The Encampment of the Lancastrian Army

[Lucius Malfoy]

The atmosphere of the Lancastrian army is mixed in a number of ways. They have enjoyed a recent string of victories, particularly at St. Albans where King Henry was recovered. Yet some could say that it felt more like a defeat in the end. Having lost momentum due to Londoners barring their entry and the news of the Lancastrian defeat at Mortimer's Cross, not to mention the number of soldiers that deserted as they headed north, the soldiers were not sure of what to think. Surely they should be happy that their liege, Henry VI, was recovered, but he had been locked away in the friendly keep of Alnwick Castle, the main stronghold of the Earls of Northumberland, the Percys.

Unknown to the soldiers at large, Henry had once more fallen into a relapse of his illness, becoming lucid and unable to speak much due to his condition. Due to this, it was suggested that he be logged comfortably in Alnwick Castle, where his wife and heir also logged alongside the Percys and other nobles of the realm. The Earl of Northumberland did his best to ensure hospitality was prime and the castle's physician was readily available to tend to the King. Something that could be agreed upon them all was that there wasn't much time. They could not linger here nor retreat to Scotland, for that would forfeit the Lancastrian momentum and, quite possibly, destroy their cause in the process. All they could do is seek to strike at the Yorkists and pray to the Almighty that the heavens favor King Henry and their cause over that of the White Rose.

The coming days would gather a great storm from which only one could prevail...

[Gandalfus]

Exeter did hate the north. It was always cold, dark, and wet, and too close to Scotland - the very nation that the French queen had jumped into bed with to secure her an army. He'd felt sullied when the news greeted him that Berwick would be surrendered to the northern barbarians. The great kings of England were known for conquering swathes of land in France, and yet all King Henry had been known to do was lose it, one way or another. Exeter had heard more ill news since, that the king had been confined to Alnwick castle, as responsive as a throttled goose. But he was still the King, and all the hopes of Lancaster rested upon his shoulders - while they still had an army, they could win, and perhaps Holland would be rewarded for his efforts. Satan himself knew that Beaufort and the Queen would have a reckoning if it were not so. Like his father, Somerset had been Margaret's closest adviser. While to Exeter's knowledge both had never been anything more than that, rumours spread like plague of young Westminster being a bastard of Beaufort rather than any child of the King's seed. Holland licked his lips. The scandal would be enough to see them both dead, if it were true.

But more important issues had taken the fore for the moment. News from the south spoke of Holland's brother in law, the accursed March, and how the Londoners had opened their gates like a whore's legs to their advance. He still seethed at the memory of those blasted walls and iron gates, standing immovable before them. Every Londoner was a traitor, and he would spike the head of their flatulent Lord Mayor before the the war was done. Having been summoned to the centre of command, Exeter made his presence known to the Lancastrian military command - Beaufort, begrudgingly, was the de facto commander of the army, as appointed by the Queen. But there were many other lords there. Percy, the Nevilles of Westmorland, De Vere. All were his lesser, yet they were greater men than Beaufort.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Earl of Northumberland walks out of his castle after checking on the physician and the status of their King. There were no signs of improvement unfortunately and the servants were sworn to secrecy to ensure the soldiers did not hear of this. It was bad enough that they were barred from London and forced to retreat northward. Even though Percy was not among the host that had gone south, he was still present to welcome the Lancastrian nobility and soldiery to his lands, offering his personal chambers and castle to the ailing King, his Queen and their heir, Edward of Westminister. This had forced him to use the guest chambers within his own castle, but this was hospitality he needed to show to ensure he had some position if Henry VI was restored to power.

Henry adjusted his thick cloak as the snows were still upon them in this part of the North at this time of the year. From where he stood, out on the ramparts of Alnwick Castle, he could see the whole of the Lancastrian camp, bustling with soldiers, campfires and other activity that seemed to drag on for days. The Earl of Northumberland listened to sounds by the gate as another wagon of supplies were brought in from the countryside to ensure that the castle's supplies did not dwindle with the presence of so many nobles within his keep. He exhales lightly, noticing his breath appear before his bearded face.

