AN: Welcome to my latest story, 'A Death To Coronation'. This is in response to ReganX's Queen Elizabeth I Challenge. I thought it was a great idea and I was really interested in doing the story. The story is AU.
Anyway this story starts in Episode 2.08 and Henry is injured in a jousting tournament. Anyway, this is if he did die and know Elizabeth is Queen of England at age two. This means of course that Anne Boleyn is Queen Dowager and she does not die, which makes me a happy chappie!
(A lot of the conversations are basically what is in that episode but of course I change things but all the rest will be fully my own imagination)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Tudors as that belongs to Michael Hirst and I of course do not own history.
Prologue
29th January 1536
Madge Shelton ran for her life. The news she was about to deliver the Queen was not good; it was not good at all. She soon made it to the Queen's Chambers and made her way through the door without even waiting for someone to announce her presence.
"Madame. Madame," she said. She felt her voice starting to crumble. "Oh, Madame!"
Queen Anne quickly got out of her seat. "What is it Madge? What is it?" Anne was starting to fear the worse. She tried to hold her voice strong but the tone of Madge's own voice did not help. What had happened? Was it something to do with Elizabeth? Oh please not Elizabeth, not her only child! Anne couldn't shake that from her head. "What's happened?"
Madge just stood there looking as white as a ghost. Anne finally snapped. As she clicked her fingers in front of Madge's face she asked again with a much more forceful tone, "Madge what's happened?"
Madge took a step back. "Oh Madame! The King has fallen from his horse and has been crushed." Anne quickly but gently put her hand into Madge's. She couldn't believe it. "They, they say he is likely to die."
Thunder suddenly shook outside yet there was no rain. Anne placed her hand on her unborn child's belly. For all anybody knew, this child, if a boy, would become King on his birth. Anne started to feel faint. "Mark," she called and quickly the musician Mark Smeaton came and helped the Queen stand up straight. "Your Majesty, your majesty!" called out Mark. The Queen was starting to fall over. She quickly fell into Mark's arms and kept crying out "No, no, oh say it's not so!"
Madge quickly turned and went out of them room. She could not comfort the queen in any way, especially if she was about to lose the man that she loved. The last words she heard the Queen say were, "Oh please say it's not so." She quickly closed the door and left the Queen alone.
Dr Linacre was doing the best he could for the King. The Boleyn's, Sir John Seymour, The Duke of Suffolk and Sir Henry Norris were also there, hoping that the King would return to them.
"His heart is very weak. I don't know if he will come back to us," said Dr Linacre in an almost melancholy tone.
Charles Brandon looked up at the Doctor. "Will you bleed him?" he asked.
"I do not think so your grace," replied Linacre. "I do not see that it will help him. His majesty is now in the hands of God."
As Dr Linacre, Brandon, Norris and Seymour bent down to pray for the life of the King, Thomas and George Boleyn left the tent were the King was being treated.
"We are we going?" asked George. He felt that they should be there as there position of in-laws to his majesty, in the place of his Queen.
"Back to Whitehall. Don't you understand? In such a crisis all could disintegrate. So the centre has to hold and we must hold it," replied the older Boleyn. He could see an even tighter grasp on power than ever before.
Thomas Cromwell was busily trying to work things out. How could the King fall from his horse? He had to organise everything. Princess Elizabeth could be there new Queen in what could be a matter of minutes.
"Mister Secretary, mister secretary," called out the messenger.
Cromwell quickly got through all of his own staff and towards the young messenger, "News?"
"There is no news," replied the messenger. "The King still shows no signs of life."
Cromwell started rubbing his hand other his chin. What was to happen? "How long since the accident?"
"Almost an hour ago."
Cromwell started to think quickly. This was not a good sign. The injuries that the King had begotten through his fall were not good. There was little hope of survival. He waved the messenger away. He knew that time was ticking away from King Henry and soon there would be two claimants to the throne, Lady Mary and Princess Elizabeth. He needed to act fast.
Queen Anne had received no good news about her husband. All she could do was pray. What if he didn't make it? She would be alone in the world with a carriage full of enemies. She couldn't eat or sleep even if it meant protecting her child. All she wanted to do was pray for the life of the King.
Thomas Boleyn was in no time back at Whitehall and asking Cromwell what was to be done.
