Longclaw

Longclaw, a character in the The Cursed Heart series, is the former housekeeper of the Moon Palace, and the current leader of the Sun Court. She is first seen in Book 1, Chapter 2.

Appearance
As a bear, Longclaw has a golden fur, brown eyes, and big claws. She wears a blue hat, a long white dress with a collar, and a long blue apron.

Personality
According to her storybook, as a fae Longclaw was gentle, sweet and lovely. This didn't change when she turned into a bear. Instead, she was recognised for her strength of character, and now she can also be described as friendly and helpful.

Background
Longclaw was a fae maiden who was destined to become the head of her family, but much to her elders' dismay, she had no mind for politics. She preferred the company of her house servants, and she loved helping the cooks and gardeners with their daily tasks. She also loved spending time with her little brother/sister and her cousins, but one day, her brother/sister found some berries, and when Longclaw ate them, she realised that they were enchanted and turned her into a bear. When the guards saw her, they thought that she killed their lady and attacked her, and she ran into the woods. She stayed there for many years, until she wandered by chance onto the grounds of the Moon Palace, where she was accepted despite her fearsome shape.

Book 1

 * Chapter 2: The Moon Court
 * Chapter 3: Palace of the Moon
 * Chapter 4: Flight
 * Chapter 5: Accursed
 * Chapter 6: The Grand Hunt (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 7: Invulnerable
 * Chapter 9: Flower Festival
 * Chapter 10: Mountain of Beasts
 * Chapter 12: Enlightenment (Mentioned)
 * Chapter 13: A Nest of Vipers (Mentioned; Determinant)
 * Chapter 14: A Dream Within A Dream
 * Chapter 15: A War of Hearts
 * Chapter 16: Unbroken

Book 2

 * Chapter 1: The Last Stroke of Midnight
 * Chapter 2: The Raven and the Sword
 * Chapter 3: A Grave Faux Pas (Mentioned)

Your Character
Amidst being claimed by Kieran and residing in the Moon Palace, your bond with Longclaw swiftly grows as she offers compassion upon learning your desire to depart. You assist her in daily chores and become fast friends, overhearing her discussing Kieran's hidden truth about being the Winged Beast. Once this secret unfolds, Longclaw opens up further, revealing more about Kieran's past. As your relationship with Kieran evolves, Longclaw notices the underlying tension and seems content during shared moments, like breakfast after the Flower Festival. However, when Kieran transforms permanently due to a curse stemming from your involvement, attempts to explain the situation to Longclaw are thwarted. Later, upon your return to the ruined Moon Palace, Longclaw, in a fit of rage, accuses you of betrayal, likening you to Lustre, and orders you away. Despite her anger, you vow to aid Kieran and thwart Radiance's schemes before departing. Shortly after however, Longclaw and Sir Montgomery decide to help you and apologize for questioning your motives.

Kieran
Longclaw has been a servant of the Moon Court for many years, and knows Kieran's secret about his/her curse. She is very loyal to him/her, and believes that Kieran is a good person despite his/her curse and his/her monstrous appearance. Longclaw also hopes that one day Kieran might return to his/her old self. When Kieran was a child and returned home after losing his/her mother on a hunting expedition, Longclaw saw the crown on his/her head and asked about it, resulting in Kieran tearing the crown from his/her head, hurling it away, and vowing to never wear it again.

Montgomery Snow
Not much is known about their relationship, but they seem to be close friends given that they are the only remaining members of the Moon Court, and given that they both know about Kieran's curse and try to keep it a secret from you at first. When Sir Montgomery tells you about Kieran's mother, Longclaw takes you aside and says that because Sir Montgomery is old, he sometimes confuses his memories.

Radiance
Radiance is Longclaw's younger sibling. This made Longclaw (Who was called Gleam as a child) the heir to the throne, but try as they might, Blaze and Brightness were never able to turn her against the Moon Court. They considered her soft, too weak, too sentimental to lead, but they could not strike against their own openly. So, they tasked Radiance with his/her first mission, to find a way to curse his/her sister and make it look like an accident. For all his/her precociousness, Radiance was but a child, eager for the approval of his/her mentors and their promises of power unimaginable. Gleam doted upon him/her, and perhaps he/she even loved her back. In the end however, that was not enough. Gleam fell unknowingly into Radiance's trap and was never seen again.

Trivia

 * The gender of Longclaw's sibling depends on the gender of Kieran and Radiance.
 * In Chapter 5, it is revealed that, despite being a Fae, she has been capable of lying ever since she was transformed into a bear.
 * In Chapter 12, albeit not being mentioned by name, it is revealed that Longclaw was a Princess of the Sun Court, and that to this day, the Fae of the Sun Court believe that she was eaten by a monster.