Jirelle Baelish

Jirelle Baelish is the current Lady Paramount of the Trident and Lady of Harrenhal, having become Lady Regnant after the tragic death of her brother Damon at a joust in 381 AC.

## Appearance and Character

Jirelle has the narrow face and green-grey eyes of her father's house but the Valyrian beauty and ash-blonde hair of her mother's. Jirelle is tall for women but is looked down on by most men.

Often she wears sleeveless gowns that show off her slender form but is not one for opulent dresses. Instead, she prefers elegance in simplicity.

## History

Jirelle was born with her brother, Damon, in the Red Keep of King's Landing in the beginning of 362 AC to Laena Velaryon and Brusco Baelish. While the excitement was more for Damon as he was the heir to Harrenhal, any child for Brusco was something to celebrate. Upon returning to Harrenhal, she was raised alongside her brother and older cousins in a manner befitting of children of a Great House. Jirelle enjoyed her childhood and looks back on her time in Harrenhal fondly.

However, trauma came to Jirelle early in her life. When she was only five years old, Jirelle was kidnapped by a group of R'hllor fanatics terrorizing the countryside. The bandits attacked her family's traveling party and absconded with the young girl claiming that only by embracing R'hllor would Brusco get his daughter back. In truth, they were the remnants of the bandits paid off by House Arryn to cause unrest in the Riverlands. It was only by the bravery of Ser Boros Brune that she managed to escape her captors unharmed, and the bandits either killed or punished for their crimes. When she visited King's Landing to watch her hero be knighted, Jirelle met Myrcella Tyrell, the King's oldest daughter. The two got along at first and by the time it was time for Jirelle and House Baelish to return to Harrenhal, Myrcella asked that Jirelle remain as her companion to which Lord Brusco quickly agreed.

Although she was Myrcella's companion, Jirelle often visited Harrenhal. Splitting her time between the two castles was difficult but made Jirelle used to living on the road and visiting many castles. It also led her to pick up on certain things that most overlooked like a new squire being part of the traveling party or a servant who was lingering too long at the door. It became a game of sorts for her until she was old enough to realize what these individuals' presence actually meant. While this instilled an innate sense of caution and reserved demeanor, Jirelle would willingly relax and have fun upon the insistence of her close friends like Myrcella, Rhea Redwyne, and Helicent Tyrell.

Life in King's Landing also proved fruitful when Jirelle was betrothed to Robb Stark, the heir to Winterfell. The match had been planned for years but after suspicions of House Arryn attempting to rile the Riverlands into war, Lord Brusco finalized the match. Jirelle and Robb had known each other in passing, the children of Great Houses making that hard to avoid, but only after they were betrothed did they make an effort to know more of each other when they could. There was a natural kinship between the two and both families sighed in relief of the possibility of a happy marriage despite the political arrangement. The two were even caught kissing at the feast celebrating King Garlan's coronation. For Jirelle, all she cared about was that her betrothed was kind, handsome, and destined for greatness. Love could come later.

Jirelle managed to make many connections during this time with almost every noble of note throughout Westeros. Being connected to the royal family as she was helped immensely in that regard. It also helped that she was from a Great House, although, her family's reputation often did more harm than good. Still, she held herself well in public and showed to those who mattered that she was not her father's daughter. This was especially so with Myrcella herself. Although there was no need to prove her worth to her friend, Jirelle often pointed out the various spies in the castle and to whom they belonged. Knowing who was who and what they wanted became Jirelle's hobby before too long, the benefits of which Myrcella enjoyed. However, it also resulted in her getting a reputation among those who employed the spies who she pointed out. Mace Wildflowers himself being one of them and, fortunately, one of the few who saw Jirelle's innocent gossiping as nothing more and admired her talent.

Like many, Jirelle was forever affected by the War of the Last Dragon. News of the Riverlands burning was bad enough but when the horizon darkened under the wings of the Black Dread Reborn, Jirelle knew the world as she knew it could be over. Jirelle was with the royal party that escaped King's Landing and used her contacts whenever she could to help them all arrive at Harrenhal unharmed. Even when she thought she was safe, she was not. Upon arriving to Harrenhal, Jirelle learned her father had died of disease in the camps when Daena first attacked the Riverlands. Although she was never close with her father and was well-aware of his reputation, he was kind to her and ensured she had the life she deserved. Before she could properly mourn, Jirelle was reunited with her brother, Damon, after the end of the war but the man she met was someone else entirely wearing her brother's face. The maesters insisted he had simply come under shock in the battles against Daena and the Golden Company but Jirelle's hope of seeing her brother again faded with each day he worsened. Still, Jirelle did not shirk her duties and attended on Myrcella as best she could. Such duties were even more important when Princess Myrcella suddenly became Queen Myrcella.

The beginning of the Queen's royal progress approached without much fanfare. Jirelle was looking forward to it only so much to see the rest of the realm. However, before they left, a raven arrived to the city bringing terrible yet bittersweet news. Damon had fallen in a joust at a wedding and died. Quickly, Jirelle raced to Harrenhal to be with her family. A quiet and intimate funeral was had as Jirelle wanted nothing to do with the Riverlords who planned her family's downfall for decades. Only after the funeral did she call for her vassals to swear fealty as their new Lady Paramount. That night, a raven left Harrenhal set for Winterfell with a message for House Stark: the betrothal between her and Robb was no longer possible. Days after, the Queen arrived with her progress and Jirelle requested that she accompany Myrcella for the remainder of it. From there, Jirelle traveled the Seven Kingdoms with her queen and did what she could to both be there for her friend while also coming to terms with her new life as well.

Upon returning to Harrenhal, Jirelle had mourned long enough. Damon had truly died in the fires of Drogon and she couldn't afford to appear weaker than a man in her situation. House Baelish had not lived up to the reputation of its true founder for decades, it was no secret. Now that she was the last of Littlefinger's direct lineage, Jirelle knew it was up to her to prove to all that they deserved their place in the world.