The Twelve Days of Christmas
Disclaimer: I am neither a Historian, a Theologian, nor a TV Producer; I therefore do not own anything.
Pairing: Thomas Wolsey/ Joan Larke
AN: It's December, which only means one thing – I'm not studying for finals! Or working on my papers and projects! Yay apathy!
Chapter Nine: Five Golden Rings
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me FIVE GOLDEN RINGS
The first ring Thomas Wolsey gave to Joan Larke was a beautiful golden band with three small round diamonds.
"Symbolizing our past, present, and future." He told her slipping the ring onto her heart finger and sealing the gift with a kiss. As a newly ordained member of the clergy he could not take a wife, the station of concubine the only title he could offer her. The provocative name for a woman living with a man and raising a family without the words of the present tense. The ring was to remind her she was his whore in name only. In his heart she was his wife, his partner, and his love.
The second ring Thomas Wolsey gave to Joan Larke was made of gold and one large snow white pearl.
"I don't mean to give you anything only to deprive you of it later, but I do hope that one day Dorothy will have the ring as well." He said quietly, admiring his small daughter in her basket.
"That's a beautiful idea, Thomas." Joan said sleepily, sleep came and went from her at inopportune moments. His love needed her rest after such work that was bringing a child into this world; but alas the moment she would drift off their daughter only hours old would need her again.
The third ring Thomas Wolsey gave Joan Larke was made of amethysts set in gold.
"I do not think he will want this when he is older." Joan teased her husband when he proudly presented her with the band. Father beamed as he watched his son nestled to his mother's breast.
"Never say Never, dear. One day he may have a daughter as beautiful as you." Joan glowed.
"You're such a softie, Thomas."
The fourth ring Thomas Wolsey gave to Joan Larke was a braded gold band, a diamond, a pearl, and an amethyst set in the strands.
"I want to thank you all for coming." Wolsey said jovially, rising from his seat at the head of a table ladened with a summer's feast. He gazed around at those seated with him, the blessings in his life.
His daughter and her husband newly wed, his son recently graduated from his college, Christ Church College, at Oxford. Thomas Cromwell, his young secretary and a second son to him sat at Wolsey's left. Cromwell's bride, Elizabeth, was beside him. The way she looked at her husband, and the way he glowed in return reminded Thomas so much of his young life with Joan. Elizabeth was just as adoring as Joan and Cromwell just as besotted as he was – then and now.
"Sharing this meal with all of you is a true blessing; you are all blessings in my life. But nothing, no one, can compare to the reason why we are all gathered here today. Today marks the day I received the greatest gift God has ever given me. Twenty five years ago God gave me Joan. Every moment with her has been nothing short of divine inspiration." The table laughed and Joan flushed pink as he kissed the back of her hand. "I love you Joan."
"To Joan… and Thomas." Cromwell said raising a toast to his mentor.
"To Joan and Thomas!"
The fifth ring Joan Larke received was one she had given to her husband years ago, at his instillation as a Cardinal. It was a golden ring with a beautiful TW engraved upon it, a signet with which he would seal only his most personal of correspondences.
To see the ring in the palm of Thomas Cromwell's large hand made the world spin.
"I am so, so sorry, Joan." He said softly, tears in his own dark eyes.
"How?" she whispered, stabilizing herself on the back of Thomas' favorite chair.
"Pneumonia." Cromwell said, head bowed. Joan remembered to breath but for a moment it took all of her focus and attention.
"Did… did he suffer?" She raised her large doe eyes, swimming in tears to meet the younger man's gaze. Cromwell, tears in his own eyes, swallowed, Adam's apple sliding against his black collar.
"No." He said quietly.
