194 réponses à ce sujet

[Gilgamesh1138]

Okay so this is my prequel to "Soulmates."  The noble's origin for Kai. How did she become like she is?  Meet the more innocent, green, and wet behind the ears Kaidana Cousland.  I hope you enjoy it!

it is posted here and FF:

The First Cut is Always the Deepest

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 20 juin 2012 - 12:48 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 1~ The Beginning of the End ~

Kaidana Cousland caught her reflection in the mirror-like side of the shield she was stacking in the armory ready

to go with their soldiers leaving for Ostagar to fight with King Cailan.  She gave the face in the shield a

detailed inspection – black hair framed creamy skin, big blue eyes, high cheekbones, and full rosy lips. The face

was, she supposed, that of a pretty noble woman.
Or it would have been just the pretty face of any spoiled noble woman, but for the delicate red brown tattoo on her

forehead around her eyes and on her chin.  The tattoo accentuated, rather than took away from her features she

thought.  Plus, it made her look less like a pampered pet and hopefully deterred some of those idiot noble spawn

who looked at her as an object to bed or wed.  It had also hurt like hell when she'd had it done.
Her mother was not pleased when she had seen it.  Eleanor Cousland had been fit to be tied, as the saying went. 

Her mother was a battle maiden herself, yet she had objected strongly when she saw what Kai had done.  However once

done, the tattoo could not be undone, so her mother had gotten used to it.  As had Kai; so much so, she often

forgot it was there until she caught a glimpse of her reflection as she had done just a moment ago.
It wasn't that everything she did was motivated by making herself less appealing to the other nobility and their

sons, but to her mind it didn't hurt.  Being the daughter and youngest child of one of only two remaining teyrns in

all of Ferelden put her in the unwanted position of being second in rank only to the throne.  This position made

her an ideal catch for power hungry sycophants such as Arl Rendon Howe who would love for his son Thomas to be a

part of her family.  Kai snorted, when the Fade froze over and the Black City turned into an ice castle maybe.
Of course she had gone blissfully unaware of the petty scrabbling of the nobles and their eying her as a match

until her sixteenth year.  It was at a party, some salon her mother had thrown where she had been discovered just

how she was viewed by the other nobility.  It was a rude awakening to say the least.
Kai had been forced to quit her weapons and martial arts training early to take a bath and get dressed.  She had

been shoved into toile and lace and told to mind her manners and try not to insult or intimidate the nobles' sons

who asked her to dance.  She had figured that the best way to fulfill her mother's wishes of politeness and avoid

cowing the little gits was to employ a strategy worthy of her training.  Her plan had been to hide so they couldn't

ask her in the first place.  She used her rogue skills, staying in the shadows and frequently changing her

position.  A moving target would be harder to catch by sweaty handed noble brats or her mother, whichever came

first.  It was in one of those darkened corners while she stood sweating and itching that she had overheard one of

the bann's wives speaking with her mother.
"My dear Eleanor, that daughter of yours is quite the tomboy and a real spit fire," the woman's voice held a hidden

core of scorn wrapped in a layer of silken smoothness.
"Yes, she does remind me of myself I must admit," Kai’s mother replied.  Although she couldn't see her, she heard

the smile in it along with a small amount of exasperation and pride.
"So, have you picked out which nobles’ sons you intend to present her to?  You and Bryce could cement your own

influence in any number of ways.  With the right marriage of course."  The gooey way the bann's wife said marriage

made her skin crawl.
Kai remembered well her how loudly her heart had beaten in her chest and how she had broken out in a cold sweat. 

It had hit her then, like an arrow hitting the target, just how dangerous to her freedom this game the nobles

played really was.  She hadn't stayed to listen to her mother's response.  From then on, she had vowed to be a

warrior, not a wife.  Especially not a wife to some ladder climbing noble and his feckless brat.
So, she had gotten the tattoo from a Dalish elf, a man who left the Brecilian Forest and married a city elf in

Highever.  He practiced the art of the vallaslin or “blood writing.”  She redoubled her efforts and worked twice as

hard to prove herself in the arts of war and combat.  She trained harder as a rogue than she ever had before.  She

had thought to try a shield like her brother, a fancy that passed quickly after she broke her arm in two places. 

She had finished that fight with fast footwork and one good arm and continued to train to use her quickness and

agility rather than brute strength after that.  Archery along with her two daggers became a part of her routine,

with sometimes a sword and dagger just for variety.  The archery appeased Eleanor to some degree, as her mother was

a master archer herself.
Kai'd had the good fortune to add an open handed martial arts form taught by a priest of the Qun all the way from

Par Vollen to her already growing talents.  The priest had been stuck at Highever during nasty Spring storms and

had found her willingness to learn a great relief from the boredom of rainy Ferelden days.  She was proud of her

skills and what she had accomplished.  There weren't many men who could best her on the field of combat, not even

Fergus.  She had worked hard to make it so.
Under Aldous, the tutor of the Cousland children, she studied strategy.  The battle planning tactics of the Rebel

Queen Moira, Arl Rendorn Guerrin and especially the best strategist in Ferelden history, Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir, the

Hero of River Dane, became as much a mainstay of her reading for fun as  for knowledge.
Unfortunately, even with all of that training and hard work she was going to be stuck at the castle while her older

brother Fergus and Father went off to Ostagar to fight darkspawn.  She tried not to think about it as she finished

stacking the shields and armor and made her way to the Great Hall of Highever, her home.  Her home, which she loved

with all her heart.  Right now it felt like a cage.  She sighed and gave herself a mental head slap for going where

she told herself not to go only a moment before.
It was in the Great Hall that she found her father talking with Arl Howe about riding out together like old times. 

She caught the tail end their friendly banter, something about having less gray in their hair then.  Her father and

Howe had fought together in the rebellion against The Usurper and Orlais alongside good King Maric.  As with most

members of the younger generation, she often thought of how exciting it must have been to ride into battle.
Howe, however, gave her the fidgets.  She supposed the heat of battle and being one of fifty survivors of what had

been a massacre of a large part of the rebellion at White River must have created a bond she would never

understand.  That experience was the only reason which Kai could imagine for her father’s befriending Arl Rendon

Howe.  Howe’s abrasive personality and his ambition had earned the man the dislike of his peers, including Maric

and his son Cailan.  Truth be told, Kai had always wondered why Howe pretended to like her father.  The other

nobles may have thought Bryce Cousland a fool for his fair treatment of the elves at Highever and for the way he

treated those “beneath his station” with respect, but the nobles loved her father.  So much so that when Maric had

drowned at sea, Bryce Cousland had come very close to being placed on the throne of Ferelden.  Only her father's

honor, honesty, and sense of fair play had him insisting Cailan be King.  She knew Howe would have done no such

thing.  To Kai, Howe was as cold and slimy as a sea slug she and Fergus had found washed up on a rocky beach as

children.  He was the opposite of her father in every way.  Howe sought power and recognition from the crown, and

if the man had been better liked, the crown itself.  Kai's father sought nothing more than to do his duty by his

king and his countrymen.  Many nobles called her father a fool for turning down the crown in whispers behind his

back, but Howe especially thought her father a cretin.
As she drew closer, the conversation turned from gray hair to an apology for the tardiness of soldiers due to be at

Highever from Amaranthine, something to do with flooded levies.  Kai had a moment to muse that even when Howe was

supposedly seeking pardon, he hardly sounded apologetic at all.  Kai listened as her father accepted Howe's excuse

with his usual patient manner and set about adapting the original plan.  Fergus and the soldiers of Highever would

march to Ostagar without Howe's men.  Her father would ride with Howe and his soldiers when they arrived on the

morrow.
Kai felt a scowl forming on her face and quickly mastered it before Howe or her father had a chance to turn and see

it.  Her father was far more patient with Howe than she would have been.  Flooded levies my arse.  More likely Howe

hadn't equipped them properly.  The man was notorious for treating his men at arms badly, underpaying and under

equipping them.  The city of Amaranthine had potholes in its streets and Vigil's Keep, the Howe home, was

supposedly in a constant state of disrepair.  Kai had no idea what Howe did with the money he received in taxes

from his people, but one thing was certain, he didn't spend on running his arlship or improving the lives of his

people.
She entertained the uncharitable thought that maybe he spent it at the brothels in Denerim.  That thought led

almost as quickly to Kai’s pondering if there were enough money in all of Thedas that would have any prostitute

willing to sleep with the likes of Rendon Howe.  Kai almost blushed, and then felt nausea welling up at the thought

of Howe naked.  NOT GOING THERE!  Kai gave herself the second mental head slap of the day.  Not that Howe had any

such problem imagining her or her mother naked, if the up and down leer the man bestowed upon them when they were

in his presence was any indication.
UGH!  Kai was about to chastise herself once more, but she was interrupted from going further down that twisted and

unpleasant internal road by her father's warm voice, "Ah hello, pup.  I didn't see you there.  Howe, you remember

my daughter?"
Howe, whose face always reminded Kai of a ferret with those beady, hungry eyes, broke into a feral smile.  "Ah yes,

she has grown into a lovely young women.  My son Thomas asks about you."  Howe's slick voice was pitched low, his

accent pulling his words longer at the end as if everything had a hidden meaning.
Kai remembered Thomas as a shy, skinny boy who had the unfortunate happenstance to look like a younger version of

his father, but without the smarmy confidence.  In fact if anything, Thomas had a tendency to be seen as “simple,”

though Kai thought it might be due to the fact that Thomas seemed to be afraid of his own father.  So afraid, in

fact, that the lad would simply withdraw into himself and stare vacantly into space whenever Howe was around.  The

only one of the man's children who seemed to love the man at all was his son Nathaniel.  And last she'd heard, Nate

was in the Free Marches, training.
Kai shook herself from her contemplations as both Howe and her father were looking at her in expectation of an

answer.  Kai grabbed at the first thing to come to mind, "I thought he didn't like me."  Actually, it was more like

Thomas never noticed her one way or another.  She could have been a dining room chair for all the attention Thomas

had ever spared her in the times they had been forced to socialize together.
"Oh I am sure that was years ago and you were both younger.  Things change.  Though I will not hold out hope, I

will admit I would not mind a match."  Howe looked her up and down in a way that made her skin crawl. 
She would rather drop dead first.  Kai smiled and kept from rolling her eyes, barely.  Despite the fact that both

the man and his son revolted her, she managed what she thought was a tactful reply, "We'll see."  Her father broke

in, thank the Maker, before her true emotions could show on her face.
"I doubt she'll be receptive, Howe.  I'm afraid my fierce girl has her own ideas, Maker bless her."  Her father's

face lit up with a proud smile.
There was an awkward silence that Kai sought to fill in.  She asked the first question that popped into her head,

"So you and father rode together with King Maric?"
"Your Father never told you about those days?  Oh yes, heady times!  King Maric, large as life and twice as tall. 

