~Blood of my Blood~

July 1475, Westminster Palace....

It had taken her longer to recover from Princess Aliénor's birth than it had from previous ones due to the difficulty and blood loss and even as she heaved herself from bed on the morning the English were to depart to France, she felt her head spin.

While the birth of the little Princess thawed the iciness between the King and Queen somewhat, they remained at angry odds. Edward refused to relent in his plans for France and, despite her health, on that note Constance had decided she would go with him. If she couldn't prevent him setting sail she could work to prevent bloodshed.

That would at least perhaps console the English people somewhat as they were up in arms over the taxes raised to fund the war - a war that wasn't needed.
"Stubborn Yorks" Constance mumbled as she stood, stretching her arms above her head and trying to keep her balance.

"Are you sure about this, sister?" Beth asked as she lay out the Queen's clothes "You are not yet fully recovered from the birth of the Princess" Constance only shrugged, perching on the bed so Anne could put on her stockings.
"Have the children arrived from Eltham?"
"They have"
"Good. Have them brought to me once I'm ready"

Though it was through heavy skirts and velvet flounces, Constance dressed as a warrior that morn, preparing her soul for battle.

The silk cords pulled taught to tie her cuffs became the hardened leather straps of a vambrace; the crucifix hanging heavy around her neck a golden gorget. Anne's slender fingers drew her hair back, gathering it beneath a veil, a helmet of sheer white silk that flowed to her knees, secured by a silver circlet like clasps to a sallet.

Her gown became velvet chain mail, heavy, tight, deep blue with golden roses stitched atop it; her favour for luck. Dark blue against gold, the colours of her home country, the colours of France in the English court. Yes, she was going into battle that day and one way or another she would win.

"Bring my son to me first, Lizzy" She ordered as a white cloak was draped over her shoulders, bearing St George's cross on the back to make the flag of England, and clasped, hiding her gown "there is something I must say to him alone"

Lizzy curtsied and stepped into the anti chamber where the five royal children waited, Aliénor being cradled by her nurse. The youngest Princess also had a wet nurse, the Queen's ill health rendering her unable to produce enough milk to feed the child which broke her heart.

"Prince Edward?"
The little boy looked up from where he was playing knucklebones with Isabella and tilted his head.
"Yes Lady Lizzy?"
"Your Lady Mother, has sent for you"

He jumped to his feet, brushing the front of his purple doublet and skipping towards his Mother's bedchamber where he entered with a wide smile.
"Lady Mother!" He bowed and she chuckled, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Come to me, my sweet boy!" She waved to her ladies and they curtsied before going to join the Princesses and Edward climbed onto the bed shuffling till he was pressed against his Mother's side "Ah, well done, my love! Now, do you know where I and your Father are bound?" Edward nodded.

"To war!" He answered brightly, knowing nothing of the dangers war brought though he'd seen them. He could not remember, she wasn't even sure he knew what he meant, not truly. She nodded.
"Well, Neddy, perhaps what I am about to say shall have no bearing since you may not remember...."

"I will!" He protested stoutly, sitting up straight "Tell me, Mama! Tell Neddy!" She smiled, smoothing a hand over his golden curls.
"Very well. You will be a King one day, you know that don't you?"
"Yes! Father tells me each day I see him! He says I shall be great!"

Her smile widened a little.
"You will, sweet boy, and you know it is the duty of Kings to go to war for their Kingdoms?" Edward nodded again "Well, that is very noble and courageous but Kings have a habit of raising the banners of war when there is no need!" He frowned slightly at that, his plump bottom lip sticking out adorably.

"Why?"
She sighed.

"Because it is the way of men it seems but I want you to remember, war comes at a great cost. There may be honour and glory in it but there is also bloodshed and tears, violence and loss that cannot be rectified. It comes at a great cost to our subjects, my love, and if you ever wish to wage a war that it not foisted upon you then I wish you to think of your people, of the cost to them before your own victories. Can you do that for me, Neddy?"

Edward tilted his head before keeping up and kissing her on the cheek.
"I promise, Mother!"
"Good, now, why don't you fetch your sisters so I can bid you farewell together? You can then see your Father?"

He happily hopped down, running through to the anti chamber and calling his sisters through.
"Marie! Issy! Cissy! Baby! Mother wants you!"

"Thank you, Neddy" Marie said, giving him a nod and a smile "I shall take the my sister, the Princess" She continued, turning to Aliénor's nurse who waited for an approving nod from Beth before handing over the baby "Come along!" She told the others and they trailed behind her, hand in hand as they entered the Queen's bedchamber.

