Chapter 11
My Dearest Elizabeth,
Please reconsider your decision. I know there will be a way to be together.
Will looked down at what he had just written and shook his head. He took the paper and crumpled it up. That letter had been the third one he had attempted to right, but once again it was to no avail. He contemplated giving up, but he relented with knowledge that this may be the only chance he has to get Elizabeth back. Getting another paper and dipping his quill pen into the ink, he began again.
My Dearest Elizabeth,
I love you and I cannot imagine my life without you. My love for you shall never cease, therefore I beg of you to love me as well.
Better, he thought, but never the less he once again discarded the paper and began a new letter.
My Sweet, Dear Elizabeth,
I love you and I cannot imagine my life without you. My love for you shall never cease. My beloved darling, I beg of you; do not let me loose you. I know you believe that we can never be together, but I will do anything to ensure that that is not so. I love you with my whole soul, my whole heart. You are my angel, who watches over me day and night. You are my dreams and desires, which keep you forever in my heart. You are every breath I take, without which I would not live. Remember the poem I sent you and the love that laced the words.
Full of grace exceedingly,
As she hath charm and loveliness,
Speak, O sailor of the sea,
And from out thy bark, confess
That never ship nor sail can be
Beautiful as she
Speak, thou knightly man-at-arms,
Boasting of thy panoply,
Are horse or sword or war-alarms
Beautiful as she
Speak, thou shepherd of the hills,
Where thine idle flocks are free,
Are there peaks or vales or rills
Beautiful as she
Remember the feelings you felt when you and I first feel in love and do not let propriety nor duty hinder said feelings. I beg of you, as but a man on his knees, love me and allow me to love you.
With all my love,
Will
Will smiled triumphantly as he sealed the letter. The letter in hand, he hurried out of his bed chambers and down the corridors of the Irish palace before leaving through the gates. He came to a couple men on horseback who looked as if they were moments away from departing.
A young boy, who looked to be barley fifteen years of age, saw Will. The boy jumped from his horse and walked over to Will, without being noticed.
He and Will walked away from the others and talked in quiet voices. "Here is the letter. You are to seek out Lady Elizabeth Swann and give this to her. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir Turner," the young boy said. Will took out a pouch of coins and handed it to the boy as a reward for his favor. The boy walked back over to his horse and Will watched as they road away.
--
A small girl sat in Queen Anne's lap and drew the attention of all of the ladies. Her hair was of red and gold and freckles littered her small face. She hung tight the Queen as the ladies fussed over how beautiful and adorable she was.
All of the ladies-in-waiting couldn't get enough of the little princess, that is except Elizabeth. Elizabeth was sitting alone in the corner, her hands placed on her stomach. While Catherine sat with her, ranting over Queen Anne, she was still fretting over the new babe. She was absolutely certain that the baby was Will's and while the thought that she was carrying Will's child made her feel delighted, she also felt wretched. She could not come to terms with it, she felt as if it were all a bad dream.
"Do not pay any mind to Her Majesty. Soon you will be the Queen and she will be gone from Court, as well as the Princess Elizabeth. You need not agonize over either," Catherine finished her tirade, which caused Elizabeth to forget her thoughts momentarily.
"I know, Catherine. Thank you for the support but I do not need it. My worries do not involve Queen Anne- she is in the back of my mind."
"Well, then what could possibly be occupying your mind?"
Elizabeth wasn't sure what she should tell her, but thankfully she was interrupted by the harsh, sharp voice of Queen Anne.
"Lady Elizabeth Swann, my daughter desires something to eat. Go to the kitchen and find some raspberries-they're her favorite."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Elizabeth bowed and turned to leave.
"Lady Elizabeth," Queen Anne said, stopping her, "she is very hungry, do not take long." Queen Anne said with a stern look on her face.
"Would you like me to go with you?" Catherine asked Elizabeth.
"Lady Catherine, I believe Lady Elizabeth can accomplish this small task on her own," Queen Anne pursed her lips at Catherine, silently demanding to leave Elizabeth be.
"It is okay, Catherine. I can suffice," Elizabeth assured her friend before leaving, hurrying to the kitchen.
Elizabeth kept her mind on her current situation as she made her way to the kitchen. While thinking of Will's child, she let her mind drift to Will. She smiled as his face came into her imagination. She wished now more than ever that he was here with her. How she wished to go back to the night before he left. Elizabeth wished she had never said any of the things she told him. When she told him they couldn't be together, she felt it justified. But now, justified or not, she wished she could take it back. All she wanted was to be with him again. Whether he would have her was another problem that came to mind, though.
