It was quite literally the night before I wrote this that I fell in love with Morrigan all over again and started the game over again this afternoon. I started with a human noble origin and that is where I shall pick this story up from. It is based on the game but not all of the actions and speech will be the same, else it will just be boring and you might as well play the game! :P This will end with a Morrigan and Male Cousland pairing running through the events of Dragon Age: Origins as I play them as well as through Witch Hunt DLC as I play it. I hope you guys enjoy, it shall be a long story but I enjoy writing long ones. So, the story begins..

Gabriel Cousland knew his Father was looking for him but truth be told he did not wish to go and see him. Teyrn Cousland was hosting his old friend Arl Howe before they travelled to battle and Gabriel felt left out. He was hardly a child but his parents had forbidden him from going to battle, but his older brother Fergus was allowed to go. Instead he was to stay in the castle and keep it running whilst his brother and father fought the darkspawn to the south and his Mother went to stay with Lady Landra. He wasn't born to rule a castle; he wasn't born to be the Teyrn of Highever. He was born to fight, he was a warrior and he thirsted for blood of those vile darkspawn that threatened his homeland.

Despite his feelings about not being Teyrn, it seemed his Father was grooming him to be so when the time came. Fergus was the more immature of the two of them apparently and consideration for power was being laid on Gabriel's shoulders, as much as he didn't want it. As stated before, he wasn't a child but often he was treated as one. His Mother continued to treat him as a baby, sometimes even more so than his young nephew, Oren. It was maddening, infuriating to know end but deep down he knew that it was only because she loved him. His love for her was what kept him from completely lashing out over it, he just wanted to be viewed as the man he was.

Readjusting the greatsword on his back, Gabriel finally started on his way to meet his Father and Arl Howe. He had no idea where Dovah had gotten to, his Mabari war hound, but he expected he would find out soon enough. True to his Mabari blood, the dog would not do anything that anybody told him other than Gabriel himself. And he liked to get into mischief, often with Nan's pantry. That woman hated Dovah despite the fact the dog really did like her. He had a sneaking suspicion that the feeling was actually mutual.

Guards greeted him on his way down then he finally entered the main hall, finding his Father already speaking with Arl Howe. He didn't wish to interrupt but it seemed his Father had already spotted him.

"Ah, pup, do come in. You remember Arl Howe, don't you?" Bryce Cousland rested his arm around his son's shoulders.

"Yes, Father. Arl Howe, it is good to see you again." Gabriel politely bowed his head, the Arl copied with a smile.

"It's good to see you also. I must say Bryce, the boy has turned into a fine young man. We must arrange a meeting with him and my daughter, Delilah." A look was exchanged between the two men and Gabriel fought the urge to roll his eyes. He did not wish to be married off to some woman he had barely spent any time with but he would be polite for the sake of his Father.

"I would like that, Arl Howe, thank you. But Father, you called for me?" He felt a brief flutter of hope; would his Father finally agree to let him go to Ostagar? He doubted it but it was nice to have that little bit of hope.

"Yes, pup. The Arl's men are still delayed so I want you to deliver a message to Fergus. He is to ride ahead with our men tonight. The Arl and I will catch up with him when the other men arrive."

He really wanted to shout at his Father. He had called him all the way down here just to be a messenger boy?! He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, forcing a smile onto his face. "All right, Father. Is there anything else?"

"What about the Grey Warden?" Gabriel looked at the Arl in surprise. There was a Grey Warden here? Why hadn't he been told? He would love to meet a Grey Warden in the flesh after hearing so much about them.

"Ah yes, Duncan. He arrived unannounced earlier on." His Father looked genuinely apologetic but, if anything, the Arl looked rather worried. "Is there something the matter Rendon?"

"N.. no, not at all! It's just, such a prestigious guest has caught me off guard, I am afraid." He let out a small laugh then rubbed his hands together.

Just as they had been speaking about him, Gabriel noticed a man approach them whom he assumed to be the Grey Warden. He had two swords attached to his back and looked as though he was this important guest they had been speaking about. He met his eyes and Gabriel smiled slightly, the other man returned his smile warmly.

"Ah, Duncan! There you are, we were just speaking about you." Bryce clapped Duncan's shoulder and smiled. "Duncan is here to recruit one of our fine young warriors for the Grey Wardens to help end this Blight. I believe he is considering Ser Gilmore."

"Ah yes, a good choice." Arl Howe chipped in.

"Well, do forgive me for saying so but your son is also a good candidate. I have heard he is good with a sword.." It gave him a great boost of confidence to know that a Grey Warden had heard of his fighting prowess!

