~May Day~

May Day 1470, The Tower of London....

Eleanor felt Elizabeth take her hand as they once again brooded over the storm they had set upon the sea just a mere week ago. Eleanor had barely spoken since, feeling in her heart that somehow they had caused a great loss somewhere in the world and she felt ashamed to think of it. Of causing an innocent pain.

Her sister too now seemed to conceded that their magic was rather ill used and they had often sat together in prayer or in thought, wishing that they could take what they had unleashed back. But as Eleanor had said, once it was out in the world there was no calling it back and now they would have to live with the consequences.

A sudden clatter of horse hooves in the courtyard  made them jump but immediately after a smile lit the Queen's face and she leapt from her seat.
"Edward!" She exclaimed and ran from the room leaving Eleanor to follow in her wake.

"What is it, child?" Jacquetta asked as the seventeen year old made to leave the chamber. She turned to her with an ashen face and saddened eyes that betrayed her sorrow.
"I feel as if I have done a great wrong, mother" she admitted, bowing her head a little "one I will never be able to put right...."
"That may be so" her mother replied, laying a comforting hand on her shoulder "and it may be not....but now, greet your husband....be happy"

Eleanor nodded silently as she left, listening to the soft tap her shoes made against the hard stone of the Tower floors and steps but she soon found her peace was disturbed by the excited cries of welcome home that no doubt belonged to the Queen.

The Duchess held up a hand as she emerged, shielding herself from the sun, about to use the other to lift the hem of her grey gown, terrified of falling. But no sooner had she appeared she found her free hand taken and looked down to see her husband staring up at her.

Surprisingly, Eleanor felt a smile touch her lips and she gave Richard a nod as he helped her down the steps before rolling her eyes as she saw her sister and Edward locked in a passionate embrace, not caring if anyone saw them.

"I know" Richard murmured quietly as if he could read his wife's thoughts "I don't think it the best decision on earth....but we needn't think of them, close your eyes!"
"Close my eyes?" She questioned, spinning around "and why would I need to do that, my Lord?"

He merely shrugged, an intriguing smile on his face that made the Duchess curious enough to obey, closing her eyes and waiting before she felt something gently press against her lips and a sweet scent, that made her grin, fill her nose. Licking them slightly beforehand, she parted her lips and let out a cry of delight as the taste of strawberry spread across her tongue.

"You found some!" She exclaimed when she opened her eyes to find Richard smiling at her as he nodded before stepping aside and watching while she gasped at the cart that was full to the brim with strawberries "how on earth...."

"It took quite a hunt, I'll admit!" He answered "but I think it was worth it! Now, how is our child?" Reaching out, he used an arm to encircle Eleanor's waist and pulled her closer, placing a hand on her belly.
"They kick quite a lot" she admitted, finding she was not repulsed by her husband's touch as she thought she might be "and leave me sleepless some nights!"

"But that shows they are strong!" The Duke chuckled before marvelling as he felt the outline of a tiny foot press through the fabric of the Duchess's gown and into his palm "a strong Plantagenet child of our very own" leaning forward he pressed a soft kiss to Eleanor's forehead.

She looked up, rather surprised at his action but, she saw her emotions reflected completely in her husband's expression, causing her to laugh.
"Such a small act of affection shocks you so?" She teased "it seems to have surprised our child too for they have gone completely still! A blessing at last!"

Richard only nodded, a slight colour entering his pale cheeks as Eleanor reached across to the cart and picked out another strawberry before turning to go back inside.
"Oh!" She said as she reached the steps, turning back around only to see her husband watching her every move "and welcome home, my lord"

"Thank you, my lady" he replied, bowing.

꧁꧂

6th of May 1470, Westminster....

The Duchess of Gloucester's hands trembled as she splashed icy water onto her face in the hope that it would cool and calm her shaking limbs and her racing heart.

Images of a dead child flashed before her eyes, of a bat wrapped in bloodied white cloth and lowered into the sea, floating lifelessly to the bottom....

The bowl clattered to the floor, causing Eleanor to jump back and immediately grab a cloth from the side, trying to mop up the water that soaked the patterned tiles. She heard the door open behind her and soon her mother was by her side, trying to help her but Eleanor shook her head.

"Leave me, mother" she whispered before raising her voice as Jacquetta refused  "I said, leave me!"

She pushed herself up from the floor only to see her mother frown, folding her arms disapprovingly so that the Duchess immediately bowed her head, her anger dissipating.
"I'm sorry mother...but that child! That poor innocent child!"
Jacquetta sighed, shaking her head while her expression softened.
"These things happen" she offered "terrible and tragic though it may be!"

