A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers.

Thanks to everyone, and to newcomer Humpy, this chapter is for all of you who have reviewed! Keep doing so!

Song is How you remind me by nickelback one of my favorite pop rock bands of all time, the song is broken into pieces, not all lyrics are included only the ones that fit here. Hope you enjoy I really recommend you listen to this song while you are reading this chapter.

Thank you and enjoy!

~Marcela


"Never made it as a wise man

Couldn't cut it as a poor man's stealing

tired of living like a blind man"

1551

Her father had been buried two months ago, and she was due at any moment. She was supposed to lie in, her confinement had already started and she dreaded being locked up inside this heavy walls of Hunsdon again. She much preferred Woodsham Walter Manor at this point. Not that it was bigger than Hunsdon, but compared to the poor conditioning of Hunsdon, Woodsham was way better.

Woodsham had an ancient history, was much older than Hunsdon and the walls were of the most expensive wood as well as the rocks, they all had a history, since Eleanor of Acquitaine and her quarrels with the infamous mistress of Henry II, Rosamund Clifford. Unlike the harlot Anne Boleyn, one good thing could be said of the old Lady Clifford. She was not ambitious and she harbored no ill will against England's rightful Queen -Eleanor of Acquitaine or as she is still known in English History as the Duchess of Acquitaine. The English were proud as they were arrogant, Eleanor had known this when she became their Queen. They expected the world to bow at their feet, they ambitioned big and they had been mad with Eleanor in the end when she had not given their King, her husband control of Acquitaine, her Kingdom in her own right. Even the people of Acquitaine had seen this and they had been mad at Eleanor for having married a proud, and hot tempered King.
Perhaps Rosamund Clifford came as a blessing in disguise when Eleanor found out about her and the her bastard children, all offspring of her husband's. Mary found the walls of Woodsham much more comfortable than Hunsdon, because those walls had once been visited by Eleanor, and Eleanor had been a strong woman, who like her mother was not afraid to defy her husband as long as her conscience was at peace.
She was one of the few consorts whom English loved and hated alike, and yet Mary found her in the last months of her pregnancy with her fourth child, liking her.

She was a foreigner like her mother had been, and yet she had never given up for her children, she loved them all, some might argue that it had not been the case with her youngest, future King John I but Mary thought differently. Reading more of her chronicles this was a woman who always ruled her life and her household with her conscience, and her heart, just the way a true Lady and a woman of her calibre should. And by her calibre when Mary thought of Eleanor, she thought of herself as well.

All her life she had been prepared to be the next ruler of England after her father, but now her father was dead, and the new King had been crowned, her half sibling, King Henry IX. In her mind he and Elizabeth would always be bastards, despite of what the pope and popular opinion said of them. Mary had been born first, she should be Queen. It should be her crown and her court, not his crown and his court!

Yet there was little to be done now.

Besides, she told herself as she lied surrounded by the white walls inside her confinement chamber, I will soon be Queen in Bavaria, though not a ruler in my own right like Phillip, I know I will be influential to his goverment for Bavaria is a land where women's opinions as long as they carry wisdom and approval by their husbands are accepted. And my advise has always been accepted by Phillip, because to him I am his equal and I am sure that when the people of Bavaria see me, unlike Eleanor they will love me, and it will not stop there.
I am sure Simmerm, Hannuit, the Rhine and the territories that Frederick III holds will also be swayed for inside me beats the heart of a ruler as much of a warrior.

Inside her chambers were Susan and Jane Dormer, the latter Mary had been distrustful at first but she had proven to be a confidant lady in waiting, and as her husband had become King and (recently) Elector Palatine (a letter arriving a week ago had confirmed Otto and John Henry II's death therefore leaving Phillip as Elector Palatine and ruler supreme of their territories) Susan had risen as Chief Lady In Waiting to whom was soon to be Queen of Bavaria, Mary Wittelsbach nee Tudor.