Just then, her thoughts and feet stopped suddenly at a peculiar feeling. She felt an odd pain in her abdomen. When it went away she shrugged it off and continued on her way.
It was only moments later when another pain came. Her face scrunched into a grimace as she brought her hands to her stomach.
"Are you okay, Miss?" A nearby man asked, coming to her and taking her by her arm and looking at her concerned. "You do not look well at all, you look pained."
"I believe I am well, thank you, Sir."
She was about to walk away when the pain came again, this time stronger. She dug her nails of one hand into the man's arm in pain as she fell to her knees. With her other hand, she held her stomach as tears ran down her face. She felt blood. She felt blood coming out of her, and it wetted her hands as it soaked through her dress. Blood kept coming out, as if there was no end to it. She screamed as another wave of pain shot through her abdomen. The man had kneeled down to her level, and many other people had come to her assistance. Blood continued to pour out as somebody went to fetch a physician. The loss of blood made Elizabeth feel lightheaded, but the constant pain kept her conscious.
"Help me, please," Elizabeth groaned through clenched teeth to the man beside her, who still held onto her tightly.
"Do not worry, Miss, a physician should be on his way. It shall not be long."
Elizabeth nodded, but then cried out in another pain. She risked looking back down to see how much blood was there, and what she saw frightened her. She was in a pool of blood, and the blood covered nearly the whole front of her skirts. She gasped at the amount of blood. So much blood.
--
King Henry was slouched in his throne, his head resting on his balled up fist. Weatherby was before him, and members of the privy chamber were standing in the throne room as well, learning of the death of the King's unborn child. King Henry's face was cold and taut as Weatherby told him the news. While he listened, he silently thought of possible solutions to this dreadful blunder.
"I am terribly sorry, Your Majesty," Weatherby finished.
"Was it her fault? Did she do anything to cause any harm to the infant?"
"I do not believe so, Your Majesty. The physician believes she is barren and cannot carry a child. He says it is a miracle that she became with child at all, and do not expect it to happen again. This explanation does seem rather likely, as Elizabeth's mother was not as fertile as one would hope."
King Henry inhaled deeply. "I suppose I should not blame her then. But I will not marry her."
Weatherby nodded solemnly, thwarted by the turn of events. He had such hopes for the Swann family's future, delighted with the knowledge that his own daughter would be Queen. Of course, he was too optimistic, and he knew it. "Of course, I understand."
"I will arrange for her marriage to my nephew, James Norrington. The marriage will take place in three months."
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will inform her."
"Good, and Cromwell," King Henry called to another man in the room, "I would like to withdraw my wish for an annulment from Her Majesty," as he said it, he looked at Weatherby with a cold glare, stabbing the elder with his words.
Weatherby stood tense, before bowing out of the room.
--
It was a month later and Elizabeth had gotten over the shock of the pregnancy and the prompt miscarriage following. While she was reluctant to marry Sir James Norington, she had to admit that she was glad she did not have to wed the King. Queen Anne had even been happier and less hostile to her. She seemed to take pleasure in the fact that Elizabeth failed the King. Elizabeth didn't mind though, as long as it meant that she no longer had to endure the spiteful wrath of Anne Boleyn.
Now Elizabeth sat in her quarters with Catherine and Bess, drinking tea and eating biscuits. They were chattering away when a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Enter," Elizabeth called and a young man walked in.
"I am looking for Lady Elizabeth Swann. I was told I would find her here," he said.
"I am her. What do need of me?"
"I was instructed to give you this letter," he handed Elizabeth the sealed letter.
Elizabeth looked at it for a moment before taking it. With a curt thank you and dismissal, she ripped open the wax seal. She read over the letter and a deep blush crept up on her face with each word she read. But despite her blush, a small, sad smile graced her face with Will's words.
"Elizabeth, what is it?" Bess asked, breaking Elizabeth from the letter.
"Oh, it is nothing. Nothing at all," Elizabeth said quickly.
"Don't be bashful, I know what it is," Catherine smiled smugly.
"You do?" Elizabeth's eyes widened.
"Of course. Your rosy cheeks and smile say it all. It's a love letter. Perhaps from a certain Sir Norington…," she smiled knowingly. "Such a romantic gentleman he is."
"Yes…he is," a fake smile spread across Elizabeth's face. She walked over to a desk and stuck in the bottom of a drawer before going back to her friends.
--
Sorry it took so long to update! This is also probably not really the best chapter. I kinda got a bit of a writers block as to how to carry the things out so sorry about that and I was kinda bored with this chapter, especially towards the end. It wasn't one of the most exciting chapters for me, but the story needed it so…yeah. Also, there will only be two more chapters left.
