That's a fair point, and not starting the game with gems from different characters doesn't mean you don't have a past or past relationships with them, or that you can't get gems from them in the future. In the end, I assume the fellowships are a tool to help TTRPG players establish relationships and roleplay opportunities ahead of time, because not all players might be experienced with that. They aren't all forum roleplayers yo.

In which case,
[quote]___ was there when you were most vulnerable. Give them a Gem.[/quote]could easily be tied into the other fellowship Fellwing and Shieldwing (I just realized they're both "wings") have. Maybe after the battle Shieldwing was gravely wounded/vulnerable? Or it could be an unrelated event, maybe an emotional vulnerability after something bad happened that Fellwing had foreseen, so she knew to be there to warn him or be there for him afterwards. Like the death of someone or the like.

That is, if the DM permits doubling!