A New Legacy

Chapter X: Twenty Long Years, Part One

Nine years into William's reign

The whole family is happy again, Mummy is now Sixty, she moves slower, and she is exhausted. Joann is well, so is James and Leopold. Andreas and Mary had a girl, Christina Dinefwr. Alix and I are now thirty seven, we've been married for twenty years. We want to celebrate the anniversary here, with friends and family. I am happy, and thrilled for this new chapter in my life. I'm praying it works out, but only the Lord knows.

A cold wind blows through the Abbey, I stand in front of the mirror and fix my crown to my head. " Daddy, Can you help me", Edward asks as I glance at him in the mirror. " I can't button these", Edward says. My muscles tighten as I bend down and get on one knee. Edward is such a kind boy, he has taken a fascination for hunting. I clip each button on Edward's waistcoat and coat. I smile and stand up, " There you go". I grab Edward's hand, we walk down the hall. " What are you and Mummy celebrating?". I smirk, " We've been married for twenty years", I say softly. Edward glances up at me, " That's a lot of years".

I chuckle, " Yes". " Boys, are you ready?", Alix calls from the bottom of the stairs. We walk down the stairs, " Yes dear". Alix kisses my cheek, I blush. " Icarus, can you help", Mummy asks, I look up the stairs. Mummy stands with a cane. I scurry up the stairs and grab Mummy's hand, she grips my arm tightly as we walk down the stairs. Mummy breathes heavily, " Thank you". The clock ticks, twelve-thirty. I bite my lip, " Come on, we don't want to be late". We quickly march outside and up the path. " Your Royal Majesties, Your Royal Highness, please follow me", John says after bowing.

I hook Alix's arm, Alix and Mummy wear beautiful red dresses. Edward wears orange and I wear a white silk blouse, and a green waistcoat and coat. We walk inside, a huge table runs across the great hall. Andrew Argyll limps to me and bows, " Congratulations Your Royal Majesties", Andrew says. I smile, " Thank you, how have you been?", Alix asks. Andrew smirks, " Good, I just recently celebrated my ninety first birthday". I've seen Andrew around, we've never really talked much. He seems like a nice guy.

The door opens, Joann, Andreas, Wilhelm and Arthur walk in. We all greet each other and hug. " This is lovely, thank you all for coming", I say softly, a smile across my face. Andreas wraps his arm around me, everyone walks away and mingles with another. " Icarus, I have a matter of importance to discuss", Andreas says, his voice weak. My blood runs cold, " What is it?". Andreas turns pale, he guides me to the Royal Vault. " I don't know if I can be King, I'm nervous", Andreas says softly.

I hold Andreas close, " You'll make a great King, be confident with yourself". Andreas tugs away from me, " I can't be as good as him, as good as Daddy". I nod, " I dealt with the same issue, I thought I would never compare to Daddy. But you can't allow it to take over your mind, I spiraled into a very dark place. Nobody on this earth is perfect, not Daddy, and not us". Andreas runs his hand across Father's stone statue, his eyes swell.

I hold Andreas' hand, " I miss him too, with all my heart. How about I give you this", I reach into my pocket and pull out Father's journal. " This was Daddy's, he wrote in it since he was a boy, you can keep it for a little", I say softly. Andreas' hands shake as he grabs the journal. Andreas sheds a tear, " Thank you Icarus". I rub Andreas' back, " I still haven't seen Dylan's grave, will you come with me?", I ask. Andreas nods, we walk out of the Royal Vault and into the grand hall. A large portrait of Dylan hangs on the wall. I read the metal plate.

" Dylan Grey, Royal Advisor from fourteen-forty three to fourteen-eighty five, served forty-two years. Born fourteen-twenty eight, died fourteen-eighty five". I miss Dylan, he felt like a second father. But he would want me to be happy, so I will try. " Dylan was a good man, he's with his parents now", Andreas says. I wipe a tear, " Yes, of course.

We all sit around the table eating and drinking. I skim through my speech and stand. " I have something to say", I say firmly. Everyone stares at me, " Alix, we have not always been perfect, or kind to each other. And we've, more specifically I, made mistakes. I have loved you since the moment I met you, we were both fourteen. You curtseyed and smiled, I was flattered. Then we married at seventeen, twenty years ago. Thank you for being a part of my life. Thank you for forgiving time and time again, I wish us many more happy years", I say lovingly. Alix blushes and stands up, she kisses me passionately. My troubles float away as we sit down.

" That was lovely Bubbakins", Joann says softly. We all return to eating, I take a drink of tea. The door swings open, a man with brown hair steps inside. I stand and draw my sword from my waist. " Who are you?", John asks firmly, he stands and draws his sword. Soldiers flood into the Abbey, " My name is Jonathan Dunkeld-Johnson, your Father killed mine", Jonathan screams. " I am demanding the Kingdom of Scotland, now", Jonathan adds.

" We can handle this peacefully, surrender your men", I say calmly. " No, bring them now", Jonathan screams, soldiers throw Abel and Sigrid to the floor. The soldiers ready their pikes. " For Scotland", Jonathan screams. The pikes stab into Abel and Sigrid, they scream in pain. Blood splatters over the Abbey, a stabbing pain starts in my stomach, quickly moving to my throat. I swallow my vomit and stand tall. " I will kill all of you", Jonathan yells.