Morgan Cousland

My dog woke me up just in time for one of the worst nights of my life, and the day I regret the most.

He was standing at my bedchamber door, barking loudly at something on the other side. At first I thought someone might be carrying food by and he was asking for some, as he's been known to do that. I considered closing my eyes and going back to sleep for a few moments. That ended when the dog's tone registered in my sleep-addled mind. They weren't Aedan's "I know you have food and that you're not sharing" barks. They were his "Something needs killing" barks.

My eyes opened wide at that, and I all but leapt out of bed. If any of the dogs from the Kennels had that reaction, I would have ignored them. But Aedan wasn't most dogs, he was a Mabari Warhound. Smart enough to speak, and wise enough to know when not to. If he thought that there was danger, there was danger. It could just be giant rats in the larder again… but still better to be safe than sorry when all but a tenth of your guards are gone to war.

"Morgan?" A voice said from my bed.

Shit, I thought, and turned to see Iona still laying there.

"Iona," I said, stumbling over to my discarded clothing, "something's wrong. Get dressed."

"Wha-" she began to say.

"There may not be time to talk," I said, picking up my pants, "stay here. Aedan will protect you if anyone tries anything. I need to see what's going on."

I was, after all, in charge of the defense of the castle. Fergus, and nine-tenths of Father's garrison, had marched off south at the King's command to fight the Darkspawn that were emerging. Father was still here… but he'd handed command off to me anyway. Probably so that he could see how I handled any situations that came up before he left.

By 'getting to know' the lady in waiting of one of your mother's oldest friends.

I banished that thought. It wasn't the first time I'd… gotten to know someone, as far as I knew Father either wasn't aware or didn't consider it a transgression worthy of reprimand. I couldn't accept them as wrong, outside of his disapproval. The Chant probably had something to say about such affairs, but I'd never been much for the Chantry. I couldn't imagine the Maker frowning upon two people working out mutual attraction in such an… agreeable fashion.

With that in mind, I threw my clothing on as quickly as I could. Then I followed up that task with donning some armor. I didn't think I had time for anything complicated. Mail takes a long time to get into properly without help, and Iona's expertise in dressing someone else was limited to a lady's dresses and gowns. So I stuck to boiled and studded leather. It still took agonizingly long to get on, but I knew that it'd protect me at least a little.

Almost exactly three seconds after I finished putting my armor on, there was a knock on the door. A voice said, "Lord Cousland, we've a problem out here. We need your help."

I recognized the voice as being one of Arl Howe's men, a bodyguard who'd been there the night before. Howe was one of my father's vassals, and one of his oldest friends. I'd grown up on their stories about the Liberation of Ferelden, fighting against the Orlesians. I trusted Howe because of that…

Iona apparently recognized the voice and had a similar opinion of its master, or maybe she just recognized the voice of a servant carrying someone else's words. She answered the door, in spite of Aedan's protests. She saved my life by doing so… because the crossbow bolt came through the door the moment it was opened wide enough.

I felt my eyes widen, and the breath caught in my throat for a split-second. I tried to wake myself up for a few seconds, thinking that I must have been having a nightmare. I hoped, I prayed, that the scene before me was just some Spirit or Demon playing a cruel joke on my sleeping mind. But… I knew that it wasn't.

Iona was dead, and falling to the ground with a crossbow bolt in her heart.

I felt my skin go cold, and my body acted without my needing to think. I lunged to where my shield was leaning against the wall, and grabbed it by the handle. I didn't have time to strap it on, though. Then I pulled my sword loose from its sheath, leaving it and the belt it was currently attached to behind. Aedan was ready to leap forward, attacking anyone who tried to come in… and waiting for me to draw any more crossbow bolts before he darted out.

"That's not the Teyrn's son," Howe's bodyguard… Howe's assassin said.

I chose that moment to burst into view, my head ducked so that I could cover it and my chest with the shield. My gut was a bit exposed, but the armor would probably deflect a bolt that didn't catch me perfectly head-on.

"DAMN RIGHT IT WASN'T!" I shouted, lowering my shield enough to see my enemies.

