The fist 5 Chapters are about Vercy's life at Highever just before the attack. Read them if you wish.

If not, Chapter 6 talks about the attack at the castle and chapter 7 is Vercy at Ostagar.

Chapter 1

Matrinalis 12

Highever

Today was a wonderful birthday. Chaka, my faithful mabari, jumped on my bed and showered me with kisses. What a way to wake up on your eighteenth birthday! I was so excited for the day to begin. I was dressed then went downstairs where my mother, father, Fergus, Oriana and Oren were waiting greeted me and wished me a happy birthday. I didn't really want anything, but they decided otherwise for me. Mother and father gave me a dagger with Highever's crest on the blade; Fergus gave me a book titled "The Dragons of Tevinter", and Orianna and Oren gave me this journal (Oh, how they know I love to write!) Nan made me a special dinner, but I refused any cake, and went for pie instead. (Maker only knows how much I love pie).

Afterwards, I headed to my room to write in this. I just could not resist the urge to begin writing in it. No one really understands why I love to write. The reason why I love writing is because I am mute. I was born this way and have never been able to talk to anyone. I can, though, through a series of "sign language" that Brother Aldous taught my family to understand me. And Chaka was trained to follow commands by me whistling or by seeing my hand motions, and to only follow me. But I feel that when I write I have my own source of talking. Like the voice of my mind is spread to the world.

But writing is but one of my many interests.

Since I am unable to talk, my father had me train with fighting bare-handed and with a sword and shield. I love sparring with a sword and shield, reading—preferably about dragons, magic, knights, or fairytales—and writing stories about the type of books I read. I know my book interests are childish but how can I resist? They are fascinating and sometimes I do so wish I could be the knight fighting the dragon or be able to use magic. But my mother says it is bad for me to get caught up in such fantasies and utterly refuses my interests in this, so at one point she took away all my books and stories I'd written. I was devastated until Fergus had found them and snuck a few to me little at a time. She probably believes it will not help me find a match, but, not matter.

But the reason why I would like this journal is because I have no true friend, because of my inability to talk. My only friends include Fergus, Oriana, and Ser Gilmore, but I do not feel as though I can really "talk" to them, so to speak. I trust them, yes, but not as much as to tell them about how I feel on this. It is just that I am more sheltered then the children that run along the castle that belong to families of staff who live here or the ones who are stable boys. I am hardly allowed outside unless it is for training. Or if I am actually allowed to wonder around I must have at least two trained me with me, which can include Fergus.

I am "lesser" compared to my older brother Fergus, though I love him very much. Due to me being mute, I cannot handle being at court, cannot be alone for fear I will be attacked and cannot call for help, and, most of all, a Teyrn's daughter must be perfect. And my father is Teyrn Bryce Cousland, and so that makes me Vercy Cousland. The daughter of the Teyrn of Highever. And a Teyrn's daughter should have good manners, speak well, have much knowledge, and know her place. I have these things, but being able to talk. Not even the mages can help, for they've no idea how to help me. They had once suggested the Urn of Sacred Ashes to help me, but my father did not wish to rely on the solace of a myth and did not wish to treat my inability like I was diseased. I don't completely know the reason why I cannot talk, but I know that I had fallen ill shortly after my birth, as I was told. This is why they believe I am unable to talk. However, there are some other suggestions, but the answer . . . I may never know.

So, because I do not do the talking I mostly listen and give advice when needed. I trust them all well. However, I never let anyone stand on their toes on the stool. And so it comes to this journal. A friend; one u may talk to whenever I wish and one that I feel free to do so and that can "hear my voice", as no one else does.

It will be called "Falon", the Dalish word for 'friend', as Brother Aldous taught me. I was always fond of the elves; they've always intrigued me.