ROYAL BLOOD
— 40. King George

"Are you sure about this?" Lizzie asked as she walked over to Nora, an uneasy look on her face.

"This is the only way to keep you and Prince Edmund safe," Nora replied, turning to face Lizzie as she tried to contain her sadness, "You must leave England. Go to Austria. Maximilian will keep you safe."

"Shouldn't Marie come with us, then?" Lizzie frowned in concern, "She is, after all, his daughter."

"Margaret wishes to keep her here. As do I," Nora answered in a calm tone, "She won't be harmed, even if we are to lose. She is the daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor. Even the Tudors would never let the daughter of such a powerful man be harmed."

Lizzie nodded in understanding, trying to contain her sadness as she walked toward the woman who had been like a mother to her for more than half her life. "Am I ever going to see you again?" She asked softly, causing Nora to sigh in defeat.

"If we win, yes," Nora replied, hiding her own uneasiness, "If we don't...Probably not."

"I must thank you, Nora," Lizzie suddenly spoke up, causing Nora to frown as she turned the face the younger woman, "I must thank you for being there for me when no one else was. Lizbeth, Cecily, even my own mother abandoned me, but you never did. You raised me into the strong woman I am to this day. You were a mother to me when my own mother wasn't. You fought for me like I was your own blood. I thank you for that."

Lizzie began to tear up and Nora found herself doing the same. She quickly rushed over to Lizzie, hugging her tightly as Lizzie began to cry.

Slowly, she pulled away, cupping Lizzie's face in her hands as she wiped the girl's streaming tears. "I don't care what people say. You may not be my blood, but you are my daughter. You always will be and that is why I'm sending you away. I don't want you dying because of me. I have lost enough children, I will not lose another," Nora explained, beginning to cry, "I love you, Lizzie. Remember that."

"I love you, too," Lizzie confessed in a whisper as she stared up at Nora, "If this is the last time we meet, I promise you that I'm going to make you proud. I'm going to do right by the York name, no matter what it takes. If it comes down to it, I will raise Edmund like I would my own son. I promise."

Nora smiled, nodding her head in understanding as she hugged Lizzie tightly.

"Your Grace," A voice called out, causing the duo to turn their head to see John de la Pole standing before them.

He held little Edmund in his arms as he walked over to the two women. He was more than a year old now.

John de la Pole stopped when he was standing in front of Nora. He handed her the child and Nora began to tear up as her grandson was placed in her arms. She held the small boy in her arms as she looked down at him. "I pray this isn't the last time we meet. I will do everything in my power to return you to your father. But for now, you must live with your aunt Lizzie. She will take care of you. I promise. You will be safe. I pray to God you never have to grow up the way your father did as an exile. You will be raised at Westminster as a prince of England, as is your God-given right. I will do everything within my power to make that happen."

Edmund stared up at Nora silently, clearly not understanding that much of what she was saying. He lifted his chubby hand, though, placing it on her cheek before hugging her.

Nora smiled softly, immediately hugging the small boy back. She tried her hardest to choke back a sob as best as she could as she turned to Lizzie. She handed the girl the small boy, who remained calm as he was placed in his aunt's arms.

Nora placed a hand on Lizzie's shoulder, pressing a kiss to her forehead and Edmund's. "May we meet again."

"May we meet again," Lizzie whispered softly, giving Nora one last parting look before heading toward the door.

Lizzie stopped, however, when her eyes locked on Little Marie, who had been there the entire time, watching the scene occur.

She smiled sadly at the girl. "We will see each other, Marie. I promise," She assured Marie, who simply nodded before she rudely turned away from Lizzie.

Lizzie sighed in defeat, just before leaving the room with Edmund. John de la Pole followed after her, ready to escort her to the ship bound for Austria.

Once they were gone, Nora turned to Marie, a curious look on her face. "Why must you always be so dismissive of Lizzie?" She asked the girl as she made her way over to her.

"I don't like getting close to people," Marie admitted in a whisper as she looked down at the ground, "It only ends in heartbreak. Everyone around me dies. If I don't get close to them, I won't be sad when they die."

"You're not optimistic, are you?" Nora asked, a puzzled look on her face.

"What is there to be optimistic about?" Marie questioned, frowning at Nora, "You sent Lizzie and Edmund away, but you kept me. My father doesn't want me. It's obvious. Cousin George is locked up with the Tudors and we don't know if Scotland will support us."

"We will win, Marie," Nora argued, a determined look on her face.

"If we were going to win, you wouldn't have sent Lizzie away with Prince Edmund," Marie whispered softly and Nora tensed up, knowing the girl was right.

"You're too smart for your own good," Nora realized as she walked over to the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Advice for the future? You mustn't let people know that about you. They won't like it."

"You're too smart for your own good and you show it," Marie reminded Nora, who smiled.

