Shut Your Eyes and Endure

Elena of York, daughter of Jonathan IV is betrothed to be married to the new Lancastrian king of England. Under her breath she whispers the word usurper, and knows that behind his charm is the monster who killed the people that she cared deeply about. (AU, AH)

Note: Okay, so this is based loosely around the War of The Roses, or rather the events after it, obviously names and personalities of the characters have been changed to fit within the Vampire Diaries context. Also, this story is first and foremost fiction based on the relationship between Elizabeth of York and Henry VII, therefore, it will not be following history (otherwise it would be predictable).

Disclaimer: I don't own these fabulous characters unfortunately, but the story itself is mine as are any original characters that I will inevitably create.

Chapter I: The ties that bind

Behind her smile is hatred, she stands behind closed doors awaiting her terrible fate. Some may delude themselves into believing that she is happy, her mother certainly would. But smiling does not mean she is happy, but she would not give him the satisfaction. She would shut her eyes and endure her life with him, from now until the remainder of her days.

November 1485

Sheriff Hutton, Gloucester

Parchment folds, melding together as the fire licks the words away from the letter that reads:

My darling daughter,

I write to you upon a most urgent and pressing matter. I have spent many months negotiating with Elizabeth Salvatore, the king's mother – and I am certain that you have guessed its purpose. I have secured for you the closest that you will get to your right, and through you your children will know great glory. You, my noble and dutiful daughter, will marry King Damon. It has been recognised – now that your blessed brother has departed this world- that you have the closest claim to the throne that could potentially uplift the Lancastrians, you are a threat. But you marrying Damon would unify the houses of York and Lancaster and perhaps then England may finally feel peace. I expect you to return to London by weeks end.

You must trust in the words that Miss Bennett once spoke.

Your mother, Isobel.

She forces her hand to unclench from its firm grip, there is a pulsating anger inside of her. How dare her mother? How dare he? This is wrong, all of it! Her life is over, ruined by the very person that she must now marry. Oh her mother knows her too well, knows she would never do anything disloyal – she'll make the sacrifice so that others can have peace. Then of course, there is the matter of Bonnie's prediction, whilst Elena enjoys her ladies maid, and friend in private, she has never believe in the sight.

"He who causes such ire could never make me happy." Elena rises from her chair when she is certain that the letter has burned away. Her uncle, her brother…they died because of a monstrous man, a man whose own selfish ambition rivalled that of her mothers. She would be so bold to say that her mother loved the power that she was capable of because she would never do anything short of her duty.

"I hate him." The words slip from her mouth like snakes venom, drawn out and bitter. She hears the sigh of her aunt, who treated her with more kindness and love than her own mother did. Not that she had blamed the former queen, for most seemed somewhat detached from their children. She doubted that would be true of herself, she would not be so selfish. The alarming thought which runs through her brain is the horrible truth that she should be trapped forever with a man so disgusting and foul, she would bare his children and hold his arm, she'd smile but it wouldn't truly be from the heart. She should have married Sir Matt whilst she had the chance, even if she did not love passionately as he did. She had heard through whispers that he had taken the daughter of Lord Mikaelson as a wife. It had not hurt her, she had wanted him to be happy.

She wept into her pillow the night before her carriage ride to Windsor castle, it seemed a horrid twist that God had bestowed upon her, for surely it was his decisions that planted Damon on the throne. Why had her life turned so unhappy? What had she done to deserve it? The only peace that came from it was the chance to give unity to the entire country, to end wars between the Yorks and Lancastrians. She would do it for them. She would do her duty, but he would never have her heart.

Westminster Palace

As the carriage pulls up to Westminster Palace, there is a lack of people lining the entrance. She is not surprised to find that there is a mass lack of enthusiasm at the marriage – at least from the Lancastrian side. Although, Elena was not so fooled by her own blood, they did not want Damon on the throne. But setting her eyes upon the place she was born, where she had spent many summers of her life.

Her gown is a dark green, the shade of winter grass – no other colour would have been appropriate given their meaning. But green, it was their colour and it left a bad taste in her mouth.

The carriage rattles over uneven stones, a hand flying to clutch the wooden sides of it with uneasiness. She does not feel nerves, it could not be that – there was no feeling at all regarding the new king. Usurper! Had her Alaric, uncle, king and confidante survived – she would not be marrying the horrid and vile Salvatore. They would have asked the pope for dispensation, so that they could marry. There were whispers of course, that they had been lovers. Whispers that Matt had once voiced, whispers that she had denied.

The door opens and a hand is stretched forward to help her exit from the carriage. Bonnie, who had also been sat quietly in the carriage, exited swiftly behind her.

Each step felt like a lifetime, every moment that passed going unusually slow as a woman step forward – expression unreadable. Elena recognised her after a moment, several times during her life had she encountered Elizabeth Salvatore. There had been a politeness, although she never gave a good word towards her mother. "Mistress Elena, I hoped to speak with you before you met with the king, my son." There is no mistaking the use of the title used, she was in their eyes no longer a princess – in fact she was not regarded as being titled at all.

"Lady Elizabeth." Elena replies, her tone clipped as her arms hang by her sides. Their footsteps fall into pattern with one another, the pace still slow as they walk towards the entrance of the castle.

"I saw this in a dream, god came to me and told me of this day. You will wed my son, you shall carry his child and you shall be Queen of England. That is your destiny."

There is no more room to speak, as the doors open wide and she steps into the throng of people. Bonnie still follows behind her, her gown of pale damask trailing behind. There is but a moment of silence as the king steps forward, a man that she had never laid eyes on before. The golden crown, imbedded with the jewels of England gleams in the autumnal sunlight and Elena thinks it to be horrid that he looks so handsome, he evil monster who tore her life apart.

"I'd like to speak with the Lady Elena alone." His voice pierces the air loudly, my mother gives me a pointed look before leaving with the other courtiers. The servants exit the room, leaving on the royal guard – did they expect her to take a dagger to their kings throat?

"Many have whispered, Elena, that you had carnal relations with your uncle." She swallows, hands clench the skirts of her gown. How dare he! Many had whispered countless things whilst she was the princess, although none held truth in them. The fact that he could bring up her uncle, a man that he had killed on the battlefield in order to claim the throne…no she would not even look at him.

"Your silence offers much reassurance." His tone is sarcastic, his grip upon her arm firm as she stares at him, eyes burning into his head. With a sharp rip, Elena pulls her arm from his grasp and stares up at him. "If you must ask me, then why should we marry? If you do not believe me"

"I can see it in your eyes, you think me a monster. Just remember, soon you'll be mine and if you defy or deny me – I will show you a monster. Or perhaps you shall give me a chance and you will know the real me."

Note: There is a lot of debate about whether Elizabeth of York and Richard Plantagenet were lovers, but there were reportedly rumours of Elizabeth asking for help in marrying him. Therefore, I wanted to put some of that in with the relationship between Elena and Alaric.

This chapter is the shortest, all others are twice as long. The next chapter will be posted in a few days.

Thank you for taking the time to read this first chapter. I have been planning this for a while, and I sincerely hope that you will follow, favourite and review.

Much love, Charlotte