Cassandra: Knew the Herald was stressed the moment she saw them, but realized it wasn’t entirely about being accused of causing the Breach when a wide-eyed Leliana reports that the Herald is a single parent. Her heart drops when she sees the Herald fussing over their little one, crying in relief, and realizes how hard she had been on this already-stressed single parent. She’s significantly nicer to the Herald as a result, and compliments their child as being cute. She doesn’t know how to act around the little one at first, but they grow on her. She tries not to overload the Herald, seeing as they have enough responsibility as it is.
Iron Bull: Calls the Herald a tamassran and means it. He immediately has respect for them for both trying to save the world and caring so much for their child, whom they shower with love. He suggests finding a wall in which to carve the child’s height markers as they grow, and every time they have a new mark for a new height, he laughs and says that one day, they’ll be as big as he is. If the child is old enough to understand, they find the prospect exciting. If the child is a qunari, he actually means it.
Blackwall: Like Iron Bull, deeply respects the Herald for how much work they do. He tries to find ways to aid them in any way he can, like building wooden toys or a cot for the child. Once, when the Herald has to go to a long meeting and struggles to find someone to watch the kid, he offers to watch them. They spend the time painting wooden blocks, and his beard and clothes are stained with paint by the end of it, but he doesn’t mind at all. At least the kid’s having fun.
Varric: Finds it endearing, and often visits the little one, who grows to like him quickly. He likes to tell them stories, and if they’re little more than a year old or younger, it doesn’t stop him. If the Herald is under-supplied with things for their child like clothes or toys, he puts in orders through the Merchant Guild for anything they need. When the Herald tries to thank him and pay him back, he refuses any coin. “Just take care of the kid, and yourself, alright? The life of a hero is hard enough as it is.” he says simply.
Sera: Absolutely loves this. She coos and fawns over the little one, who she likes to spoil with goodies she finds. She also is pleased with the Herald for being such a good parent– better than Lady Emmauld. As it turns out, if the Herald has to go to a meeting or something and can’t take the little one, she’s first to volunteer to watch them, and is most often the babysitter. Sera does an excellent job helping look out for the kid, even as some fret what sort of influence she’ll have. She learns to cook just so she can one day teach the kid and the parent, if they don’t know how.
Cole: Can feel how stressed the Herald is, and how worried they can be, and he does his best to reassure them. “You care. You care so much, always, love springs from your heart, always. I can help.” He keeps dangers away from the child, and will always helpfully find the parent when the child is distressed and wants them. He talks to the little one, who can’t ever understand what he’s saying, but they like him anyways. Varric teaches Cole what peek-a-boo is, and Cole thinks it’s the greatest game of all time when the child responds in excitement and laughter when he plays. “Where’s Cole? There he is! They are happy, now.”
Dorian: Has no experience with children, and isn’t sure quite what to do, but he’s nice about it, and voices how charming he thinks it is that the Herald is such a good parent. Better than his, but he doesn’t say that. Eventually, the child asks him to tell them a story when he’s reading, and he obliges, allowing them to crawl into his lap and finds an appropriate story. This becomes a frequent occurrence for the child to fall asleep in his lap and wake up later, gently tucked into bed. After Dorian’s personal quest, the man smiles at the Herald. “Your child doesn’t know how lucky they are to have a parent like you.”
Solas: Feels pity for the Herald, and some guilt, for them being the recipient of the mark. They have too much on their plate already. Nevertheless, he tries to be helpful, somehow, offering books and advice. He calls their child “da'len.”
Vivienne: Thinks that this is good. The Orlesian nobles will think it ever-so-charming that the Herald of Andraste is a single parent (possibly one to be courted). How quaint. She begins trying to help the Herald with things the child needs, and begins asking about tutors and education for the little one. She keeps finding and recommending things that aid in development and health, wanting to help ensure the child grows to be an intelligent and good person.
Josephine: Almost squeals when she sees the little one. They’re just so cute! She likes to play with the child on occasion, and sometimes has the Herald bring the child to meetings with nobles who have young children of their own. It eases relations, and makes the Herald seem much more able to relate. She does, however, object when the Herald tries doing judgement with the kid asleep in their lap.
Cullen: Surprisingly knows how to act with the child, not fettered at all. He’s good at soothing them when they’re upset, and figuring out what’s wrong if they’re not feeling well. He’s very patient with the Herald and with their child, and finds it sweet that they’re a parent.
Leliana: Acts like a completely different person around the little one. She’s much softer and kinder to the child than adults, and likes to send them gifts. She praises the Herald for working so hard, and finds the little family endearing. Anyone who tries to hurt the child, if it ever happens, is dealt with swiftly and harshly. No mercy for cruelty at all.