9OK so here is my new story :0 Its been awhile I know! It has been a hard for me lately because my dear friend Bryce died and he was always the one person telling me to put my stories out, and helping me with all my proplems in my life. So I dedicate this story to him. R.I.P. Bryce thank you for everything you did for me I love you so much this is for you! I also have to thank my new and lovely beta who is becomeing a great friend to me Violet Theirin! She is amazing and has wrote some of my favorite stories on fanfiction! So please check her stories out they are far better than mine! Thank you Violet for all the help it means so much to me! Ok so not going to put this on anymore please enjoy and tell me what you think!
*Bubbles*
Enter Marrie
Walking all of the way from Denerim to Highever was, to say the least, a bitch; in fact by the time we got there I was ready to pull out my hair! I even tried to pass the time trying to piss Duncan off by asking him a bunch of stupid questions; no good, he would simply smile and answer to the best of his knowledge. I was beginning to think there was something wrong with his head.
Duncan seems nice enough, for a human but I will not get sucked in by his kindness. True, he saved me but what he did to Soris was unforgivable. When the guards found us they were going to take Soris and me away, I tried to say it was just me but an eye witness from the Castle described us and told the guard what to look for. When they went to arrest me, Duncan used the Right of Conscription, making me a Grey Warden. I figured he would do the same for Soris and that it would be ok. So I was shocked when they went for Soris and he just let the guards take him away; not even giving him a second glance. I don't know what is worse, that Duncan allowed Soris to be arrested or that I just stood by and let it happen; even though he was doing nothing more than helping me.
So he takes me along and tells me that we have to go to Highever where he was going to test another recruit; I couldn't believe it. We had to go all of the way to Highever for a recruit when he could have had two then and there in Denerim!
It seemed so strange, as we walked through the village the humans didn't give me any trouble even though I had daggers hanging from my belt and blood stains on my clothes. (I refused to change out of them because that would mean I would have to where something of Duncan's.) As we made our way though the village I saw what I guess was the Alienage. That got me to thinking about Nelaros. Poor Nelaros, what will his family think when they found out that he died? True, I didn't want to get married, but I didn't want him dead. From what I saw of him he was a good guy and I'm sure that in time I would have grown to love him.
Even with everything that happened I found myself almost laughing as I left. Mother Bohann, who was holding my wedding she said with pity and tears in her eyes, that "the Maker has plans for all of his children, but some are not as easy as others. Those whose path has the most problems are the Makers most prized children; it helps them grow."; If so, the Maker must really love me; but I really wouldn't object to him spreading some of that love around.
Enter Layla
The castle was busy this morning with the King's orders to send everyone to the up coming battle in Ostagar. I hoped that there would be a way for me to go but I know that mother would never allow it. Father wouldn't either, even though he previously had said he would. So he and Fergus will be heading out and I will be left behind to look over the castle.
I woke up early this morning to practice with some of the guards before they head out. I then made my rounds to see if everything was going smoothly. Once that was done I went to go look for my father in the hopes of convincing him to let me go. I figured that no matter the outcome it is worth the try.
I walked it to the main room in the castle and saw my father talking to Arl Rendon Howe, who is one of my father's dearest, closest friends. Truthfully, I don't like him that much. There's just something off about him.
Howe's son Nathaniel is one of my dearest friends; you could even say that he was more than that. Before he went away to the Free Marches he told me that when he got back, he would make me his wife. I didn't know what to say, I have never really thought of him that way. Its not that he's not handsome, he is; but we trained together. He's best friends with my brother and it never occurred to me that he had these feelings for me. Before he got on his horse he kissed my forehead and promised himself to me, but before I could say anything he was gone; leaving me standing there shocked with my mouth hung wide open.
"There you are Pup!" my father called as I stood there lost in thought.
I put a smile on my face and walked over to him. "Howe, is your family here as well?" Not that it mattered much to me, his one other son is an idiot, and his daughter was already married and living away from her family like a normal noble girl would be.
"Oh no, I left them home, with the up coming battle and all."
I pretended to look disappointed.
"My son Thomas asked about you." Howe gave me a sickening smile.
I tried not to pinch my face up in disgust. "I am not interested in an arranged marriage."
Thank the Maker that my father noticed that it was getting harder to keep my face straight and took over the conversation. He let out a laugh "See what I have to deal with Howe! My little girl has the mind of her own."
