The idea for this story came to after I recently watched The Count of Monte Cristo. This Ferelden story is loosely based on both the movie and the book. Anyone who has read the book or seen the movie knows that this story is kind of dark. There will be times that this version will also be dark and have some angst, but take heart in the fact that I am a romantic and I love a happy ending. The Prologue is going to deal with the seduction of a young girl's mind. If that is something you can't handle you may want to skip this chapter.

Prologue

"I will have you, yes I will have you

I will find a way and I will have you

Like a butterfly, a wild butterfly

I will collect you and capture you

You are an obsession, you're my obsession"

Obsession by Animotion

Amanda Cousland sat beside her father and brother at the Landsmeet as she forced herself to focus as Bann Sighard droned on about this year's poor crop harvest. Growing up as the youngest Cousland she had been exposed to court life since she was a child. However she had only recently come of age and this was the first Landsmeet that her Father had allowed her to attend. Her parents had trained her in court politics and now they felt it was time for her to apply that education. So she sat there and willed herself to concentrate on the Bann's report, but the monotone sound of the man's voice was lulling her to sleep. Even King Calian looked bored to death as he fidgeted with the sleeve on his tunic.

Amanda casually glanced around the room and saw Thomas Howell also trying to remain focused on the Bann's report. He glanced over at her and she smiled at him; he winked back at her as gesture of mutual bored solidarity. She looked over Thomas' shoulder and noticed Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir staring at her. The way that he looked at her made her uncomfortable and she shifted in her seat as she tried to refocus on the Bann's report. After a few moments she glanced back over her shoulder and Teyrn Mac Tir was still watching her and again she shifted uncomfortable.

Fergus leaned over and whispered, "Jinx, what is the matter with you? I have never seen you so restless?" Jinx was the nickname that Fergus had given her when she was eight after she attended the tournament that Fergus was participating in and he lost every event he was in. On the way home he glowered at her. "You have to be the worst good luck charm ever. You're more of a Jinx," he grumbled. The nickname caught on and before long everyone that was close to her was calling her Jinx.

"Teyrn Mac Tir has been staring at me throughout the entire meeting and he is looking at me like he knows what I look like without my small clothes on," Amanda murmured.

Fergus whipped his head around and glared at Loghain. A knowing smirk crept across the Teyrn's face as he slowly turned his attention back to meeting. "If he bothers you at all throughout our stay in Denerim you let either Father or I know. You understand?"

Amanda nodded. Fergus' face remained stern and hard throughout the rest of the meeting. She had no idea what was going on, but she knew something had her usually calm brother very uptight.

When the Landsmeet broke for lunch Amanda meet Thomas outside the main hall. "Thank the Maker they broke for lunch when they did. I thought my stomach was about to devour it's self," Thomas mused as the two them headed out to the Royal Garden to relax in the sun while they ate their lunch.

"That wasn't my problem, I just was trying to figure out if Bann Sighard was blaming the Chantry, the Throne or Orlais for the bad weather that caused his crops to fail," Amanda replied.

Thomas laughed, "I think it was all three." They selected a spot under a shady maple tree and sat down in the shade. Thomas pulled out two sandwiches, two pieces of cake and an apple from his backpack.

Amanda stared wide eyed at the buffet of food he displayed before him. "Aaah, I think Cook short changed you this morning," she said sarcastically.

"Hey, I'm a growing boy," Thomas replied.

"You keep eating like that you'll be growing alright," she said dryly as she pulled out her cheese, crackers and fruit.

"Hey why was your brother glowering at me during the meeting? You didn't tell him that I kissed at the Fall Harvest Festival did you?"

"What? Of course not; if I had you would be missing a couple of your teeth," Amanda said with grin.

"Well, then why was he glowering at me?"

"He wasn't 'glowering' at you it was Teyrn Loghain he was glaring at. That man was staring at me all morning. The way he looked at me….it made me very uncomfortable," Amanda replied.

Amanda saw Thomas' jaw clinch as he let out a snort. "What was that for?" She asked.

