01 August 1534

Queen Anne, formerly the Lady Anne Boleyn, Marquess of Pembroke screamed as the contractions tore through her body, as she pushed she prayed, this was her second pregnancy, and she praying against all hope that this child was a boy. Henry had been disappointed with their darling Elizabeth's sex, she knew that and her father had impressed upon her how important it was that this child be a boy.

"I can see the head," said Mistress Collins, the midwife

"Well done, Anne," said Lady Mary Carey squeezing her hand, "You're nearly there,"

"One last push my lady," said Mistress Collins

Gathering what little strength she had left and with a last prayer to god, Anne pushed with everything she had. She was relieved to hear the wailing of a child who was clearly not happy about its present situation, Anne held her breath,

"A boy, my lady" cried the midwife in jubilation over the wail of the baby, "A healthy baby boy,"

Anne didn't have time to say anything because another contraction stole her attention with a cry.

"There's a second baby your Majesty, you must find the strength to push again," said Mistress Collins with urgency

Anne didn't know how, but somehow from deep within her she felt an inexplicable strength, and with that last reserve of energy, she pushed and felt the familiar sensation of a child sliding from her body, who like its brother entered the world with a displeased cry.

"Well..." demanded Anne,

Henry looked up at the sound of someone running towards his chambers,

"Out of my, I must speak to the king," a Page wearing Anne's livery was pushing his through to his chambers a look of excitement on his face.

Heart thudding in his chest, "Let him through," he commanded

The page came to a stop and bowed deeply,

"Well," demanded Henry

The page broke into a wide smile, "Her majesty is safely delivered, of healthy twin sons," he said emphasizing each word as he spoke,

To Henry, the world seemed to stop, "You are sure," he asked in a whisper

The page nodded, "The princes were born not 1 hour ago, with mother and babes apparently doing well,"

Henry couldn't believe it, surely now the world would see his cause was just, in just over 18 months of marriage, Anne had produced 2 sons as well as their precious princess. He turned to the other men in his rooms,

"My lord we can waste no time," he said sharply, "My Lords Norfolk and Wiltshire will arrange the festivities, I want no expense spared,"

"Yes your majesty," said Thomas Boleyn,

Charles Brandon looked anywhere but Anne's family, he knew that her father and uncle would be unbearable now that jumped up bitch of theirs's had borne the King, not one but two sons, and any chance there might have been of Henry coming to his senses and discarding Anne Boleyn had just vanished. As he looked up to see Henry hurrying away in the direction of Anne's apartments, he felt his heart sink the King moved further away, he had briefly hoped that when Anne bore Elizabeth it would be enough to shake the King away from but alas now there was nothing anyone could do.

Anne looked at the two precious bundles in her arms, they had been cleaned and swaddled, with a green ribbon placed around the wrist of her eldest son and a white ribbon around the wrist of her second son. Her sons, Anne felt a thrill every time she thought those two words over and over again, her sons. She looked up as Henry came bursting into her rooms with a delighted smile on his face,

"My beloved Queen," he said striding over to her and kissing her being careful to squash the two boys in her arms, "I can never thank you enough for this," he said, although he seemed calm Anne got the sense he was trying hard to cry, with a nod she dismissed her ladies so that they could have some privacy.

"It would appear we have a Prince of Wales and a Duke of York," said Anne, allowing Henry to take their firstborn son,

Henry looked at his eldest son, "I think King Henry IX has a good ring to it, and Edward, the Duke of York," he said looking up grinning at Anne, who beamed back at him,

"Prince Henry and Prince Edward," she murmured, "Our boys,"

They just sat there for what seemed like an eternity before they heard fireworks going off outside the windows, followed swiftly by bells,

Anne couldn't help but smile, at last, the people would love her...