Disclaimer: I don't own anything just the plot and the OCs.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this fic!
Here in Canada today I am going to see the Falls and go into horror houses, that is right, I know I will be scared but is a risk I will take! ^_^ Horror and adrenaline addict, also the river boat ride into the falls, after that take more pics of the falls and visit other places, we have been driving four days now all the US East coast and have been stopping here and there to admire the view and historical places. So before I return home I leave you with this chaper.
Courtlylady has made this awesome trailer for Angel of Wales on youtube, just search Angel of Wales Trailer, is awesome. Thanks again CL.
Sorry for the short chapter, I promise it will be longer next chapters, also the song I recommend you hear for this What I have done by Linkin Park.
No Fact vs Fiction since not much of the war will be seen but this chapter was necessary to see what our characters will be up against next chapters.
Be sure to review, the faster I update!
kk,
~Carolina
"This type of thinking could do us in -thinking history is all about who is right and who is wrong and thinking that we can use that to justify our theories.
Three thousand years later we will never change, when will we understand real history is not about facts, it is about subjectivity how we interpret fact or fill in the gaps according to our opinions. As Einstein said time is relative, therefore history is according to the ones who are in charge of writing it. Call me harsh but it is the truth"
~Me
1544, February 14th
Westminstery Abbey
Mary visited Westminster Abbey last week to ask forgiveness for her sins. It was ridiculous and yet ironic, she considered, to be doing this at a late time when there was no remedy to be found, from the problem she and Eustace had created.
Kneeling in front of the stained glass that depicted the Virgin Mary and Joseph and in the middle stood their son, their Lord Jesus Christ, she let herself throw herself on the Abbey's holy floor and desperately, she prayed that she could turn back the clock and prevent for this mistake -this grave sin from happening.
Greenwich
Eustace, a week later, was reading Mary of Hungary's latest letter. She was giving especific instructions to her closest relative's representative in England to exert influence over the Duchess of Bavaria -her cousin- regarding the marriage proposal of her oldest son, Lord Philip and and his much older cousin.
To be sincere, for Eustace Chapuys there came times when he really hated his job, such as now. There was something amiss in the way his Lady was behaving. She had been avoiding his gaze now for the past three weeks, and he honestly did not know if this was due to the fact that she didn't want to talk anymore about the Queen's close relationship with her children, or the subject of marriage that her cousins were proposing for her eldest son and heir of his father's lands.
The Queen lately had been fairly close to the Prince of Wales, Edward Tudor, and not only that. Every time Mary would show her face in Court, the Queen did not waste any time to bring forth her children, the Lords Philip and Henry and show them off as her favorites (more than Edward) for everyone present in the Court to see, but especially the Princess.
If there was a God, he certainly was not present when the displays of affection would ocurr in the English Court with the Queen and the Duchess of Bavaria present. Each were not only competing for the Kingdoms's affection anymore, they were now competing for his Lady's sons as well.
It was ridiculous, considered Eustace. On one hand he had his Lady whoring in private with him, and on the other he had a silly little Queen he had to deal, who was becoming increasingly popular in the Kingdom since she had successfully rallied up support for the King in a region no one thought would be possible (save for the Duchess' presence). The Queen proved that she was quite capable of ruling without the help of her husband, and that in the short time he had been absent she had matured from a insolent, indifferent and petulant girl, to a woman who could very well take the reins of her own life. This new maturity often reminded (those who had known her) of the infamous Anne Boleyn -the woman who -even in death- continued to be the scandal of Christendom.
She had sired from evil itself and out of witchcraft a child whom he was so sure she was the spawn of the Devil, and yet also the King's. For all the rumors that went around to stain the Lady Elizabeth's deceased mother, there wasno doubt in his mind that she was indeed the child of His Majesty Henry VIII. Flaming red hair and pale, ivory skin, there was no mistake she was a Tudor through and through -more so -he was ashamed to admit with a little guilt as he saw that child dance with her cousin, the Earl of Surrey,than his Lady, the true Princess of England who should be (in his opinion) the one bearing all the favor of her father's Court.
