Authors Note: In this story choices that can't be made in the game are going to be made. I didn't like the ending choices of the game so I came up with a little something different. I will try and update a new chapter every week until it is finished. Hope you enjoy, also any feed back is much appreciated.

Chapter One

Lyanna Cousland smiled at Ser Gilmore as he walked up to her and her mabari Nymiria. Duncan, the Grey Warden who had arrived that morning, surprising everyone, must have just given him good news about him joining the Wardens. He looked very proud of himself knelling down and patting Nymiria on the head.

"You're taking good care of our lady right girl? It's going to be your job alone now." He said looking up at Lyanna.

Though she was very happy for him, her heart sunk. Becoming a Grey Warden meant giving up your old life and swearing loyalty to the Wardens and the Wardens alone. Not that it mattered, with her being a noble they had no chance of ever being together. This Lyanna believed was partly why he had agreed when Duncan asked for him to go to Ostagar and join the Wardens. He of course had no clue she was aware of his feelings for her, she as well had some feelings for him, but had never acted on them. She didn't want to hurt him, and in the end she knew that is all that would happen.

She found her words as Ser Gilmore rose to meet her gaze. "So Duncan has chosen you then?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, said I was one of the most skilled people with a sword and shield he had seen in a long time. Then again, hasn't seen you fight." He smiled at her.

"And mother has made sure he never will." Lyanna said placing a hand on Nymiria's head. "She is terrified of Duncan seeing how well I wield the longbow. She has commanded that I stay in these ridiculous clothes and go no where near the range until he leaves." She said sadly, looking down at the dress Nan had strapped her into that morning.

She had fought with her mother for hours that morning. Trying to assure her that even if Duncan did ask, she had no interest in becoming a Warden. She cared to much for her family to leave them behind and fight darkspawn. Her mother however; who was as stubborn as she, refused to let her out of her room until the dress was on and the promise to leave the range be was made.

"It's a good thing she did Lady Lyanna. Apparently it is just a nice thing of Duncan to do to give you a choice. He invoked something with your father, the right of conscript I think it was, when Ser Jory refused the offer." Ser Gilmore said stiffly.

Lyanna looked at him in shock. "But his wife is heavy with child. She is ready to birth the baby any day now! Surely he cannot just force him to go. He is no King Calin nor was he sent by him to bring recruits."

Ser Gilmore shrugged, looking at the cobble stone walk way. "He is a Grey Warden Lyanna. They do what they must to protect us from the darkspawn, surely they must do this all the time. After all, how many people do you think would willingly give up their lives and become a Warden? Leaving everything behind like that."

"You did" Lyanna reminded him.

"My Lady, I have nothing important to lose." He said. "I have no wife or children, no one will miss the name Gilmore if it dies with me. This is for the best, I will get to do something I am good at and help people who need it."

"I will miss you Ser Gilmore. You have always been a treasured person in my life, after all twas you that to everyone's amazement convinced mother to let me train in the yards. And you had the smithy make my first sword and shield, the perfect weight for my to train with." Lyanna said taking his hands in hers and squeezing them tightly.

Ser Gilmore's cheeks reddened, but he quickly composed himself and smiled at her. "That my Lady is almost enough to convince me to stay."

Lyanna awoke to a soft knock on her door. Nymiria jumped off the bed and ran to the door sticking her nose to the crack between the door and the floor. Lyanna slipped from under the sheets and made her way to the door. "Back you great brute!" She ordered, pressing her foot into Nymiria's chest and pushing her from the door. She cracked it open to see Ser Gilmore's face looking into the crack.

"Ser Gilmore, please come in." She said opening the door enough for him to slip through and closed it again turning to look at him.

He looked so nervous, twiddling his fingers, his eyes darting all over the room. He was obviously trying very hard to look at everything but her. She realized that she had nothing on but a shirt, but he had seen her in less so she was sure that was not the reason. "Ser Gilmore, is everything okay, you look quite shaken?"

"Lady Lyanna, I would ask something of you if a may?" Finally looking her in the eye, though he still twiddled his fingers around nervously.

"Anything Ser Gilmore, I would hear what you have to ask." She said giving him a reassuring smile.

