~The Sunne in Splendour is Burning Out~

8th of April 1483, Westminster Palace....

It brought Constance the greatest joy to look around the table and see her dearest kin. Her daughters and two youngest sons, along with her brother, sat around the King's dining table in his chambers, smiling and laughing at the jokes Edward told. He of course sat at the head on a great oak throne and she was to the right of him.

He'd returned from a fishing trip with his favoured courtiers that day and was regaling them with tales of his adventures, of the monsters he'd sought to catch.

"Did you really see a sea serpent, Father?" Dickon exclaimed, staring in complete awe at the King.
"Of course I did, lad!" He replied, nodding to his son "It was great and green with teeth of pearly white stained with the blood of his prey!"
"Is that what brought you home to me a day early?" Constance teased and he grinned, though in the candlelight, she caught beads of sweat glistening on his brow and neck.

Reaching up, she placed a hand to his forehead, shocked at how he burned, like hot coals, but Edward only chuckled and pulled it away, kissing and holding it in his own.
"Perhaps you should rest, I could fetch your physician?" She whispered but he only shook his head.

"What medicine could I possibly need when I have you by my side, sweetheart?"
Her lips pressed into a thin line but the corners curved with a soft smile all the same and she nodded her acquiescence, turning back to the table.
"I see Charlie is enjoying his meal?"
James grinned at her observation, holding the young Prince on his lap and feeding him his soup with a silver spoon.

"Yum yum!" Charlie chortled, clapping and his family laughed, making him giggle "Yum! Yum! Yum!"
"It's a wonder you've been able to taste it, Charlie!" Aliénor grinned at her baby brother "Half of it is on your face and the other half down your gown!"
"He's fighting his first battle, Ally" Edward asserted, finishing his own soup "Although I'm not so sure he's winning!"

"Yes he is, Father!" Dickon called "He's a York and Yorks always wins!" The King let out a bark of laughter, tossing his head back before looking to his second son, nodding with pride.
"That we do lad. We always win in the end. Ah my monster catch!" He announced as a troupe of servants entered, carrying a great silver dish with a ginormous trout atop it, surrounded by vegetables and slathered in sauce. The table applauded him, the girls gasping as the fish was set down, marvelling at its size.

"From your boasts, Father, I half expected an army to bring it in!" Isabella teased and Edward chuckled.
"Princess Isabella will be having a small portion for that remark!"
"And I'll be having yours!" She returned "as you've clearly had too many of late!" The whole table laughed with her and her Father grinned.

"I am merely eating like a King!" He said, gesturing to the sumptuous food "Shall we dine alone tonight?" He asked Constance who was smiling from ear to ear "send these little leeches away to eat with the peasantry?"
"Leeches?" Isabella cried "He called me a leech, Uncle Jamie!"

From Edward's left, Cecily placed a hand on his arm.
"Have as much as you like, Father, you've earned the right to enjoy yourself!"
"More wine, Father?" Dickon asked, picking up the golden jug and Edward nodded, holding out his goblet.

"Thank you, Richard, Cecily, all my delightful children and my Queen" He squeezed Constance's hand, kissing it once again "my beautiful, ever-loving Queen. My Connie"

༻᯽༺

"Must we return to Eltham on the morrow?" Isabella yawned as her Mother bent down to kiss her forehead just as she'd done to both her sisters. She smiled, tenderly smoothing back the hair from her cheek before kissing that too.

"I'm afraid you must, my love but I shall see you in the summer. Remember, this year is the first you shall join your Father and I upon part of our royal progress!" At that, Isabella beamed, excitement blossoming in her chest as she did every time she thought of the wondrous summer to come "You shall see Neddy Uncle John and Uncle Richard and of course you shall see the people!"

"Will they like me?"
Constance smiled, perching on the side of her daughter's large bed.
"Like you?" She repeated, playfully tapping her on the nose "They will love you, dear heart! And, next year, when you are given a household of your own, you may come to court whenever you wish"
"Just as Marie does!"
"Yes! Just as Marie does"

Isabella frowned a little to herself, pulling up the heavy covers of her bed under her chin.
"I shall be grown then, a woman like my sister" That earned a quiet laugh from her Mother but she took her hand all the same kissing it repeatedly. Isabella liked when her Mother held her hand, the embrace of her delicate fingers was always so warm, so soft, it made her feel safe.

