RichardIII1955 - It's time for the fight!
WinglessAngel17 - Thank you! Hope you had a good time on your vacation :)
Yorkistgirl - And me! I'd love to meet my online pals. I added two on Facebook but that's as close as I got.
Awww! They're together! Also, today is the 16th of March, which is also the date of Anne Neville's death. I hope she is resting in peace (unlike in this story)
Nathan and Daniel scampered up the stairs to Rick's flat, waving at Ed as he drove off.
"I hate going to Uncle Ricky's, it's so boring" complained Nathan.
"Me too. Why can't mummy and daddy look after us?" replied Daniel.
"Maybe we can tease him about his girlfriend" giggled Nathan. Daniel laughed too, and opened the door, only to see George slumped across the sofa.
"Hello Uncle Georgie" said Daniel, bending over and poking him "What are you doing here?"
"Stayed the night..." groaned George "My...head..."
"Where's Uncle Ricky?" asked Nathan.
"In his room"
Both boys walked over to Rick's closed door. Daniel placed his hand on the handle, and pushed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"
"Uncle Ricky! Put some clothes on!"
What Rick had hoped would be the romantic morning after, where they woke up in each other's arms, had turned into probably one of the most embarrassing moments of his life. Nathan and Daniel stood goggling in the doorway, whilst he and Annika frantically tried to cover themselves with the duvet. Those brats! They ruined everything!
They seemed to find the idea that Uncle Ricky had a girlfriend was hilarious. Annika had gone out, so now they sat giggling on the floor, whilst Rick occupied the sofa.
"Is this your book, Uncle Ricky?" asked Nathan, holding up one of Annika's books about Richard III.
"No" sighed Rick.
"Let me see" insisted Daniel, grabbing it and yanking it open to reveal one of Richard's portraits. Daniel pointed at it "He looks like you, Uncle Ricky!"
"Don't be stupid" Rick rolled his eyes, but when he glanced over, he had to admit, there was a similarity. They both had high cheekbones and a prominent jaw line, and with the long dark hair "Now put that down! It belongs to Annika"
"If she's your girlfriend..." mused Nathan "Should we call her aunty Annika?"
"That's enough! It's early days, you pair of idiots. If you break that book, then I'll-"
"But I want to read it!" protested Daniel, flipping through the book. A page about Richard's nephews fell open. Daniel gasped "He killed his nephews! That's mean!"
"Why would anyone do that?" asked Nathan.
"Well, if they were anything like you two, then I can't blame him!" growled Rick. The boys looked at him horrified, and then scuttled into the corner of the room with the book. Rick could only hear whispers. He tried to ignore them, and focused on the clock. Surely Annika's job interview would be finished by now.
The door opened.
"How was it?" asked Rick.
"They said they'd be in touch by the end of the week, but I can't know for certain" Annika slumped down next to him on the sofa.
"Hello, Annika" greeted the boys angelically.
"Hello you two! Are you being good for Uncle Rick?"
"Yes!" chirped Nathan.
"Is that my book you're reading?"
"Yes, is it ok if we read it?" asked Daniel sweetly.
"Of course it is!"
"Annika, why did that man kill his nephews?" asked Nathan, pointing to the picture of Richard on the cover.
"He didn't really kill them" explained Annika "No one knows what happened to them"
"Uncle Ricky said he killed them because they were like us" pouted Daniel.
"No, I did not" growled Rick. Annika smiled at them indulgently. It was hard to believe these sweet little boys could have flushed Rick's iPod down the toilet, but they hadn't pulled the wool over Annika's eyes.
"Yes, you did, Uncle Ricky!" insisted Nathan "They probably only annoyed him because he was mean. Like you!"
"I'm not mean, you're annoying!" argued Rick.
"We only sang a Rick Astley song at you...that's not a crime" Daniel sulked.
"All right, that's enough now. I'm going to call your dad to see if he's home yet and get rid of you both. I've got plans for this evening."
"Good. I don't like it here anyway" Nathan chatted back. Rick glared at him, but called his brother. Ed returned, collected the boys, and gave a sly knowing look at Annika. Being the youngest brother, Rick had been subject to a ridiculous amount of teasing by, not only his nephews, but both Ed and George.
"Are you ready?" asked Rick.
Annika shifted her bag onto her shoulder "Let's do it"
They clamoured into his car, and began to drive to Tewkesbury. It was only twenty minutes away from Gloucester. Annika opened the window slightly, allowing the October breeze to dart through the car. The leaves outside had turned to hues of russet gold. The afternoon was bright and airy. Perfect for what they had planned.
