I don't own the White Queen.


Chapter 2

November 1470, Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire

Princess Oighrig, or now she is called the Duchess of Gloucester. She took her time studying and ruling her husband's castle if he ever left to be loyal to his brother, the king.

She communicates with both nobles, knights, and commoners.

Giving herself involved in their daily lives and routine mornings to check on the land as she rode her English mare that is pure white with black sockets.

The people were cautious about this new Duchess since few were loyal to King Henry the six, but during the outbreak of sickness.

Richard parade with a few men to calm the situation down. However, the princess knew what to do to make the people love her and her husband.


Flashback~

She heard and knew that people in the North were tired and angry that they had no source of work and algaculture.

Quickly, she went to the source where the doors were guarding provisions and money.

Her lady-in-waiting is two Scotswomen who remain with her in England during her marriage.

Brittany of Angus and Margaret of Douglas.

They notify her about where the provisions are guarded, and the peasants are unhappy with their situation.

It was a matter of time before they would rebel again.

"My lady, please go back to the chambers."

The two guards ordered the Duchess since the Duke was not here to order them.

"Excuse me, do you know whom you are speaking to...?" Brittany voiced against the guard one.

"Aye, Scotswomen on the wrong side of the country." The second guard mocked them.

Oighrig fumed, but she knew how to deal with a bard with sharper tongues. Her mother often advises her, "As lady men underestimated us. We don't get what we want by stomping our feet and throwing tantrums. We must make them know that we are not sheep but wolves."

"It seems that you prefer that my husband die." A pin sounded like dropping and chilling in the air filled the room.

"What if my husband dies and I accidentally told them that it was the guards that didn't help me to help my husband. I needed those provisions that could help the peasants not rally against my husband. SO, tell me, which heads will King Edward would gladly take?"

The guards shook and sweated at that threat.

They begrudgingly allow her to do this, but one of them says they will tell her husband what she will do and dishonor letting them take the fall.

Brittany and Margaret ride in carts with guards and throw provisions of bread and coins to the cheerful crowd that is shouting God bless!

Brittany throws a live chicken to a woman and says, "Curtesy from Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester. And his charitable lady wife, Oighrig princess of Scotland and Duchess of Gloucester."

The crowd shouted and cried, "God bless Prince Richard! God bless the Duchess!"

Princess is pleased to win in favor of the people.

Richard saw the townspeople coming forward during that time as the guards were ready to draw their swords, but…

The peasant showed Richard the gold coin in on hand. Puzzled that he didn't know what was going on.

His order was to get rid of any supporters of old King Henry the sixth.

"God bless King Edward IV!" One man cried out, and many others repeated. Another says, "God bless Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester!" Many repeated as they shouted a bit louder for Richard. "God bless, Lady Oighrig, Duchess of Gloucester and princess of Scotland!" A woman cried out, and the people repeated the women but cheered louder for his wife.

They all kneel before Richard. He is shocked.

Who could have given them that coin and food?

Since the people are now on the York side, there is no need for bloodshed. Richard returned home, and the servants and guards told Richard what had happened.

Richard says nothing and says," I wished to speak with my wife."

His wife was summoned and came to her husband with her ladies-in-waiting. Brittany and Margaret are worried about their princess.

"Go," Richard ordered everyone to clear out. Leaving his wife and him alone to talk.

Richard is in a predicament about this situation.

"You gave those provisions to the people in the north, did you?" Richard softly questioned her.

"I did." There is no doubt that she will not deny it. Those people are the key to breaking off loyalty to King Henry the sixth and Margaret of Anjou.

Richard made a noncommittal 'hn.'

"How do you do it?" She stood still like a statue. "How can you easily make people love you without even trying? You are-were from Scotland, yet the peasants, they love you."

Oighrig simply said, "I am only doing my duty to help ease the common people's tensions towards their York King. That his reign will be nothing like the Lancastrian king."

Richard stood and simply accepted his wife's help. "Thank you." He came forward and kissed her hand in a knightly gesture. Then he whispers, "I'll come to your room tonight to give my enteral gratitude."

She nodded and curtsy towards her husband.

