Siúil a Rún

Even after all these years, Ser Barristan could still recall Ashara’s smile, the sound of her laughter. He had only to close his eyes to see her, with her long dark hair tumbling about her shoulders and those                 haunting purple eyes.

Temptation accomplished.

request by anon: Elizabeth of York + childhood

Life early taught Elizabeth that she had to cope with events over which she had no control. At age three, her holiday in Norwich was interrupted by Warwick’s capture of Edward IV, changing dramatically the child’s luxurious, royal life to one of “scant state.” A year later, Elizabeth and her two younger sisters found themselves living in the even more straightened confines of Sanctuary, where her mother gave birth to Prince Edward. Further, her father used her as a pawn in his political games. Twice, she was betrothed: at age four to George Neville -Edward IV’s peace offering to Warwick- and at age nine to the Dauphin of France. Jilted at age 16 -when Louis XI cut a better deal with Maximilian- the princess was left bereft when Edward IV unexpectedly died. Emotional turmoil during the summer of 1483 added to Elizabeth’s lessons in life: once again living in Sanctuary, she saw her two brothers disappear into the Tower, learned of the executions of her uncle Anthony Wydeville and her half-brother Sir Richard Grey, and suffered Parliament’s declaration that she was a “Bastard.” The mature Elizabeth of York emerged from a childhood where she learned to survive overwhelming tragedies. Those lessons helped her prevail during the decade of rebellions against Henry’s reign–and later when coping with the death of her son Arthur.

–Arlene Okerlund

From: The Spanish Princess, 1.08

Character: Catherine of Aragon

Actor: Charlotte Hope

Costume By: Elaine Andrew

In 1920, Albert Windsor met for the first time since childhood Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the youngest daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne. He became determined to marry her. She rejected his proposal twice, in 1921 and 1922, reportedly because she was reluctant to make the sacrifices necessary to become a member of the royal family. Eventually, in January 1923, Elizabeth agreed to marry Albert, despite her misgivings about royal life. Later in 1936, they became King and Queen consort following the abdication of  Bertie’s older brother, King Edward VIII. Together, they ruled side by side until Bertie’s death in 1952. She died 50 years later in 2002. 

I went back through the Earth observation files. (requested by @mikoshigirl)