Author's Note: Welcome back my loves :) I meant to update sooner, but I got the flu :/ Last time I updated, I hit over the 100 mark in reviews, which made me feel all sorts of good inside so thank you all so much! Also for all those who have been reading, alerting, and favoriting, you are all so amazing! Moving on…

Just a reminder that this story is AU, so all the liberties taken are with full knowledge. I'm sorry if they get ridiculous, but I swear it will all come together in the end. All characters are history's and Showtime's.

Without further ado, chapter twelve! Don't forget to review and enjoy :)


Whitehall Palace

September 31, 1513

Katherine had never felt so nervous in her twenty one years of life. After Elizabeth of York told her that it was most likely that she was carrying Arthur's child, Katherine had waited out of fear to confirm those beliefs officially with a midwife or physician. She had contented herself with needlework often, making shirts for Arthur who was always very pleased when he received them and also on occasion she attended Privy Council meetings alongside her husband. The idea of calling a midwife to check her for signs of pregnancy had not occurred to her until she began to vomit more often in the mornings and could not keep her breakfast down.

"Well?" Katherine asked impatiently, staring at the nervous midwife who was clearly over-awed to be serving the Queen so closely. The sharpness of Katherine's own voice frightened her. Usually she was kind to all of her servants and subjects, but on this day she had grown impatient and fitful with nerves.

"Your majesty I can tell you certainly that you are with child, and have been for two months now," the girl replied with a pleased grin at Katherine, revealing her stained and missing teeth.

"Thank you very much," Katherine replied, forcing a smile that did not reach her eyes while placing a gracious amount of gold coins into the midwife's hands.

"May I suggest, your majesty, that you take up rest often and that you eat well, since it is your first time. Asparagus has been known to make boys, so his majesty should probably request that be included in every meal. Also, if you feel weak, do not be afraid to absent yourself from your daily activities until you feel rested again," the midwife advised before curtsying at the signal of Katherine's other simpered thanks and the wave of her hand, the cue of her dismissal.

As soon as the midwife left, her ladies clucked around her, offering their heartfelt congratulations and their coos of worries for her physical condition. Katherine wished that she could share their joy and hope for her own condition, but all she could feel was worry despite her outward smile and exclamations of joy.

"You should go and tell the King," Maria sensiably suggested, sensing that Katherine needed a respite from the joyous celebrations happening her apartments. Maria could tell that her mistress, whom she had known from childhood, was trying to hold back frustration at the rest of her ladies and trying to make sense of the whole thing. Of course, she knew that her mistress held a great deal of joy as well, but that it was smothered with fear of the unknown and what she was showing outwardly was not what she was truly feeling. She was not raised to show her feelings outwardly, at least not around others, and Maria could tell when Katherine needed a break.

"Your right, I should," Katherine replied quietly. "Come with me," Katherine commanded softly to Maria with a light smile, as much as she could muster. She had never felt such great fear in her whole entire life and for once she needed somebody by her side. She was almost certain that Arthur would greet the news as joyous, but that wasn't what she was worried about. It was the whole shroud of mystery, the anticipation of a miscarriage or stillbirth, and of course, the dreaded sex of the child. It was enough to will Katherine away from her primary duty as Queen, and if it were not so important to the future of her inherited country, she would have rather not gone through with it.

"Be strong Catalina," Maria replied quietly in Castilian and was happy when Katherine did not scold her for doing such. When the old King was still alive, along with his hawk of a mother, Katherine was very careful not to anger them by speaking in Spanish or requesting that her servants use her native name. She was an English Princess after all, even if it was by marriage, so in those days Maria was very careful not to let any words from her native land slip and dropped her accent quickly. Now, Katherine was the Queen at last, and was able to do as she pleased because of her great influence over her husband, and Maria felt just as free as Katherine did.

