One day, Nadia asked Cullen to go for a walk through the gardens with her. Cullen obliged her, offering her his arm and walking with her through the hedges, topiary, and flower beds.
"Cullen, I think I'm finally ready to go back to Skyhold." Nadia said, looking up at the sky. The rain had finally ceased and the sky was beginning to clear.
Cullen smiled. "I am glad to hear it. When would you like to leave?"
Nadia shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps at the end of the week? That's what, four days' time?"
Cullen nodded. "Very well. We shall head home in four days."
"Home..." Nadia said, looking down.
"Nadia, are you alright?" Cullen asked.
"I miss Mother and Father, but yes. I think I'm alright now." she replied, glancing over at him.
Cullen smiled and got an idea. 'There won't be a better time for this.' he thought to himself. "Come with me." he said, leading Nadia towards the fountain courtyard.
"Cullen, what are we doing over here?" Nadia asked, confused.
"When I first came here, I found you in a state of despair. I know this is where you would come whenever you were upset, that this place cheered you up. I'd like to make a truly happy memory here with you today." Cullen said. 'It's now or never, Cullen.'
"Cullen?"
"Nadia, we have known each other for years. I know that I made a mess of things when we were young and you know I regret it to this day. But Andraste as my guide and the Maker as my witness, I swear to you that I will make it my mission to make you happy until the I die. You are my world, my everything. The sight of you, the song that is your voice, the beauty of your magik and the work you do to help the Inquisition is enough to make my heart race, my head spin." Cullen started. He took her hands in his and looked at her. "I love you with all that I am and all that I have. When I spoke with your parents, your mother gave me this." He took out the small velvet box that he kept in his pocket since the day Helene gave it to him. He opened the box and revealed to Nadia the silverite ring with the Nevarrite stone. "I told them how much I love you, how much I want to make you my wife, and they gave me- gave us- their blessing."
Nadia put a hand to her mouth. "Cullen, I don't know what to say..."
Cullen dropped to one knee. "Nadia Tamara Cousland, will you do the greatest honor of marrying me?"
Nadia felt tears in her eyes. 'Is this real? Am I finally at this point in my life?' She let the tears fall down her cheeks and she smiled. "Yes."
Cullen smiled and took the ring from the box, sliding it onto her finger. Nadia looked at the ring for a moment, laughing to herself before she looked up at Cullen and pulled him in for a kiss.
"It's so beautiful, Cullen." Nadia said when she pulled back. She looked down at the ring, smiling.
"Your mother said it's been in your family for eight generations. She wanted me to present this to you as an engagement ring."
Nadia kissed him again. "What are we to do about the wedding?"
Cullen chuckled. "I thought we could have it at Skyhold and invite your family to join us."
"I'd like that." Nadia smiled. "Nadia Rutherford... I like the sound of that."
"As do I." Cullen replied, pulling her in for another kiss.
"Nadia, let me just-"
"Elissa, stop fussing about it, my hair is fine!" Nadia said, playfully swatting her cousin's hand away.
The Queen of Ferelden put her hands on her hips and pouted. "You have to look your best for Cullen, Dewdrop. Your hair needs a few more adjustments and then it'll be fine!"
Nadia said and sat back down, surrendering her hair to her cousin's care. She sat quietly, touching the soft, elegant silk of her wedding gown and smiled.
"Let me see..." the seamstress said, putting a finger to her lips in thought. She looked Nadia up and down, smiling. "I know just the thing, my dear," she added, her Orlesian accent coming through.
Nadia stood still while the lady measured her and made notes. She glanced over at Elissa and Leliana- both who knew each other from their travels together as they fought to end the Blight years ago- and rolled her eyes at how giddy they looked.
"What?" Elissa said.
"You should be more understanding, Nadia," Leliana said. "It is not often we get to see someone wed. In fact, the last wedding I attended was Elissa's when she and Alistair married. Oh, it was most spectacular!" Leliana had taken some time to herself, away from being the Divine, just to see Nadia get her dress.
"We need to do something just like that for Nadia, Leliana," Elissa said, tapping her circlet for dramatic effect. "We should do something bigger, even. Make it more grand than my own wedding!"
"Now, now, El..." Nadia said, giggling. "I can't go having my wedding be bigger or better than that of the Queen of Ferelden's. That'd just be wrong!"
"Only the best for my dear, sweet cousin. Dewdrop, do you have any ideas of what you want your dress to look like?"
"Well, I don't want anything too extravagant. Nothing like the Orlesians have- no offense intended, good lady." She said, looking at the seamstress apologetically.
"Oh, fear not, dear girl. No offense was taken. I myself agree with you. Sometimes our dresses are far too fancy and I find that I enjoy the simpler, elegant styles. In fact, I know just what to do." She went to her desk and grabbed a charcoal stick and a sketch pad. "Come, come! Let me show you!"
Nadia, Elissa, and Leliana gathered around the seamstress and watched as she effortlessly drew out what she saw in her mind and they all smiled. It was a simple and elegant-looking dress- as Nadia wanted. The seamstress said it would be white with a lacy collar. The sleeves would hang off the shoulder- only slightly, though- and stretch down to just past the elbows at a three-quarter length. The rest of the gown from the bust to the hem would be decorated with a subtle but beautiful silver filigree pattern and the gown would hang down to the ground, pooling around her.
"I love it..." Nadia said when the seamstress presented it to her. "It's beautiful..."
The seamstress beamed at her. "I think our finest Orlesian silk would be suited for something like this. It will still have that Orlesian flare, but it will have a combined look like you find often in Ferelden. I can start immediately if you would like. When is the wedding?"
Nadia looked at her. "It's in three weeks. That won't be a problem, will it?"
"Of course not. I will have it to you in two weeks time and I shall bring it to Skyhold myself." The seamstress declared. "I must see how it looks on you and make any final touches before your big day!"
Nadia smiled and hugged the woman. "Thank you so very much, Lady Genevieve. I can't wait until it's ready."
"Your fiancée is a very lucky man, Lady Nadia. I look forward to seeing his face when he sees you in this dress."
"As do we," Leliana said, smiling.
Nadia looked at the sketch again and smiled. It was going to be a perfect dress for a perfect day. She couldn't be happier.
"Nadia, are you alright?"
Nadia came out of her memory of the day she saw the sketch of her dress and nodded. "Yes, I was just thinking."
"Well, you can stop that and take a look in the mirror," Elissa said, smiling.
Nadia stood and went to the mirror, gaping at the image staring back at her.