Susan could not be prouder, she always knew her Princess and greatest friend would rise up high, it was only a matter of time before she did become Queen. Queen unofficially, since she still needed to be crowned but it was only a matter of time, soon after her child was born her half sibling would grant her passage to Bavaria where she would meet Phillip and be reunited with her firstborn, the Prince.

"Do you think my brother will let me go?" Mary asked.

Susan eyed her Mistress carefully. Much had changed since when she had first met Phillip and married him. Back then her hair had been long and flowing freely with curls bumping on one another. It had been Tudor red though with the years it had become darker almost pale brown, but still there was no sign of grey in her, and it was an accomplishment for a woman who was now thirty five (past her prime) years old and still pregnant at that!

How different would things have been if Phillip had never come to England, if she would have never married and still continued to be Anne Boleyn or her sister's maid, not even a lady in waiting she had been but a mere maid, even the maids were allowed to make fun of her! It was humiliating, but thank God, thought Susan, that she found Phillip and that Phillip though a heretic had been able to woo her and marry her in spite of the Queen's protests. He had given her what Mary always wanted, a life free of her father and her tormentor, her stepmother and most of all he had granted her the gift of motherhood.

She had three beautiful children and soon, both Susan adn Mary thought, there will be a new addition to the House of Wittelsbach and Tudor.

Susan looked straight into her mistress' eyes, nodding first and then straightening up as she remained seated next to her Mistress' bed in the armchair, she responded: "I think His Majesty would find it very unwise if he did not. He cannot risk war with Germany Mary, he already has France against him after your father went to war against that Country many times."

Mary grinned, experience had changed her friend, it had made her wiser. She had a point. Her brother could not risk going to war with all of Germany and France at the same time, it would be too much, especially when it was rumored that the Turks wanted to turn against them for having supported the Empire.

Then a thought ocurred to her that opaqued all that Susan said.

"What if the Empire demands that I do not be turned over to Bavaria or to Cleves? My cousin stopped supporting me Susan when my father begot my brother, and we all know Phillip II as his bastard brother would never let any Protestant nation be allied with England. My brother is not an arduous reformist like his Governess and Godmother the Lady Neville. Lord Cecil has his doubts about His Majesty's sincerity to the Reformers' cause."

Susan's gaze fell, her friend as quick minded as always brought another important topic at the table, one Susan had not considered at all. The Holy Roman Empire and Spain.

King Phillip II was King of Spain and had inherited most of the new world's riches, and his uncle Ferdinand was Holy Roman Emperor and the Spanish Netherlands were still a powerful threat to be considered, especially when Phillip had all of the new world's wealth.

"The King, my nephew in Spain as well as my cousin the Holy Roman Emperor will not stop until they have the church regain control back of Netherlands, Germany and England of course. We know France is already falling quick victim to the calvinists, can you believe they have plundered, kill and yet they call themselves victims?" Mary asked continuing with her lengthy monologue as she kept pondering on the possibility that her brother might not never let her, or her children leave England.

"I don't want to think what could happen if Germany allies itself with another enemy, or worse if they ally themselves with France. It is not that I find all of the French apalling, but it is not what my mother would have wanted and it would only cause more bloodshed." Mary finished leaning back against her large white pillow.

Her friend looked back up at Mary's gaze which was now focused at the front of the room. Lately it was how it would be, Mary would gaze at nothing in particular, just staring blankly into open space, many thoughts going around the head, thoughts that only Susan was left to guess how grave they could be to leave her best friend lost in space.

Susan however interrupted her thoughts this time as she leaned forward, putting her hand on top of Mary's.

"I don't think you will have much to worry about. The King may be pragmatic and he may not care much for you or his niece and nephew, but he cares for his people. Much as I hate to say it" Susan said with a tone that carried annoynace "he loves all of England, and he will not risk having England become bankrupt. He wants to be a ruler like his grandfather Henry VII and be remembered like Henry V, he will not let you stay here. But I pray for our sake that the babe inside you is a daughter" Susan finished squeezing her friend's hand lightly.