"Here we are" said Rick "Tewkesbury Abbey. Is it like you imagined?"
"Bigger. It's huge!" Annika peered out. Rick parked the car, and they wandered over to the entrance. Unlike Cardiff Castle, there was no entrance fee, but just a request for a donation to the upkeep. Annika slipped a five pound note in.
"Shall we join a tour?" asked Rick "They'll tell us about the history of the place. Although, on second thoughts, I've got you, I don't need a paid guide"
Annika simply grinned, and they began to walk around. Her mind began to wander back, over five hundred years ago. This town was where the Battle of Tewksbury had been fought. It was the battle where Edouard of Lancaster was killed, freeing Anne Neville from their marriage, and this Abbey, was where he lay.
'I think it feels right to be here at this part of my life' thought Annika 'Yes, I do. My relationship with Oliver has ended, just like Anne's marriage to Edouard ended, leaving us free to pursue happiness with the ones we truly love. I know it took a while for Anne to find happiness with Richard, since she had to become Clarence's ward, but maybe it gave her hope, as it brought her just a little bit closer to Richard...'
Rick had wandered off to talk to a guide standing nearby.
'He understands that I'm having 'a moment' as my parents used to say, and is letting me have my space. Oh, bless him. It's like he can read my moods sometimes. I've only known him in person for a month and already we can read each other like that'
Annika wandered up the aisle to the choir. In the centre, lay the grave of Edouard of Lancaster. She bent over it, trying to read the words, but they were in different language. She guessed it was Latin. A thought sprung into her mind that she would like to learn Latin. Almost out of habit, another thought sprung to mind, telling her that it was impossible, too late, but then another thought sprung to mind, telling her that anything was possible, and why should she hold back what she wanted to do anymore?
Annika smiled to herself. She knelt down, and looked closely at the grave. Her fingers reached out and touched his name.
Fond of him, she had not been. But, Anne would pay her respects. He deserved that much, as anyone did upon their deaths. Chance would have it that she and Richard had decided to ride through Tewkesbury, and she did not know when she would be here again.
She offered a prayer for his soul, and hoped that in heaven he was at peace, and that all the woes in life which had caused him to act in a variety of undesirable manners no longer troubled him.
Before she left, she knelt, and touched his name.
Annika's hand jerked back as if she had touched a red hot pan.
"Are you ok?" asked Rick.
"Oh, yes. I was just...daydreaming"
"That's ok" said Rick, helping her up.
"I think I'd like to learn Latin" announced Annika.
"Go for it" replied Rick "That's a great idea. Perhaps when we get home, we could look into it. And it would help you with your studies. Oh, I'll tell you what I've just found out. You'd like it"
"What?"
"They do a re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury in July, and they have a Medieval Fair. I thought you'd like to go to that next year"
"I'd love to! It's the biggest medieval fair around, and I've always wanted to see it. I'd love to go to Leicester and see the re-enactment of the Battle of Bosworth as well, although I'll probably cry when Richard is killed"
"Don't worry, I'll be there with you" reassured Rick. The couple smiled at one another, and then walked further along, to see the tombs of Isabel Neville and George of Clarence, Anne and Richard's siblings and in-laws simultaneously.
At the completion of their afternoon at the Abbey, they headed out to the fields where the Battle took place. It was just growing dusk, but there was time to share a brief picnic in the still not too chilly air. Annika looked around at the quiet of the field, and almost could not imagine the bloody battle raging here. But it had happened, and when she closed her eyes, she could picture Richard, in shining armour; possibly fighting to win back the woman he loved...
On the way back in the car, Annika took a moment to update her status on Facebook.
'Had a lovely day at Tewkesbury Abbey, and seeing where the Battle of Tewkesbury happened! with – Richard King'
Moments later, Bella commented.
'With your Internet lover boy, I presume. You're MAD!'
When they returned home, Rick flipped out his phone, and saw the comment. With a laugh, he typed out his response.
'Anyone would be mad not to resist my charms!'
And that was the end of that, at least for the night. The next day, Annika accompanied Rick to pick up Nathan and Daniel from school, and then waited with him whilst they played in the park together.
"I like this arrangement. We make them play somewhere out of sight, without having to talk to them, and wait for Ed to get them" remarked Rick.
"There he is now" said Annika "Oh, and your brother George"
"Oh, they're both here? They normally can't get on for longer than half an hour without me to mediate between them"
"Unfortunately, Bella and I don't have such a sibling"
The brothers greeted one another, and then sat down on a bench to watch the boys play.
"I'm the king!" Nathan gleefully announced, sitting on time of the climbing frame.
