Chapter 2 : Highever
Lyssa Cousland struck quickly with her right hand, the dulled blade passing within an inch of Ser Gilmore's heavy armor. Ser Gilmore stared wide eyed at the thrust as Lyssa spoke to him.
"Well you've found half the danger," Lyssa said, glancing at the dulled blade she had stopped just short of piercing Sir Gilmore's abdomen. "That's not the one you should be worried about. That isn't a killing blow. It would surely injure you, yes, but it's the one up at your neck you should be concerned about," she said with a wry smile.
Ser Gilmore jumped backward as he realized she had managed a feint which left his neck extremely vulnerable to her daggers. It didn't matter how many times he had dueled her, he still could not believe how fast she was with those daggers. He often thought that were Lyssa the man of the house, instead of Fergus, she would make a formidable Teyrn indeed, possibly commanding all the forces in Ferelden in the service of the king.
But she was not a man. She was a woman, and she was painfully beautiful. Ser Gilmore used to think it was her beauty which gave her an edge in battle. It was not often you confront a foe with a face like that. But he had decided long ago that that thought was unfair and did not give Lyssa the credit she deserved. He felt bad for all the nobles who came to court her. He had known her for years and knew she had no tolerance for the gentry, in particular the titled men who strutted about in their estates letting others do their fighting for them.
She always said, "If you are man enough to start a war, then you should be man enough to fight in it."
The soldiers admired her greatly, even more so than her brother, Fergus. It was often whispered in the barracks that the men would follow Lyssa Cousland to their deaths willingly if she asked. Ser Gilmore had been in love with her for years, but had never had the courage to do anything about it. He watched her stand and put away the dulled practice daggers. She crossed her wrists at her chest and bowed slightly, just as anyone would to a king. Gilmore blushed at the gesture of respect and returned it. She smiled brightly at him and he felt the corners of his mouth turning up. One could not help but smile back at Lyssa if she so rewarded you, he thought.
As Lyssa turned to gather her things, Ser Gilmore took the opportunity to take in the sight of her in private. Her hair was the color of rich honey. It was long and shined in the light of the sun like a golden helm. She wore it tightly in a bun at the back of her head so she could easily wear a helmet if she needed to. Her eyes were the color of the deepest waters of Lake Calenhad on a clear day. She was tall, as most of the women from Highever are. You would not expect her to be a good rogue fighter at her height, but she was lean and strong. She was not too skinny either, he thought. But she was as tough as her Mabari hound. Even without her blades, many bigger men had been bested by her. Her skin was bronzed from practically living in the battlefields from the time she could carry a blade. No fair noble Lyssa, Gilmore thought. She was not ashamed that her skin was the radiant golden color of the working class men and women of Highever. In fact, Ser Gilmore was fairly certain she was proud of it.
Lyssa finished gathering her pack and before she turned around Ser Gilmore managed to tear his appreciative gaze away from her and stare casually at his sword.
"Don't pout Gilly, you'll get it someday," Lyssa said misunderstanding Gilmore's distressed look, "It doesn't really matter does it? You've managed to attract the attentions of the Grey Wardens! Surely that is something to shout about, yes?"
Lyssa hooked her arm into his and squeezed his hand in a friendly manner.
"I envy you, Gilly, I don't think you even know how much," Lyssa said wistfully.
Gilmore blushed from the casual contact and wondered if Lyssa just thought he had a naturally ruddy complexion since there didn't seem to be a moment when he wasn't blushing around her.
"You want to be a Grey Warden? Surely if they are recruiting me then they would recruit you as well," Gilmore stated excitedly. If he could join the Grey Wardens with Lyssa at his side the nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach would surely go away. He knew of several recruits who were never heard from again after the joining ritual. It was widely believed that the joining was very likely deadly to some. But if Lyssa is by my side, he thought, I could pass it for her.
As if she had read his mind, Lyssa said, "Father won't even let me speak of it. I suspect that means the rumors about the joining are true, and that you could die simply trying to become a Grey Warden. Not to mention you'll be spending the rest of your life dedicated to fighting the darkspawn. That in itself is a risky venture to be sure. But I can think of no better way to serve the people than to help defeat the darkspawn. And Father thinks the Grey Wardens may be right, and we may indeed be on the verge of another blight.
"Think of it Gilly, you could really do some good in this world," Lyssa sighed as she gazed up into the clear blue sky of the courtyard.
"You know Lyssa, I think you may possibly be the only person I know who feels so much so," Gilmore said, fumbling for the words he wanted so desperately to say to gain Lyssa's favor.
