13th February 1603: Richmond Palace, England

Elizabeth stood by the window, watching the courtiers bustle around in the courtyard below. The picture of her husband, Robert, was on the wall. She gave a small smile to herself, stroked the dog in her arms, and thought back to all those years ago.

Poor dear Robin, even at this distance of time, I shudder at the memory of those first years. How stubborn, and thoughtless I was, until I learned to be a wife to you.

15th January 1561: Whitehall Palace, England

Over the past ten years the family of Elizabeth and Robert had grown. After Edward came Anne in 1553, then John in 1554, followed by Katherine in 1556, Mary in 1558 and Richard in 1560. Elizabeth's cousin's daughter, Mary Stuart, Queen of Scotland, had, in November 1560, become pregnant with the child of the King of France, who had died just over a month ago, and Charles de Valois, Duke of Orléans had arrived in England just over a year prior.

"To return to our matters." George Howard began, handing the parchment to Robert "The weekly reports from Prince Edward's tutors." Robert unfolded the parchment and began to read it as George told Elizabeth that "The Prince is still behind his younger brother-"

"-And always will be, I'm afraid," Robert interrupted, moving to the window so that he could read the parchment better.

"Oh, if only Bessie had been a boy," Elizabeth sighed.

"She's so quick," Robert replied, smiling, as his voice filled with pride "She understands everything. Eddie often forgets what he's just learned."

"Yet, he is not backward." George interrupted, as he approached Robert, who looked up from the parchment "When he is interested in a subject, he devours it."

"I often wonder if we don't push him too hard?" Elizabeth asked, adjusting herself so that she was looking over the back of the chair that she was sat on "He looks so tired sometimes."

"How can he be tired?" Robert asked "We chose to live at Whitehall so that he can have the benefit of the sea air - the castle overlooks the River Thames. Ideal conditions."

"Roger Ascham is very strict. I remember him from my time as a child. I, unlike Edward, did well in my studies, and Roger Ascham was a good tutor to me, but he is unsuited to Edward. They are too different."

"It is for his own good," George assured her.

"The heir to the throne must be as perfect in mind and body as he possibly can be." Robert informed his wife.

"He has been very disappointing." Elizabeth agreed.

"I have spoken to Ascham on that subject," George added "He agrees with me that the Prince might take more interest in his studies if he was aware of the need to prepare for his high position. He has not yet realised what it means to be the eldest son."

"I think Ascham should speak to him." Robert informed George.

"When he judges the time is right," George replied, and Robert nodded his head in agreement.

"That can be a great shock," Elizabeth replied, looking away, sadly "I remember how it was when I was told. I was two. I had been appointed as my father's legitimate heiress, and my mother told me that I would be Queen one day, if she had no sons."

16th January 1561: Whitehall Palace, England

"The Third Punic War!" Roger Ascham snapped, causing Edward to jump "The dates of the Third Punic War!"

"BC?" Edward asked.

"Of course it is BC!" Ascham snapped in reply. He looked to John "Prince John?"

"149 to 146BC." John replied.

"And who was the victor?" Ascham directed the question at Edward.

"Hannibal?" Edward asked, not knowing the answer to the question.

"Not unless he deserted and joined the Romans!" Ascham snapped and John chuckled. Ascham glared at him, snapped "It is not a matter for liberty!" and he fell silent as Ascham walked away, moving to his desk. Ascham glanced back to Edward for a moment and asked "The Sieges of Boulogne?"

"The 19th of July 1544 to the 18th of September 1544." Edward gave the right answer top Ascham's question.

"The Rough Wooing?" Ascham asked

"1543 to 1550." Once again, Edward gave the right answer.

"Why is it that you cannot remember anything that you have read of Ancient History, while you know the dates and numbers of the campaigns of this century?" Ascham asked, frustratedly.

"Because they are real."

"You do not believe that the history I teach you is true?" Ascham asked, holding his long ruler between his fingers.

"Well, yes sir," Edward replied "But the history of today is more important."

"Why?" Ascham asked.

"See, when I am old enough, I want to join the army," Edward replied, smiling.

John smiled too "I am going into the navy."

"Indeed?" Ascham asked "May I remind you, gentlemen, that there are minimum standards of education required for offices in the services, which you are both still far short of attaining." He glanced to John "Prince John, you are dismissed." Both Edward and John rose and Ascham pointed his ruler at Edward "You will stay here."

"But we're expected for tea, Mr Ascham," John informed Ascham.

"Then you will inform your parents that I have detained your brother..." Ascham replied "...for reasons best known to them."

"I'll wait for you," John whispered to Edward before leaving the room.

Edward slumped into the chair and looked down at his lap until Ascham spoke.

