Gwyneth Berdara

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Gwyneth Berdara
by mftfernandez
General Information
Full name	Gwyneth Berdara
Also known as	Gwyn
Title(s)	Carynthian Priestess Valkyrie
Age	28 (ACOSF)
Species	3/4 High Fae 1/4 River-nymph
Home	The Library Velaris Night Court Sangravah (formerly)
Status	Alive
Physical description
Gender	Female
Eye Color	Teal
Hair Color	Coppery-Brown
Relationships
Family	Catrin Berdara † (twin sister) Unnamed Mother † Unnamed Father Unnamed River-nymph Grandmother † Unnamed High Fae Grandfather
Series Information
Appearances	A Court of Silver Flames (first appearance) House of Flame and Shadow (mentioned)
IMAGE GALLERY

“	I am the rock against which the surf crashes. Nothing can break me.	”
–Gwyneth, A Court of Silver Flames

Gwyneth Berdara is a priestess who works at the library in Velaris and Nesta Archeron and Emerie's friend, together they helped revive the Valkyries, a clan of female warriors.

Quick Answers

What is the significance of Gwyneth Berdara's lesser Fae bloodline?

Gwyneth Berdara's lesser Fae bloodline originates from her grandmother, a river-nymph, who seduced a High Fae male from the Autumn Court. The offspring of this union, Gwyneth's mother, was not accepted in the Spring Court and was too untamed for the Autumn Court, leading to her upbringing in the Sangravah temple. Gwyneth's birth was a result of her mother's involvement in the Great Rite in Calanmai with a High Fae male.

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How did Gwyneth Berdara contribute to the revival of the Valkyries?

Gwyneth Berdara, a High Fae priestess in Velaris, was instrumental in reviving the Valkyries, a clan of female warriors. She collaborated with Nesta Archeron and Emerie to restore the Valkyries' legacy of being fearless, brilliant fighters. They utilized techniques like 'mind-stilling' for emotional and mental calmness.

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What is the relationship between Gwyneth Berdara and Azriel?

Gwyneth Berdara, often referred to as Gwyn, first encountered Azriel in Sangravah during a Hybern attack on the Temple. Azriel later anonymously gave Gwyn a rose necklace that was originally intended for Elain.

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What is the backstory of Gwyneth Berdara's grandmother, the river-nymph?

The grandmother of Gwyneth Berdara, a river-nymph, had a romantic encounter with a High Fae male from the Autumn Court. Their offspring, not accepted by the Spring Court river-nymphs and too untamed for the Autumn Court, was sent to the Sangravah temple. This child later took part in the Great Rite in Calanmai, leading to the conception of Gwyneth's mother.

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What role does Gwyneth Berdara play in the library of Velaris?

In the library of Velaris, Gwyneth Berdara serves as a priestess. She collaborates with Nesta Archeron and Emerie to revive the Valkyries, a group of female warriors. Gwyneth, also referred to as Gwyn, is a High Fae with a hint of lesser Fae lineage, her grandmother being a river-nymph. She shares a connection with Azriel.

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History

Early Life

Gwyneth Berdara is High Fae but with a trace of lesser Fae bloodline. Her grandmother was a river-nymph that seduced one of the High Fae males of the Autumn Court. When her mother was a child, she could not dwell in the rivers of the Spring Court and was too wild to be confined in the Forest House of the Autumn Court and was given to the temple at Sangravah. During the Great Rite in Calanmai, a High Fae male was chosen that night and Gwyneth's mother was involved in the sacred union. Gwyneth and her fraternal twin Catrin were conceived that night. Their mother, however, never found out who that male was.

When Gwyneth was 26 years old, Hybern invaded the Temple and Gwyn went to gather the children and ran for the catacomb tunnels. She smuggled them through a trapdoor in the kitchen but realized if she got herself out the soldiers would find the trapdoor and follow them. She decided to stay, covering the trap door with the rug and a table and that is when Hybern's soldiers burst in. The General asked her the location of the children which she refused to answer. Smelling a similar scent from one of the priestesses they captured, he dragged her twin sister Catrin in front of Gwyn and asked her again about the children. Gwyn refused to answer and the General beheaded her twin sister in front of her along with two other priestesses. She then was raped by the General. She was about to be forced against her will once again as the soldiers gathered but Azriel arrived and slaughtered all of them within moments. He wrapped her in his cloak and was then taken by Mor to live with the priestesses in the library under the House of Wind. She was in a devastating state for weeks, unable to talk to anyone or sing.

Gwyn started working for Merrill in the library as her assistant, she feared Merrill because she has a vicious tongue.

A Court of Silver Flames

Gwyn came across Nesta Archeron one day and they both had a conversation where Nesta came off very strong, but Gwyn was not in the slightest scared. They then seemed to form a tight friendship and Gwyn started training with Nesta. She later made friends with an Illyrian woman, Emerie. Gwyn, Nesta, and Emerie formed a very strong bond. Nesta regards them as her chosen family and sisters.

Gwyn along with her two friends decided to go on the road of becoming a Valkyrie. They were trained by Cassian and Azriel. Gwyn learned the training methods of both the Illyrians and Valkyries. For the final test to become a true Valkyrie all three girls had struggled with cutting the ribbon. After the three of them have a heart-touching talk together, Gwyn was the first to cut the ribbon becoming a true Valkyrie.

After winning the Blood Rite, she returned to live in the library but told Nesta she would attend her Mating Ceremony. Cassian and Azriel made up a list of mistakes the Valkyries made during the Blood Rite and the trio asked them to continue training them so they become true Valkyries one day.