Mary felt Susan's warmth, and it not just irradiated from her hand, but also from the concern in her eyes as they met Mary's dark grey.

Grey met dark green and Mary understood the gravity of her words. If the child inside her was a boy, then all hell would break loose.

The King was not yet married and he needed to be. The Princess, her only sibbling she had been close to was not married either, and she seemed to have no desire to be, though she seemed very interested in the affairs of her Kingdom. She was married to England, Mary realized, much as her brother seemed to be married with the Island as well. If they had no offspring everything would go to Scotland (something the English could not fathom since in their minds, if one things was much worse than a foreigner, was one of their own Island, especially a Scot).

That could never happened, so the throne would be moved to Mary and subsequently her children by Phillip bringing Germany and England together, forming an Empire.

Only if God wills it, only if God wills it -she thought.

Of course that would be the last thing that the other nations in Europe, Protestant of her faith would want. She was a true Catholic, she had married Phillip but under the promise that he would never try to change her religion and he had always kept that promise. Her children were educated in both religions so when they got older they would decide. It had always been very important for Phillip and Mary to let their children decide on their own, to let them think on their own for that way they could become better rulers of their Kingdom and their Household, as well as parents. Mary's religious beliefs were never discussed with Phillip, they always put their beliefs aside for the sake of their marriage, so far it had worked.
But if the Kings of Europe decide to bring that subject up with the birth of another son, then she knew that Phillip would go to war with them. He had been very young when he had gone to war against the Turks to defend the city of Vienna. He had been awarded the order of the golden fleece, it had been his proudest achievement, militarly of course. He had great experience and he had the best teachers and councilors of Germany, he would not hesitate to go to battle if it was to rescue his family.

She hoped as her other hand traveled to her swollen stomach, that this would be a girl, that way she could be gone from this Island as soon as possible.

In another part of Europe in Savoy, Chapuys was resting in his largest state yet. He had many mansions now, states, cottages and had business with many merchants. He had establishd an enterprise with them since he saw them to be the future. Many of them though of low birth had been very ambitious, they wanted to climg up the ladder of high society, they wanted to be part of the elite and so they worked themselves day and night. Chapuys had learned a lot in the last decade and finding the best way to increase his fortunes, he had become part of the new free enterprise. Ther merchants were glad to be given money, but as their rules it all came for a price. Sometimes he would ask for his share in return, sometimes he would learn more from them and hire his own men to participate in the new trades, and sometimes he would ask for bigger favors.

It was like playing god, you control men, you control money and you have very little goverment control or regulation, it could not get better than that.

Fleming did not like it of course, he thought that an enterprise and therefore a business with no goverment control or little was very dangerous, because too much power was wrong for one man.

"Is that what you think Fleming? Why didn't you ever protest the late King's rule then?" Eustace inquired as he walked to his Chambers. These days he could run faster than any man, since he drank he had never become sick. It was like his body was indestructable, but he, Fleming and Raphael knew better. Though Eustace had begun to age, slowly but he began to again, they knew that there was a risk he could still be mortal even if his body was completely inmune to any disease. He appeared to be in his mid thirties, in contrast to fourteen years ago when he drank from the holy waters. He had been transformed to a twenty five year old man, but after half a decade he began to age again. It was a strange process, first fast and then slow, very slow, finally three years ago he began to age normally, but his body was still immune to every illness and Raphael and Fleming also noticed he endured more than any man.

In the past he had felt completely sea sick, now he did not, and he had also been a man who would tire easily, even on a carriage or on a litter where no walking would be involved, but now he would walk miles and miles to no end sometimes and he would not be tired. He could lift things heavier than himself more easily than the other servants.

Indeed, while physically in ten years time he would be back to being forty again, his body would have the strength, and endurance of a young man something that for the first time Fleming envied. He pushed that envy away, it was dangerous. He did the right thing, if he had drank from that water he could have had another fate different from Eustace, he could have lived forever or worse end up like that pirate captain. He had lost his family once, he didn't want to live any longer than what God was intending him to in his divine plan.

