You can't say scribe without cry

“The greatest?” Zevran reached over to clean her mouth with a soft napkin, and Gianna sat still with her big, silvery grey eyes focused on him. 

“Mhm! If you break it, papá, you get stabbed in the eyes!” Gianna smiled so mischievously, all he could do was laugh. 

“And who told you such a thing?”

“Tía Divina! She said secrets and promises are very important to keep… Unless you and mami need to know. She said if I’m really good, I can tell her secrets and she’ll trust me with some too!” 

Ah… Leliana. When she had told Gianna that she worked for the Divine, Gianna had begun to call her ‘Tía Divina’ and the name had stuck. Leliana delighted in it.

“Hm… Your Tía Divina is correct, though I am not sure how mamá will feel about you becoming a spy so young.”

Gianna sighed despondently. 

“But that’s why it’s a secret!”

Zevran chuckled. “Alright, mi cielo. Alright.”

“So, papá, will you do the promise with me?”

He took a sip of his drink. That day’s concoction was of strawberries, milk, heaps of sugar and sweetened cream. It was… it was a lot. But Zevran had long learned to put ingredients on the table that taste well together, lest he repeat the infamous ‘King’s juice’ that she made when Alistair had visited the summer before. It was a mix of grapes and whatever juice she had been given in place of the wine the adults had, which wasn’t bad. But then she’d added whatever her tiny hands could reach. 

Vinegar. Salt. A chili oil he understood a four year old could easily mistake for the strawberry syrup she put on all of her desserts.

Andraste bless Alistair. 

“Is it good? I picked the strawberries myself!”

“It’s as sweet as you are,” he replied. Gianna beamed at him. “Tell me, vida mía, what is this promise you wish I make?”

Gianna looked at the doll and stuffed animal that sat at the table in their respective chairs; the doll, Isabelina and her bear, Alistair, Not the King. She brought her finger to her mouth, telling them to stay silent before looking at Zevran so seriously, she looked like her mother. 

“It’s very important.”

Zevran leaned in, careful that his legs did not hit the small table. 

“Of course.”

Gianna motioned for Zevran to come closer and when he did, she covered his eyes. He held in his laugh. 

“I have a secret,” she whispered rather loudly into his ear. “And no one knows, not even Isabelina! And she knows everything!”

“Does your mamá know?” he whispered softly and Gianna quickly shook her head. 

Her whisper was softer now. “No. It’s gonna be a surprise.”

“I love a good surprise,” he mused. 

“It’s… hm.” She moved back and he found her pouting, as she often did when she was thinking. Then her face lit up. “I can show you!” 

“Alright, my little spymaster. You have my full attention.”

Gianna got to her feet, wiping her hands against her sky blue dress. Her gold bracelet glimmered on her wrist, just like the tiny ring on her pinky. She looked around before walking right up to Zevran and held out her hands as though in offering. He watched her pout, looking at her hands with so much concentration he felt she could have summoned fire. 

And then she did. 

Zevran’s eyes widened as she held the small flame in her little hands, finding her still wholly focused on it. He and Leliel had always known there was a chance she would be born with an affinity for magic, but until that moment, she had never displayed any signs. 

“This is wondrous,” Zevran said softly. “You are divine, cariño.” 

Gianna blew on the flame and when it would not go out, Zevran carefully closed her hands, holding them in his. She looked at him with such sadness, Zevran felt as though his heart would tear in two. 

“It’s really hard, papi,” she muttered. “It’s kinda scary.”

“I am not a mage, but we all get scared of things we don’t know, and that’s alright. Your mamá can teach you, so can your tía Morrigan- and she’s terrifying.”

Zevran chuckled, letting go of her hands. Gianna wasted no time in holding her arms out to him, something she barely did anymore but he would cherish till the day she no longer asked to be carried. Zevran took hold of her and got to his feet, his legs sore from sitting on a child’s wooden chair for so long. He cradled her against him and began to walk away from the yard and towards the terrace that overlooked the sea. 

“So, you want me to promise not to tell your mami? I can do that.”

“I know. It’s not that.”

“No?” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. 

“Can you promise you won’t let them take me away?” 

Zevran froze. 

“Can you? I don’t wanna live in a tower… Then I can’t see you anymore and they’ll take me far away and you’ll forget about me!”

Gianna was crying and Zevran found his voice at last. 

“No one is taking you away,” he said to her, holding her closer. “I will not allow it.”

“You promise?”

“I promise, Gia, te lo juro.” 

Gianna cried in his arms for a time, and Zevran did his best not to join her. He thought of Leliel, and all that she suffered in the Circle. Of the nightmares that sometimes still plagued her. She was still wary of Templars and could not fault her for it. To think of his child already worried of such things… He whispered his promises to Gianna, words of comfort and reminded her of the family she had that would always protect her. 

When Gianna’s crying turned into small hiccups, she held up her hand in a fist. Then she stuck out her pinky. 

“You have to do it,” she told him. “Then the promise can’t break.”

Zevran wasn’t sure what she meant, so he adjusted her to hold her with his left arm as he held out his right hand to her. She tapped her little finger against the gold ring he wore on his pinky. 

