Little Allen/What do babies eat?
"How do you even know it's a boy?" Cassandra asked, holding a wiggling toddler in her arms, as Varric was looking through the cupboards.
"The cradle has his name carved in it- its Allen by the way." Varric had now a handful of boy's clothes in his hands. "Right, should we get going?"
"I think it would be wise to take some of the parent's clothes too," Cassandra sighed, trying to keep Allen in one position.
"Why?" Varric scowled at her.
"We will need something disposable, if we're not to wash him five times a day. Unless you're willing to sacrifice one of your tunics?" Cassandra raised her eyebrow at him while he dramatically clutched his tunic and gasped in pretended shock.
"Did you hear how Aunt Cass threatens me?" He said to Allen, who was currently trying to eat his own fist. Of course, Cassandra realized when he smirked at her; she couldn't do anything to him while she was holding a child, so she just looked at him menacingly.
"Do not refer to me as 'Aunt Cass' ever again. Now go and find those clothes," she ordered him. He mockingly bowed, and left the room, which left Cassandra alone with Allen.
"How old are you?" she asked him, although not hoping for any kind of response.
"Ba-ah," Allen replied conversationally and wiggled in her arms some more. Cassandra sighed and put him on the ground. He made one or two unsure steps before he lowered himself to all fours and started crawling around the room.
Clearly not old enough to speak, Cassandra thought. Maybe that was for the best- he won't remember the tragedy that happened here, and it'll be a few more years before he starts wondering where are his parents.
She watched Allen, as he tried to use the chair as a support to stand up, and waited.
Soon, Varric return with the things they needed and they set out to Val Royeaux. Varric wanted to immediately get back to Skyhold, but Cassandra reasoned with him, that Val Royeaux is closer, and therefore they will be able to find things that Allen needed quicker. To top it off, the Inquisition matters they were supposed to take part in were tremendously important, or so did the Inquisitor tell them. They agreed to send a raven to Leliana as soon as they arrive, with hope that she can uncover boy's living relatives.
But for now, they had more pressing matters to attend too.
"Baaaaaah!" Allen's cry must've been audible in all Orlais, or so Cassandra thought.
"What does he want?" she turned to Varric, visibly irritated. Varric quickly turned defensive "How am I supposed to know? I'm no expert, Seeker." He stopped suddenly. "Maybe he's hungry?"
Oh. That would be the easiest explanation, Cassandra thought, and they should've figured it out before. But what will they feed him with? Of course, Cassandra knew that newborns drink mother's milk, but Allen wasn't a newborn anymore, so maybe he already started eating other foods?
"Milk would be our safest option, but since we want have any until we reach Val Royeaux, we'll need to try something else," Varric concluded when she asked him the question. "Maybe we could boil some bread and water to a pulp and see if he'll eat that?"
Cassandra scowled. "But wouldn't he choke on that?" Varric thought for a bit and then nodded.
"Alright, so scratch that idea. What else do we have?"
"We could find some fruits and make a mash out of them." Cassandra suggested. Varric nodded in silent agreement, so she quickly added: "I'll go look for some; you stay here and have an eye on him." She pointed to Allen, who calmed down a little in Varric's arms, but still didn't look happy.
"Don't take it the wrong way, kiddo," Varric told Allen, when Cassandra left. "She's not as bad as it seems. A little rough around the edges, but you'll be safe with her."
Allen looked at him with his big brown eyes and gurgled. Varric smiled at him. "You're still not much of a conversation partner, are you?"
Varric sat down under one of nearby trees and waited. It taken some time for Cassandra to return; he had to calm Allen down twice and he was starting to feel a headache coming. But she did eventually return, victoriously carrying some apples and berries.
"Seeker! I never thought I would be this grateful to see you!" Varric joked, if only to keep up the tradition. She scowled at him and handed him the fruits. In the meanwhile, Allen crawled up to her and put his hands up.
"A!" he pointedly said to Cassadra.
"What? Varric will give you food," Cassandra said to him, but he repeated, a little more irritated: "A!"
"Just pick him up, Seeker," Varric asked her, while searching for a knife. "It makes him cry less." Cassandra picked Allen up with a little scoff, when Varric cut the apples and put them with a cup, along with the berries, and then proceeded to smash them with a spoon.
He took a glance at Cassandra, still holding Allen in her arms. He had to admit: he never thought he would see her looking so motherly, but there she was. It was so different from her 'tough warrior' image that he couldn't help but smirk at the sight. He turned his head around before she could see it, and instead smashed some more berries. After he was done he handed the cup and the spoon to Cassandra.
"Here you go." She sat down, put Allen in front of her and tried to give him a spoon of a mash. Allen looked at her, but did not open his mouth.
"Eat, it's good." Varric almost snorted hearing that poor encouragement from Cassandra. He still made a sound though, and it was enough for Cassandra to look at him angrily.
"If you think you can do it better, then try!" She handed the cup back to him. Varric took it and next to Allen.
"Come on, say 'Aah'" he tried, but Allen only smiled at him. When he tried to put the spoon closer to his mind, he stubbornly gritted his teeth. Varric only sighed.
"Here comes the dragon?" he tried. He didn't even have to turn around to know that the Seeker was standing there with a victorious expression and trying not to laugh at him. His tries were for nothing, and after a few minutes he put the cup down with a resigned expression.
"I give up." He stood up and walked a few steps.
"But what will he eat then?" Cassandra sounded worried, but what could he do? He is not going to force-feed the kid.
"Maybe he'll eat it when he'll get hungrier?" Varric suggested hopefully.
"But how-oh." That sudden interruption caused Varric. He turned back around in the Allen's and Cassandra's direction.
"Oh." He agreed.
When they were busy discussing this problems, Allen crawled to the cup, reached into it and joyfully put the fruit mash in his mouth by himself, obviously making a mess all around him.
"It seems that we will have to wash him five times a day after all," Cassandra said, not without a hint of resignation in her voice.
"Well, at least the kid looks happy," Varric laughed at her pained expression.
"When he finishes this, we're moving on," Cassandra warned him. Varric sighed. It was going to be a very long day.