A VOICE FROM HEAVEN (July - August 1424)
DOMREMY, FRANCE - At the Church of St. Remi, Joan of Arc was shown praying to herself at the front of the church. It was something she did often. In fact, most twelve year old girls didn't attend church or pray as much. Especially on a day where there was no church service.

"The girl is too pious for her own good." the rumors said about Joan.

"There is nothing wrong with wanting to be closer to God." the rumors persisted around town.

"Well at this point Joan is almost right next to him." quipped the rumors.

And they were not far from the truth either. In fact, God was about to be even closer to Joan that was rumored. Perhaps even too close for Joan.

"Joan!" a voice suddenly calls out, as Joan continues to pray silently.

Joan opens her eyes for a moment and looks around, but no one is there, not even Father Monnet. Joan now goes back to praying, not thinking anymore about it.

"JOAN!" the voice is now loud and clear, echoing in the empty church.

Joan now stops praying altogether and begins to look around. She now stops in front of the stained glass windows in the back of the church, behind the altar. She now looks at all the detailed pictures showing the history of Christ's life on earth.

"Joan, heed my call." the voice now commands her. "The time has come."

While Joan continues to stare at the stained glass windows in some sort of trance, Father Monnet is now shown exiting his study in the church. He now sees Joan standing there. He now casually walks up behind her and says to her....

"Joan,  I am surprised to see you today." the Father asks Joan. "What are you doing here, my child?"

Father Monnet gets no response from the silent Joan at all. Father Monnet now walks around to the front of Joan. He now sees that Joan's eyes are wide as saucers, with tears flowing down her cheeks. He now tells her...

"Joan!" the Father tells her in a surprised tone.

He still gets no response from Joan. Father Monnet now puts his hands on Joan's shoulders and upper arms. He now shouts at her....*

"JOAN!" the Father says loud enough with authority in his tone. "WAKE UP, MY CHILD!"

Joan finally snaps out of whatever trance she was in. She now sees Father Monnet standing before her, with a very concerning look on his face. Father Monnet now tells Joan as she slowly regains her senses....

"Welcome back, my child." the Father now tells her sarcastically.

"What ever do you mean, Father?" Joan now asks Father Monnet as she wipes the tears from her eyes.

"What I mean is...." the Father now asks Joan. "What was that all about, Joan?"

"It was nothing, Father." Joan now tells him seriously, nodding her head in agreement. "It was absolutely nothing."

"Well you could have fooled me, my child." the Father now tells Joan. "Almost like you were someplace else."

"I've always been here." Joan now tells him seriously.

"I suppose you are right, Joan." the Father now says to her "You are always here, more often than not."
 
"But not anymore, Father." Joan now tells him abruptly "Cause I have to go."

"Go, my child?" the Father now asks Joan, who now begins to walk away from him. "Go where?"

Joan does not even answer Father Monnet anymore, as she now begins to leave church rather quickly. Father Monnet now shouts at her, as she reached front doors of the church. "PLEASE DO NOT GO, JOAN! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU!"

"I'M SORRY, FATHER! BUT THERE IS NO TIME!" Joan now shouts back to the Father. "I AM ALREADY NEEDED ELSE WHERE NOW!"

Joan now exits the church quickly, without saying another word to Father Monnet, who looks on in confused amazement. He now says to himself....

"Of course, you are, Joan." the Father says to himself, as he begins head back towards his study. "Flee for now, my child."

Father Monnet now opens the door to his study, while continuing to talk to himself.... "But you will return to me. When the time is right."

Father Monnet enters the study and closes the door behind him, as he says to himself.... "And I will be ready."

Outside the Church of St. Remi, the frightened Joan is now shown fleeing from whatever she heard in the church. She runs into the nearby green fields of the Meuse that surrounds the church. Joan collapses to her back in the middle of the field and begins weeping openly while laying there. She now looks towards the sky and the bright sun, thinking to herself about what is to come next and her future.


ROUEN, FRANCE - Meanwhile, around the time Joan was in the Church of St. Remi talking with Father Monnet, a ship was shown arriving at the port in the city of Rouen in the English occupied area of northern France. A entire platoon of English men-at-arms, knights, archers, and workers are there to greet the people arriving. The commander of the army stands in front of the platoon, along with another man. This other man appears to be a bishop of some sort, from way he is dressed in fancy red and white church robes.

As the people now leave the ship, one man now walks towards them and it now catches their attention. From his appearance, it is now shown to be John, Duke of Bedford. The commander of the army now greets the Duke....