"I didn't always show it. Being with the King of England gave me confidence I didn't always have. I was like you once. But unlike you, I didn't always show that I was wise beyond my years. It helped me learn. It helped me become clever. Girls like yourself are invisible to men. But I think you already know that." Nora explained, smiling slightly as she gave Marie a knowing look, "If you're invisible, people will say things in front of you that they shouldn't. You take all that in and you'll learn from it."

"You say you want me to become nothing like you, but all these lessons sure seem like you want me to," Marie commented, causing Nora to let out a large laugh, "Did your mother teach you this?"

"God, no," Nora replied, causing Marie to smile, "These are things I learned on my own. The things I do teach you, I teach you so that you can be better than I ever was."

"I don't think anyone can be better than you are," Marie reminded Nora, who simply smiled in response, "Your name is spoken by people all over Christendom."

"And perhaps, one day yours will be, too," Nora answered, wrapping an arm around the girl, "One day, I think the whole world will know and love you, Marie of Burgundy. More than they ever loved me. You might not see it, but I dare say you could be far better than I ever was. You can do better. Just like I was, you were born to a powerful family, but yours is even more powerful. Your father is the Holy Roman Emperor. Your brother is the Duke of Burgundy and he is married to the daughter of the two most powerful monarchs in Europe. And one day, if we win, your cousin, George, will be King of England. You will be far more powerful than anyone may want to admit."

Marie stared up at Nora, her eyes widening in amazement. "But all your power can't come from who you're related to or married to. Remember that. You must have some in your own right. And I'm not talking about lands and titles. I'm talking about what's in here," Nora paused, pointing her finger to Marie's head.

"And what's in here," Nora continued on, placing her hand over Marie's heart, "You have a big heart, Marie. However, sometimes, it's necessary to use your head instead of your heart. In a way, that's where I always failed. You must do better than I ever was and you must be better."

"I will," Marie replied, nodding her head as she stared up at Nora, "I promise."

Nora smiled, wrapping her arm around Marie as they walked out of the room together.

_____

The following day, Maggie was standing outside in the courtyard, playing in the snow with her son. Her eyes widened, however, when she turned her head to see Lizbeth approaching her.

She immediately curtsied, despite feeling uneasy about Lizbeth being there. It couldn't mean anything good.

"The boy will be allowed to see his wife this evening," Lizbeth informed Maggie, refusing to address him as her brother, "This is no trick, Maggie. I swear it. You wanted me to act and I am acting. Here is the key."

Maggie felt uneasy as Lizbeth held the key to the King's Wardrobe to her. What had changed her mind?

Anxiously, she took the key from Lizbeth's grasp. She watched her closely, noticing how Lizbeth glanced over at little Henry before back at her.

"My mother tried to poison Henry," Lizbeth informed Maggie in a calm tone, "It's why he lashed out. It's a certain poison my mother used to have. She told me all about it once, but never used it before. Now, she has. She used it on Henry. She wanted to show me that despite being King, Henry is not invincible. He can be ripped off his throne, just like Arthur was. And King Henry before him. It was meant to be a warning and I am to take it seriously if I want my family to live."

"Lizbeth—" Maggie began to say, only to be cut off as Lizbeth turned on her heel and walked away without another word said.

____

That evening, while everyone was asleep, Maggie traveled to the King's Wardrobe, where she found George lying near the fire, beaten bloody.

"George. Oh, God!" She whispered softly as she rushed to kneel before his body.

George weakly lifted his head to stare up at her, but he was unable to see who it was through her swollen eyes.

"It's Maggie," She informed him calmly and he nodded his head in understanding.

"Cathy?" He whispered softly, concerned about his wife's wellbeing.

"She's safe. You are to see her. I'm to help you," She explained and George stared up at the girl, despite practically being unable to see her in the slightest.

"George," he repeated after her, "You believe me, then?"

"Yes, I do," Maggie admitted, beginning to cry at the thought, "And despite what we may all say, I believe Lizbeth does, too."

"She's conflicted," George whispered softly, a disappointed look on her face, "She doesn't know who to choose. Her husband and children or her brother, mother, and the rest of her family. She doesn't understand that I would never let harm come to her children."

"We must go," Maggie interrupted, quick to change the subject.

George nodded, allowing Maggie to help him off the ground before they left the room together.

Maggie tried her best to help George down the hallway and numerous times, the two of them found themselves falling before Maggie insisted that he get back up.

Once watching them leave the King's Wardrobe from s distance, Lizbeth picked up a torch before walking over to the King's Wardrobe. She stood in the doorway, glancing around at all of her husband's clothing and jewels.

She took a deep breath, just before throwing the lit torch onto one of Henry's robes. She watched closely as it caught aflame, the rest of the fabric in the room soon with it.

She waited for a long moment, making sure there was no possible way for it to be put out before she fled to the room she knew Cathy would be in with George.

She burst through the door, an alarmed look on her face. "Quickly now. There is a fire," She demanded, only to freeze when she looked down to see just how much Henry had beaten George.

He was practically unrecognizable. His head was laid in Cathy's lap as she cleaned the cuts and bruises on his face, which didn't help all that much.

