March 1, 1515

Edinburgh, Scotland

The preparations had been made and everything was packed. While the royal family was traveling to and from England, Archibald Douglas, the sixth Earl of Angus and close advisor to the King, would rule in his stead. The King had laid out everything for the Earl, weary about leaving an inexperienced man like him to rule in his stead. But without any living brothers or uncles, what choice did he have? Stay and miss his only chance to meet his brother in law? No, the King could not miss this chance.

The people of Edinburgh lined the Royal Mile to watch their royals. To Margaret's great resentment, James commanded her to ride in a carriage for Princess Alexandra. For her youngest child's sake, she silently simmered at not being able to ride with James in front. She did content herself with opening the windows as wide as they went, and waving to everyone. The Queen was in her element, enjoying her people's' admiration. The Tudor children inherited their love of admiration from their York Grandparents, especially their grandfather. Margaret had been told her younger brother was the second coming of their grandfather and she didn't doubt it. That would be just like Henry to want to emulate his idol.

There was another event taking place. Prince James in all of his eight year old glory, was riding side by side with his father for the first time. The heir to the Scottish throne was trying to look royal but he couldn't hide his excitement. His eyes, so very much like his fathers' were darting every which way, taking everything and everyone in. He now understand why his parents' loved greeting the people. The admiration they had for their King and Queen was unmatched. The Prince wanted this when he was King. When he was King. That was a strange thought, a strange thought indeed.

Several hours later

Somewhere in Southern Scotland

The procession stopped for the night at Haigh Hall, the seat of the Earl of Crawford, Alexander Lindsay. There had been a minor scandal two years past when his brother, John Lindsay, the sixth Earl of Crawford tried to kill him, but didn't succeed. That family always had something going on, as their father, the former Duke of Montrose was loyal to James's father during the rebellion. But James stripped him of the dukedom when he ascended the throne as punishment. However, he later restored to him the dukedom, until he died in 1495, whereas the dukedom became extinct.

The royal family supped with the Earls' family. The King and the Earl told war stories while the Queen exchanged tales with the Countess, Moira Lindsay. The Lindsay's didn't have as many children as the monarchs but their family made up in leaps and bounds. Moira gave Margaret a first hand account when her brother in law tried to kill her husband and Margaret listened attentively. She gasped and oohed at all the right places and made sure the Countess was enjoying herself. "Your family is certainly interesting! I was born after the war and I'm too young to accurately remember Perkin Warbeck, though my lord husband knew him. My husband did marry his cousin to Warbeck, who ended up being one of my mother's' favourite ladies." At this, Margaret fell silent at the thought of her mother, and the Countess, picking up on the change in the Queens' mood, did not press the matter.

Later that night…

"Did you really believe Perkin Warbeck was my uncle?" This question had been weighing on Margaret ever since the feast and she thought more of it in the hours since then in the past fifteen years. James locked eyes with Margaret, who was resting her head on his shoulder and whose hair was falling over her shoulder. Picking up a strand and playing with it, James weighed his answer.

"At the time, I did. I wanted to go to war with England and I thought that was a perfect opportunity. I had him marry my cousin, Catherine Gordon, whom I recall was one of your mothers ladies. I must confess, I did like him very much and there was so much talk about him looking so much like your Grandfather, I was inclined to believe it. When Neville came marching with his army, I turned back. I washed my hands of him and sent him on his way."

Margaret sucked her teeth as she processed this information. She vaguely remembered hearing something about James and Perkin Warbeck when she was ten years old. "Do you think I look like him?" James smiled and tilted her chin up, the better to look at his wife. A few minutes passed before he made up his mind. "There's a small resemblance but nothing more. You, my love, are your mother's' daughter." With that said, James kissed his wife deeply and they spent the rest of the night making love.

March 17, 1515

Northumberland, England

The King had turned forty two years old. He couldn't help but wonder how he would look next to his Queens' younger brother, the twenty three old King Henry the eighth. Although, to be fair to James, he had accomplished quite a lot before he turned twenty, such as being crowned King at the age of fifteen, stopping another rebellion in his tracks then bring the Lord of the Isles under his control, all while his wife and good brother in law were just learning how to be royal. The only thing he didn't relish was that to become King, he had indirectly killed his father. Even though he wasn't his father's' favourite, he still loved him. That was why he wore a heavy iron chain cilice around his waist every Lent, to atone for his part.

