Lady Helena Wilem II

Helena posing with her sword, circa 89 A.E.

Prince Persepolis Wilem (cousin)

Prince Johan Wilem (cousin)

Queen Minerva Wilem II of Flowers (cousin)

Queen Guinevere Wilem of Flowers (niece, unofficial)

Lady Grace Wilem II (niece, unofficial)

**Lady Helena Wilem II of Flower** was the only child of Prince Silas Wilem and Lady Mariah Wilem. She was one of the founding members of the Order of the Scarlet Knot and would have been the first in the line of succession after Queen Guinevere Wilem of Flowers death in 116 M.E. She has been missing since 109 M.E.

## Biography

### Early Life

Helena was born at Sea Star in the afternoon on the third of Nordren, 65 M.E. Her parents were shocked to see her dark black eyes wide open mere seconds after her birth as well as her head full of dark hair. She was named Helena, meaning "beauty without compare", by her mother. Helena grew up in Sea Star for the first ten years of her life, before moving to live at Evermere with her cousins. There she became the Lady of Flowers to the then Princess of Flowers, Minerva Wilem II. She frequently returned home with her cousins in tow, especially during summers, where the children bonded with both Helena and her parents.

In her early teens, Helena became obsessed with the strange and exotic. Her desires manifested in a love of sailing and navigating, something her father was excited to support. She excelled at sailing, horseback riding, and map making much to the delight of her parents. When she was fourteen in 79 M.E. she accompanied her father on a business trip to Ihjarga and fell in love with travel. By 81 she was bringing her cousins along on trips with her father, leisurely vacations to foreign ports that seemed like an eternal summer to the youths.

Around this time Helena became very close to her cousin Prince Persepolis Wilem. The two would often sneak out of wherever they were staying at night, dress in peasants garb, and pretend to be commoners for just a little while. Rumors spread of their supposed sexual relationship, though both denied any relationship besides friendly, though this did not stop most from expecting the two to be married in the future. In 85 her other cousin Prince Johan Wilem begged her father for her hand in marriage. Silas left the decision to Helena, who refused the prospect, disgusted at the thought of it. A few months later, when Johan learned of the rumors regarding his brother and Helena, he challenged Persepolis to a duel. He would have killed him if Helena had not intervened, saving Persepolis' life.

### Voyages

After the duel, Helena drifted apart from her extended family. She grew tired of Fleur, deciding to begin traveling under the employment of her father, captaining several merchant expeditions south from 85-90 M.E. She produced her own map of the coast of western Fayos at the time, which became quite popular due to its accuracy in detailing the intricacy of the continents shoreline. In 94 she returned home after completing a four year trip to the God's Isles via Justainia. In late 98 Helena managed to sail close enough to Sxthn to glance one of its massive pyramids. In 106 she sailed to Caldos with Persepolis, returning in 109 M.E. before leaving immediately back to that country. Persepolis would later say that she "(...)had gotten into her head the idea that a place existed west of Carcosa and that she would be the one to finally find it."

Later stories would tell of her ship and two others leaving together from Carcosa in the early morning, never to be seen again. She has been presumed dead, possibly lost at sea in uncharted lands. Some presume she was looking for the fabled continent of Ayelaend.

## Appearance

Helena was said to be the most beautiful of her peers. Her hair was long and dark, with dark eyes, and a small nose. Her skin was pale, though later it became quite tanned from time spent in the sun. Her top teeth were mildly crowded, making her front teeth stick out a little bit, something many said gave her a cute look.

Helena dressed mostly in military garb or naval uniform. She always kept a sword at her side, something considered very scandalous at the time.