Time for another entry in Friday Fictioneers challenge, courtesy of Rochelle Wissof-Fields. If you want to give it a try, check the info on her blog. 100 words more or less, inspired by a photo, here we go….
Copyright – Claire Fuller
King’s daughter, they call me.
We landed in this strange place a fortnight ago, long line of husbands waiting on the wharf. I wonder who was on display? Husbands longing for soft breasts and strong thighs, or wives looking for a full purse and absence of heavy hand.
A fortnight later, my constant companion misfortune reared its ugly head. Husband sprawled across our bed, my wedding gown shredded to pieces…Wiping my bloody nose and nursing a broken arm, I shiver in the corner, trying to make myself invisible.
King’s daughter, they call me. I would laugh, but I am choking on my blood.
Arrival of the Brides - Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale
Learn something new every day – this is one of the principles of my life journey. This week’s photo challenged my inspiration in a most unusual way – a statue, a king, King Lear, his daughters, king’s daughters —> King’s Daughters or Fille du Roi, 800 young French women who immigrated to New France between 1663 and 1673 as part of a program sponsored by Louis XIV.
The program was designed to boost Canada’s population both by encouraging male immigrants to settle there, and by promoting marriage, family formation and the birth of children. While women and girls certainly immigrated to New France both before and after this time period, they were not considered to be filles du roi, as the term refers to women and girls who were actively recruited by the government and whose travel to the colony was paid for by the king.
Imagine the stories, the lives, happy endings and tragedies.
Powerful and disturbing, nice job!
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Thank you.
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This was worthy of several reads. I really liked the way not too much was given away, yet the violence, menace and hopelessness came through strongly. Well done!
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Thank you, Sandra. I believe sometimes a whisper can be more powerful than the thunder.
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A lovely/tragic/hopeful bit of history. Well told story in a short 100 words.
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Thank you very much.
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Enough truth in that to make it very uncomfortable.
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Yes, truth can be just that – uncomfortable. Thank you.
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There’s a whole book’s worth of story in your 100 words – well written.
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Thank you, I was well inspired.
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Poor thing. Very disturbing. Very well written. Lucy
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Thank you, Lucy. So many untold sad stories through out human history.
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Really moving piece.
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Thank you.
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Lore`, Hopefull most of the wives did better than that getting a brute like that. She’ll be lucky to reach her first wedding anniversary. I suppose then he’ll order another wife. 😦 Good story and well written. 🙂 —Susan
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Who knows how her story ended, maybe the husband ran out of luck. Thank you, Susan.
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Lore`, Sorry for the typo. I had too many “that’s.” 🙂 —Susan
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No worries, it happens to me too often. 😉
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Dear Loré,
Definitely not a happily ever after story. Powerfully disturbing. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thank you, Rochelle.
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This was powerful and chilling.
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Thank you, Lynda.
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yes, I remember reading about that!! Well told and very sad!!!
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Thank you, I just found out about that little piece of history and was intrigued.
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A wonderful piece of powerful writing that will stay with me for a while. My only quibble would be the lack of an article on ‘Fortnight later,’ – for me it jarred, i’d have preferred ‘A fortnight later.’ But who cares, this was amazing.
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Thank you for your kind words. I was on the fence about that, but when I read it out loud, I liked it best this way. And since English is not my first language, I can always claim ignorance. 🙂
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well, if English isn’t your first language then I’m doubly impressed 🙂
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Thank you! 😀
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Chilling to say the least. The last line especially, well done.
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Thank you!
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Merci.
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You’re welcome.
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What at tragic story. Well written. Thanks for the piece of history.
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You are welcome and thank you.
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Powerful and tragic story, and thanks for the little bit of history. I hadn’t heard of that before.
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Thank you. It’s nice to stumble on a piece of history that was unknown to us.
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well described situation in this very short story. i also did not know the historical background so thank you for elaborating.
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Thank you for your kind words, it’s always nice to learn something new.
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