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Help[Games] Re: Saphirdufeu’s Royal Congrats - Round 9: What Triumph, What Pain
in reply to a message by saphirdufeu
1213
House of Wessex
H [dec]: King Philip Arthur Fulk
W [d. 61]: Dowager Queen Edith Adeliza (formerly of Northumbria) / "Queen Mother"
D1 [43]: Eleanor Agnes Berengaria, Baroness MacDougall
S1 [41]: King Geoffrey Fulk Edmund
D2 [39]: Queen Mathilde of France / Reine Mathilde de Wessex (Maud Alice Emma)
S2 [dec]: Prince James Christian Henrik
S3 [35]: Percival Julian Richard (formerly Deacon)
D3 [32]: Maria Frances Avelina, Countess Arundel
S4 [23]: Prince David Lance Edward
_____________________________________________________________
D1: Baroness Nell
Bethrothal [dec]: Renard Humfrey Ayr, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
H [42]: Hugo Alvar MacDougall, Baron Atholl (from Northumbria)
S1 [dec]: Simon Arnold MacDougall
S2 [dec]: Edmond Rune MacDougall
S3 [10]: Stephen Thomas MacDougall
S4 [d. 3]: James Andrew MacDougall
S5 [5]: Ralf Wulfric MacDougall / "Wolf"
_____________________________________________________________
S1: King Geoff
W [40]: Queen Aline Blanche Isabelle (formerly Rennes)
S1 [d. 20]: Prince Crispin Helias Isambard
-W (less than one day)[19]: Princess Magdalene Martha Louisa of Flanders
S2 [21]: Prince Faramond Jehan Balian / "Wryneck"
-Betrothal [18]: Mary Adela Runa of Brittany / "Fair Maid of Brittany"
D1 [19]: Queen Teofania of Portugal / Rainha Teofania de Wessex (Theophania Elizabeth Cecilia)
-H [25]: King Fabian Matthew Pius of Portugal (Rei Fabiano Matias Pio Braganza Avis)
--S [nb]: Prince Hector Boniface Tybalt (Hector Bonifacio Teobaldo)
S3 [18]: Prince Teodoric Martin Edwin
D2 [15]: Princess Amelia Johanna Dorothea
-Betrothal [21]: King Basil Adam Isaac of East Anglia (House Ventris)
_____________________________________________________________
D2: Queen Maud
H [47]: King Charles Benoit of France / Roi Charles
S1 [19]: King Lionel of Norway, Prince of France (Lionel Niall Damours)
-W [18]: Queen Sophie of Norway, Princess of France (Sonja Teresa Johanna Damours)
D1 [13]: Princess Marie Elisabeth Damours
D2 [d. 5]: Princess Béatrice Claire Damours
D3 [9]: Princess Charlotte Ève Damours
S2 [d. nb]: Prince Quentin Gabriel Damours
S3 [3]: Prince Arnaud Steven Damours
D4 [nb]: Agnès Eloisa Damours
_____________________________________________________________
S3: Percy
W [28]: Veronica Charity Wessex (formerly Wolsey; daughter of Mungo, Baron Auchinleck)
D [4]: Estrild Agatha Alice Wessex
_____________________________________________________________
D3: Countess Maria
H [35]: Rupert Einar Rotheberg, Earl of Arundel
-Mistress [26]: Elizabeth Leonia, Viscountess Leclerc (from Mercia)
--D1 [4]: Magdalene Clemencia Rotheberg
--D2 [2]: Galienne Dulcibella Rotheberg
--D3 [nb]: Genevieve Eulalia Rotheberg
Mistress [30]: Princess Sabelina Idonea of Kent (House Riddoch)
_____________________________________________________________
S4: David
What Triumph! Hark - What Pain!
The past five years have been of marked joy and sorrow for House Wessex.
