Title: Here be Dragons - Chapter 1
Author: ginganinja13
Rating: T
Game: Dragon Age: Origins
Characters: Ava Cousland, Amelia Fidge, Eleanor Cousland, Rory Gilmore
Pairing: Ava Cousland/Alistair Theirin
Disclaimer: 'Dragon Age: Origins' & 'Dragon Age II' and all its expansions and additional content, 'Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne', 'Dragon Age: The Calling', 'Dragon Age: Asunder' is the intellectual property of Electronic Arts Inc. No licence/permission has been given to create this derivative work. The moral rights of the authors of the abovementioned work (David Gaider and others) is respected. No profit is being made. In other words, it's their sandbox and I'm just playing in it.
Summary: The year is 9:30, the first year of the new age. Ava, the indulged daughter of a teyrn and born to rule, has her world torn from her. Alistair, royal bastard and Grey Warden, stands on the edge of the Korcari Wilds ready to battle the darkspawn spewing forth from the bowels of the earth. Unbeknownst to either they will be forced to charter unknown territory together, their personal destinies entwined in a tale of power, passion, loyalty and lies.
Amelia had every reason to be happy. The new spring sun shone warmly, casting away the frigid night air of winter's lingering embrace. Tomorrow was her birthday and a certain merchant's son had returned to Highever. Humming the tune of a spritely doxy she went about her duty overseeing and assisting the castle servants complete their morning chores in her mistress's bedroom, content in the knowledge that after this evening's feast she was relieved of her duties to return to her family home outside the castle, a special birthday treat.
A rustle of skirts announced the arrival of Teyrna Eleanor Cousland to her daughter's room. Turning to the sound Amelia dropped her bright cobalt eyes in deference & bobbed a quick curtsey.
"In the tilt yard then I suppose?" the Teyrna surmised after taking in the empty room. "Would you be so kind as to remind my daughter that the guests are arriving at five therefore her presence is required in the great hall at quarter to the hour."
Amelia thought the woman looked strained and heard a badly masked tone of worry in her voice, one that she had only previously encountered when little Oren was gravely ill with a fever one winter.
"Of course your grace"
Well of course she looked strained, her husband and son were riding off to battle tomorrow morn. Guilt descended upon Amelia for her cheery mood as she watched Teyrna Eleanor turn to leave then hesitate at the door, rounding to her once again her face softened a little.
"Happy Birthday for tomorrow Amelia, may the Maker shine his light on you especially on your special day".
"Thank you your grace you are most kind".
The Teyrna gave a small smile and moved swiftly from the room.
Ava strode purposely across the yard squinting into the mid morning sun. Her leather boots crunched on the gravely dirt, iron long-sword in her left hand, elm shield in her right. Stopping before a wooden, straw stuffed effigy her eyes closed as she drew a deep meditative breathe. Opening them reset with grim determination she exhaled and struck with lightening speed. Ava moved through her repertoire of deadly strikes, focusing on the placement of each blow, training her body to follow the mind; calculated, precise, swift. Stray strands of sun streaked auburn hair that had defiantly escaped her ponytail were sticking to the sheen of sweet that glistened on her alabaster brow. Ava had shifted her weight to her right foot preparing for her signature move when a shrill whistle from across the yard jarringly broke her focus sending her off balance. Turning to the source of the offending noise Ava felt a small jolt of pleasure mixed with self-consciousness when she realised Ser Gilmore had been silently watching her.
"If you're that easily startled my lady your pretty head will not last long in a fight" the knight teased.
"If you had agreed to spar with me Ser I will show you just how long I can last" she retorted walking across the yard towards him and spying the unmistaken heat rise in his cheeks at her double entendre.
"Yes well... Nan has bidden me to fetch you, apparently your mabari has gotten into the larder and won't let anyone near, and she's going absolutely mental"
"Oh for the love of Andraste" she exasperated "If I discover the kennel master has not fed him this morning" she let the threat hang in the air "Very well come on".
"Rats!" Amelia screeched her fingers halted in their act of removing Ava's armour as if in disgust.
"Yes giant Rats, like... rodents of unusual size" Ava responded with some humour "Rory, Kat and myself managed to kill them all, but you know... gross".
