The Spirit that Unites Them (5508 words) by fiftysevenacademics
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Richard II - Shakespeare, Henry V - Shakespeare, Henry IV - Shakespeare, SHAKESPEARE William - Works
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Major Character Death
Relationships: Henry IV/Richard II, Henry V/Richard II, Isabella of Valois/Richard II, Henry V/Isabella of Valois, Anne of Bohemia/Richard II, Duke of Aumerle/Richard II, Henry IV of England & Henry V of England
Characters: Richard II of England, Henry IV of England, Henry V of England, Isabella of Valois, Duke of Aumerle (Richard II), Anne of Bohemia Queen of England
Additional Tags: Infertility, Childhood, Children, Childhood Sweethearts, Childhood Friends, Childhood Memories, Parent-Child Relationship, Arranged Marriage, Royalty, Middle Ages, Starvation, Regicide, Family Drama, Cousins, Graphic Description of Corpses, Mild Blood, Dogs, Pets, referenced miscarriage, Menstruation
Summary:
Richard II loves children but has been unable to have any of his own. In making substitutes of his child wife, Isabella, and Hal, son of his cousin and rival, Henry Bolingbroke, he all but guarantees he will die without an heir, and casts a long shadow over both children's futures.

Archive Warnings:
Fandoms:
Henry V - Shakespeare
Henry IV - Shakespeare
SHAKESPEARE William - Works
Henry IV/Richard II
Henry V/Richard II
Isabella of Valois/Richard II
Henry V/Isabella of Valois
Anne of Bohemia/Richard II
Duke of Aumerle/Richard II
Henry IV of England & Henry V of England
Henry IV of England
Henry V of England
Anne of Bohemia Queen of England
Childhood Sweethearts
Parent-Child Relationship
Graphic Description of Corpses
Mild Blood
referenced miscarriage
Shakespeare's Histories Annual Ficathon and Lovefest VIII (2015)
The Spirit that Unites Them
fiftysevenacademics (rapiddescent)
Richard II loves children but has been unable to have any of his own. In making substitutes of his child wife, Isabella, and Hal, son of his cousin and rival, Henry Bolingbroke, he all but guarantees he will die without an heir, and casts a long shadow over both children's futures.
For angevin2.
The prompt asked for fic about Richard's relationship with Hal, and Henry's kids in general, from Richard's perspective, and suggested Isabella could play a role. It is Richard-centric, but contains three points of view. This is probably more RPF than Shakespeare fanfic, because it imagines a situation not at all in the plays and I based most of it from information I read in two history books (Saul and Jones), some articles, and websites. I don't know a whole lot about these people, but I tried to stick as closely as I could to the facts as far as I know them right now.
Richard watches the tall boy approach, gesturing jovially to the men next to him, and wonders why he has been so worried about this moment. He has taken pains to make the occasion seem as casual as possible, but Hal has outdone him. Isabella's little white dog rolls over and he lowers a bit of meat toward its mouth with studied nonchalance, holding the entourage in his peripheral vision. Mellow autumn sunlight bounces off a small pond, deepening the green hedges and shimmering on his gold-embroidered robes, and he feels a chill in the air that has nothing to do with the season. Isabella has asked to visit him from her usual home with Madame de Courcy at Eltham because she is curious about the young relative that will be joining him.
She tugs his sleeve, hissing, "Dickon! He's here!"
As he feigns delight over his new guest, it feels more like a picnic than what it really is. The boy stops before them and bows deeply, with an exuberant flourish that draws a sharp, reproachful sound from one of the men behind him. His arms fall instantly still while he waits for permission to straighten his back and face the king.
"Our heart rejoices to see our kinsman Hal and we will fold him in our arms," Richard intones.
Hal interprets this as permission to rise while Richard takes two steps forward and briefly presses Hal's broad shoulders against his chest. His head barely comes up to Richard's collarbone and he catches a whiff of rosemary rising from the unruly thatch of thick, dark hair that skims his ears.
"We are pleased to host you as our honored guest while your father is-" Richard suddenly wonders if the word he has chosen is appropriate, but cannot think of another off the top of his head, "-- away."
Hal's blue eyes harden and bore into the king's for a split second before he drops them to the little girl at his side, struggling to maintain a regal demeanor against her excitement. His face softens and he bows again to her, rising when she extends her hand.
"Welcome, cousin, I hope your journey has not been too hard."
"The destination was worth the effort."
Hal's blinding smile dazzles Isabella, capturing even Richard, for a moment, in its charm. It's slightly crooked, rakish, welcoming, too mature for an eleven year old boy, and then it hits him: It's the same as his father's. Richard feels like he's ten again, drowning in a sea of adults, the crown a hot, unfamiliar weight on his blond head, driving a thread of sweat through the hair on his temples, when Henry, only a few months younger than he, is brought to him for the first time, and his smile hits Richard like a fresh breeze. Richard impulsively clasps Henry's hands and hugs him.
"I'm glad you've come to live with me. We are cousins first, and now we are going to be best friends, too."
Richard cringes a little because Henry has been anything but a friend, but he still feels a pang of guilt over banishing him. The boy in front of him both accuses and threatens from within a charismatic bundle of energy. He shakes the feeling off, and returns his attention to Hal, who is asking him a question.
"With your majesty's permission, I've brought a gift for the queen."
Isabella's brown eyes light up and turn pleadingly toward Richard, who nods. One of Hal's attendants hands him a small wooden box inlaid with ivory curls and rosettes, which he passes to Isabella. She opens the lid and her delight dims to a frown. Hal pauses nervously while Richard leans over to see the contents, a folded board and carved wooden markers, and asks, "What's the matter? Don't you like it?"
"I don't know how to play chess."
"Well, you can learn," Richard laughs.
Hal's rehearsed speech slips and he gushes, "I can teach her! I've been playing since I was six and I'm really good. I bet I can even beat y--" his mouth hangs, petrified, when he realizes what he was just about to say to the king.
Richard's majesty won't let him laugh and ruffle the boy's hair like he wants, at least, not in front of Hal's men and anyone else who might be watching. The most he allows himself is a pleasant, less formal grin that just barely crinkles the corners of his eyes.
"You will dine with us in private tonight and afterward you can teach chess to the queen."
Richard lounges against the velvet cushions on a brightly painted wooden chair, idly popping sugared almonds into his mouth and watching Hal and Isabella playing chess in front of the fire. He's a few feet away and they talk quietly, so he can't always hear what they say. Not that he's trying very hard. He feels full and mellow from the glass of wine he had with dinner, and, though the evening has grown cold, his chambers are warm and cheery. Isabella is so deeply engrossed in absorbing Hal's instructions that she's forgotten her status and sprawls on her stomach over a thick pillow on the floor, chin in her hands, feet waving in the air on pink stockings bent at the knees. Hal sits cross-legged on his cushion, gesturing and moving pieces around and getting irritated when he thinks Isabella isn't paying attention.
"You're never going to learn if you don't watch me, Isabella!" he scolds. She quickly stops chewing on an end of her chestnut hair and fixes on the board.
"I shouldn't let him get away with that," Richard thinks, but it seems like too much effort and besides, the eager buzz of children's voices is lulling him into contentment. Right now, they are not his queen and his hostage, but children of eight and eleven, arguing over a board game. It's cozy, familial, like an evening with the son and daughter he should have right now. It stings to picture Henry watching Hal play like this with his five siblings.
"At least now Henry knows what it's like to live each day without children." Richard's spiteful thought only pricks a recollection he'd rather not have.
One night, Anne doesn't come to his room. She doesn't join him in bed every night; she prefers to sleep alone when she is bleeding. Richard doesn't mind if there is some mess. He needs to feel her soft body next to his to fall asleep, but Anne is shy about the matter, and keeps to her own room. She's been with him every night for many weeks now. As he tosses in the linens, he counts the days backward and it begins to dawn on him that more than a month has passed since her last cycle. Worry seizes his gut.
He lights a taper in the embers of the fire and creeps down the long corridor to Anne's chambers wearing nothing but his nightshirt and a pair of felt slippers. A servant, scurrying on some errand for his master, recognizes him and, a look of terror on his face, runs away as fast as he can. At the door, he hears something like a dove, cooing deep inside the room. He unlocks the door and immediately recognizes Anne's muffled sobs. She lies with her face buried in a pillow, shoulders heaving under wild hair. He sets the candleholder on the floor and sits next to her.
"Sweetheart! What is wrong? Why are you crying?"
Anne doesn't sit up, doesn't even look around. In fact, she turns on her side away from his touch and buries her face deeper in the pillow, sobs coming harder and louder than before.
"Anne," he whispers, smoothing hair from her face. "It didn't happen again, did it? Do you need a doctor?"
"No. It was just very late. I hoped I was pregnant, and didn't want to tell you till I was sure."
Richard lies down and curls himself around her back, cradling her against his body, stroking her hair and kissing the tears from her cheek.
"But you are safe. That's what matters. And we can keep trying."
He holds her until her tears stop and they both drift off to sleep.
