The Great Hall was packed with soldiers stationed at their posts, elven servants from the larder, catering for the Cousland Family, who were all seated around the table. Teryn Bryce Cousland, Teryna Eleanor Cousland, Lady Oriana Cousland and little Oren Cousland, the entire Cousland Family all seated in the hall, a buffet of food in front of them. As the two approached, Fergus branched off and took a seat beside his wife and child, leaving Aedan to nearly be knocked over by the Mabari Hound bounding towards him. Barkspawn was Aedan's personal Mabari Wardog, gifted to him by Bryce for his tenth birthday. The Hound had been trained, fed and cared for by Aedan ever since. It sat beside two empty chairs, where Aedan and Roland both took their seats.
Many of the Guards in Castle Cousland preferred to eat their meals in the barracks, where they slept, instead of in the Great Hall. Many did this to not disturb the Cousland Family, although they would never sit with them. Ser Roland Gilmore, however, was an exception to this rule. Being Aedan Cousland's friend and the bodyguard to both the Cousland Brothers, Roland was treated as an honorary Cousland Family Member, despite his lineage being in the Bannorn. Bryce had taken Roland in as his Squire almost a decade before, and the Knight had lived, slept and ate with the family ever since.
"Good Morning, Pup." Bryce said as Aedan began to fill his plate full of breakfast food, buttered bread, berries and fruits and other foods. "I hope you slept well, My Son."
"Very well, Father." Aedan replied, trying not to speak with a mouthful of bread. It tasted sweet, but the butter made it creamy, which Aedan enjoyed. The bread was baked in the Castle, and he trusted it would be brilliant, as it was baked and buttered by Nan herself, Aedan's former Nanny who had become the Castle's Cook after Aedan hit adulthood.
"When does Arl Howe arrive, Father?" Fergus asked, slowly eating a slice of cooked ham. "He said he'd be here yesterday, you'd think they took hour breaks ever five minutes!"
"No word has come through from them, Fergus." Bryce replied, stopping eating to point it out. "Although, Lady Landra and her son and handmaiden have arrived."
"The Elven Lass?" Fergus exclaimed, stabbing the meat and grinning from ear-to-ear. "Aedan's got his eye on that Lass."
"Oh I swear to Andraste..." Aedan muttered, stabbing berries forcefully, looking down at his plate. "I'm going to stab your eyeballs..."
The Family ate for almost an hour, chatting amongst themselves. Ser Gilmore was the first to leave, excusing himself to tend to his duties as Captain of the Guard, before he was shortly followed by Aedan and Fergus, with Aedan heading to the Study, where the collection of his Grandfather's books, scrolls and tomes was located, and Fergus heading to prepare his armour and weapons for the march to Ostagar later on in the evening.
