Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Age only the random characters that get thrown into the story.
She stood on top of a hill watching her home burn to the ground. Her loyal dog, Jasper sat next to watching it burn as well. He whined and licked her hand trying to tell her it was going to be okay. She looked down at him and felt a tear run down her cheek. She then turned towards the man that saved her. She wanted to tell him thank you but at the same time she wanted to stab him from pulling her away.
"Lady Cousland, we must go before Arl Howe's men head this way" he said. She nodded and said a silent good-bye to Highever. She followed him through the woods remaining silent throughout the night. He stopped after several hours of vigorous hiking through the woods. "We are safe for now I don't think Arl Howe's men realized you had escaped. We will rest here for" he said. She sat down and laid her back up against an elm tree. Jasper laid next her legs to help keep her warm. She looked over at the man and felt a thank you was in order even though she was angry with him. If she had learned anything from her tutors it was to give respect to people like him.
"Thank you Duncan for what you did back at Highever" she said. He could sense the anger behind those words no matter how well she hid it. She knew she was being ungrateful towards him since he was giving her a second chance at life. She wasn't so sure that she wanted to become a Grey Warden though. She did have to admit the stories of them during the first Blight were impressive and being considered someone so powerful wasn't all that bad either, but still she lost so much.
"Get some sleep, I will keep watch" he said. She tried to stay awake but she was to tired and sore to stay awake. She dozed off only to be thrown into the nightmare of that night all over again. She heard Jasper bark then screams outside her door. A servant ran in begging for help and then an arrow pierced his heart. She slammed the door shut and pushed a chest in front of the door. She quickly put on her armor and grabbed her daggers. She held them tightly and waited for them to come through the door. Jasper stood next to her growling, with his teeth bared. The men burst through the door only to be taken by surprise by her and Jasper. Jasper tackled one of the two men that entered on to the floor and viscously began to maul at his face since that all he could get to. She moved quickly block the oncoming attackers blade from hitting Jasper. Her dagger held the long sword in place as she stabbed him right between the eyes with her other. He fell to the ground and an arrow zipped by her face. It left a small cut on the side of her cheek. Her eyes beamed at the archer as she went after him sinking a dagger through his leather armor and into his stomach. She yanked it back and watched another shoot past her and hit the solider that Jasper was attacking. She turned to see her mother hold in a bow. Her mother became panicked asking her if she was okay and if your brother's family was okay. They ran towards the room and saw the horrific sight of her nephew and sister-in-law lying in a pool of blood. Her mother left the room and let out a scream. She held back her tears trying to stay strong. So they raced around the burning castle looking for her father with what few men they had left. She said good-bye to her friend Ser Gilmore and battled every man that stood in her way. They found him bleeding to death on the larder floor. Duncan soon arrived explaining the situation. Her parents begged her to leave with Duncan while she begged to stay and die with them. Her parents won and Duncan, Jasper, and her left with their last words repeating over and over again "We love you Mina make us proud".