I would like to take this time to tell you all that I do not own Dragon Age Origins, or any of the characters. If I did then I would definitely have made it an option for a female character to get with Morrigan. Thank you for your time.
Escape From Highever
The Cousland children awoke to the sound of barking. Artimus lifted her head and looked towards the three mabari. They were grouped around the door, as if trying to protect them from something out side. She got up and moved towards the door, her brothers following her. It was then that they heard the sounds of fighting in the hall, the clashing of metal on metal. The door burst open and a servant ran in.
"Milords, Miladies, the castle is under at …" that was as far as he got before an arrow appeared through his chest. The triplets flared into action; after all, their younger siblings needed protecting. While Raven and Remus grabbed their blades from the nearby wall, Artimus fell back towards her brother and sister. Raven tossed a bow and a tube of arrows in her direction and she skilfully caught them, swinging the tube over her shoulder. Her brothers moved into fighting stance leaving enough room for her to fire between them as she notched her first arrow. All three whistled and the dogs backed away. From the time the servant had been shot to them being ready to fight eight seconds had passed and the first of the enemy soldiers had started to surge forward.
Artimus drew back on the string and released, by the time her first arrow had found a new home in the soldiers right eye she was already notching another arrow. The rest of the soldiers charged forward, only to be cut down or shot. When the last soldier fell Artimus allowed herself to look at the bodies. Her brothers were cleaning the blood off their blades when they heard their sister gasp. They spun around to see her crouched besides one of the bodies, one hand in front of her mouth, her other bloody and hanging above one of the shields of the deceased soldiers. They walked over slowly, cautious of whatever it was that had shocked their sister. They looked down at the shield and nearly threw up.
Looking up at them from the now blood stained shield was the heraldry of the Howes. Looking around them at all the bodies they saw the same thing. It was Howe's men, they'd been attacked by Howe's men. Howe had betrayed them. Their eyes hardened with determination. Artimus stood up and walked to her siblings still on the bed and told them to get dressed, then joined her brothers as they dressed in their armour.
With bow drawn Artimus led the way into the hall, checking first one way then the other. Seeing two soldiers trying to get into their mothers room she fired once, then twice, straight to the back of each one. They went down and she hurried towards the door. It opened just as she reached it and her mother appeared, wearing her armour and carrying her own bow. Her brothers caught up to her, having louted all they could from Howe's men.
"My darling children, are you alright?" She asked relieved to see them.
"We're fine mother," Artimus asked while her brothers stood at alert and Elethea and Mather huddled together in the middle of their elder siblings, their dogs growling at anything that appeared to move.
"A scream woke me up, there were men in the hall so I barred the door," she said, "those men, did you see their shields? Those were Howe's men. Why would they attack us?" Remus growled from his position.
"He's betrayed father. He attacks while our troops are gone!" Their mother and younger siblings gasped while Raven and Artimus had already figured that out.
"You don't think Howe's men were delayed on purpose?" the triplets gave a nod, "Have you seen your father? He never came to bed."
"No, we were all in bed," Raven spoke up, "we should go find him."
"We should get Oriana and Oren first." Artimus said. Their mother gasped.
"You don't think Howe's men got to them first, do you?" the triplet exchanged a look and ran for Fergus' room. Remus shoved through the door first and promptly leaned to the side and threw up. Artimus took one look and spun around, tears in her eyes, she set about keeping Elethea and Mather from the room. Raven entered the room with their mother, who let out a strangled cry as she sank to the floor. Raven put a hand on his mother's shoulder while trying not to follow his brother's example.
On the floor before them were the dead bodies of Oriana and Oren. He was just eight years old and his eyes had a glassy look that they shouldn't have.
"Howe will pay for this!" swore Raven.
"Howe's not even taking prisoners," Eleanor said, "he means to kill us all."
They dragged their eyes from the scene and walked back into the hallway. They gathered what they could carry, including clothes and money, knowing that they had to flee and seeing as they didn't know when they would be able to return to the castle. Then they prepared for the fight they knew they would have trying to get out of the castle. They burst into the next hallway and quickly took down the soldiers there. Their mother went to check on Landra with Mather and Remus while Raven accompanied Artimus and Elethia to their room to grab anything they couldn't live without.
