~The Prince and the Queen~

April 1483, Westminster Palace....

The corridors were filled with whispers carried on the worried wind. Rumours, plots, schemes, all spoken from lips whose owner's senses reeled with the suffocating scent of incense.

It was meant to cleanse the air, banishing evil in favour of purity but all Catherine could think as she and Richard made their way through the palace, looking at the courtiers with handkerchiefs clasped to their noses, was that it made the very essence of life die in everything it touched. She hated it, the sickly sweetness of it all, stinging her throat and eyes.

Sweetness turned sour, snatching the life from a soul who sought to keep it.

Edward could not die. He couldn't. He was the epitome of an English warrior King and while Catherine had never agreed with all of his decisions she couldn't deny he'd kept the realm in order!

He had won Northampton, Towton, Barnet, Tewksbury! There could be no doubt of his power and even though his physical health had declined (for which he only had himself to blame) he had not lost his wits! Surely his body could hold on for him? For England?

Were he to die, the wheel of fortune would have made its most wicked turn.

His eldest son was only twelve 'twelve!' She thought, remembering Henry when he was that age: so sweet and innocent. Even at 14 (near fifteen) he would be older than the new King and with almost just as strong a claim.

'No, don't think like that!' She told herself sharply, none would ever consider her boy a threat, especially when she and Richard were so loyal to their house! They supported Edward and if he did not heal, they would support his son. She remembered she'd once told Elizabeth she was happy her sons were to live under her son's reign. If only she'd realised it might come so soon.

Beside her Richard cut a figure of darkness, a living shadow that slunk through the palace with firm, meaningful steps; only one thing on his mind. He ignored the bows, the mutters through handkerchiefs of 'your grace' that were offered, keeping Catherine's hand clasped tightly in his.

The entrance to the King's rooms was lit bright with torches, illuminating each figure that lingered outside, a large crowd of murmuring plotters. Richard's face twisted with disgust and had he not had self control, he would've thrown all of them from the palace himself. They nudged one another when they saw the Duke and Duchess approached and bowed low but Richard only glared at them, eyes sweeping over each of their faces.

He would remember them.

"Even before my brother takes his last breath on this earth you plot to gain your own place in power" He hissed and they averted their eyes, staring at the floor. They did not want him to remember them "Do you not pray for his recovery? Do you not pray for his health? I can see each of you are just like the others in this nest of vipers, now leave!"

Squeezing Catherine's hand, he strode through the crowd into the royal chambers, carding his fingers through his hair "Shut the doors!" He barked and in a moment they were cut from the court and able claim some peace amongst the chaos "Snakes" He bit out and she pulled him to a halt, gently turning him to face her.

"You cannot face your brother like this" She whispered, cupping his face where angry red blotches stained his cheeks and neck "He needs your support and care, your reassurance, not your anger" Smilingly slightly, she bestowed a soft kiss to his lips, letting their foreheads rest together when his hands found her hips "There, Dickon"

He nodded, forcing his breaths to slow, his anger to dissipate. The only thing he was afraid of, and yes he was afraid at that moment, was that if he did not shout, he would cry.

"Ah! At last! Richard! Catherine!" The two looked up at the sound of Georgie's voice to see him striding toward them. He seemed infinitely relieved and instantly ushered them the way he'd come, through the outer chamber and into the King's bedchamber.

Catherine almost choked when she walked through the door, her senses assailed with more sickening incense that set her mind spinning. The room was crowded, packed to the brim with the King's children, his friends, his kin and the Queen sitting by him. Even Duchess Cecily was there, stood at the end of the bed with tears sliding down her cheeks.

"Aunt Cate!" The sweet call of Princess Elizabeth floated to her ears and Catherine looked up as her free hand was taken. Even her worried mind could not deny the wonder that spread across it at the sight of Lizzie's face. By god she was beautiful. Her skin was pale with a light dusting of freckles across her nose, her eyes as blue as a summer's sky and her hair the colour of fire, rolling down her back in waves that reminded her aunt of the sea.

Gentle curves filled her gown and her smile was light itself. She was a woman now. Her eyes flicked to the dark haired man beside her Aunt and she offered a little curtsy "Uncle Richard. Father has been asking for you"

"Catherine!" The Queen appeared at her side, loose strands of hair falling from her coif and lovely eyes red-rimmed. Her friend's heart ached at the sight of it.

"Oh, Elizabeth...." Elizabeth drew her close, clasping her tight and it was then the Duchess truly realised. The King was going to die for Elizabeth would not be so forlorn, so weak if there was a solution. Even the air of mystery and magic no longer lingered around her angelic form.

"Come" She said quietly, drawing away "you are just in time"

As if the King heard his wife's words, his voice began calling to his brother.

"Dickon....I hear my little brother" His strength was gone, the authority his voice once held lost to his sickness "Dickon, let him come to me" Immediately those around the bed made a path for the Duke and Richard didn't wast a moment in hurrying to his King's side. The sight under the covers almost made him stumble.

The warrior King of England was no more, now all that lay in the royal bed was a sick man, with discoloured skin and red eyes; breaths that were ragged.

