So I was browsing the site recently and came across an old post that questioned whether the Green Ember series had a “Chosen One” character. Smalls was naturally suggested as the most likely candidate. And he certainly plays a key role, what with striking the fatal blow to Morbin and being instrumental in stopping the dragon resurgence. But in my opinion, not everything in the Green Ember does hang on Smalls. Indeed, there are several important individuals to the Cause, all seemingly chosen for particular roles and endowed with particular gifts.

You can’t talk about Smalls, of course, without mentioning Heather. Smalls may be the blood and rightful heir of Flint Firstking, but Heather is very much the spiritual successor of Fay Firstmother. It is she, not Smalls, who has the gifts of a seer as defined in the world of the Green Ember. And of course, she is not only the one who figures out how to save Smalls’ life, but fights alongside him to end the threat of the dragons. Without her, Smalls would never have had a chance.

Heather and Smalls, and Emma too for that matter, are also key figures in terms of inspiration. Heather and Emma in particular have great skill in rallying rabbits to the Cause by their use of words. Such gifts are vital at some of the most crucial moments of the series. All three also act as symbols of hope by their faithful pursuit of their duties.

Naturally, we have to talk about Picket and Jo as well. These two are likewise blessed, but their gifts are for the purposes of combat against evil. Jo at one point even feels a certainty that, on a particular day, his archery abilities cannot be equaled. Of course, it takes a bit for him to realize that he’s not actually supposed to use those abilities to win a tournament, but to save a life and help save a soul. Picket, meanwhile, plays his own significant role in striking down or wounding key enemy figures in a way that no one else apparently can.

Picket’s mentor, Helmer, is another who seems chosen. Despite being raised as a farmer, he proved to have an inherent ability for combat and leadership that few could rival, let alone equal. Though embittered by hardship and loss, he managed to rise above it to become, as Picket would say, the Cause’s greatest hero. Indeed, his contributions allowed others to accomplish their own great heroic feats.

There are other characters who could also be described as being chosen and particularly gifted. Heyward is the one who conceives of the gliders that allow Picket to accomplish so much in the later books. Kylen, once properly humbled, is the figure who leads the Terralains against the enemies of rabbitkind. But there is one very significant character who helps to bring about great deeds in Natalia quite in spite of himself. Like many wicked men throughout both scriptural and secular history, he is an unwitting agent in accomplishing the will of a higher power.

I speak, of course, of Garten Longtreader.

Garten, of course, intentionally brought about much evil by his actions. But several decisions he made in malice and spite would turn against him and his chosen allegiance with disastrous consequences. In not killing Helmer, for instance, he left the Cause with one of its greatest military leaders. And Garten also unwittingly provided a mentor for a hero who would prove such a thorn in his side: his own nephew.

Similarly, Garten’s actions with a captive Heather would accomplish much good, quite contrary to his designs. Forcing her into slavery in Akolan, he provided the enslaved rabbits with the catalyst needed to spark their long prepared rebellion against the tyranny of the Preylords. Then, in an act of true cruelty, Garten gave Heather a wound intended to kill her in an agonizing fashion and left her to die in the dragon tomb. But unbeknownst to him, Heather carried the means of her own rescue, and Garten had once again brought her exactly where she needed to be.