Laura Stirling was the wife of King Aldous and mother of King Richard and Princess Eleanor. Beloved by her subjects, she was known as the "queen of peace" for her efforts to end the constant conflict between humans and Exekians.
Biography
Laura as a child.
Childhood
Laura was the second child and only daughter of Lord Gavin Zosimus and his wife Melissa. Zosimus was a member of the Alliance Council, representing the city of Tyre, and was known as the wealthiest man in the kingdom. He was also a devout Vormund, practicing the outlawed religion in secret and raising his two children, Osric and Laura, in the faith. Due to her noble upbringing, Laura led a relatively luxurious and happy childhood, although she was not without fear that her family would be persecuted for their beliefs.
Since she was the only daughter of the wealthiest family in the land, plans were made to marry her into the royal family when she was still very young. Her father considered both Prince Aldous and Prince Claudius as potential suitors, and had King Tristan's blessing.
Torn Asunder
When Laura was thirteen, the War of Succession broke out. Her father supported Claudius Stirling, who had proclaimed his intentions to end the persecution of the Vormunds. Aldous Stirling felt betrayed by Gavin's actions and arrived at the family's estate with his army while Gavin was away. Taking the Zosimus' prisoner, he ordered his soldiers to loot and destroy their home. Laura attempted to escape in the chaos that followed, but Aldous himself chased and caught her.
The captured Laura is held by Aldous' soldiers.
Upon hearing the news of their capture, Gavin attempted to rescue his family but was killed in battle. Laura was separated from her mother and brother and placed in the care of Morrigan Lake. Morrigan told Laura that she was going to be Aldous' queen and took the girl to Spiderweb Castle, where she was expected to placidly await her wedding day.
Life at Spiderweb Castle
After another failed escape attempt not long after her arrival, Laura was kept under heavy guard and forbidden to leave the castle walls. Lonely and frightened, she reached out to the various servants and ladies-in-waiting she had been given, and eventually to the king's sister, Helen. Helen regarded her as an annoyance, but saw the advantages in a friendship with the future queen and indulged her. By some accounts, Laura intervened when it was discovered that Helen was a spy, saving her life, although this story cannot be verified.
Laura also met and befriended Vincent, a blind minstrel who would sit in the castle courtyard with a lute and perform for money. On cold nights she would bribe the guards to let Vincent in, and he would sing for her or they would talk into the daylight hours. Laura was among the first people to witness one of Vincent's visions. The event both frightened and fascinated her.
Marriage
Laura at age 15 after becoming queen.
Two years since the beginning of the War of Succession, Claudius was finally captured and executed and Aldous was officially installed as ruler. By then aged fifteen, Laura married Aldous and was crowned queen.
Only a few months after they were wed, Laura began showing signs of pregnancy. At the same time Aldous was called to battle against the Exekian raiders under Orion. Shortly after he left, it became apparent that Laura was not actually pregnant, but rather suffering from symptoms of severe anxiety and stress which mimicked the early stages of pregnancy. As a result she became increasingly paranoid and afraid of what would happen to her if she did not produce an heir.
Through her lady-in-waiting Hera O'Leary, Laura learned that her brother Osric had been pressed into service as a knight. Using bribery and secret messengers, Laura managed to arrange his transferal to her personal guard. To her dismay, he did not immediately recognize her, but after exchanging a few words Osric broke down in tears and embraced his sister.
Discovery of John
Once she became queen, the ban preventing Laura from leaving the castle was lifted, and she was permitted to venture out so long as she had an escort to protect her. One day, Laura snuck out of the castle alone and went for a walk in the woods.
It was there that she found an abandoned Exekian infant lying on the ground underneath a sycamore tree. She took the child back to the castle and nursed him back to health, naming him John. Knowing that Aldous would not accept having an Exekian child in his home, she kept his presence a secret from everyone, having her servants hide him or placing him in Osric's charge.
Aldous once again returned home victorious, having driven Orion's forces back into the south. Laura became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy son, Richard. With the succession secured, Laura revealed John to Aldous. The king was furious, but was eventually convinced to let him stay.
