Author: Revan Sama.
Game: Dragon age origins.
Pairing: Younger Cousland x younger Leliana.
Summary: There was a time where everything was pure white, innocent time, no betrayal of the person you admired so much or no family betrayed and slaughtered.
They both met at Lothering during the blight...but what if they met before such dark time?
Disclaimer: doctorwho173 (on deviantart) own the character Ryan Cousland.
...
Love can make a strong man weak
A blind man see
Love can set a prisoner free
Love can make a man stand tall
Or nations fall
Love is the tug that pulls the rug
Right from under your feet
-The Youth of the lord and the bard :Chapter 1-
Leliana didn't know how was Lady Cecillie's home in Ferelden but in Orlais it was a castle!
There was a lot of places to explore and to hide.
The older noble lady could have thrown away Leliana when her mother died...But she didn't, instead the red haired girl took her mother place as a servant.
Today, Lady cecillie was receiving a Ferelden Noble family Named Cousland. She knew them from the rebellion against Orlais or something like that.
Leliana didn't know much about them. Except what lady Cecillie told her, it was a powerful noble family in Highever.
The older noble lady asked her not to bother her today since she was receiving them as guests.
But even if she wasn't talking to Cecillie, there was so much to do!
After doing a few chores, the cook told her to go to the cellar to give the dog his food and bring her some other ingredients that were in the cellar.
Leliana didn't liked that dog much. He was dangerous, mean and bite easily but he could protect them from the thieve...If he didn't kill the thieves first.
She went down to the cellar with a some meat for the beast.
It was there, staring at her with its golden eyes. She quickly opened the door, gave the food and closed quickly.
After doing so, she went on the other side of the cellar to found the ingredients for the cook. However, she stopped searching after hearing a low menacing growl.
She froze and slowly turned around. The dog was outside his cage, she didn't closed the door well enough!
Leliana's blue eyes widen as the dog came closer.
She couldn't escape. The dog was blocking her way to the exit. She couldn't ask for help. All the others servants were occupied elsewhere.
When suddenly...
A young boy around her age appeared out of nowhere and was putting some distance between the dog and her.
The dog was approaching dangerously close. Leliana shout to the young boy:
"Run! Or you'll get hurt too!"
"No way! I'll protect you." Reply the young boy.
Suddenly the dog jumped on them, Leliana Screamed and closed her eyes.
...
Nothing happened.
As she opened her eyes again, her eyes widen at the scene.
The young boy let himself bite by the dog to protect Leliana. She gasped as the blood was falling from his hand but the Boy wasn't going to give up.
He still try to push the dog away without using his small sword, he didn't want to hurt the dog but he didn't want to let it hurt Leliana neither.
The injury on his hand would have gotten worst...if an older young man wouldn't have come to help.
The young boy and this older young man seemed to know each other.
"Fergus!" Called the young boy.
But as soon as the dog was put in the cage again, the older young man scolded the young boy.
"What were you thinking little brother? You could have lose your arm! You could have asked for help or something!"
Apparently it was the young boy's older brother. He looked like a soldier, he had an armor, a sword and a shield but the shield didn't look like a shield made in Orlais.
"But-" Before the young boy could say anything in his defense, The older young man, named Fergus noticed Leliana behind his little brother and began to smile AND tease his little brother :
"Ohoh! I see! You wanted to protect yourself your little girlfriend! As expected from my little brother."
"W-What?" asked a blushing Leliana.
"F-Fergus!" Now the young boy was blushing too.
"What is going on here?" Suddenly, a beautiful woman came down to cellar. A well dressed woman. She appeared to be noble and to know the two young man.
"It's nothing mother." Said Fergus while laughing nervously.
"Nothing? Ryan's hand is injured and you say it's nothing? Ryan Cousland explain yourself, What happened here?"
Cousland! That was the name of the noble family that was visiting Lady Cecilie. Then, this young boy was...of a noble family!
Leliana felt really bad about it.
It was her fault if that noble boy got injured, she couldn't protect herself and because of that she would get into trouble and cause trouble to Lady Cecillie...
But...Before she could say it was her fault, Ryan said:
"It's my fault mother, I was exploring the place and I when I got here the dog was attacking this girl. And instead of calling help I try to help her on my own...I'm sorry but it's not her fault so..."
Leliana couldn't believe what she heard! A noble was defending her. Even thought it was her fault that he got injured.
The woman looked at her son for a while then approached Leliana and asked her:
"I am Eleanor Cousland. Can you tell me your name miss?"
"Ah-Y-Yes my lady! my name Leliana..."
Even if she was still concerned and mad at her son, this woman had a gentle and kind smile when she was speaking to Leliana. Somehow it made her remember her own mother.
"Well at any rate, I am glad that you are not hurt. Please be more careful next time all right?"
"Yes...I'm sorry my lady."
Then Eleanor Cousland looked at her youngest son and put some bandage on his injured hand.
"I understand your intensions my son, but next time try to be a bit more careful."
"Yes Mother." said Ryan with a small smile.
"Good. I must go back. Your father is probably wondering where we are and still talking to lady Cecillie, Fergus I need you to come with me as well. Ryan try to stay out of trouble."
As Eleanor Cousland leaved she also said Farwell to Leliana.
Leliana and Ryan were now alone in the cellar. He turned around to look at Leliana.
"Sorry about that. You're alright?"
"Yes..."
Even thought he was just a child like her, he was still part of a noble family.
"I-I'm sorry, my lord, I didn't mean to make trouble, please forgive me." Said Leliana while being a bit nervous. She didn't want to cause more trouble to lady Cecilie.
Ryan was a bit surprised at her reaction and a bit disappointed that she was so formal now that she knew who he was. yet he had an idea how to change that.
"I'll forgive you only on one condition!" said Ryan with a big grin.
Leliana stared at him for a moment, fearing the worst.
However she never thought that what the young lord would say would make her blush this much:
"Only if you become my friend."
END OF CHAPTER 1