friend of red jenny

a mage who fears her magic cannot master it.

to Cassandra, beloved (Courtship)

it's tradition for the vael family to pledge one son/daughter to the chantry. it's in a codex entry. and when he speaks of his family he says his parents were traditional; they had their first born, the heir. the second born, the spare. and him. truly the sacrificial lamb. even if he behaved, even if he was a picture perfect son- he was always meant to be the one to go to the chantry.

there are no choices he gets to make for himself. if you push him towards the chantry you're just making him into what he was 'made' to be. if you push him towards the crown, something he used to want out of jealousy, now he wants for duty- it's still not a choice based on what he wants as a person.

because he doesn't have anything as a person. the chantry filled his life and he was made to think this was the best choice for him as a whole. sure he's happy, but is he? truly and completely? he has his family name, he has the throne- but that's a title given to him by being the last born who last survived.

everything he 'wants' and strives for are things he was pointed towards by other people or by duty.

I am but a servant to my crown and I have made my decision.