Dragon Age: Revelations
Tavi Cousland poised her body forward, ready for Sir Gilmore's strike. Being blindfolded terrified her, but she willingly practiced it. Training was usually more gruelling then frightening, but she needed it. To feel fear until it shook her to the core. She was never in a true battle, but she planned to be, soon. Father was taking her to Ostagar in the morning, and she was preparing herself. Imagine, her, Tavi Cousland, only child of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, battling the infamous darkspawn beside King Cailan and the revered Grey Wardens! Originally, the Commander of the Grey was supposed to travel to Highever Palace, but Bryce would hear of no such thing. So they travelled to one of Arl Howe's fortresses, one of the lesser known ones, Akata. It was about a three hour ride to Ostagar, the best they could hope for at the moment. Arl Howe, a generous man who, surprisingly, was a fervent mage supporter, was a good friend of Bryce, having fought together at White River under the command of King Maric, Cailan's father. So wrapped up in her thoughts, Taha barely heard Gilmore's sword coming towards her. From the sound, it was going to come down on her right shoulder. She sidestepped to the left, dodging the blow and kicked Gilmore in the ribs. She could her him exhale as she blew all the wind out of him. "Good, you're improving!" said he, sounding almost surprised. Gilmore, rapidly approaching his late forties, was a strict trainer. She knew she was lucky, she once saw him strike a soldier on the back of his head, knocking him unconscious, when he didn't complete his task of 100 push-ups in 40 seconds. She recently accomplished 250 in 120 seconds, but she was too modest to spread this around. She knew Gilmore would scold her furiously. "Nothing is more misleading than humility," he told her once. "If you're humble, people will underestimate you. And that, my dear Taha, is a stupid man's mistake." She understood what he meant. Gilmore was a decorated war hero, having fought many battles alongside Teyrns, Arls, Kings, Emperors and was even rumoured to know the Empress of Orlais. However, he never spoke of his accomplishments. She saw many a warrior underestimate him, saying his achievements were earned purely based on luck. Then, they fought him. T'would be a grisly scene, it t'would. Gilmore had once felled an ogre in less than 10 seconds, a feat she witnessed. It was when she was hunting with him, she remembered. She was crossing a wooden bridge which turned out to be an ogre's back. It stood up, and she slid into the mud-filled pond in was resting in. He slew it so swiftly she could hardly believe her eyes. Her feet had barely touched the surface of the pond when it died. She managed to grab the land adjacent to the pond and haul herself out before Gilmore crossed over on the ogre's corpse to where she was lying. "You OK?" he asked gruffly, frowning. He was clearly displeased. Probably because she had awoken the blasted creature. She kicked herself. She so desperately wanted to impress him, to please him, to be as good as him and to be considered a worthy ally on the battlefield by him. Then she remembered Fergus… She brushed the thought of her late brother out of her head. She must not remember! It would only result in the ache in her heart. He had taught her all she knew, and she would be eternally grateful.