Last part for An's backstory, 2,646 words. This will be last update for this year, sorry. :) Too many projects to figure out. So to all, a Happy New Year!
An's backstory is necessary to understand why Ketys reacts the way it does in the later chapters. But I was a bit stumped what to DO with her, until I remembered something: if someone is awesome, usually, they come from fairly awesome stock. I think all people has growing pains regarding their parents, no matter what their actual relationships are like. And no relationship is ever perfect, but at the same time – I do feel, as I'm growing older, that I owe much more to my parents than I'd ever really appreciated.
Also, as a friend once said after watching Disney's Brave (2012), there are plenty of stories about daddy issues, but not mommy issues. So here's An's backstory, in honor of mommy issues. ;)
Et Cetera: Fade to Black
Three. Daughter of Fudomine
A naoidhean bhig, cluinn mo ghuth
Mise ri d' thaobh, O mhaighdean bhàn
Ar rìbhinn òg, fàs a's faic
Do thìr, dìleas féin
A ghrian a's a ghealach, stiùir sinn
Gu uair ar cliù 's ar glòir
Naoidhean bhig, ar rìbhinn òg
Mhaighdean uasal bhàn
- "A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal," from Disney's Brave (2012)
[Written 11.28.2015 :: 12.30.2015 Version]
"Mother."
"Yes, darling?"
An sighed, tugging at her sleeves. "Why all this?" she asked, gesturing to the pair of wicker baskets filled with rolls of bread.
Her mother gave her a speaking look.
"I've done all you've asked and more," An said calmly, older now and experienced enough to firmly keep defensiveness out of her tone. "I just don't see the point of this. The actual distribution of the food to the poor will be done by wagons. Why do we need to make a show of this? It seems...well, it feels staged."
"In a way it is," her mother admitted. "But it's important to build a good rapport with your people. And you're right to say the food will be distributed whether or not we go personally. But our presence is a reminder." The queen fastened her cloak with a simple pin, and picked up one of the baskets. "I know you remember your history, darling. When did the tradition begin, of royal women giving away food and alms to the poor?"
"With the Princess Sanae, sister to King Sousuke, first of the Tachibana family to rule Ketys," An answered promptly. It was a famous story, retold and reenacted every winter solstice, when the custom supposedly began. "Princess Sanae wanted to ease the suffering of her people after a bad harvest, so she went from street to street, distributing bread to the poor."
"You remember that the Tachibana family is the second dynasty to rule Ketys, yes?" At An's nod, her mother continued. "In the oral legends, it was Princess Sanae who started the custom. In reality, she started it as Lady Sanae, sister to Lord Sousuke, several years before her brother was crowned king."
"I remember."
"Then it would behoove you to remember, darling, that Lord Sousuke was hardly the only contender for the throne after the last king of the Hikari line died without an heir. A great part of his eventual ascent can be attributed to the sheer popularity his family enjoyed among the common-born. Lady Sanae above all."
"The Daughter of Fudomine," An finished, recalling Princess Sanae's eternal epithet. Fudomine – which meant 'immovable peak' – was an ancient name for their people. Oretis, East Oretis, and the Great Simean Delta beyond the River Mertis – before they were a kingdom, they had been a people first, bound by the same language, faith and traditions. And so before they were united under the single crown of Ketys, they called themselves the Fudomine after the Seven Mountains and their imposing peaks.
"Fudomine. People of the Immovable Summits," her mother added. "A reference to the Seven Mountains which have been sacred to our people since the antiquities. All of our people look to the Seven Mountains as the heart of our kingdom, and that is why Irodea, encircled by these sacred mountains, has always remained our capital. And Lady Sanae, born and raised in Irodea, was called the Daughter of Fudomine. One can even say her brother owes half of his throne to her popularity. What's more, he never forgot it, either."
Told like that, Lady Sanae's charity did seem an awful lot like a deliberate ploy to garner the people's affection. A political campaign to win her brother the throne, nothing more. "So what she did was just for political reasons?"
"Maybe, maybe not. We will never know." Her mother blithely ignored her irritated look. "History often omits private feelings or personal motivations, particularly those of women. Perhaps Lady Sanae genuinely cared about her people and her charity was exactly that, nothing more. Perhaps it was part of a carefully planned campaign to help her family rise to prominence among those competing to become the next king. Be that as it may, the Tachibana family has been popular with our people ever after, and we owe that in no small part to Lady Sanae's famous basket of bread."
"And the royal women have always been a respected part of the Tachibana family for their charitable works," An said. "I still can't help feeling a bit pretentious, carrying around this basket like the food in it belongs to me. Or that my little basket makes a difference."
