AN: I realise that this is pure fantasy but this is how I would've liked 2.7 to be. Also I regard Queen Katharine of Aragon as the true Queen of England and not Anne. And Princess Mary as King Henry's only legitimate daughter.
He stared at the letter like his world was ending.
Henry could barely make out the letter from Katharine's lady in waiting Elizabeth Darrell it was so tear stained. He had never thought that it would come to this; he knew Katharine had been ill but not so ill that he needed to send a physician to see her.
Or so he thought.
In that moment, he didn't think of Anne or Elizabeth or how happy Anne would be when she found out, all his fractured mind could process was that his wife (or his mistress, depending which mood he was in) of over 20 years was dying.
Henry motioned to a servant and snapped:
"Tell Princess Mary that I will be arriving at Hatfield immediately to escort her to The More and that her mother is gravely ill"
In his panicked state Henry didn't realize that he had just referred to Mary as a Princess.
Half an hour later Henry was ready to leave.
Anne saw that Henry was about to leave and frowned. Where would he go without her?
"Henry!" She ran outside. "Not now Anne" he said gruffly, he had to get to Katharine.
"Henry! Henry please!" Anne cried as he rode off with his retinue. But he didn't't look back.
Not once.
"Lady Mary, your father the King will be here shortly and he requests that you go with him to the More immediately to visit your mother" Lady Bryan said.
Her mother?
If her father wanted them to visit her mother then it could only be bad news.
For once all the attention wasn't on Elizabeth as Mary made her way outside to greet her father.
Suddenly before she knew it he was there, his handsome faced tight with worry.
"Father" she said, bowing her head.
By God! Was that Mary? She looked almost grown up now, but he hid his surprise well.
"Daughter" he replied tenderly and for a moment he forgot everything that had happened as though he was a proud father looking upon his only daughter.
But then Henry remembered why he was here and the moment passed.
"Your mother is gravely ill" he said as he watched her face change from the delight of basking in her fathers love to fear for her mother's life.
Without another word said between them Mary got into the carriage that had been prepared of her journey.
In that moment Henry didn't give a thought to his youngest daughter.
After all they had been through; Henry, Katharine and Mary were still a family.
A family he loved.
Meanwhile Queen Katharine of Aragon's life was nearing its end.
Oh how she wished she could see Mary and Henry just once! How cruel he was, to keep her from her only daughter, her life.
Little did Katharine know that her illness caused her to suffer hallucinations.
"Mary" she called out weakly, "Is that you?" but no, it was only Lady Elizabeth.
Meanwhile Mary and Henry had arrived at The More. Henry hoped they were not too late. There were so many things he wanted to tell her.
"How is my wife, the Queen?" Henry burst into the room, startling Elizabeth. If Henry realized what he had just said, he ignored it, as did Mary though she almost smiled (despite the seriousness of the situation) at the use of her mother's proper title.
"She is fading fast" replied Elizabeth, her face stained with tears. "Have you not summoned a physician?" Henry demanded impatiently. Elizabeth decided not to point out that it was the King himself that decided that Katharine did not need a physician.
"Elizabeth?" a weak voice called out from the other room. "Who is that in there?" Henry and Mary both raced into the room.
Katharine blinked, who was that? Surely that was not….? No it couldn't be!
"Mary" she whispered hesitantly, half fearing that this was just another mirage.
Henry stopped in the doorway as he watched Mary approach Katharine's bed cautiously, he would let them have their moment.
After all it was the least he could do for them.
At the sight of her mother, so pale and weak, Mary burst into sobs. Suddenly Katharine had a great burst of energy as she realized that it really was Mary.
"Mary… oh Mary! My daughter is it you? Sweetheart."
They embraced and Katharine's grip was painfully weak.
"Mama, oh mama how I've missed you. You have no idea how I've missed you!" Mary cried as sobs wracked her body.
Henry, guiltier than ever slowly came up beside them and as they released each other, Katharine's eyes shot open.
"Henry! Henry? Is that you?" Gently Henry pushed Katharine back down on the bed.
"Shh… sweetheart, you need to rest." He said as he kissed her tenderly on the lips.
"Henry? Have you forgiven me?" she said weakly.
He hesitated for a moment.
"I love you Henry, as I have always loved you." She said grasping his hand.
"I know….Sweetheart I know"
"I am still Your Majesties loyal wife and Queen, as I have always been" she said defiantly.
"I know Katharine, I know. I was wrong, can you ever forgive me?" he said fighting off the urge to weep.
"And I am still your wife?" she said.
"Yes, Katharine of Aragon, you are the Queen of Hearts and you will always be my Queen of England.I am your Sir Loyal Heart. Just as Mary is England's Princess."
By this time Mary had quietly left the room, letting them say their goodbyes.
"Oh Henry, you have made me so happy! There is so much we have to say to eachother." She broke off, coughing.
"You will look after Mary and reinstate her as a Princess won't you?... Please?" She pleaded with him.
"As she was always meant to be" he replied, knowing that every word was true.
"Here is my will" she handed him a letter bearing her signature: Katharine the Queene.
"Look after her… no matter what that woman says….. For me."
Her eyes closed.
"Katharine... Katharine!" Henry's screams brought Mary and Elizabeth running.
"Mama….. Mama please…." Mary broke down in heart wrenching sobs after seeing her mother's eyes were closed.
After what felt like an eternity Henry grabbed Mary's hand and led her gently from the room. He didn't't cry out… but inside his heart was breaking.
Once they had returned to Hatfield he handed Mary her letter and the things from her mothers will.
"I love you Mary… Pearl of my world, I will always love you" Henry whispered the words so quietly that she was not quite sure whether he had said them at all.
Then he was gone.
She was alone.
Henry entered the palace just as Anne came running up to him.
"Henry! Where have you been? I've been worried sick!"
He was as pale as death and looked as though he was trying not to cry. He had fought a battle with his heart and knew what he must now do, even though he had made the biggest mistake of his life and destroyed the Catholic Church over this and it was too late to go back now.
With a supreme effort he forced a smile onto his face.
"Sweetheart! The best news, Katharine is dead!"
"Dead?" Anne replied happily. "Then we must celebrate!"
At her cruel words Henry winced inside. Did Anne not care that his daughter Mary had just lost her mother?
Apparently not.
Well it was too late to go back now.
On the outside he would celebrate.
But on the inside he would mourn.
He had betrayed his last promise to his dying wife to reinstate their daughter.
Some Sir Loyal heart he was.
More like Sir Fickle heart, betraying Katharine just to save face.
Or even more so, Sir Broken heart.
For his heart was broken.
England's true Queen was dead.