f a i r m a g d a l e n e

madamelamarquys:

    ♥ ░  “You were not misinformed. You are merely searching in the wrong wing.” The French queen gestured to the hall, “the grand library is but a stone’s throw. Shall I show you?”

✕     “This would be my first Hogmanay away from Scotland. ‘M not sure of your traditions but one of mine is tha’ the first t’arrive at a household after midnight gifts that household and it’s host with whiskey or something or the sort as a gesture of good will, to bring them luck. So I do hope the households here enjoy Scotland’s finest whiskey.”

‘’It’s a teddy bear’’ Asta smiled as she held out the expertly crafted stuffed bear. ‘’It’s for you, or a young relative.’’ She nodded, her fingers moving to the bow around the bear’s neck the colour of which was the colour of the recipients nation, adjusting it slightly. ‘’I hope it’s alright.’’

      ♥ ░  Sebastiana gleamed watching the Princess with her young son, who happily accepted the bear within his frail arms. “It is almost the same as the one I had,” she commented, “thank you. I’m sure he shall cherish it.”

♔|♱     If ever anyone were to question Ana’s paternity they would only need to seek Charles’ sister to see the resemblance between aunt and niece. There was not a single golden hair on either of her parent’s heads, but porcelain skin and locks of sunshine lead the young Princess to being a replica of the Queen of France. A happy giggle escaped her lips as she felt her aunt’s warm embrace, bringing comfort unlike any she had felt in so long. “Surely not as much as I have missed you.” The most genuine smile on her lips began to disappear as the inquiry began, after all she felt no need to hide behind a false smile with the woman before her. “Well, I fell ill with plague… I did not see father at all for some time but, of course, there was much risk of him catching it also. Surely it was too dangerous for his visit.” A lie she told herself constantly, chances were the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. But, as she looked at her aunt for a moment and felt the tears beginning to sting at her eyes, she couldn’t lie much longer. “…He’s changing. He’s growing ruthless and careless, I dread to imagine what he will do next if he can imprison his own wife and ignore his daughter.”

     ♥ ░  Sebastiana constricted her niece a little tighter. It was as if she was embracing sunshine itself: innocence, fairness, warmth — facets she associated with ages of adolescence. It was as if she hugged a mirror of what she once was — adolescent, beautiful, equitable. Something maternal rose to her forefront whenever her niece was present, and she cared for her dearly, but she too mourned her maiden years in light of Ana’s presence. “I would not wager on that,” She hummed, pulling away. Sebastiana toyed with her fingers as her niece spoke, her light brows knitting together. “Yes. Such awful tragedies.” Having lost her first born in a bout of pestilence, Sebastiana feared the plague like no other. It was the one thing she would be sempiternally immune to, along with the lethal smile of a man in a position of power. “He reminds me a great deal of our father, Ana. My father was said to die of insanity, though I never believed it. I would hate to see Charles follow in the same fashion — though for his sins, he must mortally repent. Charles is a King, he seems to think for that matter he may act as he opts for. The quandary is, so do his subjects. But God does not, and he will right this.” Sebastiana paused, clutching her fingers tightly. “And your mother, you've not spoken with her? Oh, Catalina... How my heart aches for her!”

    Taking the Queen’s hand in his own, he pressed a light kiss to her knuckles, bowing slightly over her hand, before releasing the small hold that he had on it, returning his own hands to rest behind his back. “I thank you, for the kind welcome, Majesty. This palace truly is a wonder, considering where it sits, I hope in time, to think of it like home even though mine is many miles away.”  

♔|♱     “In which case I feel most fortunate for it was your Majesty that I wished to see.”

     ♥ ░  The Queen’s eyes lit up the moment she heard the voice of her beloved niece, her head snapping towards the young girl who replicated her in every aesthetic. She pressed a warm hand to her heart to control its beating, the beam that crossed her features one of genuine happiness. “Ana!” Gleaming, she turned to her other ladies, and dismissed them until luncheon. She pivoted back to her niece, and wrapped her small frame in a hug. “How I have missed you! Oh, what a wretched thing that has happened to you...” Pulling away, she grasped Ana by the shoulders to study her countenance. “Yet you still look so well! You must tell me everything. Sit, sit. Leave no detail. I want to be absolutely correct when I lash my tongue at your father.”

     “You must grant me a pardon, your Majesty. I was not speaking to you, but rather my servants. I would never speak to a woman, let alone one of such grace in such a manner.” he stated, arduously, prior to giving her an illustrious bow. 

     ♥ ░  Sebastiana grinned, lifting her light eyes to service the duke. “Still yet,” she began, her voice a sweet, raspy drawl as she set down a belonging, “rummaging is never becoming.” The Queen approached him, bending her knee in a small genuflection. “Welcome to court, my lord,” she greeted, offering a hand. 

“Yuletide reminds me so much of being a child. Some celebrations were more enjoyable during childhood, or so they were for I.”

   ♥ ░  “Yes. The wonder of Yuletide. We once enjoyed it ourself, and now we may watch our children enjoy it in turn. Have you any, madam? — Children, I mean.”

      “Be sure to not drop that, I’ve got important documents in there, if it is dropped it is on you, and you cannot afford to repay for anything that is broken or damaged.” He warned, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched servants take his trunks into his rooms, unaware that someone was watching him. 

   ♥ ░  “That is no way to speak to a Queen, my lord. A woman no less. I only came to admire, and greet our newest guest... personally. Truthfully, I did not expect you to be here.”