I'm Hail King Cerion, enjoy!
Chapter 1: The Teyrn Burns
For generations, the Couslands have stewarded the lands of Highever. They earned the loyalty of the people through justice and temperance.
Within a chamber of Castle Highever, two young boys played with wooden swords. The eldest laughed and bonked his younger brother on the head lightly, the boy plopped on the ground and rubbed his head soothingly.
"Sorry, little brother. I tried to strike you with little ease." The older brother, Fergus Cousland smiled and put his hand on his brother.
Both brothers then laughed heartily, only stopped by the footsteps and appearances of their father, the Lord of Highever, Bryce Cousland.
Caius Cousland looked fondly on that very memory, it showed the truest importance of brotherhood between him and Fergus. He holds it as a reminder that family is important to him.
As he made his way out of the Chantry, his feet took him to the great hall where the guard had said his father was waiting for him. He passed a servant who gave him a knowing smirk, he took in stride as he went on.
He isn't as dashing as his elder brother, but he is attractive to more than a few within these walls.
Caius took more after his mother, fair-haired and shared her green eyes. His hair went passed his shoulder, mainly he keeps it loose with a single braid to the left side of his face. He'd tried to grow a beard, then Fergus made fun of him so he had it shaved but he kept the stubble.
Opening the door, Caius saw his father waiting with Rendon Howe. "I expect they'll start arriving tonight, and we can march tomorrow, I apologize for the delay, my Lord, this is entirely my fault." His father would never blame anyone or ever lay blame for mistakes.
"No, no. The appearance of the darkspawn in the South has us all scrambling, doesn't it? I only received the call from the King a few days ago, myself." Bryce told his oldest friend, never one to let others take responsibility.
A Cousland always shares the journey, whether they are trials or rewards.
It was what his father was raised with, and what he and Fergus were brought up to. No doubt Oren or my own children will share the Cousland way of things. Caius thought to himself with a smile.
His father and Lord Howe's friendship always puzzled him, the families were enemies at one time before he or his brother was even born. Then again, time heals all wounds as those old tales once said so perhaps his father and Rendon Howe were able to mend the bridges over everything.
His father continued to speak, "I'll send my eldest off with my men. You and I will ride tomorrow just like the old days." Rendon chuckled to Bryce's reminisce of memories from the war with Orlais.
"Well, yes but my friend, we had less grey in our hair then. And we fought Orlesians, not monsters." Howe responded to which Bryce remarked that the smell would be the same before Caius was noticed.
"Ah, pup, there you are. You remember Rendon Howe, Arl of Amaranthine?" Of course, but his father knew that as well. It was just how everyone greets each other, especially nobles.
"Hello, Arl Howe." Caius bowed his head, remembering his mother would pull on his ear if he had acted like he usually does.
"Ah, Caius Cousland. I see you've become a fine young man. It's good to see you again, lad." Howe said and continued by saying. "By the way, my daughter sent her greetings so perhaps I will bring them next time." He wanted to groan from frustration.
He remembers Delilah, it was during a tourney held for Howe's youngest son and he and Fergus took part in the competition. He soon became the center of fascination for Delilah Howe who, although was a fine and beautiful woman but she was too, girly for his tastes.
His desire is more varied than just that, he wants a woman who can be as free-spirited as he can. It's his only way out of the gilded cage he was brought up to, his father understood that so that was why he chose to let him and his brother find their love rather than finding it for them.
"I... Am grateful for her thoughts of me, Arl Howe." His father chuckled and Howe gave him a strangely cold stare, he ignored it and turned to his father. "Father, you wanted me for something?" His voice called to the topic he was asked to come and hear.
"Ah, right. Caius, I wanted you here to say you will have control of Highever while Fergus and I are away." Such a task put unto him? He stood there shocked for a long moment, his father chuckled lightly, "Don't choke, now. You're going to be in charge of the castle, I will be leaving a skeleton force to protect our lands... And please, care for our guest." Guest? The doors to the left opened and a man stepped within the hall.
The man seemed his father's age, perhaps a year or two older. Tall, dark of skin with darker eyes. His dark hair was put into a single ponytail, a few strands apart and hanging above his right eye.
"Son, this is Duncan... A Grey Warden." Caius stood there, shocked and silent from the sheer presence of a member of the order he revered most above being a Cousland.
It's a dream for every young boy or girl to join the ranks that held back the last four Blights, riding griffons into battle against the forces of evil that once threatened the world. Caius wanted to be one of them years ago, he was just a naive fifteen-year-old and his mother would gasp and tell him not to think of such things.
