~We will be Kings~

February 1483, Bamburgh....

Hooves pounded on the earth, digging up wet sand that flew through across the beach. Soft coats of all colours: flaxen, ebony, chestnut, became wet as their owners thundered through the shallows of the sea, sending white waves spurting into the air behind.

Catherine and Richard led the way, grinning at one another before glancing over their shoulders to where their children rode. Their beautiful York children.

Fourteen year old Henry sat on the chestnut Ares, his blonde curls blowing in the wind, his once merry voice now deep like his Father's when he laughed. Joan laughed with him, ten and closer to her older brother than ever! Despite the four years difference between them, they were like two pea in a pod, always together, never apart. They were hand in glove and able to tell what the other was thinking without one word being spoken.

Behind them rode nine year old Dickon and, with him, six year old Edward who giggled and squealed his delight, little arms clasped around his elder brother's waist.

"Faster Dickon!" He cried "Faster! Faster!"
Up ahead his parents grinned, glancing at one another with mischief in their eyes. The same look they'd shared since they were eleven, almost eighteen years ago now.

"Well" Richard called through the wind "If little Ned wants for us to go faster I think we should grant him his wish, don't you?" Catherine's grin only widened and she spurred her horse on, silently challenging him. He could never resist a challenge. Nudging his stallion, they both flew through the shallow waves lapping at their horses legs, spraying their faces; their clothes with salty water.

The children laughed in delight and followed suit, calling out, egging each other across the beach, their home high on the rocks above. Along the sands they raced and raced, the wind flying through their hair, watching their parents smile until an almighty splash made them all pull their steeds to a halt.

"Joaney!" Henry leapt from his saddle and Catherine's head whipped around at the speed of lightening just in time to see her daughter bob upwards from the icy sea, drenched to the skin and her face the picture of shock. Her brother sprinted into the waves, void of all hesitation, kneeling by her side intent on whisking her up into his arms.

Instead, he let out a surprised cry as she lifted her arms and splashed him with the same water she was submerged it. Her parents breathed a sigh of relief, grinning as the two began to splash one another and their little brothers scrambled from their horse, running into the sea without a care in the world.

"There!" Richard laughed, listening to the giggles of the children as they played "All is well!"
"They are going to to ruin their clothes!"

He glanced to Catherine, realising there was no real conviction in her words when he saw how her smile glowed with joy "They have others!" She continued, sliding from her saddle and kicking the shoes from her feet.

Richard soon followed with a grin, removing his own boots as she tossed away her stockings and gathered her skirts. He offered his hand, she took it.
"Come on then" He murmured, delighting in her squeal when he pulled her against him and swept her off her feet "Let us join the little ones!"

"I'm not little!" Henry yelled.

꧁꧂

By the time they rode back to Bamburgh, all were soaking wet and shivering. Little Dickon and Edward had to be carried into the hall by their parents while Henry carried Joan, spending the whole walk making her squeal with laughter as he threatened to drop her.

When their merry voices filled the great chamber, little Cecily toddled down the stairs, one hand in Nell's to help her skip to her parents.
"Mother!" She cooed, her face screwing up in amusement when she pressed her rosy cheeks to her Mother's skirts to find them wet and cold.

"Ah, hello my darling" Catherine chuckled, pressing a kiss the blonde curls that bobbed around her daughter's shoulders "Are you well? Have you been good?" Cecily nodded eagerly and her Mother smiled at her, then at the two other ladies who appeared.

"Ah! Meg! Margery!" They curtsied, welcoming grins on their faces "Have the servants pour baths for my four little mischief makers if you will? And one for his grace and I too!"
"Of course!" Margery laughed and began to herd the children away, hurrying them up the stairs with Meg and Nell in tow.

The Duke and Duchess quickly made their way to their own rooms, eager to be out of their wet things which left a trail of water along the corridors. The warmth of their room, caused by the blossoming flames of the fire in the hearth, shielded by a large, wooden tub, was a relief to them. They shared a happy sigh, shutting the door behind them.

"My bones are frozen to ice" Catherine groaned, letting her dripping cloak drop to the floor in a heavy heap "I swear if I do not get into that bath soon, I'll freeze to death!" She looked longingly towards the bathtub; the streams of steam that rose from the crystal-clear surface of the water. Though it had been fun playing in the sea, it was undeniably cold and after the warmth of exercise had left her body she was left with nothing but trembling fingers and a reddened nose.