"But where did they come from?"
"Maker only knows" her voice became low, filled with resignation "though one thing I do know, handling the investigation of their abrupt appearance will be down to me, alone"
Amelia removed the final piece of armour and opened her mouth to reassure her friend. But, just what could she say? That everything will be fine? She knew Ava was more than capable to oversee the running of the castle and Teyrnir, but that was not the source of her grimness. Under any other circumstances Ava would be relishing in the chance to supervise and administer her families domains, indeed it seemed sometimes that it was all that she hoped for, even if never openly admitted. But this was not how she wanted it, not at the expense of her father and brother being put in path of a darkspawn horde. Instead she opted for moving to the corner of the dressing room and placing the breast plate on the armour stand.
The change in Amelia's countenance prompted Ava to offset her apparent hesitation "I do not believe that father and Fergus will be put in any especial danger, the whole of Fereldan will be on the battlefield, and you shall find me a most adept and beneficial ruler" the corners of her mouth piqued in a smile.
Returning the smile Amelia light heartedly mocked "As long as your grace does not become too self important that come the Day of the Bride you cannot deign to celebrate with us lowly attendants and residents".
"And just how do you think I will be able to put my skilled judgement as to matters of the heart to test?" Ava said with a grin which quickly turned to a roll of her eyes upon Amelia's puzzled expression.
"Um, Katar, the cloth merchant's son you were so enamoured with two summers gone who has returned from exploring new trade relations in Orlais" she explained wide eyed like it was the most obvious thing in the world "Do not think that I have forgotten" Ava muffled as she pulled her fine linen gambeson over her head.
"Do you really think he will remember me?" Amelia questioned as she took her clothes from her and turned to discard them for the laundress.
Ava surveyed her friends' long straight shining silver blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, golden tanned skin and thin yet soft frame. When they had been younger she had been immensely jealous of Amelia's quintessential good looks, so different from her own red hair, green eyes and pale skin on a boy's body shape. But over the years her hair had lightened and been shot through with gold highlights, her skin remained unblemished and her body filled out to that of woman's, yet toned through her fighting practice. She had not failed to notice that where once some heads turned for Amelia, they now all stopped and stared for her.
Sinking into her bath she honestly replied "How could he not." A little smile lit her lips as she anticipated Amelia's reaction to the news she was about to give her "In any case as The Bride's Maid I am sure he will be unable to miss you carrying that giant sacred candle".
Amelia's reaction was just as Ava anticipated, squealing in delight she practically fell into the bath as she tried to hug her mistress. The girls were laughing so hard they didn't hear the Teyrna enter her daughters' dressing room.
"Just what in Andraste's name is going on in here?" she rebuked
"Um... Amelia tripped and fell into the bath, it was hilarious" she tried to stop herself from laughing again.
"Just like the time you tripped and fell into Lake Calenhad" Lady Eleanor knowingly asked.
Ava's mouth fell slightly open, she recovered herself quickly and did her best at looking innocent "But I did fall into Lake Calenhad, Rory discarded his armour and jumped in after me".
"Hmmm, yesss, and it has still been two years and you are still yet to tell me how you ended up taking a walk, at midnight, in your night gown, through Redcliffe Castle, down to the lake, where you fell in, and somehow Ser Gilmore just happened to be awake and close enough to see, to heroically rescue you, you a perfectly able swimmer, from water waist deep" she with a measure of sarcastic humour.
Amelia was mouthing behind the Teyrna's back 'I told you she would find out'.
"Um..." Ava searched for something to say
Her mother saved her from trying to find something, cutting her off "Your father does not know, and that is the only indiscretion that has occurred, be sure that while we are away it remains that way".
"Yes, No... Rory and I have... it is not like that... anymore" Ava scrambled.
Lady Eleanor moved to the door and shot a mischievous look over her shoulder "I know".
Amelia and Ava stared in horror at the retreating Teyrna. "Maker's breath, she is good" Ava exhaled.
Amelia was confused "But, then, who does she think you would be indiscreet with?"
Ava cocked her head "Not me silly, you! She obviously knows Katar has returned, you are in our care, it would be negligent of us to let anything like that happen to you, plus it would reflect poorly me"
Amelia whistled low "She is good" then quickly shaking her head "Not that I would ever..."
