~Poison and Malmsey Wine~

February 1478, Westminster....

"Now, my love, you must be well behaved tonight" Catherine murmured as she waved Margery away and attended to Henry's doublet, fastening the last of the golden buttons through slits in the cloth of silver he donned. At the grand old age of nine, this was his first official attendance of a court celebration and he could hardly refrain from bouncing for excitement.

While his Mother straightened his sleeves, he shuffled from little foot to little foot, grinning like his Father who watched from just a few feet away, leant against the bedpost. Dressed in the same cloth of silver as his son and his coronet on his head, glimmering in the candlelight that lit the room. Henry thought he looked a King and stood up a little straighter under his proud gaze.

"I will, Mother" He promised solemnly, but still with a grin on his face. That night he was to be by his parent's side, observed by all the court as the Earl of Rutland, his Father's rightful heir. A York Prince. He would not let them down, he was determined not to. He would hold his head high, speak in the polite way his Mother had taught him and imitate his Father in every way possible.

If he did that, nothing could go awry.

Raising his left hand, he placed it on the hilt of the dagger at his waist, making his Father's smile widen.
"You truly are a knight, lad" He praised and Henry puffed out his chest with pride. To become a knight was his highest ideal! Soft footsteps suddenly caught his attention and his parents turned to see Joan wandering towards them, dressed in her nightgown and rubbing her tired eyes.

"Why, my sweet!" Catherine exclaimed, moving forward and lifting the little girl into her arms. Joan smiled sleepily and nuzzled into her neck "You're supposed to be asleep like your little brothers! Tis long past eight now"

"I want to go" She yawned, covering her mouth with a small hand "Want to go with Henny" her parents glanced at one another, amused. While all of their children were close and loved one another, there was no denying the bond between Henry and Joan. Where one went, the other did too and Joan was almost distressed that that tradition would now be broken.

Her hand reached over her Mother's shoulder and was promptly taken by Henry who smiled affectionately at her, just like he always did.
"One day, Joaney" He told her gently "But not quite yet" Catherine nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, my love. Now, let's get you back to bed, shall we?"

"Can I do it, Mother?"
She turned to see her son looking hopefully up at her and she felt her heart melt within her chest.
"Of course you can, Henry" She said softly and placed Joan down onto the floor.
"Cold" She complained when her toes touched the cold stone and Henry was immediately by her side, taking her hand.

"Come along, Joaney" He said gently, guiding her back to her chamber "Let us get you to bed again! I will bring you food back from the feast! Strawberry and apple tarts and all the things you like! I promise!" Joan giggled tiredly as the two disappeared into the peaceful gloom and Catherine jumped when she realised Richard was now by her side, sliding an arm around her waist.

"Our children" He said, tilting up her chin to bestow a sweet kiss on her lips that made her melt all the more "Sweeter than all the honey in the world!" His thumb drew circles over her hip and she smiled into the kiss, cupping the side of his face.

"And all ours" She murmured when they drew away, noticing the glimmer of desire that had surfaced in Richard's eyes. She playfully whacked his arm "Not now!" He raised his eyebrows "Later!"
"Is that a promise, my lady?"

꧁꧂

"Ooooh!" Henry exclaimed as dancers leapt amongst the trees lining the halls, dressed as nymphs and garbed in glimmering leaves. They hopped from foot to foot and in the torchlight appeared true creatures of magic, enthralling the young boy watching through the holes in his wolf mask. Still, he kept his head held high and never strayed from the path behind his parents where he could not help but admire who he thought to be the most beautiful woman in the world.

His Mother.

Dressed in cloth of silver, like her husband and son, she glimmered in the light, the pearls on her bodice and skirt glinting. Her coronet crowned the golden hanging loose down her back and her long sleeves brushed the floor in a silken waterfall, making a soft rustle as she moved in her elegant steps.

Glancing over her shoulder to make sure he was still following and hadn't gotten lost amongst the courtiers, Catherine smiled. Although her face was hidden by her falcon mask, he could see the joy in her eyes and smiled back, standing up straighter as he walked. He would make her and his Father proud that night.

