A/N: I don't own Dragon age.
1.
10 years later.
"So how was it? What happened? What did they say? What did you do?"
"One question at a time Jowan," I cringed at the barrage of questions as I meticulously folded robes and placed them in the case. Jowan continued to hop around me like an excited stork, popping his head into my line of sight every now and then.
"Stop that Jowan, it's incredibly irritating," I waved him away.
"Oh yes, sorry."
"And it was surprisingly easy considering the experience is meant to be harrowing."
"That's fine for you to say," Jowan sighed sinking onto the bed with a miserable expression, "you've always found this stuff easy."
"My clothes are there Jowan," I said wafting away the mopey mage.
"Your clothes? Why do you need your clothes? Where are you going?" Jowan's head shot up.
"Home for a few days. I've asked the Irving and Gregoir and they both agreed to it if I completed the Harrowing without difficulty."
"Home?"
Jowan made a strangled wail and his head rested once again in his hands.
"Jowan," I smiled at him, rubbing his back in what I hoped was comfort, "it's only for three days you'll be fine. I promise."
"It's just...can't you wait for a couple of days?"
"It's now or never and I've missed my family, I'm sorry...but it's my family," I was torn at the thought of leaving a friend, especially Jowan, but I did really miss my family. Maybe I could stay, just for a little while. I'm sure they'd all understand.
"I could stay for another day," I began before Jowan sank into another depression. And he'd seemed so much lighter the past few weeks, not his usual stressed and worried self.
"No, no it's fine Elissa, seriously I'm fine. You should see your family," he smiled weakly up at me.
"Maker, please don't start crying Jowan," I said.
"I'm not crying."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, maybe the single, solitary tear," he sniffed.
"That's it Jowan," I said helping him up, "You'll be fine. I'm sure of it."
"Yeah, yeah you're probably right," Jowan smiled wiping his eyes dry with the sleeves of his robe.
"Of course I'm right. I'm always right remember."
Jowan laughed weakly.
There was a sharp knock at the door. The dormitory fell silent as the other mages, that had been chatting leisurely between the crowded rows of bunk beds and trunks that filled the room and seemed haphazard among the ancient stone walls, high ceiling and ornate stained glass windows, immediately began to false interest in the state of their bed sheets or the floor tiles. A group of Templars stood stiffly in the doorway, their hands clasped behind their backs and wearing hard, unyielding expressions.
"Elissa Cousland," the first said, scanning the dormitory for any suspicious activity, "Knight Commander Gregoir has asked us to collect you. You are to come at once."
"Of course," I bowed my head in understanding.
Snatching up my case, I pulled Jowan into a fierce hug.
"Goodbye Jowan," I grinned at him, "I'll be back before you know it."
"Bye, Elissa," he smiled.
I hurried towards the doorway, lugging the case behind me, and greeting the Templars with a polite curtsey.
"Elissa Cousland," I said.
The Templar nodded once and held the door open, motioning me through with a steel gauntlet.
"Elissa," Jowan called.
"Yes?" I turned to face him with a smile.
Jowan wavered as his hands began to grab at one another, a nervous habit of his, and shuffled on the spot. Then he seemed to reach a resolution and lifting his head with a sudden purpose but lost confidence again when he made eye contact with the Templar's hard stare.
"Er...it's nothing," he mumbled, "sorry."
"Are you quite sure?" I asked but despite everything I was quite eager to go. I couldn't wait to see father and mother, and my brothers even Aedan who would probably still refer to me as 'dog face' when we were pensioners. They'd probably be his last words.
"I'm sure Elissa... Bye."
"Goodbye Jowan."
...
"Is the cake done? What about the tables, have they been cleaned after last night's feast? What about her? Maker, has anyone prepared her room?
I watched with a mild disgust as mother hurried frantically from servant to servant, with either their arms burdened with clean linen or plates filled with fresh fruit or steaming dishes, and began shooting out questions or orders. And all this was for Elissa. Who, I knew for a fact, would be as eager to see them as they were to see her despite them being the ones who abandoned her at the Circle in the first place.
