Chapter 1: Lady of Highever
The king has called the armies of Ferelden to war amidst rumors of a blight in the south. The Lady of Highever, Aurelia Cousland, is anxious for adventure. Will she be allowed to join her father in the stand against the darkspawn threat?
For generations the Cousland's had stewarded the lands of Highever, earning the loyalty of their people with justice and temperance. Teyrn Bryce Cousland had served the embattled kings of Ferelden during the Orlesian occupation, and now he would once again take up House Cousland's banner in service to the Crown—not against the men of Orlais, but against the bestial darkspawn rising in the south.
Aurelia, the teyrn's daughter, had been away settling a minor land dispute along the North Road and had responded to her father's summons with all possible haste. She rode through the night, arriving at Castle Highever in the cool morning mist, colored pink and orange by the rising sun.
Sparring in the courtyard had helped ease the weary ache in her limbs, and the warm bath and fresh change of clothes had been welcome. But her mind was restless.
She knew so little of darkspawn. Was it truly a Blight festering in the south? How had the king's men fared thus far? Had the legendary Grey Wardens really gathered at Ostagar to fight alongside the armies of Ferelden? But one question rang loudest amid her scattered thoughts:
Will father allow me to join Fergus in battle?
For as long as she had memory, Aurelia had longed for the day when adventure would steal her away and she would find respite from title and obligation, if only for a time.
Aurelia paused in twisting up her hair and met her reflection in the looking glass standing in the corner. She was tall and slender like her mother, with expressive crystalline green eyes like her father, and dark auburn curls that were forever falling in unruly tendrils about her face. Her expression, however, was unusually troubled, a slight frown creasing her brow as questions continued to whirl round in her mind.
Take care, dearest, Aurelia imagined her mother cautioning, such an expression will give you wrinkles.
Shaking her head with a small smile, Aurelia finished tying up her hair and set out for the library. Perhaps she could find answers concerning the darkspawn, at least, before having to join her mother and their guests.
Aurelia swallowed a groan. Lady Landra was kind and always welcome, but she had become rather determined of late to make a match of her charmingly dull son, Dairren.
Thus far, Aurelia had been spared the manipulations of overeager, self-important lords and their spoiled, humorless sons. But she knew the time would come when duty would demand she choose a husband; or have one chosen for her.
The thought made her all the more anxious to know if she would be allowed to ride with the men of Highever to Ostagar. It may very well be her last opportunity for adventure before responsibility superseded desire.
Aurelia closed the tome in her hand with an irritated snap. One of the finest libraries in all of Ferelden, she thought, and still so little concerning darkspawn!
"Hello, my dear girl."
Aurelia looked around with a start as Scribe Aldous and two young squires joined her in the study.
"I trust your journey home was without incident?" he inquired conversationally.
Aurelia smirked. "Of course."
Aldous hummed low in his throat, knowing his former pupil's mischievous nature would offer no further information. "I am beginning to teach these young squires about your family's history—" he began.
One boy groaned miserably at the same time the other complained, "Do we have to?"
Grey eyes disappeared beneath bushy eyebrows as he scowled down at his young charges. Aurelia prudently disguised her laugh as an errant cough but didn't miss the knowing side-glance from her old tutor. "You are referring to the Couslands," Aldous scolded sharply. "The very family in whose castle you live! Show some respect!"
The boys looked appropriately chastened, but Aurelia couldn't help a chuckle. "Still the same taskmaster, I see?"
"If the mind is not exercised, it withers just as the body does," he said smartly.
"Pardon, m'lady."
Tutor and pupils looked to the doorway.
"Ser Weston?" said Aurelia, an eyebrow raised in question.
The newly-appointed knight blushed, dutifully nodding his head once in respect. "His Lordship, the teyrn, has requested your presence in the main hall, m'lady."
Aurelia's heart leapt but she nodded casually, setting the book still in hand on a nearby table and turning back to Aldous and his young charges. "Excuse me, won't you?"
"Of course, my dear," he replied, bowing his head.
Aurelia offered her old tutor a warm smile before following Ser Weston from the library.
Her father and Rendon Howe, the arl of Amaranthine, had been in council most of the morning in preparation for the march south and she was anxious to hear what had been decided.
En route to the main hall, Aurelia paused along the covered parapet overlooking the courtyard, now bustling with the men of Highever as they prepared to march to war. Their numbers filled every available corner, spilling through the gates and down into the city. The sharp ring of the blacksmith's forge echoed off the stone walls and the smell of the kennels permeated the air.
It was a sobering view.
Ser Weston cleared his throat from the end of the walkway. "M'lady?"
Aurelia nodded absently, continuing on toward the main hall.
"Greetings, m'lady," said the guard at the east door, bowing low as she and Ser Weston approached.
Ser Weston nodded once in acknowledgment before pushing open the heavy door and stepping aside.
"I expect my troops will begin arriving tonight and we can march tomorrow, my lord," Arl Howe was saying, his voice drawn and nasal. "I apologize for the delay, it is entirely my fault."
Aurelia had never much cared for the arl. She had always rather likened him to a weasel, in both appearance and character.
Her father, the Teyrn of Highever, shook his head. "The appearance of the darkspawn in the south has us all scrambling. I only received the call from the king a few days ago, myself." He set a reassuring hand on the arl's shoulder. "I'll send my eldest off with my men and you and I will ride tomorrow." He chuckled. "Just like the old days."
The arl grimaced. "True, but we both had less gray in our hair then, and we fought Orlesians, not… monsters."
