"Olivia, I don't understand" Cordelia said "Why am I getting dressed up? Why can't I just put on one of my less fancy dresses?"
"A princess should always dress up, Cordelia" Olivia said "Who knows what's going to happen during a day?"
"You sound like my mother" Cordelia said, almost rolling her eyes "But, seriously, what's going on?"
Olivia shrugged. "Nothing, Cordelia"
Cordelia looked at Olivia through the mirror. "You know something"
Olivia quickly glanced up at Cordelia and then back to doing Cordelia's hair. "What are you talking about?"
"Something's going on today" Cordelia said "What? A party? Another royal is coming? Am I to be betrothed?"
"Betrothed?" Olivia said, shocked "Good heavens no!"
"Well then, what is it?" Cordelia demanded
"You'll find out soon enough" Olivia said, as she looked at Cordelia's reflection in the mirror "There. What do you think?"
Cordelia looked in the mirror and almost gasped. Her hair had been curled in big curls on the top of her head, with a couple of strands hanging down on the side. She hadn't had her hair look so elegant since she left Portugal.
"Olivia, this is amazing!" Cordelia said, with a smile "You have a true talent"
Olivia smiled. "Thank you, Cordelia" she said "Now, you best get going"
"Where?" Cordelia asked "I have no clue what's going on"
Olivia smiled. "Oh, that's right" she said "I must take you there then"
A confused look spread over Cordelia's face as Olivia linked her arm with Cordelia's and they walked out of her chambers.
&&&&&
Cordelia's mouth dropped open in shock when Olivia led her outside and into the gardens. Everyone she knew in England – with a few exceptions – had gathered together. There were may poles, food, music, dancing. Everything.
"It's my pleasure to present to everyone" Henry said, once he saw Olivia and Cordelia "My daughter, who has finally returned to England. Princess Cordelia Tudor!"
Everyone clapped – some cheered – as Cordelia and Olivia walked down to Henry, who was smiling.
"Father, what is this?" Cordelia said, smiling
"Your welcome home party" Henry replied "This is all for you"
Cordelia couldn't resist hugging her father. Henry smiled as he wrapped his arms around his daughter.
"This is amazing, Father" Cordelia said, pulling away "Thank you"
"Anything for you, my princess" Henry said "Now, go. Enjoy yourself. Olivia, you may stay as well"
Olivia smiled as she and Cordelia rushed off to enjoy the party. Henry smiled at his daughter and Olivia's excitement. He liked Olivia. He was glad that Cordelia had her to talk to.
"This really is a wonderful party, my love" Anne said, walking up to her husband "We should throw another one for our daughter on her birthday"
"That we will, sweetheart" Henry said, kissing her hand
Anne smiled as Henry walked off to talk to some of the other guests. She practically glared at Cordelia laughing and smiling with Charles Brandon and his wife, Catherine. How could that child be so damn perfect?
Anne knew that Cordelia had a weakness. She had to have a weakness. No one is perfect.
&&&&&
"It's so good to meet you, Princess" Catherine Brandon said "Charles has told me a lot about you"
"Please, call me Cordelia" she replied "And, what exactly has he told you about me?"
"Nothing bad" Charles said "Just about what you were like before you left"
"Ah!" Cordelia said "So, about my tomboy charm?"
Charles laughed as Catherine smiled. "Exactly"
"But, if I remember correctly," Cordelia said, with a smile "I still beat you during fake sword fights"
Catherine laughed. Charles blushed a little.
"That's only because I let you win" Charles said, quickly "I couldn't let a little girl lose"
"Yeah" Cordelia said "Of course you couldn't"
"Princess Cordelia" Edward Brandon, Charles and Catherine's son, said "Will you play with us?"
Cordelia smiled. "Of course" she said, quickly glancing at Charles "I'd love to"
&&&&&
"It's so nice to see Cordelia again, your Majesty" Alice More said "It's good to see her smiling face around"
Henry smiled. "I have the same feeling, Lady More" he replied "The exact same one"
"How is she fitting into life at the castle again?" More asked
"Very well, Thomas" Henry said "It's almost like she never left"
More and Alice smiled. Just then, they heard shouts coming from the other side of the garden. They turned to see Cordelia fighting off a couple of boys – less than 10 years old – with a fake sword.
"Oh, I remember that" More said, with a smile "Some things never change"
"Would you excuse me?" Henry said, quickly turning back to More and his wife
More and Alice replied with a nod as Henry headed over to Cordelia and the boys.
"You're right, Thomas" Alice said, with a smile "Some things never do change"
&&&&&
"You'll never catch me!" exclaimed Cordelia, as Edward and the other boy chased after her "I am the Pirate Princess! I'm too fast for you!"
"We'll see about that" a boy named Richard said "After all, it's two against one!"
"Not for long!"
Cordelia smiled as her wooden sword clashed with Edward's and Richard's. "Swear your allegiance to me!" she said "If you do, the Pirate Princess with reward you very greatly"
"No" said a voice "Swear your allegiance to me. The Pirate Princess is very tricky"
Cordelia and the boys looked up and saw Henry standing before them. She smiled a small smile as Henry winked at her.
"Look!" she said "It's the dreaded Pirate Lord. Quick! Make a decision! It's either him or me!"
Richard and Edward glanced at each other and raced over to Henry's side. Henry smiled.
"Oh, I see how it is" Cordelia said "Fine. You have made your decision. Too bad that it was the wrong one"
Richard raced over and grabbed a wooden sword for Henry. "Here's your sword, Majesty"
"Thank you, Richard" Henry said "Now, let's defeat the Pirate Princess!"
Richard and Edward let out some "battle" cries and raced towards Cordelia. But, Cordelia was ready for them.
She quickly poked the end of her wooden sword into Richard's stomach. Richard pretended to gag and collapsed to the ground "dead". After clashing swords with Edward for a few minutes, she poked him in the heart and he pretended to die as well.
"Well, my princess" Henry said "Looks like it's just you and me"
"Of course, my lord" Cordelia said "The Pirate Princess and the Pirate Lord are reunited once again"
Their wooden swords clashed, though they did it a bit more fiercely then when Cordelia was "fighting" with Edward and Richard. Henry was actually surprised by his daughter's strength.
"You've been practicing" Henry said "Very impressive"
"You should see me with a real sword" Cordelia said "That's almost scary"
Before Henry knew what was happening, Cordelia poked him in the stomach. Henry smiled and laughed, as Cordelia did the same.
"Well played, my child" Henry said "Well played"
"Thank you, Father" Cordelia said "It was good to play that game with you again"
"Playing pirates again, Cordelia?" said a voice "Aren't you a bit old for that?"
Cordelia and Henry turned towards where the voice was coming from. Cordelia smiled when she saw who was hiding in the bushes.
"Matthew!" she exclaimed, running over to where a boy her age was walking towards her "What are you doing here? I thought that you were going to stay in Portugal so you can keep up on what's going on?"
"Patrick's doing that" Matthew said "I wanted to make sure that you made it here ok"
"Cordelia?" Henry said, confusion all over his face "What's going on? Who is this?"
Cordelia winced. Matthew sighed. "You didn't tell him, did you?"
Cordelia shook her head.
"Tell me what?" Henry demanded
"Father, may I present to you Prince Matthew Tudor" Cordelia said, slowly turning towards Henry "Your son"
Ooh! Nice little twist, right? :)
Anyways, I couldn't resist doing a scene like that with Henry and Cordelia playing swords after seeing the scene at the end of Season 2 Episode 7. That scene always makes me smile and it gave me inspiration! haha! :)
Anyways, hope you like the chapter!!
Please Read and Review!!
