Chapter Fifteen~

April 9th 1483, Middleham Castle, North Yorkshire

One day in April there is a shouting and cries from the Great Hall and as I enter see Richard commanding men and giving out orders. Years had gone by since George's death and I had last seen Edward or my sister. Kate was now twelve and Eddie was nine years old and the instant fear that something horrible was happening like war filled me.

"Richard what is the matter? Are we at war?" I asked him walking past men as Richard stopped to tell me,

"The King is gravely ill." Shocked, I stumbled over my words saying,

"My nephew is just a boy, not ready to reign. Oh Richard! I have to go, I have to see my sister!" And just like that we were packing for the journey but Kate, my clever Kate, was asking what was wrong while I packed.

"Is it Uncle Edward?"

"Why do you say that my little rose?" I asked her while getting ready as she watched by the window saying to me simply,

"He was ill in my dream and I saw a candle being blown out before everyone was crying. Is he going to die?" Stopping what I was doing, I turned to see her and going to her knelt to be at her height to see into her eyes. Taking her hands, I collected my words to say,

"You know how I told you how Lady Grandmother and your Aunt the Queen are just as special as you and I?" Nodding her little head I smiled and continued,

"You and I are given the opportunity to see things that have not happened yet. Small snippets of information that can happen. They come to us in dreams when our mind is easier to suggestion."

"So Uncle Edward has not died yet, but he might die soon?" She asks me making me nod and say to her,

"He could die but nothing is certain. That is why your Father and I are going to see if he is going to die or not." Nodding, she frowns making me take her chin so that when she looks back up she says softly,

"I am going to miss him." It is those words that ring in my head as Richard, myself and our company ride out to Westminster Palace and when we arrive we are greeted by my sister and her children. Without thinking I hug Elizabeth as Richard says,

"We thank you, Your Grace, for sending for us. How is my Brother?"

"You came just in time." As she leaves with one of her sons Duchess Cecily appears and as Richard greets his Mother she says,

"Her fortunes fade with the King, she is like a wounded beast defending her lair. And you are a threat." Then turning to me and cupping my cheek she tells me,

"Be wary." Then she is gone leaving me to stare at Richard as he takes my arm and leads me to find Edwards chambers. Upon entering the chambers all of Edwards children are there surrounding the bed, Elisabeth, Edward, Richard, and Cecily. Elizabeth sits at his side on the bed lovingly holding his head. Lord Stanly along with his new wife Lady Margaret was nearby with Anne and Francis who I was surprise to see. Duchess Cecily was there along with men named Buckingham and Brackenbury. Richard and I stood by the bedside since Richard was Edward's brother.

"It is the fate of kings that we never get to see what king of ruler our sons will be. I will never know what kind of man my sweet boy will become. I beg you, be as one now. Care for Prince Edward. Keep him safe." Elizabeth was holding herself together at the seams as she turned to everyone saying to them all,

"I will work with all of you to put Prince Edward on the throne."

"And I, Your Grace." Said Richard before another voice added in who turned out to be Anthony. Coming towards the bed, he took one of Edward's hands as Edward took work of moving his head to look at Richard to say,

"Richard shall be guardian."

"As you wish." He said though Elizabeth asked,

"Surly you mean Anthony." Making me glance at Elizabeth though Edward continued,

"Richard is Lord Protector until Prince Edward comes of age. Do you accept this Elizabeth?" Looking at Elizabeth I knew that inside she was angry but her grief and sorrow drowned out her anger as she nodded then said,

"Leave us, I wish to say goodbye to my husband." I bowed by head as Richard silently took my hand into his and told everyone else,

"Look upon your King one last time and remember him in your prayers." I could hear the broken cries of Duchess Cecily as she was led out of the room but stayed by the bedside as Richard told Edward as he held his shoulder,

"I will honor your wish." Then as he moves I take his place and kneeling kiss his brow and say to him,

"Goodbye sweet Edward." And giving him a smile, longingly part with his shoulder before turning to Elizabeth and seeing the tears in her eyes take her in a hug despite anything she might want. As I hug her I tell her silently,

"I will protect your son with my own life if it comes down to it." Then I pull back and with one last look at King Edward leave the room with his brother Lord Protector Richard. As we enter the hallway with everyone else I look at the faces of those I have grown to know, Edward and Elizabeth's children, members of Court and realize that a whole new era is upon us. Not a few moments later do I hear sobbing and Elisabeth calls out for her mother. Taking her into my arms and shushing her, I look to Richard and everyone else around us knowing full well that the King was dead. Holding Elisabeth close, we waited until the door opened and my sister stepped out. Everyone bows there head but Duchess Cecily and though I do not hear what she says I can only guess. Looking to Richard, I take Elisabeth's arm and rub it reassuringly though I cannot make myself smile. Walking through the castle now feels like a thick cloud of tension is in the air. I watch as Richard talks to his Mother, Lord Stanly and Lady Margaret as I go to find Elizabeth and when I do she is talking to Anthony.

