~The Crypt~

November, Westminster Abbey....

The 18 year old Duchess stared down the hallway, that led to the rest of the abbey, through the small grate at the top of the crypt door. It was the first time in nearly a month that she had opened it and instantly felt herself longing to leave the confines of sanctuary.

With a reluctant sigh, she closed it again and gently brushed the front of her blue gown with her hands to smooth the imaginary creases that marred the heavy velvet. Holding up an arm she could see that one of the cuffs was beginning to fray a little and made a mental note to mend it the next day. For at least that was something that could occupy her time.

She had only brought six gowns with her into sanctuary (three of her own, three of Elizabeth's) and since they were different sizes, they had to make do and alternate the ones they had. It took a few weeks to get used to but the two found that they did not truly care. All they cared for was their survival and new, fancy gowns each day did not matter to them now.

And besides, the crypt was no place to house a royal wardrobe for there was dust and grime everywhere. Soot lay scattered on the ground from where small s fires had been made to cook food, though they were forced to put them out at night lest the flames set the makeshift beds (crafted from heavy furs gifted to them by a sympathetic priest) aflame.

During the beginning of their confinement, everyone had been eager to keep their spirits up, playing games and singing each day but as more and more news of Lancastrian victories and Warwick's rise in power once more filtered through to them, they could feel their hope beginning to wane.

And with the approaching birth of Elizabeth's child, more fear came too. If anything were to go wrong, there would be no midwife, no physician, both the baby and the Queen could die and Eleanor prayed nightly for the safety of her sister and the child.

"What are you doing?" Lizzie's voice asked from the darkness and Eleanor slowly stepped forward until the little girl came into view, her red hair a mess of curls around her shoulders that reminded the Duchess of her younger self.

"Wishing for salvation" she replied and picked her niece up from the ground "but why are you awake, little Liz? It is just gone past two I heard the church bells announce it!"

"I'm cold" Lizzie protested, pouting a little as she crossed her arms "Cece and Mary are keeping the covers of our bed all to themselves! There are none left for me!" Eleanor smiled and began to walk to where her bed of furs and blankets lay, shutting the gate to the crypt behind them and bolting it as they advanced into the area where all the inhabitants slept. As quietly as she could, the Duchess stepped over Tom, Rickon and Fortuna before setting Lizzie down on her own bed and slipping from her gown into her shift, hanging the dress on one of the iron bars (that surrounded a large tomb) with her other two.

"Then we shall share tonight" she said, climbing under the blankets before making sure her niece had enough to keep her warm.
"Have you not slept?" Lizzie asked and frowned when Eleanor shook her head.
"I do not sleep much" she replied "I don't do anything during my days to make me tired....I read....I sew a little to mend our clothes....I pray for your father's safe return and my husband's...."

"You wanted to explore the abbey" Lizzie interrupted, making the Duchess grin into the darkness "I saw you"
"That I did, little one....but it is forbidden!"
"But you are an adult!" The girl reasoned "adults are allowed to do what they want"

"How I wish that were true, Lizzie!" Eleanor sighed, lying down and wrapping a hand around her necklace for a moment, wishing for Warwick and George to drop dead that instant.

The young girl snuggled into her and fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillows but the Duchess found sleep evaded her and stared into the darkness, listening to the owls that hooted outside and the soft snores of her nephews.

Again she wondered how long they would be trapped in sanctuary, it had almost been a month and yet the Lancastrians seemed to get stronger each hour! There was no word of any Yorkist resistance or support for King Edward, the King now in exile in Flanders, or his Queen in the Abbey crypt with her sister and children.

There was a little help from the locals who still appeared loyal to York however. They would bring food to the Abbey for those who were trapped there and all were immensely grateful for there had been more than one occasion where Eleanor and Elizabeth had worried that the little ones would go hungry.

'But what of Mother? What of Anna and Marie?' She thought as Lizzie wrapped her arms around her in her sleep. Jacquetta was languishing in the tower, facing death for Eleanor was far from foolish enough to think that she would be given a fair trial. If George and Warwick wanted her to be found guilty then she would be found guilty and be hanged....or even burnt!

She knew nothing more of her two ladies, her two friends. She knew not weather they were alive or dead. Perhaps they had been returned to their families? Marie was now in France and Anais in Burgundy? What if they were in the tower too? But what could they possibly be there for? They were Ladies Maids, Warwick surely had no quarrel with them?

And what of Richard? Eleanor turned over slightly, being careful not to disturb her niece as she did so, and sighed, again worrying for her husband. She slowly reached under her pillow and took out the crucifix he had given her, counting the silver beads one by one as she thought.

Around a week after she had entered sanctuary there had been a rumour that he, her brother and the King had all drowned at sea and Eleanor had done something she never though she would do for Richard. She wept for him. Silently during the night, clutching her wedding ring to her chest, praying for his survival and finding herself crying tears of relief when she found that the rumour was false.

Still, she could not tell what had surged this protectiveness and worry for her husband on. But now she thought of him day and night, wondering where he was, how he was faring. Had he stayed faithful to her or would he find a whore to keep him company as she knew Edward would do? She prayed that Richard had not taken the latter rout but resolved not to think on it that often for thought of infidelity only fulled thoughts of another woman....a woman she was now growing to not just intensely dislike but hate.

Kate.

Just the mere thought of Richard's mistress now made Eleanor's anger rise and, with ample time for thought in the crypt, she had found herself comparing Kate and she, even though she knew little of the other woman.

