Daughter of Death -Chapter 28 (Patreon)

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CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

When morning rose, The Council and the religious leaders entered the chapel in the abbey where lay their beloved anointed future queen now tragically taken from this life so early –as her mother and father had been also.

The body of Princess Reina was to be properly anointed and attired for her funeral –last rites and blessings to be poured over her before the official ceremony.

Each of the dwarves that had kept watch over her that night was dismissed though they refused to depart her side. Their loyalty and devotion to Reina ran deep. Once all was explained to them and permission given to them to be at the funeral despite their lowly statuses, they bid Reina homage and temporary farewell before all seven departed willingly.

Her casket which was surprisingly well constructed from woven branches was then taken from the chapel that her body be washed with holy water and anointed with chrism oils and expensive perfumes.

The holy order that performed this rite was surprised, however. Which, in turn, led to the dwarves being surprised when they were summoned again before The Royal Council and the church officials. “How long ago did you say Her Royal Highness was found dead?”

“I-It’s been...She has been dead now three days. We found her the day before last,” Hulbard answered shakily.

“Therefore it has been almost three days,” Wendall interjected with a bow of his dark gingery head, “This afternoon marks two whole days since she left us my lords.”

“And you do not lie?” a ranked official asked eagerly.

“We have no reason to lie my Lords, Fathers and Your Eminences,” Rutger replied trying to use proper titles to address the men before them. They obviously asked this question for a reason and he could feel the tension they held. He did not want to further offend.

“Be certain you are telling the truth or we will be forced to consider you enemies to The Crown,” another gruff man barked back.

Not intimidated, Ulrich spoke, “We tell the honest truth. It has been just as we said and we are and always will be loyal and friends to The Crown of Bayern but especially to Her Royal Highness Princess Reina God rest her soul. She was lovely and precious to us in a way that we lowly men acknowledge was much above us. We would not deceive you for we love her as the most loyal subjects can and do not wish for harm to come to her or to her memory.”

“Yes. We wish she were not gone from us all for her kingdom mourns her and it needs her,” Oskar continued emotionally as he wiped tears from his face.

“My Lords why do you ask this question of us again?” Rutger inquired, knowing there must be more to this.

The other men hesitated. Finally, one –a man of the cloth- spoke, “Her Royal Highness’ body does not... it has not yet set into death. For it moves freely as though she merely sleeps eternally with The Lord God and her body untouched by the stiff hand of Death. `Tis a wonder that she should be dead these two days and still be so...untouched by discolouration and stiffness of limb.”

“It is as though she has just passed her soul to God and not given it into his hands days ago now,” another concluded.

“Her Royal Highness was a miracle since her conception and birth. God has shown this in one last miracle at death,” a councilman put in thoughtfully.

“She is truly divinely appointed; God’s vessel on earth,” another bowed his head to say which prompted many ‘amens’ and further bows of heads in addition to signs of the cross. The dwarves followed suit.

“Then let us continue her rites.”

The group nodded at the suggestion that the bishop gave and dismissed the dwarves again whilst everyone else departed for the castle or the abbey once more.

Finding the garment that Oskar had sewn to be quite exquisite despite its lowly origins, the decision was made to place Reina back into it. Its deep crimson and raspberry colour with golden trimmings looked exquisite against the paleness of Reina’s skin contrasted also by her black hair splayed around her like a holy halo. Were Queen Dowager Edeline to have seen it she would have internally condemned it as an unholy halo; like a sign or omen from Lucifer himself.

Then royal rings were placed upon Reina’s delicate fingers and her hands laid to rest gently against her chest below her breast. The attendant who performed this would later attest to anyone who would listen that her hands seemed terribly soft and her fingers quite limber and easily moved unlike one in death. The ‘miracle’ of Reina was often passed around for explanation even long after other explanations began circulating later on.

Royal masons had been hard at work creating Reina’s sepulchre and it was decided that her woven casket would hold her body until the official funeral was concluded whereby her body would then be moved into its permanent resting place encased in stone. Her former royal attendants wove stems of flowers and branches of fragrant foliage into the casket and into their mistress’ hair in tribute and holy relics were placed beside her. In one last touch, her royal sceptre which had been designed for her coronation after her anointing was slipped underneath her resting hands.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Reina the First; Anointed Future Queen of the kingdom of Bayern was ready to be laid to rest.

~❦~

Though the official Order of Succession had been since drafted following the announcement of Reina’s disappearance and assumed death many months before it had yet to be signed. According to Bayernian protocol and law, the mourning period for Reina needed to be fulfilled before any new person was anointed and succeeded to the throne.

With this new announcement of her death, The Royal Council met to determine whether a new mourning period was required for their deceased anointed monarch and then to adjust the terms of The Order of Succession, as necessary. 

