A/N: I know this is a bit unorthodox, to have an author's note at the beginning, but I just wanted to thank Winterborne as well as another good friend of mine (you know who you are ;) ) For giving me the courage to post this on . Don't be shy about leaving comments or sending me PMS! I don't bite!

Now, ONWARD!

Violently were they cast down,

For no mortal may walk bodily

In the realm of dreams,

Bearing the mark of their Crime:

Bodies so maimed

And distorted that none should see them

And know them for men.

- Threnodies 8:7

She smiled as she woke up, Ares, pouncing on her, making her laugh. She knew today was important. She felt today was going to be glorious. Be swept off her feet? Maybe go out with the hunting party? She had waited for ages to go. Maybe, just maybe, and Elanda Cousland felt that this was a long shot, she may go to fight the Darkspawn with her brother and father. She was a capable warrior now. She had years and years of training. Ever since she could walk she remembered a sword, wooden at first, in her hands.

Her mother hated it, of course. But could deny her husband nothing. He took the time to train Fergus, but his son ended up being better at wielding a two handed weapon better than Bryce's sword and shield. But when his beloved pup naturally moved with it, he was ecstatic.

When her mother began teaching her the finer arts, Elanda groaned. She was better in physical combat than what her mother called The Great Game. Maker, how it was not like a fun game at all! However, there was ONE good side to her mother teaching the 'softer' arts.

Elanda loved to dance. She loved how gracefully she could move with one step. As if it was so simple!

Her mother was delighted.

So when her mother approached her with a smile and told her that Lady Landra had been invited to the salon, Elanda was unsure if she even wanted to go. Not that she would have a choice in the matter.

"There will be dancing!" She pleaded, "And you love to dance." Her mother had pointed out.

"I love dancing because it helps with my form." Elanda pointed out, "In combat, form is key to survival." Dancing was very fun, but when Elanda found the extra bonuses, she was so ecstatic. Her mother, was of course... Not so happy.

"You just love being our shield maiden, don't you my darling?"

Elanda could only smile and her mother relented. Her daughter had the charm that could take lands from Orlesians and have them thank her for doing so.

She donned on her gear and after a moment of vanity, fixing up her red hair, color the color of roses, to stay out of her eyes, the color of a cloudy sky, she was on her way to the training grounds. Ares, satisfied that his owner was up and about trotted off elsewhere.

"Nothing like starting the day with training." Ser Gilmore approached her with a smile.

"Better than starting the day with Nan screaming at me." Elanda chuckled.

"The day is still young." He mused.

Elanda let out a nice hearty laugh. Everyone in this castle was just... So nice. Sure they had their moments, but she had to admit, that this was the best place in the world.

Ser Gilmore excused himself and Elanda found herself wacking away at a dummy. Perfecting her form, training her muscles. She wished she could only spar with a knight to see how her form truly was. But it seemed when she asked, the found themselves too busy. She got slightly irritated with the lot of them, but when Ser Gilmore told them that they didn't want their pride to be wounded, she nearly beamed with pride. They were scared of losing!

What Ser Gilmore failed to mention though, was that the Teyrn made them, all of them promise, swear to not spar with her. Which they obeyed without pause.

A servant man, Renald, Elanda remembered, ran up to her and huffed, he had been running for a while it seemed. When he tried to speak, Elanda put up her hand.

"Catch your breath good man." She smiled, "I'm sure the message isn't important enough to keel over for."

He couldn't help but laugh as he caught his breath, "Your father wanted you to meet him in the hall." He said after a moment.

Elanda put her hand on his shoulder after putting her shield on her back and sword in the sheath, "See? I told you it could wait." She winked, "Now go get yourself some water." She motioned towards the kitchen and walked towards the hall.

She saw Howe and her father speaking. "Oh, there you are, pup." Pup, she loved it when he called her that, it was her nickname, her special nickname. It made her smile every time, "Howe, you remember my daughter don't you?"

"How is your family?" Elanda smiled.

"I left them back in Amaranthine, though I shall give them your wishes." He smiled, "Though maybe next time I shall bring Thomas with me."

His tone all but screamed 'arranged marriage'. Something she didn't want. Ever. At all. The end.

She saw the love that Fergus had for Oriana. She saw the love that her mother and father had. She wanted that. She didn't want to be married to someone she despised and Maker forbid had to have children with. She wanted a love that would last for years and years and years. But her mother said that their girl was picky. But because Elanda was her father's pup, she opened up to him and he cheered her on. For doing what she wanted.

Sticking up for what she believed in.

"I have no interest in arranged marriage." She smiled, though attempting to keep her tone civil.

"See what I contend with, Howe? There is no telling my girl anything these days." His tone was teasing, he stood behind his little pup.

"Maybe because you trained her for a warrior... It's peculiar."

That's when Bryce delivered the blow of Elanda having to stay back and in her eyes, keep his seat warm in the castle. She was insulted, hurt. But her father, in this instance wouldn't relent. He didn't want to face his wife's wrath. Even when Elanda said she would make her mother see the light, he shook his head. She had to stay here. Protect the people, during his absence. After another moment of arguing she relented.

That's when Duncan was introduced. A Grey Warden! She was humbled. In awe. Grey Wardens were heroes. Legends! She was almost giddy. Warriors of the purest kind. Oh how she wanted to shake his hand and tell him it was an honor. A bow would have to do.

