STEWART.

KING JAMES V OF SCOTLAND. "Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are."

[jamesvstewart]

gildedstewart‌:

    When Arabella left her chambers that morning, she had done so with the intention of finding her brother and was pleased to discover that her efforts were not in vain - or particularly taxing. There he was offering up whisky freely, and she found herself almost amused by it.  “ Thank you, James, ” she said replied, taking the cup from the servant with no intention of drinking the strong amber hued liquid. It was far too bitter a taste, but it had already been poured and it felt a little late to decline. “ Oh brother, you paint marriage so beautifully, ” Arabella remarked in amusement, a knowing smirk tucked in the corners of her mouth. Her own marriage was much the same, there was no affection, only duty.

    “ Only if necessary, of course. Who shall know, I have’n met the Princess, our cousin may emerge triumphant in this marriage. ” The King of Scotland appeared in high spirits regardless of the protestant threat breathing down their necks, though that could largely be put down to the shallow liquid poured into his cup by a servant, which he was quick to take a sip of. It wasn’t often James and Arabella found themselves seeing eye to eye so he found cause to smile due to that fact alone, with or without the aid of whiskey. “ But I do not imagine their union is what ye sought me to speak of, hm? If ye came seeking advice on what dress ye might wear for the ceremony I fear ye have the wrong sibling, shall I send for Meg? Or Mother, perhaps? ”

[jamesvstewart]

margetudor‌: 

     “No, sir, you will leave us,” she approached her son, catching the last of his words and the other noble before he took his seat beside the Scottish King.  Margaret practically stared him out of the chair and down the hall, claiming the spot and a drink of the whiskey for herself.  “James, you must be more discreet with your comments,” she didn’t want to scold him as if he was a child again, but there were already rumors circulating about his resentment.  There were factions forming and the Emperor was particularly angry.  Scotland couldn’t afford to lose any ally, especially England, and the best course of action seemed to be remaining neutral in the whole ordeal.  “Would you be pleased if your cousin said such things about your queen and our alliance to France?  Denmark wasn’t my first choice either, but it’s a notable alliance.”

    “ Lady Mother, ye would assume the worst of me; your own son? ” A smile of amusement curled James’ lips over the rim of his cup before he placed it down upon the table as a gesture in giving her his full attention. There was no denying that he was unhappy at his cousin’s choice of bride, to marry Denmark was a surprising mood but a Protestant was a scandal all of it’s own. Was he disappointed? Absolutely. Was he going to let the court see his genuine displeasure? Of course not - portraying such honest emotion was to open the door for just about anyone to enter. He was no fool. “ We spoke in jest as men married in our own right, there were no political undertones, though your interruption will certainly make anyone whom bears witness suspicious. Ye have such little faith to believe I would be so careless? ”

[jamesvstewart]

    “ Wont you join me for a dram of uisge-beatha? ” The King of Scotland raised his empty cup toward and his verbal invitation towards the other before a servant poured a small amount of the caramel coloured drink and then proceeded to pour a second for James’ guest. It should be no secret that a Catholic King would have difficulty condoning the marriage of his cousin to a Protestant woman but he would make every effort to be somewhat civil for the sake of peace between England and Scotland as well as keeping his own Mother from feeling the need to scold him for his bitterness. “ What better drink to celebrate the impending union of two souls than the water of life? Come, let us toast to them and wish them happiness, health and many rooms separating their chambers in the years to come. ” 

[jamesvstewart]

margetudor‌:

     She had attended several weddings over the years, including three of her own.  Preparing for the wedding of a King, not to mention her nephew, was no small feat.  Margaret wanted everything to be perfect for his marriage and she would do everything within her power to see it through, including the smallest of decorations.  So here she sat, observing the decorators as they prepared one of the rooms.  “More banners over there,” she gestured to the far corner.  “You were hired to prepare for the wedding of the King, not a stingy earl’s funeral.”  Although her voice lacked its usual sharpness because of exhaustion from her travels, she made sure she was no less intimidating.  

