AN: Welcome back to another chapter of The Mare & The Rose.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! OVER 100 REVIEWS! This is the first of my stories to do so, so it means a lot! I want to also thank everyone that has reviewed so far and that has also continued to read the story and favourite or alert it or have even just read the story! I hope you continue to enjoy. This chapter is rather short, in my opinion, but I wanted to update this story. I plan on finishing this story first out of the three that I have still going as I know exactly where this is heading, unlike either of the over two (bad story planning on my part).

Once again, a special shout out to Lady Eleanor Boleyn who helps me brainstorm, clarify ideas and comes up with some pretty neat ideas herself. I recommend that everyone reads her stories as well. They are amazing!

Thanks for reading and I hope to see you review! Hope that you like it!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Tudors, never have and I never will!

Chapter Eleven

3 May 1541

"Everything with his majesty should be fine now your majesty, your grace," said Dr Linacre as bowed towards both the King's wife and his eldest daughter before he left the room as he left the royal family to be alone with only the exception of a couple of servants.

Anne and Mary where quiet as they turned around to see Henry lying there, talking to Katherine who was sitting on the edge of the bed. Well, he was actually more listening to Katherine's worries as he tried to edge in a word here and there.

Anne and Mary decided it was best to wait in the outer part of his chamber while he was in there with Katherine. They both knew that Katherine would eventually lose her voice or Henry would tell her that she needed to rest for the sake of their child which Anne and Katherine were both glad she didn't lose over this incident. Even Mary was glad surprisingly. For all that she didn't like Katherine; she would never wish any woman that pain. She couldn't imagine her life if she had lost Sybilla through miscarriage or still birth. She was thankful every day to God who had granted her the most precious and special little girl in England.

"I am just glad that you didn't lose the baby because of my foolishness," said Henry as his head sunk back into the pillow, his hand still being held between Katherine's hands.

Katherine nodded in all seriousness. "I am glad as well. I would never want to lose this child. It is special to me, as it is special to you. But you were foolish I will not argue about that," said Katherine as she gave a look to Henry that he would usually laugh at but he knew that she was only giving it because she cared and was truly worried about him. "Didn't your physicians tell you that if your leg was troubling you, you were to consult them? You know, I will be on you like a... like a.... like a hawk," said Katherine finally finding the word that she wanted to use. "I will be on you like a hawk. I will check how your leg is doing every day if I have to."

Henry then looked at her. He didn't accept people telling him what to do. "Katherine."

"No," she said bravely though she was sure that she heard a bit of a tremor in her voice. "No 'Katherine', I care about your health Henry, I would like to see you see your child. Is that a problem with you? It would do you no use if you were gone, heaven forbid. Edward is such a little boy, even though I don't like to speak ill of Mary and I know that she accepts Edward's reign after that of yours, I am sure that there would be people here and abroad that would want to take the thrown from Edward and place on top of Mary's head."

Henry raised an eyebrow at this comment made by Katherine. "My rose, who told you this? I know that you have your own opinions but, please don't be angry at me for saying this; you aren't the smartest rose in the bush. You are better at other things, unless you have mistaken me all this time and are actually very political behind that sweet head of yours." He smiled as he saw Katherine frown.

"Well," said Katherine with a sigh. "It is true. I heard some people talk about it and, well, Anne is smarter than me at politics and she was explaining it to me. I also heard his grace, the Duke of Suffolk and his grace, the Earl of Hertford saying that it would be to no one's use if you were gone since Edward is only a little boy. And anyway... you still have this son," she said as she placed Henry's hand on her slightly swollen belly. "To worry about. I want him to know his father."

She was shocked that she had said this. She had never said that the child was a boy before. She always referred to the child as 'it'. Of course, she knew privately she still would but she needed to reassure Henry into letting him do what she wanted.

Henry finally gave in. "Fine," he said sighing. "I will let you check about the state of my leg everyday if it will please you." Katherine nodded finally smiling. "It will just mean that we have to spend more time together, which I see as such a shame," he said kissing her hand. "In any case, Katherine I am sorry that we have to delay telling the court about our most glorious news. Do you think you can forgive me?" Katherine nodded in response. "Now, one more thing my rose," he said smiling at her. Katherine nodded, confused to what he wanted. "Go and eat something, have a rest, for the sake of the baby."

Katherine nodded and left the room quietly, smiling at Anne and Mary as she left the room. A couple of her ladies were probably waiting outside of the door so she at least had someone to talk to on the way back to her chambers. She didn't want to be interrogated by anyone, especially her uncle who was probably already waiting somewhere, either outside this door or waiting within her chambers. Why did he have to find out everything? Why did he have to know everything? It irritated her completely.

