Clara Amelia Blackwall was the daughter of Gordon Blackwall. She was born on April 22 of 9:20 Dragon, ten years before the beginning of the Fifth Blight, but shortly after her birth her mother was killed in one of the early darkspawn attacks. Blackwall never talked about her mother much, but they moved around a lot, recruiting more people to join the Grey Warden ranks. Clara grew up on the road, learning to walk, talk, and act like the other Wardens. It was unusual and often unheard of for a Warden to have a child, but Blackwall had fathered Clara before joining the ranks of the Grey. He rose quickly from a lowly recruit to the Warden-Constable within the first ten years of Clara's life. By the time the Fifth Blight began, Clara was ten years old and for the first time in her life was truly afraid. When the Blight ended a year later, Clara and her father decided to find a man name Thom Rainier. Blackwall wanted to recruit him and Clara quickly took a shine to the man. He was just like her father, but he had a sense of sadness about him that seemed to disappear whenever she was near him. It made her feel good. But the day they left to travel to Weisshaupt Fortress, the Grey Warden Headquarters, everything turned upside down.

Clara walked hand in hand with her father on her left and Thom on her right, having the time of her life only to have it ripped away when an arrow struck her father's left shoulder, piercing his heart. She screamed and Thom told her to hide, but when she turned to run away, she was hit over the head by a genlock with a club and passed out. Thom was enraged, hoping she was still alive, and took care of the darkspawn that had ambushed them. Blackwall had fought with Thom, but fell to his knees, severly bleeding from the wound. He begged Thom to take his daughter and protect her, raise her as his own. Thom agreed to the dying man's wish and held him in his arms as he took his last breaths. When Gordon Blackwall was no more, having joined his beloved Amelia, Thom set his fallen comrade on the ground, closing his eyes. He ran to Clara and found she was still breathing. He thanked the Maker and scooped her into his arms, carrying his as fast as he could to the nearest village. He waited while the local healers did their work and when Clara finally woke, she had no idea who she was. Recalling Blackwall's dying wish, Thom told Clara that he was her father and she had been injured in an accident. From that day on, Thom Rainier was no more and Gordon Blackwall had come back to life- in a manner of speaking.

-O-

"Father, these recruits need more work." Clara said, leaning against the wall of the cabin they had secured.

Blackwall chuckled. "Now, Clara, be nice to the recruits. They can't all be as good as you."

Clara smirked. "Well, if they were perhaps they'd be able to survive the next attack from those bandits."

"They'll do just fine, Clara." Blackwall said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you scout around the area, make sure everything is in order?"

Clara nodded and grabbed her bow, strapping it to her back. She reached up and kissed her father's cheek. "I'll be back soon."

Blackwall smiled and went back to the recruits.

While her father worked with their charges, Clara went around the woods surrounding their cabin in the Hinterlands. She plucked a few blood lotus and offered them to the spirit of the lake, wishing for protection of the recruits and her father. She circled around a few miles, searching everywhere she could, only stopping when she spotted a camp bearing the banners of the Inquisition.

'I wonder what they're doing so close to the cabin...' she thought. She decided to go an investigate, stopping just outside of the camp. She looked around and spotted an officer. "Excuse me, may I speak with someone in charge?"

The officer looked at her. "Who are you?"

"My name is Clara Blackwall and your camp is dangerously close to my home. I'd like to know your business here."

"Follow me, then." the officer said, leading her to the largest tent in the camp. "Herald, someone would like to speak with you."

A young woman with short brown hair and grey eyes came out of the tent and looked at the officer. "Who is it?"

"Clara Blackwall she said."

The young woman looked over at Clara. "Are you she?"

Clara nodded. This woman was an elf, Dalish by the way she moved. "I'm Clara Blackwall. I live near here and I noticed your camp was dangerously close to my home. Why are you here, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Blackwall? I'm searching for someone by that name. A Warden Blackwall. Are you his daughter?"

"I am. What business do you have with my father?"

"We would like to ask him some questions about the Grey Warden disappearances. We need to clear them from suspicion of involvement in the explosion at the Conclave and death of Divine Justinia."

"Is that all?"

The young woman nodded. "Could you take us to him?"

"I suppose. What's your name?"

"I am Shiariel Lavellan."

"You're the Herald?"

"Yes."

"Follow me."

-O-

"Father, look out!"

Clara had returned with the Herald of Andraste to speak with her father, but shortly after they arrived, a group of bandits that had slipped passed Clara attacked them. She shot a few of them down with her arrows, then slashed the others with her sword. When all their enemies were dead. Clara took her place next to her father, crossing her arms as he addressed the recruits.

"Good work, conscripts, even if this shouldn't have happened. They could've- well, thieves are made, not born." Blackwall said. "Take back what they back to your families. You saved yourselves."