Richard gradually becomes aware that the room has fallen silent, and that Hal and Isabella are looking at him with concern. His eyes glisten, but no tears have passed his lids yet. Still, he must look distraught, so he takes a deep breath, plants a genial expression on his face, and rises.
"It is time for bed." He summons an attendant to escort Hal to his room. When Isabella and Hal stand up, smoothing their clothing and brushing off any dust, Isabella's dog, that has been sleeping on a separate pillow at her side, rears up and puts her front paws on her knee, yapping for attention.
"Oh, Fleur!" she giggles, scooping up the ball of fluff. "Richard gave her to me so I wouldn't be lonely on the ship when I came to England. She was just a puppy then."
"Did it work?" Hal asks with genuine curiosity.
"A little." Isabella sounds doubtful about the truthfulness of her statement.
Fleur licks her face and Hal pats her furry head. Isabella turns so that Fleur's face meets Hal's and she licks him, too.
"Ew!" Hal wipes his cheek and looks wistfully at the dog. "Grandfather said I had to leave my greyhound, Lightfoot, behind with him."
"You can borrow Fleur if you miss him," she says, extending the dog.
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I'm fine without him. Good night, my lady. Thank you, and good night, your majesty." He bows to each in turn and leaves, accompanied by his man, carrying a candle.
Richard himself lights Isabella to her chambers. At the door, she turns and lifts her round face to him.
"Sank you," her pliable young mind has wrapped itself quickly around the rough contours of the English language, but her mouth doesn't always comply, especially when she's tired. Richard can see her carefully plant the tip of her tongue behind her teeth before she speaks again. "Thank you for letting me meet Hal. I hope I can see him again."
Richard has not seen her as lively as she has been this evening, nor as happy as she is now, for almost as long as she's been in England and thinks it will be good for her to have a friend. He can never say no to her anyway. He answers in French.
"Of course, my darling. You can see him as often as you want. Why don't you play a game of chess with him tomorrow?"
There is, of course, a practical side to this plan. The more time Isabella spends with Hal, the more excuses he will have to keep tabs on him without appearing to do so.
"Oh, thank you, Dickon!" she squeals, throwing her arms around him.
"Goodnight, Princess," Richard chuckles indulgently, bending to kiss the top of her head. He opens the door and one of her ladies receives her to get her ready for bed.
When he returns to his rooms, Richard sends for his fastest messenger, takes out ink, a quill, a piece of vellum, and writes while the candle's flame chases the last bits of wax onto the table.
Dear Uncle,
Immediately upon receipt of this letter would you be so kind as to send Hal's greyhound to us, the one called Lightfoot, in the care of your most reliable kennelman, so that he arrives in good time and in good health?
He includes a few more pleasantries and signs it simply, "Richard", as if Hal were merely visiting for a holiday. He affixes his private seal on it, and tells his messenger to leave at first light to deliver it to John of Gaunt, as the flame sputters out.
Richard sees neither Isabella nor Hal for quite a while after this, because government business has kept him away. He returns with Edward, Duke of Aumerle, in a foul mood and full of plans for a hunting party to lighten it. He sends for Isabella to cheer himself up. She and her ladies float in on a cloud of silk and linen, chattering and whispering giddily in French. Isabella looks radiant. When they hug, Isabella seems to almost vibrate in his arms.
"I'm glad to see you looking so filled with joy. Is that for my return?"
"Oh, Dickon, I am happy to see you, but I have just been playing chess with Hal."
"And I take it you have beaten him at last?"
"No! He won. He always wins," she beams. "I try my hardest but he is so good, so smart, so clever."
"And so handsome, too?" Richard teases.
Isabella turns as red as the garnets in her necklace and looks down at her feet.
"Have you forgotten that you already have a husband?"
She looks fearfully at him, but Richard is not mad. In fact, he looks amused and, maybe, a little sad.
"No, Dickon."
"And one day you shall be the mother of his sons."
He regrets the words even as they leave his mouth. The sentence rolls over both of them like a cold wave. Isabella can't hide her horror, and Richard wishes he could scrub the image from his mind. He will always think of her like she is now, even when she is grown, and knows she feels the same way.
Isabella scoots away. As they watch the skirts of her retinue swish out the door, Richard mumbles half to himself and half to Edward, "Even if God grants me a long enough life, I will never be able to... do the husbandly act... with her. I fear I might never have a son." Edward squeezes his hand.
Hal sits on his horse at the top of a small hill overlooking the field where Richard's force is meeting that of one of the Irish lords loyal to Art Macmurrough. He's been given armor and has trained with a sword for months, but is too young to join the fray. It's the first time he's been allowed to watch. Two valorous but elderly knights whose joints are just possibly too stiff for this battle ride next to him to keep him from harm. The sun hangs in the middle of the sky. His garments under his armor cling damply to his skin, but he pays them no mind. He clutches the pommel of his sword and keeps his eyes on the swirl of horses, men, and swords. Clanging and shouting rise like a choir on the breeze. His nerve endings are on fire, his muscles, taut, and he picks out particular men, imagining how he would attack them.
There have been several skirmishes like this, but King Richard has commanded them from afar, which disappoints Hal. They are both descended from the great Edward III, should have the heat of war in their blood. He feels it in his. Why doesn't Richard? Richard's own father, the Black Prince, had legendary accomplishments on the battlefield, but Hal has only known him to be more interested in the sound of music than the clash of swords, more fond silk gliding over his skin than the weight of iron upon it. He relishes the company of handsome, soft-spoken courtiers instead of coarse, scarred soldiers.
The Irish have fallen back, as they have in each encounter so far. Perhaps their successes have stirred something in Richard, called him at the last moment, because almost as the Irish begin to retreat, he spies the king's armor and banner, surrounded by his private archers and knights, lunge at the edge of the fray. His men corner an opponent, hold him at bay like hounds on a hart. Hal's heart leaps when Richard's sword finds its way to the vulnerable hollow beneath the man's arm and dives in to the hilt. Blood squirts on Richard as the man falls and the blade slides out. Richard recoils, holding his gory sword aloft and well away from himself as several knights rush to him. The battle ends soon after; they have won, and his men now tend to their king.
Hal whoops with glee and spurs his horse forward, toward the victorious English camp, thinking, "This is a true and proper English king!" It doesn't occur to him until years later, when he has won glory of his own on the battlefield, that this, like so many things Richard did, was staged to assert his power, and reinforce his right to obedience by his subjects.
Hal receives an invitation to join the celebration in the king's pavilion that evening. He walks into a raucous party, with tables practically collapsing under the weight of so much meat. The wine flows like water. Carpets cover the grass and the king sits at a table with Edward and his favorite knights on a high-backed bench draped with heavy blue silk embroidered with gold. Richard holds himself rigidly, serene and distant from the noisy men that fill his tent, bathed in the ethereal glow of candlelight bouncing off his crown and golden robes. He might be the only person in the world to feel this way, but at this moment, Hal is certain that God, indeed, rules through Richard, and vows to always serve his king well.
He approaches and, after a short bow, says reverently, "Your majesty fought most valiantly today."
He tries to use his nascent manly voice to sound older, wiser, worthy of service to the king, but it cracks in the middle and he finishes the sentence with a boyish squeak. Edward laughs openly, though not with malice, and Hal can tell Richard is suppressing the same reaction. He swears at himself and wishes he could melt into the ground.
"Come, sit next to us, Hal," Richard offers, gesturing toward an empty space between himself and Edward. Hal has spent much time in Richard's company in the past months, but now, he feels unworthy of the attention. He seats himself humbly near Richard, and looks at him with shining eyes, aware of the honor his king shows him.
Richard pats his hand reassuringly and inclines toward him. He speaks with a voice full of affection.
"Your presence at our table is most welcome, young cousin. Help yourself to meat from our plate."
Hal notices Edward looking at him strangely and realizes that the only reason he can sit at Richard's right hand and share his food is because he has no son to do it. His closeness to the king reminds everyone what Richard might always lack, and though they celebrate today, England's future remains in peril. Regret mars his jubilation, and he wishes there were something he could do to help the king.
Richard is lying awake in bed, head on his hands crossed beneath it, when Edward steals into his tent long after everyone has gone to bed. He crawls in next to Richard, who barely acknowledges him and muses, "Should I choose an heir?"
"Why? You're still young. There is time to have a son."
"There are also many ways a man can die; even more if you're a king. I should have an heir by now. A clever, amiable, strong son, like Hal."
"Hal would be a wise choice, if you're determined on this course of action."
"Perhaps. But I have stripped his father of his land, property, and titles and given them to other men. Even though I stipulated that they should eventually revert to Hal, if I were to die while others still possess them, how could he be king without them?"
"If you make him your heir, it might reconcile Henry to you. You could restore his inheritance and be assured of his support."
"Henry!" Richard spits. "There's the problem. Henry serves only his own interests. He was an Appellant and I do not trust him. Making Hal my heir brings Henry closer to the throne, once more, than he has ever deserved to be, and I will never let that happen again. No, as long as Henry lives, Hal cannot be my heir."
They lie silently for a while, listening to the songs of frogs and owls. When Richard speaks again, sorrow taints his voice.
