The White Queen -The White Queen

Palace of Placentia, Greenwich, England, Summer 1471

I am sitting beside my husband on our great thrones at Placentia. Everybody around us is anxious and sending us apprehensive stairs. I know where this is. Today we will judge the Neville siblings, Catherine, Anne, and Cecily.  Today my husband will determine the innocence of an 18-year-old, 15 year old, and 11-year-old girl and everybody has by now figured out that obviously these young people had no say in the matter and that their fate was entirely decided by their troublesome father who is now long dead. Still, there is fear that my husband will try to make an example of these young ladies, Something I myself have come to fear. I don't believe Edward will do that. I believe that he is the forgiving type. However, that forgiveness has worn away after this rebellion. I do not blame him for it. I do think that there were some people in this kingdom that needed to stop being given second chances, but these young girls are certainly not one of them. These young girls were certainly not responsible for the situation and they were put in.

Lord Stanley, the atrocious man who had to come back over to our side once he realized that husband would win, yells out, "Catherine, Anne, and Cecily Neville!" 

The three young women walk down the aisle hand in hand. I can see a hand resting on Catherine's belly. She is five months pregnant with the child of a man who is so atrocious in his behavior that is the talk of Christendom even after his death. The young lady seems paler and skinnier than when I last saw her even though her belly has swollen. I find myself concerned for her well-being as she and her sisters perform a dainty curtsy and stare back at us with fear.

Anne is the first to speak, "Your Graces, it was not our will to be dragged into this. It was not my sister Catherine's well to be married. Our father arranged her marriage to the son of Margaret of Anjou. She commanded that we go with her. We all had no choice but to obey."

I watch as Edward gets up out of his chair and starts walking toward the young girls and Richard and I exchange apprehensive looks about it all. "You know that Margaret of Anjou is defeated, and will never ride out against me again?" He asks.

I watch as the Neville girls nod frantically and Edward continues, "And that her cause had no merit?"

"We know that now," Anne says.

I see my husband smile, "Well that is good enough for me. I forgive you and I pardon you. And you are welcome here at court. Catherine and Cecily, you will live here under the care of my wife. You will be given a household of your own when your baby is born Catherine and we will decide on what to do with the Lancastrian heir once it has arrived. Cecily will remain in my wife's household until my wife can arrange a proper marriage for her. Anne, you will live with your sister Isabel here at court until my brother George can arrange proper provisions for you."

Edward begins to walk back to his chair before Anne pipes up, "Your Grace," my husband turns around, "We are grateful for the mercy you have shown us. But our mother, she is still in the sanctuary."

"Indeed, and that is where she has chosen to remain," Edward snaps as I take his sleeve and give him a look that tells him to calm down.

Edward regained his composure before we go onto dealing with more traitors. Most of them are dead. Edward gave no second chances for those who betrayed him this time and many of whom are getting their properties attained. We are lucky that some of the Lancastrian lords we have forgiven remained on our side, like the Percy's Who is head of the family decided after he was released and give him back his Earl done that he was sick of war and with simply do whatever for Edward instead of trying to always stir up trouble in the north. But still, there are others whose fortunes need to be dealt with. Most of the Beaufort family, the Dacres, the Welles, the Cliffords, and A large portion of the Welsh lords need to have their fortunes attained. Most of the spoils go to people who  remained are loyal supporters throughout the anthem, York lords, Edward's brothers Richard and Edmund, the Woodville's, and occasionally to my traitorous brother-in-law George and my children as well myself.