She heard the story her entire life.  How the Angel came down from on High and planted a seed in the lovely maiden who was her ancestor.  That seed brought forth the Quel'Thalas.  Shirin was told this tale from her first memory.  Lying in bed as a little girl, on the knee of her father as a young girl, and as she grew into woman hood she was reminded constantly of her fate in life.  She accepted it, without question or complaint.  

 

Born to Hyperius and Silwynn, Shirin Quel'Thalas was the only child from the old King and his young Queen.  Every step she took was monitored, every bite of food tasted by servants, every sip of water examined in case there should be an accident or fates forfend, an assassination. She was not nearly as worried over things as her parents.   She was trained to read, write and speak in several languages.  Culture and diplomacy was ingrained into her by the time she reached the age at which most children were just learning to navigate the world around them. When young ladies entering womanhood were being taught the proper way to sit, Shirin was debating the wizards and alchemists on the art of their science and how to improve their methods.  

 

She seemed to understand that the world was vast and filled with people and things different than her own kind.  She was eager to meet them all, curious to taste life that was so full of experiences yet seemed so closed off from the inquisitive, precocious young woman. She found, however, she  could live vicariously through others and she did.  Throughout the years from ten to sixteen she prodded and quizzed others about their life, their trips, other lands, their foods, their clothing, what was it like, would you do it again, what was the best part, the worst part?  It went on endlessly until Hyperius entered the room and halted his daughter torturing her victim further.  Or until Silwynn noticed and gently drew the person away from the young Princess.  

 

It was to be a normal succession to the throne.  Trouble with House Sha'Quelas was mounting but King Hyperius gave it little thought until the skirmishes ended in deaths and the old Lord of the House that was the sworn enemy of House Quel'Thalas threatened war.  Then it became serious for not even talks calmed the embers that were starting to flame toward civil battles.  

 

But an outside enemy changed everything.  

 

The borders were becoming porous, invading armies from the East threatened.  All the Houses united to take to the field for war.  The House Lords and the King himself banded together and fought a valiant fight.  Losses were heavy, the bloodshed seemed to never end so before witnesses who vowed to see the word done, Lord Sha'Quelas and King Hyperius made a pact that their children were to be united in marriage to end the internal struggles of Mirador.  Both men were eventually killed in the battle but the witnesses returned at the end of the war and the terms were presented.  They could not be disputed.   

 

Shirin was vexed. It was not as was planned.  She was promised freedom to choose who she may to marry, not a marriage of convenience.  Hyperius vowed he would never use her as a political pawn.  But it seemed violence and bloodshed changed his tune and his daughters future.  She could do no less than the best for Mirador, however, and that did not include a loveless marriage.   

 

During the war Shirin was kept under safeguard at House Embershade.  The Heir to House Embershade, Zaram, took the responsibility to heart and ensured Shirin was safe at all times. The two became very close. 

 

Today, Shirin is immersed in life as a ruling Queen.  A marriage was not yet completed, and would never be without another war.  She was Mirador.  For Shirin that will always come before love or romance for she loves Mirador as surely as a woman adores her lover.  It is her one true love so her heart is quite full.  

 

Rumblings of a new enemy have risen in Mirador  The portals have been behaving strangely.  There is no wall or gate to guard so it presents a new threat which Mirador has yet to find a way to defend.   Along with this, the dragons are beginning to behave strangely, or so says the Daragar dragon lord who has stepped into the happenings at the Miradorian Court.