Hi *waves* I've lurked here in the past few months but I'm finally posting for the first time. I bought DAO in December on Steam during its winter sale, played a character through to Redcliffe, then lost the whole thing in a computer crash (I thought I had a backup but I didn't) so I'm starting over. In the character showoff forum I posted about my new HNF character.
I was playing the origin for the 2nd time and I have some random thoughts on the origin. First, Mama Cousland is badass and since the HNF is badass too her badassery comes from her. Though I wonder whose idea it was for the HNF to be taught how to fight, mom's or dad's.
And then Mama Cousland gave up being badass before she became a mama to land a husband and she discourages her daughter from fighting because "t'was the gentler arts that landed me a husband." I don't know what's worse: the kind of woman who gives up her own merits to please a man, the type of man that would be attracted to that, or the mom encouraging her daughter to do the same to attract the same type of man. Heck, for both genders one conversation with one character (I forget who it is) reveals the dad was planning on taking you with him and Fergus to fight at Ostagar, but the mom threw such a fit and they fought for it over many days before he finally relented and agreed to keep you home.
So, I'm going to take a strong guess that the dad was the one that trained you. Heck, if memory serves, as you go around Ferelden, most people attribute your greatness to your Cousland blood (and since surnames are patralinial...) and taking after your father ("You're Bryce's kid after all!"), it probably comes from your dad more than your mom.
Sorry to shill my favorite origin, I personally love the "badass mom" from the City Elf Origin. The City Elf's mother Adaia was a very skilled and accomplished fighter, despite how most city elves are forbidden from owning weapons; never mind learning how to fight. She was so skilled that Duncan himself wanted her to join the Grey Wardens, but a) there was no Blight and thus no need to press it, b ) she really wanted to marry and start a family. The thing is though, she still remained a spirited fighter and taught her child combat, even if you're a girl. (In fact, the origin was written with a girl in mind.) The narrative makes it clear that Adaia didn't humble herself for her husband, in fact part of why he loved her so much was her unabashed badassery, and she encouraged and trained her daughter despite how unattractive it is to the elven community and potential suitors. In fact, it's your father who can remark that he didn't mention you could fight because "it's not exactly something that would have made it easy to find you a match. We don't want to seem like trouble-makers, after all."
And of course, most characters you encounter attribute your greatness to hers; everyone who knew her comments how you look like her, take after her, learned from her, etc. Also how she loved you and wanted you more than anything, and how happy she would have been to see you grow up, get married, take on the world, etc.
I think Adaia is a much better example of a "badass mom" who was able to balance her badassery with her devotion to her family and pass it on to her daughter... before she was murdered. 
In the origin story Howe makes a snide comment, "That's because you raised her as a warrior" or something to that end, I forget the whole thing. However, Mama is traditional in that she does want a suitable marriage for the PC, talks about the 'softer arts' landing her a husband, and in the case of my girl she ain't having none of that.
Oh. Er... I spent so long typing the above, I don't want to get rid of it.
Erm, if you know all that, why did you ask whether your dad or mom trained you when you clearly know the answer?
Second, about Fergus and his relationship to the PC. I haven't played a male yet, but some of his comments lead me to believe they were pretty close growing up and he talks about wanting to fight side by side with the PC. In my story that I have in my head, she was the annoying little sister who followed her big bro everywhere, and she looked up to him. My character wasn't the sweet princess-type girl, definitely more rough and tumble. He does, however, come to respect that her skill with weaponry surpasses his own, when he says something to the effect of, "If I were a Grey Warden, I'd have my eye on you."
Third, about Ser Gilmore. There wasn't much given as far as his backstory goes in game, but it seems to me like he and the PC were close, as well. Almost as if he regards (her) as a sibling or so. The version in my head is that they were great friends and Ser Gilmore had a bit of a crush on her when they were teens, but she was having none of it. Still, he cares deeply for her.
I've only just gotten to Ostagar in this latest playthrough. I do have a plan to make this one Queen of Ferelden as a way for her to sort of regain what she lost when her family was slaughtered by Howe and his men. But you know how these plans go... I'll just play it by ear and see how it goes.
Um... good for you?
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