"It's like being a block of stone with a sculptor working on you. One day, the last of the crap gets knocked off, and you can see your real shape, what you're supposed to be." –The Iron Bull, Leader of the Bull's Chargers, ex-Ben-Hassrath, Agent of the Inquisition, Former Body-guard of the Inquisitor.
Kenna Cousland, Asaaranda had learnt almost as soon as they met the young noble, was a force of nature that bowled over anything in the way of getting what she wanted no matter anyone else's complaints—as Asaaranda had learnt with said noble attached to their wrist as she barter with their mother over Kenna kidnapping them.
The new guy, Shadow, however, was taking it in stride in a way that Asaaranda hadn't really seen before—at least not straight way, Lileas spoke fondly of the early days with Kenna, getting used to the stubborn noble that had decided they were friends.
He kept his eyes fixed on Kenna, on her face as she spoke and ordered, and kept one of his large hands wrapped around Kenna's golden wrist—a mimic to how she would wrap her golden fingers around Lileas', Giles' and Asaaranda's wrists, it was strange to see that gesture being used on Kenna.
He followed on her heels as she moved around, he kept still when the shackles were cut and removed from his poor abused wrists and allowed Asaaranda to clean them and survey them before Kenna shuffled him off for his bath with a bundle of clean clothing that Lileas had gone to receive while informing Nan on the new addition.
He hesitated briefly, glancing at Kenna with a strange longing when it became clear that she wouldn't be entering the baths—there was several baths in Lowever, all build for communal bathing—but finally entered it when Kenna waved him off with clear fondness—the same instance fondness that she had bestowed on Asaaranda, Giles and Lileas in the past, affection mixed with protective possession.
When he came back, he patiently sat while Asaaranda bandaged his wrists and gave him a good look-over just in case there was some other wounds—apart from his feet having several blisters, he was uninjured—as long as he could see Kenna, pale eyes focused solely on her, jaw clenching the only sign of any pain as Asaaranda cleaned his damaged wrists and bandaged them and carefully wrapped his feet so not to burst the blisters.
It was strange, Asaaranda mused thoughtfully, that Shadow had taken to Kenna almost as quickly as Kenna took to him without the advantage of her foresight.
Shadow looked at Kenna like he had been lost at sea and she was his safe harbour from the storm.
The guarded tension that had been running through him when he first stepped into the Nest behind Giles had disappeared almost as soon as Kenna had cupped his cheek and smiled at him—instance fondness, effortlessly given protection, Kenna all over—and hadn't returned once.
Asaaranda sat on one of the divan, lounging back, and continued to watch as Shadow wrapped one hand back around Kenna's wrist and Kenna smiled at him, wide and affectionate, before she returned to speaking with Lileas and twins.
Giles slumped beside them, a disgruntled scowl on his face as he watched.
"What's wrong with you?" they asked after a moment of watching the scowl deepen on the young man's face as Shadow seemed happy just to bask next to Kenna, "I thought you would happy that she now has a body-guard—that's why you brought him here, right?"
"She wasn't meant to take to him like that," Giles scowled deeper. "She walked right up to him with no hesitation, no doubt, just accepted him as hers without a thought that he may attack her."
Asaaranda snorted, amused, and Giles glared at them, lip curling up in a snarl at the sound of their amusement.
"You finally realise how terrifying it is, haven't you?" Asaaranda leaned back, adjusting their vest that was cut in a way that suggested that they could have breasts, and grinned at him absolutely thrilled by his misery and frustration—they had almost despaired that no-one else would realise outside the core-group that Kenna contrasted around her, hoarded close like a dragon would its gold. "How much she trusts complete strangers without second thought based on what she's foreseen."
"Fuck," Giles gritted his teeth in frustration, with him, her or them, they didn't know and frankly didn't care, "when did you realise?"
"I knew from the start," Asaaranda snorted with little humour this time, "she just came up to me and bluntly declared she was kidnapping me, she didn't even know my name and she didn't care. My mother could have killed her where she stood, and she didn't even hesitate because I was hers, and nothing else matter."
Asaaranda didn't know how to fully explain it.
Didn't know how the explain the shock they felt when a hand—so small, so delicate, becoming rough and tough from constant weapons practise—wrapping around their wrist, a shock that made them stop and turn.
Didn't know how to explain the depth of their annoyance of seeing a small noble girl holding them, how that annoyance swiftly turned to confusion as they noticed the sheer depth of affection and determination in the dual-coloured eyes staring up at them.
Didn't know how to explain how their breath caught in their throat when the noble—small, delicate, annoying, confusing, foolish noble—turned towards their mother with a stubbornly set jaw and bluntly declared that she was 'kidnapping' them.
Their mother had killed before to protect them, to stop people trying to take them, or harm them, and part of them had been terrified that Mother would lash out towards this young—and stupid—noble girl so had erupted into offended protests to try and make the girl drop her joke.