     The decorators followed her instructions immediately and she rose to attend to other neglected sections of the room.  “Is this the dessert table?”  She frowned and straightened a crease in the tablecloth of a spacious side table.  “Pitiful, it needs at least twice as many cakes.”  As she debated on exactly how many, she caught a glimpse of someone by the door out of the corner of her eye.  “Ah, have the bakers already arrived with more?”  She asked well before she turned to see who was actually entering the room.

    “ Lady Mother, I fear you did not fuss so much at mine own wedding... Should I be concerned as you fuss over Henry more than you did yer own son? ” James faked a worried glance in his mother’s direction as he entered the room without so much as a glance around at the preparations - he dared not for fear he might utter something about a Protestant match being undeserving. In fact he wasn’t at all surprised that the Dowager Queen sought to lead the preparations for her nephew as she had her own children, for who else was there to do so? Henry had his own mother taken too soon and his sister residing across an ocean so James couldn’t exactly begrudge him the assistance, he just wouldn’t offer any of his own.

“ I’m not certain on the where abouts of the bakers, I ken little about baking other than that you may be better off enquiring in the kitchens? I ken little about wedding planning at all, in fact, but if you need assistance in ensuring that these cakes are worthy of a royal palate I would be more than happy to oblige... ”

[jamesvstewart]

TWO YEARS LATER | HRH KING JAMES OF SCOTLAND.

Over the previous two years there had only been one pressing matter on the King of Scotland’s mind; his alliance with France. It had been instilled in him ever since he was a young boy that the alliance with France was of the utmost important and it was his duty to marry a woman of French origins for the sake of an agreement that was much greater than him; much older than him too. After what felt to be the longest period of negotiating, James finally took the hand of his French bride and had Georgette of Valois crowned his Queen Consort. She is a figure that he admires and continues to find himself quite besotted with, he often finds himself struggling to figure her out entirely but that is part of what drew him to her originally and continues to have him hooked to this day. In the midst of his marital bliss, James has excused his mistress from his court and his current children are also well taken care of away from court and out of public attention, out of respect for his new wife and with the hope that children of their own might one day fill the void due to the lack of childish laughter.

Upon finding that his cousin, the King of England, had chosen a Protestant for a bride James was shocked and suspicious of the plight. The Tudors before him had always been Catholics and Catherine of Aragon had been one of the most devout women James had ever the pleasure of meeting - God knows what they would think of their son insulting the Pope in this way. Out of politeness James had chosen to attend the wedding, he’ll grit his teeth for the sake of his mother and seeing his sisters again, but he cannot and will not condone the match in any way. Who knows, he might find common ground with an unlikely ally because of it all.

[jamesvstewart]

ladymegdouglas‌:

Traces of a pout slipped across her features and were gone in an instant. If there was anything Meg hated, it was being told there was something she couldn’t have. She would have much preferred her brother going along with the jest. Nevertheless, she was lucky, she reminded herself, to have a brother such as James, whether he was a king or not. “No, I could not,” she acquiesced after a moment. “England has been my home for many years and I suppose it shall have to stay my home for the time being.” Meg honestly wouldn’t mind living out her days in England, though she was hopeful that an advantageous marriage would bring her to a sparkling new court. Lowering her voice, she began speaking again. “Have you any word from His Majesty? Rumors are beginning to fly.”

