I don't own the Tudors.
Chapter 2
Henry kneels and wraps Eleanor around her stomach as she sits on the chair for him. She grew quiet and combed his head.
It was like he was that little boy who followed their mother around, begging for her attention and love.
She told him everything.
Queen Isabella of Castille plans. King Ferdinand plans. Emperor Charles plans. Katherine of Aragon plans.
They placed the letter on the table as it was read through and scattered from the air.
"Henry," Eleanor whispers to him. Yet the King does not respond, only made his hold tighter as if she would disappear again.
"Harry."
His eyes snapped open.
"Harry," Little Ellie pouted as chubby arms were reaching for her brother. They would say that princess Eleanor loves Henry more than anyone else if one could guess, and she refused any comfort from anyone else but Henry present.
His mother, the queen, smiled briefly at her fussing daughter.
The princess would cry and whimper if Henry was not in the same room as she.
They even said they slept in the same crib to ease her loneliness.
"Henry, come here, love." The young prince happily ran to his mother and sister.
"Ellie," his sister squealed in happiness as she rested on his arms.
Queen Elizabeth is heavy with child again so, and she prays that it would be another prince or princess so that Ellie won't be lonely.
"It seemed that she loves you, Henry." Henry smiled at his babbling sister.
"I love her more, mother!" He happily announced.
"Then, as great knights must always protect his sister, do you understand Henry?" Queen Elizabeth softly at them.
"Yes. Mother" Henry leaned to his forehead onto hers. "Nothing is going to happen to you, not as long I am here."
Ellie smiled, not understanding what he meant, but she loved her brother all the same.
"Harry." Henry had forgotten that promise, and he failed her and his mother.
"Please, you must forgive yourself. It is not your fault."
Henry disagrees. It is his fault, and if only he would be smart enough to do what his grandmother Margaret Beaufort was trying to warn him.
"She is not a virgin! She laid with your brother Arthur, and now her ambition blinded her needs. Not the needs of England!"
Why?
He turned his own grandmother away to pursue Katherine despite warnings about the curse.
That there will not be any sons if he does marry Katherine.
He did this.
It is his fault that he ended their Tudor line.
He mumbled against her. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He repeated like a little boy to his mother. She cradles him but forces Henry to face her.
"Look at me. Henry"
His wet blue eyes looked at her.
"It is not your fault. Listen to me. The real perpetrator is Spain. Spain betrayed England." Eleanor told him. "Spain is Katherine, and England is Henry. She is the one who had to send us to hell for her sin. She took your boys. God did not mean to take your sons, and he meant free you and them from Katherine's schemes. You must take back power from Katherine."
"My divorce?"
"Divorce is the first to cripple, not enough. These letters must be presented to everyone in the trial, so we need to be prepared for the outcome. No doubt if she is anything like her parents, then we will need to face them the force with our force."
Henry looked down and was puzzled by it.
He never thought about that. At first, it was because he had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn and wished to divorced Katherine because of the lack of sons. Now he realized this worse the event for England.
England must fight and defend themselves against their true enemy.
They must defeat Spain.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
Henry looked back at the door.
"Yes?" He shouted.
The messenger shouted, "Your Grace! It is the sickness! It is the plague!"
DAMN! What awful timing! They must hold to themselves with new evidence until the trial can even begin.
Henry stood up and quickly got his cloak.
"Quickly, Lord Percy! Send out word that we must flee." Henry ordered Lord Percy as they got ready. "Ellie, you must come with me. Disguise yourself and claim you are Lord Percy's nurse."
Eleanor nodded, grabbed her cloak, and quickly followed bother Henry and Lord Percy out of his chambers.
She followed him and is thankful no one made notice of her. Everyone is panicking, for the sweating sickness is purging them in London.
Quickly rode their horse to their safehouse of a castle. Isolated themselves from the plague.
The princess was still dressed in nursemaid clothing, and she bowed to follow Henry around as if, by the image, it was her job to keep the King safe.
Henry and Eleanor would read their books and laws on common ground if his marriage were annulled.
They must tread carefully if God is willing to save their beloved England.
Eleanor had a brain for this work. It seemed that during her time as Katherine's prisoner, she kept her prized possessions that were her books. Her only friends were philosophies, literature, and poets, and her lovers were state law affairs and history.
Henry is impressed that his sister counterargues as if she was their lawyer in court.
"Say, Katherine of Aragon would be denied that she laid with the prince of Wales, Arthur. What would you do?"
Henry answered, "I would demand that she answered to me."
"No, no. The law states that you must have three witnesses to prove the testament is false."
The King shakes his head and apologizes.
Eleanor nodded. "Okay, once we passed the witness. The main question is how we must present the letters to trial?"
"Her ladies in waiting for someone like Baroness Willoughby de Eresb to read to the trial."
