honest, I did feel bad for her, but she tried to murder me several times and made my life a living hell. But, without her, we all have been much happier.

"Samira?" Cullen begins, walking in with a smile.

"Yes darling?"

"We must finish our preparations for the wedding. The marriage knots must be tied, and you must prepare your song," he explains, sauntering over to me. Cullen leans down and kisses my forehead.

"Of course. I'm glad these weddings don't take as much effort as those of the lowlanders. It's still tomorrow, correct?"

"Unless you have any objections?" he asks.

"None at all," I answer.

"I have to go back. I must speak to Vera about tomorrow's proceedings." With a kiss to my cheek, Cullen exits the room. He won't have to search hard for Vera; she was just with me not too long ago, asking me if my monthly bleeding had come, but it hadn't. I've been cramping as well, and this morning, I vomited. Vera believes that I'm with child. I don't believe that I am. Am I showing the signs already? She asked me questions about the cramping and the vomiting, and if I was experiencing any breast pain.

Do I tell Cullen? What if it's just a false alarm? I don't want to get his hopes up for no reason. With a sign, I go to grab the rope so that I may start tying the marriage knots. They'll be very loose at first, and gradually tighten as I go along. I start to tie the first knot as I hum an old song to the elvhen gods. As the song goes on, the knots are prepared for Cullen's strong and nimble fingers, until I finally stop at 40 knots.

Will our union last that long? The avvar tend to count their years of marriage through the knots, so however many untied are the number of years the marriage will last. Maybe he'll get to the 40th knot; I only tightened those knots a little. After the wedding, will I have to give up my customs, my traditions, my culture? I grew up with the Dalish traditions, and I don't want to abandon them. These traditions are so precious to me.

Maybe, if I ask, I can speak some marriage vows in Dalish. Cullen seems to be the accommodating type. From what I can remember, the vows were so romantic, and I could easily translate them so that the rest of the hold can understand. The people seemed to be accepting of me, so hopefully it would be okay. But the song? I don't know who to sing to or what to sing. Cullen instructed me on the avvar gods, and in turn, I taught him of the Dalish ones. Which gods protected me from Floria, the avvar or the Dalish? Mine, or his?

It was easy to see that she wasn't actually with child, and Vera performed an autopsy to prove it. There was absolutely no evidence to show that Floria had been pregnant in the first place.

And just the memory of that night, sliding down to the ground and being face-to-face with Cullen's blade, watching as the blood dripped onto the floor, still keeps me up at night.

But, enough of such thoughts. Cullen is staying with Branson for the night, and my room is being guarded by Krem. We are not allowed to see each other until he decides to come for me; he will take me, publicly claim me, and then the knots and the song. Then, we will officially be married.

I end up choosing a song to the god Rilla, who will hopefully bless us with a fruitful marriage and plenty of children. Without Cullen here, I am much lonelier than I ever was. But tomorrow, after Vera dolls me up for the ceremony, we will be reunited. That is enough to reassure me and encourage me to sleep, and my eyes flutter shut.