Teyrn Cousland laughed. "At least the smell will be the same!" He turned and smiled. "I'm sorry, love, I didn't see you enter. Howe, you remember my daughter?"
"Indeed," he said with a thin, weasely smile. "Pleased to see you, my dear."
Aurelia nodded her head once. "And you, Arl Howe."
"My son Thomas asked after you," said the arl conversationally. "Perhaps I should bring him with me next time."
Aurelia suppressed a shudder and the smile she had forced in place faltered slightly. Thomas Howe was a man ruled by his desires; desires she had refused to entertain upon their last encounter. "To what end?" she replied before she could think better of it.
"'To what end,' she says!" the arl chortled with condescending amusement. "And so glib, too!"
Her father chuckled. "There's no telling my fierce girl anything these days, Maker bless her."
Embarrassed, Aurelia offered her father a small, apologetic smile.
"No doubt because you've trained her as a warrior," said the arl with obvious disapproval. "How… unique."
Aurelia frowned. "I trust the delay with your men is nothing serious?"
The arl's eyes glinted even as his mouth curled up slightly in a nonchalant smile. "Poor weather, I believe. Their progress has been slow, but it's nothing you need worry about."
"At any rate, pup, I summoned you for a reason," said her father. "While your brother and I are away, I'm leaving you in charge of the castle."
"What?!" Effectively distracted from the arl's irksome presence, Aurelia looked to her father in dismay. "Why can't I go to Ostagar with you and Fergus?"
Her father smiled. "I'm certain you would more than prove yourself, but I am not willing to deal with your mother. She's already twisted into knots about Fergus and me going."
Disappointment warred with the questions she could feel burning at the back of her throat. She wanted to cry out in frustration and make demands, but she knew arguing would only upset her father and if she was to see him off to war, she would do so with dignity.
It was her duty.
"Very well," she managed after a moment. "I will do what you think is best."
The teyrn smiled his appreciation, knowing what it cost her to accept without argument. "There's also someone you must meet." He turned to Ser Weston and nodded. "Please… show Duncan in."
A moment later the young knight returned in the company of a large man Aurelia had never seen before.
The man had an air of confidence about him that made Aurelia both curious and wary. He had long, black hair, grayed at the temples and tied back at the base of his neck. His beard was thick but trimmed and his eyes were dark and weary. The armor he wore was well-made, but Aurelia was unfamiliar with the emblem on the breastplate.
"It is an honor to be a guest within your hall, Teyrn Cousland," the stranger said with quiet respect, crossing his arms over his chest and bowing slightly at the waist.
"Your Lordship," gasped Arl Howe, looking startled. "You did not mention a Grey Warden would be present."
Aurelia's gaze snapped back to the stranger, who was looking down at the arl with one dark eyebrow raised.
"Duncan arrived just recently, unannounced," said the teyrn with a curious frown at the arl's reaction. "Is there a problem?"
"Of course not," said the arl, though still looking uncomfortable. "But a guest of this stature demands certain protocol. I am… at a disadvantage."
Aurelia resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she considered their new guest with awe and excitement.
"We rarely have the pleasure of seeing one in person, that's true," her father allowed before turning to his daughter. "Aurelia, Scribe Aldous taught you who the Grey Wardens are, I hope?"
Aurelia nodded, unable to suppress a grin. "They are the heroes of legend, who ended the Blights and saved the world." She chuckled, unable to contain her admiration. "They are tales not quickly forgotten."
The corners of Duncan's eyes wrinkled with amusement and the teyrn chuckled.
"Duncan is looking for recruits before joining us and his fellow Wardens in the south. I believe he has his eye on Ser Gilmore."
Aurelia's elation dimmed a bit at that. Ser Gilmore was the best of men and she could think of no other more deserving of such an honor. But what she would give for such an opportunity!
"If I might be so bold," said Duncan, his voice deep and even. "I would suggest that your daughter is also an excellent candidate."
Startled, Aurelia's gaze collided with the Warden's. Was he a mage, perhaps; able to read her thoughts? Or maybe he had seen her sparring in the courtyard that morning?
Suddenly grim-faced, her father moved to stand protectively between Aurelia and the Warden. "Honor though that might be," said the Teyrn of Highever coolly, "this is my daughter we're talking about. I've not so many children that I'll gladly see them all off to battle." He paused a moment. "Unless you intend to invoke the Right of Conscription…?"
Aurelia cast a questioning glance at her father before looking to Duncan.
"Have no fear," the Grey Warden assured the teyrn with a respectful bow of his head. "While we have need of as many good recruits as can be found, I've no intention of forcing the issue."
Aurelia swallowed a disappointed sigh as her father turned to her.
"Auri, can you ensure that Duncan's requests are seen to while I'm gone?"
And if he requests that I join him in the south? she thought defiantly. But she replied with a dutiful, "Of course."
"In the meantime," he continued with a nod, "find Fergus and tell him to prepare to lead the troops to Ostagar ahead of me."
Aurelia nodded. "Yes, father." She gave a sharp nod to Arl Howe before turning to the Grey Warden. "May we speak later?"
The teyrn chuckled. "Be forewarned, Duncan. My daughter is as curious as patience will allow. I imagine she has a great many questions for you." He winked at his daughter.
Duncan smiled and bowed his head. "I will answer what I can, my lady."
Aurelia returned the gesture. "I look forward to it, ser."
"Be a good lass and do as I've asked," said her father. "We must discuss the battle plans in the south."
Always dutiful, Aurelia bowed her head before turning away to leave.
Always duty.
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