Eleanor, Baroness Atholl gave birth to a fifth son near the end of 1208; alas, her and Hugo's little James succumbed to a mysterious illness that killed him in only a day. The great Persian philosopher Avicenna had written of symptoms mirroring James', but even with his words there was no cure. And so the Baron and Baroness buried a third son. Nell had to greatly resist the urge to be overprotective of her remaining two children, Stephen and Ralf. The love that had brought Nell and Hugo together in the first place slowly blossomed again over the intervening years - though the drama of her house would greatly interfere.
In France, Queen Maud lost two children of her own. King Charles was the one to discover newborn Quentin dead in his cradle, with no cause readily apparent. A year later, their daughter Béatrice contracted smallpox herself, along with two servants, though the rest of the palace stayed safe. None of the victims survived. Charlotte took Béatrice's death the hardest, losing her twin (even though they weren't identical). Not long after, Prince Arnaud was born, though his siblings were afraid to become attached to him, given what had happened to Quentin. The anxious grief of the royal family took time to dissipate. Life truly returned to normalcy when Princess Agnès was born. After all, they had to prepare for Lionel to become King of Norway!
Percival and Veronica managed their holdings efficiently, and were well-regarded by their tenants. They lived simply, and had never thought to be parents. However, four years ago, a daughter was born to them: Estrild - a name from both Veronica's and Queen Mother Edith's family trees. Percy grew anxious at having a daughter. Yes, as his heir she would inherit his properties, but should he die before she married... he knew their world was filled with wolves in sheep's clothing. And outright wolves who didn't bother hiding. He didn't want a target painted on her back for her to be taken advantage of - financially or worse. Veronica did her best to ease his worries and be his partner. They both hoped King Geoffrey would come to love his niece.
Countess Maria and her husband, the Earl of Arundel, seem to have stopped even trying to have a traditional marriage. Some wickedly speculate the union was never even consummated, though others are able to provide "testimony" to the contrary, often played for laughs. Maria doesn't even live at Arundel Castle anymore - she lives in the Kingdom of Kent, as a lady-in-waiting to Princess Sabelina, widow of the late Prince of Kent and mother to the current child Prince. For the most part they maintain discretion, and Maria is a wonderful entertainment for the Kentian Court as a lutenist, but she does often play for an audience of one...
As for Rupert, Earl Arundel, he has moved his own mistress into Arundel Castle: Viscountess Elizabeth Leclerc, a young Mercian widow with no family of her own. She has assumed all duties of "her ladyship," and in all but name and legality is Rupert's wife. She has even borne him three (illegitimate) children in the last five or so years: Magdalene, Galienne, and Genevieve, on whom he dotes. There is talk of him seeking an annulment of his marriage to Maria so he can finally marry "Bess." The friendship between the Dowager Countess Arundel and Queen Mother Edith has become strained due to their children's failure of a marriage. Edith would be troubled even further with the passing of her elderly mother, Rohesia. She would travel to Northumbria for the funeral, and return in time for some Wessex weddings! She returned with Hugo, Nell, and their two boys as well.
It was a double-wedding in 1212, and everyone who could turn up for it did, besides Nell's family: Queen Maud and Princess Marie; Percy, Veronica, and little Estrild; and Maria even scandalously invited Princess Sabelina to accompany her! (Earl Arundel was there, as well - with Bess - and the estranged couple skillfully avoided one another.) There was music and laughter and feasting as Prince Crispin married the lovely Princess Magdalena of Flanders and Princess Theophania married the - truly dashing! - King Fabian of Portugal to become its queen! For her part, Queen Aline was disconcerted to see that much of what her dear Phannie had been fantasizing proved correct in the end. Fabian also seemed to befriend wanderlust-filled Prince David, and offered sailing advice - himself being an avid sailor. Even the crown's ward, Mary, got in on the festivities. She was a shy, beautiful young woman, with a bright imagination and keen intellect, and she had garnered the nom de guerre "Fair Maid of Brittany" purely by existing. Those she'd grown up with seemed to actually regard her as a sibling - with the exception of King Geoffrey I's youngest brother, David, who always excluded her from his plans for adventure - not to mention Prince Faramond, who seemed suspicious of everyone since he was five years old. Mary was so happy for Phannie.
