Hellow everyone, this is a re-post of this partiular chapter. I recently got a beta-reader, and we have been working on going over my chapters that i have already published and editing them. Anway, hope that you all enjoy the story and a big shout-out and thank you to my beta reader; Paragon of Awsomeness. Please leave a review if ya feel like it, they really help motivate me to keep writing.
Chapter 1
"Wait please, just take the money and your friends and leave this place. I won't tell anyone anything, please just let me live!"
Kallian found it funny, how one of the most boastful and arrogant man she ever met went from a confident selfish bastard to a pathetic blubbering mess in less than a few minutes. Lifting her dagger, she set it against the young lord's neck. "So you want to me to let you live? After you abducted me and my cousin? Killed one of my friends, and killed my husband to be, you want me to let you live another day? Tell me, what makes you think that I would let you live?"
"I am still the Arl of Denerim's son. You cannot kill me!" The young lord yelled again. His eyes full of fear.
"Incorrect," Kallian sneered as she put pressure onto the blade. "You're just a man, and can die just as easily. But in this case, I think I will just kill you like the pig you are."
Not allowing him to say another word, she ran her dagger across his neck, making a shallow cut, just enough for him to bleed to death slowly and painfully. Stepping around him, she let the lord fall to the floor as he choked on his own blood.
"Dear Maker," Kallian's cousin gaped from behind her, "I can't believe we just did that."
"Well we did just do it Soris," she responded, calmly wiping the blood off her dagger and sheathing it. "There's no time to worry about it now. Go and see if the others are alright. I'll stay here with Shianni."Her cousin nodded, and went off to find the other women that were taken captive.
Walking over to Shianni, Kallian knelt down and collected her trembling cousin into her arms. "Is…is it over?" Shianni asked weakly.
Looking at her cousin, Kallian suddenly wished that Vaughan could come back to life, just so she could kill him again and again and again. Shianni had always been a strong woman, one few in the Alienage dared to trifle with. Now she was reduced to a shaking mess on the floor. Damn that bastard to the Void for doing this to my cousin.
"It's over, Shianni; it is time to go home." Kallian whispered softly to her cousin.
Shianni raised her head and looked her in the eye. "Did…did you kill them all?"
Kallian nodded her head. "Like dogs, Shianni. Like the dogs that they are."
A slight smile of relief appeared on her cousin's face. "Good… Good."
Soon Soris brought the other women out from the room that they were being held in. "If everyone is ready," Soris stated as Kallian helped Shianni to her feet, "I think it would be best if we all left here in a hurry. There's no telling when more guards might show up."
"Are you telling me that one elf went through the estate, killed nearly every one of the guards, and then killed Lord Vaughan? And on top of that, you mean to tell me that it was all done by a woman?"
Kallian watched as Valendrian talked to the Guard Captain. She had taken the blame for everything. Besides; she had done most of the killing. Soris had just stood back and let her go at it with an awed look on his face. There was no need for Soris to suffer alongside her.
"We are not all so helpless," Valendrian said to the Captain.
The Captain turned to look at Kallian. "Well, I must say that I applaud your courage, but not your fate. Guards, take her away. She will be sentenced when the Arl returns from Ostagar."
"Hold a moment gentlemen."
Kallian was surprised when the Gray Warden Duncan came forward. The Captain got a suspicious look on his face. "What do you want Warden? As you can see; we have everything under control here."
Duncan nodded his agreement. "As that may be Captain, however, I hereby invoke the right of conscription and take this elf into my custody."
Kallian was stunned as she turned to look at the Grey Warden. "Wait, you can do that?"
"Son of a tied down… Very well, you are in your right to do this Warden. However, I demand that you get this knife-ear out of the city, today." The captain declared, pointing at Kallian.
"As you wish, Captain." Duncan said to the man and bowed as the guards left the Alienage.
"So," Kallian said as the soldiers left, "what happens know?"
Duncan turned his eyes to her. "You are going to become a Grey Warden. Say your goodbyes to whomever you need to, and meet me at the gates here. I would prefer to leave within the next hour or so in order to avoid unnecessary attention."
This couldn't be happening. Not only had she killed the Arl's son and gotten away with it, she was now going to join the Grey Wardens; one of the highest honors one could ever hope to achieve. "Alrighty then," she said, "I'll be back in a flash. I just gotta go get a few things and say goodbye to my cousins and father."
A small smile graced Duncan's face. "Very well then, hurry up and come back here when you are finished. And then we will set out towards your new life."
Once they were out of the city, Kallian looked back one last time at the city that she'd always thought she was going to live her whole life in.