"You will be not quite so grown as she" She replied "But you shall be more grown than you are now and you will be expected to behave almost exactly as your sister does"
"She is so very perfect"
Another of her Mother's laughs blessed the air.
"No one is perfect, my love, but, to me, each of your brothers and sisters are, I would not change you for a Kingdom"

"Will I be married one day like Marie?"
Constance tilted her head. Her darling girl had always been one for questions.

"One day" She nodded "And you will be a Queen, just as she shall be but that day is far far away" Leaning down again, she kissed Isabella's rosy cheeks "Now, sleep and dream of summer, of the people you will meet, of the homage they shall pay to you. You will be loved and admired by all, you shall hold their hearts and with that you shall hold power"

Taking the candle from her daughter's bedside, she gave her one last smile, blew her a kiss, rose and glided away, shutting the chamber door softly behind her. Acknowledging the curtsies of Isabella's attendants who awaited her outside, she handed the candle to one and continued through the palace to Edward's chambers, feeling full and looking forward to rest.

She pushed open the door, expecting to find her husband waiting only to have her ears filled with retching and her eyes filled by the sight of her husband, knelt by their bed, heaving into a pewter chamber pot.

"Edward!" Their dinner spewed from his mouth and she snatched his goblet from the table by the fire "Here sip this" Placing a hand on his back, she helped him as Edward tried to pull himself up, grasping the cup with shaking hands and trying to drink some of the liquid "Shh, darling" She'd known he'd needed rest, that he shouldn't have dismissed her worries "What pains you?"

He struggled to his feet, swaying dangerously from side to side, stumbling into the table and sending chess pieces flying, clattering to the floor. She took his arms trying to keep him steady and he looked at her, eyes blown wide, skin pale but burning.
"Wife....to bed" His words were slurred but not with drink and he hauled an arm around her shoulders, trying to make it back to the bed.

"I think you should save your strength, my Lord....Ned!" She let out a cry as his legs gave way and his body collapsed, convulsing on the floor and taking her with him under his immense weight. Wretched noises erupted from his throat and blood spewed from his lips, spattering the floor in deadly crimson drops "Edward! Help!" She yelled "The King! The King needs help!"

༻᯽༺

The air of the King's bedchamber smelt heavily of incense assailing the nose of anyone who dared enter. Constance had been there for a night and a day, watching physicians in black robes with scraggly grey beards and wrinkled hands gather around their King, talking in hushed voiced, passing unreadable looks between one another, telling her nothing. They looked like a pack of grim reapers, she thought.

She no longer smelt the incense, she had long since become blind to it. Instead she only smelt the blood that oozed from her husband's skin, the reward from the wounds inflicted by the leeches the physicians insisted on. That and the cuts on his arms leaking streams of blood into bowls beside him.

"Are you sure this is necessary?" She asked more than once, the way her husband turned paler and paler by the hour paining her worried heart.
"Of course, your grace" They answered "it is so we may balance his grace's humours, expelling the fever from his body" She could only nod and allow them to continue. What would she do as an alternative?

When Edward first collapsed, she'd had the children roused from sleep out of fear but sent them back to bed upon the advice of Beth who'd sung them to sleep herself. While the Queen sat with her husband, her ladies sat with their children (she'd forbade the girls from returning to Eltham), keeping them occupied through the day and as evening bled into night on the ninth. Margaret had brought her some wine and a plate of cold meats but Constance refused them, instead choosing to fast and pray at the prie-dieu.

Edward would be well soon, she told herself, he was only forty and while the fever was raging, it would calm and break, she was sure. He would not....she couldn't even think of the word, she refused to for the sake of her children and the sake of her heart.

So, she prayed, with the Archbishop of Canterbury (the old Thomas Bouchier) whom she'd had called from his palace, she fasted and sat at Edward's bedside, holding his hand as he groaned and retched, throwing up what little he had in his stomach, blood trickling down his chin, staining his open shirt. His breaths were raspy and as the hours wore on, he talked less and his eyes fluttered shut though he did not fall into sleep. The physicians tried to convince her from his side, to take cover in her chambers lest she fall ill too but she refused. She would not be parted from her beloved.

