Chapter Five~
July 1469, Westminster Palace, City of Westminster
Three years had gone by since that day and Elizabeth had given birth to three more daughters. Little Elizabeth of York was now three years old while Mary and Cecily were growing every single day. Lord Warwick had seemingly all but vanished back off to his lands not having his way to marry either of his girls. Instead he was granted lands from Jasper Tudor for bringing in King Henry. However Mother, Elizabeth and I knew it was only time before he retaliated. As I promised, I kept an open ear for any talk of marriage when it came to George yet he was as secretive as he was witty. I dare never be in a room alone with him and often than not found myself in a room with either him and Richard or Anthony. It was as if they were there to protect me and for that I was grateful. Yet this peace could not last, as while Elizabeth, myself and her girls were traveling, Father alongside our brothers came riding to us saying of how a rebellion was rising under Lord Warwick with thousands of men at arms. They escorted us back to the palace where once there we were greeted by an enraged Edward and silent yet equally angry Richard. With the girls safely taken away by their half-brothers Thomas and Richard, I followed Elizabeth and Edward who told us how George had married Isabel the eldest of Lord Warwick's daughters behind his back. At this I glanced at Elizabeth in dangerous knowing.
"George is saying that I am a bastard and that that would make him the true York heir. We will go and scotch this snakes' nest out of the ground before it can come out." Edward said hands on the table covered in maps and papers while Elizabeth, myself, Richard, my Father and brothers stood around him. Looking around at everyone, I glanced over at Richard who shared my look of sheer worry as Edward stepped out of the room with Elizabeth following him. As I moved to follow Richard stepped in my path causing me to try and move him.
"Get out of my way." I told him only he put an arm across my chest saying softly,
"You should stay here."
"Why? Where are they going?" I asked as Richard looked over his shoulder telling me,
"Edward wants Elizabeth to ride to Norwich, look unconcerned and be a Queen while he rides out to find Warwick. But you should stay here."
"Why?!" I demanded making him turn to see me and say,
"Because what if something happens to you?" Blinking up at him, I frowned before saying softly,
"I have to go with my sister, my Queen needs me." And before I could regret it, I kissed him on the cheek and ran off to find my sister able to make it in time to say goodbye to my Father and Brothers who were joining in the fight. Moments after they left, I took my sisters hand and squeezed it tightly watching them all leave armor clad and ready for battle. With a heavy heart, we all gathered to make for Norwich with a heavy armed escort. Once on my horse, I looked up to see Richard looking down a window out at me. In a blur I found myself helping Elizabeth dressing in royal robes, crown on her head and the Sovereign's Ring on her finger. I stood not too far behind her watching people bow to Elizabeth, her back ridge straight and eyes trained on everyone probably wondering who was friend or foe. Of course I could not help but do the same, looking for anyone I found suspicious or who could warrant a danger to my family. By the time she had retired to her chambers, I felt exhausted and could only imagine what she must feel like. Upon seeing her children, Elizabeth grabbed tightly to them, holding them close and kissing their cheeks. That night as we were putting the children to bed it was Lizzie who asked,
"Will Father be ok?"
"Of course he will darling. Nothing bad will happen to him, you will see." Only two days later I ran to find Elizabeth with a letter in my hands from Edward himself and watched as she tore it open.
"Warwick he—he has captured Edward and we—we have to go to London we have to prepare!" She said looking crazed as I went to comfort her only Anthony appeared with a haunted look in his eyes.
"Anthony where—where is Father? We have to go to London!" I told him only he took Elizabeth's shoulder and told us,
"Our Father, and John—they are dead." I could feel Elizabeth shaking next to me as Anthony explained how Warwick had them beheaded, no trial or sentence just killed. How they were ambushed, men waiting on the road for them all. I could not feel anything as Elizabeth collapsed next to me, her cries of pain echoing as Anthony knelt to hold onto her. I could feel myself crying yet though my pain was silent it was terrible and strong. Finally I fell next to Elizabeth and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, clinging close to both her and Anthony as we cried together in pain for our Father and Brother. Having to tell the rest of the family was painful, I left that for Elizabeth to tell her children how their Grandfather had done his duty to their Father and had gone to God. I helped the girls as they cried, not knowing or understanding what was going on around them. When we made to return to London heavily guarded I kept a close eye on Elizabeth, riding as close as I could beside her for support. If the pain we felt upon hearing the news was bad, the agony upon seeing Mother was oh so much worse. As a family we held tightly to her, feeling as if we would not be able to let go in fear of her vanishing. Unfortunately we had to take up residence in the Tower of London should there be a siege on London itself. It was on a clear day that Mother, Elizabeth and I sat by the River Thames allowing the river to calm us. We always returned to the river the three of us.
"Your Father sent me this before they killed him." Mother says showing us a letter from our Father, Elizabeth pacing as I sat quietly by our Mothers side playing with my necklace.
"I should have known, I have the Sight I should have seen it." Mother says weakly with tears falling down her face and sob in her chest as Elizabeth says she wishes Edwards mother to know what it is like to loss as we have. I watch as Elizabeth stands on shaky legs and with an angry voice says,
"I have tried to do it differently! I tried to do what Edward asked of me and make them all my friends! But now I want them all dead." Holding my breath, I turn to Mother who is silent for a long time before telling her the instructions on a curse. When Elizabeth looks to me expectantly I shake my head muttering 'no' before standing saying,
"I cannot do this, I cannot take a life for a life Elizabeth."
