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[PickledGear]

-About A Bard's Love-

A Bard's Love is a total revamp and continuation of the Warden and Leliana's Romance Story.

Our Warden of the Story- Cogdale is a Human Noble but not a Cousland, he is a son to a Vassal of the Couslands. Although trained with his father to swordfight, Cogdale was a bookworm and never was a Lady's man. Duncan stumbled upon Cogdale during Howe's Betrayal to the Teyrn as Cogdale helped fight off Howe's men.

Leliana isn't changed that much in the story. Her appearance is changed based on her Sacred Ashes model (Or you could say just Alley Katze). The Marjolaine Delema is very much strengthened and causes her extreme fear and anxiety. She also has major trust issues to anyone which isn't really shown in game.

Morrigan is given a Villain role in this as well. Mostly based on the fact even though I never got her approval to any form of Care, friendly or love, when ever I had Leliana in the party and I tried to talk or kiss Leliana Morrigan would totally deny the moment.

This also includes several new characters (not all slots are taken either as well if you want to submit your character, you may have to edit them to fit but it would still be your character) Mostly based on several of my character I have created in the game. Which will bring new adventures in the Continuation saga of the story.

Estimated amount of chapters? I have no clue if I were to guess I say around 20-28 of them.  After I have a good 10-12 chapters finished I'm changing my comic page layout design to something DalishRanger (Hollychan) design for chapters with 1 image 1 chapter layout. Images will be finished later and attached to their appropriate chapters.

One last thing, this is my first ever romance story, and seeing as I have never truely feeled the pure love between the two I only can guess from what I can generate while writing.

If the formatting on this thread is a bit off here are links to the chapters
Prologue - FF.net Version
Short-The First Day
Chapter 1 - Chapter 1(2012) - Image - Image 2
Chapter 2 - Image - Image 2
Chapter 3 - Image
Chapter 4 - Image Soon
Chapter 5 - Image Soon
Chapter 6 - Image Soon
Chapter 7 - Image Soon
Chapter 8 - Image Soon
Chapter 9 - Image Soon
Chapter 10 - Image Soon
Chapter 11 - Image Soon
Chapter 12 - Image Soon
Chapter 13 - Image Soon
Chapter 14 - Image Soon
Chapter HE1
Chapter HE2
Chapter HE3
Chapter HE4
Chapter HE5
Orlesian Saga
Chapter 1 Accidental Fugitives
Chapter 2 Blood and Loss
Chapter 3 Just Our 2nd Time
Chapter 4 Life is an Oxy Moron
Chapter 5 Stranded
Chapter 6 Things Have Changed
Chapter 7 Misfit Journeymen
Chapter 8 Tranquility's Antonyms
Chapter 9 Atropos Unbeaten
Chapter 10 Regretful Inheritance
Chapter 11 Solidarity
Chapter 12 Deep in Thought





Characters of Orlesian Saga 1
Characters of Orlesian Saga Group shot
1Villain of the Orlesian Saga
Others-
Cogdale and Leliana Soul Vibrations - By SweetCandyRain
Cogdale and Leliana: Day And Night - By SweetCandyRain
Master the Taint and gain inches!
Mini Comic- Charming the Seductress
Mini Comic- Gentile Medusa
Mini Comic- Caramel Pudding
Pure Ruby Perfection
Anders & Helena: Wanna Try?
In Death, Sacrifice Page 1
In Death, Sacrifice Page 2
I wake to see you Watchful
Caenolyn Family Wedding

Modern Setting-Love and Bankruptcy

Videos
Sneek Peak on Montage Vid

Modifié par PickledGear, 21 décembre 2014 - 10:20 .

[PickledGear]

Note- Story picks up after the group has taken the ashes of andraste, helped the circle, helped orzammar, helped the dalish and several other quests. Now taking some time to help others with their quests.





Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter 1

The group had been lost within the Brecillian forest for several days, trying to find a strange herb that could only be found within the deepest depths of the forest. The forest seemed to grow on their armor now.

"Ughh what I would give to have a wonderful bath!" Leliana said as she swiveled her head from side to side trying to fix her hair. Alistair rubbed his hand over his scruffy chin, his beard beginning to annoy him at every twitch of his face. 

"There has to be some source of water around here." Wynne said as she looked around, annoyed as well of the filth they had gathered from the wild. Everyone's nerves seemed to be twisted. Cogdale was silent, he had been since leaving the Dalish camp days ago. His Silverlite armor glistened green from the treetops that let what little sunlight escape through their branches. But that was their leader, he was always one to keep to himself. So many emotions he held in and tried not to let out.

"I swear your more of a golem then Shale sometimes Cogdale" Alistair said as he brushed off some detritus off of his pauldrons. No snotty comeback came from Cogdale, he was to focused on finding the herb. For the quest the dalish gave them a sketch of what the plant had looked like. Luckily their previous times in the forest ended the stand off between the dalish and the werewolves. The remaining dangers of the forests were the wolves, bears and lost darkspawn groups. 

The light through the trees began to turn crimson from the sunset that was masked by them. The group was also tuckered out as they began to slowly lag behind. 
"Alright, we'll set up camp here for tonight and I'll look out" Cogdale said as he took off his helmet and set it on one of the ruin pillars. 

"No you don't have to do that, you've been watching out for us ever since we left Lothering" Leliana said concerned for his health. A small grin graced his face, sweat beaded off of his chin. No doubt he was exhausted the past months on combating the blight had drained him. The grey warden stumbled off to his look out post, leaning himself against the ruin's walls. Leliana understood his pain, the nights of escaping Orlais into Ferelden were horrible, rain, mud and the feeling of being watched by forces you know could take your life away from you. 

Leliana looked at Wynne to see what her opinion was, "Wynne... what should I.. I do?" Wynne smiled and gestured to follow her friend. "Go child, there are some wounds I cannot heal with magic." Leliana nodded and traveled the path Cogdale had went. 

"Cog... I have something to tell you..." Leliana said as she approached the wearied warden. Slouched over, sweat ran from his face onto his armor cleaning some of the dirt off, revealing the beauty of silverite. Something had hurt him but it wasn't exhaustion. Blood ran from one of the plates of his armor, quick as it soon made its own river flowing down to the plants. 

"Your hurt! Maker's breath here have some bandages!" Leliana shouted as she pulled out cloth from her bag. The cloth wasn't any ordinary cloth either. It was her chantry robes, ripped up to deal with the team's wounds. 
"Thank you, Leliana, I was beginning to think nobody would notice and I could pass on into the fade while you all slept." chuckled Cogdale.  Leliana frowned, "Why would you say that? We all think of you as our leader, as a friend." She said as she patted the bandage a few times to see if it would hold.  

"Ever since I left my parents, ever since I joined the grey wardens I've been having dreams." Cogdale said as he leaned back against the wall to rest. Leliana joined him and looked into his mesmerizing glowing eyes, they almost seemed hypnotic. 
"Not the ones that all grey wardens have mind you, but of my own life." He continued as he shifted to fix an unpleasant strain on his bandage. "I keep having dreams of being in some sort of grand hall, something gargantuan in size, is it Weisshaupt? I don't know but what I see is everyone in the hall has someone they love at their side." 

"But I'm left alone at the entrance, then my brother opens a door in front of me, but it leads me no where but a white abyss." Cogdale finished as he drooped his head down in shame. 
"Out of all the fears in this dark world Leliana, the only fear I have is to be alone. To never experience the one thing that brings life and good into this world." He said as he turned his head to Leliana. "And what is that may I politely ask?" Leliana said as she kept her attention to him. 

"Love.." He said as he turned his gaze to the stars. The forest seemed to have conveniently let the ruins they had been sitting on not be encompassed by the leaves of the forest. The night sky lit up their conversation as the light from them almost made night seem like day.

"L..Love? Cogdale? I always had thought you had a girl back with your parents and that was what kept you up at night..." Leliana said astonished at this revelation in Cogdale's life. How could such a man like this warden had never had the feeling of love in such a good soul?

"No.. I was too much of a book worm then anything in my youth. I guess reading story after story of love I began to perceive it the wrong way." He said. "None of the girls liked me, I mean I was meant to be a vassal after all but I never lived up to those rumors I guess." Leliana didn't realize it but she had shifted herself so that her entire body was facing Cogdale as she lay near fetal position as she listened to Cogdale's life story.
"My brother had told me what loved felt like but he was more promiscuous then anything. But for such a reputation as his, his explanation of it, made me want it that much more." Cogdale said as he reached out to nothing clenching his hand in disappointment. 

Ever since she saw Cogdale's face those many months ago at Lothering's tavern when he, Alistair and Morrigan entered she felt a feeling she hadn't felt since her adventures in Orlais with Marjolaine. But she knew better to trust those feelings at the time. But those feelings seemed oddly connected with her vision of the Maker. 
Yet another thought plagued her, the first time Cogdale had noticed her, his eyes widen almost 3 times then what they were even in fighting Loghain's men, What was that look of? Shock, fear... love? The question plundered her mind ever since. She must know, accompanied by her growing feelings for him the thirst for the answer couldn't be held in anymore. Cogdale wasn't like any other man she had met, seduced or down right killed when she was a bard. He willingly gave up his life to save Ferelden from this blight. Every man she had encountered before was greedy, selfish and only thought of themselves, of course there was the occasional nice guy who she would trick into buying new shoes for her and such but still they did it only to have her. 

While Cogdale, only saw her as a friend, someone to talk to when things were down and someone to tell her feelings to without getting a single negative thing back from. Her heart tingled with a new feeling she never felt before. Whenever she saw Cogdale enter a room or just come to talk to her at night, she couldn't breath until he asked her a question, his eyes staring into hers. Wynne had noticed the growing bond between them and gave hints to her that he did have feelings for her. Leliana just didn't want to reveal her feelings for him until she knew what he truly felt.

"What was it that you wanted to tell Leliana before I rudely interrupted it with my blood?" Cogdale laughed. Leliana laughed in return. But truly her heart could almost burst from her throat she was nervous to lay her feelings for him in front of him. She needed to try and tell it covertly.

"I'm just wanted to tell you, I feel safe at night, The darkspawn never sleep but I feel so much safer when I awake to see you still watchful." She stuttered and tried to fix her statement. "What I'm trying to say I trust you, I'm comfortable around you, I know your there when I need you." Cogdale's distant gaze into her eyes shifted into a shocked/confused look. She felt her stomach drop that look was never a good sign. "What are you saying Leliana?" he said returning to his gaze. "I'm... I'm trying to say is your m..my friend" Her face flushed to almost the same color as her hair as she finished her statement. "And..... sometimes I think m..maybe we could be more then that." 

