(no subject)

[likemypicture]

 Parents aren’t supposed to have favorites. 

Aunts, on the other hand, are allowed a bit more leeway. 

Red is beloved by birthright-- She is a daughter of the country Anna once served as queen to, after all. Anna had been fiercely protective of her from the very moment she knew it-- it hadn’t been enough to protect the girl from the opera house, but she finds some bit of joy in knowing that the girl had Richard with her, during those horrible weeks-- and that Richard had opened his kingdom, his home, and his heart to the brave young girl. Anna may have fought him for custody, if she knew about custody battles, but her lifestyle wasn’t yet suitable for children. Instead, she happily watched her blossom into a lovely young princess-- and when that princess begins to grow up, Anna dutifully shares with her all of the advices that her mother, a german princess herself, had shared with a young princess Anna von der Mark. 

Rowen was the first that she got to see as an infant-- a real life baby, small and perfect and amazing, even when he spat up on her fancy, sparkling gowns. Anna would spend hours singing to him, taking him on walks in the garden, and on more than one occasion, Roberta wondered to herself if Anna remembered whose baby this was. While she always returned him (with the exception of one time when she very nearly did not), there was always a bit of a pout accompanied with it. As he grows, her pride in him blossoms— she sees him become a boy that reminds her of William, passionate and duty bound, and into a dashing young man, with the wisdom his father had taken fifty years to form. She teases him about every maid she sees, and when he’s old enough, she brings him sprigs of Edelweiss to give to whomever he wishes— but not before reminding him firmly of the symbolism. Growing only in the highest mountains of the alps, collected only by the most daring of mountaineers, it’s a sign of love and devotion. 

The only thing that makes Anna weep more than him giving half to his mother is when he returns the other half to his beloved Aunt Anna.

Regina comes next— Richard’s joyous announcement that it’s a girl, the sincerity in his voice, makes Anna kiss him with pure joy. Rumors are sent through the castle and the countryside for months, as a result. For what it’s worth, she also kisses Roberta when she gets the chance. She does pout quite a bit, when she hears the child’s name—- but having now met Regina herself, she understands some of Richard’s fear of his ex wife. So, with little complaint other than her expressions, she teases Richard about the importance of ex wives, of second born children (Anna being the second of the von der Mark children) and rocks Regina carefully. As she grows, Anna feeds her a steady supply of stories of powerful women, of girls who could, and did. She grew up in a household with powerful, inspiring and unique women, and she intends to make sure her niece has the same opportunity. It wasn’t infrequent at all for one of the other Queens to make an appearance, with toned down versions of their stories and gifts. Anne Boelyn doesn’t tone it down because she’s Anne Boelyn, and when Richard tries to send Princess Regina to bed early one night for being a menace, she wails “Don’t take my head!!!” and everyone looks at Anna, who raises her hands in defense. “It wasn’t me!”

Rosanna is the child that makes Anna stop pouting about names. She is the second Anna to have a godmother Anna, and everyone hears about this fact constantly. She is proudly holding Rosanna and cooing at her when her brother is announced, and Ransom shows up— Anna is nearly removed from the delivery room for the amount of yelling she does while holding a newborn. The twins are a delight— and not just because having double babies means Anna has double the opportunity to hold a baby. She relishes in the fact that neither of them will ever have to be alone, and as both newborns, and their family sleep, Anna stays up throughout the entire night, hunched over a blanket with a needle and golden thread. It’s worth it—- in the morning, Ransom has a blanket that matches the one Anna has made for Rosanna. Both children are swaddled safely within blankets embroidered with the symbol of Cleves. Anna falls asleep in her porridge at breakfast, causing a good bit more scandal, but it’s worth it. She keeps them both fed with stories from home— a particular favorite is of the Swan Knight, a beautiful and spectacular knight who rescued an equally beautiful princess. They fell in love, and he promised to always stay, as long as she never asked his origin story. Anna leaves off the ending, as it’s always seemed too sad. When Ransom cries because Regina’s been picking on him again, Anna soothes him with gentle words, and the story of the time where her sister chucked her pinking shears at Anna because she was so annoyed with her—- Anna even shows him the tiny scar on her forehead from it. 

But there’s something of a special connection between Anna and Rosanna. She knows better than to express, or give any hint as to having a favorite in front of any of the other children. But there’s something there. One night during dinner, a “Ja!” rings out— and the entire family freezes, because Anna is not visiting at that time. The source was little Rosanna. Rosanna always laughs at Anna’s jokes, and Anna always laughs at hers. As soon as the Princess is old enough for her own room, Anna’s visits often contain slumber parties with Rosanna, and on her twelfth birthday, she’s given a locket with Anna’s personal seal engraved upon it. Cleves may be gone, and Anna may not have the land to pass on— but she does still have her title. With Roberta and Richard’s eventual blessing, she leaves it to Rosanna. But she waits to reveal this, leaving the title as a gift only revealed in Anna’s final will. 

Rosanna's not surprised when she finds out. But she is touched, even if it’s hard to express it in the moment. She’s always in a part of her heart known this was who she was. 

Rosanna of Cleves.