Farewell to the King

By Johann Fuchs

This is the third and final installment of the trilogy of King William and Queen Margaret. The story led to the end of the lives of William and Margaret and the foundation of the fictional House of Rochester. It follows them in their final years as they become the beloved monarchs. The story follows the general fictional English history and ends with the new generation of English monarchs. The new generation is revived by a young sassy princess who defies the government and gains the respect of her people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662460197

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Beginning

Like any story, there must be a beginning, so this story has a beginning. We would never realize just how much of a simple childhood fairy tale would affect our lives. To those who heard the story and believed, they were blessed by it. So I will tell the story of how it all began.

After Robert’s encounter in Ireland, he came home and told Christine part of the story. Now this was embarrassing to him to admit that he might have seen something that was not supposed to be real and would not tell her the story. So when they came to London, Christine told Margaret about the story that Robert had told her and asked to hear the bedtime story. Margaret was happy to tell her the story, just as she had told the children. The difference between telling the children and Christine was that she told it to Christine over a cup of wine. So Margaret began.

In the beginning, God created heaven and earth and filled it with all sorts of plants and animals. Even as great as God is, he needed help to take care of everything, so he created magical beings to help Mother Nature Mary and her nature spirits. It was up to Mother Nature to take care of the day-to-day matters on earth and keep the world green and alive. Even still, there were not enough nature spirits to do the job since some were not as dutiful in their tasks and would rather play jokes and drink—leprechauns. As the story is told, Mother Nature had to move the nature spirits about the area so everyone would get their benefits. As the nature spirits moved into an area, the land would begin to come to life, and plants would spring to life. Once all the spirits were in the area, life flourished, and times were good—summer. As the spirits began to leave for other areas, the plants would seem to turn brown, and the leaves would fall. Once they were gone, it seemed like there was no life in the plants, cold and gray, and winter would be in the lands. This was used to explain the seasons that no one had a better explanation as to why it happened. This was to strengthen our faith in God and explained nature, Margaret said.

Then Will and I had our own experience with nature spirits, Margaret said, continuing the story. We were walking in the woods in the late summer the year before we were married when it happened. There was a sound. It was like a cry for help.

Will, did you hear that? she asked.

Hear what? I replied.

Quiet, she softly said, I thought I heard a cry for help.

As we stood there in silence, there it was again, a faint cry of help. Looking around, some movement caught Margaret’s eye; a large leaf was moving, and it was on the ground. The closer she looked at it, she could see what looked like hands and feet along the edge. Stepping over to it, Margaret stooped over and scooped up the leaves, including the one with feet. Carefully, she took the leave off, and to her surprise, it was a very small girl who looked frightened.

There is nothing to be afraid of. I won’t hurt you, Margaret said. Who are you?

The small girl stood in Margaret’s hand, wiping the dirt off her as she said, I’m Natalie. I’m a nature spirit.

Well, Natalie, Margaret said, I am Margaret Peldham, and this is my betrothed, William. Are you all right?

I am, thanks to you, she replied, I was trying to save that leaf and it was very large and I’m very small and I got trapped. Thank you for saving me.

As long as you are all right, Margaret said, You can go. Be careful.

For a human, you’re very kind. Thank you for saving me, Natalie said as she disappeared.

Now there were some rules for nature spirits, and one was no contact with humans because they were thought to be mean and cruel. Another rule was if they had contact with humans, they must report it to Mother Nature. Like a good little nature spirit, Natalie asked for an audience with Mother Nature at her estate at Stonehenge. Once there, she was able to get in to see Mother Nature right away.

What did you wish to see me about, Natalie? Mother Mary asked.

Mother Nature, Natalie said, I had an encounter with humans.

What happened, my child? Mother Nature asked.

I was trying to save a leaf, and it was bigger than me, she said. I was trapped until two humans, Margaret and William, came along to rescue me. They were very kind and let me go to continue my work.

It is rare that humans are kind to us, Mother Nature said. You owe Margaret a debt of honor. I have a task for you, Natalie.

Yes, Mother Mary, Natalie said, waiting for her instructions.

Your task is to watch out for Margaret and William, Mother Nature said. You are to return to Rochester and tend to nature there and see that Margaret and William are okay.

Yes, Mother Mary, Natalie replied.

Off with you, child, Mother Nature said, sending her on her task.

