Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed the second chapter! Cullen and Nadia had confessed their feelings for each other, but Nadia is clearly still pained by the memories of what has happened between them for years. Now she has left him behind to go ahead to Highever alone, to try and save her parents from certain death, but what will Cullen do when he finds her gone? Will he go after her and fight for her, or will her let her go so he doesn't risk hurting her again? Read on to find out what happens when Nadia finally returns to Highever and Cullen finds her gone. I hope you enjoy this next chapter! ~ladyinquisitor93

Cullen woke with a start and found that it was barely morning, but heard a knock at the door. He went to answer it and found his sister Mia at the door with a letter.

"What is this?"

"It's from Nadia." Mia said, handing him the letter.

Opening the letter, Cullen read the beautiful handwriting upon the piece of paper.

"To Mia, Rosalie, Branson, and the children,

I had a wonderful time getting to know all of you and I enjoyed the time we spent together.

I regret to inform you, however, that due to my parents' condition, I have decided to leave now

and go on ahead to Highever alone. Thank you for the delicious meal and for the most gracious

hospitality. You are a wonderful family and Cullen is lucky to have you. I wish you all the best

in the days to come and I hope you remain well. You should come to Skyhold someday, I'm sure

Cullen would love it and I know I would enjoy it as well.

To Cullen,

Thank you for offering to accompany me to Highever, though after seeing your family,

I think it best that you remain here instead of coming to Highever. I will be fine on my

own, you know I always have been, so please don't worry. I will send word when I reach

Highever to let you and your family know that I got there safely. I did want to tell you,

however, that I have enjoyed our time together and truly do appreciate everything that

you have done for me. What I said back in Rainesfere about how I feel about you, I meant

every word and the more I think on it, the more I realize that I need to admit what even

Rosalie and Mia could see clear as day. I love you Cullen Stanton Rutherford, and I think

I always have, ever since we first met in the Circle of Ferelden. We were young when you

kissed me, two teenagers lost to the thrill of disregarding our roles for the sake of pursuing

something more than just our friendship. You were my first kiss and though you hurt me deeply

by telling Irving and Gregoire about it, I understand. You always have been one to follow the

rules, to the letter, no matter what it was. I also understand why you sent me away from

Kirkwall, back home to my family, and I am grateful to you for it. What happens in the

days to come, Cullen, I want you to know that I will always love you and I will always be

grateful to you for the time we've shared. I cannot guarantee that I will return to Skyhold,

so until the next time we meet, take care of yourself and look after Matthew for me.

Forever yours, Nadia Cousland"

He reread the letter over and over, then looked over at Nadia's bed, hoping it was a dream. Her bed was made and her pack was gone, as if she had never been there at all. "Why..."

"She told us why, but I think she decided to go on alone because of what you two discussed in Rainesfere. She told us what happened, what was said between the two of you and I can understand why she would feel the need to go on alone." Mia said.

"What do I do?" Cullen said, looking at the empty bed.

"First, do you love her?"

Cullen looked at his sister. "What?"

"Do you love her, Cullen?" Mia repeated.

Cullen didn't even have to think about it. "Yes, I love her."

"Then go after her."

"I can't just ignore this letter. She wanted to go on ahead alone. She needs to be with her family." Cullen said, clutching the letter in his hand.

"But you love her and you need to go after her. She just told you in that letter that she has always loved you, ever since the Circle. That's what, ten years at least, that this woman has loved you and not once made a move herself because she was afraid of getting hurt again. You screwed up the first time around, now go get her and don't screw it up this time."

Mia left the room and Cullen knew she was right. He packed his bags and got ready to go, only stopping when Rosalie handed him a bag of provisions for the road.

"Here, enough to last you to Highever." she said.

The children gathered around their parents as they pushed Cullen towards the stable where Branson had his horse ready.

"Cullen, we like Nadia a lot." Rosalie said, hugging her brother. "You two are perfect for each other and it sounded like it's always been like that. Go get her and tell her you love her. I'm sure the children would love to have more cousins." She winked at him and looped her arm through her husband's.

