I've always kind of wondered what kind of relationship Cousland had with Oriana, and so I decided to take a break from Rise of the Wardens, do a story along those lines. I really hope you guys like it. As always, please review, I need my writer fuel! Also, if you've read my one-shot, A Noble Fight, then you'll probably notice a few inconsistancies between the two stories, but I'm really not worried about that. I don't want to go through the irritation of making sure that all my stories match up exactly, although the Eebon Cousland in this one is the same Eebon from Rise of the Wardens, and A Noble Fight. Enjoy!
The sun was beginning to set over Castle Cousland when the two sons of Cousland rode back through the gates. It was obvious that the two young men were family, brothers in fact. Despite their young age they both shared the same tall stature, and broad shouldered build. Both had dark hair and same steel-hard determination in their eyes and faces, even when they laughed. The oldest was obviously the leader of the two brothers, even as he rode and bounced on the back of his horse, he held himself straight and proud, and there was a noble, almost regal air about him. The youngest brother, while still noble in all appearances held a more relaxed position as he contentedly rode behind his brother. He was slightly more muscular than his older sibling, and while he lacked the noble aura that his brother seemed to possess, he had the look of soldier, and although he was young, his hands had already turned rough and calloused from endless hours of wielding a greatsword.
The brothers reigned in their steeds to a halt as soon as they passed under the gateway arch, and dismounted. Two elven servants, young boys who worked in the stables quickly appeared to take the horses back to their stalls, but sons of Cousland waved them off, saying that they would see to their horses themselves, but handing the young servants several rabbits and pheasants tied together from their hunt, and instructed the boys to take the game to the kitchens.
"A good hunt today!" Fergus, the oldest brother said as he stepped into the stable. "But I must say that your archery skill could use some room for improvement."
"Yes it was." Eebon, the youngest agreed. "And may I defend myself by saying that I am a swordsman, not an archer? We can't all be future teryns destined to sit on our fat arse, and only venture out for the occasional noble hunt!"
"Oh, so that's how it is!" Fergus said in mock anger. "I'll remember that when I make you my commander and you have to salute me every day!"
Eebon chuckled, "Brother," He said, "We both know that I would never salute you!"
Fergus laughed as well. "We'll just see about that!"
The two brothers led their horses back to their stalls and removed their saddles and other equipment, then began the process of cleaning and grooming their beasts. They talked with each other as they did so about the hunt, as well as teasing and joking about how they were the superior brother, the favorite of the family, and how they would be the one to make history and write themself into legend. They had just finished tending their horses, and started to make their way to the back of the stable for a bucket of grain and some hay for their horses when the stable-boys came back.
"My lord!" The older looking of the two elf-boys gasped, still out of breath from his run across the castle grounds.
The two brothers glanced at each other, not knowing which of them the young lad was addressing. "Yes?" They both answered at the same time.
The stable-boy looked up at Fergus, "Your mother said to tell you to… 'Make yourself presentable and meet them in the dining room as quickly as possible'."
The brothers looked at each other again and Fergus asked, "Who is 'them'?"
"I don't know her." The elf shrugged. "A very pretty girl with a very strange accent…" He stopped to take one final gasp of air, then steadied himself, "I've never seen her before, my lord."
"Thank you." Fergus answered, "I'm on my way now. Just make sure that our horses are fed and bedded down for the night, then the both of you may have the rest of the evening off."
The two elves brightened immediately and ran to carry out their new commands. Fergus turned around and began to quickly walk towards his the living area of the castle where he would bathe, and change into more presentable clothes. Dressed in hunting leathers and smelling like horses and sweat was no way for a future teryn to appear. Eebon followed a step behind.
"So I take this is… Orine, or whatever her name was?" Eebon asked.
"Oriana." Fergus corrected him, "And yes, I would imagine so… But what is she doing here this early? She wasn't supposed to arrive for another day or two."
Eebon shrugged. "Getting cold feet already?"
"Hey c'mon Eebon, give me a break!"
Eebon shrugged again. "I still don't know why you decided to go for this whole arranged marriage anyway. Wouldn't you rather be with someone you actually know?"
"Because mother and father know more about this kind of thing." Fergus answered. "Now come-on, let's not keep them waiting."
"Sorry brother…" Eebon grunted, "But you're on own this time."
"Eebon what are you—"
"I think I'm going to head to the study." Eebon interrupted. "I'm a bit behind in reading Champions of Thedas. Be seeing you, Fergus.
The next morning found Eebon on the parade ground, hacking away with his greatsword at a wooden post about a tall as he was, and probably two feet thick. The idea was not to improve his technique, but merely to strengthen the power behind his blows. He'd been at it for some time already, and had carved away several inches of the hard, oak wood, his mind however was not on the training exercise.
