675-11-08 - The White-Haired Princess
The White-Haired Princess | |||||||
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Summary: Princess Madalyn Onimus and King Barret Brais have a talk about betrothals. | |||||||
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The king is taking a break from his duties, and this afternoon he chooses to spend his time in the Solar of the castle. Attired in doublet of red and black and black breeches, Barret Brais looks towards the fireplace where a fire is burning. After all it is autumn, and the weather outside starts to get chilly. His crown on his head is absent. Immersed in his thoughts, the king sits in a comfortable seat, a goblet of wine beside him on the table. He is alone in the Solar, because as it is with leisure time, his guards have been instructed not to admit anyone to the room if it is not on urgent matters.
A quiet and shy voice may reach the King, "Ooooh... He does not want to see anyone? Well... no, it's not so urgent... no..." The voice is soft and the King definitely knows it from somewhere, "I understand. Kings and Queens are very busy, usually, often. I... Could you just tell the King that Madalyn Onimus would like to speak with him, when he will be free? It's not urgent, no..."
The young girl explains to the guards, who were ordered to keep the King's peace safe. The young pale beauty nervously rubs her fingers, keeping the hands clasped in her lap. She is wearing soft, light beautiful as white as her skin gown, but at the same time her shoulders are covered with a warm greyish surcoat.
"Have a wonderful day," she wishes for the guards.
The words do not fail to get noticed. The king looks up, bushy brows furrowing briefly before he manages to place the voice. A smile warming his features once he does and the mention of the name confirms his assumption. "Show her in," he says to the guard by the door. "Princess Madalyn Onimus is Our guest." A gesture is made towards a servant to get another goblet for the princess. Barret rises to his feet when Madalyn enters, and he will incline his head in a friendly greeting. "Your highness. I hope you find the guest quarters provided to you to meet your needs?"
"Oooh! I can come in? Guest or not, I wouldn't like to disturb..." The young princess blushes brightly and steps inside, after bowing her head and giving her thanks to the guards for letting her in. The girl smoothes the fabric of her gown and offers a deep curtsy, "Your Majesty... The chambers are just amazing. I and my handmaidens really like it..." The girl smiles raising her look up to the man.
Madalyn steps forward, closer to the King and childish joy is glinting in her eyes as if she is willing to hug the old man, as if she would see him as her father, who rests in peace now. Though, the girl manages to keep herself in proper stance, "I am so sorry for disturbing you... or if I will... urge some matters, which shouldn't be urged..."
Her handmaiden settles somewhere in the background of the room together with Madalyn's guards, if allowed. The group of guards are not so small after all. They all are dressed in armor and cloaks with these lilies.
"If you feel sad and would like to be alone, I can come back later. Sometimes I feel sad too. Then I sit in my room alone and cry. It's not good for others to see crying royals, but it is alright to cry. It... it helps for our souls and hearts." Madalyn smiles shyly at the man.
"Why, certainly, come in. After all I am still curious about the reason for your visit, your highness. I take it you and your mother the Queen have reconciled? I am relieved that such is the case. Especially since after we both agreed not to go through with the betrothal, I would have felt responsible in a way."
The King smiles. "So, what is it you want to discuss? As I do not suppose this is about reconsidering the betrothal that did not come about between you and I?" A slight wink there, before he continues: "I assure you, you don't disturb me. I am in good humour today, just a little tired - so I withdrew here to have a little peace and quiet from the courtiers. Have a seat. Would you like some wine?"
Madalyn shakes her head, "No wine for me, thank you, Your Majesty."
The young girl settles comfortably in the offered chair, where she timidly places her hands to her lap and stares at the pale fingers, "I came here, yes. Just to reconcile with my mother even more. I really disappointed her because of my childish ways before... It was me, who brought two kingdoms in different sides of the world..." Madalyn chuckles and shakes her head again.
