A New Legacy

Chapter XX: The Royal Visit

Seventeen years into William's reign

All has been peaceful in the realm. Edward went back to school a week after the funeral, he continues to show a love for warfare, he has been studying the battles of Julius Caesar, Charles Martel and Daddy. It excites me, Samuel is well, he is really remarkable, he hardly ever cries. Alix and I are now forty-five, I can feel myself slowly getting more and more tired. But I must continue, for the good of the realm.

I fix my crown to my head, " You look fine", Alix tries to convince me. I swipe my hair back, " No, I look old, and decrepit", I say as I swipe my hair once again. Alix giggles, " You are old and decrepit". I laugh and swipe my strands of grey hair down. My hair colour is slowly beginning to fade, I feel like a geriatric. " And what are you Mrs. Wessex?", I ask softly, a smile paints my face. " Old and decrepit", Alix answers with a laugh. I smile, someone knocks on the door. " Enter", I command. John opens the door, " Your Royal Majesties, I have a message from London, King Henry would like you to come visit, he said and I quote 'Sir John, send me that damn King' ", John informs me.

I chuckle, " Yes, tell him I'll be there in three days". Alix stands up and swipes my hair into place, " There". I kiss Alix's cheek, " Thank you dear". I hook Alix's arm, we saunter down the hall and down the stairs, " Johnny, I'm leaving you as regent, keep the realm safe", I say firmly. I shake John's hand, " Of course sire, have a nice trip". We walk outside, snow gently falls onto the ground. We quickly scurry into the carriage, " To Windsor Castle", I say after slapping the roof. The carriage races off. " Thank you for being here for me", Alix thanks me.

" And thank you for always sticking with me. Even though I've caused us many issues", I respond. " And I haven't really addressed what happened all those years ago. With Cormac", I add. I sniffle, " Did you love him?", Alix asks. I shake my head, " No, I loved the idea of him. I can't explain it, I loved you, but at that very moment, I risked it all, one kiss turned into more. It moved very fast, he never really understood me. He loved me, and I didn't love him, and I think broke his heart", I explain myself, I really had the chance to, I'm always very busy and so is Alix.

Alix grasps her hand, she picks at her skin. " I loved another before you, a servant boy named Marcus. He pretended to understand me, my predicament, my status. And then he wanted to take my virginity. I said no, he then told me that I was nothing, and that no man would ever love me the same way he loved me. He called me a whore, Arthur overheard him and gave him sixty lashes. I know how it feels, I'm just happy I met you. You're the love of my life", Alix explains. I kiss her forehead, " I love you dear". Alix kisses me passionately, we share a moment of true love.

" Welcome to Windsor Castle sir", the driver says as he opens the door. We both climb out, the castle stands tall, guarding the surrounding woodlands. The English guards bow and open the door. We walk inside, " This is lovely", Alix whispers, beautiful tapestries cover the walls. " Auntie, Uncle", Henry says as he walks down the stairs. Henry hugs me and kisses Alix's cheek. I smile, " Yes, I'm that damn King you wanted to see", I say after a chuckle. " So you heard my message, thank you for coming, please come sit", Henry says after directing us into the lounge, we all sit down.

" Thank you for inviting us Harry, this place is lovely", I say softly. Henry leans back into his seat, " Your welcome, I got sick of Westminster Abbey, it's an old mausoleum", Henry responds. I laugh, " Have you thought about marrying?", Alix asks gently. Henry has always been against marriage, he said you'd have to catch him dead for him to marry. " No, I don't think I will", Henry answers. I bite my cheek, " That will cause a succession crisis", I say firmly. Henry nods, " Yes, I have an heir". I raise my eyebrows, " You do? Who?", I ask.

" Edward, other than you Auntie he is my next of kin", Henry says after taking a sip of wine. Edward? " No, you need to get married", I say firmly. " I can't get married", Henry says as he picks at his skin. " Why?", I ask softly. " I don't love anyone, I'm not just going to get married because I need an alliance. I want to be loved, and I want to give love. But I don't love anyone, I've met countless sisters and daughters of Kings and Dukes, I've never felt a real connection with any of them", Henry explains.

" Remember what happened to Wilhelm, Andreas took the throne five years ago, he was never supposed to inherit the throne, it took him three years, and a rebellion for the Bavarian people to accept him. The English and the Welsh are extremely different people. Our culture is different, we are different. And with Michael as the Duke of Lancaster, there will be a civil war", I explain firmly. Henry takes a sip of wine, " And Edward is shaping up to be a military genius, imagine it. Four great kingdoms united, under one crown. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, it was your Father's dream", Henry tries to convince me.

This could be massive, four kingdoms united under one crown. No one has been able to, Edward can, he could be the greatest King in Welsh history, hell, in history. " I don't know if I can hand Edward a war, it could kill him", I say softly. Alix grabs my hand, " Edward is strong William, he's not a little boy anymore", Alix responds. I rub my eye, " This would be doing me a huge favour, what do you want in return?", I ask firmly. Henry sits with his right leg swung over his left, " Nothing, we're family". I shake Henry's hand. May Edward rise to greatness.

I stick out my hand, Henry shakes it firmly. " Thank you nephew", I say softly. " Yes of course, actually I do want something in return", Henry responds. I wrap my arm around Alix, " What is it?", I ask. " You come visit every summer, it gets lonely here", Henry says with a smile. I laugh, " Of course Harry". We sit around and drink, having fun, for the first time in years.