| “ | I am the rock against which the surf crashes. [...] Nothing can break me. | ” |
–Gwyn in A Court of Silver Flames | ||
Gwyneth Berdara is a Priestess who works at the library in Velaris and Nesta Archeron's and Emerie's friend. She also helped revive the Valkyries, an elite group of female warriors, with Nesta Archeron and Emerie.
Biography
Gwyneth Berdara is a priestess living in the library under the House of Wind. She is a High Fae but with a trace of lesser Fae bloodline, a River Nymph. Her grandmother was a River Nymph that seduced one of the High Fae males of the Autumn Court. When her mother was born, she was unwanted by the Spring Court and the Autumn Court and was given to the temple at Sangravah. During the Great Rite/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 never found out who that male was.
Two years ago, 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 sexually assaulted 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 works for Merrill in the library as her assistant, she fears Merrill because she has a vicious tongue. Gwyn comes across Nesta one day and they both have a conversation where Nesta comes off very strong, but Gwyn was not in the slightest scared. They then seem to form a tight friendship and Gwyn even starts training with Nesta and Cassian. She later makes friends with an Illyrian woman, Emerie. Gwyn, Nesta, and Emerie form a very strong bond that Nesta regards them as her chosen family and sisters.
Gwyn was also described as having a pure and sweet voice. Nesta noticed a little glow when Gwyn sings. She enjoys singing very much and often sings during the evening services. She struggled to sing for a while after her twin's death.
Gwyn along with her two friends, decided to go on the road of becoming a Valkyrie. During their training with Cassian, Gwyn learned 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 had been the first to cut the ribbon becoming a true Valkyrie.
After winning the Blood Rite, she returned to living in the library but told Nesta she will 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.
Personality
Gwyn was very fearful of leaving the library in the House of Wind and often turns Nesta down on any offers to leave, due to struggles with her past trauma. However, she overcomes those fears to care for her friends whenever they need 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. Also, she was determined for Nesta, Emerie and herself to complete the obstacle course before anyone else.
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.
Physical description
Gwyn is described as young, tall with slender, elegant limbs and a lithe and lean build. She has rich coppery chestnut pin-straight hair and large clear teal eyes. 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 with joy.
Powers and abilities
- Invoking Stone: As a priestess, Gwyn possesses an invoking stone, which are similar to the Illyrian Siphons, however, they cannot be used for harm, only healing and protection.
Relationships
Nesta Archeron
During Nesta and Gwyn's conversation, 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 offers Gwyn to join her and Cassian to train, but Gwyn turns her down. Until one day, she shows up and learns to fight because she did not want to be weak anymore. Gwyn and Nesta become fast friends after this and 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 still is happy to see her.
Azriel
Gwyn and Azriel first met two years prior in Sangravah when Hybern attacked the Temple. One of Hybern’s Commanders forced himself on her, but right as a soldier was about to unbuckle his belt, Azriel arrived and slaughtered all of them within moments without hesitation. He then gave her his cloak and wrapped her in it while waiting for Morrigan and Rhysand to take her away.
They met a second time when Gwyn started training with Nesta and Cassian. Cassian noticed that during the training Gwyn had been distracted, one eye on the other side of the ring where Azriel is. When Azriel arrived he gave her a small smile of greeting but she hadn't returned it, she kept glancing every now and then at Azriel and Cassian couldn't read the expression on her face. Later, Gwyn and Azriel are often seen observing each other in admiration and amusement. It's been hinted that Azriel and Gwyn train together behind the scenes when Azriel winnowed Cassian and Nesta and told them he will be back in an hour because Gwyn wanted him to go over dagger-handling. After Nesta and Cassian return, Nesta notices a new wood beam that Gwyn was focused on tying a white silk ribbon on, she wonders how Gwyn could anchor the wood into the stone, it could be that Azriel helped her.
When Gwyn is around, his shadows are always present and they seem to be very curious about her. Azriel notes that his shadows calmed around and are content to lounge on his shoulders and watch. They even dare to dance around her or with her breath, and his shadows sing to her own singing. It possibly hints that his shadows recognized the mating bond between them.
Gwyn and Azriel are both very competitive people. During training, Gwyn is very focused on winning to wipe off the smirks on Cassian and Azriel's faces, especially Azriel's. She is often seen challenging Azriel. After she passed the Blood Rite qualifier, she extends her hand to Azriel to demand for her win prize. Nesta winks at an amused Azriel, telling him he is Gwyn's new ribbon
In the bonus chapter of A Court of Silver Flames, Azriel's shadows do not inform him that Gwyn was in the training pit. Gwyn smiles at Azriel but it is directed to his shadows. She wishes Azriel a Happy Solstice so he jokingly asks if she was kicking him out but she immediately says "no!" she doesn't mind sharing the ring but she knows he likes to be alone. They have a little chat in which Gwyn asks Azriel if he is called a Shadowsinger because he sings which caught him by surprise and he explains the title is not something someone made up, she proceeds to ask him if he sings and replies "Yes" with a soft chuckle.
To avoid any more questions or demonstrations about singing, he asks her to practice on the ribbon while he watches. He instructs her on how to handle the dagger until she corrected it. She thanks Azriel smiling broadly and Azriel sketches a bow and felt something restless settling in him. After he left he heard a faint beautiful singing following him and swore his shadows sang in return.
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 but hides his reaction as to the memory flashed in his head of his father and mother. To deflect the situation and avoid Gwyn knowing it was a gift from him, he asks Clotho to give to another priestess who might appreciate it but he is not taking the box when he leaves.
Clotho notes that his eyes are sad but he deflects it by saying that he lost the snowball fight today.
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.
Clotho tells him that Gwyneth deserves something as beautiful as this and thanks him for the joy it shall bring her.
Something sparks in Azriel's chest but he nodded and left. As he was ascending the stairs he was picturing how Gwyn's teal eyes would light upon seeing the necklace, and for whatever reason he could see it.
The chapter ends with Azriel tucking away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile that it brought to his face. He buried the image of Gwyn's joyful face deep down where it glowed quietly, describing it as a thing of secret, lovely beauty.
Gallery
Appearances
Trivia
- The name Gwyneth is a girl's name of Welsh origin meaning "blessed, happy, white, fair". [2]
- She has freckles across her nose, cheeks and hands.
- She had a twin sister named Catrin. She was killed in front of her when Hybern attacked Sangravah.
- 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.
- Gwyneth and her twin were conceived on The Great Rite/Calanmai "beginning of Spring/March", and since Fae pregnancies span 10 months, she and her twin were likely born in January.
- Gwyn often has nightmares and would ask 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 that her bones are slightly more pliant than of a High Fae's due to her River Nymph blood.
- When Gwyn sings, her skin slightly glows.
- 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", Blue).
References
- ↑ ACOSF: Chapter 27
- ↑ Behind the Name: Gwyneth