Mother had been able to see what Asaaranda hadn't, that Kenna hadn't been joking, that she had been determined that Asaaranda was hers and would be going home with her.
They would always remember the way Mother had laughed, loud and bright, absolutely delighted and thrilled by this sudden turn of events.
Mother had looked at Kenna—stubborn, determined, foolish Kenna—and dared her to impress her, to show her why she should leave her only child in this noble child's care, and Kenna—stubborn, determined, loving Kenna—did without hesitation all because Asaaranda was hers, was meant to be hers, and she wouldn't let anyone stop her from claiming them, from protecting them, providing and hoarding them.
"Fuck," Giles let his head drop into his hand, "I laughed when Lileas told me what she did, I didn't even think what could wrong. Fuck, she's going to keep doing this, isn't she?"
Asaaranda thought of Lileas' story—of golden fingers wrapping around her slender wrist, of a set-jaw as they marched into the Teyrn's study, of the silent dare in the tilt of Kenna's chin as she announced that Lileas was going to be her lady-in-waiting—and of Giles—of dual-coloured eyes gleaming with smug amusement, of steamrolling over his carefully scripted plan and claiming him before he could try and claim her—and knew without a doubt.
"Oh yeah," they grinned, amused more than sympathetic as they patted Giles on the back.
"She's going to get herself killed doing this," he bemoaned into his hand making them almost snicker.
"She'll have Shadow right behind her from now on," Asaaranda offered helpfully.
"That's not helping," he informed them without looking up.
"Oh, I know," Asaaranda let out a throaty laugh, completely delighted by this turn of events.
Finally, finally someone else saw just how much trouble Kenna Cousland was, and would willingly walk into.
It was glorious to behold.
"Maker, you are an arsehole," Giles informed them dully, peeking up with one pale blue eye.
"Thank you," Asaaranda almost beamed at him as they lounged back against the divan, quicksilver eyes bright with amusement and their smile sharp—they felt they understood Mother complete amusement over Kenna a lot better now.
~ Caitlyn's Study, Cousland Castle, Highever, 18th Cloudreach 9:24 ~
To be completely honest, Caitlyn wasn't sure if this was better or worse than the Adaar Situation.
On the one hand, she wouldn't be verbally sparring with an overly amused sea-fraying mother under her father's eyes, and there was no kidnapping involved—which was a good thing, three years without Kenna attempting (succeeding) to kidnap someone was a good thing.
On the other hand, it was a Tevinter slave that had been obviously trained—as a mage-killer, a body-guard or a gladiator for their version of the Provings, Cait didn't know and she wasn't sure how to ask—something that meant someone had spent money to train him, had invested in him—and was probably not happy that he had escaped and ran—and he was closer to Cait's own age then Kenna's—something Fergus wouldn't approve of, he wasn't that happy that Asaaranda and Giles were both three-years older than Kenna as Kenna slowly reached the age where she would be considered a woman.
Cait glanced at Kenna and almost wanted to sigh at the familiar expression—jaw-set, chin tilted, a silent dare in her dual-coloured eyes—that set on the younger girl's face as she stared back from her position standing just in front of the young man—Shadow, Kenna proclaimed, and he hadn't said anything against the name—with one of his big hands wrapped around her wrist—Maker, it was strange to see that gesture used by someone else, and it made Caitlyn realise just how thin, delicate, Kenna's wrists were.
Lileas stood on Kenna's over side, a helplessly fond look of resignation on her face as she stood with her hands clasped modestly in front of her and patiently waited for Cait's word—calm in a way she hadn't been three-years back when Kenna had arrived with two Qunari in tow and a proud declaration that she was kidnapping Asaaranda.
Said Qunari had taken a seat beside Davia on the divan with a little nod and ignoring this stand-off with almost as much ease as the dwarf as they read their book—Davia had looked up when the group had entered, her lips twitched up into a brief smile, before she turned her attention back to more important things like her current designs.
Giles leaned back against the armrest of the divan next to Asaaranda, arms crossed his chest and a frustrated pale blue glare focused on Shadow's back—an interesting thing to see considering Cait had been ready to lay Shadow as his fault since Alouette had been able to inform her that the young man had been looking for a body-guard for Kenna.
Alouette was mirroring Giles' posture against Cait's desk, though her dark eyes were watching with interest and a mild spark of amusement.
Rosina stood beside Cait's chair, pale-green eyes focused on her own sister and a silent look of disapproval sent her way—the silent question, accusation; "you let this happen again?" obvious to all—while Lileas kept her own pale-green gaze away from her sister.
