Frédel is the cousin of Wulf, who stormed Edoras during the Long Winter. Her mother, Fæger, was the younger sister to Fréca. Despite the distrust between the King, Helm, and Fréca, she managed to capture the heart of a poor Rohirric farmer, Thengol. They attempt to run away together and marry but are caught by Fréca. In a rage, he orders Thengol be put to death for seducing his beloved sister. The matter is easily hushed up as Thengol was only a simple farmer in Rohan.

Fæger is then forced to marry one of Fréca’s loyal Rohirric followers, Beadumód. Within a year of her forced marriage, Fæger gives birth to a girl, Frédel. Beadumód suspects that Frédel is not his child but says nothing as not to anger Fréca. This, however, leaves Frédel’s home a place of sorrow and repressed anger. Fæger was forever grieving Thengol’s death and when Frédel was 8 years old, Fæger became ill and passed away. Beadumód was forced to raise Frédel alone.

Beadumód became increasingly suspicious of Frédel not being his daughter and began speaking to her less and less. By the time Frédel was a teenager, he barely ever looked at her even though they lived in the same depressed home. Still, he never outwardly accused Frédel of being Thengol’s daughter as he was still fearful of Fréca’s anger and loyal to him.

Frédel spent most of her childhood after her mother’s death with her older cousin, Wulf. Wulf was very fond of Frédel and treated her much like a younger sister for he too was an only child. When Frédel was 15, Fréca was killed by Helm. Wulf became furious and vowed revenge for his father’s death. Despite all of Frédel’s attempts to calm him down, Wulf gathered those loyal to him and began to prepare for battle. They waited for the right time and attacked.