Everyone was celebrating life, and being alive for it. Even Nell and Maud were joking and laughing together, like they hadn't since before they even knew Charles! So far, it was the event of the century.
It was supposed to be a joyous occasion. But Prince Faramond knew something no one else did.
Crispin was everyone's idea of a perfect king. And what he didn't quite have in military and political strategy... well, he had his twin to fall back on for that! His imperfect twin, the one injured at birth who still couldn't turn his head all the way to the right and whose eye still had difficulty focusing. The one content to remain in the shadows. But whereas Faramond had fancied many a girl who he was sure would never return his affections - certainly not when they had his dashing brother to look at - and only found a willing lass if he had the coin on his person, Crispin preferred... the lads who mucked out the stables. He didn't have confidence that he could put up the facade necessary for a royal marriage, and now that the day was here, and everyone was celebrating, and his bride looked at him adoringly, he didn't think he could handle it.
So Faramond got him a pint. It was only supposed to be one - something to calm him down. It took Faramond too long to realize his brother had continued drinking, until he was so sauced he looked at his grown Aunt Maria with the Princess of Kent and decided if she could live openly in such an arrangement, there was no reason for him to go through with this, dammit! So he ran out to the stables, got the first horse he saw, saddled it slapdash, and rode out into the night.
He didn't get very far. Not in his state. The horse reared and threw him to the ground, and he broke his neck.
Thus the wedding feast was reduced to a wailing mess. Phannie was absolutely beside herself - as was Queen Aline. Princess Magdalene was more or less simply stunned. As for Edith, she was so shocked she could not speak, and had to be carried to her chamber. She was dead two days later.
And the scream... the scream of anguish that Faramond had unleashed had been enough to reach the shore, everyone was certain. Included with his mourning and resentment was an insidious little thought that lingered in the back of his mind and would not leave. The thought was that everyone was looking at the heir to the throne's body and saying, Now the twins finally match.
In the somber morning, the royal family (excluding the children) discussed what they should do. King Fabian, Princess Magdalene, and Mary of Brittany were also present. It was proposed that Princess Magdalene should simply marry Prince Faramond, and that way the union of Flanders and Wessex & Mercia could be preserved.
Magdalene blurted out, "What, Wryneck?" And the room fell silent.
No one ever actually called Faramond that to his face. It was a cruel jab, developed by those who sought to diminish him. After five cool seconds, Faramond told her she could embark on the first ship back to Brugge (Bruges). Magdalene was a crying, apologetic mess as Faramond turned and left the room without a glance behind him. Phannie was the only one to stay behind with newly-minted, newly-jilted sister-in-law, and everyone else followed Faramond to a new room for a new course of action. King Geoffrey and Queen Aline both tried to convince their son he couldn't rule effectively if he acted on impulses from offense, but Faramond stated logically, "It cannot do to have a partner in ruling this kingdom who would so openly ridicule its sovereign. It would diminish what little respect they already have. Besides, we cannot grovel to Flanders - they need us more than we need them. If they still desire alliance against the Holy Roman Empire, then they shall send us someone worthy. Until then, if I am to be your heir..." He took a deep breath. "We need a new course of action. We need someone who knows this land and its struggles, someone who can bolster it from its foundations. Someone the people already know."
"Who?" Geoff and Aline asked in unison. In answer, Faramond made an open-palmed gesture (the "polite point") to Mary: "The Fair Maiden herself."
No one was more shocked than Mary. Or offended. When she angrily refused, he asked, "What, you don't wish to be saddled with Wryneck, either?"
"That's not the reason, you know it's not!" When the room showed that no, no one in the room knew the reason, she exclaimed, "Not only am I your first cousin twice removed, Faramond - and this family has always demonstrated an aversion to cousin-marriage - but has everyone forgotten what my parents did? They nearly destroyed this kingdom with their selfishness! The people have long memories, they can't see me being rewarded with a crown! I was supposed to die an old maid in a convent somewhere!"
