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Post by devilinthedetails on Aug 9, 2020 1:58:56 GMT 10
Series: Locked Heart
Title: An Eternal Queen's Portrait
Rating: PG-13 for references to adultery and execution.
Event: Wicked in Winter-A Chill in the Air.
Words: 200
Summary: Lianne admires a portrait of an earlier queen of Maren.
Notes: Somewhat inspired by Robert Browning "My Last Duchess" poem.
An Eternal Queen’s Portrait
Lianne’s footsteps echoed beside her husband’s as they strode past generations of his ancestors in a drafty gallery. Her gaze arrested by the graceful swan neck, pearl skin and onyx eyes of a queen from three generations ago, Lianne froze, staring at the portrait. She admired the soft smile that graced the queen’s lips and wondered how the artist could have captured it so deftly with mere brushstrokes, bringing a mortal queen eternal life on canvas.
“That’s Queen Cecile.” Prince Rurik’s words were a chill in the air and a shiver in Lianne’s spine.
“She had beautiful eyes and a swan neck,” Lianne whispered.
“She had wandering eyes that roved too far from her husband. She was accused of treason and beheaded, an ax cutting through her swan neck.” Prince Rurik’s eyes were ice. “It’s treason for a royal woman to betray her husband and cast doubt on the legitimacy of their issue.”
“It’s a good thing I’d never betray my husband then.” It was a lie cold as the air between them—Lianne had betrayed her husband with Alan more times than she could count—but what was another lie in a marriage that had always been a sham?
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Post by Rosie on Aug 9, 2020 2:52:45 GMT 10
Ahh, this is so sinister but I sort of get Rurik's point, particularly about legitimacy? No one wants a Pirate's Swoop child in line to the Maren throne. Interested to see where this goes, very much feel as though Rurik knows.
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Post by Kypriotha on Aug 9, 2020 11:24:15 GMT 10
This is a really interesting fic that captures so much in only 200 words. On the one hand, it has me remembering how unjust I've always felt it was that it was considered treasonous for a Queen to have a lover, yet so many Kings had many lovers (my knowledge here is particularly with the English monarchy). On the other hand, I can see why Rurik would be upset that his wife brought her lover with her to Maren from the outset (if he does, indeed, know what he is intimating here).
I'm also wondering what George's spies in Maren think about what his son is getting up to! I can see him orchestrating a rescue operation if he thinks Alan is danger, as lovers were typically executed alongside the so-called treasonous Queens!
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Post by devilinthedetails on Aug 10, 2020 1:15:44 GMT 10
Rosie, thank you so much for commenting! This definitely did turn into a very sinister and dark piece probably because I took inspiration from a sinister and dark poem. I do think within a medieval context, Rurik does have a point. When a whole system of government and ordering of society is based on inheritance and legitimacy, it becomes important that it's clear who the parents are and with a royal child it can even mean a civil war if there are accusations that the royal child isn't legitimate. And I do think that Rurik knows or at the very least strongly suspects what Lianne has been up to with Alan. I don't think he has proof, but he has a strong enough suspicion to warn and threaten her in this way. Kypriotha, thank you so much for commenting! I'm glad that you found this an interesting fiction that could capture so much in 200 words. I do think there is quite a bit of injustice and double standard to the fact that a queen having a lover is treason, but kings can pretty much have all the lovers they like, and nobody really bats an eye or sees that as a negative. I do agree with you, though, that Rurik could have fair grounds to be upset with Lianne for bringing her lover to Maren from the outset, and I do think he knows or at least strongly suspects what he's intimating here. I do think George would find a way to rescue his son from Maren if it became necessary, because I do think he'd be very clever in that, and I can't imagine him just standing by while his son was executed. I think he'd find a way to save the day if necessary because that just seems very George to me.
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