her highness, linnea alora vautour, princess of ithania, sister to the king, and sole daughter of the former king.
the beginning.
linnea is the only daughter of the former king and only sister of the current king. she is, and has always been, a child of the war that has cast a dark cloud over the kingdom since the day she was born. her birthright is the control of the entire kingdom, save for her brothers further in line for the throne than she, and she has grown up without want or need of anything.
despite her inferior rank, her childhood was spent learning the ins and outs of royal life, by now, the formalities, culture and customs are second nature to her. she relished in the mornings spent about her private wing, eating the finest fruits and pastries, studying with the finest tutors, and traveling with luxuries few others can afford.
linnea's nickname began when she was five or six by her father's wife's ladies-in-waiting who played and preened over her. she, afteral, is the baby of the family and has kept this title her entire life. her brother, with nearly three decades her senior, has always been in charge of her day-to-day activities and despite their relationship, she has always viewed him as a father, considering she never knew her true father.
linny grew up away from the main stronghold, at her brother's behest, behind closed walls and palace doors the the south kingdom, by the sea. she learned subjects of the greats, classic and modern languages and all matters of foreign diplomacy. most of her childhood was spent this way, behind doors and windows, without seeing her family for months on end. because of this, linnea has a very active imagination. there were not many kids to explore the castle with, so she made her own friends. because of her status, she could talk to anyone however she pleased, and get away with it. nobody was allowed to talk back to the princess and she learned this at a very young age.
her summers were spent with her siblings and her mother at the stronghold. when she was young, this meant learning how to properly ride horses and take long walks with her mother while her siblings worked. it meant playing dress up with her mother’s clothing and being doted on her by nearly everyone who laid eyes upon her. she’s spoiled and she knows it, but linnea much prefers to be at the top then at the bottom.
her thirteenth birth year changed a lot of that. suddenly there were no more dress ups and tea parties, but instead long conversations with her brother about diplomacy. the outfits she wore, the ones she played in, were outfitted with diamonds and crystals, her ballet flats changing to heels, and her hair pulled in extravagant wigs and curls. everything about her, the childlike playfulness changed overnight. she was dutiful and noted for her ruthlessness when she sparred policy debates with her brothers, claiming what was rightfully her’s, every time. those that knew of linnea knew the passion she felt for her kingdom, fueled by a revenge for a father she has never known, and those who drew close enough could see it reflected in her eyes each time her brother asked a question. perhaps she thrived on this atmosphere, but linnea likens it to just wishing for her brother, and the kingdom's, approval.
but then, it was back to the sea and she continued this cycle until her 18th birth year, where she was moved back to the fortress permanently. while in the capitol, she lords over her own ladies-in-waiting and every move she makes is calculated…well, every personal one, that is.
the war.
she did not realize the imperativeness of the war until she got a glimpse of the war-torn and ravished country she grew up in. in an instant, when the war had been brought to her home front, when she discovered the luxury she lived in, her world changed.
instead of planning parties and galas, she was learning about her brother's battle plans. instead of gold crowns, she was looking at the hilt of swords and rapiers, assisting her brother by leading the charge on counter-intelligence and infilitration behind enemy lines. she would meet with king's guardsmen and her brothers, making plans to protect her people and their family's name.
despite her best efforts, despite her enthusiasm to assist, despite all of this, her brothers treated her as though she were a child, despite her abilities. the talk of who they could marry her off to, in order to form more peaceful treaties and usher in new prospects had begun to entice her brothers, without a single word from her.
linnea privately detested the notion of being married off. her home was and is, ithania, and how was a war supposed to concede with just the marriage of two royals, it never quite added up to her. but the war is growing larger, and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. and so, she will do what she must for the benefit of her king and countrymen.
it is in these moments of crisis that people find themselves, it was here linnea became a true princess to her people. her resolve and action, her diplomacy with other nations, and the luck of her birthright has assisted her. and she will continue to make waves in her kingdom.
the present.
linnea is now stuck between the far past of a war she has always known and the potential for it to end within her lifetime. those who have only known her for this brief moment of time, of the times when she was a diplomat and not a young girl, know her as serious and stoic, set on a path to make whoever paid for having killed her father. those from her past wonder who or what changed the little girl who danced among the palace gardens turn to such a vindictive and powerful font of energy.
but now, she's found herself on the edge between reality and reason, beckoning to listen to the calls of her brother while struggling to find peace with her own resolved. hidden behind it all, her stoic and serious demeanor matched with a charm and girlish youthfulness, lies a young woman who is always on edge. her sharp wit and charm are still there, but she’s more likely to question and hide her true intentions to herself.
as lynnie navigates her personal complications from the war, she is trying to hide it against the facade she once knew. she knows she must settle down and start a life with a husband and prepare to live the life her brothers have cultivated for her, but does that mean giving up the personality that she had cultivated over so many years?
she longs to settle down, but isn’t sure if that is what her heart wants. most days, she is consumed by the planning of a new dawn for her kingdom, but on the rare off day, she often takes a moment to ponder her own future.
she’s stuck between times and the war has changed so much, but is linnea willing to give up all of her early years in order to form a more prosperous, united, ithania?