"They killed our Father and Brother!" Elizabeth cries in pain tears falling down her face.
"And you want revenge in blood? You truly think, that by killing George and Warwick that your heart will find solace for their deaths? No, no I find no pleasure in taking a life for revenge." I tell her trying to leave as Elizabeth shouts,
"Our Father and John were innocent!"
"And I shall remain! I want no part in your lust for revenge Elizabeth. You have chosen your path, and from this day I chose mine!" With that I turn and return to the Tower, leaving both her and Mother outside unable to see my fresh tears and hear me begin to cry anew. That night I watched from my room as Elizabeth began her curse for Richard Neville, the Lord of Warwick and George Plantagenet the Duke of Clarence.
"That was very brave of what you did Kathrine." I heard Mother say from behind me as the two of us watched Elizabeth down below us. Shaking my head I told her simply,
"I have no need for revenge even if I want them dead."
"Then what do you want?" My Mother asked me making me look up at the moon and be silent for a long moment.
"So many people have asked me this. Instead of being Queen what would I want? I told them I would much rather be free, rather than be weighed down by a crown and trapped on a throne. Now instead of wanting revenge for my murdered Father and Brother what do I want? I believe the death of Warwick and George will only bring war, destruction. Even if I hate Warwick with all my heart for what he did."
"So?" Mother asks making me turn to see her as I say coldly,
"I would see him suffer some other loss, something he cannot get back. Something that would doom his future, and it would be his fault." With those words the two of us retired for the night, the moon lingering as a dangerous beacon in the sky. The next morning I awoke to find Mother consoling Elizabeth who told me that Richard and Anthony had gone to test the loyalties of those in Parliament to Edward against George and Lord Warwick.
"Warwick cannot kill Edward or he will be found of treason and I doubt anyone will find to put George on the throne when there is already a King." I tell her yet Elizabeth cannot find peace until Edward is returned safe. To bide my time I stay with the children, often trying to keep their mind off what is going on. One night I am awoken to Mary entering my room lantern in hand and shaking my shoulder crying,
"Edward is back! The King has returned!" Sitting upright, I smile and hurrying to dress and see him. I find Mother, Anthony, Richard, Elizabeth and Edward all around a table eating when I enter and we all cheers to Edward safe return. I stood near Richard as they spoke of how Parliament would not see George as King, Edward would not abdicate and no one would kill him so they let him go. When Elizabeth brought up the fact that they should pay for what they did Edward told her that he would not.
"I will make Warwick's nephew Duke of Bedford." At this it felt as if the air in the room had been removed for that was my Mother's first husband's title.
"He is Warwick's heir and I must give him some stake in staying loyal." He tells us yet I step forward telling Edward,
"Edward that man is a traitor to you!"
"I do not care what his nephew gets as long as you execute Warwick!" Elizabeth cries only Edward turns around and says to her not only that he but,
"I will give our daughter Elizabeth to young Bedford in marriage to make that alliance firm." This made me move around the room and right to Elizabeth so that I could take one of her arms in support as she shouts at him, cries that that shall never happen.
"I swear to you, that she will never marry Warwick's nephew." She says pulling out of my hold and moving towards him only Edward shouts back at her,
"So while I am King of England, I shall give my daughter in marriage to anyone I please, and no one, including you, shall stop me!" We all watch as he leaves the room with the door banging behind him, the room feeling suddenly very cold at the moment. I turn to see Elizabeth's face who without a glance to me storms out of the room next probably to find her girls. Looking to Mother for support, she nods her head towards the door indicating I follow her. It is not hard to since I indeed find Elizabeth with her girls, holding Lizzie tightly in her arms. Once I enter the room she looks up at me fiddling with her new charm around her neck. When she realizes it, she sets down her daughter and moves to another room to speak to me.
"He cannot let Warwick go free! He cannot!" She cries pacing the room with fury as I make sure the door is shut behind us before turning to her and saying,
"This country cannot stand a war within itself Lizzy, he is right to fear that."
"And Warwick is a traitor as is George and he knows this! And to marry our daughter to that man's nephew! I will never let it happen while I am alive!" She hisses pointing a finger at me before running a hand through her long hair and continuing to pace. After a moment she turned to me and said,
"If Warwick and George are to go free, then we shall show them we are not to be trifled with."
"I will not use my Magic for bloodshed Elizabeth, I already told you." I hushed stepping close to her to make sure no one could hear me so that coming closer to me she replied,
"Then if not by Magic then you can be my eyes and ears. Hear what I cannot hear, see what I cannot see. If someone says or does something, no matter who it is or what they say, tell me. Warwick and George cannot simply think they are free to do as they please." Taking both of her hands into mine, I looked at her in the eyes and asked her,
"You have already cursed them Elizabeth. What more could you ask of them?" Giving my hands a tight squeeze, her façade cracks as she says in a weak voice,
"I am trying to keep my family safe."
