Elîvihel Gehel
The Hidden Consort
King-Consort of the Hartilians Elîvihel Gehel
I can assure you that I do, in fact, exist and that I am indeed the consort of our radiant monarch. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have more exciting matters to attend to in the library.
Hopeless Romantic
Born to a sickly old lord and his far younger wife, Elîvihel grew up with an intense hatred of political marriages. Even from a young age, he had viewed such engagements of convenience as acts that went against the teachings and values of Aprēa. He was well aware of the political advantages that came with them and recognised how much a beneficial marriage could benefit his house, but the thought of being forced into something with a woman he knew nothing about repulsed him. Elîvihel's idealistic nature had frequently disappointed his father and his mother often excused his opinions by claiming that the young man had been too engrossed in old tales of love and chivalry, unaware of the realities of life.Fateful Invitation
Elîvihel Gehel received an unexpectant letter in 1058 AA from a kiretia in the city of Alechvêr in the neighbouring Kingdom of Motilich. The message explained that the seriati of that Hillenēq Hūril temple had heard tales of the young man's failed romantic undertakings and they knew of a woman who they thought would fit him well. Uncertain of the merits of travelling so far for something that could have been a fraud or trap, he asked his father for his opinions. Predictably, the old lord laughed in his face for even considering such a notion, claiming that if there really was a woman waiting for him, then she was probably a lowly prostitute riddled with disease. Having heard his father's opinionated thoughts, Elîvihel decided to the opposite of what had been suggested and ventured forth, eager to see the disappointment in his father's eyes and whatever awaited him in Motilich. He had travelled through the lands of the Motilichers just as they had been concluding an election to choose a new monarch for the realm as their previous king had passed away without an heir. The election was an unprecedented event that gave a voice to both commoners and nobles alike, piquing Elîvihel’s curiosity.The Secretive Seria
Oh, she's just one of our own sisters. A good and devout woman who should match you and your understanding of love and romance well. You'll just have to wait a few more days, I'm afraid. Everyone is quite overwhelmed with work, with the elections coming to a close.When he had finally arrived at the kiretia, the local clerics welcomed him and provided the young man with a room where he could rest and wait as the woman they had in mind was preoccupied with other responsibilities. They assured Elîvihel that she was indeed real and a woman, but the longer he waited the more doubts began to creep up in his mind. To relieve himself of such thoughts, he walked around the streets of Alechvêr, hearing of the lives of the regular folk and their thoughts on the election. Much of the information that he gathered he would write down in his journal before going to bed. His accounts of the events have allowed historians to get a good outside percpetive on the occasion.
Tiyla - Advisor to the King of Motilich by Midjourney
First Contact
Finally, a few days after Tiyla Pentiwichen had been announced the winner of the election, news was brought to Elîvihel that he would have an opportunity to meet the mysterious and elusive woman. Doubts still gnawed away at his thoughts and he feared the anticipation and all the hopes that he had conjured up in his head would all lead to a bitter disappointment. Nevertheless, he was still anxiously excited for the meeting that awaited him on the next day. The next afternoon, several of the seriati led Elîvihel to a private estate in the wealthier part of town, claiming that the building had been donated to the kiretia after the previous owner passed away. There was a platform there adorned with bushes and trees which overlooked much of the busy town below. It was a romantic and secluded little spot, equipped with a small table for two and a lavish meal. Having been told to sit down, Elîvihel waited for a minute which had felt like eternity. Then she finally arrived, clad in purple and white atire, her long brown hair in two braids, ears adorned with amber, and emerald eyes shining bright in the sun. The young lord felt convinced that something had to be amiss for why else would a woman so heavenly in appearance seek the company of a lowly heir to a crumbling castle. Introducing herself as Halie and shaking the man's clammy hand, the woman sat down, beginning their long hours of conversing.Sitting there, I had half the mind to run on several occasions. Everything just seemed so unbelievably suspicious that I was convinced that it had all been a devious plot to kidnap me so that they could demand a ransom.
