Well here is the long awaited next chapter of Martyrdom! Warning it's pretty long but I love the way it turned out!
Vengeance Is Mine:
The door of opportunity had opened wide for Thomas. After months of waiting, vengeance finally arrived to greet him. He thirsted for it since he was sentenced to die. Though he forgave the men and women who caused him to be in that situation the night before his scheduled "execution".
It was funny that his thirst for vengeance returned once he was spared from death.
The question was how was he to get rid of those pesky Boleyns. Thomas knew that the greed driven family had done nothing illegal, though the elder Boleyn was in Jail for threatening a monarch of Spain. Yes Thomas was innocent at the time he was arrested and almost wrongfully executed, but Thomas was not like the Boleyns. He couldn't fall back to their level; it wasn't Thomas' character.
Thomas yawned and walked to his quarters. He was too tired to think. He had no sleep the night before. He thought maybe a good night sleep would help him think straight. He hastily walked into his quarters and plopped into his bed. He opened the first three buttons to his doublet and untied his chemise so he could be comfortable and let himself drift into a comfortable sleep.
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Thomas found himself waking up in the tower again. He knew that by the stone walls and the uncomfortable mattress he was lying on. He sat up alarmed. Was his pardon all a dream? He started to panic and then he heard the sound of crying. Thomas turned his head and gasped.
In the corner of the cell there was a figure in the fetal position. His hose were ripped; the first three buttons of his doublet were opened. A dark gray cloak was wrapped around his shoulders. He held his knees close to his body and buried his face into them.
The scene seemed so familiar to Thomas; for that figure was him not far from hearing he was to die. Thomas stood up from the mattress and walked over to his past self. He knelt in front of the sobbing figure.
"It's
alright," Thomas said placing his hand on the crying figure's
shoulder. It gasped. Thomas looked into his past self's eyes. They
were puffy and red from crying, filled with sheer terror. The tear
tracks glistened and faded into the prison grown stubble. "There is
no need to be alarmed." Thomas' past self crossed himself.
"Wh-wh-who, are you?" It said.
Thomas smiled.
"I am you from the future."
His past self sprang up from the floor. He looked down upon Thomas eyes still filled with tears as if he were insane.
"You lie, I have no future, I am to die by the end of the week, for what crime did I commit, none." His past self said as he walked to his jail cell window and sighed, "I am to die a innocent man my only future is to die a cruel barbaric death."
His past self sobbed harder.
"You are not going to die, the king is going to pardon you, you are going to be Lord Chancellor again and once again do many great things."
His past self turned back to look at Thomas.
"Stop tricking me! I am to die a Martyr to save my immortal soul."
"No,
you will be spared and eventually die a hero." Thomas stood
up.
"What
I speak to you is true," Thomas said, "about five days from now
you will face your death but defeat it. You may not believe me now
but it will happen. Have hope." Then the scene quickly
changed. Thomas was now at the top of the scaffold steps. He saw his
past self again. He was now walking towards them dazed. Now that
Thomas was able to see himself, he could now comprehend the fear and
the terror that ran through his veins that day. His past self had
weakness in his legs and stumbled at the scaffold stairs.
"See
me safe up," his past self said exactly how Thomas said it that
day, "for my coming down let me shift for myself."
Thomas watched as his past self bravely mounting the Scaffold. But Thomas saw his past self shivering in terror just as he remembered as it walked past him. It then walked to the edge of the scaffold holding onto the railing.
"I
won't say much but I will say this," His past self said bravely
to the gathered crowd as Thomas did just months ago, "That I died
the King's good Servant but god's-" His past self was
then interrupted by the guard's voice: "THE KING!"
And as the king arrived on his horse just in time to save his friend and mentor, the would-have-been Martyr's past self turned back to Thomas. It smiled and mouthed:
"You were right."
And Thomas just smiled back.
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Thomas woke up immediately afterwards. After now witnessing his every action before he was pardoned, he knew what he had to do. He had to bring Queen Anne down no matter what the cost. He wasn't going to let her get away with his suffering.
And he knew just what to do.