"When the time arises that the Grey Wardens are needed once more, we will call upon you." Clara said. "You lads have done good work, you've learned well. Never forget what we have taught you and you'll be fine."

When the recruits gathered their things, retrieved their stolen property, and left the cabin, Blackwall turned to his daughter. "Who are these people, Clara?"

"This is the Herald of Andraste, Father. Shiariel Lavellan and her companions."

Clara watched in amusement as her father and the Herald spoke, wan unspoken and silent blame suggested towards the Wardens in regards tho the Conclave. This tiny elven woman, a Dalish who was being dragged into a religion that has tried to destroy her own, arguing with the gruff, much taller man that her father was. She listened as they argued, then finally, her father offered their services to the Inquisition.

"Clara, will that be alright with you, my dear?"

Clara nodded. "Of course, Father. I was beginning to get bored." She replied with a sly smile.

Blackwall chuckled. Turning back to Shiariel, he said, "Let us just get our things ready."

"Of course. We'll leave as soon as you are ready." The Herald replied.

Clara was already poaching her things when her father joined her. "This will be fun!"

Blackwall smiled. "You've always enjoyed a good adventure."

Clara looked around the cabin. They hadn't been there long, but she liked the solitude. "I'm ready to go when you are, Father."

-O-

"Easy, Ronin boy, it's alright." Clara said, soothing her stallion as she rode into Haven. She had gone on ahead of her father and the Herald, having been asked to inform someone named "Cullen" that Blackwall had been found and recruited into the Inquisition. She looked around the camp and saw dozens of soldiers in the training grounds, guessing there'd be hundreds within the village or out in the field camps. She took Ronin, a beautiful stallion that stood 16 hands high and had a buff hide and a wheat colored muzzle with a mane of bistre brown and beige. He was a big horse, especially for a three year old Anderfel Courser.

"Master Dennet!" Clara exclaimed, waving at the old horsemaster. "Good to see you!"

Dennet looked up as the young woman brought her gelding to the stables. "Clara, good to see you, dear girl. Is that Ronin? My, my he's grown into a fine lad!"

Ronin whinnied and nuzzled the horsemaster, recognizing him.

"Easy, there lad. You're not as little as your were last I saw you." Dennet said, laughing. "Clara, you have done a fine job raising this lad."

"Thanks, Master Dennet. I couldn't be happier with how my big man here turned out. He's a wonderful horse."

"What are you doing here in Haven?"

"Oh, the Herald recruited Father and I into the Inquisition. I was sent ahead to inform someone named 'Cullen' of the situation. Father stayed behind in order to sort a few things out in the Hinterlands."

"Oh, well the Commander is in the Chantry. He is going through some reports with Seeker Pentaghast."

"Thanks, Master Dennet. Could you look after Ronin for me? We've had a long trip."

"Of course, lass. Go on ahead and I will make sure this lad is taking good care of."

"See you later, boy." Clara said, kissing the stallion's muzzle. "You be good for Master Dennet."

Ronin whinnied and Clara smiled, heading towards the village.

-O-

"Cassandra, this is pointless. There is no sign of the Wardens, no news from the Herald, we don't have enough recruits to be prepared for an assault, and we're standing here reviewing requisition reports that have already been filled. "

"Commander, there isn't much else we can do until the Herald returns or Leliana finds more information. We must be patient." Cassandra said, looking the him. "Cullen, is everything alright? You are more agitated than normal."

"I'm fine." Cullen replied, sighing. "The nightmares have started to become more frequent."

"You aren't getting enough sleep, then?"

Cullen shook his head.

"Perhaps you should see Adan and have him give you something to help you sleep." Cassandra said, pushing back from the war table. A knock came at the door and she went to open it. "What is it?"

"You must be Seeker Pentaghast. I have a message for Commander Cullen and Master Dennet said he'd be here."

"I am." Cassandra replied, bowing her head to the young woman who addressed her. "I will leave you to your business. May I ask your name? I do not believe we have yet met."

"My apologies, Lady Seeker. I am Clara Blackwall. Your Herald had come to the Hinterlands looking for my father, Warden-Constable Gordon Blackwall. I am here to deliver a message from the Herald."

"Oh, are you joining the Inquisition?" Cassandra mused.

"Yes, Lady Seeker. We offer our services to the Inquisition."

"Then you are most welcome here. I look forward to seeing what you and your father can bring to the Inquisition. Please, go on inside and deliver your message." Cassandra looked back at the Commander. "I will see you later, Cullen. Try to get some rest?"

