AN: This chapter is a short chapter to see if anyone is actually interested in the plotline. A few timeline changes and other changes are necessary for this story. Also sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes in advance. Also be warned, this story is NOT for Anne Boleyn/Henry or Elizabeth I fans.

In the world of Tudor England, it was the women who ruled. Men were not equal, bound by the law to obey their wives in all things. Women held the power of life or death over their husbands and all the decisions were made by women and women alone.

In such a world, within the Royal family, having a girl is of vital importance. Failure to produce a daughter could potentially lead to civil war and the end of the dynasty.

1486

Elizabeth could hardly believe her good fortune. Just a few short months after Margaret Beaufort had won the crown of England from the battlefield, Elizabeth of York, Queen Regent of England, was with child.

A girl. Sheprayed. A daughter for the House of York.

If Margaret Beaufort had gotten her way it would be her upon the throne rather than her daughter in law. However, Margaret had soon realised that to end the costly War of the Roses, she would need to tie York and Lancaster together through the bond of marriage.

So she and Elizabeth's mother, former Queen Regent, Elizabeth Woodville had concocted a plan. That Margaret's son Henry Tudor marry Elizabeth. It was not the first time that Margaret had cursed the fact that she had been left barren by her only child, a useless son. If Margaret had a daughter then she could have been My Lady the Queen's mother.

Now she was My Lady the King Consort's mother. York was on the rise and Elizabeth Woodville, who hated her despite what she said otherwise, had told her daughter to banish her from court.

Soon after Elizabeth was with child.

Everything was progressing smoothly until one day, at only eight months gone, she went into labour.

The baby was a boy.

Although Elizabeth could not help but love her child, she felt the faint sting of disappointment.

Her husband came in soon after.

" We shall name the child Edward, after my late father." She stated firmly.

Henry nodded.

" If we can have a healthy son, then we can have a healthy daughter." Elizabeth, slightly upset at her husband. After all, it was a well known fact that it was the man who decided the sex of the child.

Because, although Edward would technically inherit the throne, they needed more than one child, just in case the worst should happen and Elizabeth would much prefer if it was a daughter. According to English law, a firstborn son may inherit the crown, but must marry within a year of succession or, if he were too young, be governed by a female regent until he was of age. After marriage he had to cede all the power to his wife whether she was English or not.

1502

This was a joyous day for England.

In the sixteenth year of Queen Elizabeth's reign, the country was finally receiving it's future Queen.

Her son, Edward, was to be engaged to Catalina of Aragon, a Spanish Princess. Spain was the most powerful Queendom in Europe and it was a brilliant match.

Of course, there had been concerns about the match, as there always was with any betroval. Many thought England would become the puppet of the Spanish Queen Isabella of Castile. They wanted Edward to marry a highborn English woman, or even, cede the power to his sister, Princess Margaret.

However, Elizabeth had seen a portrait of the Princess herself and had heard nothing but good reports of her beauty, wit, accomplishment, and, most importantly, her leadership skills.

This marriage had been arranged since Catalina and Edward were infants and Elizabeth would be damned if she let anything stop it now.

1503

A few months later Edward was dead. Elizabeth then organized a betroval between her other son, Henry and Catalina. The marriage between Edward and Catalina had remained unconsummated, and without marriage to Henry, Catalina would have to return Spain and with her would go her sizeable dowry as well as an alliance with Spain.

The female clergy in Rome readily granted the dispensation and, a year after Edward's death Henry and Catalina were married.

Within the year, Elizabeth of York was dead.

Katharine of Aragon, the Spanish Princess, was their new Queen.