"We are making preparation for in the event of the King's death for the coronation of Princess Elizabeth, with your Lordship's approval," replied Cromwell. "She would be in minority but under the ward ship of her mother and with yourself as Lord Protector."
Boleyn noticed a slight flaw in the plan so far, so he asked "And have you purchased the guard of the Lady Mary and closed all the ports?"
"All of that is in hand," replied Cromwell. He was really busy and was not in a mood for such questions when the answer was already thought of. "As are preparations for an emergency recall of parliament."
"King's have no need for parliament in the old days," cried out Boleyn as he left the room.
Cromwell knew that parliament was always necessary. "These are not the old days my lord," muttered Cromwell.
Thomas and George, who was also there, turned and looked at Cromwell in unison. Both did not like being treated like this by someone who would soon be under the Boleyn rule.
Back at the pavilion, the condition of the King was unchanging. He still lay motionless. Brandon was still there by his side, as was John Seymour, Dr Linacre and Henry Norris. Norris blamed himself and would forever never forgive himself if the King was to die.
Just outside of the pavilion and beyond the crowd that was waiting outside was Jane Seymour, the King's latest infatuation. No matter how much she didn't to admit it to herself but she loved the King and this was breaking her heart.
George sat in his chambers looking to the ceiling and thinking. "You know I do not know if it will be a bad thing or a good thing if he died?" said George out loud. "For as Lord Protector, you would be King of England."
The ambition in Thomas Boleyn's eyes was there and anyone who saw him would know that he was now so close to holding the crown. Thomas couldn't help but smile at his son. George always seemed to know how to make his father happy.
The Queen continued on praying no matter how many times her ladies had begged her to eat but it was no use. She would not move from her position.
Footsteps started to come from behind her. She turned her head and saw Cromwell with a grave look on his face.
"Your Majesty," he whispered. "I am sorry to tell you but they say the King's condition is worsening. A letter has been sent and they ask if you attend to His Majesty know. It might give him some comfort."
Anne faced her head back in front of her. She hadn't let a tear shed yet but right know she did, she had to. She couldn't hold back her feelings any longer.
She quickly nodded and followed Cromwell out to were a carriage was waiting to transport her to see the man she had loved, still loved and the man she was about to lose.
As the carriage arrived at the destination, Anne was in no way wanting to waste any spare minutes she had left with her husband. The courtiers that gathered around the entrance all made way for their Queen. They all now feared the worse.
Dr Linacre greeted Anne as she walked through further towards her husband.
"Your Majesty, you must know by now that the King is in grave danger. His life was seriously threatened by the fall and it looks like his injuries will be fatal."
In a desperate attempt of hope, Anne asked "Has he shown any signs of life?"
Dr Linacre just shook his head and bowed his head low. Anne swallowed. She couldn't believe it. "May I see my husband?" asked Anne in a trembling voice. Dr Linacre nodded so Anne made her way through the corridor of the pavilion to her husband's room.
When she walked in she was startled, she didn't intend to see Henry so badly injured. Beside him were Brandon, Norris, Seymour and a Priest. They all stood up when the saw Anne and she made her way beside her husband. They soon bowed and left, giving the two some privacy.
"Oh Henry, don't leave me," cried Anne, burying her face onto his chest, which was now free from armour and redressed into something more comfortable.
She suddenly felt a patting on her back. She looked up and saw it was Henry. "I promise....these... carefree days...are gone."
Anne looked startled. For one she was slightly joyous that her husband was talking but his voice was weak. She could sense him fully slipping away.
"Please Henry, please don't speak," she said through her tears.
"I must....tell you.....take care of Elizabeth."
"You have no fear in that. You know that I love her with all of my heart."
"Please....for me....as a...peace..offering.....be kind to Lady Mary.....tell her....that I will always love her."
Anne didn't know what to say. She knew that he was always fond of her. All she could was say, "Yes."
"I love...you. Protect...our...child...in your womb.....never forget me," said the King.
"Henry I will always love you," she said while squeezing his hand. "I will protect everything you hold dearest. Please never forget me."
She went and took her lips to his and kissed him. Suddenly she felt the grasp they had on each other's hands let go. The King had let go. He was gone.
AN: Well how did you like that? I promise I will do happier ones from now on, hopefully. I just really wanted to write this story. Please Review.
TBC
