9:28 Solace/July 21st
When I first saw Howe in the game, I really didn't like him. I didn't know how far he would go until I played through the noble walkthrough. It was then when I realized he was a despicable human being. His face resembled a fox and his voice was a mixture of a sneer and fake politeness. I stayed back while Howe's family and Eren's family interacted. I could tell that Eleanor was very stiff with Howe's wife.
Then there was Delilah. She was definitely younger than Eren but had so much make up caked on her, it was hard to tell. She had on jewels that shined in the light, earrings that even I envied but it was all a bit too much in my opinion.
The dinner started while I had to stay out on the wall watching them. Bryce and Howe were laughing at their war stories while everyone was listening to them. The manners were all impeccable on the Howe's side while Eren and Fergus kept on being playful with Oriana and Eleanor trying to keep them out of trouble.
I was bored out of my mind and extremely hungry. The delicious smell wafting into my nose wasn't making things better either. I noticed that Howe's wife was watching Delilah carefully. It must suck to be in their home with her around.
"I've noticed that Nathaniel couldn't come again." Bryce mentioned. My ears perked at that.
"Yes, his pilgrimage in the Free Marches has kept him busy. He writes often though and I try my best at replying." Howe said.
"Too bad Eren and he cannot duel like old times! I was always curious at which one would be stronger." Bryce took a sip of his drink.
"Wouldn't the duel be between Nathaniel and I father?" Fergus commented.
"No, that would be too easy of a fight for you Fergus." Eleanor chuckled. Everyone did a light chuckle but the Howe's were more strained than the rest.
"I must say though Eren, it seems that your handling of the guard is impressive. The streets are impeccably safe compared to Denerim." Howe praised.
"More can still be done. My job is never over." Eren shrugged with pride. Fergus laughed and slapped his back.
"The ever working man! Of course that only comes about in between romps!" Fergus laughed. Eren glared at him.
"Fergus!" Eleanor reprimanded. I rolled my eyes. Of course they were going to talk about that.
"Isn't it about time to settle down? A man like yourself should already have some prospects." Howe looked toward his daughter and she smiled on cue.
"I am not looking for anything right now." Eren replied and frowned.
"Such a shame, a man of your talents could make any woman very happy." Howe commented.
"Or maybe he already has one." Howe's wife immediately looked at me. I looked away from the table and resumed my stance.
"Her? She's my guardian." Eren said quickly. Howe laughed.
"A guardian? The Captain of the Guard needs one? I thought you were very capable on your own." Howe's words dripped with sarcasm.
"It's better to have eyes in the back of your head or a dangerous woman holding a knife." Bryce laughed and slapped Howe's back. Howe's smirk nearly faltered. I almost wanted to laugh.
In the end, the dinner party ended with no more sarcastic quips from Howe and everyone started to retreat into their rooms. I followed Eren out and he dragged me by my arm. I growled in frustration.
"Hey what is the big-" I started.
"I need you to come with me." Eren snapped. I growled in frustration. We went out of the castle and toward the hill where I would start my training. Eren paced in front of me as I stood there watching him. I sighed trying to figure out where this was all coming from.
"Why? Is it so hard to understand I have no interest in settling down? And yet they keep at it with, you must meet the daughter of this noble or how about Delilah that's years younger than me! You saw how tacky she looked with all the make up on her face. What is this notion that I can't be my own self-made man!?" Eren ranted, huffing and crossing his arms. I stared at him before nearly collapsing in laughter. "I have yet to see the amusement in this situation." He glared at me.
"You're such a spoiled brat!" I breathed out, grabbing my ribs because they were hurting from how much I was laughing.
"What did you say!?" Eren yelled. I caught my breath while chuckling a few times.
"Really? That's the thing that you wanted to tell me? You can't be a self-made man? Uh if you haven't forgotten Eren when you're a noble, you're going to get force into political marriages duh. I mean, you with your brilliant mind couldn't figure that out?" I chuckled.
"But I have done so much to make them realize that I have a choice!" Eren growled in frustration.
"Look Eren if your parents allowed Fergus to marry Oriana who was from Antiva, I'm pretty sure they'll let you marry someone of equal value from any other place not just Ferelden. I don't see why you're making a big deal about it." I shrugged.
