Elissa woke with a start. She thought she had heard a scream. She listened to the sounds of the castle but they were drowned out by Lucky who was barking and growling at the door. She got up and put on her robe. "What is it boy?"
Lucky continued to growl and bark and Elissa heard screaming again. She went over to her chest and grabbed her weapons and moved towards the door but it burst open before she got there.
"My lady! Help the castle is under attack," David one of the servants from the stables burst in.
He was cut off however when an arrow hit him in the back and he fell over in her door way. David looked up at Elissa and she watched him as he took his last breath his eyes staring up at her as if blaming her.
Shock ran through her, Lucky broke out of her room moving towards their attackers. Elissa shook the shock away and moved to look out of the door way notching an arrow in her bow. She saw three men. Lucky was already charging one man. She took aim and let an arrow fly. Its target fell over with an arrow in his eye and he was dead before he knew what had happened. She was about to load another arrow when the third man charged her hitting her in the face with his shield.
Pain flew through Elissa's face and she closed her eyes to the flame of it. Her bow went flying and she landed on the stone floor hard hitting her head hard. She stared up at the man dazed from the impact. Her eyesight was blurry but she saw the symbol on the man's shield. Amaranthine shields, why was Howe's men attacking them. She didn't have time to think, the man fell on top of her and smiled. His green eyes held the promise of pain. Elissa fought against his hold trying to get away from him screaming at the same time.
"I was ordered to kill you but I think I'll have my fun first," the soldier ripped open Elissa's robe revealing her undergarments. She fought harder against him but he outweighed her and the pain in her head slowed her movements.
"Lucky!" She yelled. The fear of being raped and the fear of dying powered her yell.
The dog had killed his target and was already running towards her when she called for him. He leaped and tore into the man's neck. The force of Lucky hitting the man knocked him off of Elissa and she scrambled up. She watched as Lucky shook the life out of the man by clamping onto his throat and not letting go until the death gurgle came from the man's throat.
Elissa closed her eyes and shuddered. She went to her chest and grabbed her armor and dressed quickly. Then she grabbed a pack and put emergency funds in along with poultices and some of her vials of poison she had stashed. Her family would need to make a run for it if men had come this far into her home. The castle was defenseless with their troops marching south.
"Come boy," she said at the door making sure to notch another arrow before moving into the hall.
She looked left and saw two men pounding on her parent's room door. Elissa took aim and brought one of the men down. The other charged at her and she grabbed her daggers and met him. "Where's the teryn?" He growled.
"Like I'd bleeding tell you? Where's your arl so I can slit his throat?" Elissa growled. She blocked the blow from the soldier's sword and ducked under his arm coming up behind him sinking her blade into the soldiers back. She watched him fall with pure rage running through her veins. Leaning down she cleaned her daggers off on his armor.
The door to her parent's room opened. "Darling!"
Elissa stood up and faced Eleanor looking her over. "Are you okay?"
"They never got through thanks to you, are you all right?" Eleanor studied her daughter. "You're face what happened?"
Elissa licked her mouth and found it bleeding. "I'm fine, mama what's going on?"
"A scream woke me up and when I came to see what it was there were men in the hall so I barricaded the door," Eleanor looked down and saw the shield one of the men had been carrying. "That's Howe's colors."
"Yes," Elissa nodded not being able to hide the venom in her tone. "We've been betrayed mother."
"You don't think his men were delayed on purpose?" Eleanor looked up at Elissa. "We need to find your father he never came to bed."
"Are your weapons in your room?" Elissa asked.
"I'll get them," Eleanor nodded disappearing into her chamber and returning with a shield and mace that were made for her.
"We need to get Oriana and Orem," Elissa dreaded the thought the men had gotten their first but screaming had woken them up and not many were up on this level with the family.
"Maker's breath!" Eleanor ran towards Fergus's room. Elissa was right behind her. When the door slammed open Eleanor let out a gasp. Elissa followed and saw what her mother had seen.
Elissa wasn't as delicate as her mother. "NO!" Elissa screamed falling to the floor beside Oren. His lifeless body lay in a pool of blood. She picked up the wooden sword she had given him. It had lain next to the boy like he had tried to use it to fend off their attackers. Elissa looked over at Oriana. Oriana lay with her mouth open and eyes wide in shock. Her scream was the scream that woke Elissa up. She knew she'd always be haunted by that sound for the rest of her life.
