A Forgotten Legend: Anaivere the First

Part Ten: In the Tower

As we've known, the golden reign had ended tragically. No one later would remember a great monarch, Anaivere Renata Plantagenet, who brought life of hope to England's miserable peasants. The history wouldn't remember what she did, who she was and even her existence. She was simply a legend. A forgotten legend.

Anaivere of Nottingham and Jeanne of Domrémy, were so similar but also so different. When Anaivere lived her rest of life in anonymity, Jeanne d'Arc was praised as a virgin martyr, a saint and a patron. We knew Saint Jeanne's victory at Reims, but we would never hear or know about Queen Anaivere in the Fifth Crusade. To the day, she was nothing more than a legend, just like her allies, Robin Hood and his merry men. Although, Robin Hood was considered to be a historical figure through the evidence that proved him real person, nothing which related to Anaivere that we could find, no one know if she did truly live. She existed as a phantom of history, just like Pope Joanna, Sweeney Todd or Jack the Ripper.

___________________________
March 1218...

A new spring had come, but the dark clouds surrounded England hadn't faded. People still loved their former monarch, although the Crown had official declared Anaivere was no longer Queen of England, and restricted people to refer Anaivere as anything beside "Her Majesty". Whomever dared to break the laws would be severely punished. Thus, when anyone talked about the former queen, they would refer her as "Lady Renata", "Her Excellency", or indirectly and connotatively, "an Angel in the Tower".

One morning, Maid Rosette strolled down the market to find if it had some of her mistress's favourite rose tarts. She then accidentally met her uncle, who was choosing some fabrics at a stall, looked happier than ever before.

"Muslin or silk, milord?", asked the merchant.

"How about satin? Rose or turquoise is better?", replied Lord Timbley.

"I think rose would be wonderful, but turquoise also looks classy..."

"My fiancée loves bright colours although she frequently has to wear dark. So I think I should choose precisely and carefully, as this will be my engagement gift..."

"Why don't you purchase a ring, milord? Isn't it easier than choosing silk for wedding gown?"

"She doesn't prefer engagement rings, if it does, then it would be in wedding ceremony..."

"Uncle Ferdinand, what makes you so happy to-day?", called Maid Rosette.

Maid Rosette's calling disrupted Lord Timbley, he turned to look at his niece with surprise.

"Rosie, what are you doing here?"

"Lady Renata asked if I could find some of her favourite tarts..."

"So, it was Her Excellency... I thought you would spoil this to your future aunt-in-law...", sighed Lord Timbley in relief.

"What's the matter?"

"Dear, you've already known! It's hard to find a suitable fabric for her wedding gown!"

"Should we let Her Excellency know? She was Her Excellency's former maid, though..."

"No, you shall not, dear. We won't let anyone know about this, even Lady Renata, okay, maybe it's fine to tell her and... just don't mind about this merchant who is just helping me to choose the best one..."

Maid Rosette looked at the stall, rolled her eyes through stacks of fabrics before gave her uncle a final decision.

"If it would be wedding gown, then it should be pearl-coloured. I think she suits muslin best..."