    “ I would much prefer Scotland to be ye’ home, so that I might see you are always safe, but I know better than to dare to uproot ye now. A caged bird is ne’r a happy one. ” A fact he knew all too well, being held somewhere against your will could not be made better by your captor being a supposed loved one; it was a fact that had dared to draw James away from caring for Meg and yet he defied it. Just as he would defy his desire to personally see her safe. “ No, I fear that a fellow King would not be the one Henry would choose to confide in as to why he remains behind closed doors. I hear no whispers of a shift in leadership nor of any plots against King or country; I dare to believe this may merely be the result of the crown being placed upon a head not quite ready to bear its weight. It would be easy to judge him for it, Meg, but I ken the feeling and I scarcely remember the day I received mine. Henry lost his mother and father, both at once, and a King may not grieve openly so i would not worry for his health of well being, wee Meg, I worry greater for your sanity if spirits do not liven soon. Surely you are crawling the walls of this court, no? ”

[jamesvstewart]

princcssmary‌:

The past months had left a sour taste on Mary’s tongue, and the most recent days had been no different. The losses of both mother and father, so close to one another, had been felt keenly, and her brother, whose company had provided some moderate solace, was now confined to his own chambers. It was hardly any wonder that, even amongst a court full of people who held the princess in high regard, Mary felt isolated.

James’s appearance, therefore, was a welcome relief from such feeling, and she was at once on her feet to greet him - first with a low curtsy, and then to approach him closely. “I am faring as well as I can hope to.” Mary’s words were soft, with the faint traces of a Spanish accent curling its way into her words. “It is an exhausting business, but I have always kept Henry’s health at the forefront of my prayers. This is no exception.” For a moment, Mary stood still, and then she took James by the arm to bring him further into the receiving chamber. “I am certain that you must be nearly as tired of such talk as I. I should like to hear news of how you are faring yourself, dear cousin, from your own lips. I cannot recall when last I laid eyes on you.”

    “ I am sorry for all ye have faced in the past months, cousin. In such short time you have been tried and yet ye carry such grace, ye are a true credit to both England and Spain. ” There was a sadness in his eyes, reflecting the genuine emotion he felt towards his cousin and how much loss she had suffered in such a short amount of time. James’ life had not been smooth, the loss of a father at a young age and being held against his will by someone he should have been able to trust, but all events which compiled his days felt to be a lifetime ago and thankfully not in such a short space of time.

He had prayed for the health of Henry a great deal as of yet and now, having seen the grief of Mary with his own eyes, he would surely do so tenfold. “ All of the court are praying for his swift return, myself included. ” Before the hand was placed on his arm, James took his Tudor cousin’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it, before letting her continue on to lead him further. “ It is tiresome, I must admit, though I imagine more will say their talk is out of concern for their King and therefore well justified. I find myself filled with concern but understanding, of your brother’s current position, but I am otherwise well. The coronation was grand and to be amongst the rulers of our world in this one court is a pleasure, alas I must confess that the greatest happiness is to be here as a man; to be with kin once more. And you, Spain has kept ye from us for too long but how ye have blossomed. Won't you break my heart and tell me that they treat ye as the Queen ye deserve to be?  ”

[jamesvstewart]

georgetteofvalcis‌:

@jamesvstewart liked for a starter ! 

                           –––   It was unusual in the extreme to see the grand banquet spread divested of a single drop of wine. In observance of the lent season, only ale and the headache of sobriety remained – allowing Georgette to flit through the queue of courtiers quickly to pluck a grape from the cornucopia of fruit it had been artfully displayed upon. Hoisting it to her lips, her eyes too lifted as a shadow stepped into the flame blazing in the candelabrum adorned upon the walls of the ballroom. The figure of darkness was none other than James of Scotland, standing before her garbed in silks of regalia. One might humble themselves for the faith, she thought amusedly, but one ought not deign themselves to dress shoddily in court. She lowered into a brief curtsey, perhaps one a moment too brief to be considered respectful, and allowed a grin to fan across her features. Curiosity nipped at her and her hand was already decided. “Your Grace. Happy Sunday to you. Is Your Majesty observing all of lent’s regulations?” 

