I wrote this over a year ago to help me deal with the death of a dear family friend. It has been sitting on my computer and I have gone back a forth about putting it up. One of my reviewers on my story Bound by Compassion (My DA2 story about Hawke and Anders.) requested that I go into my Warden's story since she is a background character in it. So here it is and I hope you enjoy it. I do stray from the story line here and there to add my own spin to it. I have to put this in I own nothing it belongs to Bioware. Let me know what you think.
Raven

Ashlyn Cousland watched her home burn. Her entire family save her brother was now gone. Her life as she knew it was over. Revenge burned in her veins as she made silent swear that Arl Howe would pay for this. A gentle hand took her wrist and started to lead her away from her home. Part of her wanted to fight the hand off, but the other part of her knew she had a promise to uphold. She looked at her beloved father's sword and clutched it tight to her chest. His shield was slung on her back and her mother's prized ring adorned her finger. All she had left was things which she would have gladly given up just to have her family back. Ashlyn was no stranger to how cruel life could be. She had learned it first hand as a young maiden. Her heart broken not once, but twice by men who she would have died for. One of the men was the son of the monster who slaughtered her entire family. The other a commoner far below her station, but it did not matter to her. To her he was far better than the stuck up noble sons who begged for her hand. Now she was to become a Grey Warden and probably die fighting monsters in the south. Her savior walked beside her quietly. She was thankful for this as words failed her. The road to Ostagar was a long one.

"We should be to Ostagar in a day or two." Duncan's soft voice broke through her thoughts. She stopped suddenly and he eyed her with concern.

"Duncan may I ask a favor of you?" He nodded and she took a deep breath. "I may well be the last of my line if Howe's men found my brother. I would like if you would call me Raven and not acknowledge that I am of noble blood. If Howe thinks I am dead I might have a better chance of surviving to fight the Blight."

"Raven it is then, but there will be many nobles at the camp would they not know your face?"

"They would, but I have a way around that. I am not sure how much of my past you know about. I never voiced it to my family where I went for those three years I disappeared. I trained to become a assassin with a group here in Ferelden. I have learned how to hide who I am. If you will give me a moment I will show you." Dropping her pack Ashlyn pulled out two tins of makeup. One white and the other black. She rubbed the white all over her face and neck then took the black and a small mirror to paint what looked like a raven on her face. The contrast made her look completely different. Her death mask made her look foreboding in stature. "Well how does it look?"

"If I had not seen you put it on I would not know who you are. Your sword and shield will be harder to hide, but I think I have a idea." He took a sash from her pack and wrapped it the family crest on the hilt of her sword. The shield he covered with a large piece of leather hiding the crest on it.

"Thank you Duncan." He smiled a little a waved her on. Ostagar loomed over the horizon a few days later. Ashlyn felt the darkness ebbing from the nearby forest. She shivered a little bit, but kept her head high. "Looks like we have a welcoming party." Duncan looked up and saw the large man in fine armor walking toward them.

"King Cailan we weren't expecting..."

"A royal welcome. It is good to see you again my friend I was worried you would miss all the fun." Duncan rolled his eyes slightly, but kept the rest of his face neutral.

"Not if I can help it your Majesty." Cailan's eyes appraised Duncan's companion. "Let me introduce you your Majesty. This is..." Cailan cut him off before he could say another word.

"There is no need to be so formal Duncan. Ho there friend I am glad to see another recruit joining the fine Grey Wardens."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. My name is Raven." Her face was hidden behind her cloak's hood. Even with her face painted she feared the King would recognize her. It was a risk she was not willing to take.

"Where is Howe's army and Bryce Cousland? Fergus arrived here a day or two ago and said they should be only a day behind?"

"Arl Howe is a traitor my lord. He slaughtered everyone in Highever castle." Ashlyn's voice cracked. She willed herself not to cry.

"What?" How did he think he could get away with this? My dear woman are you from Highever?"

"Yes, your Majesty I am. My family worked in the castle if it had not been for Duncan I would have shared their fate. Howe killed our Teryn, his family and everyone else. He must pay for it."

"You have my word he will. Once we finish here I will turn my army north and make him pay for what he had done. For now I would suggest you take your grief out on the darkspawn. As for telling Fergus Cousland that he is the last of his line I fear it will have to wait. I have sent him and his men out into the wilds to scout. I hate to cut this short, but I must go meet with Loghain before he sends out a search party." Duncan and Ashlyn both bowed to the King as he walked away.