The man knew how to take care of his friends.  Cailan is certainly no Maric."
"I take it you don't like Cailan?"  Kai cocked an eyebrow at Howe, surprised at the man's audacity.
'I think of Cailan as much as he thinks at all.  Cailan is a fool who thinks only of legends and becoming one. 

Maric knew the true value of loyal service."
"Enough, Howe," Bryce Cousland's voice had become dangerously cool.  "You speak of our King!"
Howe scowled like a chastised but unrepentant little boy, folding his arms across his chest.  His voice was still

pitched low, but still loud enough to be heard, "I only answered the question she asked me.  As per the latitude

you give her."
Kai's father dismissed Howe's comment and changed the subject.  "Howe, we have a special guest I wanted you to

meet.  Duncan, a Grey Warden."
Kai felt her heart beat faster.  A Grey Warden, here!  She had of course read all about them and begged her tutor

to teach her about the famous sect of warriors and knights.  Only the best were asked to join the Grey.  They were

a fighting force to be reckoned with, heroes without equal who had saved Thedas many times.  Her father had the

utmost respect for them.  Kai wondered if she would even be considered worthy of joining.  For a brief wild moment,

she imagined she was a Grey Warden being cheered by her parents and many others for slaying the darkspawn. 

Childish, she knew, but a Grey Warden!  Maker, wouldn't that be grand?
She watched the swarthy, handsome, broad-shouldered man walking into the Hall from the doorway on the far side.  He

was extremely handsome to Kai's mind.  He must have been a lady killer in his youth and had only aged like a fine

wine.  His face was covered by a thick beard, his dark hair pulled back in a ponytail.  And did the man sport an

earring in one ear?  Take him out of the beautiful ornate armor and robes he wore and put him in leather, and he

would look like a Rivaini pirate.  Mother would love him; he was like one of those characters out of that steamy

romance novel, The Rose of Orlais.
If Kai had thought him handsome for his looks, it was his voice that made him tip past the edge of sexy  to fall

right in.  It was deep and smooth, and it caressed Kai's ears with its cadence.  This voice contrasted starkly with

Howe's voice, which had always set her teeth on edge.  Kai had half a moment to develop a bit of a crush on the man

and add it to her infatuation with becoming a Grey Warden.
It was Howe’s voice which once again had her grinding her molars until she thought her jaw would make noticeable

popping noise.  His smarmy tones interrupted her nice little lusty fantasy involving Duncan and becoming a Grey

Warden in a private ceremony.  Kai found herself sighing.  "A Grey Warden?  Here?  Why?"
"Is there a problem, Howe?"  Kai watched her father's eyebrows crease in irritation.  Apparently, Howe was even

wearing on his good nature.
"No, no, no!  It is just that I am unprepared for a guest of such importance.  There are certain protocols for

meeting people of such stature.  I have no wish to insult your illustrious guest inadvertently."  Howe put on a

simpering smile that turned Kai's stomach.  Kai again refrained from rolling her eyes, barely.  Duncan must have

caught her desire to do so, as he winked and gave her a half smile through his beard.  Kai felt a giggle waiting to

bubble up.  She coughed to cover it, which had Duncan winking at her again.
"Pup, Duncan is here to recruit Ser Gilmore for the Grey Wardens to aid them in the upcoming battle."  Bryce smiled

at Duncan.
"Actually, I am also very interested in recruiting your daughter."  Duncan looked at Kai once again.  She caught a

slight look of appraisal, and hope?
"You are interested in Kai?"  Kai felt her heart racing with excitement.  She really could be a Grey Warden then!
"I think I would like that very much!"  Kai felt a grin stretching her lips wide.  She caught Duncan’s hint of a

smile, hidden mostly by his beard.
Then she felt the giddiness leave as quickly as it had started with her father's next statement, "I've not so many

children that I'll gladly see them all off to battle.  I am sorry, old friend.  Not to mention that my lovely wife

would have my head on a pike on the castle wall if I let you take Kai."  Bryce grinned at Duncan.  "You aren't

planning on invoking The Right of Conscription?"
"Of course not, Bryce.  We could use all the recruits we can get, but..." Duncan shrugged his shoulders.  "I have

no desire to cause diplomatic problems with a Teyrn, nor personal problems with an old friend."  Duncan smiled at

her father.  But when he turned back to face her, Kai thought she saw different emotions warring with each other in

the blink of an eye.  What she saw chilled her more than a bucket of cold water from Highever Lake, for in that

space no longer than a blink, Kai had seen disappointment, resignation and fear.
Things were that bad with the darkspawn after all?  Maker!  Kai's stomach felt as though it had glass in it.  It

took a moment for her to realize her father was speaking to her again, something about taking care of the castle

and keeping peace in the region, would she do as he asked?  She vaguely remembered nodding and telling him of

course.  She flashed a quick look at Duncan, whose face was immobile, but whose eyes seemed to be assessing her

with a look of sharp discernment and a bit of awe, as if he had caught her reading him.  She supposed it would be

hard for most people to read him, being a Grey Warden and one of the best.  He was no doubt required to wear that

careful mask of neutrality quite often.  She and Duncan stood looking at one another as if they were having an

unspoken conversation.  Kai swallowed and dipped her head ever so slightly to Duncan.  When her father asked her to

go and find Fergus to say goodbye, she simply nodded and turned to take her leave.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 24 juin 2010 - 07:55 .

[Slim Warden]

I'm going to be very honest its really good, it'll be nice to see Kai develop from the beginning, and also this will be a whole lot easier to catch up too, so a very enjoyable read Gil, keep on writing and I'll keep reading.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw thanks Slim! Yeah it will be easier, especially on your poor wrists. : D

[westiex9]

This is Awesome! oh and the line where Kai decides when she will marry tomas howe is really funny.

[Gilgamesh1138]

LOL, thanks sweetie! You and Slim are the awesome sauce to me!. : D

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 2 ~ Sugar And Spice And Everything Nice ~


Kai turned to go, her emotions in turmoil.  Maker, it was worse than they all thought.  Duncan's face has said it

all. Oh, Fergus! Oh, Father!  And then it struck her.  She would be a Grey Warden.  Father and Mother needed to be

made to see how desperate things really were.  She turned on her heel and went back to Duncan's side.  She made a

quick motion to her father and Howe, begging to speak to Duncan for a brief moment and making some excuse about

seeing to his needs as her guest.
She beckoned him over and was relieved when he acquiesced and followed her to the side of the Hall away from her

father, Howe and the guards in the room.
"I'm sorry, but I believe that your father wished to speak with the arl and myself alone."  Kai noted how he

pitched his voice to sound like a stern parent.
"I was hoping to speak more with you at length, Ser Duncan."  Kai kept from smiling, barely.  "May we speak later?"
"Your father has left you in charge of the castle?  Your bidding is my duty, my lady.  I will see you at dinner

tomorrow, if not sooner."  He kept his face impassive but something seemed to be causing him a bit of

consternation.  Kai figured that as she was often a source of distress to her mother, she was the source of

Duncan's pangs as well.  She seemed to have that effect on people.  Only Fergus and her father seemed to take her

personality in stride.
"I would prefer to speak with you sooner."  She had a wild flight of fancy involving asking him to her room

tonight.  Damn, the man smelled good, like metal and leather and musky sweat, and he was even better looking up

close.  It made her want to giggle despite the circumstances.  She knew she'd better reign in her raging hormones

before she let things get out of control.  The man would hardly be interested in a woman young enough to be his

daughter.
"Then let us meet in the morning.  I will seek you out before Ser Gilmore's testing.  Would that be sufficient?" 

