Son of Hope

Chapter Six - Unspoken

-Edward-

I rode with a few men to speak with those suspected to support De la Pole. We spent most of the day having choice words with them. All said the same, that he had left and they waited word. Swearing on their life they knew nothing more. We gathered them up to take them back to London but stopped on the way for refreshment. The men and I were laughing when I noticed a familiar red head and Spanish accent. Catherine with her Lady Lina were here. The sun shone down during this spring day and hit her a certain way that I saw what my brother had done. Her beauty in a most melodic way. The two were talking and i watched them, though it did not take her long to look around and notice myself. She stood and came over.

"Prince Edward, you are far from London." i chuckle

"As are you my Lady. Please join us." I nodded for their seats and drinks to be brought over. "What brings you so far out?"

"We are returning from seeing my Lady Pole. Your grandmother, my lady the kings mother has banished her from court."

"Quite right too, he cousin is a menace and she is too much like her treacherous father for comfort." I huffed taking a swig of my ale.

"What does Lady Poles father have to do with her place at court?" she questioned me and i hummed not answering "I insist you tell me."

"Do you now, my foreign widowed sister in law deminds I answer her." the men laugh "Why don't you check on our friends. The Infnata's lady will watch us closely." my men did as I said and left the three of us. i picked at the food on my plate.

"My Parents children each have someone they are close to. Harry has our grandmother, Arthur, Maggie and I as you know was close with my mother. She would tell me about my grandparents. How my Grandfather fell in love with my Grandmother after they met at a crossroads as she wished to plead with him for her late husbands lands for her sons. King Edward was enamoured with her, cast all thought of any other bride aside for her. Much to the dismay of the others." I told her. "He had siblings but he was close with his brothers. George and Richard. there was even this story about the battle of mortimors cross there were three suns in the sky. imagine that."

"What does this have to do with Lady Pole?"

"Don't worry I'm getting there." i cleared my throat "Anyway, there had always been a light rivalry between my grandfather and Maggie's father, George, but they were brothers. they loved and cared for one another. that relationship began to bitter when my grandfather married. Their cousin the Earl of Warwick who had nurtured Edward into being King, felt betrayed and intern betrayed that of which he made. George married Isobel the daughter of their cousin against the wishes of his brother. time after time George betrayed Edward out of spite and jealously. Till it eventually cost him his life, this was after the death of Isobel. Maggie and her brother were orphans. Nothing seemed to impair the relationship between my mother and Maggie, till mother married. And the imposter came to town." I recounted what little I remembered and what I had learnt over the years.

"So you see, Maggie Pole sweet in temperament can get angry and when she does, she's a threat." I stood up now finished with my food and ale "I hope the sight of traitors does not turn your stomach, princess."

"Why would it?"

"We have some in our keeping. I'm taking them back to London as I am with you." She went to speak "We must get going if we are to arrive back before nightfall." She looked back but then stood and followed me. We rode ahead of my men, Lena and the traitors. I kept glancing at her and then thinking of her fondness of my brother and all that came with it.

"Catherine, I wish for your opinion."

"On, what your highness." she replied

"Say you were in position of knowledge that changed the tides of nations. To speak of it and act on the knowledge would change everything you knew made things solid. But to not speak of it and keep it to ones self, would bring about a time of pain and loss you know you could have helped prevented. What would you do?" I question her and there was a long silence.

"I would put my trust in God to guide me. Pray till I hear him." I smiled and looked away. "Does the knowledge you speak of have something to do with the nightmares you had."

"Maybe." I hummed looked on ahead and went into a thought "You said my mother helped yours once."

"She did, she had a seeing. Gave her a warning one which she has listened to." I nodded debating on whether to tell her or not. "Is there something you wish to tell me." she put me on the spot and i straightened

"No, nothing." I stayed silent on what I knew and instead changed the subject. "What about you? Has my brother come on bended knee trying to convince you that he's not a lost cause."

"You speak of animosity of brothers and the chide your own."

"I love my brother, I love all my siblings doesn't mean I have to always like them." I countered "Harry feels like he has be slighted with fathers declarations. He himself has always acted and seen himself to be the older of us two. I have never minded since for the longest time being King was never a option. Even when Arthur died..." i tried off thinking of him

"I thought that mother would declare him the older. But nothing, now sit within another loss away from a throne I wasn't expected to take. With a brother who hates me because I inherited more than a throne." I click my tongue and ride on to scout ahead as i do not wish the hurt of how I felt show.

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I returned Catherine home and then made my way back to the palace and the prisoners to the dungeon. I gave my report back to my father and that was it. Days went by before I was called in to see my father. I bowed my head on entering.

"You wished to see me father."

"I did, sit." he gestured to the chair beside him and I did as I was told. Father cleared his throat "Princess Catherine came to see me earlier."

"Did she accept the proposal now that she knows her mother approves?" I wonder clasping my hands together. He sighed and the expression on his face told me everything "She did not."

"She wishes to marry your brother?"

"To what end? He's not the Prince of Wales, she would be a Duchess at best. Her children would never see the English throne?" he didn't answer "She loves him."

"I believe so."

"But it will be miserable, father. I have seen it."

"You saw your brother King with her as Queen. He will not be King, you will, you are the Prince of Wales." father tried to assure me but I shook my head

"Harry thinks he should be. He has for as long as we can remember, the only thing that stopped him was Arthur. Father if he marries Catherine they could wage a civil war I have no betrothed, no alliance. He will kill me..." I stood and began pacing

"He's your brother."

"He's arrogant and entitled, with a wife and a mere promise of sons who do you think people will side with. This will be Lancaster vs York all over again." he sighed "I will tell her, maybe she is like her mother and will listen to what I have seen. like her mother did with mine."

"If she does not, then what will you do? What are you prepared to do Edward?" Henry questioned

"Why?" he rose to his feet matching my posture

"If you and your mothers prophecy is to live by, then Catherine's relationship to Harry will only end in disaster. If she cannot marry one brother, what about the other."

"You want me to marry my brothers wife. Leviticus or not she was Arthurs wife, he was her intended not I. Nor do I have her affection."

"My marriage to your mother was built on less. We had not even met until I had won the war." he rested his hands on my shoulders. "If I write to the pope for dispensation that will over come one hurdle."

"Theres still Harry, she turned you down in favour to marry him."

"Forgetting the obvious fact I know. But I have seen your mother move mountains to protect her family and her country, I know in my heart you are cut from the same cloth." I sigh knowing deep down that he was right.

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