The Last York Prince [AU]

Inquiring

JULY 1492:

Richard, watched from the window as Jasper was speaking to William. He returned to the table to eat lunch with Drew and his sister, Sarah.

"Where do you think he's going?", asked Sarah.

Richard shrugged, chewing on his food. After lunch, Sarah protested at her father.

"Why must I learn to sew?! I want to ride horses and play sword fight like them!", Sarah argued, pointing at her brother and Richard.

"In due times, Joan of Arc. If you behave, I'll take you to the river tomorrow and we can have a picnic", said William.

Sarah relented. She smiled at William before following her nurse to continue her lesson.

*

When Jasper arrived, Lizzie looked from her window. She sighed, Richard was not amongst Jasper Tudor's entourage.

"Is he here?", asked Elizabeth Woodville.

"You really think Henry and his mother would allow Richard to see me? To meet his siblings? They rather kill him", Lizzie returned to her bed, where her youngest daughter, Elizabeth laid after being nursed.

Henry will travel to France and their eldest son, Arthur, aged 4 will be Keeper of England and the King's Lieutenant. Lizzie would've told her children about Richard, but she knew that would mean trouble.

Only God knows how many times Lizzie had prayed to see her son again. She wanted to love him as she had loved her other children - Arthur, Henry, Margaret and Elizabeth. She wanted them to know him and to love him, but she could only dream of it.

Lizzie had to know. She had secretly sent a note to Jasper, hoping no one else read it. She waited and waited.

When all hope seemed lost, the door was opened and her lady said it was Jasper. Lizzie composed herself as she received her husband's uncle.

Jasper was a bit reluctant to do this, but he understood Lizzie's intention. What mother wouldn't be desperate when her child was snatched from her?

Jasper bowed before the Queen of England. "Your Majesty wished to see me?", he asked.

"Let us not beat around the bushes. How is he?", asked Lizzie.

"He's doing just fine, Your Majesty", said Jasper.

"Please..., I need to know. Does he know me? Does he know who he is?", asked Lizzie, at the verge of tears.

Jasper sighed. "I think the king has made it clear why you must be detached from the boy", he said.

"That boy is my son. I am his mother. You can take him to the edge of the world, my lord, he will always be my son and not a second in my life wasted not thinking about him", said Lizzie.

"I know. It is best..., you forget about him", said Jasper.

"You can make me, but there will be others who will remind him who he is. Those who are still loyal to his father", said Lizzie, words laced with threat.

Jasper chose his words carefully. "When the time is right, I will tell him, Your Majesty. Not now; he's too young to understand", he said.

"If you ever hurt my son, you will rue the day you make Henry king", said Lizzie, eyes filled with anger.

Not wanting to anger her further, Jasper merely bowed down, a sign that he understood her. He quickly left the room, taking her words into consideration.

*

The next day, William took his children and Richard to the river. Sarah would sit by the banks, dangling her tiny feet above the shallow water while her father, brother and friend fished for lunch.

William had contemplated telling Richard who he was. It was not right to deprive the poor boy of his heritage, but it certainly was not the right time either.

"Richard, I want to tell you something, but you must promise not to tell anyone, not even Lord Jasper. That goes for you two", said William.

He had ventured far enough for no one to hear him. He trusted his two young children and knew Sarah would soon forget or could barely pay any attention for something that doesn't interest her.

"Is it about my father?", asked Richard.

William placed his fishing line down and knelt before Richard. He grasped the boy's hand, gently.

"Your father...", William was about to say it when he heard galloping of horses. He quickly pulled all his children close to him, feared for bandits.

When the horses faded away, William sighed in relief. Richard made a mental note on whenever William wanted to tell him about his father, there was always something to stop him from knowing. Perhaps it was a sign for him to forget in order to lessen the pain.

"You might as well give up. Perhaps, I'm never meant to know who he is for sure", said Richard.

William knelt down once more. "You have a great purpose in this life, Richard. I know and one day, you will be returned to where you belong. I promise you that. What is dead can never die. He may not be here for you, but his memories live on. You'll understand that one day", he said.

That night, after the children were fast asleep, William took the opportunity to walk outside to the stables. He was the only one awake in this castle and he was glad.

William jumped when he heard a twig snapped. He drew his knife, but quickly kept it away when his long time friend, Edward Lincoln made himself known.

The two embraced in a brotherly hug. William offered him wine and bread and Edward gladly took it.

"How's Burgundy?", asked William.

"The duchesses are anxious. They wished to know how is the prince", said Edward.

William sighed. "I tried to tell him, but it is as if God is not allowing me to tell the prince who he is", he said.

"When will you take the boy to Burgundy? They want to raise an army and defeat Tudor", said Edward.

"It's not the time yet. He's still a child", said William.

"That's what I tried to tell them, but the sooner we take the boy to Burgundy, the sooner we can defeat Tudor", said Edward.

"I know..., but we have to prepare him. With the Tudors on our back, one wrong move, we all will die. Not now. Tell the duchess it's too dangerous", said William.

It was Edward's turn to sigh. "Alright, I will tell them. Thank you for the wine and bread", he said. With the moon as his guide, Edward travelled back to Burgundy to report back.