Queen Joannas' Sitting room

Juana the young princess who was orphaned but taken in the care of her aunt Sancia of Aragon but after had no one but her brothers after her father Alfonso of Aragon had been murdered when she was so very small and her mother abandoning herself and her brothers as well had not long been in Spain, she was young and youthful as well, much younger than her cousin the Queen of Castile by some years. She decided to come alone as she wanted to see her cousin and how she was doing, her hair which lay past her waist was pulled back and held tightly while she wore a long dark dress on her skinny body which her her neck was adorned with laces which hugged around it, her blue eyes gazing down at her skirts as she awaited her cousins arrival.

Sitting there she stood and walked over to a window in the room gazing outside it, she was a stranger to Spanish shores as she had not been there but she took a seat beside the window staying there. Her brother Rodrigo Borgia of Aragon was at her side "sister I am sure it will be alright" the young Prince told his younger sister and took her hand in his, Juana looked at her brother lovingly "thank you Rodrigo" she told him as she sat there beside him.

Before I approached the room where the princess was waiting I could feel my nerves on edge, like a cat who's in fear will have his fur standing on end and his tail pointed. Who was this woman and what did she want?

I had one of my older ladies go before me and announce me. "Her Majesty Queen Juana of Castille."

Dressed in a dazzling gown of black and gold, with sharply cut onyx stones adorning my fingers and neck, I entered.

The young Princess was seated upon the chair beside her brother merely across from him, being the youngest of the two siblings she heard the Queen of Castile's ladies announce the Queen and Princess Juana of Naples stood with her brother at her side as he took her hand in his own gently, they were the only family one another had as so many others of their family in Naples was now dead, the young Princess bowed before her majesty as did her brother and the princess took her standing once more afterwards and the young Princess was indeed a shy young women, she wasn't often exposed outside to the world around her, her brother often was protective of her and Rodrigo looked at the Queen "forgive my sister, she doesn't talk much" he told the Queen "I am Rodrigo Borgia of Aragon, this is my younger sister the Princess Juana" he told her introducing the both of them in a respectful way "a pleasure your majesty" the girl spoke kindly as well. She looked very much of Spanish origin indeed, looking much like her father who was murdered by the orders of Cesare Borgia.

The princess had experienced much in her life, murder along with death and trama, she was a innocent soul who wouldn't be one to harm anyone, her grandfather though was a tyrant but she was different. Being a devoted Catholic she remains there.

A tiniest of smiles creased the corners of my lips. "Charmed, I'm sure. Now what brings you both to my little corner of the world?" I was becoming more popular, I supposed, my imprisonment a story spread far and wide.

Young Princess Juana of Naples stood beside her brother and looked at the Queen "I would like to enquire of my father, I've so many questions about him. Rodrigo knew him more then I and I was unsure if you knew him yourself your majesty" Juana spoke asking of her father the late Prince of Salerno and duke of Bisceglie "and my mother, I know nothing of her either" she spoke feeling shamed of such things as she didn't know her mother Lucrezia Borgia and Rodrigo stood there knowing his sister had so many questions.

I shrugged. "Your father was a very handsome and learned man. The whole world thought so. His death was a great shock to everyone."

Juana d'Aragona looked at the Queen of Castile and she nodded "he must have been wonderful indeed, I wish I knew him better then I had" she told her "my mother I never knew her either, I am told my mother Lucrezia Borgia was such a great scandal around her although I am not sure if I should believe it as such" she told the Queen

Looking at the Queen "I have a request though as well, the French has often been seeking Naples for their own, I wish to strengthen its borders from such attacks. The death of the King had been most troublesom for Naples and I was wondering if you would lend me your support and assistance not only as your allie but also as your cousin and I too have 2 young sons I would like to succeed me when this threat is handled" she spoke "we may have not seen each other before often as I've been often needed within Naples walls, I wish I had come to Spain often before." she told her.

The young princess looked at her seeing the Queen's concerns and she nodded "your majesty as you know we both share strong Spanish bloodline between us both, I feel as your cousin it is my duty to help in any way necessary that I can." She told her after also hearing the words of her mother "yes as women we suffer and must fight harder then any man, Naples has had many enemies and the French do not believe I will rule strongly within my lands, simply because I am a women they often laugh. They demand a male heir upon the throne of Naples but it is I who was willed as heir and ruler of Naples. It was the wishes of my family as you know my uncle had no son" she spoke confessing "I've had sons I believe will succeed me and make fine young kings after my death" she spoke "no French will sit on my throne" she spoke seriously on her wishes

She clinched her fist a bit but calmed herself as she had seen so much, taking a seat "I will offer you anything you desire, even your freedom. I will assist in any way I can" she spoke and looked at her "no son should imprison their mother like yours had done to you" she spoke once more understanding that the Queen her cousin had to endure.

"Tell me exactly what you desire of my help, dear cousin," I said in a gentle voice.

The young princess sat back in her chair and looked at the Queen "your support as Naples next regent." she spoke "and the armies to remove the threat of the French from the walls of Naples" she spoke "I am also made aware of your sons ambitions on Naples" she told her as she was well aware of such matters "I want peace with Spain and Spain united with Naples in a strong alliance but I still desire Naples separate and it's own lands as it always has been without the threat of others trying to usurp what my grandfather fought so hard to keep in his grasp." she spoke "surely you must understand what it is like to have what is yours ripped right from underneath your feet by the force of your enemies" she spoke "besides nothing would be more scandalous then to have what is in the hands of the house of Trastamara our family in the hands of France instead" she spoke honestly telling the Queen of her feelings on the matter.

Standing up she looked at her "to combine our armies would be a wise decision and I will have you freedom from these wretched walls" she tells her once more.

