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“Want I need is more gold and less enemies.”
- Lady Gytha
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Aethelstan, son of Edhilda, prepared the troops for the act to be done. I'm fortunate, I have a good commander who is loyal to me. He shall round up all the leeches in Cornwall, which was easily done thanks to my shadow master's handy list of all the culprits. Aethelstan is now my new marshall and my husband. Everyone was displeased when I broke my betrothal to the Bastard's son and wedded some courtier but they don't have the right to question me for I am fit to rule now. And Aethelstan is my prince.
The treasury has collected a huge amount of gold, confiscating the leeches' lands, properties, and incomes. The peasants were all in cheers when my lord husband arrives announce the arrest of the traitors and the abolishment of the taxes bestowed by the chancellor. The peasants went into arms and marched with my army. The barons, mayors and such won't put much resistance against me. My old chancellor and steward were soon arrest put to the death for treason.
Marshall was cautious with the money (and everything), yes, but only because he wants me to be safe. Now, I'm no longer a little girl. I am a full-grown queen. Now it's time to put the collected gold into good use. I created the title, Duchess of Cornwall, to elevate my status among the nobles of the realm. Then, to show everyone my new title and my coming-of-age. A grand feast would be appropriate.
The grand feast was set-up with invitations, not just among my nobles, but throughout the realm. I even invited the traitor, Morcar the Unready, from the independent North and that whelp king in London. I need them to see that I'm here. I am not to be ignored. I am the daughter of the rightful king, and I shall have what I want.
I have hired acrobats, singers, a couple of dancing bears for the feast. My hunters scourge the forest to find good game to be served on our tables. Finally, the feast starts and my guests have all arrived. The Godwinsons and the de Normandies weren't there. I'm not surprised. But a king's envoy was sent and gave me a message, apologising that the king and the regent cannot attend the feast but the king granted me the title, “Keeper of the Swans” as a gift. I graciously invited the envoy to join us. Still, many nobles came to Cornwall to see the rightful queen. Most importantly, Morcar was there. He was old than I imagined. Time is catching up to him but that doesn’t stop him from attending as he is delighted to talk to me. I summoned him privately, away from the songs and chatter of the feast in the hall.
“I have received your message, Your Grace.” he bowed as he approached me.
“And?”
“I will support your claim against the usurper boy, William II. To demand his crown, and, if need be, a war to take it from his bloody head.”
That gave me a smile in my face. “I am pleased. Better to have a queen than a child king. Hm?” The crown is mine, at last.
“Better to have a Saxon queen than a Norman king, I'd say. I believe you have heard that the French have grabbed the Duchy of Normandy from them the de Normandies?”
“Yes. That made our plans easier to achieve.” I reached out my hand “Would you swear your fealty to the true Queen of England then?”
He chuckled “Not so fast, Your Grace. I didn't fought a war just to kiss the ring again. Pardon me.”
I gave him the leave to return to the feast. As he left, I began to understand why he refused. He is the most powerful noble here in England. More powerful than the king himself. However, the traitor is making it difficult for me. I need him against the Godwinsons, de Normandies, and especially Capets, in case they press their claims. All I have is a duchy in a corner of the kingdom.
Still, a great feast, well received by everyone, and a powerful backer for my throne. This night went well.
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In the fortnight, a band, lead by my husband, of knights and their squires and men-at-arms from Morcar and mine rode together to London. My marshall then demanded the crown from William. He told me, I should have seen the face of the whelp. The regent stood defiant but the threat of war then made him melt in fear.
The realm was ravaged by warfare and rebellions that it would be folly to stand against Morcar and the might of Lancaster. The South have too few troops to fight the slightly damaged North. King William II and his regent surrendered the crown to me.
Now, I am truly the ruler of England. I am Queen Gytha first of her name. Daughter of Eadgar “the Aetheling” Eadwardson, and grand daughter of Harold Godwinson. No one is more suitable ruler than me. It was 18th day of October. The Year of Our Lord, 1089. I wore the crown at the age of 16.
My quest is complete but I'm not done yet.
Map of England, Ireland, the Welsh lands, and a part of Scotland.
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Now the fun starts.