A/N: I do not own Dragon Age or anything affiliated with Dragon Age. This is the back ground story of my character Evelyn Cousland. I may or may not continue into the storyline of the game, I haven't made that choice yet. I really wanted to delve into Evelyn's childhood and expand on some characters provided by the brilliant writers at Bioware.

A/N: After reading a bit I decided this was much too short so I've added a little bit in there. I think it really helps the Chapter out, I hope you enjoy the changes. Thanks!

Chapter 1

Evelyn's favorite memory of her childhood was the first time she heard her mother play the piano. The song had been the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. The music had started slow, building to an enthusiastic rhythm that made the young girl dance in her place beside her mother's stool. Excitedly, she asked her mother to teach her to play anxious to learn the delicate movements Eleanor performed flawlessly.

After the sonata ended Eleanor looked down at her daughter and smiled to see such interest in her shining blue eyes. "Of course I will teach you, Evelyn. And I imagine you will play just as beautifully. Before she could respond, however the little girl was drawn to the window by the sharp twang of metal on metal as her father instructed her brother Fergus in swordplay. With her mother's song still ringing in her ears, Evelyn saw a beauty to their movements.

"Mother, they're dancing to your song!" the girl had exclaimed excitedly. Eleanor came to the window with a smile to watch.

"It seems that they do dance, doesn't it Evelyn?" Seeing the excitement and urge to join them, Eleanor quickly tried to regain her daughter's attention. "Wouldn't you rather play music for them?"

"I wish to play and to dance mother. They are both so beautiful." Evelyn had answered.

That was the first time Evelyn Cousland had started to dream of glory on the battlefield. The very next day she tried to convince her father to let her practice with him and Fergus.

Bryce had chuckled and patted her soft red curls, "Not yet, pup. You're too young to swing a weapon and don armor. Not to mention your mother would kill me." Evelyn had lowered her head and the Teryn had knelt down and raised her chin gently with his fingers. He could not resist the tears shining in eyes exactly like the woman he loved. "But, I promise one day you will. Until then learn to be a proper lady like your mother."

The girl hugged her father tight and ran back up to the music room to learn just as her father instructed. To her young ears he said when she was a proper lady he would teach her.

Lady Evelyn Cousland was dutiful to her studies, not only were her manners impeccable, she held a grace about her that reflected her mother's teachings. She was also often indulged by her doting father. He taught her to ride a horse as well as any man, and defend herself with blades if she had the need.

By her 18th naming day, Evelyn was the beautiful, delicate flower her parents wanted, but her thorns were as deadly as any poisoned blade. Eleanor, having fought alongside her husband during the Orlasian occupation, was an excellent marksman. When she learned of her husband teaching Evelyn to fight with daggers, she quickly introduced her daughter to the bow in the hope that if she did go to battle, however unlikely, that she would not be in the thickest of the fighting. Eleanor knew that even those that do not wield weapons can still die upon them and agreed that both of her children must know the arts of battle. Evelyn preferred the bow to daggers simply because it made her heart swell with pride to watch as her mother bested many of her father's soldiers at archery and she had inherited her mother's skill.

Two weeks after her naming day Bryce, Eleanor, and Evelyn ride to Denerim to make her presentation to the court as she was finally of age. Fergus could not join them as his wife was heavy with child and could not risk the trip. At the gates, the siblings hugged briefly and Fergus nudged his sister's shoulder fondly. "Do well little sister. Mother would like you to charm the entire court with your music in the hopes of making you a good match." He teased, making Evelyn purse her lips.

"I'm not entirely sure I'm interested in a match right now, and well you know it." She replied to her brother lowering her voice to avoid their mother listening in. "I'm only 18, mother and father were older when they wed."

Fergus laughed. "You know mother. Good luck, Evie. I'm sure you'll make us all proud." Though he liked to tease her, Fergus loved his sister dearly and wanted nothing but the best for her.

After their parents said goodbye to Fergus, the three climbed into carriage and were off to the capital. The journey took much longer than it would have otherwise, much to Bryce's chagrin.

"I don't know why I let you two convince me to bringing this Orlesian contraption! It has slowed our journey to a crawl."

"Evelyn is very talented, Bryce and we feel that showing her skill on the piano to the court will make her stand out from the other girls being introduced." Eleanor insisted with a tut of her tongue at her husband.

"Yes, yes I know. Spare me the tongue lashing again, my lovely wife. I but complain of the pace." Bryce shot her a teasing grin. "A week trapped inside a stuffy coach is almost more than I can bare. Especially with the hound in here with us." He sniffed, causing Evelyn's Mabari to bark once and wag his nub of tail.

"I couldn't have just let him stay at home, he would have driven Nan into an early grave if separated from his mistress." She grinned down at Sigurd, who was barely a year old but a full grown war dog all the same before scratching him behind the ears. Bryce simply nodded his head and laughed.

They camped beneath the stars at night and road throughout the days. It was near dusk when a group of bandits appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Caught unaware, the family were thrown to the floor when the coach took off suddenly when one of the bandits leapt from a nearby tree branch onto the driver, knocking the man from his seat. The Cousland guards were left fighting the remaining bandits as the family was driven some ways away to where another group lie in wait. Having seen bits of the fighting through the curtains of the coach, Bryce signaled for both his wife and daughter to make ready for when the coach stopped, there would be a fight on their hands.

The door to the coach was ripped open as soon as the wheels stopped turning, but what the bandits hadn't expected was an angry mabari leaping towards the man holding the door and ripping out his throat with ease. Bryce followed, holding his shield before him, glad now that they had thought to bring their weapons along rather than depend solely on the guards to keep them safe. Moments after Bryce, Eleanor and Evelyn also exited the coach firing arrows as they went. They took the bandits completely by surprise and within minutes the fighting had ended, 5 bandits lying dead on the ground. "Are you alright Bryce?" Eleanor asked, moving to her husband to check a wound on his arm from an errant dagger.

"Aye, love. I'm fine. It's just a scratch."

Evelyn patted Sigurd's large head and grinned at her father. "It's a good thing that I brought him along, isn't it?" She asked with a touch of cheek.

Bryce waved a hand in her direction as their guards galloped up the road in their direction. The driver of their coach had been wounded, though not severely and there were no causalities to speak of, even the piano made it through unscathed, though once the guards were assured all was well with the Teryn and Teryna a few men had to go back and fetch it.

The remainder of the trip was much less eventful and to Evelyn it all seemed to blur until the moment she sat down at the piano on the raised dais. The entire court were already talking about her and her family, having fended off a bandit attack, but tonight she was Lady Cousland.

Taking a deep breath, Evelyn laid her fingers across the sparkling whiteness of the keys. Moonlight Sonata had been her favorite piece since that summer years ago when she had first heard it. The powerful, haunting melody has the ability to stir the heart even while bringing a sharp focus to her mind. Evelyn felt as if she could play until her finger cramped from exhaustion.

"I see now why you wanted to bring that heavy instrument all the way from Highever." Arl Howe leaned to whisper to Bryce, avoiding the bandage on his old friend's arm. "She plays quite beautifully. I daresay as well as your wife."

Eleanor smiled brightly. "Rendon, she's better. She plays with a passion that cannot be taught." Her mother gushed proudly.

Bryce beamed with pride as Evelyn finished her song and stood before an applauding crowd. "She's the Jewel of Highever," he said to no one in particular, but soon she was called as such.