Elendiel Dawnfury

Lord Elendiel Dawnfury
“Hiro hyn hidh ab 'wanath."

A Succession in Peril
The heir to the noble House of Dawnfury was married to Celariael Highsworn in the early paces of spring. For some years they were childless. Rumors of what prevented conception were as numerous as the stars that twinkled in the heavens above. Some blamed the differences in age between the two, after all the Lady Celariael Highsworn was of a goodly age and deemed hearty. Lord Elendiel Dawnfury was by now in the twilight of his ancient existence. He had sacrificed his immortal fertility to youth's indiscretions: too much drink, too much war, and the gift of his seed for the making of two bastards. The wife before her had been taken by a sickness that killed both herself and the child within, some saying the child would rather dash itself to death than see the world around it as it was to become. Even for how taken he was with his pretty young bride, gossip spread throughout the realm that he would make no heirs. They would be forced to legitimize the two illegitimate children, or begin a civilized "discussion" on the selection of who would come after him.

Deliverance from Obscurity
The sum of childless years was two by half. When the inkling of a child began to round out the belly of the Lady of the house? Discussion rose again as to the Lord’s sudden virility, though by the following winter the sounds of healthy cries filled the walls of Embervale Keep. It made no matter that the first child born of their union was a girl. She heralded the return of hope! "Celariael, you have made her beautiful..." Elendiel lifted the girl into his arms and presented her to the curious court waiting in the halls to see.

An Heir is Born
By the time she could again come into the bed of her lord, Celariael was again with child. The second was the desired heir, and great feasting filled the halls. Infertility had parted way for gifts that followed one after the other: Elgoain, Caeowynn, and Velania. With the curse of childlessness broken three times over, plans were made to see to the children’s futures. There would be an heir and thus much to arrange, as well as alliances to make in arms, marriages, and loyalty. They would not fade in to the ages as many had once whispered.

Lady Celariael proved to be a dedicated spouse and mother. Her own lineage afforded her a robust style of life, good health, and esteem that came from being in the line of those who were descended from the Knight of Ninestars. Embervale as well benefited from her patronage. It never fell in to disrepair, no one ever starved, and nothing was mismanaged. Beyond this, she was a teacher to her children. Their first knowledge of legends and history came when she spoke to them preparing for bed. When weather did not allow for them to take the air outside they would sit at the hem of her skirts, transfixed within their mother's words as she recalled for them the history of their noble lineage.

The Heir and Future King
All of the children were remarkable in their own way, but it was Elgoain who shone as the epitome of nobility. He insisted upon educating the girls as thoroughly as their minds would accept, believing there was no difference between the two save the strength of their arm. Only in that equality of mind, he said, would the future be greater than the past.