Her family had been both amazed and shocked when they learned that she had taken all the blame for what had happened. Their amazement continued when she told them that she'd escaped punishment because she was going to join the Grey Wardens. Her cousin Soris wished her the best, and told her that he had decided to settle down in the Alienage and actually marry his bride from Highever.
Shianni was upset over her leaving, but then told Kallian that perhaps this was the Maker's will.
Her father barely said anything to her. He just simply hugged her as tight as he could and then gave her a box. Opening it, she found a pair of worn, but no doubt expensive boots. When she questioned him about them, he told her that they once belong to her mother, and that she would've wanted Kallian to have them now that she was joining the Wardens.
With all of her goodbyes done, she met up with the Commander of the Grey, and the two quietly made their way out of the city and into her new life as a Grey Warden.
"So Duncan," she asked, feeling curious once they were further away from the city. "Where are we going from here?"
"First, I want to pick up two more recruits. One in Highever, and one from the Circle of Magi." The Commander explained while they walked.
"Oh, so you want a mage to join up eh? Well that makes sense, heard more than enough stories about them. What about the one in Highever, who're ya thinkin' of?" She asked trying to make small talk.
"Well, there are two people I have in mind. One is a knight in the Teryn's guard. The other is the Teryn's son."
The fact that soon she would be traveling with either a knight or a noble sent a shiver down Kallian's spine. "Great. So no matter what we get to travel with a pompous ass who has never done a hard day of work in his life, or went to bed hungry."
Duncan stopped and turned abruptly. "You will remember your manners while we are in Highever. Not all nobles are like Vaughn. Many of them – particularly the Couslands – are some of the most honorable people you will ever meet in your life. The Couslands have spent generations earning the loyalty of their people – elf and human alike – through temperance and justice. Do not mistake this. They have invited us as guests of honor, and I will tolerate no malicious behavior from you while we are there. Understand?"
Kallian had never believed in the expression that looks can kill. But the look in Duncan's eye at the moment made her reconsider. Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, she nodded her consent, and the two set off once again towards Highever.
"My Lord Cousland, your father is asking for your presence."
Aeden Cousland looked up at the elf that was standing before him. At the moment he was in the training yard practicing his swordsmanship with three other guards he'd been able to find that didn't just let him win. Despite his youth, he was widely regarded as one of the best swordsmen in the city. Bested only by his older brother; Fergus.
Standing up straight, he wiped the light coat of sweat off his forehead and racked his fingers through his white hair. Getting ready to leave the practice area, he handed his practice sword to the young elf. "Thank you," Aeden said, "where is my father?"
"He is in the main hall my Lord, with Arl Howe."
"Thank you for your service; you know you don't need to stand around waiting for me."
"Of course my Lord," the elf said, bowing. "I'll take my leave now."
Aeden walked through the walls of the castle seeing knights preparing to leave the city soon. His father had promised support to King Cailan down in the south to help fight off the darkspawn army that was spreading north. His father's and Arl Howe's men were suppose to head down together. But as of late, Howe's men had been extremely delayed.
Entering the main hall, he saw his father and Rendon talking by the massive fire place in the room. "Ah pup, good to see that you've arrived." His father announced, embracing him lightly.
"I came as soon as I heard you'd called for me father," he said lightly returning the embrace. He then turned toward the Arl of Amaranthine. "Arl Howe, it is good to see you."
"Well look at that Bryce, your son has certainly grown into a fine young man." Howe then addressed Aeden directly. "As a matter of fact, my daughter Delilah has asked about you. Surely you remember her?"
"Yes I do Arl Howe. However I am quite a few years older than your daughter." Aeden responded, trying to get off the subject of a politically arranged marriage. His parents had already been hounding him to find a wife, and soon.
The Arl chuckled. "Well, when you get older, you will find that such things no longer matter as much anymore, at least not to nobles unfortunately. Ironic isn't it?"
Aeden was thankful that his father stepped in at this point and time. "My son has a free spirit Rendon. He will not be caught so easily by just any young lass. That reminds me. Will someone please send in Duncan?"
One of the guards saluted and left the hall. A moment later, the guard returned with Duncan, and a small elven girl.
Aeden immediately recognized Duncan – the Warden Commander of Ferelden – but not the elf. She had long red hair that was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and her bright green eyes carefully scanned the room. She had a very slim, yet womanly figure to her, and her face showed off the smooth skin that was trademark to all elves. He had to admit; she was a fine woman. And she was obviously skilled in fighting by the way she carried herself. That only served to make her seem all the more attractive to Aeden.
