Nymella Toland

Nymella Toland is the eldest daughter of Morra Toland, and though there is some debate over who her true father is, her mother and her mother's late husband, Symon Wyl, have recognized her as the true heir to Ghost Hill and House Toland.

Appearance and Character
Nymella’s copper-brown hair tumbles in bright curls down her back, often set with jeweled headpieces. Her skin, though warm and olive-toned, remains fair and reacts poorly to prolonged exposure to the strong sun of Dorne. The corners of her hazel eyes have finally begun to show the fine lines of age, made only more prominent when she smiles and laughs.

Three pregnancies and a life of relative leisure have left Nymella’s body soft and curvaceous, though her daily activities in running and maintaining a household (as well as looking after her two sons) have kept her from the grasp of obesity. She is taller than many women and some men, standing at five-foot-nine.

Nymella may stand out among Salty Dornishmen, but the Tolands are historically known for the reddish hues to their hair. Most Tolands of modern times use a plant-based dye to attain such a color-- Nymella being no exception as her once-red hair grew muddier with puberty. The only true physical difference between Nymella and most her siblings and cousins is her fairer coloring, which many attribute to Andrey Sand, her mother’s paramour.

Birth and Early Childhood, 385-397 AC
Nymella was the first child born to Lady Morra Toland. While pregnant with her first child, Morra was beset with dreams of dragons biting their tails and ghosts glimmering in the sun. She became convinced that her ancestor’s prophetic dreams had been passed down to her, and that Nymella was destined to bring their family great success. This deep-set belief colored much of Nymella’s youth.

Born with her fairer skin, eyes and a blaze of red hair most uncommon for the Dornish, many at court called into question whether or not Lady Toland’s husband, Symon of House Wyl, was Nymella’s true father. Instead, it was believed that Andrey Sand, Morra and Symon’s light-skinned paramour, had fathered the girl. Regardless of the rumors, both the Lady Toland and her husband stood firm in their decision that Nymella would take the Toland name and be hair.

Andrey continued on as the paramour to both Lady and Lord Toland, and it became clear that Lady Toland would take no further questions of the parentage of her children as Olyvar and Elia were born within the next five years of Nymella’s life. Andrey soon perished after Elia’s second birthday, and it was another five years before Morra’s womb quickened again. Nymella’s youngest sisters were born: Tyene and Teora. Some say they are the only true children of Morra and Symon, while others claim only Nymella and Elia are bastards, due to their fairer skin.

As Nymella reached puberty, the flame of her hair that had made her mother so proud began to dull into a copper-brown. Her mother began to apply an herbal mixture that stained her locks redder than they naturally were. It smelled so strongly of earth and herbs that it burned Nymella’s eyes to the point of tears, but she bore the discomfort for her mother’s sake.

Nymella received the full education any Dornish lord would, excelling most in matters of statecraft, and as a hobby, basic alchemy. She learned the most simple of salves and balms from her governess, and delighted in applying them to her siblings when they got scrapes or cuts during play.

Adolescence and Young Adulthood, 398-403 AC
While largely untouched by the famine that had ravaged northern Westeros, The War of the Three Thieves hit closer to home. Lady Morra Toland had increased trade with the Stepstones in response to the famine in the north, doing her best to balance capitalizing on loss and providing aid. (It was important, Morra had told a soft-hearted Nymella, that they were charitable, but not stupidly so.) When war broke out east of Ghost Hill, they had to cease trade with Essos and the Stepstones for fear of losing their shipments in the crossfire.

It wasn't until House Martell sought to join the war that Lady Toland dedicated over half of her men to the fight under the Sunspear sigil. House Targaryen would always be chasing their own tails and started wars for folly, Morra had said, but House Toland must never hesitate to lend their men to their liege.

It was in the later years of the war that Nymella had grown from a gangly youth into a comely young woman in what seemed like a few moons. Her academic interests wavered as she found interest in other things; namely, coquetry. It was far more fun to flirt and kiss than it was to make salves. Her parents allowed Nymella her liberties, but with strict warnings: she was not to lay with a man. Having lovers and even bastards was no strange thing in Dornish lands, but Nymella would be far more desirable as a maiden wife.

Come 402 AC, the Scarlet Winter marked a time of peace for Houses left untouched by its reach. With the rest of Westeros centering their focus on surviving a horrific winter, House Toland worked on bolstering their trade with the east once more to supply the northern lands with trade. The increase in trade and relations with both the north and the east meant Ghost Hill had an influx of visitors and courtiers, as well as a increase of gold to their coffers.

One year later, Nymella was betrothed and wed to Symon Fowler. A grand wedding and feast was held to celebrate the couple, with all Dornish Houses invited to partake in the revelry. For all of the excitement and festivities surrounding them, Nymella and Symon could scarcely take their eyes from each other, and there was no question that their union was consummated as soon as they were alone.

Recent Events
In the years since losing her infant daughter and with her failed attempts to conceive a child again, Nymella has turned her focus on her living sons and her House.

Family
Mors Toland †, b. 340, m. Lia Gargalan, b. 345 † In-depth family tree can be found here.
 * Morra Toland, b. 364, m. Symon Wyl, b. 361, d. 411 †
 * Nymella Toland, b. 385, m. Symon Fowler, b. 381
 * Lewyn Toland, b. 409
 * Gulian Toland, b. 410
 * Tarah Toland, b. 416, d. 416 †
 * Olyvar Toland, b. 387
 * Elia Toland, b. 390, m. Victor Sand
 * Loreza Toland, b. 410
 * Bors Toland, b. 411
 * Dagos Toland, b. 413
 * Tanselle Toland, b. 416
 * Tyene Toland, b. 397, m. Qoren Martell
 * Teora Toland, b. 397
 * Dyanna Toland, m. Mors Qorgyle †
 * Trystane Qorgyle