Richard left, and the servants plus his guards wanted to know if he punished his wife.

"She did what any wife would do when her lord is not present. And I thank her."

He simply left as he felt more devotion to his wife.


Their relationship improved more as he gently showed his love for her.

The result was worth it.

She rubbed her very visible womb, showing off her pregnancy.

During her first month of marriage in February, she was worried since she was eager to conceive and please her new husband Richard quick to claim the throne with Robert the Bruce's blood mixed with Plantagenet.

However, in March, her bleeding had stopped. The doctor confirmed that she was pregnant. Her husband Richard was very excited and pleased with the result. She knew her husband would be even more pleased if she could give birth to a boy first. That way, it will show that God is on her side.

'Come on out, my prince.' Oighrig rubbed and cooed softly on her womb. Though she did notice that it felt bigger, they often reassured her since she is a first-time mother. It is natural to see it as rather large for a woman of her petite.

She is in her room on the chair, making more baby clothes.

KA-CHANK!

Richard rushed into their bedroom.

"Richard, what is it?" The Scottish princess has to know. He looked like he was out of breath. And worst, he is wearing armor.

Something is wrong.

She could feel it in her bones.

"Warwick has sailed for England, and Edward believes he will land in the North. It could only be days, and Edward wants me and my army to meet me outside of London immediately." His men in the courtyard are getting ready, and their horses are prepared to ride.

Ever the warrior Richard, Oighrig thought as she listened to what he had to say.

"Margaret of Anjou plans to follow Warwick and plans to land in the South. If that is the case, my brother and I must act quickly. We must crush Warwick in the North, then return to London to defend it."

She heard of Margaret of Anjou. The Bad queen as England declared her to be.

"What will you do?"

"I must ride to battle, but the first thing is to pack your things and relocate you and our child to seek sanctuary." Richard came forward and kneeled to look at his beloved wife.

Either it was the pregnancy feeling, or her emotions seemed to burst into tears.

"Richard." She nearly wailed, and she feared that he would miss her children's birth or, worse, an enemy soldier could take him. Warwick and George could kill him.

Oh, Richard.

Good and faithful Richard to be her husband she ever had. He knows what to ease her emotions and wishes to his thoughts.

He kissed her hands and said, "Fear not, my love. George is to land with Warwick's invading army, but once the three of us face each other in battle, he will abandon Warwick and join our side."

"Do you trust him?"

Richard laughed, "Of course not, but Edward is another story."

Another thing that worries Oighrig. Edward's reign is being questioned, and his ruling is becoming more obstacle and shows too many chances of his enemies.

A king must be ironed and firm with both allies and traitors.

Thou, she kept her mouth shut. She must tread carefully and make herself piety and obedient wife until her son is born.

"My love, surely there is a reason. God has his reason to bring all York sons' home." She caressed his cheek and looked into his eyes. The eyes that she grew to love.

Richard nodded and kissed her.

'She's right. God has his plans.' Richard allowed his trusted men to escort and guard his pregnant wife.

Only seven men are with her. They had to ease up since she was carrying her husband's heir.


Once they entered the walls of London, it was nightfall, and the princess could see men with torches storming the streets of London. One of Richards' men handed the Duchess a cloak to wear as they rode around the walls to a side entrance.

Only they were stopped by a guard on horseback who noticed his coat of arms that belongs to Richard.

He looked around before telling them harshly,

"The York Queen has gone to seek sanctuary at Westminster. Go before anyone sees you, go!" Letting Richard's wife and his men rush by, they quickly rode off, yet halfway down the road.

Already Warwick's men calling out to them.

"Men!" She called out to the guards. "I tell my husband that you die for God and country!"

She rides her horse quickly.

One of Richard's men called John followed her ladyship to keep her from injury or worse, losing the heir. Cloaked in the darkness, John helps the Duchess dismount the horse, and he points the directions on where she is supposed to go.

"God be with you." She says to John, and he repeats the same to her, "And to you."

Quickly as she could and held her womb protectively as she ran a bit the rest of the way to Westminster.

Hiding every time she heard footsteps, she finally made it to the walls of the Abbey and began banging on the first door.

