Days later, I awoke to jagged breaths and the low rumble of Cullen's voice.
"I shall embrace the light. I shall weather the storm. I shall endure." I blinked as I heard him sniff loudly, his voice wavering. "Maker, please. She shall embrace the light. She shall weather the storm. She shall endure."
"Cullen?"
He startled, and in the half-light I saw him scrub at his face with his sleeve. "I'm sorry. Go back to sleep."
He's crying.
I sat up, wrapping my arms around him where he sat up against the wall. "Cullen." I tugged his face to my shoulder and felt his tears in the crook of my neck. I ran my hands through his hair. "What is it?"
Cullen held me close, clutching me to him and holding me hard. He didn't make any noise, but his shoulders shook beneath my hands.
"I love you," I mumbled against his hair. "I'm right here, and I love you."
He pulled away and ran a thumb under one eye. "I love you."
"Were you praying?" I asked and he nodded. I bit my lip, rubbing gently at his arms. "Praying for… me?"
"I know you don't believe in the Maker. I'm sorry if you don't want me to pray for you. I just-" His voice gave out and he swallowed hard. "I don't want to lose you."
"Cullen." I rested my head against his chest, crawling into his lap. My head tucked beneath his chin, warm arms around me, I said, "I know what your faith means to you. If you want to pray for me… I'm honored."
His hold tightened. "I pray for you all the time." He was speaking in a rush, breath hot and wet. "Every time you leave Skyhold. Every time you're rushing off to battle without me. Every time I wake up alone. Every time." He presses a hard kiss to the part of my hair. "There are so many dangers, and so little I can do to protect you."
"Shh." I slipped my hands up to hold his face. "Cullen, it's alright. I'm here. I'm safe."
"But you won't be. Corypheus is coming, Lahria. You'll have to face him soon."
"I won't be alone."
He wasn't convinced.
"How does the rest go?"
"The rest of what?"
I nuzzled his neck. "Your prayer. It's from the Chant of Light, isn't it? Tell me the rest."
He hesitated a moment, but held me close and whispered, "Though all before me is shadow, yet shall the Maker be my guide. I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Beyond."
I twined my arms around his neck, letting the sound of his voice resonant through his chest into mine.
"For there is no darkness in the Maker's Light and nothing that He has wrought shall be lost."
The Chant was visibly calming him. I rained kisses on his face as he said the words.
When it was over, I kissed his lips, salty with tears. "I will be safe, Cullen."
He rested his forehead on mine. "I hope you will."
