Mallora Kaldon

Mallora Kaldon was a poet and playwright, and also queen of Kiatra during the early Fifth Age. Mallora is best known for a sonnet entitled I Am Mallora of Kiatra which describes her great love and longing for a young man who saved her kingdom.

Controversies

In her life, Mallora was often criticized for her relationship with her husband, Astor. Mallora was the only daughter of the then-king of Kiatra, and thus heir to the throne. Initially, Astor thought he was to become king, but Mallora denied him this right, stating that the throne was hers to offer and she did not wish to share it. She also forced Astor to take her last name. At the time and in the region, this was an enormous departure from the norm. However, Mallora's father backed her on it, and after a lengthy co-regency she ruled Kiatra in her own right. Centuries later, Mallora became a feminist icon.

Relationship with Husband

Mallora was married to Astor Reginald when he was 31 and she twenty-five. It was largely a marriage of convenience; Astor was the son of a wealthy family and highly placed within the state-owned business concerns of Kiatra. Despite his wealthy upbringing, Astor had a keen mind for business and had graduated from a prestigious university in Sun's Beacon. He had the connections and skill to become very influential. By marrying him, Mallora kept that influence close to the throne.

Still, there was love there. Astor was a big fan of Mallora's poetry, and while he was power-hungry, he was also a fierce loyalist to Kiatra(another thing the pair had in common). Sources close to the royal family were keen to point out that they were almost made for each other, and it was unlikely either would have found a better match. The princesses cousin, also a close friend of Astor, wrote that:

"If that punk had married anyone else, he'd have been a monster. He'd be a philandering, wife-beating, power-mad SOB. Mallora stood up to him. She wasn't about to tolerate any form of abuse, and never hesitated to remind him who was queen. But she was also a loyal, tender soul; she stayed faithful to him from the day they met, and was very supportive. They didn't always get along, but they never went to bed angry. There may not have been love, but they were partners to the end".

Mallora did outlive her husband, and when asked if she would re-marry or take a lover, she replied that "I made a promise. I don't keep it for him, I keep it for me.".