CHAPTER SIXTEEN: WEDDING,1462

"HOW WONDERFUL!" Cecily of York spoke, loudly. "Turn around, Catherine!" She did what she was told to do. Cecily smiled hugging the girl tightly. Catherine wore a long white dress, short cut, she wore white pearls around her neck and her hair was loose. Catherine looked to see Luciana trying to brush her hair, she wanted to say something to her but Luciana refused to look at her and kept brushing her hair. "Your so beautiful, Catherine. This will be marvelous. You're going to be marrying my son. Thomas is so excited he told everybody how happy he is." Catherine gulps, nodding in agreement. She couldn't marry Thomas when she's carrying another man's child. Edward child. Her baby deserves to grow up knowing their biological father. If she has a son, it would have been Edward's child. What if Edward declares her his queen? Her child might be king one day. She hopes she has a son. A baby boy, she'll named him Arthur. Her son, of Lancaster and York blood. She is married to Edward, this is his biological son and his heir. The country will never know the true meaning of this, of her son.

"I'm honor, Duchess Cecily for joining the family." She responded, carefully. Cecily smiled looking at her. "Beautiful, my child. Beautiful." She spends her time trying to wear more jewelry with the help of Cecily and Luciana. Her handmaiden's were all dismissed in the morning, she couldn't find Julie anywhere.

~~

Thomas stood in his chambers fixing his clothes. He wore white suit with blue tips on the top. He looked handsome and found himself smiling. He finally is going to marry Catherine of Lancaster, it's his one chance. Today it is. He'll finally marry Catherine of Lancaster and have the support of the North; she'll carry his children. Well, for now. She is carrying Edward's child. "Sir, you ask for me?" A small voice asked. He turned around smiling upon the young girl, supposedly named Julie. She is a young girl, about fourteen still looks tall for her age. Thomas demanded her to keep her silence. "You'll not say anything about Catherine's pregnancy. Do you understand?" He yelled at her. Julie widened his eyes, terrified.

"Lord Thomas, I wouldn't."

"You better not! If I heard you said something to Edward! I swear you'll seize to exist!" He screamed at her. Julie trembled in sight of him. She had never seen this side of him. She couldn't believe it, her heart broke, Thomas the good brother was like a monster.

"Go! GO!" He screamed at her, making her yelp, she was scared. She needed Catherine to know the man she was about to marry. She went down the halls trying to find Edward or Catherine. She needed to find them. As soon as she saw Catherine wearing her white dress, walking with Cecily of York and Luciana following her from behind, she was about to yell only to have her mouth covered, pulled away to a secret place.

Catherine returns from the gardens, with Cecily and Luciana. They had left and were told to greet the guests. She was left alone in her chambers, preparing herself to get married. When the doors opened, she turned around to find herself in front of Julie, she was dirty and her hair was loose, she was crying. She immediately ran towards her, worried. Julie began to sniff. "It was Thomas. He hired men to take advantage of me." She began to cry in her arms, Catherine immediately took warily of her, patting her back. She felt angry, Thomas wouldn't do this. She had managed to get Julie to fall asleep, in her bed. She went looking for Thomas.

She entered his rooms, wearing her white dress. "I can't see you in your dress," Thomas smirked. Catherine immediately ran towards him and slapped him in his right cheek, leaving him confused. "How dare you order men to do that to Julie!"

Thomas sighed. "She needed to be taught a lesson."

Catherine raised his eyebrows. "You're disgusting! You're this type of man, you're different from your brothers. She is a girl, fourteen. She doesn't know any better!"

Thomas steps forward grabbing her wrist. "Like you! When you slept with my brother! Look at you now! You're carrying his child!" Catherine wanted to break loose and slapped him again but he held good grip on her wrists. "Thomas you're a monster!" She screamed at him only for Thomas to grab her, putting her close to him. "I swear to god. Catherine you better stay shut! I'm raising Edward child for you, I'll raise that child as my own; it shall be granted the title Duke of York. You know very well, if Edward finds out, your child will be claim as bastard, it will never have no claim to the throne!" Catherine sobbed listening to him, he was right. Her son may be of Edward but it will never inherit the throne, Edward didn't claim her as his queen. Warwick wouldn't let him.

