Sunnifa of the Rénewardingas

Sunnifa was a Rohirrim servant woman who served Queen Morwen of Lossarnach. Golden-haired and lovely, perceptive and brave, Sunnifa draws attention without trying. She comes from an old family of proud Eastfold farmers. She was the youngest unmarried woman in her household when her uncle squandered the last of their old wealth and allowed their farms to be taken by rivals and neighbours. Sunnifa refused to wed one of the men that had brought her family to ruin and fled to Edoras, seeking to serve in the Golden Hall. She had no connections there to speak for her, so she cynically played on old King Fengel’s lust to win a place, only to later avoid his advances so deftly that in his amusement he didn’t mind.

She serves in the court of King Thengel. In her few years of service she has gained bitter rivals among the other serving-men and women of Meduseld, but she has advanced much in station. She has taken no husband, having never met one that seemed to want her for anything but a plaything – until wise Gálmód came to the Golden Hall, the advisor and foster-son of Cenric, Third Marshal of the Mark (see page 34). Sunnifa and Gálmód became friends almost at once, and soon their friendship became more trusting and intimate. Gálmód has promised to marry her when his position at court is secure enough to allow the wedding of a common woman. Sunnifa accepts that, but occasionally she resorts to sly manipulations when more highborn women threaten to draw Gálmód’s attentions.