All standard Gundam Wing
disclaimers apply
Chapter 1: Upon the Isle
"We suffered yes, and endured. We brought with us all the humiliation, the history, the rage that could sum into what we must become. We'll continue as ever, to endure and survive, till the time brings us our rightful vengeance."
~The Account
I remember now, I remember how it started. It was my entire lifetime ago, beginning from the day I was born into the cursed family of Delizabane. I was the oldest daughter of an eldest son. Merrick Delizabane was my father; I was his eldest daughter, his eldest child. That's who I was. I was… that's who I was. I was Analicia Xavera Delizabane. The eldest child, I would that I could erase that fact from existence.
Beginnings are loathsome, but necessary I am afraid. It's so hard to find where exactly it all starts without going so far back that you find yourself utterly lost in the past. I have sought all my life to avoid looking back. This occasion will mark my first trip. I fear that it may be a one way journey.
And so it begins.
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Victoria Delizabane held the child close to her trembling body. The exhaustion mingled with elation had issued a ruddy glow in her face. Her cheeks ran with sweat and tears now spilled over the smiling expression of joy that she donned after having given birth to a living being. Gone from her mind were the horrid memories of miscarriages and the stillborn birth of her son Aaron a year ago. Now at last she had given birth to the hope of the Delizabane family. The child was silent, she had not even cried, but merely murmured newborn noises.
The door to the bedroom opened and in entered Merrick Delizabane, flanked by his many attendants. They clambered at his heels all muttering reports of various kinds. The news of his wife's labor now concluded had at last reached him. He had been far to busy and not terribly interested in attending his wife during her labor.. Merrick dismissed the nurses and his attendants and took a seat. Only the chief housekeeper, Mrs. Collins was permitted to stay.
"A girl…?" he muttered roughly
Victoria looked over to her husband who sat at the far end of the bedroom where she had labored for seventeen hours. Merrick Delizabane appeared less then jubilant and was clearly indicating that his presence was due to martial duty and not fatherly emotion.
"I'm sorry Merrick" she kept her eye lowered, not wanting to bear his disapproval. Merrick stroked his dark beard and grimaced in his place. Victoria attempted to be optimistic.
"She is our future Merrick, She will succeed us. There is no need to be disappointed. I know she can do all that is required." Baring his usual aristocratic sneer, Merrick folded his arms against his chest in pronounced agitation. The birth had been difficult for Victoria. The child had not turned and a cesarean operation had been performed. For a time the midwife physician believed the child would die and priority was placed on saving her mother. But the infant proved them wrong.
"She is strong." spoke Mrs. Collins the chief housekeeper and caretaker of Victoria in sickness. Victoria looked at the older women and nodded through her tears.
"Deserves a strong name the little bit does."
"A strong name indeed" the Countess of Mortaine's voice was strangled by the swelling emotion inside her. The child grasped her mother's finger in the usual infant manner and Victoria ran her fingertips softly down the length of the child's face in her own signature gesture of affection. Ten feet a way Merrick frowned at the display he associated with flagrant weakness. He grunted in a dismissingly
"The name does not concern me. Let it be as you will Madame." Merrick waved a dismissing hand as he rose from his seat and departed the room.
"As I will then…" The child made small gurgling noises and Victoria held her up so that the golden electrical lights illuminated her. As a young girl and grown women, the child would always prefer the night and its artificial illumination; the preference would stem from this impressionable moment in her life.
"And a strong name you shall have. You will be known as Analicia Delizabane" Victoria brought the child back into a gentle embrace and the child's eyes became droopy with impending sleep.
"And you shall be the hope of this family, and this land, my little Leecy." Victoria kissed the child once before allowing Mrs. Collins to take her away to be cared for properly.