    An image of pure beauty and grace, James had spotted the French Princess from the moment she had appeared whilst he himself wandered the room making brief conversations, his gaze always returning back to her. There was still no answer from the King of France, leaving the Scot in purgatory in terms of where he stood and extremely cautious not to act in any way that might give Fracois cause to deny his request. To keep his distance might have been ideal, however, once eyes met, he granted himself silent permission to make his way towards Georgette with a subtle bow of respect and a smile bordering between pleased and almost smug. “ And to you, your Highness. But of course, it would be most difficult to find a more devout man in all of Christendom. I wonder, how are you finding Lent upon foreign shores? I hope the change has not been so taxing. ”

[jamesvstewart]

margetudor‌:

     “All kings can be persuaded.  Your father knew that well enough and so do I,” she could imagine the amount of bribing James IV had to do for her own hand.  Her father would not so easily have let go of one of his prized daughters.  She understood the French king’s hesitance in that way, and her own in begrudging the French alliance.  Her heart would always tie her to England.  Even if her brother’s reign has left her distanced, she’s trying to settle that distance now with her nephew in charge.  “And I will help do some pursuing on your behalf, of course,” she didn’t fear the French king.  What power could he posses here that was far greater than her own?  She could do just the opposite of destroying the treaty–she could relentlessly insist upon it if that was what her son wanted out of it.  She breathed in the fresh air, keeping their arms linked and the conversation out of hearing.  “Aye, I had the pleasure of playing cards with her earlier.  Lovely girl,” Margaret agreed.  She left out that she worried about pale Georgette’s survival in Scotland because she didn’t want to dissuade him so soon.  “Does she make you happy?”

    “ All kings can be bought, be it by coin or by canon, though I fear he would prefer I was the one to be bought and kept away from his beloved daughter. ” It was fortunate that James could laugh on the matter now, but there were only two ways political matters which begun thus would end; in his favour or as an endless thorn in his side until he washed his hands of the matter, ideally he hoped for the former. “ Just a lovely girl? Mother, ya ken she would be the next Queen of Scotland, don’t ye? Aye she may be lovely but I value your opinion more than hearing if ye think she be lovely enough or not. ” Does she make you happy? It was a difficult question which caused him to pause a moment in thought, considering the short time they had known each other it was difficult to say whether any happiness he found came rooted from the French Princess herself or the chase, but it was undeniable that she had somehow caused the most guarded King to lower his defenses. “ I think she will, aye. So far she frustrates me, has challenged me without my knowing it, and given great cause for me to admire her. From what I ken, she surrounds herself with intelligent women and I do not desire an idle Queen and mother for my heir; is a mother truly a mother if she won't fire canon for her son? ”

[jamesvstewart]

     “ I hope I am not causing an intrusion? ” The strong Scottish accent filled the doorway once James had been announced and not a moment sooner. It had occurred to the Scottish King that he might summon the Princess Mary to his chambers for a meeting but, with the current climate of things, that was far too formal and this was her home once after all; it only made sense that he make the effort for family. “ I regret deeply that we have not yet had the chance to converse as kin, I dinna imagine that many have much to talk about aside from Henry’s whereabouts, but I found myself wondering how ye were faring with it all... ”

@princcssmary

[jamesvstewart]

ladymegdouglas‌:

James had been Meg’s favorite person since the day she first drew breath. Even though they spent many years in separate kingdoms, the time and distance had not lessened their bond. Her eyes lit up every time he was in her presence and now was no exception. A mischievous twinkle, however, appeared in those eyes as he spoke. “You would wish me to suffer in the heat, dear brother, instead of finding relief? How cruel.” Meg knew him well enough to know when he spoke in jest, thank goodness. “Had I a Spanish crown atop my head, I think I could tolerate the heat quite well,” Meg mused.

