So, this became a little heavier than I had originally intended but I want to get a good story going. If you are finding it too much just let me know, but as I said this is just following my choices in game so it shall also follow the quests I do in order I choose them as well as the quests I miss! I hope you enjoy part two of Gabriel Cousland's origin story!

Gabriel awoke to the sound of Dovah's angry barking. Dairren was already out of bed and at the dog's side, trying to calm him down so they could get back to sleep. But Gabriel immediately knew that he wasn't going to calm, there was something wrong, he could tell by the urgency and anger behind the barks. He threw the covers aside and joined Dairren near the door.

"I am sorry, I tried to calm him but I just don't know what is wrong with him."

"Dovah, calm down." He gently patted the hound's head but he didn't respond, just continued barking at the door.

"Perhaps there is something going on out there? I heard shouting when I woke but it seems to be quiet now."

"I heard it too." Gabriel frowned, he didn't like the feel of all this. Wary of what was happening, he turned to the chest at the end of his bed and started to dress in his armour. He was just about to retrieve his sword when Dairren spoke again.

"I shall investigate; see if somebody is in the hall." He went to open the door.

"Dairren, wait a sec-"

Before Dairren had even opened the door more than a foot it was kicked half off his hinges and an arrow came flying through the opening. It struck the young man, killing him instantly. Gabriel had no time to be shocked as the archer was rapidly priming his bow; the tip of the arrow now pointed his direction. Dovah raced out into the hall and grabbed a hold of the arm of the swordsman out there, shaking his head furiously to cause some serious damage. Gabriel grabbed his sword and charged out of his room to strike the archer. The two men fell quickly but more followed. It wasn't difficult to dispatch them but just as he was about to examine their corpses he heard a female voice.

"Gabriel!"

"Mother?!" Eleanor Cousland was dressed all in leather armour, a quiver full of arrows on her back and a bow in her hand. It looked as though she had been fighting too; he had just never expected it of her. But then again, her family and her home were being attacked.

"I am so glad you are all right! Those were Howe's men!" She pointed to the banner the men wore and Gabriel took a closer look. She was right; these men were the ones they had been waiting for to accompany their own to the battle. "Why are they attacking us?"

"Rendon Howe has betrayed us, Mother." He cut the purse strings of the guards then went back into his room, his Mother following close behind. He fetched his things from his chest then turned back to her, gesturing to the dead body on his floor. "They killed Dairren."

"Oh no! Poor Dairren!" She covered her mouth with her hand.

"Mother, have you checked on Oriana and Oren?" He had a sudden thought. He hadn't so much as looked across the hall, far too occupied with trying to stay alive.

"No!" She gasped and went running into the room opposite. "What if they went into Fergus' room first?!"

"Mother, no!" Gabriel ran after her and somehow managed to beat her into the room but he couldn't save her from the sight that awaited them.

He felt his heart sink as he laid eyes on the bodies of his sister-in-law and his nephew. They lay in the middle of the room, slaughtered, a guard also slaughtered just inside the door. His Mother let out a sob and he quickly turned to her, holding her against his chest in an attempt to hide her from the sight. But the damage was done.

"What kind of monster kills innocents?"

"I will make him pay, Mother. I promise you." He tried to reassure her but their castle was crumbling around them and everybody was at risk. They were without much protection; their men had already left to fight.

"Wait, have you seen your Father? He never came to bed.. We have to find him, Gabriel, and we have to get out of here. Howe is not taking prisoners; he means to kill us all. So we need to escape. There is a tunnel leading from the pantry, we can get out that way. But we have to hurry; we need to find your Father and go!"

He fully agreed so, turning their backs on their deceased family members, Mother and Son continued through the castle. They made a quick stop in his parents' room so he could retrieve the items from his Father's trunk. Along the way they encountered many more dead bodies, of servants and friends, of dead guards as well as a few of Howe's men. But they were far more prepared then the few guards that remained within the castle, Gabriel was rather surprised that so many of them had been felled by resting guards and servants. Checking the guest rooms just before leaving the main castle they encountered the body of Lady Landra. She hadn't even made it to her bed.

"Oh Landra, I am so sorry." He felt sorry for his Mother, losing her friend too. But they had to keep moving or else they would end up the same way.

Finally they broke out into the streets and were greeted by a fleeing servant. He looked absolutely terrified but he did have a sword in his hand. "I am getting out of here! There are too many of them!"

"Will you not stay and fight? Defend your home?!" He figured he could persuade the man and, thankfully, it seemed to work.

"All.. All right.. Let's go!" The servant joined them, running just behind them alongside Dovah who was growling lowly, itching for a fight.

