On their way to the Arl of Redcliffe's estate to celebrate the birth of his son Connor; the Cousland family made a stop along the Imperial Highway, Belyssa Jae Cousland was showing signs of restlessness in the carriage so the Teyrn and Teyrna thought she could use was sometime to stretch her legs.
"Papa, do you feel cold?"
"No, Pup It is a nice warm day."
No Papa, it feels cold here."
Bryce and his wife's eye meet, hers mirroring her concern at their daughter's words.
"Don't worry about it Pup, it is probably the shade from the trees making you feel cold. I would not worry about it."
"Alright Papa."
Bryce thought that there was doubt in her voice just then. Belyssa was stepping forward and backward in front of some bushes. She had just walked past the bushes.
"Bryce do you think she may be a mage?" ask Eleanor
"I do not know my love, we will have to wait and see."
Bryce had just noticed Belyssa moved passed the bushes. Belyssa had not wondered off too far when she heard her father say.
"Pup, don't wonder too far ahead."
"Yes Papa"
Bryce did not think she sounded far, as he thought about his youngest child. She was bright for a seven year old, and she did always seem to be in the right place when it came to getting into trouble. He worried about her uncanny ability to pick thoughts from people, she seemed to be able to read a person's mind, she was pretty accurate and this shocked and frightened people. Both he and Eleanor explained that she should not do this, though it seemed on occasion Belyssa was not able to control herself at times. She was quite good at getting some of the staff to do her bidding especially when it came to hiding from both Nan and Brother Aldous when she wants to watch her brother fight, but then again resisting her charm was even difficult for him too. Those big innocent blue eyes of hers could melt the most hardened of men. Bryce's thoughts were interrupted by a conversion between his wife and oldest child and one of the squires.
"The Teyrn says that to Milady as if he expects her to heed his words." said Squire Gilmore
"More than likely Father is hoping my sister will obey him, I think." replies Fergus Cousland
"Perhaps the two of you could stop wondering and make sure Belyssa does not wander off or gets hurt." Eleanor tells them both giving them "that" look.
"Yes Mother"
"Yes Your Ladyship"
As they walk to where they last saw Belyssa.
"See what you did, now I am in trouble too."
"Me!, She is your sister!"
"Do not remind me!"
"FERGUS!"
"We are going, Mother."
Belyssa was not far from where Fergus stood, when she heard the exchange of words she began to run further into the woods. Find me now, brother, she thought to herself. She is still getting that cold feeling as she continues forward. She began to hear a song being softly in her head. That sounds like the song Nan sings, she thought.
No, my child your Nan never sung this song to you, I do.
Belyssa gasped and looked around, not seeing anyone she said.
"Hello, where are you? Who are you?"
I am sorry; I did not mean to frighten you. Where and who I am is not important right now. You need to come away from this area and go back to your brother.
"No!"
Belyssa stomped her foot in defiance to the voice and continued to walk in the direction "The Voice" told her not to go. That cold feeling got stronger and she hears some twigs snap it sounded like swords clanging. Belyssa always fascinated with fighting, she knows that sound after spending so much time watching her brother and the soldiers practice. Curious she went in the direction of the fighting.
Child you need come away from there. "The Voice" warned again.
"Why?"
She found the answer to her own question when she came around some rocks. She sees two people fighting—well one of them is a man the other is a monster she has never seen before. Belyssa screams at the top of her lungs.
"PAPA!"
The monster and the man stopped for a moment and turned to see her, the monster grins or she thinks it is a smile it as no face just a skull with eyes. The monster turns and begins to run at her, Belyssa screams again and turns to run, determined not to put her family in any danger she runs in the opposite direction from where they all are. Fergus and Squire Gilmore look at each other at the sound of Belyssa screams and they take off running in the direction they think it came from. Her parents also hear Belyssa, Bryce took some soldiers with him heading in the directions of his daughter's screams, he tells Eleanor to wait with remaining soldiers inside the carriage.
As Belyssa ran she could hear the monster behind her, she kept running blindly until she trips and falls to the ground. She looks down to see what tripped over and it looks like a small sword not far there is a man lying on the ground face down. Hearing the monster getting closer she picks up the sword and decides she will face this monster. She isn't sure what happened next only that she manages a maneuver she has seen on the practice field as she shoves the sword up and into the monsters chest as hard as she can, screaming loudly while she does so. When she realizes the monster is falling towards her she screams again and scrambles out of the way as the monster lands on the ground pushing the small sword further into its body. Fearing it may still be alive; she picks up at fallen tree branch and begins hitting the monster in the head.
While Gelric is amazed he was still alive as he slowly wakes, he wonders when his head would stop pounding and screaming. He finally opens his eyes and slowly sits up, and starts to look around he notices a little girl swinging a tree branch onto a genlocks skull and she is screaming he also notices that there is a dagger sticking out of its back. Wait that is my dagger sticking out of its back, I do not remember doing that. The girl looks up from her bashing the Genlock to look at him for moment (amazing blue eyes) then went back to bashing the Genlock. Single-minded child, make sure your current opponent is dead before moving on to the next, easy way to avoid getting back-stabbed!
