Betrayal Tag Richard

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

There was no way that she could explain what was happening, everything was moving to fast for her liking. Her driver was taking her to an unknown destination and that troubled her. When the car stopped and her door was opened. She saw one of Richards men outside as she was guided into a small bistro. Her eyes closed as she was starting to get calm. Her hands holding the purse as she could feel her heart beats weakening at what was the meaning of this.

Had he .. found out one of her secrets. Yes , every woman had secrets even she had some that she did not want him to find out. Had she really come to the point where she was calling him nothing. She could not call his name. Was she crumbling and standing tall and facing him was to dangerous. Whatever demons she had created they where now coming out and she could not yet tell what was going to happen.

A lonely table now stood at the deep corner covered by curtains as she looked around at the small not bad place. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she walked towards the back and sat on the first chair she found. Her hands poking open the small purse as she started to take out a pill box and opened it as she poked one of the nasty pills into her mouth and sighed.

That would help her relax. Yet why was she here, that was what she wanted to know. She wanted to know what her husband was up to. Their last talk was not dramatic at all and she really wanted to have her husband back. But what small creature of her past had crept up and bite her like a snake.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Richard had discovered Anne's secret. How could he not, with his men almost constantly keeping watch on her when he could not? For months she had been professing she was seeing someone else - and how could Richard help but believe it? Little was he to know this had been a lie, a ploy to see what lengths he would go to in order to win her back, show her how he loved her...yet it had not remained a lie for long.

Anne had thought she could hide away from him, with her private hideaway, leading her life separate from him but that didn't mean she could keep it a secret. Richard's disquiet with Anne's protestations soon lead to jealousy, and an obsessive need to discover if what she was saying to him about seeing another man was true. Anne may not have planned her meeting with the detective, nor what the meeting had led to, but this meant nothing to the men working for Richard. Anne may have attempted to put this past behind her, but for Richard it consumed his present. His fears and suspicions confirmed, there was nothing left but to confront Anne about the situation, to ensure his sources proved true.

And yet, despite her anger and fear, he didn't want to let himself fly off the handle again. He may have been a monster, but he didn't want to hurt her. Not yet, at least. His conscience, his guilt, had left him weak, a shell of his former self. It had not been all that long ago that he knelt in the snow at Edward's gravestone, begging forgiveness from the brother he had killed. No aspect of his life was stable and calm, but he knew Anne could be such an aspect, if they dealt with the issue at hand.

Hence why Richard had deigned it best to discuss this with Anne in public rather than in private. He wouldn't allow himself to descend to cruel words and violence in the presence of those he helped to govern and he only hoped that Anne, aware as he was of his precarious public image, would abide by those same rules.

It was not long before he saw the door of the restaurant open and Anne enter, closely shadowed by Catesby who had been waiting outside. Anne moved to the table and sat down, taking a pill from the box she kept in her purse. It was at this point that Richard moved forward to sit down opposite his wife, pointedly ignoring the box of pills in her hand.

"Anne," he began, with a small smile. "I'm sorry this meeting will have come as such a surprise but..." He tailed off, unsure all of a sudden how best to begin. "I want...I need to talk to you. It's been too long since we last spoke."

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

Anne stared at Richard as she smiled softly and put the pill box away, no there was nothing she could think of that would make Richard actually act so calmly but no matter she was calm. She was not going to show Richard that she was actually scared , whatever the reason for this kidnapping and keeping her hostage idea was she guessed she could tolerate it moderately. Stretching out she yawned casually and sighed. " I will talk and we can work things out in a peace. She said in a neutral tone and snickered and started to serve herself the water that was right in front of her.

She knew what she had done in the last couple of days, she knew every little action. But she did feel quite guilty a lie to actually prove if Richard loved her was more deadly than she had imagined. Because she never actually dreamed that she would in return prove that lie to be true. She was after all just teasing the detective a little and with a little lust she gave way to bigger emotions. She did not even realize how bored her life had become, a young man actually made her see the other side of the coin. Infidelity was bad she knew that, Richard was not a man who could be messed with. Yet in her head she did not care.

But how to explain to Richard if the subject came up the reasons why she felt the need to indulge in forbidden fruit. Because sadly she felt alone, she lost her son, her spirit , her life , she lost her husband who she did love after he lost the elections. Now she could not blame him for that. But how to tact things out so that it would not seem she was selfish. Yes she still loved him, and right now would work out any differences with him. If they controlled themselves. She pushed her hand away from the cloth as she pinched her ear and tugged at the pearl earning bringing herself back to the present situation.

