Tower of London

[Gandalfus]

The Tower of London was originally built as "The White Tower" by William the Conqueror, a royal residence and a visible symbol of the Norman King's power over London. Over time, it has evolved into a multi functional building; it is used to detain important prisoners of noble blood, but it is also used as a retreat for members of the royal family when London itself is under threat. Currently, it is also where the royal mint and treasury is housed. The affairs of the Tower of London are managed by the Constable of the Tower, who is appointed by the King's decree- he oversees the garrisoning of the Tower as well as the "wellbeing" of the prisoners.

More recently it has housed the King's former wife, Margaret Percy, with rumours circulating that the disgraced consort met her end in the Tower at the hands of an assassin. Henry Stafford smuggled Percy's daughter Eleanor out of the Tower in 1481 and was duly imprisoned by the Queen. Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter was appointed in his place.

Constable of the Tower:
Henry Holland, 3rd Duke of Exeter

Notable prisoners are currently:
Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham

[Dirty Chai]

With the authority of the constable placed upon the Duke of Buckingham, in late spring of 1481, the Duke begins to move his affinity into the old royal fortress. Guards begin to change, new faces alongside old faces. New flags are hung from the towers, freshly woven royal arms and crosses of St George rather than those several years old or more. Quarters in the white tower itself were being changed out and cleaned, and a differenced royal coat of arms was placed in those rooms, carrying a bordure argent around the arms of France and England.

The duke made his first appearance at the fortress close to the onset of summer - that day, he perused the grounds on horseback, his entourage of well-dressed retainers following him in a small tour of the fortress led by a captain of the guards. He left after a few hours, out the way he came. Then, the following week, he came into the tower, and this time he stayed in the chambers prepared for him in the keep. He and his men dismounted that day, stabling their horses, but their train was bigger, carrying personal belongings and luxuries the duke apparently decided to bring with him.

[Mary The Quene]

Eleanor FitzRoy, as how she is known these days in life, had been lectured this day in the subject of History today by one of her tutors, she learned about the Romans of old, how good Christians had been persecuted so horrible during their initial emergence and how later the emperor Constantine granted freedom of religion in his empire and how much later the emperor Theodosius made Christianity the sole official religion in the empire. Such stories often made Eleanor feel melancholic, for often she felt she wanted to escape this life, to a past where everything was better in her eye's. Not just often she felt melancholic but she felt increasingly discomfortable with her body and abandoned.

It did not help her she grew increasingly taller and taller in her adolescent years and nobody bothered to really visit her, but was the latter not to be expected?, she was but a bastard after all, despite her bloodline. It had been ever since the dying of her father since she saw any of her siblings, a shame, for Eleanor grew fond of her brother during the Christmas celebrations, but perhaps more disheartening was the matter of fact Eleanor missed her mother the most still, but she never dared to talk about it ofcourse, for she too had heard certain rumors when others thought she wasn't paying attention to those around her.

Thus so after her tutor was satisfied with the progress for today she was free to do what she pleased, not that there was alot to do other than playing cards or chess with her few companions in the normal routine of the day. But today she moved outside her tight rooms for once, for her tutor had ofcourse informed her about the new constable, thus she descended the stairs of the Tower and set out for the courtyard with her companions accompanying her.

Thus she reached the courtyard where she saw the new constable and his men busy moving objects from the stables to the lodgings of the constable. Oh no, she did not dare to approach them, perhaps in fear for being rejected. But certainly the constable and his household could notice Eleanor, she had dressed herself completely in black clothes ofcourse, a color she swore to wear for the rest of her life. The only thing that was not black was her headpiece that had been covered with elaborate golden trinkets.

[Dirty Chai]

The constable's lightly-colored furred back was to the young lady and her entourage, talking with some men in plain livery coats who carried swords on their belts - some of his knights, likely. It was a few long minutes before one of them finally seemed to mention that the FitzRoy girl was watching from the base of the tower, for the Duke of Buckingham finally turned his head with shrewd eyes.

