ALTERNATE STORYLINE—What if the Couslands had lived? What if their son/daughter were never recruited into the Grey Wardens? This story takes place after the slaying of the Archdemon and after Alistair has been crowned. My storyline is a little different as you will see.

Chapter 1

Kailyn laid down in her bed after a pretty strenuous day of training with her father. She felt that she was doing well, but her father never let her know. He was always pushing, and pushing her to do better. Bryce Cousland was never one to give praise freely; but she still felt she was owed something. She thought of her mother; who was no help. She felt that because Kailyn was a Cousland and a Ferelden noble that her daughter needn't dabble in such things as fighting. Halley felt that her daughter needed to spend her time focusing on being a suitable wife and that especially meant remaining chase. She was always stressing to Kailyn the importance of marrying another noble and how it was expected of her to be supportive of her future husband. Her mother did not want a life of fighting and death for her daughter. What mother would?

Kailyn and her mother had argued several times over this. Her daughter did not wish to be put on display as some trophy wife. She wanted to get her hands dirty; to make a difference in the world. She wouldn't be able to do that if she were arm candy for a stuck up nobleman.

At least her father agreed with her.

Bryce certainly did not want a life of fighting and death for his only daughter either. However, he loved her so much he felt he couldn't deny her anything. Deep down, he knew that his daughter was destined for greater things. He was always training her brother Fergus and he found it hard to refuse one child a wish while granting that same wish to the other child. It's not as if he didn't have an heir. Fergus and his wife, Rayne lived happily in the Highever palace and they had a small boy of their own. Luckily for Bryce, their boy, Riley was anxious to inherit the title and looked forward to learning how to rule on a daily basis. Thank the Maker for small favors.

As Kailyn slowly drifted off to sleep she thought about how her best friend, Aiden, was due to arrive at the Cousland estate tomorrow. Aiden's and Kailyn's parents were trying desperately to push them together. And who knows? Maybe it will work out. She has always thought of Aiden as attractive but had never really delved into anything more than that. Perhaps tomorrow would be the day.

XxxXxXx

Kailyn awoke the next day to her chamber maid softly calling her name.

"Arianne. It's too early to wake up. I need my beauty sleep." she whined to her maid.

"Kailyn, it is nearly lunchtime and your friend Aiden is already here. He has asked several times if you are awake yet and seemed eager to meet with you. Your mother is having a picnic prepared for you two and you can enjoy it out by the meadow."

Kailyn hadn't realized how late it was and was excited to be meeting her friend again after so long. They had kept in touch through letters, but hadn't seen each other in over two years.

"Oh! You shouldn't have let me sleep so late! It's been so long since I've seen Aiden I wanted to be the first Cousland he saw when he arrived."

The elven maid looked at the young woman she had come to care for and just smiled. She had always hoped that the two of them would end up together. After all, he was the son of a very powerful arl. Second only to Bryce.

Kailyn dashed up out of bed and was so excited to get dressed she just ended up whirling around in circles. Arianne stopped and smiled at her.

"Here. Why don't I lay out the clothes for you? I have a few ideas for what you should wear after such a long time between seeing each other."

Kailyn smiled gratefully but was confused as to why she was so anxious to meet her friend. Obviously she was excited to see him because she hadn't seen him in years; but this was different. She felt a need to impress him. As if she needed to look her best. It was ridiculous because deep down she knew that this was the same boy who rolled around in mud puddles with her as a child. He didn't care what she looked like and she knew it. So why was she filled with anxiety every time her thoughts turned to him?

Arianne seemed to read her mind.

"Perhaps you have grown to care for Aiden more than you realize?" The maid said as she helped her lady into a very tight-fitting corset.

As soon as Kailyn was able to exhale she replied, "Maybe. I have always thought of him as attractive; but I never really felt the need to pursue our relationship any further."

"Well then maybe you should make that plunge today m'lady."

The bodice was finally situated on her torso and tied. Arianne stepped to the wardrobe and pulled out a dress that Kailyn had never seen before. It was all black and immediately she fell in love with it.

"OH ARIANNE! When did you get this?" The lady exclaimed when she laid eyes on it.

"Its a surprise I've had planned since I first heard that Aiden was going to be visiting. I had it custom made for you because I know you are a little eccentric when it comes to your fashion sense."

The elf helped her lady slide on the dress and looked at her in awe. Kailyn was so beautiful. The dress hugged her in all the right places. The low cut neckline showed off her perfect cleavage without showing too much because it was lined with black lace. The length of the dress went all the way down to her toes hugging her hips to reveal the best parts of her figure. There was a slit on the right side that traveled up to her mid-thigh. Kailyn wasn't sure what it was made of, but the shiny material certainly complimented her in every way.

