Ons Dierbaar Nederland

[unmerged(175623)]

OCTOBER 24th, 1108​

"Ready the equipment, Geraert" ordered Coenraad.

"Ja, mijn heer." Replied Geraert, riding off to where the siege engines were, behind the hills.

"Is the infantry ready?"

"The infantry is ready, sir." said Leonijdes.

"I trust we can move in now, then?"

"That we can, sir."

Coenraad took in a deep breath. "Can you feel it, Leonijdes?"

"What say you, sir?" Leonijdes asked, confused.

"They break today. Reims is not their strong point, they cannot hold another day."

"Sir, we've only been here a fortnight, do you really believe they break today?"

"I have been to many Saracen fortresses in the east, I have seen grand castles fall before Hollandic might. This little stick-house cannot hold for two weeks without resupply. They cannot resupply through France's borders, and we have burned their granaries to the ground. They fall today, and if not today, tomorrow!"

"You are quite sure of this, sir?" questioned Leonijdes once more.

"I am positive. Ready yourself, we must speak to the soldiers." said Coenraad, as he turned his horse.

"Ja, heer."

The two rode to where the soldiers were now assembled, behind the hills. Their blood boiled, they were ready for a fight. The sky was still dark, and the wind was cold, but their zeal burned brightly. They all stood when Coenraad and Leonijdes sat before them, high upon steed.

"Broeders" Coenraad began. "We have fought bravely these weeks that we have been here. Today shall be our day, I think! Hollanders and Belgians, who shall follow me?"

The soldiers cheered.

"Voor uw Vaderland, ons Vaderland! Voor ons dierbaar Nederland, dat geeft ons leven!!!" The soldiers cheered more now, and they shouted, 'Nederland!' and 'Lang leeft de Koningin!'

"Voorwarts, broeders! Schenk de vijand de dood!!!"

Forth they marched, and not a single step was wasted, for the Shiek of Reims would strike his banners that day...

 

[Enewald]

What does dierbaar mean?

I can German well enough to understand the rest of the phrases used.

 

[unmerged(175623)]

'Dierbaar' is a Dutch term, meaning 'Beloved'

 

[Johan11]

'Dierbaar' is a semi-archaic Dutch term, meaning 'Dearest'

Like the danish word "dyrebar"?

 

[Enewald]

'Dierbaar' is a semi-archaic Dutch term, meaning 'Dearest'

Wertbar and dearest?

Too odd.

 

[nette001]

In the context, the term 'beloved' is IMO the best translation of 'dierbaar' here.

 

[unmerged(175623)]

Changed. Thank you, nette001

 

[unmerged(175623)]

NOVEMBER 20th, 1108​

Once again, the sounds of peace fell across northern France, with the fall of Reims. The peace was not expected to remain, however, as Reims was not a stronghold in its own right.

The Netherlandic Empire's borders, as of November 20th, 1108​

So, several weeks earlier, a proposal was delivered to the Emir of Granada, in his far-off Andalusian demesne. The people were anxious, as was the young Queen and her court.

"My lady, you must not exert yourself so! Please, sit!" said the maid, showing concern about Alyse's strange behaviours. She had been vigorously pacing and moving objects around for several hours of several days, and seemed a bit off kilter. (Really, though, did we not expect her to act somewhat differently whilst pregnant?)

"I shall be fine, Gheertrude." replied Alyse, continuing to pace. "What concerns you so?"

"You exert yourself quite a bit these recent days, with a child in your womb, ja?" she shrugged. "I worry as all your high court worries, and in slightly more sense" the maid chuckled.

"You certainly do, Gheertrude." said Alyse, smiling at Gheertrude's comments.

"Please, my lady. The lord gave you the gift, so will you sit down on the chair?"

"I said I shall be fine, Gheertrude, and I meant I shall be fine."

Gheertrude said nothing. The day went on, and hours dragged by with the slow steadiness of all anxious days, each moment stinging more than the last. Alyse continued pacing and moving things around to places that didn't really make sense, waiting for something, anything good to happen that day. The moment finally came with an envoy from Granada, who spoke no German, and delivered but a piece of paper that had something written on it in French.

"Alyse, we have news." said her Mother, who happened to be chancellor.

"What news does the Saracen bring, mother?"

"Boudewijn has translated the message from French as best he can. The details are not clear, and we shall bring in a translator as soon as possible, but we have decoded enough to know that we have peace."

Alyse's eyes lit up at the very word. "Peace, you say?"

"Ja."

"Peace with Granada?"

"Ja."

"This is joyous news, mother! We must inform the populace at once!" said Alyse, making for the door. Her mother stepped into her path.

"I shall see to the informing. You should sit down."

And, so, she finally did.

 

[Morrell8]

NOES! I smells a stillborn!

 

[unmerged(175623)]

I'll never tell!

Well, eventually I will but I'll never tell!

 

[Enewald]

NOES! I smells a stillborn!

Well, describe the smell if you can? o:wacko:

 

[Johan11]

Well, describe the smell if you can? o:wacko:

Eeew!

 

[unmerged(175623)]

Dear followers, I apologize, but I have elected to discontinue updating this AAR.