AN: Here's chapter 3 guys! Like I said in the previous chapter, some of the dialogue may seem familiar, but I did add or change some things. I do not own Dragon Age! Enjoy!
Chapter 3
Betrayal
Guin woke to snarling, growling, and barking. Confused, she sat up slowly and glared down at her dog before looking out the window. The sun wasn't even close to rising. It couldn't be past one in the morning!
"I swear to the Maker, Ares…" Guin hissed. Ares turned to her and continued to bark before spinning back to the door and growling. Ok, generally when Ares acted like this, he had a damn good reason. "Alright boy, what's going on?" she asked groggily, standing from her bed and stretching.
That's when she heard the screams outside her door. Guin froze, arms still raised in the air from stretching, and stared at her door in shock. What the hell is going on?
Ares brought her back to reality by barking and nudging her. Immediately, she started to gather the lightweight linen garments she wore under her armor and her hardened leather armor. She was just about to take her night gown off when her door swung open, hitting the wall with a loud bang. Ares leapt back to avoid getting hit, but stood his ground in front of Guin.
"My lady, the castle is under attack-!" the servant who threw her door open exclaimed, but was cut off by a dagger being shoved through his chest. Guin jumped, eyes wide as the body slumped to the floor.
The man standing in the doorway pointed the bloody dagger at her, and leered. His armor was splattered with blood, but she could still see Howe's emblem emblazoned on the chest plate. Guin's eyes widened further, her mind unable to comprehend the situation at hand.
"Hey guys! I found the Teyrn's daughter!" the soldier called over his shoulder, eyes never leaving the unarmed Cousland. After a few seconds, two more men joined the first in the doorway, both with equally disturbing leers directed at her. One of them had a bow in his hand and a quiver of arrows strapped to his back. The other had an Amaranthine shield that he locked into place on his back and moved to put his sword away as well. Both of the newcomers were just as splattered with blood as the first was.
The three soldiers moved into the room but Ares growled dangerously from his defensive position in front of Guin. The men stopped suddenly when they noticed the dog's presence.
"A mabari, huh?" The dual weaponist laughed and then lunged at the dog. Ares dodged then leaped bodily onto the soldier, ripping apart his armor. The archer and the soldier with the shield moved to get Ares off their companion, but Guin launched herself at the archer, knocking him off balance. Before she could do more damage, the soldier with the shield bashed her away. She fell to the ground with a cry, her back searing in a pain for a moment.
Guin was unable to get back to her feet as the archer leapt on top of her, straddling her waist. She took a swing at him but he caught her fist and backhanded her. "You're going to pay for messing up my shot," he hissed. Her cheek was swelling where he'd hit her, but she was far from giving up. She wrenched her arm out of his grasp and was able to land a hit on the archer's face. In retaliation, he forced his knee into her gut, driving the air from her lungs. The pain paralyzed her as she gasped to fill her lungs, which refused to allow any air in. While she was stunned, the archer proceeded to tear at her nightgown.
"Get off my daughter, you son of a bitch!" screamed a shrill voice from the hallway, and suddenly an arrow pierced the archer's throat. Both Guin and the archer had surprised expressions, until he collapsed on top of her. Guin grunted as she tried to shift the armored body off of her. There was the sound of a scuffle and thud as an armored body hit the stone floor. Panic rose in Guin's chest. Had her rescuer just been killed? Were they the one that hit the floor? She struggled harder against the dead weight pinning her to the floor without much success, until it was suddenly shoved off.
Eleanor Cousland stood above her daughter, eyes worried and silverite armor covered in gore. Guin was stunned. She knew her mother used to fight when she was a maiden, but she had never actually seen her mother wear armor, let alone bloody. "Mama?"
Eleanor gave her a small smile and helped her up. "You need to put your armor on. The castle is under attack."
"By Howe's men, yes," Guin replied, anger coursing through her. The men that had just attacked her were his soldiers. Now they were lying in pools of blood that would certainly stain the stone floor. But that couldn't be helped now. Ares stood by them, watching carefully for any sign of movement, as if they would rise from the dead and attack again. His maw and front paws were bloody from the fight, making him look much more ferocious than usual.
