Daphne Rutherford

Dakota Fanning

**Daphne Rutherford** is the eldest child and only daughter of Cullen Rutherford and Solona Amell and has two younger brothers. She grew up in the Fereldan countryside and had an idyllic childhood. Like her father, she showed an early interest in combat and service through protecting people. She is a devout Andrastian, and unlike her mother, is not a mage. She is particularly close with her uncle Daylen and her aunt Magna. She became a Seeker when she grew of age, and was well-liked for her kind heart, dutiful nature, and sense of fairness.

## Biography

She was endlessly cheerful as a child, full of energy, always wanting her parent's approval, but enjoying adventuring on her own and challenging herself with physical pursuits. She later became world-weary and wary of people's intentions, though she tried her best to reign those traits in, and remain untarnished by her many disappointments. She cares a great deal for her siblings and greatly desires to be a mother one day, and she had daydreams of a fairytale romance, though she always puts her duty first, she falls in love easily, and tries not to show her girlish infatuations. She has been heartbroken many times as she does not see red flags and tends to only see the good in the men she is attracted to. She likes men who are confident, stoic, charming, self-assured, impressive, and who shower her with affection. She eventually marries her longtime comrade; her best friend, whom she did not realize had liked her, but when he confessed, she suddenly saw him as he was, the perfect match for her, someone who had always been there for her, comforted her, helped her sort through her emotions, and reminded her of her strength, and supported and believed in her. They quickly got together and became engaged, wanting to marry as soon as possible. Her parents had heard her speak of him often and fondly in her letters, and hoped she would eventually end up with someone like him instead of the men who made her question herself and caused drama and misunderstandings. The two became a battle couple, with her gaining a leadership position, and him being her Second, happy to be a part of her world, and she was endlessly appreciative of his selflessness and goodness and lack of ego. She died in battle when she was 52, and had been having back problems since she was 46 after a bad fall from her horse that got spooked. She never had time to have children, but considered herself like a mother to the young recruits she trained, and her husband was excellent with children, always able to make them laugh. There was an orphan that was raised by the chantry and was a prodigy that she took under her wing as someone to replace her one day, which came sooner than she thought, her husband died three years before her death, after catching influenza, despite her best efforts as a bedside nurse. Her parents reached out to their adopted grandchild afterwards. She is a bleeding heart with her brothers, but has given up, as she feels there is nothing she can do to help, and that she is not wanted, she tries not to think about them as it makes her sad and she starts ruminating and feeling like she let her family down. She was heavily affected by the dour fates of her brothers, but had good social support and was able to heal emotionally, though her smile is sometimes wistful and regretful when she looks far off and thinks no one is watching, though her husband always notices an takes her hand when that happens, and her smile instantly brightens as she remembers how much love she is surrounded by and how she is living with a noble purpose, she often writes to her parents, and even continued to write to her brother, though he never replied.

## Personality

She is very pious and faithful, never giving up hope and her belief that everything will work out as it should. She is very tolerant of others, always seeing their potential for good, and being patient with their faults. She has high standards of Templars and Seekers, and those that have power over others, thinking they must focus on the well-being of their charges first and foremost. She is determined, persistent, and persevering. She is very clever and well-read, thinking logically and tactfully. Like her father, she has little patience for bullshit, and sees right through it, but like her mother, she gives people grace and puts their emotions over her own comfort.

## Physical Appearance

She is pretty, with a warm smile, dimples, a cleft chin, full cheeks, arched eyebrows, and big sparkling eyes that she got many compliments on, she had thick, slightly coarse hair that she took good care of, as it made her feel more feminine.

## Etymology

* Daphne is a Greek name meaning "laurel" and "bay tree".
* Rutherford is an English and Scottish name means "river crossing", combining "cattle" and "ford".