Read Online Once Upon A Time (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online Page B
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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sovereign. You have too often seen me with dirt on my face."
He looked at her seriously. "I always saw the crown of Talshamar on your head. You have ever been my queen."
Soon the long column left the secluded glen and wound its way along the twisted trail until they reached the high road. What a splendid sight they made with scarlet banners flouncing in the wind and golden chainmail gleaming in the sun.
Everyone they met along the way gawked at the lovely young queen, with her stark white entourage. Eleanor had been wise in her choice of white, for how magnificent they appeared to the English peasants.
Word spread quickly to the villages and hamlets along the route, and as the cavalcade advanced, throngs of people gathered to greet them with waves and cheers of delight.
None knew the identity of the beautiful young queen, but all the same, they raised their voices to glorify her.
6
Henry was closeted with his minister and his bishops as they puzzled over the strange news that was filtering in from the outlying villages on the high road to London.
Henry was pensive as he spoke. "Say you that the cavalcade is dressed all in white, from tip of head to their steeds, and that they are led by a beautiful young noblewoman?"
"Yes, Sire. By my faith it is so. It is reported that they are even now within sight of London. Shall I have them detained at the gate?"
"Are they armed?"
"Indeed they are, but they have posed no threat to anyone along the way. In fact, it has been reported that they throw gold coins to the people as they pass."
Henry looked disgruntled. He always distrusted such generous gestures. "When they reach London, allow only the woman and two of her followers to enter the city. Disarm the others and place them under guard."
"Yes, Sire," the minister said, hurrying out of the king's bedchamber to follow his orders.
The mystery intrigued Henry, but he had no time to ponder his strange visitors. He moved slowly from his bedchamber to the throne room. This day he must render judgment on Prince Ruyen, a distasteful but necessary business.
Harshly whispered words rippled between the nobles who had gathered to hear King Henry's final judgment against the upstart Prince Ruyen and his sister, Princess Cassandra. Conjecture was widespread and wagers were placed involving the outcome of the king's ruling. Most believed the prince and princess would be condemned to death.
When at last King Henry entered, he ignored the waiting courtiers, focusing his attention on the light spilling through the high stained-glass windows, his mind already racing ahead to his decision. Whatever he decided today would be unpopular with many of his own subjects. But he would not tolerate audacious hotheads who supported his treacherous sons. Prince Ruyen would be an example to deter others who might be tempted to follow his troublesome offspring. Besides, the Isle of Falcon Bruine already as good as belonged to England.
Henry Plantagenet, the greatest lion of them all, was not an old man, yet his cropped short hair was heavily grayed, and his gray eyes had lost much of their luster. His complexion was ashen and he was now prone to obesity.
Though betrayed time and again by those closest to him, his shoulders were still straight, his head erect. He was a powerful man and those whom he counted among his enemies trembled at the thought of displeasing him, for his might was commanding and his reach long.
He had lost almost everything that really mattered, but not England—never England. He thought of Eleanor, imprisoned for plotting against him, and of his two remaining sons, Richard and John, who warred between themselves as well as against him. The vast lands he had conquered would likely be lost after his death, for which of his sons had the power to keep them?
"Bring in the prisoners," Henry told his lord chamberlain.
Prince Ruyen, although in chains, walked unhesitatingly beside his sister, his arms about her,
He looked at her seriously. "I always saw the crown of Talshamar on your head. You have ever been my queen."
Soon the long column left the secluded glen and wound its way along the twisted trail until they reached the high road. What a splendid sight they made with scarlet banners flouncing in the wind and golden chainmail gleaming in the sun.
Everyone they met along the way gawked at the lovely young queen, with her stark white entourage. Eleanor had been wise in her choice of white, for how magnificent they appeared to the English peasants.
Word spread quickly to the villages and hamlets along the route, and as the cavalcade advanced, throngs of people gathered to greet them with waves and cheers of delight.
None knew the identity of the beautiful young queen, but all the same, they raised their voices to glorify her.
6
Henry was closeted with his minister and his bishops as they puzzled over the strange news that was filtering in from the outlying villages on the high road to London.
Henry was pensive as he spoke. "Say you that the cavalcade is dressed all in white, from tip of head to their steeds, and that they are led by a beautiful young noblewoman?"
"Yes, Sire. By my faith it is so. It is reported that they are even now within sight of London. Shall I have them detained at the gate?"
"Are they armed?"
"Indeed they are, but they have posed no threat to anyone along the way. In fact, it has been reported that they throw gold coins to the people as they pass."
Henry looked disgruntled. He always distrusted such generous gestures. "When they reach London, allow only the woman and two of her followers to enter the city. Disarm the others and place them under guard."
"Yes, Sire," the minister said, hurrying out of the king's bedchamber to follow his orders.
The mystery intrigued Henry, but he had no time to ponder his strange visitors. He moved slowly from his bedchamber to the throne room. This day he must render judgment on Prince Ruyen, a distasteful but necessary business.
Harshly whispered words rippled between the nobles who had gathered to hear King Henry's final judgment against the upstart Prince Ruyen and his sister, Princess Cassandra. Conjecture was widespread and wagers were placed involving the outcome of the king's ruling. Most believed the prince and princess would be condemned to death.
When at last King Henry entered, he ignored the waiting courtiers, focusing his attention on the light spilling through the high stained-glass windows, his mind already racing ahead to his decision. Whatever he decided today would be unpopular with many of his own subjects. But he would not tolerate audacious hotheads who supported his treacherous sons. Prince Ruyen would be an example to deter others who might be tempted to follow his troublesome offspring. Besides, the Isle of Falcon Bruine already as good as belonged to England.
Henry Plantagenet, the greatest lion of them all, was not an old man, yet his cropped short hair was heavily grayed, and his gray eyes had lost much of their luster. His complexion was ashen and he was now prone to obesity.
Though betrayed time and again by those closest to him, his shoulders were still straight, his head erect. He was a powerful man and those whom he counted among his enemies trembled at the thought of displeasing him, for his might was commanding and his reach long.
He had lost almost everything that really mattered, but not England—never England. He thought of Eleanor, imprisoned for plotting against him, and of his two remaining sons, Richard and John, who warred between themselves as well as against him. The vast lands he had conquered would likely be lost after his death, for which of his sons had the power to keep them?
"Bring in the prisoners," Henry told his lord chamberlain.
Prince Ruyen, although in chains, walked unhesitatingly beside his sister, his arms about her,
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