hey! So I've been gone awhile but im back and with a new story!
Disclaimer: sadly I don't own dragon age
Ria closed her eyes as she calmed her mind and pulled back on the bow in her hands, letting out a breath she opened her grey eyes and took aim at the practice target across from her before releasing the arrow, smiling slightly as it hit close to the center she headed over to retrieve her arrows that we're sticking out of the target.
She'd come out to practice an hour ago to calm her nerves it had worked somewhat but she could not shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Her father, Teryn Bryce Cousland, had decided to leave her incharge of Highever while he and her brother's marched their men to Ostagar to aid King Cailin with the blight, her mother was going to stay for a few days before leaving for Lady Landras estate. Ria was so lost in thought that she did not hear someone approaching until the spoke making her jump in surprise.
"Ria? You alright? It almost impossible for someone to sneak up on you like that"
Turning around she looked over at her twin brother " Jase, shouldn't you be out with the troops preparing?" Ria walked over to her brother an watched him, they were identical twins, they both had the reddish brown hair of their father while they had their mothers grey eyes, Jase was taller and broader than her and his body was a warriors build while Ria's was slim and light for fast and nimble movement, while Ria tended to be the more serious and stubborn one, Jase was always smiling and making jokes but at the moment he was watching his sister with concern.
" Father wanted me to get you, he's in the main hall, are you alright? I know you aren't happy with being left incharge here"
Sighing she gave Jase a small smile before nodding " I'm fine", putting her arrows back in her quiver she headed towards the main hall with Jase.
"Do you know why father wants me?" glancing over at her brother she turned a corner an saw the large doors to the main hall in the distance
" Arl Howes men have been delayed from what I heard, Fergus will be leaving ahead of us with the majority of the troops"
Frowning at the news, Ria pushed open the door to find her Father and Arl Howe talking.
"It will be just like the old days wont it?" Her father's voice rang through the hall as he smiled at his old friend, shifting slighty Howe nodded before saying "except instead of orlesians we'll be fighting darkspawn"
Laughing her father nodded "at least the smell will be the same", that was when their father saw them and he smiled " ah pup I was wondering when you'd show up, Rendon you remember my daughter Rianna, and you've already spoken to Jase"
Ria turned to Howe and gave a slight bow "It is a pleasure to see you again Arl Howe"
Giving her a small calculating smile Howe nodded "and you my dear girl, you know my son Tomas was asking after you, perhaps I should bring him with me on my next visit"
Ria frowned and glanced at her brother who was trying not to smirk and said "with all due respect milord, I have no interest in an arranged marriage"
Hearing a snort she gave Jase a look and turned back to her father and Howe
"See what I have to live with? My dear girls got a mind of her own these days, theres no telling her what to do" Teryn Cousland looked at Ria with a smile as he said so.
"Quite" Ria glanced at Howe and frowned at the cold look in his eyes. Before looking over to her father when he spoke
"But i didn't call you here to chat, pup, Howes men were delayed, Fergus will be heading out with our main force today, when Howes men arrive me and your brother will take the remaining forces and head to Ostagar wth Howe"
Ria nodded, Jase had already told her most of this, she glanced back at Jase who was no longer paying attention and was looking around the hall.
"There's one more thing pup, there's a Grey Warden here named Duncan"
Ria looked over at her father while Jase snapped his head around to stare at his father, Howe just frowned
"A Warden here?", Teryn Cousland frowned at Howe " is that a problem?"
Blinking Howe smiled "of course not, I am simply at a... Disadvantage"
Jase and Ria glanced at each other in confusion, why was a grey Warden here?
"Send Duncan in", everyone turned as the doors opened to let in two people, Duncan she presumed was the older man with dark hair and a beard, a sword and dagger sheathed on his back and wearing silver, red an white armor with a griffon embalzomed on the chest peices, the other person Ria noticed was a female elf, her black hair pulled back into a braid an her green eyes taking everything in, she had strange marking on her face like black vines coming down to the corners of her eyes. Her armor left little to the imagination, the leather chest piece only covering her breasts, leaving her stomach exposed, with a leather skirt that only came to rest a few inches above her knees with black leggings underneath, she also wore matching leather boots that seemed to have no soles, there was a beautiful bow resting on her back and two curved daggers sheathed on her waist, taking a closer look Ria noted that the elf looked I'll.
"Ah Duncan, good to see you" her father took a step forward an shook Duncan's hand with a smile.
Returning the gesture Duncan spoke "the pleasure is mine Teryn Cousland, this is Warden recruit May Mahariel" gesturing to the elf who just glowered at them and muttered something in elvish, before looking at the twins.
"These are my children Rianna and Jase Cousland" the two siblings tilted their heads at Duncan in greeting before looking at their father "now what brings you all the way here Duncan?".
Shifting slightly Duncan frowned "as you know there is a blight upon us, I am here seeking recruits to join the wardens" as he spoke Duncan looked pointedly at the two siblings before Teryn Cousland stepped Infront of them, " if I may I was considering one of your children"
Frowning their father folded his arms "no, they are my children" giving a small nod Duncan stepped back when Jase spoke up "but I'm interested in becoming a warden father" turning around he frowned down at his son while Ria remained quiet, "I sad no, now I want the both of you to find Fergus and tell him about the change in plans"
Sighing Jase folded his arms and bowed with Ria and as they walked away the conversation started up behind them.
Jase glanced at his sister who was frowning a the ground and sighed "alright what is it Ria? Something's bothering you" glancing at Jase she spoke " it's just, Arl Howe seemed put off by Duncan's appearance", Jase tilted his head then shrugged, and was about to speak when a voice called out "there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you mylady".
Turning around the two watched as Ser Gilmore ran up to them out of breath his red hair messed up from running and his chainmail armor clanking as he moved "it's your hound mylady he's gotten into the larder again an nan is throwing a fit"
Snickering Jase grinned at Ser Gilmore "nan's always angry, but she might just skin that hound of yours sister", nodding Ria's lips twitched up slightly before turning to her brother "very well, I'll get him, are you alright with delivering the message to Fergus? I'll head up after".
Nodding Jase bade farewell to the two of them and walked off.
Ria turned to Ser Gilmore and said with a smile "shall we go retrieve my hound before nan's head explodes?"
yay first chapter! I know it's not long but it's just for the beginning of the story next chapter Castle Cousland is attacked!
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