AN: I do not own anything you recognize.
Summary:After it is discovered that Katherine of Aragon, Queen of England, is barren due to the birth Princess Eleanor, who subsequently dies in a week, King Henry VIII wishes to cast her aside, which he does. But other forces come to play, and Katherine is no longer the disgraced, barren, and set-aside queen, nor is her daughter a royal bastard.
At first, Katherine couldn't believe it. After all these years of marriage, after Mary, he wanted to toss her aside because she was barren and of no use to him?
It was heavily implied that Mary would be spared if her mother stepped back gracefully. And so she did. But she hadn't expected what came next.
-Flashback-
Katherine, now nothing more than Dowager Princess of Wales, was walking in the gardens, with her daughter on her hip, when the Spanish Ambassador, Senor Inez Lopez de Mendoza, walked over to her and bowed intricately.
She curtsied, but wondered why he was doing so, after all, she was no more than a dowager princess here, and even an Infanta did not get such a bow.
Quietly, Mendoza handed her a letter, and whispered, "Choose wisely, Your Grace."
-Flashback ends-
It had now been a day since that, but she was strongly advised to read the letter on her birthday, which was tomorrow.
The letter, surprisingly, had only Aragon's arms, and not Castile's; Katherine wondered what that was about...
"Your Grace, the Lady Mary." Her faithful lady, Maria de Salinas (who was going to probably marry Baron Willoughby next year, God willing), informed her mistress.
Lady Mary, the former queen scoffed in her mind, she ought to be 'Her Highness, the Princess Mary of Wales' but Henry shall not allow me that small mercy either. What he did allow was probably out of fear of my nephew, Carlos, because he is the Holy Roman Emperor.
She didn't know why Carlos hadn't stood up for his aunt, but she was sure it had something to do with this letter. After all, for all her idolizing of her mother, she had learned everything at her Padre's knee, so she was an able politician though she didn't like to show it; Ferdinand was more than happy to have two – Juana and her – of his five children run to him before their mother, like Maria, Isabel and Juan.
Regardless, she should keep her curiosity when it came to that letter in check, only twenty hours remained to her being able to read it.
The next day, Henry was kind enough to allow her a banquet, but they both knew it was to show off his wealth, generosity, and court so that ambassadors may write to their kings for a match.
But still, she enjoyed it while she could. Besides, having Mary around was nice, even if she'd be carried off to Elsyng Palace in two days time. The thought of her daughter living like little better than a royal bastard (just one allowed to inherit) infuriated Katherine to no end.
In the afternoon, when she was alone did she finally open that letter that had caused her to toss and turn all night. What if her pension was cut off? What if Spain, or rather, Aragon, renounced her because she was of no use in the marriage market anymore?
It seemed, her worries were completely unneeded, as it was something she'd never even considered.
To Her Highness, Infanta Catalina de Aragon;
From the Cortes of Aragon.
Most Gracious Highness,
Firstly, we give our deepest condolences for your late daughter, the Infanta Leonor, and would like to let you know that you and your elder daughter's embarrassment cause us great fury. King Enrique of England does not know his mistake just yet, but he will.
Secondly, we shall move on to the next aspect of this letter. You are aware, of course, of the Queen Juana's current...state, and the fact that her son and heir is a born and raised Austrian Hapsburg who only came to Spain to claim his crown. The Castilian Cortes may have accepted him, but we do not.
As such, following the Will of your late father, His Grace King Ferdinand II, we have decided that you are in the best position to inherit his domains. With the Pope and King Henry's permission, formally legitimizing the Princess Maria is a must, for she is your only heiress.
We hope you accept this offer.
Enclosed in this letter, is also your father, King Fernando II's Last Will and Testament.
Your ever loyal servants,
The Cortes of Aragon.
Katherine could hardly swallow what she just read. It seemed God did favour her after all, if the wheels of fortune turned in her favour, and she was no longer disgraced, set-aside queen consort (though still barren), but Queen Regnant of Aragon. Her Mary would be Queen someday, without uncertainty.
But first, her father's Will. Why was her sister, the Queen of Portugal, passed over?
This is the Last Will and Testament of me, King Fernando II of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sicily, Naples and Navarre, and Count of Roussillon, Cerdagne, and Barcelona, who is of sound mind and body writing this.