Her mother stared at her, a fleeting look of surprise on her face. "That, my daughter, is why I've always believed you are special," she said softly, open warmth in her gaze. "No, do not ever forget that it is the people whose labor provides you with the food in your basket. And no, one basket does not make a real difference. Nor does a handful of wagons delivered once a year. But think of it this way: if you have a choice to give someone a loaf of bread just one day of the year, or not at all, which would you choose?"
An considered it, and sighed. "I see your point."
"So give with a humble heart, my daughter. Maybe Lady Sanae deserved her title. Maybe she didn't. Regardless, you should strive to earn yours through true merit."
"It's not enough to be popular with nobles, both high-born and low-born alike. Or have unparalleled influence through alliances in the court." Both of which she had achieved; she had taken her mother's advice to heart. She had even found a handful of friends who shared in secret her more progressive views. "You want me to win the heart of the people as well."
The queen nodded. "You're already well on your way to do that. But you need to start making more public appearances. Your people should always be able to recognize you even without the coronet of a princess or the royal banners. Your father and I, contrary to popular belief, have not planned out your future to the last detail. In the future, perhaps you will remain a princess, perhaps not. Princess Sanae remained unmarried for the rest of her life, dedicating herself to help her brother rule. That is no small thing, of course, a life spent in the service of one's country. But if your life's path differs from hers, as I hope it will, then even when you're not the princess of Ketys, I want you to retain a far more important title that should belong to you always."
Daughter of Fudomine.
"You don't ask small things," An said wryly. "Just when I think I have done everything you ask, you raise the stakes."
Her mother gave her one of her more secretive smiles. "A life is not a life worth living if you ever stop trying to improve yourself. Speaking of which, how is your needlework progressing?"
An groaned, fastening closed her own cloak and picking up the remaining basket. "Oh, mother, please. I've barely learned how to chain-stitch along a pre-drawn line. You know needle lace is going to be forever beyond me."
Her mother let out a peal of laughter, and turned to lead the way. "Well," she said in a conspiratorial murmur, "to be honest, same for me, too."
The Tachibana family had always been a beloved presence in Ketys.
Since their reign started a hundred years ago, the Tachibana family's rule was characterized by strengthened military and increasing independence from the temples' – and therefore the Cetera's – influence. Before the Tachibana family took over, it was customary to give the temples a third of all yearly produce as offering to the Gods. And since the Cetera managed all temples, the Cetera had enjoyed unrestricted flow of bounty from Ketys. Since taking over, the Tachibana family, citing bad harvests and war with Brinwold that had resulted in the previous royal family's demise, cut down the offering to a fifth of the yearly produce. Eventually, the Tachibana dynasty rerouted half of even that to establish a standing army, in the name of maintaining peace for the kingdom.
Then, after a border conflict with Brinwold that resulted in a small tragedy for Pyris which was caught in between, a scandal forced out the half dozen resident Cetera Mages who used to serve the royal court of Ketys. The Cetera's High Council sent delegations demanding the reinstatement of the Cetera Mages to the royal court, but the royal house cited one difficulty after another, and managed to delay the process indefinitely.
The current crown prince of Ketys, Kippei of Tachibana family, was known for his remarkable prowess in arms, particularly the sword, and for his intelligence and magnetic personality. Although he had a temper, and some rough patches early in his teenage years, the prince eventually grew to a charismatic yet controlled young man, mature far beyond his years. If he had somewhat unusual penchant for choosing his closest companions from lesser gentry rather than the more fitting high-born nobility, it was overlooked in favor of his achievements. Extolled for his courage and strength and honor, his fame spread far and wide as Ketys's pride.
Prince Kippei was equally well known for being an affectionate son, and an exceptionally doting brother. When he was gifted a magnificent black colt, whose sire and dam were both known for their astonishing speed and agility, the young prince insisted on buying its equally stunning twin, a spirited filly, as a coming-of-age gift for his sister. Among the connoisseurs both horses were considered worth their weight in gold, and speculations ran high on how much the prince paid for the unusual gift.
His sister, being a skilled equestrian herself, openly adored the filly as her favorite among all of her coming-of-age gifts. She was just as popular as her brother, despite her rather unorthodox upbringing: she learned statecraft and art of sword and horseback riding alongside her brother and his companions. The princess even joined the prince on his occasional hunts, and it was not unusual for her to return with a buck or two she brought down with her crossbow. The royal court adored her nonetheless because she was beautiful, a wonderful dancer, a skilled conversationalist, and a deft hand at racquet games which were popular at the court. The common people revered her for her charitable works, visiting the poor and the sick every month with food and alms and words of comfort. Nobles and commons alike honored her by the epithet 'Daughter of Fudomine,' a title which had once adorned none other than the legendary Princess Sanae of Tachibana family a hundred years ago.