That was another thing Eustace had changed. God. In the past he had believed in God, even if that belief was based that God was as cynical and a hard thinker like him, he believed, he had faith and all his work was based on that faith, you could say his devotion for Mary and Katherine of Aragon was supported by that faith as well. Now he was an empty shell with no room in his heart for God or any other human being, not even the former Princess.
He didn't sit as his master did in the sofa at the inner chamber that came before his bed chamber. This was the largest house in all the house. It was fit for a King, Fleming observed. His Master had just moved into this State one week ago. Fleming had never been to this chamber, now that he was he was in complete awe. Eustace had risen higher than most men, and he did not seem to be afraid to show that status by commisioning states like this to be build.

"What I think hardly matters does it Eustace?" Fleming asked his tone carrying a grim affirmation as his look. Now the roles had been switched, it was Eustace who was questioning Fleming and he in turn (Fleming) was the one with an accursed leg and recently he had been told by his master's physician that he had to use this nuissance.

He hated using this, it made him feel like a cripple, but somewhere inside him the voice of his conscience told him the hard truth that he was a cripple, and that he shouldn't be ashamed of it, for no cripple would have done what he had all these years by standing next to his friend, helping him and also helping Raphael a friend whose friendship he deeply valued after Eustace's.

Eustace threw Fleming a smirk. How the wheels of their fates had changed, now it was Fleming who was sick yet still standing, and him sitting comfortably without the worry of every getting sick again or being afflicted by anything.

The pieces had already been placed on the chest. Fleming knew this, yet he was too coward to act unlike him. It was only a matter of time before he decided to use his first piece, the center pawn which took care of the Queen.

"I don't understand you Fleming, maybe that is the whole point that I should not. I control many things, yet the only thing missing is the pawn that will take me straight to the Queen, I take that pawn the room is free to eat her and then capture the King, both of them" Chapuys said darkly his grin only widening as Fleming's eyes hardened with disaproval, his lips pressed against one another, Eustace could see the force in which his teeth were pressed against him. There were things that Flemigns wanted to say to his master, not as a subject but as a friend to stop this madness, but he like Eustace knew that Fleming would not.

"You are digging your own grave" Fleming said, clutching his cane tighter and storming out of the room.

After Fleming left Eustace stood up and went to his bed chamber. There was a chess board there. All the whites and blacks pieces were neatly put together in the right order, yet they all had been carved on top with one, some with two initials or more.

They all represented his enemies, and everything they loved. It was only a question when he would move not whether he would move against them.


"This is how you remind me of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry

I was waiting at a different story"

News had come from England. Phillip quikcly squirmed through all the formalities his brother in law wrote to get to the end of it. He sighed in relieg as he set the letter down on top of his desk. He had been in his study waiting for any news regarding his wife's condition and the gender of their fourth child.

He had been sick with worry that the child would be male. While he should be proud that it should be, he knew the implications if the child was a boy, his brother in law would not let his wife travel to Bavaria to be crowned, and if that had happened, then their youngest sons and only daughter would've been forced to live throught he same fate she had lvied in her first years of servitude to her sibblings.

He put his hands on the table and lowering his head he prepared to pray. He didn't use the old Latin that his wife used, the old ways he had told his new territories and country were over, from now on people would have the liberty to pray in whatever language they wanted and believe to whatever faith their hearts or their consciences demanded. He had intended to be a just ruler, not just for the sake of his people but to impress his wife so she could see that he was more than a Prince or a spoilt King, but a true, responsible ruler.

After he finished thanking God for the birth of another child, another daughter, he separated his hands and went to his drawer where he pulled parchment and prepared to write to the King of England. His brother in law had promised him that his wife and his children were on a ship on their way to Bavaria. To show him his gratitude Phillip would promise him loyalty and friendship as long as it would benefit both their peoples.

Unlike other Monarchs Phillip was not afraid to be blunt with the King of England for the only way to win his brother in law's friendship was through bluntness. The ugly truth was what the king of England liked best in a monarch and in his family.

