Epilogue:
Everything Comes Full Circle
~o~
"Happiness, it hurt like a train on a track
Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with a drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming so you better run
Run fast for your mother run fast for your father
Run for your children and your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your loving behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive
The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can't you hear the horses
Cuz here they come
And I never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had
And what was left after that too. oh.
Happiness it hurt like a bullet in the mind
Stuck them up drainpipes
By someone who should know better than that
The dog days are over
The dog days are gone
Can you hear the horses
Cuz here they come
Run fast for your mother and fast for your father
Run for your children for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your loving behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive
The dog days are over
The dog days are gone
Can you hear the horses because here they come
The dog days are over
The dog days are gone
Can you hear the horses because here they come"
~"Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine
"Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything."
~Duke Senior Act II in "As You Like It" by William Shakespeare
1552
"God, please help me!" She screamed feeling the ropes around her body tightening. She opened her eyes and found her father starting back at her.
"Mind telling me what that raucous was about?" he did not sound mad. She shook her head. He sighed and ran his fingers through his golden-brown head. His hair had begun to darken with each passing year. It would not be long before it turned completely gray, her uncle Thomas said.
"Just get some sleep and try not to wake up Margery, you know how she is."
She knew exactly what Margery did. She would cry and cry until their mother finally came and rocked her back to sleep. How she hated Margery. Since she was born, she had done nothing but ruin her life and Annie's. Before her, it had been only her and Annie. They were their mother's favorites. Now it was Margery.
She felt so sick to her stomach. Her first blood flow since it happened. Her father had not noticed. He scurried from the room as soon as Margery began to cry, giving her a hard this is all your fault look.
"Hello Meggie." Her younger sister greeted the following morning. "Did you sleep well? I heard you had a bad dream. Is everything all right? Mummy says when we dream is because the bad man wants us to for being bad."
"Mummy says" She mocked "Is that all you can say? Stop behaving like a child."
"Well I am supposed to be a child." Margery shot back in her sweet voice, a smile on her face mirroring their mother's.
She waved her hand dismissively. "Just go."
"Why do you have to be so mean to her? She is just ten."
"She needs to learn how to act less stupid. When we were ten, mother would have slapped us if we talked that way to our elders."
Annie shook her head and let her sister be. "Annie!" Their Aunt's voice rung through the entire room. Annie curtsied to her mother and asked "Yes Aunt?" her hands pressed against one another, smiling neatly.
She was the image of the perfect courtier, like her aunt before her.
"Let me look at you girl." She tipped her chin and met her dark brown orbs. "Your reputation precedes you."
"I hope that reputation is a good one, lady aunt."
Bella smiled at her sister. "You have a good daughter sister. I will be proud to have her among my ladies." She looked sideways at her mother. What did she mean by that?
Mary placed her hand on her daughter. "Come Anne, your uncle is waiting. He has new dresses for you and your sisters."
"Oh goodie!" Margery who overheard, screamed, raising her arms as she raced with her sisters to meet their favorite uncle. He always bore gifts and greeted them openly without a care for protocol or what was proper. Margery, Meggie and Annie loved that feeling of normalcy.
"They will not let him go." Bella said.
"That is to fear. Meggie will not leave him alone until she has her golden tiara. She has been pining over that, waiting for her uncle to bring her golden prize, for weeks now."
Bella chuckled. "Who does she remind you of?" Mary slapped Bella's shoulder. "Princess Mary" She teased nudging her shoulder.
"Stop it."
"Mother I want those pretty pearls." Bella mocked, roaring with laughter.
"In my defense the pearls suited me better than you."
"Ha! In what way Your Highness? I seem to recall you said you did not fancy any gifts and would live the rest of your life married to God. You are in a way. Edward is a sex god."
"Bella!"
"What? You proved me wrong. I always thought the man was a eunuch. But you proved me still had some and they did work."
"Had what?" Mary asked, instantly regretting it when Bella answered.
