~Children of the River's Song~

Glancing at her husband as he slept, taking comfort in the steady rise and fall of his chest, Eleanor slowly pulled back the covers of their bed and stepped out of their warmth.

She shivered slightly in the night air, searching in the dark for the bed robe that she had laid out just hours before. Pulling it around herself, she pulled out a pair of her shoes from under the bed and slipped them onto her feet, diligently tying the laces until she was sure she would be in no danger of tripping over them.

Tiptoeing over to the door, she opened it and sucked in a sharp breath, hoping that the ageing wood wouldn't give her away with a loud creak. When it did not, she found the courage to creep forth into the torchlit corridors and nodded to the guards that stood posted at a wall every so often.

She was sure none would follow her though found herself wary of their gaze all the same for she knew she was about to practice magic and feared they would be able to see her thoughts!

Softly padding down staircases and along hallways, Eleanor almost hid as a tall, cloaked figure came into view, standing almost ominously in a corner.

"Leena?" Jacquetta's calming voice called from the shadows and her daughter visibly relaxed, placing a hand to her chest as she advanced towards her mother. Taking the hand that was extended, Eleanor allowed herself to be pulled swiftly through the palace and into the gardens, barely registering the cold as the pair headed down to the edge of the river Thames.

Discarding her heavy woollen cloak to one side, Jacquetta placed her lantern onto the river bank and clasped her hands together, a look of seriousness on her face "You wish to protect your babe?" She asked sternly, all gentleness momentarily vanishing as her daughter nodded, placing a hand across where her child grew.

The Countess returned her nod in understanding, turning to the water as she raised her arms into the air, inhaling deeply before she glanced back at her daughter "To secure a life a life must be forfeit" she murmured "you do know that, do you not"

"I do" Eleanor replied steadily, adrenaline beginning to course through her veins as she joined her mother by the river "I do know that"
"Then let us proceed" Jacquetta said with a nod, raising her arms a little higher as the wind began to blow, the leaves rustling on the tree branches. "step into the water"

"The water?" Eleanor repeated, her eyes widening but her Mother did not reply, merely closed her eyes as if in deep thought and waited for her command to be obeyed. Removing her bed robe, the Duchess lay it beside her mother's cloak and tried not to shiver in the night air as she wrapped her arms around herself.

When she reached the water's edge she carefully removed her shoes before going forward into the icy depths, the cold making goosebumps appear on her legs. Slowly walking forward, Eleanor could feel the water slowly rising higher on her skin, the light linen of her nightgown floating around her as it became submerged.

Her child began to kick as the water covered her waist, almost as if it could feel the cold surrounding their mother, Eleanor suspected they could and glanced behind her to Jacquetta.

"You may stop" the older woman instructed, her blue eyes seemingly glowing in the rays of the moon that shone down upon them both "close your eyes, Leena" She said gently and Eleanor obeyed.

No sooner had she done so than a gentle, sweet voice filled her ears, musical notes crafted from magic warming her body and making her mind swirl. She realised immediately that it was Melusina who sang to her and allowed the soft melody to consume her, drawing her gently away from reality.

Suddenly, she felt a pair of warm hands on her belly and saw a slight golden glow in front of her yet dared not open her eyes, allowed herself to trust. She felt a tingling warmth spread through her stomach, as if it was curving protectively around her child, creating a safe cocoon for them to nestle in while they grew. Still Melusina's soft song of safety continued.

It was only when it slowly drifted away, as if sinking into the cold water or being carried away by the wind that Eleanor felt her mind and body settle once more. Opening her eyes, she smiled into the darkness and looked around to her mother who smiled back at her, beckoning for her return to shore.

As she walked from the water, she felt her nightgown beginning to stick to her skin and reached down to ring it out, suddenly wondering how she would get back to her room without leaving a trail of water behind her.

"Do not worry" Jacquetta said as she put her cloak around her shoulders before passing the Duchess her bed robe "any evidence of what has transpired shall be gone by the morning! And you shall be able to rest easy" she sighed softly, picking up her lantern as Eleanor slid on her shoes and they began to walk back up to the palace "Melusina or God sent us a warning and now your child is protected"

"You are sure?" Eleanor asked, though her trust in her mother's wisdom was strong. Jacquetta merely smiled and nodded, taking joy in the way her young daughter's face lit up, at last at ease.

"Sleep" she told her quietly "sleep and care for yourself and child before you bring them into the world!"

꧁꧂

December 1471, Westminster....

"And remind me again, dear husband, why you refuse to let me dance?" Eleanor once again complained as she and Richard watched the courtiers dance a Saltarello from the dais, her feet tapping impatiently to the lively music that filled the hall.

