short stories

the white queen

(Flashback)

Lady Melissa woodville sat looking at herself in the mirror wondering how to cover up the new bruise her husband gave her he hated her thought her to be a traitor he wanted her dead and she knew that her family had disowned her for lying about Richard hitting her even Elizabeth banned her from her sight she was barely allowed out of her room

As Melissa went to cover the bruise Edward burst in with guards

"Your grace what is this"  Melissa asked Edward just stormed over to her grabbing her hair

"You betrayed me plotting to kill me and your sister you are being sent to the tower and will be executed when I return from this war" Edward said shoving her to the waiting guards

"No please I didn't do anything" Melissa pleaded as she was dragged away Richard knew he'd be rid of his wife soon but something in him didn't sit right with him he felt he'd come to regret what he'd done
(Flashback end)

Months later Edward had come out victorious against his cousin and brother he sat in a meeting with his brother, wife and her mother

"Melissa helped me escape when Warwick arrested me for witchcraft she told me what he had planned without her I don't think you would have won so easily" Jacquetta said

"I agree mother we did receive letters of Warwick's plans from her Warwick did release her but she went back into the tower without being arrested or forced" Elizabeth said

"She may have helped us but she's still a traitor she wanted us dead our eldest daughter dead" Edward said as anger bubbled inside him again Richard sighed before speaking

"No Edward she didn't" Richard said
"What do you mean you told me yourself that your wife planned to kill us" Edward said

"I know but in truth I hated her I didn't want our marriage I no longer remember why as all I did was hit her and I was angry that she told even though no one believed her i felt a need to punish her she did try to be a good wife I just wouldn't allow her to be" Richard said

"Why tell the truth now"  Elizabeth asked
"Lately I've been plagued with her crying face and screams I can't sleep with the feeling of guilt about what I did to her " Richard said sadly

"What are we to do" Jacquetta asked
"Elizabeth, Richard and I will go to her and bring her back you go ahead and prepare for her return" Edward said everyone left to do their tasks

"Do you think my sister is alright I feel terrible I forced her into this all she wanted was to find love and I denied her that" Elizabeth said as the set of for the short ride to the tower of London

"I could have loved her given her what she desired but I didn't but I will I was never a good husband to her it's about time that changed" Richard said thinking of the times he punished her for rediculous things

(At the tower)

"This place is gruesome" Richard mumbled at the conditions of the most remote part of the tower his wife was kept in

"I know I put her in the tower but I had no idea I'm king I should have atleast known"Edward said as they approached her cell door

"One at a time we don't know what state she'll be in after so long locked up she may think it's time for her execution which I'll have cancelled the moment we return" Edward said entering first upon seeing him Melissa stood from her bed

"Your grace" Melissa curtsied

"Do you know why I've come" Edward asked
"No your grace" Melissa mumbled