Katherine Swynford & John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster

Born in 1350, Katherine Swynford was the daughter of Sir Payne de Roet, a Flemish herald from County of Hainaut. At the age of sixteen, Katherine Swynford married "Hugh" Ottes Swynford, a knight from the manor of Kettlethorpe in Lincolnshire. She had three children with him: Blanche, Thomas, and Margaret. Hugh Swynford died sometime before she started her affair, but the specific year is not know. She originally worked for John of Gaunt as a governess for his two children, Philippa of Lancaster and Elizabeth of Lancaster. The Duke's wife, Blanche, had Katherine's daughter Blanche (her namesake) placed into the same chambers and allowed the same luxuries of her daughters. John of Gaunt also served as the godfather to her daughter Blanche.

After Blanche died from the plague in 1369, Katherine and John of Gaunt started a love affair that would produce four children out of wedlock. Their relationship endured through the Duke's second marriage to Infanta Constance of Castile, and after she died in 1396, the couple finally married in Lincoln Cathedral. Unfortunately their marriage only lasted three years. John of Gaunt died three years later in 1399. Katherine outlived him by four years. Their four children are John Beaufort, Henry Beaufort, Thomas Beaufort, and Joan Beaufort.

Source

Wealtheow's Internal Monologue

During my time at Hart I've become quite the effective moderater. Even before I came here I stabilized the feud between my dear brother Hygmod and Hrothgar. Coming here at first was extremely difficult, I'll admit, but I believe I have found an importance place here at Hart. Now I feel as though my job is to maintain harmony between my newly acquired tribe. Life, after all, is all about balance. Although I miss my brother and the Helmings dearly, I have finally grown somewhat accustomed to life with Hrothgar. He is strong-willed and stubborn, but ever since the attacks the fire in his eyes that once was diminishes by the day. Although my grace has been said to cast spells over others, my presence has no power to cure Hrothgar's anxieties. He won't talk to me about his emotions, but I can tell by his tensed brow and somber expression that he is deeply tormented. Alas, I have no power to console his woes. Every day I pray for Grendel to leave us alone, so the ferocity and passion will return to my beloved husband. I dream of the day where the people of Hart can live in peace.

I also sense a deep disturbance within poor, orphaned Hrothulf. He such a gentile, quiet boy but I sense something, to be it into simple terms, different about him. Sometimes I watch him as he sleeps. At times his sleeping face is serene, like an undisturbed stream, but other times I can tell he's in the midst of a terrible nightmare. During times like these I feel as though I should wake him, but for some reason I cannot bring myself to. I cannot even fathom what he dreams about considering his past, but unfortunately I know that his troubles are far from over. Although I try to make him feel as accepted as my own two sons, he knows as well as I do that he is not the same as them. One days my babes, the ones in which Hrothulf treated as his brothers, will have supremacy and rulership over him. He does not acknowledge this of course, in fact he barely speaks at all. While other boys his age are roughhousing, fighting, or courting, he prefers to either be alone, or in the company of an old man I know to be named Ork. Although the relationship is strange, I'm glad he has found at least some companionship. I doubt that Hrothgar knows, for he's too consumed with his own issues.