Author's Note: Well here we go, my first FanFiction. It's a bit of a 'what if?' story. It will follow the story of two Cousland Nobles on their quest to save Ferelden from the darkspawn threat. Eventually I will get to the romance parts of the game, but for now we are looking at an adventure story. This first chapter is the first half of the Noble Origin story, enjoy!
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Castle Cousland was very cold this time of year. Arutha blew into his hands in a futile attempt to keep his fingers from freezing. If this miserable weather kept up, he would surely need an amputation. Despite the cold, Arutha felt rather smug that morning, he would ride with his father to Ostagar to assist King Cailan and Teyrn Loghain drive off the darkspawn horde. His older brother Fergus would be taking some troops south later that evening, while Arutha and his father would have to wait for the bulk of Arl Howe's forces to arrive.
His younger sister Katherine was absolutely furious. She wanted nothing more than to go with them and test her mettle in battle, but their mother would hear nothing of it. Eleanor Cousland, mother of Fergus, Arutha, and Katherine, was already concerned enough with the knowledge that the men in her family rode off to war.
"Soldier, make sure those bags are tied good and tight!" Arutha shouted across the courtyard. A young knight looked up, saluted, and tightened the saddlebags. Over the course of the next hour, Arutha circled the courtyard, issuing commands and giving assistance to the soldiers when it was needed. It was a long and arduous task, but one that had to be done. And Arutha was happy to do it, because it gave Fergus the opportunity to spend a few more hours with his wife and son. Perhaps if things were different, and it was he who had a beautiful wife and a young son to look after, he would find his task more intolerable.
He used his task to keep his mind off of the war that rapidly approached. He was nervous, though he would never admit it. Arutha had never been to war before, and he was the only male in the Cousland family who was not a seasoned soldier. He intended to do his father proud in the coming battles against the darkspawn, but he was nervous nevertheless.
"Arutha!" a voice called from across the courtyard.
The young man looked up to see Katherine standing at the large door to the great hall, waving to him. With a smile Arutha made his way over to his sister. "What's up, squirt?" he asked her playfully.
She glared at him, and for a moment, Arutha thought that he might actually get killed before any of the real battling even begun. "I told you not to call me that!" she said sourly.
The young noble raised his hands in defeat, "sorry! It won't happen again."
She glared at him a moment longer, before dropping the look of anger and giving him a warm smile. "Father wants us to meet him in the great hall," she said.
Arutha laughed, "you don't seem to think that will be an enjoyable meeting."
"Of course I don't!" she exclaimed. "You are leaving with Fergus and father and I am going to be stuck here while you all get glory in a battle against the darkspawn."
Arutha shook his head, his sister was a bit strange at times, and her strange thirst for battle reflected that a great deal. "It's not going to be fun, Kate. We're going to war. It is bloody business, and I hope that you never have to look upon such atrocities."
Kate turned away from him, "you sound like mother."
Arutha winced, that was quite the insult. While their mother was a wonderful and loving woman, she was extremely overprotective and rather overbearing. "I don't know how I should take that," Arutha said as he began walking into the great hall.
"However you'd like," Katherine replied from beside him.
The great hall was the largest room in the castle. It had high arching ceilings and fine stonework. Any noble in the realm would be impressed by the grandeur of the room. By the large fire some fifty feet away, their father Teyrn Bryce Cousland was deep in conversation with Arl Howe, one of the families greatest allies, and a tall man that Arutha had never seen before.
As they approached, their father greeted them both warmly. "Hello my children! I trust you remember Arl Howe?"
"Of course," Arutha said nodding politely to the Arl.
"How could I forget?" Katherine added from beside him.
Arl Howe nodded to Arutha and glanced at Katherine before turning back to Bryce. "I apologize again for the delay. My soldiers will be here by nightfall."
"Nonsense," Arutha's father said, "'twill be like the old days. You and I will ride together and meet the darkspawn."
While Arl Howe was not a particularly friendly man, and Arutha felt little love for him, he was a loyal friend to his father. Arutha respected what the two men had gone through in the past and he was confident that their previous adventures would assist them in the coming battles against the darkspawn.
Bryce turned to his children once again, "there is somebody I would like you to meet." Arutha could tell that he was excited. He spoke the same way whenever Nan made cookies.
It was then that the third man stepped forward. He was tall with dark hair and skin, his eyes glinted with sharp intelligence and his stance suggested power. "I am Duncan of the Grey Wardens," he began. "I have come here seeking new recruits for the Wardens."
"He's come to ask Ser Gilmore to join," Bryce cut in.
"If I may be so bold, Teyrn," Duncan said, "but either of these two would make fine Wardens as well." As he finished he gestured at Arutha and Katherine.
Immediately, Katherine piped up, "I'd like that opportunity."
Bryce raised his hand and Katherine was silent. "I'm sorry Duncan, but those are my children you're talking about."
Duncan nodded, "I've no intention of forcing the issue. Ser Gilmore will make a fine recruit."
