Foolishly in love with you
I do not own The Hollow Crown. If I did, I would have Tom Hiddleston recite Shakespeare for me.
"Prince Hal returns", a voice said from the shadows.
"If it isn't my childhood friend Eliza Ellis", Hal said.
"What have you been up to? You're father is livid", she said.
"My dearest friend, accompany me to the throne room?" he asked.
"I'd be honored", she said taking his arm. "Why must this place be so dreary?" she asked.
Hal laughed. "How is your engagement?" Hal asked.
"Dreadful. Honestly, I'd rather marry you", she joked.
Hal stopped. "As if my father would allow that. I'll probably have an arranged marriage to a princess. One I hate", Hal said.
"Does anyone marry for love anymore?" Eliza asked.
"Sadly only peasants can afford to marry for love", he said, "Do you know what my father intends to say?"
"I have no idea. Nothing good I imagine", Eliza told him.
They came to the large double doors.
"Remember, you are Hal, Prince of Wales. Nothing fazes you", she told him. She kissed his cheek and Hal entered the room.
*an hour later*
Hal burst into Eliza's room, successfully scaring her servants.
Upon seeing how flustered Hal was she ordered her servants away.
He kept running a hand thru his hair.
"My prince, what has you in such a flurry?" Eliza asked. She noticed the hand-print on his cheek. "What happened?" Eliza asked him.
"My father struck me. I'm not to be prince anymore unless I change", he told her.
"This could be our chance", Eliza said.
Hal looked at her. "Please tell me you're not honestly holding onto the dream of us being married. Even if my father made me a duke or something, there's no guarantee that he would even let us. The marriage of a nobleman is a matter left up to the king", Hal told her, "Even dukes don't marry bastards".
"Is that how you think of me?" Eliza asked, "I love you Hal. Not like a brother loves a sister, but how a queen loves her king".
"Then you are a foolish girl", Hal spat, "To think I even if I did love you that I would marry you. You are not of noble blood. You're the bastard of a dead duke!"
"I am foolish. Foolishly in love with you", Eliza said. She stood up and bowed. "Farewell. My prince", she said. She took off running, listening to her best friend yelling her name.
*5 years later*
Hal, now Henry V, sat alone in a corridor of his castle, when he heard a voice from the past.
"Hello old friend", the voice said.
He stood up and looked around. His eyes stopped on Eliza.
"Your majesty", she said, dropping to one knee and bowing her head.
He walked up to her and lifted her chin with his hand. "There is no need to kneel for me", he told her. He grabbed her arms and lifted her up. He embraced her in a hug. Hal felt something hit his stomach. He stepped back and looked down. "You're...with child", he said.
"Indeed I am", she said.
"This is happy news!" he said smiling. Hal became sad. "Is it your husband's?" Hal asked.
"Does my grace wish the child was his?" Eliza asked.
"I can make it so", Hal said.
"No my grace", Eliza said, "I have Edward and you have Catherine".
"Do you love him?" he asked.
"I do, as you love Catherine", she told him.
"And what is Edward's station?" he asked.
"An earl", she said, "If memory serves me correctly, 'Noblemen don't marry bastards'".
"I said Duke's don't marry bastards", he said. He leaned down and placed his head in front of her stomach. "Hello little one. I'm your Uncle Hal, King of England", Hal said, "I'm going make your mother a very rich woman".
Eliza's eyes filled with tears.
Hal stood up and said, "Why do you weep my dear Eliza?"
"Even after all these years, I'm still foolishly in love with you", Eliza said.
"Come my dear friend", he said.
Eliza smiled and took his arm. She would always be foolishly in love with the King of England.