His voice sounded as if he were just keeping his annoyance under control.  Kai knew she could be pigheaded.  She

had been told often enough by her mother, though Eleanor always used the classier word “implacable.”  Kai gave a

mental snort, Stubborn as a Ceffyl more like.
"Yes, that would be fine."  Kai started to turn away, but stopped herself.  She put her hand on his arm and leaned

in closer, pitching her voice lower, "I saw your face.  I know it must be worse than they all know.  You need more

Grey Wardens, Ser Duncan.  I shall work on my father.  You will have me in your ranks.  We Couslands always do our

duty."  She felt the muscles in his arm twitch under her fingertips, almost as if her fingers burned his skin.
Kai smiled and winked at him before giving him a small salute.  She turned on her heel to leave the Great Hall and

was so busy thinking about their future meeting that she almost ran smack into one of Howe's guards.
Howe's man was a sallow skinned fellow with a thin brown mustache and a sardonic look in his eyes.  That he suited

Howe perfectly was the first thought to pop into her head.  His voice only confirmed it.  The tone was as smarmy as

Howe's own vocal emanations.  The pitch was as gooey as the wives of the nobility, and he grinned when she drew her

arm back quickly from the hand he had put out to steady her.  She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Greetings, my lady.  You are the teyrn's daughter, are you not?"  His grin got wider.
"How is it that you know who I am?"  Not that who I am is any of your damned business either, Kai thought.  She was

surprised at her self control in not giving utterance to the thought.  She must be learning some self restraint as

she got older.  Yay her!  She huffed to herself.
"I am a member of Arl Howe's personal guard.  I understand you will take charge of your father's castle once we

march?"  The man's smile took on a cynical twist with one side quirking higher than the other.  His tongue darted

out to one corner.
"So I'm told, yes."  Kai realized she was balling her fists.  This man's attitude and voice were setting her teeth

on edge.
"Ah, then I wish you luck."  And the man's lips drew into even more of a sneer, "Good evening, my lady."  He really

was perfect for that reptile Rendon Howe.  Kai felt cold.  Something was not right with this whole thing, but she

couldn't place her finger on it.  She brushed past him, only to spare the room one last look.  Howe, her father and

Duncan all stood talking.  Howe's guards stood with their backs to her.  The one she had just spoken to turned and

looked over his shoulder, giving her a long lecherous leer and a wink.  Something was definitely going on.
Kai put it out of her mind for now.  She wanted to find Fergus and caution him that things were worse with these

darkspawn than they all thought.  She had to warn him to be extra careful.  She didn't have time for fulsome

impertinent guards who worked for worms like Howe.
Hm, “fulsome,” Aldous her old tutor would be proud of her.  Pondering on the old sage had Kai thinking on books

that Father and Fergus might like to have with them on their trip.  Some were not so thick that they would bulk up

their packs too badly.  Since the Couslands were addicted to the written word and as they both would be gone for a

few months at the least, she thought they might like to have a few of their favorites.  Kai decided to take a quick

trip to the library.
Not wanting to get within close proximity of Howe's men again if she could help it meant she would have to take the

long way around.  She went out the main double doors that led to the courtyard and thence to the front gates of

Highever castle.
Kai paused a moment to breathe in the fresh air and look at her cage...home, she chuckled to herself.  She noticed

the way the sun bounced off the gray stone at the tops of the parapets and cast deep shadows from the walls as if

they were living in a man-made canyon.  She studied the leaves of the ivy, a striking green against the gray.  She

breathed in the scent of stone and ivy, wooden beams and dog which made up the smell of her home.  She was more

determined than ever not to lose it to darkspawn.  She would talk to Father again about being recruited. 

Andraste's flaming knickers, he had to be made to see!
Kai was about to pass by a guard who bid her good evening and then stopped her to inform her that Mother Mallol was

in the chapel and wanted to see her.  Kai grunted and thanked the guard before turning back on her heel and going

to the opposite side of the courtyard and to Highever Chapel.
Kai found herself in a room with a high ceiling, a large fireplace, pews and the lectern with the Chant of Light

sitting upon it.  Kai always found services a good time to take a nap.  Quite frankly she found the idea of

bothering the Maker with prayers as presuming on a friendship if anything.  One shouldn't go around asking one's

friend to remove a boil from one's...toe or other such nonsense that people always seemed to pray for.  It seemed

to her that if there really were a Maker, people put the burdens of such small things on the poor creator's

doorstep unfairly.  On the other hand, she had always found it strange that an all powerful, all knowing Maker

would not have known about the siege on his golden city long before it happened and stopped it.  Or why everyone

else, including the dwarves and elves, should suffer because of a few self-centered humans, especially the long

suffering dwarves.
Of course all of Kai's questions about why the Maker would hate the dwarves more – forcing them to lose their

empire, constantly fight the darkspawn and face possible extinction – always garnered her the consternation of

Mother Mallol.  Her curiosity had even earned her the contempt of the Revered Mother who had visited Highever

Castle once.  Kai often wondered if the old biddy's one and only visit had been because of her.  Good riddance to

bad garbage as far as Kai was concerned.  She figured if the old bat couldn't answer the simple questions of a ten

year old, then the Maker's fishwife ought to go back to theology school and come back when she could give real

answers, not empty platitudes which amounted to “just because the Maker made it so.”
Because of her attitude, Kai suspected Mother Mallol was always annoyed with her on some level, and the fact that

Kai found the Chant of Light so sodding boring didn't help matters she was sure.  So, it was a surprise that Mother

Mallol wanted to see her.
Kai watched the Mother on bended knee while two soldiers, also on bended knees with hands clasped, prayed to the

Maker with the priestess.  Not knowing how long this was to take, Kai gave a little cough to alert Mallol she was

there.  Mallol rose and after calling on the Maker to preserve the men, one of the soldiers uttered a frightened

and heartfelt, "Maker watch over us!".  Kai wanted to roll her eyes.  Better a sharpened sword and good armor and

swift reflexes than asking the Maker to protect them.
Mother Mallol asked her to pray for her father and brother.  Kai figured it wouldn't hurt and it would keep Mother

Mallol appeased.  Since Kai was going to be in charge of the castle, she really didn't want to have Mother Mallol

ask the Revered Mother to visit as revenge while her father was away.
Mother Mallol led the prayer.  Kai mouthed the words as the soldiers and the priestess prayed, all while trying not

to roll her eyes.  When she had finished, Mother Mallol flashed her a rare, happy smile and told her that no matter

what happened to her father and Fergus, it was the Maker's "plan."  Kai clenched her fists but managed not to say

something rude, snarky or inappropriate.  Her mother would be so proud.  Two instances of diplomacy and she had

managed not to embarrass the Cousland family name.  Maybe the world was coming to an end and the Maker had failed

to warn everyone that her holding her tongue was a sign of it.  Kai nodded to the priestess and made her way out of

the chapel before she gave herself a chance to ruin her sterling record so far.
She was making her way past the outside wall of the Great Hall when she heard someone yell, "Wicked Grace!  Aha! 

You owe me four sovereigns now Basil!"  Curious, she turned left toward the family treasury and vault.  It held

their valuables, including the heirloom Cousland Family Sword and was where the family's armor and weapons were all

stored, including Iain's shield.  Iain was her father's baby brother whom she had never met.  He had died at the

Battle of White River in the rebellion against Orlais.  Mother had originally been engaged to marry Uncle Iain. 

Instead, he had died and her mother had saved Father from the battlefield and nursed him back to health. Her

parents had fallen in love and married, and Meghren was finally defeated in a duel with Maric shortly thereafter. 

Orlais had been routed, and Ferelden had been freed.  It was a romantic tale Kai and Fergus loved hearing over and

over again on Cousland Camaraderie Day.
When she entered the doorway to the ante room of the vault, she saw two of the Cousland guards sitting at the table

instead of standing at their posts beside the door leading to the vault.  The man facing her saw her, and the grin

left his face.  "I am so sorry, mi'lady!  We were just..."
"Taking a break?" Kai laughed.
"Beggin' yer pardon, mi'lady, but the door is thick oak and locked to boot.  Unless someone brings in a battering

ram, there is no way to get through it without the key.  A key only..."
"Only my mother the teyrna and my father the teyrn possess.  I know.  Carry on playing cards...erm...as you were. 

I won't say anything."  Kai grinned and gave them a wink.
"Mi'lady is too kind!"  And with that the man blushed and sat back down to face his fellow.
Kai grinned to herself.  It must be sodding boring to stand guard on a locked door.  She walked back the way she

had come and up towards the library.  She was just about to open the library door when Ser Gilmore's blazing red

hair caught her attention as he ran up.
Ser Gilmore had been a childhood friend to her and Fergus since he had been sent to Highever as a squire.  He was a

child of a lesser noble, a bann whose lands were really a large farm hold.  Kai had once, in her early teens, had a

terrible crush on Ser Gilmore, but he never told her how he really felt about her.  Flirting with him had never

garnered her anything more than flushes and stuttering back then, and things had not changed.  He would blush and

stammer and follow her, trying to keep her out of trouble.  Trying to keep Kai out of trouble was a fulltime job

which also involved Nan, Fergus and her mother.  Father, not so much.
So, she had lost her virginity to the stable boy Joss instead, which was just as well she supposed.  Both she and

Joss had known their affair would go nowhere, no matter how much latitude her parents gave her.  Joss had been a

fun and pleasurable person with whom to get the painful and shocking parts of those first sexual encounters out of

the way.  With Ser Gilmore, Kai had thought she might have been able to fall in love or at least had her heart

broken by him at any rate.  Unfortunately, he never seemed to act as anything more than a level head to talk Kai

out of her more dangerous stunts as a child.  He was her redheaded conscience.  Kai figured his real feelings

toward her were more like a brother’s or a cousin’s.  So, she had stayed friends with him and flirted wildly with

him as it seemed to cause him such distress, which she found immensely funny.
"There you are!  Your mother told me the teyrn had summoned you.  I was afraid of interrupting."  The sun lit up

his head from behind giving him a halo of fiery red hair.  His sea green eyes always caught her attention, their

color was so unusual.
"Hello to you too, Ser Gilmore."  Kai grinned at him, causing him to give her a nervous chuckle and mumble

something that ended in, “...my lady.”
"I'm afraid your hound, Argus, is causing an uproar again.  Nan is threatening to leave."  He gave her a nervous

smile that mirrored his laugh from only a moment before.
"Oh Gilly!” Kai laughed, enjoying the blush that crept up Ser Gilmore's neck and into his face at her use of the

childhood pet name she had for him.  "Nan was my nanny before she was the cook.  She won't leave."
"Well, your mother disagrees, and she wants you to collect your dog."  Kai watched Ser Gilmore shuffle his feet and

look down.  "You know these Mabari hounds.  He'll listen to his mistress, but anyone else risks having their arm

taken off."
"Gilly, he knows better than to hurt anyone."  Kai grinned at him.
"I am not willing to test that myself, even if I have been around him since we were kids.  You're lucky to have

your own war hound.  Smart enough not to talk, my da’ always said."  The handsome knight grinned back at her.  "Of

course that also means they're easily bored.  If you ask Nan, she swears he confounds her just to amuse himself." 

