Hello my dear readers. Recently, I've been feeling a stirring in my heart. An idea popped in my head. I want to retell St. Jeanne d'Arc true life. So here I am.
This will be a "real-life" historical a/u in the Fate Universe… so what I mean… it's going to be the complete story of Jeanne, no magic. This will be using first-hand accounts, and her very own words, while also incorporating secondary sources, and fiction written about her (Mostly St. Therese of Liseaux)
This book will story be broken up into five parts
Before the Mission
Her Mission
Trial and Condemnation
Afterward
Epilogue
With this out of the away, shall we begin my dear reader?
Prologue: The Shepherdess
The green fields of France stretched as far as the eye could see. Gentle green rolling hills that mimicked the rolling waves of the seas were a pleasant sight to see. Springtime was filled with chirping birds flying over the occasional farmer plowing the fields. Through the soft streams and brooks that filled this lively little valley, a young girl sat on a rock.
Snaking and tying together flowers, she hummed to herself, occasionally looking up to keep an eye on her sheep that milled about, munching on the crisp emerald grass of the pasture. The soft 'baaing' of her sheep made her smile as one of them came up to her.
With a soft tug on her long ponytail braided almost like a thick rope, the girl turned around. "Clovis…" The shepherdess called out gently. The little lamb stopped for a moment, looking at his shepherd with a curious look. "My hair is not food for you, young one."
She could practically sense the sheep giggling. Her hair felt free as the wind kissed her bangs. Her ponytail… felt strange. Look down, she could see it was missing her violet bow. "Clovis…."
The lamb opened his mouth to reveal her bow that was missing. With a smile and shake of the head, she took the long slender cane and guided the little one back to the herd. The other sheep looked up from their grazing, and with a great 'baaaa!' It was as if they were celebrating the return of their long lost brother. They gathered around Clovis, nuzzling him and tugging at his wool coat as if welcoming him back in.
The scene touched the shepherdess's heart. Looking down into her hand, she realized how slimy her bow was. With a slight wince, she decided to head to the stream that the sheep used.
"The valleys and fields
Give joy to my eyes;
The mountain tops
Draw me nearer to Heaven!
She continued to sing her hymn as she washed her bow.
"Over the clouds
That must hide them from me,
To that Heavenly shore,
I cannot reach!"
Satisfied that it would be clean as possible, she rebraided her hair and tied the bow around. Thankfully there were no sheep near her to take it from her ribbon again. Standing up and turning around, a very familiar person greeted her, running to her with great haste.
"Catherine!" Jeanne greeted as she climbed up the embankment of the stream. "What are you doing here? Why are you not watching your flock?"
Catherine, her younger sister, short and innocent with a similar hair and eye color, though unkempt hair, embraced her older sister. "Have you forgotten, dear sister?" She looked up with worry-filled eyes, "We are supposed to meet our friends at the tree in an hour."
The blonde girl nodded, hugging her sister tightly, "Oh my dear Catherine, I would never intentionally miss spending time with you."
Her sister looked up at her wide hazel eyes of their mother, "I love you, Joan. Will you come home now?"
The blonde shepherd shook her head with a warm smile, "No, sweet Catherine, my flock just got here. They need time to graze."
"You promise you'll be there?" Catherine pleaded with desiring eyes.
Rustling her brunette hair and pulling away the bangs that obscured her sister's eyes, Jeanne smiled, "Indeed Catherine, if only you promise you to get a haircut. I can barely see your beautiful eyes."
"Deal." The six-year-old chirped happily.
"Running along now. I need to finish my garland."
"We all know you're going to give that garland to our beloved Lady."
Which was true. That's how it usually went since the days Jeanne could remember. All the village girls would weave their garlands for the springtime and wear them around the Old Tree. Yet Jeanne always placed her own garland on the statue of Mary at their little church. "You know me too well." Jeanne smiled to the laughter of her sister.
Waving her sister off, who ran back to their farmstead in their village, Jeanne made her way back to the rocky perch that gave her a view of her father's herd. Picking up her wreath, the shepherd continued her weaving, admiring the springtime to the tunes of her sheep.
How these simple and longs days filled Jeanne's heart with love. She enjoyed doing her chores, much to the harassment of her friends. She enjoyed weaving and sewing, as did the other girls in her village, yet being out in the fields was most enjoyable. There was just something with being with her father's sheep that pleased her immensely. It might be their simplicity and beauty. It might be sitting out in the fields enjoying God's creation. Possibly the weather, perhaps the solitude? Maybe all of them. Perhaps none of them.
Time didn't mean much to the little shepherdess. What mattered was living in the here and now, admiring the Lord's creations before her. What a sight to behold God through his creation. She pictured the Angels flying about, tending to the needs of nature. Communicating with one another through the gusts of wind or the tumbling of the brooks. Their voices singing the praises of their creator.
