Two Kingdoms 49 - Borders

[DerynifanK]

Based on the way you write about them, I think you favor Charissa over Kelson and the Haldanes. I don't think she will ever take all of Gwynedd but I'm not sure two kingdoms could coexist without constant warfare. Don't at this time see favorable outcomes for either side but I do think I detect some bias here.
And it took 49 chapters for you to write about them at all, not sure but I guess you wanted a story from Charissa's POV

[DoctorM]

I am thinking about the endgame here. The possibilities:

1. Charissa wins, governs all Gwynedd, still has to fight Wencit.

2. Kelson wins, governs all Gwynedd, still has to fight Wencit.

3. Stalemate. Gwynedd is divided in two for the foreseeable future. At some point-- in the future --there's a reunion (via perhaps a royal marriage) a generation or two after the characters have passed away.

4. Chaos. The Eleven Kingdoms turn into a snake pit for a generation or two and some new power arises.

I'm not at all sure how things should go.

[Evie]

Not gonna lie, I'm a little torn here. I'm mean, I'm totally pro-Kelson, but you write such a compelling Charissa, I'd almost hate to see her downfall unless she can have some equally compelling, epic end. I can also imagine some sort of resolution via marriage alliance, especially since children can be betrothed and are considered adults at 14, so I can imagine them having a Royal Council carefully selected from both sides to help guide them in their earlier years. The most likely problem I see is that Kelson and Charissa are unlikely to die at the same time, but maybe it could be like a Ferdinand and Isabel style marriage alliance where the young Queen-to-be is the sovereign of her half and the young King-to-be is heir to his, and they co-rule Gwynedd with the understanding that the kingdoms will be reunited under their firstborn son. (Of course that would likely require some rewriting of one or both Kingdom's inheritance laws, but I can see that being incorporated into the peace agreement.)

Even if neither Kelson or Charissa are willing to go for this solution, I can see their kids eventually getting fed up and proposing a marriage alliance to settle the matter, then dealing with any surviving parent(s) as required if they aren't already on board with the idea.

Chaos for a generation is also a possibility, true, and it's not like there isn't ample real world precedent, but I think after too much chaos, the common folk might start to get fed up and wonder if there might not be other systems of government out there to explore, or your original kingdom might end up becoming just a bunch of splintered factions, independent city-states, and war lords.... 😅

Based on the way you write about them, I think you favor Charissa over Kelson and the Haldanes.

Of course he favors Charissa! That's like saying I show a little bit of bias in my stories towards Duncan McLain! 🥰😂

[revanne]

I don't see either 1 or 2 happening - it's more likely that Wencit would sweep in and finish the victor.

I am thinking that a mixture of 3 & 4 is quite plausible - Gwynedd is divided but stability is impossible to attain, and Wencit's heir is an ever present threat, so that both Charissa and Kelson's heirs decide to marry and reunite the two Kingdoms.

Or one does not have an heir and cedes their right to the other's heir.

A bit like what happened in the 1150's when stalemate of the Matilda/Stephen conflict was resolved after Stephen's son died by deciding that Stephen should continue to reign as King but be succeeded by Matilda's son who became Henry II.

I would imagine in any case that the Mearan separatists take their chance for regained independence- it would be fun to speculate a Mearan conquering Gwynedd but size and geography are against it.

I have loved this different perspective Dr M.

[DoctorM]

I once wrote (but didn't use) a scene where a particularly clueless envoy from one of the Connaiti states (Fenwick?) told Charissa that if only she were single, she could solve the problem of the Gwynedd Wars simply by marrying Kelson. Christian's first (totally deadpan) comment was, "And you put the body...where?" Charissa's own comment was that she was never one to be struck speechless, but this was an exception...

[DoctorM]

You know, Revanne, I like the comparison to Stephen and Matilda. One of my favorite historical novels is Cecilia Holland's "The Earl"  ("Hammer for Princes" in the UK edition) about a Norman early dealing with the Stephen v. Matilda wars.

[revanne]

I don't know that, it sounds like a good read.

[Demercia]

I'm really enjoying this too, it's good to see things from a different perspective.  I'd go for option 3 with a bit of 4, though tbh I think it more likely that Kelson's half would degenerate into chaos than Charissa's.

[revanne]

I'm really enjoying this too, it's good to see things from a different perspective.  I'd go for option 3 with a bit of 4, though tbh I think it more likely that Kelson's half would degenerate into chaos than Charissa's.

Which suggests that a couple of generations down the line, there would be pressure for the country to reunite under Charissa's descendants.

[DoctorM]

I don't know that, it sounds like a good read.

Revanne-- it's very good, as is Cecilia Holland's "Kings in Winter" and "The Firedrake". Her early novels are wonderful.

[DerynifanK]

Sadly I think the third option is the most likely. I don't think either of the two contenders is able to beat the other. And of course Wencit is watching ready to take advantage of a defeat on either side. I hope they can work out a way to coexist peacefully for the sake of their people. There was so much death and destruction during the Stephen/Matilda conflicts until they literally wore each other out.Hope that can be avoided and their heirs might solve it through royal marriage. Peace would be a blessing for both sides,

[DerynifanK]

I'm really enjoying this too, it's good to see things from a different perspective.  I'd go for option 3 with a bit of 4, though tbh I think it more likely that Kelson's half would degenerate into chaos than Charissa's.

Why do you think chaos more likely for Kelson?

[Evie]

I'm really enjoying this too, it's good to see things from a different perspective.  I'd go for option 3 with a bit of 4, though tbh I think it more likely that Kelson's half would degenerate into chaos than Charissa's.

Why do you think chaos more likely for Kelson?

Because he's currently very young and therefore has less life experience and probably more of a tendency to react quickly and prematurely rather than take time to fully think through his decisions before acting (since after all he is still an adolescent whose brain is still forming), and while in the canonical universe some of that inexperience and impulsiveness is tempered by having older and wiser advisors who for the most part work well together despite occasional differences (such as the friction between Alaric and Arilan), in this AU Kelson's supporters appear to have some factions that could end up being a weakness Charissa could exploit. Or even if she doesn't, I think Kelson could find himself in a game of tug-of-war between two or more supporting factions, each trying to convince the King that their (conflicting) advice is the best.

[DoctorM]

Evie-- I think you're quite right.

[DerynifanK]

He has 3 years of war under his belt and while things have not always gone as we would have liked, I think he might surprise people? Even Evie, if given the chance.