"Duke of Bedford." the man now tells the Duke. "It is an honor that you have arrived in France on such short notice."

The Duke now tells the man abruptly "Yes. I am sure it is."

The Duke now begins wave the platoon of soldiers away from his presence as he tells the man...."And you may dispatch with all this pomp and circumstances, Salisbury. You already know why I am here."

The Duke of Bedford now glances over at the platoon and then back to the Earl. He now tells him. "I am here to take command of this bunch of ragtags you call an army."

Thomas Montagu, Earl of Salisbury now begins to follow behind the Duke and the Bishop. He now tells the Duke...."RAGTAGS?! This is one of the finest armies in all of England, Duke!"

The Duke now stops and turns to the Earl. He now begins chastise him. "And that is problem isn't it?"

The puzzled Earl of Salisbury now asks the Duke. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

"THIS IS FRANCE! NOT ENGLAND!" the Duke now yells at the Earl. "It seems you have forgotten the difference, I am afraid."

"You seriously do not believe that, do you?" the Earl now asks the Duke seriously.
 
"OH! But I Do. This army has become very lax in the recent months, Salisbury. And as it's commander, you must either step up or step aside."

"I understand, Duke." the Earl now tells the Duke.

"Good man." the Duke now looks around at the gathered people, but he can't find the person he is looking for. He then tells the Earl. "And where is Phillip the Good? I must speak to him at once."

"The Duke of Burgundy is not here, Duke. He is taking care of other pressing matters at the moment. But no need to worry, the situation is under control." the Earl now tells the Duke.

"UNDER CONTROL?!  From what I understand, the situation has become rather dire." the Duke now tells the Earl.

"DIRE?!" The Earl now exclaims. "I promise you that the situation is still well in hand."

"IN HAND?!" The Duke now blurts out. "Letting Verneuil fall into the bloody hands of the damn French is NOT what I would call it, Salisbury!"

"A minor set back, Duke." The Earl now says calmly. "I can assure you."

"You can assure me NOTHING!" The Duke now tells him. "Verneuil is very important to the war effort! WE CAN NOT lose it!"

"Of course not." the Earl now says to the Duke in agreement.

"So just be glad I am now here to take it back." the Duke tells the Earl confidently.

"And what makes you so sure of that?" the Earl now asks the Duke.

Before the Duke can even speak, the Bishop now speaks up for the Duke and tells the Earl. "Providence, my son. God is with us."

The Earl now just nods his head and the Duke tells him as he a gives a sly smile...."Bishop Cauchon is right, Salisbury. Nothing will stand in our way."

The Earl of Salisbury now looks over at Pierre Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais. The Bishop now gives the Earl a slight bow of the head. The Earl now returns it as he tells the Duke...."If you say so."

"I do say so, Earl." the Duke now tells the Earl seriously "Faith is just as important as anything else in this war."

"I understand." the Earl now tells the Duke.

"Good." the Duke now says confidently to the Earl. "Come now, we must begin our  preparations for taking back Verneuil."

The Earl nods his head to the Duke and Bishop, as he says to himself quietly....."You keep the faith, Duke. As for myself, I still need something more than just faith. I like to have a back up plan. Just in case."

The Duke, the Earl, and the Bishop now continue to walk towards the city of Rouen away from the port area, plotting their next moves.   


DOMREMY, FRANCE - About a month later, the twelve year old Joan of Arc was out shepherding her family's flock of sheep in the field of the Meuse near the Church of St. Remi. While continuing to watch over the sheep as they grazed in the rich green meadows, Joan began to think to herself....."Why have they chosen me?  I am just a teenage girl."

And they referring to whatever is behind the voice she continues to constantly hear, no matter where she goes.

"And why won't they just go away?" Joan now thinks to herself in silence. "I do not want  this burden."

And she is right, the voice will not go away. Cause no matter how hard she tries to ignore the voice, it just keeps getting louder and more consistent. It is as if it the voice is prepping Joan for some higher and greater purpose.

"Why can I tell somebody about this burden too?" Joan now asks herself. "Cause nobody would ever believe me. They would just think I was going crazy."

"Oh how I wish Louis was still around." Joan now exclaims out loud. "But he's not."

