Sweat dripped from my brow to the ground below me. My chest heaved as I drew in air. The two soldiers positioned themselves on either side of me. I had only a few moments to prepare before they attacked. I flipped backward out of the way as they both closed the distance between themselves and me. I threw the dagger in my left hand at the soldier rushing toward me with his longsword raised. It stuck in the gap between his chest plate and shoulder guard, making him drop his sword. The second soldier gave out a war cry and ran forward bringing his sword down in a great arc. I side stepped to the right at the last second but he was quick to recover and swung his right fist at my face. I ducked and kicked his legs out from underneath of him. As he fell I launched myself upward and landed on top of his chest my dagger digging into his throat.
Laughter sounded from somewhere behind me. I turned to see Ser Gilmore walking toward us in his armor.
"If you keep handling your father's men like that, my lady, there won't be any left."
I got off the soldier and offered him a hand up. He grunted his thanks and went to help his fellow remove my dagger from his shoulder.
"What fun would that be?" I asked, a smirk forming on my lips. Ser Gilmore shook his head with a smile.
"As you say, my lady."
"What did you want Ser Gilmore?" A pained yell followed my question as my dagger was pulled from soldier number one.
"Your father sent me after you. He wants you to see him in the Great Hall." Ser Gilmore said.
"Alright." I sighed, "I'll leave at once." I left the training yard and headed straight to the Great Hall. I wondered what Father would want from me. He was supposed to be leaving with Fergus and our men for Ostagar in the south once Arl Howe arrived with his. The past few days had been filled with preparations for their departure and Father had made sure I wasn't apart of any of that. He knew it still bothered me that I wasn't going with them. I was a teryn's daughter and had the best training possible. I could handle myself! I stopped in front of the door to the Great Hall and calmed myself. If I went in there with a temper already stewing it would only make matters worse. I opened the door and saw my father standing in front of the hall's dais talking to someone. As I made my way forward I realized that the man Father was talking to was Arl Rendon Howe. So he had finally arrived. That meant that Father and Fergus would be off soon.
"Ah! There you are, Pup. Ser Gilmore found you, then." Father said.
"Eden, what a…pleasure it is to see you again." Arl Howe said, a smile on his lips but his nose wrinkled in displeasure. I was hardly a sight to behold clad in dirt, sweat and light armor.
"Arl Howe. I'm glad you've made it safely to Highever. What was it that you wanted, Father?"
"Well, Pup, the Arl's men have been delayed and I need you to tell Fergus to take the men south without me. I will stay here until the Arl's men arrive and then we'll go south together, just like old times." Father told me.
"Though we were both younger then and had a lot less gray in our hair." Howe laughed.
"Where is Fergus?" I asked.
"Probably upstairs with his wife and my grandson, saying his goodbyes." Father said. "I'll need you to stay here and run the castle for me while we're gone. You understand, right Pup?"
"I've never been good at those things. I can fight! I want to fight!" I pleaded with Father. Arl Howe laughed again.
"She sounds just like her mother when she talks like that!"
"Please, Pup. Do this for me?" Father asked. I looked into his eyes.
"Yes, Father." At my consent a door opened across the hall. An older man dressed in white robes with light armor over top walked in followed by a man I judged to be close to my own age who wore scale armor. The older of the two had tan skin and dark brown hair tied up in the back and a beard on his face that had a few streaks of gray in it. The younger man had short sandy blonde hair and was clean shaven. He seemed a bit nervous.
"Duncan! I hadn't expected you this early. Pup, this is Duncan of the Grey Wardens."
"Greetings Teryn! The weather was fairer than I had originally expected and we made good time. Might I introduce my fellow Grey Warden, Alistair." Duncan gestured to the nervous man.
"Well met, Alistair. This is Arl Rendon Howe of Amaranthine." Father said gesturing to Howe, who bowed graciously.
"And this is my daughter, Eden." Duncan looked at me with a warm smile.
