Bits and pieces

[selenak]

So, last year, I signed up on this small endearing historical fiction exchange ficathon, which would have allowed me to post a text just consisting of 500 hundred words, and managed to end up writing an entire novella about Eleanor of Aquitaine because using the "Five things which never happened" concept for her just seemed irresistable. This year, the History Exchange ficathon is open for nominations again, and this time, I am resolved. Only a brief text. That's going to be it.

Meanwhile, if someone should volunteer to write me that "Juana the Probably Not Mad marries Henry Tudor" AU I've been speculating about now and then, feel free to make it as lengthy as you want. :)

Star Wars:

All interested parties probably have already watched this by now, but just in case: Formerly known as is a fabulous vid about the women of Star Wars.


Orphan Black:

ditto: the one where Beth is an actual ghost. Sharp and wonderful.

Comments

[saturnofthemoon]

That's an interesting idea, but I thought Henry's claim to the throne was contingent on his marrying Elizabeth of York. Of course, the marriage could take place after Elizabeth's death.

I also fail at meeting the word limit for a fic exchange. I believe I once told my beta, "I didn't like the prompt, so this story is only twice the word limit."

[selenak]

That's an interesting idea, but I thought Henry's claim to the throne was contingent on his marrying Elizabeth of York. Of course, the marriage could take place after Elizabeth's death.

It nearly would have. He was truly interest in marrying her after Elizabeth of York's death. He also had met her when she and Philip Le Bel were visiting some years earlier. (And btw, this is where we have his impression that she wasn't insane, but that her husband's people were very hard trying to make her look this way from. When Henry Tudor, least sentimental of men and crafty bastard, thinks you're sane and your husband tries to gaslight you for power, then chances are you're sane.)

Anyway, Juana after she was widowed and Henry was widowed and he proposed never had the chance to say yes or no because her father made sure of that; no way Ferdinand would have let a fellow Machiavellian bastard like Henry VII get his hands on the Castilian crown (which was Juana's by right of being her mother's oldest daughter). Also, they already had an English alliance via Juana's younger sister Katherine with thrifty Henry never paying that money from her dowery back after Arthur died and she got widowed but still keeping her around without marrying her to his younger son.

However, if Juana had made it out of her father's control and had accepted Henry's proposal, English history might have changed altogether. Because I doubt Henry VIII. would still have married Katherine of Aragon after his father's death. And what if Juana had gotten a son before Henry VII kicked the bucket?

[saturnofthemoon]

Yeah, I don't buy the Juana the Mad theory, either. That sounds like an historical AU worth reading. :)

[lotesse]

I don't know how I missed your Eleanor of Aquitaine story last year; thank you for re-linking, that was exactly the sort of wonderful clever afternoon read I was in need of today!

[selenak]

You're very welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!

[silveronthetree]

I hadn't seen that vid! It's wonderful, thanks for posting the rec. I keep forgetting how many feelings I have about Shmi Skywalker.

[selenak]

Pernille August had such a warm presence as Shmi. And you're welcome!

[kangeiko]

I'd missed "Time and Chance" when you first posted it and I remedied that immediately. Beautiful work, as always!

[selenak]

Thank you!