How would Richard chose his words and his wrath on her. What would be her punishment for the actions that she had done.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Richard watched Anne closely as he waited for her reply. He was surprised that she yawned, as if positively bored at the whole affair, but decided not to question it. At least she was at ease - she looked almost as calm as he was endeavouring to feel, comfortable even.

"I will talk and we can work things out in a peace."

"Good, good," Richard replied, almost to himself, under his breath. He was indeed pleased at this development - Anne was acting just how he wanted her to, almost as if she was aware of his intentions in holding this conversation here. But then, perhaps she knew she had no choice but to co-operate - there could be no denying the truth of what she had done. Perhaps she was tired of lying to him.

He smiled as Anne laughed, how could he help it? It had been too long since he had heard her laugh, since he had seen her happy. He endeavoured to keep the mood light, therefore, even as he continued on this dark topic of conversation.

"As I say, I realize this means of meeting may have come as a surprise to you, but I think you are at no loss to understand why I wish to speak to you. Therefore, I'll dispense with the formalities and get straight to the heart of the matter."

Here he paused, allowing the suddenness of the interrogation's beginning to sink in, taking a small sip from his own glass of water, as if to prepare himself for what he had to say.

"I want to know if what you have been professing to me is indeed true, or if it is all a...fabrication. My men know the truth, and would gladly tell it to me if I were to ask them, but I want to hear it from your lips."

Would she continue to tell the truth and admit her wrongs? Or would she lie? That remained to be seen. Richard knew Anne was as capable of lying as he, but he had had no reason to suspect her original intent had been to lie, and that the truth had not been what she intended. He did know what she had done, but he wasn't going to confess his own knowledge of the truth - not until he heard Anne confirm or deny it.

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

She saw things where going ok, she knew she was sucking up to Richard. But his anger made her have a little bit of caution. But when she started to pay attention as he explained that he wanted to hear what she had to confess in a quick and painless fashion. She sucked in a breath as she curled one of her locks of hair and let it fall as she felt her stare fall to the table cloth. Her forehead sweating as she did not know where to start. She guessed the best tactic was always with just telling in a straight forward manner.

She still sat up a little as she started to take another careful sip of her water and sighed. There was no easy way to tell a truth. Truths in her part of this life where hard but she had to tell it anyway. Sitting up , she started to stare at Richard and sighed. " I have my self to blame, and yes indeed I can only imagine how you found out the truth about me and peter but I felt so lonely so useless" she said and started to sit back as she bit down on her lip and placed a hand on the table and wondered if Richard would ask any questions.

She knew there would be questions and she was not scared about them. The only thing she wanted was for Richard to stay at peace and accept her back. She had been foolish and she was not going to lash out, in the end after the tryst she had learned her lesson and had found out that she still loved Richard. " It was only one time though. " she said as she crossed her leg and started to dread what actions would Richard start , would he act on her, would he enact revenge. Richard was an unpredictable man and she could only be careful and watch her skin.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

He was unsure just how he had expected Anne to react, how he had expected her to confess her crimes. Her sharp inhale having heard his question seemed to indicate shock at the suddenness of the implied accusation - this made sense. And the time it took for her to speak - fiddling with her hair, looking down, looking up again and adjusting her position on the chair, taking a small sip of water as though to fortify herself for the ordeal ahead. These all pointed to her guilt. Richard knew she was guilty. And yet to hear it from her, in her words, in her voice... He didn't quite know how he would react, himself.

"I have my self to blame, and yes indeed I can only imagine how you found out the truth about me and peter but I felt so lonely so useless"

He had been expecting this, but this expectation couldn't prevent the sinking feeling he felt within, the almost physical pain of knowing that Anne truly had been unfaithful. He sighed deeply, the revelation being made, trying to figure out how best to phrase a response. What was he meant to do, what was he meant to say in this situation? He knew what he would like to do, yet he repressed this as best he could - he did not want to be the monster he had been before, not with Anne.

He looked at the table as Anne had done, unable to look at the expression on her face as he tried to discern his own thoughts. He moved his hand as though to reach for his glass of water but instead rested his forehead against his fingertips, in a gesture of melancholy and defeat. What could he say?

"It was only one time though."

It was at these words that he appeared to make a decision - he moved his good hand to grasp Anne's, which she had lain on the table, his grip as earnest as his words. He looked up at her now, a fervour in his eye previously unseen.

"One time or a hundred, it doesn't matter! Anne, why would you...how could you...why did you do this?"

He tailed off, unable to tear his gaze from Anne's fearful expression, unable to let go of her hand lest he lose her again. And yet even as he tried to question her he knew the reason. The fault was his own.

