At birth, she was named Esmerelda del Rey, for her grandmother. Growing up, she was a bit of a tomboy, alway rough housing with her older brother's friends & the servant children. Her mother, Maria del Rey, disliked this trend & made arrangements for her to be sent to a finishing school, to be taught to be a lady. Esmerelda, horrified by the prospect, at the tender age of 12, went to her father's armory & stole the lightest sword she could find. She ran away, slippin ou on a night soil cart & then running off onto the open savannah.

It was not long before she stumbled upon three hunting 'Kanian lionesses. She initially tried to run, but the winter was lean & the lionesses chased her. She ended up cornered, so she turned to stand & fight. Hoping beyond hope that she could fight, perhaps, as well as her famous warrior father (named Arjuna), she stood her ground.

The lionesses were dead within seconds. Esmerelda passed out. Hours later, her father's soldiers, who had been sent to find her, came across her & the three dead lionesses. Surprised & amused by what they found, they joked with the weak & weary girl that she was "Arjuna reborn." The nickname stuck, & the Sword of Sevens was returned to her father's armory. The next day, her father began her training as a warrior.

When she was 16, she joined the special forces. By the time she was 18, she was a sergeant, & by the time she was 21, she was a captain. As long as her father lived, she did not have the Gifted Sword of her family, but she was still one of the greatest warriors in the Empire. At the age of 23, she met Damon Argent. After two missions, it was clear the two were inseparable. After the seventh mission, she found she was pregnant. Despite this, she intended to go on the next mission with her husband-to-be.

Manuel, her brother, argued heatedly with her, appealing to her on the grounds that their father was sick & that she was carrying the heir to the house. Eventually, she relented & agreed to stay. Damon left on the mission without her, & she remained at Argent Estate with a group of Manuel's handpicked ladies in waiting--the dowager Duchess Hyrase, Lady Yvenna, & a half dozen others. Quickly, Yvenna took charge of Arjuna's pregnancy, taking care to mix the medicines & such that the midwives gave.

When the birthing began, Yvenna mixed her medicine one last time, & then the midwives took over & ousted her. Unfortunately, that final dose was enough to end Arjuna's life.

Pages: Main . Imperial History . Contenders for the Throne . The Council . Maraddonian Nobility

Characters: Albert Renkarr . Matrim Alistair Argent . Paul Driver . Viollca Lovell . Aldo Murgen . Naitaka Citlali . Dionysus Berrywight . Damon Argent . Caradonna Dedizione . Belizo Avam . Maraddon Truthspeaker . Kavian Stormbringer . Chryandemus . Asuncion de Vries . Annuzzi . Jean Luc d'Artagnan . Incera Crow . Damoro Brittex . Bresolin Canveras . Daisy . Jodha Hrown . Urugal's Son . Angier Kilmeister . Hranchak the Decrepit . Francesco Daruso . Kierik Hargast . Belia Dyaster . Samara Rhendalfane . Ahia Dezurgus . Balthasar Tove . Gaspar Tove . Melchior Tove . Warwick Tamme . Jarod den Loch . Arthur Bellerein . Lerus Mysoner . Gellendrun Martakon . Yvenna Argent . Roald Argent . Datuna den Loch . Christopher den Loch . Emily Brand . Caspian Argent . Arjuna del Rey . Isidore Maraddon . Marilyna Maraddon . Rayner Maraddon . Corella Maraddon . Altsisi Maraddon . Kimber Maraddon . Cadoy Maraddon . Olympia Maraddon . Perival Maraddon . Thorian Maraddon . Vannah Maraddon . Hyun Maraddon . Bellflowers Maraddon . Annavera Maraddon . Orehek Skullface . Arn Fangdeep . Dapvaala Cloudheart . Cassarah Colorwalker . Blyze Fishscale . Herala Angelus . Elodia Silversong . Goss Fireeyes . Ahaus Lightningfist . Jhanson Swordmaker . Magnus Jericho . Corin Lovel . Dritta Lovell . Aladar Lovell . Maurd Murgen . Kaylar Vernac . Arlie Battisto . Charlie Thornton . Wally "Gas" Rose . Rupert "Wax" Jamison . Deyn Amaethon . Angrum Hrond . Blake Guidry . Manuel Joquin . Velvetine . Merriander Hyrase . Lysander Hyrase . The Blue Rovers . Thoru . Venuvea . Corwin Lilac . Grey wolf . Nik'laas Myrmex . Kez . Hielan Durrow . Bentley Pharnum . Ieshida . Storm Prince . Denthere . Castle Hyrase