Cullen nodded and mounted into the saddle of his horse after hugging Mia, Branson, their husband and wife, and the children. "I'll send word when I reach Highever."

"You better." Branson said and stood back as Cullen urged the horse forward, heading after Nadia towards Highever.

"I am here to see Lady Helene and Lord Thomas."

"Oh, by the Maker, it's little Nadia all grown up!" the guard at the gates of the Highever estate said.

"Hello, Mitchell. I had heard you recently returned to Highever from Denerim. How is your wife?"

Mitchell smiled. "She is doing well. We were just blessed with twins not two springs ago. The little tykes are quite a handful, but Mary and I are managing."

"That is good to hear." Nadia smiled, then remembered why she came. "Mitchell, can you take me to Fergus? I need to see my parents."

Mitchell's face grew somber and he nodded. "Of course. Follow me."

Nadia followed the guard to the main hall of the estate and waited until she was called forward.

"Nadia, it is good to see you, if only under happier circumstances." Fergus said, adorned in the clothing of the Teyrn of Highever.

Nadia managed a small, sad smile and hugged her cousin, embracing him as he pulled her in. "It's been too long, Fergus."

"Aye, that it has."

"I heard that you remarried?"

"Oh, yes! Come meet my wife, Jamie!"

Nadia let her cousin lead her to the woman he was just talking with before. The woman looked up and Nadia could see that she was pregnant.

"Jamie, dearest, this is my cousin Nadia." Fergus said. "Nadia, this is my wife Jamie."

"Nadia, my dear, it is so good to meet you!" Jamie said. "Fergus told me a lot about you."

"Nadia!"

Nadia didn't even have time to react before she was enveloped in a warm embrace, soft fur covering her face. When she was finally released and looked over by the woman who embraced her, she got a big grin on her face and smiled. "Elissa!"

Elissa Cousland, the younger sister of Fergus Cousland and the current Queen of Ferelden, smiled at her little cousin. "You haven't been writing, shame on you."

Nadia hugged her cousin and smiled. "Forgive me, Elissa. You know I have been busy as you have. You should have written me as well." She said, using both sincerity and sarcasm with the title.

"Now, now, is that any way to talk to your queen?"

Elissa and Nadia looked over as Alistair, King of Ferelden and Elissa's husband for over ten years now, waltzed into the room.

"Hello, Sunshine!" Nadia said, using an old nickname she knew would tease Alistair.

Alistair cringed at the nickname, but remained smiling all the same. "Hello, Dewdrop."

Nadia cringed herself at the use of her ownn nickname, but she smiled and hugged the king. "You never change, Alistair. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Well, I have Elissa to thank for that. She's been keeping me sane these last years." Alistair said. "Now enough of the greetings, for the moment at least. Go see your parents."

Nadia nodded and hurried off to the room her parents shared.

Cullen dismounted from his horse quickly and looked at the man guarding the front gate. "I need to see Nadia Cousland. Please tell me she is here?"

The man nodded. "Little Nadia is inside. What's your business?"

"I am Cullen Rutherford, Commander of the Inquisition's forces. I was to escort her here, but she left in the middle of the night with only a letter as a goodbye."

The man sighed. "That's Nadia for you... She's never been good at saying goodbye to anyone. She is good with everything but that it would seem."

Cullen rubbed his neck. "Can I go in and see her?"

"I would think it would be OK, but please keep in mind that her parents are in terrible shape. The doctors say they have less than a day or two left. Whatever ails them is progressing far quicker than anything they've seen and nothing Nadia has done will work. She's been fairly depressed the last few days."

Cullen nodded. "Where can I find her?"

"I'm sure she'd be with her parents, but if you go to the great hall and ask for Georgie, he'll announce you to the Teyrn. Keep in mind the king and queen are here as well." the man said.

Cullen thanked him and hurried inside the gates. He took his horse to the stable, found Georgie, and followed the stout man into the great hall.

"May I present Commander Cullen Rutherford, my lords and lady?" Georgie said.

