Reclamation
As Warden Renee Amell struggles with the possibility of Alistair becoming king, Elizabeth Cousland struggles to reclaim her life after surviving her family's massacre. The two women form an unlikely bond as they navigate through the Blight and beyond
Amell/Alstair & eventual Cousland/Teagan
An AU Story on the events of Dragon Age
"This is a waste of time," Sten grumbled as he followed the group.
"No Sten," Teagan stopped and looked at him. "I've known the Couslands for quite awhile. They are one of the oldest families in Lothering and Teyrn Cousland…. is a good man. His wife and daughter deserve to know what happened at Ostagar and I know they will give what help they can. I also want to check out these rumors."
"Those rumors are…troubling," Wynne agreed.
"I actually met Lord Fergus," Alistair added. "He mentioned Duncan being a family friend. Apparently Teyrn Cousland let Duncan stay at Highever whenever he needed some time to himself."
"You mentioned the Teyrn was not with him," Wynne remembered.
"Fergus told me his father was riding out with Arl Howe and his men."
"And you didn't see them at all?" Teagan looked at him."
"We were too busy with Duncan to know what was going on," Renee took Alistair's hand. "So how long have you known the Couslands Teagan?"
"Ever since I could remember my family has been friends with them," Teagan said before taking a sip from his canteen. "Highever and Rainesfere have had a good trade partnership for the last few years as well. Bryce is…a good friend. He also was one of Cailan's favorite advisers. Bryce traveled to Orlais on Cailan's behalf several times to improve relations and increase trade. We need to increase trade with Orlais. They are buying our goods from other countries because we don't offer enough to them."
"And I'm sure Loghain was the first to speak out against this,"Alistair glared.
"Yes," Teagan shook his head. "He'd get into fights with Eamon over it."
"And what about his daughter?" Wynne asked. "Have you ever met her?"
"Once," Teagan chuckled. "It was five years ago. Elizabeth was around sixteen at the time and very pretty. She also had a bit of crush on me and I…had to turn her down…gently. When I last spoke to Cailan…he spoke rather highly of her. It seemed she not only caught his eye but most of the other noblemen as well when she made her debut at court. She apparently has turned into quite the beauty."
"Knowing my brother's reputation, I'm sure he did," Alistair said sarcastically.
"Cailan told me Elizabeth rebuffed him and of course made him want her more," Teagan shook his head.
"But can she fight?" Oghren pushed his way through the group.
"Bryce and Eleanor Cousland not only gave their children the best education but they received the best battle training as well. Last time I spoke with Bryce he mentioned her winning a local tournament."
"Two handed? Sword and Shield? What is she?" Oghren demanded.
"I believe she's a dual wielding rogue and archer Oghren," Teagan said exasperatedly.
"It's not uncommon for there to be rogues in the nobility," Leliana said thoughtfully.
"She's also quite the artist from what Bryce told me. She painted a landscape that he presented to Empress Celene. He told me she was so impressed that Elizabeth received an open invitation to come to Orlais to paint."
"I can't wait to meet her," Leliana said eagerly.
"We better stop," Zevran said as he looked down the road with his spyglass. "There is a blockade at the town's entrance."
"Maker be praised. Help has come."
They turned to find three men making their way out of the woods and staggering toward them.
"Are you alright?" Renee walked toward them. "What's going on?"
"Yes what happened?" Teagan came up from behind.
"I'm Mayor Redmond Barkley and these are my sons, Paul and Jonathon. I am also leader of the Highever Militia and we have been under siege by Howe's men."
"I'm Bann Teagan of Rainesfere," Teagan approached the man. "We came to pay our respects to Teyrna Cousland and her daughter and to seek aid. We heard some rumors from some of the other townships we passed but weren't sure if they were true."
"Maker. They really did cut us off from Ferelden," One of the younger man gasped.
"What happened?"
"The Teyrn and his wife are dead," Redmond wiped his brow as Wynne and Renee approached the men. "Arl Howe laid siege to the castle and town then claimed the teynir."
"I thought he was supposed to head to Ostagar the next day," Alistair said.
"Lady Elizabeth said they were attacked at night," One of the younger man explained.
"Elizabeth is still alive?" Teagan exclaimed. "Where is she?"
"She escaped from the dungeons a few months back," Redmond explained. "Some of the other militia who fled into the woods found her."
"Is she alright?" Wynne gripped her staff hard.
"One of those mages from that collective treated her," Redmond sighed and shook his head. "But you can tell she endured… a great deal being locked up."
"Where is she now?" Renee asked.
"Lady Elizabeth roams the woods surrounding Castle Highever waiting for Howe's men who are looking for her she… hunts them with her war dog," Jonathon reached for his father's canteen.
"She says they're after her for something she has," Paul added.
"Can you please help us retake our town?" Redmond pleaded. "Howe has not returned and left a unit in town and one at the castle with his son."
"They have been threatening and forcing our people to make supplies for the war," Jonathon added. "The only let them eat once a day. We've been sneaking food at night to them."
"Hasn't the castle been looted?" Leliana asked. "Usually they loot and abandon…or burn."
"No," Redmond shook his head. "We managed to capture one of the men and Lady Elizabeth questioned him. They are just supposed to watch over the castle. Howe planned to deal with everything after helping the Regent deal with the civil war and the Blight. And he needed what Lady Elizabeth has."
"What happened to the man you captured?" Renee asked.
"She killed him." Paul looked away.
"Loghain has to be part of this," Alistair glared.
"We'll help you," Renee said. "I think with all of us, the Blackstone Irregulars that followed us and Teagan's men, we can reclaim your town but then we're going to look for Lady Elizabeth."
"She may need our help," Wynne agreed.