"Nothing," Thomas replied dryly.

"Oh come on, Thomas, it's not nothing. I can tell you're aggravated," Amanda pleaded.

"I overheard a conversation between my father and Teyrn Loghain. Loghain said that now that you are of age he was going to ask your father for permission to court you," Thomas said.

"WHAT? Is that man crazy? He is my father's age…maybe older. That's just gross," Amanda retorted as she scrunched her face in disgust and then giggled, "I couldn't imagine having a man the age of my Father kissing me. I would rather kiss a nug's arse than kiss Teyrn Loghain."

Thomas laughed, "A nug's arse, huh? I think I could arrange that. We could charge admission. I'm sure people would pay a pretty sovereign to watch the daughter of Bryce Cousland kiss the arse of nug."

Amanda ignored him and asked, "So what did your father say?"

"What did my father say about you kissing a nug's arse? I don't think he cares one way or another, really?" Thomas replied dryly.

Amanda punched him in the arm. "Ouch, Jinx, that hurt. You need to remember to punch like a girl," Thomas said as he rubbed his arm.

"You're avoiding, Thomas! What did your dad say to Loghain about courting me?" Amanda asked.

"He pretty much told Loghain that darkspawn would have to fly out of Andraste's arse before Bryce Cousland would let Loghain court his daughter," Thomas said.

Amanda fell on the ground laughing. "I would have loved to seen the look on Loghain's face when your dad told him that."

"I couldn't see his face, but by his tone he was not happy about it all," Thomas replied.

The tower bell rang out that the lunch break was over and that the Landsmeet would resume in fifteen minutes. Amanda and Thomas slipped in the side entrance of the palace. They were about to round the corner when she heard the raised voice of Fergus. She motioned for Thomas to be quiet and both of them pressed against the wall.

"Listen here you dirty old man, if I ever catch you leering at my sister again…"

"Fergus, my boy, I appreciate you defending your sister so valiantly, but I am sure that this is just a simple misunderstanding that we can clear up here. Right, Loghain?" Bryce asked diplomatically.

"You are correct, Bryce. This is a simple miss understanding. I was not ogling your sister, Fergus. I was just admiring what a lovely young woman she has become. I was going to approach you, Bryce under more pleasant circumstances and request your permission to formally court Amanda," Loghain replied.

"What? You have to be at least as old as my father…if not older," Fergus exclaimed in outrage. Amanda had to chuckle that her brother had said the exact same thing she did.

"Loghain, what I think my son is trying to express is that there has to be someone closer to your age that would be more suitable. Amanda is a young vivacious girl. I would think that the two of you would have little in common," Bryce replied.

"Bryce, you and I both know that as nobles we don't marry for romantic notions such as love. We marry because it will further the two families. The daughter of a Teyrn marrying a Teyrn would create a dynasty. There are girls younger than Amanda that are either betrothed or already married," Loghain replied coolly.

"Well, that maybe how it's done in most noble families, but not in mine. I married the woman that I loved and I have given my children the freedom to marry whomever they choose. I will not force them to marry someone they don't love just because it will further secure my status in Ferelden. As for courting Amanda, she is of age so you have my permission to make your intentions known to her, but if she turns you down I ask that you respect her decision and pursue this no further," Bryce replied.

"Thank you, Bryce. I appreciate your candor and I will respect your wishes," Loghain said as he turned on his heels and head in the opposite direction.

"The nerve of that man," Fergus said exasperated.

"Fergus, you and I both know that nothing will come of this. The chances of a Hurlock courting Amanda are greater than her consenting to let Loghain court her. You my dear boy need to learn to reign in your emotions better so that your enemy can't read your next move all of your face," Bryce said as the two of them headed for the main hall.

Amanda looked at Thomas dumbfounded as he shrugged his shoulders, "See, I told you so."

Amanda had managed to avoid Loghain the rest of week, but on her last night in Denerim at the Landsmeet Ball he cornered her while she was getting a drink from the punch bowl.

"So Lady Cousland, did you enjoy your first Landsmeet?" Loghain asked from behind her.