"Thank you, come now, lets go," Katherine replied back in Castilian, feeling strange but oddly contented when she used her old language. It brought back pleasant memories of her mother, giving her the strength she needed to tell her husband about her condition and to continue in the next seven months or so to be strong for the child and herself.

When she was a little girl growing up in Spain, her mother had sheltered her in fear that her youngest daughter would turn like her older sisters had. Katherine could remember days when her mother, in a rare moment of affection, had held her on her lap and told her stories and legends that amused the then little Princess. One of the stories was very serious; Katherine could still remember the grave tone of voice her beloved mother had adopted when she told it.

It was the story of a woman, a Queen who was in all ways equal to her husband. They had fought for years against the evil Moors, bad men who had threatened the whole of Christendom. On the way, the woman had given birth to many children in tents while they were waging war, and the next morning she would saddle her horse and ride out to the battlefield as if she had not given the birth the day before. Many times, the great Queen miscarried, but one time she was successful. Although the Queen was saddened by these events, she knew it was necessary to sacrifice at times in order to do God's work.

Katherine remembered then what followed afterwards, another story that was just as serious as the previous one. It was the story of a young princess, a girl who was born into the greatest royal house that ever existed. Her mother doted on her and favored her above all others and secured her a fine marriage, one that would make her the Queen of England someday. When this little princess grew up and went to England, the whole country was in awe of her. When she became Queen, unlike the woman who had given birth in tents, she gave birth to her children in a grand state bed surrounded by midwives and her trusted servants. During her life, the Queen had many children and was able to do so because she lived a pampered lifestyle and was never threatened by miscarriages because she was always careful, and most importantly, because she trusted in God while she was going through the pains of childbirth.

It took Katherine a few years to realize that the first story was the story of her brave mother who, while in the midst of battle, stopped to give birth periodically and the next morning ride out as if it had never happened. Katherine soon realized upon her arrival in England that the second story was about her. Her mother warned Katherine from an early age that multiple miscarriages would not be tolerated, especially since she would be given the best of care. Most importantly, Katherine discovered, her mother gave her strength to carry on through the fear and pain of childbirth.

If her mother, the great Queen Isabella, told her to be strong and have faith, she would have to.

She held out a hand to pause Maria had the foot of Arthur's door, motioning her to wait outside his apartments while she discussed things with him. Putting on her best face of bravery, the one her mother taught her, she faced her husband and vowed silently to herself that she would face this challenge like any other, with strength and without fear.


December 12, 1513

Harry had not been happy for the last few days, and was looking forward to his old tutor's visit to brighten his week.

Arthur had found a replacement tutor at last, a man named Sir Thomas More, newly knighted by his brother. More was a great humanist and held a great deal of integrity and intelligence. Harry was fond of him, of course, since he enjoyed learning, but More was nothing like Thomas was. For one thing, he never praised Harry the way Thomas used to, in fact, he even criticized him! Harry was not used to such harsh treatment, but with hindsight he could see that all More was trying to do was make him better, and that was the way that he sought to do it. It wasn't like he was rude or anything, he always deferred to Harry with an escalated level of respect. Harry respected that as much as it irked him to be corrected.

More was also far more serious than Thomas was. He refused to address Harry by his Christian name, instead always referring to him as "your grace," or "my lord." Harry was able to get used to it, and even didn't mind calling Sir Thomas by his proper title, but he missed the informal days when Thomas was his tutor. Charles even missed Thomas, even though Charles didn't take his studies nearly as seriously as Harry did.

However much the boys missed their old tutor, they were able to quickly warm up to More, Harry reflected. More was a good man, an honest man. After Thomas stopped tutoring him, Harry found out from Charles that he was a dishonest churchman, taking mistresses and had even sired two bastard children!

More was all the good in the world, even if he didn't praise him as much as Thomas once did, and Harry learned to value his opinion.