"Maker bless you," Barkley said gratefully.
"This is going to be fun," Zevran said as he unsheathed his blades. "I'll sneak over to the buildings and take some of them out."
"They have men on the roofs," Paul warned.
"That won't be a problem," Leliana patted the man's shoulder and grabbed her bow before disappearing into the woods with Zevran.
"I'll meet with Howe's men and those mercenaries that joined us," Teagan suggested. "Alistair, Oghren, & Sten can accompany me. Ser Perth, take the men and get into position in the bush on the left side of the road."
"Morrigan, Wynne and I will be at the back," Renee said. "Alistair will give the signal when its time to strike."
Teagan walked ahead and the three followed while Renee motioned for the mayor to hide.
The three men immediately saw them approaching.
"Halt!" An unshaven guard unsheathed his sword and walked toward the group. "Highever is now governed by Teyrn Howe. What business do you have here?"
"What happened to the Couslands?" Teagan gripped his sword.
"They've been put to death for their allegiance to Orlais."
"My father was not a traitor!"
The guard coughed and Teagan stepped back as the blood sprayed from the wound where the arrow hit.
Turning as the man collapsed, he caught a brief glimpse of a woman standing on one the guard towers. Even with the sun partially blinding his view, he knew it was Elizabeth.
"That's Bann Teagan," Another guard ran toward them. "Howe wanted him dealt with as well. Maybe he won't be angry if we bring him his head."
Before he could strike, Alistair used his templar abilities to throw the guards back and let out a whistle.
The townspeople shrieked and yelled before running into the various buildings that were not burned.
Teagan shield bashed one of the men and managed to knock the other one back with his sword before plunging it into him as Morrigan, Renee, and Wynne unleashed waves of electricity, fireballs and ice. Looking around he saw Zevran sneak over towards one of the archers and slit his throat in such a nonchalant way it chilled him.
As he fought with them, it was easy to see they were not the typical trained men and women most nobility employed. It was as if Howe looked to the bottom of the barrel and employed every rough neck willing to work for the coin. They fought hard and dirty and from the ache on his side, he could tell that he had at least cracked some ribs.
He jumped out of the way just as Renee and Morrigan unleashed a storm of fire.
"Turning toward the woods, he caught a glimpse of the back of Elizabeth as she disappeared in the brush.
Seeing that the remaining men had dropped their swords, Teagan ran towards the area where he last saw Elizabeth running towards
He found her in the clearing cornered by several men. Renee had caught up to him and they watched as she kicked one to the ground and threw one of the rusty daggers at another.
"Get that bitch!"
As the remaining men lunged for her Renee unleashed a spell that paralyzed them and Teagan finished them off.
"Elizabeth," Teagan stepped over the bodies.
"I'm warning you…don't come any closer because I have nothing to lose."
"Elizabeth. It is me; Teagan and this is Renee Amell. She is a Grey Warden."
"Teagan?" Elizabeth blinked but backed away as he approached her.
Dressed in worn armor and, her hair tied back with string, she looked gaunt and her green eyes conveyed the horrors that she had went through.
"We're not going to hurt you," Renee gently said. "There's more of our group up ahead."
"You liberated the town?" Elizabeth brushed the bangs out of her face. "Then you know my parents are dead. They killed my nephew and sister-in law too."
"I am so sorry Elizabeth," Teagan stepped closer to her but she moved away.
"There is a group of twenty men and four Tevinter mages commanded by Thomas Howe and a Captain Wentworth occupying my home. I want them dead as well the silver bars Howe stole from the Denerim treasury out of the castle."
"Howe stole from the treasury?" Teagan wiped the blood from his face.
"One of the many mistakes Howe made was thinking I was passed out in my cell. He talked…a great deal. He stole silver bars and gold from the treasury and bragged how easy it was. I want it out of the castle."
"Teagan we have enough people to reclaim it," Renee looked up toward the castle.
"We can take all of that back to Redcliffe for Eamon to see," Teagan looked at Elizabeth
"We will help you, my lady," She looked back at Elizabeth.
"Thank you and there is no need for formalities. You can me Liz or Elizabeth. In return for your help, I promise to aid you in any way I can. I know my father… would have wanted me to help you."
"Would you be willing to speak at the Landsmeet?" Renee asked.
"If it helps me get the justice for my family's massacre but it will have to be after I kill Howe," Elizabeth sheathed her weapons
Mayor Barkley emerged from the bushes with his sons and several men.
"I'm so glad you are all aright," Elizabeth rushed towards them.
"We are now thanks to Bann Teagan, the Wardens and everybody else and we're going to help you reclaim Highever Castle," Barkley said.
"Mayor Barkley my father would not want you to risk your life as well as your sons. Please see to the townspeople's needs. We'll speak more when this is over with."
"Yes my lady," Barkley bowed.
"One of my traveling companions is a spirit healer," Renee looked at Elizabeth. "Maybe she should examine you before we make plans to reclaim the castle."
"She can examine me once the castle is cleared of those traitors!"
"Maybe we should head back to the road, meet everyone, and make plans," Teagan suggested.
"There you are," Alistair came through the bushes slowed down near Renee as Elizabeth looked at him.
"This is Alistair," Teagan said. "He's a Warden as well."
"I am so sorry for your loss my lady," Alistair bowed.
"Thank you," Elizabeth looked away
"We're going to reclaim the castle for Elizabeth," Renee said as Elizabeth brushed past her.
"That's good but why was she staring at me like that?" Alistair shrugged.
"I think it's because she met Cailan once and sees the resemblance Alistair," Teagan said.
"She looks so pale," Renee said worriedly.
"I know," Teagan shook his head as they made their way back to the road. "Maker knows what she endured."