Queen Joanna's bedchamber

My journey was long and tiring arriving at this convent was doomy but I had came to show my support to a great Queen knocking gently on the door I awaited approval to enter and quickly sorted out my hair.

I was brushing out my hair after my bath and sat near the fire to help dry it. A knock at the door surprised me. It wasn't the usual knock of the guards or even of the male gender. My visitor obviously was a female, and a kind one at that. "Come in!" I bade her.

Opening the door I sank into a curtsey as soon as I saw the Queen sitting by the warm fireside. Your Majesty I do hope that I am not intruding on you I have come to keep you in company while you have to endure this seclusion. She had lovely long hair with a fair complexion.

I looked her up and down, studying her dress, her figure, her fine clothes. She was not from around here, her voice had an unfamiliar but lovely lilting accent. I gave her permission to rise and smiled, motioning to a chair next to me. "And whom do I have the pleasure of company with while I am a prisoner in my own country?" My ladies had gone to bed so I poured us both a cup of warm sweet wine.

I graciously walked over to her and sat in the chair that she had gestured to. Her hair was as black like a raven with a touch of pink lips which stood out a real Spanish Queen. Thank you your majesty I am from a small country called Ireland just across the sea from England. My name is Joan Fitzgerald and I have heard many great and wonderful things about you. Smiling I took in the smell of the sweet scented wine I felt honoured to be in her presence and smiled at her gratefully.

"Irlanda," I said in my native tongue. "Then you have indeed traveled a great many miles to come here. I am much appreciative of this, Lady Fitzgerald." I smiled warmly, glad to have someone want to be in my presence. "So how are things in your part of the world? Even my ladies can only repeat so much of what is said in the marketplace."

I gave a gentle laugh as her majesty was trying to learn my native tongue. I have actually come from England you're majesty a lot of new things have been going on at court their. I hesitated for a second I hoped that what I was going to say would not dampen her spirits. The Queen your sister now is residing at Kimbolton and your niece is staying elsewhere oh and the duke of Suffolk has a bonny baby boy. I hoped that last bit of news would warm her heart or soften the blow even.

The smile I wore disappeared from my face at the mention of England. Then I saw Joan's expression and gently patted her knee. "Do not worry. I knew long of my sister's..shall we say imprisonment. I am sorrowful for her situation. I pray every day for her, and that the king will change his mind and take her back. Of course, if I were her, I would find a way to humiliate that Boleyn woman," I said, remembering the time I cut off the hair of one of my Philip's mistresses. "I have heard a little of this duke of Suffolk. Catalina told me of his fair looks, his fondness for women and of course his loyalty to the king. One out of three isn't bad,' I said with a smirk.

I gave a sigh of relief when I noticed she had a sense of humour. I have never really given in to the charms of a man especially if they had a mistress! How do women put up with it that I do not know. Casually I started to swirl my wine around in my goblet. Have you heard from any of your family since you have been forced to live here.

I looked askance and smiled. "A mistress is always a thorn in a queen's side, especially if that queen loves her husband dearly. I endured a number of Philip's mistresses, but somehow they would rudely quit court, and no one had any idea why," I said with an innocent smirk. "The only one who writes me is my niece Isabella of Portugal. Everyone else is scattered to the winds."

Oh she was a dark horse and I loved it how did she get rid of them by the look in her eyes it was something dark maybe one day she would tell me. I am sure plenty of people are still in support of you my Queen people are afraid of your son you shall have my company until you grow tired of it. I wanted to lift her spirits but I was not sure if she took herbal remedies I dismissed the idea for now.

I smiled sadly. "I am afraid of my son as well. Any man who would dare lock up his mother is more monster than man," I said darkly. "But Lady Joan, your company has been wonderful to have. You are the only one who doesn't think I'm loca... crazy. But a woman in love will do many things to keep her family together, to keep her destiny intact." I paused a moment, sipping my wine. "So do you have a man, Lady Joan? One who keeps you up at night either with his passion or with constant worry of where he is?"

