A modest proposal
Howe is okay with me becoming Bann of Harpers Ford. Under one condition. I marry his son Thomas. I can see how he could see how to his mind this appears to be the perfect solution. The Freeholders of Harpers ford don't have to live under the Arl's domain and get to remain under Cousland rule. I get to govern my own lands. And of course Howe gets a marriage to the Cousland family, and once his grand child inherits my title, Harpers Ford will once again be ruled by the Howe's.
Just one problem. I don't want to marry Thomas, or for that matter anyone right now. Nor for that matter, I suspect, does Thomas want to marry me. Delilah told me that Thomas doesn't even like girls. But that would hardly be a concern to his father, Delilah should know that, he spent most of her life trying to foist the poor girl on Fergus. Anyway me and Thomas are hardly a match in temperament. I tried courting him, that's when Delilah told me about his taste in lovers. Besides, I've gotten the impression that we wouldn't have worked out even if he had been interested in women. We just never clicked.
I know it's probably selfish and I should probably just marry and let the love come latter. But my parents got a love match. My brother got a love math and maker dammit I'll marry for love as well.
I told father the match was off. He understands. Howe would never let his daughter chose for himself. Delilah and to do that all on her own. I wonder how he'll react when he finds out about her and that peasant. That would be the only thing that would make him angriest than he will be when he learns of my refusal. We've put the issue of Freeholders off for now, impending Darkspawn invasions must take priority after all, but Howe knows which way the wind is blowing. He and father will smooth it over. They always do. For some reason father just seems to ignore the man Howe's become and clings to the delusion that he's still the boy he knew. And if their is still some good within that slime ball, than father does it no service by enabling his worst behavior.
Well Father has his week spots and I have mine. I shouldn't judge him. Besides a lord must keep his vessels happy. Funny then I have hardly ever seen a smile out of Howe, especially of late.
Enough of love on to war. We are still scrambling to mobilize our forces. I mostly spend my days training with our soldiers in the yard. Their fine men, though I am almost always able to defeat them. Only Fergus got the best of me, and that's because I let him win. Wouldn't want the men to see their commander be bested by his little sis now would we?