"Because" he said, taking a sip of wine from his goblet "you are seven months pregnant, my lady! If you take to dancing now you may injure yourself or the child!"

"Spoilsport" his wife muttered, making him grin as she folded her arms over her, now rather large, belly. Feeling her child kick against her she tutted and patted the velvet of her gown where she had felt a little foot "yes" she cooed "your Father is a spoilsport isn't he?"

"A protective spoilsport!" Richard corrected, placing down his cup before a servant began to fill it again "which I take very seriously!"
"Much more seriously than you would have two years ago!" Eleanor remarked before sighing heavily "good Lord....we have been married two years!"

"Two years" The Duke repeated with a solemn nod "I'm ashamed to think how I treated you when we were first wed, I always shall be....it hardly bears thinking about"

"You were awful!" Eleanor admitted, frowning deeply as she remembered the raging hate that had fuelled them during their first year of matrimony and what had transpired between them "but at least you acknowledge it, which is more than I can say for some of your kin!"

"Meaning?"
"Meaning George, of course!" She said with a shake of her head "I have looked for Anne at every Christmas celebration there is and I cannot find her!"
"Anne?" Richard replied, slightly surprised at her continuing concern for the younger girl "he told me that she was ill!"

"Ill?" Eleanor scoffed "I refuse to believe that Anne has been ill for over half a year! He is keeping her locked up for some devious reasons on of his own, as much as I hate to speak those words aloud!" She sighed, her eyes scanning the hall one last time for any sign of the youngest Neville girl and feeling defeat when she could not be spotted.

Just as she had been instructed to do so, Anais had kept her keen ears open to gossip and it seemed now that each week the tales of Anne's imprisonment by George became more and more creative. She reported the stories to the Duchess as soon as she heard them and even though she wanted to, Eleanor could not deny that there was something amiss, very seriously so.

She had spoken up for Anne on numerous occasions to her 'guardian' asking after her welfare and if she was willing to join her for tea and such. But each time George would provide an excuse, usually of illness, and Eleanor would have no choice but to retreat back into private speculation.

Now, she watched as the Duke of Clarence danced with Isabel, seemingly happy (though plainly in his cups) as he hopped from foot to foot.
"I wonder" she murmured with a slight tilt of her head before leaning over to her husband "keep George occupied" she whispered before trying to rise from her seat.

She groaned as she stood, still becoming used to the added weight her baby gave her and felt Richard's hand curl around her elbow, steadying her.
"Where are you going?" He asked quietly, following her gaze to George and raising his eyebrows "you're going to find Anne, aren't you?

Eleanor nodded, gently pulling away from him as she slipped away from the dais and headed towards the side door of the great hall, disappearing into the deserted corridors. Looking from side to side, she tried to remember where the Clarence's chambers were, knowing that George would want Anne under close watch and began to walk toward them, quickening her pace as she went.

She knew she had to be fast, would have to find Anne and decide on a plan there and then depending on what the true explanation turned out to be. Seeing the Duke's chambers at last, she felt her feet move quickly towards the door, only halting when she noticed another out of the corner of her eye.

The small door at the opposite side of the corridor was barely noticeable, was painted a dull black colour and was almost completely away from the torchlight. It was a perfect place to hide someone, Eleanor knew, and could feel a wrench in her stomach telling her to knock, and so she did.

She softly tapped at the wood, trying the door when she heard no reply and huffing when she found it locked.
"Anne?" She called "Anne, it's Eleanor, Eleanor Woodville" pressing her ear to the door, she shook her head as she heard no trace of movement or life in the unseen chamber and stepped away.

Glancing behind her to the other set of doors, she made towards them only to hear a slight click behind her and a quiet creak that made her turn in a flash. A surprised gasp passed her lips as Anne's blonde head peered around the dark wood of her chamber door, eyes searching until they settled on Eleanor.

"Your grace" she greeted, dipping into a small, yet shaking, curtsy that Eleanor immediately raised her from, gently taking her by her arms. They felt like weak sticks in the Duchess's grip despite the thick green velvet that covered them and Eleanor frowned as she looked into Anne's face, noticing how much it had thinned and the dark circles that had settled uncomfortably under her eyes.

Looking from side to side, Eleanor swiftly walked into the chamber, shutting the door behind her and almost giving out a dismayed cry as she saw the room before her. A bed lay at one end, the covers thick yet worn and the hangings were tattered and frayed, the fire in the small fireplace slowly dying, looking as if it had been crafted by Anne's inexperienced hands.

