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Varric set his quill down and poured himself another mug of Antivan coffee, glancing over at Dorian who was spooning a fith sugar into his own mug. After a couple of sips and a nose scrunch, Varric chuckled at the Altus who was now staring down at his mug with an increasingly displeased expression.
"Something wrong with your coffee Sparkler?"
"If this is what you southerners call coffee then what we have back home needs a new name. If I add anymore sugar it'll turn into a syrup!"
"Then it's you Sparkler, not the coffee." Varric placed his mug down and continued to scribble notes in a small tattered journal.
"Ruffles got that stuff from a contact in Antiva. I wouldn't say a bad word about it in front of her if I were you...unless you want the wine cellar locked up again."
Dorian tutted dramatically.
"I wouldn't have to sneak down if the good wine was served at dinner, not just when some Orlesian fop demands it!"
Despite the dwarf's teasing and jokes about the mage's pampered upbringing, Dorian found he was surprisingly comfortable being around Varric. He was about to ask whether or not he was writing about the inner circle again when a familiar silhouette strode into view from the front door, with his trademark roguish smirk, and something tucked under his arm.
"Aneth ara Dorian, Varric." He said cheerfully as he approached the table,
"Hey Toffee." Varric acknowledged but carried on scribbling.
"And a good morning to you my Lord Inquisitor." Dorian replied with an all too big a smile. Mah'ri set the item down with a soft clunk muffled by a dark velvet bag.
"You know I hate being called that mir falon." Mah'ri's Dalish lilt still heavy on his tongue, despite Josephine's attempts at persuading him to tone down his accent. She said it made the nobles dotted around Skyhold uncomfortable. Dorian remembered overhearing that awkward conversation.
"One day you're going to teach me Elvhen so I can understand these phrases." A definite flirty edge present in his voice. Mah'ri's smirk widened as he poured himself some elfroot tea, and swiped a bread roll from the breakfast tray in the middle of the table.
"If that is what you wish but I request that you teach me some Tevene in exchange."
"Nimirum amiculus." He winked. There was a definite blush now present on the tips of the elf's now perked up ears. Dorian tore his gaze away and down on the item again. He nodded in it's direction.
"May I ask what that is? Or are you expecting me to guess?" Mah'ri looked over at the mage again at the mention of the object and held out his hand.
"Give me one of your rings." He said simply. Dorian's brow raised at the odd request.
"You want me to propose already? At least let me court you first!"
Mah'ri rolled his eyes playfully, the blush not so feint anymore, was now spreading to his cheeks. Always a flirt this one he thought. Varric very audibly snorted at the other end of the table. Dorian was absolutely certain the dwarf was taking notes on this.
"Just give me a ring." He said again. Dorian looked at the rings on his hands and slipped off a thin silver thumb band with a small ruby inlaid in a crest. He carefully placed it inside the elf's hand and hesitated before letting go.
"Felix gave me that one, before he returned home. Don't loose it." A melancholy look ghosted on his face.
"Don't worry, it's not going to leave your presence." He reassured, and slid the ring on his little little finger.
Mah'ri released the knot on the bag pulled it off the object. It looked like a jewelry box. He turned his back to Dorian who took a couple minutes and an assortment of clicks, pops before he turned around again. Panels and sections of wood were now sticking out in odd angles, there was some sort of relief carving on the flat sides but didn't seem to make up any design. Varric at this point had stopped writing and was also looking at the object with a perplexed expression. Mah'ri took off the ring and placed it in a small compartment in the centre then slid a lid on top. He then proceeded to slot all the panels and pieces back together with a practised speed, turning it over multiple times, spinning some sections one way, then another, until the sections all came together with a final click. When he was done he placed the now completed box in front of Dorian. He picked it up and turned it over gently several times. Shaped like a six pointed star and surprisingly light, the random carvings he now saw they formed images, on the largest panel there was a large figure standing over an anvil with a forging hammer in one hand and a pole arm in the other. It was exquisitely carved from various types of smooth wood and thin lines of gold curled in patterns around the edges, the dark and light shades combined beautifully. It looked worn but obviously well cared for. Dorian looked back to the elf who had draped himself comfortably across a chair with his legs dangling over the armrest. The roguish smirk was back across his face. Varric piped up first.
"It's a puzzlebox?"