​When the hell is it gonna get warmer again...

[Oznerol]

Henry Beaufort uses to be surrounded by a flock of petitioners, and even in the cold lands of the North that was the case when Holland was announced by a herald. Somerset dismissively waves his hand, with his attendants (wearing a white and blue livery, a portcullis embroidered over the chest) leading the anxious courtiers towards the exit. Beaufort, short and dark-haired wasn’t very remarkable, but his elegant limbs and haunting eyes made him look more handsome than he was. Wearing a blue gown and a SS collar with a pending portcullis, he looked as arrogant as always. With a smirk, he saluted Holland as he approached:

“My gracious Duke of Exeter be welcome”

[Gandalfus]

Henry Beaufort uses to be surrounded by a flock of petitioners, and even in the cold lands of the North that was the case when Holland was announced by a herald. Somerset dismissively waves his hand, with his attendants (wearing a white and blue livery, a portcullis embroidered over the chest) leading the anxious courtiers towards the exit. Beaufort, short and dark-haired wasn’t very remarkable, but his elegant limbs and haunting eyes made him look more handsome than he was. Wearing a blue gown and a SS collar with a pending portcullis, he looked as arrogant as always. With a smirk, he saluted Holland as he approached:

“My gracious Duke of Exeter be welcome”

"Somerset." Holland seethed, squinting at the shorter man with his typically hostile manner. Pompous Beaufort had cloistered himself in here with the rest of them out in the cold. Pah.

"Where is Her Grace?" The question came as a snarl, as Holland looked around and saw the Queen was absent. 'Twas strange, normally she could be found hovering near Beaufort. He shook his head. "No matter. How long must we wait up here, licking our wounds like frightened hounds?"

[Mary The Quene]

Henry Beaufort uses to be surrounded by a flock of petitioners, and even in the cold lands of the North that was the case when Holland was announced by a herald. Somerset dismissively waves his hand, with his attendants (wearing a white and blue livery, a portcullis embroidered over the chest) leading the anxious courtiers towards the exit. Beaufort, short and dark-haired wasn’t very remarkable, but his elegant limbs and haunting eyes made him look more handsome than he was. Wearing a blue gown and a SS collar with a pending portcullis, he looked as arrogant as always. With a smirk, he saluted Holland as he approached:

“My gracious Duke of Exeter be welcome”

The Queen was sitting lonely on the walls, her husband went insane again, she hated the North and she missed Duke Somerset. Her thoughts lingered from subject to subject, first about the King, then her only child, but in the end her thoughts were with the Duke of Somerset. She was so deeply thinking that she fell almost asleep but then she heard about the arrival of her favorite, the Duke of Somerset, Henry Beaufort. She rushed downstairs, she had no idea why but she always felt comfortable within his presence. while rushing downstairs she looked excitingly from a window. She saw her favorite talking with Holland, she did not like him that much but she had to tolerate him. After a short while she interrupted their conservation, whatever they were talking about, she stood from behind a corner.

''The Duke of Somerset has arrived, or so i heard'' she smiled while ignoring Holland while raising her hand to be kissed. She felt like warmth was returning upon his arrival, a strange feeling indeed she felt.

[Mary The Quene]

The Queen of England hated the north, but nevertheless she is here now, in the very north. She'd like to avoid the North the best she can but here she must be now, with her allies, to combat that Yorkist plague that had crippled the realm and her power for far too long. She would have preferred to be in London now in her palaces but that city opened its legs to that Yorkist pretender, they would all bleed for this betrayal, when she would reenter the city they must beg for forgiveness and the Yorkist would be hung there in midst of the crowd who are cheering for the betrayers and usurpers.

Here she stands now, in the North, with a husband that has collapsed into insanity once again, with families that most likely vie for promotion while hating her for her origins, but amongst those families there was only one she trusted with her heart, the Beauforts. The others she trusted less but there was a battle to be won, she must get the best out of herself for the storm that is coming.