Gilmore joined Kai in laughing this time.
"Of that I have no doubt, my dear Gilly."  Kai winked at him.  She noticed he blushed harder this time, until his

ears were red as well.
"At any rate, your mother would have me accompany you until the matter is settled.  Shall we?"  And he made a

sweeping gesture with one well muscled arm.  Kai huffed.  Mother apparently thought she was still ten and likely to

go off climbing apple trees and forget about saving Nan's larder.  Of course, that wasn't a bad idea....
She was snapped out of the day dream in which she grabbed a bottle of mead and a book and went to the garden next

to the apple orchard by Ser Gilmore's hand on her arm.
"May I beg a question, my lady?  I have been hearing rumors around that a Grey Warden is here.  Is that true?"  His

voice sounded hopeful.
"It is.  His name is Duncan.  I met him."
"Is it also true that he is asking after me?"  His hand gripped her arm as if to make sure the world were solid and

this wasn't a dream.
"He intends to test you for recruitment."  Kai nodded at him.
"Maker's breath, a Grey Warden?  Can you imagine?  It would be everything I dreamed of, well almost everything.  Of

course I shouldn't get ahead of myself, pardon my outburst."
"Silly Gilly!" Kai used another childhood favorite, which caused him to blush the same red as a tomato.  "I know

Mum wanted me to collect Argus, but I am on a mission.  I want to get some of Father’s and Fergus's favorite books

for them for their trip.  So, we’ll make a quick stop in the library and then on to the larder."
"My lady, I think we should just go to the kitchens straight away..." Kai put a hand on his arm and kissed his

cheek.
"Gilly, Nan is exaggerating.  Argus would not be eating the food in the larder.  He knows better.  And it will only

take a moment, I promise!  Please, Gilly-willy?"  Kai knew she was milking it for all it was worth, and truth be

told she only used "feminine wiles" on Ser Gilmore because she loved how they made him stammer and blush.  To see

him agreeing to whatever she asked was a small side benefit.  Even if they didn't work, she would just do what she

wanted and he would follow as he had since they were children.  Why not make it more fun then? was her motto.
Kai didn't even wait to see if he followed or not as she turned and walked through the doorway to the library and

turned left to go to her father's private study.  She had barely made it to the study door when an all too familiar

voice rang out calling her by name.  Damn, had she said this was going to be quick?  Kai groaned inwardly.  She

pasted a smile on her face and turned back to the main room of the library and towards the source of the voice.
Aldous, whose hair seemed to get grayer and beard longer every time she saw him, stood with two very bored looking

boys.  "Young lady, would you care to help me give the history lesson of the Couslands to these two reprobates?" 

Kai thought she heard him mumble something about reminding him of her at that age.  Kai cocked an eyebrow and

grinned.
"Aw, do we have to?  History is boring!" one of the lads grumbled out loud.  His mistake, Kai could have told him

that.
"I will have you learn the history of the family that is squiring you!" Aldous' face began to flush.  "I will not

have you turning into smart mouthed hooligans!"
Kai whispered out of the corner of her mouth at Ser Gilmore, "Hooligans who do shenanigans!" and heard Gilmore

stifling a laugh by trying to cover it with a cough.
Kai interrupted before the old man could give himself a stroke.  She started with the Black Age and the lycanthrope

plague, which got Aldous started.  The only problem was getting him to stop again.  One bit of history she had not

known was that they had hung Rendon Howe's father Tarleton Howe at Harper's Ford.  When the old sage seemed to

finally, Maker's breath, be winding down she was complimented on the fact that some of his lessons didn't disappear

into that yawning chasm between her ears.  Kai thought to return the favor as she sarcastically told him that it

was due to his skill as a teacher, to which he replied that if he was such a great tutor, he wouldn't have such

insouciance in his pupils.  He then told her she could go look that word up, the smart-alecky old bugger.
Kai rolled her eyes as her old teacher went off to nap in a corner.  She continued the way she had been headed. 

She gathered the books and put them into stacks, one for Father and one for Fergus.  She found the librarian and

bid him to see the stacks delivered immediately to the family's quarters, especially to Fergus as he would be

leaving tonight.  She asked Ser Gilmore to follow her with a smile, and they made their way toward the kitchens.
As they drew nearer, Kai could hear that Nan was in fine form.  "Get that bloody hound out of my larder!"  Nan

stood using her powerful set of lungs on the two elven servants who cowered before her.
"But mistress, he will eat our faces off!  We can't go near him!"  The young elven woman put a hand to her cheek as

if Argus had already taken a chunk out of it.
Ser Gilmore tried to soothe the blustering cook.  "Now, my good woman, calm down.  We are here to help.  I brought

Kai."
Kai watched her beloved old nanny turn with her “gorgon look” upon her face.  Kai knew that look very, very well. 

"You!  And You!  Your bloody mongrel keeps getting into my larder!  That beast should be put down!"
"Nan, he isn't a mongrel.  He is a full blooded Mabari!" Kai feigned being insulted.
"A Blight wolf is what he is!  That's it, tell your mother I will quit and go work for some nice estate in the

Bannorn."  Nan crossed her arms across her chest scowling more.
Kai laughed, "Oh Nan, you know you would never leave us!  An estate in the Bannorn would be boring!"  She kissed

Nan's old wrinkled cheek and gave the old woman her most saucy smile.  Nan, who had seen that brazen grin before,

hrumpffed and turned to the servants once again.
"Stop standing there like idiots.  Get out of the way!"  She made shooing motions with her hands.
As Kai neared the larder door, she heard the crashing of crockery and angry barking.  Blast!  It sounded as if

Argus really was going through the room like a horde of darkspawn.  He’d usually just cast sad eyes and whine to

get a snack from Nan or her.  He wasn't prone to breaking things.  Mother would have both their hides nailed to the

castle wall.
Kai grasped the cold iron handle and swung the heavy oak door open.  There stood Argus, doing what Kai called his

“rabbit impression,” bouncing up and down.
"Look at that mess.  How did he even get in here?"  Ser Gilmore raised his fingers to pinch the bridge of his

nose.  Argus turned towards her, his tongue lolling out of his mouth in a goofy doggy grin before he barked at her

again.
"Are you trying to tell me something, boy?"  Kai bent down to scratch him under the chin.  He licked her hand with

his long wet tongue and barked again, resuming his bouncing and twirling.
"It certainly is like he wants to tell us something.  Wait do you hear that noise?"  Ser Gilmore spun on his heel,

peering into the darkened corners of the larders.  Kai heard a scratching noise and low squeaking, like a spinning

wheel Nan had which always needed to be oiled.
"Quick!  Shut the door, Gilly!  We don't want them getting out into the kitchen!"  Kai pulled out her daggers.  She

had seen the reddish light of the lantern reflecting off multiple pairs of eyes.  Argus growled low in his throat.
"What is..." anything else Ser Gilmore was about to say was lost as many gray-brown furred bodies swarmed the three

of them standing in the middle of the larder.  They came from the shadows, sharp claws scrabbling on the stone and

sharp, yellow, curved teeth bared.  She had a moment to warn Ser Gilmore before her blades and the proverbial and

literal fur began to fly.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 24 juin 2010 - 08:01 .

[westiex9]

Oh that Kai flirting with duncan like that, hehe and i love how you wrote the encounter against the rats in the larder epic! keep up the awesome work Gil !

Modifié par westiex9, 15 mai 2010 - 10:45 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks westie! sorry about the formatting issues. I fixed it.

[Slim Warden]

Everyone loves Duncan, and it was a well done chapter Gil, can't wait til the next chapter.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 3 [b]~Mabari & Nan & Rats -OH MY! ~

 
Well, if the larder wasn't a mess with Argus busting the crockery, it certainly was now.  The floor was littered

with the bloodied and broken bodies of a dozen or so large rats.  Maker, that was a lot of blood and mess.  Kai

looked around.  Gilly was wiping his sword blade with what looked like one of Nan's dish towels.  Oh my!  Kai was

not going to say anything about Gilly doing that.  Nan would have his hide on the kitchen wall.  Kai grabbed the

rag from him before he could put it down on one of the tables and wiped down her own blades and Argus's bloody

muzzle for good measure.
"That was like the start of every bad adventure tale my grandfather used to tell me about.  Argus must have chased

them in through their holes."
"Those were some really big rats.  Good thing I had my knight in shining armor to help me, right Ser Gilly?" Kai

grinned at him and winked, causing Gilmore's face to match his hair.  Argus let out a loud bark.  "And my faithful

war hound as well!  I could never forget you my stalwart friend!" Kai laughed and scratched Argus behind the

Mabari's pointed ears.  She grinned to see him close his eyes in doggy ecstasy.
"Yes, well...ehem...they were rats from the Kocari Wilds, my grandfather used to speak of them.  I am going to go

now that you have everything in hand here, Ka...my lady.  I need to prepare for the arrival of more of the Arl's

men," Gilmore stammered at her.  Kai found herself laughing harder, but kissed him on the cheek delighting in the

way his skin flushed more.
"All knights in shining armor deserve a reward from the maiden for their daring rescue, no?" Kai grinned harder at

him.  "See you later, Ser Gilly."  He blushed more, gave her a small smile and turned to go.
Before he was through the door, he turned back to her.  "You know, my lady, if I were Duncan I would pick you."  He

then turned and left before she could reply.  Kai shook her head.
"Well come on, boy, time to beard the dragon in her den!  Nan was yelling loud enough they could have heard her at

the top of Dragon's Peak."  Kai had made sure she said this last bit as she and Argus entered the kitchen.
"I heard that, Imp!" Nan turned to look the both of them over, her arms crossed, her face set in her “gorgon”

look.  "There he is, brazen as his mistress, licking his chops after helping himself to the roast no doubt!"
Kai let out a laugh and kissed the old woman once again.  "Oh Nan, it wasn't the roast Argus was after, it was the

rats in the larder.  Sodding big rats too."
One of Nan's assistants gasped, putting a hand to her face.  "Not the big gray ones!"  Kai tried not to giggle. 

