~The Queen's Gambit~

"You refused?" Constance cried as she strode into the King's tent, the words Richard (who was standing outside with the other nobles) had told her burning in her ears.

"For heaven's sake lower your voice!" Edward snapped, snatching up a goblet from the table near his great bed and filling it with wine "These walls are thin as parchment and I will not allow my men to hear our disagreements!" He sat.

Clenching her fists, Constance sucked in a sharp breath but obeyed him all the same, sitting opposite him at the table just as she'd done with Charles "We are here to take, my Lady" He continued, fixing her with a hard stare "King Louis expects he will scatter a few coins at my feet and I will be satisfied! If anything his insult only makes me hungrier to take what's mine!"

Constance sighed, leaning her head on her hand.
"Your childish pride will be the death of you, the death of all men like you" He shook his head, taking a sip of wine.
"It is not just my pride at stake here, it is our son's, it is England's it is yours!"

"Because of a war you started!" She yelled, sharply standing as she found herself unable to sit still. Though Edward gave her a look telling her to lower her voice again, she scoffed, beginning to pace back and forth "I did not ask for this! Our boy did not ask for this, England did not ask for it! George asked for it and you granted it to him like a fool!" Sighing, her hands rested on the back of her chair "Have you not had enough of war? Have you not seen enough men die, are you not sick of the stench of blood or the cries of grief for the fallen? Have you not lost enough? Has your Mother not lost enough?"

"My Mother understands my aims"
"No!" She snapped "Your Mother understands she's lost a husband, a son and may lose three more because of the actions of one! What will happen to her if you die? What will happen to Neddy and our girls? What will happen to me?"

"I will not die!" He shouted, standing before he glanced sharply to the tent entrance, gritting his teeth "Why do you have such little faith in me?"

"Oh, because this war is all my fault?" She hissed in return "You know I do not doubt your strength, I never have, but also I do not doubt men die in war! You have fought to victory so many times, Edward, but all it takes to kill a man is one well aimed blow and what....what if such a blow hits you?"

As her voice softened from anger into worry, his face softened too, a heavy sigh leaving his lips as he sat once more. Taking another sip of wine, his eyes flicked to hers.

"What would you suggest?"

Constance's heart leapt and she hastily returned to her seat, ready to grasp at the hint of a chance Edward had given.

"A summit between Queen Charlotte and I" She said quickly "between the Queens of England and France!" He arched his brows, eyes widening at the suggestion.
"You do not want England to appear weak yet wish for me to let the war fall into the hands of two women?"

Constance scoffed.

"You say that as if I were weaker than you. Who was it that secured London for you? Who was it that led an army to Warwick castle when you were held prisoner? Who was it that negotiated with Charles of Burgundy when we were in exile? It was no man, it was me, your wife, a woman. I have helped to claim your throne twice over, I am not weaker than you, Edward!"

"I know you're not" He conceded with a sigh "but it does not matter what I think, it matters what the people see in this"

"Then make them see what you want them to see!" She cried, shaking her head. He spoke as if he had no power over that when he held all the power, every drop of it "Let me try and negotiate a peace that shall secure the lives of the English and the French! You are the King, you and your courtiers can spin any situation to dance to your will if you try hard enough! Do not let them see the war falling from your hands into those of women but two powerful, noble, merciful Kings swayed by the sweet pleading of their Queens!" She tried "Let this create a new alliance between our two countries instead of new memory of bitter bloodshed"

Edward narrowed his eyes a bit but in thought more than anything else. He rested his chin against his hand and stared at her for a moment, considering all she'd said. She was right, he supposed, he was the King and could do as he liked and he wanted this war....

But, Constance had been pleading with him for months, begging for him to stop even more than she had for Elizabeth to be gone....he didn't want to lose her, he thought as she waited for his answer, the look behind her eyes telling him she would not forgive him if he didn't at least grant her a chance. They were already at odds with so much....

He swallowed thickly.

"And this...." He paused "how would this new alliance be forged? With marriage?" She quickly nodded her affirmation.
"I did have that in mind, yes" Marriage was the foundation of any alliance meant to last - as hers had been though had not turned out as she intended this one too. Edward nodded.
"So our children have entered the board of politics?" Constance arched her eyebrows, shaking her head.

