Ok, so my muse hit me, and I decided to write up a chapter for this story. My other story, The Snowflake Princess, has kinda gotten stuck, and I'm having trouble writing the next chapter, so I went with my muse. Tah dah!
Again, please do not expect regular updates, I have a few other stories (published and unpublished) that currently take precedence.
And just for reference – Arthur is portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe and Edward is Elijah Wood. Also, there is a tiny cameo by a character from Game of Thrones, Jon Snow, here referred to as Jon Stark.
Henry read through the unending pages of Anne's year away from court for two days.
She had left not two months from her first time with Henry, and, according to these pages with the beautiful writing that Henry recognised (and if he dared to be honest with himself, never forgot), Anne recognised she was pregnant, and feared for her life, as well as the lives of her children. Katherine's supporters would jump at any chance to harm her. So she hid in Hever, not even letting her father know of the children, and with the support of her mother, gave birth to the three children, which surprised the midwives.
The birth lasted for almost 2 days. Mama said that the first birth is always the hardest. The midwives caution that I might never have children again, but I know I need to provide at least one more son to Henry, once we are married, before I dare risk the lives of the triplets. I need to prove myself to him, before I risk letting him know I am hiding our beautiful babies. I need to give him a legitimate son before risking our illegitimate children.
The girl is the quietest. She rarely cries. I wanted to name her Elizabeth, but Mama says there are too many Elizabeth's around, so I should come up with a different name. She will be Alexandrina. Alexandrina Maria Boleyn-Tudor. My youngest child.
The boys are hard to tell apart, so we keep the younger with Alexandrina, and the elder by himself. The elder resembles the paintings of the late Prince Arthur, so Mama suggested Arthur Robert, and the younger I decided to name Edward Henry.
Henry always wanted to name our son Edward.
Henry sighed. Her children by him. Their triplets. She had fulfilled her promise, and yet still felt the need to give him a third son. Two sons, two daughters. Three born 7 years before the other.
Two sons almost of age to rule. Two healthy, strong sons. Two sons who look like him, with Anne's colouring. Yet, Jane's son was young, sickly and weaker.
'Your pathetic son of the Seymour wench will never live to become king.' Edward Boleyn had a point. The sickly child would not live long. Henry continued reading the book, the last page simply saying 'I'm pregnant.'
Anne had tried to tell him once. Tried, and failed. He wouldn't listen.
He would do right by her now, he thought firmly, summoning a page to bring him his writing desk.
"Lexie, why did you give him Mama's book?" Arthur asked her as the trio walked through the halls, waiting to see what the reaction of the king would be to the news that he had not three children, but six. They were given rooms in the castle, and stayed in them, to avoid drawing attention to themselves. The court loved new persons, and tongues wagged at the opportunity of gossip.
"Arthur, he wasn't going to listen to us unless he saw proof. Mama's book was the only thing we had to prove that to him." She gently rubbed her ring, slightly sad. "Jon should be here. I miss him terribly."
"Excuse me." The trio turned, and immediately sank into curtsies at the sight of Mary, their older sister. "Who are you three, I have never seen you at court before." Mary stared at the three beautiful people. The girl wore a silk dress of blue, one of the males wearing a burnt orange doublet and black leather pants, and the other male wore a leaf green, also with black leather pants. They were beautiful, and they were strange.
"My name is Arthur, Your Highness, this is my brother Edward and my sister Alexandrina. It is an honour to meet the eldest daughter of the King. We have all held you in high esteem."
"Thank you. May I ask, who is your family?" Immediately, the trio shared cautious looks, when a page of the king ran up to them.
"Your highness, the king is summoning you." He then turned to the trio. "His majesty summoned you as well, my lords and lady." Mary seemed uneasy at this.
"We will go immediately. I will show them the way." She walked off, and the triplets followed carefully. "Do you know why his majesty has summoned you?"
"Because we have business with him. Our mother was killed at his hands, and she left us a letter informing us to seek him out." Edward said as kindly as he could.
"I am sorry for your loss. How did she die, if I may ask?"
"Beheading. For a crime she did not commit. His majesty was well aware, and left us, and our younger sister, motherless." Mary cringed at Edward's words, the words making it harder to avoid telling Mary of their close relations.
"Who is your younger sister? Is she here at court?" Alexandrina smiled.
"She's named Elizabeth. We've never met her, and we don't know if she's at court." The trio arrived at the King's chambers shortly after she said this. They entered, and sunk down into deep curtsies and bows. Henry was out of bed, seeming slightly better, and sitting at his table in his entry chamber. He waved for them to sit down, and they sat on opposing sides of the table.
"Mary, I see you have met the new arrivals at court."
"Yes, Your Majesty. I was unaware that they had even arrived." She seemed to pause, and chose to stay silent on the topic of their business with him. "They are very kind people from the few words we have exchanged." Henry smiled, and turned to the three.
"Did you tell her of why you came to court?"
"We mentioned part of it, but did not mention the main thing that ties us here to court. Perhaps you should do the honours, Your Majesty? Or should I?" Arthur was slightly vicious in his words.
"Tell me what?"
"We're your half-siblings." Alexandrina said, staring Mary full in the face. Mary could see her father in the girl, but those were HER eyes. "Our mother was Anne Boleyn. We share a father." Mary's jaw dropped. "Mama had us after a little romp in the woods with His Majesty about 7 years before their marriage and Elizabeth's birth." She then turned to Henry. "Mama felt the need to produce His Majesty with a third living son, a legitimate one, before letting him know of our existence. She feared what would happen if your mother, God rest her soul, found out about us, and what her supporters would do." Mary blinked in shock. "Did I forget anything?" Alexandrina said, turning to her brothers.
"Just the fact that Mama tried to tell His Majesty about our existence before she was beheaded, but he refused to give her the chance, and we were then raised by our Aunt Mary, who raised us to be good, kind people." Mary seemed stunned by Edward's words.
"You're my siblings?" Mary felt her heart shattered. She was surrounded by HER children. Why would God bless HER, but not Mary's own mother? Alexandrina merely nodded, and watched as Mary excused herself and ran out. Alexandrina moved to go after her, but Arthur just stopped her with a hand.
"Let her go, Lexie. She needs time." Alexandrina frowned slightly as she sat back down. Henry then cleared his throat, drawing the attention back to himself.
"I have decided that I will declare my marriage to your mother as valid, due to the founding of papers in Cromwell's office stating her innocence." Henry waved his hand at the trivial manner, in his mind, of the excuse. "As such, Arthur," He smiled at his older son, "You will be named the Prince of Wales. Edward will be named Duke of York, and Alexandrina, you will be named Duchess of Pembroke. Elizabeth will be also restored, after yourselves, as Duchess of Cornwall. Edward, Jane's son, will be behind Edward in the succession, and Mary will be last in succession." Alexandrina scoffed at that last statement.
"And why don't you accept her as your legitimate daughter? Your marriage to Katherine of Aragon was based on good faith for almost 25 years. I dare say you can accept Mary just on that fact alone." Alexandrina stood up, and turned out of the room. "Excuse me, Your Majesty, I feel the need to speak with Mary and explain the situation to her." She curtsied, and left in a flurry of blue silk.
Happy New Year to all! I hope all of my readers have a prosperous and happy 2015!