The people had been celebrating for days, and Arianna was the guest of honor each day. Leliana forced her to wear some fancy dress with a very tight corset that was cutting off her breathing, and her hair was formed into loose ringlets that hung around her head. She did have to admit she looked quite nice. She sat upon the Inquisitor's throne with her head in her hand, lazily watching as the people all danced around in the main hall.

Mark was leaning against the wall as he stared at the happy people. They had been so relieved when they saw Arianna close the rift. It was a very welcome sight to see the first two days; now it was just tiresome. He couldn't seem to keep his eyes from swaying to Arianna sitting in his throne. She had turned down every dance offer and just sat there. It was pleasant for him to see in her in such fancy attire. She had always refused to wear dresses while they were together. He couldn't seem to get her words, "I don't love you anymore," out of his head. He wanted her to move on, but at the same time, it nearly crushed him to think of her with anyone else.

Cullen couldn't stop staring at Arianna; she was so beautiful. It nearly took his breath away when she stepped to the throne. Every time that she would notice him looking at her, she would stick her tongue out and make a childish face at him. She really was the most dazzling woman she'd ever met. He couldn't stop thinking about her, and when she spoke to him, it was as if no one else was near them. He tried to shake these thoughts away; he knew that she would never consider herself more than a friend to him.

Harriett danced her way up to Mark. He had been so cynical lately. "Hello, darling." She gave him a peck on the cheek. "Why don't you come dance? It will relax you, I promise."

Mark glanced over to Arianna, who was now intrigued by Harriett going over to him. "I really am not one for dancing, Harriett, you know that."

She had noticed his look to Arianna and sighed. "Of course." She brushed her fingertips on the side of his face. "I was just hoping I could take your mind off whatever was troubling you." She was trying to cover up the sadness that was forming within her. "I love you, Mark, and I always will."

He truly looked at Harriett now. Here was a woman that loved him for who he was now; that's all he wanted. "I was in a dark place when we first started seeing one another. You brought a little of light into my life, and I will always be grateful and love you for that." He grabbed her hands and squeezed them. "I'm sorry I've been so distant lately. I will do my best to be better about it." He kissed her forehead and gently pushed her back out to the dance floor; she deserved better than him.

Arianna rolled her eyes at their exchange. It was like they were two, little kids who looked at each other with puppy dog eyes. Her eyes moved over to Cullen who had just spilled wine all over himself. There were at least five women who were clawing at his shirt, trying to get him to take it off. She chuckled to herself as she got up to go help him.

"No, please let go of me," Cullen said to them as he tried to spin out their grasp. "I can take care of this myself, ladies, go back to the dancing." He saw Arianna walk towards them, laughing hysterically.

She shoved her way through the swooning women and grabbed Cullen's shirt. "Cullen, oh my! What have you done?! I told you not to wear white while drinking red wine. I told you this would happen!" She could feel his abdominal muscles as she held onto his shirt. She had to clear her throat before speaking again. "How rude of you ladies! All I have done is help you people, and you repay me by trying to hurt my dear Cullen."

The women all stepped away from them. "We apologize, my lady, we weren't aware you and the commander were romantically involved."

Arianna's eyes widened. She hadn't meant for it to come across that way. "Oh, no. We -"

Nearby squealed with excitement. "The mark and the commander are seeing one another!" This announcement caused more people to turn and run towards them.

"Oh, now you've done it," Cullen whispered to her. "Most of these people are Orlesian. They live for gossip." He grabbed her hand as more and more people approached them. "Let's go."

He pulled her alongside him as they through a side door. They kept running as they heard footsteps behind them. Soon, they reached stairs, and ran across the battlements.

Arianna had never been up in this part of Skyhold. It was almost like you could touch the sky, and she could smell the fresh air as Cullen led her into a room. "I had no idea that they would get so excited about that!" She let go of his hand as she looked around the room. There were books and clothes all over the floor with candles slightly illuminating the whole room. "Is this your office?" she asked Cullen.

He shut the door to the battlements and looked at her. "Yes. Well, it's also my bedroom." He noticed her surprised look. "I didn't want a huge bedroom; it didn't feel like me." He searched the shirts that were on his floor and smelled them to see if they were clean.

"Oh, come on." Arianna sighed as she watched him. "Just when I was thinking how perfect you were, you had to do that."

He looked down at the shirt he was holding and gave her a confused look. "What's wrong with this?" He held up the shirt and sniffed it one more time. "I'm making sure it's clean. Why is that bad?"

She rolled her eyes and chuckled at his clueless mind. "You don't know a whole lot about women, do you, Commander?" She sat down on a nearby chair and picked up a book. She wasn't really reading it, but she flipped through the pages. "You are very different than the men I'm used to." She didn't want to look at him as she said this.

He froze. Was she saying this in a good way, or was it an insult? "What do you mean by that, my lady?"

She suddenly threw the book down, and charged at him. "Stop calling me that! I hate it when people call me that! I don't deserve any of that. I have done things that you would think I should die for!" She was trying to hold back her tears. She had done so for so long.

Cullen wrapped his large hands around her shoulders. "I could never think you deserve to die. That's not my place to judge."

Arianna scoffed at his words. "Oh, don't try to be so high and mighty, Commander. We all heard of your hatred for the mages. You thought all of them should die so there would be no risk of abominations."

He knew she was trying to focus her anger on something, and he was willing to be her target. "I was wrong about my hatred for the mages. The Champion of Kirkwall showed me that mages can do great things."

She couldn't hold back the tears any longer. "I have done so much wrong in my life. I don't deserve to be the hero of these people. I shouldn't be. It's like the Maker's sick joke." She tried to hide her face from the man in front of her.

Cullen grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him. "Tell me what is really bothering you."

She sniffled as she looked up at him with sad eyes. "I thought he was dead all of this time. Mark was supposed to be dead; I had moved on. Well, at least I thought I did. Every time I see him with her, it nearly kills me." She shoved him away from her. "And now, I am starting to develop these feelings for you that I can't have. I can't go through that again. I won't." She collapsed to the floor with sobs breaking out from her chest.

Cullen caught her in his arms and held her. He lightly kissed the top of her head. "I expect nothing from you, Arianna. You have to give me nothing." He brushed her hair out of her tear stained eyes. "My feelings for you are genuine. You are an amazing person; I am so lucky to have met you."