The sun had begun to set upon Skyhold, the sky turning a brilliant combination of yellow, red, orange and pink. Eostre stood on her balcony, staring off into the distance, lost in thought, unaware that someone had entered her chamber, locking the door behind them.

All of a sudden, she felt a presence behind her. Before she could turn around to face them, two arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to their body. She knew in an instant that it was Cullen.

"Can I assume you are feeling better?" Hope glimmering in her words as she continued to watch the sunset. "I am a little but …" He turned her around to face him. "I can't be alone tonight."

She ran her fingers gently through his hair, "you are more than welcome to stay here with me Cullen. You will always be welcome." He pressed his forehead to hers, a simple act that helped to calm his mind.

"I've never told anyone what truly happened to me at Ferelden's Circle." His arms tightened around Eostre as he spoke, "I was not myself after that. I was angry. For years, that anger blinded me. I'm not proud of the man that made me."

He sighed heavily, unable to shake the feeling that he was burdening Eostre with all of this. In his heart, he knew he loved Eostre but until this moment, he had not been able to speak the words in fear that she did not feel the same.

"Now, I can put some distance between myself and everything that happened. It's a start." He tightened his grip, even more, prompting a gasp to escape from Eostre. He didn't want to let her go, not even for a second.

"For what it's worth, I ..." Eostre stumbled over the word she needed to say. "Like who you are now."

"Even after…?" A heat engulfed his body. After everything that had happened, and everything he had told her, she was still willing to be with him.

"Cullen," she pulled away from him, her eyes twinkling like the day they had met, "I care about you. There is nothing that you could do to change that."

"Eostre," her name was like silk upon his tongue. "I ... I love you."

"I know."

Her response caught him off guard and he released her from his grasp. Her smile lit up her face as she almost glided over to her desk, picking up the letter which lay open.

"The day we left for Adamant; I received this letter from my father. I haven't opened it until today, then I went to find you."

She presented it to Cullen, urging him to take it from her. He hesitated slightly, only for her to be more insistent. He took the letter from her, a shiver running down his spine at the sight of the handwriting which had once threatened him.

'My Most Cherished

He loves you

Your Ashamed Father'

The letter fell from his hand and hit the floor just as his lips met hers in a kiss of fiery passion. Every emotion he had ever felt towards her was unleashed in that kiss. His hands greedily explored what they could of her body.

He pulled away, leaving her breathless. A smile appeared on her face as she opened her eyes. At that moment, she looked more radiant to him than she had ever been before.

"I love you too Cullen. And there is nothing that can change that."

He swept her up in his arms, a smile wide on his face. In that moment, nothing existed outside of her chamber.

There was no Inquisition, no Corypheus.

There was only Eostre and Cullen.

There was only love.