Embarrassed of her stuttering she tried to change the subject. "Maker look at me stumbling over my words like an ill educated peasant girl, some bard I am." Cogdale's expression sobered her dread as his eyes softened. "Come with me Leliana I have something to tell you too." As he jumped off of his seat. Leliana overwhelmed with feelings followed like a duckling with its parent. 

The fire had been made but Wynne and Alistair were fast asleep in their poorly made beds. Cogdale stopped in front of the fire and took Leliana's hands. A surge of life and ecstasy began at their touch. His eyes even more caring then she had ever seen them before. He took a full breath in anxiety of the moment. "I've always wanted us to be more then just friends." his voice more peaceful than any tranquil. 

Leliana was exhilarated but was too afraid to show it, the shock of his relation to her. 

"R..Really?" she stuttered "N..No one told me, You've felt the same way and didn't do me the courtesy of informing me?" she began to believe her own lie of her feelings she was blurting out. "You made me say those things! oh...you how very awkward!" She was flabbergasted at the entire moment that had played out, feeling rushed through her. " I can't say how.." before she could finish her shout Cogdale took a step forward and placed his hands around her soft face and kissed her. Shocking her beyond belief.

She had kissed men before, but this kiss... was life changing, mind altering. Every memory of her previous kisses vanished from her thoughts. She would state this kiss was her first and she wanted it to be. She didn't know how long their lips stayed locked, but she didn't care. Wishing for the moment to go on forever, just to stay with him in his arms and forget her vision of the Maker, forget the blight, forget her past life. When he finally pulled away from her, she loathed the moment. Her lips going cold from the forest's wind after his kept her warm.

He embraced her, His body even in the cold armor was warmer then the camp fire, "That Settles it then.." Leliana said. She nestled her head into his neck. "Thank you, I thought I would never feel this, I would never meet a woman like you." 

The time had come for them to rest for the big day tomorrow so they parted and went to their beds. As she walked away she looked at the corner of her eye to see him smiling and dancing for the first time. She giggled seeing this side of him, he wasn't a bad dancer at all. 

She returned to her bed that was next to Wynne and laid down. Before she closed her eyes to dream in the fade she noticed Wynne was smiling and awake. "You heard everything didn't you Wynne" Leliana asked smiling. "No I couldn't the sound of you two kissing drowned out every word." Wynne snickered. Leliana sighed as she drifted off to sleep.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:04 .

[PickledGear]

Note- Essentially is the Admitting Feelings scene with Leliana in the Game with several changes including setting.



   Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter 2

The morning sun shined down upon their faces, the lasting light began to heat up awakening from the fade's embrace. The forest seemed almost brighter then the previous days to Cogdale but he had an idea why the day seemed the way it did. The moment with Leliana the night before made his heart rush, not the same way it did in battle but faster and more scarier then he had ever thought possible.
Alistair seemed to have already awoken as his bed and armor were neatly posted up against a tree. But why his armor? Cogdale thought. Wynne was still asleep, not wanting to wake her the Warden slowly got up from his bedroll and noticed a path of leaves was at the center of the camp and it lead somewhere out into the forest. In only his normal clothing, Cogdale followed the bright green leaves. The further he followed the louder the noise of water and laughter grew.

At the end of the trail was a waterfall and a small lake with boulders confining the water within the small space. Alistair was in the hot water with a knife shaving what he could from his chin. Leliana was at the edge sitting on one of the boulders flailing her feet in the water and giggling. Alistair was the first to notice his fellow Warden watching. Catching his glance Leliana turned to see Cogdale smiling back at her. This was the first time Cogdale had seen Leliana without her armor on, his face flushed red. 
Scars scaled her entire back, from her time within the orlesian dungeons he could only assume. Some of which were more noticeable then others. But that didn't even hinder his enraptured eyes from her beauty. He walked down to the water and took off most of his clothing, diving in. A giggle followed along with another splash. Was she waiting for me? Cogdale thought as he came up for breath. 

"So my friend, whats our plan for today?" Alistair asked as he put his knife down on his clothing followed by him leaning up against a rock. Cogdale hadn't the slightest clue on what the young day would come up for them. 
"I have no clue" Cogdale laughed. Without warning Leliana burst from the water behind him and embraced him. Cogdale's face had never turned so red in his entire life. Alistair was also surprised by the moment, eyes opened wide and mouth slightly dropped. Leliana's Bard skill seemed to apply for almost everything. 

Not only was she embracing him in front of his friend, she was nude as well, her breasts pressed against his back. 
"I.. I.." Cogdale couldn't get a word out. Leliana finally let her grip go as she slowly sank in the water only her face visible. A boasting smile grew across her face, cheek to cheek. Cogdale's gaze turned back to a dumbstruck Alistair.
"When did you and Leliana?" Alistair slowly asked as he tried to find his knife without leaving his gaze off of Cogdale. Finally touching his knife, his fingers fumbled the blade around as it splashed into the water cutting his foot submerged underneath.
"Ouch!" his attention sprung to the missing blade under his foot. Cogdale turned to see if Leliana was still behind him. That she was, but now showering under the waterfall. Her ruby hair longer then when he first met her in Lothering, now descended her shoulders covering her bosom. 

Cogdale enchanted by the sight glided to the pond's edge and climbed out. He didn't want to spoil Leliana's first bath in weeks and decided to get ready for the day. 

With everyone equipped in armor and their camp all stowed away the group was now set for their quest. Continuing deeper into the forest the feeling of being watched grew on them. Alistair and Cogdale knew it wasn't far away that the darkspawn would ambush them. As they marched over the underbrush Cogdale put his helmet on, enchanted by a Master Sight Rune, his eyesight grew 10 fold, noticing even the smallest ladybug on a branch was no problem. 

"Are we just going to head east until we drop into the Frozen Seas?" Leliana laughed. Cogdale chuckled at the thought but he had an idea where the herb was, and they weren't that far off. The day aging as it has always does grew hotter and hotter, reminding them of the nice waterhole they had just swam in earlier that morning. 
Luckily Cogdale's armor wasn't Ferelden "born" but forged from the beaches of Seheron by a Dwarven smith caste family who had made it out of ore from the mountain on Seheron. How he had come to acquire this armor was still such a surprise to him. When he was younger Cogdale's family were of rich Ferelden nobility even before Orlais had enslaved Ferelden many decade a go. Several cousins were vast traveling merchants who went across all of Thedas. Several months before becoming a warden Cogdale had finally met one of his cousins. 

The man was gifted in Tongues and could speak almost any language he could throw at his cousin. Eren was his cousin's name, staying at his family's estate for 2 months for a major trade with the Couslands. Eren decided to teach Cogdale only 1 language that Cogdale had to choose. All those years being told of the Dalish and elves by the servants always gave Cogdale a great interest. 
For those 2 months Eren gave Cogdale 8 hours each day of teaching the Elven languages. Eren unfortunately met his demise when the Couslands were overrun by Arl Howe's men when he was in a meeting with the Couslands. 

Before leaving that very night, Cogdale found a note left by Erin telling Cogdale to open Erin's sacred chest with a given key. Inside the chest was the Seheron Sands Armor sold to Erin by the Dwarven Smithy. 
Returning his thoughts to the present Cogdale soon was given the rush that he now grew accustomed to the past few months. The darkspawn were upon them. Alistair already knew as he unsheathed his sword and shield with his grimaced faced ran up to Cogdale and signalled Wynne and Leliana of the coming attack. 
"They're here alright" Cogdale said through his teeth. Hand tightly gripping his sword, arm ringed through his shield's bars. 
"Come out Darkspawn!" Alistair shouted, hearing his call the darkspawn rushed out of the trees and ground screaming and snarling, jagged swords aimed at their hearts. The first hurlock was greeted by Cogdale's shield smashing into its face, breaking its brow and teeth, a trail of black blood flew in the air. The hurlock stumbled from the force of the shield. Before it could gain its balance the darkspawn's head was decapitated with large sweep from Cogdale's blade.

Alistair met 2 genlocks with his boot, kicking their jaws out of socket. Spinning his longsword into one of them and sweeping it into the other. Their screams drowned out by the forest's wildlife. Wynne took out several darkspawn that were trying to flank the group with 1 large ice blast. Frozen and impaired the darkspawn broke as they crashed to the forest floor as Leliana kicked them over.

Another hurlock sprinted towards Cogdale, covered in white warpaint and a brownish armor it had to have been an emissary of some sort. Knowing this Cogdale sunk his blade into the chest of the darkspawn, spitting out its blood upon Cogdale and his armor. 
A faint voice began to sing as Cogdale unsheathed his blade from the darkspawn's chest. It was Leliana. "vir sulahn'nehn, vir dirthera, vir samahl la numin" a pause in the song as she shot a darkspawn through the neck, gurgling its last damp breath. She turned to see Cogdale paused in battle watching her "vir lath sa'vunin" She finally ended the chorus of the elven song. 

Cogdale knew what she meant, vir lath sa'vunin meaning "Love one more day" the feeling from the previous night settled itself on Cogdale once more.. "One more day" Cogdale said his gaze enthralled by his first love. The fight had died down as Alistair and Wynne mopped up the remaining genlocks that bunched up.

Their eyes seemed to have stared at each other forever, Leliana softly blew him a kiss, the imaginary kiss smacking right on his helmet's faceplate. Cogdale took his helmet off to see if it actually manifested itself on the helmet. 
But the moment was quickly cut short as a shriek from Leliana jolted Cogdale. "Cogdale look out behind you!" Just in time Cogdale's shield battered by an arrow. I didn't feel the warning? Cogdale thought as he scanned the forest for the archer.

"We've got company and it isn't darkspawn!" Alistair shouted as several men cladded in well forged armor burst from the bushes.
"Leave the red head alive kill the rest!" one of the assailants shouted as they rushed the 4. The men were foreign from what Cogdale could tell, their accents very strong orlesian like, their armor carved with orlesian words. Leliana's eyes engulfed in fear, Cogdale soon had an idea who their attackers were. The first orlesian reached him swinging his blade cut the tail of the arrow which had pierced his shield earlier. A warden blade sliced open his stomach mixing the taint with his blood, even if he survived the wound the darkspawn blood would kill him.

Wynne's magic was to strong for the orlesian archers as she hit the 3 of them with a gigantic boulder she spawned from the earth. She then paralyzed another who had captured Leliana, Leliana struggled out of man's grasp and then stabbed him in the neck with one of her arrows. The surviving assassin dropped his axe and raised his hands, surrendering. 

"Orlesians? Why did you attack us!?" Cogdale shouted as he swung his blade inches away from the man's exposed neck. 
"Ugh... we were hired to kill you, Kill the little red head girl or capture her, do with the others as we pleased" he said coughing from his wounds. "You came to kill me? Who hired you!" Leliana shouted. "You don't think it was Marjolaine? Do you Leliana?" Cogdale asked still pressing his blade into the Orlesian's neck. 