Clara stood there and watched as the Seeker left, heading through the doors of the Chantry. Turning back to look at the Commander, she couldn't help but smile. He was a tall handsome man who stood about 6', couldn't have been more than ten years older than her, amber gold eyes and honey blonde hair that was kept slicked back. He was fair skinned and bore a scar on the right side of his top lip. His lion influenced armor was shined and polished, well maintained. 'Damn, is he sexy!'

Cullen Stanton Rutherford, the Commander of the Inquisition's forces, looked up from the war table and found a strange young woman standing just inside of the doorway. She stood about 5'9", had long flowing raven black hair that was kept tied back in a pony tail with bangs that hung loosely around her face, had beautiful ice blue eyes- one of which sported a scar- and wore a set of ranger clothes fit for the archer she was. She bore an elven quiver filled with arrows and an elven bow on her back while sporting a long sword at her hip and a few daggers- one at her lower back on her belt and two in each of her boots- which reached up to her mid thighs. She had on a dusty cloak and looked weary from travel. He felt himself blush when he realized she was looking him up and down. Clearing his throat, he addressed her.

"What is this message from the Herald?"

"Well, Shia needed to take care of a few things in the Hinterlands, Father offered to help her out, and they asked me to go ahead and deliver a message that all is well. Shia says to tell you that she's sorry she hasn't had the time to send in any reports. Tensions between mages and Templars are running very high, but thankfully, she has been able to push them back from the Crossroads and the refugess." Clara said, delivering the report. She smiled. "Maker, you are a cute one."

"I'm what?"

"Oh, the Commander does blush!" Clara said, smirking as she teased him. "And here I thought you'd be some hard ass."

"I beg your pardon?" Something about this young woman, this "Clara", that made him look at her like he did the recruits, but something made him want to banter back with her, tease her like she was him. "At least I don't look like something the mabari dragged it."

"Ouch, nice comeback. I like you, Commander. It'll be fun working with you."

"That remains to be seen, Clara was ir?"

"Clara Amelia Blackwall, the one and only."

"So you're Warden Blackwall's daughter?" Cullen asked, ignoring her coy smile. "Do you know what happened to the Wardens?"

Clara shook her head. "No, I don't and neither does Father."

An Inquisition agent came running up, a falcon on her arm. "Excuse me, Commander, but this bird arrived and no one knows who for."

"Arty!" Clara exclaimed, putting her arm out for the falcon to hop onto. "You sly girl, where have you been hiding?"

"This falcon is yours?" Cullen asked.

"Yes, this is Artemis, my falcon. Raised her since she was an egg. Father and I kept her when her mother was shot down for her feathers. We use her to stay in touch when we get separated or part ways, but lately she's been going off on her own." Clara explained. "Does my little Arty have a mate now?"

Cullen couldn't help but smile as the falcon nuzzled into her cheek. "Well, it does appear that she is carrying a letter."

Clara looked at the parchment scroll tied to Artemis' leg. "Good girl, Arty." She reached into the pouch on her left hip and pulled out some dried fish. "Here's a treat." Giggling as the falcon took the dried fish and scarfed it down, she pulled the scroll free and read through the note. "Ah, it seems they had finished their business in the Hinterlands, pushed back the mages and the Templars from the Crossroads. There is a small force of Inquisition soldiers stationed there with the refugees, so they'll be safe. Father says they'll arrive back at Haven in three days time."

"That's excellent news." Cullen said, rubbing his neck. "Maker, I don't understand how things have gotten this bad..."

"Well, if you ask me, I think it's a load of rubbish. Mages and Templars fighting, causing so much strife and death and hardship for the rest of us poor sods. It's all about control with them. The Templars have been trained to control the mages, keep them in check, while the mages are fighting against that control and trying to gain some semblance of freedom. I don't think they should be fighting. I think the Conclave was the smartest decision anyone could have made. It's too bad that things ended up this way, maybe the mages and Templars could have made amends and all this useless fighting could have been put to an end."

Cullen looked at Clara, thinking her a strange young woman, but she had an interesting view on the world. She seemed optimistic, hopeful, willing to fight for a brighter future. He was beginning to like her already.

"Well, enough sappiness from me today, I think!" Clara said, looking at the Commander. "I'm going to go find someone that can set Father and I up with some lodging. I'll see you around, Cullen." She winked and left the war room, her long raven black hair swishing behind her as she walked away, Artemis now perched on her shoulder.

"I like her." the Inquisition agent said.

"Of course, you would, Leliana. She's a lot like you, just a little more crude."

"She will be fun to have around, and most useful." Leliana said, smirking. "From what I have gathered on her and her father, Clara Amelia Blackwall is a skilled fighter, raised amongst the Grey Wardens all her life."

"All her life?"

"It would appear so. I'm sure that tale will be told in her own time. Until then, let's prepare for the Herald's return and ensure that Clara and her father have a place to stay."