The duo stared up at Lizbeth, both of them confused when Lizbeth said nothing about George being out of the King's Wardrobe.

She was the one behind the rescue.

"It started in the Royal Wardrobe. If you go now, everyone will believe you burnt to death," Lizbeth demanded, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

"You," George repeated after Lizbeth as he groaned in pain, "You cannot bring yourself to say my name. It came out once before on accident and since then, you haven't said it since, despite knowing the truth. Even now, you cannot say it."

"This is why you let him come to me?" Cathy asked in concern as she stared up at the York woman, "So we could leave?"

"You must disappear forever," Lizbeth insisted as she tried to hold back her tears, "Give up your claim. From this night on, you are never seen again at any court because you died here in the fire. I need your word. I need it now. We don't have much time."

"Where are we supposed to go?" Cathy complained, staring at Lizbeth as if she were mad.

"Buy land. A farm. Sire healthy children. Live a long life somewhere far away," Lizbeth explained, trying her hardest not to cry.

"With no name or rank?" Cathy exclaimed in disbelief.

"It has to be now, this moment," Lizbeth demanded, finally beginning to cry, "While there is panic. I am giving you a chance."

"What about our son?" Cathy asked Lizbeth worriedly, "He is a...A York prince. He cannot grow up herding cows and burning peat."

"But he will grow up," Lizbeth argued as she knelt before Cathy and George with a pleading look on her face, "Unlike his namesake. That is what I'm offering you if you leave now."

"You would not go against the husband you love so much for a boat builder's son. You would to save your brother, though. You know that I am George," George explained and Lizbeth was quick to argue.

"Damn you and your York stubbornness! Please, George, just go!" Lizbeth cried out as she stood back up, "And be safe. Do what our brothers and sisters never got to do. Live your life. I never beg, but I am begging you, do not let me lose you, too," She pleaded softly as she looked down at him, "I can't keep up this act with my husband for much longer. He'll start to notice that I am not fully on his side. I will see that your son is safely brought back to you both. I swear it. But you must come with me now if you want to live. Cry and mourn his death, Cathy, and tomorrow you may leave and join him."

Tears in her eyes, Cathy looked down at her husband. "It is your choice, George. You must decide and whatever you choose, I will stand by you."

George slowly lifted his head, looking his sister in the eye as best as he could through his swollen eyes. "Let me say goodbye to my wife first," He replied and Lizbeth sighed in relief.

She nodded, wasting no time leaving them alone while George weakly sat up. He turned to Cathy, cupping her face in his hands. "Whatever happens, Cathy, you must know that I love you. More than you could ever know," He whispered to her softly and Cathy began to tear up, "I have been through quite a lot in my life, but since I have met you, you have made me the happiest that I have been my entire life. You are my life now."

"I love you," Cathy whispered to George softly, pressing a kiss to her husband's lips.

"You must go to my mother. She's in London. I know it. You must go to her. She will help you get our son back," He informed her and Cathy nodded in understanding, "Promise me you'll go to her."

"I promise," Cathy vowed and George weakly smiled, despite it being painful. He leaned forward, kissing her one last time before she assisted him in standing up.

Outside, the men of the castle, including Sir Richard, Lord Stanely, and some guards, tried their best to put out the blazing fire with pales of water, but it was obvious that it was no use.

"Give it to me," Lizbeth demanded, gesturing toward a pale of water as she found herself outside with the men.

She threw some water onto the blazing fire before turning to some men, acting as though she was worried. "Did everyone get out?" She asked, acting clueless.

"Where is...Where is the boy?" Maggie added in, walking over to the group alongside Cathy.

"He was locked inside the Royal Wardrobe!" Cathy exclaimed loudly, despite knowing more of the truth than even Lizbeth and Maggie did.

"That is where the fire started," One of the men spoke up and Lizbeth tried not to smirk in satisfaction.

Just then, Lizbeth's smirk disappeared, watching as Margaret walked over to her. "He started it himself," She informed her daughter-in-law in a venomous tone, "It's God's Work."

More like mine, Lizbeth thought to herself as she glanced around.

"He is dead," She stated instead, acting as though she was saddened as tears formed in her eyes.

Margaret was beginning to smile in satisfaction, only to have it fade as she looked ahead. She looked into the open doorway of the blazing part of the castle to see a dark figure making its way out of the castle.

"My God," Lizbeth whispered to herself, recognizing it to be George as he staggered through the fire and out of the castle.

What was he doing?

"No," Lizbeth cried out, watching as George forced himself down on his knees.

He slowly lifted his head, staring up at all of the people surrounding him. He panted, his chest heaving as he caught his breath after breaking in so much smoke. "I am the last living son of King Edward IV and Nora of Lancaster!" He managed to get out in a loud, powerful tone, "I live through battle, walk through fire, and I will have the throne of England as is my God-given right!"

"What have you done?" Lizbeth whispered softly, beginning to cry as she stared down at George.