Chapter 91 - Coronations & Compiegne


-13 APRIL 1429-

The Loire Campaign is concluded, after a series of crushing French military victories at Jargeau, Meung-sur-Loire, and Beaugency, culminating in a rout of Norman reinforcements at the village of Patay.

Rumors that the Norman reinforcements at Patay consisted of English longbowmen, and that the Norman commander John Talbot was rescued by a Knight of the Round Table, who spirited him away on horseback before he could be captured, are summarily dismissed by the War Council due to a lack of evidence.

With the region finally secured, the French loyalists begin to turn their attention towards the greater war effort.

Calls are made by the more ambitious to retake Paris, or even to push into Normandy, before the Dauphin finally accepts the advice of the Maiden, who urges him to ride to Reims and be coronated despite the difficulty of pushing that far East into Norman-Burgundian territory.

Blake d'Arc's banner is further decorated once again, with the convent now emblazoning the words "Jhesus+Maria" onto it.

-16 APRIL 1429-

The Maiden, now clad in steel armor made for her in Tours, begins the March to Reims, leading the vanguard from the front with her banner.

The French army continues to be bolstered by a seemingly never-ending stream of volunteers, as the Legend of the Holy Armored Maiden spreads further and further. Many volunteers cite prophetic dreams directing them to Glen, where the French army had been mobilizing.

Ships begin landing in Normandy and Calais from England.

-7 MAY 1429-

The French army arrives in Reims, far ahead of even the most optimistic of schedules, due to a surprising lack of resistance from many Burgundian-held towns along the way, with the few cities that didn't surrender or defect to the French instead allowing their neutrality to be bought by the Dauphin. The ease of their journey is simply chalked up to being yet another one of the miracles granted to the Maiden of Orleans.

Regardless of the cause, the arrival of the Dauphin, the Heroes of Orleans, and the Maiden are treated as cause for much celebration, and reports of spontaneous parties in streets are plentiful, even as the Dauphin, his Court, and the Maiden and her Champion meet with the Archbishop of Reims.

As the Archbishop receives them, the Maiden is reported to declare: "Noble King, now is executed the pleasure of God who wished I lift the siege of Orléans, and I bring you into this city of Rheims to receive your holy coronation to show you are the true king, and the one to whom the kingdom of France must belong."

-REIMS, 8 MAY 1429-

Somehow, despite having partied for well over a day by that point, the city still hadn't run out of alcohol.

Then again, considering the events of the past two months, Blake felt like she couldn't blame the citizens for celebrating.

After all, before March, there had been precious little to actually celebrate, as the foreign invaders ravaged the land, and inched ever closer to their inexorable victory.

Even now, two months after she'd arrived at Orleans, she still couldn't believe how much the situation had changed for France.

The city had not fallen.

The loyalists were now stronger than ever, as more and more people of France began to rise up, now that they saw that the invaders could be fought, could be beaten back.

Once more, after generations of fighting, the people once again had hope.

And as she stood on the balcony of the archbishop's castle, she found herself feeling an odd sense of pride, as she watched the culmination of her efforts, as the ceremony finally concluded.

The Dauphin, Charles... no, she shouldn't think of him as the Dauphin any longer...

King Charles VII rose from where had been kneeling, anointed and blessed by the Archbishop.

The coronation ceremony had been, by necessity, a simple one; the crown, the scepter, and the globe were still in Paris, after all.

But personally, Blake felt like this suited the situation better; an extravagant ceremony could be reserved for after France had finally been liberated, and the people were finally safe and secure.

Based on the intensified roaring of the crowd that had gathered to witness Charles's coronation, Blake felt like she wasn't the only one who approved.

Cannons thundered in the distance to salute the return of the rightful King, and a thousand flags blew in the breeze, her banner standard flying proudly among them.

The melody (that Gilles had helpfully informed her was called the Ars Nova) reached its crescendo, just as the sun rose just high enough for the light to shine on the new King through the cathedral's stained-glass windows.

Costumed dukes and perfumed ladies were joined by battle-scarred lords and peasant soldiers, as they all cheered for Charles VII, who spread his arms, and motioned for silence as he began his speech.

For a moment, Blake allowed herself to be swept away by the mood of the crowds, to indulge in the same cheerful atmosphere as they did.

Then she looked around, and realized that her mentor was no longer present.

She would have sighed in exasperation, if not for the solemnity of the celebration.

She truly didn't understand why Jaune was so averse to public recognition, and her numerous attempts at trying to correct the record had all but backfired, inflating her legend as the Maiden of Orleans, rather than giving Jaune the credit she felt he deserved.

Jaune had always told her not to worry about it, and that he was fine not being recognized, but she could be stubborn too.

