The Last York Prince [AU]

Coronate At Last

(Brothers sit down to talk. Drum roll to our new king)

Richard did and went to see Henry. Richard had sent servants to make sure his brother was well cared for.

Henry had trimmed that god awful unkempt beard of his. He frowned to see his brother coming in, looking like his usual self and not a king.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be out there celebrating? Are you here to gloat?", Henry sneered.

Richard looked around and sighed. "Did you know? This is the very cell I've spent the first two years of my life".

"I don't give a shit about it".

"I know you don't...", Richard sat down at the stool by the door.

"...Do you know why I did it?", he crossed his arms.

"Because you refused to let me set my wife aside to marry another? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard", Henry scoffed.

Richard pulled out the scroll and tossed it over the table. "Your beloved lady grandmother may have had eyes and ears everywhere, but our lady mother was smarter".

Henry unrolled it and gasped. "You're..., legitimate?", he stared at his brother, who sat there nonchalantly.

"Yes, I am".

"How long? How long have you known this?".

"Mother passed me this on her deathbed. I'm surprised Beaufort couldn't get her hand on this. To think the woman who thought she knew everything and didn't know about this..., is just amusing", Richard laughed.

"Do our sisters know?".

"Of course, how else do you think I got them to support me? Besides my love for them, that is".

"Are you here to mock me then?".

Richard got up and took the scroll back. "I'm here to take back what's mine. To prevent you from dragging this country into a dark abyss because you lack an heir, but, as king, I will bless your annulment and I will find another wife for you".

"Mother would be disappointed with you. Besides, Catherine is still my wife".

"If she was, why bother telling me this?...", Richard waved the scroll around.

"...Do not concern yourself with Catherine. You want an annulment? It's on its way".

"I will take my crown back! I AM THE KING!".

"Any man who says "I'm the king" is no true king. Good luck on taking back your crown though. I doubt anyone would help you now", Richard chuckled before exiting, feeling less guilty now.

He walked passed by the cell that held Boleyn. Richard chuckled, seeing the man he had once called a friend.

Boleyn saw Richard and he went to the bar. "Please, Richard. Let me go. I'm innocent in all this. I had to do what I must to survive!".

Richard tilted his head. " Richard? How dare you use my name?! I am Your Grace to you, king to be..., though you will never see me crowned".

Richard walked away, ignoring the screams of his brother and Boleyn. He was satisfied, now that he had won.

*

Richard and Freja headed off their separate ways, as tradition dictated. Maggie took care of the children while their parents prepared to be coronated.

Richard was decked in dark blue with gold stitching. The velvet cloak, stitched with ermine, hung around his shoulders. Drew placed the livery chain of King of England around Richard's shoulders.

Drew stepped back to look at his long time friend. From an unknown, now rises up to be the King of England.

"My father would've loved to see this", he said, wiping the tears away.

Richard had visited William's grave in Bedford then heading off to Leicester before returning to London for the coronation. He knew William would've supported him no matter what his decision was.

Richard rest his forehead against Drew's. "Thank you, for being here with me always".

"I will journey with you to Hell and back if it needs to be", Drew laughed.

"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your father, you and your sister".

"Now, it's time for you to return your father's glory. Whatever the Tudors had said, who gives a shit? He was a great and you'll be just as great as he was".

Richard stepped out to meet with Robyn, in new and finer clothes just like Drew, bringing Pepper out. Pepper had a new saddle fitted for Richard today.

"Thank you, Robyn", Richard smiled.

Robyn bowed to the man who had saved him many years ago and handed the rein to the king. Richard patted Pepper's head and the horse neighed, happily.

Richard rode from The Tower to Westminster Abbey. Behind him was almost an army of nobles, Stafford, Surrey, Norfolk and many others who rallied to him. The crowd had gathered from the farthest of England to see their beloved York prince finally crowned the King of England. They smiled and waved and their new king replied the same.

They arrived, at the same time the carriage that brought the soon to be crowned Freja from the opposite direction. Richard descended off his horse and held out a hand for his wife to take.

She was dressed in dark blue, that matched the hues of her eyes, and had gold stitching to match her husband. She had sapphires adorned her and the royal velvet cloak stitched with ermine draped around her shoulders.

They walked in. Richard spotted the children with King Erik and his own children. He saw his aunt, Dowager Duchess of Burgundy, smiling proudly next to the Poles.

Richard and Freja released hands to sit on their respective thrones. Richard saw Catherine, now united with her daughter, smiling and standing next to Stafford.

The ceremony felt so long. When he was given the staves and ring, Richard's heart beat fast. When the crown was placed upon Richard's head, he could feel the heavy burden that was now his to bear.

"God save the king!", echoed throughout Westminster Abbey and London.