Helena of Metterden
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Helaina Angelika (High Imperial: Helena Angelica), of the House Ruthern was the firstborn daughter of Rhys var Ruthern, Duke of Vidaus, and his countess consort the Lady Angelika of Vasiland. By birth, she was twin to the heir of Ruthern, Aildred. She was nearly wed to the Haeseni King, Charles II of Haense, but is most known for her tenure as the Lady Chamberlain (5th of Malin's Welcome, 1662 – 21st of Snow's Maiden, 1685) under the courts of Charles II of Haense, Francis II of Haense and Tatiana of Metterden, and in the early courts of Siguine I of Haense and Sophia of Castor.
Biography
Early Life & Adolescence
Helena Angelika vas Ruthern spent the majority of her early youth in the royal halls of the Krepost Palace. Her father insisted upon her high education in the royal courts as his firstborn daughter, and Count Metterden was determined to raise the status of the once-fallen House of Ruthern. Her housing in the palace led to her early befriending to that of the Grand Prince of Kusoraev, Otto Josef, and his sister the princess royal of Hanseti-Ruska, Amalie Nataliya. It soon became a common sight within the city and throughout the palace to see the trio bound together, going about their merry childish acts and playing about. In spite of her happiness with the royal children, Haense was in constant attack or war, most commonly with raids from the Kingdom of Renatus.
It is allegedly believed through some historical records and recalling that Lady Helena was considered to be the future Queen of Haense as per a betrothal to Prince Otto, with consideration of their noticeable companionship and too the prestige of the house in which she belonged too. All talk of betrothal ceased as the royal family withdrew themselves from the public eye in attempt to avoid those with a quick-spreading and fatal illness. It became monikered The Great Plague, and in 1655 took the lives of the king, Otto III of Haense, his consort Ingrid of Ulgaard, and Prince Otto Josef. Two of the royal children, Princess Amalie and Prince Karl-Marus, managed to survive past the plague despite most of their family passing as a result of it.
Many Haeseni were moved into small encampments exterior to the city to avoid the plague, including the living Rutherns. They remained so until news of another Haeseni King was declared, being that of Charles II of Haense, and his regent and palatine Prince Franz Jakob. Charles II, or more commonly known as Karl II. Princess Amalie never returned to the public thereafter the family's turmoils, and instead kept to the depths of the palace as soon as the people of Haense were allowed to return home. Solemnity consumed Helena's life as she lacked her friends and never saw the likes of Princess Amalie again. In her isolation, Helena began a study of medicinal practices and herbs.
The kingdom began to heal again, and in the midst of its healing did her father attempt to arrange a marriage for Helena again; thus, he sought a marriage between her and the new king. The offer was taken to consideration, with Karl asking instead for the two to court in the beginning. For the king, it was believed to see if he wanted Helena has his queen and to way his options of marriage for what would be best suitable. In 1662, Helena was introduced in proper to the king when she reached the age of sixteen and the pair were set to begin their courtship. She managed to impress the king with her knowledge and dealings of court –acquired over her years in the palace– and therefore garnered the role of Lady Chamberlain.
As Chamberlain of Hanseti-Ruska
Although originally tasked with palatial duties and the running of the palace and its servantry, her duties as chamberlain extended further to the city and the revelry held there. Haense continued through its troublesome issues with Renatus and their continuous raids upon the independent kingdom, yet Helena withheld her demeanor and strength to assist the denizens in their overall happiness to the height of her abilities. Charity work became a common activity, as well as volunteering in any organization or opportunity that came across to her. In general, she was viewed well by the people for her work– more so in hosting a variety of events in the palace.
Akin to his family, Karl II was struck with an illness that seemed to great to overcome; which proved to be true with his death by succumbing to the sickness in 1666. Helena had never married the king and neither had any other ladies, leaving him without child. The kingdom fell into another time of chaos, as a succession crisis broke out at the king's passing. From the confines of the palace, Helena mourned the loss of her companion who she had grown to know well over the course of her courtship unto him. His palatine, Prince Franz Jakob, soon became Francis II of Haense by the end of the crisis. She did not attempt to seek marriage with him, and instead King Franz II was married to Tatiana of Metterden. For only several months did he reign until his assassination. Helena hosted no events, as she had yet to be told of any leave from her role as chamberlain, and removed herself from courtly life.
The palace was overrun by the previous consort Tatiana and she held a significant amount of influence over the kingdom. She invited in Karl of Rothswood as palatine and rumors spread of their alleged relations. Helena, along with other old nobility, were irked at the woman's compulsion over many in the court and her ignorance to the old houses of Haense. Many peasants overtook positions once held by nobles as per Lady Tatiana's promotion of them. In exile, Prince Sigmar Lothar was named king, but no one sat on the throne besides that of Lady Tatiana and Karl of Rothswood. Sigmar came with a backing of many Haeseni nobles and mercenaries to take the throne as per his right through the succession and the pairing in power stepped down. Helena remained away from all of the political atmosphere, and was more worried for the loss of her job. To her luck, she was able to obtain it into the tenure of yet another king.
Only in the beginning of Sigmar's reign did she host any events as chamberlain, as her relationship with the new king became strained. His behavior towards a friend of hers led to her ultimate struggles with the king, as Lady Georgiana Alexandra van Platen built her excessively large manor in Haense's borders with no leave to do so. She attempted to argue on behalf of her friend nonetheless, knowing that she meant no harm and wished to live in peace. Helena continued to beg for Sigmar to leave the situation at bay– but Lady Georgiana had come to no compromise other than to hire mercenaries to assist her in battle against the Haeseni Kingdom. Helena's lack of trust with the king led for her to nearly betray the kingdom in the name of her friend, but instead her and Sigmar worked to find other possibilities. Helena, despite Georgiana being her friend, would fight in the Battle of Karl's Hill on the side of the Haeseni nonetheless. Helena promoted the range of other options to her friend when it seemed most opportune, and managed to arranged a pact between Lady Georgiana and King Sigmar thereafter.
Death
At the age of thirty nine, Helena grew gravely ill from what she believed to be the illness that took her friends and suitor. Whether it was the remnants of the Great Plague is unknown. In her later life, she wed Erik Barrow, a baseborn man of Haeseni descent, and sired one daughter - Marya Ruthern, the first Duchess consort of Valwyck. However, she died in her chambers within the Krepost Palace of Markev on the 21st of Snow's Maiden, 1700.
