Queen Consort Estelle Ashworth

Duchess of Granne; Queen Consort of Cador; Queen Mother Estella Elizabeta Caterina Ambroise

Edward peaked around a corner, shifting onto his toes in an attempt to keep quiet. He wasn't supposed to be out this late. Lady Kat would have his hide if she caught him. His father would have his hide if she caught him. He had already been reprimanded once this week for ducking out of his lessons.
Edward sighed, scuffing at the marble floor with one of his slippered feet. Two years ago, Lady Kat had warned him that he had to behave, to do as she said, in order to make his father's handling of family matters easier. He had snorted at her. He had assumed that his father being crowned king would have made him too busy to keep up with something like Edward's academic schedule. Oh, how wrong he had been.
Taking a breath to steady himself, Edward cocked his ear for the patrol (not that they generally came up this way, with the Western Wing still technically being closed off). After accepting the resounding silence as proof that he was, indeed, alone, he made his way down the Hall of Mirrors.
Looking around at the broken and covered glass, Edward could only wonder how the hall would have looked previously. Before. When it had been made for the Qu--the White Lady. She was the White Lady, now. He wasn't supposed to call her by his mother's title. That was rude. Apparently.
Just like he was now the prince, and calling the previous prince so was... bad. To be honest, just bringing up either of them, the Prince, or the Queen, was bad. It made his father go quiet. It made Lady Kat cluck, and then get mad at him, once she had shooed him out of his father's presence.
It wasn't that Edward didn't get it He had heard the whispers. The songs. Red Richard, Red Richard. Thousands died for your crown. Red Richard, Red Richard. Men, women, children all cut down.
But still...
Edward shook his head, arriving at the grand doorway. Heavy oak, engraved with spirals of barley and rice. At the top of the door, there was an etching of a dragon wound around a bird. Matthew, Lady Kat's son, had called it an albatross. He had said that the dragon was fighting it. He said that the dragon was cruel. Edward didn't see that. Not really. The dragon was just wrapped around it. Reminiscent of the way a snake would wrap around a tree. The bird didn't seem to mind, regardless.
Edward pushed against the door, grinning to himself, when it gave way without a creak. He tucked himself inside the entryway of the apartments, shutting the door behind him. Once he was certain that it was closed, he cleared his throat. With careful steps, he walked into the foyer area.
"White Lady? I'm back. I brought my violin, this time! I have been practicing, too!" Nothing came from his declaration, though that was honestly expected. The Lady didn't always come out, right away. She was tired, generally. Sad, more often than not. She hadn't ever seemed sad when Edward had seen her, before the War. But, he supposed, what happened to her and the Prince was enough to make anyone sad.
He cleared his throat. "Would you like to hear me play?" Again, there was no response. However, out of the corner of his eye, Edward saw a candle on the mantle flicker to life. He saw a wind push the curtains back slightly, offering him limited moonlight to read from. He smiled, setting his instrument's case down on the ground before him.
Carefully, he set up the sheet music on a writing desk near the window, blowing away the layers of dirt beneath, then he placed his violin to his shoulder and began to play.
The tune was a simple one, but of a decent length. He had performed it for his own mother at her birthday celebration. Edward had never been a negligent pupil when it came to his music lessons. His teachers had even said as much, before he was a prince.
But he didn’t want to offend her with a mistake, even now. Even now that she wasn’t queen anymore... Even now that she wasn’t really there. People were right when they said that the West Wing was haunted. There were places that Edward knew not to go. Rooms not to enter. Rooms of ash. Rooms with walls that had been slashed at, as if with claws.
After all. Heavy was the Dragon's Crown.
But they were wrong when they said that it was the White Lady accosting them. They said she was angry. That she was vengeful. That she was just like her nation, and that she had jumped to her death to spite his father’s rule. That she had jumped to start a new war.
They were wrong. The White Lady was not cruel.
She wasn’t mean. She wasn’t harsh. She had led him here. To these safe rooms when he got lost before, right after coming to this large caste, despite him being his father’s son. She lit the way to guide him back to bed, after each time he visited, despite his father hurting the prince.
She was just sad. And alone.
Edward reached to turn the page of his music notes, only to have it turn for him. He smiled, even when a chill crept up his back.
She was watching, now. If she hadn’t been before. Edward continued to play, focusing his gaze on the sheet in front of him. Out of the corner of his eye, though, he saw her form materialize. Her hair was down, like always, and her dress was askew. Her left foot bare, and his mother would have chided her appearance, had she ever been a member of their house. But she was watching him with interest. He hadn’t ever seen her look like that before.
Suddenly, Edward heard a voice. A man’s voice. New, and quiet, and strained. Conflicted. Deep and echoing. Questioning. Almost plaintively hopeful. “Estelle? My bright star?” It was a call. A plea, rather than a summons, but he watched as the White Lady reeled. He had never seen her panicked, before. Alive or in death. The curtains swooped shut, and the candle snuffed itself immediately. The room almost seemed to freeze as Edward was almost forcibly lifted, shoved, and ushered out of the rooms, the door slamming shut behind him.
For a moment, all was silent. Edward shifted, setting his violin back in its case with shaking hands. He locked it back up, and shivered at the cold that now permeated the hallway.
Then, almost like an after-thought, almost like an apology, the candles that lined the hallway flickered to life, guiding him back to his rooms.

