Note from Kanuro5: Hello, this is my first Dragon Age fanfic, and what better place to start out than with the Couslands. I personally always play as the Couslands, in all my playthroughs. I guess I can relate more to humans than to elves and dwarves . . . no surprise there, lol. Anyway, this takes place post-Awakening, four years after the Archdemon's demise. This will not be a long fic, maybe 5 to 7 chapters. But regardless of length, I hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 1

On this sunny day in Castle Cousland, everything had seemed to be in order for today. Fergus Cousland, the Teyrn of Highever, stood in the courtyard facing the large wooden gates that was the castle entrance. He had his loyal knights form a parallel line leading from the gate with their swords angled acutely to the sky, he had placed all the lords and ladies that have come from Highever to Denerim besides him, and he had hired local bards to prepare festive songs for when the valued guest would arrive at the Castle.

Fergus had been looking forward to this day ever since the Fifth Blight had ended four years ago, but circumstances of higher importance had prevented him from seeing the valued guest that had saved Ferelden and all of Thedas. But Fergus was determined to see him today. After endless cycling of correspondence between the two, the Hero of Ferelden finally accepted to come see Fergus in Castle Cousland. Fergus was so elated that he practically pranced around his own study like a little girl.

"Your Lordship, they approach!" a guardsmen shouted to Fergus from a tower. A large smile creased the young Teyrn's face.

Fergus rushed everybody into place and made last minute adjustments. He told the bards to begin their song of the valorous heroes of Ferelden old fighting off the Orlesian hordes—the appropriate tune for a hero's return. The fanfare from the orchestra began, it's exuberant and luscious melody filled the castle walls as the lords and ladies brushed themselves off to look presentable. Fergus straighten his chestnut brown hair with his saliva, tossed a mint into his mouth, and had some valuable jaded flowers placed deep within his dress shirt for good luck—an old Cousland charm that his mother taught him.

"Open the gates!" went the call of a guard.

Fergus grew a noticeable smirk as the wooden gates slowly opened his excitement building with every expansion of the gate. It had been ages since he had seen his little brother, who has now earned such laurels as the "Hero of Ferelden, the Warden-Commander, and the arl of Amaranthine". It was hard to imagine that just five years ago, Fergus left his family and his brother David on the eve of Rendon Howe's massacre of Castle Cousland. The castle was virtually destroyed, but due to five long years of reparations from King Alistair and Queen Anora, Castle Cousland was restored to its original glory. But such horrid thoughts had to be set aside, for today, Fergus would reunite with his brother.

The gates swung open as the Hero of Ferelden along with his woman and his faithful mabari hound walked into the castle, totally enraptured by the applause and the crowd that greeted them. The three walked through the parallel line of knights who extended their swords into the air over the three and made an arch. The woman's sapphire blue eyes were wandering all around the castle, completely enamored with the surprise and pageantry that was presented towards them. The Warden-Commander's emerald green eyes however remained focused on one man who was directly in front of him walking up to him—his loving elder brother Fergus.

Fergus walked forward towards his brother, both arms extended out and with a jubilant smile that stretched from ear-to-ear, his brown eyes shimmering with joy. The Couslands brothers were finally face-to-face with each other smiling hard at their proper, overdue reunion.

"Fergus!" the young Cousland said with a radiant smile.

"David!" the elder replied with a joyous laugh.

The Couslands brothers came together and embraced in a truly endearing moment that made many of the onlookers swoon. Even David's hyperactive mabari sat down and looked on approvingly as the two brothers finally reunited.

After their long embrace, Fergus stepped back and placed his hands on David's shoulders. By the Maker, had he grown. He remembered four years ago at King Alistair's coronation following the defeat of the Archdemon, where he watched his brother stand next to the King and Queen and was honored as the Hero of Ferelden. Back then, his chestnut hair was cropped low and he was particularly clean shaven; but after four years, David's hair had grown out substantially and yet it was unkempt. And he now sported a thin, neatly trimmed beard that accented his growth of maturity. On top of his changed hairstyle, David was also sporting around massive armor that carried the insignia of two golden gryphons on the breastplate, the mark of the Warden Commander.

"David! It has been so long!" Fergus said, admiring his brother's new look.

"Too long, Fergus. Too long! It is great to see you again."

"Same to you."

"Fergus, do you remember Leliana?" David asked, showing his brother the girl who stole his heart.

In their letters, David spoke in great detail about the love of his life, an Orlesian bard and spy, Leliana. David especially highlighted her benevolent nature, her sweet and pure beauty, her wonderful singing voice, her luscious and velvet-like red hair, and her ability to drill an arrow through a darkspawn's skull from 50 yards away. Fergus remembered meeting her at King Alistair's coronation he was not disappointed at what he saw back then—just as he was not disappointed to see her now.

Four years after meeting her after the Blight and she still looked as radiant as the sun. She was wearing an exquisite red and black elven scale armor that complimented her slender physique. She was also carrying a magnificent recurve bow of Orlesian origin on her back with two steel daggers on both sides of her hips. Yet despite her truly fierce appearance, she erected a smile so pristine that it could melt the heart of an ogre.

