Albion Rising: A Henry Frederick Timeline
- Thread starter VVD0D95
- Start date
Um, first time commenting on this lovely timeline, no one else thought poison when reading about Mary?
It tastes strange and leaves a strange taste on my tongue.” Mary said
This part.
This part.
Great chapter.
Would have hoped for a Prince Henry senior and Prince Henry Jr. first meet chapter but seeing it from Anne’s point of view is still nice.
Was she kept away from Henry until this celebration feast?
VVD0D95
Banned
Oh that'll come soon
And, Queen Anne? She was a bit under the weather so couldn't greet him at the docks, but made sure to be there for the celebration
brilliant.Oh that'll come soon
Fair enough.And, Queen Anne? She was a bit under the weather so couldn't greet him at the docks, but made sure to be there for the celebration
Chapter 139: Reunion
VVD0D95
Banned
Chapter 139: Reunion
February, 1615
Henry took a deep breath and inhaled the smells of St James Palace. Of Home. The works on the palace had finished before his son had been born, and as such, whilst the new development smell wasn’t there, there was still a faint trace of something. Whether it was paint or something else he didn’t know, but he liked it. He turned and looked at Anna Maria, smiled and then took her hand and walked down the hallway.
He was so happy to be back home. The journey south had been relatively uneventful. After questioning Lord Fraser, Henry had decided to leave the matter until he’d come back to London. He’d informed the King about it at the feast yesterday, and the King had said he’d raise the matter at the Council. There was nothing more Henry could do about that now.
The feast itself had been good. Getting to talk with father and mother, and with his siblings again, that was always going to be special. And then after the feast, Anna and he had embraced one another in their rooms and not left them until this morning. The only downside had been that their children had not been in Whitehall, being kept in St James’ for security reasons. Which Henry understood, but at the same time, he hadn’t seen them in months.
“Do you think they’ll remember me?” He asked Anna then.
“Of course.” Anna replied.
Henry looked at her and asked. “How do you know?”
“Because you’re all Arthur’s been talking about for weeks now. He’s even drawn a picture for Anne.” Anna replied smiling at him.
Henry smiled, but then he remembered that he had scars on his face. Bruising from the war, and he worried that Arthur wouldn’t recognise him. As if sensing this, Anna stopped and put a hand on his face. “They’ll remember you, don’t worry, my love.”
Somewhat reassured, Henry nodded, and then took Anna’s hand again and continued walking. They turned right at the end of the hallway, and then left, and then came to the room where the nursery was. The guards on the door bowed their heads, and one of them opened the door. Henry stepped into the nursery and smiled. There were paintings of the family that had been done before he’d departed hanging on the walls, as well as paintings of the King and Queen, and of Anna’s parents as well.
“DADA!” A voice squealed. Henry turned to his left and bent down to hug his son as Arthur threw himself into his arms.
“Hello, Arthur.” Henry replied, lifting his son up and keeping him in his arms, as he looked at him. “Have you been a good boy?” He asked.
“I have!” Arthur exclaimed. “I kept Mama and Annie safe, and I’ve kept Wenwy save.” Henry looked at Anna Maria with a raised eyebrow.
“He means our youngest son.” Anna whispered.
“Ah.” Henry said. He looked back at their eldest and said. “Well, I am very proud of you, Arthur, very proud.”
Arthur beamed.
“So, what have you been doing other than protecting our family?” Henry asked intrigued.
“Well, I’ve been reading to Mama.” Arthur said.
“About?” Henry asked.
“King Arthur!” Arthur exclaimed happily. “About how he pulled the sword from stone and his adventures.”
Henry looked at Anna then, and Anna said. “It’s the only story he really likes.”
Henry laughed, he turned back to their son and asked. “And, what else?”
“I’ve been learning how to fight.” Arthur said proudly.
“Oh?” Henry asked. “You’ll have to show me.”
“I can?” Arthur asked, his eyes wide.
“Yes, of course.” Henry answered. Arthur grinned then and buried his face into Henry’s chest.
“Your Highnesses.” The Countess of Roxburghe, and their children’s governess said then. She curtseyed, as did the little girl who’s hand she held.
“Mama.” The girl, with darkish brown curls said, looking at Anna.
“Anne, sweetheart, say hello to your father.” Anna said.
Henry looked at their daughter, who looked back at him with wide eyes. “You are Dada?” Anne asked.
“I am, sweetheart.” Henry said, crouching down with Arthur still in his arms.
Anne tottered toward him and looked at him, with Anna’s eyes. She touched his face and then giggled. “Prickly.”
Henry smiled, he hadn’t had the chance to shave yet, not properly, and his hair always grew back ridiculously quickly. Anne kept touching his cheek and chin for a little while before walking over to Anna and asking to be held. Anna obliged. Henry watched his wife pick up their daughter, and rose back to his full height. His heart felt like it was full. “Where is our youngest?” He asked.
“His Highness Prince Henry is in his cradle, Your Highness.” The Countess of Roxburghe said. “He’s just eaten.”
Henry nodded, and started walking, he glanced back at Anna, asking a silent question, wanting to know if they’d moved where the cradles were kept. Anna shook her head, and so Henry kept walking, stopping a few moments later, at the foot of the cradle. The same cradle where first Arthur and then Anne had slept as young babes.
Henry stared at his namesake and youngest child. Henry junior had a full head of hair, dark brown, with Anna’s eyes. They were staring at him, in wonder. Henry stared back. He felt a strange mix of emotions. Happiness and love were at the forefront, but there was also regret. Regret that he hadn’t been here for Henry Junior’s first few months of life. That his daughter had almost forgotten him. He stared at Henry and he swore to himself that he would never do that again. No matter what else happened. He wouldn’t leave his family like that again.