Amanda spun around and was only inches from the Teyrn's face. Loghain did not have the typical handsome good looks like King Calian, but there was a ruggedness about him that made his features very attractive. She took a step back and said, "Yes, it was very interesting."

"And what exactly did you find interesting about?" Loghain asked.

"I thought that it was fascinating to watch all of these nobles that live throughout Ferelden come together and work towards the common goal of strengthening and unifying our country," Amanda replied.

"That is a very idealistic view of this week's events, but then again you are still very young," the Teyrn replied.

Amanda narrowed her eyes, "Don't think of me as some naïve child that does not know that each nobleman has came here with their own private agenda that would further their own regions and status among the other nobles, but I also believe that they understand that a strong Ferelden also makes them strong."

A slow smile spread across the Teyrn's face, "Touché! Your father has taught you well, my Lady."

The band began to play again and several nobles moved out onto the dance floor. "Would you do me the honor of dance?" Loghain asked.

"Of course, Your Grace," Amanda replied.

Loghain took her hand and led her out onto the dance floor. With one arm he pulled her close to his chest as he rested his other hand on the small of her back. She could feel the hard contours of this man's chest and the strength in his arms as he held her tightly to him. He did not feel like the teenage boys that she had danced with in the past. He pressed into her letting her know that he was a man and far cry the adolescent boys that she was use to dancing with. She heard her breath hitch and saw the knowing grin on the man's face widen.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Fergus' jaw tighten as he began to make his way toward them, but her father stepped in and whispered something in his ear. Her brother tightened his lips, but backed away and found a seat at the edge of the dance floor. He glared at Loghain as he watched the Teyrn guide her around the floor.

"Lady Cousland, it has been several years since last time I saw you. I must say, you have grown up and become such a beautiful young lady," the Teyrn stated. "Although, I am sure you hear that all the time."

"Thank you, Your Grace," Amanda replied.

"Please call me Loghain," he interjected.

Amanda smiled politely, "Thank you, Loghain."

"I have watched you closely this past week and you have an air of maturity and grace that far exceeds someone your age, yet you have maintained your lively, spirited nature. I find that compelling and refreshing," Loghain said.

"You are very kind, my Lord," Amanda said.

He smiled warmly at her. "I find your beauty breathtaking and your vivacious spirit intoxicating, Amanda. I am drawn to you like I have been drawn to no other. You have awaken something in me, my Lady that I thought died along with my wife a long time ago."

Amanda had always considered the Teyrn a hard, cold man, but he was now exposing a side of himself that she had never believed existed. His words were touching.

"I don't know how to respond to that, my Lord," Amanda muttered.

"You don't need to respond. I just ask that you hear me out," Loghain replied.

Amanda nodded. Loghain leaned into her and whispered in her ear, "I know that you have only recently come of age, but I would like your permission to court you over the next two years so that you can get to know me. At the end of the two year courtship I would like for us to become betrothed to each other."

Amanda tried to pull away, but Loghain held her tightly against his chest. She looked up at him in shock. "Your Grace…"

"Loghain," the Teyrn interjected.

Amanda drew in a deep breath, "Loghain, I am honored that you would even consider me as someone you would want to marry. However as you said I have only recently come of age, I am sure one day I will want to wed, but as of yet that is something that I haven't given much thought to."

"Surely, a girl of your age and beauty has dozens of suitors," Loghain replied.

"Yes, but none of them interest me. They all seem very immature; no one I could see spending the rest of my life with," Amanda responded.

"That is because they are mere boys. Someone as…developed as you, needs a man not a boy," Loghain countered as he leaned into her again. She could feel his manhood as his growing desire for her pressed into her thigh and his eyes flared with hunger. Apart of her was disgusted by his growing need, but another part of her took delight in the fact that she had this affect on this powerful man without really even trying and she felt something stir in the pit of her stomach.

She felt her mouth go dry as she tried to speak and she heard the quiver in her voice, "I want to have what my parents have. They love each other deeply. Their marriage is built on love and respect. They are partners in all things. When I marry it will because I have found that same type of love and respect in my partner."

