Rhiannon, The Great Queen

Prologue

June 28th, 1491, in the year of our Lord, Henry: eighth of his name is second-born to Henry, seventh of his name, King of England, Ruler of Scotland, and Regent of Ireland.

November 11th, 1496, in the year of our Savior, Rhiannon, first of her name, first born to Queen Riona, Highborn Queen of Ireland.  Fathered by Prince Consort from Wales, Cadell.   

Two separate years, two separate countries, ruled simultaneously and yet will forever be intertwined.  Two separate births, both destined to be regal and destined to live full lives that history will not ignore.  

"Your Majesty, King Henry will not stand for this, especially because of his son."  A deep Irish brogue broke the silence in Queen Riona's library.  The voice belonged to an older man, no less than forty with slight worry lines streaking his face, creating crow's feet at the eyes.

"Henry will do nothing to refute my proposal.  Ireland has no need of the English crown.  Besides, all I have to do is keep my daughter's birth a secret until he agrees, then we won't have any problems.  I will not allow him to force betrothal on Rhiannon for unification purposes."  Riona calmly walks to the window overlooking her kingdom.  "Henry knows full well that I am not a Queen to be trifled with."  Riona smiles a cunning grin.

Ten years prior to the birth of Rhiannon, Riona married a Welshman, Cadell.  Wales, not an independent nation at this time, was a perfect alliance to be had, considering both countries hated England.  But they desperately desired their independence to be returned.  Riona was only Princess at the time of all this.  But, while her father was on the throne, England ruled over Ireland as well.  The people of Ireland had been under English oppression and exploitation for almost 500 hundred years and they wanted to be sovereign again.

"Riona, are you certain this is wise?"  A tall dark haired man with piercing blue eyes sits next to his wife.

"Ireland deserves its independence, just as your nation does."  Riona stands and exits the Queen's chambers to the meeting hall.  "Henry, please, have a seat and we will begin the negotiations."

A tall man with pale skin and reddish brown hair sits at one end of the table while Riona stands at the other.  "You're asking a lot.  I'm doing you a service by merely appearing to discuss this nonsense in person!"

Riona smiles calmly, gathering her thoughts.  "Henry...you and I are equals.  I am not inclined to remain your client kingdom and have my people to continue paying taxes to a kingdom they cannot see benefits from.  Its unjust and as their queen, I have the duty to do something about this situation."

Henry nods along, listening to Riona.  "And if you're wrong?"

"Wrong?"  her brows furrow.

"What if your action of nationalism ruins the economy?  Your people will not thank you with empty bellies."  Henry sits back with a smug grin painting his expression.

"If my nation revolts post my decision, I will walk myself to Bloody Tower and pay the executioner myself."  Riona stares with fire in her eyes. 

"Pride comes before the fall, Riona."  Henry shakes his head in disbelief.  

"This is not pride.  This is my promise."  Riona sips from her chalice full of wine.

Henry stares at the maps draping the walls of the meeting hall for a few moments, sips his wine, then laughs.  "Dammit, Riona."  He looks up.  "I'll make you a deal.  If after ten years you have not ruined your kingdom based on mere words fueled by your own desires, then I congratulate you.  And if you fail, I will have your head staked outside of the Tower of London.  You'll be the first queen up there."

Riona smiles, "Anything else?"  Her sarcastic wit clearly knows no end.

"If you bare a daughter, we will reunite our kingdoms."

"Only after the ten years.  If after the ten years and I have not born a daughter, England will remain separate from Ireland, as long as the kingdoms last."  Riona firmly suggests.

Henry stands simultaneously with Riona, "You have a deal, Riona."  

Riona smiles a very beguiling and fearless smile, "That's Queen Riona, now."  Henry nods and both royals sign this extensive treaty and underline each condition and clause for every possible outcome.  Without wasting any time, Henry shakes hands and leaves with a final copy of the treaty and sails back to England.  

Nine years and eleven months later, Rhiannon was born on the 11th of November, just under the ten year mark.  Riona must keep her a secret for the next month in order to secure eternal sovereignty for Ireland.  

"The kingdom has flourished, you don't really think Henry would be so bombastic and actually demand you to turn over the kingdom's independence just because of our daughter's birth, do you?"  Cadell cradles his daughter in his arms and smiles at his newborn, puckering his lips as he rocks her to sleep.

Riona sits at her vanity, brushing her long red hair before bed.  "I wouldn't expect any less from him.  Especially now that his youngest son is of age to be betrothed.  His eldest is already pre-engaged to a Spanish princess, why wouldn't Henry want Ireland back if he could have it?  Ireland is flourishing, we have expanded our network and increased our wealth.  We do not have people starving in the streets anymore.  We have ways to educate all our people and women have more freedoms than ever before!" Riona stands abruptly, "England's network is more vast than almost any other empire, why wouldn't he take more land if he wanted.  Rhiannon cannot be publicly announced, christened, or anything until December."

Cadell looks over Rhiannon, "I understand, darling.  It just baffles me how greedy he could be."  

Riona walks over to her husband and kisses his cheek and with a sad smile, runs her fingers over Rhiannon's face, "We will keep her hidden.  The books will all have to say December.  Once Henry is no longer king, we can have them corrected."

"As you wish, dearest."  Cadell wraps one arm around Riona and the two hold Rhiannon close to their chests.  Time is almost up.