I'm so so sorry I haven't posted but I ended up in the hospital for a short while so I am posted two chapters today for you all! Hope that's ok!

Chapter Three~

May 26th 1465, London

The day of Elizabeth's coronation was to take place at Westminster Abbey and she already was with child and everyone in the family was praying for a healthy boy, an heir to the throne. By this time us Rivers had found our places in the Court, the youngest girls returned to Grafton Manor while the eldest kept at Court. I had discovered the other eldest children, Anne, Mary and Jacquetta, were all in the hallway next to mine and Mothers. As promised, Elizabeth's boys were kept close with Father, Anthony and John also at Court often. Lord Warwick was still a dark cloud that I often steered away from, his wife Anne the Countess of Warwick was no better in temperament. There two daughter, Isabel and Anne, were very much influenced by them. Whenever I tried to talk to them I found I never could simply because I was the sister of the soon to be Queen. Which apparently automatically made me an enemy. Edward's two brothers, George the Duke of Clarence and Richard the Duke of Gloucester were polar opposites of each other. George was outspoken and witty, charming with women and charismatic. Meanwhile Richard was quiet and reserved, would rather listen to the conversation and speak with clear intention rather than act ill rationally. I learned I was a year younger than Richard and often found myself in the same library as him not speaking yet merely reading enjoying the silence between us. George on the other hand was fun to throw quick jabs at with no malic behind them and the first time I did it he was left flabbergasted for the longest time.

I felt no ill will towards either brother, though it was clear that George was rather displeased with how many of us Rivers there were wandering about the Castle. He seemed, if anything, to tolerate my present which I was happy for. As long as he did not hate me as the Neville girls seemed to. Then there was King Edward! Seems indeed Elizabeth had made it known I was her favorite sister for he found ways to spoil me whenever he could without causing a scene. Once I found a new gown for Yule Tide waiting for me without explanation only to learn later that it was Edwards's idea. Of course he never did this regularly, he too spoiled the other girls with books or small tokens. Even to Mother he would give gifts and Elizabeth's boys he would often spoil with giving gifts. It seemed he enjoyed showing how much he cared for his new family. And seeing the true love Elizabeth and Edward had between each other melted away whatever fears I had beforehand. It was clear to anyone other than Lord Warwick that they were helplessly in love. Now today my sister would be crowned Queen of England. Anne, Mary, Jacquetta and myself helped Elizabeth bathe early this morning after her prayers and as she dried off Anne asked her,

"Elizabeth, are you afraid?"

"Edward will help me know what to do." She reassures her as Anne continues,

"They say the whole of London will be there."

"All but one, Edward's mother has refused to come."

"I do not think you'll truly miss her." I say making Elizabeth laugh and with a smile she says to us all,

"One less foot to trip me." So with that we all helped her into her gown of gold and twinkling clear jewels. The rest of us wore fine cream gowns myself as always wearing my pendant and helping Mary carry the royal coronation cloak. Once out and into the hallway we all found George, Richard, Lord Warwick and his two daughters Anne and Isabel waiting for us.

"My new sister, you're as beautiful as a Queen should be." Said George taking one of Elizabeth's hands and kissing the back of it before Richard stepped forward saying to her,

"I pray your child is a son, so that he may follow my brother on the throne." Thanking the two of them for their kind words, I spied Lord Warwick ever watchful and waiting who stepped forward telling Elizabeth when she asks about where Edward was that he is behind a screen away from her to watch the coronation. The snide look on his face as he says this does not go unnoticed by me and I make sure he knows of it. When he says that his daughters are to escort Elizabeth to the Abbey I feel a surge of protectiveness come over me yet thankfully Father intervenes saying that, of course, Elizabeth already has sisters to help her. With one last look at Lord Warwick, I follow behind Elizabeth who hold tightly onto Fathers hand leading the rest of us girls towards the main doors which would open to reveal her private carriage. Before the doors open, Elizabeth takes one last look at me and giving her a reassuring smile, I watch as she climbs into the carriage with help for her ermine lined royal coronation robe. The rest of us girls were to ride behind the men; Father and our brothers, the Kings brother's and Lord Warwick. I rode closest to Anne and Isabel Neville, Anne being younger than I enjoying the cheers and throwing of white rose petals from the crowds. When the presentation arrived at Westminster and Elizabeth was helped out of her carriage, all of us sister fell into our positions to help Elizabeth into the Abbey. Upon entering the Abbey on our own, I found myself standing just behind Mother as Elizabeth entered looking ever the part of a regal Queen who knelt before Thomas Bourchier the Archbishop of Canterbury.

