History
Alfreda Lunghi was born the daughter of nobles in Orsholon City. She was a beautiful child who grew up to be a beautiful young woman.
Today, she is rarely spoken of, and if she is, it is in hushed tones and derogatory intent.
At age 22, Alfreda began showing signs of being with child. She was not married, nor had anyone seen her with a prospective suitor. An unplanned and unwed mother was highly ostracized in the circle of nobility. As her pregnancy progressed, her family pushed her away so as not to be stained with her “shame”.
Rumors began to fly. Some said the father was a soldier in the Royal Guard Of Orsholon. Others believed it was a passing trader who was often seen in the Nobles District. The most outlandish was that it was a member of the Royal Family.
For her part, Alfreda refused to divulge who it was. Whether out of loyalty, fear, or love, she refused to reveal the father, which only serve to further the separation between Alfreda and her family, and by extension, the society she grew up in.
By the time her child was born, she was forced to move out of her home in the Nobles District. Her father paid for a small apartment in the poorest section of the city, near the Guild and Industrial District. But while he bought the apartment, he did nothing further to support Alfreda and her young daughter, Joie. Alfreda did her best to provide for her daughter, but as the girl grew older, Alfreda’s prospects were dimming rapidly. She took whatever work she could, often cleaning houses or sweeping gutters for a pittance, anything she could to provide for Joie.
By the time Joie was four years old, Alfreda’s health had begun to suffer greatly. The dirty work environments, the long hours, the poor pay all took their toll. She starved herself to make sure Joie had meals. Alfreda knew she would have to come up with a better life for Joie. She had relatives in a small village southwest of the city, Fykic. The Calens family were aunts and uncles, and did not live the lifestyle of nobles. Alfreda sent a message to them, begging them to take her daughter and raise Joie until she could return for her.
The Calens took pity on Alfreda and Joie, and invited them both to live in Fykic. Alfreda took the offer and moved all her belogings and Joie to Fykic. But the damage to Alfreda’s health was already beyond repair. In 1155 ATG, they moved in with the Calens family, and Joie began school in Fykic. Alfreda, having delivered a safe place for her daughter, was able to finally give in to her coming fate.
While Joie was still young, she would ask her mother who her father was. And Alfreda would tell her that her father was a handsome prince who had gone away but would someday return for her. The Calens did not disabuse the child of believing the story, as the truth was likely much more gritty and dark. So the story became “history” for Joie. When she was older, she realized it was a fable, but understood why her mother had told it.
Alfreda grew more and more sick, losing her breath and finally, in 1158 ATG, died peacefully in Fykic, where she was laid to rest.