Both the prince and the princess remained unmarried well beyond the usual age royal children married. But then again, suitable matches were hard to find for such extraordinary pair. For several years half-hearted negotiations took place between Ketys and Brinwold for their respective heirs apparent, but nothing came of it, particularly because Brinwold was embroiled in contention over the matter of succession for years. The king of Brinwold had no male relatives at all, forestalling any attempts to marry Princess An to Brinwold. And finding suitable consort for the king's only daughter, the sole existing heir, presented a particularly thorny problem for Brinwold, which had no intention of risking its independence through an imprudent union. Eventually, Princess Nanako of Brinwold ascended to the throne as the ruling queen after years of deliberation, and that effectively ended all talks of marriage between the two kingdoms. There was a number of possible matches from within the kingdom of Ketys, but with every archduchy and duchy watching each other's every move, no talk of wedding came to fruition. Besides, no one was particularly worried. The prince was only twenty three years of age, in prime of his youth, and the king was in excellent health. The prince was not expected to ascend to the throne for some years, possibly another decade or more.
Fate, however, had a habit of upsetting all mortal plans. Not long after his son celebrated his twenty fourth birthday, the king held a hunting contest for his own birthday. No one was extraordinarily surprised when the king, the prince and the princess all entered as contestants. All three of them had been avid hunters for years.
On the third day of the hunt, the king was thrown from his horse when his poor mount stepped into a rabbit hole on a full gallop across the plain. The horse went down hard with a scream – right on top of its fallen rider. The king never stirred from where he'd fallen.
The tragedy was all the more terrible for its unexpectedness. The king was well loved by both the nobles and the commons, and the incident cast another pall over the kingdom's relations with the Cetera. For one, there were several Cetera Mages in attendance during the celebration of the king's birthday as well as the hunt itself, a first in half a decade since their expulsion from the court over the Pyris incident. Whispers echoed loudly through corridors that the Cetera, for all their arts, did nothing to save the king. Even darker whispers were uttered, though in secret, that perhaps their presence was the very cause for the accident. Then, the Cetera Mages made it worse by not joining in the mourning for the king, citing some holy day or another in the Cetera custom which forbade it.
Antipathy toward the Cetera had been long in the building. Farmers and merchants alike resented the temples for the levy on their yearly income, and consequently the Cetera, who held complete sway over the temples. With another fifth of their income taxed by the fief's lord, the temples' share was a heavy burden on the rich and the poor alike. And no one had forgotten how the temples used to take a third of everything. When the current royal family instituted the standing army funded by half of the temples' share rather than the more traditional method of raising the overall taxes, the move had won nearly unanimous support from across the land.
The Cetera never took sides in conflicts between Human kingdoms. None of the Cetera had lifted a finger to help whenever Ketys had to resort to armed conflict to assert its rights. Why, then, should the Cetera benefit from Ketys? And then after the king expelled the Cetera from his court, the first time they were allowed to return the king in question, who was in perfect health and an expert horseman besides, had a sudden and fatal accident. And as if to to add insult to injury, the Cetera would not even send their condolences until a month after fact.
Absolutely no one raised any objection when the crown prince did not invite the Cetera delegates to his coronation ceremony.
When at last the newly crowned king ascended the steps to his throne, the reverent hush turned to confusion and then finally to tumult as the king held out his right hand to his sister. Of all the people present only the queen mother remained as unruffled and serene as ever.
If the princess herself was surprised she didn't show it. Her head held proudly high, she ascended to the dais to take her brother's hand, to stand at his right – the place belonging to the king's chosen heir. The moment their hands met, something passed between them in their locked gaze, something fierce and determined and triumphant, passing too quickly to be noted by anyone else outside the circle of newly promoted young lieutenants, the new king's chosen confidants.
The king took the throne then, and fixed the entire hall with a brilliant, penetrating gaze. And those gathered in the great hall felt a tremor of excitement, looking up at their king sitting like a lion on the throne, and the princess, regal as a lioness, at her brother's right hand. They could all feel it.
A new wind was rising, sweeping through the kingdom like a gale from the Seven Mountains. And it would bring changes they dared not even dream of before.
Vivat rex.
English translation for "A Mhaighdean Bhan Uasal" ("Noble Maiden Fair"), taken from Disney Wikia
Little baby, hear my voice
I'm beside you, O maiden fair
Our young Lady, grow and see
Your land, your own faithful land
Sun and moon, guide us
To the hour of our glory and honor
Little baby, our young Lady
Noble maiden fair