"You saw Howe earlier today, with your father, right? Do you have any idea why he would attack the castle?" Eleanor asked as Guin pulled her under armor clothes on.
"No, Howe was just telling Papa that his soldiers were delayed because of rain— "Guin answered, but cut herself off, eyes going wide with realization. "Howe's men weren't delayed! He was waiting for Papa to send Fergus away with our soldiers! That bastard!"
"But why?! After all these years of friendship, why would he suddenly turn on us?" Eleanor's voice strained with emotion as she asked. After all, Howe and Bryce had fought side by side against the Orlesians. They'd helped win back Ferelden, forged a relationship that was bound with the blood of many. For one to turn on the other, it was one of the worst kinds of betrayal.
Guin paused, hands holding the straps of her breastplate tight but not buckling them. She looked at her mother, anger boiling in her, and replied, "I don't know, Mama, but he will not get away with this."
Her words seemed to embolden Eleanor, eyes blazing with her fury. "You're right Guin, he will not, but we won't be able to get vengeance here. We have to find your father and get to Ostagar, to Fergus."
"Wait, Papa wasn't with you? Where is he?" Guin demanded, quickly finishing buckling her breastplate in place.
"He hadn't come to bed when the attack started. You must hurry, he could be anywhere in the castle!" Eleanor ordered. Guin didn't have to be told twice. As fast as possible, she forced on her boots and gauntlets, strapping a bow and a quiver of arrows to her back and buckling her sword and dagger to each side.
Her mother was standing just outside the door, making sure no soldiers caught them off guard. Guin moved to join her, but she hadn't taken one step out of her room when Ares bounded out, barking desperately. He barely had enough time to stop before he ran head-first into the door on the opposite side of the hallway, where Oriana and Oren were supposed to be sleeping. Dread clutched Guin's stomach and she sprinted after her mabari.
He was whining and scratching at the door, as if he could dig his way through the thick mahogany. Guin reached the door and had to shove Ares out of the way so she could open it without hurting him.
The room was dark, but the light from the hallway barreled into the room, showing a scene Guin fervently wished wasn't there. There was a dead Amaranthine soldier by the door, foam coming from his mouth and blood pouring from a single wound. However, farther into the room lay two more bodies, and one too small to be an adult. Oriana's head faced Guin, eyes unseeing and mouth agape. A dagger lay a few inches from her fingertips, dripping a liquid onto the floor that had mixed with the blood on the blade. Oren lay off to the side of her, as if his mother had tried to shove him behind her. In his right hand, he was clutching the wooden sword Fergus had given him.
Guin was paralyzed, shock shutting down her body. She couldn't even let out the scream that was trapped in her chest. Eleanor came up behind her, a strangled cry escaping her lips, "Oh Maker! Oriana, Oren!" She rushed into the room and fell to her knees between the two, hands reaching for them but stopping short. "Howe's not even taking prisoners! He means to destroy the whole Cousland line!" she wailed.
"How are we going to tell Fergus? This would kill him," Guin managed to gasp out, the gathered tears finally falling. Ares whined and nudged her hand. She looked down at him, but he wasn't facing her, he was watching the hallway. He'd heard something. It didn't take more than a few seconds before she could hear them too; boots slamming against stone. She whirled back toward her mother, grabbing her arm and yanking her up. "We have to go!"
They ran toward the door that led to the rest of the castle, hoping they wouldn't run into any soldiers by themselves. No such luck, of course. There were four soldiers on the other side of the door, one archer, one dual weaponist, and two swordsmen. The second the door was opened, fighting started. Guin spun away from the door, knowing they'd try to use it as a choke point. Her mother had her bow armed and was firing at the soldiers at will. Ares had gone to attack the archer on the other side of the room, growls louder than the din of clashing metal. Drawing her sword and dagger, Guin rushed at the other dual weaponist, striking in a flurry of metal and long dark hair. Fury drove her on: the vision of Oren and Oriana lying dead on the floor was still very fresh in her mind and she didn't stop fighting until every last Amaranthine soldier was lying dead on the floor as well.
