Queen Joanna by Kate Danley

Author:Kate Danley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bloody Mary, ghost story, medieval, fantasy, haunting, dark ages, epic
Publisher: Katherine Danley
Published: 2014-06-09T16:00:00+00:00

“WHY?” STEPHEN ASKED, his face full of confusion as Joanna stood before him like an accused prisoner the next day. The throne room was empty so that only they were witness to their words. His crown sat heavily upon his limp curls. “What would cause you to so sin against yourself and the gods? Why would you seek death in the dead of night?”

“It was not my doing,” said Joanna, trying to explain. “It was only a dream.”

“Your words are just like hers!” he burst out, his voice pleading at her to change her story, to tell him some other truth. “Why would you choose to mimic the path of a woman who caused my heart so much pain and harm?”

His words chilled her. “I did not know that she perished this way,” insisted Joanna. “It was not my intention... It was a dream. It was just a dream.”

“Have I been cruel? Have I been demanding or unkind? I stayed away from you,” Stephen shouted impotently, “because I feared that I was the cause, I was the reason that she ended herself, and I did not wish to push you to such dire ends!” He placed his forehead in his hand and Joanna did not know if it was rage or despair which caused his shoulders to tremble. He seemed trapped in the memories of what had happened before. “Why would history repeat itself?” he asked to no one. “I have done everything different. I have walked the exact opposite path. Perhaps it is my own inattention which has caused you so much grief...”

“Nay...” she began.

He looked up at her, his brown eyes burning with remorse. “I shall give you all the riches you could ever desire,” he promised. “I shall shower you with wealth and joy! But you must not sin against yourself again!”

And the next day, her room was filled with jewels and gold. New gowns were laid upon the bed. Birds and monkeys and every delight were brought before her to try and make her smile.

But when she went to bed, the dream returned. Her feet were upon the walkway. Her legs carried her to the top of the castle parapet. And once more, it was a guard who saved her from jumping to her death.

As she was carried back to her room, she caught the face of Queen Mary scraping the inside of the mirror, trying to break through.

“Staaaaay awaaaaay!” the queen hissed.

The next day and the next, the pleasures and gifts doubled. They were piled at her feet for the taking. Carriage horses. Hunting parties. Acrobats. New fools. New ladies. The rights of her people stolen in the war, restored. Sacred land was returned to northern rule.

And yet every night she found herself upon the parapet. No matter how many ladies slept in watch, no matter how many bolts were thrown in the door, her feet found a way to begin the death march.

The advisors began to whisper that her madness was caused by want of motherhood, that a child would calm her hysteria.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.