Deb is the proud mother of my fellow Washer Well Wench, Keirra. I mean, I assume she's proud of her, but we'll resist the urge to dissect just why she made her daughter into her sister, shall we? *grin*

Seriously, it's a GREAT read! I know Deb has been talking about the possibility of turning it into a novel! Have you written out your bio? Send it in and we'll publish it here!

SIRONA'S CHARACTER BIO
by Debra Jungling, avid ATF reader

Sirona was born in her father's castle in the Highlands near Loch Cluanie. Her name means "star" and was given to her by her mother, Mary, who named her after the ancient Scottish legend of Princess Sirona, the Starry Crown and her Knight Stalcair at the Falls of Glomach. Her mother had been told the story many times as a child and could think of no better name for her new infant daughter.

Sirona spent her early years in the castle with her parents, the servants and tutors. When she was ten, her mother gave birth to another child. A second daughter was born on a stormy day. Other children had been lost before they were born. This was to be a joyous occasion, indeed. As fate would have it, Mary died during the birth. Sirona's father was overcome with grief and refused to even see his new daughter. He called her the murderer of his love and threatened to kill her as well. Fearing for the bairn's life, the servants spirited the child away, leaving her on the doorstep of a keep they were sure would take her in and care for her. Sirona was simply told that both her mother and sister had died that night. Sirona saw little of her father after that. He never really spoke to her again. The servants and tutors who had loved her since birth saw to her well-being as well as her father's sister who joined them shortly after Sirona's mother's death. She was taught to read and write as well as to do figures. Fearing what her future might hold and being a woman wise to the ways of the world, her aunt also taught her many other odds and ends important to a woman's survival in what could be a harsh world.

As Sirona became a young woman of an age to marry, she made sure to avoid attracting her father's attention. She did not want an empty, loveless marriage to a stranger, arranged simply to increase her father's wealth. He had become a lonely, bitter man whose only concern was of fortune, indeed. Besides, there was a certain man who carried arms for her father that Sirona had given her heart to. No one knew his background. His accent did not define him as a Scotsman or anywhere else. She knew it was not possible that she would be allowed to marry him, but she could not ignore her heart and sough to meet her love secretly whenever she could.

Sirona was successful in her efforts to remain unnoticed until the death of her aunt. Sirona could no longer avoid the attention of her father. His first thought, as she had feared, was that she was well into marrying age. Then he heard rumors of clandestine meetings. He began to look for an arrangement that he could use to his benefit and would also take the girl off his hands. He quickly made an arrangement that sent Sirona to a minor Lord in England.

Lady Sirona spent the next ten years in England, married to a much older and very cruel man. Fortunately, no children had resulted. As the years passed, his cruelty grew until she feared he would simply kill her. Sirona began to think of some of those odds and ends that her aunt had taught her.

Her husband died suddenly one night. Although there were some whisperings amongst the servants, it was officially reported that he had died of a weakness of the heart. But Sirona's freedom and relief were short-lived. For now it became apparent that her husband was not very secure in his finances. Some he owed for gambling debts, some for money borrowed. Knowing she could be sold off to meet these debts, Lady Sirona threw herself on the mercy of the Queen herself. Being childless herself with no outlet for her love, Sirona was known for her kindness to the poor children. This was well-known by man and now, they stepped forward to help her in return. The Queen graciously granted Lady Sirona her freedom, but she was required to leave the city immediately with only what she could carry of her personal possessions and never return. Lady Sirona fled the city the same day.

She had no idea where she would end up or what would become of her as she made her way back toward her native Scottish soil. Her father had been dead for several years. The home she had once known was in the hands of another. She knew not where to go. One cold and stormy day, she found herself at the gate of a keep right on the border of England and Scotland. She was cold and hungry and not sure she could continue on any more. As she tried to decide what to do next, the door opened and she was urged to come inside by the fire. After hearing the story of Lady Sirona's marriage and flight from her Lord's debts, the Mistress of the manor offered Sirona a position. She sent Sirona to Keirra, the wife of the manor's blacksmith, and was immediately taken in by them to help with the care of their children. It didn't take long for the manor to believe that Lady Sirona must have been sent to them for this exact purpose, because all of the children of the manor took to her immediately. Lady Sirona spent her days caring for all of the children and teaching them everything their busy parents didn't have the time or education to teach them themselves.

Sirona realized there was a great similarity in her and Keirra's features. She suspected that the sister she had been told died actually lives! However, she cannot see where any good can come of Keirra's knowing the truth about their backgrounds, so she remains silent. She knows that Keirra is very happy with her life. Of course, she doesn't always approve of everything Keirra does, but she knows that Keirra has never known ways of a lady, because she has been a wench all her life. But she is grateful for the turn of fate that has brought her here to safety and possible happiness. Besides, one never knows if questions might arise one day concerning the death of her husband. It seems safer to leave well enough alone.

For those men who might be interested in Lady Sirona, her heart still belongs to the one true love she knew long ago. She is not looking for romance. Instead, she has devoted herself to the children of the manor and intends to stay where she is for as long as possible. She has no fortunes, only her clothes and a few trinkets...but she is happy and well in her current station. At least for now, Sirona has found a real home.

NOTE FROM WILLA: This bio was written in great detail after Deb read Mark Davio's articles on how to develop a ren faire character, Part One and Part Two. Yes, she did all of this just from answering those questions! Of course, not everyone's bio needs to be quite this detailed, but it's amazing how she managed to flow her bio together with Keirra's. Bravo, Deb! Now we just need to get you into that garb!

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