July 29th, 1515
Palace of Placentia
Edmund walked into his audience with his elder brother, Henry. Infanta Isabella was coming to court to meet him and then they would be married. Queen Catherine seemed pleased that he would be marrying her niece, but his brother was pleased for another reason. Catherine hadn't produced a living child and because Edmund was the Duke of York, he was his brother's heir. If Edmund could produce a surviving heir, their dynasty would survive after Henry died. However, Catherine was exhibiting the earliest signs of pregnancy once more, hopefully it would be an heir. At sixteen, he wasn't ready to have his entire dynasty's survival on his shoulders. Yet, none of Catherine's pregnancies had borne fruit after six years of marriage to his brother. He hated to admit it, but Henry's heir might be one of Edmund's children instead of his own.
"Lord York, are you happy to be marrying my niece Isabella?" Catherine inquired.
Edmund nodded. "I am very pleased. I can only hope that she will be equally pleased with me, Your Majesty."
Catherine giggled. "I can assure you that she will be more than pleased for you are chivalrous and kind like your brother."
Henry beamed at this. "I assure you brother, if Isabella holds even half as much virtue as my dear Catherine you will enjoy much bliss."
Edmund nodded. "I pray that we will be as fortunate as you brother."
He noticed the stiffness in his own tone, but how could he be happy to marry a woman he had never met, save a portrait.
Henry nodded. "I would like to speak with my brother alone."
Catherine curtsied to her husband and shuffled out of the door, her ladies trailing behind her. Edmund saw Henry's mistress, Elizabeth Blount among them. She was a beautiful woman, like Henry had boasted to him. Edmund didn't think she was more beautiful than Catherine, but Henry's affairs with his wife's ladies were none of his business.
Henry's smile faded as soon as Catherine had exited the room. "Brother, I am not sure if Catherine will give me a child, let alone a male heir."
Edmund sighed. "Henry, it has only been six years. Catherine is still young-"
Henry grabbed Edmund's doublet, a hungered look in his eye. "Four children, Edmund! Four children either lost or dead! What have I done? Why must God punish me?"
Edmund let out a shaky breath. "Catherine is only nine and twenty. Our grandmother Elizabeth Woodville had her last child when she was two and forty. All is not lost."
Henry regained his composure. "I hope you are right, Brother. On the issue of the Isabella, hopefully she will be more like her mother."
Edmund nodded, fully aware of what could happen if he and his brother failed to have legitimate children. "Hopefully she will. I also hope she and I can come to some type of agreement in our marriage."
Henry nodded gruffly. "I only hope this is the right decision. I know our father would roll in his grave of he knew neither of his sons had any children and his kingdom fell to the Scots."
Edmund laughed. "The Scots know better than to try to annex England, brother."
Henry's face was grave. "Margaret is our eldest sister, her issue follows ours."
Edmund nodded. "I would not worry brother, there are two of us. One of us is bound to have a healthy baby boy."
August 4th, 1515
Palace of Westminister
Infanta Isabella was led into the throne room by her large retinue. Edmund was used to the pomp of Spain, Queen Catherine herself was Spanish-born, but he didn't really enjoy it. He would have preferred to have a small affair, married to an English girl of good breeding, yet Catherine had pushed the marriage to Isabella. Edmund glanced over to see Catherine grinning widely, although Henry looked uninterested. Edmund followed his brother's eyes, which rested on Elizabeth Blount once again. Finally, the Spanish Infanta made herself visible, flanked by two Spanish noblewomen. She was pretty enough, with red hair, blue eyes, and full lips that reminded him of a pomegranate seed in color. He could feel the heat rise in his cheeks when she turned and smiled in his direction. She reached the bottom of his brother's throne and kneeled before him. Catherine seemed pleased with her young niece's manners as she kissed Henry's ring and stood when signaled to.
"Princess Elizabeth," Henry greeted in English.
Isabella smiled. "Your Majesty,"
Her English was just as heavily accented as Catherine's, although there was something about Edmund's bride that intrigued him.
Catherine shook her head. "I believe it is time she met her husband, the Duke of York."
Edmund felt his as if he were weighted down when Catherine mentioned him. He stepped from behind their thrones and came to his brother's side. Isabella's eyes widened as she laid her eyes on him but she quickly gained her composure and bowed to him, albeit not as low as to her brother. He nodded to her with a gentle smile, knowing that she was a newcomer in a foreign land. However, if she were anything like Catherine, she would never let him see her fear. He stepped towards her, noting that he towered over her. Like his brother, he was a little over six feet tall and she was slightly shorter than Catherine, bringing her barely to his chest.
"Your Grace," She murmured.
He chuckled. "Please, call me Edmund."
Okay so I have been working on this for a while. I just couldn't find a fitting way to introduce Edmund Tudor. He was a younger brother of Henry VIII that died when he was about a year old. By reading my stories, you may have noticed I have an obsession with AU. From the creation of Sophia of Guelders to Edward VI living to old age, I love creating those who never were. So anyway, this chapter is literally the shortest I have ever written but this was the best I could do. Hopefully you all read because it will get better. Just bear this first chapter with me