Artemisia

> "*We are not defined by the things we do in order to survive. We do not apologize for them.*"
> ― Artemisia
>
>

**Artemisia** is a trained Water Guardian, the daughter of Dragonsbane, and an ally and cousin of Theodosia.

## Physical Appearance

Artemisia is described to have thick flowing blue hair with white roots and hazel eyes. Freckles line their way through her face, a trait she shared with her mother. Her skin is dark a sign of her Astrean heritage.

Art has the build of a strong swords woman and a lethal grace about her that sets people on edge.

## Personality

Theo's friend as she may be, Artemisia is not one for comfort, sentimentality, or pep talk. Instead, she is described to be fierce, lethal, and unyielding, and can also be described as a little brash. Over the years in the mine, Art developed a facade that keeps out anyone from becoming too close to her after the death of her brother. Unlike her friends, she has a knack for murder and believes that it's good to take something back from her enemies again. Nevertheless, this Water Guardian has shown a never-ending loyalty and friendship for Theodosia and she has supported her with far too many decisions and given her advice that Theo abides by throughout her journey.

“*Only fools waste time with wishes and apologies*.” - Lady Smoke, Artemisia to Theo

With that said, however, we have seen another side of Artemisia - one that would have blossomed if not for her mother's fierceness or the Kalovaxian's ruthlessness. At rare occasions, Art would shed tears on Theo's shoulder and at her side; while on others, she shared experiences with the Ember Queen that we are not sure she shared with Blaise or Heron or her mother for that matter.

“*Venom is not a new thing for Artemisia—it infuses all her words and it has as long as I’ve known her. It fills up her every glare and makes her every movement potentially lethal. Still, I don’t think I’ve ever heard her so full of hate before. I inch closer to her and reach out to touch her shoulder gently. I expect her to shrug me off, but instead, after a moment, she softens, and I wrap my arms around her. She turns toward me and buries her face in my shoulder. I don’t realize she’s crying until I feel her tears against my skin.*” - Lady Smoke, end of the chapter titled “Victim”.

## Biography

### Early Life

In the early years after the Kalovaxian siege, Art was under the cared of her mother, Dragonsbane (Kallistrade), with her younger brother. Her mother wasn't one for holidays since she crewed different people from around the world, thus, Art was not familiar with such parties from her culture.

It is not described how or when, but somehow, Artemisia got into trouble at the water mine and the Kalovaxian guards caught her and her brother, enslaving them there for years. Because Art's brother was physically weaker and sometimes unable to meet the daily quota at the mines, Art allowed herself to be raped by a guard so that he would show mercy to her brother. But when Art's brother went mine mad, that same guard took her brother to the cells and then killed him in front of her showing her no mercy whatsoever. For many nights, Art lay beside him at night until she summoned the courage, strength, revenge, and will enough for her to slit his throat while he slept. The guard was Artemisia's first kill.

During her next years in the Water mine, Ampelio, a Fire Guardian and Theodosia's father, found Art and offered to train her alongside Blaise and Heron to help Theo out of the palace. He explained that, should anything happen to him, the Queen and her safety were their top priorities.

### Ash Princess

Blaise brought Art and Heron into the Kaiser's palace where Theo resided. She killed Theo's three "Shadows," personal guards the Kaiser assigned to monitor Theo, and the three of them took the Shadows' places. With Art's connection to her mother Dragonsbane, they were able to arrange for Dragonsbane to pick them up when it came time to leave the Kaiser's palace.

Occasionally, Art helped Theo with some plans; bringing her a knife, presenting the poisonous Encatrio, and dissolving the letters Søren gave her. She even watches Theo as she writes a letter back to Søren, though she has some interesting reactions to Theo’s written words. In the first book, Art's colors don't truly show, but we get a whiff that she cares about Theo more than she lets on.

“*Artemisia’s voice comes first, softer then I’ve ever heard it. It wraps around me like a silk shawl, light and cool...”* Artemisia proceeds to sing a verse of a lullaby, and Theo thinks, “*Her voice breaks as she sings the old Astrean lullaby, and I know she’s crying, too. The thought of Artemisia crying is ludicrous. She’s always so strong, so sure of everything.”*

### Lady Smoke

Aboard The Smoke, Artemisia's mother's ship, Theodosia chides Art of how diminished she becomes in her mother's presence that is because of how her mother feels about Art lacking her responsibilities for her younger brother. Theo tells Art to get over it so that she can become a counsel of use to her. Art promises that she will try.

Later, Artemisia is seen sparring with Spiros on the upper decks of the Smoke where she beats him easily telling him he has become rusty without her. It is later cleared that Art cares for Spiros, but has no feelings for him as a lover whatsoever. After days of sailing through the seas, Theo and her council reach Sta'Crivero where the main events of the Lady Smoke occur.

