Chapter Six: Alys of Arkovia

Her Majesty Queen Alys of Arkovia was no shrinking violet.
As a young girl she had been free to roam the castle grounds, climbing haystacks, visiting the kitchen, even riding horses with young pages. When Alys turned ten, her great-aunt Cordelia decided that she needed to 'learn how to be a proper lady.'
Under the guidance of the grand duchess, Alys learned about etiquette and manners. Cordelia's firm but loving hand indeed produced an elegant, proper lady groomed to make some royal prince a very fine princess consort.
But Alys would have none of it. Her birthright demanded that she become queen regnant herself.
When Alys' father, King Edward, revised Arkovia's succession law, he saw to it that Alys was his crown princess and heir to the throne, despite and over the objections of his council. "A woman cannot rule!" they cried.
So it happened that when King Edward was felled by his own nephew's sword, his only child, Alys Elizabeth, was installed as queen of Arkovia.



Queen Alys was entering her third week on the throne of Arkovia. And suddenly, she got the urge to go bear hunting. She'd accompanied her father on these hunts frequently during her childhood, before she'd been sent away from her homeland.



Her royal advisers cried, "Your Majesty, you cannot go out there!"
Alys scoffed. "Honestly, sirs, what's dangerous about walking in the forest? Besides, it's a welcome break from the endless treaties and councils."




Disobeying her counselors, the queen braided her hair and set off on her journey towards the Forget-Me-Not Forests beyond the castle, something she had not done since she was a child. She had fond memories of these jaunts with her father; indeed this was when she began to miss him the most. His life and his reign in Arkovia had been ended with one swipe of her cousin's sword; in one fell swoop her life was now completely changed. She could not forget what he had done; yet what he had done was the reason she was now on the throne and not in exile in Tredony. If Michael thought that he would become king now in Arkovia he was mistaken -- Alys had taken care of that by exiling him to Crafthole. Even with Michael in Crafthole there was still the possibility of him bringing the territory into rebellion, unless she could convince Smithmaster Jared to keep him in line.



Alys began to rue her decision to come here, because she was accosted by a bandit! "How dare you come near my kingdom?" she screamed. "You think that because I am a lady I cannot defend myself? Hah!"



Alys removed her sword from her scabbard. She recalled all those years ago when her father had secretly taught her how to handle the sword. It was a skill she didn't use much of now that she was queen but now she called upon her martial training to save her life.



The bandit showed proficiency with the weapon but so did Alys.



Alys got her first advantage against the bandit with a lash across the chest.



Staggered, the bandit returned to the crouched position.



Sensing the kill, Alys let loose another swipe with her broadsword, this time close to the bandit's stomach.



The bandit collapsed at her feet and Alys was victorious.



Satisfied with her victory, Alys began the walk towards the deep forests for her bear hunt.

 

Alys was loath to wed, despite the well-meaning intentions of her advisors. She entertained proposals from the princes of Crafthole and Tredony, in addition to various other kingdoms throughout the land.
The only thing she had in common with these princes was her extraordinary education, which began when she was a tot. Raised in manners and etiquette by her great-aunt Cordelia and taught history and statecraft by her father's steward, Sir Jonas, Alys had been well educated and well equipped to counteract any argument the princes presented.



So it was that she herself undertook sword and armor to rid Arkovia of a persistent bandit that hung around the forests...





... but she wasn't at all happy watching the Reaper harvest the soul of the bandit away.



Surgeon Laurel was surprised to see the Queen enter her clinic. Usually the royal physician was summoned to the castle to tend to Her Majesty, but Alys was coming in from the field after having vanquished the bandit, who left its mark on her with a deep gash across her right side.
"Shan't you allow the guards to take care of bandits?" Laurel asked. "Is that not why you pay them?"
Grimacing, Alys merely told Laurel she had to kill the bandit for a quest.



"Ahh. I see." Laurel hoisted Alys onto the surgical bed. She held out a steaming hot bowl of herbs for Alys to breathe. "This is for you to relax while I stitch you up."
Alys closed her eyes and thought of nothing.



Laurel got out her tools and went to work. "After this surgery, Your Majesty, I suggest that you take it easy for a few days."

Unfortunately those three words were not in Alys' vocabulary.



To this end she sought the wise counsel of her first and oldest adviser -- the wizard Balin, who had been her teacher in magic and wisdom. She hadn't learned magic all that well from him, but he did try to teach her how to be patient.
"Master Balin," she approached him one day, "you know that I have no desire to wed, and yet my advisers feel that it is best for me."
"Do you think your advisers have your best interests at heart?"
Alys hated when Balin did this to her -- asked her questions she didn't have the answers to.