The Last York Prince [AU]

The Curse

(Meg shares her concern with Richard)

EARLY TO LATE 1508

Richard was in his office, alone, when Alexander Stewart, the Scottish emissary asked for an audience with him. He came in and handed Richard a letter, which Richard frowned.

"My queen wishes for you to read it".

Richard had his knife on the seal when he looked up to see Stewart still there. "Why are you still here?".

"Her Grace wants you to read and I must bear witness", he said, sitting down in front of Richard.

It was odd, but Richard shrugged it off. He broke the seal and read it.

"Dearest brother,

I'm sorry to hear you have lost your son. I feel you and Freja now as I have lost my Little James. He went in his sleep and no one knew if he could be saved. I weep for him and my husband was unkind to me.

Tell me, is it true? Was there a curse that mother and her mother placed on us Tudors? If it's true, why yours are dying as well?

I'm frighten, brother. I do not want to be barren. I do not how I could survive here if I am.

My husband seems to believe it. He was angry and unkind. He said Warbeck was our uncle and that when he died, the curse became effective.

If it's true, then why yours are dying as well? I am with child and I do not want it to die as well.

Or perhaps, it was mother's doing by marrying your father? Though everyone, including her, had denied it. Your father never write anything about our mother in the journal. Was he really a tyrant or was that the secret mother had told you on her deathbed? I do not wish to insult you, but I have to know. Please, write back.

With love,
Meg".

Richard set the letter down and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Stewart leaned forward to ask, but Richard placed a finger to his lips. He used his other hand to point to the walls and then, his ear, indicating they were listening.

Richard scribbled on a piece of parchment, "There was, but please, do not stress it to her", then pass it to Stewart.

Stewart read it and replied, "She was in distress, as my king also. He spoke of your uncle, Richard and your cousin, Edward. He believes it more now, which he is afraid it might affect the Scottish lineage".

Richard read and wrote, "I will write to her and have my steward pass it to you before you leave to Edinburgh".

Stewart nodded. He got up and tossed the parchment into the hearth before leaving.

Richard rubbed his temples, sighing again. He might as well grow grey hairs now with all the troubles arising.

He wrote a reply and had Drew to hand it over to Stewart before his departure to Scotland. He had hoped that it may bring some comfort to his sister.

HOLYROODHOUSE, SCOTLAND

Meg quickly opened the seal when she spotted the familiar boar seal, tossing aside other letters from her sisters Mary, Catherine and her lady grandmother. She adjusted her seating as she read it.

"Dearest and most beloved sister,

I am sorry for your loss. Your loss was perhaps greater than a son of a mere duke. I pray your next child to be a boy, for he will continue the Scottish line and keep you in your old age.

I advise you to not worry about it. Though I do not know the validity of the curse, it was perhaps they were desperate. Those boys, our uncles, were what could keep them safe and with them gone, they had to do anything to stay alive. If you were in mother's place, would you not done the same?

I'm sorry your husband was unkind to you. If I could give him a piece of my mind, I would, but I can't leave now. It's very dangerous to leave my family unprotected.

As for my father, let whatever he had done died in the past. Whatever she spoke to me on her deathbed, let it be known only to me for now. I will tell you, when I know my head will not rot on a spike and my family is safe. I will tell it to you one day, sister.

For now, you must rest. Try not to think so much of it. Whatever my father had done, let me bear the burdens of his actions and sins.

With love,
Richard".

Meg sighed and set the letter down. If the culprit was Richard's birth father, then why her son died? Was Perkin Warbeck really Prince Richard of Shrewsbury? Had the actions of both her father and Richard's doomed their own lines?

Meg knew her mother would've done anything to make sure her son stayed alive. Her precious golden boy Richard. There were times that Meg was jealous that her mother had loved Richard and Arthur more and that she had favoured Freja, an outsider more than her own daughters.

Then, it reminded her what her half brother had gone through. He had shown loyalty, yet her father the king had imprisoned him. Had he not fought for Tudor that day, Richard too would've faced the same fate that befall his cousin and uncle that day.

Meg remembered so clearly that day. She watched as her brother ran to the stables, despite his wounds, in hopes to stop the execution. It was all in vain and Richard left court for a long time.

Meg cried that day. She missed Richard, missed his smile and warmth and love. He had loved her, Arthur, Harry, Mary and all of their siblings that had left too soon. He may bore enmity towards her lady grandmother, but Richard never stopped loving her and her siblings.

She wondered day and night as she sat in the cold and dark room during her confinement. Her ladies worried that it would affect the baby and it did.

Baby Margaret was born, but last only hours. Meg's husband comforted her with kind words this time, asking for her forgiveness for using such words when their son died.

When she was well, she prayed for her children. She prayed for her dear brother Richard, who had suffered the most. She prayed that she can see him again, to see his smile and him telling her that all shall be well.