February 11, 1559

England

Elizabeth stood in her chambers, looking herself in the mirror, realizing she'd chosen her crown over Robert Dudley. Perhaps the worst part was that this wasn't the first time she'd made that choice, and she feared she wouldn't get a third chance. However, she couldn't say she felt horribly about the decision she'd made. By choosing her crown she had a chance to have something no woman had, power and freedom. If giving up love was the price to pay for that, her gut told her to pay it.

She snapped out of her trance when the door flung open and she heard a familiar voice say," I know why you're so upset all the time!"

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, filled with a new found power and strength from the choice she'd just made. She turned to face her cousin Lady Mary straight on," Because a fourteen year old girl like you knows so much of the world."

"I was forced to grow up a long time ago," Lady Mary said as she closes the doors to the chambers," Your sister made sure of that when she took Jane's head, but that's not why I'm here. What is it with you Tudors and denying yourselves happiness? Your father, tossing aside five women that could have truly cared for him, just because they didn't give him an heir. Your sister, beheading her cousin, and pushing you, the only person who could love her, away. Then there is you." Mary walked up to Elizabeth to look her straight in the eye," Love shows up on a silver platter and you push him away time and time again. And for what?"

"For my crown! The crown of my ancestors!" Elizabeth snapped back. However, Mary's words did hit her hard. None of her family was ever happy, her father, and her siblings all died miserable. Even her cousins, who weren't fully tudors, suffered. The grey sisters lost their eldest member, and Mary is forced by those around her to wage a war. In all honesty the Tudors were never supposed to rule England, perhaps they are not allowed happiness, so they could keep their power.

"For a piece of shiny rock fashioned to fit your head! What you and Robert have is real! I know you tricked yourself to feel love for Philip, but I know you love Robert," Lady Mary said almost in tears as she looked at her cousin," Give this up. Take this trinket off your head and live a life of love with Robert, end all of our suffering!"

Elizabeth said nothing to her cousin and just looked at the ground, unable to think of something to say. When Lady Mary realized Elizabeth would not reply she stormed out of the room. As Mary left, Elizabeth looked in the mirror once more, the confidence she had moments before, gone. She no longer saw a queen who sacrificed her love for the good of her people, she saw a fool who sacrificed love for power.

Then her hands trailed down to her belly and she contemplated the life of this child. Philip promised that he would make sure the child remained legitimate, both in England and in Spain, however that wasn't what Elizabeth found to be important in this moment. She saw a glimmer of hope. God had blessed her with a chance at a family, with or without Philip. Maybe she could be a Queen and be happy." I must find Robert," she said to herself then a guard burst through the door.

"Your majesty, forces are about to attack the castle. We believe Mary, Queen of Scots to be behind this. There seems to be some French support coming in from the channel as well. We have prepared our defenses," the guard said.

Elizabeth balled her fists in anger," Bloody Hell," she said he marched over to her balcony," Defend this palace until the last man, do you understand?"

Military Camp In England's

Mary sat in a chair in the tent which was in the middle of the military camp. It had been a while since Europe had seen a full scale palace siege, but historically it could take weeks. She did not know what to do with herself during this time. Francis was on the front lines, and she worried about him greatly. Normally the prince would not be in the major action, but Francis thought this sent a good message. However, Mary wish he hadn't decided to do that. She couldn't bare the thought of losing him in a war that was all her own.

As Mary sat there, she prayed silently, but she didn't even know what to pray for. Her prayers were intruded when she heard someone enter the tent. She looked up and saw Catherine Grey." Lady Catherine, I was wondering where you were. I haven't seem you since we left Scotland."

"Do not worry about Francis. His fate lies with God, and God seems to favor you," Catherine said as she sat down next to Mary. It seemed that in the short time they've known eachother Catherine grew skilled in reading what Mary was thinking.

"God works in mysterious ways," Mary said as she looked at the small candle that was burning of the table," And I am not sure i could hand it, if he took my Francis away."

"Yes, you can handle it," Catherine said and smiled," Can I tell you a secret? Men portray us as the weaker sex, but women were made by God to be strong. We loose our fathers, brothers, sons, and husbands, in wars and conflicts we are powerless to prevent. The sacrifices of men are not to be discredited, but emotionally women have to be strong. We are mothers, wives, sisters, and all around caregivers, we can't afford to wallow in sadness. When life pushes us around, we push foreword, it's how we are made."

Mary smiled a bit and hugged Catherine tightly," How do you always know what I'm thinking and what to say? You can always make me feel better."

Catherine chuckled," Perhaps it is the name, but you and my little sister have so much in common. You live by following your hearts, and unfortunately, you think everyone else lives that way as well."

In the Palace

After her talk with Elizabeth, Lady Mary furiously walked around the place, unsure of where she was ever going. She just could not stand to be anywhere near Elizabeth any longer. as she walked she felt someone grip her arm and pull her around a column. Before she could scream she noticed it was Catherine De Medic." Summoning me to your chambers not good enough?" Mary asked.

"No time for that!" Catherine said and smiled a bit," Mary is here to take back the castle, the armies are outside, but now we must do our part to make sure she has a stable transition back into power."

"And how do we do that?" Mary asked as she pulled her arm out of the Queen's grip.

"The same way I do everything else," Catherine said and chucked," With manipulation."