Disclaimer: I do NOT own Dragon Age or anything related to it.
" With adulthood comes responsibility."
― Mary Lydon Simonsen, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy
Chapter 3:Responsibility
There were many days when Castle Cousland was bustling with activity, but this day in particular, was very different from those other days. Today was the last day before a great majority of Highever's troops left to fight alongside King Cailan's armies in Ostagar against the darkspawn. Teryn Bryce Cousland and his son, Fergus, were to accompany their men to Ostagar, much to the indignation of Valerie Cousland, though she hid it well as she already knew that her father would just start telling her about how she was needed at home more than she was on the battlefield. He wasn't exactly wrong, but that still didn't mean she refused to be sulky about it in private.
Having just been in the middle of a practice season with her daggers, the young rogue was dressed in light armor and boots while her long, luscious, blonde hair hung against her back in a nice enough fat braid. Her father had sent one of the servants to inform her that he wished to see his daughter in the Great Hall at once. As she entered the Great Hall and leaned against the doorway, her hazel eyes narrowed at the sight of her father looking into the fireplace as he conversed with his longtime friend, Arl Rendon Howe. In truth, Valerie never liked the man much; he was cocky, rude, annoying, and uglier than a rat just like his youngest son Thomas. His two oldest children Nathaniel and Delilah, however, were very good friends of hers who she hadn't seen in awhile and missed dearly. She folded her arms over her chest as she listened to the two men speak with each other, both of them oblivious of her presence.
"I trust then, that your troops will be here shortly?" Bryce asked.
"I expect them to begin arriving sometime later tonight and then we can both march tomorrow." Howe responded, looking down."I apologize for the delay, milord. This entirely my fault."
Valerie smirked.'Yes, yes it is.' She frowned when her father turned to look at Howe and shook his head.
"No, no," He assured him,", it seems that the appearance of the darkspawn in the south has everyone scrambling, doesn't it? I only received the call from the king a few days ago myself."
Valerie cocked her head to the side at the mention of King Cailan. She had met him a few times during royal balls thrown by either him or her father. His wife, Queen Anora,was also a good friend of hers. The two of them had originally met several years back during one of the landsmeets at which both of theirs father had taken them to as young teenagers. Anora's father was none other than Teryn Loghain Mac Tir, the hero of River Dane. He was a hero to the people of Ferelden, but much like she did for Howe, Valerie contained little to no trust in him at all. It had been nearly three months since she last saw the king and queen of Ferelden, but she did occasionally exchange letters with Anora whenever either of them could. For the moment, they both seemed well enough.
"I will send Fergus off with my men," Bryce continued, walking over to Howe and clasping a hand over his shoulder."Then you and I can ride tomorrow, just like the old days."
"True," Howe nodded,", though we both had much less gray in our hair then and we were fighting Orlesians, not...monsters."
Bryce gave a chuckle."At least the smell will be the same."
Pushing off the doorway, Valerie sighed and cleared her throat to get their attention. The two men turned to face her as she approached, Bryce giving his daughter an apologetic smile for not noticing her presence at first."I'm sorry pup; I didn't see you there. Howe, do you remember my daughter, Valerie?"
"I see she's become a lovely young woman." Howe's reply nearly made her roll her eyes at him, but she kept a straight face for her father's sake."Pleased to see you again my, dear."
Valerie gave a fake, sweet smile and nodded respectfully."And you, Arl Howe."'
"My son Thomas asked after you. Perhaps I should bring him with me next time."
Valerie literally choked on her own breath, gasping for air and hazel eyes going wide. He wasn't actually being serious, was he? Unable to hide her reaction, she gave him a very stony look and crossed her arms over her chest again."To what end?!" She demanded.
To her surprise and rage, Howe laughed."To what end, she says! So glib too! She's just like her mother when she talks like that!"
'Excuse me?!' She screamed in her head, eyebrow raised.
"Do you see what I contend with, Howe?" Bryce sighed."There is absolutely no telling my fierce girl anything these days! Maker bless her heart!"
"Quite talented, I'm sure." Valerie couldn't help but raise a suspicious eyebrow at Howe's comment."One to watch." She scoffed quietly, rolling her eyes.
"At any rate, pup, I summoned you for a reason." As usual, Bryce got right back to the point."While Fergus and I are both away, I'm leaving you in charge of the castle."
Ah, so this was why she wasn't allowed to go with to them to battle. Well, at least he trusted her with leadership. It was better than nothing, she supposed."I'll do my best, Father." She said with a nod.
