N-36 - Erulisse - The Maid of Orleans
Mar. 27th, 2012 08:51 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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b2memB2MeM Challenge: N-36 – Maglor in History 1 – The Hundred Years War
Format: Ficlet
Genre: Drama
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Maglor
Pairings: Maglor/OC
Word Count: 554
Summary: Maglor and Denis are touring North-central France and visit one of the many museums dedicated to Joan of Arc.
The Maid of Orléans
“I met her once,” Maglor said to Denis. The two lovers were touring one of several museums dedicated to Joan of Arc while on a winter trip through north-central France. Denis shook his head, still uncomfortable with Maglor's immense age. He had only been told of his lover's immortality recently.
“Michel, you are joking, yes? How could that be possible, she lived long ago, in the time of Charles VII.”
“I was attached to the Dauphin's court as one of several minstrels and happened to be in the room when she came to beg his permission to break the Siege of Orléans. She was a small person, but magnetic and compelling. She had the ability to look directly through people and it tended to make men nervous.”
“Was she as young as they claim in the histories?”
“Oh yes, she was sixteen when she first met the Dauphin and stood no taller than 1.5 meters. Charles ordered her properly equipped, both armed and horsed. The forges worked many hours to cut and rivet existing plate small enough to fit her size.
“She had no experience with war horses, indeed with any but farm horses, but she walked right up to the skittish stallion and he calmed immediately, accepting her will. It was something to see. Horses trained for war can be as deadly as the weapons carried by their riders, but this one practically rolled over like a puppy.”
“Of course, she was successful in breaking the Siege,” Denis said as they stopped in front of a painting of The Maid.
“After she received Church sanction she moved quickly to Orléans, arriving on April 28th, 1429. She led two decisive battles, or rallied knights to her cause according to some who may have been jealous, but whatever her position, she succeeded in winning two important battles against the English on May 4 and May 7. After a standoff on May 8, the English left. It was a lightning victory and ended a siege that had started on the 12th of October the prior year.”
The two men walked out of the museum and back into the weak afternoon sunshine. Perching atop a nearby stone wall, Maglor continued. “Although the hundred years war encompassed many battles and several periods of peace, she was a pivotal rallying point and a bold officer in the Dauphin’s army. After Orléans she insisted on capturing the bridges leading to Reims which allowed the coronation of Charles VII to proceed in that ancient and traditional location, cementing his claim to the throne. Shortly afterward she was fighting another battle against the English and was captured. She was sentenced to death by fire by Church officials who supported the English cause and was burned at the stake when she was nineteen years old.”
“And were you there for that?”
“What? No. How could I be there if I was with Charles?” Maglor asked, laughingly. “I might have skills, but to be two places at once, that is far beyond my abilities. Now, let's find a glass of wine and raise a toast to the Maid of Orleans.”
As the two men continued walking down the road, an errant breeze sprang up, caressing Maglor's head and giving a soft kiss to his cheek. He smiled and nodded his head acknowledging the gift.
Format: Ficlet
Genre: Drama
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Characters: Maglor
Pairings: Maglor/OC
Word Count: 554
Summary: Maglor and Denis are touring North-central France and visit one of the many museums dedicated to Joan of Arc.
The Maid of Orléans
“I met her once,” Maglor said to Denis. The two lovers were touring one of several museums dedicated to Joan of Arc while on a winter trip through north-central France. Denis shook his head, still uncomfortable with Maglor's immense age. He had only been told of his lover's immortality recently.
“Michel, you are joking, yes? How could that be possible, she lived long ago, in the time of Charles VII.”
“I was attached to the Dauphin's court as one of several minstrels and happened to be in the room when she came to beg his permission to break the Siege of Orléans. She was a small person, but magnetic and compelling. She had the ability to look directly through people and it tended to make men nervous.”
“Was she as young as they claim in the histories?”
“Oh yes, she was sixteen when she first met the Dauphin and stood no taller than 1.5 meters. Charles ordered her properly equipped, both armed and horsed. The forges worked many hours to cut and rivet existing plate small enough to fit her size.
“She had no experience with war horses, indeed with any but farm horses, but she walked right up to the skittish stallion and he calmed immediately, accepting her will. It was something to see. Horses trained for war can be as deadly as the weapons carried by their riders, but this one practically rolled over like a puppy.”
“Of course, she was successful in breaking the Siege,” Denis said as they stopped in front of a painting of The Maid.
“After she received Church sanction she moved quickly to Orléans, arriving on April 28th, 1429. She led two decisive battles, or rallied knights to her cause according to some who may have been jealous, but whatever her position, she succeeded in winning two important battles against the English on May 4 and May 7. After a standoff on May 8, the English left. It was a lightning victory and ended a siege that had started on the 12th of October the prior year.”
The two men walked out of the museum and back into the weak afternoon sunshine. Perching atop a nearby stone wall, Maglor continued. “Although the hundred years war encompassed many battles and several periods of peace, she was a pivotal rallying point and a bold officer in the Dauphin’s army. After Orléans she insisted on capturing the bridges leading to Reims which allowed the coronation of Charles VII to proceed in that ancient and traditional location, cementing his claim to the throne. Shortly afterward she was fighting another battle against the English and was captured. She was sentenced to death by fire by Church officials who supported the English cause and was burned at the stake when she was nineteen years old.”
“And were you there for that?”
“What? No. How could I be there if I was with Charles?” Maglor asked, laughingly. “I might have skills, but to be two places at once, that is far beyond my abilities. Now, let's find a glass of wine and raise a toast to the Maid of Orleans.”
As the two men continued walking down the road, an errant breeze sprang up, caressing Maglor's head and giving a soft kiss to his cheek. He smiled and nodded his head acknowledging the gift.
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no subject
Date: 2012-03-28 03:42 pm (UTC)Gotta love his historical perspective on things. And a funny thought that crossed my mind as I read this... and why I have that gemini split mind problem... LOL If he's walking through our world and time, WHEN was the 4th age? omg brain, shut the hell up!!! LOL
Loved this I truly did. Jeanne D'arc was one of my favorites as she was a great inspiration for the French soldiers in WW1 and the pope put her on the fast track for canonisation. *grins*
no subject
Date: 2012-03-28 04:03 pm (UTC)The category - 'The Hundred Years War' was huge and I felt I needed to choose an event/person within it. I was divided between Aigencourt or Joan, but Joan seemed more amenable to the story.
What I am finding truly amusing is that I have these three stories - The Titanic, Joan of Arc and the Harlem Renaissance - starting from a French stage and yet I've never been to France.
- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2012-03-28 05:12 pm (UTC)'Michel'. *snrk*
And I, too, would have been shocked and uncomfortable if I had just found out 'Michel''s true age. ;)
no subject
Date: 2012-03-28 10:38 pm (UTC)- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 2012-03-29 07:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-03-29 10:25 pm (UTC)I love the comments also. Actually, I always gain so much from the reviews left for me.
- Erulisse (one L)