Part 1: Heroes

Chapter 1: Calm

One step.

It took all Aedan had for that.

As he took that one step, his body shook in pain. 'Broken' did not describe it. All his shattered ribs ached. Too much blood seeped out of his battered armor.

His fellow warden, bloodied and barely conscious, crawled on the floor. His hand outstretched as he silently screamed 'No'.

None of that mattered. Aedan just had to finish this. Then he could go home.

One deep breath.

Warm blood swirled in his mouth. Swallowing shot spasms of pain through his throat, hoarse from shouting orders. But Aedan savored this one serene moment before the end of it all. Even though his ears rang from the screams and clashing of steel, even though his body screamed for him to lay down, even though his world had gone to chaos, for once his head felt clear.

The crippled archdemon roared from the floor. The monster could only sit and watch Aedan's approach, for it's wings had been torn apart, and it's body filled with swords and arrows. The blast of it's roar threw bloodied corpses clear off the tower. The wind rushed against Aedan, and he leaned on his sword to withstand it's force.

Aedan's shield clattered on the ground. He raised his sword with both hands. The glint of it's point shone above the archdemon's head.

One thrust.

"Nan, can I have some more meat?" Aedan sputtered through a stuffed mouth. Gregory, his trusty Marbari hound, made a similar request, panting at the plate of meat Nan had.

"Maker," laughed Nan, "how do you put away all that food?" Nan whipped her wooden spoon at Aedan's elbows; when not in front of others, the young man tended to forget some manners, including not leaning on the table whilst eating. Aedan scowled and sat up straighter and lifted his arms off the wooden surface.

"Dunno, I'm a growing man I guess. Had a good training session today." Aedan took another bowl of stew. He inhaled the familiar hearty vapors as he brought the spoon to his mouth and smiled at the nostalgic smell.

"To me you're still that little boy running through the courtyard, crying over a boo boo," chuckled Nan.

"I'm plenty man enough now. That Duncan came by and even said I'd be a great Grey Warden."

"A man who can't even cook his own meals? Or wash his own stuff? Perhaps I should let this man take care of himself?"

"Sorry sorry sorry please keep feeding me," laughed Aedan, whilst Nan chuckled alongside him. She took one of Aedan's plates from him and washed it in the sink. A layer of bubbles began to rise and her engulfed her wrinkled hands.

"But did Duncan really say that?" The dishes clattered as Nan stacked them up one by one. The grand dinner between Teyrn Bryce Cousland, his good friend Arl Howe, and one of the famous Grey Warden's, Duncan, had an equal and opposite grand cleanup. While the nobles stood outside in the courtyard wining and dining, the

"Yes, but Father refused to let him even consider it," said Aedan.

Despite her back being turned on Aedan, Nan still conversed whilst cleaning."Well, being a Grey Warden is dangerous."

"But I'd get to be a hero! Save damsels, fight evil, defeat the archdemon." Aedan's fork swished through the air as he fought off imaginary darkspawn. His calloused hands spun the fork between his fingers, until he made one final thrust into his chicken.

"Like you'd ever be marching on an archdemon. It takes a good half hour to get you out of bed."

"Because it's the same thing over and over! Mother has some fancy friend over, Father and Brother are out meeting the nobles or hunting, and I'm just...here. Is that all life is for me? Second son of a noble, grow old, get fat, listen to boring politicians yammer on?" Aedan leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"Aren't you the one who's good with the politicians?"asked Nan as she took Aedan's last plate.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it."

Silence filled the room as Nan continued scrubbing the dishes. She glanced over at Aedan. His brow was furrowed deep. His eyes were elsewhere, yet still focused on the flickering flame of the candle. She couldn't decide if it was serenity or discontent.

For a noble, he certainly did not act like one. He wore baggy loose clothing around the castle, and would have none of the fine Orlesian silks that his sister-in-law Oriana would try and put on him. The servants and him had an amicable relationship- he treated them like a second family: they played sports, told jokes, and occasionally even ate together. Perhaps it was because recent years had forced Aedan to remain within the castle confines more and more. His father, away on business, and his brother, preparing to take the Teyrn's seat, were seen rarely.

The youngest Cousland, despite what Nan teased, was growing into a fine man. Twenty-four years old with a faint stubble covering his face, his brown eyes were known for being equally bright and at other times harsh and piercing. She tousled his short black hair and smiled. Despite how much older he looked, he really was to her the same little boy, gleaming with hope.

Nan said to him, "You say all that- but the thing is Aedan, the choice is yours. You could walk out of the castle, go become an adventurer, pillager of villages, hero of cities, or just a wandering vagabond, but every morning you wake up and choose to stay here, because you love this place and love your family. You've had your fair share of trouble, and you know that this is where you belong."

Nan stacked the dishes, stretched her arms and yawned. Before she left, she pinched Aedan's cheek and chuckled, "Why do you think I'm still here? The pay?"

"Father, why can't I come on the hunt?" yawned the seven year old boy in his pajamas. Aedan rubbed his eyes, leaning on his practice sword to keep his tired body up.

The youngest Cousland had always been a rambunctious child: always dreaming up adventures and playing hero in the castle. However, Aedan could never quite defeat the insurmountable monster known as the early morning. The young child loved to sleep, even sneaking off during lessons to nap.

"Oh, pup, you know why," said Bryce Cousland, tousling his son's bed-head.

"But Fergus gets to go," whined Aedan, rubbing his eyes again. Indeed, Fergus, Aedan's elder by eight years, had mounted his own horse. From a distance Aedan always had to watch his brother recieve swordsman lessons and horse riding training. Fergus stuck his tongue out at his brother, out of sight from their father.

