Chapter One
Meeting the Gang
Turns out, we didn't have to wait long to get into Kirkwall. Apparently, having the seal of Chancellor of Ferelden and both the Crest of Highever and Gwaren helped our 'refugee' boat get into port much faster.
My name is Ara, and I used to be human. I burned alive and got thrown into my favorite Video Game series… Dragon Age. I woke up in the Korcari Wilds the day of the Battle of Ostagar with a slightly new look. Sure, I was still 5'3 with a rocking rack and ass, but I was still 250 pounds even after walking all over Ferelden for the last year; and now I had pointy ears, magic and wings. My waist-length hair was fire-engine red and my now silver eyes glowed if the sunlight hit them just right. My skin was bright white and liable to blind anyone who looked.
I was traveling with Anders/Justice. He had learned on the trip just how Justice had changed when they merged. Anders was cute in a tragic love-story kind of way. His blonde hair was tied back in a pony-tail and his green eyes look slightly haunted. He was taller than I was but unless I was surrounded by dwarves, that wasn't saying much…
I went straight to the Viscounts office with an escort of three City Guards… they wanted to make sure Lady Arvaala Cousland, adopted Sister to Teyrn Aedan Cousland of Gwaren and Teyrn Fergus Cousland of Highever, Mistress to His Majesty King Alistair Theirin of Ferelden, made it safely though the Docks and Lowtown to get to Hightown.
The Viscount tripped over himself to welcome me, thanking me for choosing to make Kirkwall my home. Anders kept trying not to laugh since he knew I hated all the formal shit. Thankfully no one thought twice about him being my man-servant… which is how he introduced himself.
Within days, Anders had made contact with Lirene, and had set himself a room in the basement. I warded the basement so that no one could enter without a specific medallion before giving one to Anders and hooking one to my rose key-chain.
It was only 2 weeks after we were completely settled that things began.
After a vision, I made my way through the cellar, arriving just in time to hear, "I have made this place a sanctum of Healing and Salvation. Why do you threaten it?"
"Anders, stand down!" I called out, coming out of the entry way that led to my home. I saw that the place had emptied out.
The change was instant. Anders lowered his staff and looked to me. I hardly had a moment to notice that it was Varric, Carver, Bethany and Fenris accompanying Hawke before I was pressed against the wall as Hawke kissed me.
I was stunned, but damn could that man kiss… I kissed him back.
"Chuckles, you want to introduce us to your… friend here?" I heard Varric ask.
I giggled as Hawke pulled away and took in the scene around me.
Varric was 4'7 with blonde hair, brown eyes and stubbly chin… my eyes were instantly drawn to his half-open shirt and I smirked when I noticed that the Chest-hair was indeed iconic.
Bethany was 5'5 with black hair down to her shoulders and bright blue eyes that sparked when she recognized me; Carver had gold eyes and military cropped black hair standing at 5'10.
Fenris… my heart stopped when I saw him and I knew my face held awe. He was 5'8 with blinding white hair done in the style shown in game… his eyes were green, his skin tanned… and his tattoos pulsed.
"Sorry, Varric… this is Ara. I told you about her. She's the reason Bethany is still alive. Her visions of the Future warned me of the Ogre."
Anders eyes widened. "I thought you said you couldn't save lives like that. You said the law of Equal Exchange…" I slapped a hand over his mouth.
"What was he going to say?" Fenris' deep baritone sent shivers up my spine.
"I… if I save a life, a life is taken. I trade one for another. I didn't know it when I gave Hawke the information about the Ogre… I found out when I saved my brothers Seneschal and lost my Hound… I didn't want Bethany to feel like her Life killed someone when it… really didn't."
"Who… who's life did I replace?" Bethany sounded horrified and I flinched.
"A life that would have been miserable. My unborn child… I have pointy ears so Alistair can't exactly claim our children without repercussions. My baby would have been a chess piece since I couldn't raise them myself… besides, I have magic… my baby would have been taken from me no matter what. I got pregnant weeks before your escape from Lothering… I didn't even know until I lost it."
Hawke took one step back. Anders relayed his quest to Hawke as I got a hug from Bethany. Carver thanked me for telling his Family he was still alive after Ostagar and I sighed.
"I need to go to the Gallows…"
Jaws hit the floor, even Fenris'.
"Why?"
"I have a friend I need to see. Look, if they find out I have magic, I do have an Allowance Permit signed by a Knight-Commander, a First Enchanter and the King of Ferelden."
"Well… we're headed that way now…" Hawke offered.
"Quick question. If you're King Alistairs Mistress, why did you kiss Hawke back?" Carver asked.
I grinned. "Alistair told me I was allowed to be with others. In fact, I believe his exact words were 'I can handle sharing you, but I refuse to lose you'… or something similar. And your brother is a great… why did you kiss me?"
Anders snorted at the sudden topic change.
"Do you remember when I asked what you wanted for the information back in Lothering?"
I nodded. "I sarcastically said a hug."
"Yeah and after that you said that if you'd known I would do it, you would have asked for a kiss. Well, when your information about the Ogre turned out true, saving Bethanys life, I swore that if I saw you again, I'd give you what you asked for." He looked somewhat embarrassed and I laughed.
"I shall endeavor to keep your siblings safe, Serah, but don't kiss me unless you actually want more, okay?"
Even Fenris' lips twitched at that.
Anders pouted. I rolled my eyes. "I told you Anders, I prefer the Warriors… Alistair, Knight-Captain Cullen… Fenris. You just don't do it for me."