BAM! BAM!

A face appeared behind an opening, and Oighrig called out,

"I seek sanctuary in the name of my brother King Edward of England and Queen Elizabeth!"

The man looks both ways before he lets her in. The man is a priest before he shut the door quickly behind them and crossed himself before seeing she is pregnant, and no doubt could tell she would be due any day now.

"Bless both you and your child."

"Thank you. And Queen Elizabeth?"

She has to know if the chances she lives. Part of her felt terrible that she had been greedy and did not care about the queen.

But ever since, she has been becoming a mother herself. She could understand the queen a little about why she was eager to have a boy.

Both women are outsiders despite marriage to the sons of York. They would do anything to keep themselves protected and safe from anyone.

"The catacombs, my Lady, I shall show you the way." And so Oighrig followed the priest quickly through the many hallways until he stopped taking hold of a torch and handing it to the Scottish princess and said,

"God be with you both."

Thanking him, she went down the winding stone staircase, afraid of what or who, though she is still a princess as she always carries a dagger on her body.

She must be careful.


At the bottom of the stairs and in the passages below, she followed past graves and tombs until she heard, "Halt! Who goes there?!"

Oighrig stood firm and announced, "I am lady Oighrig Duchess of Gloucester, wife to prince Richard duke of Gloucester, and sister-in-law to King Edward and Queen Elizabeth."

"No, wait! Thomas, Richard let her through." Queen Elizabeth orders her sons to step aside and allow the Duchess to enter.

Queen Elizabeth is surprised but glad someone loyal to Edward is here.

Oighrig sighs in relief. 'For now, I believe she and I need our ceasefire since we are all in the same predicament.'

Elizabeth noticed a womb from the Duchess as it looked like chances are they would be born soon.

"Richard is already joining the king on the battlefield, and he sent me to seek sanctuary until our husbands come back home." She noticed that queen Elizabeth was quiet.

"All is well for your child?"

Elizabeth replies, "Yes. My son will be born."

Oighrig bites her remarks and says, "I pray that both of us give both to healthy children."

For now, they are not enemies but mothers who are fighting to keep their unborn sons alive.

Elizabeth shows her sister-in-law the hanging sheets and furs on the ground with linens for beds for the children and herself. Sleep does not come easy for any of them though they sleep.

However, pain is shot in her back. She winced and groaned as the pain grew to worsen.

She looks down and notices her legs are wet. She felt something painful that she had never experienced before.

"Ahh." She groaned as Oighrig looked around to tell Elizabeth that she believed it was time. But it seems she is dealing with her problems.

Queen Elizabeth is also in labor.

"Oh god." The Duchess gasped.

Who will help deliver both their babies?

Now it is up to God to put forth their test of faith. A woman came down with a cloak.

It is Queen Elizabeth's mother.

"Mother, it is too soon!" Elizabeth sobs as Mother comes over to help, shushing Elizabeth and Jacquetta, noticing how the former princess has difficulty getting off the bed.

"Come, your grace, " She led the Duchess to where she placed her daughter's positions next to each other.

Elizabeth asked her how she managed to escape,

"Warwick feared that Margaret of Anjou would take his life if he took mine." Elizabeth wailed again. Lady Jacquetta looked back at the Duchess.

"Don't worry. I will help deliver both your children."

They followed as they stood.

Breathing together and heaving to labor their children.

Elizabeth noticed how scared the Duchess was. Oighrig had no idea what to do, and she was a new mother and would panic if they did not instruct her to do something.

The white queen held her hand and said, "It's okay. Breathe in and out. Together, let's push!"

They are both screaming and heaving.

"One more," Elizabeth ordered the Duchess, and Jacquetta ordered Thomas to help deliver the duchess baby.

A baby is crying as the mother quickly catches the baby.

"Oh Elizabeth, it's a boy! You have a son!"

Thomas assisted the Duchess as he caught one baby, and a baby cried out.

Jacquetta looked at both her grandson and the duchess baby.

"A girl, your grace. You have a beautiful girl."

Elizabeth is being clean and tended. Elizabeth is so happy.

"Edward, my little Edward."

