Review Replies:
Imperial Dragon: I think and hope so too :), and yes, Margaret is in big trouble now, especially with Anne getting along with Isabel and Cecily (do you like their names by the way? I love them!)
The Wandmaker: Yes Isabel is, I must admit I was unsure as to how to approach Isabel's character whereas Cecily's came so easily to me, over the years you will defiantly be seeing a lot of character development with the Princesses and how they mature with the people around them
Big Allen: that is a good idea, using it to highlight the differences between them, you may see a little bit of that in the next chapter ;)
Lots of progress and quite a bit of letter sending in this chapter to help such things along (I think that there is about four but only two have the contents actually written) :)
The Second Tudor King
Chapter 10 ( A/N damn, that's gone fast!)
4th November 1522
Richmond Palace
"What do you mean you cannot get me my divorce?" The King of England, of Scotland and of France, Lord of Ireland declared, his voice evoking fear into Cardinal Wolsey as his voice was low but tone raging "she has committed treason against her country. My daughters, the Princess of England and Scotland, do not even seem attached to her other than her status as their 'mama', I want her gone."
His last words sounded more a threat than a declaration, the King of England's eyes intensely boring into the Lord Chancellor of England's as the woman many knew the King wanted as his wife and Queen instead stood behind him.
Thomas Wolsey couldn't help but be surprised by the factor that, even at the King's threatening and deathly tone, she did not flinch but merely stared at him; her almost black eyes seemed to be almost scanning his soul, as if to see if she deemed the man worthy. And it seemed she didn't.
"I cannot, Your Majesty," Cardinal Wolsey declared with a sigh, tearing his eyes from the younger Boleyn girl, "Queen Margaret's brother has switched his allegiance to the Pope, promising him lands and power in the Kingdom of Russia in return for not granting Your Majesty a divorce."
Edmund stopped his argument at the Lord Chancellor's words, seeing of what the Grand Prince Vasili III of Moscow had done. He had bought the Pope's favour with lands and titles – and the Grand Prince commanded far more land than Edmund did, if he were to try to better Vasili's offer then he would have to give the Pope half of England, perhaps more still.
"Send it," Edmund stated, thrusting a letter into the surprised hands of Cardinal Wolsey, who looked at him with a face of bewilderment, "if the Pope is not to grant me a divorce then he shall know of the consequences."
From the sound of Edmund's voice the Cardinal was left – once both the King and Lady Anne left - to pray that the Pope did grant him the divorce the King wished for; or else he feared what the consequences would have on England.
ET-ET-ET-ET
"What will you do?" Anne enquired as the two lay within his bedchambers – nothing that wasn't of innocence, of course, no matter his intense desire for her she would not yield her maidenhead to anybody that wasn't her husband – instead they merely lay entwined within each other's arms.
Edmund, who has been laying with an arm covering his borderline glowing blue eyes opened them and turned to face Anne completely, "I have seen you, with a book."
Anne's expression turned to confusion, her eyes of midnight gazing at him incredulously, "I have read and held many books, Edmund."
They had long since passed first name basis' within these past few months, a factor that quite infuriated the Duke of Somerset and Earl of Hereford of whom seemed to have taken to positively glowering at the mere mention of his elder brother's name.
"It's a specific book," Edmund continued as Anne rolled her eyes at his vagueness, "one written by Martin Luther."
Her eyes seemed to comically widen as she lifted herself up from the silk bed sheets, her hair falling into a mess as she stared at him in disbelief and something he'd never hoped to see within her eyes, even less so directed at him: fear.
"I-,"
He cut off the explanation that would surely be one of lies to retain her neck upon her shoulders, instead querying, "might you be inclined to let me borrow it, Anne?"
Her lips turned up into a slight smirk after just a moment of shock as she sauntered off to get the book, knowing that this would be the beginning of the changes she would make to England, beginning with her own religious beliefs.
She did not even notice the endearment at the end of her words as she so naturally reassured him, "I will be back shortly, my love."
