Chapter One: Beginning of a Legend

Leaving out of the main hall, Natalia slowly closed the door behind her and suddenly punched the wall as she replayed the proceeding events in her head. Just like everyone else within the castle, she was knowledgeable about the sudden appearance of darkspawn and the fact that King Cailan was calling for aid from everyone he could, but what was really bothering her was that she wasn't allowed to join her father and brother. It wasn't that she didn't see it coming, but she didn't think that one of the reasons would be that she was his daughter. She knew that her father always saw her as his little girl and did everything in his power to keep her safe, but at her current skill level, Natalia would've at least liked some recognition of being able to handle herself in battle.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only thing bothering her. What really got her blood boiling was her father's sad excuse for a friend, Arl Rendon Howe. Her own personal opinion of the man was already terrible enough, but what really ruined her views of him was that he was just like all the other lesser noblemen in thinking that she was nothing more than a way to get into the Cousland family. To make things worse, she had this nagging feeling that Howe was up to something, but what was really annoying was that she couldn't prove it.

Knowing she couldn't stay like this forever, Natalia eventually tried putting her anger aside and put her mind to more important things as he went off to look for Fergus. She wouldn't say it out loud, but she was terribly worried about him going into war. After all, the closest Fergus ever got to war was when he had to keep her and their mother from getting into constant arguments.

Turning a corner, Natalia suddenly found herself on her bottom as she bumped into someone. Murmuring a few choice words as she got up and dusted herself off, she shook her head as she realized she had bumped into Ser Gilmore, one of her father's younger guards and a childhood friend of hers.

"I'm so sorry, my lady! Are you alright?!" He gasped.

Seeing just how obviously worried he was, Natalia gave a quick smirk. This was a prime opportunity to mess with him. Dramatically grabbing her arm, she let out a small groan of pain as the young knight's face turned pale.

"Holy Maker, I think my arm is broken! Why in the world did you think it was a smart idea for you to run around wearing that armor?!" She groaned, turning her back to him.

"O-Oh no, I'm so sorry, my lady! Don't worry; I'll go get someone to take a look at you!" He exclaimed, getting ready to run off.

However, he stopped in his tracks when Natalia suddenly grabbed his shoulder and gave him a little mischievous smile, with him letting out an irritated sigh.

"My lady…Please doesn't tell me you were playing one of your seemingly innocent jokes..." He sighed, giving a look of exasperation.

"Haha, I can't help the fact that you're so easily fooled Roderick! I figured after all the tricks I played on you during our childhood that you'd be a little more cautious!" She smiled, giving an innocent smile.

The young knight's face turned a light shade of red at hearing her speak his first name, but he quickly turned his back to her and gave a small pout.

"You're lucky I have something important to tell you Natalie, or else I'd give you a piece of my mind." He said eventually.

Watching him regain his composure, Natalia gave a small smile to hear him call her by her old nickname. Since Roderick had become a knight, things have been nothing but formal between the two and unbeknownst to him, it was making her quite uncomfortable. Then again, he should also know how Natalia hates the whole issue of titles and ranks.

"Ignoring the fact that you called me by an informal name, what exactly this important thing you have to tell me?" She asked, not wanting to waste his time.

"Well my lady… It appears that Maccon has gotten into the larder again." He said simply.

Listening to his words intently, Natalia's face became completely blank when her mabari's name was brought up. Maccon getting into the larder was hardly important and she failed to see why Roderick was sent for something so trivial.

"Um…Roderick…? Do you mind explaining as to why Maccon getting into the larder was labeled important?" She asked.

Getting ready to speak, Roderick was suddenly interrupted by the sounds of barking and dishes breaking. The two then jumped when they heard a familiar voice yell out. It belonged to Nan, the castle's cook and Natalia's former nanny. It was hearing her voice that Natalia realized why the matter was urgent; Nan and Maccon hated each other.

"Ah….Now I see why it was important. We had better hurry then." She sighed, getting ready to walk off.

Nodding in agreement, Roderick quickly followed after her and the two quickly reached the larder where they found two sulking elven servants and one angry Nan.

"I want that mutt out of my larder! Why is that so hard to understand?!" Nan yelled angrily.

Eyebrows slightly twitching at the sound of hearing her best friend being called a mutt, Natalia stomped up to her former nanny angrily, with Roderick quietly standing at the doorway, obviously not wanting to get involved.

"Maccon is not a mutt! He's a purebred mabari and while the two of you might not get along, I will not let you insult him like that!" She exclaimed.

Nan sighed as she spoke and didn't seem surprised that Natalia was standing up for her mabari. After all, Maccon was one of few things the girl could call her own and the two have been inseparable since they were young.

"Well if you are so insistent on letting the blasted thing do what it wants, how about you go in there and get it out of there before it ruins anything else!" Nan sighed.

Giving her a somewhat irritated nod as a response, Natalia charged into the larder with Roderick following after her. A few moments later, the two came back out, looking irritated, and with Maccon sitting at his mistress's side as she suddenly pulled out a large dead rat.

