Chapter 1
If she was a mage they could probably consider her a tranquil. She hadn't felt anything in a long time. There was nothing left for her to hope for, her family was dead. She was alone. There was nothing left to fear, death would be a blessing to her now.
She remembered when Howe had attacked her family's home. She had been walking the grounds with Ser Gilmore, as they did most nights. He had been so excited, there was a Grey Warden at the castle, and he had been tested to join their ranks. She was happy for him, to her being a Grey Warden was a great honor. They had been on their way back when the attack had begun.
Ser Gilmore had tried to keep her back, to protect her, but when she saw the heraldry of the Howe's she let out a vicious growl and ran for the family quarters. She was not prepared for what she saw. Oriana and Oren were lying on the floor of their room, both of them dead. She could not understand how they could murder an innocent child. When she turned to leave, she found that she was surrounded. She drew her daggers and ran at them. If they want to kill me, then I'll take down as many of them as I can.
If it had only been that simple. She had taken down three before they overwhelmed her. But they hadn't killed her. "Take her to Howe, he wants this one alive." She was dragged down to the Larder, where she saw both of her parents. Tears ran down her face as she saw their lifeless bodies on the floor.
She began screaming, trying to pull away to go to them. She had felt a sharp pain in the side on her head and started to go down. Before the darkness overtook her she heard Howe say, "The rest are dead, find the eldest Fergus. He left for Ostagar earlier."
XVXVXV
It was only a couple of weeks later, when Howe came to her cell with a smug smile on his face. "I have a surprise for you," he'd said. He guards led her to another room, one she would remember for the rest of her life. "Look what I have for you." She followed his gaze till she saw it. Fergus's head was on a pike. She let out a heart wrenching scream. She was somehow able to break free of the guards and lunged for him. She was able to get a few solid hits in before she was grabbed again. Howe came up to her, slapping her across the face.
"Break her hand, and then restrain her. Make sure she has the perfect view of her brother." He then turned and walked away.
She shook her head, trying to clear the memory from her mind. She looked down at the knife in her hand. She did not know how she had managed to keep it hidden for so long. It no longer mattered.
If there is a Maker, even he cannot fault me for this. She raised the knife, plunging it into her chest. As the blackness descended upon her, she heard a loud bang. A voice echoed through the room. "For the Couslands!"
"Aedan…" she all but whispered as she slipped away.