This week, however, More had taken a break from tutoring his pupils to go to his home in Chelsea to see his wife and his young children and Harry had been constantly bored. The weather was not suitable to ride or play at bowls or anything fun like that, so he had been stuck inside his boring old apartments with only Charles as a companion, as William Compton and Anthony Knivert were only seldom able to slip away to visit their friends.

As well as that, the Queen was five months pregnant. The new Prince or Princess of England was due in the summer. For four more months, Harry was heir to the throne, and then it would be no more. An heir guaranteed that no matter what, he would be a clergyman by the time he was eighteen.

It just wasn't fair! All that money and property his grandmother gave him would be nothing once he became a churchman, and since he was so young now, he had heeded to his mother's advice not to use it until he was older. By then, it would be too late, but there was nothing Harry could do it about it.

"Your grace, his eminence Cardinal Wolsey is here to see you," a livered servant announced, excusing himself when Harry bided his old tutor to come in.

"How are you Harry? How are your lessons with Sir Thomas progressing?" Thomas asked, sitting himself across from his former pupil. If he had a choice, he would have continued to tutor Harry, as he was fond of his young charge, but he had no choice but stop. The new King requested him join Council and act as an advisor to him in matters concerning the church, so he had little time to tutor the young boy.

"Sir Thomas is a fine tutor, though I miss you and your insight, Thomas. However, I am distressed for multiple reasons, one being the Queen's current condition and the second being that I cannot touch my inheritance from my grandmother," Harry explained with a sour look on his youthful face.

"The money perhaps you cannot touch yet, but there are other things that come with that inheritance. You are My Lady the King's Grandmother's sole heir, meaning that you have rights to the duchy of Somerset and the earldom of Kendal. If I were you, my young Duke, I would petition his majesty for those titles," Thomas advised shrewdly. He knew that Harry was an intelligent boy, a boy that would be ill-suited for the church. Building him up to become a rival to his older brother wasn't the smartest move, and was contrary to what King Henry wanted. However, Thomas owed a strange sense of obedience to his former pupil, and intended to aide him in any way possible.

"Wow, that's incredible! I shall write to my brother now with your help, of course," Harry exclaimed, gladly picking up parchment, quills, and ink in order to write the letter. Thomas just smiled as Harry eloquently, with a command of language no other ten year old possessed, wrote a letter to his brother beseeching him kindly to give him the rightful titles.

It was all Thomas could do to make it up to Harry.


Arthur always knew his grandmother was tricky, but he never would have believed that she were this sly.

Young Harry, by his own mysterious volition, requested to be invested with the titles Duke of Somerset and Earl of Kendal, titles that were his by right from the Beaufort inheritance. Arthur couldn't imagine that somebody would inform Harry of this development, especially since nobody was very fond of his shrewd grandmother. Arthur believed that Harry had found out about the titles through questioning, even though he was only a ten year old boy.

Although the titles would make him the richest and most powerful peer in England, Arthur didn't see the harm in giving them to him. He was only a boy after all, and in any case he would be going into the church as soon as he and Katherine had created a nursery full of fine children. It would look bad if he were to withhold those titles from his brother, who was innocent enough in asking for them.

Arthur intended to be a just ruler and he figured that this was the first step.

Arthur glanced next to him, feeling strange without Katherine beside him on the adjacent throne. In the first few months of their reign, Katherine advised him in every decision that he made. Arthur saw her as being one of the shrewdest minds in the kingdom and he was pleased that she was his Queen. However, the last few weeks had seen a decline in Katherine's appearances at his meetings and at important ceremonies, like the one that was about to happen which ennobled his brother. Although it was hard for him to be separated from her, he took comfort in that fact that she was taking rest more often for the good of her and the child. It was her first pregnancy, after all, and he knew that it would only be an uphill battle.

Arthur's eyes shifted from Katherine's vacated throne to the back, where he heard the flourish that accompanied young Harry, hearing the cries to make way for Henry, Duke of York.

