~The King is Dead~

April 1483, Middleham....

The sun swept gracefully over the valleys and hills of the North, shining down on the group of friends settled on an array of woollen blankets and playing children that were happily darting out of the bushes and trees that lay to the side of them.

A selection of food and drink was laid out (rather clumsily) on the grass and blankets, free for all to help themselves. The day before, Harry had suggested a picnic without the servants and the rest of the group had enthused the idea with grins of youthful mischief and claps of delight and approval.

That glorious morning they had ridden out from Middleham Castle along with all of the children (apart from the youngest) trotting alongside on their ponies and horses, excited smiles on their faces.

While most of the adults had chosen to recline on the blankets, drinking and laughing with one another without the usual regality they held when the servants were around, Harry and Georgie were playing with the little ones!

So far they had devised mock battles, dividing the children into two separate armies before they all charged at each other and rolling around in the grass as they collided, delighted shrieks filling the air as they fought; wooden swords flying.

"Give it to me, you silly goose!" Eleanor laughed as Richard teasingly held a strawberry a few inches above her lips, leaning over her. He looked younger that day, she noticed as he lowered the strawberry only to jerk it back as she was about to eat it, much to her annoyance.

A calmness and relaxation resided in his eyes, so rarely seen by any since he had returned from the Scottish wars that it made Eleanor's heart jump. Putting a hand to his cheek she smiled "you don't look so old today" she murmured and Richard's grin widened.

"I hesitate to remind you that are the older of the two of us, my Lady" he returned, earning a small punch to the front of his doublet.
"By seven days!" Eleanor exclaimed "now give me that strawberry before I pour your wine over your head!"

"Fine fine! You win, Sweetheart!" He lowered the strawberry once more and she parted her lips, ready to take a bite of her favourite fruit before exclaiming as Richard pulled it away and kissed her soundly on the mouth. Reaching up, she slid a hand into his hair, running it through his curls and smiling into the kiss "there" he said softly as he broke away, rubbing his nose affectionately against hers "now I have a victory too!"

"Je t'aime, Richard of York" Eleanor murmured, smiling up at him "and you have my heart"
"And you mine, Eleanor Plantagenet"

"Your grace! Your grace!" Everyone turned as the sound of hooves filled the air and a pageboy's voice called out in earnest.

"What on earth?" Francis asked as he stood from the blanket, Anais standing with him and watching as the boy rode towards them, a letter clutched in his hand. The children stopped playing, looking curiously towards the rider who jumped from his horse, trying to straighten his blue and murrey doublet as he ran towards the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Eleanor and Richard stood from their blanket, trying to right their clothes and hair as the boy bowed and held out the letter.
"I beg that your graces read it, I was told by the courier that tis urgent" Richard stared at him as he took the letter, the clam in his eyes leaving and being replaced with worry.

"Thank you" Eleanor said, nodding in dismissal to the boy and watching with a frown as he ran back to his horse and galloped away.

"What is it?" Harry called as he lifted seven year old Edward into his arms, noticing the little boy was getting tired standing on his own "is everything alright?"

Richard tore open the letter in his hands, his expression darkening as he read it and shook his head in seeming disbelief. His hands began to tremble, the paper shaking in his hands while his friends and children watched him. He raised his head, blinking furiously to stop the tears, that flooded to his eyes, escaping.

"What is it, mon amour?" Eleanor said softly, placing her hand on his arm as he looked to her. He was holding back, it was obvious to see, trying to control his breathing as it quickened, his chest rising and falling more rapidly which each breath he took. He looked up again.

"We return to the castle now!" He ordered, marching forward towards his horse and crumpling the letter in his hand.
"But...." Rob began.
"I said now!" Richard thundered and everyone jumped into motion as he mounted his horse, nudging it into a gallop and racing down the hill.

꧁꧂

No one spoke on the way back to the castle, their saddle bags full with uneaten food and drink, not even the children. They all cast uneasy looks at each other, still shaken by Richard's reaction to the letter and the worry that clouded Eleanor's expression as she rode next to Marie.

Without a word, Marie reached out and gently put her hand atop her friend's, sending her a small smile that Eleanor did not return but nodded in acknowledgement of it all the same.

What could have caused such a wave of emotion to fill her husband, she wondered with a frown.

Was it death?
Was it war?
Was it an invasion?

It couldn't be Margaret of Anjou since she had died in France a year prior but could someone else have risen up against Edward? Had he ordered a third Scottish war?

She hoped more than anything that he had not for she was sure her heart could not take it and nor could the children. They needed their Father and she needed her husband. The North needed its King!

As soon as they were returned to the castle she handed the reins of her horse to a groom and rushed up the castle steps as quick as her pride would allow. Her eyes darted all around as they searched for Richard. He was not in the great hall, not in his study nor in their bedchamber nor the gardens.

Eleanor was surprised to find him in the nursery. He had sent away the nurses and was sat beside the cradle that contained their youngest child, Adela. She had been born in March and was as healthy as could be, much to her parents joy, though now she slept beneath her cotton blankets, her face peaceful.

Richard's doublet was cast aside, his head held in his hands that were fisted in his hair as his shoulders shook with sobs. He was biting his lip to try and halt the cries that threatened to wake his daughter but he could not prevent them completely.

As quietly as she could, Eleanor untied her cloak and lay it on a chair before she tiptoed over to Richard and slowly knelt in front of him, tears filling her eyes as she noticed the relentless ones that streaked his face. Her heart ached for him.

"What is wrong, mon amour?" She whispered, taking his hands into her own and gently kissing them, a comforting smile touching her lips "you can tell me"

"I know I can" he mumbled, the misery in his voice all too clear although it was fearful, almost like a child's "it's Ned" he whispered and Eleanor's smile fell. It was grief that plagued Richard's face and tone. Grief.

