~Only One~

"We must get her out! And we must get her out tonight!" Eleanor muttered to herself as she paced back and forth across she and Richard's chambers, her fingers tapping impatiently at the sleeves of her gown.

"I agree" he said, tucking Bess' blankets around her soft, sleeping body before he kissed her on the forehead "but where shall she go?"

"Into sanctuary!" Eleanor replied, already reaching for a dark gown in one of her coffers. She had always had a plan for if things went awry with Anne, just as they had done now, but in truth she had not expected them to and now was hurrying to take action "I will take her to Westminster and she will remain in sanctuary until we have secured guardianship over her and her child"

"In sanctuary?" Richard repeated, alarm registering slightly on his face, though he tried to keep his voice low for the sake of their sleeping child "surely not in the crypt?"
"No! Not in the crypt!" The Duchess scoffed, lacing up the back of her gown "she will stay in the Bishop's quarters....and you, well, you will distract George if he's around!"

"While helping you!" He returned, reaching for his discarded doublet and quickly putting it on before he reached for his cloak. Eleanor looked at him in surprise and he arched an eyebrow "well you did not think you were going to break Anne out on your own, did you?"

She smiled, standing up on her toes slightly to kiss his cheek before walking over to where Bess lay in her crib and gently smoothing down the little tuff of red hair that was beginning to curl upon her head.

"I will fetch Anais" she murmured, her heart aching slightly as she gazed upon her babe for in going to Anne's aid she would be leaving her daughter for the first time since she had given birth to her. Ever since that moment she had never had Bess leave her sight, she was always close by and when she was not holding her it was usually Richard who was.

As if he knew her exact thoughts, Richard slipped an arm around her waist and gently took her hand, squeezing it.
"Bess will be here, happy and well when we return" he said softly "and Anais shall take the greatest care with her, you know she adores her"

Taking a shaky breath, Eleanor nodded, allowing for herself to be gently guided away from the crib and out into the almost deserted corridors of the palace. To her surprise, both Marie and Anais were already awaiting orders, stood with their hands clasped before they curtsied, bowing their heads.

"Little Elizabeth will not be alone for a moment" Marie reassured the Duchess as she headed into the chamber, quickly followed by Anais who smiled encouragingly, passing Richard a lighted lantern. It was all Eleanor could do not to run back to her child as she watched the door close behind her but she knew Anne needed her help and so forced herself to move forward.

The pair moved silently throughout the palace, hesitating at every corner as if they expected for George to be lurking behind each one, ready to whisk Anne from them. Though they managed to safely manoeuvre their way through the dimly halls until they reached the small chamber where the Neville girl was kept.

Without knocking, Eleanor slowly turned the handle, opening the door only to let out a gasp as she found a dagger pointed at her chest and a pair of fearful blue eyes staring up at her. Looking behind her, Anne only dropped the knife to her side once she saw it was Richard who accompanied the Duchess and stepped shakily aside to let them past before shutting the door as quickly as was possible.

"Were you planning to use that on George?" Eleanor asked with a nod to the knife and Anne shrugged, running to her bed and pulling out the small bag of belongings she had packed.

"I planned to use it on anyone who tried to take Isabel from me" she replied, suddenly shooting upwards as Richard edged near her child's cradle, a look of shock on his face as the little girl reached up towards him. Catching the look of terror in Anne's eyes, he simply nodded before slowly moving away and leaving Eleanor to take Isabel into her arms "I have already packed" the girl said hurriedly "I hoped you would come for me, I have not stopped praying since I sent that note!"

"Of course I came, Anne!" Eleanor replied with a small smile, wrapping another blanket around the baby to keep her warm "but what happened? Did George simply announce he was going to take your child away?" Glancing between her friend and her cousin, Anne sighed before she sank down onto her bed, her fists curling into the worn covers.

"I...." her voice faltered as she tried to speak and she shook her head "I approached him today.... after the hunting had ended....asking him if I could have my dowery. I know that I should have waited! That I was to escape with you anyway but....but I....I couldn't wait any longer....and then he suddenly seemed so angry! Said that it would be best if Isabel was placed in a convent!"

"I understand" Eleanor said after a moment of thought, once more wishing for the day where she could shout at George as much as she pleased "I wish we could have moved you sooner, my dear.... but we are to go now. You are going to go into sanctuary!" Anne looked wary at the idea, frowning slightly though she knew any situation was better than her current one "you will stay in the Bishop's quarters, Isabel will stay with you.... and you two will be there until Richard and I have your guardianship!"

Taking a deep breath, she nodded a little before frowning once again.
"But you will have to postpone your move to the North....George will not let go of my fortune without a fight!" She said and Eleanor merely shrugged, though a flicker of disappointment surfaced on Richard's face as her words settled on him.