"Balls!" She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "What else? You found yourself breeding after only one night, that has to be a record. I don't think any man can boast such prowess."
Mary rolled her eyes, pretending not to hear but inwardly she was smiling remembering their first night of passion. Nobody had loved and made love to her as Edward did. She only knew two men in her life but it felt like she had known many. George would always have a special place in her heart but it was Edward, the man she had entrusted her heart too.
"Lighten up Mary. There is no woman in the kingdom that is not envious of you. You have the god of sex warming your bed every night. If I did not have my fair share of my husband's hot lance coming and going between my legs I know I'd be burning with jealousy too."
Mary allowed herself to smile; her cheeks flustered remembering their previous night. "You are incorrigible sister."
"I know but you love me anyway." Bella said wrapping her arms around her sister.
"This way" Margaret said. A scout took her mare. They exchanged horses and cloaks and rode forward to Mary's residence where everyone was.
She had done as she was told. She had rallied the men from Framlingham Castle in Suffolk and as she rode from the countryside with the hundreds that followed her from Suffolk soon turned into thousands as she reached Beaulieu.
The stage had been set. The lords, the nobles, everyone was ready.
"You will be Queen." She will be Queen. She had made that promise to her mother before they had seen each other for the last time. Bella will become Queen. She had always been loyal to the crown, her mother's crown and what she now considered was her sister's crown.
She was not going to forsake her sister's honor for her husband's cowardice. If he did not want to fight then she would take up the mantle of husband and patriarch and bring the fight to her brother.
Arriving to Beaulieu, Maggie dismounted her horse and hurried inside not waiting to be introduced.
"We must go." Margaret said flatly. They could not afford to waste more time. She looked from Bella to Mary and her husband, the Duke of Somerset. Their armies were waiting. Under real leadership, their movement had a chance.
"France is with us?"
"They pledged their supports but no armies."Bella let out an annoying sigh. "But the Holy Roman Empire has sent us soldiers."
"I thought the Holy Roman Empire was in league with Spain."
"Someone must have convinced them." She told her oldest sister. Bella looked to Mary who merely shrugged.
"The soldiers are with you, the captain is waiting Your Grace." She told Edward.
"Will Edward be given complete command of the armies?" Questioned Mary, from her experience she learned that power –no matter in what way it came- was everything and knew how important it was to show their devotion to her sister's cause.
The prospect of her husband as commander of the Army put them in a higher position, almost equal to what they had been when he was Lord Protector.
"He will." Bella said immediately not wanting to discourage Mary or her husband whom she desperately needed. Many Reformers who felt betrayed by her brother would flock to her side seeing Edward Seymour riding besides her.
"He and his brother, Lord Sudely will ride at the head of the first regiment of more experienced soldiers. Your Grace, you know the terrain better than any man, how soon can you ride with me?"
"I can ride with you right now my lady. I've sent a rider to Chelsea, my brother is ready and his men are ready to fight as well." Mary raised her eyebrows at Edward in alarm.
"So soon?"
"There is no time to waste, Edward will have his own armies, we must prepare with all we have. Your Grace will your brother reach us in time?"
"I cannot vouch for my brother but if I know Thomas and I sadly do" he said with a small chuckle "he will be there before sunrise. He is eager to shed blood as Your Majesty is to fight."
Bella grinned, liking the sound of that. "Please, Your Grace. Save your flattery for when I am Queen, for now I am simply my lady."
"Yes, my lady."
Bella turned to every conspirator in the room. "Sisters I thank you for your support. This is a dangerous battle we face, the last one that will decide once and for all who England belongs to whether to the monster who's cost us our happiness in these last two years or me, the rightful heir."
"What God hath ordained let no man put asunder. Lady Isabella is the rightful heir." Maggie cried, loud enough so everyone would hear.
Everyone raised their hands, outside the common folk raised their pickets, and cried: "Here! Here!" "Long live Queen Isabella I!" "Long live good Queen Katherine!" and "Long live the Graces!"