"Don't pretend to be naive, my lord. They entered it the moment they drew their first breaths, as did we and we will make their first moves for them just as our kin did for us....please Edward, for the sake of the love you say you bear for me and for the sake of the women of England whose sons and husbands will be taken, let me try for peace, permit me a chance, I will not fail you"

He tilted his head to the side.
"And the empire I sought to reclaim?"
She did the same, knowing he would question her on that at least once. She decided to speak honestly, that was the only thing she could do.

"I believe only god himself could reclaim such lands as you seek to" She said "and while you are mighty, my Lord, appointed by God, you are a man"

After a moment, Edward sighed, leaning back in his chair, his eyes never leaving her.
"Constance of Bourbon....a wife, a Queen, a Mother, now a politician"
Despite herself, a smile twitched at her lips.

"I've been one for quite some time now"
"Yes....yes you have...." Sighing again, he gave her a small nod "I grant permission for you to have a summit with Queen Charlotte if King Louis also agrees" Constance's heart leapt in her chest and she reached across the table, gasping his hand and pressing a kiss to his knuckles.

"Thank you, my King!" She breathed, hardly daring to believe her ears "as I said, I shall not fail you" He gave her a small smile in return.
"You've never failed me in anything"

༻᯽༺

25th of August....

When King Louis agreed to the summit, chaos broke loose across the Yorkist camp to prepare for the historic event that was to take place. Never before had two Queens taken precedence in a war, never before had they been given the power they held and Constance wondered if Queen Charlotte of France was rather looking forward to it as she was.

What she was certain of was she'd be readying herself for the demands the English were to make of France, readying for the arguments that were to be put forth.

Despite the cost of the war, there was no expense spared in the English camp in preparation for Queen Charlotte's arrival, Edward having told Constance he would not have the French Queen and her nobles return to her court thinking the English poor. After all, it was a day for politics but it was also an opportunity for pageantry, to show off wealth and power as both sides were sure to do.

Red velvet was rolled across the field in a great square where a dais was set up, covered in cloth of gold with trestle tables beneath. It was there the two Queens would take a meal together, everyone else below them, before negotiations began as a show of amicability.

The red velvet then trailed to the Queen's tent (which had been made twice the size for the occasion), so that neither of the Queens precious gowns or shoes would touch the earth churned by men, and that was where the negotiations would take place. No one else would be present, no courtiers or councillors to sway or influence, no disturbances, simply their thoughts and words.

"I wonder what she shall be like" Constance mused aloud as her ladies readied her for the day before the great mirror in her tent "When I was a girl Marie of Anjou was Queen. Queen Charlotte did not succeed her until a year after my marriage"

"And she was never crowned as you were" Katherine added, drawing a smile from her mistress.
"She was not" Margaret agreed "She was not appointed by God, your grace, you are. Our gracious Lord is on your side this day and he will smile upon your actions"

"Thank you, my friend" Constance replied "and I'm sure you are right, though I do not seek her as an enemy, rather....I've never met a fellow Queen before"

"That is true" Beth conceded, brushing out her hair so it hung in a silken curtain down her back, ready for her crown to be placed atop it "it means she will likely understand you better than anyone else though that could prove a danger, sister, for while you do not seek her as an enemy, she may not seek you as a friend"

Constance nodded her agreement, thinking Beth's words wise ones, such as her Mother would've spoken and she would take heed of them. But still, she did hope to truly find Queen Charlotte an ally (if not a friend) and not a bitter foe.

"There" Lizzy said as she placed the Queen's crown on her head and Constance looked at herself in the mirror, anxious to look her very best. The crown was still as heavy as it had been at her coronation but she carried the weight proudly, wearing a gown of crimson with a cloth of gold kirtle which made the under-sleeves of her dress, lying beneath her hanging ones trimmed with ermine.

The red silk sash tied around her waist was studded with with diamonds and a beautiful necklace made of the same shining jewels lay clasped around her throat, a York rose at the centre, encased by a Sunne in splendour. Diamond earrings in the shape of raindrops hung from her ears and rings of all manner of jewels glistened on her fingers. A heavy livery chain of diamonds and rubies held together with golden roses had been placed over her head to rest on her shoulders.

It was much like Edward's, she mused, a spark of power rushing through her veins and making her smile.