"If I die, what will happen to Isabella? She is still just a child, and very fond of Hal, you know. I had a happy marriage, once. She deserves one, too. It would make me happy if she married him."
They both know how unlikely it is that the king of France would allow his daughter to marry the landless son of a disgraced, banished duke, no matter how royal his bloodline, so they fall silent again, Edward rubbing Richard's arm.
"Tomorrow, I will give Hal his knighthood," Richard proclaims. It's probably the most he can do to elevate the boy under the circumstances, and he almost immediately falls asleep.
Isabella runs out of tears in Donning, while Henry holds Richard prisoner at Pontefract Castle. Henry has treated her with dignity- she's been allowed to keep most of her retinue, along with Fleur and her favorite gowns and jewelry- but it is clear, even to her, that she is a prisoner and her ladies put scary rumors into each others' ears when they think she can't hear.
She doesn't know what has happened, doesn't understand why her husband's cousin has shuffled her from place to place, until deciding on this one. In one of them, enraged men stormed her apartments and tore copper white hart badges from her ladies' bosoms. Afterward, she hid one of the brooches in the bottom of a large trunk, beneath books, dolls, and undergarments that she hoped no one would touch.
She misses Richard's love, for she finds none here, and would rather be with him in his cell than at risk and lonely, playing games to pass the time with her ladies in the garden. So, when she is brought to King's Langley to view his body before it is buried, her eyes remain dry.
"Is this your husband, King Richard II of England?" someone, a duke or something who looks familiar but whose name she cannot remember, demands. "Answer clearly, so all can hear."
"Everyone in England has already seen him," she thinks angrily. "Why am I the last? Does it even matter what I say?"
She balks and is given a gentle shove toward the open casket. The powerful scent of frankincense, myrrh, cloves, cinnamon, and balsam rises above a fainter, sickly sweet odor that must surely be the smell of death. She takes a deep breath and holds it as she peeks over the edge of the coffin. Once full and round, his cheekbones now jut over a hollow space, and his lips strain over his teeth. Every sinew in his neck bulges against paper-thin skin, and she wonders if he was even able to hold up his head at the end. They say he refused all food, but Richard loved to eat, and she has her doubts. She looks around the room, lips pursed with rage.
"Is this your husband, King Richard II of England?" the man repeats.
If she were a lion, she would eat him here and now. If she were a grown woman, she would find words to shame him. If she were a man, she would challenge them all on the field of honor and God would be on her side. But she is just a prisoner, and a sad, frightened little girl who yearns to return to a ruined home.
"Answer, Isabella," Edward says gently as he emerges into view around the coffin. "So all can hear."
"Yes. This is my husband, King Richard II of England."
Her shrillness echoes in the vast hall, which has fallen eerily silent waiting for her reply. She feels that even she has finally betrayed him, but there is nothing else to do, because she knows, at last, that he is, truly, dead.
From Richard's burial, she is taken to King Henry.
"Isabella, I bear you no ill will and hope that you have been treated well."
"Yes, my lord, I have been."
"Good. I will waste no time, then, getting to my reason for bringing you here. I desire to maintain the friendship with France established by your first marriage."
"How neatly he speaks without mentioning Richard's name," Isabella thinks.
"I want you to marry my son, Hal, whom I believe you know. He will rule England when I am gone, and you will once again be the queen your birthright entitles you to be. If you do not marry Hal, I'm afraid I can find no place for you in England."
He does not mention that her father has been demanding her return, but that England cannot afford to repay her dowry.
Isabella steps back in shock. She had expected worse, and finds the thought of marriage to Hal distinctly pleasing. But the veiled threat in Henry's final comment does not escape her. What does he mean to do if she refuses? The shriveled face she saw in Richard's coffin swims in her vision.
"And that was his cousin, a man with power and friends. I am but a girl and a foreigner, and though my father be a king, he might not forgive my affection for Richard. He might think that any Englishman who marries me, no, any Englishman who merely befriends me, could be a traitor, with France on his side. Either way, I might soon lie next to Dickon in the ground."
Henry waits impatiently for an answer, so she stalls.
"I do know Hal, and think well of him, but your offer takes me by surprise. Please give me time to consider it."
Isabella startles when a dog's wet nose nuzzles her ear from behind. She's been sitting in front of the fireplace, some distance from the ladies, who accompany her everywhere, playing a mournful tune on a little pipe. She spins around only to have her face thoroughly licked by Lightfoot, with Hal laughing, and scrambling to direct him away.
"Hal!" she cries, leaping to her feet and wiping her face. She rapidly settles her skirts and pushes a stray strand of hair back into place.
"I'm sorry. He was just so happy to see you again, I couldn't stop him in time. I wanted to surprise you, but not this way."
"I don't mind," she smiles, stroking the greyhound's head. "I had to leave Fleur behind when I came here so it's nice to have a dog to pet."
They stand awkwardly with the large tan dog between them, patting him and fondling his ears, building up courage to speak.
"I will never forget that Richard brought Lightfoot to me when I was homesick," Hal says at last. Isabella nods. "I was furious at him when he banished my father and made me come to live with him, but he was so generous, and his wife so endearing, I could not stay angry for long."
Tears that Isabella has not shed since Richard died burst from their hiding place. Hal wraps his arms around her and she unburdens herself against his chest.
"Oh Hal! Ever since he was sent to Pontefract, I have heard about horrible things that Dickon did. I have a hard time believing most of them, but everyone says they are true. Has he no friends left at all? Does no one remember how much he could love and how kind he could be? When I came to England, I was so afraid and lonely. I was only six, and I had to act like a queen. Dickon understood. I could be natural around him, the times we were able to spend together. He was my friend."
Hal releases her slightly and dries her cheeks with his sleeve.
"Not everyone has forgotten. I remember. I vowed to serve him faithfully, and when I am king, Isabella, trust me, I will honor him."
His words catch at her heart, triggering fresh tears.
"My father scared me. He was unpredictable. My mother and my nurses kept me away from him most of the time, and the times when I did see him, he could be nice, or funny, or bizarre, or cruel. I never knew what to expect. Richard was always kind, and made me feel safe. I loved him more than my own father, and I miss him terribly."
"He loved you, Isabella."
"Thank you," she sniffs, wiping her nose on her sleeve and drawing apart from him. "I haven't been able to talk with anyone about this."
"He loved you enough to let you become friends with the son of his enemy, because it made you happy. I'm glad he did, because it made me happy, too."
"Your father wants us to marry."
"I know. I came here to talk to you about it."
Isabella looks down at Lightfoot and scratches a spot on his neck that makes him twitch with pleasure.
"Before most girls even start dreaming of what their husbands will look like, I already wore a wedding ring. I was told what my wifely duties would eventually be long before most girls. On my wedding night, I was so afraid. No one made me think my husband would expect that of me yet, but I had seen Dickon only once before, when my father betrothed me to him in France. I knew nothing about him, and my mother was not there to protect me.
There was a feast. I wore a pretty blue dress, I remember that. I was given a bit too much wine and felt very dizzy, but I avoided looking at him, or talking to him, as much as I could until the end of dinner, when he just kissed the top of my head and said, Goodnight, Princess . Then the Duchesses and ladies took me to my apartments and put me to bed, where I slept soundly all night long. The next morning, the ladies brought me to him for breakfast. He gave me a perfectly carved and painted doll, with real hair, and several beautiful little gowns. Alone in his chamber, we took turns dressing her and braiding her hair. He looked content, and I was relieved. I realize now he was putting me at ease and showing me how things would work in our marriage for a long time."
She pauses, in case Hal wishes to speak, but he just nods.
"What I mean to say is, I have had to grow up quickly, and now I am a widow, but I am still just nine years old."
"It was my father's idea, but I want you to marry me," Hal croaks. He also looks down at Lightfoot while speaking. His voice lowers to barely a whisper. He can't meet her eyes, but manages to take her hand. "I like you. We don't have to live as husband and wife until we are grown. I am only twelve, after all. You can go back to Madame de Courcy at Eltham. Marry me now, and we can wait as long as you want to share our marriage bed."
Hal's black hair is still short, and his ears stick out. He has grown taller and wears finer clothes than she has ever seen on him. His rosy cheeks heighten the blue of his eyes, which she can see sparkle with intelligence even though they are downcast. She has never beaten him at chess, never had him at her mercy before, and feels the urge to protect him, not defeat him. His voice still soothes her, and his lips curve in supplication. She imagines what they might feel like pressed against her own, some day. She could find out. All she has to do is say yes. She struggles for words, fidgeting with the slender pipe, made of gold and set with rubies, still in her hand.
"That's beautiful," Hal offers.
"Richard gave it to me."
Hal says nothing; neither does she. He lets go of her hand and they stare solemnly at the pipe. Those simple words part the tension like the sun through the clouds and both of them know what her answer must be. Richard will forever be the ghost between them and the spirit that unites them. Richard, in causing Hal's misfortune, brought misfortune upon himself and it landed on Isabella. Love conceived within a nest of misfortunes will always be coupled with grief.