"Your words and desires touch my heart, truly. I can see in you what I once was as a young woman. I can tell you now that you have my full support," I said with assurance.

Juana looked at the Queen and she was so glad to have the support of the Queen of Spain her cousin and she nodded "I suppose we may have some things in common, but I fear I too have made sins against God before" she spoke ashamed of such things she had done "your majesty during my childhood my brother Rodrigo was my only comfort, he was often kinder then the rest of my family and I've often learned to love him in ways I should have never had" she told her "to hold your brother as your first love I was often punished for it. I know now I must protect my heart from such feelings, as I now have a husband and I had to loose my affections for my brother and my brother Giovanni often is jealous of any lover I've taken, I too know what it is like to suffer with the ambitions of my family. I try so hard to stay strong" she confessed truthfully.

"I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for your support." she spoke standing there.

Juana's words interested me but I held no judgment in anyone's sins any more. My own ledger was quite black with my own transgressions, even now. "We cannot choose who we love, Juana. We all commit sins in the name of our own interest: pleasure, power, et cetera. I don't condemn you at all. I am still more than proud to be of help to your cause."

Princess Juana of Naples looked at her majesty the Queen hearing her words and she stood there "I am grateful you will still support me, that you will not condemn me for my mistakes." she spoke trying to hide her tears, she suffered so much at the hands of her enemies and she wanted to hug the Queen but respectfully did not do so. The Princess was young, looking at Queen Joanna "I thank you for your support, I pray Naples will still have hope for its freedom from those French and the threat they hold against it." she spoke "I will indeed assist in your freedom as well" she told her "I will do everything I can".

"I trust that you will. A good monarch keeps her word at all costs," I said.

Juana looked at her cousin the Queen in front of her, she was nervous about being a monarch and Queen of Naples but she nodded "I am quite nervous, I worry if I will rule strongly in Naples as my grandfather once had before me. I worry of the type ruler I will become. Perhaps I am worrying too much" she told her "I've never been a Queen or regent before, it will all be quite new to me." she told her "when I am Queen I promise I will keep my word, even if Naples is never returned to me I will assist you" she spoke as she tried to be brave.


Being Queen made her nervous and frightened her but she knew she must be brave with such matters, not to show any weakness or it will strike her down. "Do you think I will be a good Queen" she asked.

"One becomes a great monarch by the example of others, whether good or bad," I explained. "You must always do right by your country, and have a heart of steel so it cannot bend toward softness. People will regard you as weak simply because you are a woman, but no one knows but us how strong women truly are. There will be difficulties, but you will have a strong council to stand behind you."

Juana was indeed young, listening to her cousin as she stood there, she knew it was but a short amount of time that she would be made Queen, it frightened her as she would have so much on her shoulders with both Naples and Jerusalem to rule as their Queen and Regent. Looking at the Queen with her dark eyes, her long dark hair laying past her waist was pulled back as she was quite the youthful and young beauty as she stood there still "then may the Lord Grant me strength and gide me in the right path, I believe more then anything I can be Queen but I must learn to be brave when the time comes." she spoke "of I may ask, if I am ever in need I would like to seek your cousil when the time comes and whom might you suggest would be a wise choice to keep among my company" she asked as she knew Joanna had been Queen once before and still was as such, she thought it wise to seek out her advice.

"And your majesty I would like you to attend my corrination, would you like to join me in Naples" she asked.

"I look at you and I see you have so much to learn and yet you are imbued with wisdom beyond your years. I hope you never have to choose between the lesser of two evils, but it may come to that as it does every monarch."

I was genuinely pleased by her invitation.

"I would love to attend if only you could free me for such an event."

-Juana stood there in front of the Queen of Castile, the Queen was right about the young princess, she did have much to learn but she bore the blush of a young women who witnessed the wickedness of the world all too soon in her years, Juana looked into her eyes, she was about to speak but then her ambassador Caspar rushed in the room receiving news the Princess's uncle the King was now dead, dying in France and never returning to Naples, Juana handed the parchment she was declared Queen of Naples and Jerusalem, she swallowed nervously and tried to hide back her tears, the tragedy was a great one indeed and her aunt the late King Ferdinand II of Naples's wife who was from Spain was also dead who so happened to be the Princess's guardian. Looking at the Queen of Castile "It seems I now have full power of the vast armies of Naples, I've been made it's regent" she told the Queen and suddenly took a seat.

"the King... is no more" she confessed as she was in shock at the sudden events, she knew her uncle Frederick of Naples was unwell and she didn't think he would die so suddenly. She had been made aware her coronation will be quite soon and she looked at the Queen in front of her "I will have you freed, Spain has a strong alliance with Naples. After all I am your majesties cousin." she spoke.

I made the Sign of the Cross and closed my eyes in prayer. "May God take Frederick into his arms." I looked across at the young girl who, with a face as white as fear, looked still in shock. "My dear girl, you have the world upon your shoulders, but I am here for you if you seek guidance. My imprisonment is now natural to me, but it pales in comparison to your new responsibilities."

Juana stood there knowing that France had such ambitions with Naples but now she was secure to the throne and wars and battles were not needed and she looked at the Queen "I think it best Naples makes its alliances through peace instead of bloodshed as their had been far too much. I know full well the ambitions of the late French king but perhaps the one their is now may be different. Naples has lost far too much I think it's time I've made things right" she spoke "my grandfather wanted bloodshed and nothing but it, I hope to be a different ruler, one who brings peace instead of death among others. Maybe their will be less death as a outcome" she told the Queen.

"You have high ideals for the future of your country, my dear girl. I admire that." I told her. "Yet, it may be impossible to keep entirely away from bloodshed. In my experience sometimes war is a necessary evil, to show strength or keep enemies at bay."