Oighrig wished to look at her daughter, and curiosity overruled her disappointment of not giving birth to a son. She wanted to know whether she looked like her or Richard.

Another pain came.

She groaned.

Something is wrong.

"Grandmother! Something is wrong." Thomas called to his grandmother. Lady Jacquetta quickly went to her grandson.

"Oh, dear. Oh, my, this is…."

Elizabeth is worried for the Duchess. "What is it? What's wrong?" If she does die, no doubt Richard won't forgive her. Worst, Scotland won't forgive them.

"She is not done. Your grace, you have another child."

"What?!" The Duchess shrieked, surprised even. She knew she felt bigger but never thought she could be carrying more than one baby.

Jacquetta quickly caught another clean blanket.

"Push, your grace," Jacquetta orders her.

The Scottish princess gritted and screamed. It felt harder, but she kept pushing. Her motherly instinct is telling her to keep going.

Another shrill of cries came.

Exhaustion spread over her body, and she couldn't stand up anymore.

She slowly brought her body to the ground and pushed a little to the side to see what Jacquetta held in her arms.

Twins.

My God, she had given birth to twins.

"Another girl, your grace." Jacquetta smiled at the Scottish princess.

Oighrig panting and dozily looked at her babies. Her babies. Other suiters would undoubtedly seek Richard's daughters for their hand as they are royal blood.

Thomas gently helps the Duchess to be assisted by his grandmother.

Jacquetta had clean her and the babies.

The Duchess looked content as she looked down at her daughter drinking milk from her breast. Two girls and she simply can't believe it.

Elizabeth looked at her nieces.

"Thank you. You helped me when I couldn't do it alone." She thanks the queen. Understanding that she couldn't do it alone and without her help.

Well, who knows what could it happen?

Looking at the color sash on their wrist had helped her identify the older and younger twin girls.

"What will you name them?" Jacquetta questioned.

"Elizabeth after you, my queen." Her eldest daughter inherited Richards's black hair, which no doubt turns dark soon.

"My second daughter, I wished to name after your lady mother, Jacquetta, if it please you both."

Both women are surprised yet shocked.

This girl has given her daughters the honor of being named after them.

"We accept," Elizabeth answered as they looked down, both daughters of her.

As everything calmed down, the Duchess told them the news of what Richard had told her.

"Then we must simply wait and see and pray." Mother nodded next to Elizabeth.

Oighrig looked up at the moon, wondering where Edward and Richard were, knowing that they were looking at the same moon as she somewhere.

That and also somewhere George and Warwick were looking at the moon.

With her son and his new wife, Anne Neville, Margaret of Anjou could be sailing on the tides caused by the moon.

It was the three suns; the three Sons of York were the sign that God was on York's side.


With three babies now in the catacombs of Westminster Abbey, everyone was all anxious to hear any word from Edward or Richard.

All of York's women and children are in the sanctuary, as Lady Jacquetta is the only one able to go outside, cloaked and hidden. Both Elizabeth's child and Oighrig children were able, despite the difficult births, to gain healthy weights and grow strong. However, on this night, a sound of Elizabeth calling out to someone to keep back and stay away.

Elizabeth gasped and was shocked to see him alive!

Edward, of all people, had come to the catacombs. Oighrig is drowsily woken up as she keeps watch on her twin girls. Both sleepily and snoring away together in one big manager that the monks used to feed animals.

"Your grace." She politely greeted him.

"Edward!" Elizabeth cried. Edward embraced tightly to Elizabeth before turning to his wife and his sister-in-law to say, "Warwick is gathering men for the battle. George has been good to his word; the sons of York have united. We must face the Lancastrian army in the coming days. I cannot stay, and I had to see my son."

Oighrig with the linens to divide herself and the girls to keep Elizabeth and Edward a private moment.

The morning after Edward's return, he had to depart with the two men who brought him, Elizabeth weeping openly as he kissed his son on the forehead before leaving just in time to make sure none of the other children knew he was even here.

A couple of days later, Jacquetta returned from being able to sneak out and, once safely back inside, told both Elizabeth and the Duchess, "Edward and Richard will face our enemy at Barnet north of London. There is talk that Warwick has three times the troops and still awaits reinforcements."

