Post by King Adam Aberdeen I on Jun 19, 2009 15:29:29 GMT -6
June 7th, 1329...
the second year of the Griffin...
a day that shall live in the hearts of all Scots... and more
the second year of the Griffin...
a day that shall live in the hearts of all Scots... and more
In the royal chambers, a man riddled with disease, that seemed to eat him alive from within… The royal finery of his bed was changed every day, yet he would spoil it each time from refuse of the disease. Still beside him, thru night and day… thru spittal and spray, one woman would stay by his side… With each waking moment, his feeble eyes would behold a beautiful woman, unafraid of the disease, sitting at his bedside. The Courtesan extraordinaire, now proclaimed King’s Confidant, would offer a smile and a soft touch.
And it was in her touch he found peace, some say the keys to the Kingdom... Late into the night when sleep refused him, and his memories would not leave he told her of his life, his loves, his joys and pains… his regrets… his dreams. There was a bond between them that no other would share with the King... Not of King and subject, or husband and wife, but of two hearts and souls who recognized the true fact that even a good person can do bad things... And that at the end of one’s life it is the sum of the acts... The confession and repentance... The reciprocity to those that were harmed... To self and to God that would weigh the true measure of a heart at St Peter’s Gates... In this, she was his solace... His confessor... His angel of mercy... The one true heart that understood him above all other... And in these the last hours the witness to the man... The great man who would be lauded in history... To witness for him the truth that was Robert, not the King, nor the Legend... Just the man.
During the era holding the rise of the Gaelic Nations, a secret dream of his own to unite the lands under freedom’s reign, it happened that Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, who had been a very valiant knight, waxed old, and was attacked with so severe an illness that he saw his end approaching; he therefore summoned together all the chiefs and barons in whom he most confided, and after having told them he would never get the better of this sickness, he commanded them, upon their honor and loyalty, to keep and preserve faithfully the Gaelic Nations and, to obey the Mo’r Triath, for he accomplished what none other had been able to do….
The King’s Confident would witness these great happenings from his side... Some say he was bewitched by her to make these proclamations; others offered praise for the angel who seemed to bring the aged King, Peace and Sanity in those last days. Loyal to the last, they pledged their allegiance to Robert’s bidding and to the Mo’r Traith.
He, after that, called to him the woman known as Lady Shaden Aramoire, and said to her, in the presence of the others:
“My dearest friend and confident, you know that I have had much to do, and have suffered many troubles during the time I have lived to support the rights of my crown; Yea though, I could not myself, set my Scotland free, my dreams were made real by a descendant of the true Lord of the Isles… who now I can call my dearest friend, Lord Adam o’ Aberdeen, the Guardian of Scotland.. the new Mo’r Triath… He hath made my deepest secret a reality… and I now confess to you and all present, that I love Scotland… and in the end I have loved you… Bear my child, raise it to know of freedom and of me… forgive me of my transgressions and trespasses… for I have already asked God to accept me into his coveth…”
His hand feebly reaches to touch her face… his thumb to wipe away a tear… “Tell my Harper to carry on, for she is now free of her responsibilty to me as King of Scotland… Scotland is free… you are free… and now I pass along my body to those who would care… Love me… Love Adam… and Love Scotland, for all three need you, my dearest Shaden. Thank you…”
All present began bewailing bitterly; and when Shaden could speak… she knelt at his side allowing his hand to caress her face as he spoke of the love in his heart for Scotland, Adam, his people and finally her… tears like diamonds sparkled on dark lashes as she leaned forward kissing the pale lips of the dying King, unafraid or trembling, but with a soft sweet love that none who looked on would ever deny nor forget.. Soft words passed over his cheek as her forehead pressed to his softly… “I will carry your words my Robert, to Bess and Adam... And I will always love Scotland, Adam, and it’s King… the one true King my love… You… My Robert... My lion...” a soft cheek, softer than peach-down pressed against his...
Her breath sweet as she kissed away a runaway tear at the corners of his eyes… “I will see your will done... In all things you have asked of me… and you will always live in my heart.” Delicate fingers pushed back the thinning grey white hair from his eyes as she locked gazes with him...
