Disclaimer: This takes place in the year 654 in Corus, Tortall. That's
about 200 years after Page, if you want a sense of things. There's a completely
new royal family that me and some friends have created, so they're mine. The
lands, however, are not.
The year was 629. Irena Zoe Crysyn of Mindelan was 25 years old, and had the most massive case of butterflies ever in her entire life. Of course, it was expected for the young girl to be nervous, as it was her wedding day. She stood on a small stool as several women fussed with her long, thick chestnut hair, applied make-up to her fair skin and around her dark blue eyes, smoothed the flowing white gown over her shapely 5'6" frame, making her look perfect. The girls helped Irena off the stool and lead her to a wing of the gigantic Royal Cathedral, where in mere hours, she would become Queen of Tortall.
Irena remembered the day when her family had been approached by several King's messengers, asking her prescense at one of King Nathaniel's royal balls. All nobles were always invited to such events, but Irena rarely went. She thought it was strange to have her prescense specfically requested, and curious, she decided to attend, wearing a flattering dark blue gown to compliment her eyes. When she arrived, she quickly learned the purpose of the ball. King Nathaniel's son, Nathaniel the III, had recently been knighted. Nathaniel the III had been born late in the King's life, as a last resort more than anything else. King Nathaniel had had three sons, Brent the IV, Christopher and Jason. They had all grown up and become capable knights. Edward was named heir, and his marriage was to take place when he was 22, after returning from campaigning with his two brothers. Hillmen and other haters of the Royal Family had learned of their mission, though, and in a meticulously planned ambush, all three sons were killed. Nathaniel was already getting older, at the age of 50, and now had no heir. In a last ditch effort, his wife Carlette was able to concieve again, and Nathaniel the III was born. At the age of 18, he was in need of a wife, which was the reason for the ball. His father was almost 60, and his health had recently began to fail. The balls held over the following months would be dedicated solely to finding a proper wife for Nathaniel, one who would be able to bear several capable heirs to the throne.
Irena had only gone to two balls when she had been chosen as the lady who would become the next Queen of Tortall. She was only 15 when it occured, and was escastic. The next ten years were devoted to marriage prepartions, delayed for several years by a skirmish between Tortall and Tusaine, but the day had finally arrived. King Nathaniel had been diagnosed with a failing heart only a week before the marriage ceremony. It was obvious that he would not be around for much longer. The ceremony was elaborate, and seemed to go on forever. Irena found herself passing the time when studying Nathaniel's features - his strong jawbone, a stark contrast to his high, almost delicate cheekbones. His jet black hair was long and tied back tightly in a horsetail, trailing along the base of his neck. His brown eyes were always intensely focused on something, and Irena found that when he looked straight at her, chills ran down her spine. Then, four hours later, they were married.
Nathaniel and Irena were blessed with three childless years to allow one another to learn about each other, and slowly fall in love. In the winter of 632, Irena became pregnant, and in October of the same year, gave birth to who would later be announced as the heir to the throne, Brent the V of Conte. Two and a half years later, Irena was pregnant again, giving birth to their first daughter, Natalie Irena of Conte, in June of 635. Almost immediately following Natalia's birth, Irena became pregnant again, giving birth to another boy, Ashton Stephen of Conte, in January of 636. Irena was allowed only a few short months to take care of her children before she found herself pregnant once again, this time with triplets. Some members of court worried if she could make it through another pregnancy, but she was only 33, and had plenty of child-bearing years still ahead of her. In April of 637, Irena gave birth to the third prince of Conte, Robert Jonathon, the second princess, Lilith Thayet, and the fourth prince, Jason Gregory. After such a hard pregnancy, Irena was happy to find that she managed to stay without child for a full year, allowing her time to focus on herself for once, and the six beautiful children she had already beared. In the beginning of 639, Irena was delighted to find she was pregnant again - this time with twins - and in November, Carenna Elise and Elisa Carenn entered into the world. A year after the twins, the Fifth Princess of Tortall, Zoe Annette, was born, and caused quite a controversy. Her eight other children all had some variant of brown hair, and either blue or brown eyes, which made perfect sense, as both Irena and Nathaniel had dark hair and those colour eyes. Zoe, however, had hair so blonde it was almost silver, and pale eyes the colour of moonlight. No sort of test could be done to say who the father was for sure, although everyone suspected that Irena had cheated on her husband. Irena vehemently denied the accusations - they were all false. Besides, she had thought with a smirk, so what if I had cheated? Nathaniel had done the same to her, while she was pregnant with the triplets. The result had been a golden brown haired girl named Ophelia Bentley, who was paid a healthy stipend each month to keep herself comfortable, and her mouth shut. Irena had forgiven him - eventually - but she never sought out revenge of any sort. Despite what people thought, Zoe wasn't bastard princess number two. A year and a couple months later, the fifth prince of Conte, Kalan Myles, was born. By this time Irena was 37, and the many pregnancies had worn heavily on her body. She was reaching the end of her child-bearing years, and expected that Kalan would be her last child. However, when Irena was 42, she became pregnant once again. Everyone was surprised, to say the least. Brent was already 14, a promising squire. The last thing that was necessary for the Tortallan Royal Family to have was another child. But, the pregnancy held, and on May 4th, 646, Eldtrich Gregorian of Conte was born, the sixth and final prince of Tortall.