"Jeanne." A faint voice called out. It sounded like that of a young man.
The blonde girl looked up, her amethyst eyes scanning for possibly one of her friends. Yet nothing was out of the ordinary. Maybe it was just her imagination.
"Jeanne…" The voice called out again.
Her browning furrowing, she called out in slight annoyance, "Alright Henri! Enough games, you have my attention!"
Yet nothing stirred. Not even the sheep. Noticing that the sheep were completely unphased, Jeanne's heart started to become troubled, and she grew fearful.
"Jeanne…" The voice called out again, louder this time.
The shepherd jumped off her rock and tried to hide as her vision started to blur from fearful tears. "Lord… p-p-please p-p-p-protect m-me." She prayed in a trembling voice.
"The day of victory will come; to save the kingdom of the French. But to God alone belongs all glory. He will arm a child to show this. And this child, this young warrior; does not descend from a rich and valiant king. She is only a simple shepherdess. But God calls Himself Almighty. He wants to give the timid virgin a heart of fire, a soldier's soul. Then He will crown her pure and honest head, with lilies and with laurels."
The voice boldly proclaimed like a procession of trumpets in power and might. Joan brought her hands to her ears, tears running down her cheeks. "Lord!" She cried out in fear. "I do not understand what any of this means! This voice scares me!"
"I mean you no harm, little shepherdess!"
It reassured her in gentleness as she lifted her head up, "B-b-but… I don't understand… who is this girl? Am I supposed to find this girl? She will never believe me…" She whispered to herself.
"Loveable child, our sweet companion, Your voice has risen to Heaven. The Guardian Angel who's always with you has brought your wishes to the Eternal One."
A gentler, more feminine voice whispered to her.
We have come down from His Heavenly Empire, Where we reign with Him for eternity. By our voices, God has deigned to tell you his will," It continued.
"You must set forth to save your Homeland. Take up the sword, to preserve its honor. The King of Heaven and the Virgin Mary will always know how to make you victorious."
Another voice said. It sounded more regal, like that of a royal queen.
Jeanne shook her head, trembling, "Save my Homeland… take up the sword…? This has to be a dream. T-t-that's right…. This is a dream. All a dream!" Jeanne murmured as she stood up from the rock. Yet everything was picture perfect. She pinched herself. Her heart fell away as she lost all color…. "I'm I'm… I'm awake…."
She hid her face in her hands, sobbing a great many tears, falling onto her knees in despair.. "My dear God! Save me from all of this!"
"Console yourself, Joan, dry your tears. Lift up your eyes and ears to Heaven. You will learn that to suffer has charms of its own. You will rejoice with melodious songs!
These melodies will fortify your soul. For the battle which is soon to come. You'll need a love made all of flame, for you what you will have to suffer!"
The voices sang together in a beautiful melody.
"For pure souls, exiled here on earth, the only glory is to bear the cross. One day, in Heaven, this austere scepter will far outshine the scepter of any earthly king!"
Jeanne lifted her head up from her hands, wiping away the tears as these two voices greatly reassured her. Her amethyst eyes scanning the skies for any sign of these invisible voices. Yet nothing.
Suddenly a loud crash of thunder shook the ground, causing Jeanne to fall.
"Why speak of tears and suffering?" The voice boomed in glory and might, "Better to sing of glorious battles. Sing, sing of the beauty of France; and the heroine whose arms shall be victorious!"
Looking around, she could not make sense of what was being told. "Who?" She asked.
"Soon!" The voice proclaimed, "the God of battle shall lead Joan from triumph to triumph. Across the battle lines, she will be seen leading great generals!"
"No… no, this can't be heard… I'm a nobody.
The voice ignored her, "But never will the great-souled virgin seek courtly honors for herself. The heart will remain pure, her faith great and sublime from the day of her birth until time everlasting!"
"No… you have the wrong person…" Jeanne took several steps back with fearful tears, "Who are you to speak to me in such a manner?" She found herself backed up against a tree, "Ohh, I beg you, show yourself to me! You are indeed frightful! How mighty you must be!"
The clouds parted way as a luminous figure descended. His golden-hued wings fluttered down as the armored figure's boots touched the ground. He removed his blue crested helmet to reveal the face of a young, eloquent man with long cascading golden hair and eyes of burning sapphires.
He easily stood at six feet despite his youthful face.
"I am Michael, the guardian of France. I am the great general of the kingdom of Heaven. Unto Hell itself, I exert my power. And the demons are totally envious of this. Once they shone with light and might, but Satan wanted to rule the Holy Place."
Jeanne dropped to her knees at the recognition of the Arcangel.
"I hurled into the midst of thunder these, 'Who is like God?' And at the moment, divine vengeance dug open the abyss, and Lucifer plunged into it. For there is no mercy for that proud angel. He deserved HELL!" His voice proclaimed in victory, shaking the ground and earth.
