Banquet for Arthur Plantagenet

I entered the banquet hall with my sister and was announced. We walk over to where the king was sat and Isabella informs him of the test.

"Your majesty thank you for this banquet we are looking forward to meeting this Arthur when does he arrive here for i have not yet seen him?"

Margaret joined the Banquet wearing a new gown. She walked along Hall smiling shyly, noticing that many important people were there. She curtsied before the King and sat at her place

William was at the Banquet as well. He was helping other servants to serve wine and food. He came closer the royal table and bowed as he saw the Princess with the King and her brother. He poured them some wine in silence. For a moment he glanced towards Isabella to see if she noticed his presence

I looked at the king as he entered.

"It will be an honour for us to join the family your Grace. May i say what a wonderful banquet this is today. Is her majesty Queen Anne joining us?"

“Her Majesty The Dowager Queen of Navarre.”

A steward boomed. His loud and vigorous voice seemed to echo as I entered the great hall. A banquet was a rare occasion and I intended to make the most of the splendour, revelling in the chance to enter in great estate. Normally I shied away from it, seeking to avoid parading around like a peacock, but on this special occasion: I embraced my full majesty.

Elegance was key. All the guests and courtiers would be dressed in their finest and bedecked in every jewel known from earth to heaven. So I sought to walk a different path and stand out. It had come to me the night before as I spent the evening laughing with my ladies. From somewhere, we had stumbled upon the story of my grandmother, the notorious and ravishing Elizabeth Woodville. A woman so striking that she had stopped a king in his tracks while stood under an oak tree by the road... or so the legend goes. Whether truth or myth, it mattered not. I had decided to channel my grandmother for the banquet and seek to bewitch all as she had.

Swathed in pale blue and shimmering silver, I moved with swan-like grace towards the top table. The simple pearls and diamonds caught the flickering candle light and sparkled like stars trapped in the dawn sky. My final flourish had been to leave my hair loose at the front, framing my face until it twisted and braided into a loose plait. Whether my plan worked or not would have to be seen, it was up to my brother’s guests and courtiers if my idea had been a success. But for me, there was no question. I felt it. My grandmother’s confidence and assurance flowed through my body.

Approaching the top table, I swept a curtsy. The ladies that attended me followed my lead and as we all rose gracefully, I offered a smile. “Sire.” I sang to my brother and gently inclined my head to his illustrious Swedish guests. “Your Majesty. Your Highness.”

With a final bob of my head, I took my usual place at the top table. As a member of the royal family I was expected to as a mark of respect to Henry, his guests and my position. I took a sip of my wine and from somewhere in my mind, a memory emerged and made me quietly chuckle.

Lady Margaret, my father’s indomitable mother, had always been wary of me as a child. My only real memory of her was a single sentence. “She has that woman’s eyes.” The Woodville eyes. And as I chuckled into my cup, I wondered what she would have said as I had put them to good use that night.

Arthur Plantagenet joined the banquet and as soon as he entered the room a servant of the King was introducing him. "I will present to you, the Earl of York, Arthur Plantagenet." After joining he went to the king approaching him before bowing graciously at him. "Your majesty. It's always a great honor to see you." After sending the King a thankful smile he went to take a seat right between the King of Sweden and his soon to be wife, Isabella Vasa. As soon as he saw her beauty it was difficult not to admire her. Sending her a bright smile he leaned slightly into her whispering. "I am so grateful that we got to meet earlier this morning. You are so sweet, beautiful and you have a good heart. I have been looking forward to this moment all day. You look stunning this evening."

Geoffrey was serving guests with fresh fruits, meat and wine. He looked around and noticed that many people were already joining the Party. He bowed respectfully as Princess Katherine Tudor joined the Hall

“Promises, promises Henry...” I offered a teasing smile to my brother. With a gentle nudge of my elbow, I chuckled and let him attend to his guests. Few would dare to tease my elder brother, even fewer would dream of it: but there were things I could get away with as his blood that any courtier would lose their head for. But, even then, I had to be careful. It was a fine line to tread. My brother had always been kind and a widow, dispute my illustrious station as a dowager Queen, I was his property. In such a position, I did not want to face his wrath.

Rising from my seat, like a deer waking in a meadow, the smile on my lips spread across my features until I beamed like the sun. Darling Royce.” I sang my brother-by-law’s name. “Thank you, and you most give mine to Mary Rose... is she with you?”

Seeing my sister at court was always a joy and my little nephews made it even more happy. A family gathering, where no one rank or status mattered but Henry’s. Even the idea was blissful. My desire to escape the expectations upon myself and my family had driven me to the archery range - the place I had met our important guest - and though that need had been quelled, the dream stirred again. To be just me. Just Kate. Not Her Majesty the dowager Queen of Navarre... just who I was.

These were dreams though and as I tried in vain to push them from my mind. Tonight I was supposed to fully embrace my queenly status. I was channeling my bewitching grandmother and would rise to the task. With my Woodville eyes and their golden hair, England would see me as never before, I scoffed. And perhaps that could help those dreams I tried to suppress. Here I was: A widowed Queen, the daughter and sister of king’s, a skilled archer and my grandmother’s granddaughter. I was Kate. Tonight and always.

I smiled merrily at my brother-by-law. His complement ringing in my ear. “You’re too kind Royce! But I’m nowhere near as stunning as our beautiful Mary Rose though.” I chuckled.

I smile as Katherine entered.

"Greetings Katherine you look beautiful today and I trust you are well?" I say turning to King Henry

"I wish her majesty all the best and I pray you will have a healthy son your Grace"

I look over at Arthur as he is very attracted to my sister.

"It is an honour to meet you to my lord. I see that you appear to be a fine gentleman and I am pleased you could make it. I am sure you are aware my lord but before I agree to this match I would like to know you more perhaps a garden walk when you are ready? Now my lord you may spend time with my sister. I will be watching however to ensure she is okay"

After Arthur heard Isabella Vasa's brother Gustav speaking to him he turned his full attention over at him with a kind smile on his lips. He was still sitting down as he spoke. "It is an honor to meet you as well, my lord. I would love nothing more than to get to know you better myself. Perhaps after this ceremony, my lord." Then he nodded at him in agreement. "I promise you that I will keep her safe. We will be talking later." Sending him one last smile he took Isabella's hand in his own as they went to the dance floor.

Some people might find Gustav intimidating in such a situation, but honestly he understood why the brother was protective. Even though some men were gentlemen these days you could also found those who were way too controlling and violent. Of course, no brother would want to see his sister in the wrong man's arms. After entering the dance floor his focus was on her as they started dancing together. "Do not worry about that at all. Your brother just wants the best for you and I would probably have handled the situation the exact same way if I had a sister who was going to get married." He was whispering those words back into her ear while finding her so beautiful. She was such a good hearted woman as well and he would be lucky to have her as his wife. After hearing her question he chuckled a bit before answering. "First of all I will just be myself, telling him my good impression of you and reassure him that I will take care of you and treat you with the utmost respect and love you with my heart and soul. Plus the alliance would probably be the last thing if haven't convinced him already."

Geoffrey was walking among tables to serve food and wine. He approached Princess Isabella and bowed

Would you like some orange juice, my Lady? Oh..I almost forgot to tell you that I have prepared two horses in the stables for you and your husband to be. King's gift..

He added glancing towards King Henry