Ashling flen Barrin

**Ashling flen Barrin** (Crást: "*Aishlingr flena Bárrin*", meaning "Ashling, Barrin's daughter") is daughter and heir of Barrin már Thernald, the King of Érain. Although stubborn, Ashling is fiercely proud of Érain's independence as well as her Caestian and Thellan heritage.

As Ashling got older, she became ashamed of her father's apparent sucking up to the future High King of Caesta, Logain már Báetán, much to his ire as Barrin's wish was to establish a secure hold on Érain's status as the trading hub of Caesta, as well as to secure his daughter's status as the next ruler of the Kingdom. During Eydis' time as Barrin's advisor, she and Ashling became close friends, with Eydis acting as somewhat as a maternal figure for the rebellious young woman. Through Eydis' influence, as well as getting more involved with Caestian politics, Ashling came to understand the need of balance it requires to rule a nation, though still desired for her home's independence as opposed to joining Logain's conquest.

Following the death of Barrin in 1232 AL, Ashling ascended to the Érainian throne and continued her father's dream of unifying Caesta, which was successful that same year. Now High King of Caesta, Logain granted Ashling's wish for Érain's independency, though was still considered a vassal state to the newly formed Kingdom of Caesta. Ashling and Eydis then bid farewell, both women having learned the balancing act being a leader requires. Ashling later married Sidgon már Lughán, a nobleman from Hindlarl in 1233 and bore him a son, Barrin már Ashling, the following year.

## Biography

### Early life

Ashling was born in 1210 AL on 1st of Mercius; coinciding with the holiday of Beltayne. Her parents were the then-prince of Érain, Barrin, and Thorani flen Muira, a woman of mixed Caestian and Thellan heritage. Ashling had an youngrt half-brother from her mother, although she did not know him due to him being an illegitimate child born out of wedlock; only knowing that he exists and probably worked at the Erainian docks. Ashling, when she found out about her mother's infidelity from Barrin, recalled to Eydis that Thorani and Barrin fought consistently.
At the time of her birth, her grandfather Thernald már Maelgan was the King of Érain. Thernald ten years after Ashling's birth in 1220 AL, during a sickness that plagued Caesta; a sickness that also killed Thorani. Ashling and her newly crowned father became close in their shared grief, though as Ashling got older, became critical of her father's focus on establishing trading alliances and apparent sucking-up to the other monarchs of Caesta; most notably Logain már Báetán; the King of Munst who seeked to form a unified, singular kingdom of the nation. Ashling developed a rebellious attitude towards her father, which frustrated him as his goal was to create and firmly establish Érain as a Kingdom and trading center for Caesta, and to secure Ashling' future as it's next ruler.

### Alliance with Logain

Although not present for Logain's meeting with the other Kings of Caesta, Ashling uncovered Logain's plans for a unified Caesta through word of mouth at local taverns. Angered that her father did not inform her, Ashling heavily criticizied Logain and his kingship as well as Barrin's continious sucking up to him, vouching for Érain to keep it's independance as a kingdom rather than joining Logain.
### Death of Barrin

In early 1232 AL, Barrin was killed during Logain's siege on Moylraige. Ashling, devastated, angrily told Logain that should he fail to unite Caesta, he should consider her his enemy. Eydis managed to calm Ashling, reminding her that she is now the leader of Érain. Logain reflected that Barrin held undying loyalty to him and his cause, and promised that once they unite the north, he will support Ashling as queen and will allow Érain to keep their independence as a kingdom.
### Queen of Érain

After her father's death, Ashling held his funeral in Érain, though had him buried at Fallsrin, laying him next to Thorani. Lamenting her father's death and how she never truly appreciated what he did to hold their family's grip on Érain, Eydis tries to comfort Ashling by saying that everything Barrin did for Ashling was to secure her as his heir, and so she would see Érain flourish; a fact that Barrin had to accepted with his ailing health.
Ashling was coronated as Queen a week later, at the age of twenty-two. Shortly after, Eydis informed Ashling of her intention to return to Northgard upon hearing that her brother Thaelyn had deposed the Blackguards and was now crowned King. Ashling got angry with her, arguing that she needs Eydis to help her keep her alliances with Logain. Eydis assured Ashling that she believes she can do it herself, as she has her father's spirit. Although still disgruntled, Ashling understood why Eydis wished to return to Northgard, and promised that so long as she reigns as queen, Eydis and Northgard will always find an ally in both her and Érain.
## Personality

Ashling is fiery, rebellious, and stubborn; traits her father claims she inherited from her mother. Although genuinely well-meaning, Ashling's fierce dedication to her beliefs has brought her into conflict with others. She is not afraid to call out actions by others, including those with higher authority such as her father Barrin, or Logain. Ashling is proud of her Caestian heritage and as such, wanted to keep Erain's independence as much as she could, despite this going against the wishes of Barrin. She is also proud of her Thellan heritage, with her family being descended from the earliest Thellan colonizers and raiders on Caesta.
Although Ashling loves her father, as soon as she was able to have a basic understanding of politics, she grew exasperated with Barrin's continious boot-licking to Logain, and told Eydis that her father seemed incapable of saying no to him. Barrin remarked that as soon as she hit womanhood, Ashling developed a rebellious attitude towards her father. It was only after his death that Ashling realized that Barrin's sucking up to Logain was only done to establish Erain as the prosperous trading hub of Caesta, as well as secure Ashling's status as the next ruler under Logain.
She was harshly critical of Logain's vision of a unified Caesta, reflecting that none before him at successfully unified them, and attempting again will just end in more bloodshed. Her view changed, however, as she became more involved with Caestian affairs and Barrin's health declined. Following Barrin's death, Ashling neogotiated with Logain about Erain's independence, to which the High King agreed in making Erain a vassal state but granted autonomy. Ashing came to understand the balance being a ruler requires, and commented that she never truly understood the weight and power of the crown until she tried it on.
Despite her setbacks, however, Ashling was at her core, a fiercely intelligent woman. She was versed in languages such as Thellish, knew parts of Gwylla, and was fully fluent in Crast.
## Trivia

* Ashling's name is taken from the Irish-Gaelic name of *Aisling*, which translates to "dream" or "vision". Anglicised versions of the name often translate the prefix *Ais* into *Ash*.
* Sichfrith mac Ímair serves as a loose inspiration for Ashling.