She stood in the center of the room, panting, and staring in disbelief at the carnage she'd just wrought. Not that it wasn't well deserved; it's just that Guin had never killed another human being before tonight. Her stomach churned and she would have upended the contents all over the dead soldiers had her mother's hand not fallen on her shoulder.
"It's alright dear, this was necessary. But come, we must find your father," Eleanor stated soothingly, nodding toward the door. Guin gave her own half-hearted nod and followed her mother out of the living quarters and down the hall, walking cautiously.
Her mother seemed so calm and confident. Hadn't she just killed her first human? She knew exactly where to aim her arrows to hit the armor at its weakest point and which enemies to fell first. Guin remembered Eleanor saying something about being a 'battle maiden' when she was younger, but it never sunk in. Eleanor had always been the graceful Teyrna and stern and loving mother to Guin. But now, seeing how she fought, Guin realized her mother must have helped King Maric's troops against the Orlesians. Her mother had actual experience in battle, more than most women ever see.
Before they could reach the main floor, Eleanor stopped and turned sharply to her daughter, eyes determined. "Guin, if the castle is overrun before we can find your father, I need you to promise me that you'll leave through the servants' entrance in the larder. You must live through this, find your brother, and tell him what has happened. Do you understand?"
The look in her mother's eyes was so fierce, and yet so desperate, that Guin couldn't find it in her to refuse. She wanted her family to get out of this alive, and if that wasn't possible, she wanted to stay and fight – even if that meant certain death. But a request like this? Guin sighed, "If it comes to that, I promise I'll escape." Eleanor smiled and put a hand to Guin's cheek affectionately before setting off down the hallway once again. Guin followed, thinking to herself that she wouldn't let that scenario happen. She couldn't leave her parents to die.
"HELP!" screamed a voice from around the corner and immediately, Guin rushed forward, bow out and an arrow notched. Suddenly, one of the castle staff ran in front of the corridor and turned to run up it. Upon seeing Guin and Eleanor, he froze in surprise. "Teryna Cousland! My lady! You're alive!" he gasped, brown eyes wide and frantic.
"Are you alright?" Guin asked, approaching the terrified man.
"I – yes I am, but we are under attack!" he exclaimed.
Eleanor sighed, "yes, we are aware. Have you seen the Teyrn?"
The man frowned and shook his head before blurting, "I'm not hanging around here a moment longer!" He turned tail and ran as fast as he could, hopefully, for an exit.
"Jeez, what happened to men defending the helpless damsels?" Guin muttered.
"We're both well-armed my dear. I'd hardly call us helpless," Eleanor replied, notching an arrow in her bow and advancing to the end of the corridor. In both directions, Howe's soldiers were engaging Highever guards. Eleanor and Guin hid behind the walls of the corridor.
"I'm going to help the guards to the right. Why don't you go help the ones to the left?" Guin offered.
Eleanor frowned slightly, "that will split us up, and I'm not carrying any close-range weapons."
"Ares will go with you. That way, if an Amaranthine soldier comes at you, you won't be helpless," Guin replied after a moment of thought.
"What about you?" Eleanor asked.
Guin indicated her dagger and sword strapped to her sides. "They won't catch me off guard and defenseless again." She nodded to her mother before swinging out of cover, bowstring pulled back and taught. She aimed for the throat of an Amaranthine soldier that had teamed up with some fellows and ganged up on a poor Highever guard. The man was fending off three opponents and didn't look like he'd last much longer. She exhaled and released the string. The arrow whizzed through the air, whistling as it closed in on its target. A second later, there was a gasp and a thud as the arrow hit its mark, felling the soldier.
Guin hadn't watched the arrow hit the target, she'd already moved onto the next unsuspecting soldier, who had been distracted by the sudden loss of a comrade, before falling to the ground beside him. The Highever guard, now finding the field even, quickly slew the remaining soldier.
Once that fight was over, Guin spun around to help her mother and Ares just as they were spinning to help her. Ares stood over two mabari hounds, tail wagging slightly and tongue lolling out. He bounded up to her, happy to know she was uninjured.