"The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and their noble son, Henry, Earl of Rutland" A page bellowed when they came to a clearing where several hallways connected in a marble-floored circled. A fire blazed in the centre, providing light and warmth and adding a new excitement to young Henry's veins while he watched masked courtiers bow and curtsy.

To his parents.
To him!

Even his Uncle Georgie bowed, Meg beside him, a man he revered and respected near as much as his Father! To know that such a man, such a knight would pay him respect send a rush of joy through young veins, lifting him up into the the ethereal clouds of happiness.

It was enough to make him want to fetch Joan from bed again so she could share in the excitement! But his present of food would have to be enough and he had better claim some for his little brothers too, he thought. It was, after all, his duty (as he saw it) to help build them into strong knights! Looking ahead once more, he clasped his hand behind his back and bent into the most noble bow he could muster with the rest of the court as their rulers came forth.

"King Edward and Queen Elizabeth of England" The Lord's voice echoed around the corridors and while the royal faces were covered by masks of a lion and unicorn, there was no denying it was them. For only Edward could command such presence, stand at such height. Only Elizabeth could be so beautiful, so charming and extend a hand to her sister in law with such ethereal grace it could be believed it was the hand of God she offered.

"Ah, sister!" She greeted sweetly, nodding as Catherine sank down into a second curtsy; pressed her forehead to her Queen's coronation ring "It gladdens my heart to see you at court once more!"

"Thank you" She replied, smiling again beneath her mask as the two royal brothers greeted each other beside her and Henry stepped forward, fiddling with the hilt of his dagger. Edward's face lit with delight and he went down to the little boy's height, running a large hand through golden curls identical to his.

"Nephew" He greeted and Henry beamed.
"Your grace"
"Uncle Ned" Edward corrected gently and his nephew all but jumped up and down for joy, only just managing to restrain himself to another bow with the knowledge his parents were watching.

The court buzzed around them, drinking, eating, gossiping in corners lit by torches that made their shadows dance on the walls like the dancers that wound effortlessly around them. To the young boy, it was another world and he was propelled further into the ocean of excitement when his uncle put a strong arm around his shoulders.

"Come!" He said merrily "let us leave your parents to feast! We shall seek some fun!"
"May I, Father?" Henry asked, looking round to his Father who simply nodded, offering his hand to Catherine before they glided away together.

"So he is happy then" She remarked as they wound around couples and huddled groups of courtiers, their cloth of silver garments glimmering as they moved. She nodded to Meg, embraced Georgie, smiled at her other ladies before continuing.
"Of course he's happy!" Richard chuckled as Edward and Henry's laughs echoed behind them "his uncle is almost a God to him! He will be well and happy"

"And what are we to do? Dance and simper like other courtiers do? We cannot flit amongst the trees!" Richard smiled at that and squeezed her hand, leading her away from the chattering crowds until they came to a door, its carvings lit by torchlight.
"No" He conceded "but with our son galavanting with his King we can afford some time to ourselves!"

He pushed on the hard wood, revealing a candlelit chamber, warmed by a blazing fire that had a soft rug in front of it, laden with food. Catherine's mouth watered at the sight, at the same time her heart swelled. Richard merely smiled "We have no need to be around the court" He said, ushering her inside and shutting the door "You don't like them, neither do I so I asked Ned if we could escape tonight's festivities for our own!"

A smile flitted across her lips when she heard that and she took off her mask, laying it on a chest. Approaching the small feast set by the fire, she heard Richard's footsteps behind her and smiled, admiring the small pies and fruit tarts, the candied slices of oranges and lemons laid out for her pleasure.

She could almost taste their sweetness on her tongue.

"Come, my love" Richard murmured, taking her hand and helping her sit before settling opposite her. He could tell by her eyes (and even her silence) that she was pleased, laughing when her tongue flicked across her lower lip "I take it you are pleased?"
"The most pleased" She breathed, reaching out and plucking a strawberry tart from the pile on a silver platter.

Her senses were assailed with the sweet scent, stirring honeyed memories when she took a welcome bite.
"You these brought to me the morn I gave birth to little Dickon" She mused and he wiggled his eyebrows, plucking an apple tart from a plate "And I will be eternally grateful for that. You know how to soothe my pains"

"I know my wife" He replied through a mouthful of sweetness "my beautiful wife who is the very sole object of my desire and keeper of my heart" She glanced at him with a smile, the shadows on his handsome face dancing with the nearby flickering flames. He did know her. Like the back of his hand.