"He's dead, isn't he?" She said, seeing Richard struggle for words. At hers his face crumpled, a sob tearing from his throat and Eleanor immediately took him into her arms, cradling her head against the bodice of her gown. His arms went around her, holding her tight as if he believed she alone could take away his pain and bring comfort to his grief.

"He's dead!" He cried "my last living brother is dead! First Edmund then George and now Edward! They're all gone!" Nodding, Eleanor stroked his hair, also beginning to cry.

Yes, she had been angry at Edward for years, and that anger had turned to a harsh resentment after the Scottish wars but she could not forget the happy times. Edward had been like an elder brother to her since she had been twelve and she had loved him and looked up to him. And now he was dead.

And there would never be a time where they would be able to make their peace (to a certain extent) with one another in person.

"I don't know what to do, Leena!" Richard confessed shakily "I have been named as protector for the new King Edward....he's twelve! We have a boy King!"

"We do, we do" Eleanor murmured, remembering the boy she had met almost two years before. He was so childlike, he was a child! A child now the ruler of the country "but you will protect him" she said firmly, tilting Richard's head up with her hand "and you will rule in his stead until he comes of age! You will rule England, Richard, and our country could not hope for a better Lord Protector" a ghost of a smile flitted across Richard's lips and he cupped Eleanor's face with his hands.

"Your family" he said "they will try and keep me from power I know it and I must stop them, it has already been made clear! As Dowager Queen it was Elizabeth's duty to inform the nobility of Edward's death yet I had to hear it from William Hastings of all people! The Woodvilles cannot be allowed to grasp power over our nephew, we must keep him safe from them....what....what will you do?"

"I will stand by you" she replied firmly "you are my husband, the man I love, the Father of my children and the rightful Lord Protector of the new King. We cannot allow for Elizabeth to snatch power for herself as she will try to do. For whatever is to come, I stand with you, Richard. My loyalty is to you and to our family. If my sister choses to stand in your way then that is her choice"

"Oh thank God for you" Richard whispered and then his lips were on hers.

꧁꧂

Their friend's faces were a picture of confusion as the Duke and Duchess entered the great hall and walked up the steps of the dais to address them, both dressed in the black of mourning.

The eldest of the children (Georgie, Katheryn, John and Eliza) were gathered by the foot of the stairs, frowning with their arms folded.

Gently sliding her hand down the cuff of his doublet, Eleanor interlaced she and Richard's hands, gently squeezing as he turned to look at her.

You are not alone, you have me her eyes said as she smiled up at him and he nodded, brushing a kiss to her forehead before turning to the small crowd gathered in the middle of the hall.

"It is my solemn duty...." he began only to find his voice trail away as he looked over the faces of his friends "it is my solemn duty" he said again, forcing himself to sound steady and collected though he felt anything but.

He wanted to cry again. Over and over until grief had left him alone "to tell you that on the ninth of April in this the year of our Lord 1483, my brother King Edward died at Westminster Palace. With his dying breaths he named me as Lord Protector of the realm until his eldest son comes of age...." his voice faded again and Eleanor looked to him, seeing the pain into his face and slowly nodding to herself.

Looking to the front, she took a breath.
"The King is dead!" She proclaimed "Long live the King!"

A moment of silence.

"Long live the King!" Everyone cried at the tops of their voices "Long live the King" but Eliza did not. Eliza simply left the others and retreated from the hall, her mind spinning with questions and queries that she feared only God could answer.

Running to the chapel she quickly crossed herself as she knelt at the alter and wrapped a Whitby jet rosary around her hands, closing her eyes as she tried to pray.

Edward was dead. The man who had murdered her Father. The only biological parent she had known and the only one she would ever have the chance to, for by the end of 1478 she had been rendered an orphan.

Edward had taken George from her and she had hated him for that. She would always hate him but....

"Eliza?" She looked up as Eleanor knelt beside her, leaning back against the alter as she smiled kindly at her niece "are you well, my dear? Is there anything you want to say?" Eliza nodded slightly.

"Is it right....is it right that I should feel glad at the Kings death? Do you feel glad, Aunt Leena?"

"No" Eleanor replied, pulling Eliza into a hug when she saw the thirteen year old's face fall "but that does not mean that what you feel is wrong. Over the past years I have not heard from Edward apart from when he wished me his condolences on the deaths of my sisters and my sons and when I wished him my condolences upon the death of his daughter Mary. He often sent invitations to court in the summer and at Christmas but Richard and I always refused. I wish now that we could have made peace, in a way as I will never forgive him for what he did to your Father....but I understand how you feel. Edward killed your Father, I suppose to feel glad for his death is a natural reaction and I for one will not reproach you for it, though I should warn you against speaking of your feelings to anyone else"

"I know" Eliza replied quietly, resting her head on her Aunt's shoulder "it was Edward who sent my Mother away when she carried me. Edward who took my Father from me. I'm glad he's gone but I could see the grief in Uncle Richard's face at his death....and I can see pain in yours too"

"Do you resent me for that?"
Eliza sat up, her eyes wide with surprise.
"No! No of course not!" She cried "You have been like a Mother to me in place of my own dear Mama and fought for Papa when he faced his brother's axe. I could never ever resent you! You knew Edward since you were a child and as you said my gladness is right I say your grief is right! As is Uncle Richard's!"

Eleanor smiled into the darkness of the chapel.
"You're so like Bella" she murmured and felt the girl smile against her as she rested her head again. "so clever and kind....and she would have been so so proud of you Eliza and so would George. Just as I am proud of you and always will be"