Chapter 1: Noble Girl Beginnings

Laurel stood in front of the looking glass, no longer a kid not a woman she is in transition. Her name is fast approaching and her father, Teryn Bryce Cousland of Higher had promised her a mabari on her thirteenth name day two and half years ago. Her mother agreed to it unless Laurel took her Lady class' with Nan and mother Mallol seriously. Dress knitting, dancing, cooking, harp lessons, and singing. Dull as anything Laurel could fathom. Though her father arranged "dance lessons" with an ex-cheviliar, he had met years earlier in one of his many diplomatic trips to Orlais. Some Fereldon nobles still harbored resentment to Orlais, for nearly a century of occupation.

Nan entered the door to her room, "Dear your bath is drawn "Dear your bath is drawn," Laurel undressed unbuckled her training armor, and removed her small clothes. The looking glass showed all manner of bruises from her training with young Ser Gilmore, a boy her same age. "Dear your mother would be disappointed, though this dress you made is flawless." Nan pulled out a dress of black and purple velvet. Feathers and plumage around the chest just enough to show her blossoming chest. Laurel thanked Nan as she left the bedroom. Laurel soaked herself in the tub, grabbed a wash cloth and began wipe the dirt and grim off her body. She wiped her legs started the with the calves, and ran the cloth up her thighs to her inner thigh. She began to wipe down her lips and for the first time she got a sensation and began fingering herself. Letting out soft moans Laurel like it.
The ballroom of Highever castle full with nobles from all over the north of Fereldon. Laurel entered, wearing her black velvet dress and her blonde her down to her shoulders. Spotting her mother and father, she made her way to the them. "Oh pup you look extragavent" her mother embraced her with a hug and her father beamed with pride. "Pup, Tomas Howe is here with his father, and young Darrian is here with his mother, just over there" her mother pointed. Laurel blushed, "Mother I'm not interested in either of them."

"Dear Laurel just became a woman, no need to arrange anything" her father said.

"Bryce,-"

"Shh, ELenanor, now pup the king just arrived come with me." Laurel followed her father to the entrance of the ballroom, King Maric stood with his honor guard. The King stood tall with long blonde hair, square jaw and handsome, even Laurel thought so. "Your highness," she knelt "It is an honor for me to meet you"

"Rise lass," the King grabbed her hand and kissed her on the cheek as Laurel stood. This is Loghain my general, and Eamon my hand" Laurel courtsied, "Also your father tells me your quite the warrior. And every Fereldon warrior needs some a good second." Before Laurel could speak, the king beckoned, "come with me lass" They made their way to the courtyard, Laurel mouth dropped and eyes brimmed. A litter of mabari pups stood in a makeshift pen. The King beckoned for his royal guards to open the pen. Laurel knows the tradition of mabari imprinted. She stays put and if a pup comes to her then it is done. The pen opens Laurel stood there. Watching the pups watch the pups watch her, a staring contest for the ages. What seemed for an eternity, one the pups with a light brown coat and piercing blues eyes locked eyes with her. The others ignored him, as he made his way to Laurel. He stopped at her fight, "Well done, lass" the King said. "He likes you and now is yours. " She picked him, "I call you rabbit, you like that." he barked. "well I call you Rabbit" She put Rabbit down, promptly thanked the King, and walked her way to the ballroom, Rabbit promptly followed her.

As she rejoined the party, Tomas Howe spotted her from the crowd. He is midly attractive, but with a crocked nose, crooked teeth and a lanky build. "Milady, you look ravishing." He looked up and down licking his lips. "Dance with me Mi'lady." He grabbed arm, she tried to pull away. "It would mean a lot if we danced." Tomas whispered as he pressed his groin up against her. "I don't care" she insisted as she tried to pull away." Tomas tightened his grip on her arm. "Your not going any-" he let out a yelp, as Rabbit lunged at his calf. Ripping his clothes and drawing blood. Tomas loosened his grib just enough for Laurel to free herself, and promptly punch him in the face. Tomas fell over with Rabbit still biting at his leg, "You are pathetic Tomas Howe and we will never be togethor." She spit on him and clicked her tongue. Rabbit instinctly let go of Tomas and began to follow her from Tomas.
"Pup, Tomas is on the floor," her father said with a dash of concern on his. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes father, Tomas is right prick."
"Well he is a Howe, just try and enjoy the rest of your party." A servant came up to her, "Wine Milady" Laurel took a wine glass, sipping it. When a dashing man caught her eye. He walked in with Arl Eamon. Tall, straight blonde hair, square jaw, and piercing blues eyes. She made her way to him. He is standing in the corner minding quietly drinking an ale, tapping his foot to he music playing. "Care to dance" Laurel asked.
"Well I'm not really a dancer. I'm kind of bad at it. Especially not with the prettiest girl her, wait your not mage, please don't turn me into a toad." She laughed and her cheeks ran flush.
"I'm Laurel and this is Rabbit" The man reached down gave Rabbit a scratch behind the ear. "I saw what happened with Tomas Howe, that's his name right," she nodded, "He's a right prick probably with a little prick" Laurel laughed. "I'm Alistair, and I not a noble or anything I'm on my way to Denerim to join the templars. His honesty floored her.
"A strapping man joining the priest hood." As she talked she moved closer to him, "Do you enjoy hurting mages or some sense of duty to the Maker?"
"No nothing like that, Redcliffe is not a really a friendly place anymore time for a-" Laurel kissed him, locking lips with Alistair. Grabbing his hips as he lightly felt her ass, she tingled. Slipping him tongue, and pressing him against the back wall, her body tingled all over. Then she pulled away, "What they hell was that"

