Author Note:
Noob Mistake! I'm fixing the 'Spacing Issue'. Thanks LaraHawke for pointing it out to me ;)
The Rascal of Highever
"Are we going to see Unca Eamon today? I like going on trips Daddy. Will Unca Maric be there too? I love the sweets he brings from Denerim!" Cameron, now eight years old asked excitedly. Traveling with her Father was something she always looked forward to. More so, when she got to go along on long trips with her father and see her 'Unca's' Maric and Eamon.
"Yes pup, we will be leaving shortly. Do you have your trunk packed? Where is Draco?" Cameron was so excited. Her dark blue eyes were filled with stars. "I'll go find him right now daddy!"
Draco, Cameron's Mabari pup was only six months old and already quite a handful. His blood line could be traced back to before the land got the name Fereldan. His fur was a light brown with light, black spots on his coat. His eyes were expressive and he was as gentle as a lamb, when he needed to be. At six months old, he was already the size of a large dog and Mabari grew to an average weight of 250 pounds.
Eleanor was nervous about getting the beast for her daughter but Bryce reminded her that a Mabari are excellent body guards. Bryce and Maric looked all over Fereldan to find Cameron the perfect Mabari, but when coming to the Royal Kennels, Cameron walked in and the smallest of the litter scampered over to her. She picked him up and from that point forward, they were always with the other.
Cameron took off down the Great Hall, heading straight for her room. Cameron's long dark, hair trailed behind her as she ran off down the hall, calling for her puppy, Draco. "Grab your brother too, Pup. We must leave soon if we are to get there before nightfall," Bryce called out to her. Aldous, Cameron's tutor saw Bryce standing in the main hall and decided now was the best time to speak to him, "Excuse me, My Lord. May I have a word?" "Certainly", Bryce wondered who did it; Cameron or Fergus. He prepared for the worst. "Sire, I must speak to you about your daughter. She is far more intelligent than most of my other pupils." he began to trail off.
"That's marvelous, Aldous!" "No sire, she wishes to learn about the Highever battles and the battles between Fereldan and Orlias. It's most un-becoming a young lady and more importantly a Teyrnia. She has taken a higher interest in these studies than even Fergus. When you return from Redcliffe, I must ask that I be allowed to tutor her in 'Proper' ladies etiquette, one more fitting a Teyrnia."
"That's Fine. Just don't break her spirit too much. Her mother will appreciate it though. That poor woman; Elenenor has tried so hard to make Cameron into a proper little girl. Cameron won't stand still long enough to get in any of the dainty dresses Eleanor buys for her. She only wishes to wear her pants and her combat shirt. Almost broke Eleanor's heart, but she still tries to get her into a dress. She will make a girl out of Cameron, even if it kills her!", Bryce laughed, half-jokingly. "Yes Sire", Aldous stated, rather sarcastic.
Cameron fled down the hall, calling after Draco. One could almost see her mother's failed attempt to dress her. Her long hair was recently pulled back into an extravagant single, long braid. The braid bothered her. She hated looking like a girl. She felt no one took her seriously, especially the young squires that were training in the castle. She had partially undone the braid and tried to put it as a bun. That way, she believed, she could hide her hair under a helmet. She wore her favorite set of clothes, her squire clothes. A plain tunic and black leggings with her black riding boots, her mother would scold her for wearing such un-lady like garments. Her favorite 'accessory' was a silverite short sword 'Unca' Maric had given to her on her eighth birthday. She always carried it.
The squire instructor, Len, loved having young Cameron sneak into his classes. Although, he knew that Teyrna Cousland would be less than enthusiastic; the Teyrn had overruled the Lady of the house. So, he would sneak her in when he could and would train her at night, before supper, in the art of becoming a warrior and a knight of Highever. He began to notice Cameron was smart and could out maneuver many of her opponents easily. "You will be a fine warrior someday, Teyrnia Cousland. Hurry, run to supper before anyone notices you are not there. If Cameron ever attended the actual squire training classes, the squires were quite mean to her. "Girls don't fight!", they would tell her, and push her down. She would stifle any tears she might have and push forward in her training, trying twice as hard to prove them wrong. 'I'll show them that girls don't fight!'
"Draco, are you in here?" Cameron called to her room. Silence. She ran to her older brother's room and called to him "Daddy says we are about to leave. Have you seen Draco?"
"That's your dog, not mine. Maybe he is in the kitchen, again.", Fergus loved his baby sister but sometimes was a little stand-offish towards her. She was several years younger than him but he still felt intimidated by her.
"Okay, Thanks Fergus", she smiled and continued running down the hall. She heard Draco and called to him again, upon her getting closer to the kitchen. Suddenly, like an arrow shot he took off down the hall to her with Nan chasing after him. "Get back here!"
"Come on, Draco. Run!" Cameron and Draco took off down the hall heading straight for the Great Hall and ultimately the front door. Cameron could still hear Nan chasing behind them. Once outside, Cameron saw her luggage being loaded into the carriage and hopped in, along with Draco. Bryce smiled and started laughing once he saw Nan. "You two are going to be the death of that woman yet."