Kate was Richard's first love.
Kate was the one that had given him a son.
An illegitimate one but a son all the same.
And not only that but a daughter.
A surviving daughter.

Eleanor was the one she was sure he used to hate but now seemed to care for, just as she had grown to care for him.
But she hadn't given him a son.
Eleanor had only had Jacquetta.
A daughter.
A daughter who had died after only two months of life.

Finding tears prick her eyes, she pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind and clutched her cursed necklace once more, focusing her anger and hatred on George and Warwick, the men who held her mother (and possibly her friends) captive.

Kate did not matter.
Her children did not matter. 

What mattered was that Edward returned and won back his crown from Henry (or rather Warwick) and that the Kingdom could then be restored to peace.

꧁꧂

Eleanor tightened the laces of her sage green gown before glancing over her shoulder to Elizabeth and smiling in a way of a morning greeting. Looking down she sighed, wishing for once that her gown was not adorned with hanging sleeves for, as much as she loved them, the extra material was no friend to making fires or other any other chores really. They simply served to get in the way or potentially turn her into a human candle.

"Perhaps I should simply cut them off!" She suggested as her sister went to her side and grinned.
"Perhaps you should!" She replied holding up the material for her inspection before dropping it. "but do be warned, Leena, if anything goes wrong you shall be down to two gowns and then what shall you do?"

"Suffer with two gowns" Eleanor replied, giving Elizabeth a playful nudge before picking up her grey shawl and wrapping it around her shoulders. Looking to the centre of their living quarters she could see that no fire had been lit yet and asked if a priest had delivered the wood yet but her sister shook her head.

"We may simply have to freeze today" she replied with a small shrug "but you promised the girls a game of chase, did you not? That shall be sure to keep you warm!" As if on cue, Lizzie skipped up to them and tugged on her Aunt's skirt, demanding with a pout that she keep her promise.

"I shall!" Eleanor returned, grabbing the small piece of green ribbon she used to tie back her hair into the simple braid she had now become a master and securing it at the ends of her hair. "just as soon as I have eaten!"

"Here you go!" Lizzie replied brightly, producing an apple from behind her back and beaming as her Aunt took it, bending down to press a fond kiss to her forehead "and after you will play!" She said. Eleanor nodded in reply, taking a grateful bite of the apple, for in truth her stomach was rumbling as it had never done before.

"I am at your service Princess" she announced, sweeping an dramatic bow which made Lizzie giggle.

꧁꧂

Eleanor sat down, exhausted as she watched the three Princess run after each other and Fortuna (who yapped happily at their feet) while her sister placed an arm around her shoulders, laughing lightly.
"I see the girls have worn you out?" She asked as the Duchess leant a head against her shoulder "I'll admit the game looked fun!"

"More for them than I!" Eleanor gasped, trying to get air to her burning lungs. She had not run like that for years! Never since she had been at Grafton and momentarily looked up at Elizabeth, thinking of their times together at their family home.

"You were always my favourite" she murmured with a tired smile which her sister returned "you and then Bella and Anthony"
"Just as you were mine" Elizabeth said before she began to smile "and I can see the way you and Lizzie stare at that heavy door each day!"

"I don't mean to!" Eleanor protested, making the Queen laugh "I simply long for freedom, as does Lizzie. But I know...."
"Then go!"

The words made the Duchess look up in disbelief and she scoffed a little in surprise.
"You don't mean that" she said with a suspicious smile "you say it's far too dangerous!"
Elizabeth shrugged and leant back against the wall with a sigh.
"I can watch the others, Tom or Rickon can come and fetch you if anything goes awry....but I know that the both of you want to explore and as long as you are back within half an hour, you have my permission to do so!"

Eleanor's eyes widened before she began to grin, clapping her hands together like a small child. She then ran over to Lizzie and gently drew her aside, whispering her mother's plan and watching as the young girl began to bounce around before simply standing with a large smile, not wanting for her sisters to notice their daring escape.

When Elizabeth called the others to her at the opposite end of the crypt Eleanor slowly slid the bolt, that held the door closed, out of place and picked up Lizzie, grinning from ear to ear as they slipped out of sanctuary and into the dark passageway that was lit by a lone torch.

The pair took deep breaths as the Duchess reached for the handle of the small door that would lead out into the main abbey.
"Do it, Lyanna!" Lizzie commanded quietly and her Aunt obeyed, pulling open the door and holding up a hand as they stepped into the bright ornate hall.

Placing her niece down on the floor, Eleanor looked around and grinned again as she gathered up her skirts and (seeing no one around) began to run around, making Lizzie shriek with laughter as she followed.

Together they made their way through rows of pews and hopped up the stairs to the dais at the end where they spied an open door.

"Come on, Lyanna!" Lizzie cried as she ran though, dashing up the spiral staircase inside while her aunt followed, relishing every minute of their freedom. At last they came to the top and both wrapped their hands around the great iron handle that hung on the door that lead to a chamber and pushed as hard as they could so that they could enter.

Eventually they managed and then door swung open with such force Eleanor and Lizzie tumbled to the floor before looking around in wonder as they took in the small bedchamber in front of them.
"I would like that" the girl remarked, pointing to the four poster bed that lay at one side of the room, it's blue hangings tied back "it's better than sleeping on fur!"

The sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs made them both jump up from the floor with the Duchess whisking her niece into her arms, dreading that it would be George or Warwick that came into view.

"Why did you not announce yourself!" She cried as Tom appeared at the top of the stairs, leaning against the door frame to catch his breath.
"Don't scold me Leena!" He complained "mother is going into labour!"