"But it is my fault!" Eleanor cried "I willed that child to die! I killed that baby, I have a babe's blood on my hands mother!"
"How can that be so?"

"Because I wrote it in my curse! I cursed George to lose his firstborn son by his wife to the waters of Melusina and now Isabel has lost her little son! I thought....I thought I would be avenging Bella but I never....I never thought what pain it would cause Isabel! She must have been terrified! I cannot imagine the pain she must have been in...." a small sob left her lips and she shook her head "I'm never going to be able to forgive myself...."

"You must" Jacquetta said firmly "you have used your powers for better or for worse and now there are consequences but you must not let them weigh on you or they will crush you, my child....you must be stronger...." She stopped as her daughter let out a pain filled cry and clutched at her belly.

"Mother" Eleanor gasped, her eyes filling with terror "my baby....what's happening....they can't die....my baby can't die...." Her mother was by her side in an instant, guiding her and helping her to lie down on her bed while tears pricked her eyes.
"Your baby is not dying" Jacquetta said with a smile, smoothing the hair back from Eleanor's paling face "it is about to be born!"

As soon as she had spoken, the Duchess began to pray, mumbled words passing her lips as she felt people begin to flood into the room just minutes later. Anais and Marie were the first to arrive their faces alight with excitement and worry and they took their mistress's hands.

"You shall be fine, ma chérie" Marie assured her, nodding her head while Anais simply bounced beside her asking Eleanor if there was anything she could do to soothe her pain.
"You are both darlings to me" the Duchess replied with a groan, a sweat beginning to break out on her forehead "just stay" she said looking between the two faces "do not leave me"

"Never" they both said firmly before moving aside, curtsying as Eleanor's sister Mary arrived, beaming.

"Oh my, Leena!" She cried as she pulled the Duchess into a soft embrace, making her smile "you are to have your baby in your arms soon!"
"Indeed, Mary" Eleanor murmured, gritting her teeth as another wave of pain coursed through her "but I don't think I can take it!"
"Think of what mother would say to that!" Her sister replied with a grin "think of one of her lectures and that will see you through!"

That coaxed a laugh from Eleanor and she nodded before everyone around her curtsied and she knew that the Queen had arrived. She pushed herself up on her pillows a little only to have Elizabeth force her to lay back down again.

"You must be brave, my dear" she said with a small laugh "I know you have courage and now is the time to use it!" Her little sister nodded.
"I will" she promised "and soon you shall have a new nephew or niece"
"Which Lizzie shall love!"

Eleanor nodded again, words escaping her, and began to take deep breaths, her hands gripping the sheets either side of her and squeezing her eyes shut, trying to prepare herself for the pain that was to come.

꧁꧂

Elizabeth paced around her chambers as Edward brooded by the window, staring out into the night. It had been an entire day since Eleanor had gone into labour and now it was deep into the second night. The Queen and her mother had been by the Duchess's side every second they could, trying to keep her conscious despite her weary body's efforts to do the opposite.

"What are you going to do about Warwick?" Elizabeth asked as last, joining her husband "and George?"
"I don't know" the King replied, leaning against the wall with a frown etched on his handsome face "but God, I wish I did! I've set my spies on them of course and in all I'm rather confused....Warwick is in France.... George is not"'

The Queen raised her eyebrows, her mind immediately racing with questions while she wrapped a hand around the charm around her neck.
"Well where is he? What does he plan to do? Where is he going?" Her husband gently shushed her, shaking his head as he walked to the roaring fire at the other side of the room and sat down in a chair.

"He's going to Italy....or at least that's what it seems....as soon as he set foot in Calais he changed ship to one to there!"
"Italy?!" Elizabeth cried "my god if he even tries to see Bella I will string him up by his own entrails! And so will Eleanor when she hears!"

Edward chuckled and leant back in his seat, pouring himself a cup of wine.
"Forgive me, my love but I think ma petite boule de feu is slightly preoccupied at the moment and so is Dickon! Really I haven't seen him so worried since....well, that does not matter now but he hasn't slept since she went into labour"

"That's strange" Elizabeth admitted "I didn't think he cared for her....perhaps it's the babe he worries for?" Edward shook his head.
"It's her" he replied "trust me, I know my own brother enough to tell when he cares about someone....does Eleanor care for him?"

She frowned, slightly pinching the bridge of her nose as she thought, a habit of deep concentration which made Edward grin.
"I don't know" she concluded at last "they certainly have not been arguing these past months....but to say that she cares for him....I truly do not know, you would have to ask her yourself"

"Which I will not be doing while she's having her first child!" He returned "she might throw a glass at me!"
"Or a rock" Elizabeth muttered "it may knock some sense into you"