HnH 2: Part VII: Chapter 1 - 2
Nov. 30th, 2009 10:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
caithionHabsburg no Houken, Book 2
Part VII - Daybreak on the Elbe
Chapter 1 - The Night Before Deployment
The winter of 1745, and the only topics on everyone's tongues are the birth of Therese's second son in February and what Friedrich is planning.
The allied army has Karl Alexander, with Khevenhüller as one of his subordinates, and Batthyány and the Hungarians. Eduard attaches himself to Khevenhüller and Batthyány's divisions, of course.
Before leaving Eduard begins to tie up all his loose ends. He's in a fatalistic mood, somehow, on the eve before his final showdown with Friedrich (it's all very personal for Eduard). He asks Andrássy to marry him, so she'll be provided for if anything should happen to him. She thinks it over for three days and tells him that instead she will return to Hungary. Without Eduard, living in Wien, where she has no friends and cannot speak the language has no appeal for her. So Franz Stefan sends some men to travel with her to Prague and see her safely returned to her family.
Kuyt's messenger arrives, and Eduard thanks him for his long service, but says that he no longer needs the updates on Friedrich. The messenger replies that Kuyt thought that would be his answer, and in that case, he was to give this last message, gratis. It corroborates with the information that the Austrian palace had gotten through other channels.
This leaves him only one last farewell. Eduard goes to visit Franz Stefan. First they debate the problem of France, with Eduard suggesting the young Böhmen nobleman, Rudolf Chotek, be sent as an envoy to scout out the situation in Paris. With that settled, Eduard plunges into his parting with the usual many reserve.
"There's no time to have a liesurely talk, so I'll just say it now. It's been thirteen years since I met you. I owe you many things. Thank you."
"Thirteen is an unlucky number. And tomorrow is Friday."
"Don't worry. I'll be back before your coronation. I have to attend it, after all."
"Of course, you have more right than anyone else. Hurry back. We'll go to Frankfurt together and ring the bells of Saint Bartholomeus' Cathedral."
(Jeez. This entire chapter was foreshadowing shoved down our throats.)
Chapter 2 - The Battle of Hohenfriedeberg
(This was an enormously long chapter, and amazing. Fujimoto is really in her element bringing battles to life. But... it doesn't have an enormous amount to do with the plot, so I'll condense it.)
The Austrian/Saxon army numbered about 60,000. Reports tagged the Prussians at 30,000, so the mood among the Prussians was pretty self-assured. Both sides were camped near Hohenfriedeberg on June 3, 1745. Friedrich marched his troops to attack during the night, leaving their campfires burning and tents up to confuse the Austrians.
At dawn, the Prussians attacked the Saxons and routed them, while the Austrian officers argued over what to do. (Fujimoto really loved to point out the inefficiency of the Austrian system.) Finally Khevenhüller declares that he'll form up a special devision to attack the Prussians and hold them back while the Austrian army is organized. Batthyány and Eduard both volunteer, although Khevenhüller points out that it's a suicide devision and nine out of ten men will die.
Yep, they're all killed. Friedrich is merciless, ordering the deaths of all of the division. Except Eduard. He faces a wounded and unhorsed Eduard and demands to know why he betrayed him. Eduard is unable to say a word, and finally simply hands over the gold sword piece that he received from Prince Eugene and has been wearing as an eye-patch.
"This is your answer?" Friedrich demands.
Eduard looses consciousness.
(Really, really loved this chapter. The descriptions of the foggy morning, the commraderie of the three. The desperate charge.)
Part VII - Daybreak on the Elbe
Chapter 1 - The Night Before Deployment
The winter of 1745, and the only topics on everyone's tongues are the birth of Therese's second son in February and what Friedrich is planning.
The allied army has Karl Alexander, with Khevenhüller as one of his subordinates, and Batthyány and the Hungarians. Eduard attaches himself to Khevenhüller and Batthyány's divisions, of course.
Before leaving Eduard begins to tie up all his loose ends. He's in a fatalistic mood, somehow, on the eve before his final showdown with Friedrich (it's all very personal for Eduard). He asks Andrássy to marry him, so she'll be provided for if anything should happen to him. She thinks it over for three days and tells him that instead she will return to Hungary. Without Eduard, living in Wien, where she has no friends and cannot speak the language has no appeal for her. So Franz Stefan sends some men to travel with her to Prague and see her safely returned to her family.
Kuyt's messenger arrives, and Eduard thanks him for his long service, but says that he no longer needs the updates on Friedrich. The messenger replies that Kuyt thought that would be his answer, and in that case, he was to give this last message, gratis. It corroborates with the information that the Austrian palace had gotten through other channels.
This leaves him only one last farewell. Eduard goes to visit Franz Stefan. First they debate the problem of France, with Eduard suggesting the young Böhmen nobleman, Rudolf Chotek, be sent as an envoy to scout out the situation in Paris. With that settled, Eduard plunges into his parting with the usual many reserve.
"There's no time to have a liesurely talk, so I'll just say it now. It's been thirteen years since I met you. I owe you many things. Thank you."
"Thirteen is an unlucky number. And tomorrow is Friday."
"Don't worry. I'll be back before your coronation. I have to attend it, after all."
"Of course, you have more right than anyone else. Hurry back. We'll go to Frankfurt together and ring the bells of Saint Bartholomeus' Cathedral."
(Jeez. This entire chapter was foreshadowing shoved down our throats.)
Chapter 2 - The Battle of Hohenfriedeberg
(This was an enormously long chapter, and amazing. Fujimoto is really in her element bringing battles to life. But... it doesn't have an enormous amount to do with the plot, so I'll condense it.)
The Austrian/Saxon army numbered about 60,000. Reports tagged the Prussians at 30,000, so the mood among the Prussians was pretty self-assured. Both sides were camped near Hohenfriedeberg on June 3, 1745. Friedrich marched his troops to attack during the night, leaving their campfires burning and tents up to confuse the Austrians.
At dawn, the Prussians attacked the Saxons and routed them, while the Austrian officers argued over what to do. (Fujimoto really loved to point out the inefficiency of the Austrian system.) Finally Khevenhüller declares that he'll form up a special devision to attack the Prussians and hold them back while the Austrian army is organized. Batthyány and Eduard both volunteer, although Khevenhüller points out that it's a suicide devision and nine out of ten men will die.
Yep, they're all killed. Friedrich is merciless, ordering the deaths of all of the division. Except Eduard. He faces a wounded and unhorsed Eduard and demands to know why he betrayed him. Eduard is unable to say a word, and finally simply hands over the gold sword piece that he received from Prince Eugene and has been wearing as an eye-patch.
"This is your answer?" Friedrich demands.
Eduard looses consciousness.
(Really, really loved this chapter. The descriptions of the foggy morning, the commraderie of the three. The desperate charge.)
