~Love and Court~

Laughing and arm in arm Eleanor and Anne walked down the sunny corridors of Westminster together, relaxed and glad to be in one another's company. Anne had never liked court much but she liked it much better with Eleanor as Queen and not Elizabeth who used to look at her as if she were the spawn of the devil.

Of course, Warwick had been the devil to Elizabeth.

"And what news have you from Katheryn?" She asked "have you heard from her since she left court for Wales?" Eleanor nodded and smiled as she remembered the letter she had received from Katheryn just the previous day.
"She is pregnant!" She said excitedly and Anne gasped before she began to giggle a little, grinning.

"My my! She seems to be as fertile as you!" At that it was Eleanor's turn to laugh and she shook her head a little "don't tell me you are pregnant again, my friend?"
"No, Annie! I am not! Really, Anthony is only seven months old!"

"You've been pregnant far before that with your other babes" Anne pointed out and Eleanor nodded her admittance.
"True" she replied "though I am secretly glad I am not carrying another child! I'm almost thirty one!"

"That's not stopped Rob and Francis from making bets on how soon there will be another York babe in the nursery" Anne giggled before coughing a little and Eleanor turned to her, eyes wide with amusement. She wasn't shocked, had she been it would have proven she didn't know the two men at all! This was exactly like them!"

"Christ!" She laughed as they continued to walk. Those two could always find ways to make her laugh and at nineteen Georgie Neville had now fully joined them and Jack in the ranks of the group (which he was more than pleased about). Johnny hoped to join them too but at fourteen he was still too young yet!

Anne smiled at her friend as she thought. She viewed Leena as her sister and as her saviour rather too. Eleanor had been the one who treated her with kindness when she was sure the whole world was against her and had rescued her and her daughter from the clutches of George for which she would be eternally grateful.

"How are things between you and Richard?" She asked and Eleanor smiled again, though more softly this time, love entering her eyes.
"Well" she replied "he is teaching me to handle swords, you know"
"Swords?" Anne exclaimed, though she was not surprised, she could well imagine Eleanor in armour and wielding a blade with as great as skill as any knight.

"Yes, swords!" She exclaimed, clearly proud of her achievement "he began it at Grafton and he says I'm getting rather good! One day I shall disarm him!" Eleanor's smile fell as Anne suddenly began to cough again, harder this time, a hacking cough that appeared to cause her pain as she learnt against a nearby window and pressed a handkerchief to her mouth "Annie! Anne are you well? What's wrong?"

When Anne's coughing finally subsided she managed to straighten her back and tucked her handkerchief back into her gown before her friend could see it. Swallowing a little she tried to smile but Eleanor frowned at how pale she suddenly looked and encircled her waist with an arm to help her stand.

"I'm fine" She tried but Eleanor shook her head and began to guide her to her room.
"You are not fine" she said firmly "you have been coughing constantly lately, Annie, you are going to bed until you get better"
'I don't think I shall get better' Anne thought to herself but she didn't say it, she wouldn't say it, not ever.

꧁꧂

The air filled with the sound of clashing swords as Eleanor and Richard circled one another in the great chamber on the far side of the castle where they trained. They smirked at one another, eyes wandering as they searched for their next attack or defence.

It was true, Eleanor really was getting good and proved that when Richard moved forward to attack and she successfully parried the blow, sending him back a few steps.
"Well" he said, arching an eyebrow "I'll have to watch my back won't I, sweetheart? From the way this is going you could raise an army against me"

"Don't give me ideas" she returned before they both swept forward to attack once more and the sound of clanging metal sounded once again.

Parry

Attack 

Swing

Dodge

Attack

Parry

It was an endless cycle, a dance almost that both had come to know by heart and enjoyed. They enjoyed the adrenaline it sent through their veins, the element of danger that made them feel as if they were twenty once more.

Again and again they swung at one another, calculating their moves until one of them was caught in the others net. So far it had almost always been Eleanor and it was that day. The tip of her blade slipped and she suddenly found herself pulled against Richard, her sword sliding across the floor.

"Fuck" she muttered under her breath as her back was held fast against his chest, his sword against her neck.
"You need to hold your blade a little firmer" he whispered against her ear and she couldn't resist the shiver that went through her body. He smirked as he felt it "am I allowed to claim my prize?"

