[Pel remembers Sabine showing her the vhenadahl. She remembers the alienage in Val Royeaux, so many people packed into such a small space, and yet remembering who they are is such an important part of their culture.]
We...Dalish say that we are the last elvhen. But you are also the last elvhen. I...recently, I published a book. Through connections I had. And I went to Val Royeaux to sell it, and I was laughed out of the store. I went into another store to buy something, and they didn't want me in there at all because they didn't want to be seen selling to elves. As much as we Dalish say we're persecuted into the woods, it was really the first I'd ever come face-to-face with real racism. Then Sabine took me into the alienage in Val Royeaux. I'll never forget what it was like. It made me realize I knew nothing about what it is to be elven, as much of my life was spent trying to be the perfect elf. That's why I'm not crying over whether or not I'm in a clan. I love the Dalish life and culture--I love living in the wilderness, the hard work every day. But I'll never see it as defining what an elf is again.
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[Pel remembers Sabine showing her the vhenadahl. She remembers the alienage in Val Royeaux, so many people packed into such a small space, and yet remembering who they are is such an important part of their culture.]
We...Dalish say that we are the last elvhen. But you are also the last elvhen. I...recently, I published a book. Through connections I had. And I went to Val Royeaux to sell it, and I was laughed out of the store. I went into another store to buy something, and they didn't want me in there at all because they didn't want to be seen selling to elves. As much as we Dalish say we're persecuted into the woods, it was really the first I'd ever come face-to-face with real racism. Then Sabine took me into the alienage in Val Royeaux. I'll never forget what it was like. It made me realize I knew nothing about what it is to be elven, as much of my life was spent trying to be the perfect elf. That's why I'm not crying over whether or not I'm in a clan. I love the Dalish life and culture--I love living in the wilderness, the hard work every day. But I'll never see it as defining what an elf is again.