"What I mean, is that I ruined the possibility for my mother to arrange the alliance between our two kingdoms. I like this place. It's nice, even if it is cold. Your Majesty, you are very good and kind. I know, my mother may be hard and... strange sometimes, but she is good too..." The girl sighs and shyly looks at the King.
"I came here to fix mistakes I’ve done and save the possible alliance. I would like to arrange the betrothal between one of your daughters and my brother Prince Jerrick Onimus. It would be so amazing, if I could tell my mother, that it was me, who done this, you see!" The girl grins widely, "Jerrick is very good. He is wonderful man, and wonderful brother. So, I would like to arrange all the things and terms with you. That everything would be written and just signatures would be left..."
The girl bites her lip for a moment, before continuing, "Next week I will have my birthday, later we will have the Day of Friendship, and even a bit later there will be the Day of the Damned. It's amazing occasions, worth of attention. So, I would like to invite your daughters and you to come to us, with the papers made. Then you could tell my mother, that it was me, who done everything. If your daughter will like my brother, then you two could just sign things and..."
She looks at the man again, "Alliance would be saved? I would do it. Like I should. I can be a good Queen someday. I need to. Somehow..."
"Oh?", Barret replies, looking a touch surprised to hear Madalyn's intention. "Indeed? But your mother did send you, did she not? I was wondering why I did not hear anything from the Isles. After all, Duchess Debrah Kiari left with the expressed intention to discuss this very possibility with your mother... the match between Luanda and Prince Jerrick. After that months have passed without a word. Could you please enlighten me as what caused this delay?" The king may be old, yet this matter has been weighing on his mind, and he asks politely enough for an explanation.
"Does this mean you invite us to visit the Isles, Princess Madalyn? This is... a nice gesture, even if it does come unexpected. I fear my daughter Barbeta may not be able to go though, as she has married recently. Princess Luanda should be available, and I am sure she is eager to meet your brother Prince Jerrick." The king takes a sip from his wine. "I doubt that I will be able to accompany you, however. Matters of the kingdom claim my fullest attention. And I am sure my advisor, Lord Jarvis Bainsworth would most likely ask me not to go."
There is an apologetic flicker in his eyes, when the king continues: "I am sure you understand. Nonetheless I am sure you'll be a wonderful queen someday."
Madalyn blushes, "My mother knows... Yes, she knows everything about what was already discussed. Though, some things were unclear. There were some troubles... Not with Jerrick," the girl quickly shakes her head, "My mother has other sons too. So, she was busy with them. After all, my youngest brother Nathan decided to leave the Isles. He took a few ships, a few men and left to the Unknown World. I didn't see him more than a month. Also, we did not get any news, any messages. I believe, my mother is worried..."
The girl lowers her gaze to the ground, "These brothers... Sometimes, I fear, that children of my mother will... will torture her till she will die. I am not the best child either. I would love if she could be proud of me. But..." Madalyn smiles, "So, I offer you the only one child of whom my mother can actually be proud off. Jerrick never disappointed her. He could be a great King, if we would have different rules. I have another brother too. Abell, but he is married. Quiet brother."
The girl sighs and adds,"Later, a huge storm came up. The storm was so horrible and lasted almost a week. No ships could enter. Many buildings were ruined. We were not able to send any ships. So, we are very sorry, that... we had to delay things. I hope, that princess.. Luanda? Yes, that your daughter will like Jerrick. My brother is really great."
A bit later she adds, "We want to invite many people to visit us. There will be Fair of Smithery. So, all people, who make jewellry or weapons could come and show their work. They will be able to look at ours too. Plus, there will be an archery tourney. You can win the Golden Arrow. Very beautiful arrow. I will be happy, if princess Luanda will travel with us. Maybe these other people can come too. I believe, that the man, who recently married one of my mother's Solicitors will be happy to meet some people from his homeland."