"This was where I was born" Mary told Susan as they stood in one of the corners of the Court romm, staring up at the Lady Elizabeth dance her way with all of her partners. For someone so young, Mary observed, she certainly has everyone's attention. Not only her cousin's but also (much to Mary's dismay) Thomas Seymour, and the rest of the young male Courtiers who could not help but be anxious at the prospect of being chosen by the most favored Lady -after Her Majesty- in the English Court.
Whenever he saw the whore's daughter, he thought about Jezebel and every evil woman ever mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, for something like her created out of cheat, and evil could not be considered itself pure or divine as her sister, his Lady saw it. In fact he was growing tired that Mary always defended her sister, by the way she spoke of the concubine's child it was like she was the Messiah or someting close to it -Eustace thought with disgust as all the men were flocking to her like wild hawks.
This truly was a Court of sin and the devil.
He smirked and mentally snorted with laughter, he could hear the voices of his conscience and his subconscience laugh and in uproar as he thought of this.
'Sin, Eustace? Aren't you the one that coveted her flesh and body for your own purposes and desires?' It said. Silence -he bellowed however the voices did not stop, and when he finally locked glances with Mary who was across the room the laughter only increased.
'Hypocrit! -they said- You took the Princess, you made her no better than the whore and concubine you cursed!'
Shut up! Leave me alone!
When the voices finally stopped, unaware of what had gone in his mind, Mary told Susan to wait for her and Susan against her own logic was forced to comply for she did not want to cause a scene here in the middle of the Court. God knows her Mistress was already in much heat because of her disfavor with the Queen and refusing to attend her sons' households whenever she was there.
"Excellency" Mary said grinning widely as Eustace bowed his head for his favorite Lady.
After they were done with the formalities Mary beckoned Eustace to sit next to her in one of the spare chairs. Eustace thanked her, his leg really -he felt- needed a rest.
It wasn't bothering him much these days. He hated to admit as his eyes diverted to the high table where the Queen was, that His Majesty was in fact right. Sex was the best medicine for any ailment.
Indeed, Katherine Howard thought as well as her gaze landed on Thomas Culppeper, a man who was not only her trusted confidant, but also much more -she had made certain of that.
His gaze quickly returned to his Lady and beloved sweet Princess, whom he knew was easily turned jealous when he glanced at other women. Not that he did with as much frequency as other men who grew tired (especially those whose marriaged were arranged) of their wives easily. His heart and soul belonged solely to one woman, and that was the prima dona seating next to him looking at him through her piercing dark blue orbs.
"You have not talked to me in the past weeks milady. May I inquire as your humble servant to the nature of your problem?" he asked adding humor to his voice as he watched a smile come out from his Lady's face.
She was not exactly Princess charming and she didn't want to be. Why be something that she was not? She was not one to cry after her husband when he went to battle, or long for him for that matter. In fact the moment Philip had gone off into battle, she felt nothing. Not an ounce of sadness, or despair when it was mentioned at Court all the men who had fallen prisoners or died in the war. It was Philip's decision to go -she told everyone -and he was a capable leader who had military experience in dealing with the Turks, there was no cause -she argued- to worry. But she had every reason to worry, but not for the reasons the others thought. She pondered, even found herself yearning at the prospect of Philip dying. When she would dream of it at night, it did not come in the form of nightmares but as a wish come true.
She had frowned though the week after her last night with Eustace. She had dreamt of Philip dying in battle, his bloodied coat being brought up to her, in the same fashion her mother had done so with her father when she won the battle against the Scots in Flodden Field. The only difference was that in contrast to her mother and her other dreams, this one turned out to be darker. When Mary woke up she had found herself with morning sickness. She knew exactly what this meant, having borne two children and the godmother of half of the Courtier's children, it was a sign of the Lord's displeasure against their sinful ways.