~o~

After Phillip had sent the letter he waited weeks for his wife to arrive to Bavaria. Two weeks but his wife finally arrived. It was a quick trip, he was surprised it had taken little time. Mary was there with her ladies, her chaplain, her confessor, the children's nurses and of course their children.

She was received as was befitting her future station, like a Queen.

Their children were taught to be formal, but when their parents were standing there before them they left all formalities aside, especially his little Princess Mary Eleanor. He knew she was Mary's favorite and she could have been Phillip's too except he felt he had little in common with her, and more in common with her elder sibblings, the Princes Phillip and John Henry. Mary bore no hatred for her brothers, she knew they were supposed to be the favorites of any parents, they were male and she was female, her mother had explained a boy was always more important but as her aunt, the English Princess Elizabeth always told her, that was not always the case, women could be just the same as men if only men let them be.

Phillip after their children saluted their father and their brother Prince Phillip, his namesake, he went to his wife's side, hugging her lightly, not too tight and keeping a certain distance so not to hurt their new child she was carrying in her arms.

The child, Phillip thought, looking into her eyes it is like looking into her eyes, not Mary's or the description of Katherine of Aragon but of my mother. This child bears as much Wittelsbach like all my children minus my sweet Mary.

Mary (elder) called her daughter the pearl of her world, recalling that every time she did she would be reminded of her older days when she had been a carefree happy child, and when her mother had yet not been troubled by the sight of Anne Boleyn or any of that woman's family. She had been her father's pearl and his jewel, she tried to recreate this image with her daughter vowing her daughter would never have to pass what she had to. Mary Eleanor would be a happy child, she would know love, hatred but she would never have to suffer alone like Mary had before Phillip.

Phillip loved the image of their newborn daughter. She was perfect with hair as black as his and skin so perfect that there was no doubt on everyone who had looked upon her that this child would make a great match for any man.

Mary saw the dreamy look on her husband's eyes. Of course he would be mesmerized by this child's beauty. Unlike Mary Eleanor, the Princess who had rosy cheeks and ivory skin as hers, this new child whom had been christened in Westminster with the name of Amelia who had been one of her husband's favorite cousins after Anne of Cleves; Amelia had perfect symetrical face unlike her mother's, like all Wittelsbachs she had dark hair, and soft cheekbones, she was delicate her eyes were light blue-green and she bore more the appearance of a Princess than her oldest sister.

Phillip loved both his daughters, but his eldest child proved to be the image of his wife and while he should be comforted by that, he saw more defiance in those dark grey eyes like his wife than in the soft green of the the five week old babe.

"What is her name?" He sofly asked as he parted from the embrace he had given his wife. Before she could answer, he lowered his lips to hers and softly kissed her.

Their sons made a disgusting face and the youngest, John Henry by three minutes said "Get a room!"

"John" His mother said her tone demanding obedience.

"Yes mother" John said his look going down. It was impossible to beat his mother, she always demanded obedience, yet at times she could be very fun to be with like when his sister was around. For some reason she seemed to favor her above him and Phillip for reasons he could not know. Weren't they supposed to be the elder sibblings? The sons, the heirs of Bavaria and the rest of the German territories their father controlled? While he loved Mary and he felt many times protective of her, he thought that Mary was too carefree and rebellious sometimes as she was ambitious. One day she would leave, surely their mother knew that.

"It is alright boys, but I promise you that one day you will not be finding this too disgusting" The Princes' father said with a wide grin.

John and Phillip, the two ten year olds fraternal twins shared a look of disbelief. They could not imagine one day feeling attracted to girls, that would never happen!

Mary had to resist the urge to shake her head at her two sons' behavior. Too young and very naive, right now they thought girls were disgusting but one day she would see them running after them, after all they both had Tudor blood in them.

"How was the trip?" Phillip asked after the children, including their newborn had been taken by her nurse and the others by Mary's ladies and their servants to their respective rooms.

