Deirdre was born a daughter of Duke Connell of the Stag Duchy, along with her twin sister, Cate. At a young age, she was promised to Duke Gerhart Wolf in an arranged marriage. When Emperor Liam Falcon invaded the lands of Queen Tuidhana, starting the War of the Bitter Ashes, the elves retaliated and burned her father's castle. As a result of the fire, all of her family either died or was declared missing. Seeking to escape her fate as a bride to the Duke of Wolf, she assumed the identity of her deceased twin sister, henceforth posing as Cate Stag.