"Your lack of application cannot fail to distress your parents." Ascham, who was opening a book, informed him "Great care and attention has been lavished on your mental development - to no avail." Ascham placed the book down in front of him and Edward looked to it as Ascham continued "The tables of the Kings of England. To prove that you are capable of some concentration, you will recite and memorize them. Start with your great-grandfather."

"Richard III." Edward read off the list.

"Plantagenet." Ascham stated "He was succeeded by your great-grandfather, the first Tudor, who was-?" He pointed to the name in the book.

"Henry VII." Edward read the words in the book in front of him.

"He had two sons," Ascham continued "Arthur, the elder, died, so he was succeeded by?"

"Henry VIII." Like before, Edward repeated the words that were in the book in front of him.

"Who had three children, Mary, the eldest, by Katherine of Aragon, Elizabeth, by Anne Boleyn, and the youngest, Edward, by Jane Seymour." Ascham stated, moving behind Edward "Who succeeded Henry?"

"Edward VI."

"Then?"

"Queen Elizabeth." Edward, after reading the name in front of him, stopped for a moment, a look of confusion passing over his face.

"Yes?" Ascham asked, seeing Edward's confused face "What is it?"

Edward looked up to him "Why did Edward come before Mary and Elizabeth? Surely that's wrong?"

"No," Ascham replied, moving around Edward "He was the eldest son."

"But his sisters were older!" Edward protested.

"That makes no difference. It is the eldest son who becomes King."

Edward's jaw fell in shock. He was to be the Future King of England?

Ten Minutes Later

Elizabeth noticed John enter the room and smiled "John!"

"I am sorry I am late, Mama," He replied, bowing.

"Nevermind," Robert interrupted, brushing it off "Come and join us." John moved to his chair, and Robert asked "Where's Eddie?"

"He was kept in." John replied.

"Oh, why?" Robert asked.

"Mr Ascham wanted to talk to him." John replied, looking anxious.

"Where is he now?" Elizabeth interrupted.

"In the kitchen." John replied "He doesn't want to come in."

"What?" Robert started out of his chair. John jumped and Elizabeth placed a hand onto the hand of her husband.

"No, Robert," She began, rising so that she was stood up, like her husband "Perhaps I'd better see him first."

She walked around the table, pushed open the door and entered the kitchen, before calling "Edward?" as the door closed behind her and Edward could hear his mother's voice call his name again "Edward?"

Edward was sat on the floor with his legs pulled up to his chest. He had his arms around his legs to hold them close to him. When his mother called his namefor the second time, hHe stood up, and was not facing his mother.

"Is it true?" He asked "I'm going to be King?"

"Yes," Elizabeth replied "One day you will be King." She smiled "Not for some time yet, but one day."

"I thought Bessie would be Queen. Like you," he replied, sadly.

Elizabeth now realised what was wrong "No dear," she replied, soothingly, moving around the table to reach Edward as she continued speaking "I became Queen because my brother, King Edward VI, had no brothers and his Act of Succession, passed in 1550, appointed me as his heir if he had no children, which he did not,"

"Why not John? He could do it" Edward protested, still not looking at his mother "or Richard?"

"It is your right, Edward."She replied "You are the heir."

"But I don't want too," Edward finally turned to her and she could see that he was crying, the tears rolling down his round, plump cheeks. He threw himself at his mother crying "I don't want too!" and she caught him, placing one hand on his back and the other on the back of his read haired head.

He clutched her tightly as she began to speak. "Oh, my dear. It is not what we want," she replied, stroking his hair, lovingly "But what we must, what is our duty," She moved him backwards a little, and he looked up a little, to her.

"Why can't father be King?" he asked, swallowing hard.

Elizabeth smiled, sadly "I only wiah he could," She replied "But, always remember, if anything happens to me, he will be here to guide you and protect you. That is why you must work hard, to make yourself worthy of him..."

"I can't," he protested, sadly "I can't-"

"Yes you can. If you try." Elizabeth interrupted, taking him by the shoulder. She was not scolding him; instead, she was encouraging him. "You are his son." She pulled out a tissue, with which she mopped his cheeks "Now, dry your eyes, and let him see - let us all see - how brave you can be. Now," she held out her arm. He moved into the embrace and she smiled, placing a small kiss onto his forehead "let us join your siblings,"

"Yes, Mama," he mopped the tears off of his cheeks, and Elizabeth led him into the dining room. As the door opened, they both heard laughing. Robert had Richard on his back, and was galloping like a horse.