Mental characteristics

Personal history

Born to the Ambroise family, prominent members of the Great Council of Florin, Estelle was raised by the sea, in the city of DuLac. While there, she was heralded as Albatross of DuLac by the local court, and was granted the best education that any in the nation could provide. Despite the ongoing conflicts of the Long War, Estelle flourished. She excelled at linguistics, poetry, mathematics, and falconry. During her teens, she helped to captain a small fleet of caravel ships under the guidance of her mother, Lady Claude Ambroise.
During her 17th year, Estelle was presented at a débutante held in honor of the birthday celebration of King Edmund III of Cador. It was here that the two first met, though they only shared formal introductions, and a singular dance. This was to change, however, close to Estelle's 18th birthday. During the month of Eliwus, she managed to gain some national acclaim when she outmaneuvered Dar raiding parties off the Imperial Coast, keeping her small flotilla of merchant vessels safe. Not a month later, her family received a request from Cador's King, asking for his favored artist to be allowed to paint her likeness, accompanied by a portrait of King Edmund. By the month of Morwen, the two were engaged, and by Tine of they were married. It was reported that the two were married to strengthen the ties that had been initiated by the creation of the Accord, a few years previous.

The initial ceremony, took place in the Great Cathedral in Florin, with a secondary ceremony taking place in the Cathedral of Gravenwall. With two years' time, the couple had had their first (and only) child, a son whom the King christened Edmund. Only a few months after Prince Edmund's birth, the Long War was finally ended with a decisive defeat of the goblin horde in the mountainous regions of the Azarrkul. The peace however, did not last. The White Scare soon gripped Cador, sending multiple members of prominent noble houses to their deaths, sparking even more unrest. The White Scare was quickly followed by the Dwarven Rebellion, leading to the growing dissent of the Dwarven populations of Gravenwall. Both of these placed a great deal of strain on the King's already suffering mental health, and while it is not known how their relationship fared during this time, it is known that Estelle took great care to keep her young son as far from his father as she could.

When the Mad King died, the Queen was uncharacteristically silent regarding the matter. However, she did follow the Cadoran protocols for mourning. Prince Edmund ascended to the throne at the age of five, not two months after his father's death, becoming King Edmund IV. Much to the surprise of many of the nobles of Gravenwall, the Queen Mother did not take on the title of Regent herself. Instead, she bestowed the title of Regent on Lord Wayland of Dowford, a close friend and confidant of both the Queen and her late husband. While this action was likely done to avoid any whispers of Florin influence on the throne, many viewed this as a continuation of the Mad King's reign. Unfortunately, the King's death and subsequent ascension of a child to the throne of Cador did nothing to soothe the unrest that was griping the nation. Within three years, the nation erupted into civil war. The War of the Crown began.
The Queen did what she could during the war, calling upon her elder brother and homeland for support, once she and the Lord Regent realized the strength of the opposing front. However, her attempts were in vain. In the spring of 1677, the forces of Lord Richard of Dolcaster besieged the city of Gravenwall, and with the help of Dwarven ammunition, broke through the defenses. Lord Wayland was killed in the initial assault, and it was reported that the Lord of Dolcaster killed King Edmund the IV in the throne room of Castle Gravenwall, before the eyes of the Queen Mother. While attempts were made to apprehend her, it is said that Estelle fled from her captives, and threw herself off of the balcony of her rooms in Castle Gravenwall.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Queen Estelle was a capable sea-farer, having defended her flotilla of ships against goblin raiders during the Long War. She was also a capable enough poet, having managed to publish two different books of poems, which are still in circulation in some cities of Florin. It was her love of learning and education that led to the reestablishing ties between the University of Garland and the Université du Larc.
She also was the mother of King Edmund IV of Cador, and the wife of his father, King Edmund III.

Intellectual Characteristics

It was well known that the Queen of Cador was gifted with a keen intellect. Multiple scholars and diplomats praised her mind and eagerness to learn as she grew, and once she arrived at the Cadorian Court, she filled her inner circle with scientists, astrologists, alchemists, and theologians. It was reported that she would often debate these men and women, herself, finding the exercises to be both entertaining and enlightening. It was under her patronage that the University of Garland reestablished their connections with their Florin counterpart.
Estelle Ashworth was also known to enjoy many dances, could command a nautical vessel, could play multiple instruments, reintroduced falconry into high society fashion, and was a published poet. Her books are still in circulation in Florin.