"Daylen?"
A hand was slapped across my back in what I supposed was meant to be a friendly salutation but seemed completely pointless to me.
"Aedan," I replied as the rounded, soft features of the youngest Cousland swam into my vision; a large, foolish grin slapped across his face. I had to resist the urge to sigh.
"What are doing scowling away in a corner?" Aedan asked as he pinched a Pork wrap from a passing serving platter.
I didn't bother replying.
"Elissa's back today," Aedan's grin grew to reveal two rows of small, square, almost child like teeth.
"I'll bet you're dying to see her," he laughed and pilfered another handful of starters from another servant.
"'Dying' seems to be the correct term," I said drily.
Aedan laughed to himself.
"Aedan! Stop eating all the food," mother snapped.
"Sorry mother," Aedan managed through a mouthful of food.
"And don't talk with your mouth full! Maker, child I don't know what I'll do with you."
"Wrap me and Cotton and tell me I'm the bravest, cleverist boy in the whole wide world," Aedan suggested in a squeaky tone.
Mother just smiled and shook her head before continuing to busy herself with panicking.
"Good morning boys," Father smiled as he pushed open the heavy oak doors, "what are you two planning?"
"Nothing much," Aedan shrugged, that idiotic still stretched across his face.
"Bryce, at last," mother seemed overly relieved to see him, "have you seen to the hall?"
"Yes it's taken care of. Fear not fair maiden," he smiled warmly down at her after planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Sorry to break up this touching reunion Bryce but I must be off," Arl Howe patted my father on the shoulder. I hadn't realized he was there until he spoke up but Howe had that effect he was capable of appearing invisible when he felt the need.
"Aedan," he said nodding to the teen before offering me his hand, "It's good to see you again Daylen."
"And you Arl Howe," I replied shaking his hand.
Howe gave me a look that was half reverence and half suspicion, which I returned, and left. He had to step aside at the door as another man entered the room, striding through the vast hall regally decorated with crimson banners and golden candelabras to meet my father. He wasn't like the usual pompous lords that visited my father, he held himself with confident ease, but not with the same arrogant swagger, despite the fact he was heavily armoured.
"Bryce Cousland," the man spoke in a voice I could easily imagine ringing out from a battlefield.
"Ah, Duncan," my father clasped the man's hand in an amiable handshake, "good to see you man."
"And you."
He turned as he noticed me and Aedan.
"And these must be your sons," he said casting a measuring eye over me and Aedan.
"Yes, this is Daylen," father gestured towards me with a proud smile. I nodded respectively towards Duncan.
"And what do you prefer, sword and shield?" Duncan asked with what seemed to be real interest, as far as I could tell but I learned to never take anything at face value.
"No. Two handed, I favour the Long sword."
"Impressive," Duncan did seem impressed.
"And this is the youngest, Aedan. He's an archer like his mother," father clasped Aedan on the back with the same beamingly proud expression.
"An archer?" Duncan inquired.
"Yeah, it takes more skill than waving a sword around," Aedan bumped shoulders jokingly with me, an action I ignored completely.
"Elissa and her Templar escorts have arrived Bann Cousland," a servant interrupted.
"Really? Brilliant!"
The doors were pushed open to reveal an ecstatic Elissa's and four hard faced Templars.
"Elissa!" mother practically ran to her only daughter, hugging her tightly.
"Mother!" Elissa laughed, gripping her with the same intensity before breaking off and beaming at her.
"And this," father said as he wrapped his arms around his daughter's shoulders, the concentrated pride he held only for her rolling off him in waves, "is my daughter Elissa."
"A mage," Duncan was stunned.
"It's far less fun than it seems," Elissa smiled.
