We are in the year of 1520, 11 years into Henry's reign and his marriage with Katherine. I've tweaked with the events of the show, such as in episode 1, to make them more accurate, or at least where they make more sense to me.
Katherine decided to return to court in May during the following year. After the birth of her son, Prince Edward, his christening was held, in which her sister in law, the Dowager Queen of France stood as godmother, with that snake Wolsey as godfather. She had quarreled with her husband over it, but she had lost that particular battle. While she was away from court, she had taken up hawking and hunting and slowly but surely, she found herself shedding the weight she had gained over the years. This pleased her immensely, and she was glad that she had picked up her old habits, as in her earlier days she had hunted and went hawking on more than one ocassion. Katherine had changed her eating habits as well, taken smaller portions at meals, and eating more of the salads from her home. And when she could, she would order in various fruits and vegetables to sate her appetite. The Queen spent time with her baby, tending to him and making sure he was at peace in the royal household the King had set up for him. Katherine had taken the time to appoint lady Margaret Pole as the governess of her daughter, while Henry had appointed lady Margaret Bryan as the governess of their son.
With the birth of a royal son, who now lived longer than Prince Henry did, the position of her husband's bastard had weakened considerably. He was no longer a threat to her daughter Mary, and while Katherine couldn't begrudge her husband caring for his child, Henry Fitzroy would know his place in the world.
The Queen also visited and tended to Mary, who was growing into a young child of 4 years old. She was precocious and intelligent and Katherine knew that she would be a great queen one day. Though God forbid it be some Valois prince, no she would much prefer that her daughter wed a Spanish infante or a a Portugues Infante. It was only good and proper.
The Queen had also decided that upon her return to court, a new set of ladies in waiting were needed, because Wolsey had dismissed her Spanish ladies on false charges of them being spies for her nephew. Just the thought of that wretched cardinal made her seethe with fury. Her good friend María de Salinas who had recovered from the birth of her daughter, Catherine the previous year, would join her household once more as her principle lady in waiting, and she would send out word on Katherine's behalf. Wolsey would do well to stay out of the matters of her household, for she was in no mood to be trifled with. He too would come to learn his place as well.
Katherine also ordered new fabrics for clothing such as silk, damask, satin, taffeta, and linen. She especially loved colors such as black, purple, and crimson. She also had her old gowns taken in and she sent some of the cloth to her children's household, for smocks and dresses to be made for them as well as toys to occupy her daughter Mary.
"Your majesty, the litter is ready," lady Jane Howard informed her, with a small curtsey. Katherine glanced at her, before nodding and leaving her rooms and the palace to where the royal litter awaited her outside. It was a magnificent transport, held by four great black destriers, and decorated with black and purple curtains, with the symbol of her authority, the royal pomegranate, embroidered on both sides. She pushed the curtains back and stepped inside and sat down. María joined her and sat across from her. Along the journey, they would both work on their embroidery and Katherine knew she was behind in making some of her husband's shirts, and had resolved to have some ready for him upon her return.
"A summit in France," Katherine began, a frown upon her face. No doubt this was due to Wolsey's influence. Anyone with sense knew that he favored an alliance with the French. Katherine suspected it went further than that, but Henry was too stubborn to listen to her in that regard.
"A meeting between the Kings of England and France, nothing more we should hope. I've heard nothing of any marriage alliances," María assured her, but the Queen had her doubts. Perhaps not for Edward as he was too young, but Mary was close in age to some of the Valois princes. She felt her anger rear up at the thought but pushed it back down.
"If Henry did, he did it without consulting me María, he gave my daughter away to the Dauphin or some other Valois prince without my input as her mother." This time, she could not keep the anger from showing itself on her face and Maria gave her a sympathetic look. Katherine found her composure and let out a long sigh.
"I will deal with it, what about your inquiries into new ladies?" The Queen asked, looking out the litter at the passing scenery of green forests and hills with tiny villages every now and then.
"Sir Nicholas Carew has an unmarried sister, Anne Carew," María said, and Katherine nodded. She knew of Sir Nicholas Carew, a popular fellow in her husband's inner circle. Wolsey did not like his influence and had managed to send him from court two years ago.
"Who else?"
"Well there is the lady Maud Parr, who desires a position in your household," María said after some thought.
"To think out of my ladies, I can only trust you, lady Pole, who is now my daughter's governess, lady Isabel, and the lady Howard." The Queen wanted to roll her eyes but refrained from doing so. She noticed the look on her friend's face.
"What is it?"
"The lady Howard, I have heard rumor…." María began, but she hesitated and Katherine waved her hand for to continue.
"Tell me."
"His majesty was to visit your bedchambers, but you were in prayer, so he took up with lady Howard instead," María finished, and Katherine felt like she could cry if it wasn't for the fact she had promised that she would not let herself be reduced to such a state again. Cold fury settled in her belly instead.
"I see, my husband does not often visit my bed, and on such occasion when I had asked, one of my ladies says to herself that she should take my place." She let out a deep sigh. Another betrayal from her husband, and another lady who could not be trusted. "And Henry, that man!" Katherine bit out and fell into silence once more and picked up her embroidery. She knew that several parishes in London where in need of altar cloths, so she would focus on those. Henry could wait a very long time on his shirts as far as she was concerned.
Meanwhile the King and his court were preparing for the summit that was to be held in Calais in June. Henry had ordered new cloths, hose, doublets, hats, coats, and jewels, all to make sure he would no doubt cut an impressive figure. Henry prided himself on being the most handsome and athletic out of the powerful monarchs of Europe and was thus eager to see what this Francis looked like.
"Is he tall?" He asked his ambassador to the French court, Sir Thomas Boleyn.