I do not think that you are mad at all mad people try and eat the grapes of a tapestry. Ah the topic if men my story was simple I had been neglected and rejected. Yes all my life it had been contracted that I was to marry Francis Bryan and that is about it really .

I had a good hearty laugh at Joan's comment about mad people. It was wonderful to be happy for once and to have someone to talk with. Loneliness was an abyss. "And so, are you going to marry this Francis Bryan?"

Right now I am having to much fun away from the English court I think Spain seems much more right for me right now. I am a Fitzgerald in Ireland I descend from a great dynasty of Fitzgeralds I go where the wind blows me tis in the Irish blood. I took a very large sip of my wine at least the Queen found me amusing it was very nice to hear her laughter. But don't worry I shall not be chasing after a Spanish man either it's not my style and I don't even get jealous either it is utterly pointless and stupid.

"I'm glad you're finding Spain to your liking," I said with a genuine smile. "And please, stay as long as you wish. It's wonderful that you do not let anyone stand in the way of your joy. That's important in life." I thought briefly about the sole reason for my joy, and the fact that he was gone from this world. "Jealousy is a tricky thing. My husband used to make me jealous all the time. It was a game he used to play because he knew he had power over me. I was so in love with him, jealous of any woman he spoke to. If I was not in the same room with him, it was as if I could not breathe. That's how deeply and powerfully I loved him. It was a blessing and a curse." I gave Lady Joan a stern look. "And I would never wish that upon anyone."

My intentions was to stay in Spain as long as the Queen needed me to stay no one troubled you here it was like we were stranded on an island away from the hassle. Her story sounded like pure torture for the loving soul they always say that you should be careful to who you show your feelings to. Very sorry to hear that but men are still latching on to the jealous sides of their wives and adding more fuel to it like they were feeding a pet. I have never known love to the point in which you have described they say that true love scares you. The conversations we were having were that of deep content she was not just a Queen she understood how a real woman works their pain,happiness,joy and sorrow. I now began to admire her greatly and was glad to have came here

"Few people realize that love can be a weapon; one can wield it to serve their own devious ends: either for jealousy, or to hurt someone irrevocably. It must be nice to have such a power over someone, but I imagine also that few people know how to love as greatly as they did in the legends of old, of Lancelot and Guinevere, Tristan and Isolde. That love can only exist in books, sadly." I took a look around the room, feeling cornered by it. "Shall we walk outside? I need some air, and I think you will enjoy the gardens."

Eagerly I stood up the weather was good for your mood I just hoped I wasn't to overdressed so that the heat would consume me. I have yet to explore must of Spain although their markets are far more great than those in England. Speaking of love stories the biblical story Samson and Deliah is a captivating one.

I dressed in a dark green gown, pinning my hair atop my head and securing it with a gold and diamond pin. "The markets are amazing here. But that is because we have such strong Muslim influence. There are spices and silks that aren't even known in the Western world. Exotic fruits and hammered gold..all to satisfy one's eye!" I smirked as she mentioned Samson and Delilah. "Oh yes, every man has a weakness, and every woman should know at least one, but never let him know it!" I laughed gaily as I swept up my skirts and went to the door. "Ready, Lady Joan?"

I found myself becoming captivated by her every word she knew so much of this world whereas I knew not a lot. I laughed about men's weak point sadly I always had a way of letting them know what it was. Yes of course I am ready lead the way your highness.

((OOC I'll post in the gardens now ))

I had missed the company of the great Joanna Castille she truly is a remarkable queen. Little few things had changed around here which made me annoyed to say the least. Why no one was prepared to help her out was beyond me. Didn't they know what exactly her husband had put her through and yet she still stood strong. I gently knocked on the door.

I had been up several hours and had finished praying when I heard a knock. "Enter," I commanded as I rose from my prie-dieu.