L Y R A B E L A C Q U A
DÆMON: Pantalaimon, a pine marten.
BOND: Split.
HAIR: dirty blonde.
EYES: blue.
AGE: 6 months during LBS. 10-11 during NL. 12-13 during TSK and TAS. 15 in Lyra’s Oxford. 20 in TSC.
BIRTH: 1985. (between July, August and September, according to the Timeline).
NATIONALITY: Brytish. (English).
STATUS: Alive.
Lyra Belacqua was born to Marisa Coulter and Lord Asriel, a product of their affair.
After Marisa’s husband, Edward Coulter, tried to kill her and was killed by Lord Asriel, who then lost everything he had, Lyra was taken into government custody and then placed at the Priory of Godstow in Oxford by Lord Nugent, the head of Oakley Street.
There, Lyra was taken care by the nuns for a couple of weeks before the Great Flood happened. As she was being hunted by Gerard Bonneville, a physicist who wanted to get hold of her to likely trade her for scientific freedom to research Dust, Lyra was rescued by Malcolm Polstead and Alice Parslow, and they set out in Malcolm’s canoe, La Belle Sauvage, for London.
During their time in the flood, Lyra was taken by the Sisters of Holy Obedience, but was promptly rescued by Malcolm. Eventually, they reached a fairy island and met Diania, a fairy who tried to steal Lyra by feeding her fairy milk. Malcolm tricked Diania and recovered Lyra, and once again they were back in the Flood, on their way to Lord Asriel in London.
When they arrived in the city, the CCD forces that had been looking for them were caught in a conflict, as Lord Asriel and Oakley Street agents made their way to rescue Lyra and the children. Lord Asriel returned with them to Oxford in a gyropter, and left Lyra under the protection of Scholastic Sanctuary at Jordan College. There, Malcolm left with the Master of Jordan, the Alethiometer he took from Gerard Bonneville, which would pass into Lyra’s possession ten years later.
“Secundum legem de refugio scholasticorum, protectionem tegimentumque huius collegii pro filia mea Lyra nomine reposco.” Asriel said. “Look after her.” “Scholastic Sanctuary? For this child?” “For my daughter Lyra, as I said.” “She’s not a scholar!” “You’ll have to make her into one then, won’t you?”
— Lord Asriel, chapter 25, La Belle Sauvage.
Lyra grew up in Jordan College, under the guardianship of Dr Carne, but personally being cared for by Alice Lonsdale. She had a rather carefree life, being an natural leader and befriending most children from the region, from gyptians to town kids to college children. At one point, Lyra was responsible for invading the Costa family’s boat with her little gang of children and she often played war games with these particular groups of children. At the College, her actions were observed by Bernie Johansen, the half-gyptian pastry cook, who reported back to the Costas, who then reported to John Faa, as a favour to Lord Asriel.
She grew up believing Asriel was her uncle, and he made brief, sporadic visits to see that she was well cared for. Lyra was informally educated by the scholars from Jordan, and she had very little interest in learning as well, and as a result her education was flawed, filled with gaps, and yet in certain areas unusually specific, as Jordan College was meant to be a higher education institution.
When Lyra was ten or eleven years old, she sneaked into the Retiring Room out of curiosity, but ended up seeing the Master of Jordan poison the decanter of Tokay meant for Lord Asriel. Upon Asriel’s arrival, Lyra revealed herself in order to save him from drinking the poisoned wine and Asriel employed her as a spy during his presentation to the scholars, hiding her in the cupboard. During this meeting, Lyra was introduced to the concept of Dust and she saw the City in the Sky in Lord Asriel’s photograms.
(to be continued)
Lyra, prior to her daemon settling, had the innate skill of reading the Alethiometer without needing to consult the books. This skill was likely attributed to her status as child of the prophecy and she lost it after her return from the Land of the Dead and Pantalaimon’s settling.
Lyra is considered very small for her age. She is also said to be strikingly beautiful, enough to draw the attention of passersby.
During their adventures, Pan and Lyra had to separate when she visited the world of the dead. By doing this, they acquired the skill of separating like the witches do.
Lyra still takes Alethiometer classes with Dame Hannah Relf. She also had a brief dalliance with Dick Orchard - the boy who could spit further than anyone else - who also happened to have been a childhood crush of hers.
Lyra uses the name Silvertongue among friends, although she is still legally and widely know as Lyra Belacqua.
Her Alethiometer was given to her by the Master of Jordan, after Malcolm gave it to him. It had belonged to Gerard Bonneville, who stole it from a monastery in Bohemia; the monks had also stolen the Alethiometer from a traveler who had taken shelter with them. The history of the instrument is tied to the fact it had been often stolen, Lyra being the first owner in a long time who had actually received it as a gift. (TSC, chapter 7)
Lyra can use the new method of reading, but it makes her feel sick and often refuses to use it. She is yet to understand the connection between the method and the daemon.
Lyra’s major is unclear, but she wrote an essay at one point about the Patterns of Trade in Arctic Region with particular reference to independent cargo balloon carriage (1950-1970) (click here to see the Extra letters from OUATIN). In that same letters she mentions “Econ Hist,” and how it must be that subject as there is no other way to examine her knowledge about the alethiometer. It can be assumed she was majoring in Economic History.
At one point, Lyra mentions the Count and Countess Belacqua, her alleged parents who died in aircraft accident. It is unclear whether they were real people or made up by Asriel to cover his own identity as Lyra’s father.
DÆMON RELATIONSHIP
Chaotic, friendly, constant banter, harmonious. Good communication and synchronized behaviour in feelings and actions. (HDM)
Chaotic, aggressive, constant disagreement and sheer unhappiness. Lack of synchronization in feelings and actions; lack of communication. (TSC).
FAMILIAL TIES
Lord Asriel: father.
Marisa Coulter: mother.
Marcel Delamare: uncle on her mother’s side.
Madame Delamare: grandmother on her mother’s side.
Dr Carne: legal guardian under scholastic sanctuary.
FRIENDS & ALLIES
Roger Parslow
Miriam Jacobs: colleague.
Hannah Relf: mentor.
Malcolm Polstead: former teacher, ally.
Alice Lonsdale: caregiver and friend.
Iorek Byrnison: friend.
Serafina Pekkala: friend.
ROMANTIC TIES
Will Parry: old flame.
Dick Orchard: old flame.
ENEMIES & RIVALS
Olivier Bonneville: rival.
Father MacPhail: enemy.
Father Gomez: enemy.
Pierre Binaud: enemy.
AFFILIATIONS
Jordan College: safe haven.
Oakley Street: allies.
Bud Schlesinger.
Anita Schlesinger.
The Eastern-Anglia Gyptians: allies.
Farder Coram.
Ma Costa.
John Faa.
St. Sophia’s College: alma mater, educational.
Magisterium: enemy (during HDM), antagonistic (during TSC)
Consistorial Court of Discipline: violent.
La Maison Juste: antagonistic.
The League of St. Alexander: suspicious.
The Daemonless People: friendly.
Princess Rosamond Cantacuzino: friendly.
Vaclav Kubiček: friendly.
Nur Huda el-Wahabi: acquaintanceship.