"It may take time....but I have my tactics" Eleanor said thoughtfully, once again planning how she could bend her elder sister to her will if she needed (despite feeling rather guilty about it) "now, let's get you out of here!" Kissing Isabel's cheek, she turned to Richard, giving him a determined nod as Anne wrapped her cloak around her and raced to the door with her belongings.

꧁꧂

May 1472, Westminster....

"I've been betrayed by my own!" George yelled as Eleanor rolled her eyes at him, her ears ringing with his words as they had been doing for the past three weeks "it is a betrayal! A sly and wanton betrayal!"

"Just as you betrayed Bella?" She snapped impatiently and George turned to face her, anger and hurt flashing in his dark brown eyes.
"Do not bring Bella into this!" He hissed and his sister in law scoffed while the King merely leant back in his chair, watching their interaction with a degree of amusement. Eleanor always managed to back George into a corner during their outbursts and it brought Edward great joy to see his little brother knocked down a peg or two.

As soon as Eleanor and Richard had presented their case of Anne to him when George and Isabel had discovered the youngest Neville girl missing, he had intended to support them. Why did he not simply hand over the guardianship of Anne and her babe to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester?

Because watching George storm around his chambers, threatening to throw himself from the nearest windows brought tears of mirth to his eyes. And he found himself laughing now as Eleanor once again found a way to wound George's argument of 'honour and respect'.

"Why?" She countered "I believe I have every right to do so?"
"This is about Anne!" He thundered "Anne and that bastard of hers!"

"Isabel is not a bastard!" Eleanor yelled, rising from her chair to face George properly though he merely turned away.
"You have no right! No right to her guardianship! You have not even asked my permission!" He paused as Edward grinned at him, folding his arms over his chest "what?" He demanded "why are you laughing? What's funny?"

"Because I cannot resist!" The King replied "I do not remember you asking my permission to send little Isabel away to a convent, to marry the wife you have now and while I do not know the details of your involvement with Bella but I do know you betrayed her, George....so that you are now complaining about betrayal and broken trust, well I find it rather amusing!"

"This is not the same!" George retorted before groaning as Richard entered the chamber, raising his eyebrows as he took in the expressions of the three others present.

"I take it things are going well, sweetheart?" He asked and Eleanor laughed, sitting back down again while George glowered, only then realising that he may be facing defeat. But of course, he was not going to admit that to them! They had all ganged up on him from the beginning, had meant for him to fail!

"Yes" Eleanor said with a sickly sweet smile aimed in George's direction "we were all wondering why our dear brother here would seek to keep a mother from her child?"

An idea suddenly sprung to George's mind as she spoke. An idea he knew would hit her mind and heart. Would perhaps even make her weaken against his will.

Though he knew how much it would hurt her.
And Bella, if she had been there.
His beloved Bella....

"Just as you keep mine from me?" He proclaimed and his words instantly had the desired effect, though as the colour drained from Eleanor's face and his brothers began to frown in confusion he wondered if that had been the right path to take.

"What does he mean?" Richard asked, looking to his wife who was suddenly gripping the sides of her chair so tightly the delicately carved lions were in danger of snapping from their wooden perches. She looked up sharply, no anger in her eyes, nothing but worry and hesitation, the knowing fear of a secret being uncovered.

"Well" she murmured, her gaze locking with George's as they silently assessed one another "I had hoped to avoid this....not for your sake, Clarence, but for the sake of my sister"
"Avoid what?" Edward asked, trying to mask the curiosity in his tone with seriousness as George slowly slumped down into a chair.

"Your grace?! Leena?!" Mary Woodville ran into the room, her eyes bright with panic and searching desperately for her sister and the King, both of whom sprang to their feet immediately.

"Not now!" George thundered but one look from Eleanor silenced him indefinitely and she looked back to Mary, urging her to continue.
"It's the baby!" She cried "Lizzie has gone into labour! But the baby! It's stuck!"

"Elizabeth's in labour?!" The Duchess all but screamed "why did no one fetch me?!"
"I don't know, Leena!" Mary yelled in return, tears in her eyes "but the midwife says she may not survive!"

In an instant, Eleanor and Edward had rushed from the room, their hearts pounding in their ears as Mary ran after them. As they neared the Queen's chambers, Elizabeth's pain filled shrieks became all to clear and her kin burst through the doors to go to her aid, even pushing some of the midwives aside as the knelt by her.

"Sweet God in heaven" Eleanor whispered as she helped her elder sister to sit up in her chair. Her chemise was covered in blood and her skin blotchy, tear stained, beads of sweat on her forehead. She looked as if she were about to pass our and then she screamed as another wave of pain coursed through her belly.

"It's alright, my love" Edward tried to say in a tone that was anything but reassuring. Grabbing a damp cloth from Mary he began to dab at the Queen's face in an attempt to cool her burning skin. Another scream tore through her as she pushed and Eleanor gave a small sob.

"How long has my sister been like this?!" She demanded of the nearest midwife, all manners or civility escaping her when the woman hesitated "I asked how long damn you!"

