Elira Cerwyn

**Elira Cerwyn** is the lady of Castle Cerwyn, a bannerwoman and childhood friend of Berena Stark. She is married to Ethan Glover with whom she recently had her first child, Eric

As the seniormost the family leader of house Cerwyn she has been educated in both stewardship and war. Her uncle, Arthos Cerwyn, former heir to her title, is a ranger in the Night's watch

### Appearance

Elira has a typical northern appearance with dark-blonde hair, grey eyes and a light complexion. Her body has by turns been hardened by training and softened by motherhood. The multiplicity of her roles as head of her house leaves her as comfortable in mail and gambeson as she is in wool and velvet. This pursuit of balance informs her style of ruling, authoritative but not harsh, compassionate but not lax. To be prepared for anything is in line with the house words, *honed and ready*

### Recent events

In the early months of the year 438 Elira discovered she was with child. She would give birth to her son Eric in the 10th moon, and so was unable to join the other northern lords at the wedding celebrations of Riverrun. Though her maester worried for Eric's health in the first couple of weeks, he has since grown stronger, now viewed to be quite hale. Upon recieving news of wildling activity north of the wall, she began marshalling the forces of House Cerwyn in preparation for the march north along with her Liege

### History:

#### Early life

Born to Osric Cerwyn and Melara Condon in 413 AC, the first of three daughters, she became the heir to Castle Cerwyn from birth, her father having married shortly after his older brother, Arthos Cerwyn, joined the night's watch, without the permission or knowledge of his parents. Though they wished for a son in subsequent years, her mother's third childbirth would leave her in poor health, and so lord Osric would adjust to the situation, allowing his daughter a martial education in addition to the traditional feminine upbringing

The close proximity between Castle Cerwyn as Well as the blood relations between Liege and Vassal would allow Elira to visit winterfell from an early age, living there near constantly from age, staying practically full-time between 420 and 424 A.C. During this time she would develop a close friendship with Berena Stark. Though she was not as wild as the future lady of Winterfell, Elira could not help but admire her tenacity, which would inspire her own path as a warrior later in life. The many lashings her friend recieved also became a motivation for the young heiress to learn the art of healing. When Berena was sent away, Elira would return to her own home, so as to finish her education. She learned to run a keep, raise an army and command respect in the hall and on the field alike, and though it was not strictly required, she would be allowed to take up the Poleaxe and train in the ways of the foot soldier. During this time she would on occasion visit her uncle at the wall, even hunting just beyond the borders of the civilized world on a few occasions. Their relationship remained close despite the distance between them.

When the heir to the north returned to winterfell, so would the heir of Cerwyn. Elira would resume her close friendship with Berena, now as ladies to be. Eliras turn would come first, as her father passed away in 431 from a chill of the lungs, her mother two years later, having already been weakened and bedridden for some time.

In 434 Elira would take to the battlefield for the first time, riding south with lord Jon's host to fight in the Riverlands. At Oldstones she recieved her first taste of Battle. A new generation of Northmen returned from the war, though nothing could have prepared them for what was to come. The four year winter devestated the lands of the North. A deadly chill passed through Castle Cerwyn, and though lord Osrics daughters would live through it. Elira relized she would have to secure the future of her house. Her marriage to Ethan Glover was sealed in 436, however for a long time they conciously avoided any intimate contact, fearing for the life of any child born in such terrible winter. Only as the year 438 began did they allow their guards down, and shortly thereafter Elira found herself to be with child. Though the winter had passed, a new time of hardship now stood before her. When her health suffered early in the year she would fear for her unborn child's life, Labour would be painful and leave her exhausted, and for some time it seemed as though her son might not even live to see the end of the year. During the 10th moon Elira made sacrifices in the godswood, one hare every day for a whole month, and a convict executed before the heart tree on the day of the full moon, all done by her own hand. The gods would finally accept her plea, and Eric would begin to grow and eat normally as the weeks progressed. Though it is not painlessly that she prepares to depart for the wall, Elira knows her duty has been done to her own family, and must now be done to her liege

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