Aedan Of Highever Read online

  Argyle spat out blood and teeth on the ground, looked up at the noble-brat on top of him and gave him his answer, "Aha-ha-haw!" and gave him an applause.

  Then the whole courtyard gave a standing ovation, Iona clapped and laughed with relief, while Lady Eleanor laughed adoringly; she knew her son would prevail.

  Aedan, now calm, helped his master-at-arms back to his feet and gave him a towel to wipe that blood from his face and beard. Argyle placed his hand on his student's shoulder with pride. "Lad, that was the best thrashing I ever got! Even me drunk pa never hit me that hard."

  Aedan laughed in relief, "I didn't know anyone could take a beating like that and live!"

  "Boy, after I saved yer pap's life at White River I fought for three hours with an Orlesian blade stickin' outta me head and I didnae get removed until we hadda safe retreat. But tha's not important. Anyone could'a thrashed a few recruits and squires, but beatin' me? Now that requires ya to be somethin' more."

  "The Avvar taught me more." Aedan confirmed.

  "Ther'a feared people for a good reason. I'm glad they taught ya somethin' worth knowin'."

  Iona couldn't believe what she just saw! She felt her heart stop in her chest when she thought Lord Aedan was about to be killed and then he not only won the fight but he thrashed his opponent like a dragon bursting from its cave. She had never seen anyone fight like, growing up in the Alienage she had seen people fight in brawls but never something like that. One moment he was this charming handsome man, but then the next he was this unstoppable force that destroyed the obstacle in his path. She knew now that Lord Aedan was most certainly a dangerous man, but she couldn't help but think that made him more attractive than he already was. After seeing what his hands could do to someone, she wondered what else those hands could do somewhere else. She tried to push the thought from her mind. After all, she was an elven lady in waiting and he was a son of one of the most powerful houses in Thedas. Still, the thought of those strong, dangerous hands touching her skin was enticing. Lady Landra waved her hand in front of Iona's face and she realized she was dazing off.

  "Ser Argyle." Lady Eleanor chimed, "As much as I'm glad to see your 'education' paying off." Master Aldous scoffed at the word. "But if you would be so kind as to let my son go? He has other things to do this day."

  "Aye, m'lady. Well, ya heard ya mother. Go pretty yerself up I was told yer father is meetin' with Arl Howe and he wanted ta see ya when ye were done training."

  Aedan bowed mockingly, "I humbly acquiesce, Ser Argyle."

  Aedan walked over to a nearby basin and washed his face, Dane trotted over to him happily. "Hey, boy. Did you like the show?"

  Dane pranced around and barked happily.

  "Well I need to go speak with my father. Why don't you go find something fun to do until I'm done?"

  The war hound barked happily and trotted off to go find whatever it is a mabari considers fun.

  Aedan left the courtyard and walked back toward his room. It'd be best to dress appropriately for his father and his longtime friend and ally Arl Howe.

  "The more ya bleed in the trainin' yard, the less ye'll bleed in the battlefield. But if yer bleedin' in the privy then ya need to see a healer or somethin', cause I can't help ya with that."-Ser Argyle

  A Day in Highever

  XoXoXo

  Aedan had changed himself into some proper attire and strapped himself with an actual sword and dagger before meeting with his father and Arl Howe. Aedan knew that his father, Bryce Cousland and Arl Rendon Howe had been friends since the war, but he Arl always rubbed Aedan the wrong way. The way his shifty eyes would look around the castle when his father wasn't looking at him and that almost disgusted look on his face when he saw elves walking the halls. And then there was the way Howe always tried to pawn his daughter off to Aedan like she was a damned goat to be traded, but he always subtlety refused. It wasn't that Aedan thought she unattractive, quite the opposite, he thought she was lovely. But he wasn't interested in marriage, and she just wasn't his type. Aedan remembered that Howe's own father had been executed as a traitor when he sided with the Orlesians. Perhaps that was the source his dislike for the man. Aedan approached the main hall and walked through the door to find his father already talking with Howe.

