When Van and Folken where children, they were the best of friends. Folken clearly loved playing with his young brother, who no doubt looked up to him as a sort of hero. They most likely had few other friends but were comforted by having each other for company.

Folken is much older than Van, which means he has far more experience than his rugrat sibling, so Van probably looks to Folken as a source of worldly wisdom. The curious, inquisitive little boy no doubt swamps his brother with questions and observations which are patiently answered in a kind, loving tone. Folken in turn is sometimes surprised by his brother's keen, if innocent, observations. They probably explored the woods together and Folken would show him the different useful or poisonous plants and other outdoor wisdom that would be of future use to his kid brother.

Besides being a source of knowledge, Folken is also a hero to Van. He believes his brother to be so brave and strong that he could conquer anything, and certainly he would never run away. He probably hopes to be like his brother when he grows up--brave and valiant. Most of the adults would be too busy for him, and Folken probably tired of Van occasionally, but for Van he was conduit between the adult world he didn't understand and child world, of which both were still a part of, though Folken to a lesser degree.

But Folken fails. He doesn't kill the dragon and he is wounded badly. He doesn't run away but he doesn't die either. Still Van refuses to believe that his brother, the brother he loved so dearly, would run away. He would rather believe that he died bravely in battle than think that his dear brother had abandoned him. His mother believes differently and leaves to find him, never to return. Van is left alone with a kingdom to rule and no big brother to show him the way.

So Van grows up, trying to display the strength and bravery he saw in his brother, while forgetting the spirit which Folken had embodies--that joy of life and general kindness. And Folken forgot too, or at least let that part die in a dark corner of his mind, as he tried to create a world in which innocent people like his dear brother did not suffer.

This relationship between the two boys before the rite is one of my favorites. It shapes the characters a great deal and shows who they really are. The bond they formed is strong so that even after 10 years apart, it still exists.