She knew death was coming for her. She felt it creeping nearer and nearer each day, but it did not scare her. After being pushed out of her home without the luxuries she had been accustomed to, Katherine was already left for dead. She had no doubt that Henry and Anne prayed for her death daily, if only to allow all of the monarchs in Europe accept their marriage and heirs.

Katherine had long resented them. For far too long she had fought and fought, she cried blood and tears, but it was all to no avail. God had not listened. She had prayed for her child to be okay, to retain her birthright, but God had not listened. Despite everything, Katherine did not resent God. After so much time in solitude and being subjected to her thoughts for most hours of the day, she had come to realize that she had missed something.

Perhaps God did not listen because she was trying to fight his plans. Her mother had always told her that God worked in mysterious ways and Katherine was beginning to realize that it was not his plan for her to remain queen or that her Mary be Queen after her. So, when she received a letter from Anne Boleyn stating that her daughter had been arrested and then another one saying she would be placed under house arrest until she singed the acts of supremacy and succession, Katherine decided that she was going to make things right, she was not going to have her daughter end up like her even if it was the last thing she did. Using some of her savings, she rented a carriage and with the help and care of Lady Darrel made the agonizing journey to London in order to see the king and sign the acts in place of her daughter.

Henry stared blankly at her as Katherine explained why she was there. The king did not look like he was actually listening to her, he was more struck by how much the woman before him had changed. Katherine was deathly pale and thin. Her hair had turned grey in some areas and her once vibrant blue eyes were dull and sunken. A part of him screamed that he had done this to her, but another part, a much bigger part, hushed that thought very quickly.

The other four men allowed to stay in the room after Katherine had made her presence known were the king's best friend and the queen's relatives: her father, uncle, and brothers. Each and every one of them stood in shocked silence looking at their former queen, a woman who used to be very beautiful, who had such a strong and intimidating presence. To Thomas Boleyn and Thomas Howard, this was surreal, another victory, Katherine of Aragon had finally surrendered and had come begging for mercy. They both smiled in satisfaction.

Charles Brandon looked very troubled as he looked at his former queen, the woman he secretly supported, but could never defend. George could barely look at her out of shame and so kept his eyes trained to the ground. Tom Boleyn however, kept his eyes fixed on the woman. His mother in law. For years he had spoken ill of the woman. During the trials and when the courts were murmuring about the kings great matter, Tom had always watched from afar as Katherine walk around court, he spied on her household and was personally responsible for convincing most of her ladies to join Anne's household. He was also the one responsible for delivering the message alongside Cromwell that her marriage was over and she was to be sent away. He never gave her much thought then, she had been a problem to solve, an enemy to defeat and they had won. Now, she stood before him as his mother in law and he could not take is eyes off her. He was not glad to see her, but at the same time he could not mock her like his father and uncle did.

"You are willing to agree that our marriage was not a marriage and that Mary is Illegitimate?" Henry said after a few seconds of processing her words.

"I am willing to do whatever it takes to free my daughter… our daughter." Despite her looks, Katherine's voice was still strong and carried the authoritative tone that they were all accustomed to.

Henry stared at her for a couple minutes.

"Very well then, we shall have Cromwell present in no time" He said as someone went to fetch the secretary immediately.

"Now that you have decided to accept the truth, perhaps you can reside in a more suitable establishment. And I am sure the queen can offer you a few more hands." Katherine smiled sadly at him. Her appearance had made him feel slightly guilty.

"I am afraid that there would be no point in that, my stay at the More shall not be for much longer" an eerie silence followed after Katherine spoke and a sudden chill went down the king's spine. Just then, before anyone could speak, Cromwell walked into the office with the necessary documents in hand. He made the appropriate gestures to his superiors in the room, bowing to Katherine finally.

He spread out the documents on the table and Katherine took in a deep breath as she looked them over. The king leaned in over her shoulder and studied the parchment laid out before them and gently placed the quill in Katherine's hands.

Katherine sighed deeply knowing she was signing away her daughter's future, the one she had hope for her, one where she held a scepter in her hand and a crown on her head. But her plans were not God's plans and Katherine had to let it all go. She turned her head just enough so that the King alone would hear her speak.