"I here present unto you, Queen Elizabeth, your undoubted Queen. Wherefore, all you who have come this day to do your homage and service are you willing to do the same?"

"God save the Queen!" Replied the crowd as the Archbishop continued with the anointing of the oil, offering up the scepter and the ring, and then placing the crown upon her head my sister Elizabeth was now Queen of England. With fanfare and the blare of trumpets, she was escorted out of the Abbey with all of us bowing low to her before anyone of us could leave. When we would all return to the Palace of Westminster it would be for the Feast to celebrate her coronation and I had my fears of it. Lines had been drawn this day of whose side you were on, the Queens or not. It did not take long before I was in the Great Hall for me to discover who side some were on when I was taking my seat with my sisters and I heard George saying,

"You all look so alike you Rivers girls, what like beautiful fish."

"I should not like to be a fish." Isabel Neville said with a smirk on her face looking over all of my sisters.

"I see no fish here Lady Isabel, perhaps you are mistaken." I say taking my seat next to Richard making it clearly known that I had heard exactly what they had been saying with a sharp look at her. Looking over at Anne, I say to her softly,

"There is a seat here Anne, if you would like it." I watched her glance at Richard before taking the seat just before horns rang out and Queen Elizabeth entered the hall hand in Lord Warwick's. Once finally seated next to King Edward after we all had bowed in respect, the feast began with the Neville girls mostly keeping to themselves despite my attempts to speak to Anne.

"She does not even know how to behave." I heard Isabel whisper harshly once again speaking of my sister as Anne asked,

"How would you behave?"

"I would be a Queen of stone. I would have dignity and show no emotion. She does not even seemed ashamed." Looking up at Anne to see her looking longingly at my sister I asked her,

"How would you behave as Queen then Anne?" Clearly taken aback by my question, she looked first to her sister who glared at me before saying,

"I'm not sure, I suppose with dignity and grace like every Queen should."

"And what of you then Lady Kathrine? How would you behave as Queen of England?" Isabel asked me leaning in and making her voice loud enough to catch others attention. With a frown at her intention, I looked over at my sister who was lost in Edward's eyes, I said honestly,

"I do not wish to be Queen," and ignoring the gasps I continued,

"I would much rather be free, rather than be weighed down by a crown and trapped on a throne. Of course I wish nothing but years of happiness and joy for the King and my sister. Yet that life is not for me." Turning back to my audience of Isabel, Anne and now George and Richard, I smiled saying,

"I much rather be at peace than be filled with bitterness." Then looking at my other sisters, I cared not for Isabel's expression knowing to myself I was right. Looking around at the table to an arrange of expressions I bowed my head and moved to stand saying softly,

"Excused me." And standing from my chair exited the Great Hall to get some air, feeling as if the walls were closing in around me. After a few turns through hallways I found myself in a courtyard and finally was able to fill my lungs with clean air and sigh with relief. How was it that despite feeling as if I had said the right words that I felt that I had let myself down somehow? Perhaps I could have worded what I meant better? Maybe I did not get my message across in the way I meant to. Crossing my arms across my chest I wandered the white rose bushes aimlessly before hearing footsteps coming up behind me and turned to see it was Richard of all people.