"Thats the one!" the assassin said his finger pointing at Cogdale to signify it was Marjolaine. "Can I make a deal with you?" his lips smeared with blood dripped on his armor. "Make it quick" Leliana said with a frown across her brow. "I have no real quarrel with you, I didn't get paid to keep my mouth shut I can direct you to her." the orlesian said as he tried to stand up. 
"Very well" Cogdale said releasing his blade from the man's neck. "I can give you the next post we were suppose to go to, to meet her to show proof." he said as he marked the complex on the group's Denerim map. 

"Now go, hope the wolves don't rip you apart" Cogdale said as he sheathed his sword. Leliana's thoughts could be seen on her face, fear and anxiety from past had found itself back to her. "Leliana? What do you want to do? This herb can wait and the trip to Denerim won't take long." Cogdale asked as he walked up to her placing his hand on her shoulder. Leliana bit her lip holding back the tears she had held back while with the Lothering Cloister. 

"Is this alright with you guys?" Cogdale asked looking back at Wynne and Alistair, they only nodded. "Alright it is settled we leave for Denerim now, we can get there in about a week." Cogdale said as he kissed Leliana on her forehead to comfort her. The group changed direction to the north as they walked over the corpses of the darkspawn and orlesian assassins.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:05 .

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter 3

The group finally left the forest, a polish cobbled road wasn't that far off. Although Shale hated them with an ancient passion the only way to keep in contact with the rest of the team was by messenger falcons. Beautiful creatures who were smart, maybe not as much as a Mabari War hound but smart none the less. Ohgren was the first to greet the 4 of them. By his stature and movement he was in his regular inebriated state that they all grew to love about him, well with the exception of Morrigan.

"Ah! *hic Warden nice to see you got out of that them there forest! *hic" Ohgren shouted as he stumbled over the rows of dandelions that weeded the field between them and the road. His run turned into a gallop as his feet became entangled in the weeds. Ultimately the drunk dwarf slammed head first into the only rock in the field. 
"How typical, hes out cold" Morrigan said leaning against Bodahn's caravan. Although it was good to meet the crew again Cogdale was too much caught up in Leliana's feelings and thoughts of the ambush in the forest 2 days ago. 
"So I take it you never found the plant?" Morrigan asked rudely. Cogdale only gave her an annoyed nod of his chin. Leliana was only looking down, her eyes almost seemed blind to the reunion with the gang. Cogdale lifted her face to look at his with his fingers. 

"Don't worry Leliana, we will settle the score once and for all so you may finally rest your tired heart." Cogdale encouraged. Only a small unsure smile appeared on her face for a split second. As he let go of her chin it slowly lowered back to its original depressed state. Bodahn waved Cogdale and the others to throw their gear up on the carriage. They did so. The walk to Denerim would be long but they had traveled there so many times that the long nights and days would be bearable. 

Several hours later as the sun was nearly gone from their view, Bodahn rested his ox and told everyone to set up camp for the night at the side of the road. Everyone jumped off except for Leliana who was still deep in thought. "Leliana come on we need to set up camp" Alistair signalled already tying down a tent. She leaped off ever so silent. 
Cogdale was frustrated he couldn't help ease her worry and torment. He had tried everything he knew which wasn't that much, Leliana was the first girl he had truly felt love for. But he wouldn't let the feeling spread across camp and decided to converse with Wynne. He could always count on her wisdom to treat any worry and sorrow he had growing in him.

It was nearly impossible to stealthfully start a conversation with her, she had placed herself far enough away from the fire that she would know when someone wanted to talk to her. Knowing that Cogdale approached the mage without any discontent. 
"Hello young one what troubles you?" Wynne smiled knowing her wisdom was in need from the Warden. Cogdale didn't answer, only rubbing his arm showing embarrassment of the question he was about to ask her.
"Is it about Leliana?" she quietly asked him. A nod from the warden received another from Wynne in understanding the predicament. "Ah I see, what is it you want to ask about her?" Wynne crossed her arms so she can interpret the man's question. 
"I have little experience with love, But Leliana.... it seems my first seems to be the most difficult in helping her with personal problems and worries." Cogdale took a breath to continue. "I'm so much in love with her, the blight isn't my main worry anymore... only her and right now with the ambush from those orlesian assassins... I just don't know how I can comfort her." Cogdale said as he sat down on a stump of a tree shaped like the chantry's eye. 

"I would've suggested you should admit your full love to her but with her old life trying to kill her new and blissful one I take that advice back." Wynne said. She tried to steady Cogdale with the painful advice she was about to give him by placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Right now, although you two maybe totally tangled in each others arms and the love between you two is young, I don't really know if you two should be together at all. Therefore I am telling you as a friend and someone who has experienced love in her life that you need to stop your relationship now as it is still setting sail." Wynne finished a face displaying a "I'm sorry" grip to it. 

Cogdale couldn't believe it, his mouth agape from what he had heard from her, His love denied every word Wynne had told him. "Well I'm sorry Wynne but I think your wrong and this will be the first advice I have to drop." Cogdale quickly stormed off away from Wynne. Furious, not knowing why he was the rage he had built up against Marjolaine now was accompanied by what he thought was the poor advice Wynne had given him.
The warden didn't want to tread on the hate though and decided to sit by Leliana, even if they didn't talk the presence of her, her scent would put the troubles to rest. She was sitting at the summit of a tree in the same position she was in when Cogdale admitted his affection for her. Her face lost still in her thoughts. Cogdale sat down next to her copying her. Her crystal blue eyes shifted to her friend and adoration waiting for him to say something even though it may not kill her thoughts on Marjolaine. 
"Leliana..." Cogdale tried to say something but he couldn't conjure up the courage to talk to her. His voice weak from his shyness he had always had. His enduring presence brought a smile out from Leliana. The sight of her white teeth and her lips gleaming from the fire boiled the feelings he felt for her that had recently turned to concern back to the butterflies that were ripping his stomach apart. 

"Cogdale.." Leliana softly responded back, her kind voice rushed Cogdale's heart to bursting limits. Cogdale turned his entire body to face her. He couldn't think up anything to say to her only "I love you, I love you, I love you" rushed around his head and heart. But from the short time he had known her, he knew the time was too soon. 

She was a bard who had heard those 3 words so many times from her victims before she stabbed them in their back or poisoned their wine. Even though he was on a higher pedestal then most men in her heart the time wasn't right. He knew what he did to Marjolaine in the next week would soon decide the fate of their relationship as would a sword to any living thing's beating heart. The only thing he could give her was a sign of support and adoration to her. He grabbed her hands once more like he did so many nights ago. 
This grabbed her attention the familiar feeling of life and ecstasy rushed through her hands once more. "Here I want you to have this..." Cogdale pulled out a pendant from his trouser pocket. A gasp of shock exited Leliana. "Its my family's signet pendant. I was to give it to the girl I feel was special to me." Cogdale placed it in her hands and closed her fingers over it. Leliana studied it with her swelling eyes. "I...I can't take this from you.. its your family's" Leliana muttered changing her glance between the beautiful ornament and Cogdale.
"Your not taking it" Cogdale smiled "I'm giving it to you, I'm trying to show you I care for you as you proclaimed to me 3 nights ago." Cogdale returned his hands to the dirt as he rested himself on the earth. 

"Thank you so much... this mean so... I can't describe what I'm feeling to you Cogdale." Leliana smiled locking her eyes to the warden's gift. The pendant wasn't wide but tall. The design was of a crown with the chantry's eye carved within its brow, followed by 2 curved snakes around a quiver of arrows and a sword. The chantry eye, spearhead of the arrows and scales of the snakes all were crusted in diamonds and rubies. The pendant was priceless. 

"In some ways I always thought the diamonds and rubies meant something." Cogdale said a smirk to his cheek. "Now I know what they represent... The rubies are you Leliana, your gorgeous ruby red hair and personality. The diamonds, white, are me I don't really have a color to me but I guess to many I have a pure soul." The smirk turned into a frown. He knew that wasn't true but he didn't want Leliana to see his pain so he continued his remark. "Thats... what my mother said about me anyways."

Leliana attached the pendant to her necklace under her armor. Catching a glance of Cogdale's pain. "Thank you Cogdale" Leliana said sliding her hand on his cheek. "Not just for this but purging my thoughts of Marjolaine, your mother is right, you truly are a pure soul"  She leaned in and kissed Cogdale on the lips. Their eyes locked once again on each other finally Cogdale took Leliana's face in his hands "Maker's Breath your beauty... Its something even that pendant couldn't be compared to..." The comment was greeted by another kiss. Her scent trailed with his lips, Warm cinnamon  with a crown of mint, his nose was intoxicated by it.

He slowly leaned back until the world was upside down, Alistair was grinning at the sight of the two, Sten and Morrigan were in some way were disgusted at them. But Cogdale could care less of their opinions as a familiar giggle came from the direction his legs faced. 

Cogdale got up and waved Leliana goodbye for the night, answered by another blown kiss from her as she turned her gaze to the pendant once more. The walk to his bed wasn't all to far although settled next to Morrigan's for some reason, He hadn't placed it there, but Ohgren wasn't the best camp designer when he was drunk which was all the time.

Cogdale soon covered himself in his blanket, closing his eyes a rustle from Morrigan's tent pried his eyes open again. "Well well, Warden am I to assume you and the bard have feelings for one another?" Morrigan said walking out of her tent toward Cogdale. The intrusion on his settlement stunned Cogdale, Morrigan was an odd young woman, almost everything she did and said seemed to be very seductive. Being a witch of the wilds and seducing so many wardens and templars was an easy task to her now.

"If you must know Morrigan, yes Leliana has captured my heart" he said sitting up. "I'd be very very careful, she is a bard you know and could take her dagger and stab your heart at any moment." Morrigan said as she slowly got closer to Cogdale. Cogdale slowly crawled away from Morrigan knowing she was testing his resolve as she had done since he first met her in the Kocari wilds. "She is a changed person Morrigan." Cogdale said finally being backed up on a tree. Morrigan knelt in front of him as her lips was inches away from his with a seductive smile. "People do not change." the smile turned serious. 
"But alas, I cannot control an already sleighed man." She said quickly retreating back to her bed. Cogdale's heart raced of fear. "Andraste's blasted corpse Morrigan what're you doing?" Cogdale thought to himself. Fixing himself Cogdale returned to his bed and drifted to his dreams.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:07 .

