"We'll be back by tomorrow."

"Yes, I know.

"His food is in the cupboard if he's hungry."

"Yes, you've told me."

"Read to him before he goes to bed brother, he does so love that."

"I won't forget." Nathaniel Howe smiled sweetly at his sister. "Don't worry Delilah, no harm will come to him while I'm watching him."

"I know. I just…this is the first time away from him. I'm nervous, that's all. And besides, Grey Wardens aren't the best baby sitters." Well, the Warden Commander was almost a nanny to Anders and Oghren… Nathaniel thought, but shrugged and smiled again.

"I intend to prove you wrong." Nathaniel opened the front door for his sister, and brother-by-law. "Don't worry…everything will be fine."

"I know." Delilah kissed her brother on the cheek. "And thank you again." They left, leaving Nathaniel alone with his two-year-old nephew. Admittedly, he had been hesitant to accept his sister's request to watch him, but she was the only family he had left, and he owed her that much for being away while their father went mad.

Nathaniel glanced at the child playing soundly with a pair of wooden blocks. His dark hair was messy, per usual, and he was humming a tuneless little toddler song. This shouldn't be too hard. Nathaniel thought. He'll behave.

Taking a seat near his nephew, he watched the child for a moment, the way he lined up the blocks, only to knock them down, or smash small, wooden soldiers together to mimic battle. Nathaniel leaned his head on his hand, and before he could catch himself, fell asleep.

XXX

Nathaniel opened his eyes lazily, and noted the small child still seating with his blocks and dolls. How long had I been out? He blinked and rubbed his eyes.

"Uncle? I'm hungry." His little nephew looked up with big eyes. His speech was still that of a babe's, but Nathaniel could still understand his slight blubbering. He stood, and headed to the cupboard, where Delilah had left something for her son to eat. He listened over his shoulder as he prepared the food, and the absence of the sound of rattling wood made him wary. He took a few steps back and glanced over his shoulder. The child had vanished, and Nathaniel had almost dropped the plate.

A banging sound told him where his nephew had vanished to. He hurried in that direction, though he was already too late. When he entered the small room, the wall closest to him was already dark with black, dried ink, and the boy had opened another bottle, and proceeded to smear it on the wall again. He must have done that while I slept… Horror consumed Nathaniel when he realized there was no way he would be able to get that ink off the walls.

"Maker…" He breathed, a hand hovering above the walls, afraid to touch them. "What did you…? How did you….?" He couldn't finish a sentence, only glance at the ruined walls, and to his nephew, whose lower lip was jutted out. He knew he had done something wrong.

"You don't like it?" The child said, voice cracking.

"Your mother might not…" Nathaniel muttered, quietly enough for the child not to hear. He looked over, and almost slammed his head against the wall when he saw that the boy too, was covered in ink. "Delilah's going to kill me…" He shook his head. Even a Grey Warden cannot protect himself from the wrath of an angry sister… He knelt down and took the bottle of ink from the child, and set it high on the wardrobe. "Come on…we need to get you cleaned up." He said. "And the wall too…somehow."