"Indeed, about six feet and six inches." Sir Thomas Boleyn eyed the chess set between the two of them. Henry frowned, that was a good deal three inches more than his own height of six feet and three inches.
"Does he have calves like mine?"
"Majesty, no one has calves like yours," Boleyn assured him as he moved his bishop along the board. Henry eyed the move before continuing:
"Is he handsome?"
"Some might say so, he certainly thinks so himself," Boleyn said with a bit of a smirk. Henry chuckled and moved his queen to take Boleyn's bishop with ease.
"Is he vain?"
"Majesty, he's French!" With this, both men let out full blown laughs and Henry found himself appeased somewhat. He made a final move and found his efforts rewarded.
"Checkmate," he said, triumphantly, when a groom appeared in the doorway.
"Your majesty, the Queen has arrived," he said, and the King raised his eyebrows and rose to his feet. It was about time too, he grumbled inwardly. He knew she had been upset since the birth of his bastard Fitzroy, and no doubt he would have demanded her return, but after she had given birth to their son (finally), he had allowed her this one indulgence.
"I will sup with her," Henry said, more to himself as he dismissed Boleyn.
"Make the preparations for our arrival in France, I am putting you in charge," he said, before leaving to find his wife. His groom had gone ahead and sent word, and within the hour Henry was seated at the table, impatiently waiting for his wife.
"Her majesty, the Queen!" The servant announced, when the Queen entered the room, and the surrounding servants and attendants sank into bows or curtseys. Henry rose, utterly stunned by the woman who had walked into the room. The Queen absolutely looked quite the picture of loveliness in a mature and regal way. She had lost the excess weight from her many pregnancies, and while she was not as thins as she was when she first came to England, she had a mature womanly figure. The tiniest bit of rouge painted her lips, but her face was otherwise bare. Her rich auburn hair was brushed out till it fell in soft red burnished waves down to her hips. She wore a gown of royal purple with an extravagantly decorated bodice with hints of red in it and a ruby brooch pinned at the top of it. Over it, she wore an over gown of soft purple velvet and wore a simple diadem of pearls and diamonds in her hair.
"Katherine," Henry said, finding himself at a loss for words as she curtseyed before they took their seats. Sir Williams Compton handed over a great dish of venison, meat pies, grapes, strawberries, and a bit of salad, something that Henry didn't particularly, like, but Katherine did. They were served wine to wash it down with as well as bread fresh from the kitchens.
"You look well Madam," Henry said, as he picked up a piece of venison. Katherine looked up at him and was about to say something when lady Howard placed her plate in front of her. He caught the flash of rage on his wife's face, and Henry knew then she had learned of his dalliance with the lady Howard. Loose tongues and gossiping courtiers was something that Henry could not abide. One day, he would make such a fearsome example of the person who went to his wife with tales of his private affairs.
"I am better than I have been in previous years," Katherine said, as she picked up a few grapes.
"How is our daughter?" Henry said, it had been some time since he had seen his little pearl and it was something he had resolved to fix.
"She is well. Her tutors praise her exceptional talents," The Queen said, taking a sip from her cup. "You should be proud of her Henry." She gave him a pointed look and the King felt the slight rebuke in her words.
"I am," he retorted. "You know I am, Katherine." He touched her hand. "Mary is the pearl of my world." The Queen stared at him, and smiled before turning back to the food.
"You have not answered my nephew's letters," she began and Henry felt a bit of annoyance.
"Just because your nephew is the King of Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor, does he think I have nothing else to do?" He asked, irritated. Not to mention, Charles was a good nine years younger than Henry, who was he to presume to lecture Henry?
"He advises you against signing a treaty with France, and to not heed everything Wolsey tells you because he is so biased with the French," Katherine said, as she plucked a grape into her mouth.
"And since when are you a diplomat?" Henry said, growing angrier by the moment.
"I am my father's daughter," His wife replied, with a note of pride in her voice. Henry grabbed her hand.
"You are my wife, you are not my minister, you are not my chancellor, but my wife!" He hissed, enunciating every word he spoke. Katherine snatched her hand back away from him, her eyes narrowed at him.
"Your brother would have never acted in such a fashion to me speaking of political matters," she said quietly, but her words were like little barbs that had Henry seeing red. All these years and she had never dared to bring up Arthur. And here she was throwing his dead brother in his face.
"Eat," he barked, trying to calm down lest he explode with the rage he felt. The Queen, merely glared at him before quietly finishing her meal.
Later in the evening, Henry called for Wolsey as he was trying on new cloth for the summit with the French.
"What do you think?" He asked, as he tried on a vibrant red sleeve of satin.
"It looks good," Wolsey hummed in agreement before picking up a set of pillows. "And if I may, with these set of jewels," he finished, placing them before Henry.
"Do you think Francis will have anything like these?" The King asked, and Wolsey smirked at him.
"Only if he steals them," he retorted and Henry found himself lightening up from his earlier foul mood.
"I can't wait for the summit," he declared, "It will change the world as we know it forever." He turned to Cardinal Wolsey. "You and I will be immortal."
AN: Hello! Some of these scenes will seem familiar, because they are straight from the show, but I hope to make that a rare occurrence, or to add more so that it's not the tudors all over again with the bonus of Katherine just having a son. Up next will be the Field of Cloth and Gold! Fancasts so far are: Lotte Verbeek as KOA, Nick Dunning (though considering he would be in his forties not with white hair) as Sir Thomas Boleyn, Anita Briem as María de Salinas (if Jane Seymour shows up there will be a different fancast for her) and I haven't decided yet on Henry VIII or Wolsey. Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!