Fenris glared at me. "Oh, don't worry hun I wouldn't…"
Anders cut me off. "You know, for someone who was a - " I slapped a hand over his mouth. "Not yours to tell, Anders. Anyway, Fenris, if you want me to help you out, I can. The Markings on you; they hurt right? I can fix that. It won't change anything else, just the pain; but only if you want me too. Think on it, let me know. Alright so… to the gallows!"
Hawke grabbed my arm and led me out.
"So… Feathers…?" Varric asked. I snorted. "Feathers? That's the one you choose for me?" He grinned. "It's the wings… not that most people will get that."
"What do you want to know… wait, let me guess; Hero of Ferelden stories?"
"Got it in one!" I chuckled and began telling the tale… starting from Lothering. "Wait; wait… so you walked into the Circle Tower there with no one the wiser? So how did you get a permit? Better yet, how did you get out?"
"Please save all questions to the very end of the story. Some questions you have will be answered over the course of the telling." I handed him a note pad and pen, "Write all this down… wouldn't want you to forget it when you go to write the book." I winked and he scoffed. "Feathers, I remember everything." I shrugged as we approached they ferry man at the docks.
I pulled out a golden coin. "I want passage for me and these five to go to the Gallows." The man took the coin and motioned to his boat.
"You know you over paid him…" Hawke started. "So? Alistair makes sure all my needs are met… much as I wish he'd let me make my own way. If I so much as try to refuse the money I find it somewhere awkward later… such as my bedroll or worse; my small clothes."
Varric laughed so I continued my tale. As we disembarked the boat, I looked to a Templar near me. "My name is Ara Cousland and I'm here to see knight-captain Cullen."
Hawkes eyes bugged. I had only just gotten to the part about waking up after the sloth demon in the tower so he was confused.
"Yes, My Lady. Please wait here while I go see if the Knight-Captain is available."
I was at the part in my story where we got back to the Knight-Commander after Uldred died when I was grabbed from behind and a pair of lips met mine… twice in one day by two very good looking men.
Cullen was 6'2 so he practically lifted me to kiss me. My arms wound around his broad shoulders and thick plate armor. I was ecstatic; I felt the same connection with Cullen as I did with Alistair and now Fenris. I moaned into the kiss. When he ended the kiss, I whimpered slightly and looked into his hypnotic golden eyes as his wavy gold hair ruffled in the breeze. His lip scar looked much better.
"Now see… if I'd known this was the welcome I'd get, I would have come here two weeks ago."
"You wouldn't have gotten that welcome before yesterday." Cullen's deep voice growled.
"Even after that hot good-bye kiss we shared at Kinlock? For shame!"
"I got a letter from my sister yesterday. According to her, you waylaid the Hero of Ferelden and saved my family in Honnleath for me… she says you told her you love me. She said, and I'm quoting her letter here, 'if you don't marry her, Branson will.' She did mention that you were with King Alistair though…"
I grinned and pulled out a letter. "This is from Alistair to you. It states that I'm free to see you if you want to …" his eyes bugged comically.
"Oh, and one more thing; these are for you, Cullen…" I handed him 3 packages. One was a square, one a long rectangle, and one a small box. Everyone was watching, and it provided the distraction Hawke needed to go do what he needed to.
Cullen looked at me, suspicious. The first one he opened was the long Rectangle. "That sword was made by Master Wade; from Wades Emporium in Denerim… it's named Vigilance and is made from the bones of an Eldest Dragon we slew in the Blackmarsh!" I said excitedly. Jaws hit the floor; Master Wade was already famous to anyone who'd visited Ferelden.
The next box opened was the Square. It was his Inquisition Shield with a twist. The logo on it was Templar, though the minute he accepted Cassandras offer it would change. "I had Wade make this from Star Metal; I named it Valiance to match the Sword." Go figure that I had found the Starmetal before we reached the Wending wood during the Awakening events.
"Why?" he asked softly.
"Oh? Um… well, because like I told your sister, I do love you – though I know you'll say we don't know each other very well – and according to Mia, today is your Birthday." I rubbed my neck awkwardly. I'd never found his birthday on any website; only the year. Today was Justinian (6th month) 1st, 31 Dragon. We had left Kinlock Hold before Cullens 20th birthday last year, but he turned 21 today and dammit I was making sure he got gifts!
He opened the third box, pulling out 3 Mountain Dews and a Ruby Sending Stone. "That Stone is connected to one I gave your sister… so you can talk to her… the drinks are what I gave you back when… yeah."
"I do have one question… that stitching thread; the one that dissolves… do you have more of it? I have been authorized by the Templars to set up a supply line with you for it." Cullen asked. I smiled and reached into my bag.
I pulled out a void bag and handed it to him.
"That is a void bag; it's bigger on the inside. This little bag holds 50 spools the same size as what I gave Irving after I was done stabbing you. A gift, from me to the Templars."
"But that's… that's 250 Sovereigns worth!" he shouted. "So? If I wanted money, I'd sell the plans to Orlais. Honestly, Knight-Captain… you make me feel like you believe I should be greedy. That's not my style. I never wanted a fortune… if you'd asked me last year, before all this happened, I'd have taken the money only to give my son and husband what they deserved… as I no longer have that family…" I saw him flinch at the reminder. "Anyway, I'll accept like 2 Sovereigns a bolt. Only reason Irving payed more is because you and I both know he wouldn't let me low-ball it. If y'all need more, let me know. I have a place in Hightown… if you need me for… anything."
Fenris actually looked like he approved of what I was saying about not wanting a fortune.
"Look… the Sword and Shield are yours because I wanted to get you a gift you'd like… I should head out now… if you want to visit me, feel free, hun."
I turned and headed towards the boat. This was going to be a long 7 years.