"Good boy Ares! You protected Mama!" Guin cooed, kneeling and rubbing Ares' ears. He hummed happily before turning back to Eleanor, eyes hopeful. He obviously didn't want to be troublesome anymore.
Eleanor smiled at him and pat his head, "yes, you did well, Ares."
The guards they'd managed to save – only two, sadly – came jogging up to the trio, eyes surprised. "Teyrna Cousland, my lady! You're both alive! I thought for sure you'd be dead after those soldiers got through…" the guard on the right frowned as he trailed off. He had brown hair, lightly tanned skin – most likely from being outside during long periods of time training – and was taller than the other guard. The second guard was shorter, but broader than the other one. He had dark red hair, light blue eyes, and a large axe strapped to his back.
The second guard bowed his head slightly, mouth downturned as he said, "we apologize. Those soldiers never should have gotten by us."
"Nonsense. It's not your fault, both of you were outnumbered. Besides, Howe knew Fergus was taking our troops to Ostagar and that we'd be vulnerable tonight. No, Howe is to blame for this," Guin stated adamantly. Both guards gave her grateful smiles.
"Have either of you seen the Teyrn?" Eleanor hurriedly asked.
"Yes, my lady. Follow us, we'll take you to him!" the tall guard exclaimed before turning and darting off down the hall.
"He was in the Great Hall when the fighting started. Ser Gilmore was there, I think," the second explained as they dashed through the corridor.
"Ser Gilmore is still alive?" Relief flooded through Guin. If Ser Gilmore was in the Great Hall, he'd have made sure her father made it out alive.
The group ran into two more bands of Howe soldiers, killing them as quickly as possible. They were running by a corridor when Eleanor stopped in her tracks.
"Wait, Guin! The treasury is down this way. The Cousland sword is locked inside, we must keep it out of the hands of Howe and his men!" she exclaimed before running down the stone corridor. Guin sighed and followed her, wondering if wasting time on a sword was good idea when every minute counted.
They reached the door quickly and Eleanor unlocked it before running over to the vault door. "Mama, is this sword so important? What about papa?"
"The Cousland family sword is enchanted, Guin. If Howe got his hands on it…" Eleanor trailed off as she turned the key to the vault, stepping inside and up to weapon rack with a gleaming silverite sword. Guin approached the rack quickly to examine the blade. The Cousland crest was engraved on the hilt and the handle had the words, 'Honorem Debitum Imperdiet' – which meant honor, duty, family – engraved in gold. It was a beautiful sword and oddly lightweight when Guin took it from the rack. Once in her hands, flames sprang to life along the blade, bright red and blazing in intensity.
"We would be in trouble…" Guin finished, lifting her gaze from the blade to her mother. She lifted the sword to her mother, who shook her head.
"Keep it, you are truly gifted with blades. That sword would be more useful to you than it would to me," she said. Guin was floored, brows springing up into her hairline. She's never said anything like that, never said one word of appreciation of my abilities before… she thought astounded. Eleanor smiled, lifting a hand to her daughter's cheek. "Though I may have wished for you to be a proper young lady, I have always known that you possess a warrior's spirit. How could you not with the parents that you have?" There was a sparkle in her green eyes, sharp and bright and fierce. "Now let's go find your father."
Guin nodded, jaw muscles clenching, fists curling as she removed the sword strapped to her back and replaced it with the Cousland sword. They were out the door to the treasury and approaching the doors to the great hall within moments. The sounds of battle were loudest here. Eleanor gripped her bow, nodding to Guin before throwing the door open.
Ares dashed in just ahead of Guin, loosing a howl as he threw himself into combat. Guin was at his flank, but broke away from the main group of Highever guards clashing swords against the Amaranthine soldiers. This group had a mage, which was tilting the odds in Amaranthine's favor. Dispatch the mage first, then deal with whoever was left. The mage saw her coming however and moved to cast some sort of spell in her direction. Guin dove to the floor, used her momentum to roll back to her feet and slash at the woman. Surprise flitted across the mage's face before she fell, blood gushing from the gash at her chest.