Fergus extended his hand and softly shook her hand with a loving smile. "How can I forget the woman who made my little brother so happy?"

Leliana blushed and spoke, her lovely accent only emphasizing her sweetness in her tone. "It is truly great to see you again, Fergus. Our last meeting at Denerim was too short."

"It was, but I intend that we get to know each other now that you are here in Highever."

David's mabari hound, "Dane", barked excessively and pounced on Fergus excitedly, elated to see him once again. Fergus laughed heartily and took a knee to stare into "Dane's" small yet lovable eyes.

Fergus smiled. "And of course I couldn't forget about you."

Dane barked happily and licked Fergus' face.

"Alright down boy. You sure have grown since the last time I saw you. What have you been eating, darkspawn?"

Dane started to gag.

Fergus chuckled. "Oh come off it. I remember you used to eat giant rats for a living. I remember David and I watched you take down four giant rats and then gobbled them up like it was nothing. And then you pounced on Nan and coughed in her face," Fergus broke out into laughter. "Do you remember that?"

Dane began to whine and lowered his head.

"Oh yes that's right. She did throw several pots and pans at your head. Then she yelled at us for allowing that to happen. So, do you still have that scar from that pan on your head?"

"Quit making my mabari relive painful history," David said.

"You're right, we need to focus on your return home," Fergus said as he rose to his feet.

"I appreciate you greeting us like this…but, we were not expecting such a welcome." David discreetly motioned to all the lords and ladies present. Fergus awkwardly chuckled.

"Yes about that…somehow word got around about your return, and every noble in Highever had been sending me request and sovereigns to come speak to the Hero of Ferelden."

The Hero of Ferelden? David could hardly believe that they were still calling him that. But that's what happens when you stop a Blight. He wondered if Garahel, the elven Grey Warden who ended the Fourth Blight, would have been honored as such for years to come if he survived killing the Archdemon.

"'The Hero of Ferelden'? Such titles are of old news, that was four years ago," David explained.

"You are too modest, brother. You ended a Blight before it began, I think you have the right to be called "Hero" for the rest of your life. And it is not also that you slain the Archdemon. You are also the Warden-Commander of Ferelden, saved the city of Amaranthine from a darkspawn horde, and are also the Arl of Amaranthine. So you see why everyone here treats you as a big deal."

"I guess that means we must spend another evening socializing with nobility," Leliana said under her breath in slight annoyance.

"This will only take about half an hour, and then you would be safe inside the castle walls," Fergus promised. The couple rolled their eyes and put on their "sincere, public" smiles for the dozens of nobility that greeted them. And naturally, the "half an hour" social affair extended into a full hour—much to Fergus' chagrin.

After the "lovely" socializing, Fergus subtly dismissed the nobility, informing them that "Hero of Ferelden" and his woman had an arduous journey and deserved some rest. The fanfare quickly died down and Fergus escorted the couple and their hound inside the Main Hall.

"'Half an hour?'" Leliana said, slyly eyeing the Teyrn.

Fergus awkwardly chuckled. "I apologize. You know the nobility, they're never sated until they have what they want."

Leliana brushed it aside and feasted her eyes on the exquisitely decorated Main Hall. The soft Antivan green carpet that was laid out in the middle of the hall, the statues of armor with their swords driven down in front of their feet, and a large furnace placed at the very end of the halls that gave off a warm feeling of safety and power. This wasn't as flamboyant as some halls in Orlais, nor was it as delicate as the Arl of Redcliffe's estate in Denerim—but it was beautiful and gave off a sort of "quiet, quaint, yet mighty" vibe.

Leliana smiled. "Oh Fergus, this is beautiful! David, I cannot believe you were raised in such a—" Leliana's words trailed off as she glanced over at David beside her. His eyes were fully open and his jaw was slacked. He walked forth aimlessly as if in a trance. Fergus placed a soft hand on Leliana's shoulders, motioning to her to let David have this quiet moment—to remember what once was after the destruction of their home.

David read the letters sent by Fergus that Castle Cousland was completely rebuilt, but he did not truly believe it was so. He still remembered that dreadful night five years ago when his adventure began. He remembered smelling the endless reeking stench of sulfur and death, the crumbling walls of the castle, the endless flames that blanketed the castle, the bodies—Oh Maker, all the bodies that were strewn across the ground, the blood and the gore was truly endless on that dark night. The memories then started to pain David as he currently stared into the fire of the furnace.

He suddenly remembered entering the main hall where he was greeted by a mortally wounded Gilmore; covered in blood, bleeding through the mouth, and clutching his abdomen to keep his organs from falling out. The handful of guards that remained had barricaded the door, trying their best to keep out Howe's forces. And then, David remembered the most pivotal event of the night, how he and his mother entered the pantry…and on the floor—Maker, why?—on the floor they found…

David forced himself out of the dreadful flashback and rubbed his eyes together. The castle, his home, his birthright…it was all razed to the ground in front of him; and now it is rebuilt—as if the infamous Cousland Massacre never took place. David's eyes blurred out of focus. It all seemed…so unnatural.