Caius bowed his head, "It's an honor, Duncan of the Grey Wardens. Welcome to Highever." He greeted to which Duncan smiled, raising his hand up and shaking his head.
"The honor is mine, young Lord Caius Cousland- " Duncan told the youth and was cut off by Bryce's friend.
"A Warden? Bryce, I should have been told, a guest of this stature requires a certain protocol. I am at a, disadvantage." Howe said softly and lowly with narrowed eyes, unnoticed by Bryce, Duncan or Caius.
"Duncan had arrived just this morning, as you have." The Teyrn turned back to his second son, continuing on what he was saying. "Son, Duncan is here in search of recruits, might be eyeing Sir Gilmore." And the man surely deserves the honor, but...
"Recruits, you say? Perhaps when this war is done- " His father stopped him in his tracks, he backed off the moment he got that stare.
If he was to be truly honest, he'd have rather joined Fergus and his father in the South. He wants to be at their side, fighting the rumored darkspawn, let mother stay home and be ruler while he makes a name for himself in the South fighting the forces of darkness.
Ah, dreams set to never come true, his duty requires him to stay home and guard Highever.
"I get it, father. I'll protect our home while you fight, I wish I could join you." He expressed his desires and smiled softly, his father did the same and put a hand on his shoulder.
"So do I, son, so do I. Now, go find Fergus, tell him to ride off ahead of me." Nodding, he bid both Duncan and Rendon a goodbye before exiting the room and walking up passed the royal armory.
The Shield of Highever and the Cousland Sword reside in that treasury, it is his family's most prized possessions. The shields have been so since his family's creation and the sword was said to have been in the service of the Silver Knight himself, both have seen so much history.
His father will be taking it to Ostagar, to bathe the steel in darkspawn blood. He remembered a time when he and his brother snuck in to hold it, that was a day reminisce since his father was so angry, he scolded them into next week.
Taking a deep breath, Caius turned a corner and met Gilmore. "Ah, there you are." The ginger-haired knight said while taking a breath.
"Here I am, what's going?" Gilmore told him about Barkspawn, he sighed and pressed a finger to his forehead. Barkspawn is his greatest friend and companion, the strongest of their mabari which was given to him by his father for his thirteenth name-day.
The hound is a smart one, had gotten into the larder more times than Nan had tried to stop him from breaking in. Gesturing for the man to lead on, the two began walking towards the kitchens and came upon the sight of his mother.
She was talking to what he remembered was Lady Landra, the wife of Bann Loren. He saw Dairren, a man he'd met at Arl Howe's tournament, he fought in the melee with Dairren and nearly lost but won in the end. His eye also caught the sight of a beautiful elf, her eyes found him and he smiled charmingly, making her blush.
Oh right, Barkspawn. Remembering his current task, his feet continued to carry himself over to the kitchens. He and Gilmore screams and barged right in to see it was Nan throwing things around, the scream coming from Alia and Andrin, the kitchen elves.
Nan spotted him and marched right up to him, "There you are, I've had it with that mongrel getting into my larder!" His former caretaker demanded and a part of him wanted to tell her to shut it, but he held his tongue for the moment.
"Calm down, good woman. We came to see to Barkspawn." It seemed to do the trick, Nan crossed her arms and nodded towards the larder entrance, Caius and Gilmore walked in and found his hound smelling around many of the sacks of food.
It soon became apparent that his mabari wasn't interested in the food, he was looking for WHAT was eating their food. Rats, hungry rats came from each corner and looking at them with hunger. Caius reached for his sword and so had Gilmore, Barkspawn growled.
They made short work of them all, nearly twenty large rodents. Gilmore said they must be from the Korcari Wilds, running away from the Blight but the battles at Ostagar had been good so far, many feeling that there isn't a Blight at all but just a large incursion.
Either way, this is a bad omen and one that the nation can't afford to neglect.
After informing Nan and the staff of the infestation, the woman held him back and made him listen to the retelling of the Hohaku story. He knew what the story meant, one shouldn't covet power and neglect the people.
He wished she would say that to Fergus more than him, then again, he'll be the one in charge for the next few months so perhaps it is good to retell stories of greed and it's consequences.
Caius took his leave, going in search of Fergus. He found his mother alone and sitting down on a bench, Landra and her son were gone, even that elven woman. He approached and plopped down next to her, taking in the silence for a moment.
It was something he and his mother would do, whether it was at dinner or doing what they are doing now. It was how he and her bonded when she isn't laying down rules or tugging at his ear for being disobedient.
"Caius, I will be leaving after your father and brother march off." He was surprised to hear this, turning to her with a shocked expression. "You will do fine, standing on your own two feet for once." He looked down, wringing his hands together.
