Thank you for all the kind reviews. You guys are the best! I can't believe I have 20 followers already and I only have four chapters out. I hope you all enjoy chapter 5.
Listening to Catherine's bewildering story sparked an apprehensive feeling inside him. A part of him told him to head straight back to court and tell Henry all that had occurred but he came to the conclusion to wait until the child's birth and then further determine his actions from there.
"Are you quite sure it's the King's?" he asked for the millionth time.
Catherine rolled her eyes "Yes, I'm positive. I haven't slept with anyone besides Henry"
Charles Brandon didn't doubt a second that what she was saying was false. Catherine was very religious and would never sleep with another man. Causing such a sin was completely beyond her nature.
"Why haven't you come forward with the information?" Charles inquired. He had completely forgotten to use his manners but in this situation it was easily overlooked.
"Henry loves Anne" she replied bluntly. "I could never sway him from his care and love for her. I doubted this child would be able to survive due to my past but it seems the odds are with me. I merely hoped I would be able to raise this child without any interference" Catherine shook her head and stared right into his eyes.
"I was a complete fool to think so. My pregnancy was bound to be discovered. It's a marvel how I was able to hide such a secret for so long"
Charles Brandon sat in the leather arm chair silently; listening to Catherine's every word. They both stayed awkwardly silent for what seemed like an eternity until Maria entered the chamber. The look on woman's face was priceless.
"My lady… what…" she faltered, her words stuck in her throat.
"He's discovered the truth, Maria. There's no need to keep it a secret any longer" Catherine sighed, patting the thick furs currently resting on her thin legs.
Maria turned to glare at the man who didn't look the slightest bit bothered by her hatred and loathing.
"Why have you come here, Charles?" Catherine asked.
Charles Brandon was forced out of his thoughts and cleared his throat.
"The King wishes for you to sign away your daughter's legitimacy and claim to the throne. You are also to agree that your marriage to the King was unlawful and a sin" said Charles Brandon, regretting the words the moment they slipped out of his mouth. Catherine had already suffered plentiful through the course of these months. She did not deserve another problem weighing on her shoulders.
"You're asking me to declare my only child a bastard?!" cried Catherine, her hysteria growing worse. Maria immediately rushed to her side and tried to sooth her pain.
"Not your only child" Charles retorted. "Think of the one lying in your very womb. It shall not matter if it's a boy nether the less it would be a bastard."
Catherine could no longer keep her emotions in tacked and snapped "Do you think me of a fool? I'm not senseless, I can easily figure out the future of both my children. My children carry the blood of the Imperial Spanish and English in their veins. Why should they be brought up as offspring of common whores?"
Charles took a deep breath, responding "Your daughter is currently in the tower of London. This may be the only chance to save her before the King's famous mood swings hit in. You must act"
Saying those words caused Catherine a throbbing tremor and she began to weep. Maria turned angrily towards him, piercing him with a cold frown "You're causing my lady distress. It would be proper for you to take your leave"
"No" interjected Catherine to both Maria's and Charles surprise. "My daughter is currently in danger and… even though I hate to admit it…" she took a deep breath and wiped her wet cheeks
"It would be for the best for me to recognise her illegitimacy, even if I am most against the proclamation… If this is the only way to keep my daughter from harm then I would do anything to keep my only child safe" She whispered.
Charles heaved a deep breath. This was much easier than expected he thought to himself.
With a nod from Catherine, her maid, Maria, walked to the dark wooden desk top and pulled out a single quill with an ink pot. After the scroll was signed and stamped with Catherine's personal seal she turned to look him right in the face.
"I'm not doing any of this for you. This is all to protect Mary"
"And I do not contradict that" Brandon replied coolly.
Catherine gripped her think bedspreads and questioned "What will you do now? Do you plan to return to court and tell Henry on your newfound secret?"
He shook his head "No, My Lady I do not. I plan to stay until the birth of the child."
Catherine peered cautiously at Charles, suddenly a familiar agonizing sensation swept through her body. Cringing in pain, Catherine managed to withhold the discomfort but she could not stop the loud yelp from leaving her lips.
"Well, you're in luck, My Lord. It seems my lady is currently in labor" Maria stood and quickly summoned the midwife whose room had been prepared close to Catherine's in case of an emergency.
"It would be best for you to leave, my lord. This is not a sight for a man to see" murmured Maria, ushering Charles Brandon out of the chamber. The second he was out the door, Catherine let out an excorticating scream from the top of her lungs.
The pain through her lower region was intolerable. Her abdomen felt like it was splitting in half. Catherine began to pray for a healthy delivery. She could not bear for another one of her children to end up stillborn. The labor was much painful then she had ever experienced in her past.
"The lil babe is much too large" The ginger midwife softly mumbled to Maria so Catherine wouldn't hear. "Get 'er to sit up so the birthing can come much easily"
Nodding, Maria lifted her lady up so she was sitting upright and leaning on the headboard of her canopy bed. "Everything will be fine" Maria soothed to Catherine who let out an exhausted groan.
Charles sat in his dark guest chamber and sipped the dark red wine, wondering what his next actions should be. Another shrill scream erupted through the corridors and Charles swiftly drank the whole goblet of wine. It was a true miracle for the Queen to become pregnant. Anyone in the Christendom would think of it was an impossibility. Catherine was an old woman who suffered years of miscarries and stillborn's. The only child who had survived was merely a young girl who had no qualifications in continuing the Tudor line. She was to after all take her husband's name, whoever he may be. If the child Catherine manages to produce is a male he will be of much benefit to the Kingdom, that is if Henry recognised the child as his.
Sighing, Charles gazed out the blurry glass window. Rain drops thunderously hit the glass in rapid motions. The weather outside was nastily horrific. Pools of mud were created on the soft, lush grass and streams of water ran down the dirt roads causing it to be difficult for carriage wheels to cycle on. His thoughts were interrupted once again by Catherine's agonizing cry. Brandon was a very impatient man at the moment. He could only sit and wait and that's bothered him a great deal. After what seemed like hours, Charles Brandon stood, not able to time lag any longer and stalked out of the room. He stood by the wooden door that was entry to Catherine's chamber and paced the corridors, impatiently waiting.
Inside the Chamber, Maria hurriedly rushed over to the basin of water and dipped the blood stained cloths into the clear water. The tormenting cries given by Catherine gave Maria headaches and worries. Poor Catherine had been in labour since noon. It was currently the mid of night and the pain had made no effort to seize. Thick red blood gushed through the abdomen but the child was nowhere in sight. It seemed to Maria that they weren't going anywhere.
"Ya need to push, mam" said the midwife, as she held Catherine's legs apart.
"I-I am!" stammered Catherine, trying to get a hold of her breathing.
Maria took a wet cloth and gently placed the towel on Catherine's searing hot forehead.
"I see the tykes head! Ya'll doin' a great job" The midwife placed her hands on the tip of the babes skull to support his head.
Maria peered over and saw the red head crowning in. The midwife held the baby's head in her hand and soon the whole body slipped out. The baby lay deathly quiet in the midwife's hands but after a few seconds the baby let out a wailing cry. Beside her, Catherine took a deep breath and lay down on the cushions.
"What is it?" she rasped, closing her eyes in rest.
"A hearty young boy" beamed the midwife as she washed the blood of the wailing baby. After wrapping the baby boy in a clean white cloth, she handed the child over to his mother.
Catherine weakly reached over to her child and held the screaming baby close to her chest.
"Hush, Child, hush…" she cooed, cradling the child close to her. As Catherine gazed into the child's eyes she was reminded of her first love. "Arthur… I want his name to be Arthur"
