| Name | Emerie |
|---|---|
| Age | 100+ |
| Species | Illyrian |
| Status | Alive |
| Court | Night Court |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark |
| Family | Proteus (Father) †, Unnamed Mother †, Unnamed Brother †, Bellius † (cousin) |
| Appears in | A Court of Frost and Starlight, A Court of Silver Flames |
Contents
Biography / History
Early Life
Emerie was born in the Illyrian camp of Windhaven, the daughter of Proteus—a wealthy, respected shopkeeper—and an Illyrian female. Although her father appeared charming and honorable to the community, he was violently abusive behind closed doors. He regularly beat Emerie’s mother, and after one severe assault, her mother died from the injuries. Proteus forced Emerie to bury her in secret and lied to the village, claiming his wife had died from a miscarriage. The camp believed him.
After her mother’s death, Proteus turned his violence on Emerie. He broke her back in one beating and kept her bedridden while he told others she was ill. At other times, he slammed her head into walls, crushed her fingers in doors, and abused her until she blacked out. Emerie long suspected that her mother had somehow shielded her from his cruelty while she was alive.
Before the war with Hybern, Proteus clipped Emerie’s wings, following the archaic Illyrian practice used to control females. This made it impossible for her to fly. He also controlled her food, money, and movement, never allowing her independence.
Proteus died fighting in the war against Hybern. Though Emerie felt relief at his death, her family and the camp expected her to mourn him. She considered revealing the abuse but chose not to, knowing no one had intervened even when her wings were clipped.
After his death, Emerie took ownership of her father’s shop. Her uncle, extended family, and many males in the camp resented a female running a business and tried to pressure or threaten her into surrendering it, or into marriage. Despite their efforts, Emerie held firm and continued running the shop on her own terms.
A Court of Silver Flames – Timeline Events
Meets Nesta
About six months after Winter Solstice, Emerie meets Nesta for the first time when Cassian brings Nesta to train in the Illyrian Mountains. Nesta notices Emerie’s clipped wings, and Emerie calmly explains what happened.
Winning the Blood Rite
Emerie and Gwyn reach the peak together, officially winning the Blood Rite and proving the strength of the Valkyries. They are immediately winnowed to the River House, where they wait anxiously for Nesta to survive her own battle and return to them.
Appearance
Emerie is slender and striking, with:
- Dark hair usually worn in a simple braid
- Brown, angular eyes
- Light brown skin
- A narrow, angular face contrasted by a full mouth
- Large Illyrian wings bearing scars along the central tendons from being clipped
She is often noted for her distinctive features, which some characters believe resemble those of the Dawn Court.
Personality
Emerie embodies quiet strength, resilience, and defiance, shaped by years of abuse, Illyrian oppression, and her own determination to carve out a life on her own terms.
Key traits
- Strong-willed and uncompromising:
Raised in a culture that demands female obedience, Emerie refuses to bow her head or lower her eyes. Even with clipped wings, she meets Cassian’s gaze directly, standing tall with her back straight and chin lifted. - Independent and determined:
After her father’s death, she insists on keeping his shop—despite the disapproval and pressure from the males of Windhaven—and runs it herself. Her strong, unfaltering grip symbolizes her refusal to yield control of her life again. - Sharp, shrewd, and unafraid:
Cassian notes her sharp mind, clear perception, and the fire in her words. She speaks frankly, challenges unfairness, and does not hesitate to stand up to those who try to intimidate her. - Resilient and enduring:
Despite years of severe abuse, clipped wings, social isolation, and ongoing harassment from her camp, Emerie remains steadfast. She shows exceptional emotional and physical resilience. - Loyal and courageous:
During the Blood Rite, she proves her unwavering loyalty and bravery by carrying Gwyn up the mountain and finishing the Rite beside her and Nesta.
Powers & Abilities
Illyrian Heritage
Emerie is Illyrian, but unlike Cassian, Azriel, or other warriors of the camps, no canon source describes her possessing any specific Illyrian powers or magical abilities. Her abilities are therefore limited to what is explicitly stated in the text.
Relationships
| Nesta Archeron | Nesta and Emerie meet when Cassian brings Nesta to Windhaven to observe Illyrian training. Emerie, who runs her father’s shop, treats Nesta with respect and openness—something Nesta is not accustomed to from most Illyrians. Their first interactions are calm, polite, and free of judgment, which helps Nesta begin to lower her guard. As Nesta starts training with Cassian at the House of Wind, Emerie joins the sessions at the practice ring. Training together strengthens their bond, and the two grow into genuine friends. Emerie supports Nesta through her emotional struggles, while Nesta encourages Emerie to claim her own strength and independence despite Illyrian traditions. Together with Gwyn, they form the core of the modern Valkyrie revival. During the Blood Rite, Emerie and Nesta fight side by side, refusing to abandon each other despite extreme danger. Their friendship becomes one of Nesta’s most important and stabilizing relationships, built on mutual respect, shared determination, and hard-won trust. |
|---|---|
| Bellius | Bellius is Emerie’s cousin in the Windhaven camp and one of the males who openly resents her independence. Like many in their family, he believes Emerie should give up her shop and submit to traditional Illyrian expectations for females. Bellius frequently harasses and threatens her, attempting to intimidate her into surrendering her inheritance so the males of the camp can claim it. During the Blood Rite, Bellius targets Emerie, Gwyn, and Nesta when he and his group encounter them in the mountains. |