"And what might that be?" She asked despite already knowing the answer, an answering ache between her legs making her lock her knees together.
"I think I have my reply" Richard murmured, not waiting one more second before he drew his dagger from its sheath and brought it to the front of her dress.

"That is silk" she hissed through her teeth though it was hardly a protest. Richard merely 'tsk'd.
"Ah and while silk may be beautiful, I could argue it is not as beautiful as the woman underneath it"

She sighed with pleasure as the sharpened blade cut through the intricate laces that held her bodice together. Managing to slice through her chemise too, Eleanor's breasts spilled free of their confines and she suddenly found herself turned around, Richard staring hungrily into her eyes. He wanted her. And she wanted him.

Pushing her back, he guided her to the chaise in the corner, strewn with blankets and cushions and it was there he lay her down, passion coursing through his veins. Picking up his blade again, Eleanor gasped as he used it to cut though the rest of her gown and chemise, tugging it away from her and leaving her naked to his eye.

"Well?" She asked, her voice thick with lust as her torn clothes were thrown to the floor and she kicked off her shoes "is the woman underneath the silk as beautiful as you said?" Richard nodded, his eyes wandering up and down her body while his fingers worked on his doublet "come here and claim your prize" she coaxed, spreading her legs and he could not resist, kneeling between her parted legs and relishing the feeling of her hands on his skin as she pulled his shirt over his head.

"You little minx" he murmured hotly against her as he eagerly sucked on the tips of her breasts and she moaned, tugging at his hair. Bucking her hips upwards she felt him grin against her "so hungry already, sweetheart?" All she could do was throw her head back as his teeth grazed against her hardened nipple and she felt her hair become loose from its braid.

Reaching forward, Richard wound a copper rope around his hand and Eleanor sat up, reaching for his breeches. With practiced fingers she undid them, the ache between her legs almost painful as she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back down.

"For heavens sake, fuck me" she ordered "or must I now curtsy to get my pleasure as you are King?" Richard looked sharply to her and kissed her roughly, grinding his hips against hers while she writhed beneath him.
"If you ever do any such thing" he murmured as he moved away for a moment "I swear to God I will fuck you into our son's reign"

Eleanor laughed, a laugh that turned into a loud cry as Richard entered her, filling her in one thrust. Clamping a hand over her mouth she tried to quieten herself but Richard pried her hand away, pinning it above her head before doing the same to the other.

He quickly began to move, thrusting in and out of her until she near screamed with pleasure, trying to roll her hips in pace with his while his free hand roamed her body, intent on pleasure. Arching her back, their bodies were pressed together, hot and bare and desperate for release; a thin layer of sweat covering their skin.

"God, Dickon!" Eleanor cried before Richard kissed her again, silencing her for a mere moment before she broke away and moaned against his neck.
"Leena" he groaned, finally letting her wrists free from his grip and smirking as her arms went around him, binding her to him. The knot that was building in her stomach tightened as she ran a hand down his chest, muscles hard against her fingers.

They both cried out as they were finally sent over the edge and Eleanor felt Richard spill inside of her while she saw stars behind her eyes and an almost burning warmth between her legs that made her tremble.

He could barely hold himself up as he buried his face in her neck, trying not to collapse on top of her though she slowly coaxed him down so his body covered hers, hot and spent. As her breath steadied, Eleanor wove her fingers into his hair and Richard's arms encircled her body, holding her close.

A soft smile came over her face as she saw her wedding ring glinted in the light that filled the chamber. How reluctant she remembered she was, how resentful, when he first slid it onto her finger, completely the opposite to how she now felt while she gazed upon it and the man whose head was settled against her chest.

"You always look so peaceful once you have had your wicked way with me" she teased and he opened his eyes, the corners of his lips turning upwards at her words.

"That is because you bring me much pleasure, my dearest darling" he replied steadily before closing his eyes again "and when I am in your arms I think we are back at Middleham and have not a trouble in the world" Reaching upward, he tugged a soft woollen blanket from the back of the chaise and covered them with it "now let us sleep. The door is locked and none shall disturb us"

"Good" Eleanor chuckled as shuffled beneath him into a more comfortable position "I doubt anyone wants to find the King and Queen of England naked and entangled in one another's arms!"