The Last York Prince [AU]

Long Live The King

A/N: if you got a notification of a new chapter that's no longer there, just ignore it. I accidentally pressed publish while trying to save my phone from falling.

(Richard and Henry speak one last time)

The king's steward implored to Richard to see the king. Drew wanted to know and nudged his friend to go.

Both entered the room that evening and Henry dismissed everyone, but Drew refused to budge. Henry let him stay, knowing young Barnley wanted answers.

"I assumed the two of you want answers", said Henry.

"If anyone deserves an answer tonight, it's Andrew", said Richard.

"Why?", Drew pressed on.

"Your father was never the target", said Henry.

"Why Teddy? He was a just baby! What about Lady Gloucester? Someone poisoned her to the point she lost her son!", Drew's eyes began to water.

"I never mean it to go that far", said Henry.

"Was it your mother then?", Richard gently asked.

Henry was silenced at first, then he shook his head. "My mother may bore you enmity, but she has nothing to do with it".

Richard scoffed. "I have no children now. Four are dead, three were sons. John and Kathryn are dead, so was Anne, her baby. Warbeck and his son. I can't count on my fingers, Your Grace, how many of my kinsmen have died. How many more blood must be spilled, Henry Tudor?".

"Four?", Henry frowned.

"My latest, Cecily, a stillborn", said Richard.

"I never want to be king, Richard".

"Then, why did you kill my father? Because your mother raised you, telling you how you're destined to be king? That it is God's will? Did she tell you Lord Jasper's death was God's will too?", Richard's face, frowned, angry and confused, was illuminated by the moonlight and candle.

"Richard...".

Henry couldn't bare to look at his stepson. The mirror image of the man who had to die for him to wear the crown haunted him always.

"I can not deny that you are a great king. I can't compare you to others since..., well, I only know you. I read my father's journal, but you can't tell a person through writings. I look up to you as a father figure, not just William and Lord Jasper, even when you separate my mother and I. How could you do this to me?".

Henry broke down in tears. His mind raced to Lizzie, whom he had come to love after all these years. His mind raced to his first born, how Arthur would argue and defend Richard. He had loved Richard, more than anything.

"I have come to love you as a son, Richard. I never wish any harm on you", Henry sobbed.

"But your supporters do. As long as I live, a direct descendant of the old king, I am always a threat", said Richard.

"You don't have sons, not yet at least", said Drew.

"If you know my grandparents, you know my grandmother gave birth to 14 babies, Drew. My mother had 10, even only three remained. Trust me, my dearest Drew, I'm still young and so is Freja".

"If I could, I wanted you to be king, not Harry", said Henry.

"I doubt your mother would allow it. She worked too hard to get to where she is today", Richard crossed his arms, leaning by the wall behind him.