Velsirien, Daughter of Mirkwood

((Aah, nothing like some procrastination artwork! Since joining Laurelin, I've found that I've had a lot of opportunity to really think about my character; not the just her past or super terrible tragedies she's endured and carries with her throughout her journeys, but the little things. Habits, advice from her parents, the way she was brought up and treated as a child. I find that, those little things really shape and add depth to a character, since they influence a lot of how they think, act, or react.

So, I suppose I'll write a little blurb on what I've been thinking about regarding my main, Velsirien, who is a spearwoman from Mirkwood, and is currently residing in Eriador after traveling with her kin, Cherth-e-Eryn, to investigate suspicious activity in the West.

Recently in RP, Velsirien had to repeatedly narrate a tragic event that befell Cherth-e-Eryn, leaving her and one other companion stranded in Imladris. Usually, after narrating the event, the person she was talking to would offer solemn condolences, and she would feel the pain of her loss during that time. However, shortly after, she would be grinning again like her usual self.

Now, this irked me a bit because I was thinking, well, she should be sad, shouldn't she? I think, she is. She's still mourning, and she still feels that heavy weight of loss, of numbness when she lets her mind wander into the past. It might just be that she's hiding it, and not the "oh I don't want anyone to see me cry or sad because that's lame and I don't like showing my feelings to anyone" sorta thing, it's more... military.

Having been trained as a 'warden' figure, mentors have taught her and treated her as a soldier on the frontlines. "You're the first thing the enemy sees, you are the unbreakable wall protecting your kin," they would likely say, "just like in battle, when enemies breach the wall, it's often a sign of defeat. It's disheartening, discouraging to those under the protection of your shield. As a spearman, as the wall of your people, you must stand strong and show that there will always be a chance to persevere, there will always be victory."

So, maybe she's taken that to heart. Maybe it's a lesson that's become part of her personality rather than just a thing to remember on the battlefield. She knows, more than anything, that a wall will have its weak points and at some point, it will break down, but can be rebuilt again. So, for herself, and for whoever else, she will keep her feet and continue to march on strong. A smile during dark times can be the sliver of hope one might need to keep going.

AAAAND that concludes my useless rambling about silly nonsensical things. Now, to continue being unproductive!))