Warnings: Your usual standard of death, gore, and lemons…

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the change in plot.

Chapter 1

The 23rd Year of the Dragon Age

"Perfect the body," Aedan chanted in his head as he ran through advanced sword movements with his silverite dar'misaan. The seventeen year old Cousland had received the sword from his brother, an intelligent man several years older than Aedan named Fergus. Unlike most human and dwarf warriors, Aedan detested the straight edge of a standard long sword. He, like the elves, preferred the elegance of a curved blade. This dar'misaan, however, was somewhat different from its brethren. Aedan had commissioned that a longer hilt be made for the blade; thus making the weapon more similar to a bastard sword. This gave Aedan the ability to either fight with one hand or two.

"Perfect the mind," Aedan changed the chant as he began moving his left hand in quick, jerky movements. The young noble yelled out as he thrust his left hand towards a wooden target,

"Incendia Tisra!"

A fireball the size of Aedan's head flew from his fingertips and engulfed the target. Aedan smirked as he watched the target burn. A sheen of sweat glistened from his hardened body as he walked over trough of water next to the training ground. Aedan quickly splashed water against his face, reveling in the relief from the hot day.

The young Cousland stared at his reflection in the water. Shoulder-length black hair framed his clean-shaven face. He carried the strong jaw of his father, but also the aristocratic features of his mother. Emerald green eyes shone back at him from the pool of water. A voice interrupted his inspection,

"Surely you are not so vain, little brother, as to spend the whole day staring at yourself?"

Aedan laughed and smiled at his elder brother who stood across the training ground. Fergus nodded towards the rack where the wooden weapons were and asked,

"Care for a spar, little brother?"

Aedan smirked. His brother was obviously still smarting from the sound beating he had received in their last match. Fergus was a skilled swordsman, but he was no match for Aedan. Aedan, from ten years of age, had spent several hours each day with all manner of different weaponry. As he grew older, the young Cousland had sought out different weapon masters and had learned much from their tutelage. He had even visited Orlais once with his father. There, he had trained with several of the Empress's most skilled Chevaliers.

Despite this skill and training, it was not this that made Aedan the best swordsman in Highever. Although the extra training added to Aedan's skill, it was the fact that Aedan used magic to enhance his strength and speed during combat that made Aedan so feared. Of course only the Couslands themselves and Enchanter Wynne knew of this.

Aedan grimaced as he thought of the compassionate woman. She was much too…soft for his liking, but the woman had taught him the basics of magic after all. Aedan smirked as he remembered the day she had arrived, a mere month after the incident in which he had killed a man. His father, Teryn Bryce Cousland, had used his immense political clout to see to it that Aedan never had to leave Highever to undertake mage training. The woman had come expecting to see a distraught child, so he had played the part when in reality he was hungry for knowledge as to how to control that power.

Aedan briefly mused over his own personality. Was it wrong that even at such a young age he knew how to manipulate? What made him so different that he saw most people as pawns as opposed to people? The only ones he really considered close would be his family; and Cormac of course. The young Cousland smiled as he thought of his hound. The dog was fiercely loyal and incredibly intelligent.

"Maker! You just love to zone out don't you?"

Aedan shook his head and laughed. Aedan turned towards the weapons rack and taunted,

"So you want to get beaten one more time before your wedding? Is that right? I don't think Orlesian women go for black and blue, although I have heard rumors about some of them. Apparently some of them like to…ahem…take control…"

Fergus glared at his younger brother and said,

"You take that back, little brother. Orianna is the sweetest woman I have ever met. You better treat her with respect!"

Aedan held up his hands in mock surrender.

"I give, I give. Seriously though, are you sure you want bruises before tomorrow? You are getting married after all."

Fergus shook his head at his brother's logic. Aedan always was the smart one. Fergus knew his brother was meant for great things beyond Highever. He just was not certain what. The fact that he had been the first Cousland to ever be a mage gave credence to Fergus's belief. Soon, Fergus knew, Aedan would leave to take the Harrowing. Fergus could only pray to the Maker that Aedan would be protected.

"You are right," Fergus sighed, "You had better bathe before the dinner tonight. Nan has supposedly made quite a fantastic meal. Also, I overheard father talking. Supposedly, King Maric and Teryn Loghain will be at the feast tonight. So dress up and make a good impression."

Aedan smiled. While he loved the feel of the sword in his hand and a spell on his lips, it was in politics that he felt most at home. The time Aedan had felt most alive was when he had visited Orlais and had seen how they played the Great Game. It was truly marvelous how they subtly used their words to bite and cut their enemies. It would be interesting to see how King Maric played the Game.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Loghain Mac Tir was bored. Playing politics just because some brat was getting married annoyed the Hero of River Dane. Loghain had no respect for the boy. Marrying an Orlesian! Did the child have no loyalty to his country? Ferelden would be run over with the bastards again if this continued. Loghain sighed as he looked across the room at Teryn Bryce Cousland. Once known as the Pit-Bull of Ferelden, Bryce had been a good friend for many years. Now though, it seemed that the Pit-Bull had become a poodle.

Loghain glared as he watched two of the bridesmaids, Orlesians by the look of them, giggle and stare at him. The two obviously had no clue how many of their countrymen he had slaughtered. Damn them and their coy looks. The powerful warrior turned his attention across the room in search of something that might gain his interest.

