Cordelia was fuming with anger as she exited the castle and headed across the grass. How dare Mary say that to her!
She threw her book on the ground when she arrived at the edge of the forest that surrounded part of the castle. Still furious, Cordelia punched a tree one, two, three times. When she stopped to look at her hand, it was bleeding. But, she remained tearless.
"Something troubling you?"
Cordelia's eyes widened when she heard her father's voice. She immediately turned around, not looking at him, and bowed in respect.
Henry took his daughter's bleeding hand in his own. "Why have you done this to yourself, my child?"
Cordelia slowly stood and looked into Henry's eyes. "I was angry, Father"
"Angry enough to punch a tree and hurt yourself?" Henry said "I didn't even know that you knew how to throw a punch"
"I'm sorry, Father" Cordelia said "It was very unladylike of me"
"Don't be sorry, child" Henry said, his eyes almost filling with tears. He looked up to the sky. "The sun is almost set. I need you to do something for me"
"Yes, Father?"
"Something is going to happen tonight" Henry said "Something that will change the fate of this family and of the line of succession"
Cordelia just stared at Henry. What was he talking about?
"I need you to get away from here" Henry said "You're going to go to Portugal to be with your aunt, Margaret"
"Did I upset you, Father?" Cordelia asked
"As if you could, my angel" Henry said "As if you could"
"Then, why am I to leave?"
"Because I don't want you to get hurt" Henry said "Emotionally or physically"
A bolt a fear shot through Cordelia's body, though she didn't show it.
"You will be told everything soon" Henry said "Your aunt will tell you once you arrive in Portugal"
"Will I ever see you again, Father?"
The tears in Henry's eyes rolled down his cheeks. "Yes, my angel" he said "You will see me again. I'll make sure of it"
Cordelia replied with a nod.
"Now, come with me" Henry said "You're to leave immediately"
"But, what about my clothes?" Cordelia asked "My books?"
"I have already packed some of them for you" Henry said "Plus, a small surprise that you will find in the coach"
Cordelia didn't say anything as Henry led her to an awaiting coach. She climbed inside and looked out the window one last time at her father.
"Please remember that I am doing this for your own good" Henry said "And that I love you with all my heart"
Cordelia nodded. "I love you too, Father"
Henry waved as the coach pulled off into the sunset. Tears continued to roll down his cheeks as the coach got further and further away.
Now Henry said To plant the evidence
&&&&&
Katherine was confused when Cordelia didn't come for dinner. Henry told her that she probably wasn't hungry. Katherine didn't say anything else about it at dinner. But, after dinner, she went up to Cordelia's room to check on her.
"Cordelia?" she said, opening the door "Are you alright, my child?"
Katherine's eyes widened in fear when she saw that Cordelia wasn't in her room…but that her blood was.
Blood was all over Cordelia's bed and parts of the floor. All of a sudden, Katherine's legs felt very weak. She fell to the ground.
"Henry!" Katherine screamed "Henry!"
Henry ran in only moments later. Tears filled in his eyes. He couldn't bear to think of what he had to do to protect his daughter from utter humiliation and stripping of rank.
Mary ran in moments after her parents. "Cordelia?" she said, softly "Oh no!"
"Guards!" Henry yelled, storming out of the room "I want a search to begin immediately! Every available guard or soldier is commanded to go out and search for the Princess Cordelia!"
The guards nodded and headed off to form a search party. Henry turned back to look into Cordelia's chambers. Katherine and Mary were huddling on the floor. He quickly looked away. He couldn't bear to look into his daughter's room.
Eventually he thought to himself Eventually, she'll come back to me.
&&&&&
Cordelia sighed as she laid her head back on the seat. What was going on? Why did her father send her away? What did he mean by what he had told her?
Cordelia picked up a nearby pillow and put it behind her head. When she did, something glistened in the moonlight.
She picked it up. It was a necklace, with diamonds and rubies all over it. Cordelia noticed that the necklace opened.
A locket! She thought excitedly My first locket!
Cordelia quickly opened it. Inside were small portraits of her father and mother. She smiled as tears came to her eyes. Now, no matter what happened, her parents would always be with her.
&&&&&
About a week later, Henry received a letter from his sister.