Today Arl Howe joined the hunt. He and Bryce shared a long friendship. As a seven year old, Aedan always appreciated when Uncle Howe always brought him new toys. Despite his sleep addled state, Aedan still looked forward to whatever the Arl brought today.

"You're too fierce little one! The world's not ready for you!" roared his father. With a slap of the reins, the three men set off on their horses. Aedan watched alone as his father and his hunting party rode off into the woods, waiting until he could no longer see their figures until he returned inside.

His father had bought something from Denerim for his birthday- a training dummy, with spinning pegs and made of the sturdiest wood. With all his strength, Aedan flung his sword against the dummy.

The peg swung around back to hit him in the face.

The sky faded into orange, and the crowds began to thin out. The sheer amount of attendees had not surprised Aedan. Castle Cousland had actively advertised the dinner in honor of the Grey Wardens. The nobles celebrated with more gusto and frivolity than ever before. Aedan theorized that even they, up in the north, feared the oncoming Blight in the south. Tense smiles were plastered on their faces and everyone laughed oddly and too much.

Political events hosted by the Couslands, a rather prestigous noble family second only to the King's, came in different venues. The standard wine and dine happened most often. Teryn Cousland would invite a good twenty to thirty people to discuss the state of the Teynir. In actuality, most people just came to vent their problems regarding the region. Other times they hosted grand feasts, often times around the holidays. Aedan didn't hate it completely. Besides the people, the topics, the setting, the ass-kissing, the pandering, and most everything, Aedan always enjoyed the little food trays Nan put out, particularly the smoked venison.

Tonight's dinner hadn't been any different. At the official dinner table, Aedan had been forced by his parent to cut down on his food intake, as to be more 'becoming'. Nobles flocked to his father, making roundabout offers in exchange for extra troops to protect them. Those who already had sizeable armies made offers of said troops in exchange for political leverage. Nothing but flattery had been aimed towards the Grey Warden tonight, Duncan.

Duncan seemed every bit the part of a Grey Warden: wise, combat-experienced, and brave. These were the men and women who would save the world from the Blight. He hadn't even taken off his armor when dining; granted, twas only leather, but it seemed rather strange a custom. Perhaps he always needed to be ready.

Aedan stepped into the courtyard. There his scratched and battered training dummy awaited him. He took a few moments to readjust the nails and bolts that held it together.

His lungs filled with air. Aedan took two steps backwards. His body relaxed.

And he was ready.

With a swift toss Aedan's sword flew into the air. His arm arced out, grabbing the sword. In one quick motion he struck the first peg. Almost instantly the opposing end came to hit him, but it rang against the steel of Aedan's shield. A kick sent the lower pegs spinning. A blur of spinning pegs was before him. Aedan's eyes tracked the whirls with hawk-like precision. Aedan jumped, struck, ducked, and he too became a blur. Whatever strike his sword made, his shield was always up and defending. His body flowed around the dummy, barraging it from all angles: striking top, bottom, middle, then again, chaining his moves into a vicious cycle of metal.

One final strike from Aedan split right through the dummy, sending it's remnants flying. He smirked. He need a new one anyways.

"Bravo son," remarked his father, "didn't think you'd run through the steel one we ordered from Orzammar so quickly."

The broken steel frame lay shattered on the ground. The two Cousland men stared at it for a brief moment while Aedan caught his breath. Training had been a daily ritual of Aedan's for a long time. An wise, rather cantankerous, old elf had once beat into him- always train, for you'll never know when you need it.

"Even if I was as young as you, I could never dream of matching up to what you do here," complimented Bryce, who patted Aedan on the back. Before Aedan could speak, his father said, "I know what you're going to want to say. You want to go off and be a Grey Warden."

Just as Aedan was about to open his mouth, his father whacked him square on the back. "Well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to say no to that."

Bryce's hand was brushed aside as Aedan said, "And why not father? Why can't I go and serve my countrymen? Why can't I once be on the front lines and be a hero, instead of just wasting my life away here?"

Immediately after he said that, Aedan saw the sad look on his father's face. His own face dropped as well.

"Sorry father, I just..."

Bryce sat his son down on the nearby bench and put his arm around him.

"Son, both your brother and I will be at Ostagar. Cailan tells us the battle will be a roaring success and that we will push back the darkspawn. One united army, defending our great nation," Bryce stated, true belief in his eyes.

"But if the battle doesn't go well, we need someone to protect our family, our legacy. We need someone to keep Oriana, Oren, and your mother safe. I know you want to do something great and go be a hero instead of sitting here. But what good are you even as a man if you can't even protect the people near you?"

Bryce and Aedan looked at each other. After the briefest moment, both smiled and got up. No words were needed. Bryce put both hands on Aedan's shoulders.

"One recruit amidst the entire army of Ferelden won't make a difference. One man defending his family can," said Bryce, patting his son on the back and walking both of them back to the living quarters.

"Come on Father, you're telling me that this battle wouldn't succeed without someone like the Hero of River Dane?" replied Aedan.

"Ha, Loghain! A good man with a demeanor that would kill puppies with one look. Ask him yourself next time we go to meet the nobles- he doesn't even like the title."

Bryce waved his son good night and turned the corner to his room.

The dark of the night had fallen. The stars in the sky were as clear and bright as polished steel. The moon draped it's gentle beams across the courtyard and it's surroundings: the rustic stone wall whose rough vines he used to climb, the crooked steps where he and his brother played tag, and the bench where his mother used to sing him lullabies.

Aedan stood and smiled. He thought to himself, Well...no place like home.

Hey, this is my first piece here. Looking to improve my writing, so reviews and constructive criticism welcome.