Wow, thanks for the reviews! wasn't expecting so many. Here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy, please review!


Henry paused at the table where his family sat, their eyes went from him to the stranger next to him confusion in their eyes but a friendly smile plastered on their faces. Henry remained standing still, he glanced to the stranger next to him who beamed politely at Katherine, Mary, Elizabeth and Edward as if all this were perfectly normal. Henry noticed now in the light of the candles and lantern that the man had blond facial hair in the same style as Henry's. Henry heard his wife call his name.

'I take it we are having a guest join us?' She asked and Henry nodded as Katherine smiled, Mary and Elizabeth shared a confused look as Edward grew bored and quietly sipped a drink. Henry remained still his mind reeling, wondering how he would last throughout the meal. If he told them the truth they would fetch the physician and their dwindling time together would be ruined. Mary smiled at them.

'Does your friend have a name?' Mary asked, eyes all turned to Henry including the spirit, Henry looked at him seeing the man would not offer any.

'A name?' Henry said quietly and he could hear the ladies chuckle.

'What people call him' Elizabeth added

'Ah yes a name, this is Edmund' Henry heard himself say and the man smiled at them all and bowed to Katherine who nodded in return.

'A pleasure to meet you Edmund, do you have a last name?' The queen asked and Henry suppressed a groan.

'Owen' Henry finally said and they looked at him.

'Edmund Owen, grandson of David Owen my grandfather's half brother' Henry said and Mary chuckled.

'Finally, very nice to meet you' She said and Elizabeth smiled and nodded, Edward barely glanced his way. Henry continued on.

'Sir Edmund has been recently helping along reforms in Wales, he has come to discuss the progress however he seems to have forgotten to eat and I remembered my manners' Henry said and the ladies chuckled while Henry noted the spirit seemed particularly amused giving off a chuckle of his own. 'Edmund' was seated next to Mary across from Elizabeth. Henry took his place at the top of the table next to Edward on his right and Katherine on his left. The conversation picked up but Henry noted his wife wished to include their guest.

'Sir Edmund how where the roads from Wales?' She asked and 'Edmund' turned to the queen.

'They were peaceful enough' He said quietly and she nodded, Henry looked at the man whose eyes were on his food, did they not eat in heaven? Quietly 'Edmund' began to eat some veal as Katherine and Elizabeth discussed the latter getting new gowns. Henry could not listen even when Katherine attempted to draw him into a conversation, he watched the spirit quietly eat and look around the room in curiosity. Henry barely touched his own food and assuring the queen over and over again of his good health, he continued to watch as 'Edmund' sipped ale, politely gave yes and no answers all the while Henry watched his elder daughter look at the spirit in a less than encouraging way.

'Mary' Henry called to her sharply and she turned her head to her father.

'How are you finding Hunsdon?' He asked forcefully and Mary smiled thinking of her residence, and began to discuss changes she was making to the house he settled on her. Mary's eyes would occasionally flicker from her father to the stranger in front of her. The queen spoke up speaking of the renewed tensions between France and the emperor.

'Have you travelled to the continent Sir Edmund?' She asked 'Edmund' who shook his head.

'No it is not an prospect I ever accomplished, I always wanted to see Spain' He said and Mary smiled brightly at him as Henry eyed her crossly she missed it. Mary was fond of all things Spain, naturally it reminded her of her mother.

'Have you ever wished to go to France?' Elizabeth asked and 'Edmund' chuckled

'Only with an army' He replied and Henry chuckled hoarsely as Mary and Edward smiled at him. Henry watched the spirit as he interacted with the queen, he complimented her, asked her of her life before she became queen and listened to any story she spoke of. His attention turned to Mary and with a smile surprising all by speaking Spanish.

'Usted tiene una residencia en Hertfordshire?' You have a home in Hertfordshire? Mary smiled pleasantly surprised and nodded. Henry saw that his wife looked confused by the conversation, everyone but her was able to speak Spanish.

'Sí, una casa señorial en Hunsdon' Yes a manor house in Hunsdon

'Prefiere el campo a la ciudad?' You prefer the countryside to the city? again Mary smiled brightly at him and nodded her head.