"Ah!" Constance exclaimed happily, now settled against the pillows of the bed "My beautiful Princesses! Come! Sit with me!" Abandoning their curtsies as Edward hopped up to their Mother again, they ran, giggling to the bed. Passing little Aliénor to her brother, Marie lifted Cecily and Isabella onto the covers before clambering up herself so they formed a little circle around the Queen, all beaming adoringly up at her.

"My loves" She sighed with a smile, taking Aliénor into her arms and kissing her forehead. The baby gugled, displaying one of her little toothless smiles "Now, it is time for us to bid farewell for a while but I promise each of you I shall return"
"What about Father?" Isabella asked and she clasped her hands.

"Your Father can make his own promises, my love, I'm sure he won't want me speaking for him" While the others did not, Marie detected a note of bitterness to her Mother's voice and inwardly sighed, wishing the rift between them would be healed. War was never a good thing, but perhaps that they were going together was a good sign?

"Gone long?" Cecily asked and Constance smiled again, reaching out to smooth a hand across her golden hair.

"Hopefully we shall not be too long, darling" She replied softly "We shall be back to give you gifts by Christmas, I can promise you that, hopefully much sooner! Besides your Uncle Jamie shall be here with you!" Truth be told, James had flat down refused the King's request for him to travel to France and despite having no real concept of time, Cecily nodded before climbing into Isabella's lap and settling there.

"I love you all" Constance continued, looking across her five children with infinite adoration "more than any of you shall ever know until you have children of your own. I will miss you dearly"
"As we will miss you, every day" Marie answered and her Mother's eyes suddenly clouded with tears.

"Oh, come here, my loves!" She laughed, opening her arms wide and the children scrambled into them, wrapping their arms tightly around her as she embraced them, kissing each of their heads "You are my brightest lights, my greatest achievements, my proudest creations"

"I love you, Mama" Edward whispered against her neck and she tried to swallow her tears, holding her children tighter.
"I know, sweet boy, I know"

Saying goodbye to her dearest Aliénor inside before instructing for her to be returned to the nursery, Constance took her four other children to the courtyard where the men were preparing to depart, Cecily and Isabella clinging to her hands, nurses following. The main body of the army would meet them outside of London but there was still a good few hundred milling about, sharpening blades and mounting horses.

The King wasn't hard to find in his polished black armour with a heavy cloak bearing the royal arms of England and trimmed with ermine.

"Father!" Isabella squealed happily as they reached the bottom of the palace steps, stamping her little feet on the cobblestones. At the sound of his daughter's voice, Edward turned from where he was speaking with George and a great smile replaced the look of seriousness on his face.

"My little Isabella!" He greeted "Marie, Cecily and, ah, my dear boy!"

"Go to your Father" Constance encouraged, spotting a cloaked figure lingering at the side of the courtyard with a white palfrey. The children sped off without another word and the Queen walked over to dear Dickon, who couldn't have looked more forlorn if he tried.

"Brother?" His eyes were almost black with grief when he looked up instead of their dark blue. He carried dark crescents under them and could only muster a bow before he returned his gaze to the ground.
"Your grace"
She nodded, gently placing a hand on his arm.

It was clear he was still grieving and hardly fit to leave his castle, let alone go to war. While he still wore his armour, he carried it with a newfound weariness as if the metal was infused with all his cares and weighed more than the world.

"I'm sorry you have been taken from your home; from your son. Anne is is my thoughts each day"
"It is my King's command so I must obey" He replied quietly and Constance's heart sank.
"You needn't fight, Dickon" She said and he raised his eyes to hers at last, shaking his head.

"I must....as I said, it is Edward's command, he is our King so we have no choice....I speak of us as I know you do not wish for this"
"I do not" She admitted "if you glimpse my gown you may see. It is my silent protest" Richard's lips didn't even twitch in the spark of a smile "Is your boy well?"

"He grows every day" He replied "and she is not here to see it....she wasn't here to see his first smile, hear his first laugh....she won't hold him again"
"She's watching from heaven" Constance assured him "and your son will feel her love, I know it, for her heart was so great, God could only allow her adoration to flow down from heaven and fill your son's life with joy"

Her eyes widened when Richard's breath suddenly trembled and he fought to hold back a sob.
"That's so very nice of you to say...."
"Oh, Dickon...." Pulling him into an embrace, she held him tight for a moment before releasing him; offering her handkerchief.
"Thank you...."

'This is not right' She thought but didn't speak her mind aloud, knowing she would only receive another of her brother's replies of duty.
"It is the very least I can do, Dickon" She said instead "Now, I must leave you or our King will chide me"

He bowed.
"Your grace"
Nodding, she walked over to the horse a groom held for her, a white palfrey next to the King's steed. He was still cuddling and coddling the children, showing Cecily and Isabella his sword, letting Edward handle his dagger while he held Marie to his side, smiling lovingly at her.

