A/N: Caoilainn is pronounced Kaylin and Ó'Murchadha is the traditional Irish spelling of Murphy. This story is a vastly A/U story from both Regin the TV show an from history. I own nothing

Everyone across both Protestant and Catholic Europe knew the two young Queens who fought for their places in a male-dominated world. Queen Elizabeth Tudor and Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. As Elizabeth waited for her half-sister's health to fail, and Mary fought to secure her alliance with France, there was one other young Queen who called the islands home.

The newly crowned, Queen Caoilainn Ó'Murchadha, eldest child of the late King Alroy was now the Queen of Ireland.

Caoilainn was considered a beauty in her homeland. Any of the Irish Nobles would give their entire wealth for their son to marry the Queen. Her Father had been handling negotiations with many homegrown and foreign suitors before he passed. Caoilainn was most assuredly not your typical beauty. The Queen was a woman of above average height. She towered over most other women and even some men of her court. For this reason, you would rarely catch her in heeled shoes; no Caoilainn would instead wear flat shoes or no shoes at all.

From a very young age, the Princess knew her beauty had power over the boys in her father's court. Her hair, the most identifying of her features, was never tied up in the fancy way you saw other ladies handle their tresses. Caoilainn never wore her flame-red curls in any way other than hanging loosely around her. Unless she was hunting or travelling, then you might catch a glimpse of her hair pulled back into two braids, but never any more than that.

The vibrant red of her hair only served to accentuate the common completion of an Irish-Women. The Queen's skin was soft, pale and spotted with freckles in a band across her nose running under her sparkling emerald eyes. Eyes that smiled as she spoke, and dance when she sang.

Unlike the loud, brassy voice of her father, Caoilinn has a much softer, more melodic voice. A voice that floated over the roar of her sibling and proved apt at handing her Fathers Council after his passing. A council that insisted she marry, and soon. Yet, an easy task that is not.

This was the Queen of Ireland. Young, beautiful and determined to continue leading her people in the best way possible. She would continue to promote and allow freedom of religious belief and expression. To continue trade with the Nordic countries, with Greece and exploration into the new world. This was Caoilinn, and she needed a husband.

The Royal Family of Ireland was intermingled in nearly every Royal Family in Europe to some degree no matter if they knew it or not. Most southern European countries couldn't tell an Irish-born from Scotsmen. Inbreeding, was a much more critical concern to the Irish than it seemed to be to other royals. King Alroy was sure to explain to his children why they could not wed, why they could not marry their cousins or the siblings of their spouses, should their spouses pass on. So the Queen had to be careful.

The late King Alroy had 15 living, what others would call legitimate children. From his wife, Queen Ceili. He also had six living, what others would call bastard-born children, from various Mistresses. No matter the mother, all children of the King were in line for the Irish throne. So, in all 21 children in the line of succession for the throne of Ireland at this time. King Alroy was one of 18 children from his parents. Caoilainn had every intention of continuing that tradition. No one, not Elizabeth Tudor, not Mary Stuart, not the damned Spanish would take her throne from her.

Her people counted on her to keep them safe, to guide them and help them find their way. Her people were Catholics, and they were Protestants, they were druids and pagans too. In Ireland it didn't matter what another believed in, worshipped or lived for meant little so long as you were Irish. That was what mattered. The Royal Line of the House of Ó'Murchadha had been the Royal House of the Emerald Isle for over 300 years. So why did their newly crowned Queen, leave her eldest younger brother, her current heir, Prince Alroy, Prince of the Isle, Duke of Mayo and Viscount Mountgarret, as regent? Why was she on a ship bound for France? Caoilinn knew who she wanted as her husband. It was just a matter of if he would accept and his Father would understand. She was unsure if this trip would be for nothing since things were different in Ireland than they were in most European countries, her sought after husband may well not make the return trip to her beloved Erin Isle with her as she wished.