York's Hope.

Chapter Fifty Four - "The Brother" faces "The Sister"

-Hope-

Through my window, I could see Lady Margaret return. The boy was dragged off his horse and his hood was removed.

"Look at him." Henry scoffed standing behind me. He took my waist and pulled me closer "Any fool can see he looks nothing like a York." he kissed my cheek and I gave tight smile before he left my rooms

"Is the court assembled?" he asked

"They await Your Grace's favour." Alexander replied. My Ladies and my sister came in to help me change Lizzie fixed my crown on my head then squeezed my shoulders. The stood to one side as I made my way out. Henry waited for me in the main corridor, once he saw I was coming he held out his arm for me to take, which I did and we walked into court together. They bowed and curtsied as we walked past. Lizzie took to my side as I sat down.

-3rd Person-

The boy stood under guard waiting to enter, the doors opened just as Lady Margaret arrived. The boy was yanked aside so that she and her ladies may enter first, followed by him and the guards. The boy follow in and as he walked past people muttered until Lady Margaret came to a stop in front of her son and her daughter in law. The boy ignored the man sitting on the throne because his eyes fell on Hope, who sat there steel eye yet relaxed to her left side was Lizzie he noticed how she seemed to him that her stance looked very protective in nature.

"Your Grace. I bring you the cause of England's troubles." Lady Margaret stated the made her way up to stand by her sons side. The boy was shoved to the ground, he stood back up to look at the Queen.

"The money wasted, the lives lost bringing you here. And all for what, a peasant boy." Henry spoke but the blond boys eyes never left the raven haired Queen, who was gazing at her husband, while she held onto his hand. "I will enjoy your execution. You will be Hung, drawn and quartered so that the last thing that..."Henry was cut off

"You should kill me." Hopes stare turned towards the boy "If you wish to stay upon my throne." people began muttering

"I am the son of King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth Woodville. You thought that I was murdered but I live. So you will stand aside and return, to me the crown and throne which have been stolen from me, or you will face the righteous wrath of almighty God." There was a snicker then another one. Henry and the boy looked toward the Queen who was hiding her face.

"I am sorry, my apologies. I just cannot seem to find the strength to take you seriously." she shrugged "Though I must commend you for your performance, clearly my Aunt the Duchess taught you well, with my late mothers help, I'm sure. It was a almost convincing performance was it not, my love." she turned her gaze to her husband, who was not fazed by his wife's mannerism anymore.

"Note worthy, my Queen." Hope stood up and went to circle the boy.

"You claim to be my blood, yet your actions are cowardly. You stare at a battle yet you have ran away from it twice, my father never instilled such within his children. Isn't that right, sister?"

"It is." Lizzie agreed

"My own father, God rest his sole knew the importance of fighting alongside his men. Retreat was the last option, in fact he only did it once and that, that was special circumstances. My point is, well one of them. You left to see your child, if you were of my blood, that would not have happened, my father fought against leaving his men in battle to see my late brother. A true child of my father with have the same fire within their gaze, you do not. You are not my brother." she shrugged and returned to her seat as Henry rose

"Perhaps you wish to be a mummer in my court? Not quiet the welcome you imagined I supposed from the woman you claim is your sister. While I decide what to do with you, I shall make you a servant at court. You shall be...knave of the Kings Wardrobe. You may care for the robes you covet, you may even sleep amoungst them." he was taken away. Hope rose again to join her husbands side and leave court.

-Hope-

I continued to walk with my husband as his mother raged

"He is an enemy of the crown. You must make a show of killing him" she stated, we stopped and turned to her

"An enemy backed by half of Europe who may be mustering to come against me as we speak" he replied

"He is a counterfeit."

"Of course he is. You think we don't know that." I retort. Did she think us simple minded

"He says himself the I must kill him as a threat, so I will not. I will not be commanded by him. I will... parade him. Do you agree?" he asked me

"As in drag him through the streets?" I question furring my eyebrows

"Yes and show the world I have him. And then when he is humiliated he will give up his claim and his supporters will forget him." he nodded

"They may not. People may believe his claim just because..."

"You must not do this." Lady Margaret stood firm as she cut me off mid sentence

"By killing him, the boy becomes a myth and martyr. His power, ten times greater in the ballads that they sing. He must appear the maggot that he is so that Europe will be embarrassed to have had him at their table." he decreed, before returning to his chambers.