"Don't fret, little lion" He told her when he stood at last, replacing his blades and kissing each of his children on the forehead, placing his hands on her shoulders when he reached her "I shall be back to make you a Queen"

"I am not afraid, Father" She replied, tilting up her chin "I know you will win"
"That I will, Marie! Now" He gathered the children to him, hugging them a final time "Goodbye, I shall see you all soon and I expect to hear good reports from your nurses and tutors!"

They chorused that they would and were led back inside by their attendants and Edward turned to Constance, inclining his head towards her.
"My Lady"
She did the same.
"My Lord"

He stepped towards her, intending to place a hand on her waist but she stepped away, her expression cold as she looked up at him. He sighed.
"Are you sure you wish to travel to France? I know you are not fully recovered from the birth and I do not wish the roads or the events to tire you" Constance tilted her head, giving him a sickly sweet smile.

"I'm as sure as you are on killing my people!" She replied and he sucked in a sharp breath "If you did not insist on invading my homeland I would not be taking this journey, would I? But here we are my Lord and here I will stay, by your side in proximity perhaps but not in spirit"

Edward swallowed thickly, staring at her for a moment before he replied.
"Very well" He turned away, mounting his horse as she did, lifting her skirts as she ascended the mounting block and settled herself in the saddle.

༻᯽༺

Five days later, the English Channel....

The people of London had cheered as the royal army passed through their streets but Constance noted there was a dull edge to their tones, a sadness even. How could there not be, she supposed, the sons and husbands of England were being ripped from them once more and, this time, it was not for a cause of their land.

They were now boarded on ships, sailing to French shores as she was, in her cabin beneath deck where she and her ladies (except for Anne who stayed in England for the safety of her pregnancy) resided.

"I fear I cannot take much more" Lizzy groaned, hands clinging to the bucket her head was bent over with Beth holding back the veil of her hennin. She'd begun retching as soon as they'd stepped on board, the rock of the ship churning her stomach so her breakfast reappeared within half an hour.

"It is not far now, Lizzy" Constance comforted and Katherine, who sat behind her on her bed, nodded.
"Besides" She added "You cannot have much more to bring up from your belly! I've seen your breakfast and your supper from last night!"

"Kate!" Constance chided but couldn't resist the small smile of amusement that also appeared on Katherine's face "Go and pray alongside Margaret for our safe landing"
"And the King's victory?"
She arched an eyebrow.
"Go and pray, Kate"

Katherine rose from the bed and curtsied before joining Margaret at the cabin alter, clasping her hands and bowing her head "Not much longer, Lizzy" Constance continued "With the grace of God we will all be on dry land soon"

༻᯽༺

August 1475, Amiens....

She could see the French standards fluttering in the wind over the walls of Amiens where the English had set their camp after two weeks of marching and a letter from King Louis.

He was to send a band of his nobles proposing terms for peace.

Constance had been present when they arrived, riding from the city gates to the York camp before dismounting and bowing when the King and Queen emerged. She had felt her heart sink deep into her stomach when the Lords look at her, a deep sense of guilt at the betrayal she believed she was dealing them.

She refused to stay for the proceedings, unable to be blind to their presence and retired to her tent, dismissing all her ladies but Margaret whom she chose to pray for peace with.
"Perhaps God will hear" She said as they knelt "And spare the souls who will be sent to him if blood is allowed to be spilt"

While the men talked, she prayed for the safety of her family and for peace - though she doubted Edward would agree. His pride and sex made him stubborn and with the taste of war on his tongue there wasn't much he'd relinquish a whole blood-soaked feast for.

"And all in the name of our son" She sighed when she raised her head from a prayer, prompting Margaret to do the same.
"I'm sorry, your grace?"
She turned to her lady with a small smile.

"Tis what the King says, this war is in the name of our son and the lands the Plantagenets once held. He says he wants to give Prince Edward an empire but I believe he does it for himself"
"Men often act for themselves under the guise of acting for others. For innocents." Margaret replied and Constance nodded in agreement.
"We've both had much experience in that"

"Your grace?" The Queen rose as the voice of one of her guards called to her from outside the tent.
"Yes?"
"Forgive me for interrupting your prayers, my Queen, but the Archbishop of Lyon is here to see you"
Her heart jumped a little in her chest at the title and she turned to Margaret, waving for her to stand.
"You may wait outside, all will be well"

"Of course" Margaret replied, curtsying and moving towards the tent flaps so the visitor could be admitted. Constance swallowed and clasped her hands in front of her, an almost girlish nervousness overcoming her as she watched the Archbishop sweep into her tent in red robes. She knew his title, she'd known it since she was a girl, she knew who he was and was reminded of home as he knelt before her.