He knows that, but, it doesn't make the loneliness anymore frustrating for him. This would the first time he wouldn't have his mother, father, and brother with him.
Not discounting Oren or Oriana, his sister-in-law will be a great help in the days to come and Oren will be his protege of sorts.
"Mother, did you know a Grey Warden is here?" He didn't want to talk about it anymore, changing the subject to one he thought of at the top of his head. His mother gave him a knowing look, shaking her head.
"I knew of Duncan, you aren't getting the idea of joining, are you?" He shrugged and she whacked him upside the head. "I know you revere them but you are needed here, Caius. The Cousland family needs you if anything happens to Bryce and Fergus- Oren will need you as his uncle." He didn't like being referred to as that, he's only twenty, too young to be called that.
"Oren has his mother, has you. Father and Fergus need me, what if they fall and I couldn't help them?" He told her and she shook her head again, telling him otherwise.
"Then I will lose not just my husband but both of my sons, I fear for them, as you do but war is terrible and death often strikes fast and hard." She would no doubt know that, being a famous raider-daughter of Bann Fearchar Mac Eanraig who fought in the rebellion against Orlais. "If I can save at least one of my children from that hell, I will." She told him fiercely, placing a hand on his cheek.
"I love you, Caius. You know that, don't you?" He does and he always will until he dies.
Parting from his mother, he went to the family chambers where his, Fergus and his parent's rooms were. He turned towards Fergus's room, knocking and opening it to see his brother holding his family one more time.
Fergus and Oriana met when her father came to Highever, it was love at first sight for his big brother who married her right away. His father and mother made it a lavish event, even King Maric and Prince Cailan came to be part of the event.
He remembered getting drunk for the first time, that twelve-year-old who danced on the wedding table and his brother laughing loudly to his antics, Oriana being a little embarrassed by it all.
Then his nephew, Oren came a year later. The future of their family was secure, and a sort of joy had enveloped the castle in just five years.
"A lovely family moment, should I have waited outside?" He asked and Fergus laughed, setting down Oren and putting a hand on his hip, Oriana smiled softly, bringing her son to her side.
"Spare the thought, little brother. I was simply bidding my wife and son farewell." He wished his brother could have more time, but such things as that cannot be afforded at this time.
"This brings me to why I've come. Fergus, our father wants you to ride off with the men." He told Fergus who cursed, questioning that the Arl's men were truly delayed. "I am sorry for the bad news, brother. The storms in Amaranthine have truly gotten worse if Howe's men are being held back." He continued by saying that, hearing Fergus sigh heavily with a grumpy expression.
"Their better off marching backward," Fergus turned to his wife and child, "Wish me luck, son, Ori. I will bring back souvenirs aplenty." Oren asked for a sword before he goes. "Don't worry Oren, you'll be seeing a sword real soon, I promise. Even Caius could teach you while I'm away." He wished his brother wouldn't have said that, Oren gave an excited expression toward him.
"Is that true, uncle? Will you teach me how to fight?" Caius grimaced slightly which erupted a laugh from Fergus.
"I wish you wouldn't call me that?" He uttered with a light embarrassed blush. Oren asked him why because he was, then asked what else he should be called.
Oriana told Oren that perhaps it makes him feel old, then his nephew said he was and that made him feel self-conscious about his age.
"I hope you aren't leaving without telling us goodbye?" His mother's voice spoke and he saw both of their parents enter within the room, the family gathered together for one last time.
Caius was tempted to broach the subject of the Grey Wardens, but he let it go and joined the family in saying their farewells and he silently prayed for victory in the battles at Ostagar.
Fergus left, the family, Bann Loren's wife and son, and even Arl Howe and Duncan joined together in the dining hall for a meal as the sun began to set.
After that, everyone dispersed to their chambers to rest. The Teyrn had gone back to the great hall, unable to sleep with the threat of war being ever on his mind.
His son, Caius brought up the Grey Wardens during dinner, he said they would discuss it when he returns from Ostagar. If I return, that is. Bryce thought but shook his head of the thought, he will return from the South and his family will always be united.
"Your Lordship." He turned with surprise on seeing his friend, Rendon was dressed in his armor and armed as well.
"Has your army come, good friend?" Bryce asked his oldest companion, Howe smirked and nodded.
Outside of city limits, a force approached the unknowing and defenseless Cousland territory. A commander of the force, a mage, smirked and performed several large fire spells that flew through the skies and caught the sentries unawares and blasted the walls and caused damage to the castle.
The crashing noise distracted Bryce, it gave Rendon Howe the chance he needed and stabbed his friend in his side. The shock from the act was neglected by the betrayer who kicked his former friend to the floor.