"Were you?" Faramond asked, sarcastically. "Because we haven't shipped you off to one yet, and you haven't volunteered yourself."
"Your smirking is not helping!" But Mary's objections largely fell in the face of Faramond's assertion that such a union would permanently silence any and every cry for Mercian independence from Wessex, as "their jewel of rebellion will finally be in the crown." The way he explained it, the path was so clear. It was all but decided. Mary withdrew for the next several weeks into a heavy depression - they were waiting till after she turned 18 for the wedding - and avoided Faramond whenever she could. She couldn't take his smirking sarcasm, the way he seemed to know her mind before she did. As for Faramond, tormenting Mary by doing little but engaging her in conversation and actually listening to what she said was the only thing to brighten his days in the wake of his twin's tragic death.
Soon after this event, Prince David followed his sister back to Portugal so they could form a joint Portuguese & Wessex fleet of sorts to explore west, with David leading the fleet. He was finally leaving his crazy family. As for Phannie - who became "Rainha Fania" to her ladies-in-waiting - the toughest part about her new duties as queen was learning Portuguese, but she was managing quite well. She'd been bred to be queen, and it helped that her husband was what she had always dreamed of. Sometimes she had to pinch herself to believe this was real. Just a couple months ago, she birthed the heir to the Portuguese throne, Prince Hector, to much rejoicing in the land. This occurred at the same time Prince Lionel of France married Queen Sophia (Sophie / Sonja, depending on where she is) of Norway. It was established that they would live in Bergen (Bjørgvin), Norway, and that the first son born to them would be heir to the throne of France, while the second would inherit Norway.
Geoff and Aline also hadn't slowed down, and negotiated a betrothal for their youngest, Amelia, to the King of East Anglia - a nation that had often been at odds with Wessex, mostly for economic reasons. This was an alliance for security.
***
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House of Wessex
H [dec]: King Philip Arthur Fulk
W [d. 61]: Dowager Queen Edith Adeliza (formerly of Northumbria) / "Queen Mother"
D1 [43]: Eleanor Agnes Berengaria, Baroness MacDougall
S1 [41]: King Geoffrey Fulk Edmund
D2 [39]: Queen Mathilde of France / Reine Mathilde de Wessex (Maud Alice Emma)
S2 [dec]: Prince James Christian Henrik
S3 [35]: Percival Julian Richard (formerly Deacon)
D3 [32]: Maria Frances Avelina, Countess Arundel
S4 [23]: Prince David Lance Edward
_____________________________________________________________
D1: Baroness Nell
Bethrothal [dec]: Renard Humfrey Ayr, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
H [42]: Hugo Alvar MacDougall, Baron Atholl (from Northumbria)
S1 [dec]: Simon Arnold MacDougall
S2 [dec]: Edmond Rune MacDougall
S3 [10]: Stephen Thomas MacDougall
S4 [d. 3]: James Andrew MacDougall
S5 [5]: Ralf Wulfric MacDougall / "Wolf"
_____________________________________________________________
S1: King Geoff
W [40]: Queen Aline Blanche Isabelle (formerly Rennes)
S1 [d. 20]: Prince Crispin Helias Isambard
-W (less than one day)[19]: Princess Magdalene Martha Louisa of Flanders
S2 [21]: Prince Faramond Jehan Balian / "Wryneck"
-Betrothal [18]: Mary Adela Runa of Brittany / "Fair Maid of Brittany"
D1 [19]: Queen Teofania of Portugal / Rainha Teofania de Wessex (Theophania Elizabeth Cecilia)
-H [25]: King Fabian Matthew Pius of Portugal (Rei Fabiano Matias Pio Braganza Avis)
--S [nb]: Prince Hector Boniface Tybalt (Hector Bonifacio Teobaldo)
S3 [18]: Prince Teodoric Martin Edwin
D2 [15]: Princess Amelia Johanna Dorothea
-Betrothal [21]: King Basil Adam Isaac of East Anglia (House Ventris)
_____________________________________________________________
D2: Queen Maud
