~William and Katheryn, Bess and Charles~

July 1484, Westminster....

Eleanor smiled from her throne as she watched the young couple, married that afternoon, dance together amongst the others in the great hall. Katheryn was grinning from ear to ear, dressed in a gown of lilac silk with her long, dark hair flowing in perfect curls down to her waist.

William held her close, love shining in his eyes as they danced together. He had been gazing at his new wife since they had entered Westminster chapel that morning and every moment after that.

"Are you happy for her?" Eleanor asked when she learnt to the side a little to talk to Richard over the laughter that filled the hall. He nodded, a small smile on his lips as she watched his daughter dance with her new husband.

"Very" he replied with a small nod "I always hoped to see her as happy as she is now" raising his eyebrows a wry sigh escaped his lips and he looked from his daughter to his wife "but no sign of Kate?"Eleanor shook her head.

"No....no sign of Kate" he nodded again and returned his gaze to the dancing while Eleanor looked around the hall, happy to see her children all laughing and smiling with one another until she felt a sharp pang as she noticed Bess' absence. Oh how she missed her eldest daughter! She was to be married and crowned in less than a week and while Eleanor knew that she would be in good hands with Cecily she could not help but wish she could be there!

Looking to Cecily's older sister, Eleanor tilted her head as she watched Lizzie who was scanning the hall for a partner "Dance with Lizzie" she murmured to Richard and he turned to her "she of all people deserves some lively dancing and merriment. Dance with her Richard"

"I'd much rather dance with you, love" he returned but obeyed her all the same, rising from his throne and making his way through the crowds of noblemen throughout the hall until he reached his eldest niece.

She looked up, seemingly surprised as he came to stand by her; blue eyes widening while a light blush stained her cheeks. Lizzie accepted the hand he extended and practically glowed as she was lead to the centre of the hall among the other dancing couples, waving to Eleanor who waved back.

As the music started and they began to dance, William and Katheryn leading, Eleanor watched as small pockets of nobles turned to each other and began to whisper to each other. 'With his niece?'  She heard one say and rolled her eyes. These people would grasp at any excuse for gossip! True, the dance was one traditionally for married couples or those who were betrothed but it was a wedding all the dances were as such!

"Mama?" Her train of thought was broken as she heard her Edward's voice and put a smile onto her face. He looked well, she thought, as she looked at him, now more than ever; had rosy cheeks which she had seen rarely during his lifetime!

"My son" she greeted, tilting her head towards the throne beside her "sit, my darling" he did as he was bade and looked around him, seemingly fascinated by the colourful scene.
"I wish I had my quill and paper with me" he mused "this would be a good scene to paint! My tutor says it is good practice to draw scenes from life and not just from imagination!"

Eleanor smiled. His passion for art had never dwindled and never would, it seemed.
"Indeed, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"I was simply wondering if....well, Bess is to be married and now Katheryn is and well I was wondering, as are the others...." he paused and Eleanor looked to the tables where the other children were sitting and raised an eyebrow as she saw them all watching in earnest.

"If you will be married soon?" She finished and Edward nodded, relief surfacing in his eyes as she shook her head "I never meant for Bess to be married so soon" she admitted "it wasn't planned that way, my dear, and Kit is marrying for love. I will make sure none of you are married soon. Not until you are ready"

Edward smiled a little and rose from his Father's throne, bowing to his Mother before he hopped down the dais and back to his siblings who all seemed to breathe a sigh of collective relief as he told them what she had said.

And then, the dance finished and she turned her attention to the front again, clapping and smiling as Richard walked back to her.

꧁꧂

"Will it hurt?" Katheryn whispered as Eleanor adjusted the ties on her nightgown and helped unbraid her hair "Mother?" Eleanor looked at her, titling her head slightly while she smiled.
"A little" she admitted, placing her hands on Katheryn's shoulders and rubbing them comfortingly "but William loves you so I assure you you will feel pleasure that shall make the pain seem nothing at all!"

The girl blushed a little and looked at her slippered feet, almost grinning to herself as she imagined her new husband coming to her that night.

"Was it so with you and Father?" She asked, watching Eleanor gather up her wedding gown. She shook her head but kept on smiling all the same, remembering the pain and embarrassment of her own wedding night before the slight comfort of Richard's arms afterward.

"No" she said softly, moving forward to embrace the bride and kissing her fondly on the cheek. "but it was every single time after" the two giggled and Eleanor walked to the door "good night, my darling"

꧁꧂

Late July 1484, Windsor Castle....

Dearest Mama,

I am now married and crowned the Queen of France, though I can hardly believe it. I dare to say the coronation procession rivalled yours and Papa's in its grandeur for I have never seen anything so splendid as my wedding was! For my wedding I was dressed in white silk and my coronation cloth of gold which I rather liked!

Cecily has been by my side almost every second of each day and I am more than grateful for her, she is my candle in the darkness, Mama, though the true flame of stability for me shall always be England and you. Even if I cannot see that flame anymore.

I do not like the French Court, the strange nobles and ever present flock of ladies employed by Duchess Anne who watch me day and night as if I were little Thomas or Nell who actually need watching! It seems the court moves a lot so I do not think I shall ever feel at home but I have resolved to make a go of it!

And that is because of Charles.

He turned fourteen in June though does not treat me like a child, as some would who are two years younger than them, but rather as an equal in terms of conversations. I thought it would be awkward between us at first but he was all smiles when he met me first and said in private I was to call him Charlie. I have not told him to call me Bess yet so I am his 'sweet Elizabeth'.

