Leeds Castle

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Archbishop arrived at Leeds and prepared for the King's arrival. The preparations were austere, merely a place to meet and talk and almost nothing else. The Cardinal wore his ruby ring and golden cross, but was otherwise dressed rather plainly.

[Gandalfus]

Upon the feast day of Saint Edward the Confessor, the royal court in its entirety arrived at Leeds Castle, its presence foretold by the fluttering of various standards in the autumn breeze; the royal arms of England, accompanied by Edward's own variation used at the coronation, as well as the heraldry of his mother and uncle, the Duke of Bedford. With such panoply and fanfare, one might think such a cavalcade was some kind of victory parade or celebration, the long column of servants and retainers snaking back across the western sky. At the head of the snake itself was the King, flanked by his dual regents and younger brothers. With the royal garrison opening the gates, the monarch and his entourage flooded the courtyard, with the swarm of servants already entering the keep to ensure it was in a good stead to serve as the seat of the royal court for the few weeks - or perhaps months - that the King would choose to spend here.

Edward dismounted and immediately moved to seek out the Archbishop's meeting place, likely some room within the castle that the cleric had chosen to hold this meeting of sorts.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The King would be ushered into a chapel within the castle, one devoted to Saint Anselm. Two round, stained windows let in light that cast green and red shadows on the altar. Above them was an ornate crucifix depicting the last moments of Christ's life before he died for the salvation of all. Humphrey had been deep in prayer but now waited silently foe the King to arrive.

[Gandalfus]

Edward entered the chapel, accompanied solely by Lord Bedford. The Queen, due to her excommunication, would have to wait within the Keep. The King assumed the man kneeling before the altar was the Archbishop, and thus stepped forward towards him, expectantly, unsure if he should join the cleric in prayer or if he would rise to greet him.

[Pontifex Maximus]

Humphrey finished his prayers with a barely audible "amen" as he heard the King enter. His red-capped head dipped as he made to stand up. He rose and genuflected towards the altar, clasping his hands in front of him. He turned to face the young King, a boy barely old enough for his first shave it seemed to him. He pursed his lips and walked the short distance to the end of the row of benches. "Greetings, your majesty." He said with another nod of his head as he offered a large rubied ring in the boy's direction. "I am gladdened that we could agree on terms for a meeting."

[Gandalfus]

The King wasn't sure as to how to respond, but promptly elected to show Bourchier the deference due to him as Archbishop of Canterbury by planting his lips firmly upon the ring of office.

"Eminence."

Greeted the King, watching Canterbury pensively. He didn't know the man too well, and thus he'd brought his uncle Bedford along as a crutch to support him in case self doubt or ill humours began to cloud his judgement.

[Oznerol]

Bedford grunted, as imposing as always, the once most desired bachelor in England was more than a mere jouster now, but a duke and Lord Protector of the realm. His padded doublet, lined with fur, had long cut sleeves, his legs in a pair of hose and long-toed shoes on his feet. A jewelled collar of sunbursts and white roses rests upon his chest, pending from it an enamelled white lion, for March. The newly created duke stands taller than both king and archbishop, arms crossed over his chest, a chest that one day could become barrell-like if Woodville ever stopped his strenous training rutine. The Lord Protector didn't look specially cheerful, but remained more less emotionless and detached.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Your majesty, I believe we must discuss the events that have brought us here from the beginning so that we may fully understand the controversies that have hung like a pall over your realm. It will then be for you to decide how to proceed." The Archbishop ushered him to a bench, and sat beside him. "My brother, the Duke of Aumale was arrested early in the year. I went to see him in the Tower where I agreed to intercede on his behalf to the Queen Regent and inquire about his incarceration. While on my way to Westminster, your mother denied me an audience, barred the gates against me and hurled insults at me. Such behavior is, of course, intolerable. The Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of Canterbury denied the opportunity to speak at court? Such a thing is unheard of. I was then set upon at Lambeth and removed from my post of Lord Chancellor even while my brother's house was being ransacked. Upon seeing this closing of the royal court to the clergy, I had no choice but to author a writ of excommunication against the Queen and place London under interdict. This...escalation of what was a simple inquiry as to the incarceration of my brother convinced me that something bad would happen. Alas, I was correct. My brother was executed not long ago without trial, without due process, and in a private execution. Frankly your highness, this behavior is shocking, and it will not stand. The Queen has made many enemies of the lords of the realm. These are grave offenses." The Archbishop paused to gauge the King's response. He had more ill news to share, but this was enough information to swallow for now.