"T-two hours, your grace" the midwife stammered and Eleanor looked to Edward in disbelief.
"Two hours?!" She thundered "why?! Why was I not sent for?!"

"Leena!" Elizabeth cried, clutching onto her little sister's wrist, unintentionally saving the midwife from the Duchess' wrath.
"It's alright, Lizzie" Eleanor said as gently as she could, trying to soften the panic in her voice as she watch her sister push but no child come, only blood "I'm here....and I'm not going to leave you....not for one moment...."

Tears clouding her green eyes, Elizabeth could only nod before she pushed again and an ear splitting shriek tore from her throat. It sounded as if she were being torn apart as drops of blood spattered the floor.

"Just once more!" Mary cried "just once more, Elizabeth!"
The Queen groaned in agony, clutching onto her husband and sister's hands with all her strength as she pushed for the last time before the baby was born and she immediately fell back into her chair with a defeated sob.

"Where is their cry?" Eleanor whispered, fear entering her heart as she watched Mary's face pale while she looked at the tiny child that lay in her arms, his little limbs barely moving. A soft wail escaped his lips "he's too weak" the Duchess uttered in disbelief as she looked to Edward who looked as if his heart were about to crumble "his cry....it's too weak...."

꧁꧂

The little Prince was dying. There was no debate about that. He was small, his limbs weak and spindly and his cry barely audible to those who were near enough to hear it. Even then they had to strain their ears. Elizabeth could barely contain her grief as Edward wrapped their little boy in soft blankets to take him to Jacquetta.

"Mother will know what to do" Eleanor said encouragingly as she helped her sister walk to their mother's rooms. She knew in her heart that nothing could be done to save the little boy, that he would be with God by the days end, yet she felt his grandmother could somehow soften the blow.

If only she had known Jacquetta was dying too.

In truth, Eleanor had found it worrying when her Mother had stopped her daily visits to her chambers at the end of April, for she came every day to see Bess. When she did not appear one day, the Duchess had immediately sent Marie to see what was wrong but her Lady had simply returned with a message saying the dowager Countess had a cold and did not wish to infect the baby.

How far from the truth that had been.

Yet Eleanor had been more than willing to accept this excuse for day after day, hour after hour she refused to believe her mother would die, knowing that if she did then the blame would lay solely with her. But after all, Jacquetta's health had seemed almost fully recovered from Christmas, her death was not a possibility that her daughter was willing to consider.

Now Eleanor gasped, having to lean against the wall lest her legs give way as she saw her mother laying on her bed. Her face was drained of all colour, her eyes closed and her calm smile gone from her face. She felt her heart almost shatter, a pain unlike any other shooting through it as if someone had lodged a dagger there.

Watching, with sight blurred by tears, as Elizabeth approached the bed with her dying babe in her arms, Eleanor tried to stifle a sob and pressed a hand to her mouth, shaking her head as her lip began to tremble.

Now there could be no denying that her mother was about to be claimed by death and she felt her legs starting to wobble dangerously, threatening to give way any moment. She suddenly felt strangely dizzy and forced herself to move, pushing herself from the wall and towards the bed, kneeling on the opposite side to Elizabeth as the two sisters began to cry.

"He's dying, mother" the Queen sobbed, placing her son next to Jacquetta "please....take care of him...." placing a fleeting kiss to her baby's forehead as he let go of his final short breath, Elizabeth suddenly rose and fled the room, Edward going after her without a backward glance.

As soon as he was gone, Eleanor gave way to her grief, strangled cried escaping her lips as she clasped her mother's hand, begging her to stay.
"You cannot die, Mother" she gasped in between sobs "if you do....I will not be able to live! I cannot go on without you!"

"Then you must be reborn" Jacquetta's weak voice whispered, though her eyes did not open as she spoke, almost as if she were already dead and it was her spirit that were speaking "after all, your sigil is a Phoenix, is it not?" Her soft words only made her daughter cry harder and Eleanor shook her head wordlessly, tears streaming down her face, soaking the bedsheets below her.

This was her fault. She had been the one to request the charm for her babe. She was the reason her siblings were about to be made orphans, left alone in the world.

Little Catherine was only fourteen.

"Please" she begged, guilt flooding through her, filling her to the brim "do not leave us!"
"You must rise from the ashes as the Phoenix does" Jacquetta murmured, squeezing her daughter's hand with what little remaining strength she had "be strong in this, Leena.... remember....vigilantes, expectans, amoeni"

"But I can't be strong!" Eleanor wept, pressing desperate kisses to her Mother's hand as she trembled "not without you! Please....please don't leave me....I need you....all of your children need you!"

But Jacquetta did not reply. Her body lay still, her chest having fallen for the final time just moments ago as her soul slipped away into Melusina's welcoming embrace.

The Goddesses' soft song filled Eleanor's ears.