"Hal," she murmurs, touching his cheek. "I cannot say yes."
She tells Henry that her grief for her husband is too great to marry again and begs to return to France. On St. Valentine's Day, the first anniversary of Richard's death, Hal lights two candles: one for Richard's soul, and one as a secret token for Isabella.
MuirOfLanternWaste, AJediLikeMyMotherBeforeMe, Faust, SpookyMelissa, cheshireArcher, LadyGinger, Zdenka, Melimato, Selena, speakmefair, a_t_rain, skazka, Gileonnen, Lilliburlero, Aris Merquoni (ArisTGD), and angevin2 as well as 10 guests left kudos on this work! (collapse)
angevin2 Sat 05 Sep 2015 09:11PM EDT
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH THE FEELS. They are all such sad precious darlings. I love the way you write wee!Isabel, and her crush on Hal and her childlike love for Richard, and poor Richard who has lost so much, and poor conflicted Hal and his issues. I WANT TO HUG ALL OF THEM.
I will write you a much longer comment when I have some energy -- but this is fantastic and historically accurate and so lovely. MY PRECIOUS BABIES.
fiftysevenacademics (rapiddescent) Sat 12 Sep 2015 07:59PM EDT
It makes me so happy that you like it! I loved writing it. I'm so interested in Isabella, the poor thing. And Richard must have liked her and Hal very much, right? Anyhow, this was fun. Thank you for assigning this prompt to me.
Parent Thread
Aris Merquoni (ArisTGD) Sun 06 Sep 2015 03:25AM EDT
This is lovely, and sweet, and tragic!
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.
Lilliburlero Sun 06 Sep 2015 07:01AM EDT
This is beautiful, and so sad. I love the way you write Richard's semi-conscious acts of self-sabotage, and the interplay of ceremony and informality at court. Isabella and Hal are so solemnly adorable, forced to grow up long before their time, and so wise to see that Richard is always going to stand between them. I really like Hal's reflection that his own father is difficult and mercurial, whereas Richard represents stability, such an inversion of of the usual ideas about Richard and Henry's personalities, but really plausible.
Thank you for such nice comments. It makes me really happy that you liked it.
Gileonnen Sun 06 Sep 2015 07:46AM EDT
This was gorgeous! I love how much of it is about symbols: little points of opulence or pageantry studding your clear prose, a carved box or a sudden charge or a bejeweled pipe in a child-widow's hands. These iconographic touchstones work like emotional keys that your characters use to access their feelings about one another, and the conceit is wonderfully executed.
Your characterization is also fantastic! Isabella is vividly drawn here, eager and sincere and very much not yet a queen--and yet I can see the steel in her already. Hal makes an excellent foil for her, with his attempts to play the grown man and his calculations and hard-won admissions of feeling. What an excellent fic!
Wow, thank you! What nice things to say. I'm really glad you liked it. :)
BlueFlowwer Mon 18 Apr 2016 09:55AM EDT
Isabella, Isabella! Her reaction to Richard's corpse broke my heart, my poor baby


Killman Creek
"Did Mom say anything about . . . him?" I almost said Dad, but I know I shouldn't call him that. Not out loud. We all know who I'm talking about.
Javier shakes his head. "Nothing yet," he says. "There's no reason to think he's anywhere around here, but let's keep on as we're doing. Stay inside as much as you can stand. Stay offline. The longer we can keep where you are a secret, the better and safer for all of us."
"You could at least let me talk to my friends," I tell him. I really mean Dahlia. "They won't sell us out." She won't sell me out.
"And your friends tell other friends, and pretty soon everybody in Norton knows you're back. You think your mom isn't the best piece of gossip ever to hit this place? Nobody's going to pass up the chance to talk about it."
He's right, of course. The friends thing is half-hearted. Javier takes his job seriously. So does Kez—who's off at her real job as a cop right now, investigating some break-in around the other side of the lake. I hope it isn't our house. I worry about that . . . about the kids from school who might break in, trash our house, take selfies in my bedroom humping my pillow. Go through my stuff, not that I have a lot of stuff after all the years on the run. It still hurts to imagine what little privacy I've ever had being violated.
But maybe it isn't our house. Maybe the Johansens' big-ass flat-screen TV finally got jacked. Or their Mercedes SUV.
Maybe someone's ransacked Lancel Graham's old house; after all, we might be killers by association, but Graham really did kill people. If Graham's house gets trashed, I not only can't be sorry about it, I approve. He was a sick, evil man, and if Mom and Kez and Sam hadn't gotten to us in time . . . God only knows what would have happened. No. I know. It's what happened to his other two victims, and to all the girls my dad killed.
I try not to think about it.
Connor comes in from outside. He's been out awhile, because he's wearing a coat and gloves, and he sheds the outerwear and slumps on the couch, where he immediately picks up a book. He glances at me but doesn't say anything. Maybe he thinks we still aren't talking.
Maybe we still aren't.
"What time are we going?" I ask Javier, because at least it's a distraction.
"I said we'd check with your mom first."
"You also said I wasn't going to get to shoot any guns. So there's nothing to ask yet."
He gives me a look. "I'm calling. If I don't get her, I'll leave a message."
"Going where?" Connor asks. I ignore him.
"To the range. It closes at eight," Javier says. "I'll go in for closing, get everything done for the day, make sure everybody's cleared the building. Then I'll come back for you, Lanny. Kez can stay here with you, Connor."
"Wait, you're going to the range? Why can't I at least go along?" my brother asks, just as I knew he would.
"Because you're a kid," I tell him. "So, no. You can't go."
But Javier is watching him, and he says, "Do you want to?"
Connor shrugs. He keeps reading.
"Is that a yes?"
"Sure," he says. But I see the flush darkening the skin at the edges of his jaw, around his ears. Not quite a blush, but close. It's not in my brother's nature to show it, but he's excited about getting out of here, too. Maybe even about the guns, though he's always told me he doesn't like them.
I check the clock and groan. We still have hours to kill. I look over the games and finally plug Assassin's Creed into the game console and hip-scoot my brother out of the way. He gets up and goes to his room and shuts the door. Fine. Good. Though I'd kind of expected him to offer to play. He likes this game. That's why I picked it.
"Jerk," I say under my breath, starting it in single-player mode. Then I pause it, get up, and open his bedroom door without knocking, because I know that will piss him off.
His back is to me, and for a second I think I've walked in on him doing something way personal, but then I realize he's on his phone. "Are you calling Mom?" I ask him.
"No." There's a look in his eyes that surprises me.
"Who were you calling?"
"Nobody," he says.
"Because if you're calling Mom—"
"I'm not calling anybody!"
He explodes. It shocks me, because I know Connor has a temper, but it usually takes a long, long fuse to make it go off, and this is out of nowhere, and he's shouting. "Just get out, okay? Stop pretending to be Mom, you're not good at it!"
I back up, and he lunges forward and slams the door in my face. I have to jump back a few inches, or I'd have gotten it right in the nose. "Jesus!" I yell back and hit the door with the side of my fist. "Throw a tantrum, why don't you, you brat!"
He doesn't respond. I don't expect him to. I glare at the door for a few seconds, then turn. Javier's looking at me. "What?" I snap.
"Do you think it's okay when he barges into your room when the door is shut?" he asks.
"Hell, no."
"Then don't do it to him. I know your mom taught you better."
If he was even a little bit less nice I'd tell him to shut up, but I don't. I flop back on the couch, pick up the game controls, and start up. I'm not as good at this as my brother is, but I don't suck. For a while, I get pulled into the game world, and I'm glad for that, glad to leave everything behind and feel the walls around me fade out.
But it all comes back when Javier suddenly is right there, turning off the TV. "Hey!" I protest, because I was right in midjump, and now I'm going to lose a life, but he puts a finger to his lips, and his dark eyes are very fierce, and I shut up. Fast.
I hear something. Tires on gravel. Javier goes to the window and eases back the curtain. I can't tell for a second if it's okay or not, and then he eases his gun out of its holster and says, "Get your brother and stay out of sight. No noise. Go now."
"What is it?" I keep it to a whisper. My pulse is pounding, and I feel hot all over. Then cold. "Is it him?"


Contact: Stacey Welling
Email: stac@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Commissioner Jones, County Staff Invite Residents to Attend Neighborhood Meeting to Plan Future Park
Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones and County staff are hosting a neighborhood meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, at Aldeane Comito Ries Elementary School, 9805 S. Lindell Road, to gather input from residents about plans for a future park near the school.
The park site is approximately 10 acres situated northwest of Silverado Ranch and Jones boulevards between Ries Elementary School and Lois and Jerry Tarkanian Middle School in southwest Las Vegas. The site is located at the corner of LeBaron Avenue and Lindell Road.
"The southwest region of the Las Vegas Valley has experienced a population boom in recent years, and it's my priority to work with County staff to get as many parks and recreation facilities built there as funding will allow," said Commissioner Jones, whose Clark County Commission District F includes the area. "Community input is an important part of the process. We want to hear from as many residents as possible about the types of amenities they want included in the park."