"How have you been Dog face," Aedan joined the Elissa Cousland appreciation society that was all huddled around the main attraction by pulling her into a bear hug that engulfed her despite his skinny frame. I watched from a distance for a moment before growing bored and deciding that I could spend the time more wisely by training.
...
` "And what is it you do, Ser Duncan?" Elissa asked shaking the hand he offered.
"Duncan here is a Grey Warden," father answered before Duncan was even able to open his mouth.
"A Grey Warden?" her eyes widened with surprise.
"Yes, my lady," Duncan replied, the skin around his dark eyes crinkling as he smiled, "and currently we're searching for recruits..."
"I'm sorry Duncan but I couldn't possibly let you enlist Elissa," I'd grown used to recognizing the warning tone in father's voice, especially when his little girl was involved. I wondered how many local boys and young lords he, Fergus and I had had to warn off. It was a collective family protectiveness we all held, well except for Daylen but he'd always been a bit of a cold bastard.
"Yes, yes of course. I meant nothing by it," Duncan smiled.
"Does that mean I can be a Grey Warden?" I'd already started towards my room to collect my bow and quiver when mother grasped me by the shoulders.
"No you don't," mother said, turning me round, "instead why don't you do something useful and show Duncan to his room so he can change before dinner."
"Oh there's no need my lady," Duncan said, "I wouldn't want to intrude on your hospitality."
"Don't be ridiculous Ser. You'd only offend my hospitality if you weren't to join us tonight," mother replied, pushing me and Duncan gently towards the door.
"So eager to get rid of me. Mother I'm hurt," I feigned intense emotional pain but still accepted mother's kiss on the cheek with an affectionate smile.
"So pup. How have you been?" I heard father ask Elissa with interest before the door closed behind me.
"So what brings you here Ser Duncan?" I made conversation as I stretched my arms above my head.
"Sadly the Grey Wardens are lacking in numbers. Numbers that we need for now than ever with a Blight on the way," Duncan seemed distressed by the news but it failed to incite the same reaction in me. The Blight would be years from now, I decided I'd rather deal with it when a Hurlock came calling at the door.
"Well, if you ever need a new Warden," I elbowed him lightly and winked.
Duncan seemed confused.
"I'm not coming onto you, don't worry," I laughed.
"I wasn't concerned until you said that."
"There's your room," I pointed out the room down the hall to him with a smile.
"Thank you."
...
"Kallian, wake up."
I squinted through one open eye, decided that I'd rather be sleeping and turned my back to the intruder.
"Maker, I'm not dragging you out of bed again," Darrian sighed; I could tell it was Darrian because he's always had this distinct sigh, the air blown out his nose with a world-weary expression.
"Then why not save us both the effort and let me slumber in peace," I purred pulling the pillow tightly and kicking at the backside of the naked elf that was spread across the other side of the bed, "and I'm sorry dearest but you're dismissed."
There was a groan as the elf stood and began searching for clothes.
"Kallian!" Darrian squeaked, as he was greeted by what I could only imagine was an eyeful of elf.
"Calm down little brother, have you never seen a little bit of skin before?" I drawled lazily.
"No! No I haven't! And that is NOT a little bit of skin!" Darrian continued to hyperventilate in what could only be described as a cross between a whisper and a screech.
"I'll bet," I chuckled darkly.
"See you Kallian," the other elf said as he made his escape through my window.
"Yes, goodbye," I yawned.
I was half asleep when Darrian began to pull the bed sheets from my vice like grip.
"Who was he?" he whispered furiously, "Are you dating him?"
"Oh calm down before you burst a blood vessel," I rubbed a hand wearily over my closed eyes as Darrian began folding the bed sheet he'd liberated with a cautious expression, "you sound just like father."
"Maybe he has a point," Darrian continued, "What would mother think?"
"That that was a very fine ass creeping out my window. Now let me sleep," I smiled as I claimed the neatly folded sheet and began to wrap it like a cocoon around my still sleeping body.
Darrian made that mother hen sigh again and snatched the blanket away.
