The Decorum of Warfare - Zarry - GIOD Sequel

one.

PART TWO

March 1493, Windsor Castle, England

It was all fine until it wasn't. Not quite.

Philippa and Cassian were healthy, growing so fast Harry was slowly forgetting the time when they were babies and most importantly, England was peaceful. After that unfortunate bit with Edric and his puny 'rebellion', Harry and Zayn had no enemies left in their kingdom. At least those that hated them enough to take active action. The people loved them, the country was prospering and they slept well at night, knowing that the risk they took by running away and getting married all those years ago when they were young and foolish paid off in the long run.

All they ever wanted was to end the war. And they did. Peace was all that England had known for five years until a threat arose. Not in their kingdom but across the channel.

Most things start off easy, simple. They trickle in bit by bit so you almost don't even notice until they start to drown you. England is still enjoying peace but her Kings know that now they're knee-deep in bitter water.

"Mathieu has joined Pierre's court." That was the once sentence that started it all. The unease that hangs around them like a storm about to break. Not knowing what will happen, what steps to take to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.

Not long after Cassian's birth, Harry and Zayn fixed the line of succession that Mariota must have tempered with. Harry felt the shock from learning about it the first time once the documents were right in front of them. That chill that went down his spine in Bordeaux all those years ago when Zayn told him that Mathieu could end up on the throne if they die without heirs. Then when he continued and told Harry that Melisende was certain about Mariota, her very own sister sleeping with the King during the war and changing it herself. How can they have any idea what she was plotting?

Nevertheless, they corrected the mishap from nearly two decades earlier and moved on with their lives and reign.

Mariota and Mathieu learned about it upon their visit months after Harry and Zayn had removed any chance of Mathieu ever getting on the throne. With the decree they issued before Cassian was born, even if they hadn't changed the line of succession, if Mariota's schemes had worked, Agnes, Mathieu's older sister would've gotten the throne.

It was clear in the moment that Mariota had been seething but she couldn't do anything. Not without exposing her little secret that wasn't hidden to Melisende at all.

They all thought that was it. Until the news of Mathieu's arrival at the King of France's court came. Melisende's spies and friends from the French court all claimed that Mathieu and Pierre made fast friends and Mathieu was now in the King's closest circle. Two men that held a grudge against Harry and Zayn were now working together. And that's never a good thing. No matter how innocent it looks.

Deep down, they knew it would all only get worse. And did it get fucking dismal.

xxx

"I am incredibly sorry for my tardiness," Harry breathes out when he walks into the small council chamber. "Philippa's teacher wanted a word and I got held up."

He stops walking when he sees that they're not meeting with the whole privy council. "Why was I under the impression we are meeting everyone today?"

"We are not," Melisende replies, get face a blank slate. "Please, take a seat, Harry."

It's only him, Melisende, Zayn, Helen, Frederick and Raphael in the room. No guards in the room and Harry did notice that there was just one guard at the door instead of the usual two. Nevertheless, Harry takes a seat next to Zayn behind the round circular table. There's documents on it, what seems like a map and a couple of letters.