"Your grace"
His head was golden just like her Father's and his eyes the same shade of blue, affirming to he that the man before her was indeed her older brother, their Father's namesake. He even sounded like him. Or did he?

"Charles...."
He grinned up at her, rising so he towered over her like Edward did and taking her hand to kiss it.
"Your grace!"
He spoke jovially, despite the circumstances of their meeting and she led him towards the table by her bed, sitting as he did, opposite one another.

Constance smiled. Even though her memories of him were few and far between, it still warmed her heart to have one of her blood beside her.
"The last time I saw you you were a boy!"
He laughed at that, a laugh so like their Father's, tears threatened to flood her eyes.

"And you a girl! Now you're a woman and a Queen" He tilted his head "invading our homeland!" His tone was not accusatory, nor was his gaze, and yet she felt the need to defend herself.

"I didn't chose to and despite how little we know one another you know I wouldn't!" She shook her head, sighing a little as he reached for the pitcher of wine sat atop the table and filling two goblets on a silver tray "You are the Archbishop of Lyon, I hear? And a papal legate?"

Charles nodded, passing her the second of the goblets.
"Indeed! I have been blessed with such offices!"
"And John? How does he fare? I did not see him aiming at the nobles come to negotiate?"

Another laugh left him, though this one was quieter, bearing an almost wry tone.
"He would not wish to diminish himself in the eyes of the King by being friendly with the English" He admitted and Constance's eyes widened.

"The English?" She cried "I am his sister!" As if John ever cared about such things, he could barely even remember her name half the time "He as good as sold me to England!" Her own mirthless laugh left her lips and she shook her head again "Tis strange isn't it, he sought an alliance with England because our Father was out of favour with our King but as soon as King Louis offered him the slightest hint of favour, he abandoned me entirely and the alliance, though it stood in word for nine years"

Charles raised his eyebrows in agreement.
"He is quite the sycophant"
"Clearly" Constance replied, settling back in her chair "Certain aspects of him remind me of my brother in law, the Duke of Clarence, though I know he is capable of love" She paused "at least a certain form of it. John, I'm not so sure, ambition perhaps is his only love for it's certainly not his kin!"

Her brother raised his goblet, toasting her words.
"Too true!" He drank and so did she "How is James? He's been a ghost to our family for many years, as have you, though he disappeared from our lives by choice!"

"You could perhaps blame John for that" She replied, thinking of their brother in England "He tried to sculpt Jamie into a model of himself. He is well in England, happy and the Medicis in Italy are more of a family to him than most of our blood have ever been!"

A small, warm smile appeared on Charles' face and he took another sip of wine.
"Jamie" He mused fondly "I remember you two were close"
"And that he detested our eldest brother?" She returned, feeling more at ease with him by the second, there was something so open, so easy about his face and manner that it made her relax into his company easily.

"How could I forget?" He chuckled "I have no real fondness for John but...." He leant towards her a little "and, perhaps I should not say this with our counties at war, our kin still has a fondness for you" Surprise struck her for a moment and she blinked at him.
"What do you mean, Charles?"

Charles placed his hand atop the table, open to her and she gently slipped hers into it, his warm fingers instantly curling around hers.

"I know you wrote to John when the Earl of Warwick betrayed you, asking for help and received no reply" He said quietly, guilt infusing his tone "Neither I nor our brother Peter knew of the letter until a year or so after and that is why we did not come to your aid! Peter did begin to muster some troops but the king forbade it. I am not a man of war but I am a man of God, sister, a politician too, and I swear to you, as does Peter that if you are ever in need of aid again, we two shall come to you"

Her lips parted but, for a moment, no words emerged, she could not think of what to say, never-mind what to think of his confession, it proved such a shock! Perhaps she should've been suspicious of this promise of support, suspected it to be a ploy from King Louis to get her to betray the secrets of England and yet, the thought did not take root in her mind. What he said was surprising, yes, but it betrayed France in a way at the same time, promising aid to the enemy.

"You hardly know me...." She whispered but Charles simply squeezed her hand, a soft smile settling on his lips "Nor does Peter...."

"And yet we know that you would do the same for us if we were in troubled waters. We know you from your Queenship, how beloved you are by the nobility and by the people. I pray you never face adversity again but if you do, all you need do is call and the House of Bourbon will come to your aid, I swear it"

She hadn't laid eyes on him for nearing two decades, she didn't have any reason to trust him, and yet, she did. She knew if she ever called for aid again she would have her brothers by her side; the House of Bourbon would be more than a mere ghost of a memory to her.

"Thank you, brother" She said.