The Queen walked amongst the walls of the castle inspecting the huge army assembled to defeat that Yorkist menace. Her husband's inability to do his tasks has led Margaret to take affairs in her own hand, if Henry could not defend himself, she would do it for him but ofcourse also for her own. The queen walked among the walls, looking to speak with the lords assembled, but secretly she was worried about her son in her thoughts.

[Barry Goldwater]

John de Vere, twelfth Earl of Oxford, heaved himself out of his pavilion with a sigh of effort, and it was clear to the few guards present that he was not at all having the time of his life here outside Alnwick Castle. Beneath his furs, he carried in one hand a handkerchief stained slightly with his own blood, the result of one of his increasingly frequent coughing fits. He had found that he did not at all agree with the climate of the North of England, nor it with him: his strength had been leaving him for the past few months, some days he was unable to leave his bed at all due to fever, and recently his spit and phlegm was becoming worryingly mixed with red. Why did God have to make the Northern winters so bloody cold, he thought bitterly. He may have unconditionally associated himself with the Lancastrian cause, recruited men for the Red Rose and fought with them from Northampton to Wakefield to the gates of London, but that didn't mean he was going to serve them without any complaint at all, and right now he was feeling ready to do just one thing - complain about their choice of camp.

A sudden tingling in his throat expelled those thoughts from his mind. Oxford quickly turned to cough loudly and severely into a tree, and without even looking at whether his spittle had been tinged crimson again, he immediately turned and stormed away, hastily dabbling at his gray beard along the way. He needed to speak with someone before his melancholy became so overwhelming that he grew tempted to smite that tree by his tent until his blade broke. Hearing a herald loudly introducing the arrival of the Duke of Somerset near the position of the Duke of Exeter, he began to make his way there with a grunt.

---------------------------

Elsewhere, two young knights were sparring. They matched each other in appearance so perfectly that they could be mistaken for twins: beneath their identical helms both were beardless men with pale faces & dark gray eyes framed by ink-black hair, and both wore jupons depicting the white star on gold and red of De Vere over their blackened armor. The taller and seemingly stronger of the two hammered away at his younger self with a warhammer, not once letting the other man have a chance to counterattack and leaving gouges in his shield with each blow, until he fell into the snow with a yell. The elder knight pulled back, but not much, and lifted his visor only to snap, "Up you get, John. If you cannot best me, what chance have you of vanquishing an equal among the rebel ranks who lacks my compunction to not immediately kill you where you lay, when we take to the field?"

John de Vere the Younger just growled and pushed himself back up onto his feet, dusting some snow off himself before dropping back into a fighting stance. His more experienced brother Aubrey had defeated him in every one of their previous sparring sessions, but he was determined to earn his first victory over his cold brother today. After Aubrey lowered his visor with a nod and a grunt, the two eldest sons of the Earl of Oxford began to circle each other again, looking for a weakness in the other's guard.

[Oznerol]

“Long enough”

Said Somerset.

“Thanks to my resounding victories at Saint Albans and Wakefield we will not have to worry about those brigands for a while. With both Salisbury and York dead and buried they have learnt to treat us cautiously. Now, their cubs pretend to win the crown”

His long fingers played with a signal ring on his right hand.

“The King will amass his strength in the North, to later sweep the South with our renewed strength; many men at arms and yeomen have joined us; including some sent by my kinsman, his Grace King James of Scotland”

James III Stewart, grandson of Joan Beaufort, was Somerset's distant cousin. The young king was currently under the regency of his mother, Mary of Guelders, who was notoriously friendly towards the Lancastrian cause.

[Gandalfus]

"Indeed. Undoubtedly your military genius will earn us a complete victory against York." In that moment, he wanted to crush Beaufort's head like a ripe orange. But it would be unseemly to do such a thing to a royal cousin.

"In exchange for Berwick." Exeter responded with a grunt and a shake of the head. "It is the largest army England has ever seen on its shores, and we should surely taste the blood of York."

