"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."

Alex heard Cullen's voice before she saw him, finding the man in front of a statue of Andraste in one of the rooms near the garden, where Mother Giselle had made a make-shift Chantry. He was kneeling on one knee, his hands clasped together in prayer, and she headed towards him slowly, making sure that he heard her footsteps.

"For there is no darkness in the Maker's light, and nothing that He wrought shall be lost." He finished, and Alex knocked lightly against the door jam to catch his attention. He inclined his head as if to say that she enter, and she did, closing the door behind her to allow privacy, "A prayer for you?" She asked as she stood behind him.

"For those we have lost." He answered, and his voice lowered, "And those I am afraid to lose."

Alex blinked in shock at the man's admittance that he was scared, as he had not shown fear during their previous battles, "You're afraid?"

"Of course, I am!" He answered as he straightened, "Corypheus possessed that Grey Warden at Mythal. What more is he capable of? It's only a matter of time before he retaliates. We must draw strength wherever we can." He turned away from the statue to face her but he looked down at the floor sadly, his voice low and constricted, "When the time comes, you will be thrown in his path again. Andraste preserve me, I must send you to him."

The look of fear in Cullen's face made a shiver run up her spine, and she thought about what Daylen had told her. A blond-haired, green eyed brood maybe? He had told her before, Little Cully-wullies running amok in Skyhold? She realized that she had not really thought of what would probably happen to her, as she was too focused on facing Corypheus. She recognized the reality that she may not survive the battle with the magister, that she could possibly not have a future with him, and the faces of her siblings and her friends, and Cullen flashed before her felt tears forming when she felt the weight of her own mortality and she looked down at the floor in a panic, "What if I can't… Cullen… if I don't…"

His hand reached out, cupping her face as he brought her gaze to him, and Alex saw that he had thought of the same thing, a look of dread at the thought of losing her evident on his face, "Maker… no…" He whispered, and the expression on his face made her tear up, and rush into his arms in an embrace.

Cullen wrapped his arms around her tightly, as if he didn't want to let her go. He brought his face closer to her neck and her hair, breathing in her scent, as he whispered, his voice strained, "Whatever happens, you will come back."

Alex breathed in, sighing against his neck, as her own arms wrapped around him, and she nodded, "I certainly hope so." She said, although her own voice felt constricted as she felt the paralyzing fear of fighting the magister.

He took a deep breath again, and she felt his lips kissing her neck and the lobe of her ear, "The thought of losing you…" he muttered against her neck, "I can't…"

He sighed again, his breath against her skin, and Alex drew away from him a little, looking up at his tawny eyes. She grew frightened of losing him, of not being able to come back into his arms, and she drew forward, kissing him lips gently, as if she was savoring the sensation. He replied back in earnest, matching her gentleness with his own, and he molded her body to his, his hands running softly up her back and down her buttocks.

But they jumped when the door opened loudly, and they separated just as they turned around, seeing Maxwell with his hand on the door, with Daylen behind him, looking at the two of them. At the sight of Alex's brothers, Cullen's face turned red, and he ran a hand behind his neck in embarrassment as Alex coughed, "Was there something you needed, brothers?"

Maxwell's face was stoic as he put his hands behind his back, and he looked at her sternly, "Alex." He said simply, and she blinked, mainly because he sounded so… mature. "I believe Leliana wanted to speak to you in the rookery. And also, I would like to speak with Cullen. Alone."

She blinked again and frowned, "If what Leliana would like to discuss isn't important, then I'd rather stay here."

"The matter is important, Alex." Maxwell said grimly, "She wished to discuss her candidacy to be the next Divine. Also, like I said, I wish to speak to the Commander alone. Daylen will accompany you to her, as he has opinions concerning the candidacy of Cassandra as well."

"What?!" Daylen exclaimed, surprised at his twin's decision, "But… but you told me it would be the two of us…"

"And I will be speaking for the two of us." Maxwell countered, looking at him, "For now, as the eldest Amell male of this family, I insist that you take Alex to the rookery…" His brows furrowed as he stared down his brother, "Now."

Daylen blinked at how serious Maxwell's face was, and he raised a hand at Alex, "Come on then, sister. We should… head over to Leliana. I don't want to upset Max."

Alex scowled back up to Maxwell, but he stared her down, his eyes blazing, looking down at her with superiority, "I am the Inquisitor. You don't have the right…"

"You might be the Inquisitor, but I am your older brother." He told her, and she blinked, "And that entitles me to act like it. Now, do not make me repeat myself… Alexandra Irene Trevelyan."

Both Alex and Cullen blinked in surprise at Maxwell's use of her full name, and Alex puffed out angrily, stomping like spoilt child out of the room with Daylen hurrying behind her, leaving Cullen and Maxwell in the room. At their departure, Maxwell sighed before looking apologetically at Cullen, "Forgive my manners, Commander. I did not wish to act like… such an ass. But I wanted to speak with you." He laughed a little, "Also, I believe it was only right that I interfered. Had I not, perhaps you two would have done something… positively impious in front of Andraste."

Cullen's face flushed red and he ran a hand at the back of his neck in embarrassment again as Maxwell moved aside and extended a hand, "Walk with me in the garden, Commander. If you please."