"Oh Ned" Richard slowly knelt by his side and eyes, once so full of life and mischief, turned to him. Edward lifted his hand that lay against the covers and his brother took it, clasping it so hard it seemed he was trying to will life back into his body. Elizabeth sat beside him, cradling her husband in her arms while more tears welled in her eyes.

"It is the fate of Kings" Edward croaked "that we never get to see what kind of ruler our sons will be...." The Queen hung her head "but I will never get to know what kind of man my sweet boy will become. I beg of you to be as one now. Care for Prince Edward, keep him safe"

Catherine felt her heart grow heavy and a small sniff from the side made her turn to her eldest niece. Gently, she took her into her arms and Lizzie nuzzled into her neck like her little sisters would do to seek comfort. They too were gathered around the bed: Cecily, Anne, Catherine and Bridget (Mary having sadly passed a year prior) but the youngest did not share their kin's looks of grief.

The didn't understand.

"There now" Catherine whispered into Lizzie's hair "I am here" The Queen gazed around, her eyes (made more piercing in grief) wandering over every face, over every person gathered around her husband. They fluttered shut for a moment and she gulped before opening them again.

"I will work with all of you" She murmured and looked down to where her brother in law knelt, nodding when her eyes met his "To put Prince Edward on the throne"
"And I, your grace" He replied "We shall all work with you" Elizabeth nodded and Edward mustered a tired smile.

"Richard shall be Lord Protector"

In a blink, her expression swept from compliant to defiant and she stared down at her dying husband, frowning.
"Surely you mean Anthony?"

A sharp breath was taken in by the room, even by Catherine as she stared at her dear friend. Surely Elizabeth would not challenge Richard's rightful claim to the protectorship, she knew better than that. Anthony had raised the young Prince but the nobles would not listen to him, Richard was the one who could command authority; could rule!

Elizabeth looked away when the King shook his head.
"Richard shall care for our boy" He reiterated "Until he comes of age. Do you accept this Elizabeth?" Another tense silence lingered in the air, all eyes upon the Queen until she bowed her head in submission. Whatever she thought, she would not disturb her husband's last moments with conflict.

"I do. Now leave us"
"What?" Cecily demanded, glaring at her with a poisonous gaze. One hand gripped the walking stick at her side so tightly her knuckles turned white and all could see she was ready to oppose her enemy to the end, but for once Elizabeth did not have the will to fight and withered like a flower under a sun too hot to bear.

"I want to say goodbye to my husband" She whispered, and with her voice breaking with grief she added "Please..."

It was sincere and seemed to sway even Cecily's heart towards her as she averted her eyes and began to climb up the dais the bed was set upon. Everyone else slowly filtered away, leaving only the two sons of York, their wives, the royal children and the Duchess who had once been as beautiful as the sun itself.

"Here, Mother" Richard offered, dropping Edward's hand to aid her to her dying son. In that moment, Proud Cis was vulnerable but no one would pray upon that vulnerability because they all felt the same.

When Edward saw her, leaning over him, grey hair gathered under a hennin and cheeks wet, tears filled his eyes. He looked almost a little boy under her gaze and reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers firmly.

"Mother" He choked out. He had not seen her in four years "You came" Cecily let out a small sob and sank to his side. Even Elizabeth moved away for a moment, her arms winding protectively around her children.

"Of course I came, my sweet boy. My Ned"
Tears spilled from the corners of Edward's eyes and Cecily wiped them away, dabbing at the wetness with the sleeve of her gown.
"I didn't think...." He began but she shushed him in a way only a Mother could, making the King of England fall silent.

"Just because I cannot forgive you doesn't mean I will not come when you need me" She told him, cradling one icy cheek beneath her palm "By God, you are cold, my dearest. Another blanket! Now!" She turned to Elizabeth but it was Lizzie who carried out the task, fetching a heavy fur from the end of the bed and draping it over her Father "Thank you, Elizabeth"

Lizzie curtsied and backed away, taking her little sisters into her arms while Cecily comforted her son "I love you Ned" She told him; pressed a kiss to his forehead "You do know that, do you not?" A small smile cracked through the cage of pain and sickness that held him.

"Yes, Mother"
Cecily nodded, stroking through his hair. It would be the last time she would ever feel the soft yellow curls beneath her fingers.
"Good. Good boy" She murmured and took a breath "tell your Father I still wait for him and your brothers that I love them and know that I will miss you, sweet Ned. I will miss you with all of my heart"

With a choked sob she turned away and hurried from the dais, fleeing the room before anyone could help or stop her. Richard took her place and clasped his brother's hand again, holding it firm in his grip just like before. Catherine could see the tears he was desperately trying to blink away back into his grieving body.

"I will protect him" He swore "I will protect your boys; all of your children and your Queen" Glancing back at Elizabeth, he gave her a small nod "I will turn Edward into the greatest King England has ever known!"
"Not greater than me, I hope" Edward returned with a why smile and Richard forced himself to laugh "We have been through much together, haven't we, brother?"