"Oh Gilly, surely the other Grey Wardens feel as I do, and... you as well. You are joining aren't you?"
"Of course," Gilmore said emphatically, not realizing he had spoken so loudly. "I apologize, my la... Lyssa," he corrected himself at her stern glare.
"They should be here now, should they not?" she asked.
"Oh... Oh yes, we'd better get going. Your father will be most angry if I am not there when the Grey Warden arrives… and, by the way… from what I hear, Arl Howe has arrived as well," Gilmore trailed off, knowing full well Lyssa's mood would only be fouled by this news. But he also knew well enough that if he didn't tell her and she came upon Howe without warning she would be even angrier.
"Ugh, I do not like that man. His unctuous demeanor makes me feel dirty all over. I need to bathe in scalding water after he leaves just to make the feeling go away. He'll probably ask if I want to meet his son again. Howe disgusts me."
"I don't quite understand why. He is a friend of your father's. They fought together at the battle of White River. Surely he means you no ill," Gilmore said tentatively.
"I don't know what it is Gilly, I do not trust the man. He just, I don't know. And mother has told me some stories... but it would be terribly rude to repeat them. Thanks for telling me anyway. At least I'll be ready for him."
Lyssa headed into the castle with Ser Gilmore trailing behind her. He noticed she didn't stop to clean up before meeting the Grey Wardens and smiled.
Perhaps once I am a Grey Warden, he thought, I will have the courage to tell her how I feel.
The two headed through the castle until they arrived at the throne room. Gilmore cringed slightly when he realized the Grey Warden, Duncan, had already arrived. Arl Howe was also in the room and they were discussing something.
Lyssa walked up to her father and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"I'm sorry father, I lost track of time while training Ser Gilmore and have made him late for this meeting. I do apologize," she said graciously.
"That's alright pup, we've just been catching up on a few things. I'd like you to meet Duncan of the Grey Wardens. He is here, as I am sure you know, to recruit Ser Gilmore into the order. And of course you know the Arl," Teyrn Bryce Cousland said while giving his daughter a gentle hug.
Lyssa turned to the Grey Warden and ignored the Arl.
"It is very nice to meet you. Actually, I have been looking forward to it all day," she said and smiled warmly.
Duncan stared at the young woman for a moment. Unable to stop himself, he returned her smile and was reminded of a young Eleanor, Bryce's wife and the Teyrna of Highever. She was so like her mother, only her eyes were those of her father. They held the same fierce quality that the Teyrn's did.
"Well it is certainly a pleasure to meet you as well," Duncan replied just as warmly.
"Good afternoon, my lady. It is lovely as always to see you. I was just remarking to my son that you get lovelier with each passing day. He so wishes to meet you," Arl Howe said bowing slightly with his greeting.
Lyssa turned to him and spoke coolly, "Looks are not all there is to me, as I am sure you know. I do not wish to be courted by someone who is merely interested in a pretty accessory to take with them to formal engagements."
Duncan hid a smile behind his hand. She was more like her mother than she probably knew, he thought. As he recalled, the Teyrn had quite the time courting Eleanor as well.
"Oh pup," the Teyrn sighed as he hugged her tight. "I am sorry, Howe, but as you see, she is a handful. I don't know that I could curse your son with meeting her. She's sent many a suitor away in tears," the Teyrn said genially.
"I take no offense. I'll just let my son know persistence may be in order. The best ones are always the hardest to get," Howe said.
Lyssa stared coldly at him and she could swear that when her father looked away from Howe, he leered at her.
"Well, since you've met Ser Gilmore, we might as well finish our conversation. Shall we retire to the study to discuss this?" the Teyrn asked Duncan.
Lyssa opened her mouth to protest, "But father, I wished to speak to the Grey Warden. I was hoping to...,"
"You should find Fergus, pup. I need to tell him he is to leave tonight to be on his way to Ostagar. Our forces are needed there now, so we cannot delay," the Teyrn interrupted his daughter hastily. Duncan noted the worried look on the Teyrn's face.
"But father...," Lyssa protested.
"No buts, pup. You can take Ser Gilmore with you, we will call for him when we are ready to speak to him." The tone in her father's voice was left no doubt that the matter was closed. She bowed briefly to everyone then left.
As Lyssa exited the throne room she passed by some of Arl Howe's men.
"Lady Cousland, I hear you will be staying here after your brother and your father leave, is that true?"
What a strange question for Howe's men to ask, Lyssa thought.
"Yes," she said hesitantly.