“As she was already presumed dead and our mourning period is at present almost concluded in a couple of months I propose no new mourning shall be required. Her Royal Highness has been missing and absent and thus could not perform her duties in the time we mourned her. To mourn again a year from now would create strain upon our Council and our relations with the neighbouring kingdoms. I therefore suggest we fulfill the existing mourning period before any succession to The Crown.”

“Wise and measured words and well considered. I do agree,” another councilman responded to the first senior member who opened the dialogue.

The words of the senior council member seemed to be sensible enough for all of The Royal Council agreed with him and thus it was decided that the kingdom continue to mourn Reina after the funeral for only the remaining few months of their initial year-long homage to her.

“Then shall we change anything for her succession?”

The document ordering succession was read aloud again before each member presented ceremoniously the options for who would succeed The Bayernian Crown. Though all of this had already been discussed, it was customary to repeat the process ‘anew’ in order to fulfill their duties of paying fair tribute to the law and just method of selection and practices associated.

“His Majesty, the late King Arnaud, has a direct cousin whose lineage is closest to ascension the throne by bloodline. Adalberht is given the highest entitlement and claim on The Crown by birthright alone. His father was Emenrich who was sired by Orson the grandfather of the late King Arnaud. By direct line he is the oldest living descendant of a late king of Bayern.”

“King Farvald of Lusatia has a bid for a claim over Bayern. His daughter is cousin to our late Queen Imogene. His daughter married our late king’s youngest cousin Waldhar. King Farvald’s claim is small through marriage and ties to our royal family but to be considered.”

“Our late Queen’s nephew Friduric is to be considered. He is an heir indirectly to King Farvald and to the kingdom of Moravia as well. In this way he would be a strong tie between three kingdoms.”

“Our late King Arnaud’s maternal uncle Karl is also a bid for heir. He was second-born to his father who was a king. His sister was our late king’s mother. He has four living sons one of which married our king’s paternal cousin Gertrud and one of Karl’s daughters married another of our late king’s cousins Valemaar.”

With the heirs presented, The Council again went over each person’s merits as they had done months prior.

“The strongest claim to the throne by our late king’s cousin Adalberht is unfortunately unable to be pursued. Adalberht is getting on in age and devoted himself to God once a monk now a cardinal. He therefore has no heirs and is also unfit to rule.”

“His brother Waldhar would be suitable though he has five children two of which are bastards and one which is from his present marriage to King Farvald’s daughter Odilia. King Farvald has made his claim on these grounds hoping to unite his kingdom and Bayern further before letting his son-in-law succeed him on Bayern’s throne whilst his oldest son will make claim to his kingdom.”

“This is too dangerous for Bayern. If we let Farvald succeed our Crown he could betray Bayern and announce his own son as successor. Or his son could stage war over claims to our throne via his father and overruling his younger sister. Though he is only in line to his father’s throne from the death of their eldest brother, he could cause troubles if he wished to and his only son is his youngest. The succession would become too complicated.”

“Friduric of Moravia has ties to King Farvald as he is third in line for that throne according to their current and official Order of Succession. He is also in line for the throne of Moravia and as our late Queen Imogene’s nephew he has ties to our lineage even if it was cut short. Should he succeed to our throne he would be King over Bayern to start and would then succeed the throne of Moravia. Upon that day a new document would need to be drawn up in order to establish boundaries of rule. Jurisdiction would need to be clearly outlined in order for both kingdoms to remain sovereign.”

“This is not ideal should Friduric take advantage of our kingdom for his profit however alternatively it is a wondrous union should he use this cross-ruling to prosper our land and leave it in succession to one child and Moravia to another of his heirs.”

“Again that would require additional Orders or Acts of Succession to be clearly laid out at the time he is announced as Bayern’s successor.”

“Lastly we have Karl, second-born son of King Sigmund and brother to our late king’s mother. His ties to our royal family are strong in his eldest daughter’s marriage to our late king’s cousin Valemaar. Valemaar is firstborn of his father who was the third son of late King Orson of Bayern. Also Karl’s second eldest son married the firstborn daughter of our King’s uncle Emenich. This daughter is sister to our living eldest heir to King Orson Aldalberht.”

“Considering this lineage as well as Karl’s numerous legitimate heirs he is considered a strong choice for succession. He undoubtedly passed on the ability to sire sons and thus far his children and grandchildren have survived infancy.”

“Is he more qualified to rule our kingdom in his education and worldly knowledge?”

“Certainly King Farvald and Heir Apparent Friduric have been trained, groomed and even been experienced in the role of ruler however Karl as a duke and second-born to a king is certainly well-educated and informed enough to be a consideration to succeed our throne. And his children and their spouses also have strong ties in Bayern.”

“What of Waldhar, son of Emenich and grandson to the late King Orson? He is the younger brother to Adalberht, the strongest blood-right to the throne.”