Fine Dining
Elîvihel and Halie were utterly engrossed in their discussions on their mutual values and shared love of books and knowledge. Halie had remained fairly elusive about her own background, preferring to ask her companion about his family and the struggles they faced. Elîvihel had hoped to ask more, but the time had flown by far sooner than expected, forcing the two to part until their next meeting. The second time they met was around half a week later, this time at an establishment that catered to the culinary needs of the nobility. As they enjoyed a flavourful pheasant with an exquisite wine, Elîvihel used his chance to inquire about her past so that his curiosity could be as sated as his stomach. Seemingly more open and relaxed than before, Halie told him the story of how she’d been an orphan and how the generosity of the faithful had spared her from a wretched existence.Revelation
Another week had passed after their last meeting, leading Elîvihel to wonder if there was still something that was being withheld from him. For a supposedly simple seria, Halie was remarkably busy, even after the events of the election had long been concluded. He contemplated the matter, but nothing made sense. It came as a surprise then, when he had finally been told the location of their next meeting—the royal palace. Elîvihel’s first thought had been that perhaps Halie served the newly elected queen in court. Her unavailability would have made sense then, as she would have been busy assisting the new monarch to make sense of her new responsibilities. The reality, however, had been far beyond the young lord’s comprehension. When he entered the private dining hall in the palace, escorted by the royal guard, he found himself face-to-face with his companion, who was clad in regal attire.Unexpected Ascension
Never in my wildest dreams had I consider the possibility that I might somehow end up in the presence of a queen—let alone in one’s bedroom.As Elîvihel Gehel realised, the woman he’d been courting had been none other than Tiyla Pentiwichen, the new Queen of Motilich! Every thought from fear, joy, confusion, excitement, and even a tinge of arousal dashed through his head like an elephant enraged at the sight of burning pigs, stunning the poor man as he stood agasp. The queen smiled fondly at the poor man’s perplexment, gesturing for him to sit down beside her. With the truth at last revealed, Tiyla explained the reasoning behind her secrecy, telling Elîvihel that she wanted to be loved for her own personal characteristics instead of her crown. Tiyla Pentiwichen laid bare all she felt and proposed to the befuddled man beside him just as he had regained his composure. Elîvihel was elated, but in his heart he dreaded the thought of the fame and attention that would await a king-consort. Despite such apprehensions, Elîvihel Gehel accepted the proposal with glee, anxiously excited for the life that awaited him.
Concealed Consort
The queen had sensed the apprehension and uncertainty that lingered within Elîvihel and eased his concerns soon after. In the lengthy conversation they had, the two agreed to marry in private, far from unwanted eyes. Elîvihel was to become a king-consort who’d assist with the administration of the realm, but Tiyla gave him the option to perform his duties away from noisy courtiers and the public. She encouraged his interest in books, philosophy, history, theology, and everything else that caught his attention, giving him rein over their library. Once the couple received their first child, Elîvihel proved to be an attentive and caring father, often looking after their son Âldirich and the twins Sohhia and Îta when their mother was busy with her royal duties.Abandoned Inheritance
When Tiyla had been made Queen of the Hartilians and her court moved to Aûrkustel, the two of them visited Elîvihel's old home as it was on their way to their destignation. The resentful father that he had hoped to find sloutched on his pathetic throne had instead passed away, remaining forever ignorant of his son's fortune. Instead they found Elîvihel's mother and sister who were elated to see him, especially once they realised who he'd become. During their stay in the old keep, Elîvihel announced his desire to reject the inheritance that befell him, instead passing the holding on to his younger sister, Apêrah.Relationships
Species
Ethnicity
Honorary & Occupational Titles
King-Consort of the Hartilians, Motilich, and Latolia
Life
1034 AA
1097 AA
63 years old
Place of Death
Aûrkustel, Kingdom of the Hartilians
Family
Spouses
Tiyla the Blessed
(spouse)
Siblings
Children
Sex
Male
Eyes
Light blue
Hair
Short black hair
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale and oily
Height
1.81 m
Weight
72 kg
Belief/Deity
Subject of Slander
Elîvihel Gehel had been perfectly content performing his duties to his wife and queen in relative seclusion, far from the eyes and whispers of the judgemental courtiers that looked at him with envy, yet that hadn’t stopped the rumours and slander. None dared to say anything too blatantly as they feared offending their radiant monarch, but tales nevertheless spread which questioned the king-consorts worth as a man. Some wondered how a man could feel so at ease in the shadow of his wife, while others wondered whether Elîvihel was even the queen’s husband, as their marriage had been held in private. The most egregious of the lies that were spread of Elîvihel and the queen claimed that Tiyla’s children had instead been fathered by another man, one worthier of someone of the honour. Once informed of the severity of the slander, Elîvihel countered the rumours by sending his own agents out into the public, allowing them to inform the queen’s most ardent supporters of the perpetrators of the false tales. The loyal subjects of the crown dealt with the troublesome gossips with brutal efficiency.
Gehel Keep by Midjourney
Awww, I love him. I am only sad he didn't get to rub his success in his father's face. 'and even a tinge of arousal dashed through his head like an elephant enraged at the sight of burning pigs' - this is the best line.
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