First the girl was afraid Argus would take off her face, now rats. 
The male servant's voice rose a decibel.  "Those will eat your face off they will!"  What was this obsession with

their faces? Kai wondered before she felt, as well as heard, Nan's voice addressing her once more.
"See now you've gone and scared the servants!  I expect those filthy things are all dead?" Nan scowled at her.  Kai

laughed and nodded putting a hand on Argus's head.
"Yep, Argus took care of them, Nan.  He is your hero, your knight in doggy skin."  Kai winked at Argus before she

turned back to Nan with a grin.
"Humpf, I bet he chased them in there."  Kai watched Argus focus on Nan with his big brown eyes, giving her a whine

for good measure.  "Oh, don't give me the sad eyes.  I am immune to your charms."  Nan narrowed her eyes.
Argus looked up a Kai briefly.  She shrugged and winked before Argus turned back to Nan pinning her with his

saddest “puppy dog” eyes yet while giving a whine and adding a head tilt for emphasis.  "Ach, here are some pork

bits.  Don't say old Nan never gave you anything."  She turned her wrinkled scowl on Kai.  "And don't think, Imp,

that I didn't notice you and he were ganging up on me either.  I may be old, but I'm not blind or struck stupid."
Kai laughed and hugged Nan around her thin shoulders.  Behind Nan's back she gestured to the male elf and gave him

the bloody dish towel she had balled up in her fist.  She motioned with her eyes towards the roaring fire in the

fireplace.  He grinned and nodded, throwing the bloody cloth in under the logs and poking it back as far as

possible with the poker.
"Since I helped vanquish our unwanted furry guests, does this mean I get a reward of food too?  And don't say I can

have pork bits."  Kai stepped back to look Nan in the face.
"I suppose you want those sweet buns you're so fond of for desert then, do you?" Nan huffed putting her hands on

her hips.  "I suppose I could do that, Imp.  Now get out of my kitchen.  I have a ton of work to do and these lazy

servants to skin if they don't get a move on!  NAILS, HIDES, WALLS!" This last part was directed at the two elven

assistants.  Kai heard one grumble something about “old bat” under his breath.
She kissed the old, wrinkled cheek whispering, "I love you, Nan" into her ear before walking towards the door.
"Imp!  You remember that story of Hohaku?" Kai turned to see her old nanny in her faded pink dress, arms crossed,

lit by firelight.  Kai nodded.  "You remember the lesson from it?"  Again, Kai nodded.
"How we treat the least is judged by the greatest."
"See that you don't forget it, Imp."  Kai grinned and blew her a kiss while nodding.  "Oh, and you owe me another

dish towel."  With that Nan turned back, barking orders about cleaning hearths and not dropping food on the floor. 

Kai took one more moment to grin at Nan's back before motioning for Argus to follow her through the door.
Kai figured she ought to go look for Fergus as her father had suggested.  She walked down the corridor and around

the corner past the dining hall towards the junction to the ramp leading to the atrium.  As she approached the

corner leading to the little alcove with couches, tables, and potted plants for the family to relax outside their

living quarters, Kai heard her mother's lovely low voice speaking with someone about the dress Father had brought

back from his trip to Orlais.
Father had been sent on a diplomatic mission on behalf of King Cailan.  While he was there, a drunken Marquis had

mistaken him for the king and given him the newest Orlesian fashion as a gift for his wife.  Father being honorable

and honest had told Cailan about the gift of the dress and had tried to give it to the king to give to Queen

Anora.  The king had clapped her father on the back, thanked him for his mission and told him to take it home to

Kai's lovely mother instead.
Kai had to stifle a giggle.  Eleanor Cousland spent almost as much time in leather armor as her daughter.  And if

she spent less time in the training area, it was because she had a castle to run.  A castle to run...Kai suspected

she too would have less time for weapons practice for the months Father and Fergus were away.
Kai turned the corner to see her mother whose age had only added layers of polish to the beauty she had been in her

youth.  She was wearing that silken get up from Orlais and speaking to Lady Landra. An elven servant stood shyly

behind Lady Landra and...Kai's heart began to beat faster.
Was that Dairren?  He had been abroad studying in Antiva through connections Father had with her sister-in-law

Oriana's family.  Kai hadn't seen him for about five years now, almost six.  When they were children, he had been a

skinny child with his head always in a book.  She had dissuaded the bigger bullying noble boys from picking on him

and had made sure they understood, in no uncertain terms, that the bullying better not happen away from Highever

either.  Kai could never stand to see someone perceived as weaker being picked on by those seen as stronger.  The

story of Hohaku was to blame for that she supposed.  Maker love Nan and her stories!
Well, Dairren could obviously take care of himself now.  He had filled out in all the right places – broad

shoulders, muscular chest, strong arms.  Apparently while in Antiva, he had not just worked on his mind.  Kai had

always loved discussing books with him, and he had been a good companion the few times they had been together due

to their parents' political duties.  They had both been the odd ducks amongst the so called “swans” of the

nobility.  When he had left, she had been sad to see him go.  Parties and Landsmeets were certainly more boring, as

she often found herself alone.  They had corresponded for a while, but that had fallen off as such things often do,

even if the people involved have good intentions.
And here he was.  He probably didn't even remember her.  Kai felt a pang of disappointment at the thought, a quick

little pinching feeling in her chest which surprised her.  She continued forward as her mother turned from her

company to see her drawing close.
"Ah, here is my lovely daughter.  I take it from the presence of Argus that the situation in the kitchen is

handled?"  Eleanor raised an eyebrow as if to say do be careful what you say in front of these people.
Kai found she couldn't resist.  Nan didn't call her “Imp” for nothing after all, "Yes, mother, there were giant

rats in the larder."  She felt her lips twitching even as she pressed them together and watched as her mother's

eyebrow shot even further up her forehead.
"Ah, marvelous, just the thing for my guests to hear right before dinner.  Darling, surely you remember Lady

Landra?"  Kai could hear the "oh you scamp" in her mother's “darling.”
Kai turned to the tired and worn out looking woman before her.  Kai knew that Lady Landra was a very sweet and

unhappy woman.  The exact source of her unhappiness was her husband, and thus she was a shining example to Kai of

why one should never get married for political reasons.  Lady Landra's unhappiness was often dulled by drink and

lots of it.  She arrived at parties and salons vertical and often left them horizontal.
As Kai had met Lady Landra's husband, Dairren's father, she didn't begrudge the woman her drinking one bit.  In

fact, after meeting Dairren's father, Kai was surprised that Lady Landra didn't find a vat somewhere to drown in. 

It was hard to believe that someone as sweet as Dairren could have sprung from the sire he had, but he seemed to

take after his mother.  She wondered if any of the little boy remained in the handsome man before her.
Her mother coughed, getting her attention.  She realized she had been gazing at Dairren, and he had been appraising

her as well.  Kai turned back to Lady Landra, "Of course good to see you again, my lady.  It has been too long

since last we met, my mother's Spring salon, yes?"  Kai could feel her mother's smile of approval for her tone and

for her sudden appearance of manners.
Lady Landra gave her a small laugh, "You are too kind my dear girl.  Didn't I spend half the salon trying to

convince you to marry my son?"
Dairren broke in, looking at Kai with a sheepish grin, "And making a very poor case for it, I have no doubt."
Lady Landra went on in her soft and breathy voice as if Dairren had said nothing, "You've met my son.  He isn't

married yet, either."  Kai had to bite her lower lip to keep from laughing at the expression on Dairren's face.  He

looked mortified.
"Don't listen to her.  It's good to see you again, my lady.  You're looking as beautiful as ever."  Kai watched his

eyes which stayed on hers, rather than resting in the region below her chin as so many noblemen's eyes seemed wont

to do.  She felt a fluttering...well...in different places, and she found herself biting her lower lip for entirely

different reasons than mirth.
"You're looking rather handsome yourself," Kai couldn't help but blurt that out.  Maker!  Could she be more

awkward?  Luckily he didn't seem to notice her bumbling attempt at flattery.  Dairren flushed, and his gaze became

more intent than before.
The world came back into focus as Kai realized Lady Landra had been speaking.  Her voice registered with Kai's ears

and she realized that the elven servant was being introduced as Lady Landra's lady in waiting, Iona.  "Do say

something, dear!" Landra snapped at the exotic elven woman.
"You are as beautiful as your mother describes, my lady."  The woman's voice was lilting and lovely.  Kai smiled at

her and bobbed her head in acknowledgment while blushing furiously.  She wanted to roll her eyes.  Oh Mother,

really!
"You would think that it would make it easier, not harder, to find her a husband and marry her off."  Kai listened

as her mother voiced an age old argument.  She sighed to herself.  It was what Dairren said next that made her

heart beat faster as he looked at her with eyes that sparkled.
"Perhaps your daughter has a mind of her own.  You should be proud, my lady."  Dairren smiled at Kai and winked. 

