Cullen paced the war room, his eyes darting to the door every so often when movement would occur in the hallway. He had asked remaining guards that Gwyn left who stayed at their posts, to watch for not only the return of the forces from the Arbor Wilds, but Gwyn's group. Some of Leliana's scouts sent messages back and forth from the Valley to alert the advisors.

"Your pacing is distracting," Josephine grumbled.

"I'm sorry- I thought there was a war going on-" Leliana gave him a reproachful look before Josephine sighed.

"I only meant that it's not helping. We're all worried here. There's no use-"

"She's out there. She's putting her life on the line and we're holed up here just waiting. Waiting to die, waiting to rejoice, or waiting to…grieve." He forced the word out. There was silence as Cullen looked out the window- the Breach, it was gone. His hands tensed around the hilt of his sword. She…

"She's done it! Word from the field- the Inquisitor has closed the Breach! Corypheus has fallen!" The words could be heard from the hall outside. Josephine stood, her eyes glancing nervously from Leliana to Cullen's. The door to the war room burst open as a scout bounded in, breathless. The young woman stood at attention, her chest heaving as she collected herself. "Reports from the field, ser. The Inquisitor has closed the Breach! Corypheus has failed, the Inquisitor has defeated him." Cullen stared at the scout, the question he wanted to ask dangling on his lips.

"And what of Gw-the Inquisitor and her party?" His mouth dry, the words seemed to falter as they left his lips.

"Were there any casaulties?" Leliana questioned, her arms crossed and hands balled into fists. The scout reddened at the questions.

"I was sent as soon as we saw the Inquisitor close the Breach, I didn't- there was so much chaos. The tower was collapsing and there was still much rubble to go through. We haven't…" The scout trailed off. Cullen hands were trembling as rage bubbled inside of him.

"The tower was collapsing and no one checked on the Inquisitor or her squad before reporting back?" The steps he took towards the scout were swift and calculated.

"No, ser- Commander. We- when I left, the secondary team was accounted for, including the mage Morrigan. The strike team, however…when I left, Cassandra and Dorian were being attended to. Cole, Solas, and the Inquisitor have not been seen yet." The scout's voice was quiet. Cullen stared down at the map below him, the pieces that had long been deliberately moved throughout this endeavor. The longer he looked, the more rage seemed to consume him. He closed his eyes, trying to push away the memory of the smile she had flashed him when she turned around. He tried to push away the thought of her sauntering into his quarters with that smirk on her face as she leaned on his desk and said words he consistently waited to hear: I need to borrow you. The way she laughed if he touched her feet after they'd spent the early hours of the morning in bed together, the way she breathed his name and brought him back to reality every time his dreams dragged him away. Before he knew it, his fist slammed on the table, causing the pieces to be swept off. Josephine hurriedly came to his side, her arm wrapping around him.

"We don't know anything yet, Cullen." Her voice was low. He nodded.

"Find her," Cullen spat, "Alive or dead. You find her and bring her back. Go." The scout nervously clapped her fist to her chest.

"Yes, ser. I will return immediately." She ran from the room, her feet scrambling to take her as far from Cullen as possible. The room was left in silence as Leliana slumped into a chair, her gloved hand messaging her temple.

"She did it; she actually did it." A small grin spread on her lips as she laughed to herself. Cullen was bent over the war table, his eyes glaring at her.

"At what cost?" He spat. Josephine's hand remained on his back, where she gently rubbed to offer what little comfort she could.

"We don't know-"

"That she could be dead?"

"She knew what she was doing, Cullen. She was not unaware of what could happen to her." Leliana was standing now, her voice harsh and tired.

"Don't speak about her as if she's already gone! Maker's breath! We know nothing yet! Can't we wait until after we have final reports to tear each other's throat out?" Josephine's shrill voice echoed in the room. Small tears welled in her eyes for a moment before she wiped them away. "Gwy-the Inquisitor has done all we could ever dream of. She's...she's still alive. I can feel it." Without another word, she exited the room and slammed the door behind her.

"Forgive me," Leliana's voice was soft, her eyes facing the ground. Cullen, still slumped on the table, nodded. They were right- what Gwyn had done in such short time was nothing short of amazing. If anyone was going to come out of this alive, it would be her.

Hours seemed to pass as Cullen busied himself in the war room. He went through reports given to him from the forces that were returning from the Arbor Wilds. They apparently would arrive at Skyhold by nightfall, which was promising as dusk would be breaking within the next few hours. A letter he had gotten back from Mia sat on his desk, one that was responding to a detailed letter he'd written. Mia was skilled in the art of prying, so, after much thought, he finally admitted some of the more personal aspects of life regarding Gwyn. It was simple enough- he was in love, searching for the right time to propose to her, and wanted her to meet the family when things had settled. Thinking over the words he had used now, it seemed so silly to him. He could see Gwyn now- standing beside him, leaning over his desk, her curious gaze resting on the letter he had written to Mia only to have her laugh.

"Light in your life during these troubling times, am I?" she'd probably joke, her laughter echoing in his office. He knew how it usually went- light teasing until she'd run her fingers through his hair, murmur a soft "thank you," and finally planting a kiss on his brow. He knew her jokes were usually her way of deflecting these compliments, that she truly appreciated them, but often didn't know how to accept them at first. I believe that was a kiss, but I can't be sure- it's all a blur. His heart leapt slightly at the thought of her smiling against his lips, how the longer they stayed on the battlements that day, the more she entangled her fingers in his hair. He smiled at the memories of her sitting down on a stump near the training yard in Haven, listening intently to his stories, his opinions- whether she agreed with them or not- and how she'd blush after flirting with him. She was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen, it was difficult to think he might not have that luxury anymore. He eyed Mia's letter once more, the envelope carrying much more than just her words of encouragement.