"About Margaret of Anjou?" The Duchess questioned the queen's lady mother.

"She will have to set sail as soon as a break in the weather. She could even be marching to join forces." Jacquetta answered.

"Surely Edward would fall back? Take the Tower and set a siege?" Elizabeth asked, taking hold of one of the shoulders of her sister-in-law, but her mother told them gravely,

"The King prepares to fight. Edward must defeat Warwick to keep the crown. But if the Thames mist rose as high as Barnet, who'd even know the army was there?"

So looking over at Elizabeth began to plan.

That night opened a window, each with Jacquetta and Elizabeth taking Lizzie's shoulders before they all exchanged a glance. What they didn't realize was that Oighrig dreams of something horrifying.

In the dream, she saw lands soaked in blood. A black wolf bearing the banner of Warwick was surrounded by all the white roses and tangled his body bleeding him out. Slowly, ended when a sword cut it down.

The following day, Lady Jacquetta came with the news that seemed to bring a smile to Elizabeth.

"Warwick is dead."

Oighrig knew that what she saw last time was a prophetic dream from God. It is a sign that God is on their side.


TWO DAYS LATER…

16th of April

Guards are now wearing the white rose of York come to Westminster and tell them that they had come from the court of King Edward, that the Battle of Barnet had seen King Edward the victor.

Laughing and embracing one another, the women gather their children, who are excited to see their father again.

Oighrig is more excited to see Richard again. And to show his daughters to their father.

Once outside, more guards, all wearing the white rose of York, escort the women and children to the palace. Elizabeth and Oighrig get horses with Jacquetta and Richard, and Thomas Grey takes the carriage with the girls. She preferred carrying both her daughters on her body wrapped in good clothes to carrying both.

Upon reaching the Palace of Westminster, they see their husbands, Edward and Richard waiting for them. Elizabeth is the first one off her horse to embrace her husband, kissing him deeply.

A kind guard helps the Duchess get off with a stepping stool and gently land on the ground. Richard rushed forward, but he wasn't expecting two bundles of joy in his wife's arms.

Poor Duke looked like he would faint but quickly rushed towards them.

He hugged his wife quickly and looked down at his children. "What? How?"

He stuttered that he didn't think she would be carrying twins. Guess his wife was telling the truth that she felt bigger.

"God has blessed us with two daughters." Richard sobs with laughter and kisses his wife and his daughters' heads.

"Queen Elizabeth and her mother helped me when I was struggling to give birth, and I named them Elizabeth and Jacquetta." Hearing that his sister-in-law and her mother helped his wife during her struggles gives Richard a debt that he wished to pay back for helping his wife when he was off to war.

"They are perfect," Richard says that he was happy that he is a father with two healthy girls but a little disappointed that it was not the son.

"Once we recovered, we shall try a son next time." Princess presses her forehead onto his. Richard nodded as he felt happy.

Little feet come running behind us, and Edwards's children attack him as Edward laughs and picks up his girls.

She allows him to hold her eldest daughter, Elizabeth.

"She is so perfect. They both are." The girls are developing fizzy hair. He looks down at the baby he holds. She seems to inherit more coloring from her father than her sister. As his wife held her sister, Jacquetta or Jackie, she decided to give her a cuter nickname, developed darker red as a red sapling of a tree or many priests dubbed it the blood of Christ. To know she is safe despite the incredible odds against her.

"I am so glad to come home to you both." He says, kissing his wife as he holds little Bess. Richard decided to nickname his daughter close to his chest as she squirmed to try and get comfortable. Laughing, the two broke apart and looked own their daughters.

"I missed you so much." Cupped his cheek in his wife's hand.

Oighrig decides that she must focus on growing her family strong and united. They came close to losing power.

'There is strength in numbers.' She passed on that motto to her children and their children for generations.


Reviews are welcome.

The flashback scene was from the White princess, where Elizabeth of York had to get provisions and give them to the people. And Henry thanked Elizabeth for it.

Next chapter, Tension rises for the house of York. Anne Neville returns to court, and the Scottish princess must defuse any conflict.