KNIGHTS AND NOBLESPrologue Cinematic________________________________________________APRIL, 1256 A.D.
LONDON ENGLAND No one that would call them self a citizen of London would ever guess that England was rife with insurgency and was plagued with war on her Welsh and Irish fronts both, as well as having overly sour relations with their Scottish neighbors.
Despite the chaos that raged on outside of London's walls across the countryside of England and beyond, the capital itself seemed as serene and calm as it could ever be.
Children frolicked and played throughout the streets and alleys, vendors and entertainers were spread along the cities' cobblestone streets and sidewalks in all form and variety.
Jugglers, minstrels, dance performers, jesters, and so on, providing the citizens of the city, noble and peasant alike, with a joyous amount of entertainment.
While the vendors and merchants sold the people wares, supplies, food, and other luxuries.
The city streets were also filled with wide assortments of patrons, from nobles to peasants to soldiers and so forth.
Combine all of this with the warm beautiful weather and the grand majesty of the capital city, and it could almost make one forget about the countries' looming issues, dangers, and drawbacks.
Except for one person of course though, that one person being
King Henry the Third, monarch of England and also one of England's most unpopular kings as of recent, mostly amongst the peasants and lower class nobles, although many of England's wealthier class did not care for King Henry either.
Henry himself now sat in his throne room, within the massive citadel like fortress that sat comfortably in the exact center of London.
He was sitting in an unrelaxed and tense position, leaned forward with half of his behind hanging off of the eloquently designed and well built throne, which sat snugly against the wall of the massive throne room, which bore towering walls, ten foot stained glass windows, and green tiled flooring.
Henry wore his traditional red robe and his golden grown embedded with jewels.His beard and hair were neatly trimmed and well managed.
Despite his crisp appearance, Henry's face bore an expression that was cross-bred of irritation, uncertainty, and defiance.
Standing before him was a small congregation that consisted of several of his advisors, generals, and a few Knights as well, one of them being the ever famed
Sir Rodney Ambrose.
Sir Ambrose was amongst one of Henry's most trusted knight commanders.He was cruel, worldly, and wicked, but was also a skilled soldier and excellent strategist and field commander.
He and the small group of commanders and advisors had been here before King Henry for a good hour now, discussing with him the situation of the Welsh insurgency to the west as well as the rising tensions in Ireland.
"Your Majesty,"Sir Rodney spoke, his voice smooth and low,"it is more than obvious that crushing Llewelyn ap Gruffydd and his armies and annexing Wales is our first main goal, there is no disagreement there, but I differ in opinion when you say that the efforts of the traitorous Simon de Montfort are of no concern.He has far more support than you think My Lord.We must arrest him and insure that he causes no more discontent amongst the commoners and his fellow nobles.He could very possibly initiate a full bore rebellion, and right now we have not the spare resources to curtail rebels what with Llewelyn mustering his forces along our borders."
Henry gazed intently back at Sir Rodney and responded with equal vigor,"Rodney, you are amongst my most trusted and well reliable retainers and I consider you to be a very competent and intelligent man, but I assure you, Lord Simon de Montfort, despite what you think, is no new age revolutionary that could throw England into chaos.He is not but a loud mouthed noble who is not very content with his current status and wants more power than he could probably handle.But don't concern yourself, I have spies and some of my most loyal captains keeping their eyes on him.I assure you, he has not gone unnoticed, and if his slander against me continues he will face the gallows.But again, right now, our biggest concern is the Welsh uprising and the Irish chieftains continued efforts to overthrow our rule over Ireland."
Sir Rodney stifled a groan of aggravation and bowed deeply to Henry, saying,"Yes Your Majesty, so what are your orders for me?"
Henry slowly leaned back and slid properly into position on his throne before speaking,"Gather and supply your forces immediately and combine them with those granted to you by Edward.
You will depart tomorrow and march for Montgomery, it shall be the first Welsh city to fall.We will catch them flat footed."Henry finished with a slight smile.
"As you will, My Lord."Ambrose said raising up.
He and his fellow knights all turned and departed from Henry, heading for the far door, leaving Henry alone with his regally robed circle of advisors, who all still stood before him.
He turned his gaze to the one closest to him, a shorter, older man garbed in dark blue and red garments with a curly gray beard and a near bald head, a man named Aston Penway.
Henry spoke to him with a commanding tone,"Ensure that my emissaries leave early and swiftly tomorrow for Edinburgh."
"Yes, My Lord."Aston replied bowing slightly.
"Has Lord Rufus departed yet for Ireland with his army?"Henry also demanded.
"Yes, Sire, yesterday afternoon in fact."Aston stated.
"Good."Henry said with a nod, casually turning his gaze toward one of the stained glass windows nearby.
After Lord Rufus crushed Brian O'Connor and his brother, they could then aid in suppressing the Welsh by utilizing the Irish Sea for their invasion of Caernavon, thereby effectively annexing Wales and crushing any further thoughts of Welsh independence.
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