She had not spoken to Eustace because she did not want to trouble him. His gout had not been bothering him as much, and it was evident the signs of recovery. He walked better and faster and he did not clutch his black cane as much. He also didn't look as haggard as when he began to use the cane.
"Yes you may" Mary answered her best man and true love with a widest grin yet as in a bold gesture, not caring if her enemies took notice or not, she reached for his arm and touched it affectionately. As soon as she did though, her face turned stern as she reflected on what she was about to tell him.
This was not something he would take lightly -she thought. The implications of what this would mean to them and their relationship, and to her if this ever got out, it would ruin them and all their efforts after she had successfully been restored to the line of succession completey!
She grimaced for a minute and then with a weak smile returning to her pale features, she decided to tell him in the lowest voice possible. "I am with child"
His mouth had hanged agape for only a short period of time, seconds, before he regained his usual devoid of any emotion. "What makes you so sure?" He aske, his expression troubled.
Mary's weak smile had not faded. She had learned from the best how to keep up appearances in a Court so dangerous as this one. Every smile, every other facial expression even a thought spoke aloud could be misinterpreted and used to the benefit of one's enemies, Mary had since learned this when she had been subject to the whore's humiliations at Hatfield.
"I have not had my-" she quickly looked around to make sure no one was looking, then turned back to Eustace lowering her voice to a whisper "courses in two weeks and I was due exactly that time. I have delivered two children, I know if this would be a simple ailment"
Eustace desperately wanted to bang his head against a wall and knock some good sense in it that he felt he had been lacking for the past fifteen years that he had spent (minus the year he had been sent on Charles' orders to Antwerp) in this dreaded Island.
He had been dreaming too big when he thought that his Lady could be the greatest Lady, if not Queen of all Christendom. A Queen who would return this Country back to the Old Ways as it was meant to be, but alas he could not go against the sands of time. What was done was done -his Master's best hopes were deposited in the children she had given His Majesty, two grandsons one of whom enjoyed the greatest health, and was his (Eustace's) shame.
Evil -he thought as he glanced at her un-swollen stomach- comes in small packages.
"Philip does not come back in at least three more months if not more" Mary stated making Eustace more nervous.
"Then we have to find more suitable methods to avoid suspicion." he said. "Who else knows besides yourself and the Lady Susan?"
"No one if that is what you are meaning" she said becoming troubled after his first sentence.
"What do you mean by suitable methods?" She then asked.
His expression was kept neutral. "The only way Your Grace" he said carefully, "that gossip could be avoided is if there was no reason for gossip to exist"
Mary did not like the wickedness he was implying she do, and it was confirmed when that dangerous glint of mischief appeared in his yes.
"No I will not" she hissed her expression turning to disgust and outrage. "How can you be implying that?"
"Furthermore" he added seeing her expression change and her lips beginning to move. "if you are not yet in a good standing with Her Majesty or fail to attend her summons or visit your children, people will begin to talk."
He had a point there. People would talk and news in England traveled fast. People loved to think the worst of everyone, and Mary was gaining more enemies at Court. The old fashioned motto that her Governess used to tell Mary and that she would follow to boot -you kill more flies with honey than with vinegar. She was no longer finding this motto very useful when the whore was taking her sons further away from her. She was their mother, she had argued many times with Eustace and with Philip, it should be her job to rear them as good Christians that they were meant to be.
It had become a lost cause to argue against her Their Majesty's decisions. Her father wanted male heirs at all costs, and this was the sole reason why she had been restored to the line of sucession in the first place. To legitimize his grandsons' claims. Rumors were His Majesty was beginning to doubt on his capacity to sire a son, he had confessed to Cromwell -Eustace had been there when he said it just before he decided to favor the Emperor in his war against France and the Turks over squabble of territories.
