Chapter 52
10th May 1430AD
Things had been going well for France these last few months with the aid of Sparta the English were on the losing end of the war young Joan of Arc or the Maid of Orleans was fighting the English in the Northern regions while Sparta reduced itself to a peacekeeping force in most regions.
Insuring trade continued to make it to the ports in southern France and of towards Spartan territory Afterall trade was good and the market was desperate for French wine particularly from the Vineyards of house Delacour they had 2 main vineyards one in the region of Provence the other was in English occupied region of Bordeaux.
And that is how Kassandra was now leading an army of 20,000 Spartan and 2000 French soldiers to liberate the region from England the head of house Delacour Lord Louis Delacour agreed to have a trade deal with the Spartan Empire it would make his family richer than ever that would eventually lead to his descendent Monsieur Delacour becoming Minister of Magic to France as well as President of its Muggle counterpart.
For the next 10 days the Spartan Military pushed English forces back to the city of Bordeaux however they would not hold out for long on the morning of the 24th may the English Garrison surrendered for their bravery the remaining English Troops were allowed to sail North in total only 400 English troops survived in Spartan invasion.
Kassandra and her troops enjoyed a night of celebrations well at least her troops did Kassandra could feel a lot of distress coming from Joan something was wrong with her however she would not know until a week later that Joan had been captured by the enemy.
Kassandra would receive a message from Charles VII a month later that he would not send any aid to her it was probably the worst thing he could have told her by August of 1430AD the Spartan army divisions posted in large towns or cities took them over arresting the leaders.
Kassandra spent the next few months searching for Joan's location which led to her invading Burgundian territory sacking towns and castles killing all who stood in her way 8600 dead Burgundians later she learned of her young friends' location.
(City of Rouen Normandy English occupied France)
January 10th 1431AD
Joan of Arc had become very calm since she had been brought here the same could not be said for the English word came from the front lines that the Spartan military had launched a full scale assault heading towards the region of Normandy many believed the Crimson Legions had decided to invade England itself.
With the threat of a Spartan invasion the English declared Joan of Arc guilty of acts of war against England and sentenced her to death by burning alive to be carried out on the 12th of January a horrifying fate but Joan said nothing.
Meanwhile Kassandra herself was living up to her name she had just taken the City of Cane from the English when word got out that she had access to the channel it would send shockwaves across England. However, Kassandra had no interest in England she would turn her attention towards the City of Rouen.
City of Lyon
King Charles VII looked at the documents of the Spartan raids in the North but what scared him slightly was the letter he received from his holiness Pope Martin V he was to tell the Immortal Queen to leave France or he would be excommunicated.
Charles sat there in his chambers wondering what to do with Kassandra's aid huge amounts of land had been retaken hell the English were in full retreat in some locations, but if the pope excommunicated him his rule would become invalid allowing the English to rule by right of god.
As much as it pained him, he wrote a letter to be sent to Kassandra in truth he had no choice he would not give up his throne.
To her Imperial Majesty Queen Kassandra of Sparta
My friend I write to you with a heavy heart despite your aid in restoring my Kingdom I must now demand that you leave my Kingdom as your aid was no longer needed you have until the 10th of February or war will be declared against you.
I have no choice in the matter I am being pressured by the Papal States to do so all I can do is ask for your forgiveness.
I remain
Charles VII
Rightful King of France
With the letter sealed he had it sent to Kassandra however she would not get it till after the great fire of Rouen it would be called in the history books as the Maids divine wrath.
12th January 1431AD
City of Rouen main plaza
Joan was led towards the centre of the plaza it was crowded with English Troops members of the church as well as the local townspeople as she was being tied to the stake the local bishop gave her a chance to renounce her alliance to the king of France and the heretic Queen and come back to the true faith.
She merely smiled back at him and proudly yelled. "Long live Charles VII the rightful King of France and gods bless the Immortal Queen Kassandra!"
The Bishop was angry this woman dares to defy him even at the end turning to the executioner he yelled. "Burn the heretic let us show the good people of Christ that the pagan gods of Sparta will not aid this delusional fool".
As the fire started to spread Joan looked up to the sky and called out. "Great Queen of Sparta I call for your aid strike down the enemies of my beloved France I give you my life great Queen!"
Above the city the clouds grew dark as a storm started to grow however it wasn't a normal storm by any means as a large bolt of lightning struck the Pyre blinding everyone for a few seconds however it would be the last thing many of the people of Rouen would see as the flames of the Pyre grew monstrous striking out likes waves in all different directions turning people to Ash in seconds within 10 mins the city was burning.
However, a large part of the civilian population was spared the flames it was manly toes at the execution that were killed but the city was reduced to an inferno with the screams of those still trapped inside being heard for hours.
2 weeks on the 24th January the last few regiments Spartan army were making there way back to the ports to sail home the Great Fire of Rouen had died down after 4 days allowing for English troops to search the ruins in the centre of the courtyard was the remains of the Pyre in the ash was a small neckless known to be worn by Joan as well as some charred bones.
It was believed that Joan of Arc sacrificed herself to call down a great power to weaken the English forces in France as troops from Paris were redeployed to retake the region this would allow French Troops to take Paris 6 months later as more and more supplies were sent to fortify the western flank.
Back at the docks
Kassandra watched as the last of her troops boarded the ships ready to sail home as Charles made his way to her side. "I am truly sorry Joan's deaths was a tragic loss for the people of France."
"Indeed, however the English hold on the north is greatly weakened eventually you will regain your Kingdom".
"Your Majesty your ship is ready to leave" came a voice from behind the two monarchs a teenage girl in Egyptian style clothing her face covered Charles assumed it was one of her handmaidens with a final goodbye Kassandra and her handmaiden boarded the ship.
It was only after the ship left that Charles thought to himself when did the Queen have a handmaiden who didn't sound Greek or Egyptian he didn't think about it for many years and then in the years 1453AD the war between France and England was over all that remained of the English occupation was Calais.
(Authors Note: Hey everyone here is the last section of the hundred years war I hope you like it also who is the handmaiden is she someone important or was I just to lazy to add her in the last chapter...who knows:)
Until next time
Revan Shan 2077