House of Flame and Shadow

When Nesta uses the Mask to defeat a Middengard Wyrm she has a hard time breaking out of its hold so Azriel tries to help her snap out of it by mentioning all the people that love Nesta. He mentions Gwyn and Emerie along with Nesta's mate and her family and says they are waiting for her.

Appearance

Gwyn is described as young, tall with slender, elegant limbs and a lithe and lean build. She has rich coppery-brown pin-straight hair, large clear teal eyes, and arched ears. Gwyn also has a scattering of freckles on her nose and cheeks, as well as some dotted on her hands, which stand out against her pale skin. Nesta has stated that Gwyn's beauty could even rival that of Mor and Merrill especially when she is radiating joy.

Personality

Gwyn was very fearful of leaving the library under the House of Wind and often turned Nesta down on any offers to leave, due to struggles with her past trauma. However, she overcame those fears to care for her friends whenever they needed her. She is headstrong and brave, shown when she would rather fight and die with Nesta rather than leave her behind during the Blood Rite. Gwyn is very determined and has a competitive side, as seen when she was set on being the first to cut the ribbon by staying late at the practice ring and pushing her friends to overcome the obstacle course to wipe the smirks off Cassian's and especially Azriel's face.

She is also described to be kind and sweet and a person that is easy to talk to. She has a charming irreverence noted by Azriel.

Powers and Abilities

• Invoking Stone: As a priestess, Gwyn possesses an Invoking Stone, which is similar to the Illyrian Siphons, however, they cannot be used for harm, only healing and protection.

Relationships

Catrin Berdara

Catrin is Gwyn's twin sister. They grew up together in the temple at Sangravah. After their mother's death, Catrin took care of Gwyn. She was the one Gwyn looked up to. Despite their differences, the sisters loved one another dearly.

Gwyn and Catrin used to braid bracelets and put little charms on them full of wishes for each other. They believed that each wish would come true once the bracelet fell off.

Even two years after her sister's passing, Gwyneth remains to grieve and carry the guilt of her death. She misses Catrin every day.

Nesta Archeron

When Nesta and Gwyn's first met, Nesta had been rude and mean. Gwyn had not seen the slightest bit fazed and continued to talk with her. One day, Gwyn had panicked giving Merrill the wrong book, and did not want a tongue lashing from her. Nesta had stepped up and switched the copy of books just to help Gwyn. Nesta often offered Gwyn to join her to train, but Gwyn turned her down. Until one day, she showed up and learned to fight because she did not want to be weak anymore. Gwyn and Nesta became fast friends after this. During the Blood Rite, Gwyn refused to leave Nesta. Nesta had forced Gwyn to go to save her and Gwyn said she would never be able to forgive Nesta. Even though she was still happy to see her.

Azriel

Gwyneth and Azriel first met when Gwyn was 26 years old in Sangravah when Hybern attacked the Temple. She was raped by a Hybern General. She was about to be forced against her will once again as the soldiers gathered but Azriel arrived and slaughtered all of them. He wrapped her in his cloak and was then taken by Mor to live with the priestesses in the library.

They met a second time when Gwyn started training with Nesta as they were trained by Cassian and Azriel.

In the bonus chapter of A Court of Silver Flames, Azriel retreats to the training pit after his almost-kiss with Elain and Rhysand demanding he stay away from her. Azriel is surprised to see Gwyn training there, his shadows have not informed him of her presence. She wishes Azriel a happy Solstice as he jokingly asks if she was kicking him out. She says she doesn't mind sharing the ring but knows that he likes to be alone. She then asks Azriel if he is called a Shadowsinger because he sings, which he confirms with a chuckle. He then instructs her on how to handle the dagger until she corrects it.

The next day, he was planning on returning the necklace he bought for Elain to the shop but he found himself in the library beneath the House of Wind. He stood in front of Clotho's desk and slid the small box asking her to give this to Gwyn. Clotho asks him if it is a Solstice gift but he asks her to not reveal that it was from him. Clotho asks him why but he replies with she doesn't have to know or she could say it was from Rhys. Clotho tells him that it would be a lie which slightly annoys Azriel. To deflect the situation and avoid Gwyn knowing it was a gift from him, he asks Clotho to give it to another priestess who might appreciate it as he is not taking the box back.

Clotho agrees that she will give the gift to Gwyneth telling her that it's from a friend. Azriel thought that he wouldn't go as far as calling Gwyneth his friend but thanks Clotho anyways. As he was ascending the stairs he was picturing how Gwyn's teal eyes would light upon seeing the necklace. He tucks away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile that it brought to his face, burying the image deep down where it glowed quietly, describing it as "a thing of secret, lovely beauty".

Trivia

• The name Gwyneth is a girl's name of Welsh origin meaning "blessed, happy, white, fair".
• Her twin sister had webbed fingers like the river-nymph but Gwyn does not. Her twin had black onyx hair and skin pale as the moon.
• Gwyn often has nightmares and asks the healers for a Sleeping Potion to help her sleep.
• Gwyn enjoys reading books about adventure and sometimes mysteries, but she mostly reads what Merrill, the priestess she works for, writes. Thanks to Nesta and Emerie's influence, she recently started to enjoy reading smutty romance books.
• Gwyn mentions her bones are slightly more pliant than that of a High Fae due to her river-nymph blood.
• Gwyn was also described as having a pure and sweet voice. When Gwyn sings, her skin slightly glows.
  • She enjoys singing very much and often sings during the evening services. However, she struggled to sing for a while after her twin sister's death.
• She enjoys making friendship bracelets. She and her friends made their own bracelets with silver charms. She wears a braided bracelet with three colors picked by Nesta (White "her name", Teal "her eyes", and Blue).