Okay, so the scenario is that a girl gets rescued by a family when she is about six or so. Said family has a son about her age and they play together, forming sort of a brother-sister bond. When the girl is around nine years old, she accidentally does something that gets the family in trouble. She gets away, the parents are killed, and the boy is arrested to become a knight. During his training, he is abused and changes to be rather cynical and mistrusting.
Fast-forward about eight years. The girl is now sixteen and the guy is seventeen when they meet up again. Would they remember each other? Would they still think of the other as a sibling or would they just be another stranger? Keep in mind, both of them are loyal and sentimental types. Would the guy blame the girl for what happened to his family? If she were in a dangerous situation, would he still look out for her and vice versa?

Interesting scenario.
I'm not an expert of course, but my guess is that it's possible that they would not know each other, though they might feel like they should...does that make sense? Sort of thinking stuff like It seems like I've seen him before... and then maybe they would recognize small, subtle habits from before. He picks his nose the same way that ____ did...(sorry, that was the only thing I could think of on the spot ).

Does that seem like a feasible solution?

For your other questions, if the guy is the type that will help a girl in a dangerous situation, he would also help this girl even if he didn't know her. *light bulb lights up* Maybe this "situation" would be what helps them recognize each other?

Hope that helps...

I believe they would. They parted during a significant, emotional, and traumatic event that must have left some sort of impact. You would have to imagine that this girl carries a huge burden of guilt and shame for her mistake that not only caused the deaths of two people who cared for her but also the pain caused to this boy.

As for the boy, that day had to be the worst thing he had ever experienced. He lost his parents, lost a friend, and was forced to endure years of abuse. He can probably trace back all his problems in life back to that day.

Would they recognize each other is another story. How people look at age 8 and 9 is very different than at 17 and 16. Some people look nothing like their younger selves after puberty, others do. Does she recognize him but he does not? Is she terrified that he'll find out who she really is?

However, as Lycanis said, everyone has idiosyncrasies. Sometimes people grow out of them and sometimes they don't. It could be a specific idiom they use, the way they compose themselves when thinking, how they pick their nose , sound of their laugh, or how they always wipe their hands after touching a piece of food.


Eight years is a very long time. Personalities change, tastes, opinions, especially during the time from childhood to adulthood. I've seen people change significantly in only one year, for good and for bad. In my opinion I would think they would be strangers, but it's up to you to decide.


If he's cynical he'd probably blame her. Even if he wasn't cynical, from your description it sounds like it was her fault, so why shouldn't he blame her? Whether he has already forgiven her or not after eight years, or if he ever does, is up to you. Time does not heal all wounds. It can become infected and spread throughout his personality, poisoning his mind.


She probably would. Either out of true compassion or as some sort of way to repay him for her mistakes.

The boy is more complicated. He could do nothing out of hatred, do something because it is morally right, he could reluctantly help because it's the knight's code of honor even though he wouldn't otherwise, or ignore the code completely.

To be honest, you have some tough decisions to make. From this setup there are many roads your story can go down and many more ways your characters can turn out to be. My biggest piece of advice is to remember that who your characters are at the start of your story is not necessarily who they have to be at the end.

Hmmm...you both brought up things that I hadn't thought about. They live in the same area, so I imagine they see each other rarely, but they still probably know who the other one is. Maybe . The idea of them not recognizing each other is starting to sound more interesting.
As for the male character, he is very conflicted to say the least. On one hand, he trusts no one and sees absolutely nothing right in the world. Though he is adept at hiding what he is feeling, he is also very selfless and protective, he just sort of tries to ignore that side of himself because he thinks it will only end up causing him or others pain.
For my plot, I need a reason for the female character to catch the villain's attention. My first thought was to have her be used as blackmail in order to get the male character to do something he doesn't want to do. Since the male character isn't the type that has the options to defend every one of the villain's victims and he definitely wouldn't be one to randomly notice a girl, I decided they probably should have some history that would be strong enough to get the evil king's scheme to work. That isn't to say that plot-lines (or backstory) can't change.

Why is this boy still so selfless and protective?

It isn't always the case, but often severe abuse in young children causes the opposite change in their personality.

This is a good question, one that I'm still sort of debating myself. He was arrested when he was ten, so he wasn't exactly a really young child. I guess I sort of assumed that he would be old enough to cling to a few of his values taught to him in his earlier days. If this isn't feasible, please let me know. I sort of need him to not be completely heartless, though. I might post his profile in the character development forums so I can get some feedback on his motives and personality.

I think it really depends on the type and severity of the abuse and the stubbornness and strong will of the boy in question.

Is he a strong person? Was he ever broken or is he still just as rebellious as when he was first arrested?

Hmmm. He is pretty strong willed. He appears as though he is in complete compliance with his king, but he does harbor rebellion and a thirst for revenge. Here is a topic in the character development thread if you want to read more about him.

I responded over there.

So...has this girl since done anything to earn his loyalty?

Well, I changed it so that she isn't really responsible for the family being found out, she just feels guilty about it because her and her sister are the reasons they stayed long enough to be found. As to gaining his loyalty...I don't know. I'm going to have to think over that one.

Abused children often will be very protective over a sibling subjected to the same type of treatment, but a girl responsible for his family's arrest.... that would be a very good-hearted boy who could move past that and feel protective over her...

However, not all abused children retaliate. Some vow never to let another human being feel what they felt. But that is typically seen in someone who is reaching adulthood and has come to grips with what they suffered (we are talking 18+). It's unusual for a child to reconcile abuse.

Those are just my quick thoughts.