In the palace, Artemisia and each of Theo's friends have their own rooms, but eventually they regroup in Theo's rooms to make plans.

When in Sta’crivero, and Theo makes a plan to see the Camp, Artemisia joins her. She notes that they are “going to a refugee camp, not a ball”. Theodosia admits that it actually didn’t occur to her to bring the uniform she wore aboard the *Smoke*, and that if Art could find a dress less embellished and decorated, she’d gladly change into it. Finally, they come to a conclusion when Art takes Heron’s cloak and swamps Theo in the fabric, hiding her dress and shoes, joking, “You’ll have to walk carefully. Though I doubt it will be harder than trying to balance in those heeled slippers they’ve been forcing you into.”

“*A mere half dozen guards rush toward the wall from their barracks nearby. Artemisia makes quick work with one of them, even though he wields two swords to her single blade. First she knocks one from his hand, but when he insists of keeping hold of the other, she responds by cutting off that hand in its entirety.*” - Lady Smoke*,* in Theo’s thoughts

After a while, when talking about Blaise, and Artemisia answers the door to Theo’s bedroom, she nearly mauls Erik with a dagger. Erik asks about the Plan, and Artemisia says, “I think it’s a stupid plan, but Heron thinks it’s brave.” Theo retorts that Artemisia had said earlier it was a good plan. Art replies with a snort, and says, “I did *not* say that. What I said was that it was marginally better than marrying someone with no personal stake in Astrea besides lining his pockets.”

When Kaiserin Cress requests a parlay during the battle, they meet. Theo drinks the Encatrio, liquid fire, and Artemisia is seen (blue hair, as Theo recalls) using her water magic to combat the fire. When Theo wakes up, Art is sitting beside her, and they talk about the end of the battle. After a little time, Dragonsbane walks in the tent, and after some talk, Art and her mother seem to trade feelings and “a thousand silent words pass between them”.

### Ember Queen

Later, she is actually the one who brings up with Theo’s fierce nickname: “All hail Theodosia, Queen of Flame and Fury”, though Theo’s mother actually coined the term. Art and Heron help Theo train with her new abilities until Blaise offers to help.

In a fire at the Air Mine, Art rushes in to save Theo because Theo was taking too long coming out. There, she helps Theo fight Lady Dagmær, Maeve, and Freya. However, Lady Dagmær grabs Art by the throat, attempting to kill her. Theo shields Art with her body, causing an explosion in an attempt to save herself and Art. This action causes Theo to go in unconscious, and upon awakening she finds out Art has been unconscious since the event.

After waking up from a dream, Theo finds Art awake. Heron treats Art’s wounds, wrapping her legs with bandages up to her knees. Theo and Art take a walk around camp, Art leaning heavily on Theo as they go. Theo gets her caught up to date on their plan to met Dragonsbane and separate into groups, one to the Earth Mine, on to the Capital, one to Doraz. Because of her injury, Art couldn’t ride a horse with Theo, instead having to ride with Maile. Somewhere along the line, the two of them have to stop to change Art’s bandages, leading to an argument and, eventually, a kiss. Neither of them say anything as they join Theo, Søren, Erik, and Heron aboard Wås, where the two end up sharing the cabin’s bed.

On Wås, Art heals quickly. Theo and Art go to the bow, where they have a one minute talk about they’re feelings while Art works to make the tides move them along quicker. During this talk, Art reveals she kissed Maile.

When they reach the Capital, Art uses her abilities to flood the dungeons, full of guards, with water, drowning all of the guards. Theo heats the Milo Varu, which starts the siege to get back Astrea. Art kills many guards and takes great joy in it. During the battle, Theo drains herself after Heron is stabbed, and Art convinced Heron to get Theo a fire started in Theo’s old room. While Theo and Heron are rejuvenating, Art and the rest of the group, minus Erik, go to help fight in the siege.

Art finds Theo after the siege, comforting Theo through her grief over Blaise’s death. Art ends up helping Theo get ready for the feast held in Theo’s honor, crowning her Queen of Astrea.

## Abilities

Since Artemisia is a Water Guardian, she can control water with movements of her hands and wrists; however, other abilities come as a minor to her control of this element. For example, she can change her appearance and the appearances of others using illusions. Also, dissolving materials into liquid proves part of her prowess. This can be seen when Theodosia wanted her paper crumbs burned and Artemisia sped up the process by turning them to a yellow liquid in the first book.

## Appearances

* *Ash Princess* (first appearance)
* *Lady Smoke*
* *Ember Queen*