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Foxy_Aristocracy · Guest

By the late winter Branwen was feeling unwell. She had caught a chill after walking out in the cold winter air, and complained of a sore throat as well as aches and pains this after having had the fever and being with child. She lay resignedly on her cushions in her private apartments, and could not be persuaded to leave them for the comfort of her bed. “I am not well” she declared, but refused the administrations of her doctors. It was the opinion of her contemporaries that she would have recovered from this illness if she had fought against it, but she did not want to. She was fragile, she was tired, and she was lonely. She was ready to slip into the world where all those she had loved had gone before her. As her condition deteriorated, Archbishop Joseph Von-Elric (her favorite of all her Archbishops of Sentinels Watch) was called to her side, Branwen clung tight to his hand. When he spoke to her of getting better, she made no response, but when he spoke to her of the joys of Heaven, she squeezed his hand contentedly. By this time she was beyond speech and could only communicate with gestures. It was clear to all of those around that the great Lady was dying.

There was still one matter that the Sovereign Lady had left unresolved, the matter that had been unresolved since the first day the young Lady Branwen had heard that she was now ruler of all Sentineld Watch; the succession to the throne. However, it was generally believed that Foxy Aristocracy, was to succeed, and this question was put to the dying Lady. Branwen may or may not have responded, but for the sake of the peaceful transition of power, it was later announced that she had gestured for Foxy Aristocacy and Joseph Von- Elric to succeed her.

It was getting late, and those in vigilance around Branwen's bed left her to the care of her ladies. The Sovereign Lady fell into a deep sleep, and was declaired dead in the early hours on January 4th. It was a Monday, the death day of her father, and her sister. The new year would bring a new reign, that of Foxy Aristocracy and Joseph Von-Elric.

It was with sadness that the Sovereign Lady's death was announced on the streets of Sentinels Watch the following morning, and witnesses described the eerie silence of the stunned crowd. For years they had been ruled by Branwen, and knew no other way of life.

As the Sovereign Lady had wished, She was placed in a lead coffin. A few days later, the Lady began her last journey. She was taken by water to the Sovereign Isle in YEW.

On the 7th of January the Sovereign Lady was given a magnificent funeral. Her coffin, covered in Aqua velvet, was drawn by four horses draped in black. An effigy of the great Lady, dressed in the robes of state with a crown on her head and a sceptre in her hands, lay on the coffin beneath a mighty canopy held by six knights. Behind Branwen came her palfrey, led by her Master of Horse. The chief mourner, led the peeresses of the realm all dressed in black, and behind them came all the important men of the realm, as well as over two hundred poor folks. The streets were full of people, all come to pay their last respects to the lady who had ruled them so wisely and for so long as she made her way to her final resting place. When they saw the life-like effigy of the Sovereign Lady, they wept.

Will Scarlett, who attended the funeral wrote:

“Sentinels Watch was surcharged with multitudes of all sorts of people in their streets, when they beheld her statue lying upon the coffin, there was such a general sighing, groaning and weeping as the like hath not been seen or known in the memory of man, neither doth any history mention any people, time or state to make like lamentation for the death of their sovereign”

The grief of the nation was unprecedented, and was a tribute to the remarkable achievements of a remarkable woman, Branwen Peredur-Casteston.

Foxy_Aristocracy · Guest

Little did the people of the Sovereign Order know, there beloved Branwen was not dead.. but slept. Sounds of knocking and tapping came from the crypt.. surely this was no haunting? The grave! Bannon yelled out. With the help of some others they moved the heavy stone lid, they looked down on Branwen. Her eyes were large and full of anger.. "get her a blanket"! one of the servants cried out. They carefully helped her out of the coffin and sat her on a bench next to the crypt. The majority of the crowd had now gone and did not know of Branwen's awakening. The ships had already set off to the shores of yew from the isle. "Shall we send word my Lady?" asked a young servant woman.. "No" replied Branwen. " I think I'll stay a while." "As for the midwife who declared me dead, have her brought here.. I will deal with her myself, this mistake will not go unpunished, do not tell a soul!" "Yes my Lady" Bannon bowed, then turned and bid her goodbye as set off for the city at once.

How could my own husband not know I was not really dead? Branwen seethed with anger.. I have no doubt they have tried to replace my seat as Sovereign Lady, what have they done with my children? *she grips her fists* I want Lars Casteson Dead! she screams out throwing a glass against the stone wall watching it smash into hundreds of tiny fragments. "Someone send word to Cal Hurst of Blackmarsh, I wish to see him.. tell him it is of most urgency!" "as you wish my lady" the servent bows and leaves the room.