'Si puedo encountered la tranquilidad del campo, anunque me gusta el bullicio de la cuidad' Yes I find the countryside peaceful, although I enjoy the hustle of the city. The spirit smiled at her and nodded. He seemed particularly fond of Mary but Henry did not like Mary eying the spirit he changed the topic to Elizabeth informing her he will arrange for the exchequer to pay for some gowns. The spirit took it upon himself to enquire what fashions Elizabeth favoured, he listened to her long lament on distasteful French fashions Henry knew her mother had been partial to. Henry noted the spirit made all the right sounds as he listened to Elizabeth speak excitedly on what gowns she would like down to what colour buttons.

'You are fond of the French?' The spirit asked and Elizabeth nodded. Speaking in French the spirit asked if she could speak the language.

'Pouvez-vous parler français?' Elizabeth nodded eagerly as Katherine on familiar grounds spoke up, she seemed to be taken by the spirit's handsome face as well as Mary.

'Elizabeth is quite the linguist, she can speak fluently Latin, French, Italian and Spanish, and some Welsh and Portuguese' Katherine bragged as Elizabeth flushed slightly.

'Welsh a delightful surprise' The spirit said with a chuckle. Following several more short stories, and questions Henry was glad the meal came to an end. Oddly the spirit was more popular with his family than he was with Henry, Henry itched to tell them what he was. Henry wanted them to go to his chambers and discuss the spirits arrival. All through the dinner Henry recovered his faltering courage, he came to the conclusion that the spirit was not threatening, Henry could still have the upper hand. And of course Henry did not like waiting in suspense, he wanted a way to rid the spirit and send him back to where he belonged.

'Now I shall retire, Sir Edmund I believe we have much to discuss' Henry said rising from his chair, barely using his cane. The spirit rose, Henry inwardly cursed at how Mary seemed disappointed, 'Edmund' excused himself and thanked them for their hospitality. The ladies won over assured him that it had been their pleasure while Henry gladly noted Edward again barely paid heed to the man. Henry ruffled his sons hair, kissed his wife's cheek and bid his daughters farewell and made his way towards the door. He paused at the door, what journey was he about to make? Henry looked back to see Katherine hugging Edward tightly, a tightness in Henry's chest came from seeing the boy look lovingly at his stepmother, Henry glanced to his daughters laughing quietly with one another, would this imagine be the last he would see of them?

'No Henry' The spirit said and Henry looked at him, the mysterious man was once again staring into him. Henry took another look at Edward again, another pang swept over him, if only God had given Edward to him sooner. With a slight shake of his head Henry followed the spirit out of the room to the cold dark corridor, Henry rounded angrily on his grooms.

'Why is this corridor still badly lit?' the groom quivered in fright glancing to his companions for some help to deflect the anger of the King of England.

'Idiot' Henry spat at him and walked up the corridor grudgingly slower than he would have liked. Those young fools were lucky he was no longer in his prime, youth was wasted on the young. The spirit slowly walked beside him, Henry glanced to him.

'Was it worth it?' He asked angrily at the spirit who remained calm and did not so much as glance at Henry.

'Was what worth it?' He asked in his low rusty voice, Henry wondered what his family thought of that and how he could explain it. He did have a cousin called Sir David Owen but he was not sure he had a cousin called Sir Edmund Owen, they never came to court, and were not in the least useful to Henry so Henry's family would never know, and Henry supposed it would not matter, hundreds flocked to court yearly, some never returned.

'Intruding on my dinner with my family' He said in annoyance and the spirit looked at him calmly.

'I apologise, I wanted to know what it felt like' He said softly and Henry frowned in confusion, the spirit in his annoying way seemed to know the answer to Henry's unspoken question.

'I wanted to know what it was like to sit at a table with a beautiful wife, a young son and two pleasant daughters, you are very privileged' The spirit said as a groom ahead of them opened Henry's private rooms and they followed him in. Henry waited until the hapless grooms lit a fire, and attended to other things before he dismissed them. When the last one left, Henry rounded on the spirit.

'You say I am privileged, look at me wasting away, my true and loyal friends gone before me, my wives betraying, my sons being taken from me and my daughters without any flair for power' Henry spat at him, the spirit looked angered by Henry, his eyes narrowed, and Henry noted he had grown redder than his pale complexion would usually account for. Just as Henry thought the spirit would attack him in one way or another the redness faded and the spirit seemed to calm himself. In the cold voice Henry heard earlier the spirit spoke.

'You were always a selfish little boy, who grew to be a selfish little man' The spirit said coldly and Henry snarled at him.

