Chapter One

The Hero of Ferelden

The Gray Warden smiled, the day was bright and the sun was shining high. His smile widened at the sight of a woman and her child as they came walking up to him— the same expressions of glee on their faces. He wondered what he ever did to deserve something as lovely and precious as this life he has. He looked to the sky and thanked the Maker for his good fortunes.

They were in Highever, where Gray Warden Artha Cousland had just arrived with his family. He was invited to a dinner with his brother Fergus Highever's new Teyrn. After his disappearance two years ago, Artha and Morrigan had been in hiding, staying closer to the smaller villages in the mountains where they spent their days raising their daughter.

'So, how do you like Highever, Honey?' Artha was rejoined by his wife and a little girl about five years of age. 'It's a little different in scenery than the mountain villages but its home to me nonetheless.'

Morrigan scoffed, she was certainly not impressed yet showed some amounts of curiosity. 'It looks quite similar to Denerim. Nothing too exciting here, I'm afraid.' Artha rolled his eyes and grabbed his wife by the waist. Artha wore not armour, not anymore, he had sworn an oath to Morrigan that he would stay and help her raise their child whom they knew was more than she seemed, thus Artha laid down his sword but not entirely. He had taken up blacksmithing and not just with swords and armour but showing horses, fixing wagon carts or 'inventing'.

Yes the Warden had crafted himself a life of his own. And finally he was happy. He looked at his wife, wearing not rags that she wore when they first met but in linen silk dressing, fit for a lady. It was to many protests and hard persuasion in the more intimate kind to get his dearly beloved to wear such outfits but she had later confessed that she did find them more comfortable. '…and maroon is so my colour is it not?' she had remarked with a smirk.

'You're a little bundle of joy, aren't you?' he laughed before pressing a soft and chaste kiss on her lips.

'Eew, father…' their daughter made an expression of disgust before walking over to the main Hall where there stood the Teyrn himself, arms folded with a smug look plastered on his bearded face.

'Good to see my little, baby brother growing up in the broader world, eh,' Fergus laughed and scooped his niece into his arms. 'And you must be my niece.'

The girl giggled and introduced herself. 'My name is Ariadne, my Lord Uncle.'

'Fergus! 'tis good to see you again,' Morrigan halfheartedly wiggled out of her husband's embrace and walked over to the Teyrn. Artha came in behind her and to his older brother he gave a long hug. It had been an age since last he saw his beloved Highever.

After the Fifth Blight he had thought of returning home but it was that as soon as the new Gray Wardens were established and he be made Warden-Commander, Artha grew a deep desire to search for his true love.

'Welcome home, brother, and you too Morrigan.' Fergus took her hand and kissed the back. She blushed if only for the very thought of such chivalry would remind her of her own husband.

Artha cut in and took the hand Fergus kissed into his own, 'Alright, alright…smooth talker. Just remember who she's married to.' Morrigan gave a snicker as she pecked her annoyed husband's cheek and allowed him to lead her into the citadel.

They continued into the main hall, it had been a while but Artha still remembered the placing of things yet still…something felt wrong…he felt Fergus' eyes on him, looking at him with sadness and unrest. Something was not right. Artha placed a ready hand upon the hilt of his longsword hanging on his belt. He was ready if worse were to happen.

They entered the hall, Morrigan laughing wickedly with Ariadne in her arms. Artha entered first then he saw— a figure at the end of the room, flashing red hair, short, in…Chantry Seeker armour?

Artha drew out his sword, the tang of metal echoed across the chambers. Morrigan yelped, clearly shocked, 'Leliana?'

'ello, Morrigan, it iz nice to see you again,' Leliana turned around to face them. 'Please, Warden, lower your sword…at least for now.'

Artha hesitated but then complied and replaced his blade within its sheath. 'Hello, Leliana. It is nice to see you too though I doubt that you are hear on a recreational visit.'

'Calm yourself, brother, she only wishes to speak to you.'

Artha shot glares at his brother— glowing white orbs eyeing him with ire and suspicion. 'What do you want?'

Morrigan tugged on her husband's tunic and whispered to him, 'We better sit down, my love; for I fear it will not be an easy conversation.'

They sat at the rectangular dining tabled in silence for the first five minutes. Ariadne had made several remarks on Leliana's hair and her strange way of talking. 'Hush, child, do not be so impolite,' Morrigan scolded, 'though I would have to agree with you, sweaty.'

