1461

THE NEXT MORNING, Catherine could feel her face burning out of embarrassment. At this morning, she found herself thinking this all could have been a dream. She's a fifteen year old child born out of the Lancaster bloodline surrounded by York's supporters. All her life she was born to Queen and King, with such plans to marry into the Scotland Royal family. "Perhaps the Scottish King will rally the city to fetch you for his son." Luciana began to speak brushing her golden-chestnut wavy hair.

Catherine giggled. "The Scottish King is old man with no dignity and strength to rally against England." All her maids started laughing, Rita came closer to her holding a bowl of grapes.

"Lady Catherine, would you like some grapes," she asked. Slowly, Catherine took a handful showing a smile at her for her gratitude. "Don't worry, I'm sure your father is gathering his army to come to get you home." With that sentence, Catherine took one longingly look at Luciana despite her captured living in a York Castle, surrounding by Yorkist she couldn't help to understand that it isn't truth. Knowing her father, she will never be saved.

"I sure hope so," she softly replied, showing a smile. With that statement being repeated in her head for many hours after. In reality, she knew her father is weak and in the need of desperate for a army.

She refused attend the banquet in the honor of King Edward victory. She remained in her rooms refusing to attend.

Hours have passed, she refused to eat anything. It was what she had to do.  "Why are you refusing to eat?" Rita asked. Catherine looked at Rita to Luciana, she honestly didn't care enough to answer.

"Catherine of Lancaster!" Luciana whined. "It's the whole point, I need them to know. I don't want to be here. I don't belong here." Rita sighed, exchanged looks with Luciana. "I pray my father comes to get his throne back,'' she conceded, furiously.

"Catherine, you must talk in a quiet tone. We are in a York court. This tremendous, castle is now not run by Lancaster. It's a York court. Their spies are all over; not going absent within the corridors tuning in to whoever talks crime or speaks treason.'' Catherine didn't tune in to Luciana's comments  to quiet her or didn't choose to move when Luciana began brushing her hair. She is irate, she is left out behind now she learns she is now the ward of King Edward. "He may rot from all, I care. I need my father to come to get me from this disgusting court." Luciana frowned, she set the brush on the bed, and after that bend down to settle Catherine blueish-greenish dress attempting to settle the lower tip of her dress. "You must play the part, Catherine. We ought to play our parts to spare ourselves from the court wrath.''

"Perhaps, I'll talk a stroll around the castle. It's where I grew up, I know all the places and secret rooms." Rita and Luciana both frowned at her request. "We may-"

Catherine bit her lip. "Alone."

***

Unfortunately for Catherine, no one dare to leave her alone. She's fifteen years old. Rita accompanied her on her walk. "We shouldn't do this."

"Nonsense," Catherine replied showing a smile. They made through the halls passing many maids and guards, who all looked at her way at approval. Something is wrong here. They refused to acknowledge her, she felt like somebody knew of her conquest of wandering around. Suddenly a large figured came directly towards her.

"Lord Warwick," she said studying his features. "I was inform by the guards your taking stroll around the castle." Catherine nodded refusing to say anything else after. "You realized your not permitted to leave your rooms without the assistance of a guard. We wouldn't want a mess occurring."

"A mess?" Rita asked. Lord Warwick sighed. "In the event our certain Lancaster princess tries to escape." Catherine couldn't help herself from laughing. Escaping, she certainly had that in mind. It would solved all her problems, she knew deep inside if she did, where will she go? She has no plan. "I wouldn't. It seems like excellent idea, Lord Warwick. How would poor King Edward act when he learns his ward has escape all because his most trusty advisor, or should I say? Kingmaker had simply forgotten to placed a guard in his ward chambers?" She leaned forward taunting him. With that Lord Warwick grinned through his teeth.

Warwick knew she is difficult girl also young and inexperienced. He saw it in her, she is definitely like her mother. "You can simply return to your chambers now. I'll escort you."

