Aelinor Targaryen

Princess Aelinor Targaryen is the middle child of Aemon, and Visaera Targaryen. Born on Dragonstone in 389 A.C., she has always preferred to stay in the shadows. Aelinor is currently Mistress of Whisperers on the Small Council, and married to Gwayne Baratheon, the Lord of Storm's End.

Appearance and Character
Gifted with traditional Valyrian features, Aelinor has beautiful, pale violet eyes, and hair as white as snow. She is small in both height, and build, her petite frame often draped in the Targaryen colours.

Although her looks express her Targaryen blood, she has not always felt she belonged in such an old, and royal house. Her family name, and the weight that it held over the realm are always present in her mind. It took many years before Aelinor adjusted to the idea of being worthy of her heritage.

As she grew into a young woman, so grew her confidence in the beauty her Valyrian ancestry had given her. Carrying herself with a newfound assertiveness, Aelinor has started to notice how others gaze at her beauty. She has only recently discovered how powerful their glances can make her feel.

Youth
Children should be seen, and not heard. Aelinor was neither.

During her earliest years on Dragonstone, Princess Aelinor was almost always out of sight. Ever a quiet child, she kept to herself for most of her youth. Being the second youngest child in her ever-growing family, Aelinor accepted her place in the shadows of her siblings.

Aelinor was given a cradle egg as a child, recently having hatched it into the dragon Moonfyre.

In her sixteenth year, Aelinor lost her father. The departure, and disappearance of the Prince of Dragonstone had unsettled her, as it had many. To have a parent die was a terrible thing, and the uncertainty surrounding his presumed death made it difficult for her to mourn properly. Even as the years pass, she holds a hope that her father might return.

As her mother was named Princess of Dragonstone, Aelinor adjusted to her family’s new structure. Although her father was gone, their lives continued. The loss had affected them all differently, and it was her reaction to alter the way she had been carrying herself until that point.

Princess Aelinor made an effort to be more present, attending any and all events it was her privilege to attend. A full noble education, and growing confidence guided her through her meetings with others. It was easy for her to put on the facade her role as a princess required, if only to hide among others who she thought to be doing the same.

The Tournament of the Red Comet
Princess Aelinor was in attendance at the grand tourney held at Harrenhal. Unbeknownst to those close to her, the princess entered herself into the horse race, ultimately earning first place. However, her win would be the first of many notable happenings at this tournament. During the span of the festivities, Aelinor began an affair with Ser Alester Steelsong, having seduced him after his win in the melee. The following day brought tragedy, with the young princess bearing witness to the maiming of her sister in a joust.

Wedding the Redstag
Early in the seventh moon Aelinor was told of the plans to see her wed to Lord Gwayne Baratheon, known to some as the Redstag. Though a kind enough man, the princess was unimpressed with the match.

On the 16th day of the eighth moon Princess Aelinor was married to Lord Baratheon. The wedding was a dismal affair, the bride feeling terribly ill through most of the ceremony, and the following feast. The two did not consummate the marriage on their wedding night.

Birth of a Dragon
In her eighteenth year, Aelinor increased her lifelong efforts to hatch her dragon egg. After the death of King Aenar, she hid her opal egg within the pyre, and let it bathe in the fire of her family's dragons. Although the attempt to did result in the hatching of her egg, it was soon learned that the process had started a quickening.

During the Tenth Moon of 407 A.C. Aelinor was informed of the death of her lover, Ser Alester Steelsong. In her grief brought on by his death, paired with her unwanted marriage to Gwayne Baratheon, Aelinor turned to her unhatched dragon egg for support. After tearful pleas, the quickened egg hatched, birthing the dragon Moonfyre.

Mummer's War
During the war of 407 A.C., later know as the Mummer's War, Princess Aelinor found herself nearly alone in the capital. Her entire family had left to show their strength against the opposing forces, her husband Gwayne sent off into the unknown, leaving her to wait. The pressure and loneliness of these weeks were ever present, and little but Moonfyre, and the news of her pregnancy had lifted her spirits.

408 A.C. to 418 A.C.
When the Mummer’s War had ended, and the Seven Kingdoms had settled under the rule of her mother, Princess Aelinor departed King’s Landing with Gwayne and his men. Being in the early ages of pregnancy, and on her way to begin her new life in Storm’s End, the young princess was both terrified and excited.

Her first few months as the Lady of Storm’s End had been uncomfortable, but rewarding. Her habit of exploration was allowed to thrive on the new castle’s many halls, and rooms. It was a new world to her. With her growing dragon at her side, and occasional tours from Gwayne, she learned more of the castle that was to be her home. The people inside the castle were another story, strange and suspicious to her from her first arrival. While she felt safe, she did not feel welcomed.

Her doubts were soothed by the frequent storms that thrashed at their thick stone walls, and the uncertain embrace of her husband. With her eyes closed she felt at home, the sounds around her an aggressive imitation of her memories at Dragonstone.

The innocent enjoyment of her new life had come to an end with the birth of what was supposed to be their first child. She had expelled a stillborn child, a silent, blood covered thing Aelinor had been too afraid to look at. She was quick to blame herself for the child that did not live.

