The Last York Prince [AU]

The Truth

SUMMER 1494:

When William told the children about journey to London, the trio were excited. As they packed for the journey tomorrow, Jasper came in and asked to speak to Richard, alone.

Richard followed Jasper to the library. There, they sat by the fire, quietly at first. Jasper gathered his words and turned to Richard.

He knew Henry and Margaret Beaufort will not be pleased, but deep down, Jasper felt it was wrong to keep this from Richard. It was either coming from Jasper himself..., or other people who might manipulate the young boy in front of him.

"I think you're old enough to know who your father is", said Jasper.

Richard felt his breath stuck in his throat. He wanted to know. He waited anxiously for Jasper to speak.

"What do you know about the previous king?", asked Jasper.

Richard shook his head. "It was not much..., apart from what you and the others had told me", he said.

Richard was told by others that the old king was cruel. He had manipulated his own niece, the current queen, emotionally. He ordered the queen's brothers' death and The Princes in The Tower were children at the time.

"The previous king..., was your father", said Jasper.

Richard, despite at the young age of 9, felt as if his world had gone dark. He was hoping his father was an honourable man, just as William had claimed.

"I know this is hard for you...", said Jasper, but Richard quickly got up and ran out of the room.

Richard pushed the main door opened and ran off. He could hear Jasper and William calling out to him, but he kept running. All the years he had played and trained, he was the fastest runner here. He took a turn and headed towards the river.

Jasper ordered William and a few other men to find the boy. William got onto his horse and took off first. He had an inkling where to find Richard. If anything happens to Richard, his master..., his ACTUAL masters will have his head. He had to find Richard first.

William looked at all the places where Richard might be. The moon was getting higher into the night and worry washed over him. Soon, he met up with the others, who had failed to find the young boy.

"Tell Lord Jasper. I will keep looking", said William.

The rest returned while William headed out once more to look for Richard. It was hard to look when he only had one torch and it's dying fast.

"Damn it. Where is he?", William cursed to himself.

*

Richard didn't know how far he had walked. Surely, they will find him. It was dark with only the moon as his light.

What Jasper had told him contradicted from what William had told him all these years. He didn't know what to think anymore.

Richard found the stream. He took off his boots, setting it on the banks and stepped into the water. The level was up towards his knees. The river flow soothed his anger and anxiety.

As he stood there, he heard the soft and faint singing, sounding like a woman. He looked around, regretting not grabbing his knife that William gave to him on his 8th birthday.

He saw a woman, behind some bushes. She was beautiful, but from all the stories he heard from his nurse, suggested that he should run now. Somehow, he couldn't.

"What are you doing here at this time of night?", asked the woman, ever so gently as she approached Richard.

Richard couldn't move as if he was frozen. The beautiful woman was standing in front of him now.

"There, there. There's nothing for you to be afraid of, my child", she said.

"I am not afraid! I'm just...", Richard didn't know what to say. His cheeks were stained by his tears.

The woman engulfed him in her arms, like a loving mother and Richard broke down in tears. He never knew what it felt like a mother's love. Alice's hugs didn't feel like this, nor did Maggie's. They were not his mother. This woman was not either, but somehow, it felt like she was.

"You're a strong boy. I know you can get through all the obstacles life will throw at you", said the woman.

"What if I'm not strong enough?", asked Richard.

"You are strong, like your father before you", said the woman.

"The things they said about him...", said Richard.

"They tell lies. They are the enemies..., the usurpers. They have taken what was rightfully yours, my child", said the woman.

"What should I do?", asked Richard.

"Go back. When the time is right, you will rise and kill all those who have wronged you", said the woman.

When she turned around and walked away, Richard grabbed the hem of her sleeve. "Wait, who are you?", he asked.

The woman turned and smiled. "One day, you will know..., but for now, you may call me Lady Mother", she said.

Richard let Lady Mother's sleeve go and watched as she disappeared into the woods, towards the deeper parts of the river. Richard followed her, but she was nowhere to be found.

Richard lowered himself to the water, floating. He watched the moon and stars, drowning out his sorrows with the silence of the woods.

*

When Richard opened his eyes, he was back in his room. Next to him were William and his children. He also noticed he was covered in a few layers of blankets.

William woke up from his sitting position and noticed Richard was awake. He embraced the boy, relieved that he's alive.

"Don't you ever do that again, you hear me, boy?", said William, hugging and kissing Richard's hair.

Richard was later called to Jasper's study room. He refused to look Jasper in the eyes, still in disbelief of what Jasper had told him the night before.

"I know it's hard to swallow...", said Jasper, but one look from young Richard, that haunting eyes of his father, silenced Jasper.

"Then, don't tell me anything. I was fine being just Richard", said Richard.

"I thought you deserved to know. Better you hear it from me than other people who sought to control you", said Jasper.

"You kept me away from my family because you think they'll control me?", asked Richard.

"I've know the court longer than you do, boy. It is unforgiving, vicious and cruel. People will do anything to stay in power", said Jasper.

"My mother?", asked Richard.

"Our Queen Elizabeth", said Jasper.

"Does she know I'm here?", asked Richard.

"I'm not sure, but the king has forbade her to ever made contact you. For your safety", said Jasper.

For a young boy, he was angry at the king for taking his mother away. He was angry at those who killed his father, the late King Richard. He's always angry at Margaret Beaufort.

"I promise you, Richard. For as long as I live, I will keep you safe", said Jasper.

Richard began to think. What can he do to avenge his father's death? He turned to Jasper, who gave him a warm smile. Richard smiled, but deep down, he will want vengeance to everyone involve in usurping his rightful place.