A/N: A thousand million gazillion apologies for the length of time it has taken me to get this chapter finally wrote and uploaded. Things at Uni have been quite tough what with workload, sickness, weather and flatmate issues, as well as some untimely writer's block. All of these issues, bar sickness and writer's block, have yet to be resolved unfortunately. Some people PM'd me to make sure everything was alright and I want to thank you for that. I would have explained to you all through an author's note but know myself how annoying fake chapters can be.

Hopefully people are still reading this and I kind of feel shit asking this of you, but would you mind going to The Notebook and voting for your favourite fic of the month: www(dot)twinotebook(dot)blogspot(dot)com/p/fics-of-month(dot)html Also a huge thank you to reyes139 for recommending A Kingdom Reborn to The Notebook.

Now on with the chapter. It's a bit gruesome in parts.

~Anna-Margaret

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Chapter Eleven: Punishing

Tanya tucked Bella into her bed, pecking her forehead with a motherly kiss before departing into the main room where the kind sat in solitary with a dying fire. The king's gaze fell on Tanya as she entered the room and watched her stoke the fire before sitting across from him. Her appearance was more haggard since he last saw her and white hairs had begun to form throughout her strawberry blonde hair. Lines had formed and were furrowed along her forehead. Her skin was pale and almost sickly looking. King Edward was aghast at the difference mere months had made.

"Banishment is a cruel and trying life," said Tanya humourlessly. "But I do not blame you for what you did with me. I was upset that you could disregard my feelings for you so easily but I understood. What I cannot forgive you for is sending my child from me."

"You would rather she be with you and for the court and country to know that your only surviving child was with my cousin?"

"Will you answer me honestly, Edward?" questioned Tanya as she stared into his green gaze that had once looked so lovingly upon her. "Did you remove my daughter from my side to protect my virtue or your pride?"

King Edward glanced to the ground and sighed heavily. "It was both. I am sorry, Tanya."

"I need no apologies Edward, your wife however does."

The king flinched at the reminder of Bella and what he'd done to her.

"You can make it right, Edward," whispered Tanya soothingly. "That young girl in there has such a sweet and kind heart even with all she has suffered. She will forgive you and accept pain in her life as is proper."

"I do not want her to feel naught but pain!" roared the king in anguish.

"Hush! You will wake her."

King Edward watched as Tanya rose to check on his wife. The care she showed to the young queen spoke volumes for their relationship. It made the king realise what kind of position his dear Isabella had been in when he proposed marriage.

"You care for her deeply," he commented.

"I am the only mother she has ever known, truth be told," whispered Tanya bleakly.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"When I said you were not the only one to blame I was telling the truth. Bella shared her past with me when I came upon a particular scene. She had been in my service but four months. I had not thought much of her except she was extremely shy and hardworking. I forced her to speak with me whilst I cleaned her up in my chambers."

"Cleaned her up?" questioned the king, confused.

"The scene I had been privy to was her mother slapping Bella so hard across the face that she fell into the stone wall of the castle. Her cheek was cut from her mother's rings and a nasty bruise had formed on her temple from where she struck the stone. I had been ready to show myself when her father appeared and kicked her in the ribs before spitting on her. They called her worthless and an annoyance.

"Bella, frighteningly, explained the dynamic within her family. Thankfully she feared my wrath more than her parents. When I learned that from as far back as she can remember her parents had never spoken a kind word to her, my heart filled with sorrow. I protected her as best I could and saved her from many lashings. We became close and we were each other's confidants.

"I knew you would get your way with my removal and my main fear was Bella. I encouraged her to allow you to seek her out and become your wife. I feared it was the only way I could continue to protect her after my departure, but sadly it was not enough. In her letter to me she told me how her parents continued to be cruel."

"I removed her mother from her chamber the day our daughter was born."

"You allowed Renee to be present at the birth of your child!" exclaimed Tanya in outrage.

"No!" whimpered Bella in her sleep.

Tanya raced to her side and brushed her brown locks. Bella opened her eyes and gazed up at Tanya, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Hush Bella, my sweet, 'twas only a dream."

"I dreamt that the king didn't come after Helen's birth," wept Bella. "I dreamt I could not stop her this time. I saw her kill my baby!"

Tanya gently rocked Bella as she closed her eyes to hold the tears and anger back.