In sickness and in health she'd vowed to be with Edward and she would not dishonour that promise.

"Shh, mon amour, je suis là" 'Shh, my love, I am here' She whispered when he groaned "Je ne te quitterai pas" 'I will not leave you' when knives sliced his veins, taking heart when his hand squeezed hers. But he hardly said a word. And she silently wept.

"My Queen?"

She turned to see Thomas Bouchier at her shoulder in his bejewelled robes, a kindly smile on his wrinkled face.

"Archbishop"
"May I speak with you? In the antechamber?"
"Of course, you may....." Looking back to Edward, she kissed his hand "I shall return soon, my darling" She whispered and then followed the Archbishop through to the antechamber where he stopped by the hearth.

"Please, your grace, be seated, I think that it is best" She did as he bade, folding her hands in her lap, eyes never leaving his face. She frowned.
"Tell me, your grace, I can see you are torn with troubles"

"I am, my Queen....." He admitted, sitting opposite her "and it is with the greatest sadness that I relay this to you. I have tried my upmost, prayed my very hardest to keep this moment at bay but....it is no use" Her frowned deepened, heart beginning to pound.
"Whatever do you mean?"

"I am very sorry your grace but....the King will not survive the night"

The world went silent, slow.

"What...."

"If his fever had broken but two ago, he would be safe but it has not, it has him in its grip and his noble soul is preparing to ascend"

Suddenly all Edward's faults faded into nothingness, every ounce of anger she'd ever held against him vanished, replaced only by a fierce love, filling her heart, crying out to be saved. She remembered all the tender adoration they shared, the smile he reserved for her, the beautiful children they had made, how long each of their hearts had been claimed by the other for eternity. He was her Edward, her beloved, loving Edward. He was hers and she was his and they were meant to breathe their last together many years hence. It was true he overindulged but she never believed it could cause....that he would....

"No...." She whispered, shaking her head "No, you must be wrong, his grace will be well" The ageing man before her shook his head, the cold look in his eyes fading to one of sympathy and, gently, he placed a shaking hand on his arm.

"Our Lord above calls his grace to sit beside him in paradise and while our mighty King commands us all, God commands him" she shook her head again, lower lip beginning to tremble like a child's. He was wrong, he had to be wrong.
"No....he would not leave me....he would not leave our children....my eldest son is but twelve, surely God can see he is not ready....I am not ready....I cannot lose him"

"My child, not one of us is ever ready for change but the Lord, in his great wisdom, tests us and never bequeaths more than our strength will allow. You are strong, your grace" Constance shook her head harder, eyes blowing wide. God was surely mistaken, she did not have the strength for this!

"I....I do not wish to be...." She cried "I wish for my husband to be well, to be by my side!" Shaking away his hand, she rose and began to pace back and forth before the hearth, heart racing, rushing in her ears.
"As do I, your grace, as do I. A more benevolent Prince the English throne has never seen, he has restored his kingdom to glory and I have no doubt the Prince of Wales shall do the same.....you must gather the Lords, your grace"

"They...." She faltered "they are already here, you must have seen them, crowding around my husband's chambers like vultures ready to feast on his corpse.....Edward...." A sob broke from her throat and she covered her mouth with her hand, turning and collapsing on her knees before the Archbishop, not believing what she'd been told "Oh your grace, Father, tell me what to do, guide me, I cannot do it....it is too soon!" He clasped her hands in his.

"Our Lord shall guide you, my child, and you will prosper on his holy path" His voice was soft, yet authoritative which served to bestow a little comfort "Now, dry your eyes, the most difficult times such as these are the ones where we must be strong for those around us, those weaker than ourselves. You must be strong for your children, your grace, for your country. Inform the Kings most trusted Lords, the council, perpetrations must begin and they must hear his last commands"

He drew his hands away and hers fell to her sides, increasingly numb as she rose as if ice were pouring from her heart, freezing all feeling solid. She did not believe it, she could not believe it, not Ned, not her beloved Edward. He wasn't supposed to die, not now, not yet! Not ever....

It was all falling apart, their life, their future, her heart in her chest. It was breaking into fragments that would never be retrieved, leaving uncertainty and chaos behind.

And it was her duty to face such a monster.