"I have the utmost respect for you and yours, Duncan, but this is my son." His Father had turned serious and that briefly confused Gabriel. He understood that his Father was protective of his youngest but would it really be so bad if he became a Grey Warden? He would be helping countless people.

"Father, I wouldn't mind becoming a Grey-"

"Of course, I respect your wishes. I wouldn't dare." Duncan had interrupted him but, surprisingly, Gabriel didn't mind.

"Now, pup, if you don't mind we have some matters to discuss. Go, tell Fergus the message and I shall catch up with you later."

He didn't appreciate being shooed but he just nodded his head and excited the main hall. He wasn't really in the mood to go straight to Fergus so he decided to take the long way back, dropping in on the many rooms of the castle to check out what the locals were up to. Unsurprisingly, he found Mother Mallol praying in the chapel with two soldiers. No doubt they were praying for good fortune in the upcoming battle but Gabriel had no time for religion or for the Maker, much to Mother Mallol's dismay. Many times over the years she had been determined to try and kick start his interest in the Maker but she had failed so far. He didn't want to interrupt them so he quickly backed out of the chapel again.

He strolled into the guard house intending on taking a few swings at the dummy the guards used but once he had entered the two guards jumped up from the table. He raised an eyebrow as the two men struggled to explain themselves, hurriedly trying to hide the cards they had been playing under their armour.

"Master Cousland! We.. We were just-"

"Playing cards?" He offered with a smirk, it was entertaining to see how flustered they got. It was even more entertaining to see the blushes on their cheeks. Again they struggled for words. "Relax men, enjoy your game, and just be ready for battle."

The men quickly nodded and settled back down, trying to relax. They were very thankful so he just left them to continue their game in favour of practising his sword skills on the dummy. He was there for a good fifteen minutes before he accidentally knocked the dummy over with a particular hard swing. The guards behind him clapped and he just laughed, righting the dummy after returning his sword to his back.

"Goodbye, Master Cousland!" The men called after him as he continued on his way. He had barely made it round the corner when Ser Gilmore came rushing up to him.

"There you are!" The redhead looked slightly out of breath. "I have been looking for you; your Mother said you would be at the main hall. Your hound has gotten into the pantry again and Nan is ready to explode. You had better get over there and deal with him; he is definitely the stubborn Mabari. Only listens to his Master."

Gabriel had to laugh; he knew that dog was getting himself into trouble! "Nan will be fine for a while longer, where is my Mother?"

"Are.. Are you sure? She sounds rather mad, I can hear her all the way down here nearly.." Ser Gilmore glanced behind him. "Your Mother is in the atrium with Lady Landra, her son and her lady-in-waiting."

Ooh, Dairren and was here? He had fought Dairren a while back in a tourney and he had been unable to get an opportunity to try and bed the younger man. And there was a lady-in-waiting here also? There may be some competition between this woman and Dairren. Perhaps tonight he may be able to coax one to his room for some intimate pleasures.

"May I ask, is it true that there is a Grey Warden here?"

"Yes, apparently looking to recruit you in fact. Are you excited?" He could see it in the man's eyes even if he denied it.

"I must admit that I am, it would be an honour to be given a place amongst the Grey Wardens." Gabriel felt rather jealous but didn't comment.

"I will head to the atrium, then I shall worry about Dovah terrorising Nan." He had already taken a few steps away when Ser Gilmore piped up.

"If I may, I would accompany you until the issue is solved and you have retrieved the hound?"

"I see no reason why not." Gabriel gestured with his hand for him to follow and made his way towards the atrium. Straight away he sat his Mother and her guests.

"Have you sorted that hound of yours yet? He is always terrorising Nan and she has enough to deal with as it is." Eleanor Cousland launched straight at her son and he held his hands up in surrender.

"I came to see our guests first, Mother. I shall deal with Dovah soon enough, I promise you." He could see her considering yelling at him again but finally gave in.

"So long as you really do so and soon. I am warning you, Gabriel. I'm so sorry, Landra, you remember my youngest?"

"Ah yes!" Gabriel could tell the woman beside his Mother was already rather drunk but he smiled politely. Memories flashed into his mind of the last time they had met, she has spent the entire evening flirting with him. "It has been a while. You remember my son Dairren, don't you?"

Beside the woman stood her son, tall and proud. It was then he noticed the lady-in-waiting just behind, a blonde elf who had a very pretty face. When he caught her eye she blushed and quickly looked away. He smirked ever so slightly. "It's good to see you again, Dairren."

"Likewise, Gabriel. It has been a while since the tourney where you thoroughly thrashed me. I could never match up to such swordsmanship." The other man bowed his head and Gabriel just smiled at the compliment.