He was silent for a moment, then his fingers settled. He took a deep breath and looked at her with unsure eyes. With another deep breath he then closed the distance between them fast. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into him covering her lips with his. Lyanna gasped, but let him continue. Out of breath he pulled back, looking down at her with the same worried expression. She looked back up at him, breathing heavily, her eyes glassy. She could feel a bulge pressing into her abdomen.

"I.. I'm sorry my, my Lady, I should not be here." He stammered beginning to let go of her waist.

She grabbed his shoulders standing on tip toes to kiss him this time. She could feel the heat from his blushing cheeks on her face and she chuckled against his lips. Pulling back with a smile.
"Come now Ser Gilmore you are only five summers older than I, but I know you have lane with a woman before, and you have kissed many. I hear the ladies around the keep talk."

"But none have been you my Lady. I have been keeping secrets from you I'm afraid, and I must apologize, for it is something you made me promise to never do." He said full of disappointment. With a sigh he looked into her grey eyes, "I have been quite fond of you for quite sometime."

"Ser Gilmore, I'm afraid I have not been quite honest with you either." Lyanna said stepping back to take him all in. She stole a quick and unnoticed glance at his manhood and was shocked by it's size. Ceri, hadn't been lying when she said he had to be part stallion.

"Is that so?" Ser Gilmore said, taking a seat on the foot of her bed.

Nymiria, not liking that two people where in the room and neither of them where giving her any attention, jumped onto the bed and placed a huge paw a Ser Gilmore's thigh. He laughed and patted his lap. Happily Nymiria laid her massive head on his thigh wagging her stubby tail.

"I have known for a time now that you feel for me. I must say, there is feelings on my side too. I just never said anything because I had no clue how we would handle all of the issues." She said half ashamed at herself for caring at all about the titles they carried and what others would think.

"My Lady Lyanna, this is why I said nothing all of these years. I did not want you over those things. Just knowing that I was your confidant was enough for me these years. It's just, with this being my last night here, my last night that I will ever see you again. I was hoping I could ask something of you." He stopped, he was getting nervous again. Nymiria could since it, which meant Lyanna could to. "That is why I came here, to ask something, what happened earlier was on impulse. I was hoping if I could do that I could ask this question. Apparently kissing was much easier than I thought it would be." He began to stroke Nymiria roughly, she did not like this. Letting him know she nipped at his inner thigh and jumped off the bed.

" Nymiria!" Lyanna scolded. "You could have told him nicer than that."

Nymiria whined looking at Lyanna pathetically, then went over to Ser Gilmore and licked his hand.

He laughed and stroked the mabari gently this time. "I'm sorry girl. I guess my nerves were taking themselves out on you."

Nymiria barked loudly and jumped back onto the bed, this time laying just out of his reach.
Lyanna laughed, "You are to smart for your own good you know that mutt?" Nymiria growled at this insult.

Ser Gilmore stood. "I really should be going. It is very late, and you will be needing to rise early if you wish to say your goodbyes to Teryn Cousland tomorrow morn." He quickly walked past her and toward the door.

Lyanna turned and rushed after him, grabbing his arm before he could reach the handle. "Ser Gilmore, please I would know what you ask of me. No more lies, no more secrets, you know how I despise them."

Ser Gilmore glanced at her, then at the floor. "I would ask, that since this is my last night to see you again… if you would…" He swallowed hard looking around the room again.

Lyanna stepped in front of him, placing her hand gently on his face and turning his head so he was looking her in the eyes. "I am listening, do not lose your nerve now."

Ser Gilmore nodded taking the hand that touched his face and holding it to his chest. "I would ask if you would do me the honor a laying with me? I would not ask this if I was to remain here, but come morn I will be riding side Duncan to Ostagar, and I cannot leave without knowing that you would at least give me a chance." He squeezed her hand, nerves gripping him again.

She looked at him and smiled. "I would be honored to lay with you tonight Ser Gilmore, all I ask is that you are gentle, I've not yet lane with another."

He kissed her gently picking her up and placing her back against the door. "I will treat you like glass if that is what you wish."

Lyanna slid her hands down his chest and to his pants and began untying them. He was nibbling at her neck now, kissing every now and then. Sliding a hand under her shirt he found her nipple and pinched it, tugging gently. Lyanna gasped and he let go immediately.