Drawing herself up, she blinked, wiping away her tears with her handkerchief before tucking it back into her sleeve and opening the door. They all stood there, the council, some talking in quiet voices, some standing alone, fiddling with their rings. Whatever occupied their attention, it immediately became obsolete when the Queen appeared. Holding her head high she looked at them with as much courage as she could muster.

"Your Lord and King is preparing to ascend to heaven. Enter so you may hear and obey his last commands to you" They all stared at her, aghast, clearly not believing her, before looking to one another.

James was the first to enter, a look of disbelief in his eyes as he passed and that prompted the rest of the Lords to follow. Will Hastings was the last, lingering at the back of the small crowd as if not passing through into the King's chambers would protect him from the truth. If he did not see it, he would not have to believe it but his loyalty to Edward won in the end and he stepped forth. He would not allow his closest friend's last wishes to go unheard or unfulfilled by him. He would see everything done down to the last letter.

Constance caught his arm as he passed - she would trust him with her life.

"Send word to Richard, command him to bring my son to me" He looked forward towards the bedchamber, a worried look clouding his eyes "We will not begin without you, Will, send a missive to my brother of Gloucester and have my children sent to me from their beds. They must come"

༻᯽༺

For the sake of her children and her dignity, Constance tried her best to keep tears as bay as she sat at her husband's side, the Lords of the Royal Council gathered around his great bed, his children sat on the covers opposite.

Isabella, Cecily and Aliénor wept, wet drops staining their nightgowns, Richard stood with one hand on his dagger, eyes glistening with tears but the boy forbade them break free; ever the strong York Prince. Charlie simply watched, a look of confusion and curiosity in his young eyes as he stared at his Father who he'd always known to be laughing or smiling. Why did he do neither now, the boy wondered. Why did he look so pale and sleepy? Why were so many big people gathered around him and why did his Mother look sad?

He didn't understand death, though he'd heard the word, perhaps that was God's mercy on him, Constance wondered. Perhaps Marie and Neddy being far away was a mercy on them but likely not, they would wish to say goodbye to their dear Father. Marie would be distraught! Her lower lips quivered and tears stung her eyes at the thought, her poor little girl across the sea.

The final words of the last rites were performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Constance felt Edward weakly squeeze her hand. It was time.
"I wish to speak, my love" He whispered, his once strong voice so raspy it almost made her sob "Help me"

"Hastings?" She called but Will was already there, putting an arm around his friend and helping him up while Constance propped up the pillows. The Lords bowed and his children cried harder, even Richard had now cracked, cradling Aliénor's head to his chest while his tears streamed into her hair.

"Thank you, Will" Edward croaked "Pass me some water, would you?"
"I have some" Constance answered, fetching the goblet from his bedside and gently lifting it to his chapped lips, watching him sip before she placed it down again "Better?"
"Better, my sweetheart" His voice was a little clearer now. She still couldn't believe that he would soon breathe his last, she wouldn't, there was still hope. She clutched one of his hands with both of hers, kissing it in earnest.

"It is the fate of Kings....that we are not granted the chance to see what kind of ruler our sons shall be" Her eyes fluttered shut as he spoke, two hot tears gliding down her cheeks "but I will never get to see what kind of man my sweet boy will become" She shook her head, face contorting with pain as she fought back the sobs wishing to break free from her body. He couldn't leave her, he wouldn't leave her, their sweet boy was not ready to reign! "I beg you....be as one now....care for Prince Edward, keep him safe...."

She forced her eyes open, forced her gaze towards the Lords. She nodded to them.
"I will work with all of you to put Prince Edward safely on the throne" Edward squeezed her hand and she returned to him.

"And I, your grace" Hastings said.
"And I" James called.
"And I! And I!" The other Lords agreed, bowing once again.

Edward swallowed, forcing his eyes to set on his council, fixing them in place with the powerful presence he'd always held.

"It is my wish and my command that Queen Constance rule England as Queen Regent until our son reaches his full majority" Constance's eyes were struck wide, as were the eyes of the Lords at the King's firm words. Never before had a Queen of England been bestowed the prospect of such unlimited power for such a length of time! "She will head the Royal Council and she shall chose who sits upon it. She shall govern the laws of this land and keep it secure for when our son truly ascends"

She would be much more than Queen Regent.
She would be King in all but name.

And Edward wished it to be so.

