A Life For A Life

The English people was celebrating the joyful day marking the birth of Prince Edward. While Edward's mother Queen Jane was resting after the long and difficult childbirth to bring him into this world which lasted three long days. However, the happiest surrounding Edward's birth was overshadowed by when Jane came down with an illness known as childbed fever.

~Life~

Life for Henry changed drastically in the matter of three days with birth of his desired son and illness that plagues Jane's life. Three days have past since Dr. Linacre told him that the Queen suffers from childbed fever. As he spends his days praying for God to spare Jane's life because he needs his Queen and his son needs his mother. That third night when he eventually falls asleep after having nightmares of Jane's death.

Henry finds himself sitting beside Jane's cold body after she pronounced dead by Dr. Linacre. He feels a woman's hand on his shoulder as he turns around he finds this mother standing before him.

"Mother, why did God have to take my beloved Queen from me?" asks Henry sadly as the only woman to deliver on the promise of a healthy son after Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn only bore him two bastard daughters.

Elizabeth of York looks to her only living son to say lovingly "My son her death was fate's way to repair the damage caused by the death of an innocent woman"

Henry looks shock at the thought of who could be that innocent woman and asks with disbelief "Who happens to be this innocent woman that death caused my beloved Jane to be taken from me?"

"This innocent woman would be the late Queen Anne Boleyn who's death was caused by those seeking her downfall" replies Elizabeth of York emotionless that her own son could be blinded by rumours of the court instead of listening to his own heart.

"That harlot was not innocent as took others into her bed which included her own brother" yells Henry passionately at his own mother.

Elizabeth of York has a look of disbelief on her face as she explains "Those were rumours created by those against her marriage to you including your beloved Queen's own family. Though Anne was not a harlot as the only person that she taken into bed was you my beloved son" taking a hold of his hand to say "In order to save Jane's life you must restore balance to appease the balance created by fate"

"How would that be done?" asks Henry with disbelief not knowing what must be done to safe Jane's life.

Elizabeth of York says quickly "I shall show you" as they disappear from the chamber in which Jane's dead body lay into the gardens of Hampton Court. She says to him "Just watch and you will know what you must do"

Henry looks on to see himself sitting beside a healthy looking Jane on a blanket with Edward sitting before them playing with a wooden toy that looks like a horse. When he sees Elizabeth running towards them yelling out "Papa, Mama I found you" with her governess Lady Bryan chasing behind her.

"Your Highness, a Princess shall not run away from their governess" exclaims Lady Bryan before greeting her King and Queen. Jane dismisses Lady Bryan leaving her step-daughter in their care.

Henry says to his mother "The way to correct the fate of Anne's death is by recognizing our marriage as valid and our daughter as a rightful Princess of England"

"My son, there is a saying that involves a life for a life. If you don't fix your mistakes Jane shall pay the price for the death of Anne. However, a life does not have to mean truly the death of another but by mending the life that you took away from your daughter instead" explains Elizabeth of York to her son taking them back to the chamber where Jane's dead body. Her final words to her son were "It's your choice" as she disappears from Henry's sight.

Henry wakes up with sweat running down his face with a decision make for him. His privy council quickly arranges for the documents stating that his marriage to Anne was lawfully in the eyes of the Church and the law. So to that extend Elizabeth would be recognize as a true Princess of England once more.

With his signature on those documents, Dr. Linacre brought to him the news that Jane was on the mend from childbed fever and that it was a miracle.

~Life~

Days later with Jane recovery from the illness. Henry tells her that his daughter Elizabeth is a Princess of England once more and her household shall created to the same degree as one when Anne was still alive.

Jane dreams that night when she was forced to rest once more in her recovery. She hears the voice of Anne telling her "A Life for A Life" showing her dead body to her living one with Princess Elizabeth and Prince Edward playing before her.