And poor Joan was right. Her only true friend since birth, Louis De Conte, had recently left Domremy at the age of fourteen. And the rumors going around town is that he was now training to become a knight now. In fact, it is believed he became the squire under Sir Durand Laxart. And of all the knights in northern France to learn from, Sir Durand was probably the best choice. Cause even though he was a loyal and dutiful knight,  he was a still a good and honest man at heart. Plus, Sir Durand was someone Joan and her family knew very well. In fact, he is actually related to Joan through her mother, Isabelle Romee. Married to her older sister, effectively making him Joan's uncle.

"He's probably having the time of his life with my uncle." Joan now says to herself. "Uncle Durand is a good man. Much better than my father."

Now Joan's father, Jacques de Arc was also a good man. A hard working man who didn't have the time of day to worry about Joan or her problems, but still a good man. And unbeknownst to her, he still deeply cared for her and her well being as any father would. He just didn't know how to show it sadly.

"And I am still stuck here." Joan now looks around the field and says, "Stuck here with these voices in my head sadly."

"And this flock of sheep." Joan now looks at her sheep and tells them "So I guess it isn't so baaaad!"

Joan now laughs to herself at her silly joke as the bells of the Church of St. Remi start ringing in the distance. Joan now immediately turns her attention towards the church. She now bows her head and begins to pray to herself.

As the bells of the church continue the ring out, the angelic sound of angels singing now fills the air, as well. Joan is now startled by this. She now stops praying and looks around, directly towards the Church of St. Remi. After the church bells stop ringing out, a bright and brilliant light now shines down on the church from the cloud covered sky. Joan now just falls to her knees in amazement at this sight.

"JOAN!" the voice now calls out to her.

"What do you want from me?" Joan now answers back, with tears in her eyes.

"The time has come." the voice answers back.

"What time?" Joan now asks.

"The time for your salvation is at hand." the voice now tells her.

"MY SALVATION?!" Joan now calls out in awe. "OH....MY.....GOD!"

Joan now begins to weep tears of utter joy as the voice now tells her...."Yes, my child. The salvation of your soul is at hand."

Joan just nods her head and she continues to listen to the voice.

"And the salvation of France itself." the voice now declares. "This is your mission, my child."

"But why me? Why now?" Joan now asks the voice.

"Do not question the will of God." the voice now commands her. "Just have faith, my child."

Joan just nods her head in agreement and says. "Please, tell me what I must do."

"Patience, my child. Now is not the time." the voice now says "But the answers will be revealed to you in time."

"I understand." Joan now answers back.

"Very good." The voice now tells her as it begins to fade away "Let My will be done."

After light now disappears from the church and goes back behind the clouds in the sky. Joan is now all alone in the field of the Meuse, along side her sheep. Joan now lays in the green meadows, and continues to cry tears of utter joy at what she had just heard.

THE BATTLE OF VERNEUIL (17th of August 1424)
John, Duke of Bedford's arrival in France assume leadership of the English Army had proven to be a great boon for the English. He managed to organize and muster the English Army better than any other commander since his brother, the late King of English, Henry V. As a result, he turned this rag tag bunch into a well oiled war machine. He then immediately set out to retake the city of Verneuil from the French.

However, the French Army saw this as an oppurtunity to finally crush the English once and for all. This would allow for the Dauphin Charles to be finally crowned the King of France at the traditional coronation city of Reims. So a plan was hatched by the French, as a result.

And when the Duke of Bedford came to siege Verneiul, the French decided to make a final stand. The French Army deployed a mile north of Verneuil on an open plain astride the road leading out of the forest of Piseux. The flat fields had been chosen to give the greatest advantage to the Milanese cavalry, whereby they could be employed to their full potential against the enemy archers. The mounted Milanese cavalry under the Frenchman Le Borgne-Caqueran drew up in front of the dismounted men-at-arms, who were formed into one battle. William II, Viscount of Narbonne's Spanish mercenary men-at-arms and most of the French were situated on the left of the road, while Archibald, Earl of Douglas and John Stewart, Earl of Buchan were on the right. John VIII of Harcourt, Count of Aumale was given overall command, but this heterogeneous army defied all attempts at coordinated direction.

On emerging from the forest, the Duke of Bedford likewise put his men in a single battle, to match the disposition of the enemy, with the usual distribution of men-at-arms in the center and archers on the wings and in front, with sharpened stakes in front of them. Bedford put a lightly armored force of two thousand men, some mounted, in charge of guarding the baggage train and the horses and preserving his rear security. Nearly nine thousand horses were tethered together to link up the main army to the baggage wagons as a precaution against encirclement, as well.

