Louvre, Paris
The large room contained a long wooden table with chairs, several paintings on the walls and a large fireplace, where a fire was burning sending light and heat out into the room. Through a window it was possible to look down into the courtyard, the castle walls and outside of that the city of Paris. Outside the rain was pouring down, and the sky was dark grey.
Inside the room the Conseil du Roi, The Royal Council, had just arrived. Some of the members where already seated and some where on their way in. As the last couple of men entered the room, a set of large doors was opened and in stepped Louis, King of France closely followed by his son, Charles the Dauphin. All the men seated around the table rises, and remain standing until Louis give them a signal to sit down.
“Welcome monsiurs! As you all know we have decided that it is necessary for Our Royal Council to discuss the rumours about the situation in Lotharingia. Now the Duc de Orleans will inform more closely about the recent developments.”
Jean d Valois-Orleans rose from his seat, bowed to the King, and looked around. Several of the men around the table had fought against his brother, Charles, in the war in Orleans about 20 years ago. But Jean had no bad feelings against any of them, he had at the time 20 years ago, but now he counted several of them as friends and he was on reasonable terms with the rest. He had hated Louis for some years after the events, but then when he though about it Charles had asked for it himself, and beside it was the soldiers from Lotharingia who was responsible, so Jean’s bad feelings had moved to Lotharingia instead. Now he had not though about the matter for years, he had lived peacefully in Orleans and everything had been good until the rumours had started to come from Lotharingia about the last developments.
Jean cleared his throat, and then looked for some seconds on a letter he had in front of him before he started speaking.
“Your Majesty, gentlemen. As I am sure you are all aware of several rumours have started coming out of Lotharingia the last weeks. Some of them saying that Philippe has retaken the throne, some saying it isn’t really Philippe at all, but the most reasonable seem to be those stating that Philippe has allied with the so called Count of Artois. Artois, as I am sure you all know, will do anything to get the throne of Lotharingia. It seems to be a nasty habit in that family…
Well anyway, through our contacts in Lotharingia we have been able to gather enough information to say that Philippe de Berry is alive, and that he is working with several lords from the northern parts of Lotharingia to take the throne from His Majesty King Louis. As well a great rebellion or even a new civil war in Lotharingia on our borders is a great danger.”
“Yes, yes yes. We all know that already Orleans.”
The man who had taken the word was the old Duc d Grenoble. He had fought against Artois in the last civil war of Lotharingia, and many of his friends had given their life in the same war, so if any of the people present around the table hated Artois it had to be the old Duc.
“I can’t stand that creep! I say we must act at once showing our full support to King Louis, and send forces to aid him against these rebels. I would love to see a second member of the family Artois falling on the fields of Lotharingia killed by the rightful sovereign!”
“Philippe, we all know of your views and we will take them into consideration, but now let Jean continue!”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I am sorry. Please continue Orleans…”
Jean, Duc d Orleans looked deep into the eyes of Philippe of Grenoble for some seconds before both men started to smile.
“Well, as I said. We know that Philippe de Berry has returned and allied with the rebellious lords of the north.
What we also know is that no one has heard anything from His Majesty King Louis for quite a while.
Also… it is the rumours about this German causing trouble. I don’t know if many of us has actually met Karl von Wittelsbach, but I am sure we all can agree on that the chancellor of Lotharingia is a potential danger both against the Crown of Lotharingia, but also against the Crown of France should he decide to start his own private rebellion. We have no indication of this, but what we do know is that the chancellor seem to be somewhat missing, and well before we decide to act we need to remember the danger of both a second rebellion in Lotharingia, but also the dangerous potential of the Wittelsbach family.
Now this is what we know at the moment, but it should be enough for all of us to wonder about.”
Jean sat down and Louis took the word.
“Yes, thank you Jean.
Well gentlemen the situation is very rare, and there are several potential sources of danger. I feel that France is in no position to fully go into any sort of public support for any side in this conflict before we have seen any further development!”
The nobles responded at once.
Oui, Your Majesty!”
“Good, I think that settles it then. It is just one more thing, I think we need to look further into this matter. As Jean told us Karl von Wittelsbach seem to have travelled to Strasbourg, to his estates, but no one seem to have been able to reach him for some time. Also the northern lords are also a danger we need to look further into.
Our borders to Lotharingia in the north have already been reinforced, but we need to think about what to do next.
Thank you gentlemen.”
The nobles started exiting the room, the young Dauphin walking in front. Charles just hated these boring meetings, he wanted to get back to his weapons training, he though that was much funnier, and now his father had excused them so Charles walked quickly out of the room. He wanted to run, but he remembered his father’s words about that it was not suitable for a prince of France running out of a meeting, so therefore Charles walked as fast as he could.
Just as the last men was about to exit the room, Louis called out.
“Jean and Philippe, please stay for a moment.”
……………………
As the heavy doors closed behind the last of the other nobles, Louis turns to the two Dukes.
“Well I didn’t want to say this with to many people present. Not that I don’t trust any of them, but well discretion in matters like this is important.
I intend to send one man to the northern Lotharingia noble, and also one to Strasbourg to von Wittelsbach.
If this conflict is to grow into a new civil war in Lotharingia we need to secure our interests, and to do that we need to know more about what the different people are up to from a fully reliable source.
Philippe I understand it is impossible for you to go anywhere, but I was hoping that you Jean would be willing to travel.”
”What Your Majesty? I might be getting old, but I am never too old to for this, however it is pretty much impossible for me to go. In the north I would be killed at once, and well my experiences with the Germans haven’t been all that good either. SO I guess it is up to you Orleans.”
The old Duke smiled at Jean.
“I guess you are right Grenoble. I will get ready at once Your Majesty.”
“Good, if Philippe feels like he is up for a trip we will both escort you on some of the way. We have much to discuss, and no time to lose!”
The Duc d Grenoble nods to the King, before all three of them leaves the room talking quietly to each other. Just some words are able to hear for people not standing right next to the three of them. Words like:
French interests, war, support, gold, land, old friends and enemies can be heard, but just as they exit the castle into the courtyard the King says in a loud voice:
”Edmund and England! War or peace”