'I am the king of England'

'Soon you will be the dead King of England, and your deeds not your titles will be all that matters' The spirit warned and Henry gritted his teeth. The spirit walked towards the fire and looked calmly into it.

'Which wife sent you?' Henry asked, as soon as he would die and enter the next world he would find her and throttle her for the annoyance she was causing him.

'Well according to you, Catalina was a liar and more flighty than she let on, therefore you were not truly married to her and she is not your wife, secondly Anne had seduced you by witchcraft and coerced you into marriage, therefore she is not your wife, I for that reason then come to the conclusion you are wondering if your beloved Jane has asked me to come to you, I will not mentioned that poor foolish child of seventeen' The spirit said and Henry's temper flared, the injustice that it was all his fault! The spirit eyed him in a chilling way that made Henry feel uncomfortable.

'It is your fault, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, the old saying does not reach a fifth mistake' The spirit said suddenly breaking out with an amused smile. Henry's temper flared.

'It is not my fault!' Henry said hotly, his voice rising angrily, the spirit looked at him coldly, Henry could still no place that look, it was familiar but no one had looked at him in such a way in a long time, only Catherine had been bravest.

'Of course, it was Catalina's fault your children with her died, it is Anne Boleyn's fault that she failed to give you a son, it was Elizabeth Blount's fault for the death of little Henry FitzRoy, it was Jane Seymour's fault for her death, it was Anne of Cleve's fault for -' The spirit stopped and began to laugh as Henry flushed with embarrassment and anger. Calming himself the spirit spoke.

'It was Katherine Howard's fault for her immaturity, and it was Katherine Parr's fault for being more mature than her predecessor'

'It was not my fault for the death of my children' Henry muttered stubbornly and the spirit nodded, his fringe flopping up and down over his eyes, he raised a hand and brushed it aside he looked almost saddened.

'That is true, but it was no more their fault than your own' He said which caused Henry to lose his voice.

'We will now venture to your past Henry, you enjoyed Christmas as a child' The spirit said and Henry nodded thinking of his mother.

'What shall we discuss?' Henry asked reluctantly, the spirit chuckled.

'That is not the correct question, the correct question is what shall we see?' The spirit replied and Henry frowned in confusion and then comprehending the matter a hope flashed through him. Henry thought excitedly of seeing his mother once again.

'Are you ready Henry?' The spirit asked and Henry stared at him unsure, was he about to die?

'No Henry' The spirit held out his hand and Henry frowned, he lifted his hand and reached out slowly not sure what to expect. His hand touched the ice cold hand of the spirit, Henry winched but slowly the hand seemed to spread warmth throughout his body, the cane in his left hand did not need to be so heavily relied on and Henry stood straighter than he had in years. He felt fitter, stronger and fresher than he had since he could barely remember. Henry let go of the spirit and went towards a mirror he gasped upon seeing his reflection he was young again, handsome as ever, the facial hair had turned as black as it had been when he was younger, his head felt warmer as if the thinning hair had become more fuller. Henry turned and looked at the spirit in surprise.

'I am young again' He said delighted, the spirit nodded.

'Only for tonight, I do not wish to carry you through everything' He said with a slight chuckle, Henry pushed away his disappointment but nodded. The spirit held up his hand again and Henry feeling more sure of himself grasped it. In awe Henry watched as the room around him faded in a bright light, closing his eyes unable to withstand the glare he began to hear music, talking and laughter. He opened his eyes and saw the spirit standing in front of him, no longer holding his hand. Henry looked up and down the brightly lit corridor they appeared on. Rich and bright tapestries were hung on the walls, the Tudor Rose displaying proudly along the walls, with torches lit along the way leading to what Henry noticed was a great hall.

'This is Richmond Palace' Henry said recognising the building, and the spirit nodded.

'Well Sheen Palace as it was known at this time' He said and Henry stared at him in amazement, Henry walked ahead of him and strode into the hall he stopped in shock looking around at faces who were long gone, he stared up to where the throne was and saw his father King Henry VII.

'My father!' Henry laughed loudly at the sight of him, His father was sitting happily in his chair watching the merriment around him, on his left was the formidable lady Margaret Beaufort, Henry remembered his grandmother more clearer, he often feared her, and he often feared his father. With a lighted heart Henry spotted his mother on his father's right sitting as beautiful as ever. Henry walked closer to her, he always cherished his mother's memory, fought to remember her face but he was saddened to learn that his images of her had faded, he always thought of her as beautiful but looking at her she was radiant.