The first person to greet him on his birthday was of course Margaret. She snuggled into him, kissing his neck and making her way to his lips. "Morning my wonderful husband. Do you know what day it is?" Her lips curved upward against his unshaven cheek and he couldn't help but smile, running his fingers through her hair. "Good morning my lovely wife. It's my forty second birthday. What do you have planned for your Liege Lord today?" Margaret only smiled teasingly and kissed James's cheek before bounding out of bed and calling for her ladies.

The retinue was going to continue to York stopping only for the night but the Lord Warden of the Marches, Thomas Dacre, insisted they stay for several days to celebrate the King's birthday, because it wasn't every day they had a King sup with them. Margaret had to convince both parties of a royal celebration because Baron Dacre had fought under Thomas Howard against James at the Battle of Flodden Field and James had not forgotten about the battle. He still had nightmares about it occasionally.

"I hope we can put the nasty business of the battle behind us, my Lord. My husband does not bear any ill will towards you, your family or your countrymen." Margaret smiled sweetly and looked up shyly at the Lord Warden for she knew her power over lesser men. The baron reacted to her charms as she knew he would and nodded. "Of course, Your Majesties. This is water under the bridge. If you would please follow me, my family would like to meet you."

The royals followed their host as he took them to their family. While the baron was leading the way, James leaned close to Margaret and whispered,. "I don't need you to speak for me, wife." Margaret looked up at him, her expression calm. "Clearly you do, my Lord. You looked like you were about to start a battle." Margaret turned her attention to the Baron's family and memorized all the names of the girls, one of whom, Mabel was only a few months younger than her and had a five year old standing next to her along with her husband, the Baron Scrope of Bolton.

The rest of the day passed without incident. The feast seemed like any other feast to the royal family but they knew the Baron's household had slaved away for several days and night, preparing for their arrival. The one thing everyone enjoyed was the dancing as both royal courts were lively with young monarchs who enjoyed life.

Margaret seemed to have the best time of everyone in attendance. Even though she was young, only twenty four, she felt like a teenager in love all over again. She enjoyed the attention of the Northern English lords and the attention her fashion was getting from the Northern ladies. James on the other hand, felt old. He remembered feeling old at forty but now, well, forty seemed young. When he was a young man, women flocked to him in droves. They threw themselves at him, begging for just one smile, a look, anything in their direction. Now, while women still looked at him with lust in their eyes, it wasn't the same.

Margaret sat down next to him and took a drink of wine before looking over at him, tired but happy. "When are you going to dance? You're sitting here, brooding on your birthday. Your daughter and your wife each want a dance with you," Margaret pouted after she announced this. "Why are you being so difficult?" James looked at her in disbelief before shaking his head. "I don't want to make a fool out of myself. An old man out on the floor with his young wife. That would set English tongues wagging. 'The King of Scotland embarrassed himself.' Yes, you really want that to happen." Shaking her head now in amazement, she set her jaw and stood up. "You are not going to make a mockery of us and our court, because you're feeling old. You will stand up, dance with each of your daughters and your queen, and not complain. We set an example and I will not be party to a sulky King. Now get up and dance with your daughters."

The King looked up at his wife, astonished that she was giving such a command, nodded and pushed back his chair. "As my Queen commands." With that said, he asked his eldest daughter, Cat to dance first and she was only too happy to oblige her royal father.

James danced with all his daughters, saving his Queen for last. She took his hand and let him lead her. "It appears as if you're enjoying yourself, my Lord," Margaret teased James as they danced. James nodded and smiled. "I am. Thank you, my love. Are you ready to see your brother?" Margaret made a face and took some time answering. "I am. I want to see my sister too. I want to hear what happened from her own lips." James nodded, understandably. "You will, Madge. To London we go!"

-Author's Note-

Hello everyone and welcome back! This is the longest chapter I've written in quite some time and I'm proud of it. The next chapter will be Margaret's reunion with her brother and sister...also a meeting with a young future queen...any guesses anyone? ;-) Anyways! Read, enjoy, and review!