"What is going on?" I ask her as she says,

"Richard Gray is bringing my son Prince Edward from Wales. People are taking sides and I fear of the outcome. It will be Richard and York's around my boy's throne and I will be sent back to Grafton!"

"Lizzie, Richard is a decent man! He loved his brother and swore to do right by your son and my nephew!" I told her taking her shoulders but she says simply,

"I do not trust any of them! I need, my son the King to protect me. Send word Anthony. I want my son here now so he can be crowned." Turning to Anthony I say,

"Anthony, you know Richard can be trusted!" Yet Anthony looks between myself and Elizabeth and simply without any words leaves the room so that I turn to Elizabeth and tell her,

"I know you are grieving and you want York's around your children. I understand that more than you might think. So if you want York's around your children than you are going at some point to want me." With that I leave her to find Richard only to see him talking to Mistress Shore and find he is removing her from Court.

"What was that about?" I ask once I come closer to him as he tells me simply,

"She was fornicating for far too long with my brother while your sister was with child numerous times, I am all too happy to see her gone now." Frowning, I follow him back to our chambers and once inside I tell him when the door is closed,

"We should write home, tell them what has happened and prepare for our change of lifestyle. Prepare our children even for what might happen." When I realize he seems to not be hearing me, I move to touch his shoulder as he stands by a window and ask him,

"What is wrong?"

"I am going to escort Prince Edward to the Tower of London for his protection. Once there and we are sure of his safety he can be brought here." Taking a few steps back from him I stumble and ask,

"When?"

"Tomorrow if possible, the sooner the better. I shall have Brackenbury help escort him with some of my finest men." When he turns to see me Richard's expression turns concerned as he takes my face into his hands and asks me,

"Love, what is wrong?" Only I cannot form an answer as he kisses my brow and tells me how wonder an idea it is to let the household know of how he is now Lord Protector and what it means for the children. The next day I am summoned by one of Richard's men to the Tower so that I might greet Edward, my nephew. Cloaked and well hidden, we pass unsuspected through the castle and into the greater city of London to the Tower itself. Once there I am taken to where Richard is waiting for me.

"Is he safe, is he hurt?" I ask only he shakes his head telling me,

"He is fine, the boy is as strong as his mother and yourself." I follow Richard to the room my nephew has been placed in and once there the young man smiles to see me as I hug him tightly say,

"My Lord how you have grown! Look at you!" Smiling brightly at him, I look him over as he says,

"I am not hurt Aunt Kathy but I do want to see Mother."

"I regret what happened to your guard, but my men were there to protect you." Richard says from behind me as Edward replies,

"You outnumbered us."

"Dear you are safe here, until you are King you are vulnerable. What sort of Lord Protect or would Uncle or Aunt would we be if we put you into even the slightest of danger?" I told him as he frowned but told me,

"I wish to console my Mother." Nodding, I told him,

"She is suffering, but I can have you write to her and give the letter to her myself. How does that sound?" Despite the skeptic look he gives me, he nods and Richard tells him,

"I shall visit in the morning, we have much to discuss. And I am sorry." Clapping him on the shoulder, I give Edward one last hug before the two of us leave the room.

"I would like to get him some parchment and quill with ink to write to my sister as soon as possible." I tell Richard but do not see the way he is not paying attention. Several days later with Edward in the Tower of London, I find myself with Richard and his Mother, Buckingham and Brackenbury, Anne and Francis who has come without hesitation to help Richard and Duchess Cecily only to discover that Elizabeth has gone to Westminster Abbey all except Thomas Grey. With a letter from Edward Rivers, the Lord Admiral, they are readying the fleet.

"Arrest the Lord Admiral and Thomas Grey for treason. We cannot have them plotting against me. Rally the men, all of them." Richard tells them as the two men leave before asking,

"Why, why would Elizabeth do this?"

"Because she is devious. When will you accept that she does not want you anywhere near her son?" Duchess Cecily says as Anne ads,

"She can buy an army with those riches."

"Perhaps, but what can she achieve from sanctuary." I tell them from my seat as Anne stands with an eerily calm face saying,

"She called upon a mist to conceal Richards advance upon my Fathers forces at Barnet last time she was there. Guard yourself against her ways, protect yourself and the King's legacy."

"Anne!" Francis snaps grabbing her arm and pulling her back as I narrowing my eyes at her, I say nothing as I bite my tongue until I taste some blood. When I hear Richard sigh heavily I turn to see him, his concern more important that Anne's bitterness.

"That is all I want, to crown his son like he asked."