Soon they were back in the hallway. Judging by their mother's morose expression, Lady Landra and Iona were dead. Thankfully Dairren hadn't been in the girl's room, but that didn't mean that he wasn't dead in some other part of the castle. They left the living quarters and down towards the main area of the castle, thankfully without seeing any guards. Before they could get down to where the real fighting would be their mother stopped them.
"Can you hear the fighting?" she asked, "Howe's men must be everywhere."
"What should we do?" Artimus asked facing her mother.
"The front gates, that's where your father must be, we can get to him and then escape through the servant's entrance in the larder," She said pointing in the right direction.
"Is there nothing else we can do?" Asked Raven, he was still angry and wanted Howe dead, all three of them did.
"The Treasury, it's on the way. There are things in there that Howe must never get his hands on." Remus wasn't content with that though.
"I want Howe dead," he growled.
"Trust me, Howe will get want's coming to him," she said, "but first we must survive this night. Do you understand?"
"Yes mother," the triplets answered obediently and they set off towards the fighting. They fought with gusto, killing Howes men and picking up soldiers along the way, as well as a few servants. They found Aldous slain in the library which had been ransacked. They made it to the Treasury and opened the door. Thankfully Howe's men had not been able to get in. They packed up all the gold, not willing to let Howe use it to bulk up his own smaller fortune. It was a good thing most of their money was kept at their Denerim estate. They grabbed what they could, including the family shield and sword, which they decided that Remus should wield as the warrior.
Once they had emptied the Treasury they made their way to the grand hall and found Ser Gilmore fighting with what remained of his men. They quickly defeated the enemies and faced the Knight Captain of the guard.
"Milords and Ladies Cousland, Teyrna, thank the maker you're alright," he breathed a sigh of relief, "I thought they had gotten through." Artimus' lip quivered while her family looked away.
"They did." She whispered. Rory looked confused, but then horror took over his face as he realised who was not there.
"They killed Oriana and Oren," said Eleanor.
"I'm so sorry Teyrna," He said.
"Where is my husband?" she asked pushing back the tears.
"Last I saw he was heading for the servants entrance," he said, "He was injured when he left so you better hurry. I'll hold them off here."
"Rory come with us," Artimus pleaded, he was their friend, she didn't want him to die.
"You know that I can't Artimus, now go." He moved away and ran to hold the doors with his men. Her brothers pulled her towards a side door. Soon they were moving again, still fighting, and eventually they made it to the kitchen with three servants and five guards in tow. They looked around upon entering the larder and spun around at the sound of Bryce's voice.
"There you are," he gasped out, "I was wondering … when you would get here." They ran over to him. Eleanor cradled his head in her lap while his children were afraid to touch him in case they hurt him more.
"What happened father?" Artimus asked.
"Howe's men … found me first," he told them, "Almost … did me in right then."
"We need to get you out of here," said Raven.
"I don't think … I'll survive the standing Pup," Raven was shaking his head though.
"Of course you will, we're getting you out of here." It was almost as if he was pleading more with himself.
"If only will … could make it so," Their father had already accepted his death, "someone must … reach Fergus. Tell him what has happened."
"Howe must have something planned for him too," said Remus.
"Bryce no," said Eleanor, "The servant passage is right here. We can flee together, find you healing magic."
"The castle … is surrounded … I cannot make it." Before anyone could argue with him, Duncan came into the larder covered in blood and sheathing his sword.
"I'm afraid that the Teyrn is correct," he said, his voice deep and troubled, "Howe's men have not yet discovered this exit, but they surround the castle, getting passed will be difficult." The triplets shuffled over so Duncan could crouch down beside their father.
"You are Duncan then?" Eleanor asked, "The Grey Warden?"
"Yes your Ladyship," he answered, turning to face her, "the Teyrn and I tried to reach you sooner."
