~Queen of England~

26th of May 1465, Westminster Palace....

Eleanor watched with baited breath as the sun began to rise, casting golden rays through the window and onto the sleeping form of Bella beside her.

Upon arriving at Westminster, she had been offered her own chambers but had refused, not wanting to be alone during the night and so, now 16 year old, Bella was her new bedmate and the two were most happy with the arrangement.

They could often be found whispering into the early hours of the morning, giggling at the tops of their voices and finding they could since they were the only ones who occupied the chambers.

This past night, Bella had fallen asleep in the early hours of the morning but Eleanor had not slept a wink, for that very day was to be the day of Elizabeth's coronation and her little sister could simply not wait.

Glancing over to the corner, she could see the outlines of her and Bella's snow-white gowns, trimmed with silver ribbon, sitting patiently next to the cold fireplace and smiled, flopping back onto her pillows to stare up at the deep blue canopy that hung above her and her sister's heads.

For seven months now, the Woodville's had been at court and Eleanor could not remember a happier nor more extravagant time in her short life. There were elaborate feasts and banquets every day, dances each night, huge hunting parties that would speed through the woods on stallions that flew through the trees while stag's ran for their very lives....

She had seen no more of the York siblings, apart from Edward of course, for she was constantly at the Queen's side doing her bidding and all three of George, Richard and Margaret were not at court, had returned to respective castles in the North after Christmas. Eleanor did not miss them, she hardly knew them of course, but she could not help but wonder when they would return? Would they attend the coronation?

Perhaps they wouldn't, after all, Duchess Cecily had refused to come!

Now, as the morning light began to reach the darkest corners of the bedchamber, Eleanor found that she could wait no longer and slowly rolled over onto her stomach, grabbing her pillow as she did so. Raising herself up onto her knees, she prepared for the backlash she would face at the hands of her considerably stronger sister.

Holding the pillow high in the air she brought it down onto Bella before letting out a startled yelp as her sister leapt from the covers, her blonde hair tangled around her face as she lunged for her little sister, pinning her to the bed while Eleanor squirmed and giggled.

"Every bloody day!" Bella cried, letting go and climbing off the bed "whenever something exciting is about to happen I almost get smothered!"

Her chest heaving as she reclaimed her pillow, Eleanor grinned and pushed her mass of copper curls back over her shoulders and reached for her chemise, tugging off her nightgown before putting the clean shift on.

Sliding into her green silk slippers, Eleanor walked over to her coffers and threw open the lid, marvelling (as she always did) at the number of gowns Elizabeth had had made for her. The Queen expected and wanted only the best for her younger sisters and so lavished expensive gowns and jewels upon them almost daily, favouring Eleanor in particular.

Running her hands through the white fur that lined the cuffs of the deep azure gown she had been gifted in January she smiled and nodded. Pulling it out of the coffer and shaking out the creases, she placed it at her feet and stepped into the circle of blue silk, picking it up and sliding it gracefully over her arms and chest.

Holding the gown in place with one hand, Eleanor walked over to the dressing table where Bella was holding an array of necklaces set with rubies, diamonds, pearls and emeralds to her neck.

"I never thought we would have things like this" she whispered, finally settling on a string of diamonds that she clasped delicately around her neck, holding her hair up as she did so.

"You're so pretty" Eleanor remarked as she turned for Bella to lace up her gown.
"As are you" her sister replied, reaching for a necklace of pearls and placing it on the younger girl "and never doubt that"

Once they were both dressed and ready, the two sisters left their chambers and walked confidently to the courtyard, smiling brightly at one another as they heard the bells of London begin to ring out in honour of their new Queen.

In order to prepare for the coronation, for the past two days Elizabeth had been housed at the Tower of London with only Jacquetta and her boys for company. Now she had summoned Eleanor and Bella to her side to ready her and as the two stepped out into the courtyard of the palace, they found their horses already saddled and ready to go.

"Eleanor!" Just a as she was about to mount Apollo, she heard Edward call out behind her and swiftly turned, sinking into a deep curtsy while Bella nodded at the King from her horse.

