Well met, honored reader. As I write this, I approach the end of my life's work, nearly a century in the making. In that time I have had the occasion to be many things to many people… but never have I allowed any of them to get close enough to truly know me. I have thus decided to leave behind this journal as the sole record of my life, as complete a narrative as I can compile in the time remaining to me.
Please forgive my dramatic streak, I often fall into… "exaggerated" language. I expect this habit to only worsen as I begin my (well-earned!) retirement. With a lifetime of mistakes under my belt, the prospect of being left alone with only my thoughts for company never appealed to me. In fact, I fought bitterly against this fate! Now that it has come for me… I find myself in a strangely peaceful state of mind. I have been forced to be strong for so long that the idea of lowering my guard at last brings only relief.
If you are reading this, then there is a slim chance that you already know of me. In that case, I humbly beg that you rid yourself of all prior knowledge and absorb my tale anew from the beginning. My life led me down many difficult paths. Some I have not cared to recall until this very journal, and the majority of which I find... distasteful. My circumstances did not allow me the luxury of atonement, but neither did they offer the respite of disregard. I will account the lot, successes, and failures in equal measure, in hope of leaving some record behind of my true heart; the piece of me I showed to no other. This will be a biased narrative, will reveal secrets better left unknown, and will touch on events that concern my many enemies, a myriad of strangers, and my precious few friends. May history have mercy on all that I became… and all that I failed to be.
My name is Lilleth Elizabeth Snow and this is my story.
Chapter Breakdown (By Arc)
1 - 4: Early Life
In which her world crumbles apart and she must find something worth striving for in the ashes.
5 - 8: War Times: Revolution
A unique perspective on Galbatorix's rise to power; methods, madness, and manpower.
9 - 11: Lessons of Many Kinds
Growing pains, first love, and lessons learned the hard way.
12 - 14: Cost and Reward: Succession
Surda makes a stand with unexpected allies.
15 - 17: Place in the Family
After years of fighting the inevitable, our diarist falls in line at last.
18 - 21: Darkness Infects
"Darkness infects. You can't expect to wallow in it and come away untainted and pure. And it is addictive – no conscience, no morals. Want. Take. Own. That's a liberating way to live. And I believe that was when you began to enjoy the darkness I provided." (Peppermintquartz, and AO3)
22 - 24: This is How it Ends?
Distance begets clarity, clarity insights uncertainty, and a single misstep is enough to ruin everything.
25 - 27: New Friends, Old Enemies
Reorienting herself in the world requires making peace with the past and facing down the future.
28 - 30: Weaver
A simple mission becomes a moral quagmire.
31 - 34: Eyes of Starlight
Someone turns our diarist's world upside down... and she may never see things the same way again.
35 - ?: Tarnished Silver
A new lease on life comes with a fragile purpose.
Greetings and Salutations to all! Today (12/21/2022) marks the ten-year anniversary of a very important landmark in this character's development! As such, I have determined that it is the most auspicious time to begin posting her bio. I have used this character in one form or another since I was nine years old (that's 2010, if you're curious :p ) So I have no illusions that she is... flawed. I'm mostly posting this for personal satisfaction... but if anyone is curious to follow, I invite you along for the ride! Most of the fic is already written, just going through editing. It shares canon with my story "13 Wandering Paths". I also intend to eventually post one-shots that were not relevant to this story in a separate IC fic, yet to be named. That collection will feature a broader selection of characters and perspectives.
Trigger warnings will be at the top of applicable chapters! Stay safe out there.
Happy Yule, un atra sverdar onr sitja hvas!