  "How soon will your men be arriving then, Howe?" Bryce inquired.

  "I suspect they won't be arriving until nightfall. We can begin a forced march in the morning. I'm terribly sorry, my lord, this is entirely my fault." Howe answered full of contrite.

  "No, no. The appearance of the darkspawn in the south has us all scrambling. I just received the call from the king a few days ago myself. I'll send my eldest of with my men. You and I will ride off into battle together just like the old days." Bryce declared.

  "Indeed, but we both had less grey in our hair and we fought Orlesians, not monsters."

  "Ha. At least the smell will be the same." Bryce laughed and turned toward his son. "I'm sorry, Pup. I didn't see you there. Howe you remember my youngest son, Aedan."

  "I see he's grown into a fine young man." Howe acknowledged, "Pleased to see you again, lad."

  "And you, Arl Howe." Aedan nodded his head curtly. "Did you bring your family with you?" Aedan asked only as a courtesy.

  "Oh, no. Nathaniel is still being squired in the Free Marches. I left Thomas at Vigil's Keep, Oh, and my daughter Delilah asked after you. Perhaps I should bring her next time, hmm?"

  Aedan didn't relish in the thought of what Arl Howe was alluding to. "Aha, Delilah is a few years younger than I, isn't she?"

  Howe smiled slightly, "Oh, as you get older you'll find those years makes less of a difference. A lesson hard won."

  "I doubt he'll receptive, Howe. My fierce boy has a mind of his own, Maker bless him." Bryce interjected.

  "Ha! A temperament to match his fighting skill! Well done, my lord." Howe said appraising.

  Bryce turned his attention back to his son, "At any rate, Pup, I summoned you for a reason: While your brother and I are both away I'm leaving you in charge of the castle."

  "What? You mean I won't be joining the battle?"

  "I'm certain you'd more than prove yourself," the teryn assured, "but your needed here and I'm not willing to risk your mother if I let you join the war. She'd kill me if I let you go. Your mother is already twisted into knots about Fergus and me leaving. "

  "But Father, I'm the best warrior in Highever!" Aedan argued. "You need me on the battlefield, I can help!"

  "It's because you're the best warrior in Highever that I need you here. Only a token force remains and you must keep peace in the region. You know what they say about mice when the cat is away, yes? There's also someone you must meet." Bryce turned to one of his guards, "Please, show Duncan in."

  The guard saluted and opened the door opposite from them and bowed respectfully to the man who walked through. Aedan observed him closely. The man was roughly his father's age, his hair was thick, and black with a few strands of grey pulled back into a pony-tail and a scruffy-looking beard and had a distinguished nose trailing over it. He was swarthy, possibly Rivaini. But the thing that caught Aedan's attention immediately was the silver crest on his silverite chestplate; it was a cup with a griffin on either side of it. He had seen that symbol before in his lessons with Aldous. Holy crap! The man was a Grew Warden!

  "It is an honor to be a guest in your hall Teryn Cousland." The warden said humbly with a soft but firm voice.

  "Your lordship, you did not mention that a Grey Warden would be present!" Arl Howe sputtered.

  "Duncan arrived recently, unannounced." Bryce replied, "Is there a problem?"

  "Of course not!" Howe assured, "It's just that with a guest of such stature there is a certain protocol. I was simply caught unaware."

  "We rarely have the pleasure of meeting on in person, it's true." Teryn Bryce acknowledged. "Pup, Brother Aldous taught you about the Grey Warden in your lessons I hope?"

  "Yes, father. They are an order of very great warri
ors." Aedan answered nodding his head.

  "They are the heroes of legend." His father explained. "Without their warning we would never have known that the darkspawn were amassing in the south and could have overrun the country by now. Duncan is looking for potential recruits before joining us and his fellow Grey Wardens in the south. He intends to test Ser Gilmore."

  "If I might be so bold, your grace. I saw your son in the training yard and I think he might be an excellent candidate." Duncan pointed out.

  Not in this lifetime! Aedan thought to himself.

