THE MANY SUITORS OF ELIZABETH TUDOR
(Suitors, as in, men who desired her and she wasn't so keen or sure if she wanted them as well.)
Four: Philip II of Spain
"If you do not want to be killed by your sister, marry a catholic." Arthur groused to the amused princess. He hadn't seen Elizabeth in a while, and it seems that the country air was doing wonders to her. Her hair, most likely lighten by the sun, was a brilliant red-gold and it tumbled majestically around her shoulders. She was well-proportioned and had soft white skin. Arthur suddenly turned his head to the side, embarrassed that he was ogling at her. She did not notice, or perhaps she did not care. Elizabeth laughed at his statement, adjusting her French hood.
"And? Do I really need to marry to save my own neck?" Arthur sighed, and rubbed his brows.
"You are of marriageable age, and much, much younger than the Queen."
"And I told you that I will not marry." She said simply. They continued their walk, under the watchful eye of her jailer. Yes, the princess Elizabeth was imprisoned, her sister fearing her youth and popularity with the English people. Just like Anne Boleyn had feared Catherine of Aragon. Arthur realized how ironic the situation is. Yet, Elizabeth had a nonchalant attitude, or perhaps it was a mask.
"The Queen, persuaded by King Philip, wants you to marry Don Carlos." He growled out, slightly disgusted. He wasn't the only one—Even Spain (or Don Antonio as we was called) was disturbed when Philip had informed him.
Apparently, Elizabeth shared his sentiments.
"He is but a child! He is only nine!" She gasped, horror filling her eyes. He shrugged, not knowing what to do.
Elizabeth would later come to court, trying to plead her case to her sister. And that's how she met her brother-in-law.
When Queen Mary got into her tempers, she'd either kick Arthur out or force him into dresses (which amused her, but put him in a bad mood). Today, she told him to attend to her Spanish husband and he was happy to comply. Well, not really. He had to put up with Spain, the smug bastard.
He saw Elizabeth walking to their right, her face troubled and scared. When she saw Philip, he realized that she was going to appeal to the Spanish King. When Philip came close, absentmindedly rubbing his chin, she dropped to her knees in a bow.
"Su majestad," she started in a hesitant voice. He looked at her, surprised that she knew Spanish. Spain even seemed a bit pleased.
Elizabeth introduced herself in Latin, not trusting her Spanish and pleaded her case to him, seeing him as her brother. But Arthur and Spain knew that Philip was not thinking of that. When he lifted her gently and dismissed her, he knew the Spaniard was watching her lithe figure and pondering whether she was too good for his mad son.
Later, when the king and queen dined, and Spain and him were dining in another private room, attended by others like them (He had Wales and Spain brought the young Asturias), did he allow himself to remember that day's events.
"Your princess is of marriageable age, si?" Spain commented, drinking the wine slowly. Arthur frowned, and sat up.
"And what of it, Antonio?" Spain smirked and placed his goblet down.
"Oh, Inglaterra, tu sabes lo que va a pasar." English green eyes met Spanish green eyes.
"It will never happen." England simply said. Spain shrugged and let the matter drop.
Although England did not like the idea of Philip becoming interest in Elizabeth (damn Spaniard) his influence over the love-struck queen helped save the princess from being exiled. He told Mary that Elizabeth must be treated kindly and with due respect of her rank as heir to the English throne, or he would not return.
Mary had already suffered his displeasure; what she thought was an infant was only what she imagined. England felt sorry for her, as he held her hand while she sobbed for her husband. But she was too old, not young enough to bear a child and be healthy. But he wouldn't say that to her.
"Cuando se muera la Reina, mi rey quiere casarse con Elizabeth." Spain hissed into England's ear as Mary wept on Philip's arm. He was off to war, a war which Mary forced Parliament to provide for.
"You bastard, what are you saying?" Spain had his arm slung around his shoulder, and they had been standing quite close to Elizabeth, who looked at them curiously. Arthur dragged the smirking Spaniard off to the side and grasped his arms.
"Don't say such things! That could be treason!"
"She is not my ruler, Inglaterra, only the wife of my king." Arthur gritted his teeth.
"Elizabeth won't consent to such marriage." Spain raised an eyebrow, curious as to why Arthur would be so confident about it. England had a nasty smirk on his face; his teeth were bared at Antonio.