He nodded and headed out of the room, with Maxwell matching his steps as they headed into the garden, where he saw Morrigan and Kieran some distance away, reading a book, and Mother Giselle was busily trimming their herb garden. "You sounded… rather serious back there, Ser Maxwell. Is something the matter?"

Maxwell sighed again, "No. Nothing is the matter. But perhaps, I just think that it is time that I… acted like everything matters." He shook his head and looked at the ground, "Did you know, Commander, that I was born only five minutes ahead of Daylen… effectively making me the eldest male after Solona? Of course, when I'm around Daylen, I sometimes forget that fact."

Cullen watched as the man continued to walk, as if he was thinking deeply, "I have recently spoken to Dorian. He intends… to return to Tevinter once Corypheus is done, and he has asked me to… return with him."

"Alexandra would be most saddened to see you leave, serah." Cullen replied, "She loved having her family with her."

Maxwell nodded, "I know she does. And we loved being with her as well. Daylen had already told me he intends to stay by Cassandra's side, whether she will be Divine or she would stay here with the Inquisition. If Alex decides to assist Leliana to be the next in line for the Sunburst Throne, Daylen would remain here, of course. However… I would still leave for Tevinter, and would no longer be able to look after her. Which leads me to the question…" He looked at Cullen seriously, "After Corypheus is defeated, what do you intend to do concerning my sister, Commander?"

Cullen blinked in shock at the man's question and he blushed again, "What…"

Maxwell shrugged, "If Alex is… defeated by Corypheus… well… we all know what'll happen to us, after that future she saw in Redcliffe. But, if she survives… and I'm confident she will, I want to know if you have plans for the future with her. It is a simple question."

Cullen sighed before swallowing, looking at the man before him, "Make no mistake, ser… I love your sister more than life itself… beyond the very Fade itself. I would do anything to stay by her side, and be her commander and her lover for the rest of my days. If… if she survives Corypheus… then… yes. I want a future with her."

"And will you marry her?" Maxwell asked straightforwardly.

He breathed, but soon nodded, "Yes. I would. I will. Soon."

Maxwell stared at him a little longer, before he finally smiled and shook his head, "Solona was right. You are a good man. I am happy that Alex found you. She deserves to be happy. After what magic and that mark had done to her, she deserves to be." He laughed a little as he reached out and patted Cullen on the shoulder, "Don't worry, Commander. I won't say anything to her or to anyone. I know for a fact that she is too focused in defeating Corypheus. But… in case you don't know, I... or rather Daylen and I… approve of you, and that we would be ecstatic to have you as our brother-in-law."

Cullen sighed in relief, "I… thank you."

Maxwell smiled at before he reached into the pocket of his robes, drawing out a box, covered in velvet. Cullen watched as he weighted the box in his hands, before he gave it to him, "Here. When you've decided the right time… when you're ready… give her this at your engagement."

Cullen blinked, looking down at the box, and he opened it only to see an ornate silverite ring. In the middle of it was a Lazurite stone, polished and gleaming in the light. "This is… exquisite."

"It is… was… our mother's." Maxwell admitted, and the commander looked up in surprise at him, "When my father fled to Lothering, he didn't have much. He had some of my mother's jewels, which she gave to him upon her death. He sold them… except for a couple of them. This was her engagement ring." He reached inside the chest of his robes and drew out a simple gold ring, tied to a chain, "This was her wedding ring. Daylen has our father's ring. Solona gave them to us when she married Alistair." He chuckled, "I must admit… I'm a little relieved to be giving it to you. I've carried that thing for years. An heirloom of our house, so to speak."

Cullen looked down at the box again, and enveloped it in both of his hands. "Then when Corypheus is dead, she will have it. I promise you."

"Solona had spoken to us… before she left for Weisshaupt." Maxwell continued, nodding at him, "She cares for Alex, and told us to… observe you… to see if you are perfect for her. Our curiousity is sated, Commander. You will have no more troubles from us." He silenced for a bit before laughing out loud, "That is to say, unless we get the urge to do pranks again."

He laughed a little, "Then I must say I'm beginning to dread whatever pranks you have for me."

"Oh no… you are officially off our pranking list." The man told him as he grinned, "Alex is still worth pranking, though. Maybe I should prank her before I leave for Tevinter. Give her a memory to remember me by."

Cullen thought for a moment, looking up at Alex's brother, and he grinned wickedly, "Actually, there is one prank I've been wanting to do. Perhaps you can assist me, once all this is done."

Maxwell blinked as he looked at Cullen, before his face split into a wide grin, "Then I shall reserve my pranking efforts to assist you on your own, Commander."

He nodded and smiled, before his brows rose in curiosity, "By the way… Irene?"

"All Amells actually have a second name, Commander… kind of like yours. Stanton." Maxwell admitted, "Solona's was Marie. Daylen's is Levi. I have forgotten if the Hawke siblings have them, but the four of us do. Solona Marie Amell… Daylen Levi Trevelyan… Alexandra Irene Trevelyan."

"And yours is?"

Maxwell flushed a deep red as he murmured out, "My second name is Cullen. Maxwell Cullen Trevelyan."

The commander's deep and loud laughter echoed through the garden, startling its occupants, and causing Morrigan to shake her head, thinking that the Tevinter mage's idiocity may have contaminated the Commander.