The stage set, the players positioned, they were three lion hearted girls ready for a fight and sure to win.
Mary grabbed her sister's reins before she and her husband go riding into battle and whispered: "Bring him back and stay safe sister. Go with God."
"Mary,"
"No, Bella. Please keep this." It was their mother's rosary. Mary thrust it in their sister's hand. It had been passed from sister to sister until Bella had grown tired for the guilt she felt every time she gazed at it, and gave it to Mary. Now she was giving it back. "Mother always wanted you to keep it. It will keep you safe."
"I do not believe in God."
"It doesn't matter, He believes in you and He will be by yours side."
"You do not know that for sure." Why was Mary doing this? She knew that Bella did not like talking of God. Why torture her, now that she was going to ride into battle?
"As long as you have it" Mary kept on saying, ignoring her last comment. "nothing can harm you. Don't question it Bella, just believe." She closed Bella's hand and blessed her sister, doing the sign of the cross, and then said her farewell to them.
She stayed there watching them ride until they disappeared completely from sight. A storm was coming, she could feel rain droplets on her face, trickling down her lips. God was sending the storm, it was a sign that he was on their side and the thunder for each doubt she had, seemed to be directed North, in the direction she was looking where the battle would occur.
Marianne paced back and forward with her hands locked behind her back, her red-brown curls flowing freely, bumping against one another with every step she took. She could feel it, the swords clashing, neighbor against neighbor, and brother against brother. Her mother fighting for her family's survival.
Meggie came to her aid and tried to bring her comfort but the five year old refused. She was wise beyond her years and could tell what the outcome would be if their side lost.
Meggie could not believe her father was out there fighting. The rest of the Seymour-Tudor children as their cousin had turned to her and her older sister, Annie, for comfort but there was little they could give them.
"At his age" Edward, her younger brother, commented. "He is at risk of getting himself killed or worse captured."
"That is if our Aunt loses the war." Margery said glancing sideways as she always did to make sure no one was listening.
Prisoners in our own home. Meggie thought. They could not even rely in their servants and their mother had locked herself in her room praying, as if that would change anything.
"She could lose the war." Annie said.
"She will not lose the war." Their youngest cousin, Marianne, said. "She will not lose the war." she repeated, her voice resolute. "I know it" Then she turned her back on them, crossing her arms against her chest.
Like her mother, no one could argue with her. Their Aunt had left her in their mother's care because knowing she was her youngest daughter and her parents' jewel; Edward might try to steal her and use her as a bargaining tool to force their Aunt Bella into surrender.
Margery looked at Annie for advice. "Will they lose the war Annie?"
"They might." Annie's twin, Arthur, said, avoiding their gaze.
The Seymour-Tudor children shook their heads. They refused to believe their Aunt would lose the war. That would mean their father would be hanged, drawn and quartered and God only knew what else and that would make them traitors as well.
Then the messengers had failed to arrive and they feared the worst.
They stepped out and heard the terrible noise of cannons which sounded like summer-day thunder and the clashing of swords and smoke rising from the battlefield; but there was no way of knowing who was wining or who were the gunners.
Meggie smirkedas they still called their uncle our King. They all looked at her as if she gone mad but Annie understood and smiled at her sister.
It was all a blur. Meggie knew she was dreaming -she had to be dreaming for her uncle still had his handsome looks and Aunt Kate was by his side, looking cheerful and beautiful as she'd once been.
The onlookers turned from their young King to his cousin. Meggie bowed before him and plead her case. But her words fell hollow, as soon as she finished she felt his hands around her neck suffocating and everyone around her stood still as he choked her.
"How does it feel? I took your innocence, your life, your spirit and now I will take your father's life." Everyone turned to stone, Meggie called out to her uncle but when he stepped forward the ground swallowed him and his wife had turned to dust.
