King Francis was discussing war plans when a messenger handed him a note. Prince Henry observed how his fathers' hand shook as he read the note. "Father what is it?"
"The King of England has captured Boulogne." Francis breathed heavily, "The Countess and my son are prisoners of Henry VIII."
Margaret reading her brothers reaction ordered everyone to leave. She didn't want anyone not even his children to see him in this state. As Prince Henry was leaving couldn't help but notice the look of devastation on his fathers' face. "Will he be alright?" He asked his aunt in concern.
"He survived you and your brothers' imprisonment," Margaret answered calmly, "He'll survive this for the sake of France." It took Henry a while to comprehend what his aunt had meant. It never occurred to Henry how devastating it must have been for his father to trade his own sons for his own freedom. Prince Henry tried to imagine himself in his fathers' position and the thought was painful to say the least. Then his thoughts turned to his little brother George who although was a bastard was still Prince Henrys' blood and was genuinely loved by his father.
After Prince Henry left Margaret went to comfort her brother. She wrapped her arms around her brother as he cried, "I can't do this again. I can't. The thought of one of my children imprisoned by another ruler…"
"It won't be like that." Margaret interrupted, "King Henry wouldn't do anything to harm George especially whilst you have his daughter."
"He'll want me to trade but France would never stand for it." Francis clenched his hands into fists, "They'll never allow me to trade a Princess of England for a bastard in a million years."
Margaret knew Francis was right but she also knew King Henry that wouldn't simply offer George to trade for Elizabeth. There had to be something more worthwhile for France. "We'll just have to see what King Henry offers brother."
Francis knew his sister was right but another thought occurred to him. "What about Mary? She was the one who brought Elizabeth here in the first place. What if he has her executed for treason?"
"Francis we've read his letters to Elizabeth." Margaret tried to reason with her brother. "King Henry is clearly trying to gain his daughters' favour. He won't be able to do that if he has her beloved aunt is killed."
"I hope you're right sister." Francis wanted desperately to believe that his sister was right. Although Francis heard reports of King Henrys' recent change of character he couldn't help but be fearful for Mary and George. He lamented over the time he could not spend with George for fear that other people at court would use it against him. However despite his best efforts to keep his distance from Mary and George both were used to hurt him. Mary had been poisoned because Eleanor feared of being replaced by her. Both Mary and George were now at the mercy of the King of England. King Francis had to wonder if keeping both Mary and George at a distance was truly worth it as it still looked as though he may lose them anyway.
King Henry didn't know what he was expecting when he saw Mary Stafford again. From what he remembered of her she was always a happy soul but the years seemed to have hardened her. As a King he should have been offended at her cold glance in his direction but as a man who knew he had wronged her family he couldn't help but feel guilty. Henry knew offering her some sort of apology would be useless so his eyes focused on Marys' young son who was looking at the King curiously. "Come here child." Mary wanted to object but she could do nothing whilst she was King Henrys' prisoner. Henry smiled kindly at the child and asked, "What is your name?"
"George Stafford your majesty." The child answered confidently.
Henry of course knew the childs' name but hearing the boy speak it out loud wasn't any easier, "A fine name indeed for a handsome lad. You look very much like you father King Francis."
"So everyone tells me your majesty." The boy commented causing King Henry to chuckle at the boys' wit.
"Do you get to see a lot of your father?" Henry asked noticing Marys' squeeze her hands into fists as the boy shook his head no. Clearly she didn't like the direction in which the questions were going but Henry ignored her. "Don't be discouraged child a King gets very busy sometimes. However that doesn't mean that we don't miss our children when we're parted from them."
"Do you miss your children when you're away your majesty?" George asked boldly.
"All the time." Henrys' honest answer startled Mary for a moment but then he continued, "My youngest daughter I haven't seen in a while and I'm desperate to see her again. Perhaps you could help me George."
