This event was worse than Elara could have possible imagined. She had thought this would all be over with Beron’s private funeral last month, but no, her advisers insisted upon a public memorial for all the courts to pay their respects. The last thing Elara wanted was to indulge in the lie that her husband had been a good man and a good king when he had been a tyrant that had held her captive for so many years. And now the bastard was holding her captive from beyond the grave and trapping her in the role of a grieving widow.
“Thank you for coming. Please, do indulge, it is what Beron would have wanted.” She had to hide her smirk at that. Beron had loathed all of the other courts, and would turn in his grave at the thought of them gulping down the bottles of expensive wine he had kept reserved for himself.
Ever since the fire had begun, Elara’s rage had not been calmed. Even now that the risk was over and the fire had seemingly put itself out, it was her anger that was fuelling her. Sleep food, water - none of it crossed her mind. Elara was focused on finding answers. Who would dare to set such a blaze in her court? When she caught them, their end would be spectacular and be passed down through the ages as a moral story that no one should ever dare to cross Elara Vanserra.
Rage was simple and easy to understand, but her fear had to be kept at bay. She was a Vanserra, and she hadn’t been able to control that fire. It had burned and killed and destroyed and she hadn’t been able to do a thing about it until the flames had decided they were done. That feeling of helplessness and the fear of who could have such power were not feelings she wanted to dwell on.
As she stormed down the hall towards the infirmary, she spotted a portrait on the wall of King Beron - evidently one she had missed in her purge of all things that reminded her of him - If she hadn’t been talked into holding his memorial, this would never have happened. Now her control as queen and her very power as a Vanserra were being called into question. Without thinking, she tore it from the wall and hurled it to the ground. “Even in death, you still seek to undermine me! Will I ever be rid of you?!”
Hair style - Loose waves that she mostly wears pinned up with a crown atop her head.
Eye colour - Gold
Other distinguishing features - The Vanserra family are known for their distinguishing gold eyes
Scars - None
Tattoos - None
Personality
What bad habits do they have? She is so desperate to prove herself that it has become an obsession, and she often only gets a couple of hours sleep due to her planning and scheming
How do they want to be seen by others? A powerful queen to be feared
How do they see themselves? A woman barely holding things together, trying to cope with ruling a court and being a good mother to her son that feel she betrayed him
Strongest character trait? Strength of will
Weakest character trait? Hot temper
What is their greatest fear? That she will lose everything it took her so long to achieve
When was the last time they cried? She often has melancholy nights where she cries, thinking of the son that she had to give up
Friends and Family
Is their family big or small? Who does it consist of? The Vanserra family is a large one, with family members scattered all over the court, but the immediate royal family consist of the Queen Mother (Elara’s mother), Elara herself, her brother, and her son. She also has an illegitimate son who is Prince of the Day Court.
How do they feel about their family? She loves them, but finds it difficult to show it. It breaks her heart that she cannot tell her son that he has a half brother in the Day Court
Who is their closest friend? No one. She knows her position as queen as precarious and does not want anyone seeing weakness in her
Past and Future
What was your character like as a baby? As a child? Very obedient. She was trained from birth to be the perfect princess and always do what was commanded of her, which is how she ended up married to Beron in the first place
Did they grow up rich or poor? As a princess, she was always surrounded by wealth
What is their greatest achievement? Breaking free of her husband’s tyranny and taking the throne for herself
What are their ambitions? To make the Autumn Court the most powerful in Prythian
What smells remind them of their childhood? Woodsmoke - Even though she was the perfect princess, one of the few ‘improper’ things her family allowed was for Elara to go on hunting trips with her father. Him telling her stories by the fire is a fond memory for her
Love
Do they believe in love at first sight? No, she believes love is something that develops based on a genuine connection
Are they in a relationship? No, her husband died last month and she has not seen her former lover for a long time
Has your character ever been in love? Yes - she fell in love with the King of the Day Court (and still loves him but won’t admit it)
Have they ever had their heart broken? Yes, when she had to end the affair with the King of the Day Court to avoid them being discovered and protecting both of her sons
Would you class power as an emotion? I love the feeling of finally having control over my own life. Funny isn’t it, now my husband is dead I finally have a life.