"And you don't think you could find that with me?" Loghain asked.

"I don't know. I don't even know you," Amanda replied.

"Exactly, so why don't you give me the chance to prove to who I am," Loghain countered as he spun her around, drew her in and then dipped her. He brought her back up and his face was inches from hers. She could feel his warm breath on her face and her head was spinning slightly.

Amanda's eye brow's furrowed as she tried to focus on him. "Can I be blunt?" She asked.

Loghain laughed, "Yes, please do. I wouldn't have it any other way."

"You have to be as old as my father. You have a daughter older than me. What could the two of us possibly have in common?" Amanda demanded.

"We will never know what we have in common if you don't give us the chance to explore that," Loghain countered. He looked down into her exquisite green eyes as he brushed a stray hair away. Amanda felt her heart begin to pound at his touch. His lips were inches from hers as he breathlessly whispered, "Amanda, you are a priceless jewel that should be treasured and I know that I can give you what you need and desire more than those little boys that you heartlessly flirt with. You need a man to treasure you. You need a man to hold you the way you were meant to be held. You need a man that knows how to kiss you till your thighs quiver. You need a man not a boy. All I ask is that you give me a chance to prove my worth to you. If after two years you don't feel that we could have what your parents have then I will walk away."

She felt her face flush with deep desire that she had never experienced before and there as deep stirring between her thighs. She had never had a boy or man talk to her with such confidence and self assurance and invoke such a primal response in her body. She had never wanted to feel the touch of another more then she wanted him to touch her right now. Her body ached to know what it would feel like to have this man's hands and lips explore and caress her. She felt her head begin to spin and her knees became weak.

Loghain felt her legs start to give out on her and he gripped her firmly around the waist as he pressed into her. "You want me, Amanda even if you can't admit it, your body is responding to your desire for me. I can quench that desire for you. I can make you feel things that you never even dreamed were possible. I will be good for you, my dear and I will be good to you. Give me a chance to prove my worth to you," Loghain sighed into her ear.

Amanda didn't trust her voice so she just nodded her approval. Loghain smiled, "Good, I will let your Father know." He lead her off the dance floor and out onto the balcony where he found a table for her to sit at. "Let me get you something to drink, you are looking flushed, my Sweet. I will be right back," Loghain said as he headed back into the main hall.

As he made his way out the main hall where the drink station was when Fergus cornered him. "I don't know what game you are playing, Loghain, but I will not let you use my sister to further your own whims and desires."

"Use your sister, my dear boy; I have no desire to use your sister. Your sister is a trophy to be won. I have a deep desire to marry her and I intend on fulfilling that desire," Loghain said smugly.

"She barely of age!" Fergus exclaimed.

"That is old enough for a noble's daughter to marry," Loghain replied.

"But why would you want to be with someone so much younger then you?" Fergus asked.

A sly grin spread across the Teyrn's face, "Girls that are of Amanda's age…they are…so sweet…so tender…sooo much easier to seduce and you can break them in just the way you want them."

Loghain never saw the punch coming. He felt Fergus' fist connect with his chin and then his head snap back. The force caused him to stagger back a little, but he remained on his feet. He rubbed the spot where the punch had landed as he chuckled, "Nice left hook."

"You sick, bastard. Amanda would never marry someone like you. She will see you for the slimy asshole you are. So stay away from my sister," Fergus threatened.

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Fergus. Your sister gave me permission to court her. You'll be seeing a lot more of me over the two years. It seems the beautiful Lady Cousland desires a real man in her life not little boys that have been following her around like lost puppy dogs. Don't worry, Fergus I promise to break her in gently," Loghain sneered as he quickly moved back into the ballroom before Fergus could throw another punch.

xxXxx

Over the next two years Loghain had become a regular visitor to Highever Castle. He actually enjoyed the time that he spent with Amanda; much more than he ever thought he would. She had a brilliant strategic mind and the two of them would spend hours studing old battlefield maps as she would explain what she thought the generals did right and where they made the mistakes that had eventually lead to their downfalls. She had incredible natural military insight.