The soldiers looked at each other smiling. One turned back toward Lyssa and smirked at her. Lyssa was taken by surprise and turned away. Normally she would have shot them a cold glare, but never had soldiers treated her badly. Were even Howe's men disgusting, she wondered.
Lyssa sullenly walked up the hall toward the kitchen when Ser Gilmore caught up with her. He grabbed her arm and spun her around, a big grin on his face.
"Duncan, the Grey Warden, he took me aside just now. He told me to tell you that he is going to be staying for a couple of days. He said he would be happy to speak with you tomorrow at dinner!"
Just as Gilmore had hoped, Lyssa's face lit up with a big grin.
"He did?!? Oh Gilly that's wonderful!"
She pulled Gilmore to her in a tight embrace. Gilmore felt the blush creep up his face all the way to the tips of his ears. He was so glad he lingered just a few seconds longer and that the Warden had caught his eye.
Lyssa kissed him on the lips. Gilmore didn't think it was possible to blush any harder, but he felt as if his face was on fire. The kiss was friendly, not romantic. It was an outburst of pure joy, and he knew it, but he didn't care.
"Let's go find Fergus and tell him, I bet he'll be jealous," she said happily.
She grabbed Gilmore's hand and pulled him down the hall. Just as they were rounding the corner a loud wailing erupted ahead.
"Damnation! I bet that's Moby. He's probably in the larder again. I've been ignoring him all day. He's probably taking it out on Nan," Lyssa said stopping short, "She'll be furious with me. We'd better go get him first before we go up to Fergus' room."
"Yes, or Nan will never let us hear the end of it, that's for sure," Gilmore said, reluctantly releasing her hand as she turned to go to the kitchen. He sighed heavily and hurried to catch up to her.
When they got to the kitchen, they found two elf servants were trying to calm Nan, the Cousland housekeeper and cook. Nan was an older woman, but she still had a lot of fire in her.
"There you are. That mangy mutt of yours came bounding in here. He's like to wake Andraste herself from the grave with the ruckus he's causing. If I've told you once I've told you a thousand times keep him outta my kitchen!" Nan said at the top of her lungs.
"Nan," Lyssa said, "I think you'll be the one to wake Andraste," Lyssa teased.
"You stop sassing me and get in there and get that mutt of yours before he eats everything in the larder. We have guests, we can't be feeding them your fleabag's leftovers," Nan said sternly, though her voice had softened somewhat.
"Okay, I'm going, I'm going."
"I'll never understand why her father insisted on getting her that beast. Won't listen to nobody else will it? What good is a dog that doesn't mind me?" Nan continued mumbling as Lyssa walked into the huge larder with Gilmore who was trying his hardest not to laugh.
The larder did not look at all like it had been raided by the Mabari hound that had bonded almost instantly to Lyssa when it was a pup, but the large beast was barking up a storm. Gilmore had never been afraid of the dog since he grew up with it, but he knew why people could be intimidated by Mabari.
The huge animals were bonded to one person and one person only. It was said that Mabari would lay by their owners dead bodies until they themselves died of starvation, guarding the remains from any would be scavenger. There was one story in particular Gilmore always recalled. A Mabari so fiercely and loyally guarded his owner's body in the middle of the battlefield that a truce had to be called until the dog finally passed away. He attacked anyone who came near. Gilmore always felt the story said as much about a Mabari's owners as the Mabari themselves, because rather than kill the dog, the soldiers respectfully let him finish his duty until the day he died of natural causes. Moby was Lyssa's Mabari. It was large, even for a war hound. Its muzzle came to Ser Gilmore's chest, and he was no dwarf.
Lyssa bent over and stroked the Mabari's muzzle.
"What is it Moby? Why are you acting so crazy?" she said in a soft voice while petting the dog between its ears.
The Mabari barked softly and ran to the corner of the room. A huge rat shot out from between two sacks of grain. The Mabari growled fiercely at it as Lyssa's gaze steeled and she instinctively drew out her blades.
"That is no ordinary rat," she said quietly, the Mabari's growl underlining her statement.
Gilmore looked down at the rat for a moment before realizing Lyssa was right. Not only was the beast huge for one of its kind, its eyes glowed softly, and he thought he could see dark spines erupting from its fur.
Just as he began to draw his blade he heard hissing noises all around him. Rats peered out from every crevice, surrounding them.
"Moby, go around to the left and flush the beasts toward us. They'll have nowhere to run but towards my blades. Gilly, press your back to mine, we shan't let them flank us that easily," Lyssa said coolly, "I've never seen rats with the taint of evil, they are smarter than one would expect."