Commissioner Jones will be joined at the meeting by staff from Clark County's Parks and Recreation and Real Property Management departments and the design consultant. Proposed amenities include a playground, splash pad, trail and two sports areas.
Last modified on 4/26/2019 15:23


Old State House – Boston, U.S.A
Dwarfed by the towers of the Financial District, this historic building is typical of the modest and unique architectural style of New England in the 18th century. It was the seat of British colonial government between 1713 and 1776 and a replica royal lion and unicorn decorate each corner of the east facade. After independence, the Massachusetts legislature took possession of the building, and it was used fora variety of purposes, including as a produce market, a merchants' exchange, a Masonic lodge, and a city hall. Its wine cellars now function as a downtown subway station, and it also houses Bostonian Society memorabilia.
Constructed in 1713 to replace the first Town House, which had recently burned down, the Old State House is Boston's oldest surviving public building. During its period as the seat of the British colonial government, it was also the Boston center for the political activity that led to the Revolutionary War (1775-81). Prom the first-floor gallery, Boston's citizens could — for the first time in the English-speaking world – watch their elected legislators debate the issues of the day. The west end housed the county and colony law courts The wealthy merchant and patriot John Hancock, an active opponent of the Stamp Act (1765), which imposed a tax on all paper goods, and the first signer of the Declaration of Independence, had warehouse space in the basement.
THE BOSTONIAN SOCIETY
The Bostonian Society, which maintains the Old State House, also runs the museum inside the building and a library across the street. Permanent and changing displays and exhibits in the museum recount Boston's history, from its settlement through to the Revolution, and beyond Permanent exhibitions include "From Colony to Commonwealth," which looks at the role of Boston and the Old State House in the events that led to the American Revolution, and "Treasures from the Bostonian Society's Collections," located in the Council Chamber, which features Revolutionary icons and militia equipment. There is also a sound-and-light show on the Boston Massacre of 1770.
LIFE IN COLONIAL BOSTON
First settled by Puritans in 1630, Boston became one of North America's leading colonial cities. Its life and wealth revolved around its role as a busy seaport, but its streets were crooked, dirty, and crowded with people and livestock. Other problems included waste disposal, firefighting, and caring for the numerous poor. Unlike the other major American cities outside of New England, Boston had a "town meeting" form of government. This was unusually democratic for the time and helps to explain why Boston became a center of colonial resistance prior to the Revolutionary War.
Keayne Hall
This is named after Robert Keayne who, in 1658, gave £300 to the city so that the original Town House of 1657-8 could be built. Exhibits in the room depict events from the Revolutionary War.
Central Staircase
A fine example of 18th-century workmanship, the central spiral staircase has two beautifully crafted wooden handrails. It is one of the few staircases of its type still in existence in the US.
Royal Lion and Unicorn
A royal symbol of Britain, the original lion and unicorn were pulled down when news of the Declaration of Independence reached Boston in 1776.
West Facade A Latin inscription, relating to the first Massachusetts Bay colony, runs around the outside of this crest. The relief in the center depicts a local Native American.
Golden Eagle Sculpture
This symbol of America can be seen on the west facade.
This is a classic example of Colonial style. In 18th-century paintings and engravings, the tower can clearly be seen above the Boston skyline.
East Facade
This facade has undergone several changes. In 1956, a clock from the 1820s was removed and replaced with a replica of the sundial that once hung here. The clock has now been reinstated.
Council Chamber
Once the chambers for the royal governors, and from 1780, the chambers for the first governor of Massachusetts (John Hancock), this room has hosted many key events. Among them were numerous impassioned speeches made by Boston patriots.
The Declaration of Independence was read from here in 1776. In the 1830s, when the building was the city hall, the balcony was enlarged to two tiers.
SITE OF THE BOSTON MASSACRE
A circle of cobblestones below the balcony pm the east facade marks the site of the Boston Massacre. After the Boston Tea Party of 1773 (where Boston patriots, in protest at taxation, boarded three British East India Company ships and threw their cargoes of tea into Boston Harbor), this was one of the most inflammatory events in the lead-up to the Revolutionary War. On March 5, 1770, an unruly mob of colonists taunted British guardsmen with insults, rocks, and snowballs. The soldiers opened fire, killing five colonists. A number of articles relating to the Boston Massacre are exhibited inside the Old State House.
Cobblestone circle; site of the Boston Massacre
Sixteen of Boston's most significant historic sights have been linked together as "The Freed om Trail." This 2.5-mile (4-km) long walking route, marked in red on the sidewalk, begins at Boston Common.
1667: Boston's first Town House is constructed of wood; it burns down in 1711.
1713: The Old State House is built as the site of the provincial government.
1780-98: The building serves as the Massachusetts State House.
1798: The building is renovated for private retail tenants.
1830-40: After renovation, the building becomes Boston's city hall.
1840-80: The building falls into disrepair after being returned to commercial use.
1881: The Old State House is completely restored by the city.
1976: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II addresses Bostonians from the balcony.
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Jason Williams reaches deal to join Grizzlies
By Kurt HelinFeb 3, 2011, 11:16 AM EST
Jason Williams didn't like being the fourth point guard on the depth chard in Orlando — despite being so close to Epcot — so we'll see how he likes being the backup in Memphis.
Just a week after being waived by the Magic, Williams is about to sign a deal with the Grizzlies, according to the Commercial Appeal. He is expected to join the team next Monday.
Williams will compete for the backup PG spot with rookie Greivis Vasquez.
Frankly, the move is a little curious in that Williams is nearing the end of his career and it would make more sense to get minutes for Vasquez so that he can develop more quickly to be a quality backup for Mike Conley. But this is the Grizzlies. Reportedly Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley has always been a fan of Williams and was not happy that Jerry West traded him six years ago from Memphis to Miami. He's tried several times to get him back.
Now he has succeeded. Williams had stalled the process both debating whether he wanted to continue playing and also hoping a contender would step in and request his services. Turns out he does want to play and Memphis is a team making a playoff push in the West.


Interesting Things About Denmark, Part II
Some more observations from the edge of Denmark looking in:
Everyone obeys traffic signals. All the time. I stood on a street corner at 11:00 p.m. with no traffic around with three other swarthy looking guys for 4 minutes to wait for the pedestrian signals to change. Every other place I've ever been we all would have jaywalked across instantly. Olle says it's because the whole interconnected bicycle, pedestrian, car system relies on predictability.
A4 paper. It's not uniquely Danish, I realize, but this is my first experience of a culture where 8-1/2 by 11 does not rule. Everything I print out seems just that little bit too tall.
Unilingual transit. The transit systems in Bangkok, Bilbao, Dublin, Porto, Montpellier, Zagreb and Ljubljana all have instructions and announcements in the home language and English; although the automated ticket machines do have an English option, everything else is Danish-only.
Integrated transit. One ticket gets you access to metro, buses and trains. Think "use my GO Train ticket on the TTC, VIA Rail and Orillia Transit" if you're in Toronto (who knows, maybe you can do that now). Today for our trip to Ljere I used the same 105 kroner ($19 CAD) "24 hours of travel in Greater Copenhagen" ticket to take the bus to the train station, the train to Ljere (about 50 km away), and the bus from the Ljere station to our destination — and back.
Dual action hand drying. Electric hot air hand dryers and paper towels in public washrooms.
Hello? To say "Hi!" to someone in Copenhagen you say "Hej!" Which sounds just like "Hi!"
The letter D. This is just weird. Olle, for example, lives on "Prinsesse Charlottes Gade" and I've been saying this (to myself, mostly, in my head) as "Princess Charlotte's Gade" (rhymes with "Gatorade"). By it's not "Gade" rhymes with "Raid," it's "Gade" rhymes with "Rail." This is called the "soft d" in this [excellent] Introduction to Danish course.
Orange vs. Apple. The Danish word for "orange" is "appelsin." I'm convinced this is just a joke at the expense of English speakers.
Pull flushing. To flush the toilet you pull up on a do-hickey in the tank's top (in Portugal you push down).
Bicycles. Did I mention the bicycles. I know I should remember from last year, but I forgot: there are bicycles everywhere.
Want more? See Interesting Things About Denmark, Part I.
Reboot8
Written May 31, 2006 at 6:26 p.m. by Peter Rukavina
oliver on June 1, 2006 - 07:32
Regarding Danes calling oranges apples, don't Francophones call potatoes apples? Apples are just the foundational edible spheroidal vegetable of Europe, I guess. At least they don't call their computers apples.
Daniel on June 1, 2006 - 08:10
Hi Peter, I loved the story about you and your son in that stoneage village freilichtmuseum. Here's what I know about apelsin vs. orang. The linguistic borderline runs through germany as far as i know: orange stems from the latin/french word orange describing the colour. wheras apelsin, apfelsine (german) or sinasappel (dutch) is derrived from low german apple from china. In southern germany i figure, oranges probably came the trade routes over the alps, in northern europe they arrived through low german speaking harbours along the coast that today is netherlands and northern germany. What about the english' orange then? Well, french was the predominant language in those classe who would be able to afford that fruit when it arrived in europe. I use both varieties btw, coming from a northern german family, but born and raised in the southern part.


