Chapter Two: The welsh princess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 26,1527

　

　

　

“God’s death,” roared Anine, “Will you never stop this irritating chatter?”

The princess’ ladies in waiting stopped in mid sentence to see the mid-sized slender young woman standing from her seat near the hearth. She scrutinized all of them before taking her leave of her own bed chamber.

 

Her chief lady in waiting, Anna Talin, a stern and welcoming young lady followed not far behind her princess. She was still in awe at the sudden outbursts the princess had been having lately. And all had been focused on her ladies. The young princess was dressed in a ravishing dress. The top made of fine silk that had been dyed in red. The skirt and train followed in the color, but was made in a thicker cloth. Her deep red hair was loose and flew long behind her. Stubborn and destructive did not even begin to describe Anine Wallace at age seventeen. Reckless, she was, lacking in anything resembling restraint. With razor wit and a bowdy tongue that only befitted a queen of such a savage and stunning country, Wales. She was never forced to admit that Anine’s intelligence was broad and impressive. Talin chanced Anine’s further wrath.

 

“I beg your majesty to give your ladies a little more compassion. They only speak of the recent move your majesty will make in only a few days.”

 

“Do they think they will come?” added Anine, “I cannot seem that important of a lady to the king. My title in his court will be very small.”

 

“I am told of this disguise your majesty must take on for our people’s sake,” Anna added, hoping to calm her princess down. But Anine stopped in her tracks and turned on her so suddenly that Anna almost collided with her.

 

“And they still chatter and joke as if it were so simple! Good God I have such simple people as my servants.”

 

“Milady they are….”

 

“Ninnyhammers. The whole lot of them,” Anine finished.

 

“Your majesty. Will you be taking anyone close to you to England?”

 

“I am allowed one lady in waiting to accompany me on this strenuous journey.” Anine rolled her eyes, “Of course I would choose you Anna. You are after all my closest and most trusted friend in this viper’s pit.”

 

“Thank you milady.”

 

Anine’s eyes seemed to soften, and a hint of a smile tilted at the corners of her pink mouth. She turned and continued at a more leisurely pace. They headed toward the Queen’s bed chambers. The hallways that lead them were trimmed with fine silks of deep reds and light gold. At the end of the hall stood a tall well-built man of confident posture and athletic grace. Talin regarded Blade Worsley, the queen’s closest friend

and royal prince of the late Dracule and Victoria Warsley, with quiet annoyance.

 

“Tis good to stay quiet now,” the princess whispered to Anna as the passed the prince.

 

Anna could hear the distaste Anine had towards the royal prince. The arrogant prince’s thoughts of the princess had been the known scandal of the kingdom for over three centuries. Even now the princess failed to acknowledge him. It had made for an unwholesome chatter amongst the ladies in waiting that had caused Anna great displeasure. Blade had only fueled it with his constant argument in public with Anine. Many started to say they were scorned lovers and therefore hated each other. That rumor had enraged the princess the most and had caused her to leave the kingdom for sometime. But eventually she had come back and had caused the prince great displeasure with her revenge. It had caused some great trouble between the queen and her lover, Blade’s very own brother.

 

Everyone-from her own mother even down to Anna, who watched out for her princess’ reputation and friendship-had begged for Anine to reconcile with the prince. But promptly she had refused, calling the prince and his brother a strong of foul names. This action had only caused more tension between the princess and her mother. Anine approached her mother’s door. She reached up and caressed the coat of arms before deciding to knock.

 

“The nerve of that boy,” Anine spat softly. She had never been one to control her temper and often Anna had witnessed it control the princess’ actions. She turned to Talin and bestowed on her chief lady in waiting a warm and playful smile, “Where is the queen. I swear she wonders this dreadful castle more that I do,” she faced one of the guards that stood post outside her mother’s room. “Tell my mother that her daughter has sent for her.” the guard nodded towards the princess, “I must leave your presence Anna. Do forgive me.” and with a nod the princess was down the hall and out of sight.

 

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

　

It was late afternoon when the sunshine broke through the overcast, falling through the carriage winder and atop Anine’s white and exposed neck. She had never been one for the closed neck fashions of the new ages. Purity, it seemed to be the new popularity of these stupid girls.

 

Anna and Anine had arrived in England some time during the night. The ride had been rough and rigorous leaving both Anna and the coachman tired. And while Anine watched the road she fell upon and abandoned castle. Tired herself she demanded the coachman to tire the night in such a lovely place. At first the coachman refused out of fear for the shades that most likely occupied it.

 

“Do you defy your lady?” Anine spoke with a trace of sharpness.

