Disclaimer: I own none of this. The ideas are mine, though.

Had some trouble sleeping, so I figured I'd do some more writing.

Just saying now that throughout the story, I may use some lines or quotes directly from the games. I won't try to highlight or mark each one, but I figure it couldn't hurt to mention it.

There will be point of view changes. I will do my best to label them, so it isn't too confusing.

In Dragon Age, there is a 'common tongue', or just 'common'. Other languages will be shown in italics.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Origins – Aedan Cousland

Still distracted by the wish that Delilah had come with her father to Highever, Aedan almost missed the gruff man walking into the keep, with a stoic dwarf trailing behind him.

"It is an honor to be a guest within your hall, Teyrn Cousland" the man said.

"This is one of my recruits, travelling with me to meet with the other Wardens at Ostagar. May I introduce you to Faren Brosca."

Bowing his head slightly, the dwarf remained silent.

"Your Lordship, you didn't mention that a Grey Warden would be present." Arl Howe said, frowning slightly.

"Duncan arrived just recently, unannounced. Is there a problem?" Aedan's father asked, looking at Howe.

"Of course not, but a guest of this stature demands certain protocol. I am… at a disadvantage."

Turning away from Arl Howe, Aedan looked over when his father addressed him.

"We rarely have the pleasure of meeting a Grey Warden, that's true. Pup, Brother Aldous taught you about who the Grey Wardens are, I hope?"

"They stand as the bulwark against the darkspawn that protects the rest of us from their cruelties and malice." Aedan replied.

"It is good that you're taking your studies so seriously. If only my Nathaniel had your brain, he'd have command of more than his mabari." Arl Howe jumped in.

"Duncan is looking for recruits before joining us in the south. It seems he's had some success, although the knights of Highever have arranged a small set of duels to show their skills over the next two days. Maybe you may find one or two more men willing to join you." Teyrn Cousland said, explaining why Duncan had come.

"Pup, can you ensure that Duncan and Faren's requests are seen to while I'm gone?" he said, now addressing Aedan directly.

"Of course. I would be happy to assist you with anything you both require." He said, turning towards the two Wardens.

"As long as I don't have to eat more of those furballs, I'll be happy with whatever you give me." Faren said, speaking up for the first time.

"Furballs?" Aedan asked with a smile.

"We have been having rabbit the past few days, and unfortunately the dietary transition from what he was used to has left my companion a little… uncomfortable." Duncan explained, ignoring the glowering dwarf beside him.

"Don't worry, we have much to offer. I think we may even have some nug in the larder, if you're craving a taste of home?" Teyrn Cousland offered.

Seeing the dwarf smile for the first time since they arrived, Aedan relaxed a little bit. He could hardly deal with all the nobility on a good day, so it was nice to see their guests were not as insistent on keeping things formal.

"I can show them to their quarters. By your leave, father?"

"Go ahead, pup. Me and Howe are going to go for a drink, and reminisce about the good old days."

"At least we're not the ones digging the ditches this time." Arl Howe remarked dryly.

Leaving the two to their night, the trio departed towards the guest wing of the castle. Showing the two to their rooms, Aedan returned to his room. Sitting at his desk, he began to draft a letter to Delilah. Their fathers had made sure their kids all knew one another, and Delilah was the only woman amongst the nobility that Aedan thought he had a good chance of being happy with.

'Maybe I can invite her over after our fathers return from a successful campaign…'

-TIME SKIP-

Waking up to the sound of barking, Aedan dragged himself out of bed. Turning towards the noise, he saw Daf barking at the door. He was about to go try to quiet her down, when the door burst open.

"My Lord! Help us! The castle is under attack!" a servant yelled, bursting into the room.

Before he could say anything else, the man fell forwards, an arrow in the center of his back. Stumbling back onto the bed, Aedan was saved from a similar fate when the archer found out why you shouldn't ignore a mabari in a fight. Daf ran over and joined in, the two dogs silencing the man.

Quickly grabbing the small shortsword that he kept there at the insistence of his father, Aedan rushed to go check on the rest of his family. The fact that Fergus' mabari hound he had left here was not with Oren and Oriana was troubling.

-TIME SKIP-

"The castle is surrounded. I cannot make it." Aedan felt numb as his father lay there, unable to stand while his mother and he stood over his broken body. Duncan and Faren walked back into the room, having gone to secure the hall to give them a moment of peace.

"I'm afraid the Teyrn is correct. Howe's men have not yet discovered this exit, but they surround the castle. Getting past them will be difficult." Duncan explained.

"I know a few tricks from some old friends, but I don't think I could get us all past an army like this. They're slaughtering anyone that isn't one of them." Faren said, clearly frustrated.

"You are.. Duncan, yes? And I believe your name was Faren?" Aedan's mother asked, forcing herself to look away from her husband.

"Yes, your Ladyship. The Teyrn sent us to go find you and the rest of your family… I'm sorry we didn't arrive sooner."

"No… not Oriana and Oren? Those bastards! If I could walk, I'd make Howe wish he died back in the rebellion!" Sitting up slightly, as far as he could get, Aedan's father looked at him.

