Hello there lovely people of the Dragon Age community! I'm giving a shot writing a story about my F!Aeducan character-Serona(uncreative, I know). It may not stick to the in-game dialogue and for that I apologize but I have high hopes for this story and it should get longer chapters since this is the prologue! Maybe leave a review if you have the time and enjoy!
Serona Aeducan had never truly realized what she had...that is until everything went to hell, and well, everything began going to hell the day before taking up her first military command.
It hadn't started any different, no, Gorim had greeted her in the morning, told her the possibilities of the day. She could go straight to the ceremony being held for her right away...or go see the merchants and go watch the Provings...wasn't a hard choice to make. She of course decided to go to the Provings.
Walking along the Diamond Quarter though, she had just the luck to run into her brothers, Trian-the elder-and Bhelen-the younger.
"Feh, such disrespect!" Trian spit as soon as he saw his sister approaching, "Wandering the quarter when you should be at the feast! I don't see what father sees in you when you toss such important things aside."
"Now, now, Trian." Serona began, giving her brother a grin, "I'll go as soon as I'm done looking at these Provings, they are supposed to be in my honor after all."
Trian frowned deeply at his sister, "I demand you go back to the feast right now! Commander is the best rank you will get and even that's not all that-"
"Brother, come now, it's her big day! Maybe we should cut her some slack, I'm sure she'll make her way there." Bhelen cut in, "Let her have some fun before she has to be completely serious."
"You should listen to Bhelen, Trian!" Serona exclaimed, "Screaming at your younger sister in public won't do good for your reputation."
Trian grimaced, "Fine, just make sure you go before it's too late and you make a fool of our family." The crown prince snapped storming off and muttering something along the lines of, "Disgrace to the House Aeducan." That was Serona's first hint at the storm that was to be brewing...too bad she didn't seem to take it.
After watching-or more like fighting and winning her own honor in-the Provings Serona let out a groan, walking towards the door where the ceremony would be held. "Gorim...any idea if this will be interesting, even a little bit?"
"Well, Lady Aeducan, I'm not sure if it will be fun, but it will be important of officially introducing you to the nobles of Orzammar." Gorim replied, giving her a tentative smile, "Well then, are you ready to go in?"
"There's not much choice." The other dwarf replied, pushing the doors open. Seemed fairly boring, scruffy old dwarf men, standing around, talking, trying to one up each other. The only thing that really interested the princess was the outsiders, humans, standing near the throne, one speaking to Lord Harrowmont and her father...must be Grey Wardens if they're allowed so close to the king she thought. Deciding she didn't want to miss out on any of the action, she began walking towards the front of the room...after agreeing to speak on the behalf of Lord Dace and surface dwarves.
She finished being introduced to the nobles quickly, put in her good word, and turned to her father. God were politics a bore, "So father…"
"Ah my daughter, a commander for the army already…" He father sighed, seeming to not notice his daughters words, "Could you do me a favor? Go fetch Trian for me, will you?"
"Yes father, but first…" Serona turned to look at the humans nearby, "Are those...Grey Wardens?"
"Why, yes, they'll be joining us in the Deep Roads, though will leave at a later time." Her father replied, sitting back down in his throne, "Fell free to converse with them before fetching Trian if you'd like."
"I think I will," Serona replied, standing tall and walking towards the man. She cleared her throat, "Ah, hello there."
"Oh, hello, Lady Aeducan, I believe congratulations are in order." The man began, turning to her, "I am Duncan, of the Grey Wardens. I am excited to see what you have to offer in the battle against the darkspawn tomorrow."
"I'm excited to see your skills as well," The dwarf replied with a smile, "The Grey Wardens have always interested me you know...I almost wish I could become one myself!" No politics, no annoying brothers, no bodyguards...sounded like an alright life to her.
"Well, I'm flattered to hear that, but your place is here." Duncan replied with a small laugh, "Surely you don't want to leave it behind."
"You have no idea…" Serona mumbled, "Either way, I have to get going...fetch my brother for my father...it was a pleasure to meet you ser Duncan."
"As it was to meet you Lady Aeducan," Ducan replied bowing his head slightly in respect. He turned back to his fellow wardens and Serona turned to the door, walking out quickly, might as well get passed talking to Trian quickly.
That was where things really went to hell, Serona decided. That was when Bhelan said Trian planned to kill her, wanted to get rid of her, saying she was a danger to him getting the throne. The female dwarf refused to believe her younger brother, sure, Trian was a grouch, but she had no interest in ruling, she wasn't a threat.
She hadn't realized anything was wrong when she was sent to get the shield of her house. She didn't like being pushed to the side, but it was a better job than no job she guessed. She refused to believe what Bhelen has said still when the mercenary captain she had slain had Trian's signet ring on him.
It wasn't until she walked to the platform where she was to meet the nobles did she realize: it wasn't Trian who wanted her out of the picture. She stood, frozen, over her brother's dead body. Trian, crown prince, was dead, killed, she couldn't think of anyone who would have done it from Bhelan. After the mentioned and her father came she gave a weak protest, pleading them to listen to her when she said she wasn't guilty.
She realized now, standing in front of Lord Harrowmont with one hope of survival, that there hadn't been hope to being found not guilty. At least Gorim had been able to tell her that she could escape a fight to the death with the darkspawn by Finding the Grey Wardens.
"I hope you know by now what happens to those who commit crimes such as yours." Lord Harrowmont began leaning towards the girl, "I can't believe you did this...you had such a bright future…"
"I didn't do it," Serona replied, wishing she hadn't chopped all her hair off, so she'd have something to hide behind, "I didn't kill Trian."
"Look me in the eye and tell me that," The man replied, "Please do that for me, so I can give not only myself but your father peace of mind as well."
"I didn't kill Trian, crown prince and my brother," The girl replied, staring into his eyes.
"I believe you...oh god I believe you…" Harrowmont took a step back, "I swear, I will spend the rest of my days making sure your younger brother is brought to justice…"
"Can you...tell my father one thing...can you tell him...that I love him and that I'm not guilty, even if he thinks I am, I'm not...and that I hope one day he can believe me." Serona choked out, "Please, do this for a woman about to face her death."
"I will...I will…" Harrowmont gave her a sword and shield, finely made she noted, "Your father wanted you to have these...may the Stone watch over you." With those words Serona was cast into the deep roads, now nothing more but a smudge in the memories of the dwarves of Orzammar.
Serona walked out of the small tunnel she had to trek through, noticing that in front of her was the group of Grey Wardens.
"Is that a dwarf?" One asked, looking at her in bewilderment, "What is a dwarf doing here?"
"I'm sure there is-" Duncan stopped himself as he turned to face the dwarf as well, "Lady Aeducan? Why are you out here?"
"I am Lady Aeducan no longer." Serona replied, biting her lip, she wasn't even a part of the history of the city she had grown up in.
"What do you mean?" The first Grey Warden to speak asked, "Why are you no longer-"
"My brother decided it was alright to frame me for the murder of Trian, crown prince...and my brother." Serona replied, cutting him off, "I was hoping...I could leave with you, escape this unjust punishment."
"Well...you did mention how much you admired the Grey Wardens before...and how you'd like to be a part of them…" Duncan began, "Well then, let's get going, we need to exit the Deep Roads quickly. Stay close, you don't want to get lost on the way to Ostagar."
