Tower of London

[Oznerol]

If I do, I won't tell. I voiced my thoughts, about this usurpation, already.

"Of course, sire"

He looked at the Lancastrian king.

"Might I ask when Your Majesty will hold his coronation for all England to behold?"

[Gandalfus]

"That was the hint, Lord Surrey. You should act upon it." Lancaster looked at him, expectantly, eyebrows raised and hands on hips. "I will tell you, after you pledge yourself to me."

[Oznerol]

It took him a whole, minute, but he did.

"I swear thee allegiance. I swear to follow thee and offer mine counsel and support, as mine sovereign and king"

He said so without much conviction, but was better nothing.

[Gandalfus]

"The coronation shall be held later this year." Henry was inclined to rush it: Surrey demonstrating exactly why. Without it, he was unanointed, uncrowned. "You are free to attend... And free to leave this Tower."

[Oznerol]

"I feel obligued to attend such an event, my Lord"

Surrey hadn't shaved in few days, but he only had an insignificant stubble.

"May I have my arms back? Fine steel"

He asked.

"Probably the guardsmen must have pawned my scabbard and badge already"

He wasn't much taller than Bolingbroke, both men were of similar size, but Surrey was more graceful, being more akin in body to the countess.

[Gandalfus]

"They know that it isn't the steel, but the hand that holds it. Your arms will be where they were left, I suspect." Bolingbroke gave a thin-lipped smirk, more of a facial contortion than a smile. "I shall leave you to collect your things, Lord."

Bolingbroke turned, and left the room, the guards closing the door... But leaving it unlocked. Then, he gestured to his brother, Henry, to follow him, walking down into another chamber.

"Henry. I would speak with you in private."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Sir Beaufort remained outside of the cell the whole time. When it became evident that Lord Surrey was being released, he had two guards escort Holland to retrieve his belongings and remove him from the tower. Yet as he prepared to return to his work, Henry caught Lancasters words. He nods and follows him.

"What is it you wish to speak about, Sire?"

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Gandalfus]

"I'm naming you an Earl. No less than you deserve, for loyal service. You didn't have to follow me on the road we took." Said Henry, as if it was nothing. As quickly as it were raised, the topic was buried, and the restless monarch had moved on.

"De Vere. He should be executed, whenever you see fit. In the next few weeks, preferably. Quietly, upon Tower Hill..." Henry sniffed. No less than the filthy sycophant deserved, about as useful as a bucket with a hole in the bottom. "Richard will be moved. Tell no-one when, or where, but he is going to Pontefract, a few days after. Thomas will be constable. Our Thomas."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Henry bowed to his half brother. He guessed this made up for attempting to use him as a hostage for Mortimer. Certainly his wife would be pleased.

"Thank you, Sire."

As for the second matter, he would have to plan this execution precisely. Possibly next week after Ireland was given his last meal and a confessor.

"Should the men guarding Richard, at Pontefract, be under your pay or that of Lord Somerset? I will begin coordinating with my brother on when to best move him."

Henry was at least good at following orders.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Oznerol]

Surrey called for some servants to carry his armor, while he buckled his scabbard and belt around his narrow wraist. Holland was free to leave, but the shadow of the Tower never looked so ominous. He had made amends with God while in his cell, prepared himself for the block. But that wasn't his fate. Determined to change things for good, the duke had an idea fixed on his mind: getting rid of his hated wife and find another.

[Gandalfus]

Henry bowed to his half brother. He guessed this made up for attempting to use him as a hostage for Mortimer. Certainly his wife would be pleased.

"Thank you, Sire."

As for the second matter, he would have to plan this execution precisely. Possibly next week after Ireland was given his last meal and a confessor.

"Should the men guarding Richard, at Pontefract, be under your pay or that of Lord Somerset? I will begin coordinating with my brother on when to best move him."

Henry was at least good at following orders.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

"They'll be under our brother, Lord Furnival's pay." Henry made a vague, subconscious gesture. "I trust Thomas to watch over Richard well enough: we cannot afford for him to slip into the wrong hands."

Perhaps he'd have to spill anointed blood, if it came down to it.

[Lucius Malfoy]

"Understood, Sire."

================

One afternoon, the door to de Vere's cell opened as a guard, Lord Beaufort, a confessor and a few servants came in, one of whom was carrying a meal. Henry looks at the traitor Ireland for a moment before speaking.

"It is by the decree of Parliament that your attainment as a traitor still stands, Robert de Vere. You are to be executed within two days. I have brought me a confessor to unburden your soul and your meal for this afternoon."