She found herself grinning back.
As much as Dairren's statement had her heart racing, her mother's reply had her blood churning, "‘Proud’ doesn't

get me any more grandchildren."
Kai opted to ignore this, otherwise she and her mother might get into their old argument about the role of

noblewomen as baby factories.  Those “discussions” never ended well.  "Perhaps we should speak alone sometime,

Dairren?"
Her heart beat faster as he looked her in the eyes, "I would like that, my lady."  The way his voice softened and

deepened when he said “my lady” was sending shivers down her spine.  Kai was still looking at Dairren and hardly

heard his mother excuse herself to go to her room.  Kai said something about seeing him at supper.  Dairren, with

one more appraising and meaningful look, said he would be in the library.  Iona followed him, as did Kai's eyes as

he walked downstairs and around the corner.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 24 juin 2010 - 08:04 .

[Maria13]

Laying Darrien was one of my favourite parts in the HFN story... Good things coming?

[Gilgamesh1138]

Oh yes! You know there will be Dairren fun and bouncing on the bed. LOL! I too enjoyed that part of the noble origin. : )

[Maria13]

No clothes, right?



Goodie.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Definitely no clothes! I plan on making everyone need a cold drink or a cold shower. : D

[Slim Warden]

Very nice Gil, I have to admit I never really got to know Dairren apart from idle chit chat, but anyway awesome chapter.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Thanks Slim! Did I ever tell you how much seeing your name on my posts just makes my little heart go pitter pat? No? well now you know! *HUGS*

[Slim Warden]

Look what you've done, now you got me smiling, but I just really enjoy you're writing, and I'm already anxious for the next chapter.

[westiex9]

OoH ive missed some entertaining parts i see! Dairren was fun, but then Iona always ends up stealing my heart!
 
Im loving this thread, i always wanted to hear more about the Cousland Nobles early life!

Modifié par westiex9, 20 mai 2010 - 11:37 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

ROFL! Another one who makes my heart go pitty pat(westie)! And not just because both of you read my stories, but for your own as well!



Slim you rascal, I will hopefully have another chapter for you tonight.



westie you doll! Those are words I like to hear!



Thanks guys! : )

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 4  ~Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing Wax~





Lady Landra had excused herself to go to her quarters to "rest."  Kai suspected such a rest included some of the

alcohol the poor soul often had secreted in her bags when she traveled, so Kai found herself alone with her mother.
"You should go and see Fergus while you have the chance."  Her mother stroked her cheek and smiled at her.
Kai smiled back but she knew her next statement would make her mother’s smile disappear just as quickly, "Why can't

I go with Father and Fergus?"  Kai watched her mother's face turn pensive.
"I know it is difficult to stay in the castle and watch the others ride out, especially when you have trained so

long and hard.  But we must do our duty first.  You understand that don't you?  We Couslands...."
"We always do our duty.  Yes, Mother, I know.  But what if they fall without me?" Kai's stomach felt like ice.  She

didn't want to think of them falling in battle, it hurt too much.
"It's in the Maker's hands now.  We must cope as best we can."  Eleanor's hand reached out and rubbed Kai's arm.
"I know, Mother, I just have a bad feeling about all of this."  Kai couldn't help the shivers that ran up and down

her spine like newly hatched spiders.  She kept thinking of Duncan's face in the Great Hall only a little while

before.
Her mother looked at her with an expression that, Kai mused, probably matched her own, "As do I.  Your father and

brother are going off to fight Maker knows what.  It wouldn't help for us to take up arms and follow.  They have

their duty, and we have ours, darling."  Her mother gave her a brave smile.
"Aren't you staying at the castle?" Kai had a moment of dread at her mother's next words.
"For a few days, then I will travel with Lady Landra to her estate and stay with her for a short while.  You know

she can use these short escapes from Bann Loren, but she always has to go back.  She could use the company. 

Besides, your father thinks having me here would undermine your authority."  Her mother gave her a reassuring

smile.
Kai gulped and could feel a cold sweat snaking along her skin.  Maker, she was going to be running this place all

by herself?  Andraste's ass, she couldn't run her clothes to the hamper, or so Nan used to say.  And then it really

struck home at this moment like no other.  She was going to be ruler of Highever, even if only for a little while. 

Father really had put her in charge, oh my!
"I don't think you should go, Mother."  Kai tried to keep her stomach from floating up into her throat.
"Don't worry, my dear, it won't be for long, and you'll do just fine."
Kai thought she better changed the subject before she found herself running screaming from the castle in a panic,

"Did you know there is a Grey Warden here?"
"Yes, your father mentioned that Duncan was coming to visit us. You haven't gotten it in your head that you want to

be recruited, have you?" Kai watched her mother's face shift into an expression of concern, and fear?  Like

Duncan's face, the expression was only there for a moment before it settled into a more stern countenance.
"Mother, the darkspawn have returned.  Grey Wardens are needed."  Kai's mind's eye flashed to Duncan's handsome and

worried face.
"There is enough here at the castle to occupy you, Kaidana.  I don't need you off chasing danger like your

brother!"  It was then that Kai heard the desperate love in her mother's voice.
Kai smiled to reassure her as she reached out and rubbed her mother's arm, returning Eleanor's earlier gesture. 

"Do you know where Fergus might be?"
"If he is not out with his men, probably upstairs with Oriana and Oren I should think."  Eleanor gave a brief

glance up the ramp towards their living quarters before turning back to Kai.
"I should go, Mamae."  Kai had always loved the elven word for “mother.”  She had had a few elven friends as she

grew up.  Her best friend had taught her that word, the friend who had been run over by a noble's carriage when

they were ten.  But the word had stuck as Kai's pet name for her mother which she used only in private.  And Kai

liked it as a loving and casual title for Eleanor, a lot more than “momma.”  “Mamae” had always sounded beautiful

and exotic, like Eleanor herself.  They may have their differences, both being stubborn (implacable) women.  But

Kai loved her mother, and now they both had something else in common, fear and worry for Father and Fergus.
"I love you, my darling girl.  You know that, don't you?" Eleanor reached out and hugged her tight.
"I love you too, Mamae, so very much."  Kai kissed her mother’s cheek.  "I will miss you while you're gone."
"Go do what you must, then I will see you soon."  Eleanor gave her a wink and a nod down the ramp in the direction

of the library.  Kai laughed and shook her head.  She waved at her mother and went down the ramp to make her way

back to the library.
Kai walked in to find the two young squires sitting at a table drawing images of war and battles and darkspawn, and

even one she thought might be King Cailan with a crown and a sword.  The boys had books opened before them and if

Aldous snorted as if he were waking the boys would quickly grab the nearest book and pretend they were reading

while taking notes.  Kai stifled a laugh and winked at them as she went on by.
Funny, her palms were sweating.  Kai walked into what used to be her Grandfather Malcolm's study and office (and,

Kai suspected, his oasis when running Highever got to be too much) and was now her father's.  She supposed that one

day it would be Fergus's.
Dairren stood there; he really had grown into a handsome man.  Kai found herself admiring his broad shoulders and

muscular chest once more.  She was broken from her ogling, and realized she had been doing just that, Maker’s

breath, by Dairren's deep voice, "Hello, again.  Your castle's study is wonderful!  Might I ask whose collection it

is?"
Kai blushed, "It was my grandfather's, but I often come here to read."
What he said next had her grinning at him, "I would too, this collection is amazing!  Do you have a favorite?"
"Well, I enjoy 'The Dragons of Tevinter,' by Brother Timious."  Kai looked away, why was she feeling so awkward? 

He was an old friend from childhood.  They used to play together for the Maker's sake!  Maybe because the playing I

have in mind is nothing like we did as children?  Kai wanted to giggle.
"Good choice!  Timious's theory on the nature of dragons and how they connect to darkspawn is intriguing." 

Dairren's eyes seemed to rest on her with respect and attraction?  Kai felt herself with the desire to fidget.  Was

it getting warm in here?  She fought the urge to fan herself.
Kai needed a distraction.  Her brain hit on the last thing he said, darkspawn, "Do you know anything about the Grey

Wardens?"
“No more than anyone else.  Is it true there is one in the castle?  Have you met him?" Dairren's face lit up.  Kai

imagined her face must have looked the same when her father introduced Duncan to her.  She wanted to laugh at the

both of them, like kids on Wintersday waiting to open gifts.
"It's true.  I've met him.  He has quite a presence.  And he is the Warden Commander of Ferelden no less, the best

of the best."
"I'd join the Grey Wardens in a heartbeat, but I'd never gain the Grey Warden's notice.  I'll have to be happy

under your father's command."  His voice sounded wistful and Kai caught the image of the shy, sad, skinny little

boy with his nose always in a book.
Kai was flushed with anger for her childhood friend.  Bullied by the other nobles' sons, and treated with

indifference by his "man's man" of a father who could never understand a son who used his brains for something

other than keeping his ears from clanking together.  He had been sent away, glad to go, to Antiva to study because

he was an embarrassment to his sire.
"Of course they would take you!  Maybe you should ask Duncan to test you at Ostagar.  He will be there for the

battle.  He is to test Ser Gilmore, then go there after.  You could ask him while you're there."  Kai put a hand on

his arm, feeling his warmth and the hard muscles underneath the cloth.
She pulled her hand back, flushed and looked down, casting about for something to change the subject, "So, you're

going to be riding with my father tomorrow?"
"Yes, though I don't know when.  I will leave when he does.  I'll ride as his second – a glorified squire, more or

less.  I'll care for his horse and armor and such.  It's really quite an honor..." Dairren's voice trailed off

wistfully.
"Will you actually fight?" Kai looked at him, feeling the same cold ice in her stomach at the thought of him in

battle that she felt for Father and Fergus.
"I hope so.  I admit to trepidation about facing darkspawn, but I can't imagine an opponent more worthy of

defeat."  He grinned at her.
Kai grinned back and teased him, "You consider it an honor to do menial tasks?"
"Oh ho!  Unlike you, I'm no child of a great house.  If I can rise within the ranks of your father's service it is

more than I could normally hope for."  His grin got wider, "I'm a bit surprised you're not riding alongside your

brother.  Is that...disappointing?"  Dairren's voice tilted upwards in a mocking tone while he wrinkled his nose at

her as he did when they were children.
Kai wrinkled her own nose and stuck out her tongue at him, "Yes, I really want to go."
The grin left his face and he became serious, but with an undercurrent of eagerness.  Eagerness to please...her? 