"Darrian! Why do you have to be so cruel, so early in the morning," I pouted.
"Because I'm getting married today and you're supposed to be the there," he huffed.
"Can't you put one of the local boys in a wig and pretend that's me. I'm sure they won't mind if I ask nicely."
"Didn't you hear me? I'm getting married today," Darrian repeated jadedly.
"Oh? You are? Congratulations! That's wonderful news. Am I invited?"
"Yes! I've not stopped talking about it all month!"
"Ah yes, I remember now. Sorry it became a low drone after a while," I smirked.
Darrian chuckled and proceeded to hit me over the head with a pillow.
"Not the face," I laughed, guarding the merchandise with crossed arms. I was finally forced to open my eyes. Sunlight, bright and hot, blinded my sight and not even the recovery of the blanket could draw me back to sleep now. Instead I lay sprawled across the thin mattress and stretched cat-like until I was satisfied.
"Since it seems that the day won't stop harassing me I may as well get up," I yawned.
"Yes and the wedding," Darrian began to tidy around the clutter and disarray that was my room. He paced the tiny, closet-like space, scooping up clothes and bottles like a cleaning bird of prey. Darrian had always had a passion for everything being just so; a true perfectionist by nature.
"Yes, yes I'll go before you start crying or something," I smirked.
"Kallian... this is very important to me...thank you," he smiled teary eyed. He was such a girl.
"Maker, if you're going to weep either way I'd rather go back to bed."
"No!" he seemed horrified by the notion, "You can't waste the day away in bed. C'mon get up, get up."
"Kallian?" a tentative Shianni crept through the doorway but noticed that both me and my brother were awake, she relaxed into her usual solid stance.
"I thought something had happened, there was a naked elf running around outside your window," Shianni scanned the grubby little room with suspicion.
"Did he have a fine ass?"
"From what I could tell."
"Yes he was mine; I apologize for unleashing that sight on the Alienage."
Shianni swept one critical eye over us both and sighed.
"You're not even dressed yet," she groaned, slapping a hand onto her forehead.
I shrugged with a smirk. That was one thing you could say about Kallian Tabris, I always got a strong reaction.
...
I watched Shianni with my sister; she would need her wits about her if she were going to stop Kallian crawling into bed again as soon as her back was turned. But Shianni had learnt through years of practice that the best way to deal with Kallian was to boost her massive ego.
Shianni began to inspect Kallian's clothes in brisk, snappish movements; she'd tut or squint before throwing the article away in distaste. The entire time Shianni continued to chat idly with my sister as Kallian began to twirl one of the scattered arrows from her quiver with an absent interest.
"Darrian?"
"Hrmm? Father I didn't notice you there," I jumped at the sound of his voice.
Father smiled gently up at me.
"Watching the girls? They make quite a picture together," Father smiled lovingly as his daughter flicked the arrow towards her cousin who glared at her in response, "but no matter. Shouldn't you be preparing for your wedding? They'll be another member of the Tabris family after tonight."
"I know, that's why I'm watching them. Anything to distract myself."
Father laughed lightly, I thought I'd I might be sick. Was this natural? Were people meant to feel like this on their wedding day? The strange part was that I couldn't imagine anything I wanted more. I wanted this, I wanted a wife to kiss me and welcome me home, I wanted my own home not a house I lived in and I wanted a family to fill it. Kallian always laughed at me when I told her that but I didn't know how to want anything more from life, to me that was a life. Then why was I so nervous?
"It seems scary now," father laughed, "but I want you to know I'm so proud of you."
"For getting married?"
"For starting a family. I must admit I've always wanted grandchildren."
"Maker, please don't rush me," I sighed.
A/N:
Not much has happened in this chapter because I really wanted to get a general idea of everyone's character first. I'm not completely sure about this fanfic so if you like or don't like please review and then I'll know whether to continue with it or not =]
THANKS FOR READING :D