**As background, this takes place in my multi-warden AU. Twins Freya and Liam Aeducan are exiled to the deep roads and meet up with Signa Brosca, who escaped to the deep roads. Together, they survive, until the Grey Wardens arrive and help set up Freya for the throne**
Warning: Blood and gore
Read on AO3
*****
Freya stands straight, head high, gaze boring into Bhelen, her brother. The thought of him sickened her. He who killed their eldest brother and framed his siblings, all to be king.
Shocked and outraged gasps filled the chamber, nobles yelling when they realized the exiled royals had come home.
Freya paid them no mind, simply stocked into the center. She wore a white dress, accented with gold, the newly forged crown sat upon her brow, her dark hair braided into it. No armor, but her axes were strapped to her back.
Her blood would not be spilled tonight.
She vaguely felt her twin and her lover fall into place behind her, the two flanking her. The wardens had gotten them this far, voiced their support, now the next move was hers.
“Bhelen, Kinslayer! I challenge your claim to the throne!” Her voice rang through the assembly, shaking her blasted younger brother from his shock.
“Bold of you to call me Kinslayer, sister! And to enter this hall when you had been banished. You should be killed for this trespass.” He answered, his words hurried, though polished. Bhelen was an immaculate liar. If only she had known he would use his skill against his own family.
“You could try.” Freya growled low.
Her twin spoke up from beside her. “Lord Harrowmont, did we not supply evidence of our brother’s machinations, his cruel and malicious plots? Did we not show that our brother orchestrated Trian’s death and our exile?” Liam’s voice filled the chamber, he who was so soft-spoken, anger fueling his accusations.
“Yes. I stand before you, having seen the evidence with my own eyes.” Harrowmont’s voice didn’t waver. “I rescind my claim to the throne and support Freya Aeducan.”
Signa was the one who gathered the needed pressure against Harrowmont. With what she had found, it was easy to recruit him to their side and truly he seemed almost relieved.
At the lord’s words, there was more outrage, scattered with shouts of support. But Freya didn’t take her eyes of her brother. She knew better now, better than to trust him.
Voices rising, falling, arguing, other speaking in support, Bhelen’s lackies shouting them down. But the tides were turning, the unexpected return garnering more support than detraction. They had more than Harrowmont’s faction’s vote. Freya could see the realization come to Bhelen, saw his jaw clench. She saw the moment he made the decision, calculated how this would end, how it would have to end, for him to keep his claim to the throne.
Bhelen jumped down, into the center of the chamber, calling out to her. “Then meet my blade! Prove yourself, sister!” He drew his weapon, as some of his men jumped down to join him. “Prove these accusations!”
Freya reacted so quick, it caught him off guard. Bhelen had to rush to deflect the axe that was hurled at him. Freya had learned to be quicker, had to, in the Deep Roads. And to be more precise in her throws. Each one the difference between survival and ruin, between a darkspawn and her life.
It was that skill, learned out of desperate necessity, that quickness of movement, that meant that Bhelen didn’t see the second axe, before it was buried in his throat.
The surprise on his face would have been laughable, her unflappable younger brother, so certain of things, taken by surprise, but Freya had no room of laughter. Eyes-wide, shocked, mouth opening and closing uselessly, a ragged gasp escaping, she watched her brother realize he had lost, he had miscalculated.
Freya calmly walked forward as he dropped to the ground, hands clawing at the iron in his neck, grasping weakly as blood poured from the wound. She ignored the other warriors, her twin and Signa taking care of them, covering her.
She reached Bhelen, looking down at him. His eyes were turning glossy, disbelief, and…fear lingering. She dropped to her knees, cradling his spasming body against hers, his lifesblood flowing onto her dress, her arms, her hands. She gently stroked his head, watched the flicker of life leave his eyes, as he returned to the Stone.
Wordless, she rose, pulling the axe free with a sickening squelch. Freya raised her head, saw the remnants of her brother’s supporters, either dead, dying, or surrendered, weapons littering the ground, the bodies bearing the slashes of her brothers sword or stuck with arrows from Signa’s bow.