Duncan came up to the Teryn and bowed. The elf – after seeing Duncan bow – did the same, but rather clumsily. It was obvious that this woman was not accustomed to bowing to people. Duncan smiled "Teryn Cousland, it is good to be at your fire again."
"My Lord, you did not tell me that a Grey Warden was here. You leave me… at a disadvantage. Had I known, I would have made the proper preparations." Arl Howe stammered, clearly surprised.
"Duncan arrived just recently. Tell me Duncan, who is this young lady at your side?" his father asked.
Duncan motioned for the elf to come forward. "This is Kallian, she is my newest recruit."
"You are welcome here Kallian. May I also say it is an honor to meet another Grey Warden." Aeden smiled, trying his best to show the woman the respect he thought she obviously deserved.
Kallian however, just stared at him with cold eyes. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance… my lord."
The 'my lord' part was muttered through clenched teeth. He couldn't mistake the warning that was given in her tone. She obviously had no love for nobles, or even anyone associated with them.
"So Duncan," his father said breaking the silence in the air, "what brings you here? Looking for more recruits I imagine? Sir Gilmore would be more than happy to come forth, I know you have your eye on him."
"If I may be so bold your Lordship, I must also say that your son here is an excellent candidate for the Wardens himself."
A new hope sprung up in Aeden's chest. A chance to join the Wardens was something that he has always dreamed of. And now, here he was being offered that vey opportunity. His father however had other ideas.
"I do not have so many children as to just give one to you Duncan. Unless you intend to invoke the Right of Conscription?" His father demanded, stepping between him and the Warden.
"Of course not my Lord. It was merely just an observation." Duncan assured the Teryn, trying to break the tension in the air.
His father walked back to the fire before he spoke again. "Pup, take the Warden recruit to the armory. I see that the armor she is wearing does not fit very well. Also let her take whatever supplies she wishes. Then find your brother and tell him to take the troops to Ostagar ahead of Arl Howe and me."
Aeden bowed to his father. "As you wish father." He then turned to the Warden recruit. "My Lady Kallian, if you would please come with me I will show you the way to the armory."
Kallian fussed with her new leather armor. It was definitely of fine quality. If she sold it, she could probably feed at least half the Alienage for a couple of days. After the young lord's son – Aeden – had brought her here, he immediately went off again to find his brother.
Thinking of Aeden made her shake her head. No matter how hard she tried, Kallian just couldn't find herself hating him. She tried to tell herself that he was just like Vaughn; pompous, and a selfish ass. But he kept proving her wrong.
First, he had a mabari war dog with him. That was not something you saw with anyone unless they had fine characteristics. Next, he treated all the servants in his castle with care and respect. After the incident in the kitchen, when his dog got into the larder, he gently talked to the servants and calmed them down. He even helped them with some of their chores!
Then there were his looks. Sure, most nobles looked fine and were considered handsome regardless. But with Aeden, there was something… different. If he was just a normal person, you might have considered him fine looking, but nothing to stare at. His hair was white, but his face showed no signs of age or battle. And his gray eyes held a hawk's gaze that stopped her heart the first time she looked him in the eye.
Then there was the way how he was always respectful of her, of everyone. No matter what she did, she just could not get him to act like she thought he would. Finally, when they'd reached the armory, he told the Quarter Master to get her whatever she wanted. Then he politely bid her farewell, and went on his way.
After she had gotten her new armor and two new daggers, she went about the castle grounds looking for someone to talk too. To her utter dismay, she found all of her conversations going back to the same subject: Aeden. Everyone she talked too – even the elf servants – only confirmed what she had seen of Aeden so far. He was a fine man, who never mistreated the servants, and cared for everyone.
Her thoughts eventually began to drift to the fantasy that perhaps she would be traveling with the young lord. But she quickly pushed that thought out of her mind. His father would never allow his precious son to leave with the Wardens. Removing all thoughts of Aeden from her mind, she walked down to where a couple of servants had said her quarters were. Perhaps a good night's rest would remove the man from her thoughts. They would be leaving tomorrow, and she would never have to speak to him again.
A low growl from his hound – Wolf – woke Aeden in the middle of the night. Getting up, he looked at his dog, who was staring at the door, growling. "What is it Wolf?" he cautiously asked. "Is something out there boy?"
His answer came quick enough when a servant burst through the door. "My Lord! Help me! The castle is under-ahhh!"
The young servant dropped to his knees, then fell onto his face. An arrow stuck out from the middle of his back.
Flying out of bed, Aeden grabbed his sword that was hanging on the wall, as well as the dagger he kept by his bed. Without any armor on, he would have to rely solely on his speed for protection. He couldn't afford to get hit even once.
