A/N: Alright ladies and gentlemen, I do apologize that this keeps happening, but with the holidays, not to mention pandemic madness, things got away from me once more. That said, thank you to Child of Dreams, QueenAnneTudor, BubblyYork, Treebrooke, Guest, tricorvus, Sakura, IWantColouredRain, and xSmallLadySerenity13 for the awesome reviews on the last chapter. Now, onto the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors or any of the characters, Showtime does.
...
Another scream tore from Anne's lips as another contraction occurred.
Edward's birth had been painful, but not this painful.
"Don't give up, sister!" once again Mary was at Anne's side, ignoring her sister's vice-like grip as she struggled to bring her second child into the world.
"I see the head crowning!" the midwife announced. "You must push, Your Majesty!"
"I…I can't…" Anne's grip on Mary's hand lessened and with a great sigh, the queen collapsed against the cushions of the bed, panting heavily.
"Anne!" Mary knew in her present state, Anne might become startled and slap her, but she was willing to risk it for her new niece or nephew. With that renewed sense of urgency, Mary gripped the sides of her sister's face and forced the younger woman to look at her.
"Anne, do you want to have this baby?" she asked.
Anne looked puzzled and annoyed.
"Do you want to have this baby?" Mary questioned again.
"YES!" Anne snarled, her back arching as she fought to free herself from Mary's grasp.
"Then you have to push!" Mary shouted.
An animalistic growl emitted from Anne as she did just that. The growl faded into a groan that mingled with the lusty cries of the new babe that slipped into the world.
"Your Majesty has given the king a new princess," the midwife reported as the infant was cleaned and swaddled. "A fine baby girl."
"Let me see her," Anne commanded breathlessly.
The babe was handed to the queen, Mary hovering nearby just in case her clearly exhausted sibling began to drift off with the baby in her arms.
"She is beautiful," Mary said, beaming at her new niece.
Anne smiled as she stared into the eyes of her and Henry's new daughter.
…
"You have borne a daughter," Henry stated, staring down at the infant snoozing in the cradle that he had had made for what he had believed to be a second son.
"Yes," Anne worried that her husband would be disappointed. But surely, he would understand that this changed nothing. He still had a son and heir. And even if this child were a girl, that was not to say that the next child would not be a boy.
"She is healthy. A fine princess," Henry nodded approvingly. "Two healthy children within a year of marriage. And with God's help, more boys will follow."
Anne smiled slightly. Despite her hopes, she could tell Henry was somewhat disappointed, having been so certain his wife was carrying another boy.
But he was right. Their daughter was certainly another sign that their marriage was blessed. After all, in the last ten years of his so-called marriage to Katherine, they had little to show for it. And after nearly two decades together, their only surviving issue was an obdurate bastard daughter.
…
Mary felt a sense of satisfaction as word arrived of Anne's new child.
It had not been the boy Anne and her supporters, as well as the king, had hoped for. Instead, the harlot had given the king another girl.
But at the same time, Mary felt her spirits dampen as she realized that it did not matter; if Edward continued to live and grow, there would be many who would champion him as king. Even if he was but a child and she was now a young woman. Her mother had insisted the people would never recognize the bastard of a concubine as their sovereign, but Mary knew it was untrue; the people of England would always champion a male heir over a female. Her father had once loved her, and she believed he loved her still, but it did not exceed his obsession with having a son. He had loved her mother for many years, but it had not prevented him from humiliating and discarding her, banishing her far from his side, as well as robbing her of her daughter, her one consolation.
Sometimes Mary herself was prepared to renounce her claim as princess, fully ready to accept her new position as the king's bastard if it meant she could at least be with her dear mother again.
But each time, she would remember how her mother suffered for her rights, as well as the common people who still cried out for their true queen and princess, the people who were now being forced to watch as heresy ran rampant in the cities and villages of England. She knew that if she accepted this lie as truth, she would be not only be betraying her mother, but she would also risk her immortal soul, and that she would not do.
…
Thomas Boleyn sighed when he heard the news.
They had all hoped and prayed that this new child would be another boy. Anne had already given England its long-awaited future king, had she also provided the king a Duke of York, her position would be secured.
While many other monarchs in Europe were prepared to acknowledge her as Queen of England, Emperor Charles remained steadfast in his loyalty to his aunt and cousin. But even he could not deny that Katherine's childbearing years were behind her.
But the Boleyn patriarch knew that should anything happen to Prince Edward, Anne's position could be compromised. And that could not be permitted.
His thoughts then turned to the Lady Mary, who was still at her post as a member of Edward's household. He had quickly penned a letter to one of the spies in his employ who also was posted in the prince's household. She had previously reported of Lady Mary's stubborn refusal to acknowledge her half-brother as the rightful heir to the throne, stating that she herself was.
Thomas had instructed the spy to chronicle each of these occurrences so that when the time was right, they could be presented in their entirety to the king. And while it would be a daunting task for him as a father, Thomas knew King Henry would never allow anyone, not even his once beloved daughter, to ever question his authority. Since he broke away from Rome, he would never allow anyone to question him again.
…
…
So, I do hope everyone enjoyed this brand new chapter, and the next one will be out much sooner that this one was; December 1st to be exact.
Until then, everyone.