"Alright, comfortable the ship was spacious but I feel odd leaving England. I have not known anything beyond that" She said once they reached their quarters.

Their chambers were very big, fit for a King and a future Queen.

Mary smiled at the sight of them. Germany was everything he had promised her to be. A rich land with natural beauty, unlike England where the climate was often clouded and ever changing, in Germany the sun shone brighter and it always brought the sign of a promising new day while on England the sun rise was dull and it would not brighten the people's moods, she knew because it was like she had always felt with every sun rise.
Mountains beautiful and tal and the green grasslands were just beautiful, Phillip could not have picked a greater landscape to build this new State on. He said after they settled down on the big couch in the Inner Chamber of their quarters, that he had comissioned this state five years ago and it had been a very ambitious project but the lords of Bavaria as well as his family had supported this project. Moreso now that he was King this manginificent Castle would serve as an example to their people of his Higher Power.

Mary knew of the importance of building such things, her father had done it throughout all of his life to establish the "magnificence" of his power. Anne Boleyn called it. People loved to have symbols, the tallest the buildings were the greater it made the leader or the monarch, and so far the people had seemed to love Phillip as had been the popular talk in England. Mary hoped that she could be as loved as Phillip for Phillip reminded her of what she really was in this new land, a Queen Consort, just that a Consort.

"What is wrong Mary?" He asked his future Queen putting two fingers on her chin lifting it up so her eyes could meet his worried gaze. He didn't like seeing her this way, worried and nervous.

Mary held a nervous look as his, but hers was not for her spouse but for her. She was being selfish but she had a good reason for it. In England though captive of Henry IX she could be a respected woman, one whose authority was not doubted in her household, but here she would always have to rely on Phillip. This was not England anymore this was Germany but she knew this day would come.

Mary attemped a smile but it did not fool Phillip as he kept pearing into her eyes "Mary tell me what is really wrong, you are never like this unless there is something grave sweetheart." He said carefully hoping not to make her more worried than what she already was.

"When I was in confinement at Hunsdon I thought of Woodsham. You remember Woodsham right?"

Phillip nodded, how could he not remember that place? He hated it! It was old yet for some reason he could not understand why, and he never asked not to get into another argument about her preferences, why she had preferred that state over Hunsdon.

"I do" Phillip said.

"I thought back of that, of the people that had passed through that manor, how people that gone there were people loved and despised and I thought what if I share the same fate as Matilda? What if I am just as despised?"

"Honey you will not. Eleanor was a-"

Mary cut him off "A foreigner right? Like me!" She yelled turning her gaze away from him.

He groaned inwardly. She was going to bring all the topic of foreigners and patriots again. How he hated to talk about that? When was she going to learn Germany was not England, they would never be as xenofobic as that pathetic island!

"Mary darling I love you with all my heart" he said putting both hands on her shoulders "but you really have to be calm and quiet for once and listen to me. No one is going to hurt you in this land, no one is going to see you as a bastard Queen or a foreigner. You are a catholic that may be a problem, but unlike other women or men you haven't done anything to impose your religion on your servants and you will not do that here either. I know you, I know you will make a fine Queen and that the people will love you"

Mary looked at him, he sounded so convincing yet he was so naive. In one week her coronation would come and what would that new crown that he had spent a lot of money would bring her? Remembrance that she was below him? A Princess of the blood with greater lineage far below the King of Bavaria, she, fated to become a Consort?
No, she couldn't think like that. This was her husband, the only man so far who had treated her with respect and lived to tell the tale of her hardship years she had related to him when they'd met. Mary had had children because of him, children who would inherit most of Germany and hopefully one day God be willing (if her sibblings left no issue) England as well. She should be proud.

She might no longer be destined to be Queen in her own right, but that didn't mean that she should be content with playing only the role of Consort. She would be Queen and she would be one of Phillip's players in his council, a shadow behind his throne and best part of all, Phillip would not deny it to her because as long as they had been married, her council was the thing he valued the most more than their love.