Firstly, I request...
Katherine read on until finally, the Succession was bought into the picture.
As for the Succession, I shall not name a clear successor, and allow the Cortes to decide that, but on a few terms of my own.
An intelligent move, Padre, Katherine thought.
The first term being that he or she has to have spent at least fifteen years in Spain; the second that said most gracious successor has to have at least a single heir; my third term is that they must be of sound mind and body; and lastly, the fourth term of mine states that the Cortes must decide one of my issue, but pass over my most excellent daughter, Maria, the Queen of Portugal and her issue.
That just bought down the Succession to...her and her only. Her father was effectively stating his successor while making the Cortes think they had power to select; after all, there was only one person who fit all these categories: Infanta Catalina, or Dowager Princess Katherine of Aragon. But he'd always taught her that the Cortes could be played like a fiddle if you knew the right move, and that was just what he did.
Getting up and looking at her person in the mirror: the English gown, the English hairdo, the calm serene mask... Katherine decided something.
The time to be English Princess or Queen Katherine is gone. I have to be Reina Catalina d'Aragon now.
"Fetch me my old Spanish dress, please?" she asked of Maria de Salinas.
It was time to negotiate with Henry.
A few hours later
"The Dowager Princess of Wales is here to see you, Your Majesty." His page informed.
Henry groaned and wondered if this was for another demand for Mary to be kept at court longer. But when she entered, it took his breath away.
For a minute, she looked like the young teenager he'd fallen in love with when he was eleven, with her Spanish dress and hairdo, with her veil, looking every inch the Infanta she was born as instead of the worn out widow of thirty-three.
"Your Majesty." Katherine curtsied as if they were equals.
How dare she?! He was a king, she was a widowed dowager princess, and even a peasant could guess who was higher!
"Your Grace. May I know why you presumed to curtsy that way?" he bit out.
"Ah, well, Majesty, we are equals now, as I've come to inform you." She all too cheerfully countered him. "You see, due to certain terms written in my late father's Will, I am his successor as the new Queen of Aragon." What?! He divorced her three months ago, and now she gets a kingdom (or multiple kingdoms)? He just lost his chance of being a king twice over! Katherine turned serious then, "Currently, there is the matter of my Succession. I came here to ask if you could give your consent as well, as you are the father, to legitimize Mary, thus making her my heir. She will, of course, be raised with me in Aragon."
"If only His Holiness, the Pope, agrees."
"Well then, I suppose this is where we part ways," Kath- no, Queen Catalina gave a curtsy. "Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty." He forced the bitter words out.
She was leaving and this wasn't an elaborate dream after all.
Princess of Girona
Mary Tudor didn't know what was going on.
All her two-year-old brain could understand was that Papa was no longer with Mama (how was that possible?) and now Mama was leaving England.
She did know that her mother would go to Spain (where else?), but she was scared that Mama would leave her; but Mama wouldn't leave her...would she?
Princess of Girona
Catalina had everything decided: the minute His Holiness' papal bull formally legitimizing Mary came, she'd take her to Aragon, then her own coronation would take place, followed by Mary's formal investment as her successor.
But... the Salic Law of Aragon...? I need to ask about that... but perhaps it was removed the minute Juan died...
Or, she could call Ambassador de la Puebla to query about this.
"Your Majesty, have you accepted?" he asked in Spanish.
"Yes, Ambassador; however, I have a question."
He nodded.
"What about the Salic Law of Aragon? As you know, not only am I a woman, so is my only possible heiress."
"His Most Gracious Majesty, King Fernando II of Aragon removed the Salic Law when your older sister, the Infanta Isabel, Queen of Portugal, was sworn in as his and Queen Isabel's heiress. You have nothing to worry."
She thanked him and called for 'Lady' Mary – soon to be Princess Maria d'Aragon.
"Mama!"
"Mi hija! I trust you are well?"
Maria (she might as well get used to it now) quickly nodded. She seemed to have a firm hold on Spanish.
A few weeks later, her coronation took place in her country, and she become Catalina I, Queen of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sicily, Naples and Navarre, and Countess of Roussillon, of Cerdagne, and of Barcelona, with her daughter sworn in the Cortes as Princess Maria de Tudor y Trastámara, Princess of Girona, Duchess of Montblanc and of Gandia, Countess of Cervera and of Ribagorza, and Lady of Balaguer.
