𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙....
In a world of bloody war and misgivings that lead to treason, there is only one thing Catherine Percy can be sure of and that is danger.
Her life had not always been thus, f...
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~With our Tails Between our Legs~
October 1470, the Tower of London....
"Ah! I have you, Princess!"
Little Mary squealed with laughter as she was lifted from the floor by her Aunt, becoming the first of the children running about the Queen's bedchamber to be caught by her capable hands.
The chamber was aglow with light from candles burning bright upon the long table, illuminating the remains of their supper. The Queen and Margery sat by the roaring fire, cooing affectionately over baby Johnny while he slept, content from his latest feed. They often gathered thus in an evening, without pomp or ceremony, simply the warmth of companionship.
Away from the court and it's many rules, such closeness was easy and it drew their mind away from war a little. Three weeks they had held residence in the Tower and three weeks they had tried to filled their waking hours with something other than worry. The distinct knot of unease had tied itself in each of their stomachs and even as she played with the children, Catherine could feel it within her.
Setting Mary down on her feet with a grin, she let the little Princess run free once more before she sought the others. Henry and Cecily had squirrelled themselves beneath the Queen's grand bed, their little faces peeking out while Catherine pretended to hunt for them. Lizzie hid behind one of the heavy velvet curtains, laughing when her Aunt spotted her and began to chase her around the long trestle table.
"You cannot run from me, Lizzie!" Catherine called, hoisting her skirts a little higher to run while the girl giggled, quickly hiding behind her Mother's chair. "I surrender! I surrender!" She cried, gasping for breath while her Elizabeth laughed, applauding her friend's victory.
"It seems you have won, Cat!" She chuckled, lifting little Cecily onto her lap when the girl emerged from her hiding spot "And well done to you!" Henry soon joined her, clambering up onto the table bench to snatch at a half eaten piece of bread. Stuffing it into his mouth, he grinned, chewing happily before he hopped down and toddled across the tiled floor to the hearth.
"Mama! Look!" He demanded, holding up what remained of his prize for his Mother's inspection. She smiled, reaching down to ruffle his hair and watching his little feet patter back and forth where he stood. He could never stay still, she thought with a grin, he was like his Father in that!
Suddenly, a fist hammered at the chamber door and all eyes darted towards it, widening at the almost deafening pound. "Catherine...." Elizabeth began but the Duchess had already swept towards the door and turned the heavy key in its lock, jumping back as the wood swung open.