Subscribe To Eddie Redmayne Admits His Jupiter Ascending Performance Was Bad Updates
Eddie Redmayne Admits His Jupiter Ascending Performance Was Bad
Sarah El-Mahmoud
Actor Eddie Redmayne has had quite the incredible career, propelled by his breakout roles in My Week With Marilyn and Les Misérables, he quickly played two Oscar nominated roles as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything and Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl. Sandwiched in between his most celebrated roles is his downright strangest acting choices in 2015's Jupiter Ascending. If you sat through Redmayne's performances as intergalactic business mogul Balem, it doesn't play at the actor's strengths. Don't worry though, Redmayne knows it too. In his words:
I won a prize for it for the worst performance of the year. So, yeah, it was a pretty bad performance by all accounts.
When it comes to acting roles, not all of them can be winners. But as Eddie Redmayne recounts in his interview with GQ, he won a Razzie Award for his Jupiter Ascending role. So even when he cracked a terrible performance, he got recognized for it even if it was Worst Supporting Actor. The sci-fi box office disaster by the Wachowski siblings had Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum traveling around the galaxy with Redmayne's Balem starring as the villain. His performance featured a very specific choice to have a hushed voice, which Redmayne explained his reasoning behind:
In Jupiter Ascending, my character had had his larynx ripped out by this wolf man, and so I made the slightly bold choice, which I thought was right, of talking like this for the whole film. Which I felt sort of suited the costumes and the extremity of the world, but in retrospect, it may have been too much.
If the creepy whispers weren't enough, Balem also went into another extreme of forehead-vein-pulsating screeches making the performance... a bit much. Jupiter Ascending was a disappointment overall, as it only made $18 million in its opening weekend with a $176 million production budget. Warner Bros. might have barely made back its money with the film's overall worldwide gross of $183 million before leaving theaters. So Eddie Redmayne was just bad in a bad movie, what would have been worse was being a weak link of an incredible film.
While considering the box office numbers, not many people even saw Eddie Redmayne's performance in Jupiter Ascending, it's nice to see the actor not taking his little performance blunder too seriously and being able to move past it. The Wachowskis may have been behind sci-fi favorites such as The Matrix films and Netflix's Sense8, but Jupiter Ascending just didn't hit the right notes with audiences. Redmayne said he signed on to the film because he loved the weirdness of 2012's Cloud Atlas and never felt so free with the sibling's directing him on set.
Eddie Redmayne will reprise his much more friendly and level-headed role as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald on November 16.
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Eddie Redmayne Says Making The Crimes Of Grindelwald Was Exhausting


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2022 Oscar Shorts: A Message from the Curator
Wed, Mar 9, 2022
Written by: Joseph Morrison
This Friday begins the final week of the 2022 Oscar Nominated Shorts, and there's still time to catch all three programs at the Harris Theater. Hundreds of patrons have already come to see the five nominated films for Documentary, Live Action, and Animation. Sean Collier, in one of his weekly roundups for Pittsburgh Today Live, commented that once you see these programs it becomes an annual tradition. That has been the case with many patrons having returned this year to the Harris and look forward to viewing the shorts here every year. Also excited to learn that this program brought several people out for the first time in two years for in-person screenings!
What is the allure of these programs? Perhaps the clue is in a description found on our co-presenter, The Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival's webpage: "the best contemporary short films from around the globe, highlighting films that promote innovative visual storytelling and cultural tolerance."
That's it, Innovative storytelling! The films in these categories represent filmmaking of nature that is at times vastly different than what we see in full length feature films. Sometimes the difference is in the subject matter: The Dress (Live Action) is very much interested in exploring the idea of loneliness and isolation through the lens of a person who society has deemed isn't a sexual object. A short description of the film should not be entirely about the protagonist's dwarfism, but it's clearly a vital aspect of what makes this film so effective and interesting. Sometimes the difference in these films is in the visual style: When We Were Bullies (Documentary) employs some visual techniques that contributes to the overall feel of the film in a very, very stylistic manner. It's completely unexpected and thrilling to watch. Of course, the Animation category is filled with experimentation. Boxballet (Animation) has charmed me over repeat viewings with a visual style that no major studio would finance into a feature length film.
Another reason to see them if you haven't yet, is that it's just downright fun to watch five different films in a program and compare them and then hang out in the lobby afterwards and eavesdrop on your fellow movie goers' conversations! That's the reason we run our wonderful competition to see who can accurately predict the winners in each category and give them a chance to win fabulous prize packages. Personally, I think that watching these short films with an eye towards picking a winner changes the way in which you watch them. One would normally reflect on them, and by human nature perhaps have a favorite, but to commit to a choice…well, that puts you right in the role of the critic, or Academy member who decides the fate of these filmmakers. Winning an Oscar can be a life changing event and so your vote, while not affecting the actual winner at the Oscars, does force you to think back on the shorts you just watched and decide what made a film successful in your mind. Was it the way the subject matter was treated or the visual style? What worked and didn't work is something you have to consider. And what the heck, that's kind of fun, I think. So come to the Harris Theater and join in, you'll be glad you did.
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> Analysis
> Bank of New York Mellon Q1 Results Show FX Revenue up 3% to $130 Million
Bank of New York Mellon Q1 Results Show FX Revenue up 3% to $130 Million
Tuesday, 22/04/2014 | 16:44 GMT by Steven Hatzakis
BNY Mellon has today released Q1 financial results which showed that FX fee revenue was up from $126 Million in Q3 2013, to $130 million during last quarter, an increase of $4 million or 3% of the quarter before.
earnings // ToDo refactor when changes on back-end are ready
With nearly $27.9 trillion of assets in custody as of March 31, 2014, and $1.6 trillion in assets under management (AUM), the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY Mellon) has today reported its Q1 financial results, with net revenue of $661 million for the first quarter of 2014, from total GAAP revenue of $3.46 billion, during that time.
From BNY Mellon's total revenue, $2.86 billion was attributed to total fee revenue (investment fees), and up 3% from $2.77 billion in the quarter before. From the total fee revenue segment, Foreign Exchange fee revenues totaled $130 million during Q1 2014. This number grew 3% over Q4 2013, from $126 million to $130 million, quarter-over-quarter, and from a year-over-year comparison FX volumes dipped 13% from $154 million from Q1 2013, to the $130 million reported today for the first quarter of 2014, according to the official press release earlier this morning in New York.
Excerpt of condensed consolidated income statement showing fee revenue for Q1 2014 [source BNY Mellon]
Comparisons with both prior periods, for the bank's FX business, were described as impacted by lower volatility, and higher volumes driven by enhancements to its electronic foreign Exchange Exchange An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv Read this Term platform.
Commenting in the official press release, Gerald L. Hassell, chairman and chief executive officer of BNY Mellon said, "Investment Management and Investment Services fees increased 3 percent and we managed our expenses well, resulting in pretax earnings growth of 12 percent year over year. Our performance benefitted from strength in Clearing Services, the eighteenth consecutive quarter of positive long-term inflows in Investment Management and the growing contribution from our Global Collateral Services and electronic foreign exchange initiatives."
Analysis: Forex Traders from South Korea Top the Rankings
Gerald L. Hassell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BNY Mellon
Mr. Hassell added with regards to the effects on shareholder value, "The earnings power and strength of our business model allowed us to announce a capital plan that includes share repurchases of up to $1.74 billion, an increase of nearly 30 percent from the prior year's board authorization, and a 13 percent increase in the quarterly dividend," and concluded with the impact that regulatory changes have had on the bank's strategy, "The management team is focused on actively realigning the business model for the new regulatory environment, controlling expenses and generating strong returns on tangible common equity."
Shares of BNY Mellon on the NYSE under ticker symbol BK were up nearly two-tents of a percent to $33.76 per share, around time of publication by Forex Forex Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation's currency into another nation's currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world's largest tradi Foreign exchange or forex is the act of converting one nation's currency into another nation's currency (that possesses a different currency); for example, the converting of British Pounds into US Dollars, and vice versa. The exchange of currencies can be done over a physical counter, such as at a Bureau de Change, or over the internet via broker platforms, where currency speculation takes place, known as forex trading.The foreign exchange market, by its very nature, is the world's largest tradi Read this Term Magnates.
Swedish Regulator Finansinspektionen warns against BNY Mellon clone
A day after the earnings results were announced the Swedish regulatory authority Finansinspektionen issued a warning against a clone company which presents itself as BNY Mellon Wealth Management. The statement issued by the regulator detailed that alleged representatives of the firm have been calling Swedish investors and offering advice on US stocks.
The perpetrators of the unsolicited phone calls have been referring to a US regulatory authority in an attempt to gain credibility. The entity has been using an address in the US:
701 Westchester Avenue
E-mail: info.bnymellon@usa.com
www.bnymellon.com/wealthmanagement
The Swedish regulatory authority reminds the public that the entity has no affiliation with the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation and fraudsters are normally using the details of an authorised company to gain credibility and try to convince people that they work for a genuine, regulated company. By using a 'clone of authorised firm' some entities are trying to manipulate investors into entrusting their funds to phoney companies or might as well be speculating with some penny stocks.