He also sparred with her in the ring on numerous occasions and she was a force to be reckoned with; given time and more training her skills would rival even the most experienced solider. They also spent time horseback riding in the fields and forests that surrounded Highever. She was so full of life and so charismatic that people were naturally drawn to her – he was drawn to her.

When he was away from her all he could do was think of her and being with her again. She haunted his thoughts and taunted his dreams with her girlish laugh, her sinfully wicked sense of humor and her taut hungry body that yearned for his touch. After countless visit to Highever he came to the realization that that not only did he want her to be his wife because it would unity two great families and create a Ferelden dynasty, but to his shock realized that he had fallen in love with Amanda. That realization disturbed and worried him. Emotions clouded ones judgment and he couldn't afford to lose his focus when he was so close to his objective.

On his visits to Highever, Fergus had made it his mission to make sure that he was never alone with Amanda and when Loghain would finally find a quiet corner to feed his growing hunger for her, Fergus would always turn up like a stone in one's shoe or he would send servants to casually check in on Amanda. However, there were times when he had managed to steal a few private moments alone with her and it was the memories of those heated moments that he would relive when he was alone again back at Gwaren. He loved the way her soft body molded perfectly to his and the feel of her soft swollen lips pressed against his. During those moments she was always so eager to have him explore her body with his hands, lips and tongue. It was easy; sometimes too easy to bend her to his whims and desires, but she was an eager student and he was a willing tutor. He taught her how to give pleasure, how to receive pleasure, how to make a man beg for mercy and how to have a man give her the gratification that her body yearned for. It never took him long to have her hormonally saturated body moaning and begging him to take her, to bury himself in her, but he never did. Oh he wanted to and when alone he fantasized about the first time he would claim her as his, but he wanted her need and desire for him strung so tight that then when he did propose to her she would say yes out of sheer physical need and hunger.

However, along with his emotional need for her, his physical need for her had also grown and he was beginning to lose the tight control that he had on his desire for her. One morning shortly before her birthday she flitted past him in her Dalish leather armor as she made her way out to the sparring ring; the armor clung tightly to her exquisite frame and revealed her long, lean, toned legs. He imagined her legs wrapped tightly around his waist drawing him deep inside her as he thrust harder and harder; and his need to watch her as sweet ecstasy finally shook her to her core as she cried out his name overwhelmed him and broke his resolve.

He was supposed to spend the day hunting with Bryce and Fergus, but after an hour he feigned an ankle sprain. He insisted that Bryce and Fergus continue their outing and he headed back to the castle on horseback. It didn't take him long to find Amanda in the pasture behind the castle practicing with her bow. He crept up behind her and pulled her into his arms.

She giggled at his surprise appearance and asked him why he was back from the hunt so early. He nibbled at her ear as he whispered that his need for her was too great to keep him away from her the entire day. He maneuvered her behind a bolder out of eyesight from anyone looking into the field from the castle. He spread out his hunting cape on the grass and laid her upon it. He quickly pulled off her armor and explored every inch of her lovely body with his hands and tongue. He pinched and sucked her creamy taut breasts until her body was trembling with desire and then for the first time ever he plunged his fingers deep into her. She cried out in pain, but as his finger moved in and out and caressed her inner most parts her cries of pain became cries of pleasure as his thumb stroked her sweet center.

By the Maker, she was so incredible tight and warm. He imagined her heat and tightness enveloping him and he wanted to bury himself deep within her, but he knew that was not the way to tame this wild filly so he remained in control and took pleasure in her pleasure. She came on his fingers and hand with such force it rocked him to his core.

She began to remove his clothes and he desperately wanted to feel her sweet mouth wrapped around him when they heard Fergus' voice calling her name. Damn that man and his uncanny timing. They quickly got dressed and made their way back to the castle. Completely frustrated he excused himself, went to his room and relieved the pressure that had built up in him with one hand and with the scent of her still on the other hand he relived the sight of her beauty raptured in sheer bliss.