Charlie is not particularly handsome but he has kind eyes and has so far always be kind to me. We play chess together and he says he shall build me a palace as a wedding gift! It also seems he has a passion for hunting (which suits me fine) and has promised that now I am his wife and Queen he shall always take me with him on his hunts.

As the summer moved on, the court moved to Windsor Castle and now Queen Eleanor stood on a balcony reading the first letter Bess had sent her since she left for France! She could hardly contain her excitement when it arrived and had all but snatched it from Anne Neville's hand when her friend presented it to her, making Anne chuckle.

"What is that that keeps you so occupied?" Richard called from where he was sat at his desk and Eleanor walked back into the chamber, smiling at the paper in her hand.
"It's Bess!" She told him with a grin and his face immediately lit up with joy.
"Bess? What has she to say? Has she taken control of the court yet with her eager little hands?"

Eleanor chuckled to herself and returned to the letter, determined to finish it.

I remember Charlie was most kind on our wedding night....

Her eyes became as large as saucers as she gasped and swung around to face the desk in a whirl of silk damask. Bess had been made to consummate the marriage? At twelve?!

"He's taken her" she breathed, looking to Richard "Charles has taken our little Bess to his bed, Richard!" To her surprise, he did not seem very fazed, simply sighed and sat back in his chair.

"I suppose we should've expected it"
"Expected it?! She's a child!"
"She's a Queen" Richard reasoned despite the disapproval that was written plain on his face "it will to be to secure the marriage and therefore the alliance. What does Bess say of it?"

Eleanor grumbled to herself before she began to read the letter again. She had a mind to walk across the channel like Jesus and slap Charles to Spain!

....he made sure that there was minimal pain for me and I even felt a little pleasure from the experience I believe. He held me close afterwards and then promised he would not take me again until I came to him and wanted him too. He says he does not mind how long he has to wait, it only matters that I am ready....

"She says that she found it only slightly painful and that he has promised not to take her again until she wants him too" Eleanor said, her eyes now wide with pleasant surprise instead of shock. Richard seemed pleased too, sitting up again and nodding to himself.

"He's more of a gentleman than I expected a fourteen year old to be" he admitted and she nodded in agreement "does she say anything else?" He reached out as Eleanor passed him the letter.
"Only that she loves us and she misses her brothers and sisters. She feels homesick...."

The sound of feet startled them and Eleanor turned around as a flaxen haired girl forced her way into the chamber, tears streaming down her face. Little Margaret Plantagenet, George's daughter. She and her younger brother Teddy had come to court with Anne and the King and Queen found them both a delight but now Margaret was sobbing desperately.

"Maggie?" Eleanor asked quickly "Maggie, my dear what is is?"
"We were playing" she said quickly, looking between her Aunt and Uncle "he said he was hot, he went to lie down and then...."
"Oh God....Edward...." The girl nodded and Eleanor's heart began to pound "he's not breathing"

Eleanor and Richard had fled the chamber in a moment, taking each other's hands as they ran through Westminster as fast as they could.
"Where is he?" Richard called as Margaret tried to keep up behind them.
"His room!" She cried and the King and Queen sped around a corner.

"He will be fine" Eleanor murdered to herself. "God has already taken two of my sons, he will not take a third" tears blurred her vision and she felt Richard squeeze her hand "he will not!" As they entered Edward's room they found the rest of their children gathered around their brother's bed, his twin sister Cecily sobbing by his side.

"Fetch the physician, George!" Richard ordered and the boy dashed from the room in an instant while his parents knelt by Edward's bed, his father gathering his son's pale body into his arms.
"Say he breathes" Eleanor pleaded, taking her boy's hand as Richard placed two finger's on Edward's wrist, trying to search for his pulse and the children clung to them both "please, Richard!"

"I am the King" Richard murmured, his voice breaking slightly "I am the King and you will breathe for me!"
"My boy" Eleanor whispered as her daughter's clutched onto her with all their might "my boy!"
"Neddy!" Cecily screamed, pounding her little fists on the bed "you can't leave me like this!"

As if her pleas and anger reached through the veil of death, clawing at what life was left and dragging it back to earth, Edward's eyes snapped open. He gasped as he drew a breath of air into his burning lungs and jumped as his Mother gave a relived cry and climbed onto the bed beside him.

"My boy!" She cried, cradling between her and Richard "oh my darling boy!"
"Mama" he groaned, hearing his siblings begin to sob out of relief around him "Papa? What is going on?"
"We thought we had lost you" Cecily explained, suddenly calm and smiling again, even more so as George returned, the elderly court physician in tow.

"Ned!" He exclaimed and ran to the bed while Edward began to grin at him "Jesus, you little bastard, I thought you were dead!"
"George!" Eleanor said sharply but she didn't have it in her to reprimand him properly, not then when her boy had been so close to death.

"Bat....tard!" Two year old Thomas suddenly squealed and the older ones whipped around seeing their little brother standing proudly at the foot of Edward's bed, little hands scrambling at the covers to climb onto the mattress "bastard!" He proclaimed when he finally succeeded and toddled towards his parents, wobbling on the uneasy surface, beaming when George snorted and his sisters grinned at one another.

"Come here you little menace" Richard chuckled, not in the mood for chiding either as he swept his son off the bed and sat him on his shoulder while Edward began to sit up, supported by his Mother who was gazing adoringly down at him.

"Oh my baby" she murmured against his hair and he blushed slightly "I beg of you do not scare me like that again, I cannot bear to lose you"