Life and Death

Two weeks later…

Anne's face fell as the news reached her ears. Her hand flew to her chest as her heart clenched and she began to gasp for air. Her ladies called for a physician and tried to calm her. "Think of the baby, your majesty" "It can't be…he-he can't be dead!" she cried. Anne was going into shock as she fell to the floor, the last 6 months flashed before her eyes before everything went black.

As she opened her eyes, he was there. "Charles, my beautiful Charles" she breathed. Sleep overtook her again and the doctors were worried about how this might affect her pregnancy. Henry stayed away. He couldn't bear to see his wife suffer and the thought of his friend being gone slowly began to torment him. "I did this" he softly told Cromwell. "She will hate me after she wakes and it all sinks in" Henry confessed. Cromwell's face fell. He was unsure of the right thing to say to his king. "Your majesty…I would advise you to remain by her side. Show her your love…and, once she has grieved, I'm sure she will be more…open to you once again". Henry looked up at his adviser with wide eyes. "You are absolutely right! I must prove that I love her more than he ever did and she will come back to me. Besides, she's carrying my child and that will bond us together" he smiled happily.

Anne slept on and off for three more days before finally coming round again. Henry stayed by her side, day and night, reading to her. He knew how much she loved books and he was sure she could hear him. When she looked upon his face, she smiled. "My love" she whispered. "You're here". "Of course, my darling. I was worried about you and I will never leave you" he declared.

As the days passed, Anne grew stronger and her bond with Henry blossomed. At night, she grieved for Charles privately, but in the daylight she was all smiles and laughter. No one spoke of Charles again. It was understood that his body had been disposed of in France and no memorial was held, at the request of the king. Life went on as normal and there was peace between the realms.

However, Anne carried a secret that she was sure would be her demise if it ever came to light. She spent many hours in prayer, desperately hoping that God heard her pleas.