AN: Hi guys! I know, I'm posting a new story, but I wanted to reassure that I am still working on Citizen/Soldier. I originally wanted to hold off on posting this one until I had gotten farther along in my Mass Effect story, but the muses are giving me inspiration for this one. Don't worry, though, I'm already pretty far into writing this one (already well passed four chapters!) I'll upload them as quickly as I can for your viewing pleasure. Also, I do not own Dragon Age or any of its characters. Enjoy Shadows Fall!

Chapter 1

A Day in the Life of

Guinevere Cousland glared at her opponent. He was taunting her with his arms held out and away from his body, as if a mere girl of fourteen could do no damage to him. It didn't matter that she held a dagger in her left hand and a sword in her right.

There was a stupid grin on his face, as if to challenge her. It only made her angrier. "Alright, if that's how you want to play…" she growled before charging her opponent and sticking her dagger through his chest. She spun as she impaled him and swung her sword around to decapitate him. The stupid grin never left his face.

"Andraste's holy knickers, Guin, what did that dummy ever do to you?"

Guinevere spun around to see her brother standing in the doorway to the courtyard, an amused smile on his face. He was wearing his armor and a Cousland shield attached to his back, his dark hair messily swept away from his face. He was tall, like their father, standing just over 6 feet. While Guin only reached a meager 5'5" in comparison, she may have a few more inches in her left to grow. She frowned and looked back at the stuffed dummy that was her opponent. Straw littered the ground around the dummy, its head lying off to the side with more straw falling out. "He mocked me," she stated simply. Fergus guffawed before walking over to her.

"You'll have to remind me never to piss you off," he chuckled good naturedly, dark brown eyes sparkling with mirth. Guin smiled at him. Her brother was one of four people in Highever that didn't doubt her combat abilities. Her father, Bryce Cousland, saw her as a relatively helpless 'pup,' which is where he got the nickname from. Even so, he was one of the people to teach her combat, so he believed she could hold her own. Her mother, Eleanor Cousland, disapproved of her desire to be a fighter. She wished Guin to be like every other Teyrn's daughter. Stay inside, look pretty, and someday marry a man of good status. Which reminded her…

"So, when is Oriana getting here?" Guin inquired. Oriana and Fergus had gotten engaged several months ago, and the wedding was to take place as soon as she arrived from Antiva.

Fergus sighed and looked towards the door. When he looked back to his sister, she could see excitement in his eyes. "Any minute now. The guards were going to blow a horn to announce when her caravan gets here and I am to meet her at the front gates," he answered, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet as he turned back to her. Guin smiled at him. He was like an excited puppy, barely able to contain his energy. To be perfectly honest, being in Fergus's presence when Oriana was around was gag inducing, they were so in love. She thanked the Maker fervently that they never really finished each other's sentences or did the whole 'dressing coordinated' routine that some of her so-called friends did with their sweethearts.

Guin says 'so-called friends' because she didn't really have anything in common with them. They were all perfect noblemen's daughters. They stayed inside, looked pretty, and were all well on their way to making good matches for marriage. They were also rather dimwitted girls, frankly. All they concerned themselves with were what shoes, finery, and hairstyles were in style, King Cailan's coronation, and what knight was the most handsome at the tournament. Guin inwardly sighed at the thought. First of all, the only thing exciting about Cailan's coronation was whether he'd do as good a job or better than his deceased father, King Maric. Secondly, you were supposed to be watching the combat at a tournament, not going weak-kneed at the sight of a handsome man. However, Guin rarely went to the tournaments to watch; instead she participated, and didn't do too badly most of the time.

"Guin, I did come find you for a reason," Fergus said, interrupting her thoughts.

Guin looked at her brother slightly confused and tilted her head a little to the side. "What for? Ares isn't in trouble again, is he?" Ares was her faithful mabari. She'd received the puppy earlier that year at her fourteenth birthday. For some reason, he enjoyed following Nan – their cook – around when not with Guin. By doing that, the cook came to resent him and somehow always blamed things on Ares.

Fergus shook his head. "No, Ares is – for once – not in any sort of mischief. Actually, mother and father are looking you. Arl Howe and his son, Thomas, are here."

Guin groaned. Arl Howe's son, Thomas Howe, was one of the 'men of good status' that her mother was hoping would be an eventual son-in-law. Although, the term 'man' was being quite generous, since Thomas was a year younger than she, and at thirteen, barely out of boyhood. The Howes, though, had been family friends for years. Guin had next to no interest in getting married. She was only fourteen, first of all, and she would only marry for love – which was difficult to find for a female fighter simply because men were too intimidated by her.

Fergus frowned at his younger sister. "Would it really be so bad to get to know Thomas?"

Guin glared at him, "you already know where I stand on this issue. I will only marry for love and I hate when people – especially mother – try to interfere with my personal life."

"But you never give any of the suitors a chance, Guin. For all you know, you could end up loving one of them," he argued. Even though what Fergus said made a kind of sense, Guin didn't like the feeling of courting. It felt forced, especially since most of the suitors (not that there were many at her age) that came calling were after the status and rank her name could bestow. The young noblewoman wanted a relationship that came naturally, that was based on friendship and mutual respect. She would not be satisfied with any less.

"We're not having this conversation," she growled, sheathing her blades and stalking off toward the main hall. Fergus sighed in annoyance as he watched his younger sister stalk off. Guin just growled quietly to herself. She'd go and visit and pretend she was the perfect daughter of a Teyrn, but not for very long.