Dearest Henry,
Cordelia arrived safely and is adjusting to her new surroundings easily. I assure you that no one here knows the real reason for Cordelia's arrival here. They all believe that she is here to visit for an extended amount of time.
I haven't told her why she has been sent here yet. But, I will be telling her soon.
She wanted me to tell you that she loves her present. She wears it everyday, no matter what outfit she is wearing.
I will write again soon.
Your sister,
Margaret.
Henry smiled as he read the letter. He was happy that Cordelia was fitting in nicely with her aunt and new temporary home in Portugal. He was also happy that she liked her present.
Henry looked up when he heard someone open the door. It was Anne. Anne Boleyn. His mistress. His reason – well, one of his reasons – for sending Cordelia away.
"Your majesty" Anne said, with a bow
"Anne" Henry said, putting the letter away "I'm glad that you could come"
"Of course, your majesty" Anne said "How could I refuse an audience with the king?"
Henry smiled a small smile as he looked at her. God, was she beautiful.
"What were you reading?" Anne asked "If your majesty doesn't mind my asking?"
"Just a letter from my sister, Princess Margaret" Henry said "Nothing serious"
Anne replied with a nod. But, she couldn't help but think that there was more to that letter that what Henry was telling her.
&&&&&
A light breeze blew as Cordelia walked around the castle in Portugal. She was amazed by the beauty that surrounded her but, at the same time, it also made her homesick.
"Cordelia!"
She turned when she heard her aunt's voice. She smiled.
"Yes, your majesty?"
"What did I tell you about that?" Princess Margaret Tudor said "It's Aunt Margaret, remember?"
Cordelia smiled. "Yes, Aunt Margaret"
"Now, I came to talk to you about something" Margaret said "The reason why your father sent you here"
Cordelia could only nod.
"The problem is that" Margaret said "Your father and mother…well…they aren't going to be married for much longer"
"What are you talking about?" Cordelia asked
"Your father is getting an annulment" Margaret said "That means that the Church isn't going to recognize that your parents were ever married"
"Why?" Cordelia asked "Why is Father doing this?"
"Because your mother couldn't give him a son" Margaret explained "And, your mother is getting older now. Anyways, the reason that you are here is because this annulment is going to affect you and Mary too"
"How?"
"You will be declared illegitimate" Margaret explained "Meaning, that…"
"I know what that means" Cordelia said "But, how does my coming here affect that?"
Margaret paused. "Back in England" she said "You're believed to be dead"
Cordelia's eyes widened. "Dead?"
Margaret nodded. "You see, this way, you can't be declared illegitimate"
"How does that work?" Cordelia asked "Even when I am dead, I could still be declared that"
"But, you would have been dead while your parents were still married" Margaret said "The Church isn't going to declare a innocent, 10-year-old girl illegitimate if they died before their parents separated"
"What about when I return?" Cordelia said "They could just do it then"
"Trust me, Cordelia" Margaret said "No one is going to declare you illegitimate"
"But, what about Mary?" Cordelia asked
Margaret stiffened. "Mary is going to be declared illegitimate"
"Why didn't Father send her here with me?"
"Because, it would look very odd if both of the king's daughters disappeared" Margaret said "Even more odd if they both made a surprise return"
"So, Father had to choose between us" Cordelia said "He had to choose which one to send away?"
Margaret nodded. "Your father loves you more than anything else in the world" she said "That's why he chose you"
Cordelia nodded. "Thank you for telling me, Aunt Margaret"
"You're welcome, child" Margaret said "I will leave you now. Dinner is at sundown"
Cordelia nodded as Margaret walked away. Now, she knew of the great sacrifice her father had to make. And, it only made her love him more.
&&&&&
Katherine had been crying for hours, crying for her daughter. Crying because Henry had just announced that he wanted an annulment.
She knew that she would be banished from the court. She knew that she would have to leave.
But, what about Mary? What would happen to Mary?
Katherine knew that she had to put on a brave face. She had to be strong…for her sake as well as her daughter's.
Now, I know somethings, like Margaret still being in Portugal, didn't flow with the show. But, this is fanfiction, after all! :)
Anyways, I hope that everything made sense. In my world, no Church would declare a dead, innocent, 10-year-old illegitimate. But, if it didn't make sense, I'm sorry. I just needed that to happen to continue on with the story.
So, I hope that you like this chapter!
Please Read and Review!