There were two of them. The one with the crossbow was too far away for me to go for immediately, and was busy reloading. The other was the one who had knocked, and was currently standing within arm's reach. I took advantage of that, rushing him with all my weight behind the shield. He didn't even have a weapon drawn… and got knocked to the ground with ease.

Aedan charged out, and was on top of the fallen man in moments. I didn't stay to watch my dog handle the assassin. Instead, I advanced upon Howe's other man. He saw me coming, and dropped his crossbow. He reached for an arming sword at his waist, and I knew he'd have it out before I could get there. So, I stopped my charge and instead thought about the terrain.

The Courtyard outside of my family's personal quarters was very open. There were archways that supported an extension of the roofing, to provide shade in hot months, but there wasn't anything that'd give me a massive advantage. So I chose my ground based on where reinforcements would come from, backing up towards Father's quarters so that I could keep an eye on the path into the courtyard.

The Crossbowman watched me… and I could practically hear the wheels turning. He knew that I'd rush him if he picked up the crossbow again, and that I'd be able to knock him to the ground when I did. He also knew that my dog would soon be done with his friend, and then he'd be finished. The Mabari would circle around, and he'd be flanked. On one side he'd find my sword, and on the other he'd find teeth that would drag him to the ground where he'd be easy to finish off.

So, he did the only thing that offered half a chance. He charged, reckless and with his sword in both hands. He probably planned to kill me quickly, and then turn on the dog. If I had the time, I would have smiled. I set my footing, and let the enemy come to me. He brought his blade down, probably hoping to knock me off balance with the strike. I brought my shield up, angled off to the side as to deflect the blade rather than stopping it, and then shoved his sword-arm out of the way with the shield.

My arm was already back, and the thrust was almost instinctive. I pressed the blade forward with all my strength, and felt it slide between his ribs. His eyes widened, and his sword dropped to the ground with a clattering noise. Then his eyes glazed over, and I shoved him off my weapon with my shield. He fell to the ground, dead.

I ran over to my quarters, and slid on my knees. I knew that there wasn't much hope but… I had to make sure. I put a finger to Iona's neck… and felt nothing. I placed a hand before her mouth… and felt nothing.

She was gone.

I closed my eyes, and bowed my head slightly. I'm not going to say I loved her… but I did like her as a person. There was a lot to respect in her. She was loyal, and she loved her daughter… her daughter who was waiting for a mother who would never come home. I made note of that. I'd have to look into the girl. After all… her mother's death was my fault. She was there because of me… because I had asked her to be.

I let out a slow breath, and opened my eyes. I reached forward and closed Iona's, and then said, "May you find peace at the Maker's side." I didn't have time enough to do any more for her.

I stood up, and then walked into my room and retrieved my belt. I slid my sword into its sheath, and belted it on over the armor. Then I retrieved my bow, which was unstrung, and my arrows. I didn't want to leave them behind.

Then I walked out of my room… and saw my mother standing in boiled-leather armor.

"I heard the fighting," she said, "what happened?"

"Howe's men," I said, "they tried to kill me… but…"

Mother looked towards my door, towards Iona's body, and I knew she understood what had happened. She didn't say anything… but I saw some sadness there.

There wasn't time to address that, though, because five more of Howe's men came out of the entrance to the Coutyard. Two had crossbows, and I moved to shield Mother with my body… and my shield. But, before they could fire, something happened. There was a flash of blinding green-white light…

Leon Grace

I emerged from the strange mirror-portal in a place I didn't recognize… with five armed men in front of me. They all stumbled back, and one shouted a single word: "Demon!" I couldn't really blame them for making that mistake, my armor's Daedric after-all. The glowing joints and spikes get that reaction from a lot of people.

The two with crossbows aimed at me, and let them fire. The bolts hit my armor's breastplate. I felt them through the Daedroth-Infused Ebony, like two punches in rapid succession. Unhealed, they'd probably make some nasty bruises. But they'd be light bruises... so I decided to be charitable.

"Drop your weapons," I said, "and I won't harm you."

The world shook slightly as I spoke. I must have let my Voice seep into my Speech again. That wasn't uncommon with me, when I'm angry. But, it frightened the men more… leading the one that appeared to be in command to shout, "Kill it before it kills us!"

