SPOILER WARNING May contain plot details |
| “ | I could tell you about that. I could tell you how it happened. | ” |
–Lady Asha to Jude Duarte and the Roach, The Wicked King | ||
Asha, also known as Lady Asha, is a faerie and a low-status courtier in the High Court of Elfhame. She is the mother to Cardan Greenbriar, mother-in-law to Jude Greenbriar neé Duarte and was High King Eldred's lover, however, High King Eldred never made her a consort.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Asha was born into lower status and was never made a consort to High King Eldred, despite bearing him a child. She adored the courtier life, but was a disruptive force who craved admiration and attention. Asha was entranced by palace life, besotted with the High King and gloried in the dancing, singing and wine. She wanted experiences, sensations, triumphs and things that required conflict and enemies.
At some point, Asha befriended Eva Duarte, who was the mother of her future daughter in law, Jude Duarte. Asha and Eva would sometimes sneak to the human realm because Eva missed human things.
Cardan's Prophecy[]
After her child with the High King Eldred, Cardan Greenbriar, was born, Asha, Eldred, Val Moren and Randalin gathered so that Baphen could read Cardan's prophecy. Lady Asha wasn't very fond of motherhood even before hearing that her son would be the "destruction of the throne and ruination of crown", as it is said by Baphen that when it was time to read Cardan's prophecy, she was holding him as though she had hoped someone would take him from her.
After the reading of the prophecy, and Baphen's reassurance that nothing could be done about it, Eldred instructed Asha to take Cardan away and rear him as she saw fit. Lady Asha replied that she would rear him as befit his situation and High King Eldred gave her an emerald necklace. After that, Eldred never visited or called for Lady Asha ever again.
It is not known exactly why Lady Asha was sentenced to the Tower of Forgetting, only that it had to do with the death of another of High King Eldred's lovers and that Cardan was somehow involved.
Meeting Jude Duarte and the Tower of Forgetting[]
Lady Asha first met Jude Duarte in the Tower of Forgetting where Asha told Jude that she had known her mother, Eva Duarte, and many of her "little secrets." Startled, Jude ran away.
Later, she saw Jude again when Jude ordered the Roach to bring her Lady Asha in order to manipulate Asha into delivering a message to Balekin Greenbriar. Lady Asha revealed that a hag had come to Madoc's Stronghold while Eva was pregnant with Vivienne and gave her a prophecy that said Eva's child was destined to be a greater weapon than Justin Duarte could ever forge. Asha tells Jude and the Roach that in exchange for her knowledge, she wishes to be released from the Tower of Forgetting and be allowed to leave Elfhame. She also wanted a promise that the High King, who she knew was Cardan, would never be aware of her freedom.
Life in the High Court[]
While Jude was exiled to the mortal world, Lady Asha's son would write letters to Jude, which Asha intercepted. After Jude returned from her exile and was reinstated as the High Queen she visited Asha in her room and confronted her about the letters. Lady Asha warned Queen Jude about loving Cardan, but Jude chose ignore her.
She continued to live a lavish life in the court, embracing the revels and luxuries. Later, when Cardan was under Grimsen's curse, Asha plotted to take the throne from Jude.
Personality and Traits[]
Lady Asha was very selfish and enjoyed being a courtier. She found having a child to be irritating and left Cardan to be suckled from a black cat whose kittens were stillborn. She ignored her child most of the time, paying attention to him only when he got into fights, which she was proud of. Cardan reveals that trading insults with was familiar. Asha is given to whimsy and frivolity and only wants to enjoy being a courtier.
Physical Description[]
Asha is thin and so pale that she seems a little gray, due to her time in the Tower of Forgetting. She has a tail and short horns that sweep back from her brow. She is said to resemble her son a lot, with glittering black eyes and raven hair. Like Cardan, Asha has sharp cheekbones and a soft mouth. Asha also has long fingers and a thin face.
Relationships[]
Romances[]
Asha was his lover and had his child, though was never made his official consort. After Cardan was born, Eldred never went to her again and never called her to him.
Family[]
Though Lady Asha was his mother, she ignored Cardan as a child but enjoyed the higher status he gave her. She only paid him attention when he got into fights as it amused her. She was the only one who exerted any hold over him but she seldom tried to curb his excesses. If he tried to shy away from a conflict or failed to make a demand, Asha would tell him, "You're a prince. Everything is yours. You only have to take it." When she is released from the Tower of Forgetting, Cardan allows her to return to the High Court, saying that he supposes he has some fondness for her yet.
Jude is Lady Asha's daughter-in-law and is married to her son, Cardan. The two have never gotten along, but Jude freed her from the Tower of Forgetting for Cardan's sake.
Enemies[]
Jude and her dislike each other despite the fact Jude freed her from the Tower of Forgetting. She shows Jude disrespect by giving Jude orders and not rising once Jude becomes Queen and insults Cardan in front of her. Lady Asha intercepted all of the letters Cardan was sending to Jude during Jude's exile to the mortal world and planned to dethrone Jude when Cardan was under the curse that turned him into a giant serpent.
Appearances[]
- The Wicked King (first appearance)
- The Queen of Nothing
- How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (mentioned)
Gallery[]