As King Charles concluded his speech, Blake automatically clapped, even as her mind began wondering just where her mentor was this time.

Jaune, meanwhile, idly noted the increasing volume of the cheers, and hoped that the ceremony was going well.

After all, this was apparently an important step, in realizing Blake's dreams for a freed France.

Jaune personally didn't understand it; the Kingdom of Vale had been just fine without a King.

He sighed, as he recalled Arthur's coronation, back when he'd drawn that sword from the stone, and the celebrations and feasts of Camelot.

Well, at least he didn't have to wear a dress, like back in Beacon.

Idly, Jaune wondered who'd win a drinking contest - Gawain, La Hire, Yang, Nora, or that weird drunken Huntsman that had picked a fight with that Atlesian Specialist, just before the Vytal Festival...

Jaune sighed again, and he shook his head.

They were gone.

As far as he knew, he never returned to the same world (the Wasteland was the exception, but that was only because he hadn't actually died at Adams Air Force Base).

And it had already been over two months.

Usually, if something was going to go wrong, now would have been the time for it...

"So this is where you were..."

A gentle voice made him almost jump, and he turned to see a familiar ravenette with purple eyes looking at him with concern and amusement in equal measure, even as she approached him, and elaborated: "I almost went searching for you in the kitchens, but I know the smell of your cooking, so I came up here instead."

"... seriously?" Jaune couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, as he stared at his younger counterpart. "You sure you're not part dog-faunus or something?"

"Woof." Blake played along, barking once, before shaking her head and rebutting: "I think we've established that my world doesn't have anything like "faunus", Jaune. Your cooking just smells that good. Anyway, Jaune, what's bothering you?"

"What makes you think something's bothering me?" Jaune immediately tried to deflect.

"Just a feeling." Blake admitted, as she reached his side. "There's a look on your face when there's something on your mind, you know."

Jaune huffed, and pouted at her, purposely scrunching up his face even as he rested his back against the wall, and slumped down to the floor.

Blake giggled, and slid up next to him, before nestling herself comfortably by her side, waving her braid in his face.

Jaune rolled his eyes, but wordlessly began touching up her hair, running his fingers through her loose strands as he undid her warrior's wolftail.

A comfortable silence filled the air, as Jaune slowly but expertly redid the braid, before Blake finally and hesitantly spoke up: "Look... I know you're older and far more experienced than me, Jaune. But even so... did I ever tell you that you were the first person to ever believe in me?"

"Really?" Jaune cocked his head as he looked down at Blake, who steadfastly refused to meet his gaze, seemingly content with allowing him to continue to braid up her hair.

"It's true." Blake nodded, glad to he couldn't see how her face burned. "I told you, didn't I? My family would have never understood, and my cousin refused to take me to Vaucouleurs when I begged, which is why I ran away from home three months ago with the family sword..."

"Yeah, you did tell me about that last part..." Jaune remarked, before grinning. "Right before you mentioned you were illiterate, and didn't even know how to use that sword that you took with you..."

"..." Jaune could see Blake's face burning with indignation, and he finished braiding her warrior's wolftail, before gently stroking her head, and inquiring: "So, has Gilles managed to teach you how to read or write yet?"

"No..." Blake admitted reluctantly. "I asked him, but Gilles told me that being able to pray and sign my name was more than enough..."

Jaune couldn't help but groan.

Sure, Gilles was... devoted, to the well-being of Blake (to put it lightly), but the man could be weird, sometimes.

As in, he was sure he'd seen the man kissing her horse's hoofprints once, along with a few soldiers and civilians.

"Anyway, that's not the point." Blake firmly changed the subject, trying to get things back on track. "Look... I guess... I'm just trying to say that... you've always been there for me... ever since we've first met. And I can tell there's something on your mind, so... I don't know. How can I help?"

Jaune stiffened slightly, as he recalled saying those words, before sighing.

Oum, since when had he become Pyrrha?

What was next? A cereal box deal?

No offense, Pyr.

"It's nothing important, Blake." Jaune reassured her, as she pressed herself closer to him, to better listen to his soft words. "Just... seeing the crowds celebrating for the crowning of the Dauphin... I just can't help but remember a similar celebration I experienced, once..."

"I thought you said Remnant had no King, Jaune?" Blake cocked her head quizzically.

"It wasn't Remnant." Jaune answered quietly. "I've been to other worlds, before I ended up here."

"...!" Blake's eyes widened, and she turned to him.

He chuckled, and pre-empted her questions: "By my count... I've been to five worlds, after dying in Remnant, and before I ended up here, over the course of two years."

"... and you've seen many celebrations, across your travels?" Blake pressed.