It wasn't what Catalina had expected – she'd always expected that she'd marry Arthur, be his queen, and mother to the future king; after he died, she expected to marry Henry, be his queen, and still mother of the future king. When her womb wasn't blessed with a surviving son, she thought she'd be mother to the future queen.
But, instead, she was Queen Regnant of Aragon, her daughter was the future queen regnant; and relying on Henry's goodwill and turning a blind eye to his mistresses while hoping she would have a healthy son was no longer her life.
Twelve years later
Fourteen-year-old Princess Maria d'Aragon had no idea why her mother was taking her to the King of England's birthday banquet, but she was the Queen, so Maria had to obey.
Her best friend was giggling, "They say the English Court is beautiful, Maria! Do not be so dejected at leaving Aragon!"
The Princess' lips were in a thin line, and Lady Anna de Pablo immediately understood.
"You do not want to see the King of England; but why? Is he not your father?"
The future Queen of Aragon sighed, "He is; 'tis just that... urgh, he hurt Madre so much... do you expect me to like him?"
"No, Maria, but he is still your father. Try, at least." Anna implored.
"I will."
A few days later
Henry
"Her Majesty, Queen Catalina of Aragon!"
And in came the once-love of his life; to be honest, he still had some fondness left for her, but most of his heart was now with his wife and queen, Anne Boleyn. Fifteen years ago, he never would've thought that this is what he would've thought about Kat-no, Queen Catalina.
Even if it was difficult to think of her as anything other than that Infanta who came to England, Henry knew. Still, he supposed, Anne had given him three bonny lads, Henry, Edward and George, and two beautiful princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Maria of Aragon!"
Mary – he never could think of her as anything other than his Mary, his pearl – entered, holding herself regally and fantastically. How he'd ever let her go was beyond him.
"Your Majesties," Kath- Catalina curtsied that same damn way that reminded him of that spring twelve years ago.
Next, Mary came forward, "Your Majesties, it is an honour to meet you." She greeted after her flawless curtsy.
No daughter should have to speak that way to her father, a part of his mind menacingly accused.
The banquet went well.
Of course, Anne was only slightly hostile towards Queen Catalina, but not enough to cause a problem between the two countries. Mary got along fantastically with Elizabeth, which was, in hindsight, to be expected, what with them being intellectual young princesses already defying expectations.
Catalina herself seemed to be at ease in the English court, because she'd once been the Queen, now she was a queen in England but her importance was all the same. Not many would forget her reign as his queen.
Six years later
Henry
It was in the January of 1536 that he got the news.
Kat- Queen Catalina was dead. Logically, Queen Catalina dying shouldn't have so much of an effect on him – she was a foreign queen, albeit the mother of his daughter.
But, with Queen Catalina, his Katherine was dead too – the Spanish Infanta, the first love of his life, his first wife, his first kiss, his firstborn's mother, and his first queen. And Katherine's death hit hard.
The Ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, said that the new Queen of Aragon – my daughter, Henry's brain registered – would like a member of her family to be there.
Katherine's family travelled to England for him, it was time his family travel to Aragon for her.
A few days later
Elizabeth
Bess saw as her elder sister, Maria, walked the length of the hall.
The archbishop put the holy oil on her head and chest, and then began speaking in Spanish, "I give you Maria de Trastámara y Tudor, by the Grace of God, Queen of Aragon, Valencia, Majorca, Sicily, Naples and Navarre, and Countess of Roussillon, of Cerdagne, and of Barcelona!" At least, that's what Bess understood.
After her sister made a few oaths, everyone suddenly began shouting: "Viva la Reina!"
"Papa," she tugged on her father's sleeve, "What do they mean?"
Papa looked temporarily annoyed, but then smiled and answered, "It means "Long Live the Queen"."
She nodded solemnly.
But why was Papa crying and smiling at the same time?
A/N: the end. So I am a bit lacking in creativity, but I have written a page for Queen Elisabeth, the Tudor Rose. Anyhow, tell me how you liked this story. And no, this isn't being extended.