Thank you kind readers!

So, a lot has happened this week writing-wise, and it turns out that instead of doing prequel, sequel, and naughty material I am inclined to be overly enthusiastic. So you will get all three.

Not here.

The naughty version is soon to be posted on Archive of Our Own (AO3) with the title Vir Tanlath under the name Herald_of_Naamah. Bonus points to Jacqueline Carey fans who got both references!

And just for fun... a little epilogue.

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"I'm almost offended. When she's good and quiet it doesn't matter, she could be either of ours. But the minute she throws a fireball at a marquise it's my fault and she is MY daughter?" The lightness in Dorian's voice betrayed the seriousness of the comment. He was about to break into laughter, not to mention he already had the four-year-old girl reaching up as he took her in his arms.

"Well she didn't get magical talent from me," Cullen warned, coming over to the duo. "And we mustn't throw fireballs, Shani. You know better."

"But she was making fun of you and mamae, wasn't she papa?" She looked at Cullen confused, those deep eyes that were so like her mother's without the brilliance of night vision that he almost told her it was perfectly acceptable.

"I'm sure she was, little one, but we still can't set her on fire." That was Sorian cutting in, bopping the child on the nose playfully. "You will remember that, yes?"

"Yes, ada. No fires. Even if the vishantin deserve it."

Dorian coughed, flushing red. Cullen sighed even as the Tevinter claimed, "She didn't learn it from me!"

"Mamae called the Empress and the Divine that. Is it a wrong word?"

Shani looked so confused, so upset, that both her father's relented. "We will have to have a talk with your mother, little one," Cullen grumbled. "Yes, it's a wrong word."

"Sorry, papa. And sorry about the fire."

Dorian took the little girl up the steps to her room, a small space just below the Inquisitor's quarters that was decorated in horrifically pink paints with little white halla and snakes all around the walls. She immediately wiggled out of his as and let herself drop to the ground with surprising grace- her mother's doing, as the rogue had been adamant her daughter know how to safely fall in case of accidents as soon as the child was toddling. Dorian happily allowed himself to get wrapped into her stories of princesses who fought for their prince's hand and the random four-year-old gibberish she spouted while grabbing each stuffed animal in her room and petting it before setting it on her bed.

Meanwhile, Cullen headed to the rotunda and leaned on the doorframe, watching as Belathen and Solas spoke animatedly. They made sure to keep their voices soft so no one else in Skyhold could hear the exact words, but Cullen was sure he could guess what was happening. Bel had likely thought of another strange manipulation of the Fade, and Solas was trying to explain that it shouldn't work. Again. Half the time, Cullen was sure their debates would end in a slugging match. On the other hand, Belathen was often right.

"Ma sarennas, ada." Belathen wrapped the older elf in a friendly hug, and he returned it warmly. It was a far cry from when Solas had returned and announced his presence, taking Bel into the Undercroft and confessing his identity to her along with the true nature of the Anchor. Cullen was surprised he hadn't wound up with a wolf pelt to spread on the floor before the fireplace. Instead, Bel had been angry for a month and then approached the elven apostate of her own accord to learn how to control the anchor. Even Dorian didn't quite understand what the two were doing, but Bel assured them that it was 'as safe as playing with crazy dream-stuff can be.'

"You understand my warning?" Solas was asking, lightness in his expression in spite of a very serious tone. "It will be different this time."

"Jeay, ada. I understand."

"I know you do." That said, Solas bent to kiss her forehead gently. "But a father is free to worry about his child, is he not?"

"As you wish, fen'hahren." She stuck her tongue out with the name, turning to Cullen and dashing into his arms. "Ma'enasalin."

"Bela. Solas." He nodded towards the elder elf respectfully. "Is everything all right?"

"Better than," Belathen assured. "At least as long as you were still wanting to increase the size of our family."

"That would be..." The Coander's brain finally caught up. "Wait. Are you..?" Bel just nodded. "And you're sure?"

"The Fade doesn't lie, lath."

"That's wonderful!" He grabbed her, spun her in the air just like the first time. And just like then, Bel looked a little green as he set her down on the ground. "Apologies."

"Just... let's tell Dorian. He'll need to know as well." She smiled wide. "I was thinking the double room below Shani. That girl could sleep through anything."

"Double room? Why?"

"That way we won't have to juggle them again later."

"I see. That makes sense." Bel mentally counted. She got to ten before he stopped walking. "You can't be serious."

"I am."

"They? As in more than one?"

"As in more than one," Bel confirmed.

If nothing else, the future would not be boring.