9:27 Firstfall/November 15th
Rael had his mouth wide open for almost a good minute. I kept on writing on the parchment to try to ignore his gaping mouth that moved with no sound coming out of it. He slammed both hands on the table, spilling the ink on the page. I let out a panicked gasp when the ink nearly reached my journal. I was able to get up and save it before Rael put his hands on my shoulders.
"What do you mean you're going to Highever in one week!?" Rael gasped. His brows were furrowed and his fingers were digging into my shoulders. I clutched my journal.
"Like I said before, they employed me as a handmaiden and I'll be going with them in a week." I repeated. Rael bit his lip before pacing in front of the fireplace.
"I was able to see that boy for a second and knew he was a noble's son but the Couslands!? They're second to the King! I…this is just going too fast! Why do you need to go and leave?" Rael kicked the stone wall. I sighed before putting the journal on top of my bed. I poked his arm. He looked at me and pouted. "It's not fair…you're the only real friend I have…"
"It's the same for me but they said that they'll pay off Thomas. Not only that, this is a really good opportunity to get money to go back home. You know how much I miss it." I lied. Rael looked down, his locks of red hair nearly shielding his eyes.
"I know but…" Rael shuffled on his feet.
"Besides, you know this isn't goodbye. You can still send me letters and everything. You just won't be able to see me every day." I lightly chuckled. Rael sighed and hugged me. I patted his back.
"You're different from the rest of the humans. You actually listen, you actually care. The only bright light and it's already being taken away from me." Rael whispered next to my ear.
"Rael…" I sighed. He hugged me tighter.
"Sorry…I know I'm being selfish…" He pulled me away and cupped my face. "Promise me you'll write ok? Every week without fail or I will throw myself in the ocean!" I gave him a deadpanned look and pinched his cheeks. "Ow!"
"There will be times when I might not be able to write but I'll write when I can ok?" I patted his head and he pouted.
"Fine…I'll accept that for now." Rael huffed. "Come on, let me help you clean this before Thomas drugs us both." Rael took a cloth and cleaned up the ink spill. I shook my head but my heart flopped to the ground.
I wondered late at night after Rael left whether these were just coincidences or maybe fate at play. I don't believe in fate or destiny. I believe that things happen for a reason though. Why I'm here and why I'm about to be in Highever where the Couslands are. Does this mean that I should save them? Stop Howe's attack and make sure they survive? I doubt it. Bryce wouldn't listen to anyone concerning Howe even when all the signs were in front of him. Even if I did managed to get his trust, he still wouldn't listen to me but there was one person I could save; the youngest Cousland. I can save he or she if Duncan isn't there in time.
Are they meant for greatness? Should I even consider it? Technically only Duncan can conscript them to become Grey Wardens and even if the youngest Cousland dies, Fergus will always survive but what if that changes? All these questions and scenarios poured into my head as to what could change now that I'm here. I could always just hide myself away but that wouldn't get me any closer to my family.
I had to get to Flemeth but not the way I am now. So I planned on it as the fire in the fireplace was dying. The only way to get to Flemeth safely was to join the Hero of Ferelden. I didn't know how to fight but I have about 2 years to learn to at least something. It was a long shot and I wasn't even sure if I could complete it but I had my goal: Find Flemeth and get back home. I only hoped that this could work.
9:27 Firstfall/November 21st
The week finally passed by. It passed quickly as well. Oriana paid the debt I had accrued with Thomas and he accepted it. I got Rael's address and had it in my journal so I wouldn't forget it. Once I knew where I would be staying in Highever, I would send him a letter with my address. I managed to put everything I owned in a small wooden luggage crate. All I had were clothes and the very few belongings of my own world.
Gretchen was sad to see me go. I was a really good worker but understood that I needed more than 3 silvers to get to my home. Thomas said that he would miss the company but didn't really care that much. Instead he was happy he was getting back his room for the space. Rael was taking it hard. Even when I visited him at the docks, his smiles were getting smaller and smaller.
By the time Oriana came by with the carriage to lead me out, Rael was full blown frowning. He was the only one to see me out. There were only two for now to send us out with the servants they brought from Highever. I was to go with them. The driver took my luggage and hoisted it up, using rope to tie down all of them. Rael frowned deepened as he saw the servants settling in.
I pulled my cloak around me. I didn't know when I would be in Denerim again. Rael sighed, his breath showing. He shuffled on his feet before his eyes rested on me.
"It's not going to be the same but you did promise you'll write so there's that." Rael took a deep breath and let it out. I nodded before reaching in my cloak and pulling out the hat I knitted.
"It's not much but I never got you a gift for Santinalia. Here. I was going to make one for myself but the one you have for work is so filthy. Put it on to see if it will fit." I held it out. Rael took it and put it on. It was simple with no form but I chose comfort instead. His face got red.
"It fits perfect." He mumbled. He cleared his throat and I noticed that he had unshed tears.
"We need to get moving!" The driver called out. I looked at Rael and he brought me in for another hug. He held me tightly and I heard the sniffles. I felt bad but there was nothing I could do.
"I'll write to you as soon as I get there." I patted his back and rubbed my face. I smelled him deeply. It was a mixture of salt and musk that permeated my being and settled inside of me. My first friend. Rael let go and wiped his eyes. I gave him a small smile and cupped his face. I brought him down and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Don't get into too much trouble." I lightly slapped him. He nodded and bit his lip. I went into the carriage. I felt the rumble of it moving and saw out the small window. Rael was wiping his eyes furiously.