That duke turned his body with surprise and bowed from his waist at her in greeting from the distance. Harry Stafford then seemed to continue his conversation with his retainers, finishing up whatever instruction he was giving them, before moments later turning again to stride over to stand within speaking distance of the young lady. Buckingham held a reserved, aloof look as he did so, implying all the social pressure both in and outside of these walls to avoid too much familiarity or interaction with the king's illegitimized children.

"My lady FitzRoy," he spoke to the young, black-swaddled woman, "Good afternoon to thee."

[Mary The Quene]

''My Lord Buckingham''

Eleanor said, making a deep courteous bow, her face remained fixed at Buckingham's own face. ''Good afternoon to thee, My Lord''

Eleanor's face remained unsmiling as ever, for what could she possible take joy in these days? She still stood there bowing in front of Buckingham, ever fearful of being rejected.

[Dirty Chai]

Harry Stafford had brown eyes, a pointed nose and pointed chin, with fine, flat and straight dirty blonde hair hanging from his head. His frame enlarged a little around the torso, becoming a square, stout figure, though it was hard to tell with all the layers of clothing he wore. The Burgundian fashions as they were..

"I have been named to the constabulary," he said, trying to break the strange silence. Buckingham could sense something underlying the girl's face, but had no means of knowing the girl's goal here in speaking with him, why she seemed to have something she waited for or something she wished to say.

"I swear to see to the continued upkeep of your lifestyle," Stafford decided to add, offering a polite nod of respect. "I hope you shall have no concerns about neglect, lady."

[Mary The Quene]

''You are far too kind, My lord Buckingham'' Eleanor replied rather forced and formulaic, perhaps a bit insecure.

Eleanor rose back from bowing at full length, she had grown very tall as of late, her dark brown smooth hair reached the edge of her shoulders, another special feature of her were here dark brown alluring eyes, inherited from her mother.

''I was thinking His Lordship may perhaps, ehm, smuggle out some letters to my sister Cecily?, i'd like to see her more often.'' An unusual request, sure, but she missed her sister still. Still no enthusiasm was noted in her voice.

[Dirty Chai]

"Smuggle?"

Buckingham was caught off guard by that, giving this girl a perplexed expression. After a moment, he smiled slightly, assuring himself it was a jest - surely there was nothing wrong with seeing letters sent out of the tower..

"Of course, I can see to that," he said, wondering if previous constables had done the same, or if...

He balked for a moment, his lips frozen agape. They closed, then opened again. It took him some awkward moments to produce words, and they were uneasy, more hushed ones.

"My lady," Stafford began, his worried tone breaking through the previously noble composure, "Have 'they' let you converse with your siblings before?"

[Mary The Quene]

''.... No, i was not allowed to do so.'' Eleanor sighed, it was no coincidence that when that Woodville 'Queen' was regent she had cut off any communications between them, this she did suspect was the reason, there was little love between them.

''But i would be grateful, My Lord Buckingham, i miss them'' Said Eleanor, besides the brief Christmas celebrations she had not seen her sister and brother ever since they were moved to other households, not even allowed to write them when her father was in France.

[Dirty Chai]

"Of course," the duke replied slowly, the air knocked out of him; a frown gripped his face, failing to hide the overwhelming pity he now felt for the eldest of the dead king's children. The loneliest girl in all of England, he could've sworn, was standing just before him.

"I shall see to it that your words reach your siblings," Harry was resolute.

[Mary The Quene]

"Of course," the duke replied slowly, the air knocked out of him; a frown gripped his face, failing to hide the overwhelming pity he now felt for the eldest of the dead king's children. The loneliest girl in all of England, he could've sworn, was standing just before him.

"I shall see to it that your words reach your siblings," Harry was resolute.