"I hate having my life planned out for me." Eren pouted. I rolled my eyes.
"Eren no matter where you go, you can't forget your roots. You'll always be the son of Bryce Cousland. There are things that will be expected from you. As much as you don't want that, you'll have to live with it. Believe me, you have the means to make anything of yourself. You have that luxury of being able to choose your way of life..." I looked down. "Not many people have the choice. So go ahead and rant all you want but remember there are people that would kill to be in your position right now." I said solemnly. Eren stared at me before huffing. "Anyway if that's all you called me out here to say, I'm going back to my room. I'm exhausted." I walked down the hill.
"You don't need to follow me during Howe's stay. I don't want any more misunderstandings between you and me." Eren called out.
"Yeah, yeah." I agreed.
"I had better not catch you behind me!" Eren yelled.
"I get it!" I shouted back.
"I am serious! If I catch you, it's 50 laps and never ending practice duels!" Eren shouted.
"Fine! Jesus Christ! Shut up already!" I shouted. I rolled my eyes. What a prick.
9:28 August 1st
"The castle feels…different today." I said as we walked through and the workers were very somber. Eren sighed.
"Do you even know what day is it today?" Eren sneered.
"Uh…" I mumbled.
"Today is All Soul's Day. We remember those who have passed on. Many often light bonfires or a candle for their families that have passed. The Chantry lights a giant bonfire to remember Andraste. It's not a pleasant day. Many lost their families in the war against Orlais and those wounds are still fresh." Eren sighed.
"Then can I light a candle too?" I asked.
"You have lost someone?" Eren wondered. I nodded. "That's fine. We can get a candle in front of the Chantry."
"I don't want to light it at the Chantry though." I said. Eren looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "I don't worship Andraste." He bumped me on the head. "Ow!"
"Try not to say that out loud. People can be sensitive to those words." Eren warned. I rubbed my head.
"You didn't have to hit me…" I mumbled. The streets, that were normally busy, were extremely quiet today. People didn't smile and vendors sold mostly Chantry related things such as statues of Andraste and other religious figures along with candles. Eren bought me one and we headed back to the castle, the second in command taking care of things today. Eren went to his room reminding me that he had to go to a vigil at the Temple with his family later tonight. I lit the candle in my rooms and prayed. The only person that I lost that was close to me was my uncle. He was a professional painter and our personalities were extremely similar. He promised to teach me everything he knew. He died.
After I prayed, I went to write again to Rael. It seemed that they went through another riot and the guard has been increasing their patrols around the Alienage. He told me it was a recipe for disaster and I agreed with him. I hid some coins in with the letter and put it away for when I went by the post office. I sighed and rested on my bed.
That was the only thing that I hated being here, I got so bored. I would usually put on a movie, watch anime, read manga, or play video games. There was nothing to do here. I got down with Oriana's letter the night before and turned in my report along with them to Bryce. I got up and changed into my servant clothes and went into the larder.
Nan was the first to notice me in there. She was resting while Awell and Thellan worked on the dinner. I shrugged.
"I'm bored, what can I do to help around?" I asked.
"You have nothing to do and you ask for more work?" Nan asked. I shrugged my shoulders again. She chuckled. "This is why I like you. Alright, start on deboning the chicken we have already cooked and get some of the herb butter in the larder." Nan explained. I nodded and went into the larder. As I was looking for it I noticed some of the flour bags moved and a small door on the floor. I got what I needed and came out to get the knife needed for deboning.
"Hey Nan, what's that small door on the floor? Is it your secret door of secrets?" I chuckled.
"It's the servants exit and entrance. It connects right outside the gates of Highever though its hidden enough the most won't be poking their heads in here." Thellan explained.
"Most of the servants don't stay in the castle proper. They usually go out and retire to their homes in the city. Only those that need to be on hand stay such as yourself have their rooms." Nan explained. "Now less talking and more prepping."
"Yes ma'am. " I nodded.
