March 19th 1520

Henry sat comfortably in his throne, his back relaxed, and a glass of red wine in his hand. A sudden knock at the door pulled him from his musing. Anthony poked his head around the corner and smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry to disturb you Henry, but the four girls her majesty has chosen as companions for the princess are here."

"Quickly tell me about them so I look like I actually helped Catherine choose them!" Said Henry looking worried.

"Don't worry, they have to tell you about themselves when they enter .They aren't nobility as Catherine wanted to expose her to different kinds of people. Lily and Helen are French nobility who live in England with relatives, Jaslyn is a foreign girl who was found in a basket outside of the home of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk who has since raised her. The youngest is Clementine. She is a commoner whose parents died around two months ago. I'll bring them in." Anthony disappeared outside. Henry stood and dashed over to the window, tossing the wine out the window. When it landed on Charles Brandon he couldn't help but chuckle and throw the goblet out after it, the chuckle becoming a loud laugh. He flicked his hair over to straighten it and returned to his chair, looking every inch the composed ruler he could be. The door opened and four girls of around 5 years old entered. The tallest, a pretty girl with light brown hair, that fell well down her back and a dress of pale pink dropped into a curtsey before rising and beginning to speak.

"Good morning your majesty. My name is Lily. I love sports such as tennis and horseback riding." Then she stepped back in line. Next stepped forward a slightly shorter girl, with hair mixed of brown and blonde and a gown of green.

"Your majesty. My name is Helen and I love to read. My favourite is history and tales of the world." She stepped back quickly looking rather nervous. An exotic looking girl stepped forward, her jet black hair spiralling down her back, over the navy blue dress she wore.

"Majesty. My name is Jaslyn. I sing and dance as the Dowager Duchess has taught me." Then there was silence. The smallest child, Clementine, stood still her eyes focused on the bow that sat on the wall next to Henry's desk. She had light blonde hair, longer than any of the others, and a slightly chubby face.

"Clementine, please introduce yourself." Said Anthony. She kept her eyes focused on the bow, but turned her head towards the king.

"My name is Clem and I really like your bow." Henry smiled slightly bemused.

"Thank you Madam Clementine. What do you like about the bow?" Asked Henry

"It has perfect curvature and is exquisitely designed." She replied. This really shocked Henry.

"You know your bows exceptionally well for a 5 year old." HE stated

"My father used to make bows and teach me. He taught me what words to use for a good bow and which ones to use for a bad bow." She said smiling sadly. Henry stood silent for a moment unsure of what he should say.

"Well, Lily, Helen, Jaslyn and Clem, it was very nice to meet you today. You will be taken to your new quarters and tomorrow you will meet my daughter Mary. You will be her companions. Tomorrow I am teaching Mary how to use a bow and arrow. Perhaps you can help me lady Clementine. You may go." The four girls curtseyed and left the room quietly. Anthony smiled at Henry then followed them. About two minutes after they left, a wine soaked Charles, with a rather large bump on his head walked in, fuming.

"Why…DID…YOU….THROW…THE…CUP…OUT… THE WINDOW?!" HE said loudly punctuating each word with a gap

"Well…er… the girls who are going to be Mary's companions were here and I couldn't be drinking."

"But why didn't you just put the cup on the side board?"

"I didn't think, I'm sorry Charles." Said Henry, smiling on the inside.

"Then why did you laugh at me?" Asked Charles coyly

"Um…"

"Exactly! I am so going to get you back for this Henry!" And with that Charles stormed out, leaving Henry gobsmacked in the middle of the room.

March 20th 1520

Henry stood with Charles waiting for the girls, by the red and white targets, a fine collection of bow and arrows to their right. Apparently Charles had gotten severely drunk last night and could barely remember the past day. Therefore he could not remember his promise to get Henry back for the wine incident. Henry was rather pleased about this, as he knew Charles was rather vicious at revenge. Henry was pulled from his musing by a gaggle of chatter and giggles growing louder. He looked up to see Mary, Helen, Clem, Lily and Jaslyn crossing the green grass. Helen, Clem, Lily and Jaslyn wore pale blue gowns whilst Mary's was a light purple. Upon seeing her father she dashed towards him and was swung high into his arms.

