Meredyth Darke

**Meredyth Dondarrion nee Darke** was a daughter of House Darke of Duskendale and a long-serving lady-in-waiting to Princess Alysella Targaryen. Her quiet nature often made her seem as though she was shy, but this merely served her well in pursuing those matters of a more surreptitious nature to which her mistress could be associated publicly.

In 98 AC, she entered into an affair with King Viserys, which produced a bastard daughter named Shiera Waters. Afterwards Meredyth and Shiera were both sent to live in Duskendale in comfort as guests of House Darklyn.

## Appearance and Character

Meredyth was a short woman, standing only a couple inches taller than the princess she served. She was dark of hair and maintained a curvy figure, which the lady-in-waiting on occasion employed for the benefit of herself or her mistress.

A relatively quiet woman, Meredyth was an unassuming figure at the royal court, despite having been in Princess Alysella's service for several years. This was by design, a natural demeanor that was cultivated and encouraged by Alysella. It made Meredyth well-suited to pursuing clandestine activities on behalf of the princess, or sometimes merely for her own amusements.

To anyone but Alysella, even those other ladies alongside whom she has served, Meredyth was an enigma.

## History

### Early Life and Childhood

Born in 80 AC to Ser Allar and Jeyne Darke of Duskendale, Meredyth's early life was relatively simple. Her father was in service to House Darklyn as a household knight, whilst her mother oversaw the kitchens and cooks of the Dun Fort. Despite not being an overly prominent branch of House Darke, her parents were able to provide well enough for the young girl.

All this changed in 93 AC, however, when her father Ser Allar died in the Rosegold Rebellion and shortly thereafter her mother, too, perished, after falling ill. With her life seemingly in turmoil and the girl, now aged three-and-ten, an orphan, Lady Mereya Darklyn learned of her plight - and took the girl to the royal court to serve as a companion to her daughter Princess Alysella.

### Royal Court, 93 AC to 98 AC

Arriving at the royal court was a significant change for Meredyth, especially in light of her recently orphaned state. Awed both by the sprawl of King's Landing and the grandeur of the Red Keep, the young woman attached herself strongly to her new mistress, who quickly saw potential in the Darke girl and her subdued personality. Where Alysella herself was extroverted and craved attention, Meredyth was more than happy to walk in the princess's shadow as the days wore on.

Over time Meredyth has evidenced an uncanny ability to avoid notice, which has been cultivated through numerous tests at grand feasts, balls, and other events held at the Red Keep. Rarely does anyone ever remember her later, much to her mistress's joy, as this has permitted Meredyth to serve well in gathering and spreading gossip, as well as fostering contacts through the castle's staff of servants and guardsmen for the princess's benefit. Learning the dexterity necessary for the art of sleight of hand came with some difficulty, but her other skills made it easy for the woman to disappear and persevere in her efforts.

After years at the princess's side, there was no figure closer to Aysella than Meredyth, who served with an understated sense of zeal. She and the princess shared many firsts with one another as they matured at the other's side, and Meredyth was afforded a degree of freedom that other ladies-in-waiting, such as Rosamund Mooton, often were not.

### A King's Mistress, 98 AC to 99 AC

Following the dissolution of King Viserys' betrothal to Raya Blackwood, Alysella devised a twisted plan to buoy her cousin's spirits and indeed even to smoothe over some tension that had developed between the two of them. Meredyth was the focus of that plan; she was sent to the king as an offering, to be his companion and an outlet for the stresses of his rule.

Viserys welcomed Meredyth into his bed readily enough, and often too. The woman pledged to her princess and patron that she was making use of moon tea after every dalliance with her royal lover. In truth, however, she had chosen otherwise, and was instead attempting to become pregnant with the king's bastard. Meredyth believed that bearing the king's child - especially if it were to be a boy - could secure a comfortable life for both herself and a child, a life where never again would she want for anything.

After learning of the pregnancy, neither Alysella nor Viserys were pleased, to say the least. Nevertheless, Meredyth had succeeded in her goal. She was permitted to give birth in the Red Keep in 99 AC, delivering a baby girl with blonde hair and lilac eyes named Shiera Waters. The presence of the king's mistress and bastard did not sit well with Queen Zhoe Arryn, and so Viserys arranged a new home for the pair - Duskendale, where House Darkyn would ensure that Meredyth and Shiera lived in the comfort that she had used her body to obtain.

### Settled 100 AC - Present

Once settled, things would not continue without further developments. A few months after her arrival at Duskendale, Meredyth was informed of the sudden appearance of Ser Willem Dondarrion. A gallant lad and one that had seemed very infatuated with her, the Marcher knight had served as the Princess Alysella's sworn shield for little more than a year. His arrival was unexpected but not unappreciated, and after a year of courtship Ser Willem professed his love for Meredyth. With little else to do and with even less at stake, Meredyth accepted his affection and the pair were soon wed. In the ensuing months they would revel in bed as often as they were able -- much to Willem's enjoyment. After four years of marriage it became obvious that Meredyth was barren, unable to bear anymore children despite their zealous efforts.

Instead of wallowing away in what they could've had, they embraced Shiera competently, helping to raise her into the fine lady she would eventually become.

To this day Meredyth continues to reside at Duskendale with Willem, enjoying her life of peace and prosperity.

## Family

* Ser Allar Darke (b. 60 AC, d. 93 AC).
* m. Jeyne Darke (b. 62 AC, d. 93 AC).
	+ Meredyth Darke (b. 80 AC).
	+ w. King Viserys Targaryen (b. 77 AC)
		- Shiera Waters (b. 99 AC)
	+ m. Ser Willem Dondarrion (b. 80 AC)