Alyssa Toyne

Alyssa Toyne, aged thirty three

(Alias)

House Connington

(Marriage)

Larra Connington

(89 AC - present)

Gunthor Connington

(90 AC - present)

Lady **Alyssa Toyne** is a noblewoman from House Toyne, the daughter of Lord Orys Toyne and Lady Cassella Hasty. She is the Lady of Griffin's Roost, married to Lord Steffon Connington. With her husband she has three children; Stannis Connington, Larra Connington and her youngest child, Gunthor Connington.

## **Early Life**

### **Birth**

Alyssa Toyne was born in 74 AC at House Toyne's seat in the Stormlands. Being born into a minor noble family, according to semi-canon sources her parents were Orys Toyne and Cassella Hasty. Her mother was a daughter of a knight of Hasty while her father was the Lord of Toyne.

Alyssa Toyne has no siblings recorded and not much is known about her, she appears in several records later in her life upon marrying into House Connington.

### **Childhood**

In her childhood, Alyssa Toyne was said to have been one of the ladies in waiting for a specific Lady of House Baratheon although her name is not recalled. She had met her husband, Steffon Connington within the court of Storms End and was a member of the women's retinue at the Stormlands court. Alyssa Toyne was well mannered and said to have been a lovely girl, who was traditionally feminine.

## **Appearance & Personality**

### **Appearance**

Alyssa Toyne has dark hair, which is inherited by her youngest child and son; Gunthor Connington. She also has a feminine and slim figure with grey eyes and a predomiant nose which stands out from the rest of her facial features. She has small, round lips and grey eyes and has pale skin.

Alyssa Toyne is thought to have been generally beautiful, this was believed to be reinforced later with the appearance of her daughter; Larra Connington who is rumored to be one of the most beautiful girls at court. Alyssa Toyne is of 5'8 in height and is considered a decent height for women in Westeros. Because of her youthful appearance, many ladies at court do not notice Alyssa Toyne is a married mother of three children.

### **Personality**

Alyssa Toyne is a kind and pleasant woman, not much is heard about her in court and she usually remains to be rather reserved. She is always overprotective of her children, especially her sons; Gunthor and Stannis.

It is said that Lady Connington does not enjoy the presence of other women with her sons and is often judgmental around other women at court. Overall, Alyssa Toyne is said to be a rather polite woman with a lot to offer for someone who intends to befriend her. She is loyal to both her birth and marriage families and whatever she does is in the interests of her children, especially for her eldest son: Ser Stannis Connington.

Because Alyssa Toyne is said to be a rather reserved woman, she has always taken social shelter with her children however is said to be an average socialite at court. She values her husband, Steffon Connington very much and spends a lot of time with her children, especially Gunthor and Larra.

## **Marriage**

### **Lady of Griffins Roost**

Alyssa Toyne was very young when she married - there are no specifications on her marriage, however as a thirty three year old mother with her eldest child aged nineteen it is speculated that she was married in or before 88 AC. Her age must have been around fourteen or fifteen when she had married Steffon Connington, mathematical research provides evidence that she was around this time she must have given birth to her eldest child only a year after her marriage. This is because Alyssa Toyne's date of birth is recorded as 74 AC, with her eldest child being born in 88 AC and already married to Lord Steffon Connington.

Alyssa Toyne's marriage with Steffon Connington is reported to have been a happy one, with a total of three children and a year following their marriage; after bearing her firstborn son she had bore two more children: Gunthor and Larra Connington. Because her youngest son, Gunthor Connington had not bore red hair similar to that of his brother and sister it was speculated that Lady Alyssa Toyne was an adulteress, this speculation was proven incorrect as Gunthor Connington had possessed grey eyes which resembled that of his sister Larra in addition to her undeniable loyalty to her husband.

Alyssa Toyne's father died not long after giving birth to her only daughter in 89 AC, for a year Alyssa Toyne had lived in social seclusion at Griffin's Roost where she is said to have mourned severely for her father. Two years after the birth of Gunthor, her mother also died leaving Lady Connington an orphan, due to these familial losses Lady Alyssa Toyne spent months away from the social life of a traditional Westerosi noblewoman and sheltered with her children.

Despite her losses, Alyssa Toyne is believed to be courageous with a strong mental fortitude and is said to have also been responsible for motivating her son, Ser Stannis Connington into knighthood which he had later received at the age of nineteen. Despite this, her other two children; Larra and Gunthor were said to have been a lot more closer to their mother and Gunthor did not follow by his brother's example to pursue a knighthood, as well as displaying no interests.

Lady Alyssa Toyne is noted to have pressured Lord Steffon Connington to marry Johanna Swann to their son, Ser Stannis Connington when the boy was aged thirteen. This was on the account that she intended to be a young grandmother, according to several speculations and semi-canon sources.

### **Issue**

With Lord Steffon Connington she had bore three children; two sons and a daughter. All of which were born in a following order between 88-90 AC. During this time period, she had also been absent from court affairs.

#### **Sons:**

* Stannis Connington, b. 88 AC
* Gunthor Connington, b. 90 AC

## **Court Life**

### **Court of Storms End**

Alyssa Toyne had spent most of her childhood and teenage hood in the court of Storms End, amongst other lords and ladies and individuals her age. In her early prime, she was rumored to have been a polite and sweet girl having been in the service of a lady of House Baratheon, who according to semi-canon sources was either a niece or cousin of Lord Baratheon.

It is speculated that Alyssa Toyne had known and befriended her husband, Steffon Connington before they had married and that the couple were childhood friends. Despite this, it is also recorded that their marriage was arranged by her father, Lord Toyne and his father, Lord Connington.

### **Court of Viserys I**

Alyssa Toyne was introduced to court at the age of nineteen, however did not stay long enough to be considered a courtier and held no posts at court. She spent the majority of her court life at the court of Storms End and contributes little towards the social affairs at court. Although said to be a woman of decency and etiquette by those who know her, she is often blamed by others for the behavior of Gunthor and Larra Connington.

Alyssa Toyne is not present at the incident between Lady Sarra Reyne and her daughter, Lady Larra Connington which was dispersed and resolved by Lady Tully and later interrupted by Viserys I, however by then the incident had already been resolved. It is unaware of whether Lady Alyssa was informed of what had occurred.

Alyssa Toyne had met Lady Sheryse Manderly and was introduced to her by her son, Gunthor Connington at the Red Keep. It is speculated that Lady Alyssa did not enjoy Sheryse Manderly's company and disliked Lady Manderly. In addition to this, it is unknown whether Lady Alyssa has heard of or acknowledged the affair between Ser Jonos Crakehall and her youngest son, Gunthor Connington.