Leaving a most satisfied smile upon the King's face, for he had always told her of his love for her, his adoration for her; and now he knew that it was not all based on loose hope or a father's ambition – nay, but upon true feeling even if she was yet to truly admit it herself.
ET-ET-ET-ET
7th November 1522
Apostolic Palace, Vatican City then Grand Kremlin Palace, Russia
"A letter for Your Holiness," one of the Cardinals of Pope Adrian VI announced as they passed on the letter to their master, leaving to head back to the church as the Pope unsealed the letter.
His eyes seemed to scan the letter with a face of boredom before that face became increasingly pale as the letter carried on, his eyes lingering upon the threat upon the end.
Turning to a servant he told them to bring his ink and paper as well as to send for a messenger, this letter was not a reply to England but to Russia, querying as to the extent that the current Queen Consort of England could exercise over the King and as to if she could stop the King with going through with the threat contained within the letter – that is Pope Adrian VI would not grant the King his divorce then Edmund would break with Rome and change to the ways of Martin Luther, and he simply could not allow that to happen.
The letter had been sent from Italy in the early hours of the morning, reaching Moscow at dusk when a breathless messenger handed the letter the Grand Prince Vasili III of Moscow of whom took the letter within his hands and within mere seconds of reading it too began to scribble a letter with haste, knowing of what hung in the balance.
To my dearest sister, the rightful and only Queen Consort of England, of Scotland and of France, Lady of Ireland,
I regret to inform you
ET-ET-ET-ET
9th November 1522
Richmond Palace, England
of the steps your husband is to take in divorcing you. He has threatened to break with Rome. Sister, I have offered the Pope much and I will ensure that France honours the allegiance and will support no other Queen than you but this is getting serious.
Make him fall for you, use any influence you have little sister,
Vasili III,
Grand Prince of Moscow.
Despite her brothers words, of him telling her to get her husband to fall for her she knew a plan as such would not work in the slightest; nay, not while he was still enamoured by this Lady Anne Boleyn of whom they claimed he was inclined to raise to the title of Marquess of Pembroke within her own right; something that would put her only behind the Queen and Princesses in power of the women of the court.
But she could not lose this battle, she could not lose this war. With her brother's influence over the Pope a divorce would not be settled and she was certain that Edmund would not dare part from the Pope, such a thing would be a bigger sin than any other.
Nay, she would have to enchant him, have to gain back whatever small part of his heart she had in her grasp after their three and ten years' worth of marriage. If not she could simply result to being enchanting, she knew well that he had once found her more than attractive, and hopefully – even though all hope seemed lost with her complications after the birth of the Princess Cecily and her reputation for numerous miscarriages and stillbirths – she could force a babe into her empty womb; he could not forsake her then.
However any and all hope was soon lost to her as guards, led by a rather uncomfortable looking Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, came into her rooms; the said Duke holding a role of parchment.
"Queen Margaret Tudor nee Eudokia Ivanovich of England and of France, Lady of Ireland you are placed upon house arrest on orders of His Majesty, King Edmund Tudor of England and of Ireland, Lord of France and are not to leave and are to be guarded until His Majesty sees fit to release you due to your recent treasonous offenses."
Margaret's mouth opened in shock as a tray of food – even if it was wonderful food upon it – was placed upon her table and as the Duke and guards left, the bolting of her door being heard from behind them as the Queen Consort struggled to regain her composure.
And with that final click of the door being locked, Anne Boleyn was one final battle away from becoming England's Queen.
ET-ET-ET-ET
"Cousin, what is it that faces in opposition to the ending of my marriage to Margaret?" Edmund enquired of one of his closest confidants and maternal cousin, the said man – Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset – seemed to eye Anne for a minute, clearly hesitant to speak of the matter in front of her.
But then Edmund's assurance came, "whatever you wish to say to me you may say in front of Anne," a small sile was exchanged between the couple and Thomas began to answer.