His Majesty said that now more than ever he was considering on a suitable match for his grandsons, and mayhap one for his son. It was the first sign of confirmation that Eustace had witnessed with his own eyes and ears, that His Majesty did not believe that his only son and heir would make it past his teens. He needed to preserve the Tudor name, and therefore the sons of his eldest daughter by an act of Parliament had been his succesors.
Some said that he'd wanted to go further. Something that Eustace did not find hard to believe, after all England had seen weirder things happen in the past on the lines of sucession, the first that came to his mind was the bastard son of Normandy who had become not only Duke Roger's succesor but also England's King, William. Stephen was another example, like Richard III he was called the usurper for having been considered the unlawful claimant to the throne. When his son who bore his name (Eustace) had died of illness, he decided to adopt and recognize his nephew as his sole heir, and his wishes were carried out. After King Stephen died, the Duke of Normandy and co ruler of Aquitaine finally became King of England, Henry II.
It was only because of Cromwell and others who were still waiting for the outcome of this war, that His Majesty did not adopt his favorite grandson, whom it was no secret he adored that child best (even more -it was whispered by the Queen herself in his absence- than his own son and heir apparent), Lord Henry Tudor-Wittelsbach.
Eustace had sighed in relief for two important reasons: If His Majesty had managed to adopt his youngest grandson as his heir, that would mean that the Duchess and the Lady Elizabeth would not be granted their place in the sucession as Parliament had ruled. Many people would be in outrage, it was a very unpopular move when the King had suggested it and Eustace had been very alarmed by it. Thank God, he prayed every night, it was not so.
Just the thought of a bastard on the line of sucession -was enough to bring Eustace back to reality as he heard his Lady speak with pure discontent in her voice -"I will not loose it"
"Consider this then-" his voice switched to a firmer tone "-you have not been fully reconciled with the Queen as I have advised you. New Year and Christimas presents milady are not enough, you need to prove yourself worthy to win her affection, otherwise she and others will look for more effective ways to cut you from your sons' lives permanently"
Mary pressed her lips tightly forming one thin line and went to consider Eustace's words. She wasn't exactly one to follow his orders. Who was he to tell her what was better for her child? A child he had also helped conceived. She did not need to remind him, that if she fell he also fell with her.
Could she really do that? She asked herself, make him fall and watch him as he suffered because she decided to point fingers at him? Of course she could not, but the threat she decided she would use for now, since it was the best card she could use. Blackmail or not, she was not going to let this child suffer because of his or her parents' sins.
Eustace wanted to bury his head in his hands as he heard his Lady speak. How could she be so naive? He asked himself. Did she not know what was at stake here? An alliance, and her reputation for God's sake!
"I have made up m mind" Mary said in the same firm tone as him "And you will help me keep this secret, let us not forget this was an act of two Excellency"
"Then it seems my advice is less needed" He stated, knowing that nothing he could say would make any difference. He knew too, in his bones that Mary was making a bad decision for all the wrong reasons, and feared that no good was going to come out of it. If this would be discovered she would be dragged down the mud and be more humiliated than her mother or the whore ever were. Thinking back to the whore, Eustace wondered if this was some ironic punishment from her evil spirit that had come back to hell to make him and Mary fall into temptation? Or was this some twisted humor from their Lord who was punishing them after all the sacraments they had broken -that he had made her broken?
Mary could almost see by the way he opened his lips and then quickly closed them, pressing them together and his eyebrows arching, what Eustace was thinking about.
"First, I will always heed your advice" He cocked his head raising one eyebrow. Mary quickly added -"if it is what suits my interests"
At this Eustace smiled. He was still worried, Mary knew, and it bothered her that he still held that dangerous glint in his eye.
"Will you help me?" She asked once more, her tone calmer this time.