"Not really..." Jaune shrugged. "There weren't many opportunities to party, when the world was about to be eaten by a dragon, or overrun by foreign invaders bent on enslaving or exterminating everyone... and don't even get me started on Hell, or Hueco Mundo!"

"Did you just say Hell?" Blake blinked.

"Yup." Jaune drawled, exhaustion creeping into his voice. "Someone opened a portal to Hell, and demons were attacking that world. In the end, some warrior named the Doom Slayer helped me, and together we stopped the invasion."

"... you fought demons?!" Blake exclaimed, momentarily forgetting the concept of personal space. "What-what-what were they like? Do they have horns? What was Hell like? How did you get out? Wha-"

"Blake." Jaune lightly pressed a finger against her lips. "Breathe."

"..." Blake took a moment to recollect herself, before she realized just how close she was to him. Face burning once more, she pulled back, and quietly asked: "... why didn't you ever tell me?"

"Well, it never really came up." Jaune shrugged. "I didn't think it was important."

"How did you not think that stopping a demon invasion wasn't important?!" Blake all but shouted, even as she once again confirmed that her mentor, who could emit a holy light that healed and protected, that could command the elements... was most definitely not a normal human. "You fought demons! From Hell! And survived!"

"Well, I had help..." Jaune pointed out. "The Doom Slayer did most of the heavy lifting."

"And who is this Doom Slayer?" Blake pressed on excitedly. "And why didn't you tell me about all those other worlds?! You've only told me about Remnant!"

"..." Jaune closed his eyes.

Blake noticed his silence, and her words died in her throat.

"... did I ever tell you about how I left Remnant, Blake?" Jaune finally asked.

"No, never." Blake shook her head.

"Remember what I told you, about the dragon and the fire witch at the clock tower?" Jaune prompted.

"Uh huh..." Blake nodded. "You said that you went to delay them, yes?"

"Yup." Jaune confirmed. "How do you think that ended for me?"

"..."

"I died, Blake." Jaune continued. "Apparently, that's how I travel between worlds - I die, and wake up somewhere else."

Blake covered her mouth with her hands, shocked and horrified, at the idea that something had been able to kill her mentor, as well as the idea that Jaune had died so many times.

"Five worlds, and two years." Jaune shook his head tiredly. "And I usually die two months after I arrive. The longest I've ever stayed in one place was in my last world; I was there for eighteen months..."

"... and what happened?" Blake couldn't help but ask.

"I didn't die that time." Jaune clarified bitterly. "There was... someone... I don't know. Even after all this time, I still don't know. One moment I was advising Arthur about being King, and the next... I was allowing his sister, a witch, to banish me from that world."

"Oh, Jaune..." Blake found her eyes watering.

"Well, I'm sure he's fine." Jaune finally realized how somber the mood was, and forced a smile. "After all, he still had his brother, his friends, and other advisors to support him."

"But not you." Blake pointed out, kneeling down in front of him.

"... no." Jaune shook his head. "Not me."

"... I'm sorry." Blake whispered, wrapping her arms around her mentor.

Jaune awkwardly accepted the embrace, and ignored the damp feeling on his shirt as he attempted to reassure her: "Hey, don't worry about it! I'm... I've already accepted it. And I have faith he'll be fine. And at least I left him a note, explaining what happened... it's more than I ever did, when I ran away from my family..."

"... is that why you told me I should go back home when we first met, Jaune?" Blake whispered, horrified. "Asked me if I'd at least settled my affairs with them?"

"... it is." Jaune confirmed. "I... I didn't want you to regret your actions, like I did, Blake."

"... don't worry, Jaune." Blake's grip on him tightened. "I'll pay them a visit, once the country is freed. d'Arc's word."

"And a d'Arc never goes back on her word?" Jaune teased.

"You know it." Blake nodded, before a thought struck her. "Hey, I know! You should come with me! I'm sure my folks would love to meet my mentor!"

"I'm sorry, what?" Jaune blinked, confused by the sudden change in topic.

"I mean, Arc, d'Arc... I'm sure my parents would be fascinated to learn more about you" Blake continued on, more and more convinced of her course of action with each passing moment.

"I don't think that's how this works, Blake..." Jaune tried explaining.

"Jaune..." Blake turned to him, ready to sell her pitch, determined to do something for her mentor. "When we ran into each other that day, on the road to Orleans... when you healed my wound, I knew, that the Lord had sent you."

"Blake... I thought we just established, I'm here because I got tricked by a witch..." Jaune patiently repeated.

"No, Jaune, you left your previous world because of the witch." Blake corrected fervently. "But I have always believed that you were there on that day because the Lord willed it."

