𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 || 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑬𝑵

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑋𝐶𝑉𝐼

~Trial and Treatment~

5th of August, 1484....

Constance's eyes had long since fluttered closed as Martha drew the ivory comb through her hair, a long ritual she indulged in morning and evening. The sun had almost risen fully in the sky and yet she found herself close to sleep the feeling of the teeth upon her scalp was so relaxing.

"Here, your grace" Said the voice of Alice as a hand gently lifted her right one and cool metal was slid onto her fingers. The same was then done to the left.
"Thank you, Alice" Constance murmured, turning her wrists to their undersides to the beaded bracelets she had chosen the previous night could be tied onto her wrists with their pretty ribbons of purple velvet that matched her gown.

With an urgent haste the door suddenly banged opened and Constance's eyes snapped open, head snapping around to see Cecily running toward her. She need not worry, she decided, the girl was smiling "My love! What is this?" She asked as she caught her daughter in her arms, hair spilling over her shoulders.

"You must come!" Cecily said, immediately reaching for her hand to try and tug her to her feet "Uncle Richard has called a meeting and he says you must come! There is news!"
"News?" She stood, Cecily began pulling her to the door "What news, my love?"
"I do not know! But you must come!"

"Your grace, you are not ready!" Martha called, comb still in hand but it would be no use trying to break free from Cecily when she was so enthused, Constance knew that! The eleven year old was tugging with all her might, cheeks flushed from running, and she would not be denied!

"It is of no matter!" She called over her shoulder as she was pulled from the room "I am not venturing from the castle!" But still Alice chased after her, a hastily found silver circlet in hand and quickly pushed it onto her head, nodding to herself once the task was done.

"We still wish for you to look regal, milady!" She replied and Constance's laugh reverberated throughout the corridors, prompting a giggle of Cecily's.
"You should wear your hair loose more often, ma mére" She said airily, though she kept her gaze firmly ahead "It looks so pretty! It should be the men that wear the headdresses, their hair is horribly short!"

"The men!" Constance crowed. Why, the thought of men wearing their butterfly hennins, their hands getting caught in the long veils when they tried to draw their swords, wrapping it around their bewildered faces! "Well that certainly would be a sight, my love!" They would prove utterly useless! Aside from birth, headdresses were certainly one thing only women could handle.

Cecily did not relent her steadfast pace through numerous corridors and out of the keep, across the battlements, up winding stairs until they reached the solar where Richard had told Cecily to bring her. There was likely a quicker way, in fact Constance knew there was, there was no reason to step out of the keep like they'd done but she said naught, a small smile on her face as she watched her girl.