Disclaimer: i don't own the Tudors.


Chapter 9: A Woman's Greatest Consolation

(May 14th)

Helen hissed as she stuck her thumb in her mouth to stop the bleeding. She glared down at her needle work which was the cause of her current pain.

Annabelle bit her lip but was failing at hiding her smile. Helen glared at her and Annabelle just giggled. Helen mumbled "I hate needle work."

Helen looked up as she heard a chuckle and smiled at Henry who was standing in the doorway of her bedroom.

Helen was currently confined to her bed until the birth of the twins, Helen felt she wouldn't mind it so much if it wasn't for the fact that she was bored out of her mind, normally she would do sketches with charcoal, but she wanted to show Henry that she could act as a queen was expected to and do proper lady like things, even if she hated them.

Helen saw that Henry wasn't alone, Elizabeth and Mary were with him.

Henry walked over to her and sat on the bed, "If you hate needle work so much, why are you doing it?" he teased, he knew why she was doing it. The whole court had started gossiping that the Queen wasn't a proper lady because she wouldn't do needle work.

Henry frowned at the thought; Charles had told Henry that it had been Cromwell who had started all the gossip. Henry could believe it, because for some reason Cromwell didn't like his newest wife.

Elizabeth distracted Henry by climbing up on the other side of Helen's bed and resting a hand on Helen's belly, Elizabeth's face lit up in a grin, Henry could guess that Elizabeth had felt one of the twins kick. Helen smiled and kissed Elizabeth's forehead before smiling at Mary and nodding to her.

Just then a Page announced that Thomas Seymour wished for an audience with the king, Henry rolled his eyes and said "Refused, I have no wish to hear more requests from the Seymour family in regards to Jane."

The Page looked uncomfortable and finally said "Your Majesty, he said it was a matter of life or death."

Henry sighed and Helen smiled "Go my love… I will be fine with the girls here."

Henry smiled and kissed Helen's forehead and left to speak to Thomas Seymour.

Helen smiled and gestured for Mary to take the spot where her father had sat. Helen began her embroidery again and once again hissed as she poked herself in the finger.

Helen looked up at Mary and said "Needle work is for women who know how to handle a needle; sadly I do not fall into this category."

Mary smiled and shook her head.

After Helen poked herself a few more times, she finally set the embroidery aside and said "I give up!"


Henry looked at Thomas Seymour sharply "You are certain?"

Thomas nodded "I heard it from her own lips your majesty, my sister plans on poisoning the queen. I do not wish to go down with my family for treason, my father and brother know what Jane plans, but as far as I am aware; my brother's wife Anne has no idea what is going on."

Henry swallowed and nodded and then asked "Did your sister say how she would do this?"

"She was going to pay someone to slip it into the Queen's food." Thomas said quickly

Henry nodded "Thank you sir Thomas, I assure you I will take care of this, and you will be rewarded for your information."

After Thomas left, Henry thought about Jane, and wondering how she could resort to this. He called for Cromwell, to make sure that Jane was arrested promptly.


Helen later heard the news from Cranmer, Helen leaned back against some pillows and squeezed Annabelle's hand gently. After Cranmer left Helen looked at Annabelle. "Anna, don't worry, now that I know, I can take precautions…"

Annabelle swallowed "What will you do with Anne Seymour? She is a lady in waiting to your Majesty."

Helen smiled "Anne has no idea, if she did she would have rushed to tell me, she hates her husband. I will do nothing with Anne, not when she is loyal to me and the Reformation." Helen stroked her stomach "For now I must remain calm, until I give birth, for the sake of the twins."


(May 19th)

Jane's arrest was quick. She had not been taken to the tower, not like her father and brother, not while she carried the kings' child, which meant she would be safe until November.

Helen was actually amused to find out that Jane had kept letters from an unknown corresponded, discussing Queen Anne's trial and how the evidence was all planted. Henry had become furious with Cromwell, to suddenly find that his former wife had been innocent of the crimes for which she was accused. Cromwell had handled the investigation, how had he not realized that the evidence was planted?!

Henry had come to Helen unsure of what to do now that the truth was out, hoping his much loved queen would have an answer for him, and he was not disappointed.