"I know that, she knows that, she just wanted us to know that she knows".
Amelia smiled, her thoughts returning to the upcoming Festival. Her heart warmed for her friend, who no doubt had deliberately made sure she had the main role and thus would be the talk of the town, so that even if she was not foremost in Katar's thoughts, after the procession she would be. "Thank you my lady, that is the best birthday present ever" she returned to her task of arranging her lady's gown for this evening "Now that you seem to have my love life if command, is there any news from Denerim?"
Ava gave a considered pause; the King and Queen had been married five years and were yet to produce an heir. Ava and Amelia had surmised that the Teyrn and Teyrna were holding off on taking any of Ava's suitors seriously, waiting these two years since her coming of age to see whether the opinion of those nobility in the Landsmeet will shift against Teyrn Loghain and his barren daughter to the extent that it outweighs their influence on the King and he shall be forced to put her aside. "None, although I dare say this Darkspawn horde has brought any whisperings to a halt, besides Mother and Father have still not directly involved me in any plans".
"Do you think that is because they are unwilling to raise your own hopes for the crown?"
She was so naive sometimes her chief maid. No doubt if she had a lady in waiting drawn from the nobility she would have understood. Rather her father, in his wisdom she now came to realise, had placed a merchant's daughter to act as her personal attendant, thereby solidifying a relationship and understanding with the trading Houses of Highever. The Teyrn of Highever was increasing its power, wealth and influence within Fereldan and abroad through the patronage of merchant Houses, the future, Teyrn Bryce had said, was controlling valuable stakes in the export and import of goods through Harper's Ford. Hence her brother Fergus' marriage to an Antivan noble aligned with the leather Houses of Antiva. No, Amelia did not understand that Ava should have no personal hopes not otherwise homogenous with that of her family's, thus they would not entertain there were any to break. Ava shook her head, "I do not entertain such selfish notions. After all I am a Cousland, a shield maiden of Fereldan, and as such I will do my duty. And, as a Cousland, part of our duty is to the preservation, strengthening and furtherance of our House. If starting a political battle for the crown, which will eventually bring our name to the forefront, will damage these things you can be sure that it will not happen, and in that case I could not be upset" she shrugged. "The political battle that will be fought will not be over my marrying the King, for who else in Fereldan is there? But rather with the setting aside of the Queen in the first place, and that is in the domain of my parents for I wield no political might in the Landsmeet. I will be told when I have a role to play."
"Yes, but will you be upset if the whisperings eventuate into nothing?"
She could not help the exasperation slip through "It is very simple. I do not want to be Queen unless it is in the pursuance of my duty as a Cousland."
Amelia was taken aback by her rebuke "I'm sorry my lady I-"
Ava cut her off "No, I am sorry that was unkind of me, how could you understand. To be a Cousland is to... well... I was raised to rule Amelia, whether here in Fereldan or abroad. It is not that I deserve it but I have been schooled for its eventuality. I suppose..." she said with a shrug "why not hold out a bit for the throne before packing me off to a citadel of the Free Marches".
"Kirkwall?" Amelia asked holding out Ava's robe as she stepped from the bath
Ava nodded solemnly "As you know the Viscount sent an ambassador when I turned 18, his son is due to reach his maturity this coming winter" she let the evident conclusion go unspoken.
"That is just under a year away"
"Yes, I know" she said glumly.
"What will you do?"
"My duty" Ava answered like it was the simplest thing in world.
Amelia hesitated unsure of whether her friend would even know the answer to her next question "And what would be your wish milady? What do you truly want?"
Contrary to her friend's belief Ava did know what she wanted, but she was apprehensive about being perceived a coward, although she barely admitted this to herself. The truth sounded like childhood fancy, not born of the realities she knew she lived in. Ever the pragmatist when it came to this, this secret of her heart was not freely divulged or dwelt on, it was pointless, no amount of magic could change the circumstances of her life, and thus it was self-damaging to give, even passing, credence to its existence. Wishing things were different led to melancholy, an entirely self-destructive emotion of which no good would come, of that she was sure. Ava was silent for some time, "I want to be happy", she finally declared, a truth, but not the full truth.