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The three More daughters Meg, Elizabeth and Cecily sat on the bench in Thomas' quarters the very next night. Thomas paced back and forth in front of his daughters. Hands were clenched behind his back. He was afraid for his daughters' reactions. He didn't know what to say to them.
"Father what is this about?" Meg said.
"I don't see Johnny is he alright?" Elizabeth replied.
"Did Katherine give birth to a stillborn?" Cecily squeaked.
"Please don't tell us you are going to Jail again father!" Meg then retorted.
Thomas smiled at the girls who had distressed looks on their faces.
"No, no girls everything is fine," He said, "it's just that I know this is the last thing I would like to do, but Harry now has intentions of either divorcing or annulling the marriage with Queen Anne and finding another Wife."
All three women had smiles on their faces.
"Finally!"
"Took him long enough!" Cecily replied.
Elizabeth suddenly had a devilish grin on her face.
"A new wife you say father I hope he means me!" She said.
Thomas gave her a stern look.
"Elizabeth," He scolded.
"Sorry father."
Thomas smiled at her again.
"You're forgiven. Now as I was saying to you girls, the king intends to end his royal marriage with Queen Anne, however after a careful examination by the doctors on her deformed child we believe that Queen is a witch."
The three women gasped.
"A WITCH?!" Meg winced.
"I actually believe it!" Cecily said, "Henry knew better than to kill poor Cardinal Fisher and send father to the tower. She put a spell on him to do it!"
"Well I heard that she had a sixth finger and Moles all over her body," Elizabeth who was always amongst the court gossip said.
"Really and which source did you get that from?"
Thomas sighed; he always found it hard to talk to all his children at the same time, even if one was not present.
"Girls can we please stay on the subject," Thomas said.
"Sorry father," The three women said at the same time.
"Now, obviously we must punish the Queen for her witchcraft, but we don't have any evidence, and since a little over seven months ago I found myself being sentenced to die without any evidence my conscience prevents me from imprisoning her without evidence which is why as I said before this is my last intention to put you three in this position but I asked Harry to appoint the three of you as Ladies in waiting to spy on the Queen."
The room was silent for a moment. Then each of the More Daughters had a different reaction. Meg crossed herself. Cecily gasped not knowing whether she was excited or upset. And Elizabeth smiled because she was now living her dream on being a Lady in Waiting.
"But Father," Meg replied, "the men in court! They always go after the ladies in waiting for sexual advances."
Thomas knelt down in front of Meg who sat in the center of her sisters and put his hands on her shoulders.
"My daughters, I know I would never ever put you in this position, but these are dark times. I was lucky to not be a victim of Her tricks because Harry managed to escape her." Thomas began moving his head to look at all three at each other, "However, with her still alive we all remain in danger. The men there are the least of your worries. You are England's last hope to save us all from her. Listen if you don't want to do it for the King, for England, for Cardinal Fisher, for Alice and for everyone else who died and suffered because of her then do it for me…. please you girls are my last hope."
His daughters looked at each other and smiled.
"We accept," The three women said in unison.
Thomas pulled his daughters in for a group hug.
"I know you girls will make me proud."
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"Lady Roper, Lady Daunce and Lady Heron please place your hands on the bible," some man that the More daughters did not recognize said.
Anne, who was still recovering from her miscarriage, watched from her bed the three More daughters place their hands on the bible. She hated them already. She saw three pairs of her enemy's eyes staring back at her. She knew Henry sent them here to be spies. Why would Thomas More all of a sudden let his daughters work in her household? She vowed while the three brats were in her service she would make their lives a living hell.
"Do the three of you swear before god that you will serve the Queen faithfully?" The man said again.
"We will." The Three Women said in unison.
The Sisters placed their hands off the bible and stared at the Queen evilly.
An attack on their father was an attack on them all.
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March 15th 1536:
A little over a month passed by and still Thomas' daughters had brought back no word that could send Anne to the tower. The men planning her downfall, Thomas' son John, Brandon, Norfolk, Cromwell, Gregory Cromwell, Knivert and even Thomas himself were all growing rather impatient. Most of all, the King was getting impatient to the point where he became violent. The men realized the plan wasn't working.