"Didn't want you to join the clergy and take your vows without you ever kissing a girl, and that was mine too." Alistair stood speechless, Laurel turned and walked noticing her brother Fergus talking to a woman from in traditional Antivan garb. Walking towards him she looked back to see AListair staring at her. Smiling she winked turned sommoned Rabbit to follow her.
"Happy Birthday, little sister" Fergus smiled as Laurel approached, "Who is this this?" he bent down and patted Rabbit on the head, who happily barked.
"This is Rabbit, from the King's own litter. Father really came through time."
"Yes he did, though Mum and Nan will have fit." Fergus gleamed. "By the way I saw you with the lad over there, well done little sister," as he laughed.
"Yes well, he is going to the Chantry to became I templar and I didn't think it right for a lad that handsome to never kiss a girl before taking vows."
"Well he certainly is handsome" the woman next Fergus said, "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Orianna, I am from Antiva though Fergus and I met when he was in Orlais six months ago."
"A pleasure Mi'lady," Laurel resposonded.
"That is lovely dog, we dont have dogs like that in Antiva." Rabbit barked a high pitched bark fitting for a young dog. Which got Eleanor's attention and made her way to her daughter. "Mother's incoming sis," Fergus warned.

Eleanor moved quickly to her daughter, Fergus and Orriana left quickly find a servant and refill their wine glasses. "Well Laurel do you like your Mabari," she said smiliing.

"Yes mother, thank you so much for allowing this." she embraced her mother tightly and Eleanor reciprocated.
"You eanred this, though the hard work is just begining. Nan will not help you. You will care for him by yourself. Feed him, Bath him, train him, train with him. A warrior and their Mabair fight as one." Laurel nodded in aggreement.
"Also pup, I am not leeting you out of singing, dancing, knitting, and language lessons." Laurel nodded again. "Darling what happened with Tomas Howe?"

"Mother he is right prick."

"Well he's a Howe," her mother smirked, "Enjoy the rest of your party dear" Elenor walked off and started mingling with some nobles. A serving girl brought Laurel some ale, and a water bowl for Rabbit after she asked it to brought out. "Thank you Adeline." Adeline bowed and left to cater to the other older guests of the name-day party. Laurel searched for Alistair the young future templar, however he no where in sight. Neither could she spot Arl Eamon in the crowded ball room. She rushed to find her father, she found him in the center of the ballroom with King Maric. Walking right up to him "Father have you seen Arl Eamon and his young ward?" the King and Bryce shot looks at each, ones that Laurel had seen before. Her mother, Howe, and Landy Landra all looked at her the same way, then her father spoke, "I'm sorry pup, they left early for an early meeting tomorrow morning with the Grand Cleric in Denerim." Her eyes burrowed with regret.

"Thank you Father, I just wish I said goodbye."

"I think she is smitten Bryce," the King jest. "Not to worry lass, Alistair is a fine young man, one who doesn't forget a pretty face." Laurel's felt blood rushing to her cheeks again. She curtsied to the King, kissed her father on the cheek and rushed off to Gilmore and Adeline. Rabbit followed closely behind.

Searching for her friends she found them, in a corner eager to show Rory her new friend. He gasped, "Mi'Lady is that a pure bred mabari? I wasn't aware the any hounds in the kennels had a litter."

"No they hadn't, Rabbit here is a gift from the King. I can't wait to start training with him starting tomorrow." Laurel began to scratch Rabbit behind the ears, the pup rolled on his back eagerly.

"Nan will have a fit, he looks like a wild one," chimed Adeline. Rabbit barked in agreement.

"I think he understood you, life is about to get interesting." Said Gilmore. The band began to play a popular tune. "Enough talk, lets dance." The three friends felt the flow of the music, Laurel and Adeline began to dance, Laurel in front of Gilmore and Adeline slightly older than the both of them, grinded Gilmore's back side. Suddenly Rabbit tensed, his master could see why, Tomas Howe, came closer. "You will not dance with me, but you will dance with a knife-ear and a lowborn knight." He spat at both of them.

"You filth, spoiled ugly little man. I will never consent to marry you. With out she punched him, knocking him to the ground and a few teeth fell out. The trio began to laugh in Tomas' face. Rabbit yawned, "tired boy, lets retire to my bed chambers. She said goodnight to her friends and retired to her bed chambers. She reached her bed chambers, undressed in her small clothes and laid down. "

"I know all mabaris usually sleep in the kennel's, but I wont tell I you won't." Rabbit barked in agreement. The pup hopped up on her bed, laid at his mistress' fight.

Chapter 2: A Wedding