Subscribe To This Celebrity Was Apparently Offered A Role In The Hobbit Updates
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This Celebrity Was Apparently Offered A Role In The Hobbit
By Gregory Wakeman
In a fun behind the scenes story that should interest any Middle-earth fans out there, it's been revealed that celebrity chef Jamie Oliver was offered a role in one of The Hobbit films if he cooked Peter Jackson's 50th birthday dinner. However, due to a scheduling conflict Oliver actually had to turn down the director's offer, even though he had big plans for playing a hobbit.
According to The Daily Mail, Jamie Oliver made this revelation during his appearance on Jamie And Jimmy's Friday Night Feast while he was talking to Kate Hudson. The television chef admitted that if he had cooked at Peter Jackson's party, which took place three years ago, he could have then featured in either The Hobbit's An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, or The Battle of the Five Armies.
Unfortunately, Jamie Oliver had to turn down this generous offer because he had too many other work commitments to focus on at the time, and he was beyond devastated to reject Peter Jackson's casting proposal. Not only did this mean that he was unable to launch his acting career, but there was another reason why Jamie Oliver was upset. He wanted to dress up as a hobbit to impress his wife. In fact he'd already planned to take the costume home and then tell his wife, "Jools, let's make love!" What a romantic sod.
As he was making the trilogy, Peter Jackson handed out cameos in his Hobbit films to seemingly anyone who was interested. In fact, most of the crew and some fans of JRR Tolkien's work pop up in the The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. The director couldn't even resist the allure to put himself in each of the films as well. You can check an image of his brief appearance in Lord of the Ring: The Fellowship of the Ring below:
Perhaps the most famous celebrity to receive a cameo in The Hobbit series was the television personality Stephen Colbert. The former Colbert Report host, who is set to begin hosting duties on The Late Show later this year, popped up in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug during the Laketown sequence. Meanwhile Colbert's wife and sons were also allowed cameos in the film too. You can check out a gif of Colbert's appearance below:
The last installment to Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy, The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies, is continuing to excel at the box office. It has so far amassed over $625 million across the world, as JRR Tolkien aficionados flock to their local multiplex to say goodbye to the beloved franchise one final time.
7 Benedict Cumberbatch Roles That Show He Is More Than Just Sherlock Or Doctor Strange
14 Fictional Movie Locations We'd Love To Visit
Looks Like Star Wars: Episode IX Is Lining Up Another Stormtrooper Cameo


EK and the European Union
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Framsida / News / Employers' common message: More labour market flexibility needed
Employers' common message: More labour market flexibility needed
The Secretary-General of the International Employers´ Organisation IOE Linda Kromjong stresses the necessity of structural changes to ensure a more flexible, inclusive and business enabling labour market. Structural changes will pave the way for a better future for both employers and employees.
Linda Kromjong paid a visit to EK at the end of October. This was her first visit in Finland, one of 144 member countries of the federation.
– Our task is to represent employers´ interests worldwide, amongst others towards the International Labour Organisation ILO. At the yearly International Labor Conference in Geneva the IOE acts as the official Secretariat in the Employers' Group and IOE prepares and supports employers´ positions on the topics at a given time.
For instance next summer, a general discussion on decent work in global supply chains will take place at the Labour Conference. The IOE is currently gathering employers´ experiences and views on this topic around the world.
It is not always easy to reach a shared view among the IOE members, but it helps that IOE has gained negotiation skills for almost 100 years, says Linda Kromjong laughing.
Immigration can have lot of potential
In her current job, the Secretary-General Kromjong has an exclusive global spot to observe labour market and working life. When looking at the challenges in labour market today, she reminds that there are big differences even within Europe, not to mention the whole world.
Digitialisation, demographic challenges and youth unemployment are just a few topics to impact societies and the labour market. In Norway, for example, the unemployment rate is slightly over 3 per cent, while in Greece shattering 26,5 per cent.
The need to reform labour market, to use multiple ways to organize work and to add flexibility unite private sector employers across the world. Companies are facing constantly harder competition in the market and thus, global success requires, for instance, a possibility to get employees work longer when the customer demand is high.
Secretary General Linda Kromjong visited EK and Finland in October 2015.
– For long time Finland used to be a model country where labour market functioned fluently and the unemployment rate was under EU average, Linda Kromjong points out.
Now unemployment has increased in Finland, too, and vacant jobs and the skills of the job seekers do not meet in the best possible way.
Asylum seekers and refugees that are currently invading Europe in large numbers are bringing one more pressure to labour market.
The Secretary-General believes that besides the huge challenge relating to the asylum seekers, immigration can turn into a win-win situation, provided that the authorities cooperate with the companies and the third sector for their integration.
– The immigrants will bring along knowhow and skills that can be useful in the European work life, too.
Flexibility benefits all
Structural changes in the labour market, often criticized in the media, are vital according to Linda Kromjong. Of course every country has to define and make their own reforms. Without any brave attempts further, there is, however, a big risk losing jobs.
– Structural changes will create a more encouraging environment and a brighter future for both employers and employees.
The International Emlpoyers´ Organisation supports its members´ efforts to push for the reforms.
– It is crucial to deliver reforms that add flexibility skillfully. In the IOE´s opinion, flexibility is not interfering with ILO principles or standards, on the contrary. Societies will benefit from flexible regulations and it will improve business' chances to create new jobs.
In the opinion of the Secretary-General, there still is a lot of rigidity in labour market in different European countries. Companies are not currently employing as much as they could.
– As an organization the IOE also pays attention to find solutions to skills mismatch in labour market, namely that the workers skills will meet better than nowadays the requirements for job vacancies. IOE thinks it is important that the employers' needs are taken into account when planning the contents of vocational training.
– Our third main goal is to reduce indirect labour costs. To hire a worker should be more affordable than it is today, and the employee should have more money left in hand from the salary.
Human rights issues are topical even in small companies
If a company wants to be global, the Secretary-General advises it to become acquainted with the labour laws in the operating country.
For companies it is also worth knowing the international standards and discussions concerning human rights and workers fundamental rights. IOE participates actively in this discussion highlighting the employers´view.
– These topics do not concern only global multinational corporations but also smaller enterprises for instance through supply chains.
– In December IOE is organizing together with ILO a seminar in Bangkok that focuses on supply chains. The aim is that both buyers and sellers can discuss more closely human rights as part of corporate social responsibility. We encourage companies for social responsibility, but it is another question how far the companies' responsibility should run, Linda Kromjong says.
Read more about International Organisation of Employers IOE
Anastasiia from Kyiv – how Finnish Industries got a Ukrainian colleague
Confidence in Finnish Industries Unchanged
Confidence in Finnish Industries Decreases
The carbon handprint concept gains significant momentum at COP27
Confidence in Finnish Industries Stable
Riitta Wärn bloggaa: ILO:n 108. kesäkonferenssi satavuotisjuhlien varjossa
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I Pay Road Tax
Road tax: abolished 1937. Use car tax.
% who think cyclists are freeloaders
BBC Look East ignorance
Bloody Tax Dodgers!
Bottle thrower
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ITV ignorance about 'road tax'
Jersey cycle registration gaffe
Licensed to cycle
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One Less Car
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Spectator debate
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iPayRoadTax clothing
Motorist says he pays for "driving surface"; would swerve to hit soft thing rather than hit hard thing
The recent brouhaha over the ESPN sport anchor who said it was "hilarious" to watch two cyclists getting sideswiped by a car on stage 9 of the Tour de France brings into sharp focus whether some motorists view cyclists as fair game.
Cyclists don't pay for roads, goes the belief (a mistaken one) so shouldn't be on roads. Should there be a choice between hitting a tree or hitting a cyclist, some drivers may instinctively opt for hitting the cyclist. That's certainly what happened in the Tour de France.
iPayRoadTax.com is specific to the UK. Our roads are paid for by income tax and council tax, not 'road tax', a tax that was abolished in 1937. The tax we have now is Vehicle Excise Duty, a tax on emissions, not payment for use of the road. In America, roads are mostly paid for by property tax, with a tiny and declining bit from fuel tax.
The ESPN anchor, host of 'Around the horn,' twittered that he found it funny to watch two cyclists nearly die. The messages were a follow-up to what was said on his TV show:
"We don't want bikes on the road with us when we're going to work…"
Yesterday on Bicycling.com, BikeSnobNYC said: "Whether it's your commute, your training ride, or the Tour de France, too many people in America think if you get hit by a car on your bike then you got what's coming to you."
Also yesterday, the Boulder Report's Joe Lindsey, wrote: "What really galls me, and most people, is the insinuation that hitting people on bikes with a car, in any circumstance, is funny. That's tantamount to saying it's OK."
A day later and a letter to the Houston News by a reader calling himself Blake Brown shows that some motorists clearly have road ownership issues, and this leads them to view cyclists as lesser road users, road users who are "freeloading" and who should therefore not be surprised if they get slammed into should there be a choice between a large obstacle up ahead and a squishy one.
