15th May 1554
"Elizabeth!" Edward joyfully greeted his sister as she entered the room "Could you just wait a few moments, well, be finished in a few moments" He informed her, gesturing to the people sitting around the table
She nodded, and took a seat in the corner of the room
"Now, how do we deal with the recent problem of the lady returning to this court...?" Thomas Seymour asked
"We don't" Edward interrupted before anyone else could speak "She is here by my invitation, she arrived late last night"
"You invited your enemy back to court?" Edward Seymour asked
"She is my sister, I have to show her some hospitality" Edward replied
"But she is a threat to your throne!" Thomas Seymour insisted
"I know that, but until she is out of the country and married to someone out there, I have to show her hospitality" Edward informed them "Now, I declare this meeting over"
Edward let them leave the room and turned, facing Elizabeth "How can I help you?" he asked
"I merely wanted to see my brother" she informed him, and he smiled "Very well, I have some free time. Would you care to join me? I'm going to visit my daughter"
"I would love to join you, Edward, I would love to see my niece again"
"Very well, this way" Edward led her out of the room, and down the hall lined with tapestries and candles, which illuminated the room, his daughter's ladies curtseyed as he and Elizabeth passed them, all of them murmuring "Your Majesty. Your Highness"
He opened the door, to his daughter's room. The room was large, tapestry filled, and candle lit, the candles were hung from holder about 3 1/2 metres in the air so as to avoid Jane burning herself, but they were low enough that someone could light them or put them out, depending on the time of the day
"Your Majesty" Laetitia curtseyed as she spotted Edward, and then Elizabeth, she curtseyed again "Your Highness." Laetitia rose from the curtsey "Her highness is currently taking her bath, but you're welcome to wait"
"Thank You, Laetitia" Edward said, taking a seat on one of the sanded, wooden, oak chairs in his daughter's room, he gestured to another seat near him and Elizabeth took her seat too
"Sweet Sister Temperance" Edward began, looking towards Elizabeth "How is Robert treating you"
"Robyn is treating me well" she replied, smiling.
Edward smiled, assured of his sister's information "Good. I am glad"
"But" Elizabeth began, Edward looked to her again "I am afraid of what will happen to the succession once I marry Robyn as I will lose my status as 'Princess'" She reminded her brother
"Not if I say other wise, but I think Robert could be made Earl of Leicester." he smiled, thinking to himself "Yes" he informed her "I will make it so. Next week" he informed her "My uncles will be away from court, so I will not have to listen to Thomas protesting about my decision." He chuckled, Elizabeth did too
"That is probably best, considering Thomas took a liking to me while I was under the protection of our stepmother - Catherine Parr- who, as you probably know, died in childbirth" Elizabeth said
"Yes, I was distraught to hear about her death, she did the most for me, of Father's wives that I knew"
"Yes, she helped reconcile me and Mary with our father and got us back into the succession" Elizabeth reminisced
"You really did have a troubled time didn't you...?" Edward sighed
"Yes, but it was not your fault, you were not king at the time" Elizabeth reminded him and he smiled
"No, I was not" Edward replied
"Your Majesty?" It was Laetitia
"Yes, Laetitia?" Edward asked
"Your daughter is ready now" Laetitia curtseyed
"Thank you, Laetitia." He stood up "Come sister"
The two of them entered the young Princess's bedroom
"Papa!" Jane exclaimed, running towards her father, who scooped her up into his arms, spinning her around
"How are you?" Edward asked her
"Well, papa" she replied
He smiled "Good" He stroked her cheek with his hand, and she giggled
Elizabeth watched this scene with interest 'I do hope Edward remarries and has another child soon. Then I can marry Robyn and have children of my own'
Edward coughed "Elizabeth?" he finally got her attention, and she looked to him "Do you want to see your niece?" he asked, holding out the baby Jane. Elizabeth took Jane, smiling as she bounced Jane, who gave off a shriek of delight
"She's a gorgeous girl" Elizabeth told him
"Yes, she is" Edward replied, kissing his daughter on the cheek as Elizabeth caught her once again
"She'll be a good queen" Elizabeth stated
"Yes, she will" Edward replied, giving his daughter a kiss as Elizabeth handed Jane back to him. He smiled and handed Jane back to Laetitia and the two of them left the room, both of them biding the ladies and Jane goodbye
When they reached the room, that court was normally held in, they could hear voices, talking loudly
Edward opened the door "Mary!" he exclaimed, giving a nervous glance to Elizabeth, before composing himself "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to speak t you your majesty, we didn't get much time last night"
"I did try to tell her that you were indisposed, Your Majesty" Thomas Seymour insisted
Edward nodded and turned to Elizabeth "Hadn't you best be getting back to Robert? He'll be worrying about you"
Elizabeth curtseyed to him and left
"Leave us" Edward said to Thomas Seymour, who nodded, bowed and left
"Mary" Edward sighed, striding past her to his throne, sitting on his throne and readjusting his crown "How can I help you...?"
"I do not need, help, I merely come to you, brother, to ask your favour in rest-" Edward cut her off
"Mary, I will NOT reinstate you to the line of succession, as I have been writing to a few 'friends' and have found a place where you will not be a danger to me, I have written to The Duke of Bavaria, Philip, and he has agreed that he will marry you, as it will unite Bavaria and England, but keep my throne safe, and the air will be better for your health, 'My lady'" he informed her
"You have agreed to marry me off to someone whom I have never met?!" she asked, shocked
"He visited England during the time that our step-mother, Anne of Cleves, was Queen" he reminded her
Mary's mind then remembered whom Edward was talking about, and she gave a small smile, before curtseying, and muttering "Yes, Your Majesty"
"Mary." She looked up at her brother's voice "I have arranged for a barge to arrive, and take you to Bavaria first thing tomorrow morning, that is why I invited you back to court"
She curtseyed again and left the room, her black cloak, flapping behind her. The door slammed shut and Edward sighed, rubbing his forehead as another headache settled itself firmly in his mind
[TBC]
A/N: - I know that at this time Philip, the Duke of Bavaria was dead, but this is an AU story