He was so close to having her and making her his. She had never said that she loved him, but he knew that she did. He had treated her well, said all the things that young girls wanted to hear, lavished gifts on her and gave her pleasure unlike anything she had ever experienced before. He had her where he wanted her and tonight he would propose and he knew without a doubt she would say yes.

After dinner, with Bryce's permission, he led Amanda out to the castle gardens for a walk. He found a bench that was lit by the moonlight and he gestured for her to sit down. He sat beside her and took her hands in his. "Amanda, I have enjoyed the time that we have spent together these past two years."

She smiled at him, "I have to, Loghain."

"Good, I think we have a lot in common, we have fun together, we have learned a lot from each other and we have both given and received pleasure from one another. During our time together I have fallen in love with you, Amanda. There isn't anyone that I would want to spend the rest of my life with except for you. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

He heard her draw in a breath and he felt her hands shaking in his. She gazed up at him, smiled and said, "Loghain, I have come to care about you…deeply. I have enjoyed spending time with you and getting to know Loghain Mac Tir, the man and not just Loghain Mac Tir the hero, the general or the Teyrn," she paused and he saw by the moonlight that she was blushing. "And you have opened my eyes to almost all the pleasures that a man and woman can experience together. But all of those things aren't enough to have a successful marriage. I care about you, Loghain, but I don't love you. I want what my parents have and I won't settle for less. I'm sorry, but I can't marry you."

Loghain felt the anger flood his body, he wanted to lash out and hit her, but he refrained from doing so. He pulled her into his arms. He wanted her to feel his hard body against hers. "Amanda, you are wrong. I know you love me. I can see it in your eyes when you look at me and I can feel how your body responds when I hold you."

"Loghain, don't confuse lust with love. If you had asked me tonight to go to bed with you, my answer would have been yes without hesitation because I do want you. I want to know what it would be like for the two of us to give and receive pleasure freely without fear of being discovered. But I'm sorry, I don't love you and I can't marry you."

Loghain released her and leapt to his feet. He glared down at her, "Your wrong and you will regret this," he hissed as he spun around and stumped off. He rushed to his room, gathered his armor and weapons quickly. His servant, Rolf walked in, "Your Grace, are you leaving?"

"Yes, I have been called back to Gwaren. I have written a note to Teyrn Coulsand apologizing for my quick departure. Please send word to the horse master that I will need my horse saddled and brought up to the courtyard immediately. Tomorrow, gather our guards and servants and head back to Castle Gwaren," Loghain demanded.

"Yes, your Grace," Rolf replied as he quickly exited the room.

When Loghain entered the courtyard Fergus was standing there beside his horse. "I hear you are leaving us," Fergus said smugly.

"I have been called back to Gwaren," Loghain replied coldly as he walked over to Fergus and took the reins from him.

"Oh and here I thought it was because after Amanda turned down your proposal, you decided to run home with your tail between your legs," Fergus said evenly.

Loghain spun to face Fergus his face red with anger and hatred. "She went running to you with the news?"

A smirk spread across Fergus' face. "No she didn't come running to me. I saw her in the hall and she was upset. I convinced her to tell me what had happened. I told you, that she would never marry you. It may have taken her a while to see through your deceitful charms, but I knew you couldn't keep up the façade forever and she would realize that she could never have a future with the likes of you," Fergus hissed.

Loghain slid his foot into his stirrup, swung his leg over and mounted his horse. He looked down at Fergus with disgusted. "That bitch wasted two years of my life. Now my deepest regret is that I didn't take her virginity when she begged me to fuck her," and with that Loghain spun the horse around and rode out of the courtyard in a full gallop.

Loghain rode for the next four days straight, only taking small breaks for his horse to eat and rest. He rode into the courtyard at Castle Gwaren just as the sun was rising on the fifth day. He dropped his gear as he walked through the main doors and headed toward his study. He went to his desk, pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote, "DESTORY THEM!"

He sealed and called in one of his house servant. He handed the boy the note and said, "Have this delivered to Arl Rendon Howe immediately."