~Goodbye my friend~

Arm in arm, Georgie and Lizzie walked though the gardens of the palace, shy smiles crossing their faces as they glanced at one another.
"You look well today, my lady" he said after a moment of silence and Lizzie blushed as he adjusted her silk shawl around her shoulders.

"Thank you, your grace" She replied, looking at her shoes when he chuckled, stepping slightly closer to her.
"I've told you time and time again to call me Georgie! Or George!"
"And I've told you time and time again to call me Lizzie!"

They smiled at one another again and continued to walk.
"Is Aunt Leena well?" He asked and Lizzie sighed shaking her head a little. Eleanor wasn't well, not at all. Since Christmas Anne had improved a little, enough to walk around the ground with someone's arm to hold onto but that week she had had a cold.

A mild one, at first, but with her frailty it had soon taken hold and now she lay in her bedroom with Eleanor by her side, constantly weeping and refusing to leave. As a result Lizzie had taken over some of Eleanor's duties as Queen, sitting next to Richard at dinner and such (something which some of the court seemed to disapprove of) but she did not care, it thrilled her even if the reasons for it were sad.

"Anne is going to die" she said softly and Georgie gave a short nod "soon, we think....very soon"
"I'm sorry for that" he remarked "Aunt Anne has always been kind to me, she was a favourite of my Father too, I will miss her"

"I was brought up not to like her, my Mother was, well is, so against the Nevilles, no offence, Georgie" he laughed lightly and shook his head again, the exact image of his Father with his eyes twinkling.
"Your Mother hates everyone that doesn't bare the name Woodville!" He returned and Lizzie shrugged a little "even some who do"

"If you mean Aunt Lyanna, my Mother doesn't hate her!"
"Doesn't she?"
She shook her head.
"No. But they will never be close again, that is for sure. Aunt Lyanna is a Plantagenet now. A York to the core, I don't think anyone could deny that"
"And the Queen of England" Georgie reminded her "the consort of a King who took the place of her son"

Lizzie stopped walking then and turned away, tears pricking at her eyes while Georgie's face paled and he instantly realised his mistake "Oh God I'm sorry, Lizzie" he said with a sigh, reprimanding himself in his mind for his glibness. "I forgot for a moment....I....I know that you miss your brothers"

"Every day" she whispered, looking down at the river below. She had prayed to God, prayed to Melusina, to every saint she could think of but none of her prayers had been answered "I just hope to God that they are safe somewhere" she dipped into a small curtsy and turned to walk away "excuse me, your grace"

"Please, wait...." he began in earnest but both of them suddenly looked to the sky as all around them suddenly became dark. Looking up, they watched, mouths agape, as the moon came over the sun, blocking out almost all light.

Within seconds, Lizzie was back by his side, taking his hand. He pulled her close to him, daring to press a gentle kiss to her hair as they watched the wonder before their eyes.

"What is going on?" She whispered but Georgie merely shook his head, at a loss for words, before he held up a hand to shield them from the sun's blazing rays that shot down to the earth as the moon moved away and light returned to England.

In Anne's chambers the doors opened and Eleanor rushed in, her eyes wide with unanswered questions about what she had just seen on her way back from collecting herbs.

"Annie!" She called, walking up the steps to her friend's bed where she lay under the covers, her daughter Issy next to her "Annie, did you see the sun? So strange it was, unlike anything I've ever seen!" She looked behind her to the windows that Anne liked to have open so that she may see the birds and trees "did you see it?"

"She didn't" Isabel's small voice answered. Eleanor turned around to see the thirteen year old knelt at her Mother's side. She had always been a quiet little thing, timid and shy as Anne had been as a child and even now, her sobs of grief were quiet, almost silent yet that only seemed to make them more heartbreaking "she did not see it....she can never see anything again"

꧁꧂

April 1485, Westminster....

"Eat something, my love" Richard gently coaxed as he held up a small piece of bread to Eleanor's lips but she turned her head away, as unresponsive as she had been since Anne's death almost a month prior.

Ever since then she had almost stopped eating, she attended no feasts or dances or council sessions. She simply stayed in her room as she had done when Katheryn had died but Richard refused to give up on her.

Each day he tried again and again to make her smile, to slip a mouthful of food past her lips and always refused to leave her side even if she ordered him to. He knew it would do her no good to be by herself all day long.

And so he sat quietly at her bedside, trying once more to convince her to eat "if not you then for the baby?" he tried and she slowly looked down at her belly which was virtually still flat despite her being five months along.

At long last she let her lips part and accepted a little of the bread that was offered to her.
"How is Isabel? And Maggie? And little Teddy?" She inquired. Isabel was an orphan now as George's children were and they had just lost the Mother figure in their life but Richard simply smiled at the question, relived she was speaking for she sometimes went days on end without uttering a single word.

"She is getting through it we think" he replied. "she spends most of her time with Lizzie who is helping a vast deal. She makes her smile....Maggie is with Matilda a lot and Teddy stays with his nurses, he's heartbroken" Glistening tears surfaced in Eleanor's green eyes and she choked back a sob, turning to hide her face in the pillows beside her.

"She wasn't supposed to die" she whispered, hot tears sliding down her face and onto the silk sheets "not now....not yet. I need her, they need her!"

"I know, love, but I need you, our baby needs you. The country needs you. We both know we may be headed towards war and I cannot face it without you by my side, Leena"

She shuffled a little in the bed, looking down at her belly once more while she tried to wipe away her tears. Like a child, she curled up as if you protect herself, hugging her knees to her chest.

