The next chapter is a little bit based off Elizabeth the Golden age. I love those movies! Enjoy!
New Beginnings:
Henry took Thomas out into the courtyard. Thomas couldn't help but reminisce about how before the storm, he and the king would spend most of their discussions outside on their feet. It was a peaceful time for them. But Thomas observed as soon as Henry met Anne Boleyn it always seemed to rain when Henry and Thomas tried to discuss the future plans for court.
Thomas also noticed on the way to the Scaffold clouds started to form. Like there would be a downpour as soon as his severed head hit the ground. But the clouds seemed to part as soon as Henry declared Thomas pardoned of all crimes. The sun was bright and shinning.
Both were silent for a few moments. Thomas finally broke the silence with his curiosity.
"Harry," Thomas spoke, "what made you decide to pardon me? Especially last minute?"
Henry smirked.
"My Conscience," He said, "couldn't let you die, so I went to a astrologer you know I always go to one right?"
Thomas nodded his head and as they walked Henry told his story:
July 4th 9:00 pm:
Henry, who was dressed in a dark hooded cloak, entered the lonely cottage. He was alone not even the guards were with him. In his hands he held the fate of Sir Thomas More and Henry wanted no one except this mysterious astrologer/oracle to influence Henry's final decision.
Henry still did not know this astrologer's name. Mainly for this wise man's protection. The astrologer was old and wrinkled and his desk was always covered in papers. What Scared Henry the most was the fact he always knew when Henry was coming.
"Ah your majesty," the astrologer said with his head still buried in his papers. As the Astrologer was talking Henry took his seat right across from him. "What troubles you? Wait let me guess the fate of your dear friend Thomas More troubles you greatly."
Henry tilted his head sideways.
"How did you know?" Henry asked.
The astrologer looked up at Henry and laughed.
"I am a psychic your majesty, I know these things now what do you want to know?"
Henry took a deep breath.
"I want to know the outcomes of if I let Thomas More die tomorrow and if I pardon him of all crimes."
The Astrologer took Henry's hand and looked down at his palm.
"You let Thomas More die tomorrow, Innocent blood will be on your hands. England and the world will look down as a murder. It will bring England deeper into religious turmoil and as for you the guilt you will sustain from his death will consume you to the point where it seems all too painful. Some days you won't be able to eat, some days you won't be able to sleep and some days the pain would be just too great that you can't even walk. On the flip side if you spare Thomas More, fortune will come to you and your people. I do realize that the pope sent you a proposition."
Henry nodded his head yet again.
"Well," the astrologer continued, "the pope and you will come to peace with this new proposition. The friendship you and More once shared will become stronger and a woman will die for once happy in the arms of a man who for years caught her eye."
Henry blinked:
"Who?" He asked.
The astrologer smiled from ear to ear.
"Katherine of Aragon your first wife."
"Katherine, well she is very lonely, so you are saying I should pardon him?"
The astrologer nodded his head.
"Will I make it in time?" Henry asked with concern.
"Yes you will," The astrologer said, "now go make things right!"
Before the Astrologer said anything else Henry was already out the door.
"So immediately afterwards I decided I was not going to go back to the palace at all that night," Henry said, "I didn't want that whore influencing my-"
All of a sudden Henry started sobbing. Thomas was shocked but on the other hand he was overjoyed that he could use this to his advantage. For he now knew Anne Boleyn was one of the main causes of his near execution. Thomas tried not to smile as he wrapped an arm around Henry.
"There, there Harry," Thomas said, "sometimes we are unknowingly influenced by sinful forces."
Henry buried his head into Thomas' chest and sobbed harder. Thomas wrapped his arms around Henry and started patting his back.
"Why aren't you mad at me? YOU SHOULD BE MAD AT ME!"
Thomas was mad at Henry. In days leading up to his 'execution' Thomas sat in the corner in his cell in the fetal position wondering why Henry betrayed him. Why Henry would give into temptation of the concubine? Henry promised on his hands and knees that he would not let Thomas go against his conscience. But however Henry stabbed him in the back.
However things changed when Henry decided to pardon Thomas. To Thomas More, Henry was immediately forgiven once the king came to senses.
"I was mad at you Harry, because you let love take over what really mattered to you, but the fact that you came to the decision to pardon me of all crimes made my will to forgive you stronger. Harry you saved my life. Can I be honest with you about something?"
Henry stepped back with tears in his eyes. Thomas still grasped Henry's elbows.
"Y-y-yes"
Thomas looked to his feet.
"I was scared to die. My claim to willingly seek martyrdom was a lie. I was scared of the axe…. I am still scared of the axe… I admit I am not the same man you knew years ago. I am paranoid for my safety. I am offended easily."
As Thomas spoke Henry looked to the floor, sniffling loudly.
"Please, stop speaking it hurts me to hear it. I shouldn't have listened to her. She has brought me nothing but misery. The only thing good to come out of this relationship is Elizabeth."
Henry paused changing the subject.
"You haven't met Elizabeth have you?" He said, "come you should meet her, she's here today you know…. Boy have Lady Bryan bring Elizabeth out here to greet Sir Thomas and I."
The youth bowed and ran out to get Lady Bryan Elizabeth's governess.
"Are you and Katherine thinking of having children of your own?" Henry then said.
Thomas smiled. It was a possibility that Katherine was indeed pregnant because it seemed she was in her first round of morning sickness. It could be possible. Thomas loved children. After having four of his own and plethora of grandchildren he had a soft side to them. For Thomas it would be a source of light in this dark time. But the question was could he and Katherine take on the responsibility now that they were on the verge of old age?
"I am not sure," Thomas said, "it is in god's hands now, but I would be delighted to have my family extended."
Henry wiped the last of his tears from his face and smiled.
"I hope so Thomas, Katherine prayed for years to carry another child it will make her so happy."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alas my love you do me wrong
To cast me off so discourteously
For I have loved you well and long
Delighting in your company
While her husband was at court, Katherine and Elizabeth Darrel decided to spend some lost time with Mary. They sat on the floor in the lounge as Mary serenaded her mother with her keen ear in music. Her mother beamed as Mary sang and played on the lute.
"As you can see Miss Darrel," Katherine began, "Mary has a keen ear in music."
Elizabeth smiled.
"Indeed your majesty," she continued, "you should be proud."
Mary looked up and smiled. It always caused her such joy when her family thought so highly of her. Or when anyone complimented her for that matter. As she continued to play the lute she smiled.
Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight
Greensleeves was my heart of gold
And who but my lady Greensleeves
All of a sudden Katherine felt a horrible pain in her stomach. The same thing she felt before with Thomas. And the same pain she felt 16 years ago when she carried her daughter Mary. Mary watched in the corner of her eye her mother clutch her stomach. She immediately stopped playing and ran to her mother's side.
"Mother, are you alright?" Mary asked and she wrapped an arm around her mother's shoulder.
Katherine looked up at Mary and smirked.
"I am fine," Katherine said, "for it is a good pain!"
Mary tilted her head.
"What do you mean mother?"
Katherine looked to the floor.
"My child, I felt this pain when I had you, I think am carrying your next sibling."
Mary looked to the floor. She did not know whether to be happy or sad. She knew how her mother longed for another child so she was happy for her. But on the flip side, she was miserable. The child her mother was carrying was not from her father. But from the man who claimed that he was going bring her parents back together. What a liar!