"No!" She gasped her mouth dry, desire welling in her. "It didn't hurt, please do it again."

He smiled and pinched her nipple again, a little harder this time and rolled it between his fingers until it was nicely puckered. Lyanna was delighted by the feel of his hands on her skin, smooth, moving quickly over every part of her he could touch. She slipped her hand into his pants and gently wrapped her fingers around his shaft. He moaned beginning to move his hips back and forth as his lips found hers again. He slid easily in her hand, and it was so warm and soft. Lyanna let go and began to slid his pants down when she hard something down the hall.

"Ser Gilmore!" She gasped, pushing him back, but he had already stopped and was releasing her as well.

"I heard it to." He whispered, pulling the trousers backup and lacing them closed.

They stood at the door for a moment and it came again. Lyanna gasped covering her mouth. That was a scream, she could hear several of them now, from all over the castle. Something was terribly wrong in Highever. Ser Gilmore turned to her placing his hands on her shoulders.

"You had better get your armor on Lady Lyanna, I believe Highever is under attack.

Lyanna tied up her boots and slid the last dagger into it. She walked to Ser Gilmore and handed him an extra sword she kept in her wardrobe. The screams were getting louder now and Lyanna could hear foot steps run past the door every now and then.

"You stay here, I'm going first to see what has happened. When I signal you make your way to you brothers room and get Oriana and Oren, then find your mother. Make your way to the cellar, a tunnel there will take you outside beyond the wall." Ser Gilmore spoke softly.

"Are you crazy? I'm not going to let you go on your own. I can help you." Lyanna protested.

Ser Gilmore laughed, "By the Maker you are a stubborn as your mother. Lyanna you must find your family, their lives are more important than mine. I'll not discus this farther."

Before she could argue he kissed her and opened the door. He waited a moment for anyone to pass by then stepped outside, the moment he did an arm wrapped around his neck and a sword was pushed through his chest. Lyanna clasped a hand over her mouth to stop her scream. The sword was pulled from Ser Gilmores' chest and he was flung back into the room. Lyanna hid behind the door as man walked by whipping the blood from his blade. Quickly she grabbed the fallen sword that she had given Ser Gilmore and stepped out of her room. She walked up behind the man and tapped the back of his steel plate armor with the tip of the blade. With a grunt the man turned around his eyes widened as he saw the blade coming at him.

Blood sprayed Lyanna and the head of the man hit the floor with a loud clanking sound caused by the metal helmet. The body collapsed before her feet and hands twitching for a moment, then the body lay still. Lyanna dropped the sword and stumbled back to Ser Gilmores' body, she knelt beside him and lifted his head placing it in her lap. Maker knew how long she sat there crying silently, it was only when she heard an arrow fly past her and armor hit the ground that she snapped back to the present.

"Thank the Maker you are alright Lyanna!" Her mother shouted in relief running up to her and dropping to her side. Seeing all of the blood covering her daughter gave her new worries though.
"Are you alright? There is blood all over you. Are you hurt?"

"No mother, I am fine." She said sadly looking down at Ser Gilmores' lifeless face. "Ser Gilmore, he came to get me, but one of those men…they just… he put a sword through his chest!" Lyanna cried out collapsing onto her mothers shoulder. "He saved me. He wo…wouldn't let me go o..out first."

Her mother stroked her hair. "There, there child of course he protected you. The boy worshipped the ground you walked on Lyanna, he would have never let you come to any harm."

Lyanna pulled away and looked at her. "You knew?" She asked, dumb founded.

"A mother always knows when someone takes an interest in one of her children. Especially when they take an interest as well." She smiled. "There is no more time for mourning now though Lyanna, we must find the rest of our family and take back our home. Afterwards I promise Ser Gilmore will be given the service he deserves."

Lyanna nodded sliding out from under Ser Gilmore and placing his head gently on the ground. Before standing she reached out and closed his eyes, stroking his face for the last time. She then stood and nodded to her mother. "To Fergus' room, I'm sure Oriana and Oren will still be there."
She took one last look at the man that had struck down Ser Gilmore. She was pleased that she had been able to strike him down. Looking closely at the shield that laid next to the body she gasped grabbing her mothers hand. "That is Arl Howes' symbol." She said pointing at the giant grizzly bear on the shield.