"Here" Richard said gently and she felt his fingers gently tug the laces of her gown free. She realised, looking at the pile of clothes at the end of their bed, that he'd managed to divest himself of his wet garments much quicker than she could and smiled, shrugging her dress from her body "I must admit, I'm much more apt at getting you out of these things than in them!"

While she slipped out of her shoes and stockings, Richard attended to her shift, pressing soft kisses to the back of her neck as he raised it and tossed it aside. One wandering hand would it's way around her waist, lifting her up with an ease that made her giggle.

"You always carry me around as if I way nothing more than a feather!"

A deep chuckle answered her, along with the sound of him stepping into the bath, sending droplets of water splashing onto the stone beneath. Her spine tingled with pleasure when he lowered her with him, the warmth of the water spreading across her skin like freshly melted butter, hot and soothing.

Catherine settled back against Richard's strong chest and let the heat seep through her skin, into her chilled bones, thawing them.

"That's because you do weigh nothing more than a feather" He answered, letting his fingers dance up and down her arms "And yet you are the strongest woman I know" She smiled, resting her head back against him, the damp curls crowning his head brushing against her cheek.

"As you are the strongest man I know" She replied and trailed a hand up his arm, stroking along the curve of his raised shoulder. The times when he'd tensed whenever she touched it were distant in her memory but none the less painful for her, or for him she imagined. Her heart twisted with pain for his pain and, as if he could sense it, his hand found hers "You're perfect the way you are, you know that don't you Dickon?"

She could almost feel him smile behind her.
"I know that because of you and you remind me whenever I forget"

"That I do! And I will never stop" A gasp left her as his hands suddenly landed on her hips, turning her swiftly in the water until she was straddling him. Eyes of dark blue, swirling like a stormy sea with a love that deepened each day, stared into hers, light like the sky on a summer's day when the sun down shone upon it.

A storm and it's calm relief.

"I never want you to" He whispered and claimed her lips with his.

When they finally came down to dinner, the children were all but bouncing around in their seats, eyes wide at the food in front of them. At the table below them sat Catherine's ladies maids, Meg, Margery and Nell all seated happily with their husbands Georgie and Rob. Apart from Margery of course but Dickie was away seeing to their son who had been training at Middleham for more than four years by then!

"I think we may have kept them waiting a little too long" Catherine chuckled, squeezing the hand firmly clasped in hers. Richard smiled, his heart leaping when their children saw them and grinned, the youngest jumping from their chairs for hugs.

"Well, my love" He murmured, whisking little Cecily into his arms and into the air, making her babble with delight "They seem quite happy to me! Are you happy, my sweet one?" The little girl beamed; nodded.

"Yes! Yes Papa!" She cooed, her young voice sweeter then a dove's and he laughed, letting her nuzzle into his neck as he carried her back to her seat and Catherine led Edward to his.
"Up you go" She whispered and he giggled, settling down immediately when she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"You're late!" Joan accused and Henry grinned beside her, reaching out to ruffle her hair which he earned a seething glare for.
"Easy Joaney" He teased as she smoothed the soft brown tresses flowing freely to her waist "you'll get your dinner"

"That she shall!" Their Father confirmed and immediately all eyes were upon him, waiting for his command, but his eyes were on his Cate and he gently kissed her forehead when she sat by him.

"Yuck" Dickon murmured, sticking his tongue out at Edward who returned the gesture from across the table, screwing up his little face.

At last food was piled onto plates and the merry chatter of dinner began. They were unlike other families in that. While they had been taught that dinners with family were meant to be rather stoic affairs (at least in the presence of servants or guests as they were) but they all laughed and smiled, called to one another and made jokes.

From the table below, Rob could be heard telling stories that made Nell erupt into her girlish giggles and Georgie accuse him of lying! It was a daily occurrence of simple, harmonious domesticity and one they treasured.

"Rather outnumbered down there, Rob?" Richard called and his childhood companion grinned up at him. A cheeky grin that had his eyes glinting.
"Not at all, Dickon! Why would I?"
"Because last I heard you were telling tales that you fought off the French with nothing but your dagger and a barrel of mead!"

"I did!" Rob protested and Henry laughed.
"You did not, Rob! You've told me that tale enough as a boy for me to know it is not true!"
"Ah! The boy has sense!" Georgie called "He must've received that from Catherine after I taught her it!"
"Taking credit for the characters of royal children now are we Georgie?" Rob teased, flicking a carrot across the table at his friend: ever the child.