Morality & Philosophy

Queen Estelle was a known patron of the arts, and she believed greatly in the value of personal belief and expression. Because of these values, she often acted as the patron to many notable Cadoran artists and scholars. However, uncharacteristically for a member of the Florin nation, Estelle disavowed political descent and individualism in government. She often spoke out against the nobles hoping to gain more power or initiate a constitutional monarchy, going so far as to advise her husband to ignore them. More than one instance occurred where the Queen herself called upon the guards to throw dissenting nobles out of her husband's throne room.
While these instances have been documented, it should also be noted that Queen Estelle attempted, generally, to act as a moderating influence toward her husband, especially in his later years. The Queen's own diplomats requested leniency for the Dwarven clans after the failed Rebellion, when the King disavowed the Dwarven leaders entrance into the castle for peace talks. It was also reported that she requested both Florin aid, and the aid of the druidic circle of the Greystone Mountains, at the start of the White Scare. Both of these requests, however, were denied entry into Gravenwall by order of the King.

Taboos

In the later years of her husband's reign, word and rumors began to circulate throughout Gravenwall that the Queen and the Lord of Dowford had been lovers throughout her marriage. These rumors were only compounded upon after her husband's death, where by the Queen Mother bequeathed the Lord of Dowford the title of acting regent for her son, Edmund IV. While there is no proof or tangible substance to these rumors, it is well known that the two were quite close, in court, and that the Wayland of Dowford never married. It was reported that his death, combined with the death of her son, was what caused Estella to take her own life at the end of the War of the Crown.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Estelle was beloved by her home country and many of its people. Her presence in Cador, alone, strengthened bonds between the two nations. These bonds were then strengthened again when Estelle gave birth to the Crown Prince, Edmund. It was her request of aid and alliance that caused Florin to continue to provide its strength and naval power to the Accord during the last few years of the Long War.
Within the city of Gravenwall, the Queen was quite popular, forming her own inner circles of nobles and professionals in court. These groupings were often separate from those of her husband, and often included professors and artists from the University.
While their spheres of influence were generally separate, Wayland of Dowford proved to be a notable companion of both the Queen and King. The Queen was accredited with initiating Lord Wayland’s moniker of ‘The Hound of the King’, having reportedly stated he was, “My husband’s loyal hound, and my faithful falcon.”

Family Ties

Estelle was incredibly close to her only child, Edmund. She refused to be separated from him after he was born, as is custom among Cadorian nobility. Instead, she raised him herself, only giving him to a governess at her husband's desire. Despite this royal request, in his youth, she personally taught her son many of the ways of court. When his father fell further into mental illness, she took even further control of her son's education and day-to-day activities. She frequently traveled with him to visit her Florin relations during the conflicts following the Long War, keeping him relatively unaware of the upheaval brought on by the Dwarven Rebellion. The two of them were also granted a Florin ketch by the King of Cador on Edmund's third birthday, which they frequently used in Gravenwall's harbors, even after the King's death.

King Edmund VI, the Son of Queen Estelle and King Edmund III

Estelle was reportedly quite close to her elder brother, the current leader of Florin, Duke Errizo. Her death immediately soured the ties between Cador and Florin. It is said that her brother still grieves for his younger sister and nephew. Every year, on the date of her death, a unified request is sent by the Great Council of Florin to Gravenwall, asking for the return of her remains.

Religious Views

Queen Estelle was closely linked to the Great Church, having been baptized by the former Supreme Patriarch in her infancy. She was devoted to the Church's beliefs, and was said to be a personal corespondent to the current Supreame Patriarch, Benedict. It was reported that she favored Darmon in her youth, though officially she gave all of the Gods of the Tree and Womb equal attention in prayer. After the birth of her son, she reportedly prayed often to Morwyn.

Speech

Despite her robust knowledge of languages, Queen Estelle was never able to truly rid herself of her Florin accent. No matter what language she was speaking in, there was often a particular draw to her words. This was supposedly a matter of much embarrassment and frustration to the Queen.

Current Location

Gravenwall

Species

Human

Ethnicity

Florin

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Queen Estelle held the title of Duchess of Granne in her childhood. Once she married Edmund III of Cador, she gained the title "Queen Consort of Cador". After her husband's death and her son's ascension to King, she became known as the "Queen Mother".

Life

1642 1677

Circumstances of Birth

She was born in the Chateau du Larrieu, the second child Duke Charles and Duchess Claude Ambroise.

Circumstances of Death

Suicide; she jumped to her death from Castle Gravenwall after hearing of the deaths of her son and Lord Regent Wayland of Dowford

Lord Wayland of Dowford, Lord Regent of King Edmund of IV

Birthplace

DuLac, a port city of Florin

Current Residence

It is unknown where she and her son are buried, much to Florin's collective distress. The country has issued multiple demands to return the remains of both the Queen Mother and King Edmund IV.

Gender

Female

Eyes

Green

Hair

Long, silvery-blonde. She generally wore it up.

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale

Height

5’5”

Weight

120 lb.

Aligned Organization

House of Ashmore

Other Affiliations

• The Kingdom of Florin

Known Languages

It was said that the Queen of Cador was fluent in multiple languages, including both forms of Common, Florinese, Imperial, and Celestial. It was also reported that early in their marriage, the King himself had worked to teach his new wife Draconic, a language that she had supposedly picked up with much enthusiasm, much to the King's own happiness.