Helen told him that now that the truth was out, Henry had to rebury Anne, and give her a funeral as befitted a proper Queen of England. She also told Henry that the Lands and titles of the Marquessate of Pembroke must be given to Elizabeth, as she was Anne's only living child, Cromwell himself said that the lands and titles belonged to Anne and her offspring in their own right. (A.N. in history apparently it was only going to be given to Anne's male children, but in the show Cromwell only says "offspring.")

So now the lands and titles rightfully belonged to Elizabeth. Henry couldn't deny that, but he decided that he would change Pembroke from a Marquessate to a Dukedom so that Elizabeth would have a station that was appropriate for a legitimate daughter of a king.

Helen stroked Henrys' hair as she spoke to him, telling him that it was not his fault that Anne was falsely accused. Telling him that God surely understood what had happened and was trying to help Henry come to realized that he had been deceived.

Henry told Helen that after Helen was churched Henry would be sure to give Elizabeth the titles that were owed her; he could guess that Helen would want to see the ceremony herself. But Henry could not stop thinking about Anne and the last time he saw her, with Elizabeth in her arms and begging for mercy. How could he believe that she had betrayed him?

Henry please! For the love you bear our child, for the love of Elizabeth have MERCY!

Why didn't he listen to her? Why hadn't he heard her out? But to that he knew the answer, he had wanted a son so badly, that he was willing to cast Anne aside for Jane, believing that Jane would give him a son.

How could he have been such a fool? How could he not realize that God would punish him for abandoning Anne like he had? As Henry rested a hand on Helens belly he swore to himself that no matter what he would love these children, and he would leave it in Gods' hands. God knew best after all, and if God decided that it was time for a woman to sit on the throne of England who was he to contradict it?

God had lead Henry to Helen, and Helen had proven to be an amazing young woman, a woman who loved him unconditionally, so he swore that if god so willed it for the twins to be girls, he would accept that, and would not question Gods' will.


(June 2nd)

Helen smiled as she ate an orange and watched Elizabeth dance around the room showing off a new dress that had been given to her by Henry. Helen just giggled as she watched Elizabeth so happy.

Mary was also pleased at her younger sisters mood, and was happy herself that She, Elizabeth and her stepmother were able to spend time together even if Helen couldn't participate.

But within seconds the entire mood of the room changed. Helen gasped an after a moment she looked at Annabelle "Send for the midwife! Its time!"

After Annabelle left Helen looked at Mary "Mary, take Elizabeth and get tell your father."

Mary nodded and left the room with a very confused Elizabeth in her arms.


Henry was pacing the room outside Helen's bed chamber listening to Helens' cries of pain. It had been 6 hours since Helen had sent for the midwife. Mary and Elizabeth were waiting for news with him as well as Helen's father.

It was 4 more hours before he heard a wail followed soon after by another wail, the twins were alive at least.

Annabelle came out of the room and looked at Henry with a beaming smile on her face, she curtsied and said "Your Majesty, you are now the proud father of two healthy twin boys."

Henry's eyes went wide, even in his wildest dreams he had never believed that both of the twins were boys, he had thought one would be a boy and one a girl, but he had never even considered that both would be boys. "Helen? How is she?"

Annabelle smiled "Her majesty is perfectly fine, she is tired but that is to be expected."

Henry hurried into the chamber that held Helen and his two sons. He looked his sons over, they were a little small, but he had been told to expect that with twins, Helen was lying in bed panting with exhaustion, when she saw Henry she smiled and sighed happily, Henry hurried over to her and kissed her forehead lovingly.

Helen laughed slightly and relaxed as Henry held her. She had done it, she had given the king a son. England was safe.


Mary heard Annabelle say that Helen had given birth to twin sons and her world seemed like ice, why? Why had Helen given birth to twin boys?! Why hadn't Mary been a boy?!

Why would God bless Helen but not Catherine? WHY?!

It was painful enough to see that though Helen liked her, Helen didn't want to see Mary on the throne of England. Now Helen had given birth to a Prince of Wales and a Duke of York. Now Mary would never become Queen of England.


A.N. please don't hate me for making the twins both boys, i debated with it but ultimately decided that the best way for Helen to be completely secure was for both twins to be boys.

well alright then! next chapter will hopefully be up soon, and in it Elizabeth will become a duchess and Jane and her father and oldest brother will be tried for treason.