"And I have been down

into the bottom of every bottom

Scream words in my head, are we having fun yet?"

Time had been passing. Chapuys had been styled himself with a new title. In that short time that he had come into his new title he began to put into effect his plan. As predicted he decided to use all the means and resources that would enable him to move his first pawn.

Meanwhile, Fleming who under orders from his master to visit his states on Antwerps and Annency, had decided to venture further where Raphael had been commanded. Raphael no longer young, now fifty three years old had been commisioned by Eustace to travel to Bavaria where his master had instructed him to take note or better yet memorize every little detail of the land.

The King, the Duke of Saxony had died and Phillip I of Bavaria had become more powerful, twice the King, twice the ruler and many times Dukes he had incorporated many territories under his rule.

Fleming had been helped by Raphael when they stood in the streets of the nearest town watching the Royal Procession, a parade where the Queen, King and their children traveled giving the people alms and bread.

The former Princess of England ever the missionary both men thought as they saw her coming their way. Raphael especially became nervous, what if she recognized them?

"She won't" He reassured his younger friend -"She is much changed as us. I am an old man now with a beard and you my friend are in your fifties so more than thirty years have passed since she saw us."

"You think so because if she recognizes us, especially you ... then" Raphael lost his voice not wanting to imagine careful years of planning suddenly falling apart because of him who had agreed to Fleming's demands that he be brought along.
He often asked himself why was it he could never say no to Fleming, he could question Chapuys sometimes, rarely but it did happen. But Fleming that was always a no, he had to say yes to everything that man said.

Fleming put a hand on his friend's shoulder carefuly not to lose balance.
"Raphael just say I threatned you with my cane" He said with a playful grin.

It made his best friend be at ease as he smirked at Fleming's behavior.

"There she comes, acts normal" Fleming said quickly.

As they were ready to lower their heads down, a loud voice rang throughout of all the cheers.

"Mama!" It was an impulsive voice and they both looked up and there she was, the much talked about Princess Mary Eleanor, said to be the favorite of the Bavarian Queen, now they saw why.

Her hair was not as wavy and red-brown like her mother's had been in her youth, her skin was not as pale either. It had a healthier glow, her cheeks were the color or rose pink petals and her eyes, they realized, they were her mother's eyes, dark grey but holding a strong glow as her healthy figure. Inside those eyes they quickly saw the merrier spirit that the former English Princess of Wales once possessed when she'd been a child. The German Princess' beauty was not exagerated as her belevolent nature, she had an earnest smile on her face, and earlier when her back had been turned on them while she was on the other side giving alms to the people, she had hugged and embraced everyone giving more of herself than the other members of her family. Sixteen years and yet by the way she walked and talked, it was like she had been prepared for the life of a Queen.

"Mary you are supposed to look after your sister" They heard the Queen scold her daughter.

"I know mama but Amelia is with her Governess Jane, she doesn't want to be with me, she said so herself and she seems to have much fine with Fraulein Dormer" The Princess declared, she had the same authority in her voice as her mother and grandfather the late Henry VIII, yet unlike the latter she didn't raise her voice or loose her patience like her mother.

Fleming looked more up to have a better look of this Princess. She was like her mother that much he and Raphael had seen, but her moods were different, though she held the same regal and stoic figure as the Queen of Bavaria, but unlike her strict mother she had a more care free atittude and she smiled all the time truly meaning it. She was in full spirits making all the crowd next to her mother melt and smile to her more than they had done for their Queen or the Princess' siblings.

"Let's go" Fleming suddenly said as they saw the Princess look their way.

Raphael agreed and helped Fleming walk away from the crowd.


"I have been wrong

I have been down

Into the bottom of every bottom

Scream words in my head, are we having fun yet?

They had returned to Savoy after that near encounter with the Royal family to inform Eustace.

