To say that everyone wasn't surprised was an understatement.

Cullen even wasn't surprised to know no one was surprised. Both of their families and all of their friends just happened to be at dinner tonight.

As soon as he and Tessa stepped out into the main hall, everyone started clapping and cheering. Sera and Oliver were whistling and whooping obnoxiously. Dorian, Iron Bull, and Varric were passing coins to each other…and then passed them all to Josephine, who was dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief next to Gavin.

Leliana and Vivienne stood to the side, smiling and clapping along with the rest of them, while Blackwall stood with Cassandra, who had yet to leave for Val Royeaux.

Cullen glanced toward his family and he couldn't help but smile at them. Mia looked like she was about to cry and Rosalie looked like she was doing all she could to console her. His nieces, meanwhile, ran over to Iron Bull and soon ended up on the qunari's shoulders, cheering with everyone else.

The Trevelyans were even pleased. Well, Cullen didn't know what to call Lady Trevelyan's expression, but the rest of them looked excited. Frederick even caught his eye and winked at him.

"Of course everyone knows," Tessa snickered in his ear.

Cullen leaned close, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "My money is on Leliana or one of my sisters," he chuckled.

Tessa arched a brow at him with a mischievous grin. "I'm not trusting your gambling instincts. I might lose my clothes."

Feeling braver than usual, Cullen pinched her arse in retaliation. That earned him a shocked look and all he could do was smirk.

"WHY ARE WE JUST STANDING HERE?!" Oliver suddenly bellowed, earning a pinched expression from Lady Trevelyan.

"BREAK OUT THE CASKS!" Sera howled, running over to said casks that happened to be out. Oliver and Branson were on her heels.

Cullen was going to find out who snitched if it was the last thing he did. He knew it was Mia, Rosalie, or Leliana.

"Well, there goes the night," Tessa laughed, beaming up at him.

"And there goes our brothers," Cullen groaned, watching as Branson was now trying to outdrink both Oliver and Sera. The poor men didn't know what they were getting into.

Tessa's eyes widened before she covered her mouth, trying to hold back her snickers. "Oh Maker, poor Ol."

"Poor Bran," Cullen grumbled, sending a silent prayer to Andraste for his brother.

Tessa held her hand out. "I suppose we should mingle, since we're celebrating now I suppose."

Cullen noticed she held out her left hand, letting the ring sparkle in plain sight. He smiled before twining his fingers with hers and pressing a kiss to the back of her hand. "Lead on, love."

The night was spent getting a ribbing from Varric and Dorian about waiting so long to ask, being asked 1000 questions he did not know the answer to about the wedding they haven't even thought about yet, and staring at his fiancé.

Fiancé…he never thought he would apply that word to anyone in his life, yet there she was, smiling brightly at his side and looking the happiest he had ever seen her.

They were standing next to Gavin now, watching in horror as both Branson and Oliver fell under the table, where Sera was cackling wildly.

"I should have warned him," Gavin huffed, grinning cheekily.

"That was revenge for when he put itching powder in your clothes once, wasn't it?" Tessa asked, giving her brother a sly look.

Gavin shrugged. "I told him to challenge the elf to a drinking game. Surely a big guy like him should have been able to win, right?"

The Inquisitor slapped her brother's arm playfully. "You're evil, he's going to be in the worst mood tomorrow."

A roar or laughter caused all three of them to look toward the other side of the hall. Both Alana and Regan were standing on Iron Bull's shoulders now and both girls were taking the opportunity to mess with Dorian hair and their father's hair.

"Who knew the Iron Bull had a soft spot for children?" Cullen laughed. Bull seemed to be near his nieces constantly since he met them.

"Have you seen him with the Chargers? They are his children," Tessa joked.

Gavin cleared his throat. "I'm surprised he and that mage are still together. My men and I had a bet on whether they'll last or not."

Cullen narrowed his eyes a little. Gavin almost sounded…regretful.

"And why is that dear brother?"

"Well, they're a qunari and a Tevinter mage, it was just unexpected."

Tessa just pinched her brother's arm. "You know you had a chance with him right after we came here."

Gavin's eyes widened and he spluttered, glaring down at his sister. "How did you-"

"Gav, he wouldn't shut up about you until Bull started putting ideas in his head. He didn't even care your favorite shirt is made of plaideweave, which is a crime to wear in his opinion," Tessa plucked at her brother's sleeve with a teasing grin. "Though, I think it worked out well for you and our ambassador, hm?"

Gavin looked at her, toward Dorian, and back at her again. "You're telling me he would have accepted anything I suggested?"

Tessa shrugged. "Yes."

"Maker's balls."

Cullen was still trying to wrap his mind around what just happened. He knew Tessa didn't care what gender her partner was, she told him so when she said she had a few experiences with other women, but he was surprised to hear that about her brother. He didn't have a problem with it, but the Chantry usually tried to shut those feelings down when they trained their Templars.

A distant memory of a shirtless match suddenly came to Cullen's mind. "Hold on, is that why you suggested we challenge each other without shirts that one day?"

Gavin's cheeks turned pink and he took a drink from his tankard. "Perhaps," he paused and shook his head, "but Tessy's right. I'm happy with Josie and I can see he's happy with Iron Bull, so no harm done."

All three of them shrugged and looked toward Josephine herself, who was speaking with Lady Trevelyan.

"When are you going to ask-"

"Don't," Gavin curtly replied, giving her a warning look.

Tessa arched a brow and Cullen knew she would bother him about it later, but she knew when not to pry.

Gavin walked away to join the ambassador and Tessa let out a sigh. "He's worried because she's the oldest in her family and he won't have much to give her since he's a Templar."

Cullen wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her closer. "Are you sure?"

"Josie reads him like a book. She told me that was his reason when I asked her. She had been bugging me about whether you asked me to marry you or not for days now."

Cullen suddenly realized who told everyone and managed to get the celebration set up in no time at all. "Maker's breath," he hissed, draining his tankard.

"What?"

"You would have lost your clothes if you listened to me."

Tessa gave him a bewildered look for a moment before she started laughing. "It was Josie! She takes her bets seriously after all."

Cullen shook his head in amusement, pulling her closer to him, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"You know you're going to pay for that stunt earlier," she teased, pinching his side.

"I can't wait."

Tessa rolled her eyes before tugging him toward the main doors. "You cheek."

They stepped outside, letting the cool night air wash over them. Tessa shivered and stood closer to him, allowing him to wrap his arms around her shoulders.

Cullen knew the future was unsure as ever.

Times were changing in Thedas and he knew they were going to go through many trials before peace was truly met. He had all the confidence in the world for the woman in his arms. She had been through more horrors and pain than anyone else, yet she still managed to be kind and strong through all of it. She helped him test the chains that held him for so long and helped him break from their hold, giving him all of her love and patience in the process.

Cullen never thought he would find peace and love from a mage, yet here he was.

And he wouldn't have had it any other way.