Nan hovered by the door with her arms crossed and a smug look on her wrinkled face—Nan had been proclaiming just how much trouble Kenna was and would continue to be from the moment Kenna had worked out how to walk, and everyone had learnt to ignore her, so Caitlyn supposed that Nan was entitled to the silent 'I told you so' smugness.
With a tired sigh—and a new headache making itself known—Cait turned her attention back to Shadow.
He was tall—taller than Giles, maybe the same height of Asaaranda—with board shoulders that taper down into a narrow waist.
His short dark hair was still damp, his olive-toned skin was freshly scrubbed, and he was wearing an old beige tunic that Fergus wore to train in and a pair of Bran's dark trousers with what Cait presumed was his own boots as they were worn and covered in dried mud.
The scars on the right half of his face and curling around his throat were an angry pink, still relatively new, and while some were clearly the result of a blade, some were clearly claw marks—be it the claws of an animal or a demon, Cait didn't know.
He stood with his back straight, his feet set almost shoulders-width apart and one arm folded behind his back while his other hand kept its grip around Kenna's wrist.
He was still and silent, his breathing even and calm as he stared forward with pale eyes, but he wasn't unaffected by her close scrutiny as he would like Cait to believe if one looked at the way his fingers flexed around Kenna's wrist.
Caitlyn sighed again before turning her gaze towards Giles.
"Explain," she told him, almost wearily.
Giles blinked back at her, nonplussed; "Why me?"
"Because I know you wanted a body-guard, and now here he is," Caitlyn gestured to the silent Shadow, "explain what you know."
"Cait—" Kenna began, and Caitlyn gave her sister a look that quietened her with a displeased pout.
"The Birds picked up on him about a week ago and kept the standard watch on him to see what he'd do," Giles shrugged one shoulder idly, "he's not the first slave from Tevinter that's turned up and he's probably not going to be the last. We don't crowd them though we watch them, most leave soon enough, get away from the port, and the ones that don't, we approach carefully and offer information, help, whatever."
"And how did this offer of help turn into this?" Cait gestured to Shadow's hand still wrapped around Kenna's wrist.
"Itha and Souren were the ones that picked up on him," Giles shrugged lightly again, "they decided that he would be useful."
"How?" Caitlyn flickered a glance over to Shadow, who didn't seem bothered by them discussing him though Kenna's pout of displeasure—and it was a pout, not a scowl—had deepened.
"He was smart," Giles pursed his lips slightly, "he figured out how to feed himself without drawing attention to himself, caused no suspicion and was fast. He's obviously trained, probably strong considering his muscle-tone, and he's quiet," Giles' lips twitched into a hint of a smirk at the last one which Caitlyn decided to ignore, "they thought he would be a useful candidate for Boss' body-guard, and had spent the last few days talking to him, building up Boss and what we do—a good recruitment pitch by all accounts considering he was still there when I arrived.
So, I decided after a nice little chat—mostly one-sided—that I would take him to see Boss, see if she'd like him, and well," Giles gestured with his crippled hand at Kenna and Shadow, "she liked him, named him and everything, so yeah, here we are and apparently we're keeping him."
"She named him?" Alouette repeated almost flatly, turning her gaze to Kenna, "you named him?"
"Sort of?" Kenna chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, "it was meant to be a nickname? But he seems to like it and it's not like he offered another name."
"He's mute," Giles offered with a light tone, a smirk curling at his lips, and Kenna blinked up at Shadow.
"Oh," she paused before looking at Alouette, "so, yeah, I did name him."
"Can't give back now," Giles began in that taunting tone of his, "she's named him and everything."
"He's not a dog," Caitlyn gave the young boy a flat disapproving look. "Don't compare him to a dog."
"But he's already acting like a good little guard-dog," Giles smirked right at Shadow.
Shadow turned his head and gave him a flat look in response to his taunt.
"Giles," Kenna snapped, scowling at her friend and Giles held up his hands in surrender.
"Sorry, sorry," he offered with no sincerity, pale blue eyes fixed on Shadow's pale greenish grey ones. "Sometimes I can't help myself, it's an illness, really."
Asaaranda snorted, loudly, without looking up from their book.
"Giles," Kenna repeated, scowling and Giles smirked as he leaned back, but kept his mouth shut this time.
"Kenna," Caitlyn sighed making her sister look at her, jaw clenching and chin tilting up.
"He's mine, Cait," she told her older sister firmly, "like Lileas, Giles and Asaaranda are mine, like Rosina, Davia and Alouette are yours."
Caitlyn rubbed at her temples before she looked at Shadow.
"Do you prefer the name Shadow?" she asked, and he nodded making her nod in return. "Very well, then that's how we will refer you as.
You now are a part of Kenna's personal Household, you will have your own room located near to the family wing and while servants will go in to clean it, you have the right to refuse entry to anyone else.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the main hall, you can have it arranged so you can have lunch somewhere else or join my sister when she has lunch.
