Hendrill Brandilico Hayden

## Old Hendrill

"You need to be more confident. Beauty is more than just how you look"

**Hendrill Brandilico Hayden** (also known as **Old Hendrill**) is a character featured in *Shining Nikki*. He was an elderly musician and the only known individual to treat Ashley with kindness during the first epoch of her life.

## Profile

### Appearance

Old Hendrill has grey/silver hair. He has both a beard and moustache. He is dressed in traditional hospital attire; that being pyjamas and a cardigan. The Pyjamas are blue with white stripes, while the cardigan is brown.

He wears glasses and is depicted in a wheelchair, this being most likely due to his old age. Hendrill also has a bandaid on his left hand, indicative of his hospital treatment.

### Personality

From the interactions with the characters and his history with Ashley, Hendrill is portrayed as a kind man. He enjoys Ashley’s company, as seen with his heightened spirits after Nikki’s conversation with the old man, wherein he was under the impression the person speaking to him was Ashley due to his Alzheimer's, with the doctor describing him as more *‘animated’* and talkative post their departure. His good nature further shines through after his promise to Nikki to watch Ashley’s performance through the window of his hospital room.

He appears to value beauty, though not in the traditional sense as often valued in his town of Starheaven, with Nikki describing his words as follows; *“Old Hendrill’s words cannot be more out of place in Starheaven, where beauty is everything, but it’s refreshing*”.

## History

Not much is known about the history of Old Hendrill except for the snippets of his final days in the hospital and that revealed through his relationship with Ashley.

### **Career**

Hendrill was a violinist known in the town for his composition of beloved rhymes and music. The impact of his artistic career upon the town of Starheaven is most noted in the elegy recited at his funeral by the mayor, in which he states: *You turned the story of the Starheaven Swan into every young girl’s dream, and this town into a place of hope*. He also belonged to a troup, yet details such as the name of this musical group are not specified.

### **Starheaven Swan**

During the most recent Starheaven Swan (two years prior to the arrival of Nikki and Momo), Old Hendrill was injured greatly due to the outbreak of a fire during the pageant. Due to this, he was hospitalized.

### **Nikki’s First Meeting**

By the time Old Hendrill meets Nikki in the hospital in Chapter 2 Stage 3, he is quite physically inept due to his Alzheimer's. He calls out the name ‘Ashley’, even referring to Nikki as such due to his condition. No one in the hospital knows who ‘Ashley’ is, specifying that no one comes to visit him and the troop he belonged to pays his hospital bills.

### **Nikki’s Second Meeting**

Upon Nikki’s second visit in Chapter 2 Stage 10, Old Hendrill is on the cusp of death, with the doctor giving him two days to live. The doctor asks Nikki if she is Ashley, since Old Hendrill was most joyful after her departure last time. After some discussion, Old Hendrill reveals that his wish is to see Ashley overcome the prejudice of the town and get back on her feet. Nikki replies with a lie, telling him everything went smoothly and everyone loved *Meteoric Feather*. Nikki is determined to let Old Hendrill see Ashley one last time and tells him to look through the window and wait for the meteor shower that night.

In Chapter 2 Stage 11, Nikki summons Ashley through the Gate of Heart and persuades her to come through and dance by informing her of Old Hendrill’s final wish; “*Old Hendrill has been waiting for you to get on the stage’*.

### **The Funeral**

Nikki and Momo attend the funeral of Old Hendrill in Chapter 2 Stage 12. The mayor announces in his elegy that Old Hendrill was ‘*the most excellent musician of Ninir’* who had *‘written many songs that move us [the town]’*. Nikki is sure that he died with no regrets, as he was able to see Ashley one more time when she was summoned through the Gate of Heart.

At his funeral, a veiled lady appears carrying a bouquet of white flowers to lay at his grave.

She is described as having most of her face covered by a hat, with only her chin and lips showing.

It is later made evident that this was Ashley (now Lilith) in attendance, with her features heavily covered so as to not give away her identity as Queen of Ninir. This is depicted in the SR reflection *‘Gray Memory’*.

Nikki wonders if this veiled lady and Old Hendrill have history, observing that “*If she doesn’t want to be recognised, she probably doesn’t want anyone to know their story, either*”*.*

## Trivia

* The song sung by Joy at the beginning of chapter 2 was written by Old Hendrill. It goes as follows;
	+ *Come, girl. Come to Lake Silvermoon. The waves are your stage, the stars are your scene. Dance, soar, make your dream come true! Allow me to play for you...when the swans dance on the lake, wings become falling stars*

## References

Information is taken from:

* Chapter 2
* Mind Maze Stage 2
* The following concepts:
	+ Gray Memory
	+ Deconstructed Love
	+ Fairytale Performer
* The following designer's reflections:
	+ Lilith: Meteoric Oath
	+ Lilith: Nightingale and Mist