April 1200,... Nottingham Castle...
"Your Highness, could you please learning harp rather than practising archery and riding horse? Those were not things a lady should do, those were for men!"
Sylvia didn't know how many times she said that when she saw the princess, nearly turned sixteen, would rather go horse-riding or practise archery than learn harp, visit other high-ranked noblewomen or stunned herself. She had no idea why the princess was attracted to archery so much.
"Archery has a great passion, how can I resist?", replied the princess.
"I do not know how did you get attracted by those arts for men but... Her Majesty is calling for you!", said impatiently Sylvia.
"So it seems we should not let her wait more...", replied the princess, "wouldst thou dress me it court dress?"
"Yes. My duty...", curtseyed Sylvia.
A moment later, the princess and her lady-in-waiting appeared in the court hall, where the widowed queen Eleanor of Aquitaine were waiting for something very important.
"Long live the Queen. We are here as you requested", bowed Sylvia.
"Thou may be more casual, my granddaughter does not fancy so much politeness in conversations", said the queen, "My dear grandchild, did you know why I call you here?"
"No, I did not, Grandmother", replied the princess.
The queen nodded.
"Why don't you have a seat?", suggested the queen.
The princess sat down onto an armchair and focused to the thing the queen would let her know while Sylvia stood behind her princess. The queen then said: "As you have known, your uncle Richard has died last year. That means it's necessary to find a new monarch for England. John has been the successor, but I am afraid that he may not live so long. So, I have chosen the worthy successor for John among our grandchildren. As my remain children all got married, so we only have grandchildren to choose..."
"That is the reason why you call me, Grandmother?", asked the princess.
"Indeed, my dear grandchild. Your parents, aunts and uncles have agreed that I would honour you to be the Crown Princess, successor to the throne after John's death", said the queen.
"I do not know whether I can handle the whole kingdom on my hand, Grandmother", the princess said uncertainly.
"We know you can, my dear grandchild. Your uncle Richard has asked us before he left for the Third Crusade, that whether he could choose his dearest niece to be the future successor", said trustily the queen, "When your uncle John dies, then you will handle this kingdom and its citizens in your hand, love them and protect them. However, because Richard dies first, then John will success the throne. Until there's no royalty left in the succession line, that is the time you have the responsible on this kingdom"
Suddenly a voice came from the gate: "Mother, you chose this child to be the successor?"
"Why did you ask that? Yes, we chose Anne's daughter to be your successor", said the queen.
That was Prince John, one of the successors to the throne of his father and elder brother. Hearing that his niece would be queen after his death, he could not help but argue: "Why, why did you choose this child to be my successor?"
"Your brother Richard has died, you succeeded his throne that your father left, now you are King. At the time you have no children, no successor, so I have to choose. Your niece, Anaivere, will be the Crown Princess, by our family's honour", replied the queen.
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A Forgotten Legend: Anaivere the First
Historical FictionBy his mother's last will, King John's little niece, Princess Anaivere was made the heir apparent to the throne instead of his later own child. At first, he intended to use his niece as a puppet in order to strengthen his power and get rid of the th...