"Papa, Papa! Madam Ashley made me wear purple instead of blue like the other girls." She pouted.

"Oh did she know?" Asked Henry with one eye brow raised. Mary nodded the pout still evident

"Well if Madam Ashley says so then you must Mary. However when there are no formal occasions, the princess may wear things similar to the other girls, just allow her to wear her Purple Heart locket and that will be enough." Said Henry. Madam Ashley simply nodded.

"Clementine, why don't you start?" Said Henry. Clem curtseyed shyly and picked up a bow and arrow from the collection. She raised it carefully in her arms and drew the bow back. She locked her eyes on her target, her stance rather impressive for a 5 year old. Then she let the arrow fly. It whistled threw the air before barrelling straight into the centre of the target. Henry stood stunned for a moment but then began to applaud. The others soon followed. Helen, Mary, Lily and Jaslyn lined up at targets while Henry, Charles and Clementine corrected their stance. Eventually Mary and Jaslyn could hit the target but Helen and Lily could not and found the activity difficult. They left the day there, but only after Clem had extracted a promise from Henry, that she could practise archery often.

April 9th 1522

Henry and Charles were walking down the corridor of the London palace laughing casually.

"Where on earth is that sister of mine? The carriage ride from Hatfield cannot be taking that long." Said Henry. Mary had gone to the country to see her son Henry and the princess. Mary was named for her and the aunt was truly besotted with her niece.

"She is pregnant. She might have wanted extra time with the children or something."

"That or Clementine is begging to see you again! She loves your archery lessons." Just then they passed the window to the courtyard and looked down to see the carriage pulling up.

"Finally! Let's go and greet her!" The two men began to stride down the hall way. When they arrived, they saw Mary stepping out of the carriage, her face red and blotchy, her cheeks stained with tears. Charles quickened his pace and wrapped her in his arms.

"Mary, sweetheart what is it? Is everything alright?" Charles asked, horror on his face. Mary seemed unable to talk, so Henry and Charles moved her inside, pulling her into a resting room directly inside. The set her down on a chaise lounge.

"Mary, please what is it?" Asked Henry. Mary took a deep breath and stilled her tears.

"It's little Henry. He…he was…climbing a tree that hung over the river and… and he feel. He hit his head. He's dead Charles, he's dead!" Mary collapsed into sobs. Charles wrapped his arms around Mary, his breath slow, his brow lightly furrowed. Henry moved over to stand at the desk.

"Who was watching him?" Asked Henry.

"Ashley. Kat Ashley was supposed to be watching him, Helen, Clem, Lily, Jaslyn and that new child Harriet, whilst Mary and I walked around the garden. We came back and he was standing on the branch. The girls were screaming and trying to get him down but Ashley told them to stop it and that it was fine. When he fell Mary dove in after him. She pulled him from the water." Mary's sobs quickened. Henry nodded to Charles, who also had a tear on his cheek. Henry walked straight to his quarters and his desk tossing papers across the room. He tossed a glass against the window, shattering both. A gust of spring breeze came in through the window and pushed all the papers to the back of the room, where they collected against the feet of the portrait of Henry VII. They all faced backwards, so that only white was visible. Then the breeze caught a page on the edge and flipped it over. Henry walked over and lifted the document. It was the newest line of succession. In the event of his death, Mary was to be made Queen of England if she was married. If not, she was to remain princess and be married to a King or one who would one day hold his own kingdom. In that case the throne would be passed to Charles and Margret's son Henry. But now he was dead too. Henry's eyes grew wider as he read the document and he dropped to his knees. He turned his eyes to the sky and said

"Is this what you are doing? Killing off every male heir I have? Well here is something I have to say. YOU LEAVE MY NEWPHEWS, SONS AND NIECES AND DAUGHTERS ALONE YOU OLD MAN!" Then Henry dropped his head into his hands and cried.

"Please, they deserve to live, let them live, let them live." Henry stayed there for a long time, but was yanked from his emotions by the clatter of hooves on the road. He sat bolt upright and sprinted down the stairs when he saw that it was a Hatfield messenger. He raced into the courtyard, followed closely by Mary and Charles. The page leapt off his horse freeing the beast.