He found a reason to live which was me. Even if I was away, I knew that he would continue to live. I wouldn't forgive him if he died. The servants eyed me curiously. Human and elf though the elves more than the human. I only got comfortable in my corner while we continued to ride toward Highever. It would be a three day ride and we'll be stopping at a few inns on the way.
I watched as we passed through the crowded streets of Denerim until we reached the main gate. It was high with huge wooden doors. There was a courtyard separating the main gate and the main city. As we passed the towering gates, I thought about everything that I had learned in Denerim and was immensely grateful for Rael. I made a mental note to start giving him some money to help out his family as soon as possible.
The cobblestone road changed into the dirt road. The trees were sparse near Denerim but it quickly became forest. I watched the scenery before I started to hear the whispers of the servants. I made myself ignore them. I didn't want to start any drama until…
"Were you two lovers?" A male elf asked in front of me. I stared at him until I chuckled slightly.
"No he was only a really good friend." I replied.
"Hmph, it's best if you didn't flirt with her Thellan. You know you can't have elf babies with a shem." Another female elf said from the other corner. Thellan got red.
"T-That wasn't the reason why I asked!" He sputtered. I gave a small smile.
"Uh huh, I know all about you trying to get into the new hire's parts." She stuck her tongue out.
"Be quiet Awell!" Thellan shouted.
"You both be quiet!" Another human servant shouted.
"Make us!" Awell flared. I chuckled. This was going to be an interesting trip.
9:27 Firstfall/November 24th
The trip back was enjoyable to say the least. Thellan and Awell were the elves that worked under Nan. The others, Jacob and Emilia worked as helpers as a whole. Thellan and Awell were cross with them but when around the actual Cousland family, they became meek. It was an interesting switch. During the three day trip, Oriana gave me a run down as to what my job entailed. I would have to respond to her letters, plan her trips and soirees, take care of Oren, and help her with her clothing and everything in between.
I was becoming more grateful to Rael to teaching me how to read and write. My penmanship wasn't perfect but it wasn't horrid at least. Thellan and Awell kept on talking to me and inquiring about Rael. They didn't really seem to accept my explanation that Rael was only a friend. Thellan told me that the feelings in his eyes didn't say that. I ignored most of their gossip. Rael treated me as a precious object because I was his reason to not die. Of course I would be important to him.
He was important to me as well. He was my first friend. Rael helped me adjust to this change gradually and never made me step out of my boundaries. He taught me when he didn't need to and he saved my life when he could have left me in the gutter. Rael didn't though. He was always there for me.
When we arrived at Highever Castle, it took my breath away. It was huge and towering. It held a distance from the city proper but it was beautiful. The cobblestone almost looked like polished marble, white and sparkling. There were gardens out before the main gates were long and well-tended to. We went inside and toward the stables. They were huge with various horses. They looked powerful and big. This is where we stopped. I got my luggage that the driver put down.
There were various guards and servants going around with their daily business. The pots with plants were being tended to. Nearly every passage way had a guard there defending it. Oriana nodded to me and I followed her. The castle was huge from the inside and we weren't even inside the main rooms. Guards nodded politely to Oriana as she led me away.
"We have servant quarters to where you will be situated at. The room will be personal to you and you will have keys for it as well as I. You are to get up in the morning and join me after you had your breakfast. From then on, I will train you on your duties." Oriana pulled out a key and opened a door. It was a modest room, slightly bigger than the nook I had in Thomas and I had a real bed this time! Oriana gave me the key before going toward the drawers. She gave me a dark beige apron, a maroon shirt, and a darker skirt. "This will be your uniform to differentiate you from the rest of the servants. I have great hopes that you will do your job diligently. Do not let me down." Oriana gave me that sly smile again. I got a shiver of fear before she left the room.
I sat on the bed and took a deep breath. I shivered with excitement and a hint of fear. I am here in the Cousland castle…I made it here! I made it! I wanted to jump up and down but I refrained from doing so. I put what little belongings I had in my drawers and sat on my bed again.
Then the change finally sunk in. My hitched breath came and I stubbornly tried not to shed any tears. It didn't work. In the end, I locked my door and cried into the soft pillow. My homesickness rose to an all-time high. I missed Rael. He was my comfort, my home away from home and now I lost that too.
Was this a mistake? Should I even have come here? The doubt was crawling from the back of my head to the forefront of my thoughts. I clutched my pillow and laid in a heap on my bed. I wiped away my tears and took a few calming breaths. I had to remember that this was the only way, the only safe way to get to Flemeth. I couldn't risk going out there alone with bandits, wildlife, demons, and who knows what else. Going with the Hero of Ferelden was my only hope. I was almost there too. It was nearly the next year. All I had to wait was two more years.
I prayed to God with all my heart that I would be able to last that long.
Beta'd by the amazing FearaNightmare!
And we have finally arrived in the Cousland Castle. Things won't start to pick for much longer so those that are like 'Just get to the main story!' will have to wait. The reason why is that I want to explore Eren's character and Nia's eventually training. Hopefully you'll like it too!
Shout out to Blooddoll1 for favoriting! Thank you Chimera Spyke for your review! Please Review!