H [47]: King Charles Benoit of France / Roi Charles
S1 [19]: King Lionel of Norway, Prince of France (Lionel Niall Damours)
-W [18]: Queen Sophie of Norway, Princess of France (Sonja Teresa Johanna Damours)
D1 [13]: Princess Marie Elisabeth Damours
D2 [d. 5]: Princess Béatrice Claire Damours
D3 [9]: Princess Charlotte Ève Damours
S2 [d. nb]: Prince Quentin Gabriel Damours
S3 [3]: Prince Arnaud Steven Damours
D4 [nb]: Agnès Eloisa Damours
_____________________________________________________________
S3: Percy
W [28]: Veronica Charity Wessex (formerly Wolsey; daughter of Mungo, Baron Auchinleck)
D [4]: Estrild Agatha Alice Wessex
_____________________________________________________________
D3: Countess Maria
H [35]: Rupert Einar Rotheberg, Earl of Arundel
-Mistress [26]: Elizabeth Leonia, Viscountess Leclerc (from Mercia)
--D1 [4]: Magdalene Clemencia Rotheberg
--D2 [2]: Galienne Dulcibella Rotheberg
--D3 [nb]: Genevieve Eulalia Rotheberg
Mistress [30]: Princess Sabelina Idonea of Kent (House Riddoch)
_____________________________________________________________
S4: David
What Triumph! Hark - What Pain!
The past five years have been of marked joy and sorrow for House Wessex.
Eleanor, Baroness Atholl gave birth to a fifth son near the end of 1208; alas, her and Hugo's little James succumbed to a mysterious illness that killed him in only a day. The great Persian philosopher Avicenna had written of symptoms mirroring James', but even with his words there was no cure. And so the Baron and Baroness buried a third son. Nell had to greatly resist the urge to be overprotective of her remaining two children, Stephen and Ralf. The love that had brought Nell and Hugo together in the first place slowly blossomed again over the intervening years - though the drama of her house would greatly interfere.
In France, Queen Maud lost two children of her own. King Charles was the one to discover newborn Quentin dead in his cradle, with no cause readily apparent. A year later, their daughter Béatrice contracted smallpox herself, along with two servants, though the rest of the palace stayed safe. None of the victims survived. Charlotte took Béatrice's death the hardest, losing her twin (even though they weren't identical). Not long after, Prince Arnaud was born, though his siblings were afraid to become attached to him, given what had happened to Quentin. The anxious grief of the royal family took time to dissipate. Life truly returned to normalcy when Princess Agnès was born. After all, they had to prepare for Lionel to become King of Norway!
Percival and Veronica managed their holdings efficiently, and were well-regarded by their tenants. They lived simply, and had never thought to be parents. However, four years ago, a daughter was born to them: Estrild - a name from both Veronica's and Queen Mother Edith's family trees. Percy grew anxious at having a daughter. Yes, as his heir she would inherit his properties, but should he die before she married... he knew their world was filled with wolves in sheep's clothing. And outright wolves who didn't bother hiding. He didn't want a target painted on her back for her to be taken advantage of - financially or worse. Veronica did her best to ease his worries and be his partner. They both hoped King Geoffrey would come to love his niece.
Countess Maria and her husband, the Earl of Arundel, seem to have stopped even trying to have a traditional marriage. Some wickedly speculate the union was never even consummated, though others are able to provide "testimony" to the contrary, often played for laughs. Maria doesn't even live at Arundel Castle anymore - she lives in the Kingdom of Kent, as a lady-in-waiting to Princess Sabelina, widow of the late Prince of Kent and mother to the current child Prince. For the most part they maintain discretion, and Maria is a wonderful entertainment for the Kentian Court as a lutenist, but she does often play for an audience of one...
