The Last York Prince [AU]

Training

(Richard starts his training once more and met someone unexpected)

Richard picked up his sword, gripping it to make sure it's comfortable to hold. He readied himself as William handed him another sword.

"Today, I'm going to teach you how to use both of your hands".

"Won't that be difficult? I mean, how am I supposed to hold my shield?".

"That would be a lesson for another day. Today, we focus on this".

Duchess Cecily watched, pride was etched onto her face as she saw how her only grandson practiced his swordsmanship. Richard may struggled a bit, but he was a quick learner.

"I can see a great commander and leader", Edward commented.

"He is a descendant of great kings, Mr. Lincoln. He is already great at those", said the duchess.

"Do you wish to put him on the throne still, Your Grace?".

Duchess Cecily shook her head. "Richard shall decide himself that, but..., I don't think he will. He loves them, the Tudor offsprings. He wouldn't dare to hurt them".

"From what I can tell, either he ascends..., or he destroys them".

"That shall be a sight to behold, don't you think?", the duchess smiled at the thought.

*

Richard frowned on why he must learn how to dance. Duchess Cecily laughed as she saw his reaction.

"Well, when you're at court, you are expected to know all this. You can't just scowl in the corner".

"Must I learn? I will look like a fool".

"That is why you must learn, my dear".

Edward showed him the steps first before Richard imitated it. He stumbled here and there, but he got back up, not giving up.

It took Richard a while to understand the steps and turns. His lady grandmother was a patient teacher and she smiled when he finally got the hang of it.

*

Richard watched in awe as Edward fired arrows upon arrows in matter of seconds. Edwards handed him the bow.

"Let's see how you do".

Richard's arrows hit the target, but was not as fast as Edward. Edward laughed and patted his head.

"It's alright. We'll get there soon".

Edward and William began to train Richard's physical stamina. He had to do multiple things, pulling weight, running on the narrow brick wall without falling; among others.

Duchess Cecily would dictate as Sarah wrote to Margaret of York on Richard's progress. Ralph would update on London every time he would return to Bedford.

Duchess Cecily expressed her concerns to her daughter. Richard was the last York male heir, thus being a great danger to the Tudors. She refused to lose her grandson and she will fight if she has to.

*

Richard ran his finger onto the name written on the book - 'R Gloucester'. It was a prayer book, Book of Hours and Richard held the book to his chest, clutching it close.

Duchess Cecily entered the study to find her grandson clutching a book, no doubt from his father's many books. He may looked like a seasoned soldier, but deep down, he was still a child. A child who longed to have two loving parents and wanted to grow up in a loving home.

"I do miss him, your father. He was a loving father and I can tell that if he was still alive, you would be in Wales by now, styling yourself Richard, Prince of Wales", Duchess Cecily sat on the chair by the window.

"The things people say about him...".

"Their opinions don't matter, Richard. It is what you believe that matters. People will tell you all the bad things, even if it's minor. They won't remember all the good things you have done".

"How did he lose?".

"Lord Stanley switched sides. If he hadn't, your father would've won, having outnumbered Tudor that day".

Richard set the book down. "I was told it wasn't Tudor who directly killed him".

"True, but with your father dead, he wins the crown".

"He told me how he was killed".

"How?".

Richard remembered Henry asked him to sit down. He told Richard how his father died because it weighed on his conscience.

"He said his men beat him again and again, but he refused to die. So they buried him alive".

Duchess Cecily held back her tears. Richard walked to her and rest his head on her lap.

"It's ok, my dear. We must be strong. We are Yorks. We do not quack in fear".

THAT NIGHT

Richard opened his eyes and he frowned. This was not his room. Everything was just..., white.

He got up and looked around. It was as if he was in a void. Was he dead? If so, afterlife doesn't seem too bad at all.

The void suddenly turned into the throne room. Richard looked around; instead of Tudor rose, he sees white ones with a white boar.

"Can I help you?", Richard turned around, startled to see the familiar face with a crown on his head.

"Father?".

Richard III frowned. This young man in front of him looked oddly familiar. He knew all of his children..., unless....

"Elizabeth?", he asked and Richard nodded.

Richard III chuckled. "What is your name?".

"Richard".

His father chuckled again. "Was that meant to pour salt on Tudor's wounds?".

"Of the sort".

"How are you?".

"To be honest, Death would be a good option now".

Richard III sat on the throne. He patted the queen's seat next to him and Richard sat down. They talked a lot about what had happened up until Teddy and John's death.

"It was never my intention to ever let this happen. I..., I thought I had the winning hand. I thought I could reign as long as my brother Edward had".

"It's ok. We fall sometimes. The important part is to get back up".

"And I'm sorry for everything you have to go through. It must've been hard".

"You went to war when you were my age, didn't you? You fled with your brother to Flanders and returned to reclaim the crown".

"I was a bit older than your age, my son".

"Still, it is hard, but I have no other option. It's either I fight or I might've ended up dead. I just..., I just wished I could save Teddy and John".

"Don't you worry about them. I shall take care of them now".

"If I don't want to be king, would that be alright with you?".

Richard III leaned back to study his new found son. He smiled. "Something tells me you have another plan. One I do hope works and I pray you succeed in it".

"I will see the destruction of the people who have snubbed our family. I will see their downfall, the very people who painted us in a bad way. I will make sure they pay".

"You promised your sister, remember?".

"Don't worry, father. I will succeed this time".

"Then, my son, go forward with my blessing".

Richard woke up to see the sun about to rise. He felt more motivated than ever.