𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐄 || 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑯𝑰𝑻𝑬 𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑬𝑵

𝐶𝐻𝐴𝑃𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝐶

~Divine Intervention~

22nd of August, near Thirsk....

A force of over fifteen thousand departed Ripon in the early morning after three days spent there, rejoicing in the newly crowned King and awaiting the arrival of more men. The House of York had been well rewarded for staying put!

Now came another long wait as the royals waited on the east side of the river swale, outside the village of Topcliffe, for the men to travel across. It would certainly take some time for them all to get across the small stone bridge and so they dismounted and a temporary camp was put up, a royal tent with tables inside and out.

They were quickly filled with food but while Constance, Marie and their friends (who were not overseeing the crossing) broke their fast, Edward was amongst his guards, greeting the villagers that had quickly emerged from their homes to catch a glimpse of him. His Mother had told him to sit, that they could view him from afar while he quenched his thirst and rested his body a little but Edward would have none of it!

"My people have come to see me!" He'd told her with an easy smile "And see me they will!" There was no denying she admired it but still couldn't help keeping a close eye on him as she ate.

"Perhaps I should join him" She murmured, wiping the crumbs of a sweetmeat from the corners of her mouth with the napkin laid over her shoulder "Just in case"

"Oh leave the lad, Connie" John said, draining his cup of wine then leaning over the table, put her in hand, to refill hers "He's well, just look at him" She was. He was smiling as he'd done in Ripon, his merry laugh was travelling to her ears every minute or so as he raised men and women from their knees "He comes to the attention naturally"

"It is not his handling of the attention I'm worried about, it's his safety"
"He has his guards around him" Rob replied "And we are not leagues away! Dickon is only at the bridge, he can ride here in an instant if there is trouble!"

She knew they were right but still couldn't take her eyes from her son, sipping her wine slowly. To go to him now would only serve to make him look like a child, she supposed. That wouldn't be helpful. Perhaps it was best to make the most of seeing him smile before his raging vengeance was unleashed upon his enemies?

"George!" Immediately the strapping young Neville was striding over to his Father and leant against the back of his chair with a grin.

"Father?" John held a silver goblet above his head, drops of wine sloshing over the sides and onto his tabard "Take this to the King, would you? His is tiering work" As George took the cup and walked off with it, John managed to Constance's eye and winked. He'd sent George to calm her nerves.