Lyanna and her mother slayed many of Howe's traitors finally making it to Fergus' room. Her mother readied another arrow and nodded for Lyanna to check the room. Doing as her mother told her for probably the first time in her life, Lyanna opened the door walking in. The sight sickened her, blood covered the bed sheets and the floor, Oriana lay on the floor arm out stretched to the bed, her throat had been sliced to the bone. On the bed laid little Oren, lifeless eyes staring at her, his throat the same as his mothers. Lyanna felt the vomit moving up her throat. She rushed over to a small potted tree just as that nights meal reached her mouth. She heaved several more times, her stomach voiding everything until the taste a stomach acid filled her mouth and nostrils.
Composing herself as best she could she turned back to the door trying not to look at the bodies of her beloved nephew and his mother. She slid back into the hall, her mother looking at her eagerly.

"Did you not find them?" She asked heart broken.

"Maybe they made it to the cellar already" She said in the most reassuring tone she could muster. She could not tell her mother that they were in there, she would want to go see, and no good would come of that.

Her mother looked at the ground tears filled her eyes. Lyanna could tell see hadn't been convincing enough. She hugged her mother tightly tears filling her eyes now. "They will be avenged, Howe is going to pay for this." I assured her stepping back. "We must find father now, and get to the cellar."

Her mother nodded composing herself and they headed for the dining hall where Tyren Cousland and Arl Howe had retired for wine and conversation. The men along the way were getting sloppy and were easy to take down. They had not expected the Tyreness and her youngest child to still be alive much less on the attack. A group of servants were being beaten by the guards as they looked in the dining hall.

"Where is the Tyren and his bitch wife and daughter?" shouted one, kneeing one of the servants in the gut.

He moaned and fell to his knees. "I swear I don't know!" He pleaded with the guard.

"These elves don't know nothing." Shouted the second guard, sinking his teeth into a turkey leg, the juices from it dripping down his black beard.

"Right, no need to keep them around then." The first guard said pulling out his sword.

Lyanna's mother grabbed her by the arm and they raced for the cellar. Lyanna cringed as she heard the screams of the elves from the dining hall. Arl Howe would pay, he would pay for all of this.

Quietly Lyanna and her mother creeped into the cellar, arrow knocked and swords drawn. Lyanna scanned the room for any sign that someone was there. In a dark corner she heard heavy breathing. She raised her sword stepping forward.

"Who is there?" She whispered, not wanting to alert any people outside the cellar.

"Pup? Is that you?" She heard the voice say.

"Bryce!"

"Father!"

Lyanna and her mother ran to the corner kneeling next to the Tyren. Lyanna saw him holding his side, but blood still covered his hand and his clothing. "Father your…" She trailed off placing a hand on the one covering the wound.

"Nothing a Cousland can't handle pup." Tyren Cousland chuckled touching her face with his free hand. He looked to his wife, tears wear falling form her eyes. "Do not cry Eleanor, your tears will do no good here. What of Oriana and Oren? Do you know if they are okay?"

"They have gone to be with the maker. Howe's men must have crept in while they slept. They felt no pain." Lyanna said, the second lie she had told in such a short time. Looking at the sad but content look on her fathers face she then decided that some lies where not wrong, if it was to spare harm to others.

"Father Arl Howe, what happened why has he done this?" Lyanna asked forgetting to keep a hushed tone.

"I do not know, but he will pay for his treachery. You and mother must get to Ostagar. Find Fergus, and also inform King Cailin. I'm sure he will lend aid once the darkspawn are taken care of." The Tyren said leaning back onto the wall.

"What do you mean Bryce, you're coming with us. You need your wound tended to." Eleanor said brushing the stray hairs out of his face.

"I'm afraid your husband will not be leaving with you." Came a voice from behind.

Lyanna spun around quickly holding up her blades. To her relief Duncan stared down at her with raised hands. She lowered her blade and nodded to him. "My apologies Duncan I did not know it was you."

"No harm child." He said knelling down to the Tyren. "You have gotten yourself into quite a mess my friend."

"By the Maker! Duncan can't you help him?" Eleanor pleaded.

"No my Lady I do not poses the ability to heal. I can help you escape though." He said looking a the Tyren. "I would need something in return."