"Well there is the Grand Prince Vasili III of Moscow and King Francis I of France's alliance in the way, with France on side even if you do get your divorce France will not recognise your new Queen for the sake of the alliance, of which France is – like the Pope – gaining land and title. Then there is the matter of the Pope not granting you your divorce at all, one of my spies has informed me that the Pope has chosen to deny such a request."
At the sounds of the Pope's refusal Edmund felt immense annoyance, knowing that the actions he would take could consequence in a religious civil war within England but he simply must, he would tear this country apart more times than one could ever hope to count for Anne. In the past thirteen months he had known Anne Boleyn, having spent the past seven all but worshipping at her altar he simply had to have her; had to be able to be with the woman he loved above any other.
"Thomas, have an announcement made," Edmund stated, his voice displaying confidence despite his concerns of the consequences within the countries he ruled over, especially Scotland of where Protestantism was far less popular than it was in England – not that it was popular there either, only to the East of England was it truly practised, "England and Scotland are breaking their bonds to Rome and the Pope, converting to Protestantism and I shall be head of the Church of England. Is that understood?"
Thomas Grey tried his hardest to keep him mouth from falling open at the declaration of the King but simply nodded at the King's question, heading off to the stables to get riders to head to every inch of England and inform them.
England and Scotland are to no longer be a Catholic nations.
ET-ET-ET-ET
Dear my friend,
As a fellow ruler I am writing to you in an offer of allegiance as I do believe we have much to gain from one another.
I know of your allegiance with the Grand Prince Vasili III of Moscow due to the land and title he is giving to you, and I would like you to stop you allegiance with him and become the ally of England and Scotland instead.
For such a matter I offer the hand of my youngest daughter, the Princess Cecily of England to your son and heir. For this marriage Cecily will be given the English title of Duchess of Lancaster which will be shared with her husband at their marriage and be given as a title to the second son, or second heir at the death of the Princess Cecily but until then it will belong to France. I also offer you the use of Calais, though it will still belong to me you shall be able to use it for transport and trading and will remain that way through all the rulers of France.
In return I ask that you support my betrothed as Queen, the Lady Anne Boleyn, soon-to-be Marquess of Pembroke, and do not fight me in the matter of changing my country to one of Protestantism.
I hope these terms shall be agreed,
With love,
Edmund Tudor,
King of England, of Scotland and of France; Lord of Ireland.
And with that the letter was to be sent.
ET-ET-ET-ET
10th November 1522
Château de Versailles, France
"Votre Majesté," the messenger from England respectfully stated, providing the French King with a shallow bow as he passed the King the letter from Edmund.
Seeing the royal seal of England and Scotland Francis' eyebrows raised a faction as he dismissed the messenger, opening it up with the curious eyes of his wife, Queen Claude upon him.
Reading it his lips turned up into an amused grin as he scanned the letter, before they turned interested upon his fellow King's offer and shocked at the fact that Edmund's countries were turning from Catholic to Protestant.
King Francis I of France took a moment to think upon such an agreement. He was a devout Catholic and the idea of another country turning away from the Pope frankly disgusted him, especially since he was not sympathetic towards Protestant beliefs but there was no denying the factor that England was turning into an Empire. It had claimed Scotland and still held the title of King of France as well as holding Calais.
To gain you would have to loose, and Francis had much to gain, ordering his own writing materials to him he thought of what this alliance could bring him.
What do you think? Has Anne truly won the war? What will happen to Margaret? Will Francis agree? Is Isabel to be betrothed? If Cecily is to be betrothed will they get along?
Find out in the chapters to come but tell me what you think will happen :)
A/N at the divorce of Edmund and Margaret Isabel and Cecily will not be delegitimised as it is a divorce not annulment meaning that the marriage was made in good faith just that the spouse has committed a crime in order to need said divorce (aka treason in Margaret's case).
Until next chapter,
-LadyHallows
PS. I know I said on 'The Boleyn King' that this update would be tomorrow or the next day but I couldn't resist, I might even get another one up tonight or at least try to as there will be no updates tomorrow as I need to do the bunch of homework my teachers have piled upon me ;)