Elissa encounter Darrien and Iona in the study. Darrien spent several hours discussing various book he had read with her. Iona quietly listened, interjecting with her opinion occasionally.
Eventually they were called to supper and the servant reiterated that she should go to bed. Instead, Elissa grabbed several books and headed to the kitchen. She had dinner there with Nan and the servants. They sang several drinking songs. Some of them screamed rambunctiously as they naughty parts. She laughed with them, but didn't sing with them.
Nan eventually ran her out and she finally headed to her room. The last of the light of the day was fading away. There was a certain magical quality to this time of day. Day slowly into night, light fading into darkness, and the first stars appear of the horizon.
"Come on, Juri. It's been a long day and tomorrow will probably be longer," she patted his head. He yawned and gave a long whine. She went into her room and sat her sword and shield she sat on top of a chest. Stripped off her armor and pulled on a loose shirt and pants . Juri laid down in front of the door and she flopped down on the bed.
"Maker, let me have pleasant dreams and watch over my family." Sleep came easily for her that night.
She could hear Juri snarling. Elissa rolled in her bed toward him. "Juri, it's late," she rubbed her eyes. "Or early." He was staring intently at the door. He looked back at her then the door again. He growled viciously. "What's wrong?"
Elissa threw off her covers and walked toward the door. She couldn't hear anything, but Juri had never barked like that in all the years she had had him. Elissa wriggled back into her armor and grabbed her sword and shield.
The door burst open, "My Lady, help me! The castle is under attack!"
She gasped as an arrow jetted out of his chest. The man slumped to the floor. Elissa pulled her sword out of it's sheath and the shield off her back. Juri snarled and jumped at one of the attackers. Elissa ran just behind him. Two swordsmen and an archer stood just outside her room. She charged toward the archer, dodging a sword and an arrow planted in her shield. Elissa sliced, forcing the bow out of the archers hands, his midsection exposed. She stabbed through the weak armor into his chest. It was a fatal wound and he would die within a few seconds. She turned to see the swordsmen bearing down on her. She blocked his blow with her shield and sliced. He jumped back. She stepped up, bashing her shield into his chest. He stumbled back as she sliced across his neck. The swordsman grabbed his neck as he fell. He made a gurgling sound as she turned to the last man. Juri had his throat in his mouth, blood jetted out as he bit down.
Juri pulled away, satisfied that the man was dead. Elissa looked around her. She had never killed a man before now. Her instincts had been honed to kill all her life, but she never expected for it to come so naturally. Blood dripped from the sword.
"Elissa!" her mother voice snapped her out of her haze. She was dressed in a light leather armor and carried a large bow on her back. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Are you hurt?"
"No, I heard screaming, so I barred the door. What's going on?" her mother looked down at the dead men. "That emblem, these are Howe's men. Why are they attacking us? Is it possible the Arl's men were delayed…on purpose?"
"Why? Why would he do this?" Elissa looked to her mother.
"I don't know, but we need to get out of here. If they've made it this far then the castle is fallen. We must find your father and get out of here," Eleanor notched an arrow.
"We should see if Oriana and Oren are alright," Elissa turned away.
"Oh, Maker, what if they went to your brother's room first?" her mother moved with purpose in her step. Elissa walked just in front of her and opened the door to the next room.
Four of Howe's men stood there. An arrow flew past her head, impaling one of their neck. Juri charge beside her. Juri tackled one and Elissa stabbed him while he was down. A second arrow passed her, but missed it's mark. Elissa turned as one of the swordsmen slashed. She blocked with her shield. The second came at her from right. Their swords clashed and an arrow planted in his chest. Juri bit into the first men's leg. He cried out. She brought the blade around and stabbed him.
Elissa ran over to her brother's door, "Oriana! Oren!" Her heart stopped, "Maker, no." They both lay on the floor, their throats slashed. Elissa's hands began to tremble.
Eleanor rushed pass her into the room. "No, ah, my little Oren. Oriana." She looked at their bodies, "Howe's not even taking hostages. He means to murder us all!"
Elissa distanced herself from the scene as she did while fighting. It was all she could to keep from breaking down right there. Elissa grabbed her mother's arm, "We can't stay here."
"No, no, we can't. Be with the Maker," Eleanor prayed for them. "We have to get the family sword and shield. I will not let them fall into Howe's treacherous hands. I have the key to the treasury, take it." She forced it into Elissa's hands. "Now let's go."
