The dark skinned man continued to read, his eyes trailing down the page of a deliciously raunchy book, when he heard a telltale creak on the floor, followed by light, soft footsteps. Having stayed in Skyhold's library for almost a year and a half, Dorian Pavus had memorized the sound the tower makes, and whose footsteps they belonged to. He sighed as he lowered the book on a coffee table in front of him, before putting his palms together and looking up, "I know you're there, Cole. Was there something on your mind?"

A greenish haze appeared near him, and Dorian smiled as he saw his young friend, still wearing the ridiculous floppy hat, but still, he liked the boy. "Can I ask you something, Dorian?"

Dorian chuckled as he took the goblet of wine near him and invited the boy to sit on a pile of books, "As long as it does not pertain to my relationship with my parents or what I do in the bedroom with Maxwell, I think I could answer you."

Cole tilted his head, looking at him as he drank from the goblet, "Are you staying for Andraste's Day here in Skyhold?"

The Altus mage shrugged as he lowered his goblet, "I might as well. Maxwell is busy attending to the needs of the Lucerni… and quite honestly, the politics in Tevinter are draining the very life out of me. So yes, I am going to stay for Andraste's Day." He looked at the boy, one eyebrow rising, "Why do you ask?"

The boy looked down at his hands, wringing them, "Do you… do you have a gift for the Inquisitor?"

Dorian laughed richly, "I do, actually. I bought it in Antiva during the month I visited there. A nice little read called the 'Antiva Sutra'… this ought to give Cullen and Alex a racy, fun-filled evening." But he waved a hand and looked at Cole again, who was looking up at him, "And you? Do you have a gift for our dear Inquisitor? The heads of our enemies perhaps?"

Cole shook his head, "I… I don't know what to get her."

"Well, that is curious." Dorian said as he leaned back against his chair and put one hand under his chin, "I would've thought you of all people could sense what she wants for Andraste's Day."

"She's happy, content… laughter fills her halls all day, and her nights with embraces. Alona learned to speak yesterday… Mama… Mama… her heart fills with joy and pride that it almost bursts out of her chest. Cullen laughs with her." He shook his head, "No, she's not hurting at all."

"Alona learned to call her mother 'Mama'?" Dorian said in amazement, "Why… her first words… and only at a year old! Isn't that a cause for celebrations! That should be something worth telling to Maxwell… he'd be ecstatic, I'm sure. Our little niece is learning to speak… marvelous."

"Dorian."

He looked down at Cole again, realizing that in his elation, he had rambled on without thinking of him, "I digress. So… you want to know what to give to the Inquisitor, then?"

Cole nodded, his hat flopping again, and Dorian thought for a moment, "Well, I wish I could tell you to buy something from her. But you might issues on concerns with money…"

"Buy her something?" The boy asked, genuinely interested in the man's suggestions, "Like what, Dorian?"

"Oh, I don't know… a necklace, or a bracelet maybe?" Dorian said, "She has plenty of rings already… with what her family gave her. Something expensive, but like I said, you might have some issues with money."

"I could steal some money, if I wanted to…" Cole suggested, but Dorian waved his hands in a bit of a fit of anger, "Fasta vass, don't do that! You're going to get Alex furious! You know she hates it when people suggest your talents for things like that."

Cole looked up in Dorian, his pale face turning pink with guilt, "… Sorry."

Dorian sighed before he looked at the boy again, "Did you ask the others what they're going to give her? I know Vivienne and Cassandra aren't here. Perhaps you should speak to Bull and Sera and Blackwall about what they're going to get for her."

At this, Cole's light blue eyes brightened, and a ghost of a smile entered his lips, "Yes. That is good. I will ask them. Thank you." He bent a little again and wrung his hands, "Maxwell fingers the pendant on his neck as he lays in bed. He's waiting, wakeful… wanting to hear the velvety voice that tells him goodnight. He misses you. He's going to call when I leave. I should go."

Dorian blinked in surprise as Cole stood up, his light footsteps making the wooden floor of the library sound again, before disappearing y the door. The moment that he was gone, a locket on Dorian's chest glowed blue, and he looked down at it. It was a sending crystal, one that Maxwell bought for the two of them as they traveled around Tevinter so they could communicate with each other even when they're far apart. He smiled as he opened the locket and spoke directly to it, "Hello, amatus. I have the most interesting news about your lovely niece."