Jeanne D'Arc Chapter 2: Visions from God
Disclaimer: I do no own Jeanne or any other claymore characters that may appear. This story is based on the story of Joan of Arc or Jeanne D'Arc, with references to actual historical events of the 100 years war.
Credit : This story is partly inspired by "Life Sucks!" by Useful Oxymoron
Épinal(North Eastern Farnce, Lorraine)
Jeanne decided to travel simple, much like the way she used to travel as a claymore. She had no need to carry food with her. She needed very little food. Whatever she needed she could hunt. Clothes were not an issue as she did not perspire much and her yoma half ensured that she was immune to human diseases that could be caused by poor sanitation. She gathered what little money she could find, put on her hooded cloak and that was more than enough for her.
Information however, was crucial to her. She needed information on the war, political climate and local sentiments. She also needed a quick historical update. Centuries in the countryside has cut her off from information. The first thing she did was to spend two days in a local tavern, to listen to the bragging and rumblings of drunk French men. Her body's ability to expel alcohol allowed her to pretend to be drunk. From here, she understood that the war was an extended family squabble, and has taken a huge toll on the locals. Most of the locals were supportive of the House of Valois and saw the Plantagenets as British invaders. After deciding that she had enough information from this musty inn, she decided to leave of the war front.
Vaucouleurs garrison(North Eastern Farnce, Lorraine)
Jeanne spent one crucial evening eavesdropping on the commanders in Vaucouleurs garrison. Using her heightened senses as a claymore, she managed to hear every detail of the conversation going on in the command tentage, without even being in the camp. The only difficult part, was to filter whatever the rest of the soldiers were talking about. Good thing, it was late and night discipline demanded all soldiers to refrain from senseless chatter and to keep their noise level to a minimum.
"Your Excellency, the seige at Orleans is holding, there were no significant attempt made at any of the outlying fortresses after the disaster at Saint Loup."
"Any news of reinforcements?" The nobleman inquired.
"No, your excellency the Dauphin and his demoralized subjects were indulged in their usual squabbling. Some wanted to take Reims others were crazy enough to suggest Paris, but no one seem to be interested in Orleans."
"They are so demoralised that no one meant any suggestions they made and neither were the royalty interested in acting upon any suggestions. My plea to have us reinforce Orleans fell to deaf ears. People there are desperate enough to suggest anything but are too scared to do anything."
"Dammit, with our economy crippled, Orleans cannot withstand an extended seige. We have the supplies in Vaucouleurs, we have enough troops to make a significant difference and this is not a crucial military location. With the forces here, we may just be able to turn the tides at Orleans."
Jeanne has heard enough, that was enough information, to turn the tides of the war. First, she had to use the troops at Vaucouleurs to help lift the seige at Orleans and to capture the outlying fortress around it. She had to score this major decisive victory, to inspire the men of France to fight. Upon achieving that, she would have to take Reims to ensure that the King could be crowned. With that, she can unify France under the royal banner and to have them rise up and fight the Englishmen.
On the morning the next day, Jeanne presented herself to Count Robert de Baudricourt, commander of the Vaucouleurs garrison offering him her sword.
"Your excellency, I've come to offer you my sword and a promise of victory at Orleans. Grant me an audience with the Dauphin and I will promise that you will ride with me to Orleans."
"Wow, those are big words for a girl with a big sword." Count Robert sneered.
"Dammit, this is not working well. I almost forgot how chauvinistic these men are." Jeanne thought. "Grant me an audience and I will prove to you my words." she said.
"Look lass why don't you take that toy of yours and pawn it, it will be worth much more that way. This is a military base and we do not have time here to entertain a girl who has a drop too much so why not just go play in the fields and leave the war gaming to the big boys." The count retorted.