Eleanor moved to Oriana's body and closed her eyes. Elissa heard her mother's sobs but she was lost in her own grief. Tears fell from her eyes. Laying the sword back down she put one hand on Oren's cheek and closed his eyes with the other. She picked him up gently hugging him to her chest. "I will make them pay," Elissa whispered stroking his lifeless hair.
"Howe's not even taking hostages he plans to kill all of us," Eleanor sobbed next to her. "Poor Fergus, come on I don't want to see this."
Eleanor tugged on Elissa's arm.
Elissa laid Oren down gently and placed a kiss on his forehead. She let her mother lead her out of the room. When they opened the door to leave the family chambers four more of Howe's men waited for them. Elissa didn't even think. She went for her daggers. She needed to see the eyes of the men who sought to murder her family. None of her kills were clean She wanted to make the men suffer as much as possible. Eleanor was of the same mind.
Elissa opened the door to Lady Landra's room and saw her dead on the floor. Eleanor shook her head, "If she hadn't have come, if she hadn't have been here…"
Elissa took her mothers hand, "Don't think about that now mama."
She didn't find Dairren's body but she had little hope that he lived. If Howe would kill Lady Landra he'd have no issue killing Dairren.
They moved down stairs. Eleanor stopped Elissa before they reached the atrium. "We need to find your father," Eleanor said.
"I want to find Howe," Elissa growled.
"Darling, the castle may already have fallen to him. Once we find your father we'll leave through the servant's exit. You and Fergus must live Elissa do you understand me, if you don't the Cousland line dies here." Eleanor stared at her daughter. Her daughter was a mess of emotions. Tears streaked down her bloody face.
"Is there nothing else we can do? We can't just let Howe win!" Elissa choked on a sob.
"He'll get what's coming to him darling, but you have to live to see it done," Eleanor said. "Lets get to the treasury we need the family blade, it should never fall into his hands. Then we'll go find your father."
Elissa nodded leading the way. They met more of Howe's soldiers fighting the castle guards. Elissa and Eleanor managed to rescue Michael and Sam two of their guards. The guards followed their ladies throughout the castle as they fought their way to the treasury. Elissa found the Cousland blade inside and attached it to her back. They went to the great hall and found it full of Howe's men fighting more castle guards. Elissa saw Roland in the middle of the group leading her father's men.
A mage stood out from the group and was aiming spells at her father's men. Elissa notched an arrow and aimed for the mage. Her arrow hit the woman in the middle of the eyes and she fell over. Eleanor charged in and so did Lucky while Elissa picked off the archers from a distance. Howe's men were all dead with in minutes.
Roland barked orders to the surviving guards to go man the gates. Elissa looked Roland over and saw he was banged. When he came over to them she rushed to him throwing her arms around him. He caught her and wrapped his arms around her shaking body.
"Your ladyship, my lady! You're both alive I was scared Howe's men had gotten through," Roland pulled away from Elissa looking down at her.
"They did…they did get through," Elissa sobbed looking away ashamed of her tears.
"They killed Oriana and Oren," Eleanor whispered. "Are you injured?"
"Don't worry about me my lady," Roland said. He looked around and knew he needed to get them to safety but the gates wouldn't hold for long and he couldn't leave the gates if he wanted to give them a chance to live.
"When I last saw the teryn he was injured, but he left to find you two. I think he went towards the servant's entrance in the larder," Roland said.
Elissa hesitated, she couldn't leave her home. She couldn't abandon her people. They were as much family as her blood was. She shook her head about to refuse to go.
"Elissa," Roland whispered.
Elissa looked up at him and studied him.
"You have a way out, you need to use it now," Roland whispered.
"Come with us," Elissa grabbed his hand. She didn't want to leave him. "Please."
"If I do that the gates won't hold," Roland hugged her and pushed her away to her mother. "Now go. Your father is waiting for you."
"Bless you Ser Gilmore, Maker watch over you," Eleanor said recognizing what he was doing.
"Maker watch over us all," he smiled sadly. "Now go."