All of a sudden two kids with swords break through the foliage.
"Bliss, by the Maker what were you screaming about?" Fergus asks.
"Milord what is that thing she is hitting?" Squire Gilmore asks.
"What?"
Fergus turns his gaze down at what Gilmore is pointing at.
"Maker's Breath, Bliss get away from that monster!"
"Don't worry I killed it, I think!"
"You did what!"
"I killed it."
I must be crazy thinks Gelric, but he looks around none of his brothers are here and those boys just arrived so this girl must have killed it—Amazing.
"Eewww, there is black stuff around my feet!"
Gelric snaps out of and quickly goes to the girl; he picks her up and puts her down a safe distance away from the genlock.
"Hey, who are you and get your hands off my sister, NOW!"
Gelric ignores the question and asks "Are you hurt, Bliss?"
"No, and you can't call me Bliss only my brother can. My name is Belyssa Jae Cousland that is my brother Gus I mean Fergus and Squire Gilmore or Rory to his friends." Belyssa points to each boy explaining who they are.
"Oh Maker, Bliss. Who are you, Milord?"
Rory stifles some a few snickers. Just then Gelric notices the Commander and another man with soldiers enters the area.
"Pup, Fergus" The Teyrn yells as he survey's the area and his eyes settle on the genlock.
"What in the Maker's name what happened here?"
He must be their Father.
"I killed it, Papa." Well doesn't she sound smug?
"What, Pup?"
"Commander are you alright?"
"I am fine, you?"
"My ego will never recover, my head will someday."
"Fine, care to me explain what happened?"
"The child said it correctly I believe, when I woke, I found her hitting the genlock in the head with the tree branch and my dagger sticking out of its back."
"I see." The Commander then turns to the Bryce and says
"Perhaps we should walk back to road and talk there." Bryce nods in agreement. Belyssa starts to walk to her father; Gelric grabs her arm to stop her.
"Let me go!" Belyssa stomps on Gelric boot.
"Hey! Ouch Milady!" Gelric shouts
Bryce turns to see his daughter struggling with the other man. The Commander stops him.
"Milord we need to make sure she is alright with no cuts and none of the darkspawn blood is on her."
"He is not a Lord; he is the Teyrn of Highever, Bryce Cousland our father!" Fergus informs everyone.
"My apologies."
Bryce nods, "Apologies are not needed, Commander. Thank you for assistance. Can we check my daughter here, if her mother hears Pup screams again, she will attack us all I fear."
"Gelric bring the Lady Cousland here."
I am trying Commander; however, I now see firsthand why she was able to kill the genlock. Ouch!
And she bites in addition to all her foot stomping and kicking!"
"Pup, stop that right now. These men are trying to help you!" Bryce shouts at his daughter
Belyssa lets go of Gelric hands, but not before she leaves a very good teeth impression on his arm and hand. "Yes, Papa!" She then give Gelric her best "Eleanor Cousland" glare, reminding Bryce of how much she is like her mother and he can't help but smile at his daughter. "Now you got me into more trouble." Belyssa adds her best pout to her glare at Gelric.
Gelric looks to the Commander pleading for help. Duncan walks over to where they are standing, as a few more other armed men come into the area and nod at the Commander. Duncan then kneels down in front of Belyssa.
"Milady please do not bite, kick or stomp on my feet. We need to see if you were injured from your encounter with the darkspawn."
"Darkspawn?"
"The creature you killed is a darkspawn, more specifically a Genlock."
"A Genlock?"
"Yes"
"Who are you?"
"I am Duncan, Commander of the Grey Wardens here in Ferelden. We are sworn to fight the darkspawn."
"I am Belyssa Jae Cousland." Belyssa then introduces her brother and Squire Gilmore to Duncan. He nods and begins to look over her for any visible cuts.
"Why are you doing this?"
"I am making sure you are unhurt." Duncan then turns the Teyrn.
"We need to remover her clothing."
"WHAT! NO Papa!"
"I am sorry; however, we must your clothing is beyond repair."
"My clothing or the blood of the Genlock is really that bad?"
"The blood."
"Why?"
"Do you not see it that is black that is not good."
"I think you are not telling me everything."
Duncan smiles at Belyssa's cleverness.
"What is the Commander doing?" one of the other Wardens asks
"I think he is smiling" answers Gelric
Duncan closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose; he then looks to the Teyrn.
"Pup, do as the Commander asks."
"Alright Papa, however everyone but you and Duncan must turn around."
"Fair enough." answers Duncan
Fergus rolls his eyes as he turns, followed by a smirking Rory. The other Warden looks amused at her request and continue to look on.
"I said, TURN AROUND NOW!"
"Brothers I would do as she asks-this girl kicks, bites and stomps on feet not to mention she DID just kill that Genlock." Gelric makes a dramatic show of turning around and the other Wardens follow suit. Remarkably Belyssa has no major injuries, just some minor cuts and bruises from running in the woods. Duncan nods to the Teyrn and suggests that he should burn his daughters clothing and give her bath now in the nearby stream.
