Behind The Scene Stories: Queen Anne's Children Part 1

"Queen Anne's Children"

I mentioned one of Queen Anne's sons, Alcyone on my last volume of "Introducing Queen Anne and Queen Anne Illustration Series". So, apart from illustrations, today I will share a little stories behind the scene and'll talk about Queen Anne's Children.

Covert: If you would like this entry to make more sense, please read earlier entries of "About Queen Anne Illustration Series". This series is work in progress. So, you might see some changes or additions as the story goes.

There are 3 beautiful sons, and one adapted daughter between Queen Anne and King James.
They are all living happily now. But, of course there were some difficult lessons in their life too. But, both Queen Anne and James know that even some misfortunes that they encountered were for them to be where they are right now. Here goes their stories...

A year after Queen Anne and King James got married, they got 4 children. Both Queen Anne and King James were so happy, and Queen Anne named them Regel, Alcyone, Shedar, and Atlas after the stars of her favorite constellations, Pleiades, Orion, and Cassiopeia. It was Queen Anne's prayer for each one of her children to shine like a star in their own light.
However, just like many other bird parents, they also encountered misfortune of losing one of their children, Atlas. It happened when they were about to start flying lessons. On the day of their first flying lessons, King James was suddenly called to visit the far forest due to some security issues. Although Queen Anne was little hesitant to do the lesson on her own, since some of the little ones were already trying to fly on their own, and it is indeed mom's job, they both agreed to do the lesson as it was initially planned.

As the lesson started, things were actually going smoothly in the begining. Queen Anne first flew down to the ground fluttering her wings to show the little ones an example, then waited for them to do the same under the tree. The first one who jumped was Shedar, the most active one, safely got to the ground. It was pretty good. And then, Regel followed. He was little bit short jumper, but, succeeded too. Alcyone and Atlas were hesitating for a while talking with each other which one go first. But, finally, Atlas pushed Alcyone's back, and Alcyone closed his eyes and jumped from the nest. Though he hit his face on the ground, he also passed the first lesson.
And right about time Atlas was trying to jump from the edge of the nest, it happened.
The large snake who was secretly hiding in the bush of the tree suddenly appeared from above. And using his long body, he soundlessly approached Atlas, and swallowed him in a matter of a second.
"Atlas!!"
Queen Anne's felt her heart got just frozen. She immediately darted up to the snake and attacked his head pecking real hard with her bill. But it was too late. The snake quickly turned away, coiling around his long body on high branches one by one, disappeared into the bushes.

This tragedy devastated both Queen Anne and King James. Queen Anne cried and cried day after day, blaming herself for her carelessness, and for not being able to save Atlas. King James also blamed himself for not being able to be there for his own children while he was taking care of the Kingdom first.
It was very hard time for both Queen Anne and King James. While going through grieving, they also had to face their own inadequecy and responsibility as leaders.
A year later, right about time things were finally getting back to normal between them, another great tradedy hit the neighbor couple who just got married and were trying to have children.
This time, the preditor was a hungry hawk. He attacked the nest right after the babies were hatched from eggs. Both parents fought to death to protect their babies, but in the end, the hawk was just too strong. Despite their brave fight, not only they both died from their injuries, but most of babies were also gone....there was only one survivor left on the broken nest. That was Maia.
Needless to say, this incident brought great sorrow to both Queen Anne and King James. At the same time, they felt great symathy as well as affection for this baby girl, and they decided to take her under their wings and adapted her as their dauther.

They bot felt it was meant. Not only the adoption brought healing to their past wound, cheerful Maia has truly become a joy of their life.

Fortunately, no major misfortune hit the family afterward, and children are all grown up now.

Next time, I will introduce little more about each one of Queen Anne's Children.

Love, Yoshika