"Its made of Orlesian silk." The maid responded as if once again to read her mind.

"OH THANK YOU! Thank you so much Arainne! It's perfect!" The young lady rejoiced and held her maid in a tight hug.

"Now we need to focus on this hair of yours." Arianne said playfully as she grabbed her lady's brush. "The normal hairstyle, or something special for this special occasion?"

"Of course something different!" Kailyn exclaimed as she tried her best to sit still for the maid. Her body was literally shivering in anticipation of seeing her friend again. However, she knew that before she could enjoy her lunch with Aiden she would need to see her mother and father.

XxxXxXx

Once she was fully dressed Kailyn darted out of her room and dashed down the hall to her father's study. She knew he would be here; going over his official duties as a Teryn.

"Good afternoon father. I just wanted to let you know that I am officially awake and anxiously awaiting my lunch with Aiden." She said with a smile bouncing up and down on her tip toes.

"Of course you are girl! I know that you two have been close for most of your lives. I only wish his parents had come with him so that your mother and I would have entertainment as well. Arl Gourn is not an easy man to come by these days. He busies himself with the politics of the Free Marches. I only wish he could have the sense to attend to his own country's need before aiding another." Bryce looked at his daughter and smiled. "I'm rambling about things you don't care about again, aren't I?"

Kailyn looked up at her father and his jovial expression took her out of her haze. She thought for a second and was pretty sure she knew what he had just said. "Yes father. I will continue my studies with Ursine my tutor." Bryce Cousland just shook his head. "I'm glad to hear that. Now go and enjoy your lunch dear."

Kailyn suddenly became very giddy as she made her way down the hall and out of the side door. "Why am I feeling this way? This is my longest lifetime friend and we have never been anything more. Never wanted to be anything more."She thought to herself. As the lady made her way down to the meadow she strolled by a pear tree and stopped to pick the ripest and juiciest one she could find. When she took a bite something caught her eye and she looked up. The meadow was just ahead and she could see in the distance the body of a young man sitting in her favorite spot. She smiled to herself. "Won't be long now." Kailyn thought.

Suddenly the body stood up and she could see him wave. She took a few more bites of the pear and waved back. When she reached Aiden there was hardly anything left of the pear but the core. "You probably have sticky hands now," the young man commented joking with his friend. "Yeah, well, its never bothered me before and I don't think its going to now." Kailyn said she bumped him with her hip playfully. "I know that we are about to each lunch but I couldn't help myself. This pear was sitting in that tree just waiting to be picked. The temptation was much too strong to resist."

"But you know that pears are my favorite fruit Kail. I'm offended that you didn't bring me one as well." Aiden was teasing her again.

"I know; but it would so uncharacteristically nice of me to bring you one. I didn't want you to think that I had gone off the deep end from all our time spent away from each other." She smiled as she said this; knowing that he thought she was one of the most kindest and caring person he had ever met.

"Yes. And that time the bees were chasing us all around you threw me into the lake because it was an excuse to push me?" He asked her rhetorically.

Kailyn blushed at this but made no comment.

"I thought so." Aiden said with a smile.

There was already a blanket laid out on the picnic site but the food was still in the tan colored woven basket.

"Let us get to eating before either of us starves to death." said Aiden as he opened to basket to see what was inside. He began spreading it all out so that they could pick what they wanted to eat. He pulled out bread, honey, cookies, and some rabbit that looked like it has been smoked. "Well this certainly isn't the healthiest of lunches." Aiden commented. He made Kailyn a plate first and set it in front of her and quickly began working on his.

As they ate they talked. They shared with each other what had been going on in their lives since they last saw each other and then the discussion began heading to the topic of the Blight.

"I heard that the new King was the one who killed the dragon." Kailyn said. Aiden shook his head at this. "I heard it was his close friend. The elf. I think his name was Valorn or something like that."

"Whoever it was they were certainly brave. My father wants me to go to the party that the king is hosting in celebration of ending the blight. It's really a party where the king is supposed to pick out his future bride. I have always thought that was barbaric. Kings and Queens hardly ever get to marry for love. It's almost always a political marriage or one of convenience. No wonder they sometimes have mistresses."

"Like Maric did?" Aiden asked with his eyebrow raised. "Just because you are in a loveless marriage doesn't mean that you have the right to seek out the company of another. Kings and Queens need to lead their country by example. It's certainly not okay for everyone else to go galavanting around with mistresses; so why would it be okay for the royalty? Just because of their title? No, that's not right." Aiden finished his statement with his head held high.