"Take care of our daughter Harry. She is the evidence of the love we once shared, a precious jewel. Do not allow her to be an orphan while you are still around." Henry stared at her, not giving her any assurances that he had heard her words, but Katherine did not need any, she tightened her hold on the quill and began to sign her name and Mary's. She turned to face the men in the room.

"I am sure that my lord Wilshire is quite happy this day" Katherine said acknowledging the man for the first time since she had been in the room. Thomas Boleyn smiled wildly, not sparing a tooth. "Do not gloat for long, my lord for it is the meek who will inherit the earth"

"That is all well and good, your highness, as long as it is my daughter who seats by the king" Boleyn said "A daughter who is in delicate condition and would be most disturbed to hear of your presence at court."

Suddenly, something seemed to go off in Henry's head.

"Now that you have signed Katherine, you must leave court and return to the more as you have chosen to remain there."

"Is your majesty suggesting I leave this very instant?" She frowned at him, though not really shocked that Henry would suggest such a thing. Everyone here knew that she was in no condition to travel, especially after just arriving just a few hours ago.

"It would displease the queen greatly, and frankly I do not want the news to spread that you are at court" Henry said looking her in the eyes and boldly holding his own, despite her terrible glare.

"Then I shall be quiet-"

"No, you will leave…now" He turned to Tom, who stood silently this whole time.

"My lord Shrewsbury would escort you back to the More" Speaking directly to Tom, he said, "Prepare your men and leave as early as you can, make no noise as you go" Tom immediately accepted the task by bowing to the king, but when he looked gazes with the former queen, he wondered what exactly he had gotten himself into.

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Not too long ago, he had to travel with the daughter and now it was the mother. He would never complain to carry out any of the king's orders, but he thought this was a bit ridiculous. He knew the king asked of this for the protection of his sister and her unborn son, but Tom hardly thought that seeing Katherine would cause Anne to lose her child, especially when he knew that it was Anne who thought of writing to Katherine so that she could do something about Mary.

Katherine seemed to have shrinked since the last time she was at court. As she walked towards the carriage, she took her time as she preferred to admire and commit to memory the building and surrounding that had been her home (one of them) for so many years. She seemed perfectly okay with the fact that the king may have just sent her to her death faster and that puzzled Tom. She smiled as the cold air blew around them and her gaze met Tom's. As if reading his mind, she spoke.

"Nothing he does surprises me anymore. I knew what I was doing when I came" She said. Tom stood by the carriage ready to offer her a hand to enter. Katherine took his hand and with the help of Lady Darrel on her other side, climbed into the carriage. She did not let go of his hand however. She brought her other hand to his cheek and smiled.

"My Mary has married a handsome man" Tom stepped back from her and frowned. Was she not angry that he was married to her daughter?

"That may be true, but trust me your highness it was not of her own will…or mine for that matter" Katherine laughed.

"Of course it wasn't" she said "His ways are not our ways" Whether she was talking about God or the king, he was not sure, but he did wonder what God had to do with his marrying Mary and why Katherine of Aragon of all people, thought it was something to laugh about.

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A couple hours into the journey, it was already becoming evening time, Tom knew he would have to stop for the night despite the king's orders to take Katherine directly back, he did not think the frail woman would make it through the journey in the dark and the terrible cold it brought.

He was already thinking about what time they would stop and where they would board for the night, he knew a few friends along the way to Cambridgeshire that they could stay with for the night in order to rest. Tom was thinking about which one of his esquires he would send ahead, when another member of his household who was charged with staying by the carriage rode up to him at full speed.

"My Lord!" Tom paused and turned his horse around to face him.

"The dowager princess has taken ill, she asks for you" Tom cursed under his breath. He wanted to avoid this.

"Stop the horses" He commanded "Stand by for my orders" He rode quickly towards the carriage that was following at a slower pace. His horse barely stopped before he jumped off it and entered the carriage.

Katherine was lying down, resting on Lady Darrel, who seemed to be unable to stop her tears from falling. She had a cloth in her hand and she used it to wipe the sweat that formed on Katherine's forehead.

"She fell asleep and when she woke, she said she was in pain." Lady Darrel told him and upon hearing her lady speaking to someone, Katherine opened her eyes.