"How do I do that your majesty?" George asked curiously. Mary almost dreaded the answer surely Henry wouldn't threaten an innocent child. However Mary remembered how innocent Elizabeth had been when King Henry had stripped her of her wealth and status. She remembered how Mary Tudor was threatened with execution unless she signed the oath. Those had been his own children Mary could only wonder what the King would do to George if he didn't get his way.
Elizabeth held Annie close trying to comfort her as she cried. When Catherine informed them of Mary and George Staffords' capture Elizabeth instantly realised what her father intended. It was obvious to Elizabeth that her father intended to use George as a bargaining tool somehow but she wondered whether the nobles will go for it. "Has my father offered terms for George and Marys' release yet?"
Catherine should have been surprised at Elizabeths' shrewdness but she knew the girl she was dealing with, "Not yet but we suspect that King Henry will offer terms soon."
"I wish to be there when the terms are negotiated." Up until now Elizabeth was kept out of matters concerning the war with her father but this was a negotiation that she would not stay out of.
However Catherine was hesitant. "I'm not sure if that's such a good idea Elizabeth."
"These negotiations do not just concern the future of France but my future as well." Elizabeth argued, "I cannot stand idly by when my aunt and cousins' lives are at stake. Please Catherine allow me to attend."
Catherine knew she couldn't refuse Elizabeths' request but she couldn't help but worry for her. This war casted doubt on Elizabeths' loyalty and one false move could land her as well as the rest of her family in mortal danger. However this was Elizabeths' only chance to secure freedom for her family and she was going to make the best of it.
King Francis waited patiently for King Henrys' terms to be delivered. His sister Margaret as well as his sons was there. Also Catherine De Medici and Princess Elizabeth were there waiting patiently for the terms. Some at court were already speculating a marriage agreement between King Francis son Charles and the Tudor Princess but Francis knew that King Henry wouldn't make such an offer. King Henry VIII had waited a long time to see his daughter; he wouldn't arrange a foreign marriage that would keep Elizabeth out of England for a moment longer.
The messenger handed over a scroll containing the terms nervously. Prince Henry impatient to find out the news took it and read the terms. Catherine noticed the shock on her husbands' face asked, "Well husband, what does it say?"
Prince Henry continued to scan of the document to see if he understood the terms correctly. "In gratitude for taking care of Princess Elizabeth in his absence King Henry VIII will ennoble George Stafford son of King Francis and Mary Stafford with the title of Duke of Calais."
"He plans on making that bastard a Duke like us?" Prince Charles said in outrage almost making Elizabeth want to box his ears. George was still her cousin and she didn't like anyone saying a bad word against him.
Margaret scoffed at her nephews' comment. "George may become a Duke but he is barred from the succession but the true question is will he be an English Duke or a French one?"
Prince Henry continued to read the document, "King Henry will give George dual citizenship as well as Anne Stafford when she inherits Boulogne. They will be classed as both English and French citizens."
"That would make them the most powerful nobles in the realm. After the Kings of course." Catherine commented, "It's almost unheard of."
King Francis agreed with Catherine it was unheard of and a far too generous offer. "What does King Henry want in return?"
"I think you know the answer to that Father." Prince Henry stated rolling up the scroll and handing it to his father. "He wishes his daughter the Princess Elizabeth to be returned to England."
"He can't have her!" Prince Charles snapped. "I say we fight on and punish him for this insult."
"May I speak for myself?" Elizabeth raised her voice in frustration getting tired of Charles childishness. Elizabeth then turned away from Charles trying to regain her composure. She then approached King Francis and knelt before him. "Your majesty in order to prevent anymore English and French deaths I humbly ask you to accept my fathers' terms and send me back to England. My father once tore an entire country apart to make my mother his Queen. Don't force him to tear apart another to see me returned because you know he will. The longer you keep me here the more the French people will despise me and everything you ever worked for to make this English alliance will be for nothing."
Prince Henry in a surprising show of support for the young Princess agreed. "Father Princess Elizabeth is right. This offer is certainly a generous one and does give us an opportunity to improve relations with England like you originally intended."
