AN: WOW! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, put me on alert and made me a favorite! I want to let every one know, I am not a Jane/Henry fan. In fact, it is my least favorite so Jane may not be...portrayed the best in this story. Just letting you know.
Chapter two: Your Wife Dies...
In the early evening hours of April 3rd, Henry Tudor was walking the garden. It was early spring so plants and flowers were starting to bloom. It gave Henry a sense of calm to walk through. He was so stressed yet thrilled. He finally got a son, mind you from Anne, but still a son. And now the doctors were telling Henry that Anne struggled to stay alive. It had been three days now since Anne delivered and Henry already pushed the celebrations and christening another day to try to give Anne time to get better but it didn't look like she would. And Henry didn't know how to feel about that. It was constricting on his chest for he loved Jane more than anything but Anne had been by his side now for ten years. He moved his entire country for her and a desire still burned for her no matter how he tried to stop the feelings.
He turned towards the small pond on his left, trying to sort out his thoughts when a pile of white caught his eye. He moved closer and saw a swan leaning over another swan, it seemed to be crying and trying to poke it with it's beak. The swan on the ground wasn't moving. It seemed to be dead. On closer review on Henry could see that it was the female swan that was lying on the ground. It tore at his heart, it was a heart breaking scene and Henry looked away. It seemed like an omen to him and it shook him to the core.
Anne signed her will, making sure all the things she wanted her children to have were documented and her loyal servant were taken care of. Most especially, Nan, who promised to be with her children and take care of them since Anne herself would not be able too. Anne closed her eyes willing the tears away. her hair was sticking to her head which was burning with fever. She could feel death entering her, it started with her broken heart and would finish with it even more destroyed. She wouldn't get to see her children grow and become the people they were meant to be. But perhaps it was better this way. Anne was sure that if she lived it would not end well with Henry. He would have eventually done something to Anne, found some way to get rid of her like Katherine. this way her children would keep their rightful inheritance.
Nan took the parchment and quill away from her mistress, crying silently. Nan knew Anne was dying and it broke her heart to think of it. She added the will to the small pile of letter that Nan had her orders for.
"Nan," Anne asked hoarsely. "Will you summon the king, please? Tell him that I need to talk to him." Nan nodded and quickly did as she was told. Nearly twenty minutes went by before the king showed, and it was clear that he didn't want to be there.
"Anne...are you alright?" Henry asked tentatively. His eyes shifted side to side, clearly uncomfortable being in his own rooms. Anne sat on his bed spread in an elaborate dressing gown, looking every inch of the queen Henry made her, even on death's door.
"Henry, I'm dying- No, don't!" Anne said, lifting her hand up. "Please don't say anything, it's alright and I am okay with it. We both know you no longer love me and that is fine-"
"Anne, stop it! You know that isn't true, you just gave me the son you promised me! I am the most happy!" He smiled, repeating Anne's motto. She tried her hardest to not roll her eyes.
"Very well, for the love you so bare me, I have a few requests." Henry nodded, sitting on the very edge of the bed, not quite close enough to actually touch his wife.
"I wrote out my will, please honor it. Some thing I would like Elizabeth and Henry George to have. Also, I want my brother to take over their household. He will love them and teach them how to be a proper Tudor Prince and Princess you will be proud of."
Henry narrowed his eyes. he didn't like the request. he should decided who influenced his children, although, reluctantly, Henry did think that George would do a good job of teaching his children how to be the First Family of England. And if he didn't, he would have George removed-permently.
"Very well, sweetheart, if it will give you comfort and allow you to calm down, I so do swear."
Anne struggled for breath for a moment, a little overwhelmed. "Thank you, Henry. I know you love our children, please make sure they know even if you have future children with your new queen."
Henry cocked his head to the side, trying to decipher what Anne was saying. He had a sneaking suspicion that she was taunting him, baiting him into a fight.
"Darling, you know that everything will be fine. You beat the plague! You will kick this and be up in no time." He tried to fake a cheerful tone, and Anne knew that he was scared and it pleased her for some reason. Finally, he knew what it was like to be afraid.
"Please do not insult my intelligence, Henry. We both know that as soon as you can you will marry that cow." Anne smirked, enjoying her victory with Henry, knowing it was one of her last.
"I will take my leave now, Madam." He stood, insulted and turned to leave.
"Husband, please. I am sorry. Come here." Anne beckoned him towards her and he moved slowly, like he was approaching a filly. Anne reached for his arm and with the last of her strength she pulled her husband close to her face so her eyes, her hooks for the soul as people referred to them, look deeply into his.
'Remember your promise to me, Henry." She whispered so no one but them could hear. "Honor them, and do not forget our children like you so easily forgot about Mary. Do not let that girl of yours, that simpering cow destroy them. Remember it or I will make you pay." With that Anne sat back into Henry's bed, exhausted.
"She will destroy you, Henry," Anne continued. "And all you worked so hard for. The people will forget all about the trouble I caused with the birth of Henry George, but she will not be so lucky."
No longer able to fight it, Anne fell asleep, not giving the furious and some what frightened Henry any opportunities to retaliate. With no choice, he left the room.
Six hours later at Midnight on the newly dawned day of April fourth 1536, Anne Tudor, nee Boleyn, Queen of England, Ireland, and France died of childbirth fever, on her husband's bed. England went into deep mourning for their newly beloved queen, the new prince's mother. Prayers and bells were heard all over the country, signifying that the royal family was in mourning. The prince's christening was lavish but very subdued under the circumstances.
The prince, Henry George known as Prince Harry to most, cried for hours. it seemed like he would never stopped cease. It was as if he knew his mother was gone from this world. Princess Elizabeth took it hard but bared it as well as a two and half year old could. She held her head up high and only allowed her sister, Mary Tudor, to see her cry.
Henry Tudor, sat staring into the fire place, annoyed because his rooms were in disarray. He had ordered the room that Anne died in to be redecorated and everything burned, trying to get rid of Anne's presence. he could still feel her and her last words. It made him uneasy.
"Your Majesty." A page boy appeared next to him. "Mistress Seymour would like an audience with you . What shall I tell her?"
Henry brightened, thoughts of Anne gone. The page boy, John, was shocked by his king's behavior. His queen, only dead a fortnight and not even buried (for that was to take place on the marrow.) and even still, died giving birth to his child! But John knew it wasn't his place to say anything, no he wanted to keep his head thank-you-very-much.
"Send her in!" John bowed and did as he told. Henry watched as his heart walked in, dressed in black, in honor of Anne. To Henry the color set off her pale blue eyes and gold hair. The page noticed her red eyes and bloated hands and pale skin that looked unhealthy. Henry waved the page away from the room.
"Oh my sweetheart! How I have missed you these last few weeks!" He took her in his arms and kissed her on the lips. "How are you, my love?"
"I am well, thank you Your Majesty." Her voice was faint, fear clear in it.
"Sweetheart, is everything alright?"
Jane licked her lips, her palms moist. She thought for a brief moment she might faint.
"Your Majesty, I am with child."
AN: Yeah, I left it at a cliffy. *evil laugh*. It was really hard for me to kill off Anne, and I feel a little sad about it. Reviews may help. :)
Tell me what you think! And Thanks for reading!