Bryce smiled."Now that's what I like to hear. Only a token force is remaining here and you must keep peace in the region. You know what they say about mice when the cat is away, yes?"
"Yes, Father." She murmured, nodding again.
"There are also some people who you should meet." He turned to one of the guards."Please, show them in."
Valerie was just about to question as to who these visitors were when she spotted them entering and almost instantly, her hazel eyes widened. On the right was a beautiful female elf with raven-colored hair flowing down her shoulders and a nice pair of light blue eyes. To the left was a handsome blonde male elf. Judging by their tattoos, they appeared to be Dalish. But it was the guest in the middle who caught her attention most of all. He was a tall, dark-skinned, broad human man with a beard. She could tell by the insignia on his unique white armor that he was a Grey Warden.
"It is an honor to be a guest within your hall, Teryn Cousland." The Grey Warden said with a polite nod. The two elves both nodded as well, but said nothing.
"Your lordship!" Howe gasped."You didn't mention a Grey Warden and two Dalish would be present."
"Duncan and his two latest recruits, Jade and Tamlen, all just arrived here recently; unannounced." Bryce raised an eyebrow."Is there a problem?"
"Of course not!" Howe said quickly."But guests of this stature demand certain poetical. I am...at a disadvantage."
"We rarely have the pleasure of seeing any in person, that's for sure." Bryce cast a glance at his daughter."Valerie, Brother Aldous has taught you who the Grey Wardens and Dalish are, I hope?"
Valerie nodded eagerly."The Dalish elves are noble wanderers who travel the land in tightly knit clans. I've heard a lot of stories about them being wild savages, but personally I think they're just exaggerated on most people's parts." She beamed a little at the elven girl's apparent nod of approval and turned to Duncan."As for the Grey Wardens, didn't they defeat the darkspawn long ago?"
"Not permanently, I fear." Duncan said grimly.
"Without their warning of the darkspawn rising now, half the nation could have already been overrun before we even had the slightest chance to react. Duncan has come here to look for some more recruits before joining us and his fellow wardens in the south. I believe he's got his eye on Ser Gilmore." The Teryn explained.
'Lucky knight.' Valerie thought, stifling a sigh.
Duncan cleared his throat."If I may be so bold, I would suggest that your daughter over here is also an excellent candidate."
Valerie beamed when she heard this, but her face fell when her father suddenly took up a protective stance in front of his daughter, looking rather hostile toward the Grey Warden.
"Honor though that might be, this is my daughter we're taking about." He stated.
"I think I rather like the idea, Father." Valerie said, crossing her arms. She was ignored.
"I've not so many children that I'll gladly see them all off into battle." Bryce said to Duncan."Unless you intend to invoke the Right of Conscription...?" He raised an almost challenging eyebrow at Duncan as if daring him to respond.
"Have no fear." Duncan said calmly as he put his hands up."While we do need as many good recruits as we can find, I've no intention of forcing the issue."
'You've got to be kidding me!' Valerie thought. She could've sworn she saw the Dalish girl roll her eyes and resisted the urge to do so herself.
Seemingly relaxed by Duncan's assurance, Bryce nodded and turned back to his daughter."Pup, can you see to it that all of Duncan and his recruits' requests are seen to while I'm gone?"
"Don't strain my abilities or anything." Valerie said bitterly with a scoff.
"And don't strain my patience!" He snapped then sighed."In the meantime, find Fergus and tell him to lead the troops ahead of me to Ostagar. We'll talk soon."
"No." Valerie said coldly, shaking her head."We won't."
She then spun around on her heel and stomped out of the room.
Valerie grumbled to herself as she made her way outside, feeling pique that her father refused to let her speak for herself in front of Duncan and treated her like she was still a little girl. How dare he keep her from doing what she'd always dreamed off? One minute she was old enough to be left in charge of the castle in his absence, but too young to speak for herself the next? She was so busy fuming that she hardly even noticed a certain red-haired knight until she nearly bumped into him and he caught her arms to keep her from falling.
"There you are!" He breathed."I had heard the Teryn summoned you so I didn't want to interrupt."
Valerie sighed."Hello to you too, Ser Gilmore."
The knight blushed."Please pardon my abruptness, milady. It's simply the fact that I have been literally looking everywhere for you." He jabbed his thumb behind him."I fear your hound has the kitchens in uproar."
"Again." Valerie said dryly.'Oh, Leonard...'
"Nan is threatening to leave." He continued.
"Again." She repeated, crossing her arms and sighing."I guess I should go collect him then."
