Juleyna Tyrell

"*The castle has flourished with the lady’s birth. Her laughter is like bells ringing through the halls and the birds seem to chatter along*"
―Maester Edgarth, in service of House Tyrell.Juleyna Orellana Tyrell, first of her name and heir to Highgarden.

Juleyna could often be found amongst people, to care for them or listen to them. She would insist it is her duty to know of all comings and going relevant to Highgarden but in truth, she was intrigued in peoples' lives and peoples' secrets. Secrets, she found, were a trade on their own, and so very rarely were they spoken aloud. With the help of her alluring looks and attractive demeanor, people found her to be quite persuasive of nature.

Juleyna had spent half her life in Highgarden before, following Tyrell custom, leaving to live with the Targaryen family in the Red Keep. There, she would be taught lessons in politics and learn what it's like to rule. She would often attend the classes of the young princess Vaerena, as the two girls were almost of same age. The young girls soon grew fond of one another, a certain unspoken understanding of the heavy duties that awaited them in the future, uniting them in ways words could not. Too soon, Juleyna was called back to Highgarden, to bury her father, Adonis Tell, Lord of Highgarden and her mother, Maryann Mormont. Despite the peaceful reign of King Jahaerys, the House Tyrell have long tried to keep the Dornish from spilling over The Red Mountains. In a horrid assassination, the Lord and Lady of Highgarden were felled in their own home.

Since leaving The Red Keep Juleyna hadn't spoken much. Her usually cheery demeanor gone and her joyful laughter unheard. Her uncle, Brannon Mormont had come to Highgarden to support the young Lady in her mourning. Though upon his arrival, he found no tears on her cheeks. Instead those cheeks were aflame by anger and Juleyna had uttered her desire was to bring revenge to those who had wronged her parents. It was not yet dawn before the pair had left, a small garrison missing from the barracks. News of where the two had gone off to didn't come, but many need not guess. It was only mere weeks later that first news arrived, that somewhere in the dessert a military outpost had been attacked. Though undermanned, it still held at least seven dozen men, none had made it out.

After her return, Juleyna turned towards her people more. Not just for gossip, or secrets but to really listen. She had an ode to pay to her father and her ancestors of House Tyrell. The young lady seemed to realize she had much to learn, and has ordered her uncle Brannon to stay with her, to take on stewardship of Highgarden until she was fit to take on the titles of Lady of Hightower, Wardeness of the South and Lady Paramount of the Mander.

## History

###### Upbringing

Still a small bud, the rose of Highgarden grew. Every milestone enlightened by the warm rays of the summer sun. First steps, first words and above all, her first laugh. Maryann Mormont and Adonis Tyrell liked to keep their daughter close, kept from the peering eyes of lords and ladies seeking to find favour with the future lady of Highgarden. Though even they knew, that they would have to fold to Tyrell custom and send their beloved girl to Kings landing, to see and learn what it means to rule.

Juleyna has two chapters to her life, before the death of her parents, and after. Born in a long summer, Juleyna would frequently watch over the blooming fields of Highgarden. Her tower room provided a good view of the land and fields she would one day rule on one side, the rest of the castle on the other. There, she would sit in the early mornings as the sun came up and watched over the Summer Knights, dancing in the courtyard, swords in hand. Merciless with one another, gravelling in the courtyard beneath her window seat. Her morning hours were spent darning and chattering with the other ladies, often concealing lessons of court politics. There she would watch and watch, sometimes pretending the needle in her hand would grow and she could fight with the Summer Knights. Lest to say, the needle never did grow, but she did adorn her fingers with little holes due to her inattention.

Her afternoons were spent on dancing classes or politics. Except for every other day, when she would go out with her father and improve her skills on horseback. Often times when they returned, she would aid the stable boys in brushing down the horses. It calmed her mind and soothed her nerves. And, the stable boys could sometimes be convinced to entertain the young lady by showing her how to hold and attack with a wooden sword. To Juleyna’s delight, she wasn’t terrible at it and would soon challenge the Summer Knights.

           Ofcourse, young Juleyna hadn’t considered the stable boys would let her win instead of posing a real threat to her safety. So when she requested one of the Summer Knights to battle her, he laughed. Juleyna wasn’t used to being laughed at… She was adored in this castle, everyone had always doted on her. In her frustration she started the offense. Surprised, the knight hurriedly defended himself from Juleyna’s feral attacks. The wooden sword grew heavy in her untrained arms and soon, a small shove had her on her behind. Everyone had a good laugh, but tears welled in Juleyna’s eyes. She would *not* be defeated *and* laughed at. Scrambling up, her riding clothes a ridiculous canvas of dirt, she raised the sword again. Until the booming laughter of her father sounded. As everyone fell silent, Juleyna turned. There he was, the person Juleyna loved most in the world and Lord of Highgarden. As she hurried over and clumsily slammed the wooden sword into his shins, her father kneeled down before her. *“Now that is no weapon suit for a lady… A sword is for us men, who have no wits and only muscle. A lady’s weapon is honed inside, with books and wisdom.”* She recalls him saying, as he pointedly pricked her forehead with his finger. As he tried to collect the wooden sword from her, he found her grip on the sword firm, and determined. With another smile, this one rather sad, he then agreed to her wishes, as any father would to his only daughter, only heir. From his hip, he drew a long dagger, adorned with pearls at the handle. The blade adorned with engraved roses, yet sharp as the edges of a thorn.

And then, Juleyna’s classes were not merely chatting and learning court dances, she learned to defend herself with small, concealed weapons. She always believed that her father just indulged in her wishes, and sought no more behind this change in curriculum. This was the case until her seventh year, when she was bound for the Red Keep.

###### The Red Keep

Not once had she heard the court this silent when she awoke. The birds were chirping but there was no clanging of metal in the courtyard. The silence was necessary for lest she forget, today was the day she would leave Highgarden. Goodbyes were hard, Juleyna had grown accustomed to the presence of her parents near and now it was expected from her to leave them behind. Her father, Adonis, had tried to come up with reasons for her not to go. He had found himself pondering over ideas for the past few months to rid of this ridiculous tradition, yet he could think of none. Maryann doted on her daughter very much but growing up a women understood that there was very little to want for herself. Duty would always come first, and this was Juleyna’s. Many at court will remember the day Lady Juleyna left as a sad one, the castle was quiet after her leave, an no one realized it would be the last time that Juleyna would see her parents. No one would forget that day, not for the sad memories, and not for the eerie moment, where Juleyna her mother gripped the little girl tightly on both arms, and whispered something to her. Leaving the little lady’s face drained of any colour.

## Appearance

Juleyna Orellana Tyrell was blessed with the beauty most Tyrell women possessed. With soft, high cheekbones and a chiselled, slightly upturned nose, Lady Juleyna was not only beautiful but alluring. At a young age her features weren’t quite set in. In fact, most found the lady’s eyes absurdly large as a babe. However now, the slightly slender ends of her eyes carry a sensual innuendo that is only enhanced by her shy smile. Juleyna’s cheeks are nearly always flustered with a pink hue and her dark brown hair is a stark reminder of her mother’s Nothern blood. Her dark hair cascades around mid-waist, and she often adorns it with a few braids, an honor to the Targaryens hospitality during her childhood.

Juleyna tends to go for lower square necklines where her collarbones are clearly visible. She also often opts for dress styles that might show some skin, but never scandalously so. She is average of height and has a slender figure. She carries herself with grace, and is rarely found without a smile to her lips.