"Your grace?" She greeted as Edward gestured for her to rise "is something wrong?" He gave her a charming smile and shook his head.
"Nay, Eleanor, not in the least only I wish for you to pass this message to your sister once you reach the tower" he passed her a piece of parchment and nodded as she tucked it into her sleeve "I shall have your gown and Isabella's sent on behind you, tell my Queen that I love her"

Turning on his heel, he walked back across the courtyard and disappeared into the palace while Eleanor stared after him, bobbing a small curtsy before she mounted Apollo and nudged him into a trot beside Bella.

As they rode through the streets of London, two guards bearing the royal standards that their side, Eleanor and Bella could not help but stare at the wondrous stalls and plays that were being set up by the roadside.

Actors pulled on feathered wings and bright golden halos as they prepared to reenact the birth of Christ, boards were set by the road, white rose pins studded into them, shining brightly in the sun.

Slowing her horse and fumbling for a gold coin in the velvet purse that hung from the sash of her gown, Eleanor tossed it gracefully to a brightly dressed merchant who bowed and passed her a badge.

"Many thanks, my lady" he said jovially and Eleanor smiled at him, urging Apollo on again as she caught up with Bella and showed her her new pin.

"Whatever did you buy that for?" Her sister asked with a chuckle, shaking her head as if she considered herself too old for such small trifles. Eleanor knew inside she did not "have you not seen enough white roses to last you a lifetime by now?"

"Never!" Eleanor replied as she pinned the badge to the silk of her gown, just above where her heart lay "for that badge belongs to our Lizzie now as well as the Yorks now! And so I shall be glad to wear it" She giggled when Apollo gave a small whinny, unused to sand being under his feet as men spread the golden grains onto the streets in preparation for Elizabeth's procession to Westminster Abbey that day.

All the way to the tower, Eleanor could not help but smile at all who passed her, tossing coins to children who called out merrily in her direction and nodding to other nobles and merchants who passed by, all dressed in their finery.

As they finally trotted through the gatehouse, all seemed to suddenly grow dark, including Eleanor's smile which receded to a small frown. She shivered, feeling a chill run down her spine while she looked around at all the windows, wondering if there were any locked behind those bolted doors....

"Leena! Bella! Oh my darlings I'm so glad to see you!" Elizabeth called from the tower steps, bringing her youngest sister from her gloomy thoughts and back into the light of the day.

Waving enthusiastically from Apollo, Eleanor nudged the horse onward with Bella in hot persuit as they drew to a halt and slipped from their saddles.

Laughing, Elizabeth drew them both into a hug, kissing both of their cheeks before the excited cries of two children sounded from behind.
"Bella!"
"Leena! You're here!"

Eleanor giggled as she saw Tom and Rickon running towards her and her sister, grins on their faces as they jumped into their aunts arms before running onto the green. Once the were gone she looked back to her elder sister and passed her the letter Edward had given to her with a nod while Bella merely arched an eyebrow.

"Come with me" Elizabeth whispered as she swept indoors and up the extravagant marble staircase of the Tower that lead to her own royal apartments "we have much to discuss!"

꧁꧂

Stepping from the warm waters of the ornate bath tub, Elizabeth smiled at her little sister and raised her arms as Eleanor wrapped a towel around her body while Bella gently patted her hair dry.

"Elizabeth?" She asked quietly "are you afraid?"
Elizabeth looked between the two girls before she shook her head.
"Edward will help me know what to do" she answered.

"They say the whole of London shall be out" Eleanor said wistfully as she placed a clean shift over Elizabeth's head and bent down a little to straighten the lace hem.
"Hm, except one" Bella murmured as she fetched Elizabeth's coronation gown "Duchess Cecily but...my Lord this is beautiful!"

Eleanor spun around as Bella held up a dress of cloth of gold, pearls and golden thread adorning the bodice and skirt while the sleeves fell gracefully to the floor, made of the same shimmering fabric.