"Correct, but she must confirm Katherine's handwriting."
The sudden movement made them pause and look at the door.
"Who goes there?!" Henry commanded. Silent is his answer, but that is not a good sign.
"HARRY!" Henry looked at Eleanor as she grasped what's he saw at their window.
Henry went to his sister's side and saw bright and burning light.
"Fire." He saw their men trying to put the fire out, and Henry decided to help them.
"Stay here." He ordered her.
Eleanor continued looking outside and signed herself the cross. She went to gather the letters until she paused in fear.
"Glad that you are here."
Eleanor saw a man dressed in rags and mud. Judging by his appearance, she knows that this man is no common one.
"Who are you, sir?" She questioned him. Behind her back is a table covered in clothes that will save her.
"No one." He pulled out a knife. "Emperor Charles had sent his regards for disgracing his aunt, Queen Katherine of Aragon and England!" He charged at went she threw the books at him. The LETTERS!
She must protect them!
She fought him off to stop and protect herself and the letters. She grabbed the blade of his knife and bit his hand when she screamed, only to cover her mouth.
"Hold still!" The intruder shouted, but she wrestled him like a wild animal.
Katherine can't imprison her again!
No one will cage her!
Not Katherine!
Not the Pope!
And especially not the Spanish queen nephew the emperor!
She saw the history and reached for it.
BAM!
She slams the book at his face. Quickly got up and unclothed the tool she needed to survive.
An already notch crossbow ready to shoot.
Eleanor quickly turned around and clicked the trigger.
*Click SWOOSH!
The arrow at fast speed and shot the chest of her would-be assassins.
"GUH!" the intruder coughs blood out of his mouth. And his back was fallen off with the opened.
He fell onto the solid ground with a loud thump!
Eleanor in that position stood there. She was heavily breathing as she couldn't believe it!
Her life will never be truly safe if Katherine of Aragon is on the throne, and she must overthrow the queen and fast.
Footsteps are echoing in their hallways. Eleanor quickly went to get another arrow and set up her crossbow to be ready for another attack.
She aimed to the door where she hoped it wasn't another attempt of her life.
"Ellie!" Henry barge the door opened. He looked tired and was covered in soot when he helped his men put the fire at their barn.
She felt her air-catch her breathe away. Dropping the crossbow when she ran to her brother's arms.
"Harry!" Eleanor ran to his arms. Henry hugged his sister and noticed something off. Eleanor's right-hand bleeds heavily, and around the room trashed.
"What happened…" Henry trailed off as Ellie's body went limp. Oh no! She is hurt and probably unwell.
"Someone! Fetch a doctor! Help! By order of your King!" Henry quickly ordered everyone who could hear him.
The entire night it was a strange event.
A fire had intertwined the despairs of England's sweating sickness.
There was a body outside of his courtyard. A man dressed in rags and the knife had blood on it.
It hit Henry, realizing something he had never thought.
Someone had sent the barn on fire. King Henry orders a full investigation. His men capture three men who were carrying something valuable.
Spanish gold.
These men were carrying Spanish gold in their cart.
They were interrogated and tortured for the pleasure of the King.
Men that spoke in Spanish, and one of them blurted out, "It is the emperor! Emperor Charles!"
Henry looked furious, but before he could yell.
The doctor came with an announcement, "King Henry, your sister. Princess Eleanor is awakened."
Henry quickly left to see his sister.
Eleanor sat up in bed and greeted her brother, "Your grace."
"Sister." Henry went to her side and kissed her bandaged hand gently. Despite the trauma that she was given, she has resolved what must be done.
"Thank God you are safe."
Eleanor replies, "Yes, thank God. Praise to his Jesus Christ for sparing me. His blessed mother, Mary ever-virgin. For I now know that I will never be safe as long as Katherine remains on the throne."
Henry said nothing but questioned who? Only his sister can confirm who sent this attack against them.
"Katherine! It is that lying sinner of a queen, and she had no doubt sent her nephew to do her bidding. She knows Henry!" Henry shushed her gently and held her.
"Please cast her out of our country. I beg of you." Henry is filled with fury.
How dare they!
They attack the royal member of his family, and the only one he truly cared and loved above all others.
"I swear to you, Sister. Once I annulled my marriage to that sinner Katherine of Aragon. I shall fulfill my destiny that I, King Henry VIII shall give England its heir and victory."
Eleanor nodded as they hugged each other.
They are no longer children.
They are the last Tudor dynasty.
They must fight for England and God!
Spain will bow before their motherland, England.
First, they must do away with that traitor from her throne.
Reviews are welcome.
Henry's final chance of annulment of his marriage. Princess Eleanor came appeared witness against Katherine.
Surprised attack at the once Spanish princess.
Thomas Cromwell and the white rose of Tudor.