So the seven enemies of Anne Boleyn that night sat and had dinner to discuss plan B. The Men sat at the long table with Thomas now the mastermind of this plan, 'The Lost Martyr' and now England's only savior sat at the edge of the table. When the men settled down Thomas cleared his throat and stood up. He leaned forward placing both hands on the table.
"Gentlemen," He began, "it's been one month since his majesty's bid to divorce Queen Anne, our first plan to have my daughters disguised as ladies in waiting is taking too long and Harry is getting rather impatient so we now have to turn to more drastic measures."
Suddenly the door opened and a man wearing a weird hat and a eye patch walked into the room.
"Is this where the Secret Society Queen Anne haters is taking place?" The man with the eye patch said sarcastically while shutting the door behind him.
Thomas glared at the man with dismay.
"And you are?"
The man with the eye patch laughed.
"Sir Francis Bryan his majesty sent me to speed up his matter with Anne because he is growing rather impatient."
John looked at Bryan with a frown.
"Aren't you Anne Boleyn's Cousin?" John said, "How do we know you are not spying for them?"
"How they disowned me after they caught me reading UTOPIA! There's your proof boy."
Thomas squeezed his eyelids.
"If Harry sent you to help us Sir Francis," He said, "then please take a seat and not make a scene."
Bryan bowed and then sat in the empty chair next to John.
"Now," Thomas continued, "as I said many times before I am not like Cardinal Wolsey I don't fight for a lost cause for this woman unlike the Infanta of Spain is dangerous to us all. It was for the most part this woman's witch craft to break with Rome, to send my wife into poverty for almost 2 years, to have innocent monks burned, to force people to withhold their true faith to save their lives, to send Bishop now recognized as Cardinal Fisher, a man guilty of no crime to his death. Gentlemen I stand before you as a survivor of her spell. On July 6th I woke up in the morning knowing that by the afternoon I'd be dead for treason and why? Did I hit the king? Did I kill the King? Did I wish him dead? No…other than probably Brandon, Knivert and Norfolk I have known Harry longer than some of you in this room. He is like a son or a younger brother to me. Then why be convicted of Treason? It was because I was a THREAT to Queen Anne so she pushed and pushed me to the scaffold. If she could push me to the scaffold then she could force Harry send Brandon the man who is like Harry's brother! So we need some way with out getting her off the throne without convicting or even killing a innocent person."
John watched proudly at his father, his brave father, the man he aspired to be, speak out to the people gathered in the room. John knew one day he himself would be like his father, a man who was a fierce politician but loved by all. Brandon stared at his hero as if Thomas himself was a preacher delivering a fiery sermon. Everyone felt the wave emotion in Thomas' voice. Even Cromwell who was known to be More's bitter enemy felt chills run down his spine.
The room was silent for a moment.
"May I make a suggestion Sir Thomas?" Cromwell finally said.
Thomas remaining stern glared at Cromwell. He hoped the method he suggested wasn't unconventional. Cromwell was known to fabricate evidence. He certainly did at Thomas' trial throwing in that Richard Rich.
"Plant evidence like you did with my father?" John said.
It was true John did not trust Cromwell for a minute. He was responsible for his father's near death. Part him felt that Cromwell would send his father to the scaffold again!
"John please don't discuss this now!" Thomas said, "right now the past is not important to us, now Mr. Cromwell you were saying?"
Cromwell made a sadistic smile.
"I think Sir Thomas," He began, "a quick and easy way to obtain evidence is interrogation and torture."
Thomas' eyes widened. He had an immediate answer.
"I'm sorry Mr. Cromwell I don't think torture is a good idea it is immoral and I condone it."
Cromwell stood up.
"Don't condone it Sir Thomas? As I do recall Rumors, have it that you took two of your so called Heretics that you burned to your household during your first round as Lord Chancellor and tortured them."
Thomas snarled at these horrible accusations. He just sent "heretics to be burned at the stake, not hurt them. John then stood up.
"THAT'S A LIE!" He said, "HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE MY FATHER OF SUCH ACCUSSATIONS!"
Thomas put his hand on his son's shoulder.
"John please," Thomas said before then putting his voice into a whisper, "You don't need to defend me, you need to be careful son that tongue of yours could you into trouble and that is my intention, relax son, let me handle this."