Freya gaze met each of the nobles in the assembly, piercing, proud, sorrowful, circling to see them all.
With Caridan’s forged crown heavy on her head, bathed in kinsblood, her hands strained and dripping with it, she raised her axe and shouted, a feral defiant look in her eyes. “I am Freya Aeducan, the next Queen of Orzammar! Who will challenge my claim!”
There was silence.
A long moment, as the decision was made.
Then, one by one, each noble kneeled, bowing to her. Signa started the chant. “Hail! Queen Freya Aeducan! Long May She Reign” Last to kneel, her twin, her brother, and Signa, her lover, these two the reason she had survived to this moment.
But this moment came at a great cost and all Freya felt was fury.
Pure fury at the utter waste, blood on her hands and another brother dead.
Characteristics/personality: sarcastic, dark humor, strong-willed, flirtatious, bold in words, cautious in actions, protective, questioning, says what she means, anger rises quickly
Hair: straight, long black hair that is kept back from her face, often in a braid
Eyes: golden eyes
Distinguishing features: Ghilan’nain vallaslin, various small scars
Hobbies: talking to people, exploring, hunting, keeping her friends out of trouble, playing card games, leatherworking
Brief Background: Raised in clan Sabrae alongside Tamlen and later Merrill. Ashalle was like a mother to her. Before the mirror incident, she never imagined leaving the clan. After joining the wardens, she can’t imagine going back.
Family: Ashalle; her clan; the wardens; her kids are Carmen, Wren, and Mateo.
Random Notes: Mabari is named Bear; primary love language is physical touch; planned to be bonded to Tamlen; cheats openly at cards when she is among friends, is never seen cheating when among strangers
Name: Catheryne “Eryne” Haelia Cousland
Worldstate: Worldstate 2 (and Multi-warden AU)
Age: 21 at the start of DAO (born in 9:09 Dragon)
Species/Race: human noble
Class/Specialization: Rogue/Assassin/Bard/Shadow
Height: 5’8
Gender/sexuality: woman/straight
Romance: Alistair Theirin
Characteristics/personality: reserved, diplomatic, loyal, guilt-ridden, cold fury, ruthless, educated, charming, curious about other cultures, slow to trust, but deeply loving
Hair: Long curly black hair that she keeps in a functional bun
Eyes: brown
Distinguishing features: burn scar on her left forearm from the attack on Highever
Hobbies: spending time with family, sailing, archery, traveling, metalworking
Brief Background: A bit wild as a child, her mother and father guided her to use her energy for practical things: like sailing, archery, people politics. She was extremely close to her family, wanting to visit Antiva with her sister-in-law. Duncan had to pull her away from her parents, her deep sense of duty tearing her between obeying and protecting her family. It took her years to regain the same vibrancy she had before she lost her family, at that was due mostly to Alistair, their children, and her friends.
Family: Parents Bryce and Eleanor Cousland, Brother Fergus, sister-in-law Oriana and nephew Oren. Children twins Duncan Bryce and Rose Eleanor Theirin.
Random Notes: loves the sea and sailing; mabari named Galahad; a Ferelden lady – lead from the frontlines and work with your hands; when she is nervous or stressed, she pets her mabari, one of her few tells
Characteristics/personality: reserved, inquisitive, clever, organized, shy, caring, often passive; forgiving to a point, her awkwardness is endearing; precise, a kind sweet soul, accepting of her friends
Hair: Long dark brown hair that she braids intricately and bangs (she lets them grow out over the course of the Blight)
Eyes: Purple
Distinguishing features: Freckles across her face and body, no scars whatsoever
Hobbies: research, magic, playing the lute, gathering potion ingredients, sketching
Brief Background: Taken from her family to the Circle when she was 4, she has the barest memories of them. Anders, Karl, and a few others took her under their wings. She was a quiet, obedient child, but she was always watching and learning.