His eyes finally came to rest on a medium height, broad-shouldered young man with dark hair. The boy was one of the few in the room that carried himself like a Ferelden should. He walked tall, proud, and ever alert. Loghain could tell from the way he walked that he was a warrior. The powerful General easily noticed several flaws just from the way the boy walked that could be exploited. The boy was inexperienced, but he carried himself like a warrior nonetheless. The boy seemed to notice his staring and began to walk towards the great general. Perhaps this night would not be so boring after all.

"Greetings Teryn Loghain," the boy bowed in traditional Ferelden style with his arms crossed across his chest, "Thank you for attending my brother Fergus's Funera- ah- Wedding Feast."

Loghain smirked at the boy's intentional slip. That was good. The boy still retained humor in spite of being in the presence of a "hero." It showed he was not intimidated.

"What is your name, my boy?"

"Aedan, Sir. Was there a particular reason you were staring at me?"

"I would like to spar with you if there is a training ground. I grow weary of playing nice with Orlesian dignitaries. You seemed like the most capable warrior in the room."

Loghain noticed the boy seemed to brighten at the thought of sparring with him. Loghain could not blame the boy for that. It was not often that someone got to spar with one of Ferelden's greatest heroes. The boy gestured and said,

"If you would follow me please…"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Aedan smiled as he walked towards the training ground. To think that he would be able to spar with Loghain Mac Tir was unbelievable. In history, Loghain had always been one of Aedan's favorite generals. Aedan knew that it was highly unlikely that he would win the spar even with his magic, but still…

Aedan quietly thanked the Maker that he had worn loose clothing for the feast. Loghain, as well, had worn clothing suitable for sparring. The two entered the training ground and Aedan quickly walked over to the weapons rack. He called out,

"What weapons would you prefer, Teryn Loghain?"

"A simple sword will do for tonight. Choose whichever you would like as well."

Aedan nodded and grabbed a wooden long sword for Loghain and a specially crafted wooden dar'misaan for himself. Loghain's eyes widened briefly at the curve of Aedan's wooden blade, but quickly recovered. Aedan threw the wooden long sword to Loghain who deftly snatched it from the air and twirled it in an expert figure eight.

Aedan quickly took a solid stance with his sword facing forward, his feet in a t-stance, and his body sideways to minimize potential targets. Loghain broke his stance within two seconds. A lightning fast flurry of strikes attacked Aedan from every angle. The young Cousland was hard-pressed to block the attacks, but somehow he managed it as instinct took over.

Loghain suddenly backed away and nodded saying,

"Your defense is decent. I could have killed you seven times, but only experience will correct that. Your form is excellent, but you need to learn to adapt more quickly. Once again, that is a product of experience. Now, let us see your offence."

Aedan nodded and quickly attacked Loghain with a powerful overhand attack which Loghain easily blocked. Then, stepping to Aedan's left, twisted his sword around to attempt to hit Aedan's hand. Aedan, expecting this, quickly twirled to the right; using his momentum from the spin, Aedan brought his sword sideways towards Teryn Loghain's head. Loghain quickly blocked this and smirked,

"Good, you committed to that first attack, but not to the point that you left yourself open. That allowed you to get a strike in on me. Now come on! I sense you are holding back!"

Aedan nodded and let magic flood his system. Pure bliss exploded in his body. Using magic was euphoria. It was a high unlike any other. Aedan grinned and then attacked. Loghain smirked at the change in Aedan, blocking the powerful and quick attacks from the young Cousland. The two battled across the courtyard, unaware of the audience they were gathering.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Eleanor Cousland gasped when she saw her youngest son in combat with Teryn Loghain. Aedan was a tempest of powerful and quick attacks while Loghain was a mighty and strong mountain weathering the storm. She heard one of the Orlesian dignitaries from Orianna's party mutter,

"Bloody Fereldens. Always so uncivilized."

Eleanor scoffed. How could this pathetic man understand the art of combat going on before them? It was pure tapestry the strikes and counterstrikes going on before them. Even though she knew the only reason her son was doing so well was because of his magic, she felt proud that her son could fight so well against such an experienced warrior.

"Marvelous! It has been years since anyone has given Loghain such a challenge," a voice to her left exclaimed, "Who is that boy?"

Eleanor quickly turned to her left to claim Aedan as hers, but gasped when she saw the King. It had been many years since she had seen King Maric. He had aged well, his golden hair still shone like the sun. The only indication of age were the wrinkles creasing his face. Quickly, she said,

"Greetings, your Majesty."

"Greetings, Teryna Cousland," King Maric replied gracefully, "Do you know who the boy is?"

"Yes, your Majesty, he is my youngest son, Aedan."

"Ah splendid! Now let me go and stop Loghain before he gives himself a heart attack."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Aedan groaned as he lay in bed that night. The sparring match with Teryn Loghain had been intense. His muscles still burned. Today had been a good day though nonetheless. He had impressed both Teryn Loghain and King Maric. That was something to be proud of.

Just as he was about to close his eyes, a knock on his door awoke him. Groaning as he walked to the door, Aedan wondered who could possibly be wanting to speak to him at this time of night. He opened the door to see Fergus looking at him with grave eyes.

"It has come. The summoning for your harrowing has arrived."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Author's Note: Okay well this was just a little plot bunny I wanted to write. If I get any alerts or reviews I will continue it. Otherwise I will just let it be. Hope you enjoyed it!