Eleanor could not tear her eyes from the gown as her sister put it on, even as she crowned Elizabeth's hair with strings of polished pearls that glimmered in the candlelight of the room.
"You look beautiful, Lizzie" she whispered as she and Bella stepped back to admire their work "like a true Queen"

"And you two shall look just the same as Princesses once you have changed into your gowns!" Elizabeth replied before nodding to one of the doors that lead to an adjoining room "I think they have been placed in there"

Before she needed to be told twice, Eleanor had grabbed Bella's hand and dragged her through to the chamber, a large grin on her face as she saw their gowns; finding herself immediately reaching for hers.

She changed at the speed of lightning, almost tearing the laces of her blue gown before she slipped into her sliver once, her heart beating in her ears as she fastened the back and transferred her new white rose pin onto the white damask.

Next, while Bella fixed her train, Eleanor ran over to the window where a bowl of hairpins sat and selected two, twisting the sides of her hair before she secured them at the back of her head, gently pushing the rest forward in a flow of shining red ringlets over her shoulders.

Twirling around she took Bella's hand again and the two rushed from the room; back to their sister who was admiring herself in the mirror.
'And rightly so' Eleanor thought proudly as she gently ran a hand over the coronation cloak that lay on the bed, orange in colour with golden fleur de lis and a clasp at the front set with rubies.

The edge was lined with ermine and as the girl and her sister lifted the cloak into their arms, they glanced at each other, surprised by the weight the garment held.

"Wish me luck" Elizabeth whispered as she turned towards the door which led out into the hallway, wringing her hands against her gown.
"You don't need luck" Eleanor replied with an encouraging smile "you are the Queen"
"Aye" Bella agreed as the door opened "and you shall rule over us all like you have always done"

Stepping out into the hallway, Eleanor struggled to contain a gasp as she and her sisters came face to face with Lord Warwick and his two daughters.

Standing beside him were the Duke of Clarence and Gloucester, Edward's brothers, and the young girl saw how her oldest sister froze on the spot, playing with the rings on her fingers.
"My new sister!" George announced, walking forward with a smile on his face as he took the Queen's hands, kissing them "you are as beautiful as a Queen should be!"

Elizabeth's airy laugh filled the halls as the Duke backed away and Richard came forward, bowing more confidently than Eleanor had seen him do when she first arrived at court.
"I pray that your first child is a son" he said "so he may follow my brother in his throne"

"Thank you, Richard, George, I am grateful for your kinship" Elizabeth returned with a nod before Warwick stepped forward and the smile fell from her face again "W-where is Edward?" She asked, glancing around.

"At the abbey? He is to watch the coronation, from behind the screen....as is the custom" Warwick answered in a condescending tone that made Eleanor narrow her eyes and bite back a sharp retort that formed on her lips "my daughters will escort you, they have been trained for such occasions" the lord continued and Anne and Isabel stepped forward, the eldest wearing a smug smile as she lifted the skirt of her green gown a little, puffing out her small chest.

"I think you shall find, the Queen has her own sisters to attend her" the voice of Baron Rivers resonated around the hall and Eleanor felt her pulse begin to steady again as her father came into view along with the rest of her sisters who filed in behind her and Bella, all in similar gowns of white and silver "your daughters may join in the procession behind us"

Eleanor watched with a small smirk as Isabel's face went from white to a deep red in a matter of seconds while Warwick merely stared on in disbelief, never in his life expecting to have orders given to him by one he considered a commoner.

Taking Elizabeth's hand, Baron Rivers swept past the Nevilles with his daughters in tow and Eleanor could not help but throw a triumphant smile at Warwick as she passed, causing him to glare at her, his dark eyes narrowing as she and her sisters walked quickly down the marble steps to the courtyard.

"But now you are holding my arm to tight and I may faint" Baron Rivers laughed, at last stopping and his eldest daughter turned to him, shaking her head.

"You may not faint because I need you!" She said a little unsteadily, clutching her father's hand.
"You will always be my Elizabeth" he told her gently while Bella and Eleanor stepped forward, draping her coronation furs around the Queen's shoulders and clasping the front.

"We will be by your side the whole way, Lizzie" Eleanor whispered, kissing her sister's cheek as the door to the Tower opened and immediately the roar of the crowds of London filled her ears, creating goosebumps on her arms while Elizabeth walked into the light.