"That would be wise." Ser Gilmore nodded, looking like he was trying very hard not to laugh his head off."Before Nan tears down the walls. But before we go, milady, I have heard from numerous people that there is a Grey Warden present with two of his latest recruits. Is that true?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, it is." She couldn't hide her slightly amused smile at how excited and nervous he sounded.
"I see. And is it also true that the Grey Warden is interested in recruiting me?" Her smile grew wider at his hesitant question and she gave a small nod.
"My father even put in a good word for you."
"Me? A Grey Warden! Maker's breath, are you certain of this?" The knight exclaimed then quickly composed himself, looking embarrassed."Of course I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Pardon my outburst."
"It's alright, Ser Gilmore." She assured him, putting a hand up and sighing again."We should probably go and deal with that dog of mine now."
"Just follow the yelling." He smirked."When Nan's unhappy, she makes sure everyone else knows it."
"Tell me something I don't know." Valerie muttered, rolling her eyes and shaking her head.
For about the third time that week, Valerie entered the larder with Ser Gilmore and could instantly hear the very familiar sounds of a dog barking and a woman shouting. Nan was busy yelling at two elven servants when they came in and so she didn't notice them at first. To say that the elderly cook was livid would be just a bit of an understatement.
"One of you get that bloody mutt out of the larder!" Nan shouted at the elves.
"But, mistress!" The female elf protested."It won't let us anywhere near!"
"If I cannot get into that larder, I'll skin both of you useless elves, I swear it!" Nan growled, shaking her head furiously.
"Um, calm down good woman, we're here to help!" Ser Gilmore said.
Nan twisted around, her eyes bloodshot with uncontrollable anger as she pointed at the knight then at Valerie."You! And you! This is the third time this week that your bloody mongrel has gotten into my larder, Valerie! That beast should be put down!"
'Here we go again.' Valerie sighed."I'm very sorry that he's been bothering you Nan." She smiled softly as she spoke in a gentle tone that always seemed to calm the cranky old woman down since she was still a little girl.
"Just get him gone already." Nan said, calming down a little."I've enough to worry about with a caste full of hungry soldiers." She glared dangerously at the elven servants."Stop standing there like idiots, you two! Get out of the way!"
"Look at that mess." See Gilmore shook his head and sighed."How did he even get in here in the first place?"
They found Leonard sniffing around the larder and growling into a corner. The sound of the door opening and closing behind them caused the dog to cast a glance in their direction. He let out a whine and rushed to his mistress, grabbing her sleeve with his teeth and desperately trying to drag her toward the corner he'd just growled at only a moment ago. She pulled her gloved wrist away and knelt beside him, gently petting him on the head to calm him as he whined again then growled once more at the corner.
"Are you trying to tell me something, boy?" She asked quietly, frowning when he gave an apparent nod and tried dragging her toward the corner again. Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Ser Gilmore came over to kneel beside them and tilted his head in thought.
"He does seem like he's trying to tell you something." Leonard barked as if in agreement and nudged Valerie to make her stand up as he led her into the corner. Another bark escaped him just as a very unfamiliar soft screeching sound was heard. Ser Gilmore grabbed Valerie's shoulder, causing her to turn and face him with an equally perplexed look crossing her features. For a moment, everything was silent, then the source of that strange sound suddenly became clear to both of them.
"Rats!" Valerie yelled in shock as Leonard started barking and growling again. Despite being quite a lot of them, the rats were easy enough to deal with, especially because of Leonard's dangerously sharp teeth making it very easy to rip their tiny heads off. Ser Gilmore let out a sigh, shaking his head as what had just happened finally sunk in.
"Giant rats?" He asked himself aloud."It's just like the start of every bad adventure tale my grandfather always used to tell. Your hound must've chased them all in through their holes. Looks like he wasn't really raiding the larder after all."
"It certainly seems that way." Valerie said with a smile as she scratched a panting Leonard's ears and laughed when he licked her. That was when Nan practically kicked the door open, her expression a mask of pure rage and eyes going completely wide at the sight of headless dead rats and blood everywhere.
"Rats!" The two elven servants shrieked.
"What happened here?!" Nan screamed. Rather than reply, Valerie grabbed Ser Gilmore's arm and said,"Run for it."
Following after them, Leonard barked loudly as they practically shoved past Nan and the servants before quickly fleeing the kitchen.
I hope you all like this chapter. Please remember to review, leave constructive criticism, but no flames!
Next up: Chapter 4:Goodbyes and Helloes