"I believe my time has come" She said. She motioned for him to sit down, which he did, taking the chairs opposite her. Katherine tried to sit up and lady Darrel helped support her.

"You are the…long awaited son I have prayed for" Katherine began, taking a deep breath so she could continue. "Married to my sweet daughter, you are now my son and as a mother on her death bed, I wish to give you my blessings"

Tom immediately felt uncomfortable. Shaking his head he spoke up.

"Woman, do you forget who I am?" His statement seemed cold, but his voice was gentle. "Whose son I am, whose brother? You forget that it was I who ran you out of court"

"I do not forget it" She said. "But it does not change the fact that you are now my son in law, and hopefully father to my grandchildren" He could not help the slight amused smile on his lips. Katherine saw it and smiled too.

"You do not mind having grandchildren that bear the name Boleyn?"

"As long as their father is good to them and their mother." She told him before going into a coughing fit. Lady Darrel sobbed loudly as she tried to calm her down. Tom called for someone to bring him a cup of ale. Once Katherine had drank a little and the coughing had stopped, she composed herself and looked at the young man before her.

"My daughter had been through so much in her short life. Many of it through no fault of her own." She told him. "It is for my sake that she refused to sign the act that the king commanded her to. Mary would not want to betray me or my honor. She is as stubborn as both her parents and if I did not decide to go to London, who knows for how long she would keep herself from signing." Tom had no response to that because he too did not know, sometimes he thought Mary would never break. The cracking of Katherine's voice brought him to look at her again.

"I do not want her to be unhappy" She said and Tom could see the tears falling down her cheeks

"I do not want her to die unable to see her children. To be unloved and alone except for the company of one most faithful friend." Lady Darrell could not control her tears at this point and held onto the dying queen even tighter as if that would keep her from deaths grip. "I want her to love and be loved, I want her to be happy, I want her to trust, I want her to live, to really live…I want….I want you to give my Mary these things"

Tom was shocked and that is an understatement. He did not understand, did not know how he could possibly make that happen, he could not do any of those things, he was supposed to be her enemy, her jailer. Tom wondered if death made people think very stupidly

"Madam, you make no sense-"

"Promise me Tom Boleyn, promise me you will give her all of these things" Tom watched in horror as Katherine's breathing became hard and laboring. Her skin became paler with each second, and her lips began to turn blue.

"I…knew…I…would…die…faster…if…I…made...this…trip" she continued to fight to breath. Lady Darrell was crying even harder, she knew that there was nothing to be done, Katherine was already dead the moment they left the More together for London. "I needed….to make….sure that….Mary...would be okay" Katherine forced herself up and held on to Tom's hands. "Promise me….please…promise me" Another coughing fit followed and Tom held on to her in an attempt to give her some kind of comfort. Lady Darrel cried and Tom held onto Katherine, he watched as the light slowly faded from her eyes and it tugged at his heart to witness this. She kept her gaze fixed on his, still hopeful. Despite how absurd her request was, he could not let the woman die without being at peace. She wanted her daughter to be well cared for and Tom decided he could do that. He decided he could give her children and ensure a comfortable life for her, he wasn't sure he could do anything else, like make her happy or feel loved, but he could give security, and he was sure that would be enough to give her a content life.

"I promise" He spoke clearly and Katherine's labored breathing slowed as she smiled at him. She opened her mouth to speak again, but her words came out as whispers and Tom had to lean close to her mouth to hear her final words.

"God bless you Tom Boleyn" with that, she slipped into an eternal darkness.

Lady Darrel wailed in agony as Tom simply stared at the woman in his arms. It took him a couple seconds to figure out his next move, then he was on his feet again. He lay Katherine down on the floor of the carriage and had her face covered. Lady Darrel was given a horse to ride and Tom quickly got back on his own horse.

"The Dowager Princess of Wales is dead" He announced. His men pulled off their hats in respect. "We are to Tutbury immediately, after that, we return to London." Galloping ahead of them, his household was on the move, behind them in the carriage was the body of the former Queen of England.

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I know I have not posted in a while but I've been super busy, so sorry about that. I hope you guys liked this chapter. If you can leave reviews that would be lovely, just so I know how you guys liked it. Thanks Everyone and a Happy New Year in advance!