Georgie shrugged, throwing the vegetable right back.
"Well at least I'm not claiming to defeat the French!"
Catherine grinned that that, a false sigh leaving her lips.

"Girls girls!" She chided "You're both pretty, may I take my meal in peace now?" That, of course had her children in fits of giggles and the men at the lower table turning a deep shade of beetroot red, though they laughed all the same.

"You always know how to handle them!" Richard murmured in her ear and she smiled him.
"Of course I do! One of them was my husband and the other a boy I grew up with and have lived with for many years! You would know how to handle it too if you didn't take such delight in watching them tease each other like children!"

Richard merely shrugged, taking a sip of wine.

"Of course I do!" He admitted "It reminds me of when we were young"
"We are still young my love!" She squeezed his arm, looking over their family, their friends "The age of thirty one we near is not so old! We are not near our graves and our family is not fully grown!"

Richard's eyes flicked, excited, to hers with an unspoken question but she merely sighed; shook her head "No" She told him quietly "I am not with child but soon" He leant forward and brushed another reassuring kiss to her forehead "I am sure of it"

"As am I!" He agreed heartily, spearing a slice of ham with his dagger "and even if we are proven wrong, Cate, you know I do not mind and why should you?" He tilted his head, making her smile somewhat "Look at our children. Go on, look" Catherine did as she was bade, gazing over her five children one by one, five over fifteen years. Henry, Joan, Dickon, Edward and dear little Cecily. Her heart swelled with adoration.

"See" Richard whispered "Our family is already perfect, another babe would be another blessing from our Lord above. We may pray for it but he has already blessed us so many times" She could not deny that. To be a woman without any lost babes was a rare thing indeed and she thanked God each passing day in chapel that he had taken none of her children into his care.

"Your grace? Your grace, a message" No one but Catherine and Richard looked up from their plates as a page in York livery bowed low, offering a sealed piece of parchment. Richard nodded and took the paper, waving the boy away before breaking the seal. The Royal seal.

"Is it from Edward?" Catherine asked after a sip of wine but Richard didn't reply and a blossom of worry bloomed in her stomach. His eyebrows dipped, the corners of his mouth tugged down and one hand came to cradle his chin in thought. He shook his head. Once. Twice. A third time "What...." She was abruptly cut up and the room fell silent as the Duke pushed his chair back, striding from the hall without another word.

"What is wrong with Father?" Henry asked but his Mother only shook her head, watching Richard retreat from the hall. He didn't look back.

"I don't know, my love" She answered before quickly forcing a smile to her face. Her job as a Mother and Duchess was to ensure all was well, to soothe those that needed to be soothed and so she picked up her goblet once more "I am sure it is simply an affair of state! Carry on, my dears" The younger ones carried on without question, chattering amongst themselves like little birds but Henry didn't.

He frowned to himself and began to push his food around his plate, a million different questions in his eyes. When they found his Mother's, her smile fell, giving way to the stark truth.

Something was wrong.

꧁꧂

The one thing Catherine noticed as she walked up the stairs, skirts in hand, was the strange amount of servants that hurried past her, nodding their heads in respect while trying not to drop what they held. Books, coffers not even locked with velvets and silks almost slipping from them. She frowned, dropping her skirts as she came to the second floor.

"You there!" She called and a boy of around fourteen answered her, looking up, startled and surprised that she would speak to him. He didn't hesitate to bow.
"Your grace" He said "How may I be of service"

"What is...." She gestured to the servants hurrying around them "this?" The boy glanced up the corridor where another stream of servants approached.
"The Duke, your grace, he has ordered us to pack for London. We asked if he wanted to wait until morning but he insists he will ride within the hour!"

Although the news was more than a shock to her system, Catherine did not let her eyes widen, she did not let herself gasp. No, she had been trained in such things since she was a girl and so merely waved the servant boy away and made her way along the corridor as quickly as her dignify would allow.

The servants quickly parted for her and she strode through unobstructed, turning into her and Richard's rooms in one smooth step. Her final step before she stopped and stared. Coffer lids were thrown open, their contents vanished into capable hands that hauled them away. The books were gone, the tapestries were gone and being rolled up, even her gowns were gone, along with her jewels.