Spinning away from the fallen mage, Guin dashed back into the main fray, hoping to help the guards dispatch the last of the soldiers. Eleanor was by the dais where the thrones were seated, rapidly firing arrows at the invaders. Ares had pinned a soldier to the ground, jaws snapping about the man's neck, his screams turning into bloody gurgles. Ser Gilmore was battling two well armored knights simultaneously and Guin rushed to his aid.
Her world narrowed down to the battle: slash, parry, duck, thrust, spin. Blood splattered her armor, stained her lightly tanned skin. Her fiery blade caused fear in most of the soldiers she fought, which gave her a few seconds advantage in each skirmish. Finally, the last soldier fell, leaving Guin breathing hard in armor, blood dripping from her blades.
"Your Grace, my Lady! You're alive!" Gilmore exclaimed as he jogged up to the two women. The guards that were left ran to the massive door to the Great Hall to hold it closed. It sounded as if a battering ram were pounding against the heavy oaken door. "I thought for sure they had gotten through!"
"They did get through, Ser Gilmore," Guin replied bitterly, fists tightening on the hilts of her blades.
"They… Howe's men killed Oriana and Oren," Eleanor replied quietly, grief shadowing her eyes.
Gilmore blanched, pain entering his blue eyes. "Maker… I'm so sorry your Grace, if we had been more vigilant— "
"Gilmore, this is Howe's doing, not yours," Eleanor stated kindly, resting a hand on the knight's shoulder. The pained expression did not leave Gilmore's face, but he nodded.
"Have you seen my father, Gilmore? We were told he was here," Guin inquired, looking around for Bryce Cousland.
"He was here, but he was determined to find you. He headed to the larder, to the servant's exit," Gilmore stated quickly, glancing over at the doors. "You must go to him, I fear the castle will not be ours much longer."
A lump formed in Guin's throat as she looked from her oldest friend to the doors that were keeping the invaders out. This was it. "Gilmore…" she said, approaching the red headed knight. His gaze fell on her, sadness and determination shining in his eyes. Tears slipped from Guin's eyes again. He smiled at her, the smile that she had grown up seeing, the one he'd only show her when they were getting into trouble.
"Guin, you and your parents must live through this. If Howe will ever come to justice, you must get out of here," he stated, smile turning sad.
"Come with us, Gilmore. The castle will fall with or without you, but we need you," Guin implored.
"I can't, my Lady. I will not abandon the men. You will be safe if you leave, but you must hurry. Please go!" he replied before dashing to the door to help the others hold it.
"But—" Guin started, but her mother grabbed her arm.
"Guin, we must go! Didn't you hear him?" Eleanor pleaded, tugging her daughter's arm toward the door. "We must find your father and escape!" With one last look at Gilmore and the others, Guin nodded and followed her mother out of the Great Hall.
The kitchens weren't far from the Great Hall, but the corridor leading to the kitchens was teaming with Howe's men. Ares howled before launching at a soldier. Eleanor had her bow in her hand faster than Guin could blink. She began picking off the soldiers one by one; pinning shot here, crippling shot there. By the time Guin got her blades free and joined the fray, she'd felled two soldiers.
The battle haze descended on Guin once again, her field of view narrowed to her opponent. He was a big knight, heavily armored with a strong sword arm. Guin had never fought anyone so big in her life. He was able to stay away from her flaming sword, but even so, his armor made him slow. As long as she could keep dodging his attacks, keep moving, then she could keep fighting. Every dodge, every roll or jump away was followed by a swipe at the man's legs or body, anywhere looking for a weak spot. After a few stabs at the left side of the knight's body, Guin noticed him favoring his left leg. She'd pierced his armor on his left thigh, blood gently leaking from the small cut in the steel. She brought her flaming sword around, aiming it again at the left thigh. The heat of the blade melted the frayed metal, cutting into the skin like butter. The man cried out, swinging his sword around to make her back off. A second later, an arrow pierced through the eye slit in the helmet. The man screamed and as he was blinded, Guin dove back in, thrusting the Cousland family sword through the knight's chest.
