Garden

My throat constricted and tears threatened to form small pools in my eyes. I cleared my throat and kept my gaze on my son. "A sister will love her brother because he is the one of the first examples of men in the world beyond her home. A mother will love her son because he is a part of herself, an everlasting hope that shines long after she is gone from the earth."

Listening to her words, the ice wall around his heart began to melt and he then took a deep breath "What have I done, mother?" he allowed himself to say and he looked away "I have betrayed you, taken your love and your kindness for granted and placed you...here...like a caged animal." He then shook his head "I am more like my father than what I can imagine."

I  let myself relax in his presence for the first time in a long while, and gently cupped his face. "You are only doing as men do, and have done for centuries. These days my only hope is that Catherine will leave this place and have the life she deserves. I keep my own company, and at least I gave my husband an heir."

I was in the garden of Santa Clara and i had received word that her Grace Juana of Aragon was travelling here so i waited to greet her in the entrance garden.

Juana had come to Spain for a visit, once arrived she approached the woman who invited her "Greetings your highness it is nice to meet you. I received your letter that you wished to see me?" she says in a calm manner and smiled at her kindly.

"Hello my dear Juana you look most remarkable today my lady.
May i welcome you to Tordesillas my lady.
How is your family in Italy? It must have been a long time since you were last in Spain my lady

Juana looked at the woman in front of her and smiled at her compliment "Thank you your highness is very kind." she tells her and listened to the questions of her family "It has been a very long time since I have been in Spain, I was a teenager then at the time and visiting my cousins in Gandia I believe."

"My family is doing well, as is my husband. I have been granted the throne of Naples and Jerusalem through my uncle's will as he had no living heirs, my brothers Rodrigo and even my twin brother Louie did not wish to rule. But I have become a mother to twin boys, I've named them Maximilian and Philip, both in strong health and doing well, my husband's eldest Ferdinand has just married and my son Tristan has joined the holy order to help with the battles here in Spain. My sons John and Peter continue there education as my heirs to the throne while my son Alexei has been handling things elsewhere and intends to wed someone he likes too."

"And yourself, your family. how is your dear mother?"

I am well thank you my lady i have recently been we'd to the king of Denmark as for my mother i have not seen her for a while i heard she was hear and have come looking for her.

I am pleased to hear you have two healthy children my lady.
What is it like ruling a country?

Juana looked at her and listened to her "It is not easy being a Queen, many men do not think us capable of ruling, the people underestimated your mother and simply didn't believe in her abilities to do it. It is a shame both her husband, her father and her son had betrayed her all at once and the people turned against her with the council to have her locked away. I never did believe her to be mad, just misunderstood and when Philip his majesty died she was grieving but they were too heartless to understand a grieving woman." she told her cousin right in front of her

She then smiled after "Well it is hard I must say, it isn't easy to keep things in order. My first thought was a heir of course to secure the throne as my own but also to find a husband who is loyal at my cause as well as my husband, it is a necessity. Woman are not often favored as monarchs in there own right but I do try my best. My son Ferdinand has chosen not to be King in his future he never had a desire for it so it falls on my sons John and Peter to be next in line, John is the next in line and he is quite a strong boy, growing beautifully and strongly in his years although just a teenager now."

She thought a moment "We should visit your mother, especially you. It may raise her spirits to see someone and to see her children loyal to her."

I look at her as she speaks about my mother.

"I despise my brother's for betraying mother and she was the rightful queen of Spain.

From what we here in Spain there are great stories coming from Italy that their ruler is strong and knows how to rule.

May i ask cousin i would like to meet your children and the heir to the throne if that is possible?

You are right my lady we should speak to mother as i want to ask her advice about something and i have not seen her for a long time either. Do you know where she is?

"last I heard she was staying in these very walls, but that was very long ago." Juana told her kindly "perhaps we may find where she may be together?"

"I would like that thank you my lady.

Do you know my mother?

Juana looked over at her and smiled "Well I spent time in Spain when I was a girl, it was when I saw your mother last I believe. Although I don't know her too well but when I met her she was kind to me" she told her as she stood there "Perhaps your brother the Emperor would have a idea where she is or maybe we could find her ourselves"

"Either way I'm open to whichever ideas come to mind"

"We should see if we can find her first then if we struggle to find her i shall write to my brother asking him where she is as i was informed she had been imprisoned here by my brother

Juana nodded "Yes where would you like to start to look?" she asks wondering of course if it was her place to step in to find such a woman at all and if it would cause trouble but she hoped there was something she could do somehow.

Perhaps we can go into the main hall first and see if anyone has seen her.

"Yes I think that would be a wise idea, and if she isn't there maybe she is in Prayer" Juana suggested to her kindly thinking of the places the Queen of Castile and Aragon could possible be

"After all your mother was a pious woman from what I heard of and highly religious like her own family."

"My mother has always liked to pray and i hope i find her. She did not deserve to be imprisoned here.