"Vir vhenan Junin or June's Knot, as we call it in Common. When a student of the Clan's Craftmaster finishes their apprenticeship, it is a tradition that the new craftsman is gifted with a puzzlebox made by their mentor. It is to symbolise dedication to your work, to solve and overcome obstacles."
"And this one is yours I take it, Toffee?"
"My father made this one for me." He smiled at the memory.
Dorian stayed still, except for his hands turning the box over and over and his eyes drinking in the sight. He could see the grooves where the some sections connected, some squared off, some circular, and some lines disappeared under the relief carvings. He gently shook the box, the rattle of his ring inside was barely audible. He looked up at Mah'ri.
"So.. if I want my ring back, I have to open it."
"You said a few weeks ago that you could solve any puzzle. I'd like to see how quickly you can solve this one. If...you can solve this one." Dorian laughed heartily.
"I always did love challenge my dear Mah'ri. I'll have it done by dinner."
"We'll see won't we mir falon."
Varric laughed at Dorian's overconfidence.
"Five royals says you can't get it open before breakfast tomorrow."
"You're on!"
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Dorian was getting more frustrated as the day went on. It had taken him a few hours to get just two panels to move. He was sure there was at least six panels and three cylindrical dowels sticking out when the Inquisitor had it completely unlocked. He twisted one arm of the star and the first panel started to move again, downward back into it's original position. The mechanism inside prevented him from going any further. There had to be a pattern he thought. Maybe he was wrong from the beginning? He just hadn't worked it out yet, that's all. Much to his annoyance.
He set the box down and took a sip from his glass, the brandy warmed his tongue with a pleasantly familiar tingle. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a few moments.
"Having trouble?"
Dorian practically jumped out of his skin, only just holding onto his glass. He didn't even hear the Inquisitor come up the stairs. Not even Lelianna's birds acknowledged his presence. Rogue like as always. No; ghost like.
"Not at all!" Trying regain some dignity.
Mah'ri's brow raised as if disbelieving, leaning against the bookcase with his shoulder, hands clasped behind him. He glanced down at the box. Reaching over with one hand he picked it up and examined the progress. He smiled to himself and set it down.
"Are you sure? I can give you a hint if you would like mir falon."
"No thank you." He replied, a little more sharply than he intended. "I'm just taking a break to think a little more. In fact I'm almost certain I've worked out the pattern." He lied.
"Uh huh.. if you say so." Still not believing him.
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Evening dinner had come and was long gone, it was dark and everyone had left the library for the night. Morning would be around the corner in a few hours and Dorian was slumped in his chair with an angry scowl. His sight was blurring due to tiredness and he was pretty sure he was getting a headache. He had managed to open a couple more panels, but now he was officially stuck. Nothing was moving, nothing could be pulled or pressed or slotted anywhere. He must have gone wrong somewhere. He was half tempted to put it all back together and start again. No it would take too long to restart, and he still didn't know the pattern.
"No puzzle should be this complicated." He grumbled to himself. He half-heartedly shook the box, although he wasn't sure why. Maybe a section might fall out he thought. Nope, nothing moved, and the feint rattle of ring was still there. If the damn thing didn't have such a sentimental value to Mah'ri, he would of set it on fire by now.
He examined the top again. The figure in the centre - must be June himself, he thought - looked quite serene in his expression but authoritative, his forging hammer poised ready to strike the pole arm balanced on the anvil. His line of sight followed the point of the blade, tilting the box carefully. He stopped, sat up, and moved one of the candles closer for more light. There hidden in the floral decoration was a tiny carved rune. A rune notation he recognised, used to map the position of stars on constellation charts. Bewildered he checked one of the previous panels he'd managed to move. After a few minutes he found another tiny rune hidden among the patterns. He set the box down and lunged to his ever growing pile of books beside his chair. Quickly he found the book he was after, one Mah'ri had lent him a few weeks ago. A handwritten journal detailing Dalish folktales, poems and songs, and other small pieces of history and information his clan had managed to find. He turned to the section about constellations and navigation. It took him a while to find all the rune marks on the box, note them down, and then find the corresponding constellation pattern - Fulmenos; the thunderbolt.
With his renewed enthusiasm Dorian pressed flower with the first rune he saw. There was a definite click and the largest panel came loose. He slid it out gently to reveal the centre compartment, along with his ring and a small slip of parchment.
Well done. I knew you'd figure it out eventually.
"Hah! As if there was any doubt my dear Inquisitor." The Altus said aloud.