Appearance:
Name: Elya Aven
Age: 16
Personality:Children are odd little people, really, especially those who, when a bit older, will inherit the earth. As an heir to a throne, the first in line, the princess Elya Aven is just as you might suspect. She is simply a spoiled child, who does not yet know much of the world she is expected to one day rule.
Lovely though she is, the girl has always led a privileged life. Due to her lack of any real suffering, she has never built up a tolerance to pain, be it physical or psychological in nature. If anything goes wrong in her life, if a mean word is spoken, or harsh action taken against her, she often meets whatever it was with a severe equivalent. If she is unable to do so, the girl retreats into herself, as if a turtle retreating into its shell. Despite this lack of tolerance, though, she is rather bold and brave, often brazen; she does not let her fear hold her back unless she has truly been injured in such a way that she cannot fight back.
Her world is very narrow, as is her understanding of it. She is conscious of this, though, unlike many young ladies her age. Well aware of her lack of any real knowledge pertaining to life, Elya constantly strives to learn more. The world, to her, is an open book, filled with words begging to be read. She fulfills this hunger for new knowledge through actual books, anything she can find, and through conversation with any person willing to speak to her.
Backstory:The Queen went into labor on a nice, pleasant day, in the middle of spring. Her family’s sigil, a rose, intertwined around a sword, became symbolic on that day. The blood that dripped from her, upon the birth of her child after a full seven hours of labor, was as painful as the stabbing of a sword, and as beautiful as the reddest rose. The baby cried and cried for hours; the wet-nurses attributed this to her father not being present, as he was meeting with one of the Lords in the southern areas of Edessa at the time. A raven’s note brought him back to see his newborn daughter, as the sun was setting. Elya, he named her, after his mother, as they both shared the same golden-blonde hair- though Elya’s was merely a tuft.
It did not take long for the child to reveal herself for who she was really like- her father’s uncle, who had died in a duel long ago. This fierceness that presented itself in the King's daughter was not unexpected, nor was her passion for life. However, her attitude did lead to that which was unwanted, namely, the specific yearning for power. Even as a small child, Elya was troublesome. Interrupting the meetings of her father's council, disrupting intense discussion as she wished to take part, she became known to her father's closest advisors as a nuisance, while her father simply recognized her wish to understand his work. Unlike his advisors, King Johannes loved his daughter all the more for this.
At the age of twelve, Elya was determined to become a knight. She begged her father to allow her to squire for one of his many young knights, to let her learn from them both combat skill and the meaning of honor. He insisted, however, that a princess's place was not one of servitude. Instead, he suggested that if she truly wished to have power one day, she should strive for political power; she should pay more heed to her history lessons and the like, so that one day, she might serve as an advisor to her king, whoever that would be. This sparked a new interest in her, as she spent increasing amounts of time in the castle library, studying the histories of man to better her understanding of the world.
As she grew older, Elya became secretly infatuated- not with a boy, but with the south. Their traditions, their fashions, their everything was fascinating to her. The wild people seemed to have more freedom than she could ever dream of, and that excited her more than anything else in the world. The idea of getting lost in the middle of a forest, to spend her days running free, was almost more appealing than someday sitting alongside a King. The south lost its distant allure, however, when she walked in on a council meeting in which a representative of the Welds was pleading to her father for his aid.
Gradually, the city received more of these refugees of the south, bringing with them stories of the horrors down there, of the beasts who had driven them from their homes. Elya saw her home as they did, at this point- the only safe place in a world of danger. However, her perception began to change when she learned that the refugees were followed by the Orcs. When one slaughtered a Lord's keep, her father set up a caravan for her to leave. Elya, stubborn as ever, refused to leave her father's side, insisting that unless imminent danger was present, she would not budge.
Upon the word of the Varyan attacks on their lands, Johannes finally convinced his daughter that she needed to leave. Elya was about to set off with her mother, when a raven came, bearing a threat from the Varyans. They had taken hostage a cousin of Elya's, her mother's sister's son; though an unimportant boy, he was still royalty. Elya, to her father, was even more important- he paid the ransom for his nephew, but could not bear to think what would happen should Elya be found, and taken.
Elya was given a scroll marked with her father's unbroken seal, meant for the leader of the Ardel people. While others took refuge in the north, Elya would be made a temporary ward of the Kingdom of Ardel. It would not be safe for her to travel with a royal company, with the threat of the Varyans who might take her hostage if her identity was discovered. Her recognizable blonde hair was dyed a dark brown, her lovely gowns and jewelry replaced with a commoner's clothes and cloak, and she was given a temporary name.
Elya was placed in one of the final caravans- it took much convincing to get her to leave, on her father's part. She was given a small sword, much smaller than any a knight might carry, to defend herself; thin, and only the length of her arm. A Mithril sword, it was crafted specifically for her. Rather than a sheath, it was to be hidden in a staff, a walking stick, a deception. She is claiming to be a mere scullery maid of the royal household, so as not to attract attention.
Skills and Abilities:Novice Dancing - Even though she has been taught for years the arts of dancing, Elya does not take to it well. She can walk gracefully, but her dancing skills are not very advanced at all. She is, however, rather flexible, but not enough to make a difference with her dancing skill.
Novice Sewing - Similarly, her lessons in sewing have not gone well. She is not able to embroider anything more complex than simple letters; her skills mainly translate to mending, rather than aesthetic value.
Adept Swordsmanship - Despite being told she could not take lessons, Elya befriended (or rather seduced) a few squires, and they taught her a bit about defending herself with a sword. She knows just enough to hold her own in a fight against one attacker, maybe two for a limited amount of time.
Adept Horse riding - Despite being refused the opportunity to become a squire, Elya was still allowed- in fact, encouraged- to learn to ride. She took to it quite well, and has her own horse, named Nimerya. She is particularly skilled at maneuvering horses through difficult terrain, as well as being able to calm them with relative ease.
Professional Diplomat - As she has spent so much time around her father's council, and all of her free time pondering over books concerning political theory, Elya has become a rather eloquent speaker when necessary.
Professional Viol playing - From the age of three, Elya was taught the art of the Viol. The stringed instrument is her favorite, as the music it makes sounds almost like that of a human voice.
Professional Gittern playing - To accompany her voice as she sings, Elya picked up the Gittern around the age of eleven. Having an aptitude for music, she learned rather quickly.
Accomplished Singing - From a young age, Elya has developed her naturally beautiful voice, studying music theory alongside her other lessons. Being talkative translated well to music, as she learned quickly. She knows many traditional hymns of Edessa, but much prefers folk songs of foreigners, and improvisation.
Equipment: Thorn; Small Mithril Sword, New - A gift from her father, the king, concealed in a staff, rather than a sheath.
Nimerya; Horse, Brown - A gift from her mother, Elya has had Nimerya for years now.
Tiara, Golden - Hidden in her bodyguard's bags, Elya smuggled with her a favorite tiara, as she did not wish to leave behind all of her pretty things.
Viol and Gittern 