"Sweet Lord" she whispered, shaking her head. "When I get hold of George...."

"No" Anne said firmly from behind, stepping toward the windows, which had their shutters firmly bolted, and in front of a small wooden structure "no I cannot give him another reason to dislike me!"

"Dislike you?" Eleanor repeated, disappointed to find herself unsurprised at Anne's set of circumstances "why would he dislike you?"
"George hates me" Anne mumbled, animosity and fear both equally clear in her tone and her tired expression "and besides, I have others but myself to protect...."

"Others?" The Duchess returned, her concern rising by the second as Anne nodded, her lower lip trembling slightly as she stepped aside and motioned for Eleanor to come to her.

"My child" she whispered, voice slightly breaking as the Duchess peered over the edge of the small crib and gasped as she saw the tiny child nestled in blankets that lay staring up at her.
"You've had a child" Eleanor said softly, looking between Anne and the baby before she took the fifteen year old into her arms and hugged her tightly. She found tears rushed to her eyes as Anne began to sob against her shoulder and found her grip on her strengthen protectively.

Once the Neville girl had begun, she found she could not stop, releasing the pent up grief that had brewed inside of her for months and months on end. All the pain that had been inflicted upon her, all of the misery was suddenly let loose as the Duchess held her, more gently than any had held her in her life, even her own mother.

Hearing the small wail of the child beside them, Eleanor gently detached herself from Anne's arms and lifted the baby from the crib, looking into their reddened face.
"She was born just ten days ago....on the twelfth" Anne murmured, trying in vain to wipe away her tears. "my little Isabel....my daughter"

Eleanor bent her head, lightly pressing her lips against the little child's forehead, brushing a finger against her smooth cheek.
"Isabel of Lancaster" She murmured but Anne immediately shook her head, her fists curling in the fabric of her gown as sobs threatened to overcome her again.

"She is a Neville" she stated as firmly as she could "Isabel Neville....she is no Lancastrian...."
"Of course" Eleanor agreed, seeing the pain that surfaced on the girl's face at the mere mention of a dead enemy "she is Isabel Neville....and you shall be a wonderful mother to her, Anne"

"I won't....I'm not" Anne murmured, the strength in her voice fading once again "I don't know how to be, your grace and besides....I may not have her for much longer...." reaching out, she took little Isabel into her arms and rocked her back and forth as she had seen other noblewomen do to their children.

"What do you mean?" Eleanor asked with a frown "you do not think that George would seek to take your child from you?"

"Not just him" Anne replied miserably, sinking down into a chair as if she could bear the trial of standing no longer "but my sister too....Issy and George say that no one but they know of the babe....and that's true, apart from the midwife of course....but they say that I should give away my little daughter....they say that she is a bastard and that I should give her to a convent....but I cannot" she looked up from the baby's face, fresh tears illuminating the distressed blue in her eyes as she locked gazes with Eleanor "I can't give up my child....she is all I have left in this world"

"Oh, my dear" Eleanor exclaimed sadly, kneeling at Anne's side and taking her hand, not caring if she crumpled her skirt or sleeves "I will not let George and Isabel take your babe from you! I have seen what they are doing to you and I....well I had heard rumours but I never imagined he would go this far....I will help you to escape but we must bide our time"

"Escape?" Anne repeated, glancing wearily at her door "do you truly think it can be managed? George is my guardian...."
"To hell with George!" Eleanor snapped, her anger at her brother in law growing with each second, if it were not for Anne's (and Isabel's) safety in mind she would seek him out that instant! "I shall arrange for my Ladies to see you, either Anais or Marie, with my plans once they are made and I shall tell Richard of them too, he shall not give me away!"

Anne nodded hurriedly, her heart jumping at the new opportunity presented to her, yet she immediately began to worry as she looked down at the small child in her arms.
"And what of my Isabel?" She asked quietly, dreading the answer "what is to be done with her once we are free?"

"You and Isabel shall be put into my care" Eleanor answered "I shall argue with Edward and with George and even with my sister to see it settled, which I will. Then you are free to do as you will, you may come to the North with Richard and I when we go or...."

"The North?" Anne whispered softly "I could go home? To Middleham?" Eleanor caught the look in her eyes and nodded kindly.
"Edward has granted Richard Middleham as a gift, you may stay as long as you wish, it is your home too"

Standing, and smoothing out her gown, the Duchess placed a hand on the younger girl's shoulder and hesitantly leant down a little, kissing the top of her head in a small gesture of affection.

"You will help me?" Anne asked slowly, doubt once more seeping into her voice "truly?"
"I will" Eleanor returned with a firm nod "and none on this earth shall stop me"