My current draft of Fen’Ella’s , (a.k.a my Rook) backstory as narrated by her 9 year old self.
You live in Kirkwall’s Alienage with your mother. You just turned nine and discovered that you have magic. So, she takes you to the forest to meet someone “special.” Turns out, it’s your father. He looks very serious, has strange colorful markings on his face, and had no idea you existed. But he knows you’re his daughter immediately because you have the same eyes.
There’s also a big fluffy wolf that follows him around. It doesn’t look scary, and you really want to pet it, but you know your mom won’t let you. Then, your dad gets angry at your mom because apparently, she didn’t tell him about you—and kind of ignored his letters for nine years. Your mom tries to explain. She tells him about how bad things are for mages in Kirkwall, how she was scared for your life, and how she didn’t know what else to do. Hearing that makes you a little scared too.
Your dad looks at you, sighs, and reluctantly agrees to take you with him. Then they start fighting again, but wait—they’re not fighting; they’re kissing. (Eww, gross!) After that, your mom hugs you and starts crying, and you don’t know why. Suddenly, the angry-looking man—who is apparently your dad—grabs your hand and starts walking away with you. You protest and cry, calling for your mom, but she just says, “I’ll visit you soon.”
A couple of months go by, and now you’re the Alienage kid living with the Dalish. The other kids don’t really like you. They call you a “flat-ear.” You miss your friends back in Kirkwall. Your dad is apparently the Keeper, which is very important, and he wants you to be the next Keeper after him. That means endless lessons about history, magic, and the People. He doesn’t let you play much, either.
Your best friend in the clan is the wolf. One day, you ask your dad how he became friends with it. He tells you the tale of the Emerald Knights and how you’re descendants of Tanaleth, a blacksmith and High Keeper of June. He points to a shiny artifact and says it’s part of your legacy. He also explains the tattoos on his face, which he calls vallaslin, and why he wears them. You get kind of excited, thinking about proving yourself and getting your own someday—just like his.
Your dad also tells you how the Emerald Knights had wolf companions who followed them into battle to protect the Dales. You think about your mom and your friends back in the Alienage, and you wish you had your own wolf to protect them. Even better, a giant wolf as big as a dragon, one you could ride! Like that big statue outside the camp.
The next day, when the other kids ignore you again, you decide to climb the statue. You actually do it! It’s much harder than climbing the vhenadahl, and it’s really slippery, but you manage. You’re in the middle of pretending you’re riding the wolf into battle when you hear your dad and the elders yelling your name. They sound horrified.
That evening, your dad scolds you for doing something so dangerous and for “meddling with the statue of Fen’Harel,” who is apparently an evil god of misfortune. You secretly hope you didn’t make the wolf god angry. Or at least, as angry as you made your dad.