Holland had barely finished speaking before he was interrupted by the onrushing queen. Grinding his teeth silently, he bore it, and bowed his head respectfully despite passing unnoticed.

[Oznerol]

The Queen was sitting lonely on the walls, her husband went insane again, she hated the North and she missed Duke Somerset. Her thoughts lingered from subject to subject, first about the King, then her only child, but in the end her thoughts were with the Duke of Somerset. She was so deeply thinking that she fell almost asleep but then she heard about the arrival of her favorite, the Duke of Somerset, Henry Beaufort. She rushed downstairs, she had no idea why but she always felt comfortable within his presence. while rushing downstairs she looked excitingly from a window. She saw her favorite talking with Holland, she did not like him that much but she had to tolerate him. After a short while she interrupted their conservation, whatever they were talking about, she stood from behind a corner.

''The Duke of Somerset has arrived, or so i heard'' she smiled while ignoring Holland while raising her hand to be kissed. She felt like warmth was returning upon his arrival, a strange feeling indeed she felt.

"Indeed. Undoubtedly your military genius will earn us a complete victory against York." In that moment, he wanted to crush Beaufort's head like a ripe orange. But it would be unseemly to do such a thing to a royal cousin.

"In exchange for Berwick." Exeter responded with a grunt and a shake of the head. "It is the largest army England has ever seen on its shores, and we should surely taste the blood of York."

Holland had barely finished speaking before he was interrupted by the onrushing queen. Grinding his teeth silently, he bore it, and bowed his head respectfully despite passing unnoticed.

The Queen, who once was infatuated with his father, Edmund, now shared the same affections with his son, Henry. Beaufort took great delight on Margaret's favor. If his father Edmund had once enjoyed the Queen's sheets, Henry didn't know; that was a secret he took with him to the grave.

"Your Grace"

He kissed her hand gently, the lips caressing the royal skin for a second longer than expected. Such gallantries pleased the aging Queen.

“My fair cousin Exeter”

Said Somerset, introducing Holland into the royal presence.

“We were discussing about the current state of things. I have assured my cousin that our host will soon sweep the South of any traitors”

[Mary The Quene]

The Queen, who once was infatuated with his father, Edmund, now shared the same affections with his son, Henry. Beaufort took great delight on Margaret's favor. If his father Edmund had once enjoyed the Queen's sheets, Henry didn't know; that was a secret he took with him to the grave.

"Your Grace"

He kissed her hand gently, the lips caressing the royal skin for a second longer than expected. Such gallantries pleased the aging Queen.

“My fair cousin Exeter”

Said Somerset, introducing Holland into the royal presence.

“We were discussing about the current state of things. I have assured my cousin that our host will soon sweep the South of any traitors”

The Queen offered her hand to Lord Holland, her voice less enthousiast than she spoke to Lord Beaufort

''Lord Holland, Duke of Exeter, so you are here, in name of the realm and the King we thank you.''

But her eye's quickly turned back to Lord Beaufort.

''Traitors and usurpers, yes, the Yorkist menace, have we any news about the plague which is how i call them''

[Lucius Malfoy]

After a time, Northumberland descends from the ramparts and mounts onto a steed within the stables. His horse trots out towards the camp where he decided to inspect the Lancastrian army. Henry had given what he could to the royal army when it arrived; the first encampment he passed was of his own militia. Retainers, who stood in as his commanders, rose from what they were doing and bowed to their liege as he passed by. There were other crests among the banners... Baron de Clifford, Baron de Ros, Duke of Somerset, the Duke of Exeter, even his relatives, the Earl of Westmorland. Henry dismounts from his horse as he comes to the main encampment where his servants said that much of the nobility was present. Some soldiers had said that Beaufort and Holland were already present at the camp as Northumberland entered.