They had barely turned the corner before five men and a group of mabari war hounds were upon them. Dovah raced straight into the thick of the battle with Gabriel and the helpful servant following close behind. His Mother provided support from afar; she was truly deadly with a bow! The men fell quickly but more men followed, the stream was nearly endless. Thankfully they received backup. Several of the Cousland guards came running up and took out several of the remaining soldiers. Gabriel made sure to loot each body for coin, especially now that they were to be on the run, they would need all the money they could get their hands on.

"Come on Gabriel, we must find your Father!" It seemed Eleanor was getting impatient but he couldn't blame her. He grabbed the last coin purse and was about to continue towards the main hall but their path was blocked by firey debris. They weren't heading that way.

He led his little party through the mad streets, fighting off any soldiers or hounds that attacked them on the way. The occasional guard fell but other than that they were still going strong. But still no sign of his Father! At first he ran straight past the library but at second glance he realised the door was wide open. And inside laid poor old Aldous. His mind flickered back to the afternoon when he had been teaching two boys.. Those poor boys were probably dead too. He crouched beside the old man and gently touched his shoulder.

"I am sorry Aldous. We shall avenge you." His Mother spoke softly behind him. He felt bad now for not indulging the man one last time by helping him to teach the boys for a bit. It wouldn't have taken much of his time but he was more interested in getting to bed that evening. How could everything go so wrong?

His Mother's hand on his shoulder coaxed him away from the old man. And the reminder that he had to find his Father. Hopefully he would be in the main room. They came crashing through the door and only found a whole group of Howe's men fighting his own castle guard. The guard overpowered the men and in the thick of it Ser Gilmore called for him.

"Master Gabriel, you're alive! What are you doing here?" He hurriedly gestured to his men who went back to the main door, leaning heavily against it.

"We are looking for Bryce, have you seen him?" His Mother answered before he could even open his mouth.

"I found him here, he was gravely injured. But he said he was going to look for you. No doubt he is at the servant's exit from the castle. You had better go after him; I don't know how much longer I can hold off Howe's forces. There are just too many of them. You need to go and you need to survive, somebody needs to know what happened here." Ser Gilmore managed a small smile before nodding and running to help his men hold the door for as long as they could.

"You heard him, son, let's go and find your Father. We need to head south and find Fergus, tell the King what has happened."

Mother, son and hound ran through the streets to the pantry. Once inside the kitchen they found the body of poor old Nan. Everybody they cared about was dead. But they had yet to find Bryce. Gabriel pushed the kitchen door firmly shut then followed his Mother into the pantry.

"I was.. wondering when.. you two would get here."

He had never heard his Father in such pain before and when his eyes finally landed on him he realised what was causing such pain. There was a horrible wound in the man's stomach; he could see the damage even though his hand was in the way. A pool of blood was slowly growing beneath the man and he knew that his Father was not going to be with them for much longer. That didn't mean he was just going to give up on him though. Eleanor was already by her Husband's side and he could hear the strain in her voice, how hard she was fighting back the tears.

"Bryce.. Come on, we have to go. The men will break in at any moment." She tried to help him stand up but he made no move to do so. He was clearly too weak.

"I don't think.. I shall survive the standing.. Eleanor, you must take our son and go. Save.. Yourselves." He groaned, crumpling over with pain. Gabriel felt his heart wrench.

"Father, how did you make it this far?"

"I managed to get the Teryn this far but I am afraid this may be where it all ends for him." Duncan came striding in through the door and kicked it closed. He crouched down between Gabriel and his Mother. "I am sorry that I could not do more.."

"Duncan, you.. do not owe me anything.." Another groan from a dying man. "But please, I beg you to take.. my wife and son to safety.."

"I must ask something in return.."

"Anything!" He knew his Father did not have long left.

"I came here for a recruit and I must leave with one.." Duncan seemed very reluctant and it took Gabriel a moment to figure out what was going on.

"You mean me? But, I can't just leave my family.."

"You must.. Go, son.. You have to leave me here. Protect your Mother." The once grand Teryn Cousland was now completely crumpled up in pain, nearly dying then and there.

"No, Bryce. I am staying here with you. We had a good life, now it is up to our children." His Mother was nearly in tears now as she cradled her Husband gently. It nearly brought him to tears.

"Mother, I can't just leave you here.."

"Gabriel.. Listen.. To your Mother." A loud smash from outside signalled the arrival of Howe's main forces inside the castle.

"Son, you must go and tell the King of what happened here and get revenge on that vile Howe. I will kill every man that comes through that door to give you extra time. Now go my son, I love you."

He could feel Duncan pulling him away but he didn't want to go! He would not say goodbye to his parents, leaving them to their deaths! He couldn't fight against Duncan though so, with tears in his eyes he called back to them. "I love you both!"