Princess Arissa was the sister of Aldreas, the king of Elenia. The two were in love, and she attempted to seduce and marry him. This was foiled by the elder Sparhawk and she was later sent to a nunnery.
Conspiring with Annias she attempts to put her bastard son Lycheas on the throne by poisoning Queen Ehlana. After this fails, she committed suicide using poison, much to the disappointment of Ulath. His disappointment was easied, to some extent, when Arissa was revealed to merely be dying extrememly slowly and painfully