Affair With Vincent
Vincent, who was practically living at the castle, was turned out in the sixth year of Aldous' reign under the king's orders. When Laura found Vincent was not in his room, she became frantic and sent out a desperate search for him. Upon learning that Aldous was responsible for his disappearance, she met with the king and pleaded with him to let Vincent stay. He refused, and then threatened to turn out John as well. To convince him, she revealed Vincent's secret visions to Aldous.
Vincent was found at the home of a nearby nobleman and brought back to the castle, where he was officially installed as the royal court minstrel. Of course, he was hired not so much for his talents as a musician as for his ability to see the future.
The experience of nearly losing Vincent forced Laura to confront the fact that she had fallen in love with him. Troubled, she carefully sought out the counsel of her closest friends and allies, dancing around the subject to avoid suspicion and accusations. As a result she received vague, largely useless advice. Only Helen guessed the truth, and to Laura's surprise, she claimed it would be easy to cheat on Aldous, who was constantly away from home and had had many mistresses and affairs with other women. Helen, who likely had ulterior motives, ultimately encouraged Laura to commit adultery.
Soon after, Laura revealed her feelings to Vincent. As it turned out, Vincent claimed he had always loved her, but felt that it was impossible for them to be together. He was less enthusiastic about the idea of having an adulterous affair, but eventually succumbed to temptation.
Birth of Eleanor
Laura's daughter, Eleanor, was born when she was eighteen. While Laura knew that the child was Vincent's, she kept the secret, never revealing to anyone the truth. Vincent also kept his distance from Eleanor, not wanting to draw suspicion. Helen, who knew of the affair, also presumed the Eleanor was Vincent's child.
Second Exekian War
Laura at age 18.
War broke out between the humans and the New Exekian Empire when Aldous began to push the southwest border, hoping to gain more land.
Without Aldous' knowledge, Laura traveled to the south, where she met in secret with Empress Callisto and her consort Apollo. She pleaded for peace and understanding and vowed to convince her husband to halt his invasion.
After the meeting, she continued on to King Aldous' camp, appearing without prior notice. In the privacy of his tent, she knelt before him and begged him to return home and be there to raise Richard. Aldous struck her in anger and refused.
Laura left his tent and gave a rousing speech to Aldous' disgruntled, terrified troops, calling for an end to the needless conflict. Aldous was unable to stop her, and soon his soldiers began deserting by the thousands, leaving him with no choice but to make peace.
Later Years and Death
A vision of Laura's death.
The last years of Laura's life passed rather uneventfully. She focused on raising her three children, teaching them courage and compassion. In each of them she instilled a strong belief in peace and coexistence between peoples. Her sons adored her, but Eleanor was often disobedient and appeared to dislike her mother.
Vincent fell ill with a fever, and Laura tended to him herself. While delirious, he had a vision of Laura wandering through a forest at night. Seeing a hand reaching down, she took it and was taken up into the sky, her body being consumed by white light until she became a star. By the time his fever broke, Laura had also become ill. She died not long after.
Description
While she was somewhat mousy as a child, as an adult Laura was known for being extremely beautiful. She was taller than most men, with long legs and a slender figure. Her fair skin, delicate features, and mane of dark curly hair were considered her best physical attributes. Her daughter Eleanor bears a strong resemblance to her.
Personality
Laura's famous wit.
As a child, Laura was carefree and mischievous, always wanting to have fun. The loss of her family and her being thrust into the role of wife and queen at a young age took its toll, however, and she became fearful and docile in her teenage years. While she had her own opinions, she kept these to herself.
Upon finding John, however, the spark of courage and rebellion was reignited in her. Disobeying Aldous, whom she had come to fear, marked a turning point in her life. The birth of Richard taught her responsibility, and her own experiences dictated her sense of right and wrong.
At court, she was a more controversial figure. While many described her as charming, others found her cold. She was intelligent, with a sharp wit and a biting sense of humor. Some of the nobility considered her a threat, others merely a nuisance.
She loved Vincent for his gentleness and warmth, but also because he was more level-headed than she. He was there to rein her in, and as long as he was there to stop her from doing something crazy, she felt secure.
Legacy
Richard referred to John and himself as "the sons of the queen of peace". She is consistently identified as a perfect ideal to both of them. When the secrets of her life come to light, this view is challenged.