"No," Elissa shook her head and went to grab onto him again. Roland pushed her to the door that led towards the kitchens and when Elissa, Eleanor and Lucky were through it he closed the door and locked it.
"No! Roland! No come with us!" Elissa banged on the door after he shut it.
Roland closed his eyes and ran to the gates and helped keep them shut against Howe's forces as they tried to break it down.
"Come on my dear, we need to go. Don't make his sacrifice mean nothing," Eleanor said.
Elissa reluctantly pulled away following her mother. In the servants quarters they helped servants escape. Then they made their way to the kitchens.
In the kitchen on the floor in front of the larder lay Nan. Elissa gasped. "No, mama…"
"It's okay Elissa, it'll be okay. Don't look at her, she was a good woman and deserved more than this but you cannot save her, you must avenge her," Eleanor put her hands on her daughters face and made Elissa look at her. "Do you understand?"
Eleanor saw the haunted look in Elissa's eyes. Her little girl would never be the same. It broke her heart knowing she couldn't protect her from this. "I understand," Elissa whispered.
"Good," Eleanor nodded leading the way into the larder.
The door burst open and inside Bryce was laying down holding his side. Eleanor and Elissa didn't see him at first it was so dark in the larder.
"There you both are," Bryce said through gritted teeth. The pain was almost too much for him to bear.
"Papa!" Elissa ran forward.
"Bryce!" Eleanor followed.
Elissa studied her father and moved his hand and looked at his wound. It was a stomach wound which was not good. She looked up into her father's eyes and shook her head. Tears began to flow again. Bryce looked at Elissa and saw she recognized a fatal wound.
"Maker's breath you're bleeding!" Eleanor examined the wound.
"Howe's men found me first, almost did me in right there," Bryce choked out.
"We need to get you out of here papa," Elissa whispered.
"I fear I won't survive the standing Pup," Bryce smiled sadly.
Elissa shook her head, "No, papa, don't say that you'll be fine."
"Oh my darling girl, if only your will could make it so," Bryce closed his eyes. "Someone must get to Fergus, tell him what has happened."
"You can tell him yourself, papa," Elissa whispered putting her hand on her father's cheek.
"I wish I could," Bryce whispered.
"Bryce, no, the servant's entrance is right here we can escape together and find you healing magic," Eleanor said placing her hand on Bryce's.
"The castle is surrounded Eleanor, I will not make it," Bryce looked at her.
"I'm afraid what the teryn says is true. Howe's men have not yet discovered this entrance but they will," a new voice said.
Elissa and Eleanor turned to see Duncan the Grey Warden coming through the larder door.
"You are Duncan then? The Grey Warden?" Eleanor asked.
"Yes my lady, I helped the teryn get here and I went off in search of you two," Duncan looked at Elissa.
"Elissa helped me get here, Maker be praised," Eleanor said looking at her crying daughter. Her daughter had never seen battle. Elissa had killed before but it wasn't like this, it wasn't fighting for her life. She wanted to shield her daughter but she could not shield the harsh reality that their life had become that night.
"I am not surprised," Duncan said looking at Elissa as well. The girl was covered in blood and tears streaked her face. The fact she had come through a personal crisis this far meant she was skilled. He had heard she was skilled with a bow and won a lot of tournaments with it but she was very green when it came to actual fighting.
"Are you going to help us Duncan?" Elissa asked.
"Whatever is to be done, must be done now, they are coming!" Eleanor said. She looked back at Bryce and wanted to scream. The life they built together was now in ashes.
"Duncan, I beg you, please take my wife and daughter to safety," Bryce grabbed Duncan's hand covering it with his blood.
Elissa watched the movement. She knew what her father was asking, to leave him behind.
"Papa no," Elissa whispered shaking her head in denial.
"I will your lordship, but first I must ask for something in return," Duncan said.
"Anything!" Bryce exclaimed.
"What is happening here pales in comparison to what is happening in the south. I came to your castle seeking a recruit. The darkspawn threat demands that I leave with one," Duncan searched Bryce's eyes and saw he knew what was being asked.
Elissa stared at Duncan in horror.
"I…I understand," Bryce whispered.
