Author's Note:

Summary: King Henry dies shortly after the birth of his second daughter. The kingdom is torn when Princess Elizabeth is made queen and her mother is name protector of the realm. Many wish to reinstate Mary as the legitimate heir to the throne. Charles Brandon is torn between the grief he feels over the king's death and the political changes within the court. Will he rise to protect Henry's heir or will he help to destroy her?

Disclaimer: I may mistakes in how things were done at the time period. Please feel free to leave me a comment regarding the error, and I'll try to fix it. This is also my first historical based fiction so reviews and comments are much appreciated also, I'd like to apologize for the shorter first chapter. I really wanted to start the story and see if it was worth continuing. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy. =)


"God save King Henry!" The kingdom echoed with shouts as rumors now entered the city of the king's declining health. Henry's bedchamber had an air about it that seemed the very essence of death. His sickness had come swiftly. The king had celebrated the birth of a daughter much to his disappointment. Anne seemed to sense Henry's broken heart, yet now she was prone to his distaste for her. It seemed his anger was to be short lived however, as soon he was consumed with fever. The King's personal physicians were brought at once to his bedside.

The Queen could not be consoled by Henry's failing health. Rumors of the plague had spread rapidly through the streets of neighboring towns, and now it seemed within the king's very walls. Anne was cut off from seeing Henry due to the risk of the disease. The king's condition only worsened farther, a rapid fever made him almost delirious, and within a day there was an abnormal swelling on his neck. The physicians knew that the symptoms signed the king's own death warrant. He had only two days to live at best. The physicians knew not whether Henry would have any memory of his final days.

The king's bedchamber smelled of an awful stench, it was a combination on puss and blood. The amount of blood loss was enough to kill him, yet he fought for life. His fever climbed higher and now the swelling on his neck began to burst. The physicians knew not what had killed the king first blood loss or fever, yet they were certain he had died from plague. The few physicians within the room began to pray for the king's soul. Windows within the palace grew dim as the night drew closer; it left little doubt to the kingdom what sad events lay ahead for them. Their king was now dead without even a chance of hope for his recovery.

Anne sank to the floor her grief evident to her ladies in waiting. She had just recovered from giving the king a child, yet now he was dead. Elizabeth would never grow to know her father's strength and gentleness. The disease had climbed into her husband's bed to rest stealing her love when their life had just begun. Cardinal Wolsey entered the room to offer the Queen some comfort, yet it did little for her. "Your Majesty, I assure you that the king God rest his soul will be given a burial as he wished and nothing less." Anne could not think of burying her husband, her beloved, and the thought caused her to know only more grief.

Anne took her daughter Elizabeth by the hand and stood as the people prayed for the king. The funeral seemed to be nonexistent for Anne. Her memories only thinking of the love she had shared with Henry. Their first meeting, their letters of love, their passions, and now their precious daughter were memories all too fresh in Anne's mind. No sooner was Henry buried did the council to the king decide on who was to be his heir. Henry had left behind no son, and his only legitimate child was his newborn daughter Princess Elizabeth. Reluctantly, they had no choice and found Elizabeth to be Henry's only heir.