Charissa of Furstán-Festil

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In the fictional universe of the Deryni novels of Katherine Kurtz, Charissa Furstána-Festila was the twelfth Festillic Pretender, claiming the title of Queen of Gwynedd from 1105 to 1120. She was the fourth Festillic Pretender of the junior branch of the House of Furstán-Festil, and her claim to the throne of Gwynedd coincided with the legitimate reigns of both King Brion Haldane and King Kelson Haldane. In addition to her various titles of Torenthi nobility, she was also known as "The Shadowed One," "The Shadowed Lady of the North," and "The Lady of the Silver Mists."

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Charissa Aymarine Festilliana Furstána-Festila-mac-Tadhg was born on May 13, 1094, the daughter of the Festillic Pretender Prince Hogan Gwernach and his wife, Duchess Larissa of Marluk. She supported his decision to challenge King Brion Haldane for the throne of Gwynedd, and was utterly devastated by her father's death at the hands of King Brion in June of 1105. Upon her father's death, Charissa inherited her family's hereditary claim to the throne of Gwynedd, as well as the titles of Duchess of Tolán, Duchess of Marluk, and Countess of Gwernach. In July of 1025, she was formally adopted by King Carolus III of Torenth, who immediately proclaimed her Queen of Gwynedd with himself as Regent. Several months later, Carolus betrothed her to his own son and heir, Prince Aldred, and the two were married in June of the following year. She attained her legal majority on May 13, 1108, and her Regency was formally dissolved.

Even at an early age, Charissa planned to avenge her father's death and seize the throne of Gwynedd. When King Carolus died on February 11, 1110, it was rumored that Charissa had poisoned him for seeking to establish a formal peace with King Brion Haldane. (Other rumors blamed Carolus' brother, Prince Wencit, for the king's death.) Charissa became Queen of Torenth when her husband succeeded his father as King Aldred II. However, Aldred's reign quickly descended into a brutal tyranny, and he even had the pregnant Charissa brutally beaten until she lost her unborn child and was left permanently barren. Upon recovering from her injuries, Charissa joined with her husband's scheming uncle Prince Wencit to remove Aldred from the throne. Aldred was deposed on April 15, 1110, and executed three days later after a brief trial. Wencit became King of Torenth, and Charissa renounced her title of Dowager Queen of Torenth, preferring instead to use the title of Duchess of Tolan. On January 7, 1111, Charissa signed a last will and testament that named King Wencit, his sister Princess Morag, and Morag's children as Charissa's heirs.

Charissa continued to plot her revenge upon the House of Haldane for the next several years. In 1120, she was formally warned by the Camberian Council to refrain from interfering in Gwyneddan politics. Charissa ignored the warning and finally succeeded in avenging her father when she used her magic to kill King Brion on the plain of Candor Rhea on November 1, 1120. Two weeks later, she interrupted the coronation of Brion's son and heir, Prince Kelson Haldane, and challenged him to a Duel Arcane. However, just as her father had underestimated Brion, Charissa underestimated Kelson, and she was summarily defeated and killed by the young king. Duchess Charissa Furstána-Festila died on November 15, 1120, at the age of 24. She was succeeded in her pretensions by her legal heir, King Wencit of Torenth.