Cullen bowed to Alistair and Elissa, then bowed to Fergus as well. "Please, forgive the intrusion."

"It's nothing to worry about, Commander. What can we do for you?" Fergus said.

"I am here to see Nadia Cousland. I was to escort her here to Highever from Skyhold, but she disappeared during the night a few days ago and rode on ahead without me. I've been worried about her and I wanted to make sure that she was safe here."

"Nadia is safe and well, considering the state her parents are in." Fergus said. "Forgive me, Commander, but Nadia is rather depressed about her parents' condition and nothing she does helps."

Cullen nodded. "I can understand that. If I may see her, could you tell me where she is?"

"I believe she went to the library, trying to find another way to cure this illness that threatens to take her parents." Elissa said. "Come with me, Commander, I will take you there."

Cullen bowed to Fergus and Alistair before following the queen to the library.

"Commander, it is good to see you in one piece after all these years." Elissa said. She had been at the Circle, in fact had been the one to free him from his prison, when it fell.

"I never really thanked you for freeing me from Uldred's prison. I am in your debt." Cullen said, recalling the day.

"Well, you can repay me by making my dear cousin happy." Elissa said. "I know how much you mean to her, Cullen. She never smiles the way she does around you with anyone else. You brighten that girl's world and the last few days she's been in a very dark place. The doctors told her her parents have less than a day or two left and she's been frantic trying to find a way to save them. Maker bless her heart and Andraste guide her hands, but she won't be able to save them and I think she knows that."

Cullen stopped at the door to the library and looked at the queen. "Your majesty, if I may speak freely?"

"Of course."

"Nadia and I have spoken of our feelings for each other, and I love her with all my heart." Cullen started, glancing over at Nadia as she paced in front of the fireplace with her nose nearly in the spine of the open book in her hands. "She still harbors old wounds for what I did to her when we were younger and she said she won't be toyed with. What do I say to her to make her understand it won't happen again? How can I make her see that things will be different?"

"I know what happened between you two when she left for Starkhaven. She told our family everything in the letter she sent to let us know she was being transferred." Elissa said. "You two were young and let yourselves get lost in a moment and you did your duty as a Templar- reporting fraternization. However, you must understand that she took a great risk telling you how she felt about you and for you to betray the trust she put in you, it broke her heart. If she has told you how much she loves you, then she has finally healed the wounds left by your actions and she's willing to take a chance to build something with you."

Cullen looked at Nadia again as she threw the book aside and sat down in a chair with her head in her hands.

"I can see how much you love her, Cullen. You look at her the same way Alistair looks at me or Fergus looks at his wife. If you truly want to show her how much you love her, coming after her when she told you not to is a great start. Go to her and comfort her, try to bring a little light to her darkness." Elissa said, urging him into the library before turning and leaving.

Cullen stood in the library, watching Nadia. He wasn't sure what to say or do. "Nadia?"

Nadia looked up at him. Her eyes had bags under them, they were bloodshot from lack of sleep or crying, she looked like she hadn't eaten in a few days, and she looked like she could just pass out at any minute.

"Cullen?"

"Nadia, why did you leave without me?" he asked, coming over to her and kneeling in front of her.

"I had to get here as fast as I could and I didn't want you to worry about me. It was easier to travel alone." she said, looking at him tiredly. "Why did you follow me?"

"Because I was worried for you, Nadia." he replied, taking her hands in his. "Your letter scared me... Why did you mean you may not come back to Skyhold?"

Nadia stood and went to the window, looking out over the estate gardens as the rain continued to pour. "I don't know how things will play out here... I may need to stay for my family..."

Cullen stood and went to her. "Nadia, I understand if you need to stay for your family, but Skyhold needs you. You're our resident healer and we can't do without you."

Nadia looked up at him, no tears left to cry. "Cullen..."

Cullen pulled her into his arms and held her. "Nadia, if you need time to grieve here with your family, I want you to take that time. But Skyhold needs you- I need you." He lifted her chin and looked at her. "Nadia, I love you. I've always loved you. I know you can never forget what's happened in the past, but I want to move forward and make a future with you. You're everything to me, everything I could ever dream of."