"It was pride that cast this angel down and turned Lucifer into a reprobate. Later, Man also crawled in the mud. But God has healed that human pride. The Eternal One, the Word equal to the father, by taking on this poor humanity, made his work whole again. It is by his deep humility the same God deigns to save France. Not with weapons, plans, or proud soldiers," The angel raised his gold-plated armor and pointed at the shepherdess, "Joan is you whom Heaven has chosen. You must go off to answer His call. You must leave your lams, pleasant valley, fields, and woods. Go and fear nothing! God will crown your valor, and you will chase the foreigners away."
Jeanne shook her head, bowing before the angel, "This can't be… I'm not a warrior… I don't have the courage. I will miss my home dearly!"
The glorious angel unsheathed his sword, offering the hilt of his shining blade. "Timid child, leave your cottage, and take the sword that God has kept for you. Take as your standard a pure white banner and go to find the king!"
Looking up with tearful eyes, Jeanne pleaded with the angel, "Saint Michael, my lord, please, I beseech you! Keep your sword…. I'm only a child. How can I go into combat? I know not of warfare and skill of arms!"
As if almost Jeanne would say that, the warrior angel sheathed his blade with a knowing smile. He nodded and vanished before her eyes.
"T-t-this cannot be…" Jeanne murmured to herself with a heavy heart, "My Lord, is it true that I must go to war? That I must lead an army… it cannot be... I… don't know… I don't know if I can.."
How she wished her were a simple lam right now. Not caring for the worries of the world, simply feeding and grazing on the pasture. She brought her head into her hands, crying softly. "This cannot be… This... there is no way…"
She failed to see the figure before her.
She felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. Looking up, she could see a most beautiful young woman sitting beside her. Her delicate cheeks are rosy with life that matched her wavy cascading auburn hair. She wore white garments with a crimson shawl.
Compared to Michael, this being, this person reassured her. The figure reached out, wiping away the tear and caressing her cheek, "Who are you…?" Jeanne asked.
"I am virgin Catherine. Heaven has sent me to comfort you…"
Jeanne's eyes widened in wonder, "What do you mean…?"
"I am here to watch over and bless you!" She smiled brightly. She had a certain liveliness to her that filled her with courage. "I… I don't feel afraid… with you… I feel… confident…" Jeanne thought out loud.
"Oh, sweet Catherine! I was looking for you in Heaven. I was on the Holy Mountain, where I asked the Lord to send consoling angel to our dear little friend."
Jeanne looked over to see a tall, slender woman wearing a crown and red tunic. By her hushed tone, and refined walk, she gave off the aura of royalty, "Our Lord said, Fly to the simple shepherdess's. Catherine is there. I can put My trust in both of you to sustain my humble flower."
Catherine stood up and bowed lowly, "Greetings My Queen! Come and join us. Teach this simple shepherdess how may she reign forever by the side of our Lord! This child who is so dear to us and deserves our care and love!"
Margaret took her place, sitting among them. "Heaven is so close to earth. The Lord knows your desires, and the saints hear your prayers. The angels carry them to the throne of our most loving God! The Saints petition and plead your cause before our Lord. All of Heaven watches over you!"
No… she was just a simple girl.. Why would Heaven watch over her so intently? "I'm sorry… my heart is struggling with all of this. If it pleases you, may I ask your name…?"
The Queen nodded with a humble smile, "I am Queen Margaret. My kingdom is the beautiful blue Heaven. For all of eternity, I take refuge in the glorious palace of our God. Soon honor and glory will come upon you, Joan. You'll carry off the victory, and you will reign with us, not wanting praise. Dear shepherdess, see how forever you will reign, despising honors and glory. Your only desire will be that of the Lord."
"The hour is late." Catherine stood up, "And someone approaches."
Margaret stood up, bending not a single blade of grass. "We must take our leave."
Jeanne got on her knees, bowing before the two Saints. "Please, my Heavenly friends, promise me you will revisit me!"
Margaret stood down, gently lifting up her cheek with a serene look, "Yes, my shepherdess. We will always be with you."
And with that, they were gone. They vanished, and a sense of longing filled Jeanne's heart. So much had been revealed to her! Were she older, she might have dropped dead from all of the revelations.
"Jeanne!" A young voice called out in fear, "Are you alright?"
Looking up, she could see her sister running towards her with tears in her eyes, "Who were you talking to?" Catherine asked.
Jeanne's eyes grew wide, concerned with what she should tell her sister.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N
Hello dear readers. Just the prologue! Wanted to see what you guys thought and such! Let me know if you liked it!
A side note, I know the language seems to be a little different, that is because some of it was taken from a play written by St. Therese of Liseaux. I made modifications to it and added to it. The credit goes to her. Don't worry, it won't be just her play!
Leave a fav/follow/and review. Let me know if you enjoyed it!
As always reader, I am and will always be your faithful and humble servant,
LordxSauron
