This is my first attempt at writing something outside of the Twi-Universe, other than poetry. I beg for your patience and understanding in this venture. I do not plan on staying canon to conversations held in the game nor adhering to just the events that happen in the game. Why? Because what's the use of writing a story if you're just going to be rehashing the game word for word? Oh, and I quite possibly dabble in multiple POV's, including Third person.

I own nothing copyrighted.

"Come on Fergus, you promised me a full training session before you went off to play soldier with father!" the young woman protests, her eyes, green as flawless emeralds, flash with half humor, half annoyance at her opponent.

Her twin daggers, a sixteenth birthday present from her father, glint in the afternoon sun as she dances around the inert form of the young man she cannot help but taunt. He stands quiet, amused at his younger siblings playful ribbing, with his own matching swords ready to strike at the first opportunity.

"Lex, it's not my fault that father wants the family to have this get together tonight," he sighs and blocks a few half hearted jabs from the woman, "I'll have you know, I'd rather be spending my last night at home in bed with my wife instead of trapped in a room full of pompous idiots."

Lex executes a deadly pirouette, the waist length waves of her scarlet hair billowing out behind her as she moves, and forces Fergus to take a few steps back in order to avoid her blades, "Dammit Fergus, I really don't want to know what you and Oriana do behind closed doors, no matter how attractive and...flexible you claim her to be."

His lips curl up into a patronizing smirk as he parries her next attack, "That surprises me dear sister, especially since Oriana was telling me just the other day about how you were complaining to her that the newest maid servant needed a few lessons in stretching before even considering she could keep up with you."

As his words trail off, Lex spots a familiar figure coming their way and all previous amusement fades from her eyes. "I've got to go Ferg, I'll catch you up later," the young woman suddenly announces and sets off at a sprint in the opposite direction of the newcomer, disappearing around the corner just as she hears her brother greet the person.

Once she is sure that she is not being followed, Lex slinks over to the kennels to retrieve her best friend, a mabari hound aptly named Havoc. As she makes her way to his pen, the noblewoman takes time to converse with the Elvish kennel master whom she grew up viewing as more of an uncle rather than another elf indentured to the teryn.

When she arrives at the stall set aside for her companion though, she is perturbed at finding it empty. She turns back to the elf, "Kaiba, have you tended to Havoc since I put him in earlier?"

"No milady," the kennel master replies, "Maybe Darro put him in one of the outside pens, do you wish me to check for you?"

She pinches the bridge of her nose in exacerbation before shaking her head and exiting the stall, "Thanks, but don't trouble yourself Kaiba, I can get him on my own."

"As you wish milady," he exchanges a fond smile with her as she pads by in search of her troublesome friend.

Still uncomfortably aware that she is being pursued, Lex skirts around the more populated areas of the estate. Thankful that her parents allowed her to indulge herself in the teachings of various travelers they've had pass through over the years rather than be bored to death with the ramblings of Aldous, Lex utilizes every lesson the rogues, rangers, and warriors gave her.

A few opportunities arise to practice her lock picking skills along the way, and she can't help but tuck the items in her bag to be left in other parts of the castle later. One of her favorite pastimes is to swipe various belongings of the castle's inhabitants, scatter them, then sit back and watch the owners frantically search for their property. The game is particularly fun when the missing items were never meant to see the light of day.

Her luck seems to slip away though, when she is forced to slink passed one of the many small courtyards that is currently filled with guests and Lex can find no alternative. "Where's a sodding hidden passage when you need one," the girl grumbles to no one in particular and tries to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach as she draws ever closer to the group. Quiet as a chantry mouse and graceful as an Orlesian dancer, Lex deftly moves down the passage.

She has nearly cleared the gap and feels the comforting shadows overtaking her form when her mother's voice suddenly rings out over the din, "Alexa Rose, where have you been? And why are you in leathers instead of that gown I had Tosha lay out for you this morning?"

The girl's shoulders slump in defeat and she turns to face the seemingly ageless woman who is glaring in her direction. "Fergus promised me one last lesson before he left and then Havoc's disappeared again," Lex stammers, more than a little self conscious at the haughty gazes now leveled at her, "I didn't think that you'd want an Antivan gown ruined in such a manner mother."

"You let your daughter take up arms?" a vaguely familiar woman gasps, sparking a flare of annoyance in Lex, "Maybe she'd act less like a common street rat and more like a lady befitting her rank if you and Bryce would put your foot down and end this nonsense. Alexa should be learning how to take care of a household, not pretending that she's a soldier."

It's the other woman's nasally voice that finally clears the young Cousland's clouded mind. The memory of her last encounter with Bann Lorren's wife causes a humorless laugh to erupt from her. "Maker's breath, that's rich, especially coming from the woman who spent the Spring Salon trying to get her hand up my skirts while drunk as a dwarf."

"How dare you!" the Banna shrieks and extends a finger at Lex, the garish paint on the woman's fingernail reminding the noblewoman of vomit, "Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Dairren told me all about your little tryst after the last time we visited."

As if on command, the gangly young man she had been avoiding since spotting him on the training yard earlier, appears behind his mother. Lex nearly groans at the look of pure adoration on his face. "Good day to you Lady Alexa," he cooes, once again reminding her of why she now refuses to bed virgins, "It's good to see you again."

"Dairren, you might want to escort your mother back to her rooms before I cut out her tongue," the object of his fantasies snaps in irritation, "I'm going to find my dog."

After watching the boy follow her orders, Lex spins on her heel to go, but her mother lays a hand on her shoulder before she can escape, "Lex, what has gotten into you lately? This is more than you being upset about your father and brother leaving."

She runs her fingers through her vibrant red hair and lets out a woeful sigh, "I should be going with them mother. I can fight, I know how to apply poultices and bandages, and I can easily scour ahead and disarm any traps that might be in their way. Being left behind..." she doesn't bother wiping away the tears that have begun to fall, "It feels wrong."

The elder lady presses her soft lips to her daughter's forehead, "That is a question that only your father can answer my dear. Perhaps you should seek him out and speak with him before dinner this evening. I'll have one of the servants round up Havoc and have him brought to you, I know that he can calm you better than anyone."

Lex draws a shaky breath and nods in agreement, "Thank you mother. I'll find him now, before he hears about what I said about the Banna. He might not be too accommodating after hearing that."

One side of her mother's mouth turns upward, "Oh, I wouldn't be too presumptuous if I were you. After you talk to your father, could you do me a favor? Find Fergus and tell him that I wish to have a word with him before dinner."

"Yes mother," the girl smiles and hugs the lady before trotting off in search of her father.

So...what do you think? I'm not a mind reader, so you'll have to leave me a review telling me your thoughts.