[PickledGear]

   Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter 4

The rain had been bearing down on them for the past day or 2 since they had left their camp, giving their surroundings a life of its own. Everyone was soaked except for Morrigan who put up her hood to block the rain from getting into her hair. Ohgren had a routine going where he would drain his boots of water every 10 minutes or so, followed by a mumbled curse word. 
Leliana fumbled her new jewelry in the palm of her hands. The family signet of Cogdale's was mesmerizing. The Maker's eye which was on the crown seemed to follow her wherever she turned it. Cogdale's comment that rubies were her still echoed in her mind. For such a young man who had never experienced the feeling of love before her, he sure knew how to woo her. But it wasn't the only thing on her mind. Marjolaine still would infect her thoughts. 

The dream she had that night frightened her beyond dismay. Beginning with her and Cogdale in a white abyss, only them smiling at each other was one to remember forever, but suddenly the heaven they were in stained black followed by Cogdale being shot with an arrow, but not any ordinary arrow but one forged specifically for the bards. Leliana took this as a warning that Marjolaine would somehow kill Cogdale. But she couldn't be too sure on what it meant.

As the caravan continued on with the group mounted on the trailers, Leliana noticed Cogdale would repeatably look at Morrigan with discontent. Did Cogdale see or do something? With Morrigan? Leliana and her tenacious behavior had to know, but Cogdale was still a shy boy one who would collapse to pressure, not in combat but of one that would deal with their relationship. Which only meant one thing, to confront the witch.
Leliana carefully maneuvered her way on the trailers as the oxen still pulled them northward to Denerim. She soon found herself behind the jet hair colored woman. Leliana's eyes tightened in suspicion of this woman.
"Morrigan?" Leliana said spooking the witch. "Yes? What is it my friend?" Morrigan asked. Leliana's frown turned to a suspicious scowl as a mischievous grin appeared on Morrigan. 
"Friend? When was I ever your friend?.... wait wait don't change the subject on me!" Leliana corrected herself. "What did you do to Cogdale?" she said keeping her eyes fixed on Morrigan. Her grin disappeared as her trademark still face took control once more. 

"Nothing, I did not flirt with the warden if this you ask." A smug look turned to let the rain drop on her uncanny smooth face, her make up smeared by the water. "You... what!" Leliana asked shocked of what Morrigan had purposely pretended she didn't do. "You flirted with him? What else did you do!" Leliana said grabbing Morrigan's violet robe.
"If you wish to keep your pretty extremities I suggest you release my cloth Leliana" Morrigan angrily said eyes wider from the sudden grab. Leliana let go, knowing what Morrigan could and would do to her if she didn't heed the warning. 

"Aye, the warden and I flirted last night while your heart was torn of fear." Morrigan said her licking her upper lip just to antagonize Leliana. "Y....You LIE!" Leliana shouted unable to show her anger as she held on to the luggage and merchandise Bodahn had. Morrigan went silent and cut off the conversation. 
Yet anxiety entered her mind at that moment. Leliana went back to her previous post on the caravan, worries abroad in her mind. She tasseled her wet hair behind her head, deciding not to let the anxiety take over she rested her eyes. 

Leliana awoke to the caravan parked, they had been stopped by a group of traders so Bodahn could stock up on some food. The rain had stopped and everything was dry the smell of morning dew lingered with the wooden frames. Jumping off once again she found Cogdale hadn't really left where he was sitting on the caravan when it was moving. Trying to whistle a tune between his hands, the sound coming out something like a bird call. Leliana decided to confront Cogdale over Morrigan. Marching over to him the feeling of frustration reminded her of her bard life.

Before she realized it, instead of talking to Cogdale she found herself crying. Cogdale noticed her and quickly rushed over to her and held her. "What! What is it Leliana?" Cogdale frantically asked her. To be honest not even Leliana was sure. "I...I" Leliana couldn't speak. She was crying so much that she couldn't even breath. Cogdale tried to calm her down, but she was too caught up in the tangled web of her life. She even tried to help him calm her down, leaning into his chest, not even the nice clothing he was wearing soothed her sorrow.
"Don't worry we will confront Marjolaine" He said to her rubbing her shoulders. Leliana then realized she was too afraid to face her mentor. "No.. I.. I'm to afraid." Leliana shivered from the thought of facing her. Cogdale took off of his large blanket from his self and wrapped it around Leliana to keep her warm. The blanket helped as the warmth from his body quelled her shivering. Maybe he could help confront Marjolaine but in the end it would have to be her to choose how they would finally end this part of her life.

"I'm too afraid Cogdale, I don't know if I can handle her, so much time has gone by I tried so hard to get rid of that part of my life and now? Now its forcefully trying to kill the one I love." Leliana said finally calm and releasing herself from his grip. Tears still ran down her face, following the trails of rain that had drew her face earlier. "I'll be right there with you Lily" Cogdale said smiling. 
"Lily? When did you come up with that?" Leliana asked surprised. Cogdale crossed his arms like a proud child who had somehow killed a darkspawn. "Today, when we were traveling, we passed a patch of liliums. They were extremely beautiful like you, then I realized your name sounded just like the flower." Cogdale said "Oh! I almost forgot I plucked one for you actually." Cogdale rushed over to the caravan and quickly came back with the lily. "Here you are my lady" Cogdale said bowing. 

"Thank you Cogdale, you always seem to know how to cheer me up" Leliana giggled taking the flower and smelling it. 
"But to be serious for the moment Leliana, you need to face Marjolaine, if you don't end this now, she'll still come for you. Your a changed person, Whatever you did in the past as that young bard the Maker has forgiven you, and most importantly I have forgiven you" He said grabbing her again shocking her as he hugged her again.
"Let us both face her, I want you to be happy, if your not happy I can't live" finishing his statement. "Cogdale, you are not like any man I've ever met but you don't know her, she has doesn't know the meaning of mercy." Leliana said looking at Cogdale.

"And she doesn't know me" he said. Maybe Leliana didn't know Cogdale either, being with this young man of Highever. Leliana had told Cogdale so much of her bard life, and yet he had yet to say anything of his life. Leliana did have a place for Cogdale in her heart, but she'd been betrayed by someone who loved her before what if Cogdale was no different? She couldn't be sure of their relationship and therefore she still couldn't find the courage to face Marjolaine.

"I don't even know you Cogdale, You've made some decision in our adventure that I've come to question was right or not, How am I suppose to trust you that Marjolaine won't somehow convince you otherwise?" Leliana said pushing herself away from Cogdale. Not wanting to hear his answer Leliana quickly walked off into the grove of trees next to the road, leaving Cogdale speechless with his arms still open. 
It broke her heart that she left Cogdale like that, but she didn't know if she could trust him or not. Leliana's makeup had been smeared all over her face, from the rain, her tears but when she looked at herself in the reflection of her blade almost all of it had been wiped off. But where did I wipe it off? Leliana pondered looking on her hands and searching through her bag nothing had touched her face. She turned to walk back to the caravan tired of all these problems that plagued her life, but she walked into something blocking her path, someone.

It was Cogdale, his clothing with a large black mascara smear on it in the shape of a poorly made sickle. Leliana backed up so she could see Cogdale's face. His eyes were welling with tears, his lip quivering trying to hold back them. "Cogdale... I... what is...it?" Leliana was confused. 
"I... Don't want to lose anyone I love again." Cogdale said tears finally breaching his eyes as they flowed down his face. "W..what?" Leliana staggered back at the word. Cogdale looked down at his feet in shame. "I wanted to tell you at the perfect time Leliana." he said taking a large breath "But if this Marjolaine is who you say she is, then I want you to know." 

"That I love you with all of my heart and soul, and maker be damned I don't want to lose you, to Marjolaine, to this blight, or just you leaving me." Cogdale said looking back up at her again. Leliana's eyes began to cry again, and she thought they had already dried up from before. Cogdale took a step forward his legs wobbling. "I can't fully explain it, but the feeling has been growing since I first ever met you in that Tavern in Lothering." Cogdale said "When I first saw you... you took my breath away, my heart stopped beating and I swear I saw paradise." Leliana couldn't breath, this could be the craziest thing she had ever seen and/or heard, or it could be Cogdale was explaining the exact same feeling she had for him.

"Every moment  I was with you Leliana, you absolved me of my pain, pain of seeing my mother and father bleed to death at the feet of Howe's men. I... I was held down to the ground as I WATCHED! My mother and other women of the estate get raped by Howe's men. Then they slit their throats." Cogdale choked on his tears falling back on a tree then sliding down. 
"Watching her look at me, asking for my help as she slipped away from me, I couldn't take it." Cogdale whimpered.. Leliana was moved by his story and quickly rushed to him and slid on her knees through the mud into Cogdale.

"I love you too Cogdale, I have never felt this for any man. But you... you make me feel wanted  that I'm worth something, You cherish every second I'm with you, You treat me so special, not like any other man, you support me and my ideas and beliefs, you prove that I'm not just a tool for someone's contract, I love you!" Leliana shouted. The two of them both wept in each other arms until they couldn't cry anymore. This was what she needed from Cogdale, her friend, her love. The past week seemed like a dream, in a week Cogdale had gone from a friend to a lover. Some proof that the Maker did exist and was guiding her through these tiding time.

"I wish we could escape this world Leliana, your the only true person I really need, I could look into your eyes forever and be happy." Cogdale finally said wiping away the tears on his eyes. Cogdale never ceased to charm her in any moment they spent together. 
Alistair called out for the two signaling that the Bodahn was done trading. Leliana got up and reached out to help Cogdale up. Cogdale didn't let go of her hand and smiled at her. Cogdale and Leliana left the grove of trees holding hands, Leliana leaning up against Cogdale as they walked to their seats. 

"You know what? Lets face Marjolaine, your right I have changed and I want you there to be with me to face her" Leliana said. Cogdale looked at her and smiled and kissed her on the forehead. Leliana smiled like a shy little peasant girl and rested her head once again on him. Morrigan gave her a smug look, was it jealousy? Was it pity? Leliana didn't care and only raspberried the witch. Denerim was only 2 more days away and Marjolaine awaited her and Leliana would bring her new life to confront her old bardmaster.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:08 .

[Crixt]

*catches breath*

[PickledGear]

Lol, and there's alot more comin too so get an inhaler.

[PickledGear]

Old drawing I did 2 years ago for Chapter 1

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:14 .

[PickledGear]

Note- It can be seen some parts of this chapter were rushed, thats because they are I'm not going into detail why but lets just say it deals with my wisdom teeth




  Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter 5

"Well we are here everyone!" Bodahn said waving his hand to the guard post at the gates of Denerim. The city was just as beautiful as it was since Cogdale went there with his father as a child. The stone walls almost pearl white in color as vines grew over them. 
"Alright hold up while we inspect your packages." the guard said helping Bodahn down from the lead seat. "What're you here for Dwarf?" he said crossing his arms, his grey armor darker then Denerim's walls. Bodahn looked at Cogdale for an answer. Deciding he should answer himself Cogdale jumped down letting go of Leliana's hands. 

