It was almost an ordinary day in Highever. Lanen Cousland woke early just like every other morning and did her usual routine. She brushed out her long auburn hair and set it back in a ponytail with a few strands sticking out in front of her face. Something felt wrong though, like something big was going to happen and it made her stomach feel a bit queasy. Staring into her violet eyes she started to list off all her imperfections: her lips were too big, her nose was too large or her breasts weren't big enough. Getting frustrated she tore her gaze away from mirror. She hated when she did that. She had no wish what so ever to be vain about her appearance. If a man can't accept her for who she is then Maker help her make it through a lonely life. She donned her armor and swords before striding out her door towards the kitchen. She wolfed down a quick breakfast before heading out to the training grounds.
There she practiced her skills. She twirled gracefully behind a dummy before back stabbing it in the back of the skull. Head shot! She exclaimed gleefully in her head. She trained the early morning hours away working up a good sweat when she felt eyes watching her. Acting as though she didn't notice she continued practicing while searching for the peeping tom. It was a bit hard to focus when it felt like there was an itch in her back that she just couldn't reach. Spinning around with both sword and dagger outstretched she spotted the culprit. It was a man with dark brown hair in shining armor. He seemed well armed by the sword pommels sticking out from behind him. She lifted her gaze to his own and her heart lurched causing her to stop what she was doing and just stare. He took notice and locked gazes with her. He was surprised that she could sense him let alone find him. He was not a novice in the art of being a rogue. A small smile graced his lips before he promptly turned and left. He knew exactly whom he wanted to take with him when he left and he couldn't help the smile on his face.
Something was definitely off about today. She had never seen that man in her life and had never seen anyone with such striking eyes. The fact that he had left made her curious. She wanted to know more about him. When she finished with washing herself off properly she sought out her father. Maybe he knew more about the stranger in their castle. She found him in front of the hearth speaking to the same man that had been watching her earlier.
"Ah and this must be your daughter you speak so highly about Bryce." His voice was so dark and low. Sounding like it rumbled from his chest, it made her shiver.
"Yes this is Lanen. Lanen this is the Grey Warden Duncan, he is recruiting. I'm sure that you remember who the Grey Wardens are." Her father introduced her with a warm smile.
"Yes father I remember that they were warriors of remarkable skill coming from many places. They are highly renowned for their fights against the Blight and Archdemon." She grinned when Duncan looked surprised by her opinion of them but he quickly regained composure and flashed her a grin in return. Her stomach did a flip-flop and her cheeks burned. If he had seen her reaction he made no notion that he did and she was grateful for it. At that moment Arl Howe walked in with a greasy smile and pig like eyes. She had never liked him and always got a sick feeling when he was around. She would always catch his eyes drift to her cleavage and lick his lips. She had spoken to her father about it but he said that Arl Howe was an honorable man and would never try anything on her or anyone. It still didn't reassure her. It seemed as though Duncan got the same impression because his eyes instantly narrowed upon his arrival.
"There you are Howe I would like you to meet Duncan, head of the Grey Wardens in Ferelden"
"Ah Bryce I did not know we had guests of such stature here, I feel that I am at a disadvantage." He nervously looked about with his beady eyes until his eyes landed on her. He seemed to calm down as his eyes traveled her form. She felt herself recoil in disgust inwardly when a large body placed himself between them.