"You're both correct of course." King Francis was grateful to his son Henry for supporting Elizabeth in this. The court had recently been separated into factions. The Catholic faction supported Prince Henry and his wife whilst the Protestant faction supported his brother assuming that eventually Prince Charles would marry the protestant Princess. However with both Elizabeth and Prince Henry agreeing to the terms it made things easier for King Francis to agree. Whilst King Francis knew his younger son Prince Charles would be upset about this development Francis would be one step closer than the Emperor to gaining a strong alliance with England.
Ever since he was small Henry Brandon wanted to gain glory on the battlefield after he heard how his father and uncle had won a victory in France before he was born. Henry and his elder brother Edward use to pretend to fight for their uncle the King of England. It was their father the Duke of Suffolk who told them of the realities of seeing people die.
He remembered when his father had taken Edward to see Anne Boleyn die. Henry Brandon didn't understand the particulars at the time but he knew that a Queen of England was going to die for treason. Henry had been so jealous of his elder brother who was going to see such a spectacle whilst Henry had been forced to stay at home. However his feeling of jealousy changed when he saw the look on his brothers' face after they returned. It had taken some time to get Edward to speak of the matter for awhile all Edward would say was that the Queen was a brave woman. Eventually Edward had told his younger brother of the event and after he finished all he could say was, "She was innocent Hal. She was loyal to the King and she was beheaded for treason anyway." Edward died not long after that leaving Henry Brandon as the Duke of Suffolks' heir.
Henry Brandon never discussed this with his step mother Catherine as she always made her feelings known about the late Queen. In fact he remembered when Catherine and his father argued over the rebels in the north. With Edwards' word still fresh in Henrys' mind he urged his father to do as the King bid as he didn't want lose him like his cousin lost her mother. He remembered the look of horror on his fathers' face as Henry said those words and his father tried his best to sooth his son. His step mother never understood and left her husband after the rebels were dealt with.
Henry Brandon didn't miss her. In fact after she was gone he and his father became more close. After the late Queen Anne had finally been proclaimed innocent by the King of England, Henry Brandon sat with his father as he arranged charity projects to be built in Queen Anne's name. As Henry grew he learned from the Duke of Suffolk on how to run these charity projects and attended visits with him. "One day Hal," his father spoke solemnly, "this will be yours and it'll be up to you to keep it running when I'm gone."
Henry Brandon couldn't bear the thought of his father leaving him so soon so he didn't hesitate in joining his father in the battle of Boulogne. Although his father believed he was too young Henry Brandon insisted and was there to celebrate the victory for the English troops.
However not everyone was celebrating. King Henry was anxiously awaiting the news on whether the King of France would accept the King of Englands' terms. There were those like Surrey who was eager to please the King stating that it didn't matter if France accepted the terms or not. Lord Surrey claimed England would smash through every city until the Princess Elizabeth was found. However Charles Brandon wasn't as optimistic as Surrey. Charles told his son privately that King Henry took a tremendous gamble in taking Boulogne. The English army didn't have the supplies to march on the capital. Everything hinged on King Francis accepting this offer.
The messenger had finally arrived and the King who had no patience for the message to be read out opened the scroll himself. Charles Brandon noticed how his friends' hand shook as he read through the scroll. "Well your majesty?" Charles asked his friend nervously, "Does King Francis accept your terms?"
"He accepted the terms Charles." The King of England smiled with tears in his eyes. "My precious jewel of England is finally coming home." Everyone issued their congratulations to the King of England. Charles Brandon and his son were issued with orders to oversee the exchange. Mary Stafford and her son George would return to the French capital whilst Princess Elizabeth would be escorted to the English camp. "I would trust no one else to bring my daughter to me Charles."
"You can count on me your majesty." Both Charles and Henry Brandon bowed to their King then left to carry out his instructions. King Henry breathed a sigh of relief. Winning the battle had been the easy part. Earning his daughters' forgiveness would be tricky. Although Elizabeth had given no indication that she resented him in her letters, King Henry wouldn't be certain of her true feelings until he saw her and it wouldn't be long until that moment would finally arrive.