"No, you're not! I helped you climb up here. I'm the king!" yelled Daniel.
"I do believe I'm older" swarmed Nathan.
"I do believe I'm cleverer" Daniel added.
"Boys!" barked Ed.
"We're not arguing!" they both shouted.
"I'll believe that when pigs fly" snorted Rick.
Meanwhile, Oliver knocked on Rick's door.
"Can I help you?" asked Aiden, Rick's neighbour from downstairs.
"I'm looking for a woman called Annika Nevon. I believe she is staying here with a man called Richard King" replied Oliver.
"Oh, you mean Rick?" said Aiden.
"I'm not interested in him. I just want to talk to Miss Nevon"
"They're out" shrugged Aiden "He went to pick up those nephews of his from school. She went with him"
"And when will they be back?"
"I don't know. They might have gone out somewhere for dinner" Aiden vanished down into his basement flat. Before long, Oliver heard the sound of a guitar being played, and then some truly horrendous singing. He rolled his eyes, and then strolled out, heading back in the direction of his car.
He'd come here hoping to make amends. Almost defeatedly, he flipped out his phone and checked Facebook. That was how he had been able to find her. She hadn't deleted him or blocked him, and so he could still see her posts, see who commented, see where she went. Last night, he found out that she was in Gloucester, and found out who the Internet Man was and where he lived.
'Sitting in the park, listening to the boys make a racket! with – Richard King, George King, and Edward King'
The park. Oliver wandered along, asked a few pedestrians for directions, and soon found himself outside the park.
"Can we feed the ducks now, daddy?" asked a young blond boy, tugging at his father's hand.
"Yes, come on. We'll go and catch up with Uncle Rick, he's striding ahead"
"With his girlfriend!" giggled the boy "I saw them kiss earlier on, daddy!"
"You've seen me kiss your mum a thousand times already, what's the big deal?"
"Because it's Uncle Ricky!" explained the boy, as thought it was obvious.
"Come on, then, you"
Oliver followed them.
"Catch!" shouted Nathan, chucking a piece of bread at a group of ducks.
"Watch out for those greedy seagulls" warned George "They want to gobble it all up!"
Nathan shrieked as his uncle tickled him. Annika wandered around the far side of the pond, and threw a few pieces of bread at some skinny ducks who looked as if they usually missed the generosity of passersby.
Rick sidled up to his girlfriend. Without the eyes of his family on them, he slipped his arm through hers and kissed her.
Oliver, observing at a distance, felt sick.
"You didn't waste any time, did you, Annika?" he yelled.
The couple sprang apart.
"Oliver? What are you doing here?" asked Annika, trying to place Rick behind her to protect him. But Rick seemed to have other ideas, and he tried to place Annika behind him.
"I could ask you the same question" Oliver breathed heavily and rapidly as he stormed closer "I went up to Warwick, to your parents' house and Bella's house, looking for you. I called all your old university friends, but they hadn't seen you either. By chance, you finally logged onto Facebook and tagged yourself in Gloucester. Now here I am, and I find you in the arms of another man, who I believe is the Internet Lover Boy!"
"Oh, piss off!" snapped Rick "You've lost her. She deserves better than you. Go home"
"So, he is the Internet guy!" Oliver shouted.
"Yeah? And what are you going to do about it?" barked Rick "You make me sick. Hitting your own fiancé!"
"Rick, don't start. He's not worth it. Oliver, I'm happy here. I stand by what I said the last time we saw one another. It's over. I'm happy here in Gloucester. I've applied for a job and I'm creating a life for myself" said Annika firmly.
"I will start on him!" snapped Rick "He hurt you!"
Annika grabbed his arms and pushed him back.
"Oliver, just do yourself a favour. Just leave. We weren't right for each other, we made each other unhappy, and for that reason, it is over. I think you should go home"
"And this is what I get for allowing you to leech off me for a year!" yelled Oliver "I fed you, clothed you, gave you a roof over your head, and now this is how you repay me?"
Annika kept silent, but calm "If you're talking about our money and possessions, you are welcome to what is left in our joint account, and you may have my share of the apartment. However, I have taken my redundancy pay, and I would like to collect the personal possessions from the apartment"
"Well, you'll have to come and get them, because I'm not giving them to you!" roared Oliver "And you owe me hundreds of pounds! Thousands!"
"Oh, shut up!" Rick intervened again "She's given you way more than you deserve. I'd have given you a punch in the face and run you right out of your money!"
Oliver marched right up to him. He was much taller than Rick, and broader. If there was a fight, it looked like Oliver would win.
The shouting and arguing drew the attention of George and Ed, and the two boys. They hurried around to their side of the pond to witness the two men squaring off with one another.