"What? No! I agree to no such thing!" Elissa shouted glaring at Duncan.
"What then pup? How will you survive?" Bryce turned to Elissa.
Elissa looked at her father shaking her head, "Papa no, don't…"
"I will take your wife and daughter to Ostagar to warn Fergus and tell the King what has happened. There your daughter will join the Grey Wardens," Duncan said.
"So long as justice comes to Howe," Bryce whispered. "I agree."
"Then I offer you a place within the Grey Wardens. Fight with us," Duncan said looking at Elissa.
"No! I refuse! What if Fergus is dead, surely Howe has something planned for him?" Elissa growled glaring at Duncan. She had respected this man earlier but now she thought him a monster. He was holding this over her dying father's head. What type of man would do such a thing?
"We will inform the King and he will punish Howe. I'm sorry but a Grey Warden's duties take precedence even over vengeance," Duncan knew he was making an enemy out of his new recruit but he did what must be done.
"Pup, Howe thinks he will use the chaos to advance himself," Bryce grabbed Elissa's hand. Elissa looked at him she kept shaking her head and felt her bottom lip trembling. She fought back the sob that had been growing since finding her father. "Make him wrong pup. See that justice is done. Our family always does our duty first. The darkspawn must be defeated. You must go, for your own sake and for Fereldans."
Elissa studied her father she felt the warm tears streaming down her cheeks. "Papa…"
She saw the steel in his eyes and knew he was asking her to do this for him. He'd rather her be a Grey Warden and live than die by Arl Howe's hands.
"I will, papa, for you," Elissa whispered.
"We must leave quickly then," Duncan stood up.
"Bryce…are you sure?" Eleanor asked staring at him.
"Our daughter will not die of Howe's treachery, she will live and make her mark on the world," Bryce looked at Elissa with pride.
Elissa couldn't hold back a sob. She grabbed her fathers arm. "Papa…"
Eleanor grabbed Elissa's face and made her look at her. "Darling, go with Duncan. You have a better chance to escape without me."
Elissa's eyes grew big realizing what her mother was saying. "No, no!" She shouted.
"Eleanor," Bryce said.
"Hush Bryce, I'll kill every bastard that comes through that door to buy them time. But I won't abandon you," Eleanor whispered.
"Mama," Elissa whispered. "Please, no…"
"Elissa your place is now with the Grey Wardens. Mine is with your father in life, death and beyond," Eleanor steeled herself against her daughter's pleas.
Elissa shook her head and sobbed hugging her mother. "Please…"
Eleanor pried her daughter away. Bryce took Elissa's hand. Elissa looked down at him. He stared up at her with sorrow. She hugged him one final time. "Papa," Elissa sobbed.
She pulled away and wanted to wake up any minute. This was a nightmare it wasn't real. She wasn't about to lose both her parents, it wasn't real it couldn't be.
Eleanor hugged Bryce. "I'm so sorry it has come to this my love," Bryce said through gasps of pain.
"We had a good life, and did all we could. It's up to our children now," Eleanor smiled sadly.
Bryce looked up at Elissa, "Then go pup, warn your brother. Know that we love you both. You do us proud."
Elissa let out a sob. "No!"
A loud crash sounded at the front of the castle. "They've broken through the gates we must go now," Duncan grabbed Elissa's arms.
She fought against him not wanting to leave her parents. Lucky came forward and grabbed her armor with his teeth and helped pull his mistress away.
"Good bye darling," Eleanor said.
Elissa was dragged away and Duncan pushed her ahead of him forcing her to run. Tears clouded her vision causing her to trip and fall more than usual.
The passageway led out to a path that led straight to the village. Duncan led her around the village however and made their way south. They didn't stop for a long time. Duncan forced Elissa to push herself to get further away from Highever. When Howe figured out she was not among the bodies in the castle he would order his men out to look for her. They did not stop to rest until the light from the day was coming to an end. When they stopped Duncan gave Elissa space as he made a fire.
Elissa stumbled to the small pond they had found to camp next to and collapsed on the shore. She let sobs rack her body as the pain of losing her family, friends and home hit her hard. She couldn't hold back the screams of anguish that clawed at her throat. Lucky leaned into her side adding his whimpers to her cries of pain.