He stepped closer pitching his voice lower, "If you're interested, I shall record what I can during the battle.  My

writing skills may be lacking, but I hope to convey a true sense of the warrior's experience.  Writing such an

important work is one of my ambitions."  This last part had him blushing and looking away as if he thought she

might laugh.
"You always were reading.  I am not surprised you wish to write.  I do find it hard to believe your writing skills

will be lacking in any way, Dairren.  You always were very smart.  That was one of the reasons I always enjoyed

your company."  He had stepped closer, and she could feel the heat from his body.
"As I recall, my lady, you too had your nose in a book when you weren't leading the other children into mischief or

beating them soundly for their transgressions against others."  Was it just her imagination or were his lips

getting closer to hers?  She had a moment to muse about what they would feel like when there was a slight cough

from behind them.  Iona had come in.  She was holding a book she had been reading in the main library, and she had

come to return it.  The elven lass and Kai wore matching blushes.
Iona went to stand with her back to them at the bookshelf.  Kai turned back to Dairren.  She could feel the heat in

her face, but she wanted to be with him before he left.  She hadn't realized how much she had missed him.  And now

that they were adults, Kai recognized that this man was probably the only nobleman besides Ser Gilmore that not

only could she stand, but that she was actually attracted to.  Dairren didn't mind that she was independent,

stubborn, or that she was a scrapper.  In fact, he seemed to admire her for all the traits the other nobles found

so undesirable, but were willing to overlook to be a stone's throw from the throne, the proximity to which Dairren

didn't give a tinker's damn about.  He wanted to read and write.  And if his almost kissing her was any indication,

to be at her side.
She decided to go with her impulses, wherever they might lead... "I want to get to know you better.  To get

reacquainted, to..." Maker's breath, she was blushing even harder now.  Her ears were burning.
"To discuss books we've read perhaps, my lady?" He had a mischievous gleam in his eye and a grin on his face. 

However, his breath seemed to be coming a little quicker.  His fingers trembled slightly as he brushed a tendril of

hair laying across her neck; his touch leaving trails of fire on her skin.  "I would like that.  What books did you

have in mind?  Any one book or author in particular?"
Kai licked her lips and gave him an impish grin even as the room seemed to be getting warmer, making it difficult

to concentrate, "I was thinking we could discuss ‘The Art of Passionate Love’ by Brother Capria?"  She was pleased

when she managed to unsettle him as he had been doing to her.
"Oh...that was banned by the Chantry, wasn't it?  Quite...provocative, I understand."  The shy little boy she knew

once again presented itself in the handsome man in front of her, "I've...ah...never read it myself."
"I could show you what I learned from it."  Kai felt her grin get wider as she watched him blush and look at the

ground.
"Oh...ah...here?" He managed to look her in the eyes, even if his ears were now turning red.
Kai gave him a little chuckle, "I was thinking of somewhere more private?  We have an audience." Kai nodded towards

Iona, "And I am afraid Aldous might have a stroke if he walked in on us here."
"Gladly...but your mother is expecting me for dinner shortly."  Dairren leaned in and whispered in her ear making

her blush and not only with embarrassment, "And I don't want to take a short time with you Kai, I have missed

you."  He leaned back and gave her a smile, speaking in a normal tone again, "As is mine.  Perhaps another time?"
"Why don't you come to my room later tonight?  And I can give you some of the books I recommend for your trip?"  It

took everything not to let her knees go to jelly and not to lick her lips.
"I suppose I could come by your room after dinner..." and again he whispered, "or after everyone is asleep, for

something of a more...intimate nature."  His eyes looked into hers, "I would love to have some reading material for

the journey, and you always did have good taste in books."  His hand reached out and he tangled his fingers with

hers giving them a squeeze, before he raised her hand his mouth and brushed her knuckles with his lips in a courtly

manner.
Kai tried to adopt a nonchalant demeanor herself, as much as she could given that her breath was quickening in her

chest, "Then I will see you tonight."
"I look forward to it. I shall see you then."

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 27 juin 2010 - 05:38 .

[Gilgamesh1138]

Chapter 5 ~Painting a Memory~


Kai called Argus over with a soft whistle and a pat on her thigh with her fingers.  The Mabari had been shamelessly

flirting with Iona the elven lady-in-waiting getting her to scratch him behind the ears.  "You cheeky monkey!" Kai

grinned at him as they wended their way out of the library around the corner and past the atrium, continuing

through the open-air corridors that led to the doors of the guest hall and beyond that to the family's living

quarters.
Kai walked through the hall where the guestrooms were and through another heavy oaken door leading to their private

rooms.  She started to turn right to walk through her brother's open door when she heard her little nephew Oren's

childish lisp, "Is there really going to be a war Papa?  Will you bring me back a sa-word?"  Kai stayed a moment

just listening to her brother's deep and beloved voice and watching them through the doorway.
"That's 'sword' Oren, and I will find you the mightiest one I can and bring it back before you know it."  Kai

watched her brother, who looked so much like their father, as he bent down and ruffled Oren's black hair.
Oriana, Fergus' wife, was a pretty Antivan woman with honey colored hair, big blue eyes, a sweet disposition and a

wicked dead-pan sense of humor.  She stood off to Oren's right watching him and his father.
Fergus’s marrying a foreigner over the other nobles' daughters and putting that outsider one seat away from the

throne had been a scandal of epic proportions.  Or at least the nobles with unwed female relations had felt it was

a crime along the magnitude of the Orlesian invasion, if their squawking had been anything to go by.  The

melodramatic twits.  It had died down eventually, and those with unwed male relatives had turned their gazes to

Kai.  Maker turn them all to toads!
Oriana broke in, "I wish victory was indeed so certain.  My heart is...disquiet."  Her eyes filled with tears.
Kai watched Fergus rise and go to his wife, putting a hand on her arm and giving her his most brilliant smile,

"Don't frighten the boy, love.  I'll be back before you know it."  Fergus turned and saw Kai watching from the

doorway.  "And here's my little sister to see me off.  Now dry your eyes, love, and wish me well."
Kai opted not to warn her brother of her misgivings in front of Oriana, who was already upset, or Oren, who did not

need to be frightened.  "No darkspawn could harm Fergus!"  She gave them a big smile, which Fergus returned, but

his eyes told her he knew what she was about.  They always could read each other.
Oriana touched Fergus's arm, "He is as mortal as anyone, despite his refusal to believe."  Her look was so filled

with love and quiet desperation, it made Kai's heart squeeze painfully.
"Now, love, no need to be so glum."  Fergus stroked her cheek, smiling at her.
"I wish I could come with you."  Some of Kai's frustration sounded in her voice despite her trying to sound

optimistic for Oriana.
"I wish you could come too.  It's going to be tiring killing all those darkspawn myself."  Fergus grinned at her.
"In Antiva a woman fighting in battle would be...unthinkable."  Oriana raised an eyebrow at Kai.
"Is that so?  I had always heard Antivan women were dangerous, my love."  Fergus winked at Kai.
"Only with kindness and poison, my husband."  Oriana flashed them both a wicked grin.
Fergus and Kai burst out laughing.  "And this from the woman who serves me my tea!"
"Do you really think the war will be over quickly, brother?"  Kai grasped his arm.
"Word from the South is that the battles have gone well.  There is no evidence that this is a true Blight.  Just a

large raid."  Kai looked at her brother, using the expression she and he used to use when their parents might see. 

Kai raised her eyebrows in her "be careful" code. Fergus grabbed her hand and kissed it to tell her he got the

message.  Again, Kai felt shivers as she recalled Duncan's expression.
"Could that be true?" Oriana looked at Fergus her face full of hope.
"I'll see for myself soon enough.  Pray for me, love, and I'll be back within a month or two."  Fergus put his lips

on Oriana's.
"You'll be missed, brother."  Kai's throat wanted to constrict, and her heart was squeezing painfully in her chest

again.
Fergus turned to her grinning, "If it is any consolation, I'm sure I will freeze in the Southern rain and be

completely jealous of you up here warm and safe."
"I am positively thrilled to hear that you will be so miserable, husband."  Oriana grinned at him.
"Did you know there's a Grey Warden at the castle?"  Kai and Fergus had grown up on tales of the Grey.  She knew he

would be disappointed if she didn't tell him.
"I'd heard that.  Did he say why he's come, other than being a friend of our parents of course?" Fergus grinned at

her.
"He's going to test Ser Gilmore."  Kai couldn't help the wistful look she knew she wore.  Fergus was the only one,

other than Father, who would understand.
"Good for him!  I hope he makes it!  If I were a Grey Warden, though, I'd have my eye on you...." Fergus leaned in

and whispered to Kai, "Not that father would ever allow it."  Rather than dwell on her plans to disobey her father,

she changed the subject.
"Oh, I bring you a message.  Father wants you to ride out without him."  Kai frowned and rolled her eyes. 