Eleanor didn't bother to check Lady Landra's room. Howe wouldn't leave witnesses. Elissa tucked the key into her belt and followed close behind. Howe's men were everywhere and though the guards numbers were few, they fought bravely and valiantly to defend their home. They fought their way to the treasury. The sword had been in their family since King Calenhad united Fereldan over 400 years ago, and it was still as sharp as the day it was made. The shield had defended King Vanedrin against the Orlesians, covered with scars. Elissa strapped them to her back. She wouldn't risk them in battle, even if it only made things harder.
They pushed their way to the Great Hall. Elissa saw Ser Gilmore struggling against two of Howe's men. She jumped into the fray. She took out one from behind and Ser Gilmore got the second as he turned to face her. Suddenly, fire erupted to their right. "Mage!" someone in the room yelled.
Elissa spotted the mage in the back of the invaders ranks. She ducked and dodged her way toward the mage as the other guards rushed into the room. The mage's attention must have been elsewhere because the elf didn't see her until she was almost on top of her. The mage turned and flames shot out from the staff. Elissa raised her shield and the flames licked her arms. Then they stopped. She lowered her shield. The elf stared at an arrow in her chest, tumbling backward.
"Go, secure the gate!" Ser Gilmore ordered the guards. The men grabbed anything they could get and began bracing it against the door. Ser Gilmore walked over to her, "Are you hurt, my lady?"
"No, the mage didn't burn through the armor. Have you seen my father?" Elissa lied about her armor, but they had more to worry about than a burn.
"He was here not long ago. I urged him to stay with us, he was badly wounded. He thought to find you at the servants exit," Ser Gilmore motioned behind him. "What of Lady Oriana and Oren?"
Elissa shook her head, "They were dead before we could get to them."
"Anderaste's blood," he cursed. He looked toward the doors, "When I saw what was happening this was all I could do to stop more of Howe's men coming through."
"You've done better then anyone could have hoped, Ser Gilmore." Eleanor walked up behind them. "Maker bless and preserve you."
"Maker preserve us all," he walked toward the gate. "I will do what I can to prevent more of his men coming through for as long as I can."
Elissa watched as he moved toward the gate, "Ser Gilmore, come with us."
He shook his head, "If I go with you, you'll never make it out."
"Ser Gilmore," she stalked after him.
He stopped and faced her, "Elissa, please, this is all I can do for you." He looked into her eyes, "Let me do this."
"Rory," Elissa kept his gaze. "If you and the guards have a chance, get out of here. Don't die needlessly."
He nodded and they parted ways. Elissa turned to the group of guards had followed her and her mother, "If any of you are willing, Ser Gilmore needs help bracing the gate." Two of them nodded and went to assist him. "The rest of you search the rest of the castle for survivors and bring them to the kitchen."
"Ma'am," they saluted and ran from the room.
"Mother, we'll fight our way to the kitchen and clear the way," Elissa marched out of the Great Hall.
Eleanor smiled with pride, "That we will."
They fought their way to the kitchens. There weren't as many of Howe's men in this part of the castle and they seemed surprised by the sudden resistance. They didn't have much trouble until they ran into a group in front of the kitchen. There were seven of them and Elissa found herself struggling alone against a knight.
He danced around her, a huge maul in his hands, while her mother and Juri fought with the others. Some of his blows landed cleanly to her side, cracking or breaking her ribs. Even under his helmet she could see his triumphant smile as she kneeled. She waited until he was standing over her to drive her sword up through his gut. The maul fell to the ground followed by the man,
Elissa took a moment to try and catch her breath, but the broken ribs prevented her from taking a good breath. She forced herself to her feet as her mother pressed a hand down on her shoulder. Elissa nodded, letting her know she was alright. Her mother turned and entered the kitchen.
Elissa entered after her, finding Nan on the floor, bloody knife in hand. She bit down on her lip. Oriana, Oren, Ser Gilmore, and now Nan, how much more could she lose!
Eleanor went straight to the larder, "Bryce! Bryce are you here!" Elissa entered the room after her.
"There you both are," her father's voice called weakly. "I was so worried." The women's gaze fell to the floor. Bryce Cousland was lying on the floor, blood pooling beneath him.
"Bryce!" Eleanor ran over to him, "Oh Maker, what happened?"
"Howe's men found me first, almost did me in right there," he groaned in pain.
