Ava Tibbett grew up in Bree-land with her parents - a toolmaker and his wife - and twin brother. After her father's untimely death, it was revealed to her that through him, she had a heritage of Westernesse blood, and the family was thus invited to live with the Dúnedain of the North in the Angle of Mitheithel. 

Tírillith, how her father had also named her for their Dúnedain roots, flourished in this new community. While her brother was taken to be trained in the ways of a ranger, she stayed in Tornhad with her mother and began to accompany and help one of the resident healers to learn from. Eventually, she got married and had two sons; but the woe that so often befalls the Dúnedain did not stop for her, and so she and her husband had but six happy years together before he was slain on a mission. 

But with a close-knit circle of women all eager to help around her, herself and her two young sons would want for nothing. It was around that time that one of her closest friends suffered a miscarriage and nearly died; and that was for Tiril the deciding reason to focus her healing on womens' health and midwifery. 

When in 3019 T.A., the Grey Company assembled to ride south, her eldest son - only 24 at that time - begged her to let him ride with them. Fearing for his life, she wouldn't allow it, until Tirnel promised to look out for him and keep him safe. Sadly, her brother couldn't keep this promise, and when Tirnel didn't return after the war either, she first feared she had lost them both.