Like she knew him.

꧁꧂

Warmed by the fire and satisfied the the food filling their stomachs, Catherine and Richard lay in each other's arms, their coronets long set aside and bodies trapped in a veil of their love. Her long, golden hair fanned across her bodice and his doublet, strands of woven silk, glinting in the firelight. Richard's fingers wound around a lock that tickled his palm.

He'd always loved her hair, ever since he was a boy. It made her look like a maiden of the tales of old, he'd once told Francis, and looking down upon her now, it still did. Her beauty was like her Mother's it would never fade and even if it did it would never face to him. She would always be beautiful, a true angel, and he would follow her sacred light wherever it went. Wherever she went.

How long had he loved her?

Twelve years at least (for they were thirteen when they confessed their love) but he could not pinpoint the exact moment, the exact day when his heart had been bound to hers in the unbreakable way it was. He had not thought about taking a wife before her, after all he'd only been eleven, and ever since their wedding day he had not thought once about what it would be like to take another.

No, it was only Cate. It could only ever be Cate.

"Dickon?" Her voice was music to his ears.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
She hummed; snuggled against him.
"Do you think God will bless us with more babes?" He sighed, shifting slightly and Catherine peered up "I do not like childbirth but I would go through twice the pain just to hold our children in my arms and I wish for more. But will God grant them?"

Richard raised his eyebrows and sighed again.
"I don't see why not. We are his servants and look after the others in this land" A gentle smile flitted across his lips and she heard him chuckle "Besides, ma belle, no one can deny you, not even the Lord I would wager! If you want more babies then more will come"

Catherine moved in his arms, slowly climbing above him and pushing him back till he lay on the floor. Her knees rested either side of his hips, straddling him, and she smiled.

"Well, he cannot simply give me a child" Leaning down, she brushed their noses together "You, my love, must help" already he was grasping at the hem of her skirts, dragging them slowly upwards until his hands could slip beneath and run along her smooth skin.

"Then by all means" He murmured when she sighed contently, her head falling back when his fingers dipped between her parted thighs to find her already wet "let me help although you don't need to seem much coaxing" He slipped two inside of her and her hips canted, instinctively grinding down as she moaned.

Sweeping her hair aside, she bent down, continuing to rock her hips to make her body come alive like it always did, and kissed Richard full on the lips. He groaned into her mouth and she felt him harden beneath her, straining against his breeches, aching to be free and inside her.

"I will give you another child" He promised breathlessly as her kisses descended down his neck "I will give you as many as you want, it does not matter what God thinks"
"Sons and daughters" She told him, sliding eager hands down to his breeches where she swiftly unlaced them "Heirs to our dynasty. The dynasty the world will never forget!"

Taking his cock in her hand, he moaned loudly beneath her, hands clinging to her waist and almost trembling when she sank down on him. Catherine's head fell back and her cheeks flushed, turning her pale skin a pleasing shade of pink that made her eyes twinkle.

"Fuck" Richard groaned through gritted teeth, eyes retreating into his skull at the steady roll of her hips. She bit her lip, eyes closed, one hand on his chest. There was no feeling compared to the one she felt whenever they made love, it simply wasn't possible. Rocking her hips back and forth, their soft moans were music to her ears and she felt Richard's grip grow tighter the longer she went slowly.

She clenched around him "Christ, Cate" He exclaimed, eyes snapping open as his body shivered with pleasure. He wanted her, needed her, and forced his body up, kissing her with all his might while his hands lay her beneath him, pushing her heavy skirts above her parted thighs. Her hair was a crown of gold around her head and she clung to him, kissing him over and over.

Burying his face in her neck, he began to thrust into her again, quicker and quicker until she was moaning with pleasure once more.
"Dickon" She whined, her head killing back onto the carpet and he knew she was close; moved his hand between her legs.
"Cate" Her back arched and she clenched around him again, crying out as she reached her peak and he followed.