Katherine dropped her head, discouraged and turned away from the group. Arutha could sense her humiliation at being denied an opportunity to prove herself yet again. He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, but she pushed his arm away and left the room. Arutha watched her go, he felt regret that she was in such pain. She deserved a chance to prove her worth.
Bryce sighed and put his arm around his son. "We will have a glorious return to this castle, my son. Do not fret over Katherine, she will have plenty to keep herself occupied with while we are gone."
Arutha nodded, "I know, father. I just feel that someone should give her a chance to prove herself. She tries very hard to impress you and mother. She feels that it is not enough."
Bryce did not respond for several moments, he was silent as he processed what he had heard. "She makes your mother and me proud."
"I know she does, father. Let her now sometime."
Bryce nodded, his childish smile returning to his face, "I'll do that."
Arutha turned to leave, content with his father's answer, but the Teyrn had more to say to him. "Arutha, would you be so kind as to pay Fergus a visit? I'd like you to tell him that I want to see him."
Arutha bowed, "of course, father."
As he made his way out of the courtyard he allowed his mind to wander. His imagination conjured up awful images of darkspawn mutilating soldiers. It was then that he finally admitted to himself that he was scared. He did not desire to go and face hordes of evil darkspawn, but he had been called upon to do it. He only hoped that he could be as great a warrior as Fergus. It was a lot to live up to.
From somewhere in the castle, there was a scream. Arutha was taken from his thoughts and brought back to reality. The scream was followed by a string of curses and shrieks. Arutha allowed himself to smile, Katherine's Mabari War Hound, Tak had once again found his way into the larder.
He decided that a short side trip to see what the dog had gotten himself into this time would be acceptable. Fergus would still be with his family when he arrived. The poor man was obsessed with them.
Arutha rounded a corner to see Katherine walking briskly beside Ser Gilmore. "What's that silly mongrel gotten into this time?" she was asking the knight beside her.
"I do not know, milady," Gilmore responded.
Arutha quickened his pace until he was striding beside his sister. "What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"Do you really think that I would miss a chance to watch Nan's head explode?" Arutha asked, his voice filled with childish excitement.
Katherine looked away from him pointedly. "You act just like father, you know?"
"I'm going to take that as a compliment."
Katherine quickened her pace, "ugh! You are impossible Arutha."
Arutha laughed, "thank you."
They rounded a corner and made their way down the passageway until they arrived at a door. From within the sound of angry shouts could be heard. Arutha entered first, eager to see what kind of chaos was taking place in the kitchens. Katherine entered next, her expression one of concern and worry. Finally, Ser Gilmore entered looking only slightly amused.
Nan turned about as they entered and stalked up to Katherine, murder blazing in her eyes. "You! Get that blasted creature out of my larder!"
Katherine took a step back, "okay, I will, just please relax before somebody gets hurt."
Katherine sidestepped the angry cook and made her way into the larder. Arutha made his way across the kitchen and grabbed a large piece of bread that had just recently come out of the oven. He sank his teeth into it, savoring the warmth. As he swallowed his first bite of the delicious bread, Katherine came out of the larder with Tak, who was covered in blood.
Arutha stepped forward, worried for the wellbeing of the Mabari. "What's this?" Nan asked angrily. Arutha winced that the hostile town in the old cook's voice.
"It's blood, Nan. Tak killed some rats that found their way into the larder." Katherine's voice was solid, and she looked at her war dog proudly.
"It is more likely that he chased them in there," Nan said. "Still, I suppose it is best that he took care of the rats." She bent down and placed a treat on the floor for Tak. From where he was Arutha could not see what Tak was given as a reward for being a troublemaker. "Don't say that Nan never gives you anything, now."
Arutha chuckled and quickly ate the rest of the bread before anyone noticed that he had it. With their furry companion in tow, Arutha, Katherine, and Gilmore made their way out of the kitchen and down the long passageways of the castle.
He took his leave of his sister and Ser Gilmore and made his way up another path towards Fergus's chambers. This incline of the path was not one that was particularly intolerable, but Arutha did sometimes wonder at the design of this castle. It just didn't make sense.
As he crested the first part of the incline, he found his mother deep in conversation with some of the other visiting nobles. When he approached, his mother excitedly drew him into their conversation. "Arutha! I trust you remember Lady Landra?"
Arutha smiled and nodded, "of course." It was the truth; Arutha would ever forget Lady Landra. When he first met her she had been more drunk than anyone he'd ever seen. It had been humorous at first, but he didn't find it to be quite as enjoyable when he'd had to help Dairren, the son of Lady Landra and Bann Loren, carry her to the carriage so she could get home.
"We were just talking about you, Arutha," his mother said.
"Oh, what about me?" he asked curiously.
"Well," Lady Landra cut in, "you are twenty-two years old and you haven't married yet."
Arutha sighed; of course his mother would choose this topic to annoy him with. "Mother! I can handle my own affairs, you know."
"Are you sure?" a voice sounded from behind them.
"Yes, Katherine," Arutha said shortly before making his way past the gathering nobles and off to find his brother.
He found his brother precisely where he thought he would, in his room with his family. Oriana his beautiful wife, and Oren, his rambunctious son were both getting ready to see him off.