"It is truly rebuilt…" David said to himself, yet loud enough to be heard.

"I did," Fergus said walking behind his brother, "It was not easy…with help from King Alistair and Queen Anora, it was made possible."

David still stared out into the fire, entranced by its flickering heated dance; the same flicker on the day that Duncan came with news of Grey Warden recruitment. Five years…a lifetime ago…

Fergus sighed heavily. "I know what you're feeling. I was at a lost for words when I came back to Highever, back here to Castle Cousland…seeing everything completely destroyed…"

But you weren't there. You didn't see everything, David's thoughts shouted at Fergus.

"But I vowed to rebuild what Howe destroyed," Fergus continued, "And now Castle Cousland is here again," he finished with a smile.

David turned around with a cherished smile and reddening eyes that looked like he was about to cry. "And you did a wonderful thing Fergus…it is almost like old times."

Fergus grinned and placed his hands on the Warden-Commander's shoulders. "It feels like it. But you know, now that your "adoring public" is gone…"

Fergus suddenly grabbed David in a headlock and sharply flipped him to the ground, still holding on to the lock. Leliana gasped and covered her mouth with her hands at the sudden movement, while Dane began barking excitingly.

But before Leliana could intervene, Fergus' hearty laughter stopped her. After looking closer, she could see that even though David was trapped in a headlock, he was smiling and laughing like a little kid. It dawned on her that they were just having a brotherly wrestling match.

"Now this is just like old times," Fergus laughed as he applied a vicious noogie to David's messy head.

"I do not mean to disappoint you," David grunted through the noogie, "But I am far stronger than you remember Fergus!"

While still on the ground, David wrapped both arms around Fergus' waist, and using pure upper body strength; David got up to his feet and was holding Fergus above his head six feet in the air—while Fergus still had David in a headlock. Fergus' jaw dropped.

"By the Maker and doggy-style Andraste!" Fergus exclaimed as his eyes grew large, dangling his legs in the air.

David smirked hard and fell backwards, backdropping his elder brother on the hard floor. Fergus instantly recoiled in pain and unleashed a horrid grunt. David leaped like a Shriek on top of Fergus and got him in a headlock and started to noogie him.

"Yeah!" David shouted with pride in Fergus' ear, "How does it feel being on the receiving end? Not so good, huh?"

Fergus began tapping out fervently, but David kept the hold on a bit longer, relishing his victory over his brother. Leliana sighed with a smile on her face. Boys would be boys, she thought.

David let go of Fergus and got up off of him. "I didn't break your old bones now, did I Fergus?"

Fergus gritted his teeth as he straightened his back whilst still on the floor. "By the love of the Maker! When did you…how did you get so strong?"

David chuckled. "One of the perks of being a Grey Warden. Your physical strength, stamina, and speed are enhanced."

"That's not fair."

"Neither is ambushing your younger brother."

Fergus sat up and examined his clothes. "Great, now you dirtied me."

"Excuse me? I seem to recall just moments ago how you tackled me first."

"Well…let us put that behind us. I'll tell you what, are you two hungry?"

Dane barked happily.

"I wasn't talking to you. I know you're always hungry. I was talking to your master."

"Oh yeah, I'm definitely hungry. What about you Leliana?"

"I am absolutely famished. A meal would be nice, Fergus."

Fergus stood to his feet and popped his back. "Great! I'll have the cooks prepare us food. The food will take an hour to prepare. In the meanwhile, you can freshen up in the baths."

Leliana's eyes gleamed when Fergus uttered "bath". She and David had been on the road for quite some time now without passing a town or river to bathe in, and she could feel the sweat and filth beginning to stick on her back against her armor. "Oh how dear of you!. Thank you so much!"

Dane began to whine.

"That means you as well," Fergus glared at the hound.

Dane made an even sadder whine.

"I know how much you can stink! Every time it rained, you left a trail of wet, mildew stench in the air."

Dane turned around and buried his face between his paws, whining even louder.

"Oh come on Fergus, now you're just hurting his feelings now." David said.

Fergus sighed. "Fine, tell you what. If you take your bath without any whining, I'll give you five chops of mutton! Just for you!"

Dane turned around and jumped in the air, barking excessively with happiness.

Fergus smiled. "Yes, I thought that would brighten your mood."

"Come David, show me to the baths," Leliana said excitedly, affectionately tugging on David's arm.

As David was being led away by the woman he loved, Fergus stared at his younger brother intently. His brother had the hero's life. Renowned all across Thedas for stopping a Blight, best friends with the King of Ferelden, an Arl of the second most important city in Ferelden, a loyal furry companion, renowned as one of the best warriors across the land, and had a beautiful woman who loved him dearly. The last thought struck out in Fergus' mind. He suddenly felt a pain in his heart as the images of his wife, Oriana, projected themselves in his mind. But this pain, it wasn't the pain of a grieving widower, it was a foreign pain that Fergus could not understand—and it was directed at his younger brother, David.