Jeanne began to feel hot around the ears after hearing that insult. "That from a man who has lived for a few simple deacades? From some one who has not even seen the likes of Yomas and awakened beings?" Jeanne thought. Jeanne slowly reached for her sword, wanting to prove her strength. Then, an idea came to her. She slowly unsheathed her claymore with one hand and presented it to the garrison commander and said,"Haven has has empowered me with a vision and a sword. Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret came to me when I was but a child playing on the fields of Doremy. They commanded me to crown the dauphin at Reims and to drive the English out of France. This is the sword of heaven, examine it in any way you like for you will find no other sword like this one."
Bearing a look of suspicion on his face, the nobleman stretch out his hands, to recieved the sword. Jeanne slowly relinquished her grip on the sword and at the moment when she released her grip, Count Robert immediately staggered at the weight of the sword. Unable to withstand the weight of the sword, Count Robert immediately dropped the sword. Stunned, he slowly regained his composure and asked,"what on Earth is that monster made of?"
"This was a gift from the saints, I was not in a position to ask questions. My job was just to follow the will of God. I have taken my first step of obedience to seek your assistance, now will you take the step of faith with me?" Jeanne answered calmly.
"Why not take a seat in the command tentage while you tell me more about this vision from God." The count said, while showing Jeanne the way to the command tentage, while barking a few commands at his subordinates, "Guards, get the the sword of heaven and follow me. And the rest of you, summon every officer into the command tentage."
When all the officers have arrived and were seated into an uneasy silence, the count decided to break the silence,"so Miss..."
"Jeanne, Jeanne d'Arc" Jeanne answered
"Right, Miss Jeanne, when did you start having these visions?"
"When I was twelve, I was playing in the fields of Doremy, when I saw a glorious light from Heaven. There I saw the Saints and they were beautiful." Jeanne answered with a look of conviction.
"So what did they tell you?"
"They told me that the century of English oppression will soon be over and i was the one chosen, to crown our king and to drive the English back to the British isles. Paris will soon be free can peace will be brought upon these lands. I wept as the Saints left for they were beautiful."
"So why did you choose to act only now?"
"After the first vision, the Saints appeared to me irregularly. Ultimately, it was at the destruction of my village when I receive the instructions form heaven to act. Saint Micheal came and said to me, "This is a sword of heaven with this sword, you shall bring peace and comfort to your people." She said, making references to her claymore, which took three soldiers to bring into the tentage. "Then I was given instructions to seek your excellency, so that I may be presented before the dauphin."
"Much as I would like to believe Miss Jeanne you will need to give me more evidence to present to the royal court should I ask for permission to present you there.'
"Listen and note this that should I not be appointed to Orleans by next summer our forces there will suffer yet another humiliating defeat."
"I'm sorry my lady, but those are word that would require proof. I will present you to the court once you prophecy has met fruition."
"Very well your excellency and know that God will hold you to your words" Jeanne said while making her way out of the tentage, while effortless picking up her claymore on the way out."
As she left, two officers ran after her and when they caught up with her, they knelt down on one knee before her and one of them said,"Your lady, I am Jean de Metz and this is Bertrand de Poulengy, we would like to express out belief in you that should you one day require our assitance in this camp, please feel free to ask."
"I will brave men of France and mark my words that I will be back." She said simply, while keeping an ear out on the conversation within the tent.
"Your excellency, surly you don't believe a word of that woman."
"Have you seen how she wielded her claymore with a single hand? I bet none of you can do that, so even if she is not a Saint, at this point I am willing to try anything, even consorting with the Devil himself and if this girl can bring victory to France I'll be more than willing to carry her sandals to the ends of the earth." The count added soberly, "Look even if those visions are a hoax, her strength is no joke, so lets see how things go for now."
"But what if she is with the devil? Look at her eyes and her hair, those are definately not human."
"Then i'll be damned, but at this point in time, I really don't care. If it takes the Devil to win the war for us, then so be it." The count replied firmly, effectively cutting off all his officers.
Outside, Jeanne smiled to herself silently. "Things are going better than she had thought Jeanne thought to herself."
Ok this is a longer chapter as promised hope you guys enjoyed it, please rnr. I'm open to ideas so feel free to pm me.