Arutha entered the room and laid eyes upon his brother. He was tall, muscular, and had dark hair. The image of perfection in any woman's eyes. He was jealous of his older brother; everything came so naturally to him. Arutha could not remember anything that Fergus had ever had trouble doing in his entire life. Arutha had been forced to live in his shadow, never able to outshine his brother.
"Hello brother," Arutha said.
Fergus looked up and smiled at him, "come to see me off have you?"
Arutha nodded, "I have come to wish you luck. You'll be arriving at Ostagar before Father and I."
"Papa, will you bring me back a sward?" Arutha looked down to see Oren looking at his father, his eyes full of hope.
"That's sword, Oren," Fergus said to his son, kneeling down. "And I will bring you back the finest blade in the land."
Oriana took her husband's hand and drew him into a passionate kiss. Arutha looked away pointedly, "should Oren and I wait in the hallway?"
Fergus pulled away from his wife, "you won't be bothered by this as much when you've got a lovely girl of your own to kiss."
Arutha shrugged, "and if I don't want one?"
It was common knowledge that every noble girl in the region who wanted his hand drove him completely mad. They were all petty girls who wanted nothing more than to marry him for power. Arutha would have none of it. He would only marry someone that loved him, not someone who intended to use him for personal gain.
"You will someday little brother. It is inevitable."
"Do I get a lovely girl someday too?" Oren asked.
Arutha laughed, Oren was a very wonderful child. He had been jealous at times, when Oren stole his brother's attention, but the feelings subsided as he grew older. "Father wishes to see you off, Fergus. He's in the great hall." While he hated taking Fergus away from his family these days, it was nearly time for war.
"That won't be necessary, Arutha." Arutha wheeled about and came face to face with the rest of his family. His father was smiling at him as he entered the room.
Katherine giggled, "father has unfolded his evil plot to get his family together one last time before you all go off to war."
"Figures," Fergus said, smiling.
They spent a few happy moments together, talking and saying farewell. It was a wonderful evening, everything was peaceful, nobody was in danger as of yet, and Arutha felt the worry that had nagged at him all day begin to subside. He was with his family and that was all that mattered.
"Auntie?" Oren asked excitedly.
"What do you need, Oren?" Katherine asked, looking down at Oren.
"Will you teach me how to use a sword?" Oren's voice was dripping with excitement.
"I suppose I could," Katherine said, obviously taken aback by the strange request.
"I think not!" Oriana interjected.
"Mother! You never let me do anything fun."
Bryce, Fergus, and Arutha all laughed. Eleanor shook her head and sighed. "Boys," The Teyrna said.
Bryce hugged each of his children in turn, "You should head to bed, Arutha, Katherine. We will have a busy day tomorrow. Fergus, the men await their commander."
Arutha turned and left the room, beside him Katherine did the same. "Have fun while we're gone, okay?"
She glared up at him, "you know that I would rather go with you."
"Of course I do, but you should still make the best of being in charge of the castle." Arutha's tone was light, playful.
"What exactly did you have in mind?" she asked him curiously.
"Well, I'd teach Oren how to use a sword just to make Oriana mad."
Katherine giggled at this, and Arutha was glad that she was not too hung up over not being allowed to go. "I thought I was the troublemaker here, not you."
Arutha smiled, "yes, well… Oriana can be a bit overprotective at times."
Katherine scrutinized him for a moment. "You don't like her very much, do you?"
"What? No! I think she's fine. I just like making her mad; it's quite a lot of fun." It was true, Oriana was very easy to frustrate, and it had been a favorite pastime of his when he was younger. Such things were still fun even now.
They were outside of the door to Arutha's room when he finished his explanation. "Goodnight, Katherine," he said to her.
"Goodnight," she shot back before going down the hall to the next door.
He heard her door close and lock and let out a sigh. It had been a long and interesting day. He was not sure that he would be able to sleep, for he would ride off to war in the morning. He felt sick. He was young, green. He was not ready for war. He sat down on the edge of his bed and put his head in his hands.
Why was he so worried? He was a talented swordsman and he'd won every bout in the noble duels last year. Yet he felt weak and powerless. If he let his fears get the better of him, he would surely be slain.
He couldn't think like that. He took off his boots and lay atop his blankets. Perhaps in the morning everything would be better. If his feeling of unease did not dissipate, he would confide his apprehension in Fergus. He would tell nobody else.
With that thought in mind, Arutha drifted off to sleep.
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Author's Note: There it is, chapter one! Let me know what you guys think in a review. I hope I get around five for this first chapter, but whatever. Even one review would be great. I'm looking for constructive criticism or praise, or whatever you're looking to give me.
Do any of you know anything about acquiring a beta reader? I don't really understand the system behind getting one. All the menus on this site are still foreign to me, and I don't really know how to navigate them yet.
I did, however, make a Community for FanFics that focus on Romances between Morrigan and the male PC. Don't know how successful such a thing will be, but I thought it would be good for the whole lot of us Morrigan fans to stick together. The community is called: Love is for the Weak. You should check it out!