"..."

"Now, though... now, I believe that there might have been more to it, than just assisting me in my own mission." Blake continued, looking deeply into his blue eyes with her purple eyes. "Perhaps the Lord has sent you here, to help you find some peace as well, Jaune..."

"Peace?" Jaune echoed skeptically.

"I know the land is not in the best of shapes now, Jaune..." Blake conceded. "But think about it? This is a world where little can threaten you or your life! A world where the Church protects us from witchcraft and sorcery! Perhaps... this is a world that you can stay in, and find some peace in?"

"..." Jaune paused for a moment, as he considered her words.

Then he shook his head.

The Wasteland had shown that there were other threats besides war and magic.

More importantly, though, he wasn't ready to even consider settling down. Not after what happened in Camelot. He still couldn't fully let his guard down.

But still, he smiled at Blake, and stroked her hair, appreciative of her attempts at understanding him.

"Thanks, Blake." Jaune said softly and sincerely, leaning forward. "I'll... I'll consider it after the war, alright?"

"Promise?" Blake pulled back to study his gaze, knowing that he could deflect very well.

"Arc's word." Jaune's smile never wavered.

"Then I'll hold you to it, Jaune." Blake told him, before her voice subtly hardened. "... it's not over yet, is it?"

"What is?" Jaune inquired.

"The war." Blake clarified, closing her eyes. "The rightful King sits on the throne once more, but I doubt the Normans or Burgundians will give up so easily."

"They never do." Jaune agreed.

"The country still remains occupied." Blake continued. "The people in the lands of our enemies continue to oppress us. The Lord still laments the fate of his children..."

"... the people also need the celebration." Jaune interrupted, placing a hand on her arm. "They know why they fight; but they need to know that there's something to return to, after it's over. They need hope, Blake."

"I know!" Blake protested hotly, before softly adding: "It's just... our enemies aren't just going to sit around and wait, Jaune."

"They aren't."

"They're still out there, and they have to be plotting to avenge their defeat Orleans-" Blake's rant was cut off by a yawn, and she subconsciously stretched out her back, even as she continued to straddle his lap.

"Long day?" Jaune teased.

"I'm still not used to all these ceremonies." Blake admitted with a pout, reminding her mentor that she'd been born and raised a simple farmer and peasant girl.

"Hasn't it been two months?" Jaune teased.

"You would know; you've been avoiding them all for the past two months..." Blake's voice trailed off as she yawned once more, finding her mentor's chest very warm and comfortable.

"Can't argue with that..." Jaune conceded, stroking her hair lightly. "Take a nap, Blake. We can discuss this later."

"Thanks... Jaune..."

-9 MAY 1429-

With the coronation of King Charles VII, many cities in Burgundian-held France declare their allegiance to him.

The War Council begins to make plans for an offensive to link these cities up with the rest of French loyalist territory.

-10 MAY 1429-

The English formally declare war on the French loyalists.

With their newfound strength and string of successes, the War Council decide to attempt to retake Paris. the crown jewel of France.

-13 MAY 1429-

The Siege of Compiegne begins, after a combined Norman-Burgundian force on the way to Paris are denied access into the city.

-14 MAY 1429-

The Siege of Paris begins, as it becomes clear to the French loyalists why the March to Reims met so little resistance.

The city is heavily defended by Norman and Burgundian forces, who have been concentrating their efforts into fortifying the city while the French were clearing the Loire and marching to Reims.

The Maiden leads a volunteer force of a few hundred men to relieve the besieged city of Compiegne, and prevent further enemy reinforcements from reaching Paris.

-15 MAY 1429-

The Maiden and her volunteers arrive at Compiegne, and after a brief battle manage to gain entry to the city, bringing with them valuable supplies.

The Maiden then begins a counter-offensive, leading her troops in an effort to sabotage enemy supplies and force them to withdraw...


Author's Note: Ah yes, the French begin their counter-attack, the English enter the war, Blake becomes less Blake-like and more... Jeanne/Jaune-like, and Jaune finally begins relaxing...

And the Siege of Compiegne begins! If you know what happens at Compiegne... well, then you know it, I guess.

This arc, by necessity, is a lot more time-skip heavy than the Skyrim and Fallout ones were, simply because, unlike those worlds... the FATE world is a lot less... chaotic. In Fallout and Skyrim, every town you go to always seems to have some hidden dark secret, or some quest you need to help with. But here... it's a bit more realistic, at least, in that you're not tripping over quests every few minutes, but that also does mean lots of it is simply travelling and skirmishes.

Also, in case it isn't obvious... I've been using the Age of Empires 2 Joan of Arc campaign as much for help with this section as Google and the FATE wiki.