    It could have been so easy to cast Meg out, as he had done the rest of her kin, but the love he bore his sister had James trusting her beyond her connections to his late captor and that was not something that should ever be taken lightly, not when he occasionally doubted if he could trust his full blood sister or not. But never Meg, no, he never found cause to question his trust in her and that was where his adoration for her truly lay. “ Not unless every man in Spain wishes to lose his eyes by my own dagger. A Spanish crown would suit you indeed, sister, alas that is not mine to give no matter how such a title would go extremely well with yer person. Do you believe you could truly leave these shores behind for such heat? ”

[fyhenryelizabeth]

Henry’s piety must be emphasised –his devotions went far beyond those of his contemporaries.  The biographer Chrimes, remarks on his meticulous religious observances, his contemporary reputation as a sound churchman, and his discriminating religious patronage. However, Chrimes’s verdict on Henry’s relations with papacy and church is that they were ‘in no way remarkable’, and on his patronage of learning that it is ‘far from clear’ whether ‘much in the way of humanistic influences were at work in his court’. Speculating on whether the king possessed ‘genuine religious feeling’, Chrimes inclines to David Knowles’s steely verdict: “Henry VII was not personally interested in religion in its theological aspects (…) but neither was he a critic or libertine.”

[gildedstewart]

   THE ROYAL HOUSE OF STEWART    THE PRIDE OF SCOTLAND

[jamesvstewart]

ladymegdouglas‌:

“Spain is lovely, yes, but much too warm.” Meg was laid out on a chaise in the gardens in a most unladylike fashion, her knees curled up and her head propped up on her hand, but she didn’t care one bit. An attendant held a parasol above her to block out the dreaded sun and Meg sighed as she picked at a tray of sweets on the table beside her. “I can see how one would enjoy the climate every now and then, but I simply cannot imagine living there! I cannot fathom how the Spaniards keep their clothes on!” A giggle bubbled up from her throat and she smiled as she popped a small tart into her mouth, enjoying the idea of an entire court walking around scantily clad, or not at all. The fun that would ensue!

    -    “ As long as your clothes remained firmly upon your person. ” James’ voice held a jestful tone of caution, approaching his sister with the same warmth he always radiated in her presence. In his experience, it was almost impossible to not be in good spirits with Meg around for she expelled an air of warmth and light unlike any he had met in his years. “ Should this be a terrible time for me to tell ye, dear sister, that you are to wed Spain? ” There was a look of concern upon his face, his brow furrowed deeply with a sense of worry, but soon after his lips began to pull into a smile in amusement.

[jamesvstewart]

hrhkingfrancis‌:

Francis, while he still found himself trying to listen more carefully to the Scotsman given the fact that both their accents were very different from one another, appreciated the effort that the younger man put forward to try and make way for mutual understanding. “I pray for the same, but I thank you for your sentiment towards the safety of the french court, and indeed my wife and daughter. It is reassuring to see that Scotland and yourself care for their insured safety as much as I assure you France hopes for the same for your great nation.” he said, dipping his head as both Kings sat down. 

Nodding, Francis showed his knowledge of the fact that it was not common for a King to request a meeting with another reigning monarch without need of something or another. However, Francis was impressed with the honesty that he was being shown in James’s approach of his request, most younger monarchs would have tried to prolong the small talk before approaching the actual subject of discussion, a shared trait that Francis had always found frivolous and meaningless. When he heard what he had to say, the King in him saw the sense in James asking for Gerogette’s hand in marriage, but the father in him did not care for the fact that his daughter, whom he saw as a little girl with a fiery stubborn attitude to match her curls, was old enough to be considered a bride for the young scotsman. “No, I daresay any nation is deserving of Georgette , she is my most precious daughter and perhaps I should have realized this sooner, but I have been selfish with her.” Francis said, thinking about his little girl and how he could already see her as a relentless and strong Queen. “Georgette has a mind of her own. She is much like me in that respect, while she has her mother’s beauty… I hope that you know she will have no trouble speaking her mind, and I will not have her disrespected even if she does this.. You may be thinking of her as a wife but first and foremost she is my daughter, and will remain so until my dying breath. I want her to marry someone who will listen to her, for she has many things to say that warrant that respect as a princess of France and possibly… Scotland’s new Queen. I accept the fact that you are taken and interested in her, and I will need some time to think of the prospects of this marriage with my advisors. But what I need to hear is that you are listening to what I am saying and will give my daughter the respect she deserves when and if you are to be wed.” 