Both sides wanted the other to take the initiative in beginning the battle, and so, from dawn to about 4:00 pm, the two armies stood facing each other under the blazing sun. Bedford also sent a herald to Douglas once both armies had been deployed to ask what terms for battle he required, to which Douglas replied grimly that absolutely no quarter shall be given or received on this day.

As a result of this response, Bedford ordered his men to advance and thus began one of the bloodiest battles of the Hundred Years' War on the 17th of August 1424, the battle of Verneuil.

When Bedford began to advance, his men shouted "FOR ST. GEORGE! FOR BEDFORD! FOR ENGLAND!" in unison as they slowly crossed the open field. This led to a short archery duel between English and Scottish archers, with inconclusive results. While at the same time, as if by some per-arranged secret signal, the two thousand Milanese cavalry charged through the English front line, brushing aside the wooden stakes that could not be secured firmly in the ground due to the hot sun. The English arrows also proved very ineffective against the cavalry's superior armor. This sent a shockwave through the English Army, terrifying them all. Huge gaps were torn through the ranks of the English as the cavalry rode through, trampling over them like grass on the field.

The Milanese calvary then attacked the English baggage train, causing an instant rout. This caused the English rearguard to flee on horseback with the calvary giving chase. The cavalry would not return until the battle was over, expecting to find the French Army victorious. But sadly, that would not be the case.

After the devastating cavalry charge, Bedford rallied his soldiers, the English men-at-arms showing great discipline and reforming their ranks. Sensing a victory, the French men-at-arms led a confused charge, with Narbonne's men reaching the English before the rest of their comrades. The French disorder was in part a result of the desire to close in fast to avoid the English arrow. As the French advanced under Aumale, they shouted "Montjoie! Saint Denis!". Bedford's men-at-arms advanced in good order towards their French opponents, pausing often and giving a shout each time. The men-at-arms under Thomas Montagu, Earl of Salisbury were hard pressed by the Scots. A small force of French heavy cavalry on the right attempted to outflank the English line but were repelled by arrows from the redeployed English left wing of two thousand longbowmen, who used the lines of tethered horses for cover.

The head-on clash between the superbly armored English and French men-at-arms on the field of Verneuil, both of whom had marched on foot into battle, resulted, in a hand-to-hand combat whose ferocity astounded even most modern historians. It was said that "the blood of the dead spread on the field and that of the wounded ran in great streams all over the earth." For about three-quarters of an hour, Frenchmen and Englishmen stabbed, hacked and cut each other down on the field of Verneuil without either side gaining any advantage in what is often considered to be one of the most fiercely fought battles of the entire war. Bedford himself fought in the battle, proving to be just as great in battle as his late brother, King Henry V. While wielding a fearsome two-handed pole-axe, he fell everybody he can in contact with. The sheer power of his pole-axe with astonishing. It smashed open an expensive armour like a modern tin can, the body underneath being crushed and mangled before even the blade sank in.

The English longbowmen on the right, dispersed by the Milanese charge, had by now reformed and they, along with longbowmen on the left who had repelled the French cavalry, joined the main struggle with a great shout that boosted the morale of the English men-at-arms. After some time, the French battle line gave ground before breaking and was chased back to Verneuil, where many, including Aumale, were drowned in the moat. The ditches outside of town were the scene of a merciless killing of the routed French men-at-arms. And the end of it all, Narbonne, Ventadour, Tonnerre were all dead.

Having disposed of the French, Bedford called a halt to the pursuit and returned to the battlefield, where Salisbury was engaged with the Scots, now standing alone. The battle of Verneuil reached its closing stages when Bedford wheeled from the south to take the Scots on the right flank. Now almost surrounded, the Scots made a ferocious last stand. The English shouted "FOR CLARENCE!" invoking Thomas, Duke of Clarence, Bedford's brother, killed at the Battle of Baugé in 1421. The long-standing enmity between Scotland and England meant no quarter was given with those Scots attempting to surrender being cut down and almost the entire Scots force falling on the battlefield. The Scots stood their ground and died where they fought.

Most of the Milanese cavalry returned to the battle at this point to discover their comrades slaughtered, and were put to flight in turn after losing about twenty or so men.

And with the battle finally over, Bedford had won what was now called the "Second Agincourt".

THE AFTERMATH (20th of August 1424)
PARIS, FRANCE - As a result of his overwhelming victory in the Battle of Verneuil, John, Duke of Bedford returned to the pro-English Paris as a great hero. More importantly, he was now seen as an equal to his late brother, King Henry V.