Bryce sends Squire Gilmore and the soldiers back to his wife so they can inform her that all is well and he will explain everything later. An Elven Warden gives Bryce what is needed to tend to his daughter in addition to giving him a tunic he can dress his daughter in. While he quietly cleaning his daughter, she asks "Papa, I am sorry I did not mean to go further into the woods. Am I in trouble?"
"Yes Pup you are, let's just get back to your mother for now." Belyssa nods and then ran to catch-up to her brother; she tugs on Fergus' pant leg until he stops and looks down at her. Belyssa looks up at her brother with tears beginning to form in her blue eyes.
"I am sorry Gus, I did not mean to...-
Fergus kneels down in front of his sister and in an angrier voice than he originally intended, (but he was very angry at his sister) and lost his temper as he spoke to her. "Well you did Bliss. First you wonder off after Father told you not do so and then we all hear you screaming loudly in the woods to finally find you standing in a pool of black DARKSPAWN BLOOD!" When Fergus finished yelling, his face was red and his hands shaking in anger as he stared at his sister.
"Like you care, you are just mad that Mother made you look for me I heard what you said to Rory. You would have liked it better if that sword was sticking out of my BACK!" Belyssa screamed right back at her brother, her face flushed with emotion and blue eyes sparkling. She then looks around to run and hide but refuses to give her brother the satisfaction so she turns and leaps into Duncan's arms and cries on his shoulder. The hardened Commander of the Grey has no experience with children and now he has a crying little girl in his arms. Around him he can hear the soft concealed snickering behind his back from his Wardens.
Bryce was not so surprised by the children outbursts, considering what happened. He was surprised that his youngest ran into Duncan's arms until he realizes that Duncan was the only person that had been kind to her recently. Fergus looks at his Father still in shock from his sister words.
"Father, I don't-"
"Not, now Fergus, We are all tense, let's just get back to your Mother. She must be twisted into knots waiting for our return."
"Milady come with me." Rory tries to get Belyssa away from Duncan.
"No, you feel the same way my brother does."
"Milady, I do not feel that way and neither does Milord Cousland."
"I do not believe you!"
"I will stay with Duncan, even though he feels cold."
"Cold? What do you mean?" Duncan asks Belyssa.
"You and the other Wardens are not warm like Papa or even my brother and Rory. Why is that?"
All Wardens look at each other and to Duncan. Alarmed at the reactions, Bryce walks over and takes his daughter out of Duncan's arms.
"No Papa, I want Duncan. You hate me like, Fergus."
"No Pup, we don't hate you my "Darling Daughter" we love you very much and you gave us a really big scare. We thought we might lose you forever and our hearts would break if that happened. That is why your brother and I are upset with you. You scared us greatly and nobody likes to be frightened. As I said before you are my "Darling Daughter" and Fergus is my "Little Solider" and thought of never seeing your smiling faces would break mine and your Mothers hearts."
"I do not understand, Papa."
"In time Pup you will." Bryce kisses his daughters forehead.
"Now what did you mean when you said, Duncan feels different?"
"I do not know, it is just a feeling in here, Papa." Belyssa points to his chest.
"How did you find me?" Duncan asked
"I was not looking for you; I was trying to find the sun-
"The sun?" Gelric asked
"Yes the sun."
"Are you sure?" Gelric continued
"Do you want me to tell you what happened or not?"
"By all means, Milady." Duncan interjected
Bryce groaned, she is her mother's child.
"I was just on the other side of the bushes feeling cold (glaring Gelric), then I heard my brother and Rory talking."
Bryce thought Oh Maker! Fergus you stepped into this time with your sister. She is very much like your mother; it may take months for Belyssa to forgive you.
"After that, I ran off and then I found you fighting the Genlock (Belyssa said the darkspawn name slowly to pronounce it correctly) when it looked at me and I screamed and it starting chasing me, I turned to run to you Papa but I thought it would hurt you and Mother so I ran in this area instead to take it away from you. I tripped over a small sword and him (pointing at Gelric) the Genlock was close so I picked up the small sword to fight it."
"Where would a little girl learn to fight?" Gelric asked
Bryce was shaking his head as he watched is daughter give Gelric one her Mother's icier stares.
"I watch the soldiers practice every day, I did what they did."
"So, that I understand you Milady." Duncan was now speaking.
"You had not disobeyed your Father and wandered off, until you heard your brother's complaining (looking pointedly at Fergus) and his words hurt your feelings so you then let your curiosity get the better of you and then you found me fighting the Genlock. While running away you lead it away from your family to protect them."
Belyssa nods in agreement and then says
"What is curiosity?"
Duncan chuckles and replies
"It means going where you should not, Milady."
"Oh!" Belyssa's eyes going wide and she frowns.
"Sod it!"
"Belyssa Jae Cousland!"
"Sorry Papa, I just remembered I wanted to keep the small sword I used to kill the Genlock."
"That is called a dagger, not a small sword which is why you were able to lift it."
"How does a dagger could do so much damage?" asked Fergus
"It has special runes on it to harm darkspawn." answered Gelric.
"Wow, I did not know there was magic like that, so Papa instead of a sword for my birthday, can I have a dagger?"
"ABSOLUTELY NOT! young lady."
"Oh Mama!"
