In DR, I have Dakota descended from Queen Elizabeth I. I know that's a little obscure, but Elizabeth has flaming red hair. I couldn't help but make it happen. :)
So, here's the part from my book when Riko Ringold is explaining to Dakota her heritage. Any thing you want to say ( you think a certain historical fact is wrong, I misspelled something, etc.) please say it! ;)
Riko sat down again and sighed deeply. “I must now tell you about your heritage – honestly, I'd rather not, for it is tragic and riddled with despair, but it is vital for you to understand your perhaps most important ancestor.”
Dakota blinked and did not move, stunned yet excited to hear about this mysterious, tragic person.
“You are a descendant of Queen Elizabeth I, daughter of the infamous King Henry VIII. To refresh your memory – though I doubt it needs refreshed” – Dakota blushed, for she did not know who these people were – “King Henry VIII was the king of England a long time ago, and he is most remembered for his multitude of wives.”
Dakota wrinkled her nose. Multitude of wives?
“King Henry had three children over the course of his six wives. They were called Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward. After Henry, Edward became king, but he was weak and frail. He did not survive for very long. Mary became queen next. She is known as Bloody Mary, for good reason – she killed many people, at the order of Igdoscio.”
Dakota's old History class began to come back to her. “Mary worked for Igdoscio?”
“Yes. She had, according to our spies, been in his service since the age of fifteen. She was a most devoted servant.”
“How was she stopped? And – in all respect, sir – how does this relate to me?”
Riko chuckled grimly. “Patience. I'm getting to that. See – Elizabeth is particularly famous for her flaming red hair. She also had a fiery temper that she tried to control, with success.”
“So – you mean –” Dakota reached up and absentmindedly touched her own flaming hair. “Elizabeth was a phoenix?”
Riko nodded. “Precisely.”
“Wow …” said Dakota dreamily. “I never knew.”
“You wouldn't have known, either. Elizabeth isn't exactly a renowned legend among us Crotori. You'll see why in a minute.”
“Oh.” Dakota felt her awe diminishing.
“As you have figured out, Elizabeth is your ancestor. She joined the Crotori as soon as Mary rose to the throne, and Elizabeth tried to stop her from killing everyone. But, Elizabeth had her weaknesses. She was kind-spirited and did not want to kill Mary – she wanted Mary to repent of her ways and join the good side. But Mary was too far gone – you could see it in her eyes; that cold, steely wickedness. Elizabeth refused to accept Mary's fate, however, and continued her efforts to try and get through to Mary.”
“Did it work?” Dakota asked, though she knew the answer.
“No. Elizabeth was given the chance to kill Mary, but she couldn't. Or,rather, she wouldn't. Elizabeth thought that Mary would be grateful and responsive because Elizabeth had just saved her life, but she was wrong. When offered to join the good side, Mary just sneered in Elizabeth's face and ordered Elizabeth to be imprisoned in a tower for the rest of her life.”
“Did Igdoscio order that?”
“No. Igdoscio wanted Elizabeth dead – she was the Chosen One of her day, and as long as she was still alive, she was a threat to his rule. But, he made sure that Elizabeth was well watched. Besides, he had other things on his mind.”
“Like what?”
“The Havens – all around the world – were rallying against him. He kept them at bay, but while he was busy, Mary died. His forces had been withdrawn from England for a short period of time, and in that short period of time, Elizabeth was released from her prison and made queen. Igdoscio was furious – his plan was going completely wrong. His archenemy, the only one with the power to destroy him, made queen of England. Things couldn't have gone more wrong for him, and more right for us. Until we discovered what had really been going on.”
“What?” asked Dakota. Riko had her full attention now. “What happened?”
“Elizabeth, during her imprisonment, had been in shock. She had foolishly never even dreamed of Mary attacking her and imprisoning her. During this time she sank into a deep, deep depression. She did not want to fight any more battles. She wanted everyone to stop killing. She just wanted life to end, but she would not lower herself to commit suicide. She looked upon suicide as a 'thing only worms would dare to do' as she says in her diary. But sometimes, she wished that she did.”
Dakota began to feel ashamed of her ancestor. “What happened?”
“She retreated deep into herself,” Riko said sadly. “She became quiet, sullen. She was a good queen – she was dedicated to taking care of her people – but she refused to join our cause again, or join Igdoscio. In other words, she just gave up.
“Igdoscio was thrilled. His chance had finally come. He snuck into the palace and personally – personally! – attacked Elizabeth, though she wasn't a threat to him anymore. He just wanted her dead – it gave him a sort of uneasiness to know she was alive. But Elizabeth did not care. She welcomed death. She did not even put up a fight.”
Something her old History teacher had said nagged at Dakota. “But – didn't Elizabeth die alone? She wasn't married. She didn't have any children.”
“That's what the world thinks. She had secretly – very secretly – married a prince from another country and became pregnant. She did not want anyone to know because everyone did not want her to marry him because he was foreign. But when she couldn't hide the fact that she was married and pregnant anymore, she divorced the prince and gave the newly born baby to a family friend.”
“Oh.” Dakota felt ashamed of Elizabeth. Yet, there was something, something else –
“Riko?”
“Yes, Dakota?”
“Igdoscio – he's still alive today, isn't he?”
“Yes. Yes he is.” replied Riko heavily.
“Then how is he still alive? Elizabeth lived hundreds of years ago!”
Riko's face darkened. “We do not know. It is otherworldly, we are sure of that, but – we do not know the cause. We have tried to discover it for centuries, to no avail.”
Dakota bit her lip. There was a long silence between them as Dakota mentally processed what she had just heard. I'm a descendant of Queen Elizabeth … I'm a phoenix … Igdoscio's still alive … I'm a phoenix … I'm the Chosen One … I'm a phoenix …
“If you are ready, I can go show you the rest of the Haven,” Riko said gently.
“All – all right,” said Dakota, standing. She was kind of disappointed – she had just gotten used to this place, though in the back of her mind she had known that she would have had to leave eventually.