Nadia looked at him, searching his eyes. She reached up and touched his cheek, then leaned forward and kissed him. She lingered there for a moment, needing the contact, and when she pulled away she managed a tired smile. "Cullen, I love you. I always have..."

"Then come back with me." Cullen said. "When this is all over with and it's time to go home, come back to Skyhold with me."

Nadia sighed. "I'll think about it, Cullen. For now, I want you to come meet my parents. Mother and Father have been asking about you." She took his hand and led him to her parents' room.

Cullen followed her down the hall and waited while she knocked on the door.

"Mother, Father, I have someone here to see you." she said, pulling him through the door and into the room. "This is Cullen."

Cullen looked at the man and woman as they lay in their beds. They looked inches from death, but they seemed like they were holding on for their daughter.

"Cullen, this is my mother, Helene, and my father, Thomas." Nadia said, sitting next to her mother.

Cullen bowed to them. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you both. I just wish our circumstances were better."

"Such a polite young man." Helene said, smiling.

"So you're the lad whose been after my pup's heart?" Thomas said, chuckling as Cullen and Nadia both blushed.

"Father!"

"I'm just teasing, pup." Thomas said, his chuckle turning into a coughing fit.

Nadia hurried to his side and gave him a drink of water. "Father, really you mustn't push yourself."

"I'm fine, pup." Thomas said.

"Father..."

"Nadia, when was the last time you ate?" Helene asked.

"I..." Nadia started.

"Nadia Tamara Cousland, you need to go eat." Helene said, sternly looking at her daughter. "You look like you haven't eaten once since you've arrived."

"I'm not hungry, Mother."

"Nadia, your mother's right." Cullen said. "I will stay with your parents, keep them company while you get something to eat."

Nadia sighed and stood, giving Cullen a kiss. "Alright. Don't let Father tell any of his jokes. He can't handle the coughing fits that ensue when he laughs."

Cullen nodded and watched as she left the room.

"She's such a dear girl." Helene said. She gestured for him to take a seat, so he grabbed the chair that was set between the two beds. "You're a handsome young lad, Cullen. It's no wonder Nadia fell for you."

"Nadia has told us all about you." Thomas said. "You seem like a good lad."
Cullen smiled.

"You know she has been trying very hard to cure this illness. She's been pushing herself pretty hard since she got here." Helen said.

"It's beginning to wear on her." Thomas added.

"I noticed. She looks like she hasn't eaten or slept in days." Cullen said, sighing.

"Did you talk to her?" Helene asked. "When you got here?"

"Yes." Cullen said, looking at the floor and rubbing his neck. "She doesn't know if she will return with me to Skyhold. We need her, though. I need her."

"You love her don't you?" Helene asked, looking at him.

"I do, with all that the Maker gave me." Cullen said. "I love her with everything that I am. She means everything to me. I want to make a future with her, I want to ask her to marry me, but I..."

"You're worried she'll say no because she seems like she's afraid to let herself move forward." Thomas said. "Let me tell you something, lad, about Nadia. She is the type of person who always moves forward, never holds onto the past for too long. If she's told you how she feels, then it's a sign that she's ready to move forward."

Cullen sat there and listened, taking in what the old man said.

"If you want to marry our daughter, you need to make sure you never hurt her again. You broke her heart once and now that it's mended and she's opened back up to you, you must promise us to never let anything happen to her. Ever."

Helene reached out for his hand. "Nadia needs someone to keep her safe, to keep her happy. Will you make sure that happens? Can you promise to look after our baby girl?"

Cullen nodded, taking her hand. "I promise I will not leave her side, no matter what happens."

"Thank you, lad." Helene said, smiling.

"Cullen, do you truly want to marry our daughter?" Thomas asked.

"I do."

"Then you have my blessing." Thomas said.

"And mine, as well." Helene said, squeezing his hand. She let go and reached over to her nightstand and opened the drawer. Pulling out a small velvet covered box, she handed it to Cullen. "Here. Give this to her."