'Can she see me?' Henry asked desperately.

'No, this is only a memory' He said and Henry nodded, he remembered his mother, her kind soothing voice urging him to be of good cheer, how she could calm him down when he had a childish tantrum. With a smile he remembered how she would shake her head thinking she would never cure him of his dramatics, but Henry thought satisfyingly she did. Henry looked to his father, the dark side of the moon next to his wife. The man looked a hundred years younger than the images Henry had of him in his mind. His father had been a cold aloof character who never had time for him, and scolded him and was unable to be pleased. Ruefully Henry thought it were a pity his father could not see him in his own time. His father's hair gray in his mind was now a dark blond with streaks of gray, he was still young enough and lean. More shockingly, Henry was surprised to see a smile planted firmly on the man's face, his memories of his father were chilling and unhappy. For a long time from his mother's death to his father's they were often cold, estranged, disappointing and eventually hateful.

'What year is this?' Henry asked

'Fourteen ninety six' The spirit replied and Henry's eyebrows rose in surprise, he did not imagine they would come back this far. He tried to remember if anything happened at this time. He looked back to his father, the man was almost forty. Henry turned his attention to Elizabeth of York she was only thirty. Henry saw that his parents were holding hands, a jolt of surprise came to him. His father was not one to be affectionate and yet here he was quietly sitting holding his wife's hand. He went closer to them to hear what they were saying.

'Harry is advancing in his studies most unexpectedly' Elizabeth said with a glowing smile, Henry smiled and saw his father chuckle.

'That is when his master can get him to concentrate' He laughed and Henry grinned. His mother and father looked at each with smiles, Henry saw between them a love he never noticed. He heard the stories when he was younger, his mother trapped in sanctuary when her evil uncle Richard III murdered her little brothers, his father came to the rescue with an army and married her. But Henry could never help but feel slightly disappointed when he learned his father actually participated little in the manner of battle. Henry watched as his grandmother leaned forward from his father's side, his father let go of his mother's hand and changed his attention to his mother as she demanded to know how much the Christmas celebrations were costing the treasury.

'Mother you know very well with the pretender hovering over the border in Scotland I need to be seen in a festive cheer and I need to look and act the very inch of being a King' Henry heard his father reply somewhat tired. Henry remembered Perkin Warbeck, the battle of Blackheath had no happened, they were all sitting here tense and unsure. Henry saw his mother looked worried also at the mention of the pretender, he wished he could soothe her, assure her that she need not fear for her family. Perkin Warbeck was a coward, and by fleeing battle he proved that he was no son of King Edward IV.

'Here you are' The spirit said and Henry jumped in fright, he was engrossed in his family that he forgot about his presence. Henry looked around eagerly and saw his younger self strut forward confidently, Henry smiled as his mother held out her arms for him as 'Harry' ran to her and held her tightly. Following behind him was a much younger Charles Brandon, who bowed to the King, Queen and King's mother.

'Your majesties' He said and the king smiled at him fondly, while Henry's grandmother nodded curtly before turning her direction elsewhere. Henry looked to his younger self and noticed that he was smaller than the older Brandon, with a quick calculation he realised he was only five years of age. He was also much more thinner than he remembered. 'Harry' was then released from his mother's grip and stood side by side with Charles. The difference in their age showing as Henry's younger self barely came to Charles's chest.

'How are your studies coming Brandon?' The King asked and Charles nodded respectfully.

'They are coming along well your majesty' He said and Henry watched as his father smiled fondly at him. Charles' father William Brandon died at the battle of Bosworth, his father always felt a duty towards the boy. A figure stepped forward next to Charles, she was slightly smaller than him but a fond smile Henry recognised his sister Margaret who glanced Charles's way before turning back to her father. Margaret sent Henry's younger self a glare.

'Harry destroyed my copy of Orlando Innamorato' She moaned to her father who looked at his son sternly. Henry looked to the spirit and chuckled.

'I remember this, that foolish Italian poem she would dream about how a knight tall and handsome fell in love, I threw it into a puddle, when she broke my wooden horse' He laughed delightfully.