  "Honor though that might be, this is one of my sons you're talking about." Bryce interjected.

  "I have no interest in being a Grey Warden." Aedan spoke out.

  "You hear that? He's not interested. I've not so many children that I'll gladly see them off to battle. Unless you intend to invoke the Right of Conscription….?"

  "Have no fear, your grace. While we need as many good recruits as we can find, I've no intention of forcing the issue."

  The teryn sighed sounding almost relieved. "Pup, can you see to it that Duncan's requests are seen to while I'm gone?"

  "Of course, father."

  "In the meantime, find Fergus and tell him to lead the troops ahead to Ostagar without me."

  "Where do you think I can find Fergus?"

  "Probably upstairs spending some last few moments with his wife and my grandson. Be a good lad and do as I've asked. We'll talk soon."

  Bryce watched as his son left the main hall and he knew he was disappointed to say the least. Aedan wanted to fight for his country and now he was being denied that chance. Bryce was proud to have helped Aedan grow such a sense of patriotism, but he didn't want that pride to send him to an early grave. Bryce was growing old and he wanted his sons live long lives, but Aedan always looked for a reason to fight, a just cause to serve, or a wrong to right. Bryce remembered the letter stating Aedan's expulsion from the University of Val Royeaux; Bryce visited Orlais and established trading agreements in the hopes of strengthening ties between the nations and he would often bring back gifts from the Orlesian Nobility. He had hoped that by sending Aedan to the university it would further strengthen ties and open Aedan's mind to the ways of the world. He remembered Aedan's return as if it were only yesterday, he spent only two months at the university and he returned with a hatred of Orlais and its values as if he'd been born during the Orlesian Occupation.

  Aedan walked through the main-hall covered in Avvarian furs and tattoos, he was gaunt from the winter fasting but the look in his eyes made him seem more powerful, even menacing; Bryce barely recognized his own son. Eleanor ran up to him with tears in her eyes, "My baby!" she cried as she ran up to Aedan hugging him and kissed his now tattooed face.

  "Pup, what happened to you?!" Bryce asked with worry gripping his words.

  "I ran into some trouble in the Frostback Pass and ended up spending the winter with the Avvars of Bear-hold. I'm sorry for making you and mother worry." Aedan explained wearily.

  "Why did you even have to go through the pass in the middle of winter in the first place!?" Bryce demanded. "I get a letter from the university saying you've been explained that you've been expelled for attacking a chevalier and nearly beating him to death, then you show up half a year later and all you can say to us is 'sorry'?!"

  "Whoever wrote that letter wrote a lie! Did they say why I attacked him? No? Of course not that would mean admitting that a chevalier is capable of doing wrong! That 'noble' chevalier was trying to rape an elven girl right in the middle of the market! And everyone just stood there and did nothing, like there was nothing going on! And I didn't just attack him, I smashed him so badly he'll never eat solid food, walk or have use for a woman ever again! I'm sorry for making you worry but I'm not sorry for doing the right thing when no else would!"

  Bryce looked at his son sternly, "You threw away a chance to be educated at one of the best universities in all of Thedas for an elven woman?" Aedan looked back at his father matching his stare. "I'm proud of you, Pup." Bryce placed his hand on his son's shoulder affectionately. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. Everyone's been so worried about you when you didn't return. You did the right thing no matter the consequence, no son of my house could do any less." Bryce hugged his son and Aedan hugged back, Bryce could feel the tears welling in his eyes.

  "I only did what you taught me to do, father."

  "Your lordship? Your lordship?" Howe's voice woke Bryce from his memory.

  "You were discussing the plans for tomorrows march, your grace." Duncan reminded.

  Bryce woke himself up from his memories and went back to the business at hand. There was no doubt in his mind that his family's house would be safe with Aedan protecting it.