Gracefully she stepped into her golden carriage, drawn by white horses and sat upon the oak throne in the middle while her brothers and sisters mounted their horses behind her.

Grinning from ear to ear, Eleanor joined Bella and Anthony as they rode out onto the London streets, their father beside them who had a look of unmatched pride on his ageing face.
"I can't believe it!" Eleanor laughed as she looked at the crowds who were cheering for their Queen and the royal procession that followed, bright smiles on their faces.

White roses floated by them, raining down as people threw them from windows and waved blue and murrey handkerchiefs. Never had any of the Woodville children seen such a sight before and stared around them in wonder while the cries of 'God save the Queen' filled their ears.

It seemed as if all of the church bells in the country were ringing out as the procession neared the abbey where a royal blue carpet led up the steps, awaiting Elizabeth as her carriage came to a halt.

Bella and Eleanor immediately slid from their saddles and went to their elder sister, sinking down into deep curtsies while Anthony and John stepped forward, helping the Queen to the carpet as Yorkist guards held up royal standards, standing to attention in their freshly polished armour.

"Leena! Leena come here!" Eleanor turned as Rickon ran towards her, his blonde curls bouncing as he took her hand and dragged her away from her siblings and parents "the King is asking for you!" He cried excitedly "you are to stand with me and Tom! Come on, Leena!"

Laughing with surprise, she allowed herself to be taken inside, not casting one backward glance before she began to marvel at the inside of the Abbey, admiring all of the stone carvings that lined the walls and the coloured glass that creating images from the bible in the window.

Dashing up staircase after staircase, Eleanor's chest was heaving by the time Rickon and her reached a large oak door and he dragged her inside the chamber behind with as much energy as he had started with!

At once they were face to face with the King and she stumbled into a curtsy only to find herself brought to her feet and steadied by Edward who grinned down at her.
"It looks like Richard here gave you quite the run, ma petite boule de feu" he said and it was all Eleanor could do but nod as she clung onto his arms and smiled a little.

"Boule de feu?" She repeated with an arched eyebrow and Edward chuckled, leading her to the golden screen that overlooked the abbey.
"Indeed" he replied with a small wink, reaching out to wrap a lock of her hair around his hand "it means fireball in French and I think it suits you!"

Looking up at him, Eleanor grinned and Edward laughed, his blonde curls bouncing around his face before royal trumpets called for silence and the two eldest of the four lifted Thomas and Richard up to the small balcony so that they could see clearly.

"That isn't mother!" Rickon remarked in confusion as Elizabeth came into view, her head held high as she followed the Archbishop of Canterbury to the throne of the Queens of England that was placed ahead.

"She's just in her coronation robes, that's all" Edward replied, suddenly quiet as his eyes stayed trained on his wife and Queen. 

Kneeling before the steps and her throne, Elizabeth made the sign of the cross before she rose and ascended the small set of steps.

As she sat down, Eleanor could just see the look of pride and triumph that was on Jacquetta's face as she glanced at her husband.

"I here present unto you, Queen Elizabeth, your undoubted Queen, wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?" The Archbishop boomed as another bishop stepped forward and anointed Elizabeth with holy oil, drawing the sign of the cross in her forehead.

"God save the Queen the crowd of nobles cried.
"Let the anointing of this oil increase your honour and establish you forever"
"God save the Queen" Eleanor said with a smile as she took her nephews hands and gave them a small squeeze.

The Archbishop nodded and moved forward to take two shining objects from the velvet cushion they were presented on.
"We offer up the sceptres and the ring to our one and mighty Queen" he said, walking back to Elizabeth as a priest gently sliding the gold and ruby ring onto one of her trembling fingers and he passed her the two shining sceptres that shone as rays of sunlight fell upon them.

"God save the Queen!" The nobles shouted again before falling silent, watching as the Archbishop lifted the golden crown, set with pearls and glistening jewels, from a second priest and placed it gently on Elizabeth's head.

At once, all dipped down into bows or curtsies, even Eleanor though she knew she was out of sight and she felt Edward gently squeeze her shoulder in approval.

"Long live the Queen" she whispered "Elizabeth Woodville"