Other the next few days, we will deal with equipping you with a wardrobe and armour.
Whatever weapons you have previously trained in or want to be trained with are under the control of Ser Kenneth Nolan, the commander of our army, and he will decide when you will get proper weapons made for you.
Because your position will be mainly as Kenna's body-guard, I will put you under the direct supervision of Ser Kenneth. He will go over your training, pin-point where you need improvement and make sure you have a trainer suited to you. Are you with me so far?" Caitlyn paused and waited for Shadow to nod his understanding. "I will be talking with our sage, Aldous, about your education needs—reading, writing and such—and he will contact you when he has come up with a lesson plan that will suit you and your needs.
You will be allotted a set wage as Kenna's body-guard, you may do what you wish with the money and no one will take it from you, that goes with your belongings too—they are yours and no one has the right to take them from you. Do you understand?" Caitlyn again awaited for Shadow to nod. "Good, at the moment you will not be needed as a body-guard nor will you be trusted as my sister's sole defender.
Kenna keeps mostly to the safety of the castle, and always has a Knight with her when she ventures outside—that will not change despite your position, and will continue to be so until Ser Kenneth declares you able as a body-guard and trusts you enough to take off the Knight detail on my sister, do you understand?"
Shadow nodded, thick brows slightly furrowed as he listened and committed everything to memory.
Caitlyn eyed him before nodding sharply.
"Very well, I believe that is all for now," Caitlyn decided with hint of dismissal in her tone, "I will contact you if I have any other thoughts, and no doubt Nan wishes to show you to your room."
"I've already finished setting it up for you," Nan informed the young man, smugness still visible in the set of her wrinkles.
"Then I will show you the way to my room," Kenna informed him without a second thought.
Fergus was going to throw a fit, Cait realised dimly, especially if he found Shadow in Kenna's room, on her bed.
"Rosina," Caitlyn sighed deeply, firming deciding to deal with her brother when she had to and not a moment more, "the blue tea please."
"Yes, my Lady," Rosina gave one last disapproving glance towards her sister before swishing over to the sideboard with a tea-cupboard placed on top and an enchanted teapot, pulling open the blue painted draw for that tea as Kenna lead the way behind Nan as the group left.
"Ten silvers that Lord Fergus throws a fit," Alouette piped up almost as soon as the door closed while Rosina busied herself with making the tea.
"Suckers' bet," Davia decided without looking up. "Ten silvers says that Captain Bran does that eye-twitch thing when he returns."
Alouette laughed lightly.
"That's a suckers' bet too," the Bard informed the dwarf brightly.
Davia's lip twitched upwards into a grin, amused, but kept her eyes focused on her book.
"She's going to be the cause behind all my grey hairs," Caitlyn complained as she rubbed her temples with her eyes closed—she was also the cause behind most of Caitlyn's tension headaches.
"She's the reason why I have decided I don't want children," Alouette informed her with a trance of laughter still in her voice, moving and placing her hands-on Caitlyn's shoulders to begin to massage the tension out. "I'm glad she's not mine."
Cait decided to ignore that, she had stopped denying that Kenna was hers over two years ago.
"Here, my Lady," Rosina placed down the teacup and saucer in front of her.
"Thank you, Rosina," Cait opened her eyes and took the teacup, inhaling the smell deeply for a moment as Alouette rubbed and dug her fingers into the knots of tension in her shoulders and upper back.
Whatever fit Fergus did end up throwing, it was kept from Kenna by both Caitlyn and Oriana though she did see her oldest brother glowering at Shadow whenever he caught sight of the younger man.
Kenna ignored it, she knew he would get used to Shadow sooner or later, and just did her best to make sure Shadow settled in happily.
She also tried her best to ignore the pool of dread bubbling in her stomach, the feel of sand drifting through her fingers and down a into an hour-glass, the feeling of time running out.
A feeling that got worse when King Maric disappeared a year later, his ship lost at sea, and Bran being one of the many sent out to look for him.
He wasn't found, Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir spent six-months looking for him, pushing the Landsmeet to keep looking for him, before finally Cailan was crowned and put on the throne.
He married Anora a month later, and Bran came open with a broken heart and refused to go back to Denerim.
Time was running out, cooper and iron thick so thick in the air she could taste it, the Alienage was being finished as quickly as possible as Caitlyn began to stock-pile supplies, betrayal and rage twisted in her chest, Oren kept growing under Fergus' careful and worried eyes, his voice trembling in relief and pain, and Kenna kept pushing herself, blood spluttered hotly across her face, Bran was beginning to look worried, he would drink from the poisoned chalice.
And then, time truly began to run out as the Grey Wardens began to give warnings of a coming Blight.
And Kenna knew, with deep cold certainty, that it was beginning.
The end of safety, of childhood, of innocence.