"My triplets helped my youngest and I get here, maker be praised" she said and he nodded.
"I am not surprised," he said.
"Are you going to help us Duncan?" Raven asked hopefully.
"I shall do my best," he said.
"Duncan, get my family out of here, please," Bryce grasped a hold of Duncan's hand.
"I will, but it will come at a price," everyone looked confused except for Bryce who looked grim, "What is happening here pales in comparison with what's happening in the south. Grey Wardens are needed now more than ever. The Darkspawn threat demands that I leave with a recruit, or three."
"I – I understand," said Bryce.
"What about Ser Gilmore?" asked Artimus, looking back and forth between her father and Duncan.
"Truthfully, you three were always my first choice," he said, "I will take the Teyrna and your children to Ostagar to tell Fergus and the king what happened. Then your triplets join the Grey Wardens."
"So long as justice comes to Howe," Bryce said, "I agree."
"So what say you?" Duncan asked the triplets. They looked at each other and then at their parents.
"We accept," they intoned together.
"We must leave quickly then," Duncan said as he stood up.
"Bryce are - are you sure?" Eleanor asked him.
"Our children will not die of Howe's treachery," he said, "they will live and make their mark on the world."
"My children, go with Duncan," Eleanor said.
"Eleanor …" Bryce started.
"Hush Bryce," she said, "I'll kill every soldier that comes through that door to buy them time, but I won't abandon you."
"We love you both so much," Artimus said as her brothers and sister nodded, all of them crying.
"Then live." They nodded as they heard the gates finally gave way. Their mother handed them the Teyrn and Teyrna signet rings and Duncan touched them on their shoulders and they left down the passageway, the soldiers and servants following them.
On a bluff a few miles away, the small group had stopped in their escape to watch the smoke rise from Highever. Their home was burning, their people dying and they could do nothing about it.
"Come," said Duncan, turning away from the scene, "we must make haste for Ostagar."
"No." said Artimus. Everyone turned to look at her, stunned.
"No?" Duncan questioned, "Do you not remember that you pledged youse…"
"Of course I remember Duncan," she bit back at him, "but we did not pledge our younger siblings. Elethea and Mather have seen enough bloodshed and death, I'd rather they not see more, nor monsters either." She strode over to her siblings, beckoning the servants and three of the guards as she went.
"You three men will escort my brother and sister and these servants to the Waking Sea Bannorn," she ordered, the soldiers standing to attention, "I know my uncle is at Ostagar by now with his troops, but cousin Alfstanna is in charge there while he's gone. Here," she removed her signet ring and handed it to one of the soldiers, "give her my ring and tell her we have been betrayed by Howe. Tell her that mother and father are dead and that I request that she take in Elethea and Mather until this nightmare is over. She will believe you. You are then to act as bodyguards for my siblings, I don't trust Howe not to try and have them killed. Protect them with your lives." The guards saluted, the one holding the ring glancing at it and puffing up with pride at having been chosen to carry it.
When a signet ring for a noble was made, they were enchanted so that it could only be removed from the noble's finger by the noble it was made for. So to be handed such a thing was to be shown a lot of trust. His Lady was trusting him to deliver a message and he would not fail. At the same time Remus had pulled the other two guards to the side and was pulling off his own signet ring.
"I am trusting you men to do something of great importance," he said and watched them swell with pride, "we cannot allow Howe into the Cousland estate in Denerim, nor can he be allowed to take the fortune hidden there. Take my ring," he handed it to one of them, "and go straight to the estate. Tell the Knight Captain of the guard, Ser Rendell Gilmore, what has happened here, what has happened to his son, and tell him to lock down the estate. No one gets in, especially not Howe or any of his men. Do you understand?" They nodded and saluted him and he saluted them back.
The now group of four people (and three dogs) watched as the others left, the two guards heading east to Denerim, the small group heading west to Waking Sea. Only when both groups had disappeared into the night did the four start making their way south, the three hounds following faithfully behind them, but only three of them looking back over their shoulders at the castle they used to call home.
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