So Natalie returned to the area where Margaret and William lived and began to watch out for them, even though she was not sure what she was allowed to do. It was actually easy to tend to nature in a small area and watch out for two people. Her first act was a beautiful summer day for the wedding of Margaret and William and several seasons later for the easy birth of their first child, Isabella. Then Natalie overstepped what she was allowed to do, but it seemed to be the right thing to do at the time. When William was wounded south of York, Natalie stepped in, used her magic, and ensured he would survive to return to Margaret. This got Natalie summoned by Mother Nature. When you ask to see her, you probably will wait; when summoned, you are seen when she sends for you. Natalie suddenly disappeared from Rochester and appeared in the audience chamber in Stonehenge.

Child, Mother Nature said, do you know why I summoned you?

No, Mother Mary, Natalie replied.

You saved the human William Pembrooke, she replied.

Mother Mary, Natalie replied, you told me to take care of them. Was I wrong in saving his life?

Yes, Natalie, Mother Nature said, God decides who lives and dies. There are some things that you should not do. You should not have saved his life. William is a mortal and will die. In the future, you cannot interfere in their lives to prevent their deaths.

Yes, Mother Mary, Natalie replied.

So after that, Natalie did her best not to change Margaret and William’s lives by preventing them from dying. Actually, she was more careful about how she did it. Like when there was the difficult birth of their son Geoffrey, Natalie gave Margaret the strength to endure the strain until help could arrive. Unlike many women of the time, Margaret always had an easy time giving birth to their children. There were times when traveling weather always seemed to get nicer.

Margaret told Christine that was how our part of the fairy tale had begun. This was very interesting and was similar to the stories her mother and nanny had told. It explained some things.

Chapter 2

Nicholas and Natalie

Now even though we thought we were alone, Margaret and I were never truly alone. Somewhere out there was Natalie watching over us. On the night that Margaret told Christine the story of the nature spirit, she was there. The part of the story that Natalie was concerned about was what Christine said. She said that the leprechaun Nicholas had an encounter with a human. Now nature spirits and leprechauns don’t get along, and this would be a chance for her to tell on one and get him into trouble. So Natalie disappeared from Rochester and requested a meeting with Mother Nature. She had to wait a couple of human days, just a short time in spirit time, before she could meet with Mother Nature.

What did you wish to talk to me about, child? she asked.

Mother Mary, Natalie began, I heard a nature spirit had an encounter with a human and didn’t report it.

How do you know they didn’t report it? Mother Mary asked.

The leprechaun Nicholas of the Kilkerry leprechauns had an encounter with a human, she snitched, and he didn’t report. Leprechauns never follow the rules.

Well, child, Mother Mary said, you were both right and wrong for bringing it to my attention. You were right to report it, but I feel your reason for reporting it was not right. In the future, you should talk to the spirit and allow them to do the right thing.

Yes, Mother Mary, Natalie said, and then she returned to her task.

Now Mother Nature had to deal with Nicholas. She would look into her crystal and turn back time to see what had happened. Once she had seen the incident and looked at the people involved, it was time for young Nicholas to come and see her. Now spirits can ask to come and see her, but when she sends for you, she sends for you. Nicholas was sitting in his favorite watering hole with others from his clan when it happened. Poof, he just disappeared in mid-drink. No one was worried about him disappearing like that; they were leprechauns and would disappear like that from time to time. The others laughed because they knew his disappearance was a summons by Mother Nature. As suddenly as he had disappeared from the pub, he reappeared in Mother Nature’s audience but without a chair.

Landing on his backside on the floor, nearly spilling his drink, Nicholas exclaimed, What the— before being cut off.

Watch your mouth, Nicholas, she snapped.

Yes, Mother Mary, he humbly replied.

Do you know why you’re here? she asked.

No, Mother Mary, he replied as he tried to think what he did wrong.

Is there something you would like to tell me? she asked.

Not sure what to say, he replied with a smile, You mean I got away with something.

Holding up a thick book, she said, Nicholas, this is the book of the things you did wrong, and it is not in there yet. If you are here, you didn’t get away with anything. Natalie told me you had an encounter with a human. Tell me about it.

That fairy Natalie ratted me out, he exclaimed.

Watch your mouth, Mother Nature snapped at him. She did what she was supposed to do. The rule is you are to report contact with humans.

Oh, he replied, Mother Nature, I had contact with a human. Can I go now?

And? she replied.

And what? I was drunk and sleeping when a human named Robert passed out and landed on me, Nicholas said. He woke up, caught and talked to me, and let me go. He was not too bad for a drunk human.

For your punishment— she began as he cut her off.

Punishment, he said, for what!

Punishment of not reporting your incident sooner, she said as a bottle appeared in her hand. Take this bottle to London, place half in the drink of Robert and a half in the drink of Christine, and then return.