Arthur smiled at his solemn young brother, who had clearly been reminded how to act by their mother at formal occasions like this. Harry briefly returned the smile before kneeling before his brother, waiting to hear the words that raised him up in his own right, not just as his virtue as a King's second son.

Unbidden, the memory of when Harry was ennobled for the first time, when he was only three years old, flashed through his mind. He could still remember the look on his father's stony face and the hardness in his grey eyes. Unlike Arthur, his father never smiled at him and made little Harry feel like he was doing something wrong. He could still remember how heavy the fur of ermine felt on his small frame and how uneasy it felt to walk through the crowds of people whose eyes were transfixed on him.

This time, he intended to do better.

"Henry, Duke of York, you are today, by order of his majesty King Arthur the second, created the Duke of Somerset and the Earl of Kendal," Arthur's secretary announced.

"Arise your grace," Arthur commanded lightly, smiling once again at Harry as the fur of ermine was pulled around his bulky shoulders and when the coronet of a Duke was placed on his head.

The look on Harry's face was priceless as he walked into the Great hall, where Arthur had spent a great deal of money on a banquet for his brother. Although the two boys had their differences in the past, Arthur felt right in investing Harry with these titles. He trusted his brother enough not to raise an army or a faction against him, and Arthur knew how Harry felt about entering the clergy. He took some pity on the boy, knowing that he would feel the same way if he were in Harry's position. Harry had his whole life ahead of him and no boy as full of life as Harry was wanted to enter the church.

Harry sat next to Arthur on the dais along with the Dowager Queen and the Princess Mary, who at six years old was fond of banquets, as they gave her an excuse to wear all of her fine gowns and jewelry.

"Where is the Queen?" Elizabeth asked, noting Katherine's rare absence. "I would have thought she would have planned this whole thing."

"Katherine isn't feeling well; she's had a rough week. I didn't even get a chance to tell her about all this," Arthur explained. Although the news that she was pregnant was a relief and a joy to Arthur, he knew how difficult the next few months would be for her, and he wished that she didn't have to go through all the discomfort and pain of the whole ordeal. "Excuse me mother, I am going to speak to a few people," Arthur explained, kissing his mother on the check and ruffling Mary and Harry's hair before leaving the dais.

"Mama, what's wrong with the Queen?" Mary asked, her blue eyes wide with terror at the thought of her beloved sister-in-law being sick. Katherine was really nice and always played fun games with her when she was around, games that Margaret used to play before she went to Scotland.

"Nothing sweetheart, her majesty is just big with child and that makes her unwell. Remember, we talked about this," Elizabeth chided the curious girl mildly. Mary was a sweet girl, so full of questions and Elizabeth enjoyed spending time with her and was glad she was allowed to do so now that her evil mother-in-law was dead. She often spent her days in Mary's nursery and was able to for once spend some time raising one of her children and teaching her the things that Arthur, Margaret, and Harry learned from their governesses. While Mary still had a governess, the woman played less of a role since Elizabeth was around more, a rare treat for a Queen, even a former one, as Arthur would never cruelly separate mother and daughter.

"How do you like all this Harry?" Elizabeth asked, smiling at her younger son. Harry had been complaining to her since his grandmother died about how he wasn't allowed to touch the inheritance, and Elizabeth honestly had no solution to his problems. She was somewhat grateful that Wolsey found a way to pacify Harry, at least just a little bit.

"The King is very kind to go to all these lengths just for me," Harry beamed with all the admiration of a younger sibling. Usually, he thought himself better than Arthur but today he was so caught up in all the pomp for him that he had no time to worry about why he wasn't the King over Arthur.

"Harry come here, I want you to meet someone," Arthur called from across the room to his brother, waving a hand.

Harry excused himself and made his way over to Arthur. "Your majesty," Harry greeted, sweeping into a well practiced bow.