"Yes, they are," Gilmore said as he slowly pressed his back to Lyssa's. The battle instincts changed him into another man. The shy young man who was in love with the Teyrn's daughter was instantly changed into the knight tasked with protecting her life.
The Mabari sensed when Lyssa was ready. He barked loudly and startled the nearest rat. It backed away from him hissing menacingly. Without giving it time to react, Lyssa deftly struck forward with one of her blades and stabbed the beast in the back. The blood of it hit the floor with a sickening sound, and the smell filled the room. When the smell of blood hit the rat's noses, they seemed to frenzy, suddenly launching themselves from all directions.
Ser Gilmore could feel Lyssa's muscles tense before she struck. As he fought alongside her, dozens of rats seemed to come out of nowhere. From the corner of his eye he could see the Mabari and Lyssa working as if they were one entity. The huge dog was crowding the beasts towards her blades, which were being wielded with not only lightning speed but deadly accuracy. He felt his blade clumsy compared to hers. Try as he might, he could not match her rhythm of death. All he could do was hold his own.
When the last beast was finally felled, a giant among them, it was Lyssa who landed the final blow. He came up behind her and reared on two legs. It was unbelievably huge, easily a third the size of the Mabari. Gilmore moved to intercept as was his duty, but Lyssa raised the flat of her blade to him in a halting motion as she stared the beast back. Gilmore moved back from the thing and the Mabari joined him, growling low and menacingly toward the giant dire rat.
The rat and Lyssa circled each other for a moment and Gilmore felt as if she couldn't even see them. For Lyssa, the only things in the larder were now her and the rat. She spun her blades impatiently in the palms of her hands, first the right, then the left, spin...spin...spin almost mesmerizing the rat. Finally when it could take it no longer it lunged at her, diving for her neck. Lyssa twirled around it with such speed Ser Gilmore could hardly believe his eyes. As she turned one of her blades found its mark and was shoved with a satisfying crunch into the base of the beast's skull. The dark light that burned in the giant rat's eyes flickered out.
Lyssa was crouched like a predator over the beast. She slowly pulled her blade from the head to the thing, and absently grabbed a rag from a shelf and she carefully cleaned her blades. Her blades were carefully polished and placed gently back into the sheaths on Lyssa's back, while the rest of her remained a bloody mess,
Gilmore stared at Lyssa in awe as she leaned over the corpse and laid her hand upon it.
"Well fought small soldier, but alas today was not your day," she said quietly.
Gilmore had heard her say it many times on the battlefield before, but never to a creature such as this.
"Lyssa, it's a beast, not a soldier," Gilmore said quietly.
"Yes, but we should never forget the toll killing takes on us. This beast clearly had an intelligence, and I snuffed it out," Lyssa said looking darkly down at the beast on the floor.
"A strange thing this, for the blight to be in the rats already. I must tell father after we see Fergus. I do believe this Duncan of the Grey Wardens is correct. And there is no time to lose," Lyssa said with finality.
Ser Gilmore stared at Lyssa for a moment, contemplating her words. It did not surprise him the difference in her when she fought, the coldness, the hardness of her. All true soldiers had that switch in them—the ability to shut down their emotions to concentrate on the battle at hand. He hadn't even really recognized it in himself until Lyssa told him that if a man did not have such a switch, he would surely go mad from the horror of it all. When she had said it, she seemed very sad. Gilmore knew she did not enjoy killing, she simply knew it had to be done. At this moment more than anything he wished the blight were gone. If for nothing else than to keep Lyssa smiling, to keep her from being this hardened thing of battle.
He looked up and realized Lyssa was staring at him, her eyes full of concern.
"I am sorry, Gilly. I do not mean to be so dour. I am in a gray mood indeed. It is not your fault. Father told me I am not to go into battle with him and Fergus. I am to stay here and do a woman's job and keep the castle. But I have a terrible feeling. It comes from somewhere deep inside and I cannot stop it from filling my mind with these thoughts," Lyssa said while balling her fist and pressing it to her forehead.
Gilmore was surprised to hear this news. Lyssa was a great fighter, better than Fergus. But he also knew her father. She was still a baby girl to him, and Gilmore knew he would do everything to keep her out of harm's way.
"I will be going with them. I promise you Lyssa, I will do everything in my power to keep them safe. No Cousland will die while I yet stand, I swear it to you!" Ser Gilmore said solemnly.
Lyssa looked at him and a smile spread across her face. It was if the stench of death in the room was lifted away and all that was left was the fresh air of the fields outside.