''Thank you, i am most grateful, My Lord Buckingham'' Said Eleanor, a bit relieved she is allowed to converse with her siblings, it has been so long ago since she had met them...

''Perhaps i should resume my prayers now, the dead need to be prayed for ofcourse'' Said Eleanor with a cold and disturbed look, as if she did not care about life anymore. Prayers shortened ones time in purgatory, so she prayed for her mother ofcourse, there were enough prayers for her father.

[Alexandrine]

Joan Neville looked to the imposant castle in front of her, with her hand above her eye, to guard it from the Spring sun. She had left Somerset house - her fathers old city residence for a visit to the Tower. She was unannounced, and of course, she thought, it would be unconventional for a woman to visit a lord without any clear reason. But she had accepted that she would be an unconventional woman, whatever she would do. Especially if he wasn't of close kinship with her. Although.. that wasn't entirely true. She had done research after the duke after they met at the meeting of the division of her fathers lands. It was the first time she had looked her family tree so intensely, she had been shut off from the rest of the world too much, she realised. His grandmother Anne Neville, Duchess of Buckingham was a sister to Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, the grandmother of the new king Edward V, their full brother was William Neville, earl of Kent. Who was in turn her grandfather. As they were both great-grandchildren of Ralph Neville and Joan Beaufort, it actually made them second cousins. It wasn't really close in kinship, in terms of the high nobility, but they shouldn't be strangers she thought.

At front of the gate, she inquired if she could call upon the Duke of Buckingham.

[Dirty Chai]

The duke felt his stomach tighten. This girl..

"Praying?" He deigned to ask, not hiding the shock in his voice. "A child like you should only be praying at the bedside before bed and in mass on Sunday."

He had a pained look, made worse by his struggle to hide it.

"How often do you pray?"

Joan Neville looked to the imposant castle in front of her, with her hand above her eye, to guard it from the Spring sun. She had left Somerset house - her fathers old city residence for a visit to the Tower. She was unannounced, and of course, she thought, it would be unconventional for a woman to visit a lord without any clear reason. But she had accepted that she would be an unconventional woman, whatever she would do. Especially if he wasn't of close kinship with her. Although.. that wasn't entirely true. She had done research after the duke after they met at the meeting of the division of her fathers lands. It was the first time she had looked her family tree so intensely, she had been shut off from the rest of the world too much, she realised. His grandmother Anne Neville, Duchess of Buckingham was a sister to Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, the grandmother of the new king Edward V, their full brother was William Neville, earl of Kent. Who was in turn her grandfather. As they were both great-grandchildren of Ralph Neville and Joan Beaufort, it actually made them second cousins. It wasn't really close in kinship, in terms of the high nobility, but they shouldn't be strangers she thought.

At front of the gate, she inquired if she could call upon the Duke of Buckingham.

An officer of the guards was present at the barbican across the moat. His men were trying to get some mule across the bridge, so the gatehouse was open. The man stood in her way, arms akimbo.

"Lady Joan Neville?" He frowned, echoing the name. "Harry Buckingham is a busy man, my lady. You have business with his grace?"


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[Mary The Quene]

The duke felt his stomach tighten. This girl..

"Praying?" He deigned to ask, not hiding the shock in his voice. "A child like you should only be praying at the bedside before bed and in mass on Sunday."

He had a pained look, made worse by his struggle to hide it.

"How often do you pray?"

''I pray thrice a day, at morning, at midday and in the evening, My lord Buckingham'' Said Eleanor honestly, with a frown, what was wrong with that?. She had done this for many years and always insisted on doing so.

''Mostly for my poor mother, My Lord Buckingham'' Eleanor clasped hands, anxiously to talk about her own mother, she looked distraught. She had heard rumors of her mother being murdered only a few rooms away to that of her, no wonder why she has so little joy in life.

[Alexandrine]

An officer of the guards was present at the barbican across the moat. His men were trying to get some mule across the bridge, so the gatehouse was open. The man stood in her way, arms akimbo.