She looked to the Lords again, expecting to find scorn, disbelief but, aside from surprise, she found respect staring back at her, respect and approval. As much approval as the men of the realm could truly give a woman.

She nodded, looking to her husband again.
"As you wish, my King"
"You will all aid her in this" Edward continued "You will support and swear fealty to her, answer to her. In doing so the realm shall become unbreakable for Prince Edward and he shall be safe" They all nodded slowly and he nodded in return, finally settling back a little "Now, I bid you leave us"

The Lords bowed a third time and then one by one ascended the steps to the bed, kneeling and kissing their King's hand for the last time. When Will's turn came, he held on for a few moments, blue eyes glistening with tears.

"I will protect and serve your boy till my last breath"

Edward smiled.

"I know you will. You are a loyal man and a loyal friend. You, Dickon and Connie will see our boy raised strong and England safe for him" Will nodded and kissed his hand before rising and the two men nodded to one another in a silent farewell carrying the weight of more than twenty years shared together.
"See you soon, Ned"

And then he was gone, almost hurrying from the room for fear he would begin to weep and the royal family were left alone.

Edward smiled again, looking toward his children and weakly beckoned them towards him. Charlie grinned and crawled quickly up the bed, snuggling into his Father's side while the others approached slowly, eyes red-rimmed and lower lips trembling.

"There now...." He comforted as they sat at his side, little hands reaching for his sleeve and fingers, desperately clinging on "Do not weep for me. It is as Will said, we will see one another again and then spend eternity in heaven by each other's sides!"

"But that's so far away!" Cecily cried, her slender shoulders shaking with sobs "I don't want you to die, Papa, I want you to stay!"
"And me!" Isabella cried.
"And me! And me!" The others chorused. Their Father gave a gentle shake of his head.

"It is what God commands, little ones, I must obey just as we all must obey his will"
"But it is cruel!" Aliénor argued "He's taking you away from us! From ma Mère!"
"Your Mother is strong, you are all strong and we must bid farewell to one another but we do not have to say goodbye as our parting is not forever!"

"Then I won't!" Isabella sniffed "I won't say goodbye! Because I love you, Papa! I love you so very much!" She threw her little body across his, hugging him fiercely, the others following suit, and while Constance saw a grimace of pain cross her husband's pale face he made not one grunt of protest. 'I love you's' filled the air and tears slid down his cheeks as he nodded.

"I know, I know....I love you all too and I shall watch over each of you. While I may leave you in body I shall never leave you in spirit"
Little Charlie looked up, pouting as he noticed the tears on his Father's face. Placing his little hands on his chest, he crawled up him a little further before planting kisses to his cheeks.
"Papa be happy" He said "No sad for Charlie" Edward gave a weak chuckle and stared at his youngest son.

"Ah, my sweet boy, what a fine man you will become, a strong soldier I think....yes" Charlie snuggled into him again and his eyes flicked to young Richard "Be strong for your brothers" He told him firmly "Be loyal to Edward, always always loyal! You, he and Charlie are the three sons of York now and, I beg of you....do not make the same mistakes my brothers and I did....never break, Dickon, stand by each other and you will prosper. Apart you shall burn"

Richard nodded fiercely, squeezing his Father's arm.
"I will, Father" He replied "I swear it"
"Good lad....now, be along with you all" He tried to smile again but Constance could see it was pained by sickness and by heartache "We shall all be together again one day....God bless you, my children"

"Go to your Aunt Beth" Constance said, nodding to them as they stood from the bed and Isabella guided them away. Charlie fussed when Cecily lifted him from their Father's chest, chubby fingers grasping at his shirt but Edward caught his hand, kissing it so his son smiled and let go, waving while he was carried away.

The slowly made their way from the chamber, casting sad glances over their shoulders, hesitating at the door before Aliénor closed it, blowing her Father a kiss.

Constance turned to Edward, shuffling closer to him on the covers of the bed, intertwining their hands once more.

"I won't let you leave us" She whispered "You can't" Edward slowly shook his head, the light in his eyes dimmer than an ember.
"It is God's will"
"I do not care" She shook her head, sniffing "You are my husband and I love you and you will stay with me!" A smile (each was weaker than the last) stretched Edward's lips at that.