"We're here to buy and sell goods, here and within the city. If you have any official merchants for the city out here for trade my short friend here will barter." Cogdale said feeling almost naked without his armor on. The guard went back to his colleagues and discussed their choice. As Cogdale waited a tap on his shoulder startling him. 
It was Leliana holding his armor at the best of her ability. "Thank you Leliana" he said with a smile on his face. Leliana walked back and began resetting her armor, unhooking and rehooking latches and belts. The guard came back and nodded to Cogdale to let them in. "We'll send out the city's economic traders to help with your group's needs." He said walking back to his post. Cogdale nodded to Bodahn to move the caravan to the trading post so the rest could go into Denerim's Market District.

Cogdale began to put his armor on, Although he looked ridiculous wearing his noble clothing under the strong armor it would have to do for the moment. Leliana walked up to him set for Marjolaine, her hair short again from cutting it with her blade earlier on the ride. Long hair must've become a reminder of her bard life and cutting it helped her cope with it. Cogdale didn't mind it, Leliana was beautiful no matter what she did with her hair or any part of her body.
Cogdale reassured Leliana with a cocky smile like he was sure they would settle the Marjolaine problem. It was successful as she smiled back turning her gaze towards Denerim's gates. 

"Warden? May I tag along?" Morrigan approached wiping off dirt from her attire. Both Leliana and Cogdale gave her a disgusted look, knowing good and well what she did to him. "Very well but I don't want a word out of you." Cogdale said fixing his shoulder as he walked forward through the gates, Leliana continued to stare at Morrigan with disdain. "Very well as you two love birds wish" Morrigan laughed following Cogdale not far behind. 

As the doors finally closed behind them the large lock mechanisms echoed behind them. Cogdale quickly took out Denerim's map again and tried pinpointing where they were in the city and where the assassin had put Marjolaine's area. Knowing good and well a powerful orlesian political figure like Marjolaine had guards Cogdale gripped the handle of his sword to reassure himself he was ready. Cogdale looked back at Leliana she was tense and her eyes scanned the city a frown across her face. To his surprise behind Leliana was Oghren who some how sneaked in with the group when Cogdale wasn't looking. 

"Come on let us face Marjolaine and end her once and for all." Cogdale said. He took charge and lead the group through the market district. People were moving as quickly as they were, children played in the streets pretending to be Grey wardens and darkspawn, Elves laying on the streets with nothing in their pockets and begging, business thriving. The same it was since Cogdale's last visit only this time word of the warden's deeds had spread. 

The walk to Marjolaine's estate in the city seemed to take forever, luckily no one got lost in the crowds including Oghren. Several guards stood outside the door, they weren't like Denerim's militia they wore massive armor and every inch of their body covered in inches and inches of metal. 
"Let me handle them" Leliana stopping Cogdale with her hand. She approached the guards and seemed to begin to charm them. Cogdale couldn't tell what she was saying but only noticed that she pointed the group out. 
The guard nodded and Leliana signalled for the 3 of them to come. As they passed the guards no emotions could be seen on the sturdy men, their faces covered by full helms. Leliana opened the door into the estate. The entrance room was guarded by two other guards, clad in even better and well crafted armor then the ones who stood guard outside. 
"Who are you? Do you all have permission to be here?" one of them said he had an orlesian accent. Both guards drew their blades out waiting for an answer. "Answer! Lady Marjolaine doesn't have time for petty beggars."

"We're here to talk to her yes, nothing threatening I assure you." Cogdale said keeping his thoughts to his sword just in case combat broke out. The guard looked Cogdale over knowing something wasn't quite right. Orlesians were always uneasy when they were in Ferelden knowing it hadn't been long ago the Orlesian empire enslaved Ferelden. 
"Then why are you all dressed like your about to get in a scruff?" the other guard asked his hand still clenched to his broadsword. Cogdale knew they couldn't get past these 2. "You can never be to careful with a blight outside the city." Cogdale said trying to convince the two. "That doesn't explain why your prepared to fight." the guard said his voice muffled by his helmet.

"Here let me show you are appointment" Leliana said walking up to the guards. She fumbled with nothing in her hand confusing the guards. 
"You have nothing in your hand you crazy ****" one of the guards said pointing out the obvious. "Yes I do" Leliana whispered with a deep tone. Suddenly shoving each hands into the guards' necks. The scene froze the guards only letting out small gurgles with blood streaming down her hands and gloves. Leliana dislodged her hands from the guards' necks as 2 blades stained in crimson blood protruded from her gloves.
"Wow now that is hot" Oghren chuckled pulling his axe from his back. "We don't have much time the other guards will have heard these 2 fall. Marjolaine is paranoid and probably had all the doors in this place extremely thin." She said pushing the knives back into her gloves. Cogdale readied his sword as they rushed through the door. 3 guards met them with their weapons in full swing. Oghren met one of the blades blocking it with the handle of his battle axe. Cogdale took the moment and thrusted his sword into the only place exposed on the guard, the armpit. He screamed as blood sprayed from the wound falling back into the hallway's fireplace catching ablaze. 

Cogdale watched as Leliana pounced on the other, he was to slow in his armor as she climbed over him ripping his helmet off slitting his throat in the process. Cogdale had never scene such athleticism from Leliana before. The last guard had already been killed by Morrigan with just one blast of her staff, his helmet a bowl of gore. "This way she'll be upstairs." Leliana said quickly gliding up the steps.
"I think I enjoy this Leliana much better." Morrigan smirked following the bard. Elven servants fled the rooms the 4 didn't clear. They reached the upper floor after going up 2 flights of stairs. Instead of guards greeting them several women did with arrows. "Bards..." Cogdale said as they ducked under the stairs. "Cogdale I can place a spell on you that will grant you a couple seconds to deflect any arrows they may fire at you." Morrigan said as she powered up said spell.

"Go ahead and do so." Cogdale said as the spell encircled him giving him a purple hue to his armor. Cogdale rushed up the stairs, the sword at his thigh ready to swing. The minstrels fired their arrows the spell deflecting each one as they collided with his cuirass. Several scattered as Cogdale reached them. Gracefully tripping one her dress torn from her feet twisting out from under her. Diving his blade into her and twisting it to end her.
Several of them dropped their weapons and wept for mercy while 2 others took their daggers out, screaming at Cogdale. Stopping one of them mid stab and overpowering her, he tossed her into the wall knocking her out. As the spell wore off the last bard was rammed against the wall by Leliana, blade in her belly, coughing out blood from the force of the blade inside her stomach.

Leliana ripped the blade out breathing heavily with anger burning in her eyes. The other bards rushed downstairs. Cogdale was frightened by this side of Leliana, if she was just a student of Marjolaine, he could only imagine how ruthless she was. Marjolaine's room greeted their eyes as they looked up to where the bards had their backs. 
Cogdale slowly opened the door, there stood a woman who was facing away at her fire place. Black hair neatly cut and clean wearing extremely delicate clothing. The woman began to laugh as she slowly turned around. She had aged, her face covered in wrinkles something she tried to hide with massive amount of mascara. Her laugh, a cackle was even louder then that of the fire place. She greeted the 4 of them her arms open as if she was about to flap them like wings.

"Leliana! So lovely to see you again my dear..." Marjolaine said with that nasty smile of hers. "Spare me the pleasantries I know your trying to have me killed!" Leliana stated only to be ignored by the orlesian ****. "Oh excuse me of my accommodations, this country wreaks of wet dog even now it's in my hair, my clothes... ugh" Marjolaine shivered at what she said.
"Enough! Why did you send assassins after Leliana!" Cogdale shouted. Marjolaine took a step back at Cogdale's order. "Ooh! So business like your companion, I might take him myself" Marjolaine said her voice potent with the orlesian accent. Leliana rush Marjolaine and slapped her across the face, to everyone's surprise Marjolaine only laughed.

"You FRAMED me! Had me caught! TORTURED! And you laugh? I fled to Ferelden to be free of you but I am not." Leliana cursed. "What did I do to have you hate me so? Why do you want me dead!?" Leliana finished. 
"Dead? Hahaha not dead my Leliana, I knew that four to five men were no match for you, it was only a ruse to get you to me you see." Marjolaine said putting her hands behind her back.

"Bull****, I don't believe you" Cogdale said changing his stance to seem threatening. "Thank you Cogdale" Leliana said looking back at him. "Why are you in Ferelden, Marjolaine?" Leliana said about to unsheath her dagger. 

"To the Arl of Denerim? I'm here to negotiate a trade treaty between the Queen of Ferelden and the Empress of Orlais." Marjolaine said pushing Leliana away. "In truth, I am here for you my Leliana, you have important information that could harm me quite a bit and I must not let you be." Marjolaine said giving off an evil smile. 
Leliana took a step back with a look of shock upon her face. "You thought I was out to get you? Your insane!" Cogdale grabbed Leliana by the shoulder to calm her down. Marjolaine walked over to her fire and picked up a glass of wine and sipped it.
"I watched you for years Leliana, you joined the cloister, cut your hair like a little boy, I thought what were you planning, but you sent no messages and met no one. Very clever Leliana." she turned to look at Leliana once more. 

"But then you left the chantry very recently and what was I to suspect from you? You tell me?" she said throwing the rest of the wine into the fire, it flickered but recovered itself and continued to burn.
"Leliana left because she wanted to join me, not everything is about you Marjolaine you ****" Cogdale said walking closer to the orlesian. "Oh is that so? I wouldn't trust her with coin if I were you, she is a mirror image of me warden, that is who she is, I created her I should know." Cogdale quickly learned to despise Marjolaine as did Morrigan and Oghren but they stayed quite not wanting any part of Leliana's personal matters.
"I am not you Marjolaine, I left because I didn't want to become you!" Leliana shouted jabbing her finger at her. "Hahaha but don't you see my Leliana you are already me, had already been me for quite some time." cackled Marjolaine returning the finger to Leliana.

"I trust Leliana, no matter what idiotic accusations you spit out" Cogdale said. Leliana turned to Cogdale and smiled and then returned her eyes to Marjolaine to finish the fight. "You will not threaten me or my friends again Marjolaine I want you out of my Life forever!" she demanded pulling her blade out.
"You think you can kill me Leliana? I created you I can easily take you away from this world!" Marjolaine said her voice transforming to that of a witch's. Cogdale realized if Leliana did end Marjolaine's life she would become her victim. Suddenly Cogdale grabbed Leliana's blade from her hand and gave it to Oghren. "But... I thought you wanted to end her life Cogdale?" Leliana was shocked and distracted by Cogdale. Marjolaine quickly pulled out her bow and an arrow from behind a piece of furniture. Cogdale noticed and quickly pushed Leliana out of the way as Marjolaine released the plucked arrow from the bow. The arrow slammed into his abdomen knocking the air out of him. It had pierced his stomach as blood instantly rushed up his throat as he vomited it out. "Cogdale!" Leliana cried out as she rushed to him.