"We have, Ned"

"But now I must take this journey alone and I am glad of it for I won't allow you to join me for a long time" A cough wracked his body "My boy needs you and so does yours....where...." He looked around, trying to raise his head from the pillows "Where is your Catherine?"

The sound of her name was unexpected and she looked up with a hint of surprise.
"Me?" A grating chuckle answered her and Richard helped her up the steps of the dais to where Edward lay, a tired amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Who else?" He asked, taking her hand in his shaking one that was cold; clammy "My brother doesn't have another wife, does he, Cat?"
"I certainly hope not" She replied and his smile widened as she sat by him, bringing his hand to her lips "I am sorry to see you go, brother, we have known each other a long time have we not?" He nodded.

"Ever since you comforted me when Edmund died. You know, I couldn't believe you were as young as you were that night" He coughed again but waved Elizabeth away when she moved to help "You were a child and yet faced death without even blinking"
"That's because I had faced death before" She whispered, giving a sad smile he sighed at the sight of.

"Have you been happy?" He asked, his voice suddenly seized with earnest "Have you been happy, Catherine? With Dickon?" Catherine only laughed.
"Having second thoughts about marrying children are we now?" She expected him to laugh with her but he only stared, silently pleading.

"Have you?" He repeated "You have suffered so greatly at my cousins hands....I can't bear the thought that I made it worse...."

"Oh Edward" Again, she kissed his hand and looked down at him with tear-streaked cheeks. He was the same he'd been the first night they'd met, vulnerable and in need of comfort and reassurance. She didn't hesitate to give it "You know I have been happy. I could not want, nor wish for a better man than Richard. I love him, with all of my heart and he has made me happy, Edward. So so happy!"

A single tear slipped from the corner of the King's eye and he smiled.

"Good" He whispered "Good...." A gentle hand took her elbow and Catherine went easily as Richard pulled her away, not daring to cast a backwards glance over his shoulder lest he refuse to leave at all. The children quickly followed them, tears in their eyes and youngest holding onto the eldest with all the strength they could muster in case they too slipped away from them.

The door shut and their parents were sealed away from them.

Outside the bedchamber waited, an air of soul-crushing silence gripping them tight like a hand around their throats. They could not speak, the could not think, they could hardly breathe.

Some for love.
Some for loss.
Some for what they still had yet to gain.

Suddenly, a mournful scream, muffled yet no less heartbreaking, sounded from the bedchamber and all bowed their heads, slowly crossing themselves.
"No!" They heard Elizabeth shriek, her voice descending into uncontrollable sobs "No!"

"Mother!" Lizzie called, stumbling towards the chamber but Richard caught her, gently pulling her away. In an instant she'd turned and clung to him with all her might, sobbing into his chest. He seemed somewhat startled but held her all the same, stroking her hair and trying his best to comfort her.

"Come here" A gentle voice whispered to Catherine, one she instantly recognised, and allowed Georgie's arms to wrap around her, enveloping her in safety just as they'd done all her life. She felt a streak of hot wetness roll down her cheek and pressed her face into Georgie's neck. Trying to control the heave of her shoulders that came as she wept "There, ma petite soeur" He comforted "I am here"

"Nothing will be the same now" She murmured "Nothing will ever be the same"

If only she knew how right she was as the sickly sweet sent of incense stung her eyes, forcing more tears from their depths.

꧁꧂

When she woke the next morning, it was to Richard's gentle touch, his fingers gently gliding across her skin, followed by the soft press of his lips. She lay there for a while, eyes closed, letting his tenderness consume her while she tried to adjust to the new world lying before them.

It was like he was trying to map out her body, commit it to memory (although had long ago) to keep safe as if they would be parted somehow. Her eyes flew open.

"Don't let us be parted" She breathed, her hands winding around his neck, pulling him against her "Not now" She claimed his lips with a kiss "Not ever" Stroking the side of her face, he gently pressed her back into the pillows and leant over her, brushing their noses together.

"If you wish to come with me then I will not stop you" He whispered "But I must leave London to collect the new King. He was sent for some weeks ago and now that Ned is...." He shook his head and slowly lowered his head onto Catherine's chest, letting his hair fall over his greif-stricken face. Immediately, her hands went to the black curls, combing through them as gently and soothingly as she could.

He couldn't say it. He just couldn't say it.
"Now that he has passed" So she said it for him and he nodded, clinging to her just as she'd clung to him.

"Please come with me, Cate....I want you to come with me" He sounded almost like a child with his voice muffled and his hot tears spilling onto her skin, skewing his voice with quiet sobs, so different from the man moments ago "I don't know what to do without him"

"Shh" She crooned "Hush my dearest love. You have me and while we have each other we will never be lost, yes?"

He nodded, over and over, pressing kisses to her shoulder, to her neck, to her hair, winding the golden strands between his fingers. He nuzzled into her skin, inhaling it's sweetness, the heavenly scent encasing her that let his mind swirl into heaven. With her he could escape but he could not run forever.

"Stay with me" He pleaded again and Catherine nodded.
"Always"