hadriel | Video 1

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Video 1

[the video opens with a sixteen year old girl who is doing her best to appear self-assured and confident. she's in armor and she's sitting ramrod straight in a plain, wooden chair. she takes a deep breath and speaks]

Hello. My name is Lady Mariane Cousland and I'm looking for sparring partners. I use a sword and dagger, but I'm willing to fight with any kind of swordsman. Or swordswoman.

I'm also willing to teach others to fight, so please let me know if you'd be interested in that.

[she looks away from the camera briefly, as though debating with herself whether or not to say anything more]

Any responses would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

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She is. And yes, battle is difficult enough for those who are accustomed to it. For those who are not? It is even more impressive. [and the Maker knows she certainly wasn't used to battle before she became a Grey Warden]

It sounds as though it would be. Would you. . . be willing to teach me the basics of this technique?

I used to get so frustrated with him, because he wasn't accustomed to fighting. But now that I have a chance to look back on it... it was impressive. He managed more than could have been expected of him.

I'd be willing to, yes. I've taught plenty of new recruits in my time. Not everyone necessarily picks up the skill because it takes considerable training to master, but if you're willing to put in the work, then you're better off than most.

People often do, given the opportunity.

I'm not afraid of hard work. Were I afraid of it, I wouldn't have accomplished as much as I have. [but Maker knows she'd been afraid of other things along the way]

How true. It tells you a lot about someone, too, to see how well they rise to the occasion.

Good. I didn't think you would be otherwise, given how you've spoken about these matters so far, but it's still worth hearing that you'll take it seriously. I'm not known for going easy on new recruits.

[But he's the sort who will absolutely be stern but fair toward those who put in the effort.]

Indeed. [as she'd risen to the occasion of leading the forces against the Blight. she wouldn't say it was easy, but it was an accomplishment for a girl who'd been previously occupied by her father's negotations for her hand.

a bit dryly] Neither was my mother, but I managed to succeed in the end.

[goodness knows she'll put in the effort. she never goes easy on herself]

Ah, so you were trained by a parent as well? My father is the one who gave me my early lessons on being a dragoon.

[He's the reason Kain is so strict, himself, because that was just the example that he always followed.]

It's good that she instilled such a sense of discipline in you. That should serve you well for any sort of new training.

Yes. My mother generally preferred the bow, but I was too . . . tightly wound to take to it. So she trained me in the sword and dagger instead.

[her parents were desperate for a focus for her to try and overcome her fits of melancholy]

Thank you. I will do my very best with your training.

It can take some trial and effort to find the best weapon that suits you… but it's very important to find it. You were right to pick something perhaps more suited to your temperament.

[It's not as if he knows her, to know that, but still… it sounds like she made a good choice.]

You're welcome. We ought to be able to cover a lot of ground with even the initial basics.

Yes, I've found that I prefer to be in the thick of things, rather than standing back with a bow.

[and once she got over her initial fear at being in battle, she found it exhilirating]

I look forward to that. Anything that would make me a more effective fighter, I welcome.

I have to agree with you on that. There's something to be said for the thrill of being in the midst of battle.

[He is most definitely the sort who charges right in to face an enemy directly.]

It's always a good idea, anyway, to strengthen yourself and learn new skills... but around here it's also very necessary.

Yes. It was . . . a bit of a surprise, how much I enjoyed it. I have only been fighting regularly for the past year.

[she's a rogue, so she employed tricks and misdirection in order to strike when her opponents were most vulnerable]

Certainly. I was among those who went on the prisoner exchange where Delight was killed. The Null, they were unlike any opponent I've ever seen before. And I have no doubt that eventually, we will be discovered.

That's not very long, but it sounds as if you've still learned a great deal even in such a short span of time.

[He's got to give her credit for that. He's seen newer recruits back home excel rather quickly too, so it's something he's seen before. As long as she doesn't overestimate her skills, he's sure she has what it takes to hold her own out there.]

We will be. We're always at risk of discovery, and of being bested by the Null. The more prepared we are, the better off we'll be. I've always recommended that everyone learn a little self defense. [Not that they'd expect the less combat-ready folk to be out on the front lines if things went truly terrible, but no one is entirely "safe" around here.]

Yes, I did. I really had no choice. Had I failed, my country would have been destroyed.

[and that was a tremendous weight on her shoulders, especially given that she'd barely turned sixteen at the time and was prone to deep fits of melancholy that sometimes made it difficult to even get up in the morning]

Were you here when the Null attacked? I've heard rumors, but very little in the way of personal accounts. And you're right, everyone should know at least the basics of self-defense. [she's of the opinion that no one is entirely safe anywhere]

Then you did the right thing, especially if it meant saving your home country. There are few causes as worthy.

[As someone who would die for his home, who would give everything to protect it, he respects that. He takes a lot of pride in where he's from.]

Yes, I was. It was an all out war, as you would expect. They have terrible powers... They were a force to be reckoned with, and not to be underestimated. After that experience... we need all the defenses we can get.

Thank you. I would do anything for my homeland.

[and for its new king. to say that she's a violently protective girlfriend (fiancee) would be putting it mildly.

she nods] That is why I'm offering lessons to any who want them. We all must be capable of defending ourselves when the time comes.

So would I, for mine. It means everything to me.

[He misses it terribly for that reason, of course. He'll always be loyal to his home country and king above all else.]

It's a good idea, as there are always newcomers arriving here, and many non-fighters among them... they need all the help they can get.

As does Ferelden to me. The rest of Thedas may look down on us, but we have a wild beauty of our own.

[she had been willing to go to Orlais or Antiva if that's where her father had found the best marriage alliance, but that was not to be. instead, she chose for herself and she chose a man who would become king and raise her to queen]

Indeed. And even those of us who can fight, we must keep our skills sharp and at the ready at all times.

That's a shame your home is looked down upon, but I'm sure you're doing what you can to bring it the honor and glory it deserves.

[Kain comes from a kingdom that's well respected, although maybe a little feared for their power. He knows that reputation can mean a great deal.]

Yes, we must. That's why it's essential to constantly train. We have no room for slacking off.

[she nods] Recovering from the Blight will be difficult, but Alistair and I will have the chance to lead Ferelden into a new age.

[she has every confidence in Alistair's ability to grow into a fine king, one who will lead with with both head and heart while rebuilding its strength.

and she doesn't say that she doesn't know what she'd do with herself if she didn't train. it didn't used to be that way, she used to be occupied with her dresses and her marriage prospects like any other highborn girl, but in a single night, all of that changed forever]

A new age… that sounds like it'll take considerable time and effort, but I hope it works out. This "Blight" sounds quite ominous.

[The way she makes it sound, anyway. If you have to give your disasters a name, it's probably really bad.]

As do I. And it was. Darkspawn surged to the surface, killing everyone, polluting the air, land, and water. They only stopped when I killed the Archdemon.

[and this was the fifth Blight]

How terrible and tragic for your world. I'm sorry. And Darkspawn... are they as hideous as the name sounds?

It was nightmarish. It will take decades to fully recover. And the Darkspawn . . . whatever horrors you can imagine, the Darkspawn are worse.

I've fought countless monsters in my time... so I can only imagine. If they're far beyond that, then... your world will have a lot of work ahead, to make a true recovery.

It will. Some parts of Ferelden may never fully recover. It will be the work of more than one lifetime. I can only pray that when I return, am wedded and crowned queen, that Alistair and I have an heir. Soon.

[even though she knows it's virtually impossible for two Grey Wardens to conceive a child. she'll go to anyone, try any remedy to ensure an heir. failure is not an option]

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