Berena Tully

Berena Tully was the heir to the Riverlands from 386 AC until 406 AC, when her half-brother was legitimised. She is the only surviving child of Lord Brandon Tully and his wife, Bethany Blackwood.

Appearance and Character
Berena is traditionally pretty, with long, auburn hair. She has vibrant blue eyes, and full red lips. She has a long nose, and small eyebrows, with a narrow face and slightly pronounced cheekbones.

She strongly resembles her mother, save for her red hair. She is is short, and has an hourglass figure.

Berena is charismatic and reputable, having run the court of Riverrun from 398 until her father's death. She is known to be harsh when necessary, but never overbearing.

She can tend to make decisions on a whim, and rarely thinks ahead. She is very stubborn.

History
Berena Tully was born in 386 AC, the only child of Lord Brandon Tully and his wife, Bethany Blackwood. After four failed pregnancies, and Brandon having taken a lover to his bed, a pregnancy was hardly within the couple's sights.

Her birth came as a surprise however, and though Lord Brandon was disappointed that she was a girl, Berena proved herself a quick-witted child, learned and strong.

Berena was only four years old when her father left to the court of King's Landing, bringing his bastards with Sanelle Bracken with him. For all intents and purposes, the Lord of Riverrun had forgotten his child, leaving his brother, Clarence, to rule the Riverlands in his absence.

During this time, Berena studied the arts, and when Alys Rivers returned in 394, further delved into the books that the library of Riverrun had to offer. Though she was young, she had a firm hand and took upon herself a series of ladies in waiting.

Where her mother wished to hide in the shadows, it was Berena that made herself appear to the world. She frequently went out and visited surrounding villages and towns, and as she came into her womanhood, presided over court sessions.

Gradually, Berena's hold over Riverrun became more than her uncle's, and her family had no issue with this. Berena had proved herself capable, charismatic and reputable, and as the Heiress of Riverrun, began practising the ideals of ruling.

402-405 AC - The Scarlet Winter
No sooner had war ended that winter struck Westeros; a harder winter than any most had known. Once again, the Riverlands suffered greatly, and too did House Tully. Berena Tully, under the advice of her uncle, Ser Clarence, drew up a formidable plan to deal with the threat, and colluded in no small amount with other Riverlander houses.

The Scarlet Winter proved unbeatable, however. Cold washed over the Riverlands, and cold washed over the hearts of those noble lords so eager to provide before. It was with no small amount of reluctance that Berena ordered the gates of Riverrun closed, and they would remain so for the better part of a year, as the gate itself had nearly frozen.

It was during this time that the Lady Bethany Blackwood, wife of Lord Brandon Tully, committed suicide. Though the motive remains a mystery yet, the circumstances of such are legendary. It is said that she climbed up to the battlements at midnight, and tossed herself from it's highest point, landing on the frozen sheets of ice below.

Her body shattered with the impact, and so too did the ice. She did not scream as she died, though her body was never seen again. After this event, Lord Brandon Tully resigned his position on the King's council.

When the Scarlet Winter came to an end, House Tully had suffered far beyond the death of a mother. The lands surrounding Riverrun were destroyed, and vast swaths of Smallfolk lay dead.

405-406 AC - The Aftermath
Though many wished to return to the old ways of life, this idea proved impossible. The power of Riverrun was exhausted, and would take years to recover. As the family tried to rebuild after the Scarlet Winter, Brandon's health worsened, and late in the year 406 AC took to bed, and never woke up. On his death bed, he petitioned the king to legitimise Landon, and succeeded in being granted his last wish.

Berena was no longer to be Lady of Riverrun. Landon returned to the acclaim of the court, quickly proving himself to be as strong and formidable as Berena; an easy lord, charismatic and charming. The events of The Taming of the Lady occur. Berena has remained on the sidelines ever since, a subject of her brother, who seeks to hold her in Riverrun.

407 AC -
Berena has remained in Riverrun at the behest of her brother, and he has readied her to travel to Harrenhal with him.

Family Members

 * Landon Tully, Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident, b. 382,
 * His sisters, Serra and Alys Rivers, b. 379 and 386,
 * His brother, Damion Rivers, b. 390,
 * His half-sister, by Lady Bethany Blackwood,
 * Berena Tully, b. 386 AC,

Past Members

 * Edmure Tully, Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident,
 * Roslyn Frey, Lady of Riverrun,
 * Edmund Tully, Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident, d. 366 AC,
 * Alesander Tully, Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident, 333 AC, d. 366 AC,
 * Brandon Tully, Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident, b. 354 AC, d. 406 AC,
 * Roslyn Tully, b. 344, d. 404,