"You won't see the last of me Leliana I'll be back!" Marjolaine dashed out of the room as Oghren tried to follow but his armor slowed him down and couldn't find where the wench had escaped out of.
"Morrigan can you heal him?" Leliana asked desperate and worried as Cogdale fell to one knee. Morrigan took at look at the wound. "No, I do not have a high enough knowledge of healing magic to save him, we must take him to Wynne" Morrigan said placing a numbing spell on the wound to keep Cogdale on his feet.
"Hurry he doesn't have that much blood left." Leliana said. Cogdale was blacking out, the constant flow of blood from his mouth soon felt normal to him almost like a waterfall. Things became extremely fuzzy and dark as Oghren and Leliana held him by the arms, slowly and slowly his vision grew darker until he blacked out. 

Cogdale awoke in the fade, but felt incomplete like a part of his emotions was missing.  There he was greeted by the dream he had been having for several months. The hall was more clear this time, the architecture was the same as Ostagar's. 

He turned around to see his brother smiling at him and as he did in the dream, he opened the door inside the white abyss. Everyone had stopped conversing and was looking at Cogdale. He approached the door as a foggy figure began to appear in the door way. It began to gain shape as it walked into the hall.

It was Leliana, more beautiful then ever she was dressed in the most extravagant gown he had ever seen, dark and light blues hued by green, designs of white pearls swirled around the entire dress. She was looking down and smiling, her face was beaded with rubies around her eyes and cheeks, as was the custom his family had made in their traditions for weddings.
Her hair longer then he had ever seen it, it flowed down her back reaching her waist. As she approached him everyone began to clap and smile. As she finally reached him she looked up, her eyes glowing like that of his when he was using enchanted runes, smiling with crimson colored lips. The light blue mist flew in the air around her head. Leliana began to lean in the closer she got the more Cogdale's vision blurred and vibrated. 
"I love you" her voice echoed like that of the guardian who guarded Andraste's Ashes. She seemed almost god like as she went in to kiss him. As their lips touched Cogdale awoke in camp. Leliana was kissing him with tears in her eyes, whispering "I love you" over and over again. Wynne was the first to notice Cogdale's eyes were open but waited for Leliana to open hers. 

Cogdale kissed her back while their lips danced with each other. Leliana opened her eyes to see an awake and exhausted Cogdale. "Oh thank the maker you live!" cried Leliana kissing him again. Cogdale used the energy he had to smile. "Come on child Cogdale needs rest even though hes been unconcious for the past 4 days he needs to rest his mind." Wynne said as she tended to the wound again. 
Leliana nodded her tears dropping on Cogdale's face. "How long did you say I was out?" Cogdale gasped. "Shhh rest child you need all the energy to rest." Wynne said as her hands glowed. Cogdale took her word and fell back to sleep.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:16 .

[PickledGear]

Old Drawing from Chapter 2

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:17 .

[PickledGear]

Dragon
Age: A Bard's Love



   Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter 6

Leliana couldn't stop worrying about Cogdale. As she walked back to her bed she looked back to see Wynne leaving Cogdale to rest. Not to alert Wynne, Leliana pretended to go to sleep in her tent. She watched and waited until she was sure Wynne had finally fallen asleep. Which wasn't to long, Wynne was an old woman and that fade spirit didn't keep her up at night.

Leliana quickly got up, instead of cutting through the camp to get to Cogdale she decided to sneak around through the grass. She silently went around the camp, knowing Alistair or even Zevran could quickly notice her sneaking the shadows and mistake her for a shriek. Luckily the past 4 days they took to leave Denerim the skies didn't rain. 
When she finally reached Cogdale she noticed he too was awake, almost deep in thought. She silently fixed herself so she lay right of him. Cogdale twitched from the sudden feeling of her hair brushing his shoulder. 
"Leliana..." Cogdale peacefully whispered. Just hearing his voice for the first time in a week relaxed her. She looked at his wound, wrapped up in a tourniquet that they stole from a fabric salesman while rushing him out of Denerim. She softly guided her left hand across his body, from his neck to his belly button. As her finger glided across the wound a sigh of breath came from him. She turned her eyes to him, trying to look at her without waisting any energy.

"You didn't have to take that arrow" Leliana whispered scooting her self up for their eyes to meet. Cogdale gleered at her like he couldn't believed she even thought that. "Yes I did, without question Leliana" he said taking in another breath to continue "I love you... I couldn't live in this world without you" Leliana began to tear up from his answer. He really did love her, he did not lust for her, but loved her with his entire being. 
"You don't know how much I love you Cogdale, I have nothing to show for it." Leliana cried, frustrated over the events that had followed them. "You don't have to Leliana, just the fact your here with me tonight is a feat greater then what I did for you" he said smiling. Cogdale took what energy he had and wrapped his right arm around her. Leliana welcomed his hug, nestling her nose into his side. Leliana slowly drifted off to sleep, a smile gracing her lips.

The sun once again awoke everyone, its rays gleaming into their eyes. Leliana awoke her smile still strong as it was last night. She looked to see her love was sitting up fondling what hair she had between his fingers. "I've always wondered how your hair was so perfect no matter what" Cogdale said helping her up to sit next to him. "How do you think my hair is so "perfect?"" Leliana jabbed at him wanting to hear his opinion on her hair. 
"Truthfully? I believe the Maker truly made the most wonderful woman in you, And by his grace somehow thought me worthy to even look at you." Leliana could see he was telling the truth. She kissed Cogdale for the remark. "Your so sweet" Leliana said looking at Cogdale. Alistair approached the 2 of them with the largest smirk anyone had seen. "So.... is that all you needed?" He said arms crossed. "What do you mean Alistair?" Cogdale asked confused. 

"All of Wynne's best magic couldn't heal you but one night next to Leliana and your up like a fade demon to a mage." He laughed giving notice to the others. Leliana laughed as well the thought of it was hilarious that Cogdale had gotten better so quickly right after she rested next to him. But as the laughter died down she thought of it again and realized that it could be truth. Was Cogdale so enraptured by her that he was healed just by her embrace? 

"Well in some ways yeah I think you could actually say that." Cogdale said struggling to get up on his feet. Alistair shrugged and walked back to talk with Ohgren torturous as it may. Leliana quickly jumped up and walked over to her tent, her armor stacked up next to it neatly. 
Leliana began to do what she had done almost every morning. Get her armor on before breakfast or a quick makeup. Her armor became second nature to her, putting on the leather clothing before putting on the dragonskin armor pieces. Strap after strap she snapped to each corresponding piece on other parts. After 20 minutes of putting the armor on she was finished. 

Morrigan's kill she made earlier in the morning rested above the camp fire. Leliana took the time to apply what makeup she had with her. Cogdale was receiving additional healing from Wynne as he leaned up against a tree. The man was still the only thing that bounced around in her head. She could never fully thank Cogdale for taking Marjolaine's arrow. He not only helped confront the ****, he saved Leliana's life taking a poisoned arrow for her. Leliana  quickly turned to see Alistair had approached her.

"Do you truly love him?" He said with a stern face. Leliana corked her head to the side confused by the question. "Of course I do with all my being" she said taking a step to prove she really meant it. "Then you do know Grey wardens don't live that long right? We only live around another 30 years after we join." Leliana knew Grey wardens didn't live long but only in the context that they usually fell in battle. 
"You mean... even if we survive the blight.... he'll die of the taint?" Leliana regretfully asked. Alistair nodded a saddening face appeared. "Although that shouldn't drag you down Leliana, you two will live those years to all of their potential" he said reassuring her that it would be okay. 
"Do you know of anything, anything that could remove the taint completely?" Leliana asked. Alistair shrugged. "Not that I know of,  may Weisshaupt has something" he said finally ending the conversation by walking away.

Why is everyone so determined to end our relationship? Leliana thought frowning from her discussion with Alistair. Deciding to forget about it, she decided to go on a stroll so breakfast could be fully ready when she got back. Taking a path along side an oddly linear path of rubble the sight of sun bursting through each tree was one to remember. Ferelden had landscapes that any Orlesian would envy. It was nice walking through the woods not being ambushed every second of the day.

The green tint on her armor felt welcoming, almost as if the forest was hugging her, trying to comfort her from her troubles. Leliana began to hum an orlesian tune as she followed the trail. A sudden memory of Marjolaine put her tune and walk to a dead stop. Leliana just realized that Marjolaine had escaped, she survived and vowed to return. But what would she do? Cogdale had totally and utterly dismantled her and the minstrel organization, well the Ferelden one anyways. Would she return? Was she that insane? Leliana threw her back to a tree to think.
But now knowing of who resides with her and who cares for her, Marjolaine could come up with something even more cruel then what she did to her in Orlais. A call from the camp snapped Leliana out of her thoughts, she quickly rushed back to see everyone eating breakfast.

"HEY!" Leliana shouted running to grab what was left from the meal. All that was left was a leg of some sort with hair on it. Leliana instantly shot her eyes to Ohgren, a gigantic grin on his face. "Oh, nevermind I can handle an empty stomach for now." Leliana pouted. A piece of meat soon jabbed the air in front of her. She turned to see Cogdale holding out some of the animal he had saved for her.
"I knew you would be to late to get some, with Ohgren devouring the entire thing, so I saved a piece for you" Cogdale smiled. Leliana took a couple seconds to realize the moment and then finally snatched it.
"Thank you Cogdale" Leliana said followed by a raspberry directed towards Ohgren. The dwarf laughed and then passed out, typical. After finishing breakfast it was time to pack up and set off onto the road once more. Cogdale was given some numbing spell by Morrigan so he could jump up on the trailer. But it still brought several winces to his face, the unsteady road was hard on the wound. Leliana was last to jump on as the caravan began to move. Cogdale waved her over as she ran along side the trailer, her hair waving in the wind. 

Cogdale grasped her hand and pulled her to his side. As she looked to him for a conversation, she was only greeted by a lively smile. Cogdale seemed to be happy, as happy as he was the night he admitted he liked her, and the day he proclaimed his love. "Why are you so happy?" Leliana asked, his smile was contagious as she to grew a smile. Cogdale only smiled and like a gentleman kissed her hand. Leliana was happy with the answer and gingerly began to hum the song again.

They were traveling to Redcliffe, to tell Arl Eamon to head to Denerim. Cogdale had not been informed but it seemed he didn't care. The past few months, Leliana had seen more then she did when she was a young teen bard in Orlais. In some way she didn't care either. She gripped Cogdale's hand smiling with her lips. "What are you going to do when this is all over Leliana?" Cogdale asked sounding so sure they would win against the blight. Leliana was stunned by the question but Cogdale was always full of surprises.

