Securing Succession

[Gandalfus]

Edward was ever a cautious boy, a trait that translated firmly into his manhood and tempered by his experiences; he began to ensure he was always prepared for the worst possible outcome of any situation. Thus, some days before the King went off to war, the lords Gloucester, Clarence, Bedford, Suffolk, Salisbury, Norfolk and York were summoned to Westminster Abbey, where the King waited with the Bishop of London and his heavily pregnant bride. It wasn't a public event, nonetheless, retainers such as Saint-Leger and the Queen's ladies in waiting present upon the periphery, for monarchs are never truly alone together.

[Oznerol]

Bedford, Suffolk and Salisbury arrive as requested. Bedford and Salisbury stand several paces away from the Appellants, naturally brooding at the prospect of having to share room and space with those vagrants. Nevertheless, they had a duty to the crown. Thomas Grey is more lively than his uncle, who looks rather gloomy.

[The Mad Skylord]

The Duke of York arrived with his usual arrogance and pomp, dressed stunningly in the newest of Burgundian fashion. Of course, dear Edward had a child on the way, but York knew well that should his dear brother fall on the field before the child was born, he would be the King.

[Dirty Chai]

...It wasn't a public event, nonetheless, retainers such as Saint-Leger and the Queen's ladies in waiting present upon the periphery, for monarchs are never truly alone together...

Thomas de Saint Leger (Sellinger, commonly) was indeed present, but he was at the sides of the abbey like so many other knights and observers, staring into the distance as if they heard not what was happening before them. Because it was an abbey, the knight had a solemn look as well, and took the opportunity to sit with a dark, brown rosary between his fingers - he had come to find praying regular through Mary with the beads was a soothing routine to take upon himself, as he aged closer and closer to the inevitable. As such, his eyes were fixed upon an effigy of the Virgin Mother of the Christ, but his ears were not deafened to what might occur around his liege and charge.

[Lucius Malfoy]

The Duke of Clarence situates himself with his brother, Gloucester, opposite of Bedford and Salisbury. Their presence here gave him a good reason for concern, more so Bedford, the gloomy noble. Granted they were relatives of the King, but their presence here was a cause for concern. Was the King considering their return? Who knows. Time would only tell.

[Jokern]

The Duke of Norfolk arrives at Westminister, dressed in elegant yet simple green hunting clothes that he preferred to wear on the road. While keeping an eye on the Woodvilles a few paces away, the duke was curious on the meaning of this sudden meeting.

[Alexandrine]

Elizabeth was in the retinue of Queen Soleil. She offered physical support for the Queen, who was so heavily with child. Elizabeth knew that it was time that the Queen would go into her confinement soon. Childbirth was no mans business. Certainly not one of a Queen. She was so high of rank, that every care should be possible for her. She shouldn't move too much any more. Soon the bishop would bless her and their child and she would be locked away. Away from all man's eyes. Even her husbands and those of priests.

[Gandalfus]

All had eventually gathered there so that they were only waiting for the presence of the Duke of Gloucester. Edward decided to begin, clasping his hands before him as he addressed those who had entered Westminster's hallowed halls at his behest.

"My lords, I greet thee with a solemn subject, for we soon go off to war against the pretender in the west. I pray that we return in victory, and the threat of Lancaster finished."

Edward hesitated, finding his mouth dry. He swallowed, and then continued.

"However, if God wills, I may not return from the battlefield. Thus I gather thee here, with the birth of my heir imminent.."

The King gestured towards Soleil's noticeably large bump.

"To swear upon the gospel that, should my passage to heaven he untimely, the child born from mine wife shall follow me as my successor. The Lord Bishop, Sir Thomas Sellinger, and mine noble sister shall act as witness."

A cleric brought forth the gospels, which were blessed by the Bishop and placed into the King's hands. One by one they would step forth and administer the oath. Edward looked towards Clarence first, gaze enigmatic.

"Uncle of mine. Thou shalt be first, as Richard of York's eldest living son."

[Lucius Malfoy]

All had eventually gathered there so that they were only waiting for the presence of the Duke of Gloucester. Edward decided to begin, clasping his hands before him as he addressed those who had entered Westminster's hallowed halls at his behest.

"My lords, I greet thee with a solemn subject, for we soon go off to war against the pretender in the west. I pray that we return in victory, and the threat of Lancaster finished."

