So, here is the deal. I've always known I was different, not like the other girls. It was as if I heard music that no one else could hear and saw colours where people only saw grey and stone. Lyrium was just a substance to most people but to me it truly sang. I wanted to do anything but do what I had to do. I didn't actually know what the matter with me was or what this longing in my chest meant. I just knew that there was something beyond Orzammar that called to me. There was somewhere else that I was supposed to be.
I taught myself to read and quickly started spending my days in the Shaperate as often as my father could spare me. I know he regrets it now, letting me develop a mind of my own, but I also think that he thought it was better for me to read now and get it out of my system. But it didn't leave my system.
I can never explain what I felt the day I found it. It was just a small entry in an Encyclopedia but there it was. Mages. Magic. Circle of Magi. Suddenly I knew what it was that I had been searching for. I didn't mention it to anyone but now that I knew what I was looking for there was no stopping me. I asked for more books about the Circle, trying to keep my voice neutral and hoping that the Shaper would simply indulge me rather than ask me why. I knew that I would never be sad again because even if I never reached it there was a world out there that gave everything meaning. At first just knowing that Mages exist was enough.
And then one day it wasn't. Without telling anyone I started sending letters with every surfacer and traveler that crossed my path hoping that the Circle would accept me for study. I had never minded before but suddenly the grey stone felt suffocating and heavy over my head. When I wasn't in the Shaperate I hanged around the exit to the surface. Whenever the doors opened I would take a whiff of the cool surface air; sometimes the people would even have snowflakes on their clothes. Once I dared to ask one of the surfacers that the next time they came back they would bring a snowball just for me. They did and it was cold and wet and melted too quickly.
I never gave up hope. At night I dreamt about the Circle and I continued sending my letters several times every month. I think that one of the Shapers much have grown fond of me because he found a book about the History of the Circle and said I could keep it. I was so happy and the thick book kept me occupied for months.
It happened a few days after I turned 19. Some more people came. Humans, but funny looking ones. I observed them as they strangely meddled in Dwarf Politics, why they even bothered I don't even know and then I dared to make my move. I called for them and to my great surprised they listened. They were Grey Wardens, I knew what they were because I had spent all my days reading since I could ever remember. Two of them were Mages and I almost lost all my bravery but then I swallowed twice and the words ran out of me like lava from the rock.
MynameisDagnaandIhavealwayswantedtostudyattheCircl eandIhavesentotherlettersbutInevergotanyreplyandif youcouldhelpmethatwouldbejustgreatandIknowIcanneve rdomagicbutIdon'tcareIjustwant tolearnandIthinkitwouldbebeneficialfortheCircletoa lsolearnaboutdwarf,Ithinkweallcouldlearnfrom eachother.
To my big surprise she said yes.