"My Lord." I said with a gentle bow yet he merely waved me off and with a tilt of his head to catch my gaze he frowned asking me softly,

"Are you alright Lady Kathrine?" Nodding I gave him a smile to try and ease his nerves yet clearly I did not convince him so I could only shrug unable to voice my concerns to him. Looking towards the way he had come, Richard asked me honestly,

"Did you mean what you said in there? About not wanting to be Queen?"

"Of course," I replied without hesitation causing him to snap back to look at me so that I added,

"I will forever be happy for my sister, but I cannot imagine myself on the throne."

"It is just, every lady I have ever met has wished or longed for the throne of England." Giving him a laugh and smile I tell him,

"Then I have changed that haven't I?" Returning my smile, he offers his arm to me as he tells me,

"We best return inside then before they send a search party for us." With a small laugh, I take his arm and we began our way back into the Great Hall. On our way back we run into George who raises an eyebrow asking,

"And where pray were you two?"

"I needed some air after the excitement of the day and Richard found me in the gardens." I tell him simply causing him to raise his eyebrow further though he said nothing more. Giving Richard a side glance, he tells him,

"We are both wanted by the King." Then gives me a quick bow as Richard lets go of my arm and I watch them head off down the hallway. Turning back towards the Great Hall I find Isabel and Anne leaving it and quickly catch up to them saying,

"My ladies," so that as they turn I say with a tilt of my head,

"I hope you have a good day." Isabel said nothing merely turning away though Anne did smile before following her sister back down and around the hallway away from me. Now alone in the hall, I make my way to find myself inside the Queens chambers with Elizabeth and Mother cleaning and putting away former Queen Margret things, taking down paintings and banners from her reign. Some of her jewelry would be saved and given to the girls if they meant nothing of significance, the rest to be remade for Elizabeth.

"Now what am I to do with these? It is not as if Margaret of Anjou will return for them." Elizabeth says putting up a picture of the woman in question for us all to look at as Mother looks at the picture for a while longer.

"I never thought it would be me doing this, I was her closest friend with her while I was her lady here at court. But these are different times, you are Queen of England now and you will not make the same mistakes as she did." Mother tells us as I lean in towards them say with a smirk,

"We cannot burn it or they will strangle us three for witches." With a laugh, Elizabeth departs as Mother continues to clear up the room so that I leave to go to my favorite place so far in the castle. There were many grand rooms and halls, places to entertain and dazzle guest yet the one place I found peace was a small private library tucked away from the madness. It was not as luxurious as the Main Library others use, not as well stocked with volumes, books and texts yet that meant that less people would be in need of this particular library. Upon entering the room I found both Richard and George playing a game of chess and so tried to leave without being seen only George, ever the keen one, spotted me and called with a wave of his arm,

"Lady Kathrine! Should you not be with your sister?" reentering the room with a blush at being caught, I bowed my head gently and told him,

"My sister the Queen has the aid of my Lady Mother at the moment my Lord."

"Oh, lucky her then." George said though he jolted as if kicked from under the chess table and glared at Richard to confirm my suspicions.

"If you wish to borrow a book you need but say so my Lady." Richard say simply waving a hand around the room and with a smile I entered making my way towards the shelf I was hoping to find a book. Trying to ignore the two men in the room, I could not when I heard a chair move and the voice of George saying closer behind me,

"The poetry books are over there."

"I know, yet I am not looking for poetry books." However I gasped as George took the book from my hands and grinned widely as I tried in vain to take the book back. Holding it aloft, he read the title saying to me,

"Astronomy? You enjoy stargazing do you?" As he continued to tease I reached for him as he continued to dance away from me and around the room. With a pout, I finally managed to grab his arm and with one swift pull, grab the book and twist away. With a triumphant cry, I heard laughter from Richard as George tried to fix his hair looking annoyed yet not angry as I thought he would be.