"I think I look a true Queen"
Her ladies smiled, nodding.
"You look a true Queen when you're in the bath, Connie!" Katherine replied and they all burst into laughter.

"His grace, the King!" One of her guards outside the tent announced and Edward strode in, his head bare and no chain of office on his shoulders. For the first time, the men would have little part to play.

The Queen and her ladies were quick to curtsy and when Constance raised her head, he was standing before her.
"You may wait outside" She instructed and her companions curtsied again before making a graceful exit, leaving their rulers alone.

"Lady wife"
"My Lord husband"
"You look....very beautiful today"
A rare smile slipped past her lips at the compliment and she inclined her head.
"Thank you, my Lord, I hope it shall do for the summit today. Queen Charlotte is to arrive any moment now"

"She is approaching as we speak" He said "My men have spotted her carriage and entourage entering the camp"

Constance sucked in a sharp breath, looking past him to the tent entrance and clasping her hands.
"Well then....I must depart, my Lord if I am to greet her" Edward nodded.
"Of course you must"

There seemed to be more words about to depart from his lips but at the last moment he shook his head to himself, biting his tongue "I hope to see you later" She curtsied.

"If that is your wish, my Lord" She replied, moving past him and walking into the sunlight which poured down on France that day. Stepping onto the path of red velvet, her ladies curtsied, moving to stand behind while four pages in royal livery stood around her, carrying the royal canopy she would walk under, bearing the arms of England.

When she took a step, so did they and, with Margaret and Beth holding the train of her gown, she began the journey to the entrance of the camp, Will Hastings joining her. She kept her breaths steady, her steps gracefully slow. She must not appear eager, she reminded herself, she had to remain the epitome of Queenship.

Her heart began to race from its steady beat when she caught sight of the French standards fluttering in the slight breeze and pushed back her shoulders, holding her head high.

Turning a corner on the path of red velvet, the woman she was meant to meet finally came into sight and Constance felt her feet trying to force her into a quicker step but she didn't allow it. She approached with elegance, allowing the French to wait for her while she observed their leader.

Queen Charlotte was a pretty woman at thirty two (just a year older than Constance herself) with blonde hair left loose beneath a crown of pearls and sapphires and pale brown eyes. Her skin was alabaster, her figure slim beneath a gown of deep blue with golden fleur-de-lis embroidered on the velvet, identical to the French flag.

In looks she reminded Constance a little of her dear Anne Neville.

Her ladies in waiting stood with her, as did guards and the nobles she'd brought from her court to join the English ones at their meal. When she saw the Queen of England, a warm smile graced her lips and Constance couldn't help but return it, coming to a halt before her.

"Her grace, Queen Constance of England" Will announced, eyeing the French with clear dislike.
"Her grace, Queen Charlotte of France" One of their nobles declared and the two women curtsied to one another.

Raising her head, Constance continued to smile at the French Queen and inclined her head.
"Queen Charlotte"
Charlotte followed suit.

"Queen Constance" Her accent was thick and Constance smiled all the more, her heart beginning to warm to this woman even though she'd known her only a few seconds "I thank you for inviting me to these much anticipated negotiations. It is my hope and my husband, the King's, hope that we may find a peace between our two great nations"

"You are most welcome" Constance replied "and I thank you for your attendance, Queen Charlotte, it brings me great joy to see you and great relief to know we may prevent the loss of innocent lives"

With the first of the formalities completed, Constance stepped forward and offered Charlotte her arm which she took with a smile and a nod "Let us break bread together before our talks begin!"

Charlotte was a little taller than her, she noticed as they walked through the camp to where they would eat and looked around at the English soldiers with a degree of wariness in her eyes. Constance wagered she would do the same if their positions were reversed "It is my hope we may speak in our common tongue?" She asked as they approached the dais and the nobles took their seats beneath it. That seemed to come as a great relief to her guest who nodded, looking to her with another smile.

"I would dearly like that!" She agreed, immediately switching to French as they sat upon their thrones beneath a cloth of gold canopy, and their ladies and guards moved away "while I can manage English, I fear I would not be able to speak my best if I did not speak French!"

"Ah!" Constance chuckled, remembering the difficulties she'd first encountered in England when she was learning the language "I do know well how you feel and I shall find it pleasant to talk in the tongue of my girlhood with one of the same blood as I!"

