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....The Benedick name is not a unknown one. For generations the family has been one of the more prominent noble families, despite the less then grand title of Baronet.
....With the title, and the age of the family, came a somewhat impressive amount of wealth, which Lord Benedick hoarded with a near obsession. This greed and pomp reflected upon the small village of Weyrest, which the family owned and lived in. Weyrest grew into realitive obscurity, the population, small to begin with, dwindling farther.
....Lord and Lady Benedick raised their children, Nicoletta Kveta and Nicoli Aleksandre, much like Lord Benedick handled the family estate. With pride and pomp and not a ounce of consideration for the outcome, considering current circumstances. Young Nicoli clearly showed interest in religion and tasks that where, for the most part, reserved for women. Nicoletta, on the other hand, showed much promise in area's that where male dominated. Despite their own personal aptitudes, Lord Benedick insisted on inflecting upon them what every young Lord/Lady should know, much to the dismay of Nicoli and his younger sister.
....It is not known exactly what happened, but the two siblings somehow managed to switch studies, most likely in private. Nicoletta developed her keen business senses and acquired a pride that almost paled in comparison to her fathers, though never overshadowed her good judgement when it came to getting what she wanted. Nicoli, on the other hand, became a devout Christian, humble and quiet, and practiced more mundane and 'bookish' behavior aside from the combat skills he was forced to endure.
....While Nicoletta was in her mid-teens, it is well known that her mother made many attempts to push the girl off on a suitable husband. All the men Nicoletta was forced to parade for where, of course, of good breeding, wealth, and power. She hated each and every one of them, and felt no need to disguise this to Lady Benedick. It was not until she was introduced, by a mutual friend, to one Mister John Knightly that she showed any interest at all in any man. He was of no mentionable breeding, had little more wealth then the lowest of nobles, and no power save that given to him on the merit of his gender alone.
....Needless to say, Lord and Lady Benedick opposed the match, but Nicoletta seemed oblivious to their pleas and was frequently seen strolling through town on Mr. Knightly's arm, and gave no heed to any other man at social functions. Indeed, the couple seemed quite affectionate to each other, though displayed no gesture to strong publicly. Nicoletta saw to that.
....It is perhaps noteworthy to mention that Mr. John Knightly had something of a reputation with the young ladies. He spoke tender words to many a swept away member of the fairer sex, though had never been engaged. It might also be noteworthy that, at the same time, he had nor stayed at any one woman's side for so long as he did young Miss. Benedick... One can only speculate what he felt for her, though to know Nicoletta's cold shoulder is to know the attention she gave him was the closest thing to love she had ever displayed.
....The aforementioned is most likely why it was such a shock to those who saw it as John Knightly abruptly left his home and the town early one eve, and has never been seen since. Certain members of certain social circles speculate different things. Some believe Nicoletta drove him away with her less then ladylike attitude. Others believe she cast him out when she learned of the many other young ladies he had been associated with. Still others wonder if Lord Benedick did not threaten or bribe, or by some other means remove Knightly from his daughters life. Whoever you hear the story from, one thing remains the same. The blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the Benedick Family.
....Shortly after the departure of Mr. John Knightly, Nicoli and Nicoletta departed Thornfield, the family castle in Weyrest, and left to England. Lord and Lady Benedick stated to many friends that Nicoli had offered to take his sister there for the experience of dealing with the British and families even more noble then some of those found in Transylvania. The siblings did not return until near a year later, and upon doing so gave both their parents, and the community, the shock of their lives.
....While vacationing in England, Nicoletta had been awoken late at night by a banging upon the door, as Nicoli told it. She shook her brother from his slumber and made him to go down and see who was at the door at such a ungodly hour, which Nicoli did. Upon opening the door, the young man surprisingly found a sleeping babe in a large wicker basket, with a note. "I know that you are of birth far above mine," the note read. "I cannot care for my child, and ask that you, as kind Christian souls, take this infant into your care as your own. God Bless You." Nicoli's story went on to describe how Nicoletta could not for the life of her allow a child whom she had become so attached to upon sight to be cast into a asylum with the other orphans, and Nicoli could do nothing to sway her from her decision to take the infant boy on as her own.
....One might think such a story completely unbelievable, had it not come from such a God fairing man. Nicoli was not apt to falsify himself, and his word was a bond unbreakable. Therefor, all accept it as the absolute truth. After all, many such events have taken place. Since that day Nicoletta has cared for the child, calling him Nicoli the Second, as her own.
....It was several years after that before Nicoli left his home to join in the Crusades to fight in the name of his God. Nicoletta was noted as being strongly opposed to this venture. Rightfully so, most believe.
....It was only two years following that Lord and Lady Benedick passed on, one shortly after the other, of some illness. Nicoli, as the only son, inherited the estate, though while he was absent his sister cared for it. Through her own cleverness and tips from men in circles she frequented, she built up the near ruins of Weyrest and Thornfield, turning the small village into a prosperous town, though still modest in size. Years passed, and Nicoletta acquired more land, slowly, though nothing too impressive. Most credited her good fortune off to attentive ears while the men spoke business. After all, a woman could not possibly have any real business since.
....Nicoli the Second became a strapping young man, and was around the age of six or so when Nicoletta began receiving a frequent visitor. The first in many years, for she had developed into a recluse after her parents deaths. The visitor was one Miaka Akorithi, a wealthy Widow who had recently taken up residence in a manor near Weyrest. Whatever the two did or spoke of, no one knows. They both kept very much to themselves.. It remained this way for a few more years, before word of Nicoletta's older brother arrived..
....It was a strange sight to see, the strange Knight upon his white horse, riding through Weyrest towards Thornfield in the dead of night. He entered the castle with much haste, and did not immerge again until the next night. It was then that news reached the village. Nicoli Aleksandre Benedick was dead. Killed in combat. The estate was now legally passed to the only remaining heir; Lady Nicoletta. If this was not unusual enough, from that day forth this Knight, later known as Sir Rhoric Du'shande, has never left the side of Lady Benedick. He has remained as her shadow, protecting her when need be, unmovable despite her very obvious disdane for him. The two have raised many a eyebrow, and some speculate that the coldness she regards him with is a farce to throw people off the track of what really goes on between the two, but most believe as they see it. Though considering the fact that Lady Nicoletta seemed to have cultivated a entirely new and elusive set of friends, none can truly be sure what really goes on behind the thick wooden doors of Castle Thornfield any longer...