The year was 629. Irena Zoe Crysyn of Mindelan was 25 years old, and had the most massive case of butterflies ever in her entire life. Of course, it was expected for the young girl to be nervous, as it was her wedding day. She stood on a small stool as several women fussed with her long, thick chestnut hair, applied make-up to her fair skin and around her dark blue eyes, smoothed the flowing white gown over her shapely 5'6" frame, making her look perfect. The girls helped Irena off the stool and lead her to a wing of the gigantic Royal Cathedral, where in mere hours, she would become Queen of Tortall.
Irena remembered the day when her family had been approached by several King's messengers, asking her prescense at one of King Nathaniel's royal balls. All nobles were always invited to such events, but Irena rarely went. She thought it was strange to have her prescense specfically requested, and curious, she decided to attend, wearing a flattering dark blue gown to compliment her eyes. When she arrived, she quickly learned the purpose of the ball. King Nathaniel's son, Nathaniel the III, had recently been knighted. Nathaniel the III had been born late in the King's life, as a last resort more than anything else. King Nathaniel had had three sons, Brent the IV, Christopher and Jason. They had all grown up and become capable knights. Edward was named heir, and his marriage was to take place when he was 22, after returning from campaigning with his two brothers. Hillmen and other haters of the Royal Family had learned of their mission, though, and in a meticulously planned ambush, all three sons were killed. Nathaniel was already getting older, at the age of 50, and now had no heir. In a last ditch effort, his wife Carlette was able to concieve again, and Nathaniel the III was born. At the age of 18, he was in need of a wife, which was the reason for the ball. His father was almost 60, and his health had recently began to fail. The balls held over the following months would be dedicated solely to finding a proper wife for Nathaniel, one who would be able to bear several capable heirs to the throne.
Irena had only gone to two balls when she had been chosen as the lady who would become the next Queen of Tortall. She was only 15 when it occured, and was escastic. The next ten years were devoted to marriage prepartions, delayed for several years by a skirmish between Tortall and Tusaine, but the day had finally arrived. King Nathaniel had been diagnosed with a failing heart only a week before the marriage ceremony. It was obvious that he would not be around for much longer. The ceremony was elaborate, and seemed to go on forever. Irena found herself passing the time when studying Nathaniel's features - his strong jawbone, a stark contrast to his high, almost delicate cheekbones. His jet black hair was long and tied back tightly in a horsetail, trailing along the base of his neck. His brown eyes were always intensely focused on something, and Irena found that when he looked straight at her, chills ran down her spine. Then, four hours later, they were married.
Nathaniel and Irena were blessed with three childless years to allow one another to learn about each other, and slowly fall in love. In the winter of 632, Irena became pregnant, and in October of the same year, gave birth to who would later be announced as the heir to the throne, Brent the V of Conte. Two and a half years later, Irena was pregnant again, giving birth to their first daughter, Natalie Irena of Conte, in June of 635. Almost immediately following Natalia's birth, Irena became pregnant again, giving birth to another boy, Ashton Stephen of Conte, in January of 636. Irena was allowed only a few short months to take care of her children before she found herself pregnant once again, this time with triplets. Some members of court worried if she could make it through another pregnancy, but she was only 33, and had plenty of child-bearing years still ahead of her. In April of 637, Irena gave birth to the third prince of Conte, Robert Jonathon, the second princess, Lilith Thayet, and the fourth prince, Jason Gregory. After such a hard pregnancy, Irena was happy to find that she managed to stay without child for a full year, allowing her time to focus on herself for once, and the six beautiful children she had already beared. In the beginning of 639, Irena was delighted to find she was pregnant again - this time with twins - and in November, Carenna Elise and Elisa Carenn entered into the world. A year after the twins, the Fifth Princess of Tortall, Zoe Annette, was born, and caused quite a controversy. Her eight other children all had some variant of brown hair, and either blue or brown eyes, which made perfect sense, as both Irena and Nathaniel had dark hair and those colour eyes. Zoe, however, had hair so blonde it was almost silver, and pale eyes the colour of moonlight. No sort of test could be done to say who the father was for sure, although everyone suspected that Irena had cheated on her husband. Irena vehemently denied the accusations - they were all false. Besides, she had thought with a smirk, so what if I had cheated? Nathaniel had done the same to her, while she was pregnant with the triplets. The result had been a golden brown haired girl named Ophelia Bentley, who was paid a healthy stipend each month to keep herself comfortable, and her mouth shut. Irena had forgiven him - eventually - but she never sought out revenge of any sort. Despite what people thought, Zoe wasn't bastard princess number two. A year and a couple months later, the fifth prince of Conte, Kalan Myles, was born. By this time Irena was 37, and the many pregnancies had worn heavily on her body. She was reaching the end of her child-bearing years, and expected that Kalan would be her last child. However, when Irena was 42, she became pregnant once again. Everyone was surprised, to say the least. Brent was already 14, a promising squire. The last thing that was necessary for the Tortallan Royal Family to have was another child. But, the pregnancy held, and on May 4th, 646, Eldtrich Gregorian of Conte was born, the sixth and final prince of Tortall.