Why Does Right and Wrong Seem So Far Away? An Anne and Richard Halloween Tale

The End: "Please Find Him."

October 1483

As Anne and Richard strolled through the woods on the morning of All Saints Day, Anne suddenly fell to the ground. Richard tried to help her up, but she was unable to move. The sunlight had blinded her and now all she could see was a green, August field. There were thousands of men lined up. She saw Richard, with his crown upon his head, fighting. What was going on? She heard his thoughts. “Anne, Anne, where are you? Anne? Edward?”

“I am here!” Anne said aloud to no one. Yet the Richard of her strange dream seemed to hear her.

“Anne? Oh, I knew you would come. For I am scared. I am scared that, that, Lord Stanley he…”

“Shush, shush. Everything will be alright, I promise,” Anne whispered. “I love you.”

“Can you forgive me?”

“Always!” Anne exclaimed. “What have you done?” She could see him so clearly now, he was charging. She didn’t think he could hear her. Then, just before he reached the bloodied men of the other army, she heard his reply.

“I love you, Anne. And Edward. I am so sorry. I miss you. But I will join you soon. I know now. I have always known. The eclipse, it foretold of our future in heaven,” then there was a loud roar. A cry. A scream. Treason, treason was yelled. She knew it to be her beloved Richard' voice. And then there was silence. But she saw them as they buried him in a tiny grave and left him there to rot, under the altar. But it could not be true? He was left to be forgotten...to never be found. The great King Richard III...

Anne buried her face in her hands. The vision disappeared.

“ANNE!” Richard shouted. He pulled her into his arms and carried her back to the castle. She felt the morning air on her neck and his scent was close to her. He was close to her now. Had that seeing foretold the future? Had Elizabeth cursed them? Would Richard die on the battlefield and leave her and Edward?

No.

“I love you Richard,” Anne whispered into his ear.

“I love you too, Anne,” he murmured. They kissed briefly. Anne knew what was to come and she feared it, but for some strange reason, she felt that she would not survive to see all of it. One letter was engraved in her mind: R.

“Please find him,” she whispered into the darkness that night. Richard lay beside her. “Whoever you are, please find him.” 

© 2013 by Eliza Wood. All rights reserved.