The Last York Prince [AU]

Farewell

(Richard says goodbye to Henry. Richard and his son, Henri have their first unofficial debate before sending him off to Ludlow)

EARLY 1522

11 year old Henri was up and about very early. He walked out and headed to his parents' chambers.

The guards gently opened the door to let the Prince of Wales in. Henri found his mother, asleep with his sister and younger brother while his father the king was by his table, writing something.

Henri bowed before his father. "Good morning, papa", he said as he walked to the table.

"You're up early, Henri", Richard kept on writing.

"What are you doing?", Henri picked up a small stool to sit next to him.

Richard showed the parchment to his oldest son. "I'm writing a set of rules for your Uncle Henry when he leaves today for Pembroke with your Uncle Herbert".

"So, if Uncle Herbert leaves today, that means Bessie will go with him, which means Fizzy goes with them too, right?".

"Fizzy?", Richard chuckled.

"He called himself that".

"So what do you think? A bit too much?".

Henri studied the rules. "No letters in or out without Uncle Herbert opening them? Isn't that an invasion of privacy?".

"Well, Uncle Henry is our prisoner. We don't want him to raise an army and declare war on us".

"Didn't we do the same thing?".

"I did to protect us all. If I didn't, God knows what will happen to Queen Catherine. She could've been put to death like all those who opposed your uncle".

"Alright, you win".

Henri read some more. "So he will marry Lady Anne Boleyn?".

"Well, he's been wanting a son and bragging about continuing the Tudor legacy. I figure that would shut him up".

"Isn't that mean? At least to Lady Anne?".

Richard hummed, tapping the quilt to his nose. "Fine, you have a point there".

"I mean, yes, you're the king and all this marriage..., thingy is also your duty to bless".

"What's your point?".

"Maybe ask her first if she wants to be married to Uncle Henry?".

Richard wrote on a different parchment. "What else should I fix?".

Henri grabbed the other parchment and another quilt. He scribbled a few things and handed to Richard.

Richard hummed, considering all the adjustments Henri is proposing. He looked at his son, who was batting his lashes and smiling so innocently.

"You need to stop hanging around your mother".

LATER