Queen Astoria Wilemsdotir of Flowers

A contemporary portrait of Astoria, circa 175 AE.

**Queen Astoria Wilemsdotir of Flowers** was the founder of the royal House Wilem and ruler of Fleur from 177 A.E. to 169 A.E. A controversial figure, she is believed to have gained her position through a plot by the forty-nine members of the Council of Succession who did not vote for the Lady Minerva Arimos' canonization.

## Biography

### Early Life

Astoria was born to a house of lesser nobility in Holmond, Skjol in 230 A.E. She was sent at a young age to work as a servant for the Olivarden family, who were close to the Wilem's. There she worked as a maid from 221 to 219 while also being trained to become a lady-in-waiting. In 199 she was introduced to the young Lady Maria Olivarden IV, who she became the close companion of. She became her lady-in-waiting and whipping boy, serving her until her engagement to Prince Aeren Verden in 197 A.E. Astoria was not educated herself, but spent most of her time in the company of her Lady, sitting in on her lessons and learning as much as she could. At night, she would practice writing and drafting in the ashes of her hearth when no one would see her.

By her teenage years, Astoria had come to resent the Olivardens, especially her Lady who she found stupid and vain. She began spending time away from her duties, sneaking off to consort with commoners in Birch. Rumors say at this time she became pregnant from a commoner, giving birth to a son sometime in the late 200s. Apparently, he was shipped off to Skjol to live at her parents manor as a stable boy though these rumors are not substantiated.

### Engagement to Prince Aeren

In 197 A.E. at the age of thirty-three, Astoria was attending a gala at the palace at Skjol with Lady Maria Olivarden, serving as her lady-in-waiting. She had excused herself to the toilet, and while returning, bumped into the Prince Aeren Verden who was on his way to replace his jacket which had been stained during the party. Apologizing profusely, Astoria had offered to clean his coat for him, which he accepted. Surprisingly, the prince accompanied her to the washroom, speaking to her as an equal while she washed the stain from his coat. Aeren would not be seen at the party until late that night, with Astoria upon his arm. Rumors say that he put their daughter in her that night.

Lady Maria was furious with Astoria for abandoning her and even angrier to see her in the company of the prince. Before she could be punished by her Lady, one of Aeren's grooms intervened, saying, "The Lady Astoria is no longer to be employed in your service, as dictated by the ruler of this land." The Lady was given three crowns as payment and Astoria found herself suddenly living in the palace of the Prince of Fleur.

The next day, after sleeping in the Ivory Room, she was proposed to by Aeren on a walk in the palace garden. She accepted and the two were married the following month.

### As Princess of Fleur

After their wedding, Princess Astoria Wilemsdotir Verden soon became pregnant and in 198 A.E. gave birth to the couples only child, a daughter called Kateraldir Verden. Prince Aeren ruled as he had been before their marriage until 196, when he invited Astoria to accompany him to council. Soon the two became co-rulers, similar to the Bear Kings and Queens of Barland. Astoria was a natural, soon becoming an outspoken ruler. She was invested heavily in the guarding of the eastern border from the Korevnans, who were increasingly settling on the Fleurian's land. She orchestrated the events later called the Night of the Red River during this time, causing tension with Korevna but love with the Fleurians.

In her free time she hosted small parties in which she would select ten random commoners from Skjol (city) to attend. She would personally great each of them and gift them a small token, items that would become incredibly sought after my treasure hunters in the modern era. Astoria also engaged heavily in charity work, which continued in growing her love amongst the commoners. In fact, during this time, she began to grow more popular than her true born husband. In 177 A.E. Prince Aeren died suddenly during a hunting accident when his horse fell during the chase, sending him off in a tumble that ended with him in a coma.

Immediately after the king's death three months following his accident, an issue of succession occurred. Would the crown pass to Astoria or her daughter? A great debate was had, a Council of Succession was formed, and after six months of debate, it was decided that Astoria would be allowed to succeed her mother-in-law Queen Leota Verden as the next Queen of Flowers.

### As Queen of Flowers

Rioting was expected upon the announcement of her coronation, but instead, the court was shocked to find the kingdom mostly in support of the decision. Commoners flooded to the gates of the palace Verdenston on the day of her coronation, leading to the trampling deaths of dozens of attendees. The gates were nearly broken by the time the soon to be Queen appeared to ease the spirits of her people with a speech. At the end of her speech it is said that Astoria tossed dozens of pastries and coins into the crowd.

In the summer of 177 AE, often supposed to be on the 6th of Attep, Astorai was crowned Queen of Flowers. She changed her name to be Wilem and declared a new era in the history of Fleur, one which she claimed would be characterized by "...open palms and upturned eyes...". She began at this time also to groom her then twenty-one year old daughter Kateraldir to become her successor. In 175 she had her married to Iseult Boran, who took the name Wilem.

Astoria's policies favored Fleurian independence from Korevnan influence which was creeping into the country through its eastern border. In 175 Astoria had the border closed for all travel from Korevnan merchants except those who went through a border checkpoint which cost exorbitant fees. She also focused on bolstering the country's navy which had been destroyed seventeen years ago in an accidental fire. Her policies were well loved and her giving to the poor highly respected.

In 169 AE, at the age of sixty-one, Astoria died in her bed. Her funeral was incredibly modest, her glass coffin displayed in the Cathedral of St. Mikael in Skjol for the public to view. It is estimated nine thousand people paid their respects during the month of her showing.

## Appearance

Astoria had reddish-brown hair, a sharp nose, and pale white skin. Her eyes were dark brown. She wore a mixture of traditional Fleurian and Skjolian fashion. Her favorite color was green, popularizing the beetle wing dress within Fleur once more.

## Sainthood

While not officially beatified, Astoria is sometimes called a saint within her country of Fleur, especially within the city of Skjol. Several chapels and two cathedrals are dedicated to her veneration and many wear amulets carrying her saintly symbol, a wheel with cracks between every second spoke. Her saint's day is the 6th of Attep. Her feast is traditionally a lunch of sardines, flat fish, hard bread, and wine. Giving to the poor is done after the meal and some places, like Skjol, encourage the opening of the table to the homeless and down trodden. Petitions for her sainthood have been met with the argument of the lack of miracles in her name.

In 42 ME a man in the city of Skjol claimed to have her visage burnt into his wall while sleeping on her saint's day. The image would weep a blood like substance whenever a poor Fleurian was mistreated by a foreigner according to the man. However, upon further investigation by the church it was found that the blood was most likely water built up in the wood of the home mixed with adhesive used for wallpaper and that the image had been likely carved, possibly by a previous owner and resurfaced after old paper had come off the wall. The home owner was taken by the church for questioning and never seen again, his name scrubbed from history.