"Renee?" she whispered to which Bella stiffened, before slightly nodding.

"She will not harm her. I promise. Now go back to sleep, dear one."

Tanya glanced up to find the king breathing heavily, his hands in fists. She rose from her place by Bella and gently brushed his cheek with her fingertips.

"You could not have known."

"If I had been a decent husband she may have confided in me about them before it could have occurred. She and her wretch of a husband shall die for what they have done!" he growled.

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The following day Tanya remained by Bella's bedside and they spoke of all that had occurred over the past months. Tanya also admitted to Bella that she had kept a secret from her that was the reason she felt no personal animosity towards the king.

"My previous marriage was consummated and therefore valid. Edward knew this and still married me to protect me from being a young widow. We had grown to care for each other since I came to Italy. Edward was there visiting with his cousin. Marcus only wanted me at his beck and call in the bedroom and nowhere else. Edward however cared for my mind. It was a mere two months after his death that Edward brought me to England and married me. He married me Bella with the knowledge that I carried another man's child. He allowed me to raise Lucy as if she were his, when in fact she is his second cousin."

Bella was amazed by how kind the king had been but her mind immediately latched on to a ruckus at the door to her chamber. A high pitched cry filled the room. Bella jumped to her feet and rushed to a wearisome looking King Edward that held there crying daughter in his arms.

"She needs fed, Isabella," he murmured as he passed Helen gently to his wife.

Within seconds the babe began to root and a contented sigh was all that could be heard as she suckled on her mother's breast. Bella gazed softly down upon her beautiful baby and kissed her soft downy hair. Her gaze shifted to the king who still stood before them, an apologetic look on his face. He gave her a small bow before departing from her rooms, leaving Bella to stare in wonder at the changed man he appeared to be.

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After leaving his daughter with his wife, the king made his way to the dungeons were Lord and Lady Swan were being held. The Star Chamber had already found them guilty of a multitude of crimes against the crown and they were now receiving the beginning of their punishments. The king watched impassively on as Renee was divested of her shift and the breast ripper placed upon her right breast. He continued to watch unflinchingly as the red hot utensil tore her breast to shreds, causing an unearthly howl to flee her pale lips. The king sneered as he moved on. In the next enclosed cell he could see tears trembling down Charles' cheeks as the guard continued to expand the pear that was thrust deep inside his anus. The king was impassive to Charles' pain and the blood that spilled down his thigh as the skin and blood vessels ruptured. Tomorrow they would see their final sunrise and he could finally attempt making amends to his poor wife.

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"Bring out the prisoners!" called out the announcer who stood upon the stage that a simple noose hung from. "Charles Swan, guilty of high treason, espionage and attempted murder, has been sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered on this day the third of December of the year of our Lord, 1561. His accomplice, Renee Swan, has also been found guilty of high treason and attempted murder and sentenced to be burnt at the stake until dead. May God have mercy on your souls," he continued.

The king and queen were in attendance as were many of the populace. Some had travelled from the far north to attend this event. Bella was pale and worrying her bottom lip, a sight that concerned the king.

"Do you fare well, my queen?" he murmured quietly in her ear as they sat on their own stage away from the crowd.

"I am a little squeamish of blood, my king."

"Do you wish to leave?" asked the king, ready to do whatever was required to keep his wife happy.

"No, I need to see this."

King Edward nodded in understanding before returning his attention to the scene before him. The crowd gathered were spitting and heckling as Renee Swan was brought forth to the stage before being strapped to the branch that was surrounded by wood. No pitch would be added to ensure the execution would be painful and lingering. The executioner lit the wood before moving to greet his second prisoner.

Behind Renee, Charles was being dragged on a wooden frame before each of his limbs were tied to ropes that began to pull in different directions. When the first sound of a pop came and Charles screamed in agony he was cut loose before a noose was wrapped around his throat. No hood was given to him as the executioner kicked away the stool Charles had been balanced upon. Gurgles could be heard by those close enough to the stage, but where Bella and King Edward sat, they only saw his struggle to breathe. As Charles' face grew redder he was once again cut from the rope that bound him, before being bound to a table.

The executioner approached him and with a small blade Charles was disembowelled and emasculated. Charles groan of pain was loud and as the entrails and genitals were placed in the fire that was slowly burning a shrieking Renee, the crowd erupted into cheers. Finally as Renee breathed her last few breaths the French sword fell upon Charles, beheading him. His body was divided into four parts before being gibbeted. They would be placed around the country to help deter any possible traitors to the crown. With a final cry of pain Renee's body burnt in the fiery flames.