"This is to all the bicycle riders out there who think they have the right to ride on any road – you really do not, except at your own risk.
"I have had people who ride tell me that they pay tax dollars, too, for that road, therefore they should be able to use it. That is wrong. What you (and I) and everybody else pay for is a driving surface – for automobiles."
He then goes on to articulate what many cyclists have long assumed…
"If it is a choice between hitting a car or hitting a cyclist, the cyclist is gonna be hurting – for several reasons. First, they should not have been using a road with no shoulder; second, the auto may contain a family, and it is better to harm one person than a family; and lastly, to be frank, hitting a cyclist will do way less harm to my truck, and that is a good thing. I don't have the money for a new truck, but I can limp by with a few dings – you might not."
In Brown's world – a worldview shared by way too many motorists, on both sides of the Atlantic – cyclists should not be on roads, period/fullstop.
"Keep to dedicated bicycle paths – that is what they were intended for – not roads," he wrote.
The disregard for the road rights of cyclists – or perhaps the ignorance we have any at all – can be witnessed daily, sometimes at close quarters. Some motorists think nothing of squeezing in front of cyclists at build-outs, hence the need for (rare) signs such as the one above. Others, on country lanes, will barrel towards you at full speed as though you're not there, not flesh and blood: get out of the way, or get hit.
What are motorists thinking when they do this? Are they not thinking at all? Or do they genuinely believe cyclists are lesser beings? If so, at least part of this mindset is possibly due to the entitlement complex, the belief that motorists, and only motorists, pay for roads.
iPayRoadTax.com is an ironically-named campaign supporting the road rights of cyclists. The message that cyclists have equal rights on the roads is carried on iPayRoadTax t-shirts and jerseys.
This entry was posted on Thursday, July 14th, 2011 at 3:57 am	and is filed under No such thing as road tax!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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All content © 2022 by I Pay Road Tax


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Authored by a Symantec employee
Some 10 million identity thefts happen in the United States every year. Taking extra steps to protect your personal information—and knowing what information you need to safeguard—is the best way to prevent identity theft from happening to you. Let's review this information to help you protect yourself as much as possible:
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Norton Security Premium helps protect up to 10 of your Windows PCs, Macs, Android smartphones or your iPads.
With our no-risk offer, you can try before you buy – free for 30 days.
Low Sensitivity
Among the information considered "low risk" in regard to personal information sensitivity is your full name, address, and phone number.
Medium Sensitivity
Information regarded as "medium" in terms of sensitivity includes your date of birth, place of birth, and mother's maiden name.
High Sensitivity
The most sensitive information to protect includes your bank account numbers, social security number, pin numbers, credit card numbers, and passwords.
Other Sensitive Information
Additional sensitive information likely to attract identity thieves includes your usernames, places of employment, medical records, employment history, residential history, children's names and dates of birth, and even anniversary dates.
What You Can Do Offline
There are numerous ways to protect your information offline as well as online. Offline tasks include locking all financial documents and records within your home in a safe place. Consider investing in a small safe to further protect important documents.
It also helps to limit the amount of information you carry. Take only what you need on a daily basis, such as your identification, ATM card, and credit cards, but only the ones you use on a regular basis. If you have a credit card in your wallet that you never use, put it in a safe place. Never keep your social security card in your wallet, and leave any other bank information at home.
Another way to protect yourself offline is to shred sensitive information, including credit card offers and applications, receipts, insurance forms, physician statements, checks, bank statements, and old credit cards. If you don't need it anymore, get rid of it, but not before shredding. Identity thieves are notorious for looking through trash and applying for credit cards in other people's names, so ensure that doesn't happen to you. Many communities host shredding events where you can shred your documents safely.
It also helps to destroy labels on prescription bottles before throwing them out, and to request a hold on your mail while on vacation. If a company is asking you for information and you aren't sure why, just ask.
What You Can Do Online
Keeping your information secure online involves removing any pertinent data that's stored on your computer before you get rid of it. Just because the device is on its last legs doesn't mean it hasn't stored a wealth of personal information. The same is true of your mobile devices.
Using strong passwords is key to protecting your information online, so avoid using the same, easy-to-crack passwords, no matter how much you love your pet. Infuse each password with numbers and symbols to make it as difficult as possible to figure out.
Another way to safeguard your personal information online is to encrypt your data. Keeping your browser secure via encryption software guards online transactions, as it scrambles information sent over the Internet. Look for a "lock" icon on your browser status bar to make certain the information you send is protected. You should also use quality security software on all of your devices, and remember to update them regularly.
Protecting your information online also means not oversharing on social media. Make your Facebook page private, and do the same with Twitter and Instagram if you have the habit of posting about where you are and what you're doing all the time. The less you share on social media, the less chance there is of someone taking advantage.
Wi-Fi is another method by which identity thieves and hackers can steal your information, so stick to protected Wi-Fi options instead of using a different one every day at a different coffee shop. Stay alert of phishing emails as well, and know what to look for. In other words, don't ever open a file sent from someone you don't know.
Know what data is the most sensitive, and do everything you can to protect it!
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Create an account today and be up and running in minutes.
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(-) Remove Environment & Migration filter Environment & Migration
BCSC II: What's Next on the Research Agenda for Climate-related Migration and Displacement? | adelphi | 30.09.2020
What's Next on the Research Agenda for Climate-related Migration and Displacement? | 30.09.2020
BCSC II: Climate Change and a New Reality of Urban Displacement | IRC | 29.09.2020
Climate Change and a New Reality of Urban Displacement – Risks & Opportunities | IRC | 29.09.2020
Climate change, migration and the coronavirus pandemic
Signs of Progress: Environment and Conflict in the UN Security Council
Wim Zwijnenburg and Brittany Roser, PAX
PSI PAX 2020 - Signs of Progress Environment and Conflict in the UNSC
What is needed to fully tackle the complex challenges around the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts? Civil society, affected states and experts have struggled with this essential question for decades.
Migration, environment and climate change: Responding via climate change adaptation policy
Emily Wright, Dennis Tänzler and Lukas Rüttinger, adelphi
Wright et al 2020 - Migration, environment and climate change - responding via climate change adaptation policy
With the advance of climate change and environmental changes threatening livelihoods, their impacts on migration and displacement are receiving increasing attention in research, politics, and civil society. The issue is complex and multi-dimensional, with environmental changes affecting human mobility in diverse ways. The three reports in this series thus evaluate the evidence base for policymaking, and provide entry points for responses in the field of climate change adaptation.
Climate, environment, peace: Priorities for EU external action in the decade ahead
Stella Schaller and Lukas Rüttinger, adelphi
Map, Europe
The European Green Deal has made the environment and climate change the focus of EU action. Indeed, climate change impacts are already increasing the pressure on states and societies; however, it is not yet clear how the EU can engage on climate security and environmental peacemaking. In this light, and in the run-up to the German EU Council Presidency, adelphi and its partners are organising a roundtable series on "Climate, environment, peace: Priorities for EU external action in the decade ahead".
Climate Diplomacy Report of the German Foreign Office
German Federal Foreign Office
AA Climate Diplomacy Report 2019
Climate change is not only one of the greatest global challenges, but also gives the German Federal Foreign Office the opportunity in the area of foreign policy to support other countries and international organisations in dealing with the impact of climate change and in the transformation towards a climate-neutral economy.
Why climate change is foreign policy: The German Foreign Office Climate Diplomacy Report
desert seedling, climate diplomacy, foreign policy, climate change
Climate change will shift key coordinates of foreign policy in the coming years and decades. Even now, climate policy is more than just environment policy; it has long since arrived at the centre of foreign policy. The German Foreign Office recently released a report on climate diplomacy recognizing the biggest challenges to security posed by climate change and highlighting fields of action for strengthening international climate diplomacy.
Addressing the Land Degradation – Migration Nexus: The Role of the UNCCD
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Thumbnail_Land Degradation-Migration Nexus.png
Land remains the most fundamental asset for the majority of vulnerable populations living in developing countries, as their livelihoods are directly linked to agriculture. When desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) disrupt these livelihoods, migration is often the only option that remains. In new report, the SEI, the IOM and the UNCCD explore the links between land degradation and migration, looking into good practices and lessons learned and recommending policy approaches that address DLDD-specific migration.
Berlin Call for Action
Berlin Climate Security Conference
Berlin Call for Action 04 June 2019
There is increasing evidence that climate change is undermining livelihoods, food and water security in rural and urban areas around the world, thereby acting as a "threat multiplier" in fragile and conflict-prone situations. In light of this, the Berlin Climate and Security Conference, which took place at the German Federal Foreign Office on 4 June 2019, aimed at increasing the momentum for decisive action to address climate-related drivers of conflict.
Climate change an 'unconscionable' threat to peace: German foreign office
Megan Darby, Climate Home News
Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2019, John Kerry, Heiko Maas, German Federal Foreign Office
Governments must invest new effort and money to prevent climate change from driving new conflicts, according to a diplomatic statement drafted by the German foreign office.