Katherine left the room quietly and with that Mary turned towards Anne. "It is getting late and I must leave, I have to inform Elizabeth's governess about what has happened. I will let her decide what she should tell Elizabeth and not just because I am so tired. I will only be staying a few more days until I leave, I don't know if I should take Elizabeth with me or not. I think it would be for the best if she did though," Mary suddenly stopped when she realised that she must have been rambling on and rattling Anne's knowledge of English by doing so. "Please forgive me Anne; lack of sleep does this to me. Please wish my father well for me."

Anne nodded before Mary smiled and left the room and with Mary's departure, Anne was left alone, pondering nervously what she should do next. She thought she should leave; Henry probably didn't want to see her but then it would be rude to not see if he wanted her to stay, in her opinion, she was in a pickle.

Thankfully, or maybe not, she heard Henry's voice yell at out her name. At first she was stunned, shocked, that he had asked for her, he usually tried to steer completely away from her. She then gained her composure back and walked towards the curtains into his bedchamber.

If she were someone different, possibly at a different time, people would think that only one thing would be happening now but considering that everyone knew how she 'displeased' him she would count on that no one was thinking in that way.

Plus there were two servants in there as well so it would be totally inappropriate.

"Anne," said Henry simply as she walked into the bed chamber. "Please sit down," he said pointing to the chair that was placed next to the bed.

Anne nodded and sat down quickly and kept her head downcast. Henry sighed. "Anne, please try and look at me." Anne looked up suddenly, not wanting to upset the King. "That is better; I can't have a conversation with the top of someone's head now can I Anne."

"No, my lord," said Anne quietly. "Please pardon me for my rudeness."

"Please Anne," said Henry, who was getting slightly annoyed by Anne's constant shyness to him. He usually went along with it, understanding that it was a new country and a lot expected of her to have been given such a high and exalted rank never given to a daughter of a Duke of Cleves before. Also, learning a whole new language must have been hard on her but she had surprisingly grasped it rather well so far. Though none of the above could change the way he felt about her physically. She was only his Queen now for political alliance, a way to not be alienated against the Spanish or the French. "You need not be afraid of me Anne."

"Yes, your majesty," said Anne, like an obedient wife.

This Anne was nothing like the last Anne. She wasn't fiery, she didn't speak out of turn and, though he hated to admit this about the last one, she definitely wasn't as beautiful or desirable in his opinion. But then again, this one had more sense than the last one. Even though he didn't have any physical attraction to her but she was amiable and the people seemed to like her, which was more than he could say for the last Anne. He knew that in his right mind, she should be a perfect Queen and Consort, not as perfect as Jane of course, but pretty right on the mark.

For some reason, this second scare with his leg made him realise that he needed to be kinder to this woman sitting beside him. After all, he was probably stuck with her till death did part them.

12 May 1541

"How big you have grown my darling," said Mary as she held her daughter close to her and kissing the top of her head.

She had only just arrived back to her country estate from court only minutes before and had rushed up to the nursery to see her two-month old daughter. Mary had only stayed away so long because of her father and it had been painful to be away from Sybilla from the first time. She knew that she would have to get used to it. Her father would ask for her presence at court more regularly now and she knew that Elizabeth would not keep quite until she could tell her the next time that they were to visit court.

Though she also knew of another fate that would tear her daughter from her side on a slightly more permanent basis, it was if the Princess Consort gave birth to a daughter. Mary knew that her father would request, no more order, that Sybilla be placed in the household with that child as a companion once they were both a little older.

Though Mary knew she was jumping at conclusions. There were many other possibilities for Katherine's child. There was still the chance of miscarriage or stillbirth, though she wished neither for Katherine, or that it was a boy, the next Duke of York for England.

If it was a boy then Sybilla wouldn't be required to be a companion to him.

For now, she would cherish the time she had with her daughter as she never knew when her father would summon her back to court.

"Has she been feeding well?" asked Mary, suddenly looking up from her darling daughter to see Sybilla's nurse, Mistress Frideswide Culter. Out of choice, Mary had not wanted Sybilla to have a governess and in all sense and purposes, Mistress Frideswide was like the governess. Mary didn't want others to teach her daughter as she had planned to teach her daughter like a governess would until she reached the age for tutors.

"She has milady," said Frideswide. "Her wet-nurse, Mrs Harrison, says that she is a lusty baby and feeding well."

"That is good, that is good," said Philip as he walked through the door and came to stand beside his wife who was now sitting in a chair holding Sybilla as the little girl held out her hand and grabbed onto her mother's hair, not pulling but just holding.

This was the place that both mother and daughter wanted to be.

AN: Okay, I have nothing to really say here. I hope that you enjoyed and the next chapter will have a time jump of sorts as we will be moving ahead a few months. I hope everyone doesn't mind too much, it is still a while though before Katherine has her little royal baby! Hope to see you all review!

TBC