John sighed and sat down.
"Mr. Cromwell," Thomas said, "I don't know where you got this accusation that I would torture my prisoners from. By the way Mr. Cromwell you should be aware that I still don't trust you. If you are going to bicker with me on my beliefs and the past you will be joining the Boleyns in their downfall do you understand me?"
The color started to drain from Cromwell's face.
"Yes Sir Thomas, completely!" Cromwell squeaked.
"However Mr. Cromwell, I do believe in interrogation as long as it doesn't cause any fabrication. But we should do it in a way that does not cause any-"
Before Thomas could utter another word the door opened. A flustered Elizabeth Darrel came through the door. Thomas' heart started to race. Did something happen to Katherine? Something bad something good?
"Sir Thomas," She said, "My lady has just started experiencing Labor Pains and requests your presence immediately!"
Before the other men in the room could utter a congratulations Thomas sprinted out of the room.
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The labor pains came three weeks earlier than expected. But Katherine knew this was the will of god. The irony of this was that her and her husband's child would enter the world a little over a month after the death of Anne Boleyn's "deformed" son.
Katherine was in a lot of pain. All her births whether they were live or dead or just died right afterwards were painful. But this one happened to be the worst. It didn't help for one that she was older and unknowingly carrying two. It felt as though she was stabbed 1,000,000 times. Katherine laid on her bed , legs spread apart and knees up. She kept crying out in pain, but she was waiting. Also in the room with her were her daughter Mary and her old friend Maria De Salinas. Both stood on either side of the former Queen.
"Your highness," The midwife who was to help Katherine with her child's birth, "I don't know how much longer you could hold the child."
Katherine growled.
"I TOLD YOU WOMAN I AM NOT DELIVERING THE CHILD UNTIL MY HUSBAND ARRIVES!" She screamed.
Conveniently Thomas came in seconds later he crossed himself and ran to Katherine's side. He knelt beside her and grabbed her hand.
"Are you alright? Are you comfortable?" He asked.
Katherine smiled weakly.
"Now that I'm with you I am!"
"Good I am glad Let us quickly pray."
He planted a kiss on her lips. He crossed himself and then clasped his hands together while still holding Katherine's hand. He never prayed for a safe delivery right before the birth of his children, only that the pregnancy was safe. But since his first wife Joan was tragically died while giving birth to his son John, Thomas wanted to be extra cautious. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"Heavenly father we give thanks for blessing us with our child or children," he said, "as we bring our child into the world we pray that you bless us with a safe and healthy delivery, Amen."
The Midwife growled.
"I've waited long enough," She said, "may I please proceed?"
Thomas smiled. He then looked over to his stepdaughter Mary who smiled with joy seeing them both in such a happy state.
"Yes you may."
"I want you to take a deep breath your highness and when I count to three I want you to push as hard as you can I also need one of your ladies to help me wrap the child."
Katherine weakly smiled at her daughter and gestured for her to aid the midwife. Mary smiled and happily went to the midwife's side. Katherine took a deep breath. And then the Midwife said:
"1, 2, 3"
Katherine pushed with all her might. It was painful. But like her mother and father she was a strong woman. Like all the times she gave birth she pushed as hard as she could so she could get her child out as quickly and safely as humanly possible. She paused for a moment for a moment to take a breath.
Thomas started stroking her sweaty forehead.
"You are doing well." He said, "Go on."
She gripped his hand tighter and took another deep breath. She pushed again. This time it was more painful. She cried out in agony. She didn't stop to take a breath again. She then with all her might made one last push. And then:
A sound of a baby crying filled the room. Thomas smiled from ear to ear. Katherine weakly turned her head towards him and started to cry tears of joy. He gave her what Henry couldn't…a healthy child. A child she had prayed for many years, even when all hope was lost.
"IT'S A GIRL MUMMY, IT'S A GIRL A HEALTHY BABY GIRL!" Mary cried joyfully. She was happy that god answered her prayers for a sister. A sister that could look up to her and let her brush her hair.
Katherine started crying harder as she stared into Thomas' eyes.