"Nonsense, you are a good swordsman also. It was just a good day for me."

"And this is my lady-in-waiting, Iona. Don't be shy girl, say something!" The elf just blushed once more and muttered a soft greeting. This seemed to please Lady Landra. "Oh, don't look now, Eleanor but I believe Iona has a crush on your boy!"

"Landra! Don't embarrass the poor thing!" His Mother looked shocked and poor Iona embarrassed. He found the woman rather beautiful so he just smiled warmly.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Iona. I would love to be able to spend some more time with you."

"I.. I would like that.. Master Cousland." Her voice was soft and quiet but she seemed very open to his offer.

"Now, perhaps it is time we were off? Mother, we shall see you at dinner. We shall wait in the study until then." Dairren flashed him a knowing smile, inviting him for a conversation. Iona smiled shyly just behind him. Ooh, choices, how delightful.

Before he knew it he was just left with his Mother and Ser Gilmore hovering just behind him, politely ignoring the conversation. He was a good man; he deserved to be chosen for a Grey Warden. His Mother gently gestured for him to come closer and he did so.

"I am worried, Gabriel. I know you wish to leave and join your Father and Brother but I cannot risk losing all of you. I am sorry, son, but I just cannot." She rested her hand on his cheek and he leant into the touch.

"Mother, I will do as you and Father ask. I will stay here and care for the castle. But what of you whilst they are gone?"

"I shall stay here tonight then accompany Lady Landra back to her home. Your Father thinks that my presence here would undermine your authority. It is for the best and I know you will do us proud, my son." She leant up and kissed his cheek, causing him to smile. "I love you, you know. Now go and save Nan before she kills your hound."

"I love you too, Mother." He left her and turned back the way he had come. Even if he didn't know the way to the kitchen he would be able to follow the shouts, Nan was certainly making a fuss!

"You useless elves! Go in there and fetch him!" Nan was shouting at the top of her lungs, the two servants cowering between her and the pantry door.

"We have tried!"

"But he won't do anything we say. He'll take our arms off!"

"Useless elves!" She shrieked again. "Get back to work!"

The elves scurried back to their work and Nan just stared angrily at the closed door. He could hear Dovah barking on the other side, what on earth had gotten him so riled up? Ser Gilmore appeared by his side and tried to calm Nan. Big mistake!

"Good lady, calm down. We are here to help."

"You and you! You're damned hound is tearing apart my pantry and I need to cook the food for all of these hungry soldiers! I have told you before that you need to keep that foul beast under control or I swear I will do something about him!"

It took a lot for him not to laugh at how wound up she was, especially at him because he owned Dovah. "Nan, I am sorry he is troubling you again. I will sort him out, I promise."

"You'd better!" She snapped and went to shout at the elves some more. He did feel a little bad that she was taking her anger out on the servants but he felt it best to just hurry up and get the hound out of there before she did explode from rage.

He pushed the door open, Ser Gilmore hot on his heels. Dovah was barking at a group of crates and sacks, seriously sounding angry. It wasn't often that the dog was so angry, something had to be wrong. But when he noticed his Master the hound came trotting over and sat at his feet, whining softly.

"He seems really worked up.." Ser Gilmore was observing the hound from over his shoulder.

"I think something is wrong. What is it boy?" He gestured for the dog to show him the problem and immediately Dovah raced over to the crates he had been at before. He grabbed onto one of them and dragged it aside. The biggest rat that he had ever seen came running out.

"Giant rats? It's like the start of every bad adventure tale my grandfather used to tell." Ser Gilmore shouted in surprise. "Kill them!"

Both men drew their swords and Dovah joined in, slaughtering every single rat that appeared from all sorts of hiding places. They had secreted themselves in crates, sacks, behind chests and barrels, they seemed truly endless! They must have slain 25 of the beasts before the room was finally still once more, splattered with blood and littered with dead rats. The dog whined softly and lay down beside the dead rats.

"He was trying to chase out the rats. Clever hound there.. My Father used to say they were smart enough to keep quiet." Ser Gilmore laughed softly. "But really, these rats came from the Korcari Wilds. They shouldn't be up here on the Northern Coast. Let's go tell Nan that her pantry is hers once more. Best not mention the rats to the servants; we don't want to spook them."

Gabriel patted the hound's head and smiled at him. "Well done, boy. Come on, let's get you a treat."

"Well, what damage has your bloody hound done now? No doubt eaten my roast!" Nan was waiting for them as soon as they excited the Pantry.