If I refuse? he asked.

Then your punishment will be 250 years without any spirits to drink, she said. Just water, milk, and cider, no booze.

You can’t do that to me, he replied.

Oh, really, Mother Nature replied. Go ahead and finish your drink, and we’ll talk about it.

With one long pull on the last of his ale in his cup, he finished his drink, and as fast as it went down, it came back up again.

That’s not fair, he said, wiping his mouth.

Take the potion, accomplish your task, and return, Mother Nature said, then we’ll discuss your punishment.

Taking the potion, Nicholas quickly disappeared and appeared in the banquet hall of the king’s palace in London. He had no intention of doing the task. He planned to just dump the potion out, and if asked, he would claim it was bad. Just as he went to dump it out, he felt he was being watched. Natalie was behind him.

You ratted me out to Mother Nature, he snapped at her.

You didn’t follow the rules, she replied. Mother Nature told me to watch you and make sure you did your task.

As they talked, Margaret and I walked in with the children, and once at the table, Nicholas could see where Robert and Christine were sitting.

Go and do your task, Natalie said. I will create a diversion for you.

Fine, Nicholas said.

Nicholas went down and put the potion in the cups in front of Robert and Christine as Natalie caused a servant to drop a tray and make a racket. Nicholas could see some promise in Natalie; she could make it as a leprechaun, just enough sass and playfulness. As soon as he was done, poof, he was gone. Nicholas reappeared in the waiting area of Mother Nature’s audience chamber to await his punishment. When he was called into the audience chamber, Natalie was already there.

Nicholas, Mother Nature said, I am pleased that you completed your task. Your punishment for not reporting your contact with humans is forty seasons working with Natalie and taking care of nature for Margaret and William. You will be allowed two weeks each season to spend with your clan in Ireland. Any questions?

What if I don’t return to London? he asked.

You will, she replied. Off with you, children.

With that, Natalie thanked Mother Nature, kissed Nicholas on the cheek, and disappeared. Nicholas also disappeared and returned to Ireland. Just as suddenly as he had disappeared, he reappeared in the pub. When he did, he was sitting on Shamus McDougall’s lap, which got a big laugh. Nicholas’s time in Ireland was very short. Something was wrong; he felt funny and wanted answers. So Nicholas asked for and received an audience with Mother Nature.

Mother Mary, he said quietly, something is wrong with me. What is it?

That is why I know you will go to England and help Natalie, she replied. It is your feelings for Natalie that will take you to England.

Now he understood what was happening. He stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek, saying, Thank You, Mother Mary.

Then he disappeared and went to London to help Natalie. They would spend the rest of their lives watching over Margaret and William and their descendants. The potion that Nicholas gave Robert and Christine would allow them to have what they wanted and didn’t have—children. As for Nicholas and Natalie, they, too, would remain together, bound by that unseen force that brings men and women and even nature spirits and leprechauns together. There would be times when they were busy, and for a long period of time, there were no believers to help. Natalie would teach Nicholas how to tend to nature and to do what was right. Nicholas taught Natalie that they could get their work done and still enjoy life and have some fun together. In all the years they were together, Natalie had the tougher task, keeping Nicholas focused on what they were supposed to be doing, which she did except for one time. That was the wedding of their son Levi in 1666 when the celebration got out of hand, and Nicholas and his clan nearly burned London to the ground. It took a lot of work by Mother Nature, Natalie, and many nature spirits to limit the damage. Did Nicholas learn his lesson? No, but leprechauns will be leprechauns.

Chapter 3

The Arrival of Queen Margaret

When Robert arrived in Southampton to be with Christine, the first thing he saw was a pair of sailing ships. He instantly fell in love with the sea. He learned to sail from Captain Benjamin Shell and was becoming a sailing master. After several years of sailing with Captain Shell, he was about to be able to captain his own ship. Along with learning to sail from Captain Shell, he learned the old sailor stories, and some of them were how Captain Shell had served the king. Benjamin told Robert how he served the king on a number of missions and made the offhanded remark how he lost money on the missions. Actually, he didn’t lose money, but trading pays better; this gave Robert an idea of how to gain favor with his father. How about building a ship to serve his father when he needed it? Not just any ship like Benjamin’s but one befitting a king.

Benjamin and Robert talked about this while sailing, trying to decide what this ship would be like. The Mary Ellen was nearly sixty feet long with two masts. She was one of the largest ships sailing around the coastal areas and making trips to the continent. Since this new ship would be