"What can I do? I understand what you ask and could not refuse you either way. Please just get Eleanor and Lyanna away from here." He replied.

"Very well then, ladies please there isn't much time." Duncan said standing and pushing open the secret passage in the wall.

"Bryce I'll not leave you here." Eleanor said, "Until death don't you remember?"

"I'm not leaving either father. I will stay here and kill every Howe soldier that walks through that door." Lyanna protested.

"No pup, you must go with Duncan." He said squeezing her hand.

Eleanor took Lyanna's face in her hands making her look at her. "My little girl, all grown. I am so glad that Ser Gilmore convinced me to let you train with the soldiers. I cannot tell you how proud of you I am."

Tears fell down he face as she hugged both her mother and father. "Maker be with you. I will not let you down." Lyanna said getting to her feet.

"You make sure that bastard pays for this pup. I know you will make us proud. If anyone can reclaim Highever it is you." Her father said.

"We must go my Lady, there is no more time." Duncan insisted, pushing her through the whole in the wall and closing it just as she heard the door to the cellar open.

Lyanna ran ahead of Duncan, trying to out run the shouts and screams of the father and mother she would never see again.

Once out of the castle Lyanna could not stop herself from running. She wanted to get away, from everything. The castle with it's screams, even from Duncan. She ran and ran, a fire burned in her lungs but she continued. She had run these woods many time before with Fergus and he friends, so she knew her way very well. Soon though her legs gave up on her and she slowed, her lungs feeling as though they were going to explode. She stopped laying a hand on a large oak tree and bent over. She heard Duncan coming up behind her, he didn't seem a bit winded.

She began to feel sick again and used the tree to block his view of her. Not much came up, which did not surprise her after what she had left in the potted tree back at Highever. She felt a hand on her shoulder as she whipped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"We can rest here for the night. I know you are not accustomed to the ground, but I had no time to grab any bedrolls." He said.

"I have slept in the woods with father and Fergus before. We do though need a fire, I'm very good at finding sticks and brush, but rubbish at lighting one. You can do that part I hope? Or we will be very cold come morn, this time of year the mornings leave bits of ice on the ground." Lyanna said straightening and beginning to walk away from the tree, her legs however had other ideas. Giving out beneath her Lyanna grabbed the tree for support and slid down it.

The ground was hard but nothing she couldn't handle.

"You have not strength left in you child. Stay here, I will collect the wood." Duncan said disappearing into the wood.

Lyanna sat leaning her head against the tree, the tears came quickly, running down her face some traveling down her neck. She had to find Fergus at Ostagar, she was the only one she had left, if she didn't find him she didn't know what she would do. She had even lost Nymiria in all the confusion, she hoped the big brute was alright. Though she always found a way to miss behave, Lyanna had had that mabari since she was a pup and loved her very much.
She heard a rustling behind her, assuming is was Duncan she turned her head only to be assaulted with a wet tongue covered in slobber. "Nymiria!" She shouted throw in her arms around the mabari and burying her face into the dogs shoulder.

Nymiria barked happily as Duncan walked up and dropped a bundle of sticks onto the ground. "I found her out in the woods, quite surprised she came to me." He said arranging the sticks into a pile on a small mound of leaves, twigs, and dried grass.
With the fire lit Lyanna and Duncan sat is silence for the longest time. Finally she found her voice with out fearing a waterfall of tears would come with it.

"So I'm to be a Grey Warden then?" She asked stroking Nymiria as she kicked at the dirt in her sleep.

"Yes in the morn we will begin making our way to Ostagar, it should only take a week. Once there you will join the two recruits already there and we will preform the Joining. For now you should rest, first light will be coming soon and we have a long journey ahead of us." Duncan said smiling at me.
Lyanna laid down beside Nymiria and wrapped her arm over the dogs back before letting sleep take her she lifted her head looking a Duncan once more.

"Thank you"

"There is no need for thanks child. We both needed each others help. I am just sorry I could do no more for Bryce and Eleanor." He replied sadly, poking at the fire.

"At least they were together in the end, that's was really matters. They loved each other and stayed together until the very end." Lyanna said, more to herself than to Duncan. Then she laid her head on the cold hard ground and let sleep take her.