"I thought a woman of your great piety would never defy God"
"I would defy the devil himself to keep you by my side because that is what I need"
He swallowed, squeezing her hand.
"Connie....I have loved you....how I have loved you....."

"I know!" She said, tears stinging her eyes again. He was trying to speak his last words and she could not bear it "I know you have!"
"But I never deserved you...."
Even if it was true she would not admit it.
"Edward...."
"We both know it....I was never faithful as you were to me sweet, sweet, constant Constance, at least in body. My beautiful angel...." She broke into sobs "I never deserved your love"

"But I gave it willingly because I loved you too" She cried "I love you too...." She would always love him, he was half of her very soul! She could not be without him! Tears began streaming from the corners of Edward's eyes and he tried to nod but his body ached....it ached so much and he was so tired.....

"We have loved one another more than any could know"
"And I could not have wished for a better love for God to grant me" She told him desperately "You are my heart, Edward and if you leave, it will be broken...." She shook her head, hanging it as her tears dripped onto the sheets uncontrollably.

"We both know it is not my choice"
"Try....please try...." She whispered.
"I never got to say goodbye to my Mother....or my brother....." That made them both cry harder. Richard would never reconcile with his brother, Cecily would never reconcile with her son, things would never be amended.

"Don't....don't leave me, please....please don't leave me" She begged, though she was coming to realise any and all pleas were useless now "I need you, we need more time....please"
"Time is the one thing we all wish for but will never get" Edward replied quietly, the croak fully returned to his voice "our time is spent, we cannot bargain with fate or with God, sweetheart"

Sweetheart....how many times had he called her that? Was this to be the last?
Another sob broke from her lips.
She couldn't bear it to be so.

"No....no, I can't do this without you, our boy, our son, he's a child, Edward...."
"And he will have you by his side, ruling in his stead"
"Twenty three years we have been by each other's side, our boy needs us both at his! He needs you to show him how to be King! I need you to keep my soul from withering....please Edward...."

Twenty three years.
They should have many more, thrice that even.

"Thank you, lovely Constance, for marrying me..." He only whispered, one trembling hand riding to cradle her face. His hand was cold, so cold....
"I would take those sacred vows again in a heartbeat" She told him fiercely "You know I would"
"I wish we could...." He replied "I still remember how beautiful you looked when you joined me at the alter, how beautiful you were when you were crowned at my side and all the years thereafter....thank you" Her face crumpled.

"Edward...."
"No...." He gently shook his head "do not let our final moments be spent on tears, my love....come here, please...." She tried to nod, she would do anything for him and, surging forward, she kissed him fiercely on the lips, the salt of his tears and hers blossoming on her tongue.

"I love you" She whispered as she pulled away, staring deep into those beautiful eyes of his one last time before she lay her head on his chest, listening to every shallow beat of his heart.
"I love you, sweet Connie...."

One.....two.....three.....four.....five.....six.....seven.....eight.....

The beats stopped.

His chest fell and refused to rise.

The hand cradling her head relaxed, fingers slipping away from her scalp and onto the covers beneath.

Shaking, Constance slowly raised her head, hoping, praying desperately that when she looked, he would be smiling, that his fever would've broken and all would be well!

It was not.

His eyes were closed, lips slightly parted and when she lifted a trembling hand to them only to be denied the blessed reprieve of a warm exhale, she knew.

"Ned?"

His eyelids did not even flutter....

Oh, she knew....

In that moment, Constance felt her heart shatter, each shard sharper than glass, driving into every inch of her body, shredding her mind, tearing her soul in two.

She was sure she had been cast into hell, that she was the one who lay dead for she was sure no other pain than that bestowed by the devil could be so great. Her heartbroken screams filled the chamber, the palace, she screamed up to the heavens, to God, pleading with him to bring her beloved back, to restore him to her side. She clutched at his hands, at his body, tears pouring from her eyes, she screamed his name over and over, the beloved letters twisted by sobs and torn by grief.

For a moment she wished for herself to die, for God to take what was left of her soul and take her to her Edward, she couldn't face a world without him, she didn't want to! He was the sun to her flower, the water to her earth, the air to her lungs and now....there was no air, no water, no sun.

There was only eternal darkness while he was away from her in eternal paradise.

He was no longer King and she was no longer Queen. They were no longer as one.

Yes. This was hell.