Outline
Time: London/France Medieval Times 16th – 17th Centuries
Main Characters: Lady Annarave Panquina de Brillarc (Rogue), Earl Remand Guildbance (Remy)
Disclaimer: Marvel owns the X-men (the names are evolved here, so I will indicate, if not already clear, what characters are what). The other non-x-men characters are mine.
Note: no actual research went into the timeline, not as yet. The timing, for now, is simply used to create an atmosphere.
France 1583
The winters' breeze shuffled past the windows, dotting the mountainside with past fallen specks of pure white crystal. The onslaught of snow had ceased only a few days hence, lending the landscape an ethereal beauty. Holy's Seat, the aging church so-named by the residing nuns for its awkward situation on the crest of France's mountains, tolled its bell, signaling the Christ-eve's ceremony. As the nuns slowly began their descent from each of their respective corners to the heart of Holy Seat, the smooth shuffling of their habits echoed in tune with the grace of the bell.
As the Head Mistress, Mother Evenlin Franc-Paux nodded her head to a fellow sister; she paused midway on her decent of the staircase, her look drawn to the church's front-most window. Mother Evenlin, regarded as the most eloquent nun to grace Holy's Seat's pews, was an aged woman, the epitome of motherly love and fatherly brute. She knew how to run the nunnery, opposing those of ill intent while cradling her children in her protective arms. Her face was stern, lines of worry and pressure dug so deep that at first glance, one could claim her ghoulish. But to those who knew her well, knew that in her prime, she was thought to be a beauty lost to man and won by the Lord above. Her hair, though secluded in her habit, was ebony - so dark that it appeared streaked with blue. Her eyes, a startling difference, were the lightest gray that echoed of hard wrought compassion and perseverance. She was, by all standards, a woman of impeccable undeniable worth.
The harsh times of France, with rebellious lords, fighting religions and feuding kings, demanded that she be the rock of her chapel, preventing the brutal realities of the world to enter her chambers. She was the sole keeper of the "child." Her entire sisterhood held the secret of this beautiful girl close to their hearts. Years ago, entreated by a lonely, abruptly destitute man, for which Mother Evenlin herself had once had stirrings of emotions for before she chosen the Coventry, she took the motherless child into her care and had raised her from infancy. That was nineteen years ago. Today, Mother Evenlin knew, marks the day of the prophecy.
Starring hard into the scene before her, she looked, searched really, for something she knew was just out of grasp. She saw the white-covered landscape, watched as the wind swayed the branches, the way the snow moved together in formation over the earth, like a blanket embracing a child and yet she knew in her heart there was something more that her eyes were meant to grace. She felt drawn to the window and stood waiting for she knew a message was to be sent to her.
"Ma mere". The whispered reverence gave her a sudden chill and shocked her out of her stance. Looking to who produced the sound, Mother Evenlin turned and saw her god-sent sister of 15 years, standing to her side.
"What is it that troubles you?"
"My child, it is nothing." Staring into the brown eyes of Sister Claire-Lie, she saw the worry and smiled. "You worry for naught. "Now", taking an air of friendly nonchalance "there is much to be done Sister, where are the others?" spoke Mother Evenlin.
Knowing that Mother Evenlin considered the discussion closed, Sister Clair-lie mentally shook herself and proceeded to inform the mistress of the preparations. "The sisters have prepared much for this Eve of Christ's birth, the supper is made and waiting and the church has been adorned with trinkets of both religious and beauteous harmony. This auspicious day will be a glory to all."
"My dear sister Clair-lie, I am old and tired and yet as the day of Christ's birth approaches I can feel the spirit lighten me. Take to the prayer room, inform the sisters we will begin shortly."
"But, wont you walk with me?"
Again, that smile. "No child, I need to prepare myself as well." With that, Mother Evenlin turned towards the window, marking the end of the conversation.
As sister Clair-lie walked away towards the pew, her mind was transfixed with worry over Mother Evenlin, "it is not like her to be so eerily-polite with her words, she is strict but always shares her thoughts", thought Sister Claire-lie. Shaking her head, Sister Clair-lie decided that Mother Evenlin knew what she was doing and felt certain that it was due to her tiredness and proceeded to the prayer room to join the congregating sisters.
The air once again grew still and solemn.
"Ah," whispered Evenlin as she gazed out the window, "it is you, the one we have been waiting for." The significance of the last image that floated into her eyes was left a mystery for all. The breath shook out of Mother Evenlin like a caress as she quietly slipped down the wall and fell silently to her death.
At the same time, the doors of the church rattled once and the burst letting and onslaught of snow and wind into the halls, along with the naked, blood ridden body of Earl Remand Guildbance.