She raised her hands to his trying desperately to wench free of his grip but she couldn't and when he released her, to her horror she saw him morph into her worst nightmare -her father ...
Meggie woke from her nightmare and looked at her surroundings. It had been a dream. Just a dream. She took her handkerchief and brought it to her forehead, wiping the beads of cold sweat, she could feel her heart racing, her breath caught in her throat.
The day of reckoning was coming. The portrait, she stared into its blue orbs, would be un-hung and the man would be hung.
She prayed that day would come soon.
Her heart beat faster as she looked away and her hands fell to her belly where she bore the scars of her sin.
"God forgive me." She crossed herself and muttered a short prayer. She still had her mother's rosary she had given her for her ninth birthday with her. She took it out of the drawer and held it close to her chest against her beating heart. Instantly her heartbeat slowed and she felt at ease.
He was not going to terrorize her anymore.
It was joyous occasion. Messengers arrived from Norwich, near Norfolk where the battle had taken a drastic turn. The armies failed to capture Edward Tudor but they had captured their generals and, eager to show the country who was in charge, she issued acts of attainder against them. Their lands forfeited, lost to the crown, and later resold to her favorites while they suffered the worst deaths imaginable.
All of this to show that there was no room for mercy for traitors in her kingdom.
Her kingdom, she emphasized every time she spoke.
She drafted new acts and made good use of the lands that had been taken from the monasteries and the abbeys during her late father and brother's reigns that had not been put to use and put them to good use –creating hospitals, schools, and homes for the poor.
This was her destiny. There were many who believed she was the one true Queen.
"Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!" Were the throng of cries that were heard from the North to the South, in every part of the isle kingdom.
Everyone accepted her as their monarch and as soon as she took power, the Reformist faction who feared she would be too Catholic as her middle sister was and often tried to hide it when her husband was Lord Protector, soon found out they had nothing to fear.
She had no quarrel with them and she made a jest to them how she was here, bound by duty to serve and obey every subject.
She watched her subjects enjoying the merriment and entertainment the royal court had to offer. Wars, famine, plague had cut short the livelihood of these people. She had brought back vitality into their lives.
Five long years since her brother came to the throne and it became evident what sort of King he would be, she had dreamt of this moment. To take the throne, the scepter, the orb, and wear the crown that by right was hers and hers alone.
No man would rule over her. That was clear since the day her husband pledged to love and to serve her. He was her lover, her consort, the father of her children and nothing more. She watched Cromwell. The years had not been kind to him, but he had been loyal to the end. It seemed fitting to reward him giving him back the lands her and titles his brother stole from him and restoring him to Lord of the Privy Seal. He would not live long and his position would go to his son or a new favorite of hers, the way it was meant to be.
He gave her a toothy smile and bowed his head to her. She then glanced on her youngest child, Marianne. She had come to them as a blessing. The day she was born Liam had been the first one to hold her, he had been with her in the birthing chamber for the two days she labored to bring her into this world and when she was placed in his arms he sung to her and cried he was the happiest man alive.
He was right. She was not only a blessing but also a jewel and a rare one. She had been the only one of Bella's brood to be bear strong Tudor traits.
She raised her goblet, crying victory. Cheers erupted and she looked to her left to her children, their large brood of cousins and her sisters. Everything she had, will have, had been because of them. They were her pillars and, glancing back at her husband, her strength.
The dog days were over. This chapter of their lives was closed, everything had come full circle. Now it was their turn.
A/N: It has been a fantastic journey. Today is my first day of work at the football stadium so hope I can manage the big crowds, I hope to read some reviews before I go. Thanks to everyone who's made this fic possible, my readers, my reviewers and thanks to Mimi Dubois for being an awesome Beta-Reader! I hope everyone has enjoyed and that this epilogue lived to your expectations.
Sources used: "Bloody Mary" by Carolly Erickson, "The Myth of Bloody Mary" by Linda Porter" and "Tudors" by John Guy.
R/R!