Wolf gave a warning bark, and without looking, Aeden swung his sword around in an arc, and took the head off of the man who tried to enter his room.
Before the body even hit the ground, another intruder appeared in his room. Continuing his rotation, Aeden slammed his dagger into the man's chest, piercing his armor.
Pulling his dagger out of the dead man's chest, Aeden looked around the edge of his door, and moved back just in time to see an arrow come flying in and stick to one of his bedposts. Before the archer could notch another arrow, Aeden turned the corner and threw his dagger at the archer, burying the dagger up to the hilt in the man's neck.
Walking out into the corridor, he could hear fighting all throughout the castle. Who in the name of the Maker would attack us? He thought.
After putting on his armor, Aeden walked over to the dead archer. He removed the dagger from the man's throat, only to receive his second shock of the night. These men were wearing the emblem of Arl Howe! The door to his parents' room opened, and he spun, ready to throw the dagger again. "At ease my son, there is no need to fight your own mother."
Aeden lowered his dagger and stood to face Eleanor Cousland. She had a bow in hand, and a quiver of arrows attached to her back. "What in Andraste's name is going on Aeden?" his mother wondered, approaching him. "Who are these men, and why are they attacking us?"
"They are Arl Howe's men mother." He sighed while pointing out the emblem on the men's shields.
"What! Why would he do such a thing?"
The answer came quickly to Aeden. "He attacks us when we sleep mother, and when most of our men are gone."
Realization slowly covered his mother's face. "You don't think that Howe's men were delayed… on purpose do you? That lying bastard! I'll cut his damned throat myself! But right now, we need to find Oriana and Oren. Also, we need to get to the family treasury and get the Cousland family sword. If there is one thing that is worth keeping out of Howe's hands, it's that sword. Now come on son, we have to move."
Kallian moved back into the shadows as he latest victim fell to the ground. Once the fighting had started, she immediately went to work guarding the servants. She told them to get back and blow out all the candles that were in the room, leaving only the door to provide light. Each time someone came through the door, she jumped on them, and cut them down.
And here I thought that I was going to have a nice quiet rest. Just then, the door started to open again, and a man with a sword strapped to his back walked in. Stupid fool, she thought drawing her dagger, he doesn't even have his sword drawn. Determined not to give him the chance to draw his weapon, Kallian jumped on his back and brought her daggers to his throat.
The stranger however, proved to be more skillful than she thought. As soon as she landed on his back, the man twisted and grabbed her arm, spinning her to the ground. The next she knew, the man had a dagger pressed to her throat.
"Make one more move, and I will skin you knife-ear." The man sneered with a sadistic grin.
Soon other men came into the room with torches. "Hey Sergeant, whatcha got there?" One of the men asked the man on top of her.
"A knife-ear bitch. And a good lookin' one at that. Who wants to hold her down so we can all get a chance between this whore's legs?"
All the men started to laugh, and two came forward and pinned her arms to the ground. No, Kallian thought in horror, I didn't get away from Vaughan's men just to get raped in another city by another bunch of soldiers.
She tried to struggle, but that just made the men laugh all the more. Once the men had taken her weapons away, the sergeant got back up and started to undo the front of his pants. "Hey, someone come here and take this knife-eared wench's pants off. It's sodding hard to do this with those things in the way."
One of the men came forward, and once he started to bend over, she kicked him in the face as hard as she could. The man fell back, holding his mouth and spitting out blood and teeth. "HAHAHAHA," the sergeant laughed, "We got a feisty one here boys. This is going to be even more fun than I thought. I like it when they got some fight in them."
"Then you're gonna love me."
A sword came out the front of the sergeant's chest. For a moment the sergeant looked down in shock at the blade. The sword retracted from the man's chest, and the next instant, his head was removed from his shoulders.
As the man's lifeless body fell to the ground, Kallian saw the face of her savior. Aeden Cousland stood behind the fallen man, with his bloodied sword held outwards; waiting for his next opponent.
The other men were still in shock, and so they were not ready when Aeden started on them. He threw his dagger into the man who was holding Kallian's right arm, then moved to cut the arm off of the soldier holding her other arm.
Seeing her chance, Kallian shook loose of the man's grip and grabbed hold of the dagger that Aeden had thrown. Spinning, she plunged the dagger into another one of her captor's neck. An arrow appeared in the eye of another one of the attacking soldiers. Kallian looked at the doorway, only to see Aeden's mother notching another arrow.