'I will get you a new one Margaret' Their father assured them and Margaret moved closer to her father and she hugged him, she shot her brother a look and returned to a group of friends.

'You playing fair Harry?' His father asked him and Henry found himself chuckling as he watched his five year old self nodded eagerly. His father broke into a smile, and ruffled his hair and Henry saw his younger self laugh as his father kept his hand on his son's shoulder.

'She broke my wooden horse, I was angry' His younger self defended but their mother spoke up with a smile.

'You should have forgiven her, she was very sorry and it was an accident' She scolded lightly with a smile. His grandmother then spoke.

'He is full of spirit this boy, the French ambassador was full of praise' She said and Henry saw her eyes brighten looking at his younger self. She was difficult to get a smile and a shilling from but he had been the apple of her eye. Henry saw his younger self beam with pride. Then a trumpet rang out and Henry turned to the entrance with a frown, the king and queen were already here why the big announcement?

'Your majesty, Arthur, Prince of Wales' A groom announced and Henry watched as all those in court shuffled forward to see a boy who would be dead before he reached the age of sixteen. Henry watched as his father's hand slipped away from his younger self and his attention remained focus on the slight figure who stiffly came into the great hall, his chin up, lips tight formally and as rigid and serious as Henry remembered. However their father's smile grew wide and his eyes shone.

'My boy' He whispered and strode forward, Henry saw his father hugging Arthur tightly as noise of approval swept around the hall. A mop of golden hair like their mother's sat on Arthur's head, he was paler than Henry remembered and smaller. Henry VII stood back to look admiringly at his ten year old son, and Henry's dead brother the prince of Wales.

'His precious boy' Henry muttered darkly to himself. Henry watched as his mother came towards his father and Arthur and grabbed Arthur into a deep and loving hug so warm that Henry almost felt it from where he was standing. Arthur grabbed a hold of her and finally cracked a hesitant smile. Margaret also came forward and Arthur cling to her also which she responded equally to. With disapproval Henry noticed that Arthur barely glanced his younger self's way, the merriment continued on as Arthur and their father sprang into a deep discussion, Henry listened in he had always been an outsider to their discussions. They spoke of Arthur's council in Wales, the running of Wales, any disturbances, in a darker tone they spoke of Perkin Warbeck. Arthur and their father then began to talk of archery, of hunting, and promising to hawk together, Henry stood surprised he never knew Arthur had the constitution to ride a horse let alone brag about how he caught three bucks on a short hunting trip at a park in Coventry while he was on progress. Slowly Henry saw his father and brother move away from him, he looked to his younger self and saw that he was watching his father and brother sadly.

'You and your brother did not know each other well' The spirit said and Henry frowned but did not reply.

'When you were one year of age, he was sent to rule Wales with his council, you would remain the sole son at court, everyone would praise you, and look to you, Arthur was a stranger to you' He said and Henry still did not answer.

'But every Christmas he returned and suddenly you were forced to accept you were the second son, when he returned the attention fell on him and you hated it' The spirit said and Henry inhaled deeply, he remembered his childhood, courtiers bowing, awing at him, how his sister would play with him, how his mother and grandmother would fawn over him, how his father would show him off, but when Arthur returned they all turned to him, the sickly one. It became all about Arthur, how he was named for England's greatest King, how he would rule England wisely and bring back the old glory of past reigns. But Arthur never became a great king his name suggested, he never reached his goal of living up to his namesake, Henry smirked satisfied.

'Either did you' The spirit said abruptly with a hint of annoyance, Henry glanced to him.

'How many times did you dream of French conquest because Henry V exceeded where other's failed and would fail to do' The spirit said and Henry frowned.

'I will still always be remembered and he will not' Henry said referring to his dead brother, the spirit had no answer to that.

'Do you know why this date is significant?' The spirit asked and Henry shook his head feeling sorry for his younger self as their father Henry VII ruffled Arthur's hair lovingly.

'It is here you decided you hated your brother'

Henry did not answer. The spirit moved in front of Henry and held out his hand.

'Come' He said and Henry looked back to his mother.

'You will see her again' He said and Henry took a hold of the spirit's hand and again the bright light flashed around them. And again Henry found himself in the great hall but this time, the hall was different Sheen had become Richmond.

'What year?'

'Fifteen, oh-one'

A tightness filled Henry's chest, Catherine of Aragon had come in 1501.