    -    “ Not selfish but a father; I fear I would be much the same if a foreign King came asking for my daughter’s hand. ” It was expected after all, James was no fool and he did not expect his inquiry to be submitted to so easily, for no treaty came without conditions. It took a great deal of composure to keep the Scottish King from laughing or even smiling at the mention of the French Princess’ temper, after he had already been upon the receiving end of her wrath he was quite familiar with it and, dare he say, he enjoyed the burn. “ Of course - I have seen such fire in Her Highness and would struggle to forget her strength, it is an admirable quality. I also could not wish to discard the knowledge that she shall always remain a Princess of France for your nation is something I already hold dear through my late aunt Mary - may God rest her soul. ”

Marriage negotiations were not entirely foreign to James, not when ambassadors often arrived at his court with offers either for the King himself or for his dear sisters, but to negotiate face to face and King to King was a new sport even to James. He almost got a thrill from it. James nodded in agreement to Francis terms as a hand rested over his heart, a note of sincerity and a silent promise, whilst he once again had to fend away a proud smile. “ With all due respect, I would wish to know the Princess’ mind on the matter also. Your self and your advisors are important, of course, but you say so yourself that your daughter is extremely opinionated and so I wish it that you would see to her thoughts also before you come to your decision. ” 

[jamesvstewart]

margetudor‌:

     I did give Anguish quite the freight, aye?  She thought, but couldn’t say aloud nor wanted to bring him up any further.  He had no place in their lives now and she wanted to keep it that way while they were in England for the weeks to come.  She was hoping more than anything to make her son proud that day, defend him as best as she could, and make his father proud.  Watching as James bent to kiss her hand, the state of her shaking fingers reminded her of how many years it had been for them to arrive at this peaceful moment.  Margaret had the urge to pull him into her arms, as she’d done when he’d been returned to her as a boy, but she let him proceed with the more informal greeting to spare him the other courtiers’ teasing.  

     “We’ll start with the back of the castle then…I know how much ye’ like the architecture,” and she wanted more privacy than here to discuss the personal matters.  “Always,” he could tell her anything and she’d listen as she walked, nodding towards the right path.  “A marriage?  Have you found her then–your French princess?”  She hinted, having met with one of Francis’s daughters earlier that day, but not wanting to spoil his news and so masked her knowledge with another jest.  “Or shall I tell the King of France that I misplaced our contract?”

    -    “ I trust your decision, as always, ” he spoke formally but with a boyish smile that was more fitting for the mother-son meeting. Offering the dowager Queen his arm, James began to walk in the direction his mother had nodded in before her question and ‘solution’ to the upcoming matters lured a soft chuckle from the young King. “ Aye, it might be best if we say one of the hounds had away with it, I fear the French King might prefer that over giving up a daughter to the Scottish highlands. Ye were right the first time, ma’, I believe I may have found a princess deserving of the Scottish Queen’s crown and she does happen to be French. ” In a bid to preserve their conversation, keeping them sheltered from listening ears and prying eyes, James lowered his tone and walked close to his mother’s side with a steady pace to keep a casual air about the stroll. “ I would seek your counsel - the Princess Georgette - have you had the pleasure of meeting her? ”

[jamesvstewart]

✿ - Sex headcanon

    -    For James sex is a form of escapism. It began when he was a young man, held against his will by his step father who sought to use the seductions of women to distract the boy King from his true duties. It was an abuse of power on Archibald’s part, pushing a fourteen year old into the arms of women entierly unknown to him, which ultimately resulted in being the only source of comfort or affection young James was able to find in his virtual prison. In fact, once he escaped, James kept himself away from physical relations for a while due to the memories of Archibald’s influence waving over him each and every time he even contemplated it. Eventually some time passed, a woman came into the King’s life whom he slowly began to adore and trust, and thus the King finds himself seeking that same feeling of comfort and affection once more; though now it is merely to escape the expectations of the crown opposed to an abusive and tyrannical step father.