"Do you remember that one day when you were playing in the garden with Charles Brandon with a certain girl, Anne Boleyn?" Arthur asked, wrapping a paternal arm around Harry's shoulder, pulling him close so he was forced to look at the man standing before the King. The man before him looked somewhat familiar, but Harry couldn't put a name to the face.

Harry's checks flushed bright red at recollection of the day where he had made a fool out of himself attempting to save the pretty girl before Arthur did it for him. "Yes I do remember, why do you ask your majesty?" Harry asked through gritted teeth, although his tone was outwardly polite and sweet as honey.

"This is Sir Thomas Boleyn, Anne's father, one of my ambassadors. Sir Thomas, may I present my brother yet again, his grace the Duke of York and Somerset?" Arthur said with mirth, his blue eyes lighting up with amusement. Arthur rarely drank wine, unless it was on occasions like this, and it made him feel loose and alive, free from the chains of his physical weakness.

"It is a pleasure, your grace," Boleyn replied, kissing the chubby hand outstretched before him and bowing before the young boy.

"Go on ahead and sit back down Harry, that's all," Arthur dismissed the boy as quickly as he called him, as he had other business to discuss with Boleyn. Arthur watched as Harry as gracefully as his anger allowed, stomp away back to the dais, where he could see him sit down next to their mother with his arms crossed. It was a mercy to Arthur that Harry could at least hold his tongue until he went somewhere privately. "Shall we take in private then?" Arthur asked, leading Boleyn into his privy chamber.

"What is it your majesty wanted to see me about?" Boleyn asked after Arthur had given him a goblet of wine and seated him across from his own chair. For three years, he had held his position in the Netherlands well, and only recently was he recalled back to England for reasons he was unaware of. Both of his daughters were getting a well-rounded education, even Anne who was too young to officially be part of a household, who was simply a companion to the Habsburg children. It was a great honor for his children and he didn't wish to see it go away.

"While I do not wish to go to war, by any means, I wish to get into some trade negotiations with France. The position of ambassador is currently vacated. Since you are one of the few diplomats available to me that speak French, I figure if you want it, it's yours," Arthur offered, knowing that he had little options if Boleyn refused, which is why he phrased it as a request, not a command.

"Why your majesty, that is a very generous offer," Boleyn replied, blown away by the attitude of this King compared to his father.

"I need you in France Sir Thomas," Arthur bluntly stated, knowing it was the truth.

"If it is your majesty's wish, that I am all too happy to comply," Boleyn replied with a smile, knowing that the offer was generous. France had a better royal court anyway, one where his daughters would hopefully pick up a thing or two, but he hoped it wouldn't be anything bad, knowing that although it was a place for artisans, it also had a reputation for loose morals.

"This news pleases me, thank you very much. How are your children? Especially little Anne? Not getting falling into any more puddles, is she?" Arthur asked with a laugh, remember fondly on the day where the small girl allowed him to prove to his father, wife, brother, and grandmother that he wasn't a child anymore.

Boleyn smiled, shocked by how well the King remembered and how much he actually cared. Most Kings would have never asked such personal questions about one of his most humble ambassadors. "Anne is doing well; her tutors tell me that she is very clever for her age, long since outgrowing the elementary lessons given to her, and even knows a little French and Latin, which should be useful to her in her future. Mary, my oldest, is very pretty though not quite as clever as her sister. George is very athletic and handsome, along with clever in languages."

"You are very fortunate to have three blessed children, Sir Thomas. When they are older, perhaps they can come to court to serve me and the Queen, and whatever children we may have," Arthur replied wistfully, fondly thinking of the big family he hoped to have with Katherine now that he knew that they were able.

"I pray that you and the Queen have many princes, your majesty," Boleyn replied heartily, knowing that the new dynasty needed to be secured with the child in the Queen's belly.

