Serena Forrester

Serena Forrester is the Lady of Ironrath. She is married to Marston Forrester and is first cousins with Teora Stark and Dacey Mormont.

Biography
Serena was born the eldest child of Roderick Forrester, the Lord of Ironrath, and his third and last wife, Lynesse Manderly, in 190 AC. Born to an autocratic father and an ambitious mother, Serena came as a disappointment to Roderick, who’d wanted a boy to inherit Ironrath.

Although Serena was legally the heir to Ironrath, as no sons ever came, she was never raised as such. As a result, she grew up feeling robbed of her birthright and resentful of her father. Lord Forrester did not care. He was shaping her cousin Marston—the only trueborn boy born to House Forrester at the time—to be his heir before Serena was born, and had no intention of ever letting a mere daughter rule.

Her mother, however, had other plans. A proud Manderly of White Harbor, Lady Forrester was even more resentful of her husband than Serena was. She would do her best to teach all her daughters—and particularly Serena—how to use the misconceptions their father had about them to their advantage. It was her who instructed Serena in the art of finding herbs and using them for healing, while the castle’s maester taught her to mend bones and suture wounds.

But although her mother's efforts would not be in vain, even she could not protect her eldest daughter from the Lord of Ironrath’s temper. Serena shouldered the brunt of Roderick's abuse, which was more psychological and emotional than physical, but punctuated nevertheless by the occasional beating.

In order to hide what was happening to her, Serena had to hide her own scars and bruises for years, learn how to attract the least amount of attention possible, and move silently.

In 201 AC, her younger sister Jeyne was sent to ward in Winterfell, with her aunt Mara Forrester and her husband, lord Stark. Serena would keep in touch with her sister, sending her letters often and inquiring about the goings on at Winterfell.

It was not until she married Marston at her father's command that Serena found some semblance of peace. Though she'd always concealed and lied about her father tormenting her, she was aware that her new husband had also suffered at his hands. Confiding in him proved to be healing for them both.

It was Serena herself who helped her new husband cover up the truth about the fate that befell Roderick. She knew every hidden spot in Ironrath, how to slip in and out of the keep undetected.

In 210 AC, Serena’s sister Bethany died in a hunting accident. But Serena uncovered the truth, discovering that it had been the Whitehills who’d arranged her death. Since then, Serena has harbored a deep resentment towards the Whitehills.

Timeline
190 AC: Born to Roderick Forrester and Lynesse Manderly.

201 AC: Her sister Jeyne is sent to ward at Winterfell.

205 AC: Serena’s cousin, Teora Stark, is sent as a ward to King’s Landing.

208 AC: Marries her cousin Marston at her father’s command. Her father dies that same year.

210 AC: Her son Rickon is born. The same year, her younger sister, Bethany, dies in a hunting accident rumored to have been arranged by the Whitehills.

215 AC: Present.

Family tree

 * Roderick Forrester, Lord of Ironrath (b. 150 AC-d. 208 AC)
 * m. Lynesse Manderly (b. 164 AC)
 * Serena Forrester (b. 190 AC), Lady of Ironrath
 * m. Marston Forrester (b. 183 AC), Lord of Ironrath
 * Rickon Forrester (b. 210 AC)
 * Bethany Forrester (b. 191 AC-d. 210 AC)
 * Lysara Forrester (b. 192 AC)
 * Jeyne Forrester (b. 193 AC)
 * Meera Forrester (b. 195 AC)

Supporting characters
Lysara Forrester: Warrior (Axes) | Younger sister to Serena and her sworn shield.

Brandon Snow: Questioner | Serena's cousin, a bastard with a black reputation.