On Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:11:03 -0400, NP-f31 wrote:
>An Historical Fantasy
>
>June 1483 AD
>
>As my Lord Dudley, Constable of the Tower, is so infirm and aged that
>he is unable to regularly perform his duties, it has fallen to me as
>his man to perform them in his stead. These are dark days, London is
>in a twist, His Majesty King Edward (IV) died in April leaving his
>eldest son Edward (V) as heir to the throne. But alas, Richard, Duke
>of Gloucester and brother of the late King is making a bid
>for the throne. He claims that his nephew is a bastard! I can testify
>that this claim is false as I have known this child, the Prince, since
>he was an infant. As a member of the royal household I was present at
>St. Mary's near Grafton when the King and Queen were wed. Young Edward
>has the eyes of his mother, Queen Katherine and the hair of his late
>father, I have great hopes that he that he will not inherit that
>unfortunate Lancastrian chin. Events of the past few days have
>caused me much grief as Duke Richard has cast the Prince of Wales ,and
>his brother the Prince of York, into the Tower. I have already heard
>from the Duke of Buckingham that Richard will be crowned within a
>fortnight. If that is so, then I fear for the lives of the young
>Princes Edward and Richard, for the Duke cannot hope to hold the
>throne for long whilst they live. Therefore, I have taken upon
>myself to write a chronicle of these troubled times so that in future
>years people will know what has happened truly.
>
>I care not who is King, so long as the Sovereign is a fair and honest
>ruler. I will serve my King to the best of my ability, that is my duty
>and the duty of my Lord Dudley. And yet, because I know well the young
>princes and love them dearly, I do not wish for them to die. Worst of
>all, if they are to die, I fear it may be by my hand. For today, I
>have learned Lord Rivers was executed at Pontrefac. His only crime was
>to have been a Woodville and a relative of the Queen. The bloodbath
>has already begun.
>
>Two days ago the Princes were brought to me under guard, being taken
>from the White Tower and brought here to less hospitable quarters. It
>chilled my blood to see a Prince treated so evilly. Was it not just
>five years ago that Edward chased me about the royal chamber with his
>wooden sword? He was wearing his father's open crown and it had fallen
>down around his neck and his laughter was like the singing of a
>songbird. I cannot hide the truth, I love the boy Prince with all my
>heart. He is not yet 13 and is a youth of passing beauty, as is his
>little brother Richard who is soon to be eleven. When they were
>brought to me they were weeping from brusque mistreatment, but when
>they saw me their faces cheered.
>
>Victor! They called to me. Victor, make them unchain us. This I did,
>not because Edward should be King, though that is reason enough, but
>because I love the Princes with all of my heart and I would not see
>them bound and manacled like thieves. I took them to their quarters
>and made them as comfortable as I could. It is high summer in London,
>but the Tower, on this side is dank and mouldy. I had made for them a
>meal such as is worthy for boys of their station and they bade me join
>them, for it seems I am their only friend in the world. Indeed, the
>rabble in the streets are calling for the Duke to be crowned. That
>they would believe his impossible claims that Edward is a bastard is
>unthinkable. But methinks that all of London fears the minority of a
>boy King.
>
>Yesterday I had the prince's clothes brought from the royal living
>quarters. Their servants have been dismissed and no one, save for me
>is to be allowed into their presence. This was so ordered by my Lord
>Dudley and the Duke of Buckingham. The boys were filthy as they had
>not bathed since being taken prisoner by the Duke of Gloucester in
>May. I had hot water brought to thier chamber for a bath. I did not
>realized that the Princes had always been bathed by their butler or a
>handmaiden. They knew not how to clean themselves, so I instructed
>them. To see these two young princes in their wonderful nakedness
>shook me to my core and caused thoughts and feelings in my breast that
>I had never known. I am embarrassed to relate that I could not remove
>my eyes from their nakedness, such was their beauty. When I dried them
>they put their arms about me and kissed me on my face and cheeks with
>great affection. They called me their dearest friend and playmate, and
>this I have been until I became their warden. They asked me what will
>become of them. I told them I do not know, but I told them a lie, for
>I am certain they will be murdered soon. Such a thing, I cannot allow
>to happen. I must make other arrangements. I must have a plan.
>
>Victor, Warden of the Tower
>
>
>To be continued...
>
>Doc
>NP-f31
Dearest Doc,
Thank you for this well-crafted piece. I am looking forward to the
conclusion of your tale.
And I beheld their naked bodies, glistening from the steam lazily
wreathing about them, alabaster white and slender, their boyhood coyly
stirring and blushing a faint pink as my hands, softened in soap,
briefly passed over their innocent thighs and slipped gently down
their legs ...
Yes. Perhaps Byzantium. Perhaps we may find another Julian! But how
to get there!
Sorry ... got a bit carried off there! Enjoy your youthful abberation
of our dearest sport! Ha.
V
God Save the Queen.
God Bless the Prince of Wales.
God Preserve the Windsors.
Rule Britannia!
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