"You have been bested by a girl George!" Watching him fix his clothing, I extended a hand to him giggling and said,

"It was not a fair fight to begin with my Lord." Looking from me then to Richard, George kissed the back of my hand telling me,

"You are lucky my Lady that I am in a generous mood. For I would not allow you to win so easily." Then with a sweeping bow he turned and left the room with me giggling as he departed. Once the door was closed Richard came up behind me saying,

"I believe that is the first in a very long time I have seen George in a good mood my Lady." Frowning, I turn to see him and went to ask why only stopped myself. George was one of those who, though not outright vocal, did not agree with the marriage of my sister to his brother. He like the Lord Warwick and his family did not enjoy the company of the rest of my family.

"Richard, be honest with me. Does George hate me as much as he hates my sister the Queen?" I ask him taking a seat on one of the couches before the fire and open my book trying to hopefully not look so upset. I hear Richard sigh deeply as he sits next to me and leaning forward from the corner of my eye see him stare intently into the flames.

"I believe, he finds your company agreeable."

"So he does not hate me then?"

"If he did would he jest with you as he did just now? Even in private I have not seen him smile among any of the other Rivers girls, even the Queen, as he does around you. If anything I think he sees you as someone he agrees with because you want nothing from him. He is the brother of the King as do I, everyone wants something from us but you." Taking my hands into his, Richard looks at me with honest and open eyes saying gently to me,

"I think you are the only one in this palace who wants nothing from either of us."

"I only want one thing from you both." I tell him taking him aback only squeeze his hands to comfort his fears and say with a smile,

"Your friendship." So giving me a smile in return, he stands from the couch and leaves me with a smile on my face. Several hours later into my book the door opens and into the room appears a page boy announcing that Elizabeth has asked for me in her chambers. Thanking him, I take my book with me I go and knock to enter Elizabeth's chambers finding her pacing before the fireplace. Turning to see me, she smiles before going on about how Warwick is, once again, play games behind Edwards back.

"So Warwick is getting a territory in France from the French King, if Edward signs this peace treaty. Which was originally part of the marriage to Princess Bona." I say trying to figure this out as Elizabeth shakes her head and tells me,

"What is worse is that Edward does not see that Warwick is going behind is own back! His love for the man blinds him to Warwicks own wrongdoings!"

"And with Warwick hating you so much, Edward is between his own wife and Queen and Lord Warwick is cousin." I thumb the book against my lap causing her to turn to me and taking the book looks at it and raises an eyebrow. She knew just as well as I that some Magick came from placements of the stars. So who was to say that studying the planets was of magic or no? With a bemuse shake of her head, Elizabeth sighs deeply and sits beside me telling me,

"There is to be a falconry display tomorrow with the French ambassador and our family from Burgundy both attending. I can only imagine the bitterness the French ambassador is going to feel and how Warwick will have to play his cards." Taking her hand we stare out into the fire before I tell her,

"We shall figure something out, we always do." So with an embrace, I leave her chambers and return to mine, dressing into my night clothing and putting my pendant away by my bedside where it always goes. The wolf returns in my dreams, cruel and snarling, I watch from a window as he chases a ship into the ocean and just before the ship can sink I sit upright in my bed panting with Mother by my bedside. She says nothing, not a word, but has the cup of tea from the first time I awoke in this state and simply says,

"This time we are lucky you were not screaming." I finish my tea quickly and she listens as I tell her about my nightmare.

"The wolf is Lord Warwick, it has to be." I say before she leaves and she pauses at my chamber doors with wide eyes as she says to me in a low hiss,

"Keep your words between you and me." Then she is gone and I am left to dress for the falconry show today. If I could just say I was not feeling well I would, however knowing Edward he would be expecting me or Elizabeth would need me there for support. During the show I keep my head low, sitting next to Mother and watching as George speaks to Lord Warwick more often than not. Charles of Burgundy is offering a marriage for Margret of York to which Edward is keen on and George earns himself the title of Earl of Richmond.

"Is that not Lady Margaret Beaufort's sons title?" I ask to Edward who replies,

"Yes but he is nephew of the old King Henry, so I must strip it from him."