At a rather large parade in honor of his triumph through the streets of Paris, the Duke of Bedford was cheered and recieved so well that it was almost as if he were God himself. Nobody would ever doubt his leadership of the English Army ever again.

But still the Duke of Bedford was not content with all he had accomplished. For the whole of northern France was still not in complete control of the English. In fact several major regions, including Lorraine, still remained loyal to the Dauphin Charles. This did not sit well with the Duke of Bedford at all.

As the parade came to an end at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, the Duke of Bedford dismounted from his horse and began to walk up to stairs towards the cathedral. At the top of the steps, he is greeted by several others, including Pierre Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais and Phillip the Good, Duke of Burgundy.

"Welcome back, Duke of Bedford." the Bishop now tells the Duke. "Just as I said before, God is with us."

The Duke of Bedford just nods his head to the Bishop. He now turns his attention to Phillip the Good. He now tells him. "If God is indeed with us, then why isn't all of northern France?"

"That's because there have been complications, John." Phillip the Good now tells the Duke. "These things take time."

"TIME?!" the Duke now blurts out in anger. "Time is something we simply do not have, Phillip. The momentum is on our side, thanks to our victory at Verneuil."

"I understand, John." Phillip now tells him. "But the Dauphin has gone back into hiding. He is no longer a threat."

"Which is exactly why we act NOW!" the Duke now tells him. "We can't afford to delay any longer and allow the Dauphin the time to recover."

"The Dauphin can't recover this time. He is done for." Phillip now tells the Duke. "He literally needs a MIRACLE at this point."

"Indeed, he does." the Bishop now chimes in. "And from the state of things, I doubt God will ever give him one."

"Then let's not give Him the chance." the Duke now tells both men. "I want northern France secured before we even THINK about taking southern France. We can ill afford another disaster."

"I agree." Phillip now tells the Duke. "What would you have me do?"

"Send word to Sir Henry of Orly to start his mission." the Duke then demanded of Phillip the Good. "And tell him I said good hunting."

"As you wish, John." Phillip the Good responded. "But I must ask, why him? He is nothing but a mercanary. He's only in it for the fortune and glory."

"Yes. And that is exactly why we need him right now. Cause Sir Henry may be a little rough around the edges. But he knows northern France better than any other English commander." the Duke then told him with confidence. "So this should be a rather easy task for him though. He certainly does enjoy this kind of work."

"Maybe a little too much." Phillip the Good now states without hesitation.

"That's besides the point. Cause even if he doesn't fully succeed, a little chevauchée is never a bad thing." the Duke said with a smirk. "It actually helps in the long term."

"You are right, Duke. And with any luck, northern France will at least be weakened to the point of easy conquest." Phillip the Good said in agreement.

"No luck will be needed." the Bishop then stated to the Duke with confidence. "For God is with us. And very soon all of France will be as well."

"Indeed." the Duke now said with a smile.

All three men now enter the Cathedral of Notre Dame together, while the crowd continues cheer them on.


BOURGES, FRANCE - As the pro-English crowds celebrated in Paris, a very different scenario was beginning to play out in Bourges. Following the devastating lost at Verneuil, the Dauphin of France, Charles of Valois was said to be in a complete state of shock and despair. IN fact he was now beginning to doubt himself and claim to the French throne altogether. Many of his advisors, including Georges de la Trémoille, the Grand Chamberlain, have suggested he abandon that claim and flee France, leaving it to English rule.

This however, was not an option for the Dauphin Charles. Not now. Not ever. But the situation did seem extremely hopeless now more than ever and saddened him greatly. Desperate for answers and solutions, the Dauphin Charles now prays to God in the privacy of the personal chambers at Bourges.

"My Lord God, please hear my prayers. For I do not know what to do next." the Dauphin Charles now asks. "I am at my wit's end."

"Why have You forsaken me, God? Am I doomed to fail? Am I not the rightful heir to my father's throne?" the Dauphin Charles now asks in tears. "Please give me the answers I seek?"

"I am at my most desperate hour. I will do what ever You ask of me, God. Whatever it takes." the Dauphin Charles now cries out "Even if it takes a MIRACLE."

"Just give me a sign. Any sign." the Dauphin Charles now pleads. "Show me what I must do next."

"I humbly await Your answers in whatever form it takes." the Dauphin Charles now concludes. "In Your name I pray. Amen."

The Dauphin Charles now wipes away the tears from his eyes as he stands up. He then resumes his duties as the heir apparent of France, hoping he would not have to wait longer for the answers he seeks.