"Arl Howe is it? I don't think we've ever met." There was a note in Duncan's voice that left an underlying threat. From the way Howe's face scrunched up from the handshake Lanen could tell he was putting more pressure then he had to. She giggled to herself at the expense of the man's pain. Her father turned to her as Howe and Duncan chatted telling her to relay to her brother Fergus to go on and march ahead of him. Nodding she gave a quick glance back at Duncan that he caught and inclined his head politely as she left. But those eyes of his were so mesmerizing it left her almost breathless. She was headed to her room to calm down when Ser Gilmore called her out. Apparently her Mabari had gotten into the larder and she had to go fetch him. Maker's Breath it was going to be a long day. So Ser Gilmore followed her as she made her way to the kitchen again. The cook was going on and on about how she was going to leave and the Mabari was a worthless mutt. Lanen hadn't the patience to deal with her so she brushed past and opened the door to the larder. There her Mabari, Akor was growling and barking with his ears pressed back. Instantly she was in a defensive stance drawing her swords out. Large rats started pouring out from beneath kitchen supplies and cracks in the walls. She quirked an eyebrow but began stabbing the vermin as they tried pitifully to bite through her leather armor. Akor ferociously tore into the rats ripping them to shreds. It was over in a matter of seconds even before Ser Gilmore had a chance to draw his sword out. Lanen turned and swore out of the corner of her eye she saw shining armor and a dark brown ponytail disappear out a doorway.
So he had been watching her again. Just in case he was still watching she felt bold and stretched her body letting her breasts be pushed out and her back arch. She gave a moan of satisfaction as she felt her spine pop into place. A cough to her left caught her attention and she noticed Ser Gilmore standing there looking abashed with his cheeks a bright red. She laughed aloud and clapped him on the back for a job well done before striding out. She found her brother in his room saying goodbye to his wife and son.
"Makers Breath what happened to you girl?" Fergus exclaimed at seeing her with blood spatters on her armor.
She smiled "Oh nothing much you know how it is. Getting into fights with enormous rats and all. They really do bleed a lot don't they?" she asked as she looked down at her armor.
"By enormous rats you don't mean Arl Howe do you?" he asked with a dubious look on his face.
She laughed at the absurdity of her own brother thinking that she would kill Howe despite how much she disliked him. "No dear brother I did not even touch him. There actually were large rats in the larder that me and Akor here took care of." She patted her Mabari on the head and he barked approvingly. Her father walked in and told Fergus of the news himself.
Quietly she dismissed herself and went to her room and drew a hot bath. Smiling she poured scented lotion in and immersed herself in the steaming peach smelling water. A sigh escaped soft pink lips as the water soothed her aches and made her loll her head to the side. Grabbing a cloth she started scrubbing off the blood as crimson stained the clear water. Eventually it got too red and she got out and wrapped herself in a towel. A knock emanated from the door as she dried herself off. Making sure that nothing was showing she made her way to the door and opened it a crack. Seeing whom it was she opened it further. His remarkable eyes noticed what she was wearing or rather what she was not wearing and his stance stiffened and his eyes shot back up to hers. She could see a hint of a blush in his dark skin. The smell of peaches wafted off of her and enticed his senses. Coincidentally peaches were his favorite thing to eat. I would love to nibble on her delicious flesh and feel her- he stopped that thought and struggled to keep it away from the front of his mind. Maker have mercy it was hard not to think about it when she stood there in nothing but a towel with her hair still dripping from her bath.
"I came to see if you were alright my lady. I had heard you had to fight some rather vicious rats and when you left you were covered in blood." His eyes never left her blazing amethysts. She laughed knowingly as her voice drifted like a sweet melody in his ears. He savored the sound and memorized it storing it away in his mind. "Well if you are fine enough to be in such a mood then perhaps I should not have needed to check on you."
Her face softened "Thank you Ser Duncan your kindness does not go unnoticed but I think we should continue our conversation later when I'm not in such a immodest appearance."
His eyes darkened as he replied "My lady as immodest it may be I cannot but help myself but say I rather enjoy seeing you so immodestly." He could not believe what his own traitorous mouth was saying. He was supposed to be a gentleman and here he was flirting with a girl that had to at least be 10 years younger than himself. But he saw her beautiful face turn the cutest shade of red that he thought it was almost worth it. Almost. Before he said anything else he rushed away and down the hall without another word. She stood there a moment before going back to what she had previously been doing but in a much better mood. She lay down in bed in just her undergarments and snuggled her blankets close. Sleep came swiftly but the smile never left her face.