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The Last of the Couslands	By : MistressofMagic Category: +A through F > Dragon Age (all) > Dragon Age (all) Views: 4401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Bioware and EA own everything associated with the Dragon Age universe. I am making no money off of this fan fiction.

Chapter List
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Prologue

            The sun was extremely bright one particular morning as Bridget Cousland attacked the wooden dummy her brother had set up for her. Bridget wiped her forearm against her face to keep the sweat from seeping into her eyes. Her long hair that her mother said resembled “strings of gold” was pulled back into a ponytail, but it was mostly loose now. She was a very sprightly child of twelve and dreamt of becoming a skilled warrior, much to her mother’s disapproval, as well as others. Since Bridget was the only daughter of the Teyrn of Highever, she was expected to act the lady. Bridget never showed any particular interest in being the “pampered pup” as her father, Bryce called her. Instead she was greatly interested in combat tactics and political problems. Ever since she was old enough to say the word, Bridget had always wanted a sword of her own. She wanted to be like her father, to be on the battle field in great danger defending her home land from those that wished to threaten it. All of her so called ‘friends’ thought she was completely mad for wishing this when she could live the lavish life of being a Teyrn’s daughter and never having to lift a finger for herself. Bridget knew it was pointless to explain to them, so she chose not too.
            “I think you’ve beat all the straw out of it, sister.”
Bridget turned to see her older brother, Fergus walking towards her. He was a strong lad five years her senior and already quite the skilled fighter. His dark hair was also pulled back into a ponytail, though his was short in comparison to his sister’s. Bridget also noticed that he had tied a red ribbon around it. She smiled to herself knowing exactly who had given it to him. Fergus could deny it all he wanted, but Bridget knew that he was quite taken with the ambassador’s daughter. She was from Antiva, which Bridget knew enthralled her brother even more. He had always been a sucker for accents. Deciding to bring that up later, she returned to the task at hand and asked,
            “What do you mean?”
Fergus raised his eyebrows.
            “Take a look at that poor dummy and tell me what you think.” He chuckled.
Bridget turned and laughed. She had indeed practically destroyed it. She turned back to Fergus as he stood next to her.
            “You must not be quite so brutal, lest you tire yourself.”
Bridget shrugged.
            “I defeated it though, didn’t I?” she asked.
Fergus nodded.
            “Well, yes you did but keep in mind that a real foe will not stand in front of you and do nothing. You must pace yourself in a real battle. If you waste all your energy pillaging one foe…you will not be able to do the same against others.”
Bridget frowned.
            “Well I know that, Fergus but it’s not like I have an actual person to spar with. I’ve asked all the other soldiers and they just laughed at me!” she exclaimed.
Fergus threw his head back and laughed.
            “My dear sister, you are only twelve years old, everyone else here is a full grown adult, of course they would say no! They’d be persecuted if they gave you so much as a scratch!” he exclaimed.
Bridget’s eyes widened as she came up with a plan.
            “Well…you are not an adult yet, brother. Why don’t you spar with me?
Fergus looked at her as if she had grown an extra limb.
            “Did you really just ask me that?”
Bridget quirked an eyebrow.
            “Why not, afraid I’ll be better than you?”
Fergus threw his head back and laughed. Bridget crossed her arms and let him have his moment for she knew he would be completely blindsided by what she was going to tell him next.
            “Oh dear sister,” Fergus began after he finally calmed himself down, “I assure you, you will not be a better fighter than me. I am sparing you from embarrassment by saying no.”
He turned to leave, but Bridget said,
            “If you don’t, I’ll tell Mum that you knocked boots with Oriana.”
Fergus stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened and he slowly turned around to look at her.
            “How do you know about that?” he asked.
Bridget gaped at him.
            “Wow you actually did? And here I was just bluffing, thanks for the confession!” she exclaimed.
Fergus felt heat rush to his face.
            “No, no you can’t tell her, she’d be furious with me!” he stated.
Bridget grinned devilishly and crossed her arms.
            “Exactly. So now you have two choices. Spar with me, and I forget everything you just told me. Leave and I’ll tell Mum everything.”
Fergus heaved a heavy sigh and looked around. There was no way his mother could find out about Oriana and himself. His mother would kill him! He also feared what she would think if she knew he was about to spar with her! However, he did believe that she would forgive the sparing session far more easily than the…ahem…Oriana session. Fergus looked back down at Bridget and cursed under his breath. She was looking at him with those big blue eyes. It was impossible to say no to her when she had those puppy dog eyes. Fergus now understood why their father always called her ‘pup’ now.
            “Please Fergus?” she asked.
Fergus sighed.
            “Oh alright. You better keep your end of the bargain.”
Bridget grinned and raised her ‘sword’. Fergus picked up a nearby branch seeing as how he didn’t have a fake sword anymore (as Bridget had now claimed his old one). Bridget gripped the handle of her sword and, before Fergus even had a chance to turn around, charged at him, knocking him to the ground.
            “Hey! Hey, ow, you can’t do that Bridget, that’s not fair!” he exclaimed.
Fergus pushed her off of him and pulled her ponytail.
            “Ow Fergus! That was my hair!” she exclaimed.
            “And what exactly are you two up to?”
Bridget and Fergus both turned to see their father, Bryce standing with his good friend, Rendon Howe, the Arl of Amaranthine. Bridget and Fergus looked at each other and then commenced into more hair pulling and punching.
            “Alright now, stop it, the both of you.”
Bryce walked over and picked up Bridget as she still did not let up on Fergus.
            “But Papa, Fergus was teaching me how to be a warrior like you!” she exclaimed.
Bryce laughed as did Howe.
            “Well my dear daughter, you may become a warrior, but you are a bit young for it now, don’t you think?”
Howe shook his head.
            “I don’t think so, Bryce. She appears to be very strong for her age, plus she has the will and want to learn. I would say why not? Best to train them whilst they are still young.”
Bryce looked at him.
            “Oh I very much agree with you, Howe. My wife however, has different plans for her.”
Bridget grumbled something un-audible under her breath. Bryce looked at the broken practice dummy and raised his eyebrows.
            “She would make a great warrior though, that is no question. I’m sure I can convince Eleanor to drop her want for her to be a pampered princess. But it would take a lot of convincing.”
            “I’m still here, Father.” Bridget reminded him.
He chuckled and patted her on her head.
            “Of course you are. Well you best get Nan to wash you up before your mother catches sight of you. I suppose its back to business for us then.”
He turned with Howe and began walking back to the estate. Fergus brushed some of the dirt off of him and looked at his younger sister.
            “You’re definitely ruthless, I’ll give you that. I agree with father though, your place isn’t here at home greeting ambassadors and other guests. It’s out here, in the open defending Fereldon to the last man.”
Bridget smiled at her brother and hugged him.
            “Thank you, Fergus. I’m sorry for attacking you off guard. And for threatening to blackmail you.”
Fergus laughed.
            “Don’t be, that’s actually an advantage sometimes, the attacking off guard part anyway. So we can just pretend the Oriana conversation never happened?
Bridget nodded. Fergus sighed in relief.
            “Good. Well, I guess I should be off too, see you later, sister.”
Bridget watched as Fergus walked off. Her mabari pup, Zeus came trotting up to her and brushed his head up against her hand. Bridget smiled and petted him.
            “Guess I should get cleaned up like Papa suggested. I wish Mama would let me fight, it’s all I want to do.”
Although Bridget did not know now, but she would get to fight and defend Fereldon just as Fergus said she would.
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The Last of the Couslands