Chapter 2
Zevran could not blame Teagan and Wynne for their reaction to Madeline Cousland. With the exception of her hair being longer, she was the spitting image of Elissa. She was beautiful and obviously just as formidable as her sister was. Except for a faint limp, he saw nothing that indicated Madeline was crippled and given the way she had him on the ground, it was obvious she wasn't.
"I look like a ghost?"
"Forgive us my lady." Teagan said. "You look just like her."
"Like who?"
"Your sister." Wynne said
"I have never seen my sister." Madeline said in an icy tone. "So I wouldn't know and considering she's dead now, it does not matter."
Teagan and Wynne glanced at worriedly each other."
"I beg your pardon for asking this but how much are you aware of what happened to Highever and your family?" Wynne asked
"I know the Couslands were slaughtered." Madeline said. "Some of those men came here and tried to kill me."
"Am I to assume they are no longer with us?Teagan asked.
"I killed them of course."Madeline gave them a tight smile. "My aunt had me well trained."
"How many of Howe's men were there?" Teagan asked.
"There were about a dozen." Madeline replied. "I think they were expecting to find me a bedridden invalid or something. I can still see the shocked look on their faces before one of my blades gutted them. After I dealt with them, their bodies were looted of their armor and gear before being burned. My aunt said to always loot those that tried to kill you."
"We don't know how to tell you this but your sister survived your family's massacre." Wynne said. "She was saved by a Grey Warden and ultimately became one herself."
"Well give her my regards." Madeline said as she turned away.
"Your sister died Madeline." Wynne said. "She was the one who ended the Blight. She killed the archdemon and saved Ferelden."
Zevran studied Madeline's face for any sort of reaction and wasn't surprised when she didn't have any.
"I will say a prayer for her tonight before I go to bed."
"It was her last wish that the teyrnir be restored to you." Teagan said.
"I'm not interested in the teyrnir."
"But you are likely the last Cousland." Wynne said. "There is a search going on for your brother but we are not holding much hope."
"The Cousland name has no meaning to me." Madeline said. "When I was born my parents wrote me off as a cripple and sent me away because of the embarrassment of having a flawed child was just too much for them to bear. I was fortunate enough to be raised by an aunt who believed in me. She took care of me and had physicians and mages treat me. So you will have to excuse me for not shedding any tears and having no interest in reclaiming the family legacy. The only people who mean something to me are here in Harpers Ford. They are my family."
"I am sorry if we have offended you." Teagan looked as if he wished he was somewhere else.
"You did not offend me your grace. It's obvious you were not fully aware of my family history. And while it's touching that you want to see my sister's wish fulfilled, I am sorry but that is not going to happen. Give the teyrnir to someone who wants it."
"Aside from that…the king also inquired if your people needed any aid." Teagan handed her the decree. "And since you are bann here, you are the person to ask."
"My being bann is only temporary." Madeline crumpled the parchment. "We are searching for Bann Mitchell's son."
"What happened to Bann Mitchell?"
"He was killed when a band of darkspawn came upon his land." Madeline looked down at the ground. "He thought… he could handle them. The people appointed me bann afterwards."
"Well no matter, the offer still stands. Is there any sort of aid you require?"
"I certainly won't refuse aid from the crown." Madeline smiled. "We could use some horses or oxen, some new farming equipment, and some other things. I shall write a list that you can take with you when you leave in the morning."
"I beg your pardon."
"Its getting late and I insist you stay overnight at my estate. You've traveled a good distance to talk to me and it would be rude if I did not offer you accommodations for the night. You will have a proper meal and get the rest you need for the journey back in the morning and your guards can stay at the barracks."
"Thank you." Relief emanated from Wynne's face. "That's very kind of you."
"See that side road over there?" Madeline asked. "It will take you directly to the estate. Just knock on the door. If a handsome man with brown hair answers, that's my best friend Byron. Just tell them I sent you, he will have one of the servants set you up with some rooms. I will be there shortly."
Zevran watched her walk away with Caleb.
"I just can't get over the resemblance." Teagan said. "It's like she…never died."
"Madeline is not Elissa my friend." Zevran said. "And I think it's for the best we do not bring up Elissa or the Couslands very much while we are here."
"She certainly harbors a great deal of anger over being sent away." Wynne said.
"Can you blame her?" Zevran asked. "Her family cast her aside. We can't force her to take something that has no meaning for her."
"Madeline certainly shares her sister's generous spirit." Teagan said. "She didn't have to invite us to spend the night."
"Which is why we should tread lightly." Zevran said. "We certainly do not want
to get on her bad side.
. . . . . .
Two hours later after settling in their rooms; Teagan, Wynne, and Zevran were sitting in the dining room table with Byron when Madeline entered the room.
"Elis… I mean Madeline. You look lovely." Teagan got up and helped her to her chair.
Madeline had change from her armor into an elegant green velvet dress that brought out the red highlights in her hair.
"Thank your grace." She bowed her head.
"Please. Call me Teagan."
"Alright Teagan. Just as long as you remember that my name is Madeline.
"Of course." Teagan's face turned pink from embarrassment.
"I trust your rooms are to your satisfaction." Madeline sat down and rang the bell. A few minutes later some servants came in carrying the food.