"My lady." Duncan said with a bow.
"It's an honor to meet you." I said.
"Duncan is here looking for recruits. He has his eye on Ser Gilmore." Father informed us.
"I was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of Lady Eden's sparring match earlier. She has great skill. If I might be so bold as to suggest that she would make a promising recruit as well." Duncan said with an air of testing the waters. Alistair shifted uncomfortably behind Duncan as my father stepped in front of me protectively.
"I have not so many children that I would see them all off to war." Father said sternly as if that settled the matter. Howe was watching with eyes as sharp as a hawk's. Father turned to me and grabbed me by both shoulders gently. He locked his steely grey eyes with my bright silver ones.
"Go find Fergus, Pup. Duncan, Arl Howe and I have things to discuss. I'll find you later."
"Alright, Father." I conceded. I made my way out of the hall with Duncan's words ringing in my ears. Me? A Grey Warden? I was so lost in my thoughts that when I rounded the corner I walked straight into Ser Gilmore, who caught my arms before I had the chance to fall backward.
"I'm so sorry, my lady! Are you alright?!" Ser Gilmore asked, panicked.
"I'm fine. And don't be sorry, it wasn't your fault. I wasn't looking where I was going." I said, trying to ease his worry.
"In that case, I'm glad we bumped into each other. I was just coming to tell you that your mabari has gotten into the larder again and Nan's pitching a fit. Your mother wanted me to ask you to fetch him before Nan tears the castle walls down." He said. I sighed deeply.
"Care to accompany me, Ser Gilmore?" I asked.
"Absolutely, my lady."
As we made our way to the kitchens Nan's shouts started to become louder and louder. She really was angry. Ser Gilmore and I exchanged amused looks. My hound, Dracarius was always getting under Nan's skirts. He seemed to enjoy it. We entered the kitchen to Nan bellowing at the elven servants.
"I told you to get that bloody hound out of there!"
"But Mistress, he won't let anyone near the larder." One of the elves whimpered.
"Hello Nan." I said.
"You! You get your bloody dog out of there before I skin him and feed him to all the soldiers tonight!' She shouted, turning her fury on me. I grunted and walked into the larder to see Dracarius pacing back and forth in front of some crates whining.
"Causing a fuss are you, boy?" I giggled. But when he didn't look up at the sound of my voice, I knew there was something off. A faint scratching noise came from behind one of the crates.
"What was that?" Ser Gilmore asked as we both drew our weapons. No sooner had he asked than several rats the size of cats burst forth into the open and came rushing at our feet. Ser Gilmore sliced one in half with his longsword while I stabbed a couple onto my dagger like a skewer. But more were coming out. Dracarius howled and bounded forward picking up rat after rat into is jaws, clamping down and shaking them like dolls before throwing them to side. Before long we had all the rats killed and were cleaning off our weapons while Dracarius licked the blood from his jowls and paws.
"Those were rats from the Korcarri Wilds." Ser Gilmore said.
"What were they doing all the way up here in Highever?" I asked him.
"I don't know. But its best not to tell Nan, she's got enough to worry about." He said. We got up off the floor and head back into the kitchens with Dracarius at my heels.
"Look! There he is bold as brass, licking his chops! I bet you got into the roast didn't you? Had your self a nice little feast, huh?" She chastised the dog.
"He's just a dog, Nan. He'll behave, I promise." I said, trying to appease her.
"Just get him out of here; I have a lot of work to do." She resigned. So Ser Gilmore, Dracarius and I left heading back toward the hallway that led to the family bedchambers.
"This is where I leave you, my lady. Duncan wishes to see my skills with a blade and you have family business to attend to." He bowed and left for the training yards. I headed up the hallway and when I came to a landing, I found my mother standing with the young Grey Warden, Alistair.
"Hello Mother." I said as I approached.