The three in the front charged while the other two reloaded. The three were sword-and-board fighters, probably intended to form a shield-wall to protect the crossbowmen. If they had stuck to that plan, the fight might have even been fair. Unfortunately, they were panicking and weren't thinking straight.

The first to reach me lunged forward, and I stepped back out of his reach. I brought my greatsword up and back as I moved, and then sprung forward at him as he lost his momentum. The Dragonbone Greatsword punched through his armor, which looked to be iron or steel chainmail, and crushed its way through his ribs. I caught a lung at the least, and probably the heart while I was at it.

The other two moved to flank me. There was one on either side, so that they could punish me for focusing on either of them. Even with my armor, a blow to the back of my knees could take me down to the ground. There's a good reason that the euphemism for dying in combat is: "he fell." It's hard to fight when you're on your back… or your front for that matter.

Unfortunately for them, it wasn't my first fight outnumbered.

I sprung backwards, the Armor's enchantments lending me strength, and brought my sword back for a slice. I knew they'd probably block me, but I'd probably also knock the one that did that off balance in the process. While he recovered, I could attack his friend without worrying about being attacked from behind.

Of course, none of that mattered because the enemy on my right suddenly sprouted an arrow from his head. I adjusted my swing mid-flight in response, missing the intended target… and crashing into the shield of the second man. The shield nearly fell to splinters from the force of the blow… and the man nearly fell to the ground.

I followed up with a quick slice, cutting his throat with the very tip of the blade as he stumbled backwards. The spurt of blood told me that he would be dead soon. Still, I let the momentum of the strike follow through, and then stepped forward and slammed the Greatsword's pommel down onto the man's head. There was a crunch, and I was sure he was dead.

That left two more… who were drawing their swords in the response to two new combatants entering the field. One was a man who looked like an Imperial with pale skin and black hair, who was wearing what looked like studded leather and was carrying a shield and a sword. The other was a dog the size of a small bear.

The Dog leapt at the crossbowman on the left, and took him down to the ground. The dog locked its jaws on the man's neck, and finished him off. Meanwhile, the human slammed his shield into his opponent's weapon, knocking it free of his hand, and then ran his sword through the man's neck, and ripped it out the side.

The man kicked his fallen foe once he hit the ground, and then turned to face me. He didn't sheathe his weapon, and I didn't blame him.

"What are you?" the man asked.

I brought my greatsword up to its scabbard, and slid it in. Then I reached my hands up to my helmet, and willed it to release. The Daedric Ebony loosened its grip upon my head and came free. I breathed deeply of the cold night's air, and looked the man in the face. Then I said, "A Man."

The other man blinked.

His dog walked up to me, and sniffed. I resisted an urge to push the dog away. A beast of that size was dangerous… especially now that my helmet wasn't covering my skull. But it didn't want to fight, it just sniffed me and then gave off a happy bark.

"Aedan says you're a friend," the man said, "or at least not an enemy. Where did you come from?"

I looked around the courtyard I was standing in. There was a woman behind me, about fifty years old based on her hair and wrinkles. I decided that she was probably a Nord, based on how strong she still looked to be, in spite of her barely being taller than me.

"I'm from Skyrim," I said, "I was exploring an ruined temple, and found a portal. A friend fell through, and I chased after her."

The man seemed confused by that. Then he said, "I've never heard of Skyrim… and I think I'd remember someone else arriving in such an… noticeable way."

"Okay…" I said, and then I noticed sounds on the edge of hearing. Metal on metal. More fighting.

The man heard it too, and said, "We'll have to continue this later. This castle is under attack… and we can't hold it. The enemy's inside the gates."

"We have to find your father," the woman behind me said, "he was sitting up with Arl Howe."

"He'll be in the Larder if he's still alive," the man said to her before turning to me, "You obviously know how to fight, and I'm in no position to turn down help. Can you help us?"

I already knew my answer. I'd help him. He needed help, and helping people is what I do. But… I needed help from him as well.

"I'll help you," I said, "if you give me your word that you'll help me after we're done here."

"You have it," the man said.

"Good," I said, bringing my helmet back to my head, "my name's Leon Grace, by the way."

"Morgan Cousland," the man said, "This is my mother, Elanor, and the furry one's Aedan."

Aedan barked his agreement… and we set out.