The previous night, when he'd finished reading and left the study, he found Fergus and the girl, Oriana, walking along the cobblestone walkway and heading towards the gardens. Eebon had followed at a distance, not even really knowing why, it wasn't in his nature to spy on anyone, but he had followed anyway. It had been dark by that time, so Eebon couldn't get a good view of what this Oriana really looked like. He also wondered why they would choose to visit the gardens at night, when you couldn't really see much of anything. Eebon had stood in the deep shadows and watched the two of them walk back and forth among the rows of carefully tended flowers. He could only catch brief pieces of conversation, and it sounded like Oriana was asking a lot of questions about their mother, the land around Highever, the people of Highever, what Fergus' plans were when he became teryn, and it all bored Eebon very nearly to tears, but Fergus seemed to be enjoying himself. Every so often, Oriana would stop and pick one of the flowers, allow Fergus to smell it, then they would continue on. After the two of them had traversed the entire garden, the betrothed couple stopped again, and Oriana had handed Fergus the entire bunch of flower she had picked in the last few minutes. Fergus had smelled them yet again, then he'd set the flowers down on one of sitting benches that surrounded the garden.
"They're beautiful." Fergus had said, "But not nearly as beautiful as you are."
From his hiding place in the shadows, Eebon wasn't sure whether to laugh or to gag, but he managed to do neither. Fergus could do better than that! Eebon had heard Fergus do better than that when they'd been out in the city of Highever chasing women and downing ale. However, the girl… Oriana… didn't seem to mind, and she said "Es usted muy amable." There had been a few seconds of confused silence before Oriana said in the common tongue, "Oh… I'm sorry. I meant to say that you are too kind."
Eebon slowly started to make his way back to his own room as he felt a wave of nausea strike him, this was absolutely sickening, but then he saw Fergus lean down and kiss her gently. At seeing that, Eebon turned and very nearly tripped over his own feet as he hurriedly made his way back to his own bedroom.
Eebon grunted with the exertion as he swung his greatsword into the post again, woodchips flew helter-skelter as he did so, and he brought the sword back for another swing. His arms were getting tired, but that was another reason he'd chosen to do this particular training exercise, in addition to increasing his muscular strength, it also helped to build better endurance.
"Hola." A voice said behind him while he was in mid-swing. Woodchips flew in all directions again as Eebon pulled the sword out and then rested the tip against the hard packed ground, and turned to face whoever had spoken to him. Somehow he was unsurprised to find Oriana. What did surprise him was that she was alone.
"What?" Eebon said.
"Oh…" Oriana said after an embarrassed moment. "Forgive me, I have not had to speak your language before I arrived her yesterday." Eebon had known that Oriana came from Antiva, but knowing that didn't make it much easier to understand her as her accent was so thick. "You must be Eebon, Fergus' younger brother.
Eebon nodded. "Where is he?"
"He said that he had business with your father and that we would meet again for lunch if not sooner." Oriana answered, and Eebon grunted and turned back to his training, but it seemed that Oriana couldn't take the hint and leave him alone. "Is that sword heavy?" She asked.
Eebon fought the urge not to comment on the stupidity of the question and turned back to Oriana, holding the sword out to her, pommel first. "Take a swing or two and find out."
"I don't think I should do that." Oriana said hesitantly. "In Antiva, women are not soldados… what is the word for that… soldiers!"
"You're not in Antiva anymore." Eebon said bluntly, still holding the sword out. "Take a swing. I insist."
Oriana finally accepted the blade and stepped closer to the post, Eebon moved clear and smirked as he saw that Oriana could barely hold the greatsword in the air, and it was pitiful when she tried to swing it. Eebon stepped forward again, trying not to grin, and failing. Oriana said, "Yes, it is heavy." As Eebon took his greatsword back again, Oriana said, "Fergus told me that you are excelente with a sword, and that you want to be a commander someday."
"I do." Eebon grunted as he swung the greatsword into the post again.
"That is truly a noble goal."
Eebon heaved with the sword again, and without turning to look at Oriana, said, "If you say so."
"You really don't like me very much, do you Eebon."
"No."
"Por qué?... I mean why?" Oriana asked innocently. "Is it because I am Antivan?
Eebon grunted as he swung the greatsword into the post a final time, before pulling it out again and leaning it against the post. "No." He said, finally turning to face her. She was bound to find out the truth sooner or later, it might as well be sooner… and Eebon had never been one for subtlety or to hide his feelings. "It's because Fergus is my best friend." He said, fighting not to raise his voice too much. "I know that might seem odd because he's also my brother, but it's true. We've been inseparable since the day I was born, and we've shared everything… the good times and the bad. And now you've come, and you're already driving a wedge between us! I feel like I'm losing both my brother and my best friend in one fell swoop! And that is why I don't like you."
Oriana blinked, perhaps surprised that Eebon had been so straight with her, or maybe just startled by how he felt. After a few moments of awkward silence, Oriana started to leave, and Eebon grabbed his greatsword and began to make his own way towards a hot bath and a good, long soak, nothing felt better after a rigorous training session. But then, Oriana turned and looked at him again, even through her thick accent, it was easy to tell that Eebon's rather harsh words and attitude had saddened her. "You know… This arranged marriage wasn't my idea either."
