FRAGMENTS OF A DYNASTY
Summary: based on the Princes in the Tower drama-documentary on Channel 4. Elizabeth has to choose, her brother or her sons. Why can't she just choose her husband?
Pairings: Elizabeth/Henry, implied Elizabeth/Richard III, sibling relationship Elizabeth/Richard of York.
"You cannot have both; you will reach a point where you will choose between your brother and your sons."
She frowns. "You did not mention my husband."
"I am not foolish enough to think I would enter the equation."
She sighs and smiles up to him gently. "Love was never part of the arrangement."
"It was never part of your arrangement," he huffs before rolling over. A moment of silence and he turns to look at her again. "How do you even know he's your brother?"
She knew because she helped her mother dress her little brother in rags and a poor boy in riches. She knew because her mother wrote and informed her little brother of every little detail that she heard about her other son's death. She knew because she looked at him and saw that little boy that she bathed and looked after when she was a young girl.
She never thought she would have to choose. Henry has shown himself to be a loving man with a strong sense of honour. She thought he would abdicate for her brother and her sons would be his heirs until he has a son himself. She never really wanted to be Queen of England anyway and she would be content on standing aside.
The only person that would be likely to object would be Margret Beaufort but surely a nunnery would keep her silent.
Her beautiful boys, both golden and pure, Arthur so very selfless and Henry filled with so much love...or her loving brother who has grown to be so much like her father without the wild side?
What about her wonderful husband that has loved her and cared for her? The man that ignored every whisper and rumour about her? Yes the love and been a result of something arranged but it was still love, was it not?
The interrogations and providing evidence for Richard was becoming very tiresome. Margret is whispering poison in everyone's ear. Her sons and daughters are guarded even more so and her brother is on the verge of either being king or hanged.
"You are happy," Richard murmured on the very rare moment they were alone, "Who would have thought a cold man like that could make you happy. Then again, you always were Uncle Richard's favourite."
"He is a very loving man, just very private."
"Uncle Richard or your husband?"
"Both."
"I've been told your sons would have to die if I became king. Your mother in law seems to think so. I thought that was nonsense, if I simply have your marriage annulled and declare them bastards they can live."
Her breath caught in her throat. "You would take me away from Henry?"
Her brother looked at her astonished. "You love him."
And it suddenly clicked. Everyone has to make a decision at some point in their life. People have to choose all the time. Henry and everyone else think she has to choose between Lancaster and York, the start of that damn war all over again. Everyone thinks it's a choice between her brother and her son, sweet little Arthur.
But they do not consider another choice.
A choice she will only partially regret.
"I choose my husband."
She never saw her brother again. He refused to see her, he signed a confession, was beaten so harshly that there was no more likeness between him and her father. He was hanged, the country was safe and suddenly everyone forgot about her lovely wonderful brother as they celebrated the new betrothal between her son and a princess of Spain.
She looks upon her husband's face and feels a stab of hatred.
She hates him so much because he has made her love him. She hates him because now when it comes down to it, it will always be him, she will always choose him.
Her heart breaks knowing she has killed her brother.
Her marriage begins to fall apart.
That little last part of that strong magical goddess her mother thinks they are...faded, declined, died...
She has given up.
She has made her choice.
She will be the forever silent, obedient, loving wife of a cold king.
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