Chapter 2 - Teyrnir
AN: Okay folks, welcome to chapter 2. Just as a matter of business before we start here, you'll be noticing that this second chapter is being posted half a week after the first chapter. This will only be the case for the first four chapters, which are meant to be quick introductions to the Wardens' characters and personalities. After this we'll get into the actual plot of the game, and I'll be writing significantly longer chapters. Once we get to that point I'll be updating once a week, on Wednesdays. But for now I thought the short chapters I've got aren't enough to satisfy readers if I post them once a week only. So just a heads up.
Also, my main goal here is to write this story in a way that even people that haven't played the game can enjoy the story. So if you think I'm succeeding at that or not as we go along, let me know.
High blow. Block. Divert. Strike.
Low blow. Parry. Thrust.
Uppercut. Deflect. Pommel strike. Trip.
Like so many times before, Ser Gilmore found himself flat on his back in the dusty training grounds of Castle Highever, the point of an oversized greatsword waster aimed directly at his neck.
"Ow," he groaned. "I think we need new padding on the training armor, my lord."
"I did not hit you that hard," Aedan Cousland said, reaching down to help his friend back onto his feet. "You just tripped. Awful clumsy of you."
"Yes," Ser Gilmore said, sardonically. "How dare I trip over that foot you put behind my ankle."
"I am your lord after all," Aedan said. "This is my damn ground, I put my feet where I want. It's your business to know where my feet are at all times."
"I refuse to do that," Ser Gilmore said. "I know what your feet get up to at night."
The two men stared each other down. Finally, they broke into guffaws.
"As if you didn't wish your feet were up to the same thing at night," Aedan said. "Speaking of which."
He gestured over to the small group of girls that had gathered along the fence surrounding the training grounds. Aedan pointed one out in particular. He didn't recognize her, but she looked like a servant. She had flaming red hair, done up in a pair of braids, held back by a white cloth covering her head. Her face was fairly heavily freckled, most people would consider it unattractive, but to Aedan it was just another feature, no better or worse than if she had big breasts or small breasts. In her case her noticeably large bosom helped her attractiveness significantly. Her clothes were well maintained, the servants in Highever were well taken care of, and modestly cut. Smart girl, he thought, she's heard about the Teyrn's youngest son and wasn't trying to attract any attention. Or at least, not Aedan's attention that was.
She was watching Ser Gilmore, trying not to be obvious about it, but to Aedan's experienced eye she may as well have been holding a sign with Ser Gilmore's face painted on it above her head.
"I think that one fancies you," Aedan said to Gilmore.
"Right," Gilmore said. "She fancies me, and not the dashing Teyrn's son."
"No I'm quite sure," Aedan said. "She's been watching you this whole time. You should have seen her expression when you went down. Quite worried she was. Also, thank you for the compliment."
"What, really?" Gilmore started to turn to look at her. Aedan grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
"Don't turn around, she'll see you looking at her."
Ser Gilmore was a loyal retainer, and one of Aedan's best friends. Few men could match the respect owed to a Teyrn's son, with the willingness to actually try to defeat him during training. And to talk back to him when it was needed.
"Look," Aedan said. "She's obviously interested in you. And that means she's a smart girl. She's interested in you, not me. Means she's looking for something stable, something more than a one night roll in the Antivan silk. You should go talk to her. Maybe if things work out there will be a litter of red haired brats running around." Aedan smirked. "And if not, then let me know. I can only say no to a pair of breasts like that for so long."
He laughed at Ser Gilmore's expression. "I'm joking," Aedan said. "But do go talk to her before someone less considerate swoops her up. Like drunk me. He's an ass. And I hear he's coming to visit this evening."
Aedan gave Ser Gilmore a light shove in the direction of the girl. He watched for a moment as Gilmore approached her. Aedan could read their body language. Gilmore was nervous. The girl was surprised, and doubly nervous. Aedan left it at that, he had his own admirers to attend to.
—-
Dinnertime arrived and drunk Aedan had not made an appearance yet. But he did have an after dinner appointment with a perky blonde, whose breasts rivaled those of Gilmore's girl, and who had no reservations about flaunting her assets in front of Aedan. He was a weak man, and he knew it. A little bare skin and he was easily molded wax in a woman's hands. This one in particular knew the effectiveness of her expanse of creamy skin, and made sure that it was in full view of him at all times as they were talking.
He would have to put thoughts of her aside until after dinner. Somehow Mother could tell when his mind was lingering on a woman. And the Teyrna could scold with the best of them. No point in denying it, she would say. She knew what he was thinking.
Dinner was gamefowl, pheasant Aedan believed. Normally he would have paid a great deal more attention to the food. But not tonight. Tonight he was focused on the discussion between his father and elder brother.
"Are the troops organized?" Teyrn Bryce Cousland was asking Fergus.
"They are, father," Fergus answered. "Ready and waiting for Arl Howe's forces."
Bryce turned to Aedan. "And how about you, pup. Is everything in order with the castle for our departure?"
For a moment Aedan hoped that the 'our' was referring to the three of them. Then reality set in and he sighed.
"Yes father," he said. "Everything is ready and in order for me to run it into the ground."
"Aedan," Eleanor, his mother, scolded.
"Don't mind him mother," Fergus laughed. "At worst there will just be significantly fewer virgins in the Teyrnir by the time we get back."
Aedan chuckled as Oriana, Fergus' wife, scolded her husband.