“Dada?” Arthur spoke then, breaking into Henry’s thoughts.
“Yes, Arthur?” Henry replied, looking at his son, to see the boy staring at him.
“Are you going away again?” Arthur asked.
“No, son, not again.” Henry said.
Arthur smiled and then buried his head in Henry’s chest. Henry looked at Anna Maria then, and took her free hand in his. He wouldn’t leave again. Not unless their very existence was under threat.
Chapter 140: Master Pieces
VVD0D95
Banned
Chapter 140: Master Pieces
March, 1615
Marie de Medici, the Mother of France, sat at her table and frowned. She’d respectfully asked her son’s cousin if she could at least visit her sons, and had been told that it would not be appropriate, and that she was to remain in what was effectively exile, in Saint Cloud. Her sons were in residence in the Louvre, under heavy guard, with Condé and his men serving as their most regular attendants.
Marie would be lying if she didn’t admit to being incredibly worried about what sort of nonsense Condé was filling her sons’ heads with. Louis might be able to resist, he was a man almost, but Gaston? Gaston might well fall prey to whatever absurdities came out of their cousin’s mouth. And who knew what that would do to their relationship.
She looked away from the bit of wall she’d been staring at and looked instead at her favourite, Concino. “Well?” She demanded, speaking in the Italian of her youth.
“News is not good, Majesty.” Concino replied.
“Why?” She asked.
“Condé is undoing all the work that you strove for, Majesty.” Concino answered.
“How?” Marie asked.
“He has kept the old King’s ministers but installed his own men into various positions. He has forced several office holders to resign their offices to him, offices which he has then granted to his favourites, violating the law of the land. He has also started antagonising the Bankers from Florence who Your Majesty used to try and get some stability in the land’s finances.” Concino said.
Marie sighed. “How has he been intimidating them?” Intimidating bankers wasn’t that hard, they were not strong men.
“The usual ways. Men turning up at their residences at all hours, demanding one thing and then another, and when the bankers are unable to give it, their homes are ransacked.” Concino said.
Marie frowned. “Are you sure that this is Condé’s doing?” She couldn’t imagine her son’s cousin being quite so foolish.
“Yes, Majesty.” Concino answered. “My sources have seen it happen with their own eyes.”
“And have the bankers approached Condé for redress?” Marie asked.
Concino looked at her as though she’d grown a second head. “No, Majesty, they are terrified that doing so could endanger themselves further.”
“I see.” Marie replied, though she wasn’t really sure what she could do with that information. If she tried to help the bankers, she would be put through difficult times with everyone else. She already knew that they didn’t trust her.
“Condé has also been drumming up support for a war.” Concino said.
“A war?” Marie asked surprised. “With who?”
Concino raised an eyebrow at her, as if her question was foolish, and when she actually thought about it, she had to acknowledge that it was. “Spain?” She asked.
“Yes, Majesty.” Concino replied.
“Why?” Marie asked. As far as she knew her son and daughter were still meant to marry into Spain, and as far as she could see they would gain nothing by going to war with them. So, why Condé wanted war with Spain, was beyond her.
“Prestige.” Concino replied.
“Prestige?” Marie asked.
“Yes, Majesty.” Concino replied. “The man knows he lacks the legitimacy that Your Majesty had, and therefore he is looking for ways to achieve it.”
“And he thinks a war with Spain would be the best way to go about doing that?” Marie asked.
“Yes, Majesty.” Concino replied.
“Why?”
“Because Spain is our traditional enemy, Majesty, and if he goes to war with them, he thinks that he can achieve some success. He also believes that going to war will unite the disparate factions at court around him by providing them with a common enemy.” Concino said.
“And the fact that such a war would likely destroy the finances of the Kingdom and also lead to our defeat?” Marie asked. “What does he plan on doing then?”
“He does not seem to think that there will be a defeat.” Concino said.
Marie snorted. “What?!” Spain was the power of Europe, how could there not be a defeat in the offing?
“There are rumours that the English intend to get involved as well. Rumours that Condé is using to add fire to the flames of war that he wishes to stoke.” Concino said.
“Why would the English get involved?” Marie asked, as far as she could tell, King James was as dedicated to maintaining peace as he had ever been.
“Something to do with an attempt on the Prince of Wales’ life.” Concino said.
“And they believe it came from Spain?” Marie asked.
“Yes, Majesty.” Concino said.
Marie frowned. That didn’t sound right. The Spanish weren’t fools, they would surely know that such a thing would lead to war, a war in which they would likely be isolated. “Do you think Condé set that up?”
“Set what up, Majesty?” Concino asked.
“The attempt on the Prince of Wales’ life.” Marie said.
“How would he do that, Your Majesty?” Concino asked. “The man has neither the means nor the will to achieve such a thing.”
“I know.” Marie replied sighing, as the fact of the matter hit her. Condé couldn’t have done it, which meant the Spanish were likely at the forefront of such a thing, which made her marvel at their stupidity. “How much support has he gotten so far?”
“A limited amount, Majesty.” Concino answered. “Some of the old guard who fought alongside His Most Catholic Majesty King Henri are willing to fight, but the Council is not willing to agree.”
“Truly?” Marie asked.
“Yes, Majesty.” Concino replied. “Villeroy is leading the resistance to Condé’s proposals.”
“And?” Marie asked, did Villeroy have the spine to achieve what needed to be achieved?
“As of right now the Council is deadlocked.” Concino said.
“How can we ensure that they vote against him?” Marie asked.
“We wait, Majesty.” Concino said.
“Wait?” Marie asked surprised.
“Wait for Condé to make a mistake, and when he does, then we strike.” Concino said.
Marie thought on that, she wasn’t sure if she agreed, but she couldn’t think of anything else to do, therefore she nodded and said. “Very well, we will wait.”