[Gandalfus]

Edward obliged, joining the Archbishop upon the pew and hearing out his plight. Yes, he was aware of all these things: the execution of Aumale, the interdict and excommunication, and the humiliation the Archbishop suffered at the hands of his own mother, the Queen. His entire frame sunk into itself, as if he wanted to simply swallow himself up and never face the troubles of the world again.

"Yes, her enemies..."

Weren't they traitors to the Crown? Clarence and Aumale had allegedly been plotting together, or so the evidence had said.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"We are a nation ruled by laws as well as Kings." The Archbishop continued "and your mother has ignored these laws, opting instead to wield the power of the Crown like an axe to remove those who she suspects of the faintest disloyalty. If there was sufficient evidence to convict my brother of treason, why was he never tried in court and why was he executed privately?" the Archbishop folded his hands on his lap "those are not the actions of a reasonably assured judge, those are the actions of a tyrant." Humphrey looked to the stained windows. "There is worse news yet. Your true enemies have regrouped overseas at the very moment your mother has seen fit to divide the Realm..."

[Gandalfus]

"His guilt was determined, and so he met his punishment."

Edward's tone was uncertain. No evidence had been put before him to examine, only assurances that Aumale was, without question, guilty of plotting to replace him with his uncle Clarence, and had consulted portents to foresee whether the King and his mother would die.

"Yes, and my exiled cousin returns with an army of mercenaries, married to my traitor sister."

The King grimaced. Would he lose his throne so soon?

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Guilt is determined at trials, not behind closed doors. What evidence did you examine, who told you of his guilt, who determined his guilt and did you believe it immediately? What councilors were consulted?" The Archbishop was resisting the urge to grab the King by the shoulders and shake some sense into him. The boy was completely under the thumb of his mother. Perhaps it would be best for Lancaster to return and rid the realm of this poxied fool and his mother. "Not even the courts of the Inquisition are so summary in nature! Do you realize that her actions have given justification for the lords of the realm to unite and demand redress? I say this with the utmost candor: your mother's manic paranoia has jeopardized your Crown, and not in favor of any of your uncles but in favor to Lancaster."

[Gandalfus]

"The regent in which the powers of government are vested determined his guilt, my Lord."

Said Edward stubbornly, eyes narrowing into slits, brow furrowed.

"My Lord Aumale's death is regrettable, but he is dead. It is not something that can be taken back."

Then, he folded his arms, and sat fully upright.

"My mother seeks only to protect my father's legacy and preserve his line. If she justifies someone as a threat, it is because they should rightly be considered thus."

[Pontifex Maximus]

Humphrey pursed his lips and decided against replying. If the King took no interest in ruling the Realm or indeed, his duty, a King could be found that would. "You've come to discuss your mother's status in relation to the Church. Why should I lift her excommunication or the interdict of London?"

[Oznerol]

Bedford spoke.

"Simply, because you must"

Anthony Woodville folded arms.

"Your brother was found guilty by the regency. The amount of evidence was staggering. I mourn having to execute a peer of his status, but treason is treason"

He frowns.

"You are acting solely out of personal motivation, which is a lofty excuse to leave the Londoners without spiritual solace. I've heard the discontents even burned your palace, they probably see this as some personal, petty rivalry, not a matter of spiritual concern. And they are right"

[Pontifex Maximus]

The Achbishop turned, indignant, to Bedord. "Indeed, so staggering that a trial was not necessary and the execution had to occur privately! I was speaking to the King, your grace. And I mustn't do anything. I am the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Primate of England."

[Gandalfus]

"You're also a subject of the King of England."

Reminded Edward, a little indignantly. It seemed the Archbishop's only demand was to renounce his mother, something the boy King was not prepared to do.

[Pontifex Maximus]

"I am, your majesty, and it grieves me that we have come to this point. Much like St. Thomas Becket, my predecessor, I must also defend the sacred institutions of the Church, of which my office is central. The actions of the Regent towards this institution cannot be ignored, and the actions taken are reasonably tailored to warn the Regent of the dangers of alienating the Church." The Archbishop replied calmly.

[Oznerol]

"He is your liege and sovereign"

Said Woodville.

"And I am the Lord Protector of England, bishop"

He added.

"You cannot afford to ignore me, your Eminence"

He raised a finger.

"Man of the cloth or not you are a natural of the land and thus subjected to its ruler, my nephew"

Bedford places a hand on the king's shoulder.

"The times changed my bishop. These are not the times of those men, saints or not, they are long dead. The church has not been threatened, the parishes are intact, he bishoprics are untouched. Every church in England is unmolested, and every priest performs his duties under the protection of the crown. This is just your personal grievance"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"We are all subjects of the King of Kings." Humphrey replied coolly, lifting the crucifix to his lips and kissing it.