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“ My child, who through me carries the noble blood of Etruria in his veins, will in ten days be named as the right-born heir to the throne. Ha ha ha! No matter how you may dote on her, your illegitimate daughter, Guinivere, is destined to be nothing more than a baseborn shadow... It is my son who shall reign in Bern! My son, Zephiel! Ha ha ha ha ha! How it gives me such pleasure to say those words!”
—Hellene to Desmond, a few days before Zephiel's coming-of-age ceremony.

Hellene is the wife of King Desmond of Bern and the biological mother of his successor, Zephiel. She is the Queen of Bern during the events of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, although she originally hails from Etruria.

Profile[]

Born to a noble family in Etruria, Hellene was betrothed to the future King of Bern, Desmond. Their political marriage was barren of love, especially from Desmond who was in love with a commoner woman. Though once kindhearted, their loveless marriage soured Hellene's disposition and thus she sought to sire a child, resulting in the birth of Zephiel. Her ire towards Desmond was further exasperated when he eventually took his original lover as a mistress, resulting in the birth of an illegitimate daughter, Guinivere. To make matters worse for her, Desmond showed preference to his mistress and daughter by allowing them to live in the palace while Hellene and Zephiel lived in the Royal Manse outside of the castle.

Prior to Zephiel's coming-of-age ceremony, she jeeringly reminds his father the king that it is her own son, a prince of noble Etrurian blood, who is going to ascend Bern's throne. When the prince's attempted assassination takes place shortly afterwards, she expresses concern only for the Fire Emblem that is needed for the ceremony, rather than the well-being of the boy himself. Eliwood, who initially seeks her help to access the Shrine of Seals in return for retrieving the emblem, is appalled by this and takes his leave of her. Once she realized that her obsession with securing the throne resulted in the assassination attempt on her son, she realized the error of her ways and proceeded to help Eliwood for saving Zephiel's life. She is able to reconcile with her son, and reluctantly accepts Guinivere as well.

In Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, Guinivere mentions her briefly when recollecting Zephiel's tragic past. She reveals that King Desmond eventually wanted Hellene assassinated along with Zephiel and Murdock or at least have her and Murdock exiled from Bern. While it is known that his attempt on Zephiel's life had failed yet again and Murdock still lived, it is never mentioned whether or not he succeeded in either plan against Hellene.

Personality[]

Hellene is noted for her superficial and materialistic woman who took out her frustrations over her loveless marriage with Desmond out against him directly. She constantly taunted him that their son Zephiel would be destined to be king by birthright despite that he favored Guinivere, his illegitimate daughter. Unlike Desmond's view on Zephiel, Hellene does not view Guinivere as anything, not even a threat to Zephiel's eventual succession as he has the birthright secured.

She goes into a panic when the Fire Emblem is stolen, thus interfering with her ambitions at which she grovels to Desmond to accept his son, even breaking down to tears over the potential loss. Her prideful demeanor and haughtiness is restored when Eliwood, Hector, and Lyn succeed in recovering the Emblem.

According to Louise, Hellene was much kinder in her youth, but the hostile nature of her marriage turned her bitter. Despite her hatred of Desmond, she does love and care for Zephiel and is willing to make amends when she was forced to reevaluate her role in assassination attempt on her son's life. As such, Hellene vows to repair their broken family and even include Guinivere in earnest.

Choose Your Legends Placement History[]

Round Placement Character Version Votes

CYL1 Ineligible
CYL2 Ineligible
CYL3 Ineligible
CYL4 Ineligible
CYL5 484 CYL Hellene Portrait
The Blazing Blade
20
CYL6 488
↓4
CYL Hellene Portrait
The Blazing Blade
25
↑5

CYL7 419
↑69
CYL Hellene Portrait
The Blazing Blade
13
↓12

Etymology[]

The name Hellene is a variant of Helen, 'light'. According to Greek Mythology, Helen was the reason behind the Trojan War after being taken from her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta by Paris of Troy. Ironically in the myth, Helen eloped with Paris, while in the game it is Desmond with someone else.

Trivia[]

  • Hellene has two portraits. After Eliwood criticizes her dismissal of Zephiel's assassins as mere trifles, Murdock will arrive and speak with her. In the next scene, there is a subtle difference in her eyebrows. They are now more rounded rather than the spiteful rigid angle from before, a tiny detail revealing her changed priorities.

Gallery[]

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