Mmm, my first shot at a Dragon Age fic. This is spawned from wondering "what if all of my play-throughs happened at the same time?" Of course, not all of them could be Wardens because Duncan can only be one place at one time... and then came the plot bunnies in freaking spades.
So, I bring you all: Band of Misfits. The story starts with the character from my first play-through, and will follow the general quest order I did with her, which is amazingly out of order. Other characters, both NPC party members and other PCs will come in later.
Chapter 1.1 - Little Bird
"I do believe you've been bested, Captain," said Wren Cousland with a smile. The point of her sword was at the man's throat, she was the victor of their practice match.
The old captain of the guard laughed as Wren lowered her sword. "I remember when you couldn't even lift that sword, lass, yet you paraded around on that Mabari of yours like he was a warhorse stabbing at everything with a pilfered kitchen knife."
"And mother always took away my improvised sword before I could really get into my play," said Wren with a mock sigh. "I've come a long way since then."
Indeed, the younger of the Cousland siblings, once a rambunctious young filly with a head of perpetually messy jet-black hair had come a long way since her childhood. At age sixteen she had hit a growth spurt that hadn't stopped until she broke six feet in height, causing her to tower over many of her peers, even into adulthood. Her hair had grown long and straightened out; Wren kept it in a braid that reached to her lower back. She had also grown proficient with various sharp instruments of death, despite early protests from her mother –who had, at first, objected to her young daughter being taught the fighting arts. Wren's favorite weapons were her sword and dagger, which years of practice had taught her to wield simultaneously.
Before she and the captain of the guard could wander far down memory lane together, one of the knights at Castle Cousland and close personal friend of Wren's appeared in the doorway to the courtyard where Wren and the Captain were practicing.
"Wren," began Ser Gilmore, "Your dog has gotten into the larder again and Nan is pitching a fit… again. Also, your father wishes to have a bit of a family goodbye for Fergus. He's leaving today, you know."
"Ah, silly dog," grumbled Wren under her breath. "Goodbye Captain," she called as she headed for the doorway where Ser Gilmore waited, "Perhaps we can have another match tomorrow."
"Count on it!" called back the good-natured old Captain. Sparring with the Teyrn's daughter, no matter how often he lost, always made him feel young again.
"Nan hates that dog of yours, you know," said Ser Gilmore as they walked to the kitchens together. "Can't you train him to stay out of the kitchens?"
"Rory," chuckled Wren, not bothering to use his formal title, "That would be like trying to keep little Oren out of the sweets – near impossible. And for similar reasons, too…" she trailed off.
They soon reached the kitchens and paused just outside the closed door, from the other side of which they could hear Nan yelling at Wren's Mabari hound. Wren glanced around momentarily to make sure no one was watching before giving Ser Gilmore a light peck on the cheek. "Tomorrow," she whispered in his ear before backing away and opening the door to the kitchens, where Nan immediately rounded on her and began scolding her for letting her dog play in the larders.
Wren ignored most of her former nanny's complaints, choosing simply to nod and look apologetic while her mind wandered. Yes, it was true that Ser Gilmore was and had been for quite some time her romantic interest. However, discretion was the key practice in their relationship. With Wren being a Teyrn's daughter and Ser Gilmore being a simple knight, their relationship would most definitely be frowned upon should they be found out. They kept their affairs secret and appeared to be just friends when eyes were upon them.
"Won't you do something about your dog?" snapped Nan, startling Wren out of her thoughts.
"Right, sorry Nan," said Wren as she walked into the larder, where her faithful hound was sniffing around. "What is it, boy?" she asked as she knelt next to her Mabari.
The dog growled and nosed a pile of sacks, from behind which immediately burst a pack of rather large rats.
Wren and her hound made quick work of the vile rodents, and once the deed was done, the dog practically pranced out of the larder looking amazingly smug.
"I assume he ate the roast," said Nan grumpily as she noticed the self-satisfied look on the hound's face.
"Actually," said Wren as she sheathed her dagger, "he saved the roast. You had a nasty little pack of rats lurking behind some old bags of flour. He cornered them and helped me dispose of them."
"Well I'll be," said the old woman, somewhat amazed that the animal could actually be useful. "In any case, please keep him out of the kitchens in the future."
"I can try," chuckled Wren as she led her Mabari out. Once they were out of earshot, Wren praised her hound and gave him some well-deserved petting before the pair headed toward her family's chambers.
On her way, she was stopped by her mother, who was entertaining guests. Wren made polite conversation before both she and her mother excused themselves to say goodbye to Fergus.
Goodbyes were said and Wren remained in her family's chambers to play with her nephew, Oren, until it was time for the boy to be put to bed. As she walked back to her own room, she was accompanied by her sister-in-law, Oriana.
"You're not that much younger than Fergus, you know," said Oriana quietly as the two walked together down the hall.
"And?" said Wren, knowing very well where this conversation was headed but hardly bothered by it.
"Well, one would think that you should be settling down soon. You know, finding a nice man… perhaps Oren could have a cousin to play with at some point.
Wren shrugged. "I'm not really ready to settle down, nor do I have any prospective husbands lined up. Marriage and children is far too complicated of a concept for me to grasp," she said almost sadly. "I'm better suited to the battlefield."
"I see," said Oriana thoughtfully. "Goodnight, then," she said as they reached Wren's bedroom.
"Goodnight, Oriana," said Wren. With that, she walked into her room and closed the door. That night, she slept well and dreamed of little red-haired children running around her, tugging on the straps of her armor, while she embraced their father.