Coronation of Queen Willimina Mosskin
The end of the Blood Trail Era
It is a beautiful day. The mist sparkles and there are only a couple of wispy clouds in the sky. Both Father Drawlin of Belinos and Prince Vok of Hiisi seem to take credit for one or the other effect. The Court is gathered on the plaza in front of the palace as Queen Catherine Eustace is seated on her throne at the top of the steps. To her right is her daughter Princess Anastacia and to her left is her Royal Consort Aatos Uklo. At the bottom of the steps are four members of the Order of Brotherhood alongside the Royal Guards. Arrayed in a semi-circle on the plaza are the senior members of the nobility of Drillian. The houses of Mosskin, Uklo, Medipop, Gronark, Finefur, Bolpel, Eustace, Doeskin, Vilmar and Cowles are all in the front ranks. Each of them has a young woman standing dressed in her finest as a candidate to the Queen.
Behind the ranks of senior nobles, the lesser houses with many priests and a collection of powerful merchants are gathered to watch the participants while the common folk fill the rest of the plaza to see their future monarch being announced.
The Queen raises her hand and a hush falls over the crowd.
“I come before you my subjects today to announce my choice for who shall succeed me on the High Throne of Drillian. This is a momentous choice for any Queen and I am sad that I cannot fully assist my choice of Queen Presumptive in learning her duties.” A whisper runs through the crowd at those words. “The Gods have not been kind to me or my family”, she glares openly at Prince Vok and Father Drawlin, “yet we remain strong and steadfast in our devotion to Drillian. I have thought long and hard on whom shall take this seat from me and who is best suited to lead us forward.”
“My other concern is for the Queen Presumptive to have a strong match. With the Gods apparently intending an end to the Uklo line of Consorts by taking my sons from me, “ again glaring at Prince Vok and Father Drawlin, “I intend to select a young man of a good house to found a new line of succession.”
The Queen pauses and lets the crowd buzz for a moment in anticipation of her announcement. “I have spent time with many of our finest young women in our Kingdom and I have chosen the one woman who I feel is competent navigate these mists and help solidify our Kingdom.”
The Queen pauses again, some of the nobles shifting a bit in annoyance of the performance.
“My Queen Presumptive will be Willimina Mosskin.” The Queen pauses again to let that sink in and bubbles of debate quickly pop up. Rather than one of the young women standing in the semi-circle in front of the Queen, Willimina Mosskin steps out from where she stood with her father Arahael Mosskin. Moving from her place behind her uncle the Earl Mosskin with his hands on his daughter’s shoulders in anticipation, Willimina steps into the center of the space before the Queen.
Stepping forward to the throne Willimina, kneeled before the Queen bowing her head. Queen Catherine Eustace smiles and says “Anastacia do the honors for me dear”. Princess Anastacia steps forward and takes the crown off of the Queen’s head. A mutter flutters through the crowd. Then with a nod to her father the two of them step forward and both place the crown upon Willimina Mosskin’s head. Queen Catherine Eustace announces in a loud voice, “I rescind my claim to the Throne of Drillian and name my successor Queen Willimina Mosskin. Long may she reign.”
Now the crowd rises in a roar. Some people are cheering the spectacle of a new Queen, many not understanding just what has happened and others glancing back and forth across the circle of nobles in quick speculation on the changing circumstances.
The new Queen stood. She bows deeply to Queen Catherine Eustace then to the Royal Consort and to Princess Anastacia. With a brief pause she turns to the crowd and smiles. The Noble families all bow to the new Queen as a wave of movement spread out from the center of the plaza. As the nobles stand again there are many glances at the young men in the crowd.
“People of Drillian I am humbled to be chosen to lead our Kingdom. I promise to everyone that I will lead us towards peace and stability. I want to honor our traditions while moving forward into a new age.” The nobles looked openly at each other at that pronouncement.
“I have several office holders to appoint but only two are important enough for today. I am keenly aware that danger lurks and a Queen must be ready to perform her duties to her people. Towards that end I am appointing as the Captain of my Royal Guard Sir Jeffery Vilmar. “
Count Vilmar smiles broadly at the announcement and Jeffery Vilmar steps forward to kneel at the new Queen’s feet. Queen Willimina Mosskin lays her hands on Jeffery Vilmar’s head and takes his oath of loyalty. “Rise Count Jeffery Vilmar, Captain of the Royal Guard.”
Then Queen Willimina Mosskin has Count Jeffery Vilmar stand by her right side. Looking out over the gathering she gestured into the crowd. “Many here will not know me. I hope that you will come to know me as a calm and generous Queen. I have spent most of my life studying our past and I have seen that throughout our history that the Vilmar family has always stood strong by our Queens. They are rewarded for that longstanding virtue. “ Pausing to let the crowd cheer for his new good fortune Queen Willimina Mosskin looked around the circle of nobles assembled.
Raising her chin the Queen continued. “Honor and Courage are two of the qualities that I admire most in my friends. Of the many men at Court there are a few who exemplify these traits. I intend to reward those who have worked for our Kingdom without a desire for personal gain. Sir Toybin of Castlin step forward. “ Toybin steps forward out of the rank of Royal Guard at the edge of the dais. He walks over to the Queen and kneels before her. “Sir Toybin of Castlin, rise”, Queen Willimina Mosskin said. Toybin rose to his feet, his eyes confused.
“My loyal subjects, I present to you the Royal Consort Sir Toybin of Castlin.” Shock went through the crowd then a loud roar of confusion.
“Your Highness, you cannot be serious!” a loud male voice came from the ranks of the nobles. “How can you pick a low born landless knight for the Royal Consort! As you pointed out we have years of tradition to follow and the Bolpel family has been faithfully waiting for our return to the position of Royal Consort.” The Queen raised her hand to the crowd and they quieted to a whisper. “Earl Calum Bolpel. Your family has served the Kingdom well. Your son Francis has been at Court and is known to many of us. I am Queen and I have made my choice. “
Looking at Toybin, she smiled and bent his head down to kiss him.
Cheering from the crowd behind the nobles as word of who had been chosen and who he was spread. Queen Willimina Mosskin broke off her kiss and taking Toybin’s hand firmly in hers she looked out at her nobles. “I will be taking my nobles oaths in formal reception tonight. Tomorrow I will have the members of my council in the Royal Hall.”
Turning to the crowd and calling out loudly over the nobles head, “Tonight we celebrate. For Drillian.” The crowds roared approval and chanted “For Drillian! For Queen Willimina Mosskin! For Drillian.” Dark clouds crossed the faces of several of the noble families as the Queen turned and walked up the steps and into the Palace hand in hand with her Royal Consort.