"Of course!" Charlotte exclaimed "You are French, your sister, Margaret is married to my brother and your brother, Peter, is married to my daughter! I believe we are sisters of sorts you and I! Both Queens, both daughters of Dukes" Constance's heart warmed all the more and, though she looked for it, she could find no falseness on the other Queen's words, no, she seemed to speak genuinely.

"I am of Bourbon and you are of....Savoy if my memory serves me well?"
"It does!" Charlotte confirmed "and we are both Mothers! I remember the golden chalice you did send my son upon his birth! It was most beautiful!"
"As I remember the rosary you did send my own son! It used to hang upon his cradle and now he uses it for his prayers!"

A pleased flush coated her pale cheeks, turning them rosy and she reached for her goblet to take a sip of wine while her gaze flicked to the crowd below.
"Look at them" She sighed, immediately noting how the French sat to one side and the English to the other "You would think they have no greater responsibility than to hate one another"

"Or kill one another" Constance suggested as she took up her own goblet to which Charlotte nodded.
"I often wonder if the world would not be better placed in women's hands but the men of our society would never allow that"
"Perhaps one day God will?"

Charlotte turned to her with a knowing smile and agreement in her eyes.
"One can only hope, sister"

It was then Constance decided there was no other debate to be had - she had a likeminded ally in Queen Charlotte, one who knew how to play her role to perfection, just as she did, but also had a strong mind to match her own.

༻᯽༺

The two Queens processed to Constance's tent once the meal was over, arm in arm again. The nobles were left to talk amongst themselves and they both hoped a fight would not break out though it couldn't be promised.

Constance offered Charlotte wine, had her sit at an ornate table before she sat opposite her, cradling a goblet of her own.

"So, Queen Charlotte" She began, looking the other woman confidently in the eye "I feel is it my duty to ask, and while I believe I may have my answer I must ensure it....do you come here to speak you own words or to play the puppet of your husband who's words you shall say to me?"

Charlotte tilted her head, humming a little in thoughtful consideration.

"I believe it may be a combination of both" She replied "though I am not my husbands puppet, nor shall I ever be. I know my husbands agenda, I know his wishes and proposals but I know my own mind and can convey his offerings and my own as I see fit. I believe we are two women confined to silence in this world of men but when we are alone, when we are faced with only only another, I believe we can speak plainly"

Constance was certainly satisfied with her answer and gave a short nod.
"I agree"
"I am glad....and do call me Charlotte, there is little place for formalities in war and it would be subtitle if we are to be allies....friends even"

She was certain if her ladies were there they would jump to the conclusion that the overtures of friendship were meant for nothing more than to lure her into an easy bargain for France but Constance didn't believe that. She'd spent many years at court studying nobles and could often tell when they were lying. She was confident Charlotte was not, though reminded her to keep a little of her guard nonetheless.

"I would like that, England has seen so much bloodshed, I would not wish to share that bloodshed with my homeland, with your people"
Charlotte smiled.

"You are kind"
"I have a heart" Constance shrugged "I cannot say the same for most men....."

"Not even King Edward?" Her eyes narrowed slightly at that, it was certainly bounding into uncharted territory and Charlotte, realising her mistake, quickly shook her head, taking a sip of wine "Forgive me" She said "but it is well known across Europe of the love your bear one another, I once dreamed of such a love"

"You do not have it with King Louis?" She wouldn't speak on the break in her marriage, nor was she keen to speak of what had been before for fear of weeping and, while she wouldn't admit it, she was rather curious to hear of other royal marriages first hand, knowing hers was indeed a rare thing....despite it falling far from what it had been that past year.

Charlotte laughed a little but the sweet notes were void of any happiness, any amusement; instead filled with a wryness.

"No....he does not...." She answered, tracing the embroidered patterns on the tablecloth with a slender finger "He cares more for his dogs and weaving his impossible web of plots than he does for me. I am merely....an appendage to carry on his line, an object to be used and displayed more than anything else" Constance nodded.
"I am sorry for that" She said but Charlotte only laughed again.

"I have little room to complain. He is not cruel or violent and only attends my bed to beget me with child....even then he does not often come. I am a Queen, I have given my King a son...."
"Yet you wish for your heart to be heard" Constance finished and a soft smile appeared on Charlotte lips as their eyes met again.