  Aedan walked through the halls of the castle towards his brother's room to give him the news. He passed the castle chantry and heard Mother Mallol giving her god's blessings to His faithful. Aedan peered his head through the door and saw one of his father's lieutenants and a sergeant kneeling with Mother Mallol reciting a prayer from the Chant of Light in front of the symbol of the Chantry praying for the Maker's forgiveness. (Asking an absent god's forgiveness. What a pitiful notion.)

  Mallol rose from her prayes and turned to Aedan. "Ah, hello, child. How good it is to see you've suffered no ill effect from Ser Argyle's training session."

  Aedan smiled warmly to her, "Good morning Mother Mallol, and thank you for your concern for my health."

  "Please, child. Call me 'Mallol'. I've known you since you were a wee babe, after all. Have you come to pray for your father and brother?"

  "I don't see the point." The annoyance on Aedan's face spoke more clearly than his words.

  "I would think that a young man who seeks to make his living on the battlefield would show a little more humility." Mallol informed him, her tone almost scolding.

  Aedan snorted in agitation. "I've told you before Mallol, for years now, that I don't believe in the Maker. And I never will."

  Mallol looked at him with an almost pitied look on her face, "How can you say that child? The Maker has love for all. Would you truly turn it away?"

  "Okay allow me to rephrase my statement. It's not that I don't believe, it's that I don't care. The Maker has to earn my respect before I'll kneel to him or anyone for that matter."

  "It saddens me that you choose to walk alone in this life and the hereafter by your own choice of blindness, child."

  "I'm not a child anymore, Mallol. And I'd rather freely walk alone in this life and the hereafter than bend knee and kiss-up to a god, who you know abandoned you and your dead prophet." Aedan rebuffed coldly as he walked out of the Chantry.

  Mallol just couldn't understand Aedan, she loved him and his family as if they were her own, but Aedan was a complete enigma to her. She dedicated him into the Chantry after he was born and he attended it with his family growing up, but now that he was a man he not only willingly rejected the Maker's salvation but professed absolute content for the Maker and His word, as though he actually hated the Maker. She supposed that his time with heathen Avvar weakend his faith in the will of the Maker, but even before then he didn't attend the Chantry often. When he was young he would often challenge the logic of the Chantry's action past and present and would demand she defend those pushed the thought from her mind and when back to her duties, there were many soldiers who needed her blessing before they went to battle and she couldn't stop to focus on one lost soul.

  Aedan continued his walk to find his brother, his pace quickened, talking with Chantry officials always made his blood boil. He knew Mallol was only trying to do what she thought was right, but her ignorance was aggravating. There are many people and cultures who don't believe and the Chantry and its people should just respect that and leave them alone. But that would be too reasonable.

  He walked through the corridor approaching the family treasury and noticed through the door that the guards were sitting at the table, and not doing a lot of guarding. Aedan walked through t
he door and the men instantly stopped their game. His presence unsettled them. Good.

  "Oh! M'lord, w-we were just, er…." One of the guards stuttered.

  "Playing cards?" Aedan observed quirking an eyebrow.

  "W-well the treasury is safe, I don't even know why the teryn has here really." The guard explained, all shocked and guilt-ridden like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

  Aedan was not amused. They were about to send most of their men to war and only a token force remains, none of them can relax! "Do you always question my father's orders, soldier?"

  "N-no, ser! Never!"

  "And are you on your time or the teryn's time?"

  "The teryn's time, ser."

  "Alright, then. When you are on your time you can play cards, get drunk, masturbate, I don't care! But when you are on the teryn's time you are to perform your duties to the maximum of your ability. Have I made myself clear, soldier?"

  "Ser! Yes, ser!"

  "Good. Now get back to your post."

  "Right away, ser.

  Both the guards ran back to the post and Aedan heard them give a sigh of relief right as he exited the room. He knew he intimidated them. He doesn't mean or try to by scary, he just is. And that suits him just fine. Now, once again, Aedan resumed his search for his big brother. Hopefully there would be no more distractions Aedan thought to himself. And as if on cue Ser Gilmore comes rushing around the corner. "There you are. Your mother told me the teryn had summoned you, so I didn't want to interrupt."