Author's Notes – Thanks to my newest reviewers, Guest and Hanna. I'm glad the idea of Mary seeing Katherine was well received. Failed to De-Anon – Yes, someone is going to talk him into seeing his children, I hope you like who I decided to finally get him to do so. I'm keeping Compton alive in this story, just because I liked him in the show. I'm skipping doing the meeting at the Field of the Cloth of Gold, and fast forwarding a couple years. Anne and the Emperor will be introduced next chapter. I hope I've done justice with this chapter, and that this satisfies everyone :) Still need name for this story people, help me out
It had been five years as of today that the great Queen Katherine had died. The whole court knew when the day was approaching, as their king would slowly begin retreating into himself. No masques were performed, he hardly ate in the great hall and as the day approached, he began to get more and more temperamental. Mary had begged him to talk to her brother, for the young prince and princess' sake. Charles rubbed a hand over his face as he slowly approached the king's privy chamber. Henry received letters of course, informing him of the children's progress and health, but the only one he ever saw was Mary.
His name was announced as he approached the heavy doors and after a brief moment, they were opened to allow him admittance. He nodded at the herald and the groom that showed him to the antechamber within. Henry sat upon his throne on the raised dais, not even looking up as his oldest friend entered and bowed low before him. Blue eyes were unfocused, gazing at nothing and the king seemed lost in thought.
Rising slowly from his bow, Charles coughed discreetly, trying to get his friend's attention without being rude. Henry continued to ignore him, never once making a move to even look at him. "Excuse me, your Majesty?" He finally queried, breaking the eerie silence that had befallen the chamber.
Finally, Henry blinked and looked around at Charles, seeming startled to see his friend and brother-in-law standing before him, looking quizzical. Shaking his head ruefully, he forced a smile at his eldest friend. "My apologies, Charles, I didn't hear your arrival."
Deciding against mentioning that he'd been announced and that obviously the king had agreed for him to appear before him, the Duke of Suffolk simply nodded. "I must speak with you, Henry."
"Of course, Charles," Henry readily agreed, rising and moving forward to embrace the older man. "How fares my sister?"
As always, at the mention of his beloved Mary, Brandon couldn't help the soft smile that stole across his face. "Mary is well, Majesty, and sends her love."
The king smiled at that and the fact that, while Charles was not the royal suitor he had intended his sister for, at least they were happy. Like he and Katherine once were. His visage darkened in misery again at the thought of his late wife.
Noting the look on his friends face, Charles cleared his throat to get Henry's attention once more. "As I've said, Majesty, I must speak with you."
Shaking his head, Henry beckoned the other man over to a table where he sat before motioning for Charles to do the same. "Yes, so you've said," the king agreed as the duke took his seat. "Speak, Charles, I've never known you to hold your tongue."
A steward came forward, bearing a ewer of wine. At the king's nod, the young man poured them both a cup of wine before retreating a short distance. Grateful for the minor distraction, Charles raised his glass to Henry in a toast. The other man mimicked the action before both drank. Setting his glass down, Brandon took a deep breath before beginning. "Mary has asked me to beseech you, on the love you bear for her, to go to Ludlow and see your children."
Henry slowly lowered his glass, looking at Charles over the rim before fully lowering it to the table. His eyes clouded over with grief at the thought that, but for the youngest princess and his prince (his prince!), Katherine would still be with him. "I cannot, Charles," He finally spoke, his tone hoarse as he refused to meet his friend's eyes. "I cannot bear to look upon them and know what the birth of my prince cost me."
Charles scrubbed a hand across his face once more, wishing once more that Mary had not asked him to do this. He could deny his wife very little, and she knew it. They had defied her brother in order to marry, risking death at the executioner's block because they could no longer ignore the feelings they had for one another. "Katherine would not want you to blame the children for her passing," He reminded his friend gently.
Logically, Henry knew Charles was right. Katherine would be ashamed to see the way he was acting, refusing to even hear their names as the memory of losing their mother was far too great. He wanted to be angry with his friend for his words but could not find it within himself to be angry. His kingdom mourned with him when he lost Katherine but now, even Wolsey was trying to find a way to suggest that he remarry without incurring the king's wrath. With a sigh, Henry unconsciously mimicked the earlier actions of his friend and ran a hand over his face. "You're right, Charles, of course. That would be the last thing she would want."
Lady Salisbury could scarcely believe her ears when a maid ran into the nursery to inform her that the king's standard bearers had been spotted heading towards Ludlow. Since the young prince and princess had been born, the king hadn't seen them. Rumor had it that the king could not bear the sight of them, as they were a constant reminder of the loss of the queen. Dismissing the lady with orders to have the children ready for their father's arrival, she hurried towards the entry hall with as much dignity as she could muster.
"His Majesty, the King! His Majesty, the King!" the heralds cried and just as she finished smoothing her skirts about her, the doors opened and the king entered, followed by a small retinue.
Salisbury curtsied low and gracefully, only rising when Henry motioned for her to. "Your Majesty, welcome to Ludlow."
"Thank you, Lady Salisbury." Henry replied, glancing around and nodding approvingly. "I have come to see my children."
Edmund Tudor tried not to fidget in his finery, knowing Lady Salisbury would have a stiff rebuke for him if he embarrassed himself. Joanna was brought in to wait with him and even though she was his sister, he had to admit she was pretty. Not like the ladies that served his aunt Mary, never that pretty, but pretty nonetheless. She stood straight and proud beside him, her hands clutched nervously before her. Neither of them had met their father, the king, but their elder sister Mary had. She stood slightly behind them, dressed in a gown of black damask trimmed with gold. The governess had wanted Mary to go first, as the eldest, but she had gracefully declined and insisted that her younger siblings should be presented to their father fist.
Lady Eleanor entered the room and looked the three siblings over with a smile. "Alright, children, it's time. Follow me," she instructed, before turning and leading them into the privy chamber that had been put to use for the children to be presented to the king.
They followed obediently, and Edmund found himself struck with a sudden case of nerves. What if their papa didn't like them? He knew that mama had gone to heaven when he and Joanna were born. Did papa blame them for mama going away forever? Was that why he'd never visited until now? His hands shook slightly as the door to the privy chamber opened and they were lead inside. Lady Eleanor curtsied before the king before stepping aside and letting the children be brought into view.
