Lady Hestia Wilem the Lionsbane

**Lady Hestia Wilem the Lionsbane** was the daughter of Nikolas Wilem II and Irena Wilem. She ruled Fleur as regent from 24 to 40 CE until Queen Helena Wilem of Flowers came of age.

## Biography

### Early Life

Hestia was born on 7 Muntep 5 AE to Nikolas and Irena Wilem at Castle Viktoria in Isgerdia. She was raised there for nine years, until her father's death the 21st of Cernon of 4 CE. Prior to his death, Hestia had been very close to her father, often accompanying him on short hunting trips. He had begun teaching her swordplay and she was quite good by the time he died. After Nikolas' death, Irena was forced to return to her family home at Hartrun. She sent a letter to Queen Hestia Wilem of Flowers in 5 CE to ask for her children to be educated at Evermere, to which the queen accepted. However, by the time Hestia and her younger brother, Mikael, had arrived, the Flower Queen had taken ill and died.

Without proper plans in place for what to do with the two children, they were sent to Oligarden to be wards of Duke --- Olivarden. Hestia felt out of place at Oligarden, speaking little Fleurian. She felt awkward and ugly, as she was unusually athletic for girls her age. She began to play with the local boys, eventually begging the master at arms of the castle to allow her to train with the future soldiers in the yard. Eventually, he relented and Hestia showed great prowess with sword, bow, and halberd. She petitioned to be allowed to join the Olivarden's retainers when she came of age. With much persistence, Duke Olivarden relented and in 9 CE she was taken as a squire by a lesser hedge knight called Ser Florence Redbrow.

Ser Redbrow took Hestia with him to a string of tournaments, culminating in her admittance to the Grand Melee at Wilemberg in 13 CE. During this melee, Ser Redbrow was accidentally killed by a blow to the back, leaving Hestia without company. She placed in the top twenty of the melee, much to the surprise of onlookers. While female warriors are not unheard of in Fleur, it was rare to see one of such skill. Queen Cycilia Wilem of Flowers had been attending the melee and upon learning that the woman fighter was her niece, she became outraged that no one had told her before the fight. She offered to give Hestia a spot at her court so that she could pursue more feminine habits, but she declined, wishing instead to join the royal retainers to earn her knighthood. Shocked, Cycilia relented, allowing Hestia into her service. She was eighteen.

### At Queen Cycilia's Court

Hestia quickly adapted to life at court. She insisted on living with the other soldiers, despite her sex. This caused great upset among the knights at Evermere, who called it immodest. Tensions remained high and in 15 CE, Hestia was nearly killed by a stray arrow while guarding a hunting party for the royal family. She believed it was no accident. That following month, she volunteered to join the Arimanian force fighting the pagans in Kudd. Every year a certain number of conscripts was expected and lots were typically drawn for the duty few would ever willingly choose. Shocked by this decision, Cycilia begged Hestia not to go, but she had already decided. In 16 CE she arrived in Balalinople where she engaged in many conflicts with the Kuddians until fighting ceased in 18 CE.

That year she requested to be allowed to accompany Lord Wilem Boran on his exploratory mission to the Sxthni isles. The wish was granted, though many considered it a death sentence. She returned four years later in 22 CE, clothes in the skin of slaughtered Sxthni warriors, with feather crown and tiger lance. She had proven her valor to many. In 23 CE she accompanied the royal family to Media for a vacation where in she earned her title "Lionsbane" for lancing a Median Rock Lion in a single blow.