"I never knew you felt so strongly about that Aiden. I think you can step off your soap box now." She teased. Aiden fell back into a jovial mood as they finished up their lunch. He packed everything back in the basket ready to be picked up when they were ready to leave. He left the blanket out, however, for them to sit on.

Kailyn was staring out into the meadow deep in thought. Aiden turned and looked at her and her beauty caught him off guard. She was stunning and he wondered to himself why hadn't he noticed before. Actually, he didn't even realize what she was wearing. The dress put thoughts into his mind that shouldn't be there; and her hair slightly dancing in the soft breeze played upon her face. She had always hated her red hair, but he adored it. He noticed that it was up like normal but done differently. Instead of the boring bun she always wore it in her hair was an intricate puzzle of braids and beads pulled tightly together. It complimented her face just perfectly. He looked at her bright emerald green eyes. He remembered that they always turned a shade darker when she was upset or angry. Aiden was glad that they were the normal, bright shiny green that they should be. Suddenly his eyes fell below her face to her collar bone. He realized that her peach colored skin glistened in the sunlight. Below that her breasts were pushed up together and she had the most remarkable cleavage he had ever seen. He was taken in by her beauty.

"Am I to your liking?" Kailyn asked playfully suddenly breaking Aiden from his less than pure thoughts.

"I –uh, well, umm, I was just thinking about how much you've grown and changed since the last time I saw you." he stammered out quickly.

She smiled at him and then suddenly she became enraptured in his masculinity. His skinny little boy arms were replaced with strong, muscular ones. His shoulders rippled every time he moved. His bright blue silk shirt was tight enough across his chest she could see that muscles had formed there too. He was sitting down beside her and Kailyn secretly wished he would stand up so she could take in the rest of this new body that was so unlike him. Aiden's skin that used to be so pale and milky had been replaced with a dark tan color that only time under the sun could have given. She would give anything to see if that tan continued under his shirt and maybe even down into-

"Kail." he said it so quietly she almost didn't hear him; but it was certainly enough to draw her out of her clouded mind.

"Yes?" she answered him at just about a whisper.

"Did you ever, you know, have your bed warmed during our time apart?" He asked and then blushed as soon as the words left his mouth. Kailyn suddenly found this amazingly adorable.

"I don't see how that is any of your business." she teased, "why? Have you?" and she felt her cheeks go warm and guessed that she probably blushed too.

"Oh no. You don't get to do that. I asked you first"

Kailyn began fidgeting with the folds of the blanket in her nervousness. She never thought their conversation would end up here. "Well, if you must know. Then my answer is no." She said it with such finality that Aiden knew he had taken her off guard with the question. Good. I can still get under her skin the way I used to, he thought."Well, then, to be fair I have to answer you question too then." Kailyn nodded her head. "Then I will have to tell you honestly. Yes. Yes I have had my bed warmed since our last meeting. It happened only once after an entire night in a tavern drinking. The next morning I woke up in the inn and the only sign of the lady that I had so intimately explored was a note on the pillow."

"Ooooh. Mysterious." she teased with her hands in the air while wriggling her fingers. "What did the note say?"

"Just that I was supposed to send payment to an establishment in Denerim called, The Pearl. I had never heard of such a place and I didn't remember becoming acquainted with a whore so I didn't send her anything. Not to mention it was kind of rude waking up in a strange place knowing I had been so intimate with someone I hardly knew."

"Maybe you were the one that was rude and that's why she left before you woke up" She nudged him playfully and he laughed. "So Kail, when is the big moment going to happen for you? Are you going to do what is expected of you and wait until you are married? I know how you don't like to do things the way that is expected of you." It was his turn to tease her.

"I always thought that I would've done it by now. I mean, you're right. It isn't like me to do things properly." she laughed when she said this. "It's too nerve wracking. What if I don't know what to do and I do it wrong? What if I'm so nervous and scared that I run out of the room like a mad woman?"

"Now that would be a sight to see. Would you be naked, or still have your clothes on?" he teased her again.

"I don't know...hopefully naked and as I'm running through the halls my anxiety about anyone seeing me naked would disappear. I bet after that I could do it."

Should the maid address Aiden as Ser Aiden? I wasn't sure on this, but I knew "Ser Aiden" didn't seem right. Any thoughts?

I know that right now I've kind of given Bryce two opposite characteristics. One where he is devoted to his daughter and another where he fails to give her due praise. I will touch on this later and explain.

Please comment. This is my first fan fiction in a long time. I'm up for constructive criticism.