Edward hesitated, finding his mouth dry. He swallowed, and then continued.

"However, if God wills, I may not return from the battlefield. Thus I gather thee here, with the birth of my heir imminent.."

The King gestured towards Soleil's noticeably large bump.

"To swear upon the gospel that, should my passage to heaven he untimely, the child born from mine wife shall follow me as my successor. The Lord Bishop, Sir Thomas Sellinger, and mine noble sister shall act as witness."

A cleric brought forth the gospels, which were blessed by the Bishop and placed into the King's hands. One by one they would step forth and administer the oath. Edward looked towards Clarence first, gaze enigmatic.

"Uncle of mine. Thou shalt be first, as Richard of York's eldest living son."

George Plantagenet moves from his place among the nobles, stepping forth without hesitation. He kneels before the King, placing one hand upon the gospel within the King's hand.

Your Majesty, I swear, by the Gospel, by the Scriptures, and by the Law of our ancestor's Kingdom, that I, George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, will support, defend and promote the reign of your successor.

He bows his head to his nephew before rising.

Though I pray that God not take you away from us nor your Kingdom, Your Majesty. I pray that God protect you from all harm that may come in the approaching days.

[Dirty Chai]

St Leger, off to the side, turned his eyes to eye the king and the lords before him. His hands halted their movement with the prayer beads. A huge degree of trust had been thrust onto him, completely unexpectedly. Apparently this king thought even more highly of him than his father had. Perhaps years in the queen's court had cultivated that trust..

A sense of pride engulfed the Kentish knight, but he stayed silent and out of sight and mind, watching the proceedings.

[Barry Goldwater]

The Duke of Gloucester arrives, stern as ever. Noting that his nephew had turned his gaze to Clarence and demanded he swear his loyalty first, he waits in silence for his turn.

---

Queen Soleil is also present, naturally, and despite her own inner feelings of anxiety, tried to present herself with the regal calm and apparent confidence of a queen. The reassuring presence of her husband and sister-in-law made that task a little easier, at least.

[Gandalfus]

"It is in the Lord's hands, like all things."

Nodded the King, pleased at Clarence's lack of hesitation. His eyes turn to the Duke of Gloucester, who would naturally follow as the next senior member of the royal house.

"Uncle Gloucester, thou too shalt swear."

Sellinger, selected due to his position among the most senior of the King's retainers, is ushered forwards so that he might witness with some clarity.

[Dirty Chai]

St Leger then stood not far from the king, clasping his hands together in front of himself, resting against his knight's belt, an imposingly tall figure for a nobody. The Kentish knight had served the house of York for more than twenty years, going back to the youth of Edward of March after Wakefield. St Leger had been a youth, then, too.

Now, he was a reliable set of eyes upon which the young king had decided to place his confidence. Perhaps it was the aged and wised look that one began to take on in the forties - though, he looked quite youthful for a man of forty-two. Whatever the case, Thomas was quite well aware of the dislike this might garner from the peers. Magnates hated such men.

[Barry Goldwater]

"I swear by the Gospel, by the Scriptures and by the laws of our ancestors that I, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester will support, defend and promote the reign of your child and successor." Richard said plainly and stoically, one hand on the Gospel. Like his brother, he did this without hesitation and while kneeling.

[Gandalfus]

They'd come up in simple order of precedence thereafter: the Dukes, beginning with his brother York, and then Norfolk, Suffolk, and Bedford, and then finally his maternal half-brother the Earl of Salisbury would place their hands upon the gospel and give their sworn vows.

[The Mad Skylord]

York, for his part, simply parroted the oath given by his uncles.

[Jokern]

Norfolk stepped forth and knelt before the king, putting his hand on the gospels.

"I swear upon the Gospel, by the Scriptures and by the laws of this realm that I, John Mowbray and Duke of Norfolk, will support, defend and promote the reign of your child and future successor."

[Oznerol]

The new Lord Chancellor duly swore to defend the infant scion of York and to uphold his loyalties to the throne and the sovereign of England, following the suit of the other peers present on the church. Finally, both the king's brother and uncle swore ardently to defend the rights of the unborn child to the throne of England. When they were done, all the oaths had been sworn and the king now counted on his vassals' words on the matter succession.