"Take some time and rest Raven. When you feel up to it find Alistair he is a fellow Grey Warden. Your hound can stay with me." Ashlyn petted her faithful hound Jaq. He bounced around her and Duncan wagging his stub of a tail.

"Silly boy go with Duncan. I will see you soon." The long bridge to the encampment gave her a good view of the valley below. Campfires dotted the forest floor. She had never seen so many soldiers in one place. It made her father's army look miniscule. A pang of grief wrenched her insides thinking about her beloved father. Ashlyn shook her head and tried to dispel the thoughts that ran through her head. She wandered the camp getting the feel for the place. One thing her training had taught her was to know the in and outs of where she was so if she had to she could escape anything.

"Mages, Templars, soldiers, and priests my this is full scale war. How is the name of the Maker did they get everyone to work together?"

"I thought the same thing when Duncan brought me here." Ashlyn jumped slightly. A shifty man stood before her smiling. "Well you are not what I thought you would be."

"And what exactly did you think I would be?" She crossed her arms over her chest hiding her small dagger.

"Not a woman, yet here you are. Name's Daveth." He gave her a polite bow. "Bout time you showed up we were starting to think they cooked up this ritual for our benefit."

"Maybe they just did it to annoy you. What ever this ritual is I am ready. I have come this far I am not one who backs down."

"A fellow rogue I see. Though the face paint is something I have never seen before. What are you in a guild?"

"No I just think it adds character. I make a deal with you I will watch your back if you watch mine." A lecherous smile played on Daveth's lips.

"Oh I will watch your back alright. And what a nice back it is."

"Charmer I see. Well I have to find Alistair do you happen to know where he might be?"

"He went that way. He did not look very happy. Nice enough chap for a Chantry type I suppose, but I don't think he likes me much."

"Thanks, I will find him. Oh and Daveth you should keep a better hand on your weapon." He looked down and found one of his daggers were missing. He looked up and found her twirling it in her fingers.

"How in the Maker's name did you do that?"

"You should have been paying more attention to my hands and not my ass. Here, I will see you later." She left the dumbfounded rogue staring after her. After a short walk she heard raised voices. She slowly rounded the corner and saw a mage yelling at a man who's face she could not see. She could hear his voice and he gave as good as he got from the mage. She hid as the mage stormed past her. She looked again and saw the man had turned so his back was facing her. She gathered her courage and walked up behind him. "Hello there." The man turned around and Ashlyn's breath caught in her lungs. He was not what she had expected. He was young and handsome. She thought most Grey Wardens were battle hardened older men. This man was around her age.

"You know the one good thing about the Blight is how it brings everyone together." His voice was even pleasing.

"I know what you mean."

"It's like a party we can all join hands and sing that would give the darkspawn something to see right? Wait, I don't think we have met. You don't happen to be another mage are you?"

"Do mages normally dress in leather and have their face painted?"

"No I guess not. Wait you are the new recruit I am sorry I should have recognized you."

"How would know me by sight? I know I have never met you before."

"Duncan sent word of a young woman from Highever would be joining the ranks of the Wardens. Your accent gave you away." He gave her a disarming smile and her stomach flipped. He was not at all what she had expected.

"I didn't think I had an accent?'

"It is slight, but there. I've found that every place in Ferelden has it's own."

"Your from Redcliffe."

"Your good."

"Only when I have to be." She put her hands on her hips and gave him a wicked smiled. She saw him gulp and her rubbed the back of his neck nervously. It was quite endearing. "So you must be Alistair."

"That I am."

"Well it is nice to meet you Alistair you can call me Raven." She held out her hand and he shook it. He was surprised by her grip and then by her face. Her cloak fell back just enough for him to see it. Part of him wanted to ask about it, but he had just met the woman. He knew better than to ask something that was none of his business.

"As the junior Warden I will be accompanying you while you prepare for your Joining."

"Is there anyway you could fill me in a little about this Joining?" He frowned for a moment. Then shook his head.

"You will find out in time. I can tell you this it will not be easy."

"I like challenges they make life interesting. I think I will enjoy fighting along side you and the other Wardens."

"You are a strange you know that right? Well my dear woman shall we get this show on the road so to speak." Ashlyn smiled a genuine smile for the first time since she lost her entire world. She had a sense of purpose for once. After everything she had lost her heart still had some life in it. She had promised her father that Howe would pay and she also had given her word about becoming a Grey Warden. Couslands always keep their word. Even if she did fall in battle she would crawl back for the Fade to bring justice to Howe, but for now she had other things to think about like the trip out to the Wilds and the up coming battle.