Aeden's mabari took care of the last man standing. The war hound jumped up onto the man and sank his teeth into the soldier's neck, tearing his throat out.
Still in shock over what had just happened, Kallian didn't even realize that Aeden had moved until he was right in front of her. "Are you okay Kallian?"
If she hadn't thrown away the ideas of having a fairy tale ending, Kallian might have thought that this was extremely romantic. The prince, coming to save to the damsel in distress. But that was not her. Standing, she gathered her daggers from where the soldiers had placed them. "Of course I'm alright! But more importantly, what in the Void is going on here?" She asked turning back to Aeden and his mother.
"The short version? We're being attacked," Aeden said looking over the dead bodies.
"Well no kidding. Did ya figure that one out by yourself?" She jabbed at him before she realized her mistake.
Aeden looked at her, and she saw the pain in his eyes. "Arl Howe has betrayed us. His men are cutting down everyone they see, even those that surrender."
"Is there a way out of here?" She asked.
"There is," Aeden's mother announced as she came forward, "in the back of the larder, there is a secret passageway that leads out into the forest."
She nodded her head. "Have either of you seen Duncan around?"
They both shook their heads. "No." Aeden answered, "Last I heard he was with my father, but I have no idea where they are."
Kallian owed Duncan her life. She was not about to leave him here to die. "I'll meet you two at the exit then." She told them as she headed for the door.
"Kallian," Aeden said, forcing her to stop with a hand on her arm.
At first she thought that he was going to stop her, but then he turned to her with a caring look in his eye. "Be careful, alright?"
Her face started to heat slightly, but she pushed Aeden's hand away and nodded to him. Without another word, she left the mother and son to find Duncan.
Bryce leaned up against the wall in the larder. The wound that he had received from the battle was bleeding even more heavily now. He knew that he was not long for this world. Please, he silently begged the Maker, let my wife and son get here soon so they may leave this place alive.
When they entered the kitchen, Aeden looked around for any of the servants that might still be in the castle. Luckily though, none of them were still around. "There's the larder," his mother said pointing to a door in the back.
Reaching the door, Aeden pulled on the door once. It was locked. Raising his boot, Aeden slammed it into the door, kicking it almost completely off the hinges. "There you…both are."
The Teryn was laying a pool of his own blood.
Aeden and his mother were immediately at his side, assessing his wounds. It was not good. "Can you get up father?" he asked, "We need to get out of here! The exit is right over there!"
His father shook his head. "I…will not survive the standing I think."
"No Bryce,' his mother pleaded, "we'll get you out of here. Find you healing magic."
"No… you must leave me; Howe's men are all over the grounds. You will not make it out of here with me slowing you down."
"I'm afraid that the Teryn is correct." A deep voice said from the door.
Aeden turned; ready to draw his sword. But he stilled his hand when he saw that it was Duncan, with Kallian walking behind him.
His mother turned to face the Grey Warden. "You are… Duncan, are you not?"
"Duncan," his father interrupted, drawing the Warden Commander's attention, "I know that you owe me no allegiance, but please, I beg you, take my son and wife away from here."
"I will, but I'm afraid I must take something in return."
"Anything."
The Warden took a breath. "What is happening here pales in comparison to the threat of the Blight. I came here looking for a recruit. The darkspawn threat demands that I leave here with one."
"I…understand." Bryce Cousland sighed. "Aeden, you will join Duncan and the Grey Wardens."
Aeden couldn't believe this. Here they were; the castle under siege; his father dying, and they were talking about his future? "What about Howe, father? He has to pay for this. And Duncan, what about Ser Gilmore? Surely he is the candidate you wanted."
"Truthfully," the Warden admitted, "you were always my first choice."
""You must see vengeance is done to Howe." Aeden's father insisted. "You will live… and make your mark on the world."
"Son, take Duncan and his recruit through the forest. You know the way perhaps better than anyone." His mother said.
"No my dear," his father begged, "You must go with them too."
"No Bryce. I will stay where I belong, by your side. I will kill every bastard that tries to get in through that door, but I will not leave you to die alone."
A loud bang was heard throughout the castle as the front gate fell. "I hate to say this," Kallian grumbled, rushing up to the group, "but if we are going to leave, it has to be now."
Aeden felt Duncan tugging on his shoulders to get him to move. Before he left, he hugged his parents one last time. "I love you both so much." He sobbed, the tears pouring from his eyes.
"Then go, my son." his father groaned. "Go and live out your life."
And with that, Duncan turned the young lord around and they went down the exit. And Aeden was forced to abandon his parents to the mercy of the traitor Arl Rendon Howe.