Family: Parents, Myles and Britta Surana, siblings, Sybil, Telia, and Josiya. Cathal Tabris is her cousin on her mother’s side. She considers her companions and friends her family. Her daughters are Delphine and Beata, which she and Leliana adopt after Leliana is declared Divine Victoria.
Random Notes: Her mabari is named Sir Barkington; by the time Inquisition comes around, she wears reading glasses; primary love language is words of affirmation; gets so engrossed in research hours can pass; a bit clumsy
Characteristics/personality: headstrong, sincere, protective, angry at the world, outspoken, distrusting, unsure of world outside Denerim, blunt, focused, indignant
Hair: white blond hair that reaches his shoulders
Eyes: green
Distinguishing features: left handed, various scars
Hobbies: pick-pocketing, training, map-making, crafting poisons, later traveling, sewing/quilting
Brief Background: Raised in Denerim’s alienage, Cathal has never been outside the city before. His mother taught him the basics of how to use a sword, and after her death, he continued to train in secret, observing templar’s and knights training when he could. Took every opportunity to steal or trouble nobles/guards without getting caught.
Family: Father Cyrion and his mother, Adaia (though his mother was killed many years ago by humans). He is close with his cousins, Shianni and Soris. He has some memory of his aunt’s family and he remembers that he had a lot of cousins (which he later learns was Damita’s family). Kieran is his son.
Random Notes: Has both a dislike of extremely enclosed spaces and wide-open areas; mabari is named Traitor. Loves warm bread and crisp apples. Gets a tattoo of a bear print over his heart (for Morrigan), later adds a small white print over it for Kieran.
Name: Signa Brosca
Worldstate: Worldstate 5 (and Multi-warden AU)
Age: 23 at start of DAO (born in 9:07 Dragon)
Species/Race: casteless dwarf
Class/Specialization: rogue/archer
Height: 4’4
Gender/sexuality: woman/pansexual
Romance: poly Alistair/Zevran (in multi-warden AU – Freya Aeducan)
Characteristics/personality: sarcastic, thoughtful, grin and bear it mentality, will steal anything on a dare, daring, so very curious, a survivor, laughs easy, not shy at all
Hair: short white hair
Eyes: sky blue eyes
Distinguishing features: casteless tattoo
Hobbies: pick-pocketing, cooking (she can make anything taste good), trick-shots; parkour
Brief Background: Born in Dusttown, Signa has faced an uphill battle her whole life, struggling to fight for a living. She early on learned the value of stealing, which attracted the Carta’s attention.
Family: Rica Brosca is the only family she cares about. Well and later her nephew.
Random Notes: Mabari is named Barkspawn (she takes Alistair’s suggestion); has an incredible sense of direction; Alistair teaches her to read; When Zev confronted her about her feelings for either him or Alistair, she pulled Zev over to Alistair and forced the three of them to work it out.
Hobbies: training with her axes, studying history and strategy,
Brief Background: Freya was only 7 when she told her father that even though she was born the identical twin to her brother, Liam, she was actually a girl. Her father accepted this immediately, sending out notices that Freya would take her grandmother’s name. She tackled politics with wicked pleasure, loving the secrets and machinations. In the AU, Freya and Liam meet up with Signa in the deep roads and travel together to survive, until they meet the Wardens and then win back the throne. Freya and Signa marry and are queens of Orzammar.
Name: Liam Aeducan
Worldstate: multi-warden AU
Age: 25 at start of DAO (born 9:05 Dragon)
Species/Race: dwarven noble
Class/Specialization: warrior/two-handed
Height: 4’5
Gender/sexuality: ace/aro man
Romance: N/A (marries Rica Brosca in a marriage of convenience)
Characteristics/personality: sweet, tired, wants to be left alone with his books, wants to be a shaper
Hair: long black hair and beard
Eyes: grey
Brief Background: Liam appreciated that he would never have to rule. He is a gentle soul, having no desire for Dwarven politics.
*Art by @star--nymph and @destinyapostasy. Picrews from here and here*