"... Why?" Howe sighed at Bryce's question.
"I stood by while you treated me less than a servant, this is about the lands that were belonging to the Howe's of Amaranthine. Your family were thieves, gaining the King's aid in stealing what should be mine... So, I am simply using the chaos to render unto the House of Cousland the same 'respect'." Rendon's guard entered, guided by five more as Bryce dragged himself away.
He had to get to his family, sound the alarms, he has to... Bryce passed out from the blood loss. Rendon huffed and started walking away, but he stopped to give his men orders.
"Find Bryce's family, kill them all."
The city of Highever was laid under siege, Howe soldiers marched through the streets and killed those who got in their way. They raped and murdered anyone who was out of their home and the force left by Bryce's son was no match and had retreated back to the castle so they may protect the Teyrn's family.
Caius woke to Barkspawn's growling and the screams of a woman, he ran for his sword and opened his chamber doors. Unknown soldiers turned to him and one came out of Fergus's room.
A crossbowman aimed to kill him but a shaft found itself in the man's neck, taking advantage of the confusion and dispatched one more while Barkspawn tore the throat of the third that came out of his brother's room.
"Mother!" He said in surprise, his mother came to his side. "Oriana and Oren!" His desperation called out and both ran inside and found a gruesome sight.
His nephew and Oriana were butchered on the floor, his mother broke down and the tears stung his eyes upon seeing the dagger sticking out of Oren's chest.
He would see Rendon Howe dead for this, remembering the crest on those men's chests. Attacking the castle while we sleep, I will kill him. He swore to himself and put his hand on his mother's shoulder.
"We have to find father, we need to escape... Mother!" She listened to his call and they began going in search of the Teyrn.
Landra was dead, her son too, his mother's grief growing with each old friend they found slain or bloodied and dying. He had to keep pushing her forward, even when he was seeing the same grief.
The made to the cross between the armory and the great hall, a servant ran up to them with fear on his face. "The castle is under attack! I'm getting out of here!" Caius cared not for the man's cowardice but they need fighters to defeat Howe and his men.
"No, stand and fight for your Teyrn!" He cried out and the man reluctantly agreed, picking up a fallen soldier's mace.
More scattered and fleeing men gathered to him and as the Howe troops who had climbed their walls attacked, he used his training and attacked with the ferocity and vigor that ran in his blood.
He cared nothing for the lives of the Arl's men, he killed them and if perchance one was wound, he cleaved them in two with his sword.
This fight wasn't about being honorable, Arl Howe threw away honor when he betrayed them. He's going to find his father and find Howe and take his traitorous head.
After finishing another three Howe men, his mother stopped him from going forward. "Caius the Cousland sword and shield, it cannot fall into Rendon's hands." She was right, they marched down and entered the armory, his mother handed him the key and he unlocked the twice-locked door to enter the room.
Several men and his mother took some gear, he went right for the chest and found the Cousland shield. The laurels being side-by-side but the most valuable was the sword.
The Sword of House Cousland is a long-sword with a straight bronze-colored cross-guard. The handle was wrapped in old but fine black leather that had passed many hands in these many years. The pummel made of circular bronze, the two laurels being its center.
Taking the sword from its sheath and discarded his first blade, he and his mother left the armory only to run into more of the Arls men. "Ahh!" His war-cry rang out as he bashed the first man in the head with the shield, gutting the next man at his side with his family shield.
They fought through two more invaders before breaking through the doors leading to the hall, Caius saw Gilmore rallying a few dozen of the garrison that he was supposed to command. He joined Gilmore in defeating the Howe soldiers flooding through the gate, a mage nearly burnt him to a crisp if not for his mother's aim and the arrow that pierced the mages head.
"Men, bar that gate! Stop those bastards from getting through!" Caius commanded to which the garrison he brought and those of Gilmore's men jumped to act. The second son of Bryce Cousland then turned his attention to the knight, "Gilmore, have you seen my father?" He asked the knight who shook his head.
"No, but the Grey Warden went looking for him not long ago." Duncan? Caius looked at his mother who had the same expression, both questioning if the Grey Warden is involved in the attack.
A smashing sound took the attention of everyone, the Howe soldiers were at the door. Gilmore called to him, "My Lord, my Lady, get away from here! We will hold them off!" No, he would fight with his people.
His mother stopped him, saying that they needed to find his father and one place came to mind.
Castle Cousland was built with a great many secret passages, mostly they led from one room to another. Only one led directly out of the castle, it was made near the larder.
Caius didn't want to flee, he didn't want to leave these loyal men to die a horrible death. They deserved better, the people of Highever deserved better of their temporary Lord.
