The Lady
"In life you always have a choice. Sometimes it's easier to think that you don't"
• N A M E
Guinevere of Cameliard
- Gwen Scot
• S T O R Y
Arthurian Legend
• B I R T H P L A C E
Albion
• M A G I C
Unknown. A controversy that questions if the rumors of dark magic is simply rumor or fact.
• A G E
26
• R O M A N T I C I N T E R E S T S
She can appreciate, perhaps even welcome attention shown to her by men, but past memories ensure that she keeps them at a distance and does not allow ties to form.
• A T T I R E
There is something about Guinevere that invites fascination, though it is difficult to pinpoint what exactly it is about her that causes such feelings. A cool, mysterious darkness hides within vivid green eyes, lending a curious contradiction to the gentleness and warmth of her voice.
Having the fine taste that usually goes hand-in-hand with growing up in a royal household Guinevere normally reverts to well tailored, elegant clothing. In recent years she has developed a taste for fashion that flirts with the idea of edgy elegance, such as pairing flowing summer dresses with leather jackets and boots.
Blazing auburn hair spills in rampant waves down her back, tucked, smoothed, and pinned into tenuous submission to achieve a look of effortlessness instead of rebellious chaos.
I N A L A N D F A R F A R A W A Y . . .
• H E R O ' S N A T U R E
Quiet, delicate, respectful, and enticing. All qualities a proper princess should possess.
Possess them Guinevere does, and thanks to many many tutors and lessons drilled into her skull, she knows how and when to use them to the best advantage. But no matter how hard they tried, they could not break her of a strong willed, independent nature.
Though she keeps it hidden, tucked away in a secret part of her soul, an untamed wildness burns in her blood, chafing at the restrictions attached to the title of 'Princess' or 'Queen', along with the knowledge that all that is required and expected of her is to behave properly, marry power, and bear an heir for her husband.
For years she displayed a hot temper inherited from her father, questioning everything and refusing to see reason. But as time went on she realized there was no point in such tirades, for they only prompted equally hot retaliation from King Leodegrance, making her life that much more difficult.
Because of this realization Guinevere altered her way of reacting to the world. She has learned to take things as they come, studying and analyzing until a proper reaction comes to light.
It was not an overnight change, but she has found use for the lessons from her old tutors. There was wisdom in what they taught, even if they had only meant to pass on to her how to behave in court, not how to manipulate those around her with a quiet grace that was far more cunning and effective than temper tantrums and sharp arguments.
While she may not always express her opinions outwardly Guinevere knows her own mind, perhaps a little too well, for often she will lapse into a dazed state of being that some consider a clear sign her mind has been 'touched' and is not quite all there. What she accomplishes during these states of absentmindedness no one is quite certain, although when she snaps out of them there is usually an unsettling, vacant expression in her gaze as she responds to others much like a child would, innocently and naively, as though somewhere along the way she lost herself and is waiting for herself to catch up once more.
• R E N O W N E D S K I L L S
Possesses a bewitching quality that many have whispered to be a result of dark deeds and spellwork.
More at home in the woods and wilderness than she is around people Guinevere has a close connection to nature, able to identify and use many plants and herbs in various forms.
Also the small matter of causing conflict of some sort, or a war or two here and there . . .
• F A T A L F L A W
If asked she would hotly deny the observation of control issues. Even though, deep down she knows she has an overwhelming need to be in control at all times, further proven by the resulting anxiety whenever she realizes the next move is in the hands of someone else.
• O N C E U P O N A T I M E
In a time of knights, dragons, and bravery, it was a sign of success and honor to produce and raise an heir. A son to conquer and protect the lands, to forge a reputation befitting that of knights and kings, and to carry on the name of his father.
Such a son every man desired.
Such a son Guinevere was not.
The night had been long and painful, and just as the sun began to color the edges of the world the house fell silent, hushed and breathless in the brief moments after the agonizing scream died away. Servants stood where they were, sharing looks and silent questions, all waiting for the joyful news.
Yet joyful the day was not to be as the pale, dying mother handed a tiny, wailing infant into the hands of King Leodegrance. Though he smiled and caressed the cold skin of his wife's cheek he could not help the sense of dread and feeling of disappointment as he gazed into his daughter's tiny, crumpled face.
So it was that Guinevere came into the world, motherless and already a burden to her father.
It was a cruel twist of fate the day Guinevere realized she was not truly loved, or even desired, by her father. She was merely a chess piece to a king. Though she was titled and of royal blood she was no more than a lovely Pawn, to be shuffled about and used when needed to bring the best advantage to the kingdom.
The moment she became old enough to marry King Leodegrance found out she was a perfect bargaining item when it came to treaties and alliances, for her beauty was renowned, and her dowry enticing enough to attract many powerful suitors. Because of the fickleness of such treaties her betrothals never lasted more than a month or so, a fact that caused the kingdom a different sort of conflict.
With so many promises of marriage it was only natural there would be offenses taken, and hard feelings that eventually prompted the kidnapping of Princess Guinevere on not once, but several occasions. For, after the first kidnapping, it seemed several knights and kings thought it an acceptable course of action to claim what had been promised them, resulting in a confusing mess of heated altercations.
Of course Guinevere was eventually rescued and brought home, but a change had come over her and she took to spending hours wandering through the forest by herself. At first no one thought much of it, shaking their heads in sympathy and saying it was a side effect of the tremendous strain that her delicate nerves had been put through.
As time went on, however, and there was no improvement, new rumors began to circulate.
Rumors that said she had been put under the spell of a sorcerer, or that she herself was a witch and seeking lost souls she could lead astray.
When it was rumored that she had caught the eye of a young King Arthur there was not only confusion for the odd pairing, but there were also many that pronounced the match doomed from the beginning, certain Guinevere had cast her net at him for the sole purpose of mischief.
Apparently they were not the only ones, for Merlin himself did not approve, eventually taking drastic measures to make sure a marriage between the two never came to be.
Because of these actions Guinevere was entirely unaware of the Cataclysm and the danger it brought, until one day in the midst of rending and burning worlds Merlin came to fetch her.
• A N E W C H A P T E R
Honestly, as callous as it may sound, the Cataclysm has provided Guinevere with the most freedom she has ever had. It was confusing, and downright terrifying at first, but once she became accustomed to the place she rather enjoys the ability to craft a brand new life for herself, void of all the expectations and assumptions of the old.
Well . . . almost all of them, that is.
She has found relative contentment and enjoyment working at a local florist and greenhouse, flourishing among the plants just as much as they seemed to under her care.
Though she will not admit it there is an empty void within her that refuses to be filled, a feeling that whatever she is unconsciously searching for is nowhere to be had. This, like many other things, she blames on the wizard Merlin, her dislike of him having grown to such an extent that she would not mind terribly if he met a rather untimely demise. After, that is, he answers a few pertinent questions.