Yet he couldn't express it, not yet. Even as he wished to say them, it was as though the words became stuck in his throat. He may not have wished to let loose his anger, he may have even been willing to forgive, but he still couldn't help but feel the sting of betrayal.

[ANNE SOPHIE PLANTAGENET]

It jerked as she felt his hand and started to bite down on her lip hard as she was scared. Her breathing was just a little bit out of order. But she did not want to show any fear, she did not want to show this man how sorry she was. She knew what she had done, but she did not even understand why she had done it. It came in such a natural way, she did not even know how to explain it. She had said the words , said what he wanted to hear. She had told the truth dammit , all because she wanted him to hear it. She wanted him to know the truth and this was how he reacted, by god she could react just the same.

She pushed her hand violently away as she looked around the place and stood up as she gripped the sheet and felt her glass fall. " How could I, why would I , once or a hundred does it matter so to you , do you just see me as a whore.. am I even your wife or would you rather just keep me a prisoner. Because that is all that I am to you.. I loved you once .. once you bastard. " she said in a low voice as she sat down and sank her head. No she was not ashamed of what she was doing. " Have I ever stopped hating you for what you did to me. Did I not let things come to pass and let my love flourish for you and came back to you. " she said and started to grab the glass and serve herself some more water.

Setting things right was not her best attribute but she was weak in her stomach and weak in her knee's as Richard needed a lot more now to win her over again. "You want to know why I take an overdose of pain pills Richard... Why I do this to my self.. because I am never enough for you" she said as she felt the sting of her words. The weight in which they were said. She would say she did not mean them. But that would be a lie. A very good lie. Because deep in her heart she would still love him. Even through all that had happened. The facade would still continue , like am vicious circle. She would continue. " What would you want me to do .. for you my love .. I will die for you if you wish.. but please forgive me" she said in a strained tone.

She was not making any sense of anything. She was dumb , weak and foolish. The pills everything had taken it´s toll on her. She was paying the price for her actions, she was paying the price for everything. For this man could evade hurt and pain . This man who made her want to scream and she would scream. She would let out all emotions for the chance to be anew again with him. They needed to stop their bickering, they needed to be one again would he give her the chance to prove this. What did she need to do , he just needed to say it and she would do it without any questions or qualms about it.

[RICHARD PLANTAGENET]

Anne's violent reaction surprised Richard in the face of her previous calm, but then, he should have been expecting it. The way things were between them, it had been impossible as late to have one conversation that didn't result in violence, whether verbal or physical. He looked up at Anne as she stood, eyes wide, unsure what he expected her to do.

"How could I, why would I , once or a hundred does it matter so to you , do you just see me as a whore.. am I even your wife or would you rather just keep me a prisoner. Because that is all that I am to you.. I loved you once .. once you bastard. "

Richard desperately wanted to protest, but he was quick to realize doing so while Anne was still standing would only cause more of a scene - and that was precisely what he was trying to avoid. Luckily for him, Anne sat down having spoken, although he was still reflecting on her previous words. He did not think of her as she assumed he did - he just wanted to know the reason for her actions, as any husband would. But then, the relationship between Richard and Anne Plantagenet was unlike that of any other husband and wife.

"Have I ever stopped hating you for what you did to me. Did I not let things come to pass and let my love flourish for you and came back to you."

He could not deny this was an excellent point - one which, in focussing solely on himself and his own emotions, he had failed to come to terms with. Anne had hated him, loathed him - he had killed her husband and practically forced her into marriage - and yet she seemed to have forgiven him. She loved him. Yet she made one mistake and he acted in such a manner? She had forgiven him for murder - he could forgive her for this.

"You want to know why I take an overdose of pain pills Richard... Why I do this to my self.. because I am never enough for you"

Richard shook his head in disbelief. Anne was never enough for him? He was the bitter, callous monster - in comparison to him she was nothing short of perfection. He had told her when he asked her to marry him that she was 'his day, his life', and this was true. He was darkness, she was light. Whatever imperfections she may have seemed to have were nothing compared to his flaws. What had he done to deserve her? Nothing.

"What would you want me to do .. for you my love .. I will die for you if you wish.. but please forgive me"

Why would Richard wish Anne dead, especially for his sake? She was the one aspect of his life that held any hope of redemption, that could possibly be saved from the bitterness that consumed everything else. He should be the one asking for her forgiveness.

"Anne, I'm sorry," he said, at last, words weighed down with emotion it was impossible to falsify, even for him. "I shouldn't have...there is nothing you can do for me - the knowledge that you have forgiven me for my own offences against you is enough, even if I don't deserve that forgiveness. With all my crimes considered, how could I not forgive you this single act?"