Aithne Dhariel

Aithne Dhariel is the wife of Daeric Dhoesone. She is devoted to him, but she finds his constant feuding with his cousin, Clumine Dhoesone, a waste of time and boorish. Evidently, she does most of the administration of Soniele. She always tries to invite Clumine to one of her parties she holds every year.

Aithne Dhariel grew up in Dharilein County; but was actually born in the city of Sonnelind during the Cerilian Summer Solstice. Her father, the former Count Gwenaël the Bold, had to attend Summer Court in Sonnelind and was forced to take his very pregnant wife, Ivinie Cariele of Cariele, with him. She gave a difficult birth two days later to Aithne.

Soon after the death of his wife, her father fell in love and married Alexandrine, a scullery maid at Dhariel Manor when she was just four years of age. Soon after, his father had sired two sons and one daughter of Alexandrine. This would increase her family to seven: Gwenaël and Alexandrine, her major blooded brothers Vertico Dhariel, Corentin Dhariel and then herself.

At seven, Aithne became a page in order to learn how to be a lady-in-waiting. While most of her brothers became knights dedicated and loyal to the Baron of Dhoesone, Corentin entered the Militant Order of Cuiraécen as a holy knight, Aithne was learning how to be a personal assistant at court. Amaury, the youngest son and her younger brother, died in battle at Roger's Hold in the Silverhead Mountains. Amaury was a noble Knight Errant in service of Dhoesone.

At the age of twelve, Aithne graduated to the next rank; a court maiden (or whatever is similar to a squire). She completed her training and eventually became a Maid of Honour for Fhiele Dhoesone at the court at Sonnelind by the time she was fifteen. Her brothers, however, were knighted at the age of twenty-one by the Baroness herself. While her eldest brother had sworn fealty to Fhiele Dhoesone and to the Barony of Dhoesone, Aithne had met both Clumine and Daeric Dhoesone while they were having a spirited discussion on the grounds of Dhoesone Castle. She giggled at the corpulent Daeric and this caught his attention.

And for some reason, her mood had softened Daeric's heart. Although Daeric had fallen in love with her at first sight; Aithne did not. Through the next few months, however, Daeric began acting like the romantic knights in Dhoesone who had sought her hand. Daeric was one of many suitors: Sir Accolon Cathoene of Ruidwash, Housecarl Hrothgar Bendwig of Giant's Fastness, and Sir Angelo Avan of Avanil (Prince Avan's cousin with the distinctive Avan bloodmark) were all competing with Daeric Dhoesone.

For a long year, the four suitors competed with each other using picnics, serenades, poetry, exhibitions of strength and skill, and declarations of undying affection. The attention was getting to Aithne and she soon became the talk of the summer, fall, and winter courts. As time went on, however, she found Sir Accolon's honor uninteresting, Hrothgar's prodigious strength boring, and Angelo's poetry and family connections uninspiring. She did find the plump Daeric to be dynamic and attractive; but he wouldn't pursue her further because he became embarrassed by his weight.

Finally, during spring, she said outright that she rejected her other three suitors to him. He then rejoiced to Laerme and they continued to court. Finally, that summer they were wed in the Temples of Haelyn and Avanalae with great accolade and affair. Daeric then took her home to his family's manor in Soniele to consummate the wedding.

Aithne and Daeric still act as newlyweds, though they have been wed for four years. However, she has already proved to be a capable administrator of the county lands while he is away on missions for the Baroness or arranging for the Barony's college to be built.

Aithne maintains her gorgeous figure by swimming in the Manor's large swimming hole; and bathes regularly in a nearby brook. She also practices swordplay about two hours a day. The rest of her time is spent managing the household. Aithne is faithful to her sweet Daeric; although her fencing master has openly declared his attraction for her. If nothing else, her love inspires Daeric to be a greater Arcane regent; or inspires him to accept dangerous missions -- whichever seems to be the reason.

Aithne has become close friends with her sister-in-law, Lileas, and the two have resolved to reconcile Clumine and Daeric.