"I'll personally make sure of it." He spat. Antonio recoiled, as if he was offended. He opened his mouth, about to retort when a sharp cry of "Antonio, vamonos!" spread through the air. Spain glared at him one more time and walked away. England walked back to stand next to Elizabeth, who was watching her sister cry, barely standing.
"I don't want to be that weak, Arthur." She murmured to him before he had to help the queen up.
"The queen is dead! Long live the queen!"
"…This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes!"
"My queen, Philip the second of Spain…has sent a proposal." England said to the newly-anointed Queen Elizabeth the First of England. She was queen, she wasn't in danger; she was his.
Elizabeth was now clothed majestically in gold and jewels draped over her neck and pinned to her dress. Her sleeves and skirt were lined with ermine, and her face glowed with happiness and freedom—no one would be able to imprison her again.
"Ah, my brother-in-law, what does he say now?" Cecil looked curiously at the letter England held.
"He…he sends his condolences on the death of his wife and your sister and wishes to know if he still has your friendship." Apparently, Philip gave or showed the letter to Spain and so there were strange and snide comments on the side of the letter. He turned a bright red at one of the comments, and when Cecil prompted him to continue, he had to clear his throat and his mind in order to continue.
"He also sends…a marriage proposal!" He yelled, missing Cecil's gasp and Elizabeth's raised eyebrow.
"Your majesty, the people will never consent to-" Elizabeth raised her hand, gently interrupting Cecil.
"I will not accept." England nodded fiercely, remembering what Spain once told him, quite some time ago. He furrowed his thick eyebrows, angrily thinking of how a filthy bastard like Philip had-and probably still- desired his queen. Elizabeth sighed at the anger radiating off of him, while Cecil gave the young queen a smirk.
"I will not accept a Spaniard ruling over me." England said with the passion of all of the English people, whether within his borders or overseas. Elizabeth and her advisor nodded approvingly.
"I doubt that Philip would be able to get a dispensation from the Pope to marry me, anyways." England froze at the words and remembered something cruelly ironic.
"Do not worry, England." The queen said, taking his shocked form as a bit of his fear. She stared at him with such familiar black eyes, but her red hair shone beautifully. She raised her chin.
"I will not marry."
Historical note: I thought I ought to do Philip II, partially inspired by Elizabeth R and because I wanted to introduce Spain before any other country (as Elizabeth did have some Scandinavian suitors, and Spain is just so awesome~) Philip did insist that Mary treat her sister fairly, or he would not return. Also, Philip did have a mistress, but seriously, at Mary's age and looks, do you think any man who was king in his own right would stay loyal (cough-cough Henry and Catherine, similar story, kind of.) So then, once Mary died, without an heir, Elizabeth becomes queen. Yay!
But oh, poor Elizabeth, first, the Pope declared her to be illegitimate and the legitimate queen of England was Mary, Queen of Scots (who was married to Henry II's son, Francis II.) Also, Philip really wanted England, so he proposed to her. Now, the irony is that Catherine of Aragon (his great-aunt) married the two Tudor princes: Arthur, Prince of Wales and Henry VIII. The Pope allowed the marriage of Catherine and Henry because Catherine claimed that she never consummated the marriage with Arthur (no one is sure, but she married Henry regardless). But hey, that's not the only ironic thing there. One of the reasons why Henry VIII divorces Anne Boleyn (Elizabeth's mom) was that he knew her sister, his old mistress Mary Carey, carnally, so it was wrong of him to know her sister that way.
Obviously Elizabeth wasn't going to marry her sister's husband. But hey, I'm pretty sure the Pope would have allowed that marriage if it meant that it would bring England back to "the true faith." Obviously England wasn't going to put up with it.
Spanish phrases/words:
Note: I don't know how formal 16th century Spanish was, but Spain was pretty informal to England by using "tu". As a sign of respect and unfamiliarity, one would use "usted", unless they were friends.
Su majestad- Your majesty
Si- yes (this should be easy)
tu sabes lo que va a pasar- You know what's going to happen
Inglaterra- England
Vámonos- let's go
Cuando se muera la Reina, mi rey quiere casarse con Elizabeth – When the queen dies, my King wishes to marry Elizabeth.
Don- A title, similar to lord
I hope I don't have a lot of mistakes…