"And what are you going to do about it?" hissed Oliver "You stole my fiancé! I loved her, and I-"
"If you loved her, you wouldn't have laid a hand on her!" snarled Rick "You'd have supported her whilst she searched for another job, you'd have told her she was able to do anything she put her mind too, you'd have let her pursue her interests without telling her she was useless and obsessed with a dead king! And anyway, you're a hypocrite. You had a go at her for chatting online, and yet you Facebook stalked me?"
Oliver threw the first punch. Rick blocked it, and then the two men charged at one another.
"Stop it!" shrieked Annika, but it was too little effect.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Nathan and Daniel eagerly chanted.
"Rick!" cried Ed, astonished. Annika clasped her hand to her mouth, horrified.
"You...bastard!" snapped Rick, kicking Oliver.
"You fiancé-stealing Internet perv!"
"Kick him again, Uncle Ricky!" shrieked Nathan.
"Poke his eyes out!" Daniel added.
"Karate chop him in the balls!" Nathan demanded.
"Uncle Ricky! Uncle Ricky!" chanted Daniel.
"George, get the boys out of here, I'll break it up" said Ed. George turned and tried shuffle his nephews away.
"Stop it, Uncle George! You're blocking the view!" Nathan cried, darting around him. Rick and Oliver continued to rain punches on one another.
"Stop that!" Ed commanded, trying to get between the men "Calm down!"
"Get out the way, Ed, I'll deal with this myself!" Rick snapped, continuing to fight Oliver.
"Rick, Oliver, stop it!" cried Annika "That's not the way to solve it!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" yelled the boys delightedly, and George, who was now enjoying the spectacle.
Oliver grabbed Rick by his long hair, and tried to drag him along. Rick yelled in pain, and sank his teeth into Oliver's hand. Oliver yelled, and let go of him. Rick wasted no time in darting forward and shoving Oliver straight in the pond. Nathan and Daniel gave a whoop of laughter, and Nathan grabbed George's Blackberry from his pocket. He snapped a picture, and giggling, uploaded it to George's Facebook profile.
"That was so awesome, Uncle Ricky!" Daniel beamed, as Rick staggered away from the ridiculous sight that was Oliver sitting in the pond, with pond weed trailing from his hair.
"You were so cool!" Nathan grinned.
"That was not funny!" Annika argued, giving a last look at Oliver sitting in the pond. She turned to address him "Oliver, I suggest you just go home. Come on, let's get out of here"
"And you were no better, you two" said Ed to his sons "That was naughty!"
"What?" shrugged Nathan. George fought to contain some sniggers.
"And as for you..." glowered Ed.
"He had it coming" growled Rick, as they stormed away from the park. Annika shook her head, irritated.
In the end, Annika realised that the only way to settle this sensibly would be put her decision into a letter, and to return Oliver's ring to him. The following afternoon, as Daniel and Nathan re-enacted the fight in Rick's living room, she perched at the table with a pen and a piece of paper.
'Dear Oliver,
I am writing to tell you that our engagement, and our relationship, is officially over. In the past few months we spent together, we both became increasingly unhappy, and therefore increasingly dissatisfied with one another. Our relationship held no future for us.
I accept that a portion of the blame does rest on my shoulders. Yes, I suppose I did live off of your money, but it was not of my wish to do so, merely circumstance. And yes, I did suppose it was unfair of me to neglect you for an online substitute, but remember, you neglected me too. I understand that teaching is a demanding profession, and I appreciate that you have spent a lot of time and effort improving the lives of children who have an unfortunate and undesirable lifestyle. Even if we could repair this, I still cannot forget the last and final row we had. You had no right to hit me, and for this, I am ending the relationship.
You are welcome to have my share in the apartment. I do not wish to live in Cardiff, and so it is yours. I have taken the remains of my redundancy pay from our joint account and placed it in my own. I am also returning your credit card, as I have no need for it, and the engagement ring you gave me. When you are in a more agreeable mood, and ready to negotiate, I would like to return to the apartment for one final visit to gather the rest of my personal possessions. If you chose to create anymore drama, I will contact a solicitor to settle the matter.
I hope that you will find my terms agreeable, and that we can end this without making things anymore ugly than they have become.
Annika'
She slipped her engagement ring into the folds of the paper, and sealed the letter. And with that, she was free.
"Annika, the phone's ringing!" announced Daniel, pointing.
Annika reached for it.
"Hello, could I speak to Miss Annika Nevon?"
"Speaking"
"We have some good news for you, Miss Nevon. We'd like to offer you a job"