Read Online Once Upon A Time (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, adventure, Romance, Historical, Adult, Action, England, Medieval, Renaissance, Secret, Identity, King, father, 15th Century, betrayed, Childhood, queen, country, once upon a time, freedom, vengeance, Deceased, Threatened, Murdered, Talshamar, Heir, Prince Ruyen, Falcon Bruine, Common Enemy, Hearts Prisoner
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These were her people and she immediately felt a bond with them.
Cardinal Failsham approached her, his expression solemn, as befitted the occasion.
"Welcome, Your Highness," he said, bowing to her.
"It is good to see you again, Your Eminence," Jilliana told him.
"I am honored that you remember me. I will be further honored if you will allow me to place the crown of Talshamar upon your head as I once placed it upon the heads of your grandmother and mother."
"Then I would have none other crown me."
"My regret is that you cannot be anointed before the high altar. Nevertheless, I have in my possession the Ring, Crown, Scepter, and Sword of Talshamar."
Suddenly Jilliana felt the blood of generations of queens flowing through her veins. She raised her head, a grave expression on her face.
"We shall not allow the place to deter us, Your Eminence. I am told by Sir Humphrey that we must make haste."
The Cardinal bowed his head. "That is so, Your Highness." He moved to a stand covered with golden cloth where several items had been placed. All those present gathered about as the cardinal turned to their princess royal.
In a clear voice, he uttered the words that had been spoken to crown generations of Talshamarian queens. He spoke first to those gathered near. "Princess Jilliana is your undoubted queen, wherefore all you who are come this day to do homage and service to her say yea."
"We do so come," came the answer from a strong chorus of voices.
"Are you, Princess Jilliana, willing to do the same to your subjects?"
Queen Eleanor had instructed Jilliana in her part of the ceremony, so she now answered in a clear voice. "I am so willing," she replied.
The knights spoke in unison.
"God save Queen Jilliana!"
The cardinal then stepped forward and anointed her with oil, first on the hand, and then on the forehead.
"God crown you with a Crown of Glory and Righteousness, that by the ministry of this our benediction, having a right faith and manifold fruit of good works, you may obtain the crown of an everlasting kingdom by the gift of Him whose kingdom endureth forever."
Jilliana bowed her head while he handed her the Great Seal of Talshamar. This she clasped in her hand and then held to her breast. Then she spoke, her eyes focused on the crown the cardinal supported upon a red velvet cushion.
"I uphold the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom. This is the royal law. This seal is the oracle of God."
"God save the queen!" the knights said.
Jilliana could not help notice that the cardinal's hand trembled as he took the crown and placed it on her head. There was a long moment of silence, and she remembered that the last head this crown adorned had been her mother's.
The cardinal then stepped back and many voices spoke in unison.
"Your liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship; and faith and truth I will bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of foe for your sake."
Jilliana found that the crown sat lightly on her head. She looked at the knights who had just pledged her their lives. She knew them not, and yet they were her subjects and she could feel their warmth reach out to her.
She felt the sting of tears when she saw tears in the eyes of these men who had just paid her homage, their voices blending: "God save Queen Jilliana. Long live Queen Jilliana. May the queen live forever!"
At last Sir Humphrey dropped to his knees and kissed the hand of his queen.
"Your Majesty, I swear my life and my earthly goods to your service."
Barons and knights approached her, each in turn, dropping to their knees and repeating the same pledge. She bestowed upon each a smile and a nod.
When the last man had made his pledge, Sir Humphrey held up his hand.
"Her Majesty is weary and shall seek her bed. On the morrow, we shall begin the long journey to London, and then, God willing, to Talshamar. Let not any man present allow harm to befall the queen."
Sir Humphrey escorted Jilliana to a tent
Cardinal Failsham approached her, his expression solemn, as befitted the occasion.
"Welcome, Your Highness," he said, bowing to her.
"It is good to see you again, Your Eminence," Jilliana told him.
"I am honored that you remember me. I will be further honored if you will allow me to place the crown of Talshamar upon your head as I once placed it upon the heads of your grandmother and mother."
"Then I would have none other crown me."
"My regret is that you cannot be anointed before the high altar. Nevertheless, I have in my possession the Ring, Crown, Scepter, and Sword of Talshamar."
Suddenly Jilliana felt the blood of generations of queens flowing through her veins. She raised her head, a grave expression on her face.
"We shall not allow the place to deter us, Your Eminence. I am told by Sir Humphrey that we must make haste."
The Cardinal bowed his head. "That is so, Your Highness." He moved to a stand covered with golden cloth where several items had been placed. All those present gathered about as the cardinal turned to their princess royal.
In a clear voice, he uttered the words that had been spoken to crown generations of Talshamarian queens. He spoke first to those gathered near. "Princess Jilliana is your undoubted queen, wherefore all you who are come this day to do homage and service to her say yea."
"We do so come," came the answer from a strong chorus of voices.
"Are you, Princess Jilliana, willing to do the same to your subjects?"
Queen Eleanor had instructed Jilliana in her part of the ceremony, so she now answered in a clear voice. "I am so willing," she replied.
The knights spoke in unison.
"God save Queen Jilliana!"
The cardinal then stepped forward and anointed her with oil, first on the hand, and then on the forehead.
"God crown you with a Crown of Glory and Righteousness, that by the ministry of this our benediction, having a right faith and manifold fruit of good works, you may obtain the crown of an everlasting kingdom by the gift of Him whose kingdom endureth forever."
Jilliana bowed her head while he handed her the Great Seal of Talshamar. This she clasped in her hand and then held to her breast. Then she spoke, her eyes focused on the crown the cardinal supported upon a red velvet cushion.
"I uphold the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom. This is the royal law. This seal is the oracle of God."
"God save the queen!" the knights said.
Jilliana could not help notice that the cardinal's hand trembled as he took the crown and placed it on her head. There was a long moment of silence, and she remembered that the last head this crown adorned had been her mother's.
The cardinal then stepped back and many voices spoke in unison.
"Your liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship; and faith and truth I will bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of foe for your sake."
Jilliana found that the crown sat lightly on her head. She looked at the knights who had just pledged her their lives. She knew them not, and yet they were her subjects and she could feel their warmth reach out to her.
She felt the sting of tears when she saw tears in the eyes of these men who had just paid her homage, their voices blending: "God save Queen Jilliana. Long live Queen Jilliana. May the queen live forever!"
At last Sir Humphrey dropped to his knees and kissed the hand of his queen.
"Your Majesty, I swear my life and my earthly goods to your service."
Barons and knights approached her, each in turn, dropping to their knees and repeating the same pledge. She bestowed upon each a smile and a nod.
When the last man had made his pledge, Sir Humphrey held up his hand.
"Her Majesty is weary and shall seek her bed. On the morrow, we shall begin the long journey to London, and then, God willing, to Talshamar. Let not any man present allow harm to befall the queen."
Sir Humphrey escorted Jilliana to a tent
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