"They are." Zevran gave a polite nod. "It will be nice to sleep in a bed tonight."
He was sitting next to Byron who just gave him the most smoldering smile he has ever received.
"I love your tattoos." He poured Zevran a glass of wine. "I would so love to paint your portrait one day."
"Byron is a brilliant artist." Madeline beamed. "You really should let him paint you Zevran."
"And Maddie has a beautiful voice." Byron winked at her. "Maybe one day she will sing for you."
Zevran watched in amusement as Madeline tore a piece of bread and playfully threw it Byron who only laughed at her.
"Thank you." Zevran suddenly felt Byron's hand on his leg. "Perhaps the next time I visit Harpers Ford I will take you up on your offer."
Byron reached over and whispered in his ear. "You will be naked of course."
Zevran tried not squirm in his chair as Byron rubbed his thigh.
"So you can sing?" Wynne looked at her, trying to find any sort of opening. "I don't recall your sister singing."
"No she couldn't. Leliana tried to get to sing that one and immediately told her stop." Zevran immediately regretted rehashing old memories when seeing the frown on Madeline's face.
"I've been told I can carry a tune. And I humbly beg your pardon for having a talent my sister lacked. Maker forgive the injustice!" Madeline said in an exasperated tone.
"Your sister touched all of our lives Madeline." Wynne took the plate from the servant. "She truly regretted not having you in her life and wanted you to rightfully take your place as the new Teyrna of Highever."
"If Elissa truly wanted to get to know me, she could have made the trip here." Madeline set the bottle of wine on the table. "And as I stated before I have no interest in reclaiming the teyrnir and I would rather not discuss that."
"Madeline I know your parents hurt you but think of how you can prove them wrong if you took the teyrnir. You can show Ferelden what you are made of."
"I said I am not interested." Madeline threw her fork back on the plate and glared at Wynne. "My parents cast me aside! I was their shame they kept hidden. They could not even name me. My Aunt Lydia was the one who named me. Why would I want to reclaim something from a family that did not want me around to begin with? And I don't need to prove myself to anybody."
Wynne looked liked she wished she was somewhere else.
"I have no desire to rule Highever. I'm not even comfortable being bann." Madeline continued.
"So I guess that means you want be attending the Denerim Court." Teagan shook his head when the servant offered him the asparagus dish.
"I would rather kill more of those…creatures than attend court. I intend to appoint an appropriate representative when the need comes."
"I was never one for court myself." Teagan chuckled at Madeline's statement. "Unfortunately since becoming arl, I will be forced to put in an appearance from time to time."
"Before I forget, here is my list." Madeline reached in her pocket and handed Teagan a folded piece of parchment.
"Thank you. I was also wondering if we could get together at another date and discuss a possible exchange of resources between Redcliffe, Rainesfere and Harpers Ford." Teagan's eyes met hers.
"I think we can arrange something."
"I'm glad. We all need to work together to rebuild."
"I definitely agree."
Madeline stood up then pushed her chair aside. "If you will excuse me, I am going to go for walk. I suddenly don't have an appetite."
"You have to excuse Maddie." Byron said in apologetic tone once she was out of the room. "Her family history is really a sore spot for her."
"And you have to forgive Wynne here for crossing that line when Madeline has been nothing but generous with her hospitality."
Zevran helped himself to more of the roast, relishing how embarrassed Wynne looked.
. . . . . . .
A few hours later Zevran was lounging in a chair in his room when someone knocked on his door. He opened it to find Madeline smiling at him.
"I brought you something." She handed him a bottle.
"Antivan brandy!" Zevran could have hugged her at that very moment. "You can't even begin to know how long it's been my lady. Thank you."
"It's my pleasure. I figure you can share it with Byron tonight."
"And what makes you assume I'm going to be with Byron?"
"Don't be coy with me Zevran." Madeline laughed. "I saw the way you looked at each other. And he had his hand on your leg during supper."
Zevran could not deny that Byron was handsome. He had brown hair which he kept in a small ponytail,piercing blue eyes that looked right through him and he was the epitome of masculine perfection. It was also obvious that Byron and Madeline had a very close friendship so he restrained himself when feeling his hand touch him but could not help but be a little aroused by Byron's unabashed overtures.
"And what would you say if I wanted to enjoy a night with your friend?"
"I would say, have fun."
Madeline flashed him a small grin, bowed, and then headed back down the stairs.
She definitely was not Elissa. While there were flashes of Elissa in her, Madeline was definitely cut from a different piece of cloth.
It amused him when Wynne tried to broach the subject of the teyrnir during supper tonight and Madeline would not hear it. It was an enjoyable spectacle seeing someone not put up with Wynne's diatribes.
Teagan had far more self control when dealing with Madeline. He almost did call her Elissa once, and there were a couple of times Zevran caught him glancing at her when she wasn't looking. But other than that, he was the quintessential gentleman. Zevran couldn't help but find those looks he gave Madeline a bit strange since Elissa gave no indication that she considered Teagan anything more than a friend. There was something to them but perhaps he was reading too much into it because everyone was mourning Elissa in their own personal way.
Holding the bottle, Zevran shut his door and gingerly walked over to Byron who was waiting down the hall for him.
….