"Eden! I trust you sorted out that business with Nan and your dog?" She asked. In her younger days, my mother had been a battle maiden and fought in the war against Orlais alongside my father who was quite taken by her. And who wouldn't be? Even now my mother was a vision to behold. She had long dark brown hair that was wrapped in elegant dual buns at the base of her head and sparkling blue eyes like the ocean on a sunny day.
"Of course. Nan is back to work as we speak." I said.
"Wonderful! I knew you would set things right. Your father was wise to leave you in charge of the castle while he's gone." She said with a warm smile. My mother looked at Alistair with small grin that told me she had something up her sleeve.
"I believe you know Alistair, darling?" She said, grinning even broader.
"We were introduced." I told her, holding out my hand for him to shake. He took my hand in his and an odd sensation rushed through me. He bent down and kissed the back of my hand and the sensation washed over me again, a little more intense.
"It's my pleasure, my lady." His voice had the hint of a laugh in it. For some reason, it made me smile. I looked into his eyes. They were a deep brown. Like melted chocolate. I didn't realize I was staring until I head my mother clear her throat behind Alistair. I startled and looked at her. She had a very smug look on her face.
"Have you seen Fergus, Mother?" I asked. My face felt hot and I knew I was blushing.
"He's in his room with Oren and Oriana." Mother gave me a look that I wasn't entirely sure I liked. So I excused myself and walked further up the hallway, a little faster than necessary. When I reached Fergus' room I could hear the laughter of my nephew, Oren. Oren was precious to me. I knew the way the Arls and Banns in the court thought. I knew that they would never allow their wives to wear armor or fight in battle and Maker forbid they speak their minds. And I knew I didn't want that for my life. Without a husband, children were out of the question. Oren was all I had. I stepped into the room to see my brother, Fergus, laughing as well. Oriana was shaking her head but a smile played on her lips.
"Having all the fun, are we?" I asked.
"Eden! Come to see me off?" Fergus asked, laughter still in his voice.
"Father wanted me to tell you to take the men south without him."
"So the Arl's men are delayed then? You'd think they were all walking backwards."
"Papa, are you going to fight the monsters?" Oren asked.
"I'm going to slay the monsters, son. And when I get back, I'll teach you how to slay them too." Fergus told him as he met him at eye-level.
"Fergus! He's only 8! He can't even wield a sword yet!" Oriana exclaimed, clearly exasperated. Fergus only laughed at her dismay.
"All in good time, love." He told her, melting her icy glare almost instantly. The door opened again and in walked my mother and father.
"Here you all are." Father said.
"You could have given Fergus the message yourself, Father." I told him.
"And miss the chance to have both my children in the same place? I think not." He laughed.
"Oh Fergus, do be careful." Mother said, placing a hand on his face.
"I will. You make sure and take care of Mother, Eden." He directed at me.
"Mother's more than capable of taking care of herself." I laughed.
"True. They should stick her in the army. She'd scold those darkspawn right back underground." Father laughed.
"Enough, enough. Now that we've all said our goodbyes, I think I'll head back downstairs and discuss more strategy with Arl Howe. Pup, you should get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day."
"Getting sent off to bed, are we?" Fergus smirked.
"Enjoy that nice long march in the cold." I told him, mirroring his own smirk. He laughed again and with that, I left for my room across the hall. I hadn't realized how tired I was until I stepped into the warm bath that the servants had drawn for me. Dracarius settled himself into his bed in the corner while I scrubbed the dirt and sweat from myself. It wasn't long before I left the bath and put on some small clothes before crawling into my bed. Sleep took me soon enough.
A/N: Alright, before you all chase me down with pitchforks and torches, this story is AU. There are other major aspects from DA:O that will not be the same as the game. But you'll just have to keep reading to find out what those are. ;) And I know, I got rid of Landra, Dairren and Iona and inserted Alistair instead. I felt like Landra and her family were a bit superfluous and I wanted Alistair there at the beginning to sort of witness the pain Eden is about to go through, because she's not the type to talk it all out. Well, please rate and review. It means a lot! Thank you!