"I hadn't given much thought..." Leliana pondered. "I guess going to Lothering to say a final goodbye is in order" Leliana said pointing in the air after finishing her thought. "I'm glad to hear it Lily" he said kissing her hand again. "But I guess I want to travel the world, the adventures and stories I want to be apart of it all" she quickly steadied herself on the trailer as she had let herself slide down a bit.
"That sounds amazing" He said, she knew he wanted to join her, and she wanted him to. "And I'll need company, and your not annoying, how bout it Cogdale? Mind joining me to travel Thedas?" Leliana giggled already knowing the warden's answer. "I wouldn't be anywhere else" Cogdale laughed. 
"Good, I know will be met with new and wonderful challenges." 

Night soon swamped over the sky, Bodahn had decided to continue traveling, the ox had been fed an extra ration of hay so they were good to go another good 5 hours. The group strapped themselves in with what they could so they could sleep. But Leliana and Cogdale were wide awake. They stared deeply into the sky at the stars. The night always seemed to bring out the romantic side of Cogdale, which Leliana didn't mind at all.
Her prediction was correct, Cogdale spontaneously kissed her on the head. "I love you" he said, his voice muffled by her hair. She turned to see his eyes glowing brighter then any night before, mist flew above his head trailing them as the caravan continued down the road. 
"Whats causing your eyes to glow like that?" Leliana asked bewilderedly. One thing that was extremely attractive about him was his cyan eyes but they seemed to beam whenever he laid his gaze on her own. "For once I know, I know it may sound cliché, but it's you Lily" she blushed because of it. "It's something about the taint or something that light up my eyes whenever I feel love and thats only when I see you." She was reminded of what Alistair had said earlier that day. But she didn't allow it to cloud out this moment with him.

"Here, I found something that might make you go all giddy" Cogdale said turning. Leliana was already giddy from what he was about to give her. He soon turned back with another flower, it took her a few seconds to realize it was Andraste's Grace. Leliana couldn't breath. "I knew you would love it" Cogdale smiled a breath of tension came from him, the numbing spell was finally wearing off. "I...I" Leliana took a full breath of it. All the memories she did have of her mother rushed back through her. 
"How did you, when did you?" Leliana was flustered by the flower. Cogdale took a few seconds for the pain from the wound to die down so he could breath.
"Heh, I found it when we reached Denerim" another gasp of air as his pain slowly grew. Leliana grabbed him by the back of his head and forcefully kissed him. "I'm getting tired of you surprising me so much, and at the same time I'm always anticipating the next." Leliana continued "You spoil me too much Cogdale, I don't deserve you" Leliana said kissing him again.

"Does the brave warden need to be numbed?" Morrigan shouted over the sound of the ox's hooves hitting the road. Leliana looked at Cogdale, he was holding his breath bracing the pain. Leliana nodded, "Yes he does, come over Morrigan." Morrigan quickly climbed around the caravan and soon was over Cogdale, her hands palmed over the wrapped up wound. The spell lit up the three of them. Leliana watched as the pain in Cogdale's face soon faded away.
"Done, now may I return to my slumber?" Leliana nodded with a smile on her face. She smelled the flower again and rested herself on his shoulder. The ease of pain had already set Cogdale to rest his head on top of hers. Before she fell to sleep Leliana whispered "Sleep well....love"

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:19 .

[PickledGear]

A little hilarity because of a conversation I had with equinexus on Deviant art about how a total virgin (Cogdale) could give Leliana/Morrigan any pleasure. Then she came up with that its grey warden endurance so I basically took it that grey wardens could advertise that by joining them men could become a sexual god.

[PickledGear]

Another funny design pic done, if you guys have any suggestions for comics even with your characters just send em my way I can get these type of comics done in a matter of 4 hours or so. PLZ people I need responses I feel like I'm bumpin a dead thread

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 09 avril 2010 - 10:07 .

[DalishRanger]

@ both pictures. Very nice. I'm going to quote Leliana from Seasons in regards to the virgin thing, though: "[...] the art of lovemaking is like any other skill: one’s abilities improve the more you practice."

You might want to make them clickable though, so they can be viewed full size. Especially the comic. Bit hard to read it when it's squished to board dimensions.

Modifié par DalishRanger, 09 avril 2010 - 08:36 .

[PickledGear]

DalishRanger wrote...

@ both pictures. Very nice. I'm going to quote Leliana from Seasons in regards to the virgin thing, though: "[...] the art of lovemaking is like any other skill: one’s abilities improve the more you practice."

You might want to make them clickable though, so they can be viewed full size. Especially the comic. Bit hard to read it when it's squished to board dimensions.

Thanks, I fixed it. Now about that "lovemaking skill" I came up with it because in the game (especially when using better sex scenes mod) theres a scene where Leliana grits her teeth.
This Pic
Equinexus pointed that fact out and I was confused that the fact is with the human noble character (if you didn't bed the elven servant at the beginning of the origin) was a virgin and had no experience, especially Cogdale being a bookworm.

Then Equin said it was just as Morrigan said Grey Warden Endurance so.... theres only 1 explanation for that! The darkspawn blood!

[DalishRanger]

SPARTAN 089-Gary wrote...
Thanks, I fixed it. Now
about that "lovemaking skill" I came up with it because in the game
(especially when using better sex scenes mod) theres a scene where
Leliana grits her teeth.
This Pic

Heh, I remember that mod and that scene. I think part of it is the fact you use a different Leliana head than the default, because her lips look more parted in that shot than teeth gritted.

SPARTAN 089-Gary wrote...
Equinexus
pointed that fact out and I was confused that the fact is with the
human noble character (if you didn't bed the elven servant at the
beginning of the origin) was a virgin and had no experience, especially
Cogdale being a bookworm.

Not necessarily. How do you know the noble origin didn't have sex before the origin itself? There's nothing to contradict that, that's completely set in canon. Of course, there's nothing to contradict that the human noble wasn't completely inexperienced, either. Really, I think that's left up to the player.

SPARTAN 089-Gary wrote...
Then Equin said it was just as
Morrigan said Grey Warden Endurance so.... theres only 1 explanation
for that! The darkspawn blood!

Good enough reason! Newbies like Cogdale and Legam need all the help they can get at the start, anyway.

[PickledGear]

DalishRanger wrote...

SPARTAN 089-Gary wrote...
Thanks, I fixed it. Now
about that "lovemaking skill" I came up with it because in the game
(especially when using better sex scenes mod) theres a scene where
Leliana grits her teeth.
This Pic

Heh, I remember that mod and that scene. I think part of it is the fact you use a different Leliana head than the default, because her lips look more parted in that shot than teeth gritted.

SPARTAN 089-Gary wrote...
Equinexus
pointed that fact out and I was confused that the fact is with the
human noble character (if you didn't bed the elven servant at the
beginning of the origin) was a virgin and had no experience, especially
Cogdale being a bookworm.

Not necessarily. How do you know the noble origin didn't have sex before the origin itself? There's nothing to contradict that, that's completely set in canon. Of course, there's nothing to contradict that the human noble wasn't completely inexperienced, either. Really, I think that's left up to the player.

SPARTAN 089-Gary wrote...
Then Equin said it was just as
Morrigan said Grey Warden Endurance so.... theres only 1 explanation
for that! The darkspawn blood!

Good enough reason! Newbies like Cogdale and Legam need all the help they can get at the start, anyway.

Actually it is brought up in the game by Alistair, if you have him at a certain approval near the end I believe, He asks the warden (Only Male I believe, its a convo for only 2 guys) if he has had sex yet. 2 or 3 of the choices in the conversation aims at "No I haven't had sex yet" and Alistair says he hasn't either. (Funny thing is this was my 1st play through so I first did it with Morrigan and then Leliana but I said no I haven't had sex yet.)

But yeah essentially Alistair brings up the subject.

[DalishRanger]

I know about that conversation - there are options for both, "Yes I have had sex before" and "No I have not" - whether or not you fool around in the human noble origin is irrelevant to the options being available. If you didn't, you can still say you have had sex. In fact, even if you did get with somebody in the noble origin, you can STILL choose, "No, I haven't had sex yet." ... Which means you could lie about it too, one way or the other. That's why I say it's up to the player.

Modifié par DalishRanger, 10 avril 2010 - 12:31 .

[PickledGear]

Yea your right, in the end its up to the player if they're being sincere or not. I haven't played all the origins yet but it seems it does depend on the origin as well.

Human Noble- can be yes or no,

Mage- Don't know most likely no since they are taken in very young most of the time.

City Elf- 90% chance no since of the traditions they had for the marriage.

Dalish Elf- I don't know but from what I can tell from their people, no because of traditions such as becoming a Hunter.

Dwarven Noble- Yep probably being of Aeducan blood could bring some prizes.

Dwarven Commoner- Probably seeing as the character is apart of a crime circle in some ways.



But in the end, its up to the player to come up with the story before the origin story and after that as well.

[DalishRanger]

Actually, mages are apparently pretty promiscious according to Wynne and Anders. I imagine Legam's one of the exceptions, as he'd be disliked by many for his favored status with Irving and for being Rivaini; plus, he was caught up in his studies more often than trying to flirt.



In the dwarven noble origin, you can actually sleep with one or two noble hunters if you're male. And if you do, you have an extra side quest when you get back to Orzammar related to it.



In the dwarven commoner origin, as a female dwarf one of Leske's retorts could be interpreted as he and the (pre)Warden had sexual relations in the past. But that one's more ambiguous.

[PickledGear]

Finished another Minicomic for the fun of it



Basing it around the tavern scene with Leliana

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 11 avril 2010 - 01:06 .

[PickledGear]

A big happy birthday to me

[PickledGear]

Dragon Age: A Bard's Love

Chapter 7

It had been several days since Cogdale awoke from his wounds and the group was heading into darkspawn occupied lands. With the territory they now trekked they had to  be stealthy, and with stealth came patience and steady movement around the growing darkspawn horde. Even the world began to show signs that darkspawn had walked nearby as the caravan continued across the road.

The ground, dry and cracked showed no signs of life or hope within it. Trees, rotted and scraped clean of any leaves it might have once had. Finally, the sky, no longer the bright and extravagant blue that had blessed them the past 3 days was now gray and covered in clouds. It seemed as even the clouds had reached the ground with fog surrounding them. The once plentiful sounds of robins and birds were replaced by chattering whispers, the infamous whispers that always followed darkspawn ever since the first, the corrupted tevinter mages. 
Morrigan, Ohgren and Shale led the ox through the fog ever vigilant of darkspawn assault. The thunder of Shale's footsteps kept everyone sane for the trip through. Just to be ready, Cogdale kept his sword unsheathed leaning against it, digging the tip of the blade into the wagon's wood. Ready for battle he had his helmet on as well. But something strange surrounded him. Darkspawn were no where to be seen or even felt by the wardens.