"This country is ravaged with blood and war" she mumbled and turned to face Richard "I don't think I can bear to bring another child into its merciless hands" he nodded slightly as he took her hand and brought it to his lips.

"Together we can end that war I am sure"

"Are you?" She asked "Edward used to say things like that before he lost his throne. War is never ending in this land"
"I am sure, Leena" he repeated, a firmer tone to his voice "but we must stand together. Wouldn't Anne want you to fight? Without her there is no one to fight for her daughter? And what of George? Without her there is no one left to fight for his children either!"

Eleanor huffed indignantly and sat up, igniting the exact reaction Richard had been hoping for, he had found her stubbornness and that was what was needed.
"That's not true!" She protested "I will fight for them!"

"Then do it! You cannot fight for them trapped in your room, my darling!" She raised an eyebrow and he did the same to mirror her expression, pleased that a small smile curved the corners of her lips "come back to court. Be by my side and fight for our family! Together we can win, apart we cannot....we stand together and then we are strong"

Eleanor tilted her head to the side a little and ran a hand over her nightgown. 'Anne would want me to fight' she thought 'fight and win. She was a fighter and so must I be'. Giving herself a little nod, she pushed back the covers and got out of the bed, almost knocking Richard off his stool as she did so!

"Fetch Anais and Marie" she told him, the strength returning to her voice as she stretched her limbs and made to pull back the curtains to let in the light she had shut out for a month "tell them that I am ready to fight again. And tell them to bring Issy to me, there is something I would say to her"

꧁꧂

June 1485, Westminster Palace....

The palace gardens filled with music as minstrels dressed in bright colours of pink and purple, orange and green played their instruments for the entertainment of the royal court.

Some roamed along the paths, some preferred to sit indoors and listen to the music from a balcony or window but the King, the Queen, their friends and children were all sat relaxed on grass of bright green, all smiling. Flowers of every colour surrounded them, bees buzzed and butterflies fluttered in the air, flying up into the cloudless sky.

The little ones such as four year old Nell, three year old Thomas and two year old Adela (who toddled between them, each chubby hand in one of theirs) took a particular interest in the little creatures they found! They shrieked with delight when they came across a ladybug that seemed content to sit on Adela's finger before running to show the others.

Some of their older siblings also dashed around with complete abandon for rules or protocol, simply happy to have fun and be free without fear of reprimand. Isabella and Cis were playing hide and seek with Georgie (who at twenty was a rather reluctant participate) but he didn't truly mind and chased them around the bushes and flowers with a grin. They even convinced Lizzie to join!

Twelve year old Matilda and ten year old George seemed determined to remain a little more dignified however, the former composing a letter to Bess in France, elegantly stretched out on a silk blanket, quill in hand while her younger brother inspected his dagger by his Father.

On another blanket lay Francis and Anais who appeared to be reading a book of poetry to one another but everyone there could tell the book was only there to conceal the kisses they were giving one another! Marie had been sitting beside them but had eventually gotten sick of their sweetness in the summer heat and gone to join Jane who was picking flowers, rather glad that they had become friends since the winter.

At the top of the grassy bank where the royals had chosen to settle above the river sat Eleanor and Richard, both dressed brightly in blue silk with smiles on their faces.

The Queen bounced her youngest child on her knee, holding a daisy for Anthony to reach out for, cooing when his little fingers wrapped around the green stem. Beside her sat honey haired Issy, quiet as usual but smiling all the same as she watched the children play. Richard read a letter in his hands and chuckled to himself every so often, amused by the words of his friends.

"What is it?" Eleanor exclaimed when he outright laughed and almost threw the letter at her in his mirth.
"I'm not sure it is appropriate for your Queenly ears to hear" he teased but she merely swatted at him with a hand.

"Tell me!" She demanded, passing baby Anthony to Isabel who grinned at her little charge, cuddling him to her chest while he gurgled happily, daisy in hand.
"He only says that his return home has proved more than satisfactory to more than himself!"

Eleanor grinned at that and swept the letter from her husband, reading it herself.
"I'm glad" she said with a nod "I hope he can bring Nell back to court with him, she seems a merry woman whenever I've met her, despite her ill health! What of Jack?"
Richard grinned and leant back on the blankets they were sat on, placing his arms behind his head and baring his face to the hot sun.

"He says our numbers across the country are stronger than ever before!" He proclaimed proudly, if not rather smugly "If Tudor dares to invade he shall be crushed within weeks! We can set off on our royal progress as planned next week!" Eleanor smiled at the relaxed expression on his face as he reclined on their blankets and soon joined him, laying aside her crown.

"Do you think he shall dare?" She inquired, playing with her necklace and Richard turned onto his side to face her. Covering her fingers with a hand he shook his head.

"No" he admitted before sitting up on his elbows and bringing her with him "look around you, my darling. Our line is secure, I have four fine sons to follow in my footsteps and perhaps another growing within you right now!" A gentle hand brushed her clothed belly "I have six beautiful daughters that shall secure our lands and power across Europe, one who already does so!"

He paused and tilted Eleanor's chin up with his free hand "and I have the most beautiful Queen in Christendom who has hair as red as fire, eyes as bright as emeralds and a mind as strong as any King's who is beloved by the people! We are strong, sweetheart. Stronger than Edward and Elizabeth ever were, stronger than my Mother and Father ever could've been. We are unbreakable, Eleanor"

She smiled up into his face, a soft blush staining her cheeks until a happy shriek filled the air and the King and Queen of England found Thomas crawling into their laps, sugar on his lips and sticky sweetmeats in his hands!