"It's over," sighed Bella in relief.

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As a final form of justice, King Edward had Lady Lauren placed in the Brank. Her mother and father were sent to the Tower of London until their trial could take place. Their crime was that of espionage, which the king knew they would be found guilty of. Whilst the punishment would not be as high as what Renee and Charles' had been, it was the most the king could offer his fair queen in reparation of the damages caused.

King Edward was satisfied that all but his own crimes against his wife had been accounted for. That is until Sir Jasper and Wolsey appeared in his chamber.

"My king, we bring grievous tidings," frowned Wolsey as he rubbed his hands together in agitation.

However as Sir Jasper was about to speak the doors burst open to Tanya dragging Bella into the king's privy chamber. Bella looked upset, whilst Tanya was furious. Her previously pale face was high in colour.

"Isabella?" questioned the king.

Bella stood quiet, gazing at the rich blue carpet below her feet.

"For goodness sake girl, spit it out!" lamented Tanya.

"The night that I was lost in the woods, I was not injured by my own stumbling feet," whispered Bella, never removing her gaze from the carpet. "I was hit from behind and when I turned to see my attacker I was pushed to the ground and kicked in the abdomen. I rolled down the slippery hill and thankfully my attacker did not follow. However I know his act meant to kill me and our child."

"His act?" questioned the king. "Whom?" he murmured gravely.

Bella glanced to Tanya, begging her not to make her say it. Bella had spoken with Tanya about how she felt unsafe in the castle. When Tanya had asked why she had not spoken of the events to the king, Bella had explained her fear. What if he didn't believe her?

"It was Sir James," explained both Tanya and Sir Jasper at the same time.

"What the queen has spoken of, my king, is what Sir Jasper and I came to impart upon you. We discovered the heinous plot he has concocted in order to rid you of your queen and your daughter."

King Edward was ashen in appearance as he rose from his seat. Using his desk as support he made his way to his wife. He wrapped his arms tenderly around her small body before pulling her close and kissing her hair. Fear of what could have been made him shake. His emotions were calmed though as Bella reached up and gently stroked his hair.

"I'm so sorry," he cried out brokenly into her neck.

Bella remained in his brace and held him close to her, even as she felt the tears run down the skin of her neck. Only when his tears had dried and he gazed up at her did she realise they were the only two in the room. A slight quickening of fear filled Bella, but the king lightly brushed her cheeks.

"Please don't. Don't fear me. I will learn how to make you happy. I cannot promise to never go wrong but I can promise to always look for your guidance if you will give it to me."

"Tanya has helped me see the kind man you can be. Continue to be that man and I will always be by your side throughout whatever turmoil and dangers face us in the future."

"Thank you," he whispered fervently against her lips before lightly pecking them.

A/N: I have no clue when I'll be able to write Chapter 12 and I apologise sincerely again for the unfortunate wait for this chapter. Over the coming weeks I will be buried under essays and exams but have a week free before I finally get to go home for the first time since I came to university. During this week I hope I can get you Chapter 12.

Thank you to all the reviewers from last chapter. I have read them all but still have a lot of past reviews to reply to and very little time to do so. Please don't let this deter you from reviewing as I plan to reply to all the reviews during my free week.

Information:

The Breast Ripper was a torture utensil used to rip out a woman's breasts. The Pear was a device that expanded after being inserted orally, anally or vaginally. It was used to rupture the sensitive membranes and tissues of these areas. The Brank was a humiliation tool for women who gossiped with their neighbours for no other reason than to offend, ridicule or lie about someone else. It was a metal cage or mask that enclosed the head. A victim could be placed within the Brank for a few hours to a few months.

Treason could be construed as anything the king said as such. It was considered treasonous to speak of or consider the death (either natural or sinister) of a monarch.

Hung, drawn and quartered was the full punishment for any man that was found guilty of committing high treason, along with all his lands and possessions being forfeited to the Crown. Women however were punished by being burnt at the stake.

The Star Chamber was a court of law that overruled trials of royalty or nobility. It consisted of Privy Councillors and judges.

Thanks to all those that have been patient and remained with the story!

~Anna-Margaret

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