"Lady Joan Neville?" He frowned, echoing the name. "Harry Buckingham is a busy man, my lady. You have business with his grace?"


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There it was, she knew nothing of the world of men. Of course his grace was busy, how could she think that he would make time for her? Just a stupid country girl he once served in court. There would be a thousand things on his mind, none of them beloning to her. Was it foolish of her to come here? She looked to the windows upon the walls, not really expecting to see him. She was thinking. If the man said he was busy, that didn't mean he was away. Buckingham was in there. She just had to be shown in. What did this man know after all?
"Yes, Lady Joan Neville." she replied. "Send word to Lord Buckingham, he will want to see me." she bluffed. "He will make time for me." .. well perhaps that last one was a bit overdone, she had no clue what Buckingham wanted or not. But she thought, she might as well be confident and strong while standing under his gatehouse.
She looked at the man, waiting. Hoping that Buckingham wouldn't make a fool out of her.

[Dirty Chai]

Stafford regarded her for a moment before speaking again, his pity coming to a climax surely.

"Well, I'm sure your mother is happy for your prayers."

He sighed a little, silently exhaling - deflating, as if accepting some sort of task or reality facing him.

"But I'm sure she'd be even more happy if you spent your time elsewhere, too."

[Mary The Quene]

''But what can i do otherwise?'' Said Eleanor, sure she had her tutors to occupy her for some hours a day, but there was not much she could do when she was free, besides playing some card games with her companions, or chess, or reading some books.

''I mean, i can never leave these walls'' Eleanor realized she knew so little of life outside the walls, it had been only during the Christmas celebrations that she had left the Tower for the first times in many many years.

[Dirty Chai]

Stafford glanced around, as if trying to find something within the walls of the fortress that could help him answer the girl's query. He tried for a false smile and a suggestive gesture, but they were a shallow set of expressions to say the least of them.

"I am sure there is much you can do with your time, lady FitzRoy.."

The duke eyed the women around and behind her briefly.

"Do you not have ladies who attend on you? Girls of your age?"

[Alexandrine]

An officer of the guards was present at the barbican across the moat. His men were trying to get some mule across the bridge, so the gatehouse was open. The man stood in her way, arms akimbo.

"Lady Joan Neville?" He frowned, echoing the name. "Harry Buckingham is a busy man, my lady. You have business with his grace?"


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There it was, she knew nothing of the world of men. Of course his grace was busy, how could she think that he would make time for her? Just a stupid country girl he once served in court. There would be a thousand things on his mind, none of them beloning to her. Was it foolish of her to come here? She looked to the windows upon the walls, not really expecting to see him. She was thinking. If the man said he was busy, that didn't mean he was away. Buckingham was in there. She just had to be shown in. What did this man know after all?
"Yes, Lady Joan Neville." she replied. "Send word to Lord Buckingham, he will want to see me." she bluffed. "He will make time for me." .. well perhaps that last one was a bit overdone, she had no clue what Buckingham wanted or not. But she thought, she might as well be confident and strong while standing under his gatehouse.
She looked at the man, waiting. Hoping that Buckingham wouldn't make a fool out of her in front of his guards.

[Mary The Quene]

Stafford glanced around, as if trying to find something within the walls of the fortress that could help him answer the girl's query. He tried for a false smile and a suggestive gesture, but they were a shallow set of expressions to say the least of them.

"I am sure there is much you can do with your time, lady FitzRoy.."

The duke eyed the women around and behind her briefly.

"Do you not have ladies who attend on you? Girls of your age?"

''Yes, My Lord Buckingham, they do attend me'' Eleanor said, one of the woman was Lady Mary Paston, they'd often play cards games together when there was nothing else to do.

''Perhaps would My Lord Buckingham wouldn't mind my sister to visit me?'' It'd atleast subdue Eleanor's melancholy for a time.