"You don't need to escort me. I simply know my way back. To help your little conscious Lord Warwick you can simply accompanied me back to my chambers. I'm sure King Edward would be delighted to know you found his missing ward." With that, she smiled showing her courageously wicked side of humor.

"Stop it, now." Rita warned. Lord Warwick raised his eyebrows. "You should listen to your maid Catherine. You miss the banquet. Edward has been asking for you. You should act like proper lady. Your not surrounded by your family anymore. Your nothing more than stranger here." With that Catherine furrows her eyebrows in annoyance. How dare he talk like that?

"You been warned, Catherine. I simply warn you, if you keep this attitude it won't end well." With that Warwick began walking expecting for her to follow him. "Princess Catherine," Rita spoke touching her hand. She could feel her skinny bone, she noticed that Catherine hasn't been eating at all.

"I'm fine. Let's return to our rooms," Catherine began walking not looking back.

***

The following day, Catherine had went through her evening in her recently established chambers, gifted  by Edward.  Catherine grinned gently, she found herself grinned broadly. She had spend her time fixing her rooms with her maids scattered all around. Despite being prisoner here, she was still treated lavishly.

"Princess Catherine?" She turned around. Rita stood next to a young boy, she recalls his name as Jimmy.

"Princess Catherine of Lancaster." He talked delicately. She was happy that he still alludes to her like a princess. Catherine rose up from the bed, standing straight, she was prepared for any message he brought.

"The king has asked to see you." She grinned. She at that point wickedly grin at Luciana than turning to confront Jimmy, sending him a faked grin. She rapidly excused the pageboy essentially clarifying she knew where Edward would be. She had lived in this castle since she was a little girl, she knew the secret passages and rooms that were among them. Luciana talked up. "Would you like me to escort you to the chancery, princess?" She shakes her head, she didn't require anyone to meddled in her situation. This was her fight, she'll end up winning.

"No. Just brush my hair, we still have time."

She escorted herself to the room without her handmaidens . She strolled in, Edward stood up from his chair. She didn't care to bow down, she went towards her seat, sat down. Edward grinned, sitting once more. "I see. Would you like anything? A cup of water?" Catherine remained noiseless and basically nodded. She observed him closely, he poured her water on a container. Catherine stayed silent. "You needed to see me?" She broke the silence.

"Catherine, I heard stories of you.'' Edward replied

Catherine grinned. "I trust they were good.''

Edward chuckles. "Yes. Great ones, your magnificence, boldness." He chuckles, showing a smile. Catherine shows a smile, besides she couldn't do much or say anything. She had no idea what he heard. "Do you want to know a story?" He inquired cutting her off-guard. "When I was small. My mother would tell me stories about the King. She would say he could be a very cruel ruler. Most of all she would say he isn't fit to be king.'' She gradually swallows gazing at him. Edward may be a charming youthful man he beyond any doubt he has possessed his own fair tricks. "At that point, she would tell about his children. Your brother is frantic as he appears. Then she will talk about you," he stopped observing her expression, as it were to see a blank expression. "She would always say your nothing compare to your family."

''You are saying, I'm the normal one?" Edward gazed at her closely, and she found herself gazing back. He gradually started to grin but after a long minute, she began to blushed.

''Your young, I gathered you aren't demolished by them.'' Catherine groaned knowing completely she turned fifteen, she hasn't indeed learned the ways her father had ruled, she was continuously known as her father's favorite child. "My father was no exceptionally cruel ruler.'' She managed to spat, causing him to raise his eyebrows, surprised.

''He wasn't?" She gestured attempting to prove to him, she wasn't perplexed. "Henry's court was poison. His charges were unpayable. He and your mother killed men and exculpated them." He clarified to Catherine in a calm tone, "As well numerous have endured amid these wars. But in case I can keep my seat of control as king, I arrange to see the law of England run fairly from one coast to the other. We'll all be English again." Catherine instantly felt outraged rising over her. She felt herself bubbling interior. ''You're no king! Your nothing more than a boy king.'' She hollered.

