Courtesans - English version

50 Chickweed

"Let me get some cookies!" announced the petite woman with a grin, shuffling out of the room.

Morrighan turned after her, mouth open in confusion, but eventually stayed silent. Zevran was still holding Züiya, whose face beamed with sheer joy as she clung to his shoulder.

"Finally, Zevran!"

Dina tried to brush off the strange feeling this joyful reunion stirred in her, though she couldn't shake her discomfort. Not wanting to spoil Zevran's good mood, she smiled as she stepped closer to them.

"Hello, Züiya."

Zevran took Dina's hand. "Züiya, do you remember Dina?"

"I do," Züiya replied, her gaze never leaving Zevran.

"And here are Morrighan and Leliana, my friends."

"Yes, I know; you already mentioned them," Züiya smiled.

Morrighan and Leliana exchanged glances, guessing that Züiya might have overheard their conversation on the porch with the eccentric woman.

"But... you... what happened to you?" Zevran looked over the girl, who had once been barely eight years old but now stood before him as a grown woman.

"Wait... hold on!" Morrighan interrupted, raising a hand. "You... are you the prophet?"

Zevran burst out laughing. "No, Züiya's not a prophet; she's my daughter!"

This revelation seemed even more surprising.

"You have a daughter?" Leliana's eyes widened, glancing between Züiya and Zevran, as though mentally calculating the improbable age difference and not quite arriving at a reassuring conclusion.

"So the prophet is... the colourful lady?" Morrighan's face betrayed her mixed feelings about this idea. She gestured toward the door. "She didn't introduce herself. But... she is of sound mind, isn't she?"

Züiya laughed warmly. "Of course! She's just a bit whimsical. Her name is Chickweed."

"I'm sorry...?" Morrighan leaned forward as if she hadn't heard correctly.

"Chickweed," Züiya repeated with a laugh.

"And... does she have an official name?"

"That's her official name. Chickweed."

Morrighan nodded, though her expression suggested mild resignation. "Oh... I see. Never mind." She waved dismissively. "Zevran, I'm quite curious about your daughter; we'll definitely have a talk, Züiya. But perhaps I should have a word with this... prophet, if no one minds. Coming, Leliana?"

"Sure, go ahead; she's in the kitchen. Her cookies are absolutely delicious!" To Dina, it seemed that Züiya had not only grown physically but had also perfected the art of hospitality. She still remembered the little girl who had once innocently asked, in Dina's presence, whether she was Zevran's wife.

Leliana waved Morrighan along. "Go on, I'll stay here; right now, I'm more interested in Zevran's daughter," she said, smiling warmly at Züiya. The girl looked back at her, smiled slightly, and held her gaze without speaking.

Leliana seemed to hesitate. "Or... maybe I should go see the prophet, too. After all, that's why we came here," she added, laughing awkwardly as she followed Morrighan out.

"That's fine!" Züiya called after them happily, then turned her gaze to Dina. Dina couldn't explain the feeling, but she sensed that Züiya was expecting something from her. Yet Dina didn't move, so they simply stared at each other in silence.