Eustace listend with attention as they told him of the striking similarities between Princess Mary Eleanor and the Queen of Bavaria. Eustace had not been blind to the descriptions, he had heard about them through his associated and the rumors that came with every merchants ship, but he had never believed them ... Fleming and Raphael though were not just anybody he had to believe them. Eustace found it diffcult to do so. A Bavarian Princess, a German Princess offspring of Phillip the spitting image of the former Princess? No, impossible -he had said to them shaking his head vigorously.

"It is no joke Eustace" said Fleming completely serious.

"Fleming your eyes see what you want to see, she can have the same voice, the same name, the same eyes, but her face? You yourself said you were not very close when she ran to your direction." Chapuys said as he sat behind his study smirking at his companions' descriptions of that German Princess.

It was a naive statement in itself like when his former Lady had attested that her sister Elizabeth was pure and honest.

If anything had still surprised him was human naivety, how easy it was to play puppet master and control them.

"Eustace take yourself off from this game! If you do the Queen harm, you will not only do harm to her but also her children, especially that girl I saw her and believe me she has nothing but her mother in her"

Chapuys rolled his eyes at Fleming.

"Ahh" He said rolling over Fleming's statement. "And next you will tell me that the King of England is just as noble as Richard III when he locked the Princes in the tower?" He asked using his sarcasm.

Fleming ignored that sarcasm and advanced forward towards Chapuys, his cane being gripped tighter until he stopped.

"Old, stubborn fool." He said harshly "You think because now you are entering your forties again that you have the authority to play God? Who are you to judge? Why not just live the rest of your life a quiet existance? Is that so hard for you?"

"Yes it is. I was a servant to the Emperor he let me to rot, he let the Princess to rot and then the Princess fell in love with that man betraying her mother's promise, now she abandons her faith and is the proud Protestant Queen of Bavaria."

"So that is hat bothers you then? That Mary Tudor married a Heretic?" Fleming asked with a demaning tone.

Chapuys was very careful not to lose his patience but a man could only handle so much patience, especially with Fleming's insolence. Years he had let it pass, he had put up with Fleming because he was one of the few rare people he could find that were loyal to him. But his patience was beginning to wear as Fleming raised his voice.

"Maybe it is not His German Majesty that you hate, maybe is not that English King or his family either but yourself! You could have had the chance to remedy everything you did. You could have fired Brereton, you could have done things differently, counseled the Princess to play ball with her stepmother but no instead you decided that her idealism was more important. Why was it Eustace, did you want her to be come the tool of your former master?"

"That is enough"

"It is not Your Grace" Fleming said making a complete mockery of his friend's title "Admit it, you could have improved her station, saved yourself a lot of trouble you would not have to be in this mess, having to listen to a crazy pirate lord or having sailed for five weeks to Florida on search for the impossible"

"That is enough I said!" Chapuys bellowed standing from his chair after he hit the table with his hands making Fleming jump in surprise. In all his years he had never seen him this mad, though he was expecting this result.

"I have given you more freedom than any subject, now you abuse that with insolence. I am not going to tolerate it anymore. From now on everything that I do you will not judge. I have a score to settle, and if you can't stand the heat anymore I suggest you stand aside and don't get in my way" He said with a deathly tone pointing a finger at him.

Fleming still surprised, was not completely intimidated. He felt some fear towards Eustace's threat, yet he would not say anything, unlike his friend he knew when when to be quiet, beign English he had been criticized for being arrogant, and presumptious like his country men, and turht was he was. But one thing though that distinguished English from other races was that they were more quick minded, not idealistic fools to religion, they were loyalists but to their own person and their welfare.
Fleming would play Eustace's game for now, he would follow him, but he would always cross his fingers.

"I will never accept what you are doing, but I will follow you" Fleming siad solemnly.

The way he had said it, it was like he had been walking for a funeral and in a way he was because he was witnessing the slow death of his master's soul.

"That is enough for me" Eustace said later dismissing him and Raphael. After they each went to their respective quarters, Fleming mentally prayed that to whatever was out there, to find a way for his master to recover his lost soul


A/N: I hope you like it.