Pulling the blade from the knight's chest, Guin looked up and around at the carnage wrought by her mother and Ares. There had been five other soldiers apart from the knight and two archers. The archers had been taken out first, by Eleanor if the arrows piercing their bodies were anything to go by. The other five soldiers had wounds inflicted by Ares and arrows lodged in their flesh. Blood pooled beneath each of them, gathering in the grooves of the stone.
"Come, Guin!" Eleanor exclaimed, rushing to the door to the kitchens. Guin followed behind her, getting to the door to the larder just after her. "Bryce?!" She called, looking around before her eyes fell to the form of the teryn. "Oh no! Bryce!" She cried, rushing to his side.
"Eleanor? Pup? Thank the Maker you're both alive!" he said weakly, a smiled curling on his lips. He gasped as he tried to move, the hand holding his side clenching slightly, blood staining his skin.
"Papa? What happened? Are you hurt?" Guin asked, kneeling beside him. There was more blood than she had originally thought, staining the yellow of his tunic into deep red.
"Howe's soldiers… got me while I was in the Great Hall. It was all I could do to get here," he gasped.
"Why is he doing this? Why would Howe betray us?" Eleanor asked, voice tight.
"I don't know, but he will not get away with it," Bryce growled. His blue eyes found Guin's green ones, imploring. "Pup, you must escape, you must live through this so Howe can be brought to justice. I am spent, but you have to survive, carry on the Cousland name."
"But… Papa! We can still go, together! Maybe we can get you to a healer, you'll be alright," Guin replied, tears gathering in her eyes.
"I don't think I'll be able to move, Pup. I'll only slow you down," Bryce answered sadly.
"Don't be ridiculous, Bryce, we're leaving together," Eleanor stated, hand going to his back as if trying to move him. He cried out, collapsing fully to the floor, hand spasming over the wound in his stomach. "Bryce!"
A loud boom, followed by the sound of splintering wood and a crash interrupted them. Guin's head flew to the door, eyes widening. "They've broken down the door," Bryce said, voice tight with pain. "Please, Pup, you must go and find your brother. Eleanor, take her, get out of here."
"I'm not leaving you, Bryce," Eleanor replied, her own voice thick with emotion. She turned to Guin, green eyes shining, "but you must go. Remember your promise to me. Go, survive this, and bring Howe to justice. I will hold them off while you make your escape. I'll kill every soldier that comes through that door."
Guin looked wide eyed at both her parents. I can't just leave them! Tears rush from her eyes, grief choking her. "But…" she started, hoping to come up with some kind of plan to get them all out. "There must be some way we can all—"
"Pup, go… before it's too late!" Bryce said, voice getting weaker.
A sob forced its way from her, crumbling the last of her strength. "I can't leave you."
Eleanor took her hand and gripped, hard. "You must." She glanced at Ares, who had been guarding the door. The mabari turned, ears pricked up and a whine escaping his throat. "Take her, boy. Get her out."
Ares gave a nod before closing his jaws around Guin's free wrist and tugging. She stumbled to her feet, following her war hound. "I love you both so much!" she gasped.
"And we love you!" Eleanor replied and the last thing Guin saw before she shut the door of the servants' exit was her mother leaning over her father, gripping her bow in one hand and readying a shot.
The passageway was dimly lit by a torch every now and then, but Guin paid them no mind as she sprinted past them, Ares at her heels. He was probably making sure she didn't turn around and go back. And no matter how much she was tempted to go back, she didn't. She had promised her parents.
A door at the end of the passageway opened to reveal the countryside outside the castle, the town just a short ways off. But she was still too close. Quickly, she sprinted to the tree line, breathing ragged from running and crying.
Once under the cover of the trees, Guin turned to get one last look at Highever and wished she hadn't. Screams erupted from the castle and the sky glowed red, reflecting the flames below. She crumbled seeing her home like this, sobs wracking her body and making her unable to move. It took everything in her not to wail, unsure if she was far enough away to not draw unwanted attention from roaming soldiers.
Ares whined beside her, nuzzling her. His presence comforted her to a small degree and she was able to collect herself after a while. She had a job to do after all. She had to find Fergus. She had to go to Ostagar.