"Commander? Cullen?" Leliana entered the room. He looked up from his work that he'd been neglecting.

"Yes?" He stood from his chair, his head aching.

"I've just heard word. They're returning back to Skyhold." Cullen almost didn't hear her.

"What?" Leliana suppressed a grin.

"They're marching to Skyhold. She's marching. They'll be here as dusk falls." She disappeared from behind the door and Cullen immediately crammed Mia's letter into his pocket as he hurried into the hall. Josephine had tears running down her face as she approached him and, without any warning, wrapped her arms around him.

"She's alive," she half-sobbed and laughed. She stepped back from Cullen, wiping her eyes quickly. "Sorry. Sorry! But, I just- she's alive!" She laughed again and gave him a small smile before running off to hug another unsuspecting guard. Cullen stood in the main hall, watching as servants, guards, and nobles celebrated around him. It was strange to think how widespread Gwyn's reach had been, how she had made connections with people that may not even know her real name. It was admirable.

"They're coming!" Josephine cried out happily. Everyone moved outside to gather around the front staircase. Cullen pushed past people, his eyes focusing on the doors. As he stood on the first level with Leliana and Josephine, he found his hands trembling once more. She was alive. It still hadn't hit him quite yet. He took time squeezing his fingers into a fist, wishing the shaking would end at any moment. Josephine patted his arm, a smile on her lips as she pointed. Passing Skyhold's bridge were torches, they moved slowly. Too slowly for Cullen, his patience was left behind hours ago. The group must've marched into the main courtyard, where bystanders cheered and applauded as they passed. Finally, Cullen could see her. Her enchanter's jacket had been torn, a small gash in her arm that was still healing could be seen from where he stood. A small cut below her eye was still healing as well; it would probably scar, he thought to himself. He watched as she moved through the crowds; she either hadn't noticed him or was distracted by the attention.

As she approached the first set of stairs, she caught his gaze and moved faster. There was a magnetic pull that wanted him to run down the flight of stairs and take her in his arms, but he forced himself to remain beside his fellow advisors. Instead, he couldn't stop himself from smiling. The grin on his face spread as he turned to see her approach the steps in front of him. She stopped in the middle of the staircase for a brief moment, her eyes tearful at the sight around her- people cheering for her, her friends looking up at her with smiles on their faces, and Cullen looking down. She reached him and Cullen forced himself to remain still. The three of them bowed to her, his eyes locked on hers as a smile spread across her face. Before he had even straightened his back, the two moved towards each other. His arms outstretched as he pulled her close to him, allowing her to wrap her arms around his back. She breathed him in, taking in the smell of wood and mint as her face nuzzled against the warmth of his chest.

"Miss me?" She murmured in his ears, a grin spreading on her lips. Cullen held her tighter, one of his hands tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Always." He whispered, embracing her once more. "You…you came back." He stammered against her hair.

"I had to- you forgot something of yours." She reached inside of her jacket, revealing his coin that he'd slipped into her pocket earlier.

"I thought you could use some luck." He explained, as they turned to enter Skyhold. His arm wrapped around the small of her back. As they left some of the crowd behind them, Leliana approached her.

"A word, my lady?"

"One moment, Leliana. I'm afraid I must claim a bit of Lady Trevelyan's attention before the night is over." Cullen grinned. Leliana smiled before giving a nod.

"Of course, I'll be just outside the doors, Inquisitor." Before Gwyn could respond, Cullen cupped her face with his hands.

"I prayed and prayed, and here you are." He whispered, his calloused fingers traced her face. Gwyn lips brushed against his fingers, lightly kissing his thumb. She held his hands before allowing them to wrap around her once more.

"I love you, Cullen." She whispered, resting her head on his chest for a moment. "I suppose I'd better go about my Inquisitor-like duties before Josephine and Leliana drag me into the hall." She sighed, her eyes glancing up at his. Cullen kissed her forehead lightly.

"I love you too." He murmured. She stepped back to approach Leliana when he suddenly found himself calling out her name. She turned, a smile on her face.

"Yes?" Her brow furrowed for a moment as she took a step back towards him.

"Could you find me later? After the celebrating, of course. I know everyone's going to want your attention, but I wouldn't mind claiming some of it later on." He tried not to sound too eager.

"Of course!" She leaned forward to kiss his stubble before walking through Skyhold's open doors with Leliana at her side. Cullen stood outside for a moment, watching as Gwyn cast a smile back at him. She talked with Leliana for a few moments before getting a rather large and unexpected hug from Josephine. Watching her celebrate, watching her laugh- Cullen couldn't help but smile to himself as his hand reached into his pocket and clutched around a simple, silver ring. His fingers lightly ran against the outside of it, smiling at the thought of his mother's words added to the end of Mia's letter. Go get her. I love you, son, and I cannot wait to meet her. He hadn't expected to see his mother's ring sitting in the envelope, hadn't thought of what he might say to Gwyn later tonight. He did know that Mia was right, life is often too short to let someone who makes you this happy go. He had almost lost her countless times already. He looked up at Gwyn, who was eyeing him over the shoulders of a noblewoman that spent far too much time asking inappropriate questions. Not one more day. He thought to himself as he finally entered Skyhold, sharing a small knowing smile with the love of his life.