Alannys Costayne

Alannys Costayne is the only daughter of Lady Arianne Costayne and Ser Emmon Greyjoy.

Born Alannys Greyjoy in 419 A.C, the majority of her life was spent divided between two cultures. In Pyke, her father's Ironborn heritage dictated their way of life, but Alannys was a frequent visitor to her mother's home of Three Towers.

During one of these visits the outbreak of the Second Hammer Uprising began in full force, and it was unsafe for her to return to her parents in Pyke. For three years she remained in the Reach, watching as her mother's family declared themselves traitors against the Targaryen monarchy.

At the conclusion of the Bleeding, she would see her parents one final time before the Highgarden Tribunal ruled she would be sent to King's Landing as a ward of the Crown, whilst her mother and father shouldered the burden of restoring the broken reputation of House Costayne.

Appearance and Character
Slim and of average height, Alannys has flaxen-gold Costayne hair and the blue eyes of her father. A mirror between the origins of her parents, in appearance as much as in character.

Though raised at Pyke, her father Ser Emmon was ever more inclined toward Andal customs; thus, despite familiarity with Ironborn traditions, Alannys has favoured the way of life prevalent in the Reach, home to her grandparents with whom she often stayed. As a result of her disjointed heritage however, Alannys was perceived by each side as belonging to a different culture, and had to develop a keen perception of her own in order to combat prejudices against her.

Bright and witty, her gregarious nature lends toward making friends easily. Soft spoken, as she has matured into a woman Alannys has found a talent for putting people at ease. Empathetic and cultured, as a young lady of the court there are few who Alannys cannot contend with or entertain.

History
Following a tourney at the Arbor and the precipitous meeting of Emmon and Arianne, Alannys was born a short year later. With her mother never intended to take up the Costayne title, the family made home in Emmon's native Pyke, ruled by his brother Dagon.

Lady Arianne, gifted with a shrewd and resourceful intellect, was a stern caretaker who wished to impart upon even a young Alannys all the hard truths of the world. By contrast, her father was easy-going and loving, intent on being a shelter against his daughter growing up too quickly.

As followers of the Faith of the Seven, particularly by virtue of Emmon's status as a Knight, Alannys struggled to cultivate meaning relationships with other children, and often had to work at securing any semblance of friendship.

Sailing to the Three Towers rarely took more than a week or two, and by the time Alannys was thirteen she would take a token escort to make the journey. One such trip would coincide with the beginnings of the Second Hammer Uprising, and as the conflict took root in the Reach and extended with full force, Alannys would be kept with House Costayne for her own safety.

The years of the Bleeding were the hardest of her life. Severed from her family, she withered beneath the shadow of rebellion; her mother's kin declared themselves supporters of the Warsmiths, sealing their own fate.

Though she never saw any fighting or underwent any true rigours of war, Alannys was confined to a castle no less. A social butterfly, the loneliness was a deep melancholy upon her otherwise bright disposition, and she took to drawing as a hobby.

The Highgarden Tribunal
Though the Tribunal tried the more serious criminals of the Second Hammer Uprising, under their scope also fell the punishment of disloyal vassals.

Her grandfather, as punishment for mobilising his entire levy for the Warsmith's cause, was sentenced to the Wall. Already had her uncle paid with his life in the conflict, but the conditions placed upon House Costayne did not end there.

Arianne Greyjoy would revert to her maiden name, appointed as the Lady of Three Towers; far away in Pyke, her branch of the family had played no part in the traitorous actions of her Reach kin, save Alannys, who was considered by some as guilty by association.

Still only a young girl of sixteen, it was ruled she would be sent to King's Landing, to serve beneath the newly coronated Silver Queen.

The Fonts of Drivel
Never intended to serve Naerys Targaryen, she was instead another face upon the train of the newly minted Queen, Visenya Silvermoon, who had advocated fiercely for such young women of Alannys' ilk to be brought under her direct wing.

Well-educated and demure, the Costayne girl's talents were everything a mistress might seek, with enough life experience to set her aside from the usual cast of the Queen's attendants sharing her age - most of who were comely but often seemed prone to empty heads. Where the circle of Visenya Silvermoon was expansive and at times difficult to navigate, Alannys also shared little in common with many of the highborn women.

When it became clear that there existed a connection between Alannys and the Princess, Visenya saw an opportunity again try to reconcile a now distant relationship with her half-sister. Few had ever pervaded the inner circle of the youngest Targaryen, and Alannys somehow proved the perfect counterpart to her unsociable nature.

Queen Visenya formally named Alannys as her reclusive sister's lady-in-waiting, and for several years since she has been the locus of Naerys' influence in court, utilised as both sword and shield in the great game. Her silver tongue and warm charms have proven invaluable, for more keenly does Alannys perceive the intrigues of the court than Naerys herself.

Despite a close bond, in public the woman is every inch the picture of a subservient lady-in-waiting. Despite this, it is no secret that Alannys has become an exception to the rule that Naerys is rarely interested in those who do not bear the name Targaryen, or stand as their closest allies.

In private, Alannys fulfils the role of servant, adviser and friend. Her drawings feature in Naerys' chambers, and the two can often be spotted reading or writing together in the gardens. Occasionally are they accompanied by Alannys' step-cousin Alysanne Harlaw, eldest daughter to the Small Council's Master of Ships, Theon Harlaw.