"He was killing rats. There were many giant rats in the pantry and he was trying to help you. Maybe you owe him an apology?" Ser Gilmore looked at him, he had said not to mention it!

"Giant rats?!" The male elf yelped.

"Those grey ones will tear you to pieces!" The female was just as scared.

"Thanks you, Gabriel, now you scared them! Get back to work!" She snapped at the servants who scurried away despite their fears. Her eyes then landed on the dog who whined softly. "Don't pull the sad eyes on me, hound. It won't work.."

Dovah just whined again and flashed her his puppy dog eyes again. She sighed and stooped to give him some pork bits. "Here, mutt, don't say Nan doesn't give you anything."

Gabriel grinned. "Going soft are we, Nan?"

"Quiet you. Now get out of my way, I have dinner to prepare!" She shooed them out of her kitchen and Ser Gilmore turned to him.

"I have honoured my duty, Master, now that you have your hound you have ample company. I shall get on with my own duties. I shall see you soon." He bowed his head and disappeared around the corner.

"Time to go and secure ourselves a date, buddy." Gabriel grinned down at his dog who barked happily in response.

Just as Dairren had said, he and Iona were sitting in the study. They were both reading so Gabriel took a moment to observe his two conquests. Dairren was a handsome young man and he wouldn't mind inviting him to bed but if given the choice he would rather try and bed Iona. She truly was a beautiful woman and clearly had an interest in her. Maybe he should try her? Eventually he made his choice.

"This is an impressive library, whose collection is it?" Dairren was visibly in awe of the book collection making him smile, he did enjoy spending time in here.

"It was my Grandfather's; I do enjoy spending time in here. Although I prefer more.. Interesting books." He smirked slightly and plucked on from its hiding place. The other man blushed immediately.

"Ah, yes. Wasn't this banned? Is it good?" Poor Dairren was flustered but Gabriel enjoyed seeing the warm tint on his cheeks.

"It was indeed. It's not really a book that you read.." He winked playfully and Dairren immediately looked up at him. Taking a brazen step forward he put the book back in its place.

"Would you like to head somewhere more private?" He lowered his voice with a sly smile.

"I would love to, but I believe my Mother is expecting me at dinner soon. Yours too. Perhaps later on?"

"How about you join me in my room tonight? For some more.. Intimate time together?" This was a lot easier than he had first thought.

"I would love to." Dairren grinned.

He passed Aldous teaching two young boys on his own family's history on his way back out of the library. Aldous offered an option for Gabriel himself to teach the boys some things about the Couslands but he deemed it time to go and inform Fergus of the message from his Father. So he politely declined and hurried off to the main castle. He found his brother in his room with both his wife, Oriana and their son, Oren. Oriana looked very worried but that was understandable when her husband was about to go off to battle the horde of Darkspawn. He patiently waited in the doorway, trying not to intrude on the moment between them. Eventually Fergus called him in.

"Ah, little brother! I was just telling Oren here that I was going to find him the mightiest sword to bring back from the battle field!" Fergus ruffled his son's hair. "What brings you here? Come to say goodbye?"

"Not quite, brother. Father sent me here to tell you that you are to leave tonight with our men and that he will follow tomorrow with the Arl and his men."

"That must mean the Arl's men really are delayed! What are they, walking backwards?!" The group was interrupted when their parents entered the room.

"Not planning on leaving without saying goodbye, were you son?" Bryce was smiling as he entered, coming to a halt just behind his wife.

"Not at all Father."

"May the Maker grant us luck and good fortune in the battle to come." Oriana sounded so solemn, her worry clear for all to see.

"I would rather drink and wenches!" Fergus announced with a grin. Then he caught himself. "For the men, of course."

"You would say this in front of your Mother, Fergus?" Gabriel was silent as Oriana scolded her husband. Then Oren decided to pitch in, making Gabriel hold in his laughter.

"What's a wench? Is that what you use to pull up water from the well?"

"No, a wench is a woman in a tavern who serves the ale. Or.. Drinks a lot of ale." Bryce smiled down at the boy and his wife just sighed.

"It is like living with a pack of small boys."

"You will miss us Mother. You know it. Brother, you will take good care of her won't you?" All faces turned to him and Gabriel smiled as he nodded.

"Of course, always do. But she can certainly take care of herself; she should be on the front lines." The men laughed, the women disapproving but they didn't care.

"Pup, you should get an early night. You have a busy day ahead of you."

Early night, yeah right. He had Dairren waiting in his room, there was no early night for him, but he bid his farewells to his brother and Father and retired to his room for the night anyway. No sense arguing with his Father, he was best to just do what he was told. After all, his destiny had been chosen for him he might as well just get on with it.