[Barry Goldwater]

While his sons sparred, the Earl of Oxford lurched from tree to pavilion to tree, his shortness of breath evident to any who laid eyes upon him. Still he trudged on with a determined expression on his face, hellbent on finding someone worth talking to and learning when on Earth they were going to leave this blasted wintry landscape for some land where he was less likely to fall ill. More and more of his kerchief had been dyed red, an uglier shade than the red rose standards found across the camp, as he had to stop and wipe away his spittle now and then. He had originally meant to greet the Dukes of Somerset and Exeter, but the process of getting to their location with a limp and a cough every ten steps had taken much longer than he had hoped. Instead he found himself in sight of the Earl of Northumberland, master of the castle that overlooked the Lancastrian camp. The younger man appeared to have dismounted near the entrance of the nobility's camp, and without wasting any more time Oxford pushed himself forward and shouted,

"Northumberland! Hail and well-met..."

...before being rudely interrupted by another sharp cough. He turned his head and spat, hoping that nobody saw whether the results were tinged red again or not, and continued to hurry onward as well as he could towards the younger Earl.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Instead he found himself in sight of the Earl of Northumberland, master of the castle that overlooked the Lancastrian camp. The younger man appeared to have dismounted near the entrance of the nobility's camp, and without wasting any more time Oxford pushed himself forward and shouted,

"Northumberland! Hail and well-met..."

...before being rudely interrupted by another sharp cough. He turned his head and spat, hoping that nobody saw whether the results were tinged red again or not, and continued to hurry onward as well as he could towards the younger Earl.

Henry was soon intercepted by the Earl of Oxford, John de Vere, as he attempted to enter the main camp. For a man as old as him, it was a surprise to see John interrupt Northumberland's approach. Nonetheless, Henry halted.

The Earl of Oxford, John de Vere, if my memory is correct. It is good to see you among the faithful of our King, Henry VI. I hope my lands have provided what they can to your troops.

Been paying out of every pocket I have to keep this army and her commanders in good humors...

[Barry Goldwater]

Henry was soon intercepted by the Earl of Oxford, John de Vere, as he attempted to enter the main camp. For a man as old as him, it was a surprise to see John interrupt Northumberland's approach. Nonetheless, Henry halted.

The Earl of Oxford, John de Vere, if my memory is correct. It is good to see you among the faithful of our King, Henry VI. I hope my lands have provided what they can to your troops.

Been paying out of every pocket I have to keep this army and her commanders in good humors...

"Your memory is correct indeed," Oxford grunted. He ground to a halt, just to take fill his lungs with a deep breath. "Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. There's no need to worry yourself about my men, they're quite satisfied with what you've been providing them. I, however..." He cleared his throat to keep another coughing fit down, "Could do with a rather warmer clime. I have been feeling poorly since the Battle of Northampton last year, and the northern snows and winds have not helped at all to mitigate that. But I cannot blame you for the conditions of Northern England, power over weather is God's alone, and none of us could have foreseen the fools in London slamming their gates shut in our faces. I thank you for your hospitality, but I really must wonder when we can depart to enjoy the warmer climate of the South...and of course, take the fight to the Yorkist traitors once more."

[Lucius Malfoy]

"Your memory is correct indeed," Oxford grunted. He ground to a halt, just to take fill his lungs with a deep breath. "Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. There's no need to worry yourself about my men, they're quite satisfied with what you've been providing them. I, however..." He cleared his throat to keep another coughing fit down, "Could do with a rather warmer clime. I have been feeling poorly since the Battle of Northampton last year, and the northern snows and winds have not helped at all to mitigate that. But I cannot blame you for the conditions of Northern England, power over weather is God's alone, and none of us could have foreseen the fools in London slamming their gates shut in our faces. I thank you for your hospitality, but I really must wonder when we can depart to enjoy the warmer climate of the South...and of course, take the fight to the Yorkist traitors once more."

Henry glances at the encampment he was heading into for a moment. If anyone commanded the army now, it was the Queen's favorite, the Duke of Somerset. He kept his voice low so that the soldiers would not hear.

As for when we will be marching, with the King's current condition, I cannot say. Only Somerset, Henry Beaufort, would know. I hear he is in the encampment now with the Duke of Exeter. If those two are together, surely they are planning our next move.

