Hey there! How are you?
I'm back into The Tudors with a new fanfiction that contains chapters! I really look forward to write it because the idea would not leave my head! The plan is written down ona notebook, it will be a short story. But I'll do my best to make it good!
I hope you'll enjoy it!
Disclamer: I do not own The Tudors, it's Showtime's property. I only have fun with the characters.
Summary: Henry's prayers had been answered but everything comes with a price.
God's gift comes with a price
Chapter 1: The price to pay
23rd of October 1537
It was the end. Jane could feel it. From her head to her toes, strength had left her. The fever was slowly killing her and she knew it.
' But I did my duty. ' She thought ' I gave Henry an heir. '
Her husband, King Henry VIII, hadn't left her side since the new of her illness had reached him. Day and night, he remained in her chambers, helping her to drink, to eat, saying sweet loving things to her. He told her how much he loved her, how happy he was since she entered into his life. For a short time, she believed that she would make it but it was clear to her now. She was to leave this world and enter God's realm. How it saddened her to leave Henry! To leave Mary and Elizabeth! To leave her baby Edward! Nevertheless, if it was the Lord's plans to take her away, who was she to deny him?
' Don't go... Please don't go... Just because you have done everything that you have promised... Don't leave me... ' She heard Henry crying
Despite her weakness, she could feel her hand being held by Henry's, the tears that fell upon it.
' My son needs his mother! And I need my queen! ' He added
She heard him starting a prayer in which he begged God to save her life. It was in vain according to her but it touched her nonetheless. She could feel how sincere he was. She slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep, Henry's voice acting like a lullaby.
24th of October 1537
The ray of lights provided by a morning sun caused Henry to wake up. His body was aching because of the chair he slept on but he could not care less. His mind was focused on Jane. She was breathing softly. He gently put aside a lock of her hair that was falling on her closed eyes when his hand felt something. Or a lack of something. Her forehead was still a bit sweaty but it did not burn anymore. Jane was breathing, the fever had broken and she was sleeping quite peacefully. He could not believe it and soon, joy spread into every fiber of his being. He went as fast as he could to fetch the physicians who confirmed what the king believed.
His prayer had been granted.
Jane was saved.
It was a miracle.
Henry ordered a mass to be celebrated to thank God for his mercy, there were to be a feast and a joust in honour of the queen and her son. Wine and bread would be distributed throughout the kingdom. The bells were happily ringing to warn every english subject that Jane Tudor, née Seymour, had survived.
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Jane felt her strength coming back day after day. One week after the fever left her, she felt strong enough to have her hair being washed and herself being dressed up to receive some visitors.
' Do not push yourself too hard, My Love. ' Henry told her as he put a goodbye kiss on her forehead
He was to fetch his daughters. Jane had told him of her desire to see them.
' They must have been so afraid! I want them to know and to see that I'm well again. '
While he was away, the queen had received her family. They were all here. Her mother, her sister, her brothers... Margaery Seymour was weeping tears of joy.
' My child, my sweet child! ' She kept on saying, hugging her.
What surprised her the most was to see tears in Edward's eyes. Her brother was not someone who showed his emotions easily. Yet, here he stood, watching her, relieved beyond words. Less than a year before, their father's demise had shocked them, it was still very fresh in their minds.
' You gave the king what he craved for. No one can cast you down now. ' Thomas told her
She did not reply, her face did not change. He was telling the truth but she did not care.
' We should all pray to God to thank him for Jane's life. ' Her sister Elizabeth suggested
The queen nodded and mentally, she thanked her sibling. She hated these plots, these plans. It burdened Life. She had seen what it did to Henry's previous wife, Anne Boleyn. It made her bitter, scared and finally a head shorter. It had scarred her daughter's life, as it had scarred Mary's life as well, when it was Catherine's turn to suffer from these evil ways. It had scarred England and its king. She wanted to stay away as much as she could from this. All she wanted was to be a good wife for Henry, a good mother and stepmother, to mend the wounds the Tudors had suffered from for a decade.
Mary and Elizabeth, accompagnied by their father, arrived in the early afternoon. The relief on Mary's face was obvious, her eyes were glittering with tears. Jane invited her next to her so that she could hug her.
' I have prayed so much for you! ' The young woman whispered in her stepmother's ear
' I thank you for that. ' She replied with a smile before she invited Elizabeth for a hug as well
The little redhaired girl was very calm and showed none of her feelings as she walk over the bed. It was only after her sister helped her to reach the queen that she surprised everyone by hugging Jane before the adult did
' Mother... '
That was her only word. The sovereign embraced her gently. One single word and it moved her entire being. Henry was smiling at them, certainly touched as well. That was a vision of Paradise. From the corner of his eye, he saw a physician, waiting to be able to speak to him. He went to meet him.
' Master? ' He asked
' Your Majesty... I have a troubling new about Her Majesty the Queen. ' The man said
The king felt his heart stoping for a moment.
' Is the fever going back into her? '
' No, Your Majesty. God may have spared the queen, but the fever certainly left a scar. '
' What do you mean? '
' It is highly possible, it is almost certain, that the queen will never be able to concieve a child again. '
To be continued