"Very ominous" Cogdale said loud enough for Alistair and Wynne to hear it. Leliana was resting on Cogdale's shoulder as she had been the trip to Redcliffe. She had been awake, comforted by Cogdale's spice like smell he naturally had. They hardly talked to each other the past 3 days. It seemed that her and Cogdale had the same idea on what they wanted from each other, company. They didn't want to spoil the time together with an argument or blooper. 

"Yeah, I'm getting spooked thats for sure" Alistair replied popping his neck nervously. Cogdale had grown a friendship with Alistair, although Cogdale himself was in some ways weak in the ways of women and motivation Alistair was an entire tier above him. 
"Do you love her?" it seemed Alistair had taken the moment of Leliana's vulnerability of being asleep. But when she was just an ear away from Cogdale's voice? Could Alistair be truthfully asking this question?

"With all that I am" Cogdale quietly said loud enough for Alistair to hear but quiet enough that Leliana wouldn't open her eyes to the conversation. Cogdale reassured Alistair his answer with a scowl. Alistair shifted himself to face Cogdale.
"You do know you only have around 30 years after becoming a warden? In the end you'll find yourself in the deep roads, a darkspawn blade finally ending your legendary last stand or a shriek at your bedside, its claws deep within your heart?" Alistair said a concerned face growing every word he said.

"Leliana still has a full life ahead of her, shes already witnessed enough torment and heartbreak, I'm just worried that if shes still with you by then you'll break her heart and she might do something drastic." He finished. Cogdale knew what he spoke of, after drinking the taint a warden slowly is taken over by the taint no matter how much control he had over it. 
"Look, I'm not wishing you to end your relationship with her... I just don't want it end in bloodshed and tears." Alistair said restating himself. Cogdale was moved by this, he slowly turned and looked at Leliana, red hair draping over Cogdale's left pauldron. All Cogdale wanted for Leliana was for her to be happy. What Alistair said was the truth, if he died.... Leliana would be smashed into a million pieces and never to be repaired.  He didn't want that to run with his soul when it entered the fade. But in the same, he loved Leliana too much to let go of her. If anything she said was truth, the most was what she had said to him nights and nights ago that they were destined to be together.

"mm...hello" Leliana said finally waking up, a bit stunned to see Cogdale greeted her with his helmet on, chivalry once again died. "Hello Leliana" Cogdale said his voice echoing in his helmet. Leliana laughed from what the helmet did to his voice. Even in the dim world they were in, gray and no sunlight, Leliana's eyes glowed, not like that of Cogdale's own but in a way that would warm any heart, that would cause your body to freeze for them. 
"We're in darkspawn territory" Cogdale said taking his helmet off to truly look at her. Leliana finally lifted her head and nuzzled her nose against Cogdale's before fixing her armor. "Alright, I'm ready" Leliana said revealing her bow in hand. "Thats the thing, Alistair and I can't sense any form of darkspawn at all." Cogdale told her jumping off the wagon to join the three in front. Leliana followed him wanting to know the entire situation.

"Where are we on the map?" Leliana asked. "Lothering...." Alistair said laying down the map. He was right, Lothering finally appeared from the fog. The town was burnt down, bodies impaled by stakes. Leliana grimaced and hid her sight behind Cogdale. The darkspawn were complete monsters and showed no sign of any mercy. "Maker where are you?" Alistair gasped as he to jumped off the wagon. The women were missing from Lothering though, most likely taken to become broodmothers.

"Leliana... I.." Cogdale didn't know what to say, Lothering had been Leliana's home, her sanctuary from her dark life and now it had become that of myth. Leliana quickly rushed into the fog without warning, Cogdale lost her, but he knew where she had went to. Lothering's Chantry, most importantly the cloister. Cogdale finally found the building, its doors open, echoes chattered its halls. Sunlight bled through the stained glass image of Andraste over the hall. Cogdale searched for Leliana, but could find her the aisles were empty and the pedestal was empty as well. 

"Leliana!" Cogdale had found her, standing alone and frozen her eyes horrified of what she had discovered. "Maker where are you?" Leliana said. In front of her was the entire cloister women slaughtered and impaled to stakes on the ceiling to the walls to the floor. Cogdale stumbled back from the moment. "Darkspawn would never do this?" Cogdale said approaching Leliana. "No they wouldn't but no one else would do this." Leliana said, holding back her tears. All of her friends of the cloister were dead in front of her eyes in ways she would never wish upon anyone.
Cogdale grabbed her and hugged her. "They will not die in vain" Cogdale promised her. "Come on, we need to get to redcliffe, I can say how much I'm sorry Leliana. I wish I could do something" Leliana put her finger on his lips to stop him. 
"Shhh, you do too much Cogdale" She said as she left the chantry her head hung down. Cogdale lowered his head as well, nothing could ease the pain from this. But something was odd about this the cloister were all women why wouldn't the darkspawn take them? But other things were puzzling, such as the wounds on the women weren't jagged and gory but clean cut, that includes bones. Darkspawn don't use well forged blades.

"It seems we aren't the only ones in Lothering" Morrigan said greeting Leliana and Cogdale as they exited the chantry. A silhouette slothed across the bridge. "Ser, are you alright?" Cogdale shouted but the man didn't answer and only aimlessly moved around the bridge. "Ser!" Cogdale shouted again, and again no response. Deciding to see if the man was injured or under some sort of spell from an emissary, Cogdale approached the man.
"Ser are you?" Cogdale repeated. The man lifted his head to reveal a grotesque emaciated face standing in front of Cogdale. The man was a ghoul, soulless. A growling attack sweeped Cogdale off of his feet. The ghoul's eyes, a swirling white vortexes, face forever dried to a frown. Teeth chattering as it made it's way towards Cogdale's arm for lunch. Suddenly the ghoul collapsed on Cogdale's arm an arrow piercing its skull. Seconds later his corpse burst into dust with 1 final gasp of air following it.

"Seems the darkspawn emissaries are playing with necromancy." Leliana said walking up to Cogdale. "Yeah it seems like it, expect all of Lothering's inhabitants to be the same" Leliana lifted Cogdale back to his feet. The death of the ghoul had alerted others in the city. The fog gusted past them to blind them even more. Cogdale steadied his blade and readied for the waves of undead to attack them. The snarling came first, voices of once the kind population of Lothering were now gurgling maniacs only wanting the group's demise.
"Steady!" Cogdale said as the first ghoul came rushing him. The creature seemed to have been a merchant as it still held jewelry in its hands as it swung its stiff arms at Cogdale. Knowing this one was not that much of a threat, Cogdale met his gauntleted fist to skull. The ghoul collapsed as his head rolled on the ground, a fist crater embedded. More and more ghouls came rushing but being fragile were easy prey for everyone.
Ohgren sliced through them like a mabari to steaks. Morrigan took dozens out with an inferno of spells bursting them into dust. Cogdale met the waves of undead with his blade, even though these monsters were easy kills, their numbers began to tire the group. Dodging weapons, fists and teeth along with attacking the ghouls who didn't have any morale to raise or lower and would keep rushing no matter what was fatiguing. 
The only one who stayed steady was Shale, her boulder fists colliding with crowds of the attackers. "Oh ho ho this is so fun!" Shale chuckled, every swing of her fists propelled the fog away from them. But even Shale could hold off so many ghouls. These ghouls weren't only from Lothering as more and more wore Templar armor and even magi regalia. Whatever the darkspawn did it was the most powerful necromancy he had ever seen.
"Theres too many!" Wynne shouted as she blasted another templar ghoul in the chest with lightning. They could barely hear each other, the crowds of ghouls' moaning and screaming drowned out any sound even that of their spells. The dust that was once ghouls blanketed the ground and everyone. Camouflaging everyone to the fog. 

"We need something to give us time to escape or take all of them out at once!" Cogdale said swinging his blade through another 2 ghouls, spinning his blade into the belly of another, undead gall spilling onto the dusty ground. Only to burst into dust itself. Cogdale looked to Morrigan to see if she had any ideas. "Morrigan!?" Cogdale caught her attention and nodded to her to see if she had any spells that could work.
Morrigan only nodded as well, shaking her head to rid her black hair of dust. Cogdale watched as she stepped back and twirled a strange blue and purple spell in her hands for several seconds as Shale took up her part of the fight as well. "Everyone get back!" Cogdale shouted, everyone pulled their attacks and took a step back past Morrigan. Unleashing the spell with a sweeping movement of her hands, a blaze of violet spread across, not burning the incoming ghouls but freezing them and finally they stopped and drooped over. "What was that?" Wynne asked astonished at the spells power. Morrigan grinned and crossed her arms with pride. "Something from Flemeth's Grimoire I studied. Tis a spell that removes all blood magic from things affected by it." 
"What are we going to do with these guys?" Leliana asked walking over to one of them and slapping its back. Morrigan shrugged and walked on "I suggest we get out of here before the darkspawn sense their blood magic has ended here in Lothering.

"I say we savor this moment and squish every one of their small heads" Shale said pounding her fists in action to what she wanted. Cogdale looked at Leliana to see she had any sympathy of this motion. Her emotions dimmed to sadness and nodded quickly rushing to follow Morrigan. Cogdale knew she was wounded to know Lothering was submitted to the Darkspawn to be only a necromantic testing spree. 
"Go ahead Shale, if any of you want to do so you may join our golem here" Cogdale said rushing to Leliana. 

"Somethings not right, some of those ghouls were wearing armor similar to those of Marjolaine's assassins." Leliana said rubbing her forearms for warmth and relief of the image. Cogdale knew the feeling that was searing through her. He saw his family slaughtered by Howe, and now she saw what she called as family the past years of her life staked through their hearts to the ground. 

Just remembering his parents rushed tears to his eyes, but he bit his lip and held them back. Luckily his helmet hid his emotions. He slowly picked up speed to catch up with Leliana who was now hunching over and what seemed to be crying. By the moment he was at her side, Bodahn had moved his caravan to the same path they were residing on. 
"Come on good ser, hop up" Bodahn said patting the sack of wheat he sat on. Cogdale nodded and lifted Leliana up upon the wagon and followed. It was extremely astonishing that she could handle so much dread, sadness, anger, and other emotions in such a short period of time. It added to the mystique of her. Knowing that nothing could really ease her. He placed his hand on hers, she noticed and gave an untruthful smile to Cogdale.

Modifié par SPARTAN 089-Gary, 24 mars 2012 - 12:21 .

[PickledGear]

Not a big update, but I'm working on Chapter 1's 2nd image heres a WIP





hopefully it conveys the right feelings on how they feel for each other is what I'm getting at.

[PickledGear]

Chapter 2's image is done and heres a little WIP I didn't post up on here.