"Caius!" Gilmore yelled, bringing him back from his thoughts. "You and my Ladyship needs to get out! Find Lord Bryce and get away while you still can!" The knight joined the men and held the door shut despite the ram on the other side making its pushes.
He left reluctantly with his mother and Barkspawn following, they turned a couple of corners and was taken surprise by a Howe knight and two other men. He deflected the first three blows by the enemy's greatsword but got knocked into a wall.
"We go look for the Warden and the Teyrn and who do we find? The young pup and his bitch mother!" Caius glared and headbutted the knight for that insult, the brute stepped back a few spaces and narrowly recovered but not before the youngest Cousland son disarmed and killed said knight.
Turning and horror appearing across his face as his mother nearly faced death, but a cloaked savior appeared and threw his dagger into the soldier's face. The unknown man revealed himself as Duncan and helped Eleanor up from the ground, his face alert from the last hour.
"Duncan? Have you seen Bryce?" Caius heard his mother ask the Grey Warden, the old man nodded and gestured for him to follow.
"Come, we haven't much time before Rendon's men overwhelm the garrison." Was all the Warden told them as they entered the kitchen and then through the larder where a dying Bryce Cousland was leaned against a large sack of wheat.
"Eleanor, Caius!" Rasped the Teyrn whose eyes began to blur.
Duncan remembered and informed the young Cousland and the Teyrna of how he found the Teyrn, he had been unconscious for sometime before he entered the great hall.
Some of Arl Howe's men were present, they aimed to take his life but failed in the process. Duncan took one of his healing poultices and poured it unto Bryce's wound but the damage was too severe for the potion to take effect.
The Commander of the Grey had taken the Teyrn over his shoulder in the end, made for the larder where he had discovered held the secret escape passage then went in search of the rest of the Teyrn's family.
He did not have search far, meeting them and fighting against Howe soldiers.
"Father, you're bleeding! We need to get you out." Bryce shook his head to his son, Duncan remained silent as the family conversed and became lookout from the larder entrance.
"I'm afraid I won't survive the standing, I think... Oren? Oriana?" Caius shook his head and Eleanor closed her eyes while wiping away the tears. Bryce realized these are near the final hours of his House, gritting his teeth. "Rendon will die for this, the King will... Ah!" The blood loss making his exhausted and in pain.
"Bryce... No." Eleanor felt extreme grief over these last couple of hours, losing her daughter, grandson and now her husband inching closer to the end. "Duncan, can you do something? Help us?" Duncan wished that he could but it would mean all of their deaths.
"The Teyrn has lost too much blood, the Arl's men will track us and kill us all... I'm afraid he will have to remain." Caius refused to move without his father, he wouldn't. "I can save you two if we hurry, we can escape, but, I require something in return." Bryce narrowed his eyes at Duncan.
"What do you require?" Bryce didn't like being bargained with, but he doesn't have the time to haggle his family's survival.
"What we are facing at Ostagar is much more threatening to your family's lives than Howe's treachery. A Blight will destroy Ferelden without Grey Wardens to defend it, it is why I have come." The look resignation in Bryce's eyes fell from Duncan to his son, he sighed and nodded.
The decision was made, Caius Cousland would join the Grey Wardens in repayment for saving the lives and legacy of House Cousland. Eleanor knew it without sharing a single question, but she would not be going with them.
"Caius, go with Duncan." Her son and Bryce went to argue with her choice, "No, Bryce, when we married you swore we would live and die together, I might have been a raider's daughter but I keep my vows... I love you." She said to her husband and stroked his bloody cheek. Her green eyes steeled and turned to her youngest son, "Find Fergus, Caius. Don't let Rendon get away with this treachery." She would hold off anyone coming to look for her son.
It was a mother's job to protect her children, she wouldn't ignore that.
A crashing sound was heard and fighting began, at the great hall, Gilmore fought valiantly but he and nearly every man in the hall weren't walking from this slaughter. Duncan tugged on Caius's shoulder, the pup giving one last look at his parents and reluctantly left through the escape tunnel.
Eleanor looked at her husband with a gentle smile, Bryce was still and his eyes were cold and without life in them. She frowned and walked back into the kitchen and shut and barred the door of the larder.
Nocking the shaft in her bow, she trained it on the first soldier coming through the kitchen entrance. "Come on, you bastards!" She seethed and let the arrow soar.
Castle Cousland burned from the distance, Highever was under smoke and fear. Caius thought this was the end of the Cousland legacy... But it was just the beginning.
AN: Longest chapter in awhile, but that's what a Prologue is. A beginning for Caius Cousland, the Grey Warden. I cut some of the options like talking to Dairren and Iona.