Author's Notes

Welcome to Chapter One. As with last time, I'm going to cover some questions that will probably show up in reviews. Be warned, there will be Spoilers for some early chapters. I don't care to dance around a few of these things, since they really won't be a surprise anyway.

Aedan's "Getting to Know People"

Yes, Aedan sleeps with a lot of people… by his standards. That's a total of five people, including Iona, in about as many years. None of them moved quite as quickly as the thing with Iona, but he and Iona really hit it off. He doesn't consider himself to have loved any of them, but he does consider them to be friends… who happen to have mutual physical attraction.

He does feel guilt over it, no matter what he says in his internal monologue. This is in there just to help establish his relationship with the Chantry. He believes in the Maker, but not the Chantry's version of him. But, he was still raised under the Chant and as a result he still has a guilt-response when he breaks with traditions.

Rationally, he doesn't see anything wrong with his various affairs. Nobody was hurt by them, and everyone was involved willingly. He went to great length to make sure that every partner he's had knew that he wasn't just pulling Lord's Privilege like some Orlesian Chevalier. He actually hates the Chevaliers because of that whole Lord's Privilege thing. But… he still has a conditioned guilt response over those affairs.

That's why he tends to fall back on the euphemism.

For the record: his father was vaguely aware of the third relationship having gone physical. He didn't see any reason to break it up, since Morgan was being discrete and his marriage prospects were… a bit lacking at the time.

Iona's Daughter

Yes, she's going to show up later. Morgan feels guilty over Iona dying, and will eventually atone by making sure that her little girl is taken care of.

Iona and Morgan's off-screen conversation had her daughter show up a lot. Morgan doesn't have a paternal bone in his body, but he does have a respect for love. If he had been born in Mundus instead of Thedas, he probably would have turned into a member of Dibellia or Mara's clergy… probably Dibellia. He knows that Iona's daughter was important to her, so he feels like helping the child will balance out getting her mother killed.

Morgan and Aedan Fighting

Firstly: The Dog has the Male Cousland's default name. This is intentional.

Secondly: Morgan has a lot of combat experience at this point. He was being groomed as both the spare to Fergus, and as a Marshall. He would have been leading armies in the future either way, so his father sent him out in command of guard patrols from time to time. He and his men dealt with bandits and highwaymen, and he knows how to fight pretty well. Nerevra's better, but they have similar fighting-styles.

Why is the Dragonborn here?

The Eluvian wasn't hooked up to the Network. The Three Weirdoes redirected it, intending to drop the Dragonborn and Co. in a specific location… but something went wrong and they got dumped mid-transport. The Dragonborn landed at Castle Cousland, Nerevra landed in the Harrowing Chamber at the Circle Tower, and Serana's the only one who arrived at the intended destination.

As that implies, other Warden Origins are going to be involved. Duncan is at the Circle Tower, though.

No Shouting?

Leon was fighting the Tongue, Nordy-Nord, and The Watcher a few seconds ago. He stopped considering how Shouts could be used in battle after the Tongue shut him down, and hasn't turned that part of his mind back on yet. Also, Howe's men weren't exactly formidable foes. Leon doesn't follow the Way of the Voice, but he still feels that he shouldn't use it in every fight. He pulls the Voice out when he feels that the battle is worthy of that weapon… or when he's really sick of the rain.

Also: If he had Shouted then Morgan would have assumed he was an Abomination and we'd be down a warden and his mother, because Leon would have brought his Voice to bear in the resulting fight. Without his Voice or his Armor and its Enchantments, Leon's actually pretty fairly matched with Morgan and Aedan together. But that's mostly because Leon's reliant on his armor's enchantments, and Morgan's reliant on his dog to help.

Skyrim?

Thedas is a different world. Skyrim doesn't exist here… but Morgan isn't sure. He's aware that the Qunari come from another continent, so a human coming from another one isn't a big shock.

Morgan's also ignorant on a lot of how Magic works, so he doesn't know that it's impossible to teleport. At least, it was impossible to teleport in Thedas before the Breach was opened and the rules of magic were changed. Add in the little he knows of the Ancient Elves, and he's currently guessing that Leon probably fell afoul of an old Ehlven trap.