"Oh Gilly, whatever will I do while you are gone," Lyssa said warmly.
She went to him and gave him a hug. Gilmore blushed heavily once again and there was sound like fly paper being peeled off a wall when she pulled away.
"Well, even I have my limits. This stuff is revolting. We probably smell like the bottom of the pits in the Deep Roads," Lyssa said looking down at herself. "Oh, now would be a wonderful time to find Fergus." Lyssa said cheerily.
Gilmore laughed and the Mabari barked happily.
**
Lyssa climbed the stairs to the living quarters. She had cleaned off some before coming up to see her brother Fergus. Lyssa expected her nephew to be there as well, and she didn't want to young boy to badly. Moby, her Mabari, followed closely behind.
"Now Moby, you're not going to go licking my sister-in-law all over her face this time, right? You know she doesn't like that," Lyssa said chidingly to her dog.
The Mabari looked down sullenly.
"That's a good boy," Lyssa said as she patted her huge companion on the head.
Lyssa tapped on the huge oak door and waited for the soft "Come in" before opening it.
She entered the living quarters of her brother and his family. Her nephew, Oren, jumped off his bed and ran up to give her a hug.
"Well hello to you too, Oren!" Lyssa said laughing as the little boy wrapped his tiny arms around her neck.
"Eww, aunt Lyssa, you stink!" Oren laughed cheerfully.
"Ah, are we trying on a new perfume sister, or do you just enjoy rolling in o de death?" a smiling young man stood to greet Lyssa. He was very much a younger version of Teyrn Cousland.
"Well, I wanted something to help me remember you when you are gone, so I thought I'd borrow some of your cologne," Lyssa said and winked at Oriana who smiled up at her.
"Oh, so that's why you smell so much better than yesterday," Fergus laughed.
Lyssa playfully punched Fergus in the shoulder, "I wish I were going with you," she said softly clasping his hand with both of hers.
"Well who would guard my lovely wife and son from... whatever it is you have in your hair," he said picking a piece of rat meat from Lyssa's hair with a scowl.
"Maker's Breath, Lyssa, let me clean you up. Your mother will be here any minute and if she sees you like this she'll..." Oriana said standing up and moving towards Lyssa.
"What has my daughter done now?" said a stern voice from the doorway.
Lyssa grimaced and slowly turned around.
"Maker's breath, what is that smell!? Is that you Lyssa?" The woman in the doorway looked very much like Lyssa. Even at her age she still remained quite beautiful. She was tall and sturdy, and everyone in the castle knew she could wield a bow and arrow as well as any of the Teyrn's men.
"Yes, mother, there were rats in the larder. Moby, Gilly and I dispatched of them," Lyssa said sheepishly.
"Lyssa dear, must you call Ser Gilmore by that childish name? He is a knight now, you should respect him as such," the Teyrna said gently.
"She could probably call him the archdemon and he'd...," Fergus said quietly to his wife who smiled knowingly at him.
"What was that, Fergus?" the Teyrna said sternly.
"Nothing mother," Fergus said smiling conspiratorially.
The Teyrna eyed him sideways while she further questioned Lyssa. "Rats in the larder?"
"Yes, and they had the taint," Lyssa said seriously.
"The taint," the Teyrna said alarmed. Her concerned gaze fell upon her son, Fergus. Oriana gripped his hand tightly.
"What's this I hear about the taint, pup?" the Teyrn asked as he entered his son's living quarters, "Maker's breath, Lyssa, what is that stench?"
Lyssa sighed, "I shall clean up in a moment. I wanted to see Fergus before he left... and perhaps plead one more time to go with you."
"Lyssa, we need you here," the Teyrn said gently.
"I have a terrible feeling. Something horrible is going to happen, and now with tainted rats showing up here of all places..."
"Lyssa, that's exactly why we cannot have every Cousland on the field. You know very well how dangerous battle can be. We are counting on you to carry on the Cousland name should… something happen. Your mother needs you here, pup."
Lyssa turned her eyes down and nodded quietly.
"Now, if you are done saying your farewells go clean up and get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow," the Teyrn kissed Lyssa on the forehead and she turned to go to her quarters.
After Lyssa cleaned herself up she lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
If I could only become a Grey Warden, then I could help end the Blight, Lyssa thought. I could protect them from the darkness as only a Grey Warden can.
Lyssa reached up and absently brushed a tear of her cheek. Her Mabari whined and nuzzled her hand.
"Alright, alright Moby. I'll try to get some sleep."
Lyssa rolled over and fell into a dreamless sleep.