"For your sake Madame I will for your happiness is as I have said before, all I care for most in this earthly realm"
"That is all I needed to hear from you ... Eustace"
"Sibling rivalry is something very delicate. Our parents always tell us they love us all for equal, but as you grow you begin to notice, that each parent or both begin to take different interest for each child, and in the end this leads to competition which if not controlled, leads to a deathly rivalry. It explains why are our society is based on competition. We are taught and reared in it since we are in our diapers"
~Siblings equal Society
Hever
Kitty was thrilled. She was to see her favorite and only godsons, her two little stepgrandchildren who had grown a lot since their mother had last seen them.
Philip and Henry bowed their heads in deep respect, as they were instructed by their tutors and respective Governess to their Queen.
The nursery was very extremely big, it had been the size of one big chamber fitting for Princes. It was no more than what the grandsons and heirs of England and Bavaria deserved, she thought.
Katherine hated all this display of Royal Protocol, she considered it unnecessary. After she had dismissed everyone from the nursery, she and the children began to play with their favorite toys. It had been hard to win the youngest -Henry.
She reminded him a lot of that old mare mother of his, the Duchess of Bavaria, her sour stepdaughter who still did not show her -Katherine considered- enough respect. But like all of her subjects, she had won him over and she discovered it did not take a lot of effort. Kitty had convinced Henry to bestow titles on their favorite godson by making him the Lord of Richmond and Pembroke. It had placed him higher than his older brother, and it had made his father, the Duke, very proud.
It had also made Henry and Kitty very proud. She did not dare to tell this to anyone, but she seriously considered that the King was past the age of conceiving, his leg reeched of horrible odors and he was no longer the lion in bed he was known for in his younger years.
The fact of the matter was, Henry was getting old.
Philip's blocks easily crumbled and this woke her from her day dreaming hearing the child cry as he saw his favorite castle smashed by his younger brother, who barely two years old, and he was already causing havoc to his family.
"There, there" Kitty said bringing the older child into her arms, rocking him and whispering soft praises for his castle and making up for the loss that his brother had caused.
Kitty kept rocking Philip in her arms, it was very difficult for everyone including her, to calm the child. Out of the three Tudor children, he was the one who was more co dependant on his female elders, seeking attention from them whenever he could. Henry was different.
He only sought attention when he thought it was convenient, Kitty noticed. His tutors praised him saying that from the two he was the more hyper active and also the more subtle, he never missed a thing that boy. Kitty had had less trouble when it came to Henry than with little Philip, but either way she loved both boys the same, only she tended to see more potential in Henry whom she now saw with a reproaching look as the boy cowered at her angry looks.
After Philip had stopped crying and she set him next to her on the sofa where she had been sitting all this time while she watched Henry and Philip play with their wooden blocks.
Eyeing Henry again, Kitty cleared her throat. "What do you have to say?" Kitty asked tapping her fingers on the soft cushion of the sofa as she waited for the boy's response.
There was a defiant glint in the boy's eyes that reminded Kitty of her husband. By all means, this should have been -she thought- the boy to be Henry's son.
Was her step-grandson ambitious enough, she wondered, to fill in his grandfather's shoes if given the chance to take over his Kingdom, like he had done so with his older brother's castle?
Not even two yet and Henry proved himself better than his brother. He lifted himself up and walked slowly and calmly without any hessitation to his brother, and in a mock bow he said in an innocent voice as Kitty took him too by her arms and placed him in between her and his brother: "I deeply am sorry. I only wanted to help"
Kitty was easily convinced by this, but not her oldest godson who did not miss the dangerous and calculating icy glare in his brother's eyes. He did not dare to tell anyone, but he was for some reason he could still not fathom, mollified of being placed next Henry. It used to be that both boys had separated households, but since his younger brother had been created Lord of Richmond and Pembroke, Philip had been relegated to play the part of the lesser brother. It was like Henry's popularity had risen all of a sudden and despite their tender ages, Philip was aware of his surroundings, and it scared him that his brother was beginning to consider him a rival.