"What's a virgin?" Oren, Fergus' son, asked.
"An unmarried woman," Aedan answered, choosing the most diplomatic answer that Oren would still understand.
"Are you going to be marrying a lot of women then, Uncle?"
"If only," Eleanor muttered. "I'd settle for him marrying just one."
"Come now, mother," Aedan said. "Eventually I'll be married. What's a little fun before that blessed day?"
"Aedan," Eleanor sighed.
"Leave him be mother, he'll find the right woman soon enough. He's certainly spending enough of his time looking." Fergus commented.
"And then some," Aedan added.
Twin admonishments of "Aedan!" and "Fergus!" came from both women at the table. Bryce just shook his head, but could not keep himself from laughing.
"I still think you should meet with the Montilyet's," Oriana commented. "Their eldest daughter is almost of age. They have a strong trading business she will be inheriting. You could do a lot worse than that."
"Well, yes," Aedan muttered. "It's the 'almost of age' part that bothers me."
"Obviously you'd wait until she is old enough to be married," Oriana said.
"I'm really not interested in someone younger than me," Aedan said.
"Don't let Arl Eamon hear you say that," Bryce said. The family chuckled, with the exception of Oren who maintained the slightly confused expression he had the entire conversation.
"Well that's different," Aedan said. "They didn't meet until after Lady Isolde was an adult."
"You could wait until after Josephine is of age if you would prefer," Oriana said. Aedan sighed.
"I like Josephine," Oren said. "She's nice."
Aedan placed his head on the table and groaned. Everyone else laughed, at his expense no less.
"Don't worry, father," Aedan said, raising his head from the table. "The castle will still be standing by the time you get back. Though I would much rather face the darkspawn. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the actual heir stay behind and run the Teyrnir? I'm the one you spent all that effort teaching military tactics and combat to. Let me lead our armies in Fergus' stead."
At the other end of the table Fergus was chuckling, though Oriana was nodding her head fervently to what Aedan was saying.
"You know Fergus needs to lead the men," Bryce said. "A Teyrn needs to have the confidence of his men, the only way to do that is by actually leading them. By sharing in their danger."
"But leading the armies is going to be my job," Aedan said.
"I can't have you earning the entire army's confidence," Fergus said. "Otherwise you'll steal my whole army out from under me."
"But it's a blight!" Aedan slammed his palm against the table. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Maker willing. I could either be 'Aedan Cousland, who led the charge of the Highever forces against the darkspawn', or I could be 'Aedan Cousland, who remained behind minding his family's castle while nothing interesting happened'."
"Be that as it may," Bryce said. "I can't go risking both my heirs…"
"You do have three heirs, father," Aedan pointed out. "I'm quite certain Oren is also higher in the line of succession than I am."
"Again," Bryce continued. "Be that as it may, you will remain in Highever and look after our people."
"Of course," Aedan sighed. "I will do this. I'm just not going to like it much."
"I know," Bryce smiled. "But you're a Cousland. You know your duty like we all do."
AN: For those unaware, a waster is a wooden training sword, that was used in place of real swords or metal training swords in medieval times as a less expensive alternative and to keep actual swords from being blunted.
Reviews:
The Poarter – Unfortunately the classes and genders of the characters were set long before I posted the first chapter. But I hope you like my choices anyway.
rizaswan – Hope you love this one too. And I apologize upfront for how long it's going to take for Morrigan to show up. Fortunately, new chapters are going to be consistently released so we won't get through just a couple origins and then I give up and leave you wondering forever what the Cousland/Morrigan chapters would be like.
Maryz – Okay, whew, this is going to take a while to respond to. But for starters, your review really made me smile. If only all reviews were this long. Also, first review huh? Makes me feel all special.
I'm glad that you enjoy my fics, and that you were looking forward to this one. And it is nice to find a writer that has your same pairing preferences isn't it? I really like the default names, and I'm terrible at thinking up new names. Honestly I'm not really sure how I decide genders. I just end up choosing what makes the most sense to me. So far for this story it's male Mahariel, Female Tabris, Male Cousland, Male Amel, Male Aeducan, Female Surana, and Female Brosca.
People keep telling me that I write characters in character, so I'm assuming I'm doing something right. Unless there is a worldwide conspiracy to make me thing I'm good when I'm not. XD
But yeah, honestly for me there's little point in writing a character if I don't keep them in character.
Right now, for the sake of this story, I've only got one Amel. Of course we know from DA2 that Daylen has siblings that are mages. That may come into play at some point later. But right now I haven't really thought up any siblings.
Tamlen will get some development in future chapters. And yeah, I thought of some fun ideas using Merrill later on, and for now I just kinda like the idea of the pairing. I dunno, I've got some ideas. When exactly they'll be written is under debate right now.
As far as Kallian and her upcoming marriage. The first four chapters are meant to be pre-game and are there to just be little character pieces and won't really deal with anything from the game until we get to the actual origin chapters. As far as her having notoriety, the idea is that her face is covered so no one knows who she is. But it will come into play later on. Basically this is my way of trying to make some changes to make this more than just another complete retelling. There will be some differences from the game and this story.
As far as Cailan's greeting goes. You'll see.
Cailan is an interesting character, I like how he's portrayed in game in a way that you can make up your own mind as to whether he's a complete fool or what.
Again, thanks for the review, I loved reading through it several times.
The Cynical Prince – Nah, this story is in a different continuity. Though, the personality of Morrigan and Aedan will pretty much match up to that story as well.