The birth of the dead child had brought her to a depth of sorrow she had not previously known, the pain of it leaving her to realize she had never truly suffered before. Though the loss was great, Aelinor gained much from having gone through it. She had not been alone in her sorrow, and it was Gwayne who had helped her through. They became closer in their loss, and Aelinor found herself finally loving the man she already called husband.

Together they turned to their roles as Lord and Lady of Storm’s End, and Aelinor stood by his side in his many ventures to liven up the Stormlands. Her husband was a fan of pageantry, and mummers, and she was no stranger to such festivities. She encouraged his efforts, and did her best to help him succeed in them. She began joining him at the sept for his worships, and started to find her own faith in the Seven.

As their love grew, and their lands prospered, Aelinor found herself pregnant again. Through the long nine months of her pregnancy she continued her devotion to the Gods, and remained faithful to the man she now loved. When their child was finally born she lost the fears she had been holding, and all the blame she had put on the herself for the previous stillbirth. She had given birth to a healthy baby girl, naming her Laena after the friend she had lost.

Aelinor’s focus quickly moved to that of her child, choosing to be very active in the young girl’s life. It was after the birth of Laena that Aelinor’s own life had truly changed. Feeling the need to do what was best for her baby, the previously adventurous princess decided to clean her hands of the sneaking, and hiding that had been such a large part of her past. There were others willing to do the work for her, and more than happy to take her place in more dangerous tasks that she might have never dared consider participating in.

Two years later, in 413 A.C., Princess Aelinor gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The heir to Storm’s End and House Baratheon was named Robar. Her attention once again was drawn to that of her newborn, though this time she no longer felt as though her baby was made of glass. The nerves she had felt with their first child had left her, and Gwayne became increasingly active in the lives of both children. While her husband had a clear preference for his heir, it was never felt when they were all together as a family.

After the birth of their son, Aelinor began to miss the capital, and the family she had left behind. Her visits to the capital became increasingly frequent. It was not only the royal family that had been pulling her back to King’s Landing, but the intrigues she had left behind. As the years had gone on, she had felt more and more distant from the stories she heard of the capital. No amount of reports from the people she left there could make her feel as though she knew what was truly happening in the place she used to call home.

In 416 A.C. Aelinor was called back to court, though the calling came with the pressure of a position on the Small Council. The Queen had asked that she be her Mistress of Whisperers, and with little consideration for other options, or consequences, the princess accepted.

With her decision their family was split, and the reality of their new arrangements became clear. Aelinor moved back to King’s Landing, taking her five year old daughter with her, leaving behind Gwayne and their son.

Once again the princess adjusted to court, her new responsibilities more than she had known to expect. Though frequent visits home to Storm’s End, and the companionship of her young daughter, Aelinor found the courage to see her new position through.

On one of her flights to bring their parted family together, Aelinor became pregnant for a fifth time. The baby was born in King’s Landing, a healthy boy soon named Lyonel. Gwayne joined her for the birth of their third child, but soon returned home, taking both their sons with him.

The separation from her youngest child tears still at Aelinor’s spirits, and so she continues to visit Storm’s End as often as she can.

Recent Events
To be recorded as events unfold.

Laena Baratheon
Born in the First Moon of 411 A.C., Laena Baratheon is Aelinor's only daughter. With a mess of curly black hair, and a face reminiscent of her father's, Laena is a homely little girl. While fitting in perfectly with her Baratheon brothers, she often finds herself outshone by her Targaryen cousins since moving to King's Landing. The only trace of Aelinor that can be seen in Laena is the hint of purple in the girl's blue eyes.

Johanna Storm
Bastard daughter to Boremund Baratheon, and handmaiden to Aelinor. A trusted friend, and loyal servant.

Storm's End Household
Castellan - Ser Davos Baratheon

Steward - Ser Luthor Tyrell

Junior Steward - Ser Qyle, Knight of the Red Antler

Master-at-arms - Ser Darron

Septon - Septon Renly

Septa - Septa Ryella

Maester - Maester Selwyn

Head of the Guard - Brynden

Constable - Ser Ronnet Gaunt

Sheriff - Ser Maldon Massey

Gatekeeper - Hugor

Gaoler - Yonnel

Head Cook - Trystane

Master Blacksmith - Allard

Master of Horse - Ser Beric

Keeper of the Mews - Gawen

Keeper of the Kennels - Arstan

Lady-in-waiting - Jeyne Mallister

Family

 * Prince Viserys Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone and Hand of the King b. 342 A.C. d. 398 A.C.
 * m. Lady Gwynesse Lannister b. 345 A.C.
 * Princess Visaera Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone b. 369 A.C.
 * m. Prince Aemon Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone b. 371 A.C. d. 405 A.C.
 * Prince Rhaegar Targaryen b. 387 A.C.
 * Princess Rhaenys Targaryen b. 387 A.C.
 * Prince Laenor Targaryen b. 388 A.C.
 * Princess Aelinor Targaryen b. 389 A.C.
 * m. Lord Gwayne Baratheon b. 385 A.C.
 * Laena Baratheon b. 411 A.C.
 * Robar Baratheon b. 413 A.C.
 * Lyonel Baratheon b. 417 A.C.
 * Prince Viserys Targaryen b. 399 A.C.
 * Prince Daeron Targaryen, Knight of the Kingsguard b. 373 A.C.
 * Princess Rhaena Targaryen b. 383 A.C.