Edward knew she was baffled that her guardians had cleared left her behind and now she is being constrained to precisely take orders from people, she thought were her enemies. He got to be mindful that she looked much paler, skinnier. It looked like she hadn't been eating.

"It's a long day. You must get some rest.'' He rapidly changed the subject and causing her to raise her eyebrows, astounded. Their meeting was over.

''Very well then.'' She started to induce up as only for Edward to call her out once more. "I will ask the maids to bring you the finest dinners fit for a princess. I propose you would begin eating, Lady Catherine.'' Catherine extended her eyes, moving towards the entryway, in defeat.

  ***

"I won't do that to her," Edward yelled at Lord Warwick. Edward wouldn't do that to Catherine of Lancaster. She may be a young lady from his enemy side, but she is only fifteen. She is basically a young girl caught in an appalling war between families.

"Why not? Edward?" Warwick paused studying his look than continuing. ''Once, she is to wed to one of my cousins. She will never be an issue ever again."

"Warwick," he started. "How may we offer her to a man, who is insufficient for her. How could we sell her to a man, who is old enough to be her grandfather. She may be an illustrious princess. Individuals would revile us for offering their adored princess to an awful man." Lord Warwick couldn't get it.  "What do you recommend we do with the young lady?" He inquired.

"What do you mean? She is my ward." Edward reacted. "Edward, you can't conceivably be rationale to keep her as your ward. She is valuable. King Henry's only daughter." Lord Warwick answered to him. Edward swallows he needs to secure her safety. Edward gulps he is wanting to protect her, she is so young. He isn't much younger either, he is older by three years. "She will remain as my ward until I figure out what to do with her."

"We wed her within the family." Lord Warwick declared. Edward extends his eyes; he didn't get it. Is Warwick willing to wed her to George, Richard, or Thomas? "The Lancastrian has the blood of eminence. It'll stay inside your family. I'm beyond any doubt Cecily would love to cherished and prep the young lady for one of her sons."

"You control who she weds. We've talked of this. She is of Lancastrian blood." Lord Warwick kept the talked going.

"Warwick--" Edward began, only to be hindered once more.

"She is Catherine of Lancaster; she may be beauty, but you must not get yourself involve with this one. She is the daughter of Margaret of Anjou." He wrapped up his sentence.

"She is a child," Edward answered uproariously.

"She is turning sixteen, before long. We'll marry her to your brother. Thomas." Lord Warwick answered. Edward scowled and looked at him astounded, "Thomas?" He asked. Thomas is only sixteen. He has only been born days when their father died in the hands of the mad king, he never grew to meet his father. "He has no title." Edward reminded him. "He is only a boy."

"Precisely a boy, she is a girl. They will be married and therefore whatever children they will have will be of York blood." Warwick continued. "They will be married. Also, there won't be any fighting against authority from the people, either. They'll know that maybe one day, whatever children Thomas and their beloved Catherine could have one day, would receive the seat of power.'' Warwick paused for a moment. ''We know that may never happen as long as you're alive.''

"Why can't I wed her?" Edward hollered observing Lord Warwick. Edward proceeded. "I will wed Catherine of Lancaster. It would join together the battling sides. Thousands of Lancastrians would rally to my side." Warwick gazed at Edward in stun not accepting, not understanding he had gone within the totally inverse direction.

"Have you gone frantic, Edward?!" He hollered uproariously, sounding rankled, "You may start a war, she was set to wed the Prince of Scotland. We do not require any more foes than the ones we have.  She is a princess. She will be married within your family.''

''You are King of England now. Edward, I did so numerous things to put you on this position of royalty, I will not let you demolish it.'' Warwick yelled at Edward furiously, "We require her more than ever, she must stay a virgin, till she weds Thomas. Whatever children they would have will be of York and Lancaster blood.'' Warwick ceased, remaining noiseless, starting to gaze at Edward who remained completely still.

Warwick stopped, remaining silent, beginning to stare at Edward who remained totally still. "She may be a teen, but she is a girl, who could reproduce, who could grab and take control of the throne." Warwick finished, he turned around leaving Edward in the room alone.