The Earl then turns to de Vere, gesturing his castle, Alnwick. Perhaps he could offer a better room for the elderly Earl of Oxford to help better his health.

If you desire a warmer room, you are more than welcomed to find a guest room within my castle, my Lord. Surely a nice warm fire will help lighten your health and stiff limbs.

Henry pats the older man's shoulder with a smile on his lips. Then his gaze once more turned to the main encampment. He needed to ensure Northumberland's place among the hierarchy of the Lancastrian nobility was solid. After all, they were masters of the North and they alone. For many generations, they helped ensure England was safe from the hands of the Scots. Now it was their duty to help England in more ways than before. He motions for de Vere to follow.

Let's go and see what Exeter and Somerset are up to, my Lord Oxford.

[Barry Goldwater]

Henry glances at the encampment he was heading into for a moment. If anyone commanded the army now, it was the Queen's favorite, the Duke of Somerset. He kept his voice low so that the soldiers would not hear.

As for when we will be marching, with the King's current condition, I cannot say. Only Somerset, Henry Beaufort, would know. I hear he is in the encampment now with the Duke of Exeter. If those two are together, surely they are planning our next move.

The Earl then turns to de Vere, gesturing his castle, Alnwick. Perhaps he could offer a better room for the elderly Earl of Oxford to help better his health.

If you desire a warmer room, you are more than welcomed to find a guest room within my castle, my Lord. Surely a nice warm fire will help lighten your health and stiff limbs.

Henry pats the older man's shoulder with a smile on his lips. Then his gaze once more turned to the main encampment. He needed to ensure Northumberland's place among the hierarchy of the Lancastrian nobility was solid. After all, they were masters of the North and they alone. For many generations, they helped ensure England was safe from the hands of the Scots. Now it was their duty to help England in more ways than before. He motions for de Vere to follow.

Let's go and see what Exeter and Somerset are up to, my Lord Oxford.

Oxford wordlessly nodded at Northumberland's first words. The previous Duke of Somerset was suspiciously close to the Queen, and his son too enjoyed her good graces. He had once even heard a terrible rumor that the Prince of Wales was the son of Somerset, not good King Henry, though he had quickly shut it out of his mind as a Yorkist lie. Nonetheless it concerned him that despite being a young man, Somerset was being given command of the royal army ahead of older and more experienced commanders, himself included. If Somerset was willing to march out of this God-forsaken cold soon however, Oxford would be more than happy to let that go.

When Northumberland continued, Oxford gave a smile of his own. "A room in your castle, cut off from the biting cold outside? An old man such as myself, especially in my health, can hardly say no to that. I thank you once more for your hospitality, my lord of Northumberland, and agree that we should meet the leaders of our mighty host." And God willing, they'll have a nice fire going already as well. He walked after Northumberland, doing his best to keep his back straight and not limp the entire way to Exeter and Somerset's position.

[Gandalfus]

Holland took no pleasure in performing these pointless pleasantries, but nonetheless indulged his Queen. Exeter was considered brawny, but his face wore a scowl too often for it to be considered handsome.

"I have always been at the side of our good king Henry, and I always will be, Your Grace." He flatly intoned, making a silent note of the Queen's enthusiasm in Beaufort. "They gather their strength in London, and no doubt York will soon march north, to drive us from the Kingdom."

[Mary The Quene]

Holland took no pleasure in performing these pointless pleasantries, but nonetheless indulged his Queen. Exeter was considered brawny, but his face wore a scowl too often for it to be considered handsome.

"I have always been at the side of our good king Henry, and I always will be, Your Grace." He flatly intoned, making a silent note of the Queen's enthusiasm in Beaufort. "They gather their strength in London, and no doubt York will soon march north, to drive us from the Kingdom."

The Queen turned her eye's back to Lord Holland. If she could she would want to spend the rest of the day with the Beauforts but out of politeness she addressed Lord Holland again.

''Your loyalty is noted, do we have a plan in mind to stop the Yorkist menace?''