“While his birthright and lineage do speak to a strong tie to his grandfather, the late king, his tumultuous past and current ties to the daughter of King Farvald would complicate lineage and succession. As previously stated Farvald’s eldest son may attempt to lay claim to the throne over his sister and brother-in-law in attempts to gain two kingdoms to rule over just that he would inherit from his father’s succession to him. Duke Karl is still the least complicated option for succession to our throne.”

The Council Members spoke briefly longer laying out the pros and cons of each option in succession. In the end, however, they agreed as they had previous months ago that the late king’s uncle Karl Duke of Brandenburg would succeed the Bayernian throne and pass on succession thus to one of his eldest sons.

With the Order of Succession still intact, the document was again filed until it would be officially signed and enacted after the mourning over Princess Reina came to a close in a few months’ time.

A letter was written, signed and sealed by The Council and sent again to The Duke of Brandenburg informing him that quote ‘The Council’s previous decision still stands.’ He would expect to hear from them again soon. Much preparation would be needed before he could accept his role as successor.

Meanwhile news of what happened to Princess Reina immediately spread to many other kingdoms and envoys were sent to Bayern to arrange a meeting with The Royal Council. The rumours regarding an assassin alarmed the sovereigns of each nation and they wished to discuss diplomacy and precautionary measures if they would be necessary.

In the meantime due to public appeal of openly mourning and coming to pay homage to Reina, it was decided that her funeral be delayed a couple of days in order that mourners may be given ample opportunity to reverently honour the late princess.

Therefore the aforementioned envoys began to arrive in Bayern before its anointed heir had been officially laid to her rest.

It was a wonder to all who saw The Princess for it indeed looked as though she merely slept in her casket for she did not wither or fade in beauty. Many arrived to see her expecting to behold a corpse awaiting its grave and almost gave way to fainting or loud exclamations to God himself at the sight of the beautiful princess laying so peacefully on display. 

The design of the casket with the ‘windows’ to reveal Reina’s face without needing to approach and look at her from above truly worked a marvel to allow mourners a chance to see her without getting so terribly close. Therefore The Council allowed people from far and wide of any station to come pay her homage.

It was a day after the second envoy arrived in Bayern that yet another mourner appeared at the entrance to the chapel holding Princess Reina’s body. “You did not see me enter,” he told the guards standing reverent watch outside the doors, “You shall let no one enter for the rest of today until after the bells toll to announce vespers.” The man then stepped in and with the door shut behind him, he removed his large hat in respect and in order to see better in the dimly lit room. Taking purposeful strides across the room he found to his surprise small men standing in watch over The Princess.

“M-my Lord!” Gus stammered shakily. He gave a gentle bow to the noble before him as did his three companions.

“Tell me what happened to her—”

The dwarves tearfully informed Reina’s beloved to the best of their ability what had gone on that she now lay here dead –in wait to be escorted to her final monument.

Rather than look torn in grief, the man extended a hand to his betrothed and touched the pale skin of her hand on her chest. He soon withdrew it then turned to the four dwarven sentinels: “Sleep now. When you awake you will not recall that you had been asleep only that you had turned away in respect that I might mourn for dearest Reina in some privacy.”

The tiny men obeyed him and now in privacy, the young lover leaned down to press a chaste kiss to Reina’s lips. “I am sorry my dear for being absent,” he whispered, “but I am here now and I will save you from this purgatory.”

He pressed his lips to his own wrist momentarily and when he withdrew his mouth hinted crimson. His next kiss to Reina’s lips was deep and almost sensual in nature as his mouth worked against hers.

Soon after he emerged coughing and sputtering and he looked down at his beloved in shock. His hands moved to open her mouth and making a sound of concern and disapproval he withdrew the hawthorn berries that were growing rancid in Reina’s mouth from when Edeline had placed them there almost a week ago now.

His mouth returned to his wrist again and he pressed it too to hers for a moment or two before it withdrew and his face leaned down again to kiss her scandalously; his tongue working in her mouth briefly.

When the noble stood to full height again, he looked down to see Princess Reina the very picture of the image orally painted to her late mother before her birth: pale skin as white as the virgin snow, hair as dark as the night that the vampir thrived in and lips stained a deep, rich crimson.

Licking his lips of their own crimson stain, Reina’s love smiled. And he waited.

One moment Reina lay completely still as she had in her casket for many days and nights and the next moment, her eyes moved behind her eyelids until finally with gentle twitching of her fingers and fluttering of lashes the young woman appeared restored to life! Reina’s eyes opened onto the image of her betrothed standing above her with a coy and happy smile of triumph.

“F-Fer-din-and,” she croaked weakly then licked her lips tasting his delicious blood on her tongue.

Princess Reina was alive.