On my Heroine Archetypes page I speak of Tarma shena Tale'sedrin of the Shin'a'in people from Mercedes Lackey's Vows and Honor
duology. Tarma is sole survivor of Clan Tale'sedrin who, after being
gang-raped and strangled by the murdering bandits, is left for dead.
Fleeing to the neighboring Clan Liha'irden, she clings to life and
sanity by harboring her desire for revenge. However by the traditions of
the Clans she can only seek revenge by offering her service to the Star-Eyed, fourfold Goddess of the Shin'a'in, becoming Kal'enedral – a celibate
Swordsworn priestess. Yet to become Kal'enedral Tarma, still recovering
from her grief and rape, sang the following song to the Star-Eyed (who is easily my all time favorite Fantasy deity).
Knowing Tarma's backstory, even so briefly as I have laid out, makes the song measurably better. A beacon of strength and reminder that we can rise after losing literally everything to find hope and joy, love and purpose in the world again.
