I am sorry for the late updates. I had writers block for this story, but now, I am back! It is short, but, this is the best that I can do. The next chapter will be longer, I promise.

12th December 1485: Westminster Palace, England

Anne raised her head to look at herself in the burnished mirror on the wall and was surprised at what she saw. Her clear blue eyes were shining like stars; her cheeks, normally so pale, were flushed due to her great happiness and her abundant brown hair tumbled to her waist from beneath her golden headdress set with emeralds. She looked - why, she looked worthy of becoming a Queen Consort of England, France and Ireland.

"You look beautiful, Anne. I mean - Your Majesty." Her elder, future sister-in-law, Princess Cecily of York, who had been sent to help Anne prepare for her wedding, came forward to twitch the folds of Anne's emerald silk gown into place.

Anne stood still under her future sister-in-law's ministrations, barely daring to breathe for fear it was all a dream. Would she really be anointed Queen Anne of England, France and Ireland in a matter of just a few short minutes?

"Do you think he'll like me?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop herself saying them aloud. Cecily looked up in surprise.

"Of course! How could he not, Anne?" Cecily got up from where she had been kneeling at her future sister-in-law's feet, and came round behind her to spread Anne's dark brown hair out from where it had got caught in the neckline of the dress. Her hands lingered on her future sister-in-law's shoulders, trying to the best of their young ability to offer some comfort; to comfort her future sister-in-law in the last few minutes that they would ever be equal in rank.

"Look at yourself. You're gorgeous. The prettiest woman in England. Anyone who sees you will have to be enraptured by you, and that includes your husband. Now come on. It's time."

Cecily led her younger future sister-in-law out of the room and down to the Chapel Royal, where Prince Richard, who was to escort Anne down the aisle and hand her over to the King, met them.

As they arrived, the Choristers began to sing a wedding march. Anne took a deep breath "All right, I'm ready." She threw her fine veil of golden thread down over her face and laid her slender hand on Richard's forearm.

Cecily picked up the bridal train on her sister's gown to keep it from trailing in the dust and Anne was ushered up the aisle by her future brother-in-law, Prince Richard.

To the watching crowd of courtiers and visiting nobles, it appeared that Anne was gliding up the aisle, she moved so gracefully, and then Richard was placing her hand into that of Edward and John Sherwood, Bishop of Durham, was already beginning the service.

"We are gathered here today to witness the joining in holy matrimony of His Sovereign Majesty, King Edward V and Her Grace, Anne, Duchess of Brittany..."

Edward flashed her the briefest of smiles as they knelt, side by side, before the altar, ready to recite their vows. Swift though the gesture was, however, Anne saw it, and was glad.

He really does love me. She thought, and her heart leapt at the realisation. Suddenly the great weight of her new Royal responsibilities seemed a whole lot less, now that she was absolutely sure of her husband's love.

She spoke her vows in a clear voice, exulting inwardly and, as Archbishop Cranmer pronounced them man and wife, anointed her Queen and motioned for the newlywed pair to rise, so that Edward could kiss her, full on the mouth, before a cheering Court, Anne realised that she was getting all her childhood dreams and more besides. She had just married a King, and become a Queen. She had married King Edward V of England, Ireland and France and she was now his anointed Queen.

She was Queen Anne of England, France and Ireland.

Queen Anne! It was beyond even her wildest dreams; it was almost too good to be true; yet it was true.

Laughing openly, she turned on the dais. The entire Court knelt before her and her new husband slipped his arm around her waist and led her out onto the palace balcony. It was time to show the People of England a happy united Royal Family. As things should be...

13th December 1485: Westminster Palace, England: King Edward's Chambers

It was not often that Prince Richard and the King shared a bed, but occasionally, the two brothers did sleep in the same bed, and tonight, was one of those times. Edward lay one way, with his face bathed in the light of the moon, and Richard lay the other, with his face hidden in the darkness of the night. Both of them were sleeping soundly, and neither had any thought of what was going to happen that night.

The door gave a small creak as it opened. John de la Pole, 1st Earl of Lincoln, aged 23, was stood in the doorway, with a pillow in his hands. He moved forward, and closed the door quietly behind him. He began to walk, quietly, to the bed.

King Edward gave a bit of a snort, and adjusted himself in the bed, and Prince Richard rolled onto his back. John froze for a moment, and then, seeing that neither of the two boys were awake, continued on towards the bed. Having both of them here made it so much easier, two princes for the price of one.

Finally, he reached the bed, and for one moment, he stopped, thinking about what he as going to do. Then, he smirked to himself, and brought the pillow down onto Prince Richard's flaxen haired head. With a smack, it was promptly knocked away, and a body leaped over the bed, knocking him to the floor. He fell, with a crash, and a sword pressed itself against his neck. Edward, it seemed, had heard the door open, and had been ready to pounce.

The door burst open again, and several guards sprinted in, pulling John de la Pole to his feet.

"Get him out of here!" Edward hissed, slipping an arm around his shuddering brother "Take him to the Tower! And someone check on the Queen!"

"Yes, Your Majesty." The guards dragged John de la Pole out of the room, despite him fighting them at every turn.

Edward turned to one of his servants, who had arrived with the guards, and, looking to Prince Richard said "Fetch some wine. His Grace needs something to calm his nerves, and I know that I do."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The servant left the room, returning shortly with two tankards of wine. Edward waved him away and handed one of the tankards to Richard, before striding across the room and closing the door. As he returned to his brother's side, he watched Richard throw back the tankard and finish it in two gulps. Slamming it down on the nearby desk, he burped for a moment, and gave a nervous smile to his brother.

Edward drank his tankard in one gulp before slamming it down onto the desk and burping too. Reaching out a hand and ruffling the already ruffled flaxen hair of his brother, he steered him back to the bed. As Richard snuggled down into the bed, Edward watched closely, vowing not to sleep until he knew that his brother was sound asleep. Everything else could wait. Tonight, Richard was the one receiving the attention.

Tonight, his baby brother would be safe, no matter what it took.

To Be Continued