The Last York Prince [AU]

Ghosts Of The Past

(Richard sees all those who had passed..., even Margaret Beaufort)

Richard sat in the chapel, far too early in the morning. He prayed to God, to give him guidance and clarity of his actions.

He knew he had to do what needed to be done. If he had let Henry go down that path, it would mean breaking with Rome and isolated England politically. He can't let that happen.

Richard, Freja and their children traveled to The Tower to prepare for the coronation. Henri noticed how silent his father was. He pulled a stool and sat next to the soon to be crowned King of England.

"Father, are you upset?", he asked.

"I don't know, Henri. Is this wrong? Is this the right thing to do?".

"Mama always say to trust your instinct".

"And your Mama is never wrong when it comes to that. It's just..., what am I to do with your uncle? I can't let him rot in The Tower".

"Maybe you can go and talk to him", Henri suggested.

THAT NIGHT

Richard left his room to roam The Tower. The place he had spent the first two years of his life and a short brief period with Teddy and Warbeck prior to their escape and death.

He walked to Tower Hill. From a distant, he saw a man with blonde hair with a woman with dark hair. The man had a baby in his arms.

The man, Warbeck turned to Richard. He gave that proud smile and bowed to Richard.

As he walked further, he saw Ralph, speaking to a man. A man who had some features that were similar to Ralph.

Ralph spotted Richard and hugged him. "You did it", he said.

"I wish you were here, with me".

"I have served you, Richard. It was time for me to go".

Richard turned to the other man. The man bowed to him.

"Your Grace, I'm-".

"You're Sir Robert Brackenbury, I know. Ralph spoke of you often".

"I'm glad he was with you, as I have with your father".

"I'm glad he was with me until the end, though I wish he could be here today".

"We must move forward, Your Grace", said Ralph.

"Even if it pains us to let those we love go", said Sir Robert.

Richard nodded. He walked further to the room where his uncle Edward V had disappeared. He heard the door opened and a boy was standing by the door.

"Was it my father?", Richard asked.

The boy shrugged. "I was asleep. That was the last thing I remembered".

"At least you didn't suffer".

"But you did".

"I'm sorry".

"Why? You didn't do it. Why sorry?".

Richard sniffled and chuckled. "Forgive me, Your Grace. I had this habit of apologising".

"Don't, you are king now. Make our family proud".

Richard walked further again. He heard laughter..., a familiar one.

He saw the familiar curly blonde hair with rosy cheeks, wearing the exact same thing he was wearing. Behind him was his uncle by the same name.

"Papa! Papa!", Little Teddy ran to his father.