"I am sorry to hear that," the king states when he hears about the worries of Queen Abegayle, the regret in his voice genuine. "Sons need a father to keep them straight," is added in a muttered afterthought. "But... if this Jerrick is indeed a formidable as you say, he will certainly be considered. But. A king he would never be. There is this thing with our line of succession, it usually only goes through the male line. He would be a Prince as Luanda would remain Princess, and it would be a vital part of the negotiations to agree on such terms as... where they would live. The question of heirs. Those kind of things. Do you think you could carry through these negotiations?" The question is posed in all honesty, when the older king studies the young white-haired princess thoughtfully. "Also, the question of dowry," he adds after another moment.
"As for this festivity you mention, I will put together a delegation, led by the Golden Leaf, my daughter Luanda. I will send one of my diplomats with her, probably Lord Ralph, as he has already been to the Isles before.
"Oooh!" Madalyn gasps and shakes her head, "I didn't mean, that Jerrick could become the King of Two Rivers. No no no. I meant... He could be born as a girl and be the Queen of the Isles. Not me, but he should rule these lands. But we have laws..." Madalyn shrugs and rubs her hands to the sides slightly nervously, before looking back at the King, "Aye, aye. I can do that. I can help you with these questions. I mean, we can discuss all that and write it down, yes."
The girl's smile widens and she straightens as if to pretend she is the Queen already, "As the heir of the Isles, my word is very important too. I am not sure, what wish of your daughter is, but I am sure, that my mother would agree to give Luanda and Jerrick their own island. We have some without any solicitors so far. More importantly, they wouldn't lose their status. They would be Solicitors of the Queen, at some point, but they would keep status as Prince and Princess. Their sons and daughters would be princes and princesses too. They would inherit the titles and that island from generation to generation. If you understand, what I mean."
"Hrrm," Barret clears his throat at Madalyn's proposal about offering an island to the couple. "You suggest they should live in the Isles, despite the tradtitions of your country that the male will become part of the family of his wife? It is a thing to consider, indeed. I was thinking of another possibility there. My daughter Princess Luanda holds an important office in the Royal Council. She is the Golden Leaf, which means, she is responsible for all monetary matters in our kingdom. The Treasurer, so to speak. I cannot really afford to lose her. So I would suggest they would live in Two Rivers. I would give them a barony - lands in the Duchy of Athereyne, the most prosperous of our duchies. That way they would have an income, and we would be able to keep her in this office."
Another sip of the wine is taken, before King Barret Brais continues, with a faint smile curling his lips. "As for heirs...Their male children would automatically become part of the succession line of Two Rivers. As for my daughter's wish..." he smiles, "she has mentioned a preference to stay here in Two Rivers."
Madalyn nods, "Of course. I agree with that too. Jerrick wouldn't mind to leave. He knows that the day will come, when he will have to do it. However, could they keep their titles as Prince and Princess, instead of becoming barons? Is it allowed in your lands?"
"They would keep the titles, of course. It would be written down in the marriage contract. Their children would have the title of princess or prince, but only nominally. When it comes to political power they would be measured with the power of their barony." the King concedes. "Does that sound acceptable to you?"
"Aye, aye!" Madalyn smiles and nods.
"In that case, it seems we have an agreement then," Barret replies with a smile, some warmth flashing in his brown eyes. "That is, if you think your mother the Queen will find these terms equally acceptable. How long are you planning to stay? With these festivities you mentioned... They will require you to depart soon, I would think?"
"Everything is prepared," Madalyn answers, "I would like to travel back together with your daughter. The journey would be way more fun, if someone around my age would be with me. The celebration will start on 15th day of this month..."
She looks at the King, "If you will allow your daughter to come with me."
"I will speak to her about it, but very likely, yes," Barret replies, maybe a little amused at the foreign princess's eagerness. "As for the conditions we agree upon, I will send for my advisor and ask him to write down a draft of a contract. We would show it to you of course, but any further details would have to be negotiated still, like the question of dowry and the date of the wedding, of course. All of this assuming my daughter, Princess Luanda will agree." He smiles. "I will let you know how swiftly I can make arrangements for the delegation. But all these matters should be settled, so you can depart in three days, if you wish."