"I refused to marry you!" She spat at him, only for Thomas to grab her again. "You can't mean that?"

Catherine spitted at him. "I don't married monsters who ordered rape. You are disgusting and a monster!!" She shouted at him, only for Thomas to kiss her leaving her shocked, he kept doing so till she couldn't breathe. He leaned away leaving her shock. "It wasn't under my command, Catherine. You have to believe me. It wasn't me, I was tricked into it."

"Who was it?" She demanded, sobbing.

Thomas stayed silent.

"Your a liar!" She yelled.

"If you don't marry me, I swear Catherine, I'll make sure Julie disappears from your view." He screamed frustrated by her outburst. Catherine broke away from him touching her stomach, fearful. "I'll be a good man. I'll raise that child as my own child. We'll have some more children. I promise you, I'll only come to love you, that child will be loved." Catherine couldn't comprehend what he just said. He was confusing her, she began to sob. Thomas leaned forward touching her hand.

"I'll promise, I won't touch Julie. We'll send her away from here. She will work for the Neville sisters. I need her gone. She knows the truth and that child is going to be mine, I need nobody to know the truth. That child will grow up calling me their father." He began to wrap his arms around her, as she sobbed. She never wanted this. She is hurt. She is torn. She just wished she could be reunited with her parents, mother and father.

She gently placed her hand onto his. Thomas smiled, pulling her up, holding her close. "I'll promise to look after you." She nodded, wiping her tears away. She was now truly alone in her marriage.

They began to walk out of his room only to find Edward, Richard and George looking for them. "Brother?" George asked. "I swear the ceremony is about to start! Where have you been? Catherine, please! No time!" George began to argue. Richard turned to look at Catherine. "Forget him, he means to say everybody is waiting for you."

Catherine nods, beginning to walk away leaving all four of the brothers to watch her from behind.

"She is crying?" Richard spoke. George turned to Edward and Thomas. "She has been. Thomas what did you do to her?"

Thomas turns to his brothers. "Those are tears of joy." All brothers immediately widen their eyes. "She's just happy. Wedding day." All brothers immediately went sniffing. George put his hand around Thomas' shoulder. "Come on, brother. We must get to your wedding!" They continued to walk behind Catherine leaving Richard and Edward behind.

Edward looked away refusing to look at them. "Are you alright?" Richard asked. Edward turns to him. "I shouldn't have listened to Warwick." He spoke, confidently began to walk behind them leaving Richard confused.

~~

THE WEDDING WAS TREMENDOUS, THE EVENT OF THE YEAR. The people had come from all around the world, giving respect to Catherine of Lancaster. The church up head held so many people from around the world. She began to shake, Edward stood next to her. They now stood outside the church, she began to tremble. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

"Edward, why this large?'' She asked. Edward lightly smiled. "Because you're the former princess of England. This marriage means a lot to the people. They want to see you married, since your marrying Thomas you'll bring us some support from your family. You'll be marrying Thomas and providing him an heir." She tense up hearing those last words. They began to walk hearing loud noises.

"Speaking of heirs?"

"You were acting strange. Have you been vomiting?" Catherine immediately turned to look at him. Did he know?

"No. It's me. You know me." She spoke as she looked around to spot some familiar people.

"Catherine, if you're carrying my child, tell me now." Edward demanded causing her to flinch. "No. Edward. I'm not. I will never carry your children," she mutters letting go of him as she takes Thomas hand. She watched as Edward saw how Thomas took her and stood in front of a priest, in front of millions of people. Edward looked away and began to walk in the opposite direction.

~~

"Lady Catherine, do you take this man?" The priest asked, looking at the bride."I take this man," She agreed, trying not to freak out. She allowed Edward to remove her wrap and offered him a small smile before stepping away from him and taking Thomas' hand. The two got down on their knees in prayer completely silent for a moment, everyone did the same and not a sound was uttered for a couple of moments before everyone looked to the newly married couple.

Thomas helped Catherine back to her feet, he offered her a small smile before wrapping her in his cloak; they stared at one another realising that it was done. The two were still for a moment, the newness of their situation setting on them for a moment before Thomas hesitantly stepped forward and kissed Catherine causing their audience to clap.