"Your Majesty! Hatfield… there's…there's…." He panted trying to catch his breathe.

"What happened boy!? Is everything alright?" He asked desperately! The page shook his head.

"They… they were burning the young Henry's clothes and… it started a fire. They're not sure who is alive… and who didn't get out." Henry nodded and the page left. Mary's face was dripping with tears. Henry turned to his sister and said

"Mary, you wait here, we'll send the survivors here. Send a message to Catherine and tell her to join you. Charles and I will go and find the children." Charles nodded and elbowed Henry out of the way, kissing her gently before leaving. Soon they were gone, ridding toward Hatfield at a break neck pace. The sun was setting, so they slowed to a walk to allow their eyes to adjust.

"I still don't love her Charles." Said Henry suddenly.

"What?"

"Catherine. Remember you all said I would love her eventually. When I look at you and Mary, I know Catherine and I don't have that, we never have."

"Then maybe she really isn't right for you."

"But what do I do? I want to marry someone I love!"

"Do you have someone you love."

"Well… no." Said Henry

"Then cross that bridge when you come to it." The sun had almost fully set and the sky was mostly black. Over the hill, Henry could see an orange glow.

"That's Hatfield!" Cried Henry and the two spurred their horses on. They came over the hill to find the castle still engulfed in flames.

"How is it still going!? It's been over 7 hours!" Said Charles. Henry didn't reply because lying on the grass, he could see bodies. Some of them were very small. Each was covered by a canvas. The two urged their horses to the bodies and leapt off. Henry ripped the cover off the very first body. It was Kat Ashley. The two looked at each other. Despite the fact that it seemed she was the reason for Henry's death, she had been around for a long time. Then Henry moved to one of the smaller bodies. He lifted it and caught sight of a spool of black. Little Jaslyn lay beneath the sheet, her hands crossed over her chest and her eyes closed. She lay so peacefully she could have been asleep. Just then a doctor came over.

"Your majesty. Most died from burns but the children who died… their deaths were caused by smoke inhalation." Before Henry could ask who was dead a cry rang out.

"PAPA!" Mary came dashing out of the trees, followed closely by Clem and Harriet. Harriet was only three and had been discovered outside in a basket on May day the previous year. Mary sprinted into her father's arms and Hattie and Clem were pulled into Charles' embrace. Henry wrapped his arms tightly around Mary and breathed a sigh of relief. Henry and Charles nodded to each other and carried the girls away from the carnage. They were sitting quietly with the girls, when a lady approached them. She had chestnut hair and wore an Italian dress.

"Clementine, Harriet. Why did you run off I was worried sick about you two!" She said

"Excuse me madam, but who are you?" Asked Henry

"I, your majesty, am Maria Mecri. I am Harriet's aunt and Clementine's god mother. Her mother was a lady of Italian nobility who married a common bow maker. I don't know how Harriet ended up here, but I am taking them back to Italy tomorrow!" She said

"Firstly of all, I am the king of England and you will show me some respect! Secondly Clem and Hattie aren't going anywhere!" Said Henry furiously.

"Yes they are your majesty." She said

"These are from the Pope himself, he has given custody of the two girls to me so you will hand them over to me." The argument went on for hours, by the light of the fire at Hatfield. Eventually, Charles collected the three girls on a pony and took them to the house of Marcus Barnes, a nobleman loyal to Henry, whilst Henry and Maria argued. Eventually Henry agreed to discuss it in the morning. When he woke, he found Maria's rooms empty along with Clem and Hattie's. When he told Mary she cried for hours. She had not only lost Clem and Hattie, but also Henry, Jaslyn, Helen and Lily. When the group returned to London, Mary and Catherine were shocked to find the girls gone. Everyone in England mourned the death of 'the 5 ladies', as the girls had been dubbed. Mary had a gown made, black with sleeves of blue, pink, green, red and purple to represent each of her friends. Henry spent months searching for Clem and Hattie, but he could not find them or Maria.

This story is almost at 5000 readers so a huge thank you to everyone! That said, can you please review? They make me smile and write faster!