"We're getting you out of here. We can flee together. The servants exit is right here. We must go," Eleanor reached for his arm.
He shook his head, "I will not survive the standing, I think."
"No, we can find you healing magic," she pleaded with him. "We must go!"
"Eleanor, the castle is surrounded. I cannot make it."
Elissa turned, sword ready as she heard boots against the stone. Duncan entered the room, his own sword as bloody as her own. "The Teryn is correct. Howe's men have yet to discover this exit, but evading the men will be difficult."
"You are the Grey Warden?" Eleanor asked.
"Yes, the teryn and I tried to reach you sooner."
"Elissa helped me get here. Maker be praised," Eleanor's eyes fell back to her husband.
"I am not surprised," Duncan said lightly.
"Grey Warden," Bryce called. "Please, take my wife and daughter. Get them to safety. Someone must tell Fergus. Tell the king." He grabbed at his side.
"And bring Howe to justice," Elissa turned back to her father. Bryce nodded.
"I will, but I fear I must ask something in return," Duncan kneeled next her father.
"Anything!"
"I came to your castle seeking a recruit, the darkspawn threat in the south demands that I leave with one," Duncan's eyes flickered to Elissa.
"I…I understand," he looked at his daughter.
"No," she spoke before either of them could speak again. Elissa knelt beside her father. "I won't accept. I can't just abandon you here!"
"Elissa, you will die if you remain," her father's eyes became hard.
"Do you expect me to flee while you remain behind? How can you even ask that of me?" She turned from him. She couldn't bare the look on his face.
Her mother stood and turned her back toward her. "You must go, Darling. For our sake if nothing else. I will not leave your Father's side. My place is here at his side. To death and beyond."
"Eleanor," her father called.
"Hush, Bryce. I'll kill every bastard that comes through that door to buy them time, but I won't abandon you."
"Duncan." Bryce turned his attention back to the Grey Warden. "I will not force my daughter to join the Grey Wardens," the teryn's face twisted in pain.
Elissa knuckles were turning white. How could her world spin out of control so quickly?
Duncan addressed her, "Elissa Coulsand, I offer you a place within the Grey Wardens. Fight with us."
Elissa looked down at her father. He was going to die. Her mother was determined to stay at his side. Someone had to bring word to the King, to Fergus. There was only one someone.
"I accept," she answered quietly. She saw relief spread across both their faces. It only made her feel worse.
"Pup, you have always made us proud," her father's voice was quieter now.
"My lady," several of the guards stood at the door. "We found only a few survivors."
She turned to them. Five of the castles servants and Mother Mallol, who had been in charge of the Chantry for as long as she could remember, stood there with them. She had to be strong. Elissa addressed the guards, "you did well, but now we must abandon the castle. It has fallen and the Teryn is too injured to be moved."
"We will stay and defend him," one of the guards announced. The guards all nodded and murmured in agreement, knowing that it meant their death.
"What of us, my lady?" a female servant asked.
"You will escape with me and then go to Highever. Howe will go there next to take the city. Tell them not to resist and that the Couslands will not let this atrocity stand. Tell them that Elissa and Fergus still live, and, Maker willing, we will return." Elissa watched as hope replaced the despair in their eyes. They all heard the gates break. "We must go." The servants ran and pushed the secret entrance open. Elissa knelt down beside her father and mother, "I swear that I won't fail you."
"I know you won't, Pup," Bryce Cousland placed a hand on her cheek.
"Know that we both love you, so very much," Eleanor Cousland embraced her daughter for the last time.
Duncan pulled her back, "We must leave, now."
She nodded and ran to the exit with Juri at her side. She got one last look at her parents. Elissa could see the resolve in their eyes and feel their love. She pulled the entrance close and darkness cascaded around them.
Duncan led them through the narrow passage way with his hand braced against the wall. Elissa followed behind the five survivors. None of them could see them, but tears leaked from her eyes. She wiped them away. She couldn't let herself cry. Not yet. A dim light filled the passage way was they reached the exit and fled the castle.
It took sometime, but Duncan lead them around the invaders and into the nearby woods. The servants gave her a tearful farewell and Mother Mallol offered a prayer to the Maker, for her and all those who were dead before heading to Highever. She gave them her sword and shield, not that it would do that much if they ran into trouble. Then she was alone with Duncan and Juri. It would take them near two weeks on foot to reach Ostagar, and it promised to be a very long journey.