"Looks like my mutt of a mabari was actually trying to help you by getting rid of these things." She said bluntly, dropping it at Nan's feet.

The old woman sighed as the two eleven servants gasped at the sight of it while Roderick let out an irritated sigh.

"My lady, you didn't have to bring one of them to her. I'm pretty sure leaving it there with the others and letting the staff clean it up would've sufficed." Roderick stated.

"Nonsense, Nan would've kept blaming Maccon if I didn't bring her proof and I refuse to have my mabari hear such slander." She exclaimed, crossing her arms.

Shaking her head, Nan had the two servants clean up the mess as she walked up to Maccon and pat it's head as her own way of apologizing.

"You always did have a passion for animals, lass… Now if only you would apply some of that passion into your noble duties and you'd be a perfect example of what a young noblewoman should be." Nan said calmly.

Narrowing her eyebrows, Natalia looked away as she spoke. Not too long ago, she had to hear her former tutor Aldous say something similar and just like now, she had to keep her temper from getting the better of her. It wasn't like she hated being a noblewoman; she just hated all of the nonsense that came along with it, including the constant lecturing she had to endure.

"…Anyways, I'm going to assume that since this whole little issue has been solved that we can go now…?" Natalia asked, trying to keep her composure.

"Of course, I'm sorry to have kept you. I'm sure you want to say goodbye to that brother of yours before he has to go." Nan stated, getting back to her work.

Leaving out of the larder, Natalia eventually stopped before the path that led to the atrium and turned to Roderick.

"Well it looks like your duty has been fulfilled, Ser Gilmore. I apologize for all that you had to go through." She suddenly said.

Blinking at the sudden formal tone she had taken, Roderick eventually gave a somewhat wry smile before speaking.

"Now all of a sudden you want to start acting like a noblewoman…? But yes, I believe my work here is done since Maccon is with you now." He stated.

Getting ready to walk back to his original post, Roderick eventually stopped and paused before turning back to Natalia, who hadn't moved.

"Although, I do have a few things I wanted to ask you about before you go off in search of your brother." He eventually said, looking a bit embarrassed.

Giving a small smile, Natalia motioned in a way for him to continue as he summoned up the nerve to speak again.

"While you were in the main hall with Arl Howe and Teyrn Cousland… I was informed that a Grey Warden was also present there and he might have asked for me." He finally stated, his tone nervous and excited at the same time.

Pausing for a moment, Natalia let her mind go back to when she was introduced to the very individual he spoke of. He went by the name of Duncan and while he seemed to be kind of quiet, he gave off a dignified air about it. He was also the only one between him, Arl Howe, and her father that would answer her questions about the darkspawn and the growing army that was gathering at Ostagar.

"You are correct. His name is Duncan and if I heard him correctly, I believe he intends to test you for recruitment." She stated.

Those very words brought a look of excitement of delight on Roderick's face, but she titled her head as he began to show a little confusion.

"Just me…? He didn't show any interest in you?" He suddenly asked.

Widening her eyes as his response, she simply shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. In all honesty, Duncan had brought her up as a potential candidate for being a Grey Warden, but she knew that wasn't going to happen due to the fact that she would have to leave her life behind, which her mother would protest and the fact that her father immediately shot down the very idea of it.

"…I don't recall him bringing my name up and I highly doubt I'd ever become a Grey Warden…Though I can't say that I don't like the idea of being one." She sighed, mumbling the last part.

Nodding his head as a response, Natalia got ready to walk off to find Fergus only to raise an eyebrow when she noticed that Roderick hadn't left.

"Um…Was there something else you wanted?" She asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Oh well um, yes…I was wondering if you spoke to this Duncan about the details of Ostagar?" He said eventually, speaking as if he was treading on a touchy subject.

Turning to him, she simply nodded as she watched Roderick lowered his gaze momentarily before speaking again.

"I ask because I'm hoping it eased your worries about your brother and the Teyrn…As well as any concerns about his majesty King Cailan." He suddenly said, his tone not wavering in the slightest.

Natalia gave a long pause as she heard the king's name mentioned. She wasn't surprised that Roderick thought she was concerned about Cailan. After all, the two had a somewhat sibling like relationship due to her family's trips to Denerim Castle and the fact they shared many heavy responsibilties due to their family's name.

"…I suppose you could say that, but I believe that my father and brother….As well as the king know what they're doing and I'll just have to keep my faith in them." She finally said, giving a reassuring smile.

"….As you say my lady." Roderick stated, bowing to her before he left.

Watching him walk away for a few moments, Natalia eventually turned around to head for the atrium, biting her lip nervously. Truthfully, she had only said that to keep Roderick from worrying about her and her true feelings of the whole situation was eating at her at a fastening pace.

"No…I have to believe in what I said to Roderick…This uneasy feeling is just nerves….I have to believe that." She said in thought.

Unfortunately, Natalia had no idea that very uneasy feeling was not only connected to her worries about Ostagar, but also towards what would happen to her and her family in the next few hours to come.