As for Rupert, Earl Arundel, he has moved his own mistress into Arundel Castle: Viscountess Elizabeth Leclerc, a young Mercian widow with no family of her own. She has assumed all duties of "her ladyship," and in all but name and legality is Rupert's wife. She has even borne him three (illegitimate) children in the last five or so years: Magdalene, Galienne, and Genevieve, on whom he dotes. There is talk of him seeking an annulment of his marriage to Maria so he can finally marry "Bess." The friendship between the Dowager Countess Arundel and Queen Mother Edith has become strained due to their children's failure of a marriage. Edith would be troubled even further with the passing of her elderly mother, Rohesia. She would travel to Northumbria for the funeral, and return in time for some Wessex weddings! She returned with Hugo, Nell, and their two boys as well.
It was a double-wedding in 1212, and everyone who could turn up for it did, besides Nell's family: Queen Maud and Princess Marie; Percy, Veronica, and little Estrild; and Maria even scandalously invited Princess Sabelina to accompany her! (Earl Arundel was there, as well - with Bess - and the estranged couple skillfully avoided one another.) There was music and laughter and feasting as Prince Crispin married the lovely Princess Magdalena of Flanders and Princess Theophania married the - truly dashing! - King Fabian of Portugal to become its queen! For her part, Queen Aline was disconcerted to see that much of what her dear Phannie had been fantasizing proved correct in the end. Fabian also seemed to befriend wanderlust-filled Prince David, and offered sailing advice - himself being an avid sailor. Even the crown's ward, Mary, got in on the festivities. She was a shy, beautiful young woman, with a bright imagination and keen intellect, and she had garnered the nom de guerre "Fair Maid of Brittany" purely by existing. Those she'd grown up with seemed to actually regard her as a sibling - with the exception of King Geoffrey I's youngest brother, David, who always excluded her from his plans for adventure - not to mention Prince Faramond, who seemed suspicious of everyone since he was five years old. Mary was so happy for Phannie.
Everyone was celebrating life, and being alive for it. Even Nell and Maud were joking and laughing together, like they hadn't since before they even knew Charles! So far, it was the event of the century.
It was supposed to be a joyous occasion. But Prince Faramond knew something no one else did.
Crispin was everyone's idea of a perfect king. And what he didn't quite have in military and political strategy... well, he had his twin to fall back on for that! His imperfect twin, the one injured at birth who still couldn't turn his head all the way to the right and whose eye still had difficulty focusing. The one content to remain in the shadows. But whereas Faramond had fancied many a girl who he was sure would never return his affections - certainly not when they had his dashing brother to look at - and only found a willing lass if he had the coin on his person, Crispin preferred... the lads who mucked out the stables. He didn't have confidence that he could put up the facade necessary for a royal marriage, and now that the day was here, and everyone was celebrating, and his bride looked at him adoringly, he didn't think he could handle it.
So Faramond got him a pint. It was only supposed to be one - something to calm him down. It took Faramond too long to realize his brother had continued drinking, until he was so sauced he looked at his grown Aunt Maria with the Princess of Kent and decided if she could live openly in such an arrangement, there was no reason for him to go through with this, dammit! So he ran out to the stables, got the first horse he saw, saddled it slapdash, and rode out into the night.
He didn't get very far. Not in his state. The horse reared and threw him to the ground, and he broke his neck.
Thus the wedding feast was reduced to a wailing mess. Phannie was absolutely beside herself - as was Queen Aline. Princess Magdalene was more or less simply stunned. As for Edith, she was so shocked she could not speak, and had to be carried to her chamber. She was dead two days later.
And the scream... the scream of anguish that Faramond had unleashed had been enough to reach the shore, everyone was certain. Included with his mourning and resentment was an insidious little thought that lingered in the back of his mind and would not leave. The thought was that everyone was looking at the heir to the throne's body and saying, Now the twins finally match.