"Then do it. Name yourself Lord Protector before she can do anything about it." Duchess Cecily snaps as I turn to see Anne and her husband as Richard says to us,

"I will send a message saying that I will not be intimidated."

"Richard please, please—let me go to Elizabeth at least once before you start a war. At least let me try." I say to him taking his hand into mine but his face is impassive as he tells me,

"I cannot show weakness now." Knowing he will not budge, the next day as soldiers fill the streets I sneak out and find myself taking the same secret entrance that I had taken when I had taken refuge with Richard's first child. Upon entering the darken vast hallways of the catacombs I can hear hushed voices and before I know it I am greeted by a sword at my throat.

"Who do you think you are?!" A voice shouts as the face of one of Elizabeth's boys appears.

"Aunt Kathy?" He asks when he realizes who it is and when I lower my cloak I say,

"Where is your Mother?"

"Where is my son?" She shouts from the dark come charging at me as I take a few steps back saying,

"He is safe in the Tower, I have seen him with my own eyes!"

"Then let him go!" She shoves me several times that I have to push her off and tell her,

"Richard is keeping him there since you are sending an entire fleet of ships after us!"

"After you stole my son!" She counters as I shoot back,

"No, your husband named my husband Lord Protector which you agreed too!"

"I will never trust Richard!" She sneers as I tell her,

"You trust no one but yourself! You are so blinded by ambition and greed and power that you trust no one, not even your own flesh and blood that you cannot even see past your vanity to know that you can trust your own sister!" Panting, I look past her at her children, all of them listening to our yelling and when she realizes the same thing, I tell her more calmly,

"Look, I came here to tell you your son is safe in my care because he is my flesh and blood just as you are. Until my dying breath I will always fight for you no matter what, even if you never trust me again. Even if you die never trusting me, know that I go to God doing everything I can to help you and your children. Because that is what we are, family." And with that, I take out the single white rose I had brought with me and hand it to her so that once she takes it I turn and leave, tears stinging my skin and burning my flesh. When I return no one, not even Richard seems the wiser, though he does notice my tears and does everything he can to make me happy.

"The only thing that can make me happy my darling, is my family." I tell him kissing him deeply and hugging him tight. A few days go by and my growing concern seems warranted as Lady Margaret offers to me her services and so I ask her to listen to any gossip about my sister. Anything and everything people might be saying. Soon Richard and I are talking to Lord Stanley as he tells us that Jane Shore of all people is delivery messages to my sister.

"Who is telling these things?" I ask Lord Stanley as he replies,

"It is the talk of the Court My Lady. With respect, it is unlikely that people would concern Your Graces with such a seedy matter."

"Yet you do." Says Richard simply as the man quickly says in return,

"I raise it only to protect you, your reputation. I am sure you would not want to be out-maneuvered by the Queen and her growing band of conspirators?"

"Nor played by you Stanley." I tell him narrowing my eyes at him, the man I had never liked before but not it seemed as if he was enjoying this far too much. When he tried to backtrack his statements Richard cut him short telling him how he was able to make his own judgements. Turning to me he says,

"It seems banishing Jane Shore has given her cause to defy me. Why would Elizabeth plot with her husband's mistress?"

"She would not, that is the answer. She hated the woman outright. Richard, she never would do such a thing." I tell him as my hold around his arm tightens though he says with a heavy sigh,

"I shall have soldiers follow the woman, see who she is staying with." However when we discover who Jane Shore is with it is the last person I would want to discover.

"Anthony?" I gasp as Richard sits by the fire staring out into the flames saying mostly to himself,

"He has always been so loyal to me, even these past few days."

"And he always will be, he was just doing what he thought was right. He was protecting his family. But you as Lord Protector must do what is right just like he did." I put my hand over his and my hand into both of his, he does not look at me as I discover what his punishment is for Jane Shore. Led out into the streets in nothing but a shift, she is meant to walk among the people who end up pitying her as I would. However it was either Jane Shore or my brother and sadly, I would pick Jane over my brother any day. Days go by yet I can sense in the wind Elizabeth using her magic, nearly tasting it on the wind. It is one day when talking to Anne and Duchess Cecily about Richard having to prove himself as Lord Protector over the Privy Council that Richard appears and his arm seizes up in pain.

"Richard!" I cry rushing to him to take his arm into my hands.

"This is her, I can tell, she's cursed you, your swords arm." Anne says as I hold his hand in mine feeling the burn of a curse on his skin. As the others talk I damn Elizabeth with her hatred towards my husband.

"I cannot reason with these people, I do not even know if I can trust them." He says taking one hand of mine into his as his Mother speaks about how he has no support. Finally Richard says,

"There are too many men having their say in matters of security and Prince Edwards future. Root out the traitors."