Pleasure flooded her body, burning her mind, her senses. Richard clung to her, pressing against the cloth of silver and the warm skin beneath. Their chests heaved against one another's and Catherine smiled when Richard raised his head, placing a hand against his warm cheek.

"I love you"
He smiled, face flushed, and brushed their noses together like she'd done before.
"I love you, me belle. Here" He reached out for a goblet of wine and helped her sit up, lifting it to her lips. Catherine smiled as she took a sip before offering some to him.

"I remember when we were younger, sharing a cup was the only intimacy in public you would allow us to have and a now look at us" Richard only smirked at that, draining what remained in the goblet.
"No one can see us" He replied, leaning down to kiss her again "And it is for a good cause after all" As he spoke, one large hand came to lay on her belly and his smile widened "Soon we may have another baby"

Her hand rested on top of his and she grinned at the fourth of their fifth child growing inside of her. How they would love them, just as they loved the four they had. Henry, Joan, Richard and Edward.
"Our York dynasty" She murmured "And mayhap one day they shall rule their own kingdoms?"

A muffled yell suddenly stung their ears, one of anger and rage, of shock even.
"George!"

Immediately their eyes met, widened with alarm and Catherine shook her head, her heart beginning to pound beneath her bodice. But not with pleasure, with fear. George had been missing for over a year, he would not dare come here, not now....

"He wouldn't...."

"George! Show yourself you coward!"

When Edward yelled again, his furious voice sweeping through the palace like the angel of death, Richard was already on his feet, lacing his breeches and straightening his doublet. His handsome face had fallen to clear severity and he pulled Catherine up with him, striding to the door without looking at her once,

"Oh he has" he muttered darkly, forgetting his coronet and mask in his haste to be out of the door. It was only when he stepped into the hallway that Catherine realised why and she took up her skirts to run.

Henry was with the King and the King was after George.

"Our boy!" She cried in terror, by Richard's side in less than an instant. Candles blazed around them as they ran, hand in hand, steps in sync, as bright as the fear burning painfully in their chests "Our boy!" She repeated but Richard only shushed her.

He would not hear of their son being in danger, he would not allow it.

"Ned will protect him" He swore "And so will we. Henry's an intelligent lad. He will keep himself out of harms way" If only Catherine could say she agreed when she knew the opposite was true! Henry hailed Edward almost as much as he did his Father and if the King went after their brother, her son would surely follow.

He would place himself in danger as sure as the sun would rise!

If only he knew the meaning of the word.
If only he knew the meaning of death was not adventure but pain and grief.

As they drew closer and closer to the decorated clearing, George's voice only grew louder, mingling with the strained one of his older brother. They were like dragons, roaring and ready to breathe fire.

A hoard of nobles gathered in the torchlit darkness, shock filling their features as they watched the spectacle before them. Sure enough, George and Edward stood at opposing ends of the marble circle, the younger stumbling down the corridor towards him while the wood fire blazing in the middle the only thing keeping them from each other's necks.

Elizabeth stood as pale as a sheet behind her husband, her unicorn mask discarded on the floor and her eyes wide with fear. True fear.

George glared at her, at Edward.
"Your King!" He accused, pointing a trembling finger at his brother "Your great King your beloved Edward is a murderer!" Richard and Catherine pushed through the crowds, looking wildly for their son "Just as you've murdered before eh, Edward? When you took a pillow" the eyes of his kin shot to him, the eyes that knew and the eyes that didn't "And you smothered old King Henry!"

Gasps echoed through the halls and even Edwards confident facade seemed to fade somewhat as he looked at his subjects. They stared at him, not in disbelief he'd had Henry killed (for most had guessed many years ago) but that he'd done it himself.

"Where is my boy?" Catherine hissed, looking up at Edward with panic in her eyes "Where is my son?" Her brother in law glanced down at her and shook his head.
"He went to get food, he's safe....I think"
"You think?" Richard demanded only to be cut off by the sharp fury of George's voice again.

Ice flooded Catherine's veins as his piercing blue eyes turned on her, drunk on madness, a madness that couldn't be controlled. He had spoken of King Henry and now, as he looked at her, she knew exactly what he would speak of next; scaring her to the bone.
"No...." She whispered softly; shook her head.

