Holly Ryger

Hostella Ryger, better known as Holly, is a scion of Willow Wood and the sister of its current lord, Desmond Ryger.

Early life
Born in 290 AC to Tristan Ryger and Melara Redwyne, Hostella was the couple’s second child and their first girl, following the birth of her brother Desmond two years before. Her parents met at a tourney, where Tristan asked Melara for her favor and then for her hand. The story would resonate deeply with the romantic within Hostella.

Hostella quickly acquired the nickname ‘Holly’, a name that was rapidly adopted by the girl herself and by which she would soon be known by all.

With a Reachwoman for a mother, Holly grew up idolizing the culture of the Reach, the heart of chivalry in the Seven Kingdoms. She dreamed of tourneys and knights, and when she grew older, of turning Willow Wood into a proper castle with its own tourney grounds.

From a young age, Holly displayed an aptitude for numbers, impressing the maester and septa in charge of her education. She was better at her sums than her older brother, and later on exhibited a knack for accounting and organization.

A happy, bright, charismatic girl, Holly would get away with anything and would develop a passion for dancing, embroidering, singing (poorly, it must be said) and making friends. But her biggest appetite was for gossip. With many friends all over Willow Wood and the Riverlands, she’d quickly learn of all kinds of events happening across the region.

In the year 300 AC, her father passed away from an illness, and her brother Desmond became lord of Willow Wood at the age of twelve, with their mother Melara as regent. Holly was ten, and would grieve for her father deeply, wearing mourning blacks for a year.

The girl recovered, however, too cheerful by half to be weighed down for long. Her romantic nature led her to pick up a new pastime: matchmaking. She arranged marriages for servants, minor nobility, and family members, always inspired by the love story between her parents.

Teenage years
Six years after her father’s passing, at age sixteen, she was put in charge of Willow Wood’s accounts, which significantly improved their finances. While never the wealthiest House in the Riverlands, House Ryger became far stronger economically under Holly’s management.

In 303, following the Old King’s death and Viserys’ ascension to the throne, some of Holly’s family began to convert to R’hllorism. This caused no small amount of friction in Willow Wood, where the Faith of the Seven held sway. Holly herself was not immune, as she found the red god terrifying but intriguing at once, and was fascinated by the powers of the red priests. Her brother and mother disagreed vehemently, however, so, exhibiting an uncharacteristic maturity, she kept her thoughts to herself. The tension between followers of the red god and the Faithful continues to this day in Willow Wood.

In the year 308, bandits attacked farms and villages near Willow Wood. Desmond, then a lord ruling in his own right, hired a wandering warrior to deal with the threat. The warrior, who turned out to be a Targaryen prince by the name of Lucerys, succeeded in his task and was knighted by Holly’s uncle, ser Olyver Ryger. Blind to the young man’s faults, Holly saw only what she wanted to see in him—a chivalrous knight from a song—and fell in love with him. The two shared a kiss.

Present
Now, in 309, Holly is approaching twenty years of age and remains unmarried, but continues to be fond of meddling in others’ affairs, which is no longer as charming at her age as it was when she was a child.

Family tree
https://familyecho.com/?p=START&c=141owv6rs0d&f=315329530492491529

Timeline

 * 290 AC: Born to Tristan Ryger and Melara Redwyne.
 * 296 AC: Shows an aptitude for numbers.
 * 300 AC: Her father passes away, and her brother becomes lord of Willow Wood.
 * 303 AC: Holly finds herself fascinated by the red god, but keeps it to herself.
 * 306 AC: Her brother puts her in charge of Willow Wood’s accounts, which improves finances substantially.
 * 309 AC: Attends the festivities for Prince Maekar's nameday and Princess Aerea's wedding in King's Landing, where she runs into Lucerys Targaryen again.

Household

 * Melara Redwyne, the matriarch of the family, widowed for almost ten years. A beautiful woman from the Reach who’s used to the finer things in life but abandoned it all for love. Nevertheless, she still longs for luxury. | Archetype: Trader
 * Desmond Ryger, the taciturn, solemn young lord of Willow Wood, and Holly’s older brother.
 * Roslin Ryger, Holly’s clever, bright younger sister, serves as a mediator between Holly and Desmond.
 * Amerei Ryger, the most mischievous of the bunch, she’s the second to youngest sister and often the devil on Holly’s shoulder. | Archetype: Agent
 * Liane Ryger, a shy girl of only eleven years, and the youngest Ryger sibling.
 * Ser Ryam Ryger, a cousin. | Archetype: Tourney Knight
 * Bethany Blackwood, the grandmother that Holly takes after.