Cullen opened the box and stared in awe at the ring inside. "Milady, this is beautiful."

"This ring has been passed down through my family for generations. It's not like the fancy engagement rings you find in Orlais, but it's special." Helene said.

Cullen looked down at the ring and smiled.

"It's a simple band made of silverite with a Nevarrite stone set into the band. It was made nearly eight generations ago." Helene explained.

"It's beautiful." Cullen said.

"When you ask our daughter to marry you, please give her that ring." Helene said. "We don't have much time left, but this is the least we can do for Nadia."

Cullen nodded, then closed the velvet box and tucked it into his pocket as Nadia rejoined them. "Did you get something to eat?" he asked, standing.

"Yes. Elissa would not let me leave the kitchen without eating something." Nadia said, managing a smile. She came to sit with her parents, taking the seat when Cullen offered it to her. "How are you guys doing?"

"We're fine, pup." Thomas said, trying to assure her.

"Thank you for sitting with us, Cullen." Helene said. "It was nice to finally meet you."

"Of course." he replied, bowing his head. "Nadia, I need to send word to Mia and the others, let them know we're fine. Will you be alright here for a bit?"

"Of course. Tell them I'm sorry for worrying them?" Nadia said, looking at him.

"I will." He kissed her head and bowed to her parents. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Lord Thomas, Lady Helene."

"A pleasure for us as well, lad." Thomas said. "Remember what we spoke of, the promise you made."

"I will not forget, I swear to you." Cullen said, then left the room to send his message.

Nadia looked to her parents, an eyebrow raised. "What promise?"

"He promised us to keep you safe, to never let anything happen to you." Thomas said. "He's a good lad, pup. He really loves you."

Nadia looked down at her hands. "I know, Father..."

"Promise us something, pup." Thomas said, reaching out to her.

"Anything, Father." Nadia said, grasping her father's clammy hand.

"You know we don't have much time left, pup, but we want you to be happy. Cullen is a good lad and he promised us he would protect you. You love each other very much and you'd be good together. I want you to promise us that you will give this a chance and that you'll go back to Skyhold."

"Father..."

"Nadia, promise your mother and I that you will give Cullen a chance, make a future with him, and go with him to Skyhold- where you belong."

Nadia looked between her parents and took a deep breath. She knew they were right and she nodded. "I promise, Father, Mother."

"Good girl. Now, I don't know about your mother, but I am very tired. I think I should get some rest." Thomas said.

Nadia nodded and smiled, hugging her father before tucking him in. "I love you, Father." she said, kissing his cheek.

"I love you too, pup. I am so proud of the beautiful young woman you have become."

Nadia went to her mother and tucked her in, hugging her as well. "You should rest, too, Mother."

"Of course, Nadia. I am proud of you, my dear girl. Never forget that or that we love you very much." Helene said, kissing her daughter's cheek.

Nadia smiled and went to the door. "I love you both so very much. I am proud to be your daughter. Sleep well." she said, then pulled the door closed behind her as she left to let her parents sleep.

Thomas and Helene looked at each other and smiled.

"We've done well raising her." Helene said.

"Aye, that we have, love. I think I can finally rest in peace knowing she'll be safe and happy with Cullen."

"Agreed. I love you, my dearest husband." Helen said, finding just enough strength to get out of her bed and go to her husband's.

Thomas moved over and let her slide into bed next to him, holding onto the love of his life as he pulled the covers back over them. "You're still as beautiful as the day I met you, Helene."

Helene smiled and kissed her husband. "You're still as handsome and rugged as the day I met you."

Thomas chuckled and rested his cheek on Helene's head as she settled into his chest. "We've led a long, wonderful life."

"Too bad the Maker wishes us to join his side before we get to see grandchildren." Helene said, smiling.

"Well, at least we still have each other." Thomas said, returning her smile. "Let's get some sleep, darling, while it's still peaceful."

Helene sighed in content and she and Thomas closed their eyes for the last time.