Authors note: Hi everyone, this is my very first story, so if you'd be kind enough to let me know what you think that'd be awesome :D Also, spoiler alert for if you haven't finished Dragon Age Origins yet.
Anyway, i hope you enjoy it.
He wonders if she will ever forgive him for what he did. For becoming the monster he did. He knows that what he has done has brought the entire country to the brink of destruction for what now seems nothing more than foolish pride. But it's more than that. Because of him her entire family was slaughtered, down to the last child in that blasted keep. He hadn't wanted it, but when he had discovered that it was her family that Howe had targeted, there hadn't been enough time to divert it, or to change his mind. The Couslands were good people, solid dependable nobles who cared for all within their domain. But, he had rationalized, it had been one family in return for an army. An army to face the blight.
It was, he thought, an acceptable loss.
But she'd escaped the destruction of her family, fled south with the grey wardens, taking a place within their ranks. He'd noticed her then as she entered the camp. The unmistakable cousland bone structure in her fine face, the unquenchable fire in her glittering green eyes, the way her copper hair tumbled about her shoulders and set off against her copper armour. Her form was lean and bruised, and despite the losses that haunted her gaze she still maintained a roguish sense of humour. She'd looked half drowned in mud and rain. As she had passed his tent with Duncan, the leader of the grey wardens in this area, he'd caught himself watching her. But once again, he'd put her out of his mind. He may not have liked it, but he had known what would happen next. He knew what would befall the grey wardens in the battle that waited.
Again he'd rationalized it, the death of a few to unite all against the blight.
But again she surprised him, escaping from the battle at Ostagar, pulling with her another new recruit with her from the flames. While her identity had been unknown when he set plans in motion to take care of this problem, he could not help but feel…regret.
To kill someone who had gone through a baptism by fire and blood, who had clawed themselves out of hell only to be tossed back in at Ostagar, just didn't sit right with him. But in war, many things must be done in the name of survival.
But he had underestimated her again. The assassin vanished and reports of her presence continued. Her name was spread in whispers across ferelden. Tales of her exploits continued to reach him. and whilst he found her rebellion annoying, he could help but find some respect for her.
When she came with the Arl of Denerim, he intercepted them. she stood before him once again, this time hardened by the battles she had fought along her road. He found himself surprised and intrigued by this defiance. Sure he had bellowed at her, roared and threatened, and that had cowed many in his way, now it only seemed to brighten those rebellious flames within her eyes.
But even then he had not thought her strong, determined and stubborn perhaps, but not strong.
Hi guys, don't fret i'm not finished yet ;)