Howe looked at me with knowing eyes that chilled me to the bone. "Yes, maybe because you trained her as a warrior."
Asshole, as my eyes started to shape into a glare I noticed another person enter the room, a big man in massive armor with the most lovely girl I have ever seen. She was an elf, that much I could tell. Her hair was a bright pale blond and her body was slender but shapely. When I looked up to her eyes I noticed that they were the clearest blue I have ever seen. I looked into those blue eyes and smiled, but my smiled faded when I saw her glare at me and turn her head. Well, so much for being lovely.
Marrie
There was a strange older man standing beside the Teyrn, every time he looked at me it gave me an uneasy...uncomfortable feeling, so I stood behind Duncan fidgeting.
There also was a girl there, who I guessed was the Teyrn's daughter. Looking at she and the Teyrn side by side it was pretty obvious that they were related. She was pretty, for a human with light brown hair and green eyes.
I don't know if she was scoping me out too or saw that I was staring but when I met her eyes she met mine with a smile. That shocked me so I glared and turned my head away from her. The Teyrn introduced Duncan and his daughters eyes lit up like she saw the prettiest dress in Ferelden. The old guy, whose name I found out is Howe, went frigid, but I'm guessing I was the only one who saw that.
Duncan smiled at them in his Duncan way and then turned his head to me and said that I was his new promising recruit, I rolled my eyes. The girl eyed me warily and her father smiled and said that I was welcome in his home and hoped that I would enjoy my stay.
I must admit, that was something I thought I would never hear from a human. I mumbled a thank you which seemed to surprise Duncan; and truthfully I kind of surprised myself as well.
Duncan explained that he was working to find one more Warden recruit before he rejoined the King's army in the south. The man even had the stones to say that he was interested in recruiting Teyrn Cousland's daughter!
She seemed to like the idea but her father put his foot down and even dared him to use the Right of Conscription. I almost gagged. Duncan backed down, saying it was merely a thought and that his daughter was promising but he would not push the issue as he still had someone named Ser Gilmore to test.
The girls smiled faded yet again when her fathers returned, family love... The conversation seemed to change and before they went more into it the Teyrn asked his daughter to go fined her brother, and Duncan asked if maybe she could show me around the castle as well. Before she could argue her father said it was a great idea, and being the good little girl that she was she went along with it without argument.
I glared up at Duncan and said " What do you have to hide from me now?"
He smiled at me and said that he had to discuss the upcoming battle plans with the men.
"Well since I will be in that battle why can't I stay?"
Duncan put his hand on my back and pushed me toward the girl smiling as he said "All in good time my dear".
Asshole.
The girl's eyes met mine as she motioned me to the door with her hand. "This way Miss".
Great now I'm a miss.
Layla
It was quiet as we walked down the hallway. I looked at her from beneath tendrils of my hair that loosely framed my face.
"So what is you name? I gather by the disgusted look on your face that you do not like being called miss"
She looked over at me with calm eyes I didn't understand her expression but she looked some what more relaxed then she did in the main hall room.
"My name is Marrie Tabris, I hail from the Denerim Alienage." She looked at me, as if she was trying to read my reaction to her previous statment. When I didn't say anything she added, "Whats your name princess?"
This time it was my turn to glare as Marrie continued to smile at me sweetly.
"I am not a princess, and my name is Layla Cousland the daughter of Bryce and Eleanor Cousland." The sense of pride that I felt at mention of my parents was quickly shattered as she began laughing loudly.
She then brushed past me before turning and bowing her head. Allowing her long hair to fall over her face; attemting to hide a smile as she said "My lady."
I studied her closely for a moment and noticed the stain on her beautiful white dress. The stains had to be blood and since she did not appear to be injured I figured out that the blood was not her own.
"Why is your dress stained with so much blood?" I found myself asking without thinking. When those word slipped from my mouth her laughter stopped and her smile faded; it was like she forgot the stains were there and my words snapped her back to reality.
"These stains" she said in a dark voice that sent chills down my spine, "are the reason that I am here." With that she continued to walk, almost as if she knew where she was going.
I ran up ahead of her and told her as I passed that after we found my brother Fergus I would be happy to get her some clean clothing.
Marrie looked at me with sad eyes and just nodded; following me in silence as we continued down the hall.
Ok so here it is! Please tell me what you think!