A/N: As promised, here is the new chapter, everyone. Thank you to QueenMaryofEngland, jamestudor, Guest, elizabethgolden, QueenAnneTudor, Secret-writer91, Guest, OneoftheFrenchTrouvers, Elizabeth-chan mangalover, Guest, GreenOctavia, and Guest for all of the lovely reviews on the first chapter. Enjoy the update, my lovely readers.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors, or any of the characters, Showtime does.
...
September 7th, 1533
"Edward," Anne said softly with a smile as she stroked her baby son's plump pink cheek. "His name will be Edward."
Henry smiled.
"Edward it is, sweetheart," he agreed, still overjoyed beyond measure that he had his long-desired son.
…
"God, of infinite goodness, send prosperous life and long to the high and mighty Prince of England Edward!"
By tradition, neither King Henry nor Queen Anne attended the ceremony, but Anne's sister Mary watched as the French Ambassador held her newborn nephew as Archbishop Cranmer christened him. Anne had said that the king had stated that were the man to drop the prince, he would declare war on France.
While Mary knew the king to be possessed of a rather dark sense of humor, she also knew there was some degree of truth to the remark, were any serious harm to come to the long-awaited heir. And she knew her sister would certainly be angry as well.
After the ceremony, Mary took Edward in her arms, and carried him to the queen's chamber, followed closely by Cranmer, along with her father, and brother.
When they entered the chamber, there sat Anne, looking resplendent in a gown of purple velvet, a petticoat of dark blue satin, and a cloak of red trimmed with ermine.
Motherhood suited her younger sister, Mary immediately noted. For even now, Anne seemed to glow.
Anne's eyes filled with delight as she held out her arms to take hold of her son.
After making sure that the prince was safely placed in her embrace, the queen pressed a gentle kiss atop his head.
"I love you, my darling boy," she whispered softly into his ear.
…
Mary's heart plummeted when Chapuys delivered the news.
"The lady has indeed borne a son," the Spanish Ambassador stated with great dismay, particularly as he saw Mary become pale, her eyes widen, and her lips part in a look of shock.
The harlot had done it...she had given the king the son that his faithful wife, Queen Katherine, had been unable to give him...
Mary couldn't believe it. How could such a vile woman be blessed with a living son when her own good and virtuous mother had endured nearly a decade of stillbirths and miscarriages, only to be rendered barren and be betrayed by her husband?
It was all so miserably unfair!
Chapuys sighed and patted Mary's hand gently. He knew the proud princess would tolerate no pity, not even from a friend, but in light of the circumstances, he didn't believe she would begrudge the silent gesture of sympathy. Nor did she, instead giving him a weak smile.
"How is my mother?" she asked, eager to put the news of the concubine's triumph from her mind.
"Though she has been unwell, her resolve remains strong," Chapuys stated solemnly as he recalled the disgraceful conditions he had last seen Katherine in, conditions far from fit for such a dignified lady as the queen. "She remains faithful that the king will see the error of his ways and reconcile himself to you both."
Mary drew herself up slightly.
"I do believe that my father the king still loves and cares for me deeply," she stated with great conviction. "I am certain that he will turn from this path that wicked woman has set his feet upon."
"I pray that he will, Princess," Chapuys said softly.
In truth, the ambassador had his own private doubts of whether the king truly even possessed a heart anymore, after seeing how shamelessly he flaunted his affair with the whore Anne Boleyn, how he had slandered and disgraced the wife who had been faithful, loving, and obedient to him in everything and of course, the precious daughter they had had together. But, for the Princess Mary's sake, he decided to keep these thoughts to himself. Like the good and forgiving Christian she was, as well as an obedient and respectful daughter, it was clear that she would not think ill of her father.
...
Thomas Boleyn was positively gleaming with pride as he entered his daughter's chambers.
"Well done, Daughter," he said as soon as he laid eyes upon the queen, as well as the infant in her arms.
"Papa," she greeted with a smile. "Meet your grandson, Prince Edward."
"Prince Edward," Thomas said, taking the infant into his arms. "Someday to be Prince of Wales, and future king of England."
Despite her father's outwardly cold nature, Anne hadn't forgotten that he had once been a caring and doting father. Before his ambition had clouded his affections of course.
"He is the spitting image of the king," the Earl of Wiltshire observed. "Thanks be to God."
"Indeed," Anne said a little uncomfortably, which her father noticed.
"Sweetheart," he said, employing what he meant to be a soothing tone. "We cannot deceive ourselves. There are still a great many who would love nothing more than for your son to look nothing like his father the king, so that it would be easier for them to gossip and spread lies and slander. But his resemblance to the king makes it plain as day that he couldn't have possibly been sired by anyone else."
Anne sighed. She knew there were still a number of people who would still support Katherine and Mary as the true queen and heir. She also knew that it would take far more than a son to win them over. But she would still try, no matter how long it took.
The people of England would love her as they had loved Katherine, of that much she was determined. No...they would love her more than they had ever loved Katherine...
...
"You understand of course that there can of course be no question of his legitimacy," Henry told Cromwell, his tone brooking no argument.
Cromwell was in a position to respond when Henry suddenly interrupted.
"Master Cromwell, you will prepare a bill to put before Parliament," the king added. "It shall state that the line of succession will now be firmly vested in our children, and no others."
"I shall indeed do as Your Majesty commands," Cromwell replied, inclining his head respectfully before his sovereign, only to realize that the monarch's foul expression did not change.
"I am not a fool, Mr. Cromwell," the king declared. "I am mindful that some people, wrong-headed and biased people, who are unwilling to accept the validity of my marriage to the queen. And in view of that, I wish to see a sanction made against them. Everyone will be given their opportunity to demonstrate their loyalty, to assure us of their obedience in all things."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Cromwell sighed inwardly. In all honesty, what else was there to say?
...
...
So, I do hope everyone enjoyed that new albeit short chapter. Rest assured, dear readers, the next chapter shall be much longer, and this next chapter will be where all of the real fun begins. And that chapter will be out out on Monday, January 13th. Until then, everyone.
