~To go toWar~

Eleanor leant herself up on her elbows as she gazed down at the sleeping form of her husband. It was barely past dawn and the first rays of golden sunlight flooded through the windows but she knew that Edward and Richard would have to leave soon, to fight. And suddenly the image of her husband on a battlefield filled her with fear and dread.

His chest rose and he gave a small sigh before opening his eyes and smiling at the Duchess, slowly sitting up to kiss her.
"Good morning, sweetheart" he murmured against her lips while Eleanor moved further into his arms, pressing her breasts against his chest.

"Must you go" she asked, cocking her head to the side in question and hanging it a little when Richard nodded.
"Edward may be King once more but we still have Warwick to fight....and then Margaret of Anjou" he explained, gently lifting her chin with
a finger "but I promise I will come back to you"

"And you will lie with me again?" She asked with a small smirk that made her husband chuckle, lying back with her in his arms.
"I will make love to you all day and night if you do desire it!" He replied "just keep me in your thoughts when I am away...."
"And in my bed when you return!" Eleanor finished, rolling over so that she lay on top of him, lightly kissing his nose.

"Well well!" Richard exclaimed, beginning to gently run his hands over her shoulders and down her back, making her shiver in delight, her toes curling "it seems I may have a wanton for a wife!"
"A wanton!" She exclaimed, feigning offence as she rolled onto her side and intertwined she and Richard's hands "I assure you I am not that!"

"Of course not, sweetheart, I do retract my words" he replied with a small smile, kissing her knuckles before he got out of bed and the Duchess groaned, demanding that he return to her immediately "you know I cannot do that!" He returned, pulling on his breeches and shirt "however much I wish it"

"So you do wish it then?" She countered, pulling her shawl around her body as she rose and leant back against one of the bedposts, watching her husband dress with an innocent fascination.
"I wish it more than anything at present" he admitted "but, may I ask for help with my armour? It's fiddly without a squire to help!"

"Then I shall be your squire" Eleanor said with a smiled, slipping her shift over her head before letting her shawl fall to the floor. She arched her eyebrows at the strange array of metal that lay to the side of the room in a heap "what on earth do I do?" She asked, picking up the breastplate.

"That goes over my chest" he said, ducking his head a little as she placed it over his doublet before moving to tighten the straps "though I will change into full armour once I get to the battlefield" Eleanor sighed and kissed the base of his neck.

"You swear that you shall come back?" She whispered "you do promise?"
"I do" he chuckled "and the sooner I am dressed and gone the sooner I can return to you!"

꧁꧂

Eleanor and Richard walked hand in hand to the entrance of the abbey where the King and Queen were waiting, but did not move into the sunlight, silently agreeing that they would rather keep their farewells away from prying eyes.

Turning to her husband, the Duchess raised herself up a little on her toes and softly pressed her lips to her husband, not wanting to let go, especially as he wrapped his arms around her, wrapping locks of her hair around his fingers.

"Oh for gods sake, Ned!" Richard grumbled as he heard his brothers heavy footsteps behind him. "am I never aloud to have a moments peace with you around?"
"Never!" Edward replied with a grin, winking at Eleanor so that his little brother glared at him "but you must say farewell to ma petite boule de feu"

"Your?!" Richard repeated, raising his eyebrows before his wife kissed his cheek and combed a hand through his hair.
"Calm yourself" she murmured "it's been Edward's nickname for me since my sister's coronation as you know full well!"

"Exactly!" The King laughed, clapping his hands together "now, we must go to war, Dickon. Warwick will not wait for us!"
"I know that!" Richard sighed, brushing his lips against Eleanor's before he followed Edward out into the dawn and they left to prepare for battle.

꧁꧂

"You are going to Barnet!" Elizabeth announced the next day while servants dashed in and out of the crypt, removing what little belongings the Queen and her family had in preparation for their move to the tower. Eleanor stared at her elder sister as if she truly had gone mad, her eyes as wide as saucers.

"I'm going where?!" She exclaimed for, by now, she knew that Barnet was where the battle between Warwick and York was to be held "you wish for me to go to a battlefield, Elizabeth? Are you quite well or should I send for the physician?"

The Queen folded her arms, shaking her head, looking quite like their mother, who had been sent for, earlier that day.
"Yes" she replied indignantly "I am well, Leena! And I do not wish you to fight! You simply need to be there when the battle happens! Believe it or not I have thought this plan through! And it's perfectly reasonable if you would just listen!"

"Reasonable?" Eleanor repeated with a short laugh "none of it seems reasonable. But go ahead and explain this plot of yours to me, Lizzie! I'm all ears" a sickly sweet smile settled on her lips and her elder sister frowned at her before she sat opposite her and sighed.

"One of us needs to be there" she said quietly "one of us must take both of the curses and be near the battlefield to make sure that the traitors die and that York is victorious! My little Prince needs me and I'm not letting either Tom nor Rickon near a battlefield and besides, you are the only other one of us that knows the power they hold"

"So it must be me" Eleanor said with a small frown, though now she did not think her sister's plan as ludicrous as she had at first. In fact she thought it rather clever and she said so, earning a fond kiss on the cheek for her approval.

"I knew that I could count on you!" Elizabeth said with a smile "I always can! Now, you must ride tonight as the battle is to take place tomorrow. Wait until I and the others are asleep and then slip away, there will be a horse waiting for you with some food and gold outside. When the children ask where you have gone I shall simply tell them that you went to the Tower early to welcome out mother! So you see, Leena. It's all quite thought through!"

"I can see" her sister said steadily, slowly beginning to map out her movements for that night in her mind. Perhaps she would sneak into the Yorkist camp to see Richard before he fought? She knew that this would be his first battle and wanted to wish him luck, wanted to kiss him one last time before he went to the King's side.

The thoughts of what had happened just a night before made her shiver a little and she clenched her fists in the folds over her gown, crossing her legs to try and control the ache she suddenly felt there.

'Not now!' She urged herself, as she watched Elizabeth move away to feed the Prince, and eventually managed to push her thoughts away but she knew that they would return and so busied herself with helping move items from the crypt.

When night fell and she had successfully sung the Princesses to sleep Eleanor crept over to Elizabeth, who was holding her cloak for her by the door. She had changed into her green gown, the darkest of the three and as she pulled the blue velvet of her cloak around her, she lifted her hood to conceal her hair which she had managed to pin up.

Reaching around to the back of her neck, Elizabeth undid the ribbon that tied her necklace and pressed the cursed charm into her sister's hand, giving her a small nod before she gently pushed her out of the door and shut it softly behind her, slowly sliding the bolt across.

Eleanor tiptoed along the corridor to the main abbey, her task and aim clear in her mind until a sudden thought made her half.

George.

A hand gently wrapped around her own necklace and she silently recanted the words written inside, grimacing a little at the pain and loss her curse had already inflicted. She knew that she must see it through till the end. Her mother had always told her that once a curse had been laid it could not be lifted....but the Duchess was unsure if she wanted the curse to work anymore.

It was true, she still bore a harsh resentment towards George, a part of her mind wanting him to suffer until he was dead and so was his line.... but there was another part of her that told her she had forgiven him.

'It was false forgiveness!' She yelled in her mind, shaking her head as she remembered how she had embraced him, welcomed him home.

She convinced herself it had been an act, that it was simply what was needed for the time being and once Edward was secure again she could ensure the curse was played out. But now she had a chance....a true chance to fulfil it, to fulfil both of the curses.

So why did she hesitate?

An idea quickly sprung to mind.

Why carry two curses? Why not take just the one to ensure that it would work? She smiled slightly in the dark as she thought. Warwick was their most dangerous enemy at that moment....George could be dealt with later! Once Warwick was dead then she and Elizabeth could focus all of their powers upon George....yes! That was what she would do!

As quickly as she could she replaced her cursed necklace with Elizabeth's rushing to the room where she and Richard had made love and hiding the second charm under one of the pillows before dashing down the stairs again. As she ran she repeatedly looked over her shoulder, terrified that Elizabeth would catch her.

'But I am doing no wrong? I'm simply easing our efforts!' She thought to herself as she approached the horse that had been provided for her and gasped in delight when she recognised Apollo. He gave an excited whinny in greeting and Eleanor wrapped her arms around his neck, gently patting him as she laughed.

"I wondered when I would see you again, old boy" she said with a smile, gently kissing his nose before moving to the side of him and put her foot in one stirrup, swinging her leg over as she pushed herself upwards and sat down on the saddle, rather surprised "I'm shocked I remember how to do that!" She confessed and Apollo turned his head a little before jerking into a trot that made Eleanor squeal as she realised what was happening.

It was almost four in the morning as she reached the proposed battlefield and looked out over the green feilds that would be soaked with the blood of Yorkists and Lancastrians just mere hours away. The lights of both camps were clear, torches illuminating the York banners and those of Lancaster, marking out friend and foe.

She crossed herself and sighed for now she wished she had set off later. It was still virtually the dead of night and the battle would not be till the late morning at the earliest!

So she was stuck it seemed, stuck waiting but unable to rest unless she went to the Yorkist camp. She was sure it would come as a shock to her husband if she suddenly appeared in his tent in the early hours of the day but the Duchess was certain she could concoct an excuse that would pass his tests of suspicion.

Nodding to herself, Eleanor dismounted and lifted Apollo's reins over his head and began to lead him to the camp where White roses and suns in splendour were emblazoned on almost every bit of material she could see....until she saw a figure on the edge of the enemy side.

A man standing outside of his tent, looking up towards the stars, seeming so deep in thought that it appeared he was contemplating every inch of his life and how it had lead to this moment.

Eleanor knew he was when she recognised John Neville's Griffin emblem on the crimson tent material. Her mind told her to ignore him, to carry on to safety, to where she would see her husband....and yet her feet refused to obey. She lead Apollo back up the hill she had trekked down, tying him to a tree before crossing herself again and praying for a safe journey.

"I think I've gone insane" she muttered to herself as she lifted the hem of her gown. She had no dagger, no sword, no true way of defending herself if she was caught. And if she was, then there was no hope!

As the figure of John came closer with the rest of the camp, she pulled her cloak around her, hoping that the deep blue hue would conceal her from any sharp eyes of lookouts that guarded the encampment. Though she thought her eyes wouldn't be very sharp if she was made to stand in the cold during the night.

At long last, she finally reached her friend, studying him as she stared at his back. His shoulders were hunched over and his arms folded, eyes now looking to the ground.

"I thought that it was you" He suddenly said, his voice trying to sound lighthearted yet Eleanor could clearly hear the undercurrent of misery that laced his tone.

"Really?" She replied as he turned, smiling softly at him "so it turns out that I would not be such a good spy after all!"