 

Those words had quelled the coachman and forced him to turn down the gravel path. He castle itself had not been empty for long. Remnants of the previous owners lay scattered across the grounds. The coachman came to a sever halt. Finally letting his personal thought be known to the princess.

 

“The sweat…” he caught himself as Anine exited the carriage, “Milady we must leave.”

 

“Thomas stop,”

 

The coachman instantly closed his mouth and sat the reigns aside. He was used to be ordered by her and it did him well to obey. For it was no good idea to bring the wrath down upon him. She turned to him, a playful smile plastered across her face. She saw as the confused expression crossed her coachman’s face. She had known both Thomas and Anna since her childhood. She had never known Thomas to worry about such things.

 

“What worries you?” Anine asked.

 

“We shouldn’t act so bravely. People will talk if they were to witness this.”

 

“Thomas it is a late hour and a horrible day for riding. Pray tell who would see us?” she said.

 

It was known that only the King of England himself rode these roads during the last afternoon and even then it was too hard of a day for riding. Was Thomas finally going made in the eternity? She did not falter in her advancement on the castle. They way it was made intrigued her. It was not in the fashion in which Welsh castles were made. The stones were smoother to her touch, yet greyer in tone. The inside was magnificent. High vaulted ceilings towered above her and oak floors welcomed her feet.

 

Indeed the rich in England are far better off then the rich in Wales.

 

She wondered the halls, searching each room until she found the one to her linking.

The room itself had been stripped of all its valuables, cloth and furniture. It happened amongst the rich in this country that once cold from death the servants would begin to steal and burn what was not needed anymore. They believed that the cloth that in habited the room of the sick or deceased held the disease and therefore burned all cloth that they could find. She smiled at the low intelligence that physicians had on such matters. She left her chosen room and fell back into the hallway that connected to the front door. Anna entered sluggishly. Her eyes were half closed, still heavy from the sleep she had been woken from.

 

“Why here?” she nagged, “Thomas said that the sweat killed the owners.”

 

“Do you wish for another hour’s ride?” Anine asked a flash of anger in her eyes, “For that can be arranged.”

 

Anna dropped to her knees before Anine.

 

“Your Majesty….” Anna could not go on for a moment. Anine hoped it was because of the terrible emotions that gripped her. Anna raised her arms and encircled her waist. Despite the many layers of cloth and corset bones she wore, she felt Anna trembling,

“Forgive me.”

 

“Anna rise… I did not mean it,”

 

“No, no let me speak,” though she was frightened of Anine and her head was bowed she spoke with such intensity that every word was sharp and clear. “I forgot my place for only that moment and forgot to what lengths my princess has gone on this journey. I remember when we were children; how you used to tell me you would never fall pray to your mother’s schemes. But that was before everything happened. We have been sisters, friend and schoolmates. We laughed, we wept, and we have helped each other through the hard times. I should follow you with the utmost faith.”

 

Talin did not raise her head to see her princess’ expression. The talk of older days and their childhood had caused trembling in Anine to occur. Anine took a breathe before looking away from her friend

 

“Anna…” Anine’s voice was soft now, but the look in Anna’s eyes commanded her to be silent.

 

“Let me say this. I am yours completely-subject, vassal, obedient servant. But hear this, your majesty. No matter what you choose to make of this existence, I will always be by your side. I shall fight and die, be torn asunder to save our people and you.”

 

Without warning Anna took her wrist and ran her dagger across both Anine’s and hers. Combining their blood in a tie as she pressed the wounds together.

 

“God Anna,” Anine fell to her knees, pressing her fingers against Anna’s wrist. It was soiled with crimson. “I would not have you die for this. I want you to live after this. No matter how difficult this becomes. Now let us sleep.”

Author's Note

Copyright: Kelcey Winn

Reviews

[Poetic Beauty]

This is a great chapter. The princess is a feisty one a little stuck on herself. Anna is a great servant. Her character is gentle yet she knows how to deal with the princess quite nicely. You characters jump off the page and the royal prince seems to be a royal pain. Nice work as usual

[Ruarc Cinaed]

Good job. I especially liked the line; Indeed the rich in England are far better off then the rich in Wales. So...so...true...even today...

[Paula Tsurara]

Ninnyhammers. The whole lot of them,” Anine finished.
This is my favorite slice of dialog. I think it give the character temperament and reality. The more I read of this the more I liked it. Also, I do agree with the person below me: the similarities in the names was a bit confusing but then it fits the period of the piece because many people had like names in those times. Good job.

[Senseless whatever]

Good write. There are a few spots where 'the' is 'he' My only real observation is the similarities in the names. I did catch myself confusing the two a few times during the reading. Great job though!

[HorrorMaster]

Very good chapter.