When she reached the doors to the main hall, she exhaled, pushing her annoyance back and put a cheery smile on her face. As she entered the room, all eyes turned to her. Her mother looked at her disapprovingly; dark hair pulled taught in twin braided buns added to the severity of her face. Her mother had always been elegant, but the way she wore her hair made her seem older than she was.

Guin understood the look, even expected it from her mother. She was, after all, still in her training armor and had blades attached to her back. Her dark brown hair was pulled back in a messy bun, fallen strands framing her flushed face. Her green eyes were alight with her exercise and her forehead sparkled with a light sheen of sweat. Hardly in a state to receive visitors, but Guin really didn't care.

"There she is!" her father exclaimed happily and stepped forward to embrace her. Bryce Cousland was tall and a little imposing, even though he was beginning to show his age. His dark hair was streaked with grey and his kind blue eyes surrounded by wrinkles.

"Papa, I apologize for my appearance, but Fergus caught me training," Guin smiled. She pointedly ignored Arl Howe's raised eyebrow and her mother's embarrassed frown.

"Have you at least been practicing your drawing, Guin?" her mother sighed. Drawing was one of the only lady-like activities her mother taught her that Guin actually enjoyed. Language and embroidery were too time-consuming and she wasn't any good at music – not that she didn't enjoy it.

"Yes mother," she replied. In fact, she'd gone out that morning and drew for a few hours before returning to the castle to train after a quick lunch. She put as much time into her drawing as she did into her training.

"Pup, you remember Arl Howe and his son Thomas?" Bryce asked, indicating the Arl and his son. Guin turned to look at both of them and nodded slightly. The Arl was a dour looking man, his mouth downturned into a permanent frown under his hooked nose. Thomas – luckily – didn't inherit the Arl's looks. He had dark hair that was braided away from his face. His light eyes sparked as he looked at her. However, Thomas was a year younger than she was, a fact which annoyed Guin slightly.

She smiled at them, however, and said "yes, I do. How are you Arl Howe? Is Amaranthine as beautiful as ever?"

Howe smirked slightly at her and nodded. "Why yes it is. And may I say, Bryce, that each day Amaranthine grows in beauty, so does your daughter." Guin blushed slightly and her father laughed.

"How has your training been going?" Thomas asked.

Guin turned to him, eyebrows slightly raised. "Well, actually," she replied before turning to her father. "And we're going to need another training dummy in the courtyard."

Bryce sighed, "you decapitated another one? I'm sure the guards are getting annoyed with headless dummies being returned to them."

"If someone would spar with me, I wouldn't be decapitating the dummies," Guin countered, arms folding across her chest. That set both Bryce and Howe laughing.

"I'll spar with you, if that's agreeable," Thomas offered, looking to his father for permission. Howe nodded and turned to Bryce, eyebrows raised.

"I don't see why not, but only practice swords for you two," her father answered. "We don't need anyone needlessly getting a limb hacked off."

Guin smiled at her father before turning to Thomas, "so, ready to spar?" When he nodded, she turned toward the door, ignoring the delighted smile on her mother's face. It wasn't like they were courting. They were training for the Maker's sake!

"Have fun sparring, Pup!" her father called to them as they left. Guin's whole body went rigid as she spun around, legendary temper flaring.

"Papa!" She whined and he and her mother both laughed. With an embarrassed groan, she led Thomas out to the courtyard as swiftly as her feet could carry her without causing too much surprise to the servants they passed.

Sparring with Thomas turned out to be fun. He used dual weapons just like she did, but of course they were wooden substitutes. Neither Guin nor Thomas wanted to upset their parents by missing something they would most likely need in the future, like an arm or a leg. However, Guin could find no weakness to exploit or gain the upper hand with her speed. He was just as fast as she was and just as guarded. Every attack she launched, he would block and then knock her back with another attack that she'd have to block. They spun around each other, launching attacks and dodging when they could. She didn't know how long they sparred, but after a while they each could gain hits as their opponent tired.

By the end, they both fell to the ground, panting. Neither had won their duel but both were sporting some intense bruises.

"Maybe… I should stick… to archery…" Guin panted as she lay on the ground and gazed at the sky.

"No… you're amazing… with dual weapons…" Thomas replied, panting just as bad as she was. "No one has ever been able to… keep up with me before." Guin smiled at the compliment. Now she had one more person who thought she was a good fighter. Maybe one day she'd be allowed to go into battle. That was a dream of hers, after all.

Off in the distance, a horn sounded. Guin sat bolt upright, head swiveling in the direction of the sound. It had come from the front gate of the castle. Had Oriana, Fergus's soon to be bride, arrived then?

Thomas had somehow gotten to his feet, breath still coming in pants. "You're expecting someone?"

"Yes, Oriana, Fergus's betrothed. She must have just arrived from Antiva!" Guin replied, standing as well. Her legs shook with fatigue and her lungs still burned from the workout, but she stayed on her feet.

Not a minute later, Eleanor came running into the courtyard all smiles. "Guin darling, run upstairs and wash. Oriana has just arrived and Nan is about done with dinner, so be quick!" She turned to Thomas now, smile widening slightly. "And you should wash up as well. Bryce has invited you and your father to stay for dinner."

As soon as she'd come, Eleanor bustled out leaving Guin and Thomas in the courtyard.