“You go like this.” She curled her pinky around his, well as much as she was able. So he did the same. “And now, you can’t break the promise.”

“Qué chulería!” he exclaimed and Gianna began to whine, wiggling her hand till he let go. Zevran laughed, moreso at the offended look on her face. 

“I mean it! It’s not pretend!”

Zevran covered her face in kisses. 

“I will keep this promise, I swear it on Andraste and all the gods.”

Gianna eyed him warily, arms crossed. It was like looking at a tiny, angry Leliel. 

“Fine.”

“Shall I swear it on the Maker?” he asked playfully. “On Isabelina? Or better yet, your Tía Isabela!”

“What about Isabela?”

Zevran and Gianna both looked at one another before Zevran turned around. Leliel was walking towards them, looking at them rather suspiciously. Especially when Gianna wiped at her eyes. 

“Papi made a pinky swear with me!” Gianna announced, and tugged on Zevran’s shirt. Zevran set her on her feet and watched her run off to Leliel who got down on one knee to embrace her. 

“Hello, my princess,” Leliel said as she kissed Gianna’s cheek. “How was your day?”

“I did alllllllll my letters! And then I picked strawberries while papi did his training.”

“Did you, now? I can’t wait to see your letters.”

“And then we had tea! Isabelina and Alistair went, too. Alistair Not the King, Tío is still in Den… Den-ah-ren.” Gianna made a sound of annoyance. “He’s in his castle.”

“Oh, then we should go ask if they’d like to come inside. I have a surprise for you, maybe you’d like to share with them.”

Gianna ran off to get her dolls while Leliel and Zevran met halfway. He kissed her once, twice, before embracing her. 

“Why was she crying?” Leliel whispered, bringing her arms around him. 

“She… she wanted me to promise I’d never let her be sent to the Circle.”

Leliel gasped and pulled back. She looked mortified. 

“How? Why would she even think of that?”

Zevran shook his head. 

“She was so distraught I didn’t think to ask.”

Leliel closed her eyes and sighed. Zevran kissed her forehead and embraced her once more. 

“I didn’t want to tell her about that yet.”

“I know, amor. I know.”

Zevran did not see Gianna at her table, and sighed. 

“I swore to her I would never allow it. None of us will.” 

Leliel nodded. 

“Don’t worry, we will talk to her. Together. For now, we must find where she went. I am not prepared to be the dragon in her game again. That wooden sword hurts. No five year old should hit that hard.”

They began to walk back to the house but Leliel stopped him. 

“Why would she even think she’d be sent to the Circle?”

“Ah. That. Well.” Zevran cleared his throat. “I am afraid I cannot say, preciosa. I have been sworn to secrecy, and if I should betray that trust, I will lose my eyes. I quite like them.”

“You’ll lose your what?” Leliel looked confused but then her eyes narrowed. “Leliana! Wait until I see her again. I’m going to strangle her.”

Zevran chuckled and took her by the hand. He kissed it and led her inside. 

Gianna’s attempt to attack Zevran with her wooden sword was thwarted by the gift her mother brought her. It was a paint set, with lacquered brushes and small canvases. Gianna was completely enamored with it. 

“Would you like to paint now?” Leliel asked. Gianna thought about it and then shook her head. 

“I have a surprise for you, mami bella.”

“You do?” 

“Yes. And then we can paint.” 

Leliel giggled. “Alright, I like that idea.” 

Gianna looked at Zevran who gave her an encouraging nod, and then she had her mother hold out her hands. Leliel looked at Zevran and he merely smiled. 

“Okay.” Gianna placed her hands over her mother’s. “It felt better when papi was holding my hands.” 

Zevran’s heart melted at that. 

Gianna looked at her hands and concentrated, her little brows furrowed. She pouted, slowly becoming frustrated as nothing happened. 

“It’s not working,” Gianna whined and Zevran went to kneel at her side. He kissed her cheek, earning a smile. With renewed determination, Gianna looked at her mother until a tiny spark sprang up from her hands. Leliel gasped inaudible as Gianna yelped, laughing nervously as little bolts of lightning danced over their joined hands. 

“Oh Gia…” Leliel was in tears. 

“Are you happy?” Gianna asked, closing her hands. 

Leliel pulled her into a hug. “Of course! I’m so proud of you, my angel.”

“Papi said you and tía Morrigan can teach me how to use magic.” 

Leliel hugged her tight. “Of course. We’ll have to send her a letter to come visit.” 

“I can paint her a picture!” Gianna said suddenly, breaking free from her mother’s embrace. She ran off, taking her paints with her. 

Zevran rose to his feet and held out his hand to Leliel. She took it and let him pull her up. 

“Was this her secret?” she asked. 

Zevran smirked. “Perhaps. 

Leliel brought her arms around him. 

“Thank you,” she said softly. 

“What for?”

“I had no one to protect me as a child,” she replied and Zevran felt his eyes sting. “I am so grateful to know that Gianna will never have to know what it is to be alone, to wish someone would save her. She has you… I have you. I love you so much, Zevran.”

Zevran embraced her, pressing a kiss to the top of her hair.