Henry motions the servants and confessor forward to do their jobs.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Barry Goldwater]

Ireland rose, scoffing at Beaufort. Though his appearance was more disheveled than usual, the duke had taken to his imprisonment surprisingly well given the circumstances, having effectively resigned himself to death when the coup was set in motion and (out of loyalty to Richard) for once in his life, he didn't just run away in the face of the threat others posed to him. "How amusing. Though so many condemn me for my indolence - one vice among several which, I suppose, I shall have to confess in a moment - I am still set to die for keeping my knees unbowed before all but England's true king, while fools and flatterers and unscrupulous wastrels raise another to his throne on trumped-up charges of...what was it, tyranny? Greed? Craving for power, and trampling on the laws of the realm? All that they accuse him of, all that they accuse me of, they are guilty of themselves ten thousand times over. I may have made no secret of my desires, but stealing something that all knew was not mine was never among them, and at the least I did not try to justify myself with lies. Neither will I claim to be a doctor of the Church, but I am reasonably certain that our Lord was less than fond of hypocrisy."

The duke paced, not even looking at Beaufort while he rambled at the ceiling and walls. "The Lord's ways are mysterious indeed. I did not expect myself to die as the last honest man in the English peerage. Better though that this beautiful head be separated from its natural body, than to spout foul hypocrisy from its lips and direct its hands to seize a throne that does not belong to them."

Having apparently finished venting, Ireland returns his scowl to Beaufort, looking his gaoler in the eye. "Permit me a few minutes' privacy while I confess my sins before leaving this world, Lord Beaufort. You may inform your brother, Lancaster, that I look forward to seeing him in the afterlife - for entirely different reasons than the ones I have to look forward to seeing King Richard."

[Lucius Malfoy]

I have no doubt you will try to see my King in the afterlife, but that is if God judges you pure enough to enter Heaven's gates.

Henry knew of the rumors surrounding Ireland and Richard, the very same rumors that left Anne of Bohemia without child. The same rumors that made many whisper, or in Maltravers case, speak loudly even as consequences loomed overhead. Beaufort nods to the confessor before turning to leave. Then he stops and looks back at Ireland momentarily.

Once you are done, I will have more to speak of to you.

The door closed, leaving Ireland alone with the confessor. Beaufort had specifically chosen a member of the clergy that was sympathetic to the Lancastrian cause. He didn't need Ireland trying to shuffle messages through the holy man to others. The confessor pulls up a chair, gesturing to Ireland to take a seat. Once they are both seated, the father makes a sign of the cross before speaking.

Unburden your soul, my child. Let us hear what sins you have committed, what regrets you may have so that God may hear them and judge thee worthy of forgiveness or not.

[Gandalfus]

Kendall arrived in London some weeks after getting his brothers missive. He had spent some time in the north, ensuring Pontefract was in order, having been informed by Henry, or rather, the King, what purpose he would serve. Immediately, he made for the Tower, Lancaster's badge of a red rose upon his breast.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The guards present would escort him to where Henry's office, as Lord Constable, was. Beaufort looks at Thomas, offering a slight smile. They hadn't spoken in years, so now was a good time to catch up.

I finally see that the last of my brothers gets some land of his own! And not only that, but I hear a very nice castle with it.

Henry embraces Thomas warmly before having him take a seat and pouring some wine.

How are your new northern holdings, Thomas? Suiting you well enough?

[Gandalfus]

"Well enough, yes, though my wife is still a little... Young." Thomas smiled a little, and took a sip of wine when offered.

"So, you require me here. I assume Bolingbroke told you..." He gauged that Henry had been told, being Richard's custodian for the time being.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Indeed, Thomas. He has made me aware of the relocation of Richard to Pontefract Castle. I suspect he told you the same thing; no one must know of this.

Henry refills his glass and takes a sip of his wine for a moment.

I plan for it to happen soon, before our royal brother's coronation. Best have him not around for that. And best we move him by night, not let others see the heavily guarded carriage taking the disposed monarch to Pontefract.

[Gandalfus]

"We must make it appear as inconspicuous as possible, yes. I have brought with me a sizeable escort, so we shall be well protected on the journey north." Thomas had begun to take his duties a little more seriously, apparently, now he'd been bequeathed some form of responsibility.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Have accommodations been prepared for your guest then I take it?

Beaufort wanted to make sure everything was arranged and planned out. Not a single detail could be left untouched or else, most certainly, their half-brother would have them for their negligence.