"And you" His shaking finger of accusation was pointed at her, bringing with it the attention of the court "You are as much to blame when you poisoned the mad King's son, Edward of Lancaster!" Another round of gasps filled the air but this time they were one of true shock and Catherine felt herself wither under the courtiers gaze "And who bade you all do it?" George demanded, now turning on the Queen who looked little more than a ghost "That evil witch Elizabeth Rivers!"

The gasps now turned to cries and the crowd began to murmur between themselves, looking at the two highest women in the land but mainly Elizabeth. Beautiful Elizabeth who had been rumoured to be a witch the entirety of her reign but never....never had it been declared in public. No one ever thought it would be as it was treason.

But why would George care about that? What had he to lose?

Nothing in his addled mind.
He didn't even pay thought to his children.

"Take him!" Edward roared "Someone take him he's gone mad!" George's wild eyes blazed with something akin to fear and looked around, seeking an escape. They widened and suddenly, he reached into the crows, grasped the collar of a doublet and yanked it towards him. The terrified cry of a young boy echoed around all and a flash of golden hair identical to Catherine's appeared as George held his captive firmly against his chest; drawing his dagger.

He held the blade to the boy's throat. Nine year old Henry's throat. A scream filled the air.

"No!" Catherine lunged forward, fingers reaching for her son, curling around air as Edward wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her swiftly back "No!" She screamed again, her voice shaking with sobs "My boy! Let me go!"

"No" Edward murmured "This is too dangerous" A dagger sliding menacingly from its sheath made their heads whip sharply to the right to see Richard had drawn his blade. Face red with rage and chest heaving, adrenaline rushing through his veins, enhanced by the look of pleading that filled his son's eyes, he pointed the blade at his brother.

"Take your knife away from my son, you bastard" He hissed, advancing just a step "Get away from my boy. Harm one hair on his head and you will not see another sunrise and count that as my generous offer because I'm still debating weather to let you see one regardless of what you do after this" Henry's eyes were filled with tears, though he tried to gulp them back, his face as white as a sheet.

"Father...."

Catherine continued to struggle, her heart almost breaking the longer she was kept from her precious boy. Her firstborn. She could still remember the warmth of his soft little body when she first held him, the pure joy that had filled her....

"George....please, let him go" She begged "he's just a boy, my Henry...." Tears began to slide down her cheeks "he's just a child....he's never done anything to you or any other living soul" George gritted his teeth but his expression softened all the same. Her breaths stuttered as he slowly lowered his blade, pointing it at his brothers.

He kept Henry firmly against him all the same.

"You're right" He mumbled "I wouldn't hurt him, Cat" Richard scoffed and George's eyes narrowed dangerously "it is not his fault but that bitch who hides behind her cloak of beauty and piety when in fact her soul is as rotten as the devil himself!" He turned on Elizabeth again, pointing his dagger at her "You killed my wife!" He cried "And you killed my firstborn son! You're a murderer!"

He let go of Henry and the boy ran free.

"Seize him!" The King bellowed "Seize now!" Anthony, Richard and Georgie all sprang forward, grabbing George with all their strength and wrestling him to the ground.

"You bastard!" Catherine heard Richard yell as he landed a blow to the side of George's face, making him spit blood onto the stone beneath "How dare you, how dare you threaten my son!" Henry ran into her arms and, for all the times he tried to be a man, in that moment he was just her boy and sobbed. He buried his face in shoulder, hands clinging, lip quivering.

"Mother...." He wept and she held him all the tighter, stroking his hair, all while trying to stop her own tears.

"I know, my love....I know....you're safe. You will always be safe as long as your Father and I breathe air" Only a few feet away, Georgie was having to pry Richard from his brother, pulling him away while he struggled.
"Stop it, Dickon!" He snapped, dragging him back to Edward and his family "You won't do yourself any favours by harming him....you stay with Ned, I'll take Cat and Henry back to your rooms"

Richard could only nod, glaring at George as he was carried away, his lips and nose a bloodied mess from his brother's brutal blows "Come on" Georgie murmured, slipping an arm around Catherine's waist and beginning to guide her through the shocked crowd.