"Thank you," She cried, "you gave me a healthy girl, the child I prayed to be my daughter's sibling."
Thomas then felt the tears welling up in his eyes. Everything that happened that year, his near death, his nightmares, his tears all seemed to disappear to this joyful moment. He couldn't hold it in anymore. He started to cry as well.
"Um your highness," The midwife said, "There is one more child!"
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Anne and Henry were having dinner with each other for the first time since the miscarriage. He didn't want to but he had no choice. He had to pretend he still loved her for now. The whole time the two of them said not a word to each other. Just ate their food like nothing was happening.
Suddenly a pitter patter of feet came into the room. It was Elizabeth Daunce Thomas More's second eldest daughter. Her long dark hair flowing behind her, still dressed in her lady in waiting attire. She curtsied.
"Your majesty," Elizabeth said, "as a request of my father I am pleased to inform you that Katherine of Aragon, former regent of England and the Infanta of Spain has just given birth to healthy twins."
Henry's mouth became agape…TWINS? He was in such a state of shock. He couldn't understand that it took Katherine till after he divorced her to have not one…but two children. Henry faked a smile and stood up.
"Take me to them," He said.
And as soon as the two of them walked out of the room, Anne Boleyn brought her head into her hands and started to sob.
"I hope you're both happy," She whispered, "You got your revenge!"
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"So we are settled for Annabella Alice for our girl?" Katherine said.
Katherine and Thomas sat in bed holding their newborn children. Thomas stroked his son forehead. Katherine was holding her daughter. She looked down on her daughter with loving eyes.
Thomas smiled. They each decided that Katherine was going to name their daughter, while Thomas would name their newborn son.
"Yes," He said, "Annabella Alice More, it's a great way to honor our mothers and Alice, may they all be well in the kingdom of heaven."
Katherine kissed him the cheek.
"And our son? What name do you have for him? Thomas for his brave and intelligent father the world could use another Thomas More."
Thomas looked down at his son and smirked. His little hand was gripping onto his ear. He thought about John and how he excited he would be that he finally had a brother. But what to name his boy? Thomas was thinking to name his child after Cardinal Fisher, his friend whom he admired greatly for his faith. But Thomas knew his good friend well; he wouldn't want to be indulged with such an honor. Cardinal Fisher would only want his memory to be remembered in spirit. Thomas thought long and hard.
His mind turned to his student Henry, his "Harry". Thomas wouldn't have been sitting here if it weren't for him, neither would Katherine and their new children.
"How about Harry?"
Katherine looked over at her husband.
"Harry? It's a interesting name I must admit, but why Harry?"
Thomas kissed her on the cheek. Tears of joy started spilling down his cheeks.
"I want to name my son after the man who saved my life, realize if it weren't for the king, I wouldn't be here, we wouldn't be here."
Katherine rested her head on his shoulder.
"Harry Thomas then?"
Thomas sniffed.
"Harry Thomas More."
The door to the bedchamber opened and Henry descended from the door. He had a smile on his face. He walked over to Thomas' side and patted his longtime friend and mentor on the shoulder.
"I thought I would send you my humble congratulations for the birth of your son and daughter." He said, "they are beautiful, what are their names?"
Thomas looked up at Henry.
"Well our daughter is named Annabella after our mothers and our son is named Harry, after the king of England and his godfather."
Henry looked at Thomas for a second.
"You named him after me?"
Thomas smiled and shook his head.
"Yes Harry after you."
Henry started crying and he fell to his knees.
"Thomas this is such an honor but you didn't have to"
Thomas ran his free hand through Henry's hair.
"I did I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you, Harry you saved my life. I Am forever grateful."
Henry brought his head back up and smiled.
"And I am forever grateful to have you as a servant, a friend and above all a father figure."
Henry then hugged Thomas. He wrapped his free arm around the king's back.
Throughout this whole ordeal not only did he gain a new wife and two children. He gained a stronger bond with Henry than ever before.
He never felt more alive in his life.
Imitating my good and brilliant friend Doc…. TOMKAT BABIES! TOMKAT BABIES I TELL YA!!!! LOL!! Next up baptisms spying and more angst LOL!