The kiss didn't last long and linking their arms, Thomas led his new bride back down the aisle; people congratulating them as they went before everyone started to head back to the keep.

Edward watched as Thomas took Catherine. He frowned upon the view.

"He did well," his mother mused slowly walking to her son.

"They both did," He replied, frowning. He turned around looking away refusing to see the newly wed couple.

Thanking another person for their well-wishes, Catherine excused herself and walked away wanting a moment to herself; the room was so loud and she wanted a little time to gather her thoughts. Catherine had barely had a moment to herself since she had stepped into the Grand Hall, she still couldn't quite believe that she was now Catherine of York and she knew that she would have to adjust and quickly.

Making sure that no one was really watching her, Catherine slipped out of the hall wanting to have a moment or two to herself before she was forced to greet another Lord or Lady and converse with them. She had tried to be polite and smile constantly, Catherine was doing her best but her head was still trying to catch up; she feared that.

"Are you okay?" Richard asked, appearing out of the hall.

"I'm sorry Richard, I was just taking a moment to myself," She apologised knowing how bad this must have looked, she wasn't trying to be rude and she wasn't used to being the centre of attention.

Walking over to Catherine, Richard offered her a reassuring smile knowing.

"We are family now," He replied softly, she looked out into the night and shivered knowing that the days were getting colder; there was no denying that winter was really coming.

"Thank you," She said looking out, she took a deep breath and tried to relax for a few moments; no one seemed to have come looking for her except for Richard.Even her new husband seemed a little distracted with his friends.

"It's okay to be afraid. Any bride on her wedding night would feel the same," He comforted her.

"If you ever need someone to talk to..." Richard offered. "I'm here." She smiled at him, showing compassion. He was truly nothing like his brothers.

~~

"I hope you are prepared for tonight..." Cecily mused softly, she rested a hand on the back of the chair where Catherine was sitting; she dismissed the two women that Catherine was talking with before she sat down.

"Yes, Duchess Cecily," Catherine whispered looking over to Thomas he was talking with some of Edward banner men that had been invited to celebrate and she was grateful that he wasn't able to hear what his mother was saying to her.

"Good." she said before moving away.

"Time for the bedding," George announced gleefully, he'd been eyeing Catherine all evening and there was no point in putting this off; the feast was coming to an end and it was time for what he saw as the main event.

"If you don't keep your hands to yourself... you'll lose them," Thomas replied glaring at his brother, he had told him already that there would be no bedding ceremony. A couple of the visiting lords chuckled at how protective Thomas was already and they watched as he walked over to Catherine; the entire room seemed almost silent watching the newlyweds closely.

Offering his hand to Catherine, Thomas tried to ignore the nerves that formed in his stomach; he offered Catherine a small reassuring smile before she got to her feet knowing that there was no putting this off now.The slightly drunken crowd cheered as Thomas and Catherine left the feast, the celebration continued after the newlyweds had left for their new quarters.

Thomas closed the door behind them glad that someone had started a fire to keep the room warm, it was very different from his old room and he guessed that was to be expected. The two settled into an uncomfortable silence unsure what to say to one another, they both knew that this was going to take some getting used to and they had all the time in the world now.

"We don't have to do this." He murmured nervously, he could see how uncomfortable Catherine looked and he didn't wish to make her more uncomfortable. She was already pregnant. He was sure that they could consummate their marriage when they were both ready with the last thing he wanted was for Catherine to feel forced into something.

Their wedding was barely a few hours ago. "You'd be okay with that?" Catherine whispered surprised by Thomas' suggestion. Instead Thomas began to walk to bed, he sat on it, gesturing for her to come forward. She slowly moved beside him. He then went under the sheets, gesturing for her to come forward. "What are you doing?" She asked. Thomas sighed. "Protecting you."

He then grabbed her foot, took a knife from a drawer slicing a bit, as blood dripped onto the bed. She quickly turned to him, wide eyed. "There, your reputation is safe. The child your carrying will be known as mine." He then places the knife back in the small drawer and then covers himself in sheets. "Good night," he said softly. She slowly began to stared wide eyed at him, as she moved beside him laying down to sleep. This was only the beginning, she thought.