Was she getting recruited? Her mental self crossed her fingers, but when her father mentioned Ser Gilmore, her heart sank. Nearly into the Void. Duncan however both mentioned Ser Gilmore and her.

That's when her father stepped in. "This may be a Blight, but this is also my daughter we're talking about. Unless you're planning to invoke the Right of Conscription...?"

Duncan shook his head, there was no need in this instance. Ser Gilmore was a good enough recruit and Duncan had been hearing his progress for some time now. Though, it made Elanda wonder what the Right of Conscription actually DID. No matter. She would find out.

Apparently now, however wasn't the time. As she was sent off to find her brother and take the bolster of their forces to Ostagar where their father and Howe would meet them later. Howe's men were running late. And Bryce was content to wait for them.

With heavy footsteps and a heavier heart she grumbled out of the hall.

She turned the corner to only see Ser Gilmore, "There you are!"

Nan had apparently been screaming again. Ares had gotten into the larder... Again. And of course since her Mabari didn't listen to anyone except her (to her secret delight), she was to go get him before Nan 'quit'. Though everyone knew that Nan wasn't going to quit. Ever. Elanda had been convinced that her spirit would continue to serve the Cousland family. Her parents always brought out the best in people. And she strove to be exactly like them.

She and Ser Gilmore played their part in the rescuing of the larder. Rats had gotten in, and Ares was playing his part in protecting their castle of wild rodents.

Ser Gilmore had excused himself now that the crisis was averted and while going to find Fergus, convinced some guards that she would forgive them for playing cards this time, but they should attempt to be more watchful in the future. And then threw some of her silver in the pot with a rogue smile on her face, then left.

Then met up with her mother who was around Lady Landra, her Lady in Waiting Iona, and her son Dairren.

Which warranted more talks of arranged marriages.

She groaned. Maker's Breath, nobody except her father understood, did they?

She barely caught her mother's sarcastic stab, "But it was the softer arts that landed me a husband."

Elanda refused to get sucked into this conversation and their company bid themselves a good night as Lady Landra was tired and Dairren wanted to go visit the study.

And of course her father was right about one thing. Eleanor would not let her daughter follow her husband into war. Even when she mentioned that she could help them survive. Her mother still wouldn't have it.

Elanda was angry. She was about to storm off when her mother gently made her daughter look her in the face, hands on both of her cheeks, "I love you my darling girl, you know that, don't you?"

Elanda's fury was put out by the emotion in her mother's words. Elanda allowed herself to slightly smile and nod, "I love you too, mum."

When Elanda found Fergus she had to quell Oriana's fear, "My brother can't get killed by Darkspawn!" She was confident in her brother's ability. Even if he did go brazingly into battle without a shield.

A few more quips and jokes, Fergus was about to make his leave when their parents came in to wish him a safe return. Oriana said a little prayer and Fergus made a joke about how their mother would "Scold the Darkspawn back into the Deep Roads."

Bryce and Elanda shared a small snicker before breaking up the party and said that tomorrow would be an exciting day, she needed her rest.

She retired... Only to have Howe betray their family in the middle of the night whilst everyone was sleeping.

She, Duncan and Ares had made it through the secret passage way. She wanted to be a Grey Warden, yes. But not like this! Not when she had the death of Ser Gilmore on her hands, not when her mother... Her father... She was so angry at her father for not allowing her to go with her brother. For not allowing her to go into battle with him. For not letting her stay and defend her parents... And now... They were gone.

Her mother's words, "My place is here at your father's side. To death and beyond." echoed in her mind. There was a tightness in her chest. Her parents were gone.

Ares gently whined, nudging his owner to trudge along. Elanda nodded and ran. She ignored the pain in her calves. She ignored the pain in her ribs. She didn't know what was making her run anymore. Pure will? Self-preservation? Anger?

She would kill Howe for this. She was thankful she wasn't the only Cousland left... Fergus had left the day before. She was thankful of that at least if nothing else.

She didn't think her body would be so grateful when Duncan suggested that they could stop for the night. She nearly collapsed in exhaustion. How long had they actually been running? She couldn't tell, but when she looked back all she could see was forest. Not even a faint light of the Cousland Castle.

Her home... Was gone.

She had nothing to return to.

Duncan saw her forlorn look on her face and only put a hand on her shoulder. He could give her no words of encouragement, so consolidation... Nothing.

Howe will pay for this. He will pay for what has done... She will bleed that bastard slowly if it gave her the satisfaction.

"You will need your strength. Ostagar is still a ways to travel." Duncan's voice yanked her out of her blood-lust.

She shook her head as if to get those thoughts out of her head and looked at Duncan in his eyes. He was her father figure now. She nodded silently.

When her mother had said, "You'll get your chance for excitement soon enough." Elanda had a feeling she didn't mean this.

Ares looked up at her as she sat down and was able to nudge her hand enough to where her hand was on top of his head.

"Yeah... I still have you, don't I boy?" She leaned her head against a tree and instantly fell asleep. Whether the adrenaline had finally worn off, or exhaustion finally hit, she wasn't able to tell.

But for the first time in a long time, she was thankful that she didn't dream.

When she woke up feeling this day was important... She did not mean this.