"I know this is hard, pup. But I need you to take this. This ring has been passed down in our family since before the Orlesian occupation. I need you to take it as a symbol of who you are, and that you act with the full authority of the Cousland Family. Go with Duncan, pup. Someone needs to tell Fergus… and reveal the traitorous snake to the King."

Unable to find words, Aedan hugged his father as hard as he could without hurting him. Feeling the weight of the ring in his fist.

"Whatever is to be done now, it must be quick! They are going to see we're not in our chambers, and try to find us."

"Duncan… you are under no obligation to me, but I beg you… take my wife and son to safety!"

"I will your Lordship. But… I fear I must ask for something in return."

"Anything!"

Aedan could barely connect the broken tired man here with his father. His father, who normally was always so strong, and insistent on not showing weakness to those outside of close friends and family. His father, who made him go through all those etiquette lessons so he would be able to handle the petty politics of the court. His father, who was going to die. Tonight.

"Despite what has happened, I need to bring as many recruits as I can to combat the threat in the south. I came to your castle seeking a recruit, and the darkspawn threat demands that I leave with one." Duncan said, clearly unsure about his request.

"I… I understand." His father sighed.

"You fought your way to me through Howe's men. I think that The Maker's intention tonight for you is clear." Duncan said, turning to look at Aedan.

"I will take the Teyrna and your son to Ostagar to tell Fergus and King Cailan what happened. From there, your son will be inducted into my order."

"So long as justice comes to Howe, and you protect the last of my family, then I agree."

"I know this is not an ideal way to ask, but I would like to offer you a place with the Grey Wardens, young warrior. Fight with us."

"Will I be able to take down Howe? I refuse to let this go unanswered!" Aedan said, giving Duncan a look.

"We will inform the king, and he will punish Howe. I am sorry, but a Grey Warden's duties take precedence over our own personal business." Duncan said apologetically.

Walking closer from where he'd been at the door, Faren nodded slightly to Aedan, a look of understanding on his face.

"Howe thinks he'll use the chaos to advance himself. Make him wrong, pup. See that justice is done. Our family… has always done our duty first. I expect no less from you, my son. The darkspawn must be defeated. You must go, for your own sake, and that of all of Thedas."

Hugging him one more time, Aedan let a tear fall.

"I love you, father. We will destroy that traitor. For all of the people that I am… failing… to save." Aedan said quietly.

"Bryce, are you… sure?"

"Our son will not die of Howe's treachery. He will live, and make his mark on the world."

"Darling, go with Duncan. You have a better chance to escape with just the three of you."

"Eleanor…"

"Hush Bryce. I'll kill ever last one of these bastards that comes through that door. I can buy them some time, but I won't abandon you. My place is with your father. At his side, to death and beyond."

Hugging her tightly, Aedan turned towards the trapdoor as the other two made their way down the hatch.

"Go, pup. Warn your brother, and know that we love you both. You've always made us proud, and I know that isn't going to change."

Following the two Grey Wardens into the passage, he stayed silent as the trio left the side passage by the servant's entrance they were let out at. Not stopping until Highever was almost out of sight, Aedan felt something inside of him die.

"I won't tell you it'll all be okay. But I can promise you that when the time comes, I'll hold the guy down while you do what you need to do."

Looking over at Faren, Aedan sighed before moving over to walk beside the dwarf.

"So, Duncan recruited you in Orzammar?" Aedan asked.

Ignoring the obvious change of subject, Faren was silent for a minute before responding.

"Yeah, and to be honest I'm starting to wonder if the old man has a habit for wandering into the right or wrong place right where he's needed. I had a similar situation back home as you.

I was one of the casteless, and forced to work as hired muscle. Right before he showed up, I had tried to be better than that for once, and my twin sister paid for it. My half-sister Rica is still in Orzammar, but hopefully she avoided most of the backlash from that incident."

"I'll tell you what. I'm not letting this matter with Howe go, until I see it through. If I can help you in your own quest of vengeance… I think I could get behind that."

The two began to talk about other things, catching up with Duncan a few minutes later.

"We can stop to make camp at sunset. Right now we should put as much distance between us and Highever as we can. In the meantime, I can answer any questions you may have about the Grey Wardens."

"Are we your only two recruits, or did you want to grab an elf and qunari to complete the set?" Faren asked.

"There were two of us that were sent out to collect recruits, so hopefully Blackwall had some luck. Although I hope that, for their sakes, his recruits had a bit more of a choice available to them. It's 2 weeks to Ostagar on foot, but I happen to know of an inn nearby that usually has a horse or two. That would shave 6 days off our travel time, so we can afford to go a little out of our way."

Nodding at the man, the two followed him. In the distance, the ashes of the Cousland family all that they left behind.

This chapter is a little bit shorter, but I really want to get into the actual story. These origins are going to be where the story is closest to canon, so they have a lot of direct quotes from the game. Once I've had more time to show the effect that these characters have on the world, things won't be as close to canon anymore.

Anywho, I've been awake for way too long.

Hope you guys liked it!

Ameridane