In the somber morning, the royal family (excluding the children) discussed what they should do. King Fabian, Princess Magdalene, and Mary of Brittany were also present. It was proposed that Princess Magdalene should simply marry Prince Faramond, and that way the union of Flanders and Wessex & Mercia could be preserved.
Magdalene blurted out, "What, Wryneck?" And the room fell silent.
No one ever actually called Faramond that to his face. It was a cruel jab, developed by those who sought to diminish him. After five cool seconds, Faramond told her she could embark on the first ship back to Brugge (Bruges). Magdalene was a crying, apologetic mess as Faramond turned and left the room without a glance behind him. Phannie was the only one to stay behind with newly-minted, newly-jilted sister-in-law, and everyone else followed Faramond to a new room for a new course of action. King Geoffrey and Queen Aline both tried to convince their son he couldn't rule effectively if he acted on impulses from offense, but Faramond stated logically, "It cannot do to have a partner in ruling this kingdom who would so openly ridicule its sovereign. It would diminish what little respect they already have. Besides, we cannot grovel to Flanders - they need us more than we need them. If they still desire alliance against the Holy Roman Empire, then they shall send us someone worthy. Until then, if I am to be your heir..." He took a deep breath. "We need a new course of action. We need someone who knows this land and its struggles, someone who can bolster it from its foundations. Someone the people already know."
"Who?" Geoff and Aline asked in unison. In answer, Faramond made an open-palmed gesture (the "polite point") to Mary: "The Fair Maiden herself."
No one was more shocked than Mary. Or offended. When she angrily refused, he asked, "What, you don't wish to be saddled with Wryneck, either?"
"That's not the reason, you know it's not!" When the room showed that no, no one in the room knew the reason, she exclaimed, "Not only am I your first cousin twice removed, Faramond - and this family has always demonstrated an aversion to cousin-marriage - but has everyone forgotten what my parents did? They nearly destroyed this kingdom with their selfishness! The people have long memories, they can't see me being rewarded with a crown! I was supposed to die an old maid in a convent somewhere!"
"Were you?" Faramond asked, sarcastically. "Because we haven't shipped you off to one yet, and you haven't volunteered yourself."
"Your smirking is not helping!" But Mary's objections largely fell in the face of Faramond's assertion that such a union would permanently silence any and every cry for Mercian independence from Wessex, as "their jewel of rebellion will finally be in the crown." The way he explained it, the path was so clear. It was all but decided. Mary withdrew for the next several weeks into a heavy depression - they were waiting till after she turned 18 for the wedding - and avoided Faramond whenever she could. She couldn't take his smirking sarcasm, the way he seemed to know her mind before she did. As for Faramond, tormenting Mary by doing little but engaging her in conversation and actually listening to what she said was the only thing to brighten his days in the wake of his twin's tragic death.
Soon after this event, Prince David followed his sister back to Portugal so they could form a joint Portuguese & Wessex fleet of sorts to explore west, with David leading the fleet. He was finally leaving his crazy family. As for Phannie - who became "Rainha Fania" to her ladies-in-waiting - the toughest part about her new duties as queen was learning Portuguese, but she was managing quite well. She'd been bred to be queen, and it helped that her husband was what she had always dreamed of. Sometimes she had to pinch herself to believe this was real. Just a couple months ago, she birthed the heir to the Portuguese throne, Prince Hector, to much rejoicing in the land. This occurred at the same time Prince Lionel of France married Queen Sophia (Sophie / Sonja, depending on where she is) of Norway. It was established that they would live in Bergen (Bjørgvin), Norway, and that the first son born to them would be heir to the throne of France, while the second would inherit Norway.
Geoff and Aline also hadn't slowed down, and negotiated a betrothal for their youngest, Amelia, to the King of East Anglia - a nation that had often been at odds with Wessex, mostly for economic reasons. This was an alliance for security.
***
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This message was edited 8/1/2018, 10:23 AM
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