This made Leliana chuckle a bit. After a glare from Artha, she composed herself. 'Please, forgive me, Morrigan but I have to say that it is strange to see you like this. No? I vould never 'ave thought zhat you were ze settling down type.'

Morrigan chose to laugh at it as well. She actually did agree but looking at her husband sitting next to her, she sighed and under the table she had taken his hand. 'Your Maker's doing no doubt.'

The two women smiled but Artha continued to look at her with disdain. 'What is it that you want exactly, Leliana?'

Their old friend took a deep breath in and looked to address them. 'Cousland, we need you to come with me to Val Royeaux. There is a pressing matter that threatens Thedas even as we speak.'

'You are referring to the unnecessary conflict between the mages and the Templars?' Morrigan offered. Leliana sadly nodded. She could tell that Morrigan knew what this meant. 'But…why do you need Artha? He is no mage, nor is he a templar.'

'I do not agree with the way templars conduct their businesses against mages and apostates. It was the Templar that provoked the Circle of Magi into taking action against you in the first place.'

'I agree but Warden you must understand that the world is in grave danger. It is a threat maybe bigger than the Blight.' Leliana took out a thick book. 'Zis bounded document was found in your Warden's Fortress at Soldier's Peak.' She then opened the book and began searching— she had one page in particular that she needed to show them. She kept turning the yellowed pages until she stopped and presented to the Gray Warden. 'You have seen this sword, yes? I know I have,' she said, pointing at the drawing of a greatsword on the opening.

Artha nodded; he did not just 'know' it, he had owned the sword. 'Yusaris, yes that was mine,' all attention was now on him. 'I wielded it in the Blight at the battle of Denerim. It was the sword that I used to deliver the final blow against the Archdemon.'

'Yay! Daddy killed it, yes he did. Daddy killed the dragon and we all lived happily ever after, right, daddy?' Artha took one look at his enthusiastic daughter and cracked a smile too small that only she could see. He planted a kiss on her head. How he did love this child, his child.

Artha turned his attention toward the Seeker. 'Why is it of interest?'

'It may be ze key to stopping zhis Mage-Templar War. Zhat sword is powerful, it has magic zhat I understand very little of—'

'Once again, I must ask why it is so important. This matter of war is strictly political and I will not have myself drawn into choosing sides.' Artha brought Morrigan closer to him as emphasis on what he meant. 'I doubt Yusaris will help much in this conflict.'

'No, that is where you're wrong, brother,' Fergus started, 'There was a Blood mage from the Antiva claiming to have been able to absorb the spirit of an old god. Leliana has seen the mage's power and so have I. It is enough to make me believe him. This mage has elected to not only destroy the Chantry but also every templar and mage in Thedas,' Fergus paused. 'He intends to assassinate the Champion of Kirkwall; the only person practically keeping peace and order here. But all the same, brother, we need you and that sword.'

'You 'ave eard of ze Champion, yes? 'E is quite famous, almost as famous as you.'

'Yes, actually, I have. Alistair had had the pleasure of meeting him in Kirkwall. He said he was a nice guy.' Artha rubbed his chin as he thought. Yes he did know of the Champion and could understand his importance— after all, the Champion was there when the war broke out. 'He was probably the cause of all this madness, anyway.'

Morrigan giggled slightly, 'Ooh, do I detect a pang of jealousy, my Warden?' she smirked. 'After all, I have heard that the Champion is quite handsome and fearsome. I heard that he had taken down a Qunari horde by himself and killed the Arishok with his bare hands.'

Artha sighed, annoyed. He knew that Morrigan was only teasing but he was still rather troubled. This Champion was as good as they say then why do they need me for, or Yusaris? 'You want the greatsword, Leliana? I don't have it. It's in Denerim. They wanted to keep a momentum and the sword that destroyed the Archdemon was perfect.'

'We need both the sword and you to wield it,' shot Fergus.

'Why?!' Morrigan asked. She seemed a little angry all of a sudden. 'Why do you need my husband so badly, Leliana?'

'Morrigan, your husband…zhat sword is magical, surely you yourself 'ave felt its power. It lives, it is like a living, breathing being and it thinks as well. It 'as chosen its wielder and zhat hand is your husband's. Gray Warden Commander Artha Cousland.'