As Robert continued his story, for the enjoyment of his children, Elizabeth followed her son into the room, and closed the door behind her. At the sound of the door closing, Robert stopped, and he and the other children, including Charles de Valois, Duke of Orléans, the betrothed of Princess Elizabeth, all looked in their direction.

"Ah, well now that you're ready, perhaps we can have some tea?"

"Y-Yes, Papa," Edward replied, and Elizabeth gave a smile that only he could see. He moved to his place, and Elizabeth moved to her chair. Robert pushed the chair under her, as despite being his wife, she was still Queen. Once she was sat down, he took his seat, and then the children sat down.

17th January 1561: Whitehall Palace, England

"You and I are not that different, Charles." Edward informed his future brother-in-law as they sat on the bench in the garden where their siblings were playing. The bench was in a secluded section of the garden. Large conifers surrounded the back of the path where the benches sat and the sun shone through a gap in the trees.

"We're not?" Charles asked.

"No," Edward replied "We're not. You and I are not the favourite children of our parents. Your sister, Elisabeth, the Queen of Spain, is your mother's favourite child, and Bessie is my father's favourite child. Neither he, nor my mother, approve of how I am."

"I am sorry for you, Edward."

"Thank you," Edward replied "But I am sorry for you. My parents may not approve of how I am, but my god, I am glad that I am their son and not the son of Catherine de' Medici, for she is a very dominating woman, I hear."

"She is," Charles agreed "But only to us boys. The girls can get away with anything, for Margaret, Claude and Elisabeth are the favoured ones. Francis is too young to know this, for he is not yet six years old, and does not know any different."

"Your brother is the Duke of Anjou and Alencon is he not?"

"Francis is the Duke of Alençon, Château-Thierry, Anjou, Berry and Touraine," Charles replied to the question from his future brother-in-law "Father, I believe, favoured him over us. My brother, the former King of France, was never favoured by father due to his stutter. Henry was favoured by mother. He was her favourite, and still is. She calls him chers yeux, which means Precious Eyes, and lavishes fondness and affection upon him. I detest him. He has greater health and activity than I do."

Charles sighed, and Edward placed a hand onto the shoulder of his future brother-in-law and smiled to him.

"However," Charles continued "Despite being considered the best of the sons, he has little interest in the traditional Valois pastimes of hunting and physical exercise. He is fond of fencing and is skilled in it, but he prefers to indulge his tastes for the arts and reading."

"He is like me then," Edward noted "We both prefer reading to physical exercise. John prefers hunting and riding rather than reading, and Dickon is a baby."

"Dickon?"

"Our nickname for Richard." Edward clarified "Elizabeth is Bessie, I am Eddie, Anne is Annie, John is Johnny, Katherine is Kitty, Mary does not have a nickname, and Richard is known as Dickon. It's just informal names throughout the family. Papa refers to Mama as Bessie, and she calls him Robin."

"I see," Charles replied.

"I believe that they were affectionate names from when they were younger." Edward added "I believe that Mama referred to Papa as Robin when they were eight, and the name carried on throughout the years as a term of affection."

"Your parents love each other then?"

"They do," Edward replied "They love each other a damn sight more than they love me." Edward gave a harsh cough when he had finished speaking.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Edward replied "I just feel really hot."

"It's the middle of winter," Charles informed him. Edward ran a hand over his forehead, and wiped off the sweat that had begun to form.

"Are you alright?" Charles asked, placing his hand to Edward's forehead. A few moments later, he pulled it back "Ow! Edward, your burning! I'm going to get help, wait here!"

Edward atttempted to rise, and stop his future brother-in-law, but was aunable to as a blast of pain shot through his back. His head began to throb, and he had a feeling of general discomfort. His future brother-in-law scrambled off and Edward could hear the thudding footfalls become quieter and quieter.

A few moments later, the sound of two pairs of clattering shoes echoed, and Charles returned. Queen Elizabeth was behind him.

She took one look at her son and covered her mouth in shock. She crouched in front of Edward, and lifted up his head. He clapped a hand to his mouth, gagged for a moment, and turning his head to the left, threw up on the floor.

"Charles," She began, using the name of her future son-in-law, rather than his title "Fetch Doctor Owens and my husband, quickly!"

Charles scrambled away, disappearing down the path towards Whitehall Palace.

A few minutes later, Charles returned with Doctor Owens and Robert in tow. Charles, Robert and Elizabeth stepped back as Doctor Owens examined Edward. Elizabeth and Robert began discussing what should happen with the health of their children and finally came to a decision that Robert should run the households of their children.

Once he had finished, Doctor Owens looked up to the Queen "Majesty, he has the Smallpox."

Elizabeth gasped in shock, Robert took her in his arms and Charles moaned "No," in disbelief and shock.

To Be Continued

Review please.