9:28 August 7th
I lied on the dirt of the practice grounds, staring at the few stray clouds in the sky while trying to catch my breath. Eren beat me for the fourth time that day. I coughed again and swallowed some blood from when his shield caught my face. I could already feel the swelling. The blood was pumping through my face as it heated up. I saw Eren's shadow cast over my face and he shook his head.
"Is that really all you have? What happened to your tenacity that you've been boasting about for the past few days?" Eren scoffed. I turned away, looking at the wooden sword that he disarmed earlier in the fight.
"It's just…today isn't really my day." I sighed. "I kinda just want to lay down for the rest of the day I guess."
"Too bad." Eren said, grabbing my arm and forcing me to stand. He grabbed the sword and put it back in my hand. My mind was too preoccupied to focus on the fight though. As he stood in front of me and got into position, all I could think about the fact that I've been here a year. A full year.
My son would have turned three. My daughter two. I would have been with my husband for four years. It hurt. It hurt so much my chest wrenched painfully. I bit my lip because I felt it starting to quiver.
"Oh no, don't you start crying now!" Eren yelled but I couldn't even see him from the sudden influx of tears in my eyes. Everything looked blurry until I breathed out and giant tears went down my cheeks. Eren growled while I wiped at my eyes. "I did not hit you that hard."
"It's not that you jerk!" I snapped.
"Then what!?" Eren shouted.
"I've been away from my family a whole frigging year!" I blubbered out before putting my face in my hands and sobbing loudly. Eren grabbed me and took me in a room that wasn't being used. "I miss them so much…" I whimpered. Eren scoffed and stood there while I sobbed.
"Hey." Eren said. I looked at him before he pushed me roughly.
"What the hell!?" I shouted. He rolled his eyes. That got me angrier. I really shouldn't cry in front of this prick. I left the room but Eren caught up and tripped me. I gasped before regaining my footing. Eren glared at me and my rage hit an all-time high. I growled before trying to hit him but my anger made me sloppy. Eren was able to evade my attacks. I kicked and I punched while Eren glared and evaded.
I crunched low and immediately did a low sweep. That caught him and he fell to the ground. I was going to kick him but he grabbed my leg and threw me on the ground. My breath hitched but I used the momentum to roll back up. He stood up as well and I tackled him. I went for a punch and he caught my hand. Then I tried doing it with the other fist and he grabbed that as well.
"You see what you can do now!" Eren growled, struggling to keep me away. "This is your strength and I am very sure that you have already planned on how you are going to go home!" That made me weaken my grip slightly. "I am not sure how long you'll be staying here with me but with your strength, you will meet your family again." Eren reassured me. "Crying in a corner doesn't suit you." Eren smirked. I was completely floored. This was Eren trying to comfort me. I did feel better getting angry and fighting him than crying alone in my room.
"Um am I interrupting something?" Jeffery asked, coming into the practice ring. Then I noticed what we were doing. I was sitting on Eren's chest with him holding my fists/hands. Eren immediately forced me off.
"Andraste's flames, you're heavy. Recruit! We were merely practicing grappling. There was nothing more to this than what you saw." Eren quickly recovered while I stood up, dusting off the dirt. Jeffery gave Eren a disbelieving look before going back to the barracks. Eren cleared his throat. "We will never speak of this again."
"…You really know how to cheer up a girl." I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
"I must confess, I have never had a relationship as long as this one." Eren looked away.
"I'm not sure if I should be surprised or feel sorry for you." I chuckled. Eren knocked me on the back of my head. "Hey!"
"Let's stop with this silly emotional play we're putting on and start practicing again." Eren grabbed the wooden swords and tossed me them.
"I thought we were going to-" I started.
"You earned it as punishment!" Eren branded his sword and shield.
"I can't tell if I hate you or if I'm beginning to like you." I glared. Eren smirked. Here we go again.
Beta'd by the very lovely FearaNightmare (She is awesome!)
For a second I thought I was going to update tomorrow due to medical reasons but luckily by beta pulled through! :D
Shout out to Zomgirl74, Rararagon, MyBloodyPanda83, and txchimama for favoriting/following! Thank you Syutaku (You made me laugh with your reviews), Chimera Spyke (Love you, seriously), and Rainsfere (This one is longer lol) for reviewing! Please Review!