Amidst all the chaos stood Richard himself, watching every person, every move they made with a care as if they would draw a knife on him. She knew they wouldn't do that, he knew they wouldn't do that. Her breath shuddered as it passed her lips.

"Richard?" He didn't look up "Richard?" Still no reply answered her call and she shook her head, striding into the room until he could not mistake her presence "Richard, damn you!" When she grasped the velvet of his doublet, he spun around with panic in his eyes, one hand flying to the hilt of his sword until he saw it was her "Jesus Christ, Richard! What are you doing? You leave dinner without explanation and now I come here to hear you are leaving for London tonight and from the appearance of it I am coming with you! Are you quite well?"

"Leave us" His voice was sterner than she had ever heard it and not one servant hesitated to leave, carrying what they had and shutting the door. Richard began to pace back and forth, looking at his boots, their steady thud the only thing breaking the suffocating air of silence until he decided to speak.

"It's my brother....Ned"
"Yes" She replied "I know who Ned is!" Richard looked sharply at her and she frowned again.
"Well. He's ill....the King is ill" Catherine's frown only deepened and she shrugged.
"And, my love? Edward isn't as strong as he used to be but there is no reason to...."

"No!" His yell silenced and shook her to the core making her eyes go wide and her lips part slightly. He hardly ever shouted at her, she could count on one hand the times he had. They stared at one another and Richard shook his head "No" He repeated a little softer and Catherine looked into his eyes, properly, gazing into those two deep pools that made a the blossoming worry within her twist itself into a knot.

"Richard...." She sidled over to him. It was well known he cared for his family and he wouldn't descend into such stress without reason. He planned his moves, he was not impulsive in matters of state, he may be on the battlefield or in the bedroom, nor was he when it came to his family "Richard what is it?"

He bit the inside of his cheek, hard enough to draw blood and a metallic taste spread onto his tongue. The taste of death. Tears sprang to his eyes.

His Father.
Edmund.
Warwick.
John.
Isabel
George.

He could not he would not lose what he had left. His only brother.

"It's Edward" He could hardly speak the word and more blood filled his mouth as he did, the prelude to a wound that would never heal, though would leak grief instead "He's ill" He almost choked on the next words, their syllables seeking to wrestle the life from him "gravely so"

It wasn't hard to see the way his wife's lovely face fell and in an instant her arms were clasped around him, cradling his head like she'd do to their children.
"Oh, my love...." He shook his head against her shoulder and she stroked his hair "You are right. You are right. We must go. We must go now"

Quicker than she grabbed hold of him, she let go, rushing across the chamber almost tripping over skirts and lifting up a fistful of necklaces that had been scattered on the bed; dropping them into a silver casket.

Richard blinked, forcing his tears away.
"What?" He asked, following her to the bed. She didn't look at him.

"I mean, we must go to London and we must go now. You are right. If anything...." She paused only for a moment before beginning to pack again "If anything should happen to the King, you must assert your power" Now it was his turn to frown.
"Power?"

"The protectorship!" She explained through gritted teeth and the title fell on his heart with the weight of a ton of bricks "If aught befalls Edward, he will leave a child in charge of England who will need a Lord protector! That will be you. It can't be anyone but you!" Richard's frown deepened. He'd never thought Catherine had the mind for power, of course she liked what she had but he didn't think her as the type to ask for more. Especially when it would affect those she loved.

"I thought Elizabeth was your friend?"

"She is my friend" Catherine replied quickly, reaching out to gather a pair of silk stockings "One of my dearest friends and it is not out of fear of her I speak" At last she pulled her hasty actions to a halt and looked her husband in the eye "A boy King is easily influenced and with the King gone there will be a gap in power that you must fill. In London we will be there if needed and ensure your rightful position. The Woodvilles are our allies but they cannot govern England like you can"

Two determined hands came to rest on his shoulders, her eyes never leaving his "You are a man the entire country respects, you hold the loyalty of the people and nobility of the North in the palm of your hand. You are the only man for this but that doesn't mean others won't try. What of Stanley? Of Oxford? Even my brother!"

She shook her head and he took her hands, kissing them one by one. There was no denying Catherine was right and he felt a fool for not having thought of it first. He had only thought of his brother.

"Yes" He told her and a small smile of encouragement lit her rosy lips "We will both pray for Ned"
"Of course" She affirmed, giving his hands a squeeze.

"But if aught happens I must be there for our nephew and for our family"
"For England" Catherine finished and he called the servants back in again.