"I am glad yours has" She said warmly "It is a rare thing....now, to business" With those words, their moment of confidence was over and they were returned to the matter at hand - the war.
"To business" Constance agreed "What do you offer?"

"The King and I offer a sum of seventy five thousand crowns to King Edward to remove his troops from French soil, the ransom of fifty thousand crowns for Marguerite of Anjou to be returned to France" Charlotte spoke differently as she read out the terms, she noticed, clearly regaining the Queenly front she presented to the world instead of the yearning woman she'd been seconds ago.

And as for the terms themselves, they were certainly a good start, particularly with the ransom of Marguerite of Anjou. It would take her off English hands and return her to her homeland where she would most likely live the rest of her days alone and it relative obscurity. It was sad, Constance thought, but surely it was better to be miserable in one's own country than it was locked away by your hated enemies, the killers of your only child and husband?

Still, it was not enough, not enough for Edward anyway.

"While that sum is high, I recall a similar one was offered to my husband and it being refused. It will not be accepted alone even with the ransom for Marguerite"
Charlotte nodded, clearly having expected this.
"What else do you demand?"

Constance had thought long and hard on how to answer that question but had gathered together a plan she believed would benefit her family and country the best.

"A pension of fifty thousand crowns to the English crown per alum and pensions for our highest Lords as well as a firm alliance between our two nations that shall benefit the English crown"

"Louis said there would be a mention of pensions" Charlotte replied "and I'm sure he's counting his coins even now!" She sighed "Still, I'm sure those costs could be found amenable and my husband has agreed that if either of our countries are to suffer war, the other will come to its aid"

"That is a little better" Constance quickly replied, words ready to roll from her tongue and the negotiations fell straight onto her planned path "but alliances merely based on the whim of war will never last for there is no more than words and a piece of paper to seal it. King Edward and I want an alliance forged with blood, with marriage" Charlotte sat up in her seat a little and Constance took a breath "One of my daughters to marry your son so the blood of England shall sit on the French throne after King Louis' death. In return England will not take up arms against the French throne during King Edward's lifetime"

Tilting up her chin she waited for a reply, knowing in her mind that assuring York blood was on the French throne was perhaps the one thing that would truly keep Edward at bay. He would never attack his own daughter. He sought to make their daughter's Queens, he wouldn't then take their crowns.

Charlotte nodded and in her head she sighed with relief.
"I believe that would be agreeable"
"Then the Prince Charles shall marry my youngest daughter, the Princess Aliénor"
Charlotte blinked in surprise and then confusion, her eyes widening a little as if she believed she'd heard wrongly.

"Your infant?" She asked with a small frown "forgive me, Constance but does that provide surety? I do not mean to ill-wish any of your children but would it not be better to betroth him to the Princess Marie who has grown past the age of infancy and promises to grow more? Princess Aliénor is not yet....a certainty"

Despite the pang of pain in her heart at the suggestion that her daughter would not live to have a crown placed on her head, it was a suitable question to ask when it came to a marriage, especially a political one. And as of Marie....she believed she loved all of her children equally, they were all precious jewels she couldn't bear to lose, but Marie, her little love, her first truly living child....

She'd been with her for so long, been her guiding light and hope for many years. She believed if she'd not had Marie during the years Elizabeth was at court and she lost her babes she would have lost her mind or perhaps worse, she would've taken her own life to put an end to her pain though it was one of the highest sins.

Marie was her saviour and France was England's greatest enemy. Edward would not wage war on her if she was Queen but what if her brother did one day? The thought of Marie being her enemy if the alliance didn't last was unbearable. No, Marie would not go to France.

"I know you mean no offence" She said "I know as well as any how uncertain the life of a child can be, breathing one moment, burning in your arms the next....then dead. Let us say this. Your son shall be betrothed to the Princess Aliénor and, God forbid, if our Lord should call her to his side, he shall instead be betrothed to the Princess Isabella"

Charlotte sent her a small smile, reaching her hand across the table and gently taking Constance's, recognising the pain in her voice when she spoke of the lives of children. She knew how many Constance had lost, it was something her husband used to joke about before she produced a son for England....

"I agree" She said, giving a gentle squeeze.