"Thank you Sir Thomas. Enjoy the rest of the banquet," Arthur said, the tone of dismissal clear in voice. He nodded in acknowledge of Boleyn's bow and decided that he would retire early, knowing that he embarrassed Harry earlier and figured that he would allow Harry to have the rest of the night as the center of attention. He quietly slipped through his doors and allowed his grooms to dress him in his nightdress and robe and he went unattended to Katherine's room, which reminded him fondly of the days at Ludlow when they used to sneak through the staircase to see each other before Margaret Beaufort put a stop to it.

"You weren't going to tell me, were you?" Katherine asked as soon as he entered, brushing away his offer at a kiss and offered him her check instead, the hurt clear in her voice.

"What are you talking about sweetheart?" Arthur asked, confused.

"You ennobled Harry with the inheritance that bitch gave him, didn't you?!" Katherine screamed, rising up from her chair in anger and stared dead on at her husband. She had slept for the majority of the day, as she had been doing for the past month, as the baby grew in her womb. When she woke up, Maria told her that there was noise coming from the Great Hall and when she went to exam it, she found a banquet being held in Harry's honor.

"Shh, calm down. Yes, I did, I didn't think it was that big of a deal, he's ten! Besides, all is set for him to go into the church when this little guy in here is born," Arthur soothed, gently placing his hand on Katherine's swollen belly.

"Arthur! Don't you see, Harry is a threat to us! He might not be right now, because of his age, but he will grow up and become a very powerful and wealthy man and very powerful and wealthy men attract very powerful brides!" Katherine shrilly exclaimed, slapping Arthur's check in anger.

"Calm yourself, it's not good for the baby," Arthur replied, grabbing her shoulders in an attempt to soothe her.

"Owww!" Katherine exclaimed, clutching her stomach and dropping to the floor.

"Oh God, somebody fetch Linacre!" Arthur commanded, settling Katherine onto a chair. "This is all my fault," he muttered, trying to calm the now screaming Katherine.

If she lost the baby, he would never forgive himself.


"The child had the appearance of a male, about five months old. Even if the Queen did not miscarry the child, it did not look like it would have survived. It looked like it had died already, maybe at about four months, and the Queen said it stopped kicking about a week ago," Linacre explained to the disheartened young King. He had his qualms about the pregnancy when the Queen said it stopped kicking, but Linacre did not want to scare her in case the child really still lived.

"What now?" Arthur asked, looking up, trying to hide the tears threatening to fall. At least the child had no hope, so their argument did not cause their child's death, but that did not make accepting the death any easier.

"The Queen lost a lot of blood, and it would be best for her to rest for at least a week, absenting herself from court. Then in perhaps six months, you can try again. You are both very young, and I have no doubt that you will conceive again in the wake of this tragedy," Linacre suggested, knowing how important it was for the Queen to gain her strength back before she gave birth again. It would do them no good for her to fail again; it may even cost her own life.

"Thank you doctor," Arthur replied, dismissing the man so he could go see his wife.

When he entered, all the ladies curtsied to him but there was a lack of love and more scorn than before in their eyes, as if he caused this! Their baby's death was just waiting to happen, it just choose that time to happen. Most of the ladies, however, had little time to spare to scrutinize their King, as they were washing the bloodied linen from the bed and Katherine's soiled nightgown.

"Hello sweetheart," Arthur began cautiously, approaching her bed carefully.

"I'm not angry with you. Linacre said it was going to happen anyway. I'm sorry too, we will have to talk more civilly tomorrow about Harry…" she was cut off.

"No, we won't talk about it tomorrow, not until you are well again. We will make this work; we won't have to worry about Harry because we'll have so many heirs," Arthur cheerfully predicted, holding her pale hand with a weak grip.

Katherine smiled back, hoping that he was right. If he, and his mother who said the same thing, were wrong, they would have all destroyed everything that she and Arthur were prepared to work for.

Dum dum! Next chapter will include a jump years, I swear (I keep playing around with the idea but it's happening next). Tell me what you think. Reviews are always welcome :) Until next time…