His eyes seemed far away… “Be at peace with our daughter, Robert… she is waiting for you… give her my love… as I have given it to you… Carry it safely in your heart.” Somehow she knew deep in her soul that the tiny red-haired daughter they conceived in a night of violence had a hand in reconciling the lands... From Heaven... The Little girl... Joy… her mother had bequeathed the name on her as she was christened before her burial... Stillborn... But still... The most perfect wondrous thing that had ever moved the courtesans heart... It was Joy’s birthright to be a King’s Daughter... And thru her... Shaden had cast away her hatred and rage at Robert, to find love in her heart for him... And with that love... Came the change he needed to be a true King...
The King said, “Thanks be to God, for I shall now die in peace, since I know that the most noble man is Mo’r Triath and that the most beloved woman I know is beside me…. Never forget that I have lived… and loved…”
His eyes would then close, his hand gripping hers most tenderly, bringing it to his lips… then fell limp upon his chest. The valiant Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland, departed this life, on the 7th of June 1329 in Edinburgh Palace.
For long moments she sat, his hand covered by hers tenderly, she wept openly and silently, down the halls the loud wailing of the servants could be heard, and momentarily church bells began to toll the sad news… the King was Dead…
Soon enough, she rose in queenly fashion, the unofficial Queen of Robert the Bruce... From a small chest on the bedside table she removed a parchment sealed with his royal seal, as the physicians and priest began to move toward the body... To the Priest, a Cardinal of the Church... She handed the scrolls the last will and testament of the King… “His wishes are quite clear... Writ for all to witness, as you yourself Cardinal Campigio witnessed and sealed with your signature and crest...” she passed it to the Cardinal who broke the seal and nodded softly to the Lady before him…
“It will be done… and you will be allowed to remain until it is done Milady Aramoire..”
The bells tolled across the land… and when Adam heard the bells resounding in the Cathedral, he knew… and he dropped to his knees. He had not spoken to God is so very long… He believed in God, and allowed every man, woman, and child, regardless of class, guild, or profession, to delve in any religion that individual desired… He knelt, facing the window and said his prayer alone…
"Oh God Almighty… please receive this man… the heart of Scotland… loved by all despite his misgivings and sins among men… I pray that you guide me so that all he believed shall not perish nor go asunder… Guide me that I mnay do as he did… keeping Scotland free… and that all men are free and equal… Grant me the knowledge to guide my people forward. Protect us as we move toward the path you have laid for us… Long Live Scotland… Long live the Gaelic Nations… AMEN…”
Then he curled, his face into his hands and wept… for he knew what Robert had laid the foundation for… He knew that he had placed his faith in a man, in HIM… and Adam wept.
Soon the knock upon the door resounded as Dmitrii entered the room with the sealed message of Robert’s passing… He found his best friend and confidant curled by the window… and he too sat down beside the Mo’r Triath and wept… his arm around Adam…
And so it was that the Body was bathed and prepared for burial, by Servants who were most loyal to the King and his Will...
Overseen by the Lady Aramoire and the Cardinal Campigio. It was an odd set of request that the King asked of his most Loyal Lady and Priest…
The King's organs were to be interred in the chapel of St Serf's Old Parish Church in Dumbarton although his body was laid to rest at Dunfermline Abbey; The Ceremony overseen by Cardinal Campigio, with all the Honor and Pageantry expected by a beloved King burial. His Heart was to be placed in a small wooden casket and given over to the Lady Aramoire… A symbol perhaps...
But with a mission in her delicate hands to travel to Jerusalem... With his heart on pilgrimage then after offering his heart and soul to the Lord in that most sacred of places... Return it to the place where he first took communion… where he first knew God... And took his first steps toward the Kingdom of Heaven... Melrose Abbey… there it was interred beneath the stone floors... The exact place known only to Shaden Aramoire…
Now he was at peace… one with his beloved Country… his remains buried on sacred ground at East, West, and North… Never looking South… for he knew the South would be Guarded by the Mo’r Traith... And have no need of him...
Long Live Scotland...!!!!!!!