"Something about the border levies according to that snake, Howe."
"Then the arl's men are delayed.  You'd think his men were walking backwards."  Fergus grinned and tugged one of

her braids in a familiar gesture.  "Well, better get under way so many darkspawn to behead, so little time."  He

grinned and turned back to Oriana planting a light kiss on her lips once again.  "Off we go then.  I will see you

soon, my love."
As Fergus was kissing Oriana once more their parents entered the room, "I would hope, dear boy, you were going to

wait for us before taking your leave."  Her father grinned at Fergus.
"Be well, my son.  I shall pray for your safe return every day that you are gone."  Kai watched her mother as she

kissed Fergus on the cheek and tried to mask her worry and sadness.  Her mother's expression frightened her more

than Duncan's had.
"Fergus will be fine!" Kai wanted to hug her mother, hard.
"I keep telling you, no darkspawn will best me."  And Fergus did hug her, wrapping their mother in his strong arms.
"Maker, watch over them, keep them from harm.  Maker bring them home safely to us again."  Oriana clasped her hands

for her small prayer.
"And bring us some wenches and ale while you're at it.  For the men of course!"  Fergus gave an impish grin to

Oriana.  Fergus shared Kai's views on the Maker.  In fact, they had created silent games they could play with their

hands when they had been at services.
"Fergus!  You would speak that way in front of your mother?" Oriana smiled and punched him on the arm, completely

forgetting her proper Antivan upbringing.
It was Oren who broke the somber mood even further with his next statement, "What's a wench?  Is that what you use

to pull a bucket out of a well?"  His blue eyes were wide, looking from one adult to the other.
It was her father who chuckled and answered, "A wench is a woman who pours the ale in a tavern, Oren."  And then

her father with a grin on his face pitched his voice lower, "Or a woman who drinks a lot of ale."
Kai and Fergus both tried to stifle their laughter but found it impossible when their mother responded, "Bryce,

really!  Maker's breath, it's like living with a pair of small boys!  Thankfully I have a daughter!" And Eleanor

gave Kai a conspiratorial wink.
Fergus chuckled and looked at Kai, "I'll miss you, sister dear.  You'll take good care of her won't you?"
"Fah, mother can handle herself.  Always has."  Kai grinned at her brother before winking back at their mother.
"It's true.  They should be sending her, not me.  She would scold those darkspawn back into the Deep Roads." 

Fergus laughed and did a mock cringe as their mother smacked him in the arm.  At least he'll match, Kai gave a

mental chuckle.
"I'm so glad you find this funny."  And their mother smacked him playfully again for good measure.  Her father

lovingly wrapped his arms around her from behind.
"All right, all right, enough."  He chuckled.  Everyone's eyes turned to Kai as Oren grabbed Kai's hand getting her

attention.
"Mamma says you're going to be watching over us while Papa is gone.  Is that true, Auntie?"  Kai grinned at her

nephew.
"Yes, that's true, Oren."  She poked him with her finger in the stomach tickling him and causing him to giggle.
"What if the castle is attacked?  Will there be dragons?"  He grinned at her, a little boy's grin filled with

imaginary battles in his head.
"Oren, dragons are horrible creatures, they eat people!"  Oriana rolled her eyes at him, but a smile played along

her lips.
"I know, but I want to see one!"  He looked at his mother waggling his eyebrows, a trick he had just learned and

loved to use no matter what the circumstance or topic of conversation.  Oriana's smile got wider, and she let out a

little laugh.
Oriana punched Fergus in the arm again, "This is your doing, you know."
Fergus cringed again and shrugged, "What did I do?"  He chuckled and winked at Kai as Oren turned back to her.
"Will you teach me to use a sword, Auntie?"  And before Kai could answer he started swinging his arms holding his

hand out as if it gripped a sword hilt.  "Take that dire bunny!  All darkspawn fear my sword of truthiness!"
Kai laughed, "Truthiness?"
Oriana grinned and shrugged, "We're trying to teach him about honesty.  I think something got lost in translation

somewhere."
Kai laughed harder and nodded, "I'll say."  Kai watched her brother bend down and look at his son as if memorizing

those rounded little boy features.
"Don't worry, son, you'll get to see a sword up close real soon."  Fergus kissed and hugged Oren tight.  Kai felt

goosebumps shimmer across her skin as if the temperature in the room had dropped, and she didn't know why.  She

wanted to shrug it off as a case of being worried for Father and Fergus, but that little alarm bell was going off

in the back of her head as it had earlier when speaking to Howe's guard.
She was broken off from her inner musings when her father turned to address her again, "Pup, you'll want to go to

bed early.  You have a big day tomorrow."  Her father smiled at her and nodded toward Fergus.  The rest of the

family moved off to talk in a group, leaving brother and sister a moment to speak alone with each other.
"Getting sent to bed early are we?" Fergus's voice had a teasing tone as he grinned at her.
"I don't mind.  I'll have someone waiting for me."  She winked at him.
"What?  Oh, you saucy minx!"  He punched her lightly on the shoulder.  "It wouldn't happen to be our old playmate

Dairren, now would it?"  He grinned.  With a quick look at their father, he put on a mocking deep 'fatherly' voice,

"I certainly hope he's worthy of you or I will have to give him what for."  He laughed, "There, I've done my

brotherly duty."
Kai wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at him, "Have fun on the long march in the cold."  Kai chuckled when

he wrinkled his own nose and stuck out his tongue in response.
Fergus burst out laughing, Maker, she loved her brother's laugh, let him come back so she could hear it again. 

"Hmm, a warm bed doesn't sound bad now, come to think of it."  He hugged her tight, "I'll miss you, little sister. 

Take care of everyone and be here when I get back."  He kissed her hair, and she could hear the roughness of his

voice
"I will, brother dear, I love you so.  Please, please, be very careful."  Kai hugged him even tighter and kissed

his rough cheek.  She tamped down the tears trying to well up.  She put on a smile before she stepped back.  She

stroked the side of his face before grabbing his hand as they walked back to the rest, who were still talking.
Or rather, Oriana and her mother were talking.  Argus was playing a dragon while Oren pretended to vanquish him. 

Her father was standing listening to the two women chatting.  Kai motioned him over to her by the door.
"You should be on your way, pup.  Long day ahead tomorrow."  He smiled at her.
"I know Father, but I wanted to speak to you before I do."  Kai felt her heart fluttering in her throat.  "Are you

sure you'll be all right?  I am scared, Father.  I don't like this."
"Your brother and I go into battle, not an afternoon tea.  Know this, you are my darling girl and I love you.  And

I trust you to carry on the Cousland name if the worst should happen."  He reached out and stroked her cheek.  Kai

felt her stomach clench uncomfortably at his words, "But don't worry about me, dear girl.  You'll have enough to

occupy your mind while I'm gone."
"Father, is sending all of our forces south a good idea?"
"When the King demands it.  In fact not sending our men south would be a distinctly bad idea."  He smiled at her

and gave her hand a little tug, "Don't worry, Pup.  You shouldn't see many problems.  But I want you to prepare the

men left here.  In case."
Kai nodded; she would get to spend time in the training arena after all.  Again, Duncan's face flashed in her

mind's eye, "Father, about this Grey Warden...."
"Ah, my fierce girl, so like a Mabari.  Once you have something in your jaws, you don't like to let it go.  I was

wondering how long this would take.  Has he asked to recruit you?"
"No father, he is your friend and has respected your wishes.  But if he did?" Kai bit her lower lip.
"If he did I would have to consider it.  If it is a Blight in the South, then Grey Wardens will be needed.  There

is no higher calling.  If it comes to that, we can talk about it when I get back.  Until then just show him every

courtesy.  Duncan is a fine man, a friend and a hero."  Her father put his hand on her shoulder giving it a gentle

squeeze.
"Yes, Papa. I'll go now."  She reached up and covered his hand with her own before leaning in and kissing him.
She turned to go but turned back when he spoke to her again, "I know that you'll do me proud.  You've grown into a

sensible woman, that much is clear."  He smiled at her, "I love you, my fierce girl, remember that."  She nodded

and smiled.  "And, pup, you and Dairren try and get some sleep at least.  I don't want the man falling out of his

saddle tomorrow.  It would be demoralizing for him."
Kai just gaped at her father, her cheeks turning red and he grinned back at her, so much like Fergus.  She laughed

in spite of her embarrassment and gave a soft whistle to Argus and a pat on her leg.  The hound had Oren pinned to

the ground and was licking his face while the boy giggled.  Her father and Fergus mirrored each other as they stood

arms wrapped around the women they loved, talking to each other while Mother and Oriana conversed.  It was all so

blissfully normal, so happy, so beautiful.
When Argus had joined her, she started for the door.  Once she had reached it, she looked back, “painting a memory”

as she and her family called it.  She wanted to remember them all together to keep with her until Father and Fergus

came home once again.

Modifié par Gilgamesh1138, 27 juin 2010 - 05:38 .

[Firky]

Ha ha. Dire bunny. (And the wench bit.) I like the way you use a child's innocence to add humour.

[Gilgamesh1138]

Aw, thank Firky! I love "Ichor" by the way. I am hoping you will give me permission to give it a shout out in my author's notes on FF.net on my epic Soulmates. If it is on FF.net too, let me know. Otherwise I will direct them to the forum.

[Slim Warden]

I've been meaning to post to let you know my deep appreciation for the last two chapters, but.....
I've been distracted by a myriad of things, but lets just say its been an interesting few days for me. Now back to you, I always enjoy the enthusiasm of which you approach the written word, and you really feel that in you're writing, bravo.

Modifié par Slim Warden, 25 mai 2010 - 11:34 .