TW: ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT

~Tewksbury~

Riding as fast as she could, Eleanor prayed that the battle would not yet spill out onto the surrounding roads for if it did then her plan was doomed to failure. She could almost see the house in which Anne was hiding in, it's tall chimneys rising above the trees, almost beckoning to her as she urged her horse to go faster.

Galloping into a patch of woodland, she pulled her destrier to a sharp holt and dismounted, tying the reins to a nearby branch much like she had done at Barnet. Taking a deep breath, she began to creep forward, little by little edging towards the timber framed house that was hiding the Lancastrians and the Neville she was supposed to rescue.

Stepping behind a tree brach, she peered around from behind, her eyes widening when she saw no guards posted at the doors or anywhere nearby. 'Of course' she thought as she realised they must all be at the battle, the noise of which was getting alarmingly closer, moving from a distant din to a clear cry.

Rough, metal clad fingers suddenly curled around her arm and she exclaimed with a cry as she was swung around to face a young man in his mid twenties, blood, as red as the rose painted on his armour, spattering his face and his lips curled into snarl as he saw the white one that adorned hers.

"A York whore" he spat as she demanded he let her go, trying in earnest to pull away but failing as he struck her and she fell to the ground, a hand immediately cradling the side of her injured face.

She hardly had a chance to glance up, her free hand fumbling for the hilt of her dagger as a rush of adrenaline surged though her veins and she tried to struggle to her feet only for the man to grab her braid, yanking it with all the strength she had so that she screamed, sure the hair would tear from her scalp as she fell to the floor again, the air being knocked from her lungs.

She continue to struggle and scream as he pinned her to the ground, clamping a hand over her mouth while he used the other to hike up her skirt, trying to crush her into submission. Her thoughts were whirling, refusing to focus as she kicked and thrashed from side to side, finally managing to bite down onto the man's hand, her teeth tearing into his flesh, a pained yell escaping him as he sat up, clutching his wound.

With a quickness she had never known, Eleanor scrambled to rise, turning to run, dagger now in hand only to find herself yanked back again, shoved roughly against the tree trunk which she had been hiding behind just moments before.

Throwing her head forward, she groaned in pain as her forehead connected with the Lancastrian's, causing him to stumble back before she thrust her blade deep into his throat, his warm blood spurting out of the wound and onto her as she withdrew the dagger and collapsed as he fell against her, life draining from his eyes.

Eleanor struggled under his corpse, small sobs threatening to escape her as she used all her strength to push his lifeless body from hers, throwing her dagger as far away as she could.

She stared in terror at the blood that coated her gauntlets, tearing them from her hands and throwing them to the ground before she tried in vain to wipe away the blood that stuck to her neck, face and hair, almost seeming like a second skin that refused to be removed.

Her chest felt as if it was tightening with every breath when she shakily rose from the floor, her eyes never leaving the dead body that lay just a foot or so away. The body of the man she had killed.

She had killed someone. A living person. Taken away their life. Stuck her dagger through his throat, had his blood staining her hands. It was true, he had tried to rape her but still, her mind was full of the realisation that she had killed another human, her chest heaving as she struggled for breath.

Not being able to bear the sight any longer, she turned and stumbled towards the house in front of her, sure that what awaited inside could not be worse than what she had just encountered. She burst through the doors, not caring weather she made a noise and her head jerked to the side as she heard a startled squeal echo through the stone hallway.

She prayed that it was Anne, that the girl was nearby and as she followed the direction of the noise she tried to wipe away the tears and blood that marked her face, knowing she must look positively wild by that point.

As she threw open the doors to the great hall she gasped as she came face to face with a woman dressed in a cloak of deep red, her dark hair with strands of silvery grey pulled back into a tight braid. Margaret of Anjou.

"And who, might I ask, are you, child?" Margaret asked in the most condescending tone Eleanor had ever heard, her voice thick with the French accent that had refused to ever wane. Yet, there was no fear or apprehension in the Bad Queen's voice, simply an unwavering confidence that was even present when a blood soaked woman in armour strode through the door.

"I am no child" Eleanor replied indignantly, her pride successfully riled, though she did not look at Margaret as her eyes scanned the rest of the hall, looking desperately for Anne amongst the Lancastrian retinue of noblewomen all huddled together in alarm "I am Eleanor Woodville, Duchess of Gloucester"

"Gloucester?" A small voice repeated while a harsh laugh escaped Margaret's throat and the Duchesse's eyes came to settle on a slight figure clad in muddied green wool stood by the dying fire, away from the rest. Anne Neville.

Moving swiftly past the Queen without a second glance, Eleanor ran to the fireplace and took Anne by the shoulders, trying her best not to alarm the girl though she could see by the fear in Anne's blue eyes that she was not doing the best of jobs.

"Anne, you have to leave, you have to come with me to safety!" She ordered urgently, almost feeling Margaret's bewildered gaze burning into her back.

"Unhand the Princess of Wales!" She commanded yet Eleanor merely glanced over her shoulder, all of her usual patience nowhere to be found.
"Princess of Wales my eye!" She retorted before taking Anne's hand and beginning to drag her to the door only to have Margaret step in front of them, her dark eyes narrowed into slits and her hand on the hilt of her sword that the Duchess immediately knew she would draw if necessary.

"I am the Queen of England" she said icily "and my orders are to be obeyed, now unhand the Princess or I shall strike you down where you stand"

"I know of no Queen of England save my sister" Eleanor replied swiftly, pushing Anne behind her as her hand settled on her down sword "and if I did not know that King Edward wished to show you as a part of his victory then perhaps I would strike you down where you stand!"

Margaret's eyes widened in shock, though a glint in her eye suggested she was slightly impressed with the 18 year olds words, but before she could reply or draw her sword the hurried cry of a page dashing through the doors made her turn.

"The battle is lost York is victorious! The Duke of Somerset is murdered! The Prince of Wales is dead!" He yelled and immediately the Lancastrian women began to wail, each fearing for their lives.
"Silence!" Margaret roared and in an instant it would be possible to hear a pin drop "we will flee...flee to wales....gather support and then return!"

Pushing the train of her deep burgundy gown behind her she strode from the room, her demeanour as calm as if no bad news had arrived at all, as if her son were not dead. At once, her ladies followed, muttering to one another in hurried French and Anne made to follow only for Eleanor to catch her arm.

"Where are you going?" She asked as Margaret called out the Neville girl's name.
"I must go where my Queen commands it!" Anne explained hurriedly and pulled her arm from the Duchess's grip, running after Margaret.

Eleanor stared after her before she began to run in pursuit, dashing outside of the Manor House just as the ladies rounded a corner which she assumed led to the courtyard where the horses were kept. Picking up her pace, she ignored the Lancastrian body that still lay twisted on the ground and rushed to her horse, mounting him as quick as she could before she kicked him into motion.

Surely Anne wasn't loyal to Queen Margaret? Not willingly, surely she could not have truly turned her coat from white to red. Anne was just a girl, she reminded herself as she rode around the side of the manor only to see Yorkist soldiers closing is around the walls, bloodied weapons in their hands.

"Is it true?" She yelled to one knight who halted his steed beside hers "is it true York is victorious?!"
"It is" he said, raising his visor and smiling at her "your grace" he added quickly as he recognised the white boar of Gloucester that emblazoned her horse's armour "should I escort you to Sudeley Castle? The King has ordered for his nobles to meet there once the battle is done"

"Well the battle is not yet done, my Lord....?"
"Lovell" he answered "Francis Lovell, your grace. I am a friend of your husbands" a small wave of relief swept through Eleanor as she recognised the name, a name her husband had spoken near a thousand times during their conversations about Middleham and nodded.

"Well the battle is yet to be done, Lord Lovell" she said "and I have been charged by the King himself to take the Lady Anne Neville into my care, I believe you know her" Francis frowned a little before he nodded solemnly, a form of nostalgia in his blue eyes as they glanced towards the manor that was now swarmed by troops.

"Aye, I did....I do" he murmured "and if you have been ordered by the king to collect her then I will help you, if you wish it" Eleanor nodded again turning her horse around to the direction of the courtyard and jerking her head in a gesture for Francis to follow her, which he immediately did, shutting his visor again.

As they entered the courtyard, the Duchess cried out as she saw Anne yanked from her horse by a gang of Yorkists and looked to Francis who was already one step ahead of her; riding towards his old friend before a second knight joined him and Eleanor gasped. It was Richard.

"Shit" she murmured under her breath for if Richard saw her here, covered in dried blood and near the bad Queen then she was sure he wouldn't be best pleased. But he didn't see her, instead jumped from his horse and joined Francis in throwing the men off Anne, ordering them as the Duke of Gloucester to stay away.

As Anne was helped from the floor, her eyes wide with terror Eleanor knew that she must go to her and trotted over, dismounting while her husband turned to her, shock registering on his blood spattered face.

"Eleanor...." he began only for her to hush him, putting an arm around the younger girl's shoulder in an attempt to reassure her of safety.
"Not now, Richard" she said with a shake of her head before looking to Anne "you're safe now" she told her gently with a small smile while the Duke started at her in bewilderment "and we are charged to...."

"Unhand me!" Margaret's shrill voice filled the air as she was dragged from the stables to face her old enemy's youngest son. Eleanor could see Richard instinctively tense as he glared at the woman before him.

"I am to take you to London" he managed to say, sliding his sword back into his sheath lest he was tempted to use it.
"I refuse" Margaret retorted with an arrogant roll of her eyes "I don't have to go anywhere, I am Queen!"

Eleanor scoffed, shaking her head as she felt Anne press into her in fear, trying her best not to tremble. Richard's eyes narrowed as Margaret glared at him, taking a step forward.
"Get on your horse" he commanded softly, though there was no mistaking the threat in his voice "or I will have you bound and gagged and thrown into a litter"

"As I said before" Eleanor continued, watching as Margaret's confidence crumbled ever so slightly, her eyes darting from side to side as she searched for an ally "you should be grateful King Edward wants to show you as part of his triumph"

"You're bold" Margaret said, ignoring her and looking to the Duke "And a fine soldier, but you are nothing while your brother lives....come to me, get me out of here and I will make you King....you can even have her" her gaze shifted to Anne and Eleanor and Richard looked at the girl between them while Francis merely raised an eyebrow, folding his arms.

"And why would I want Anne as my wife?" Richard asked "I have a wife, she is standing right before you!"
"And what has she given you?" Margaret asked "a daughter? And a dead one at that...."

"Hold your tongue" Richard thundered, looking as if he would strangle Margaret there and then "if you utter one more word I swear I will cut you down where you stand and it's a miracle I have not already done so....take her away"

At once Francis and another knight were at Margaret's side, taking one of her arms each before they led her away far from gently. Richard turned to Eleanor, stepping forward only for her to step back.

"I'm fine" she said shakily, slightly holding out a hand "I'm fine, Richard....I shall escort Anne to Sudeley from here, if she agrees" she glanced to Anne who nodded her head, eager to escape Tewksbury as quick as she could.

Taking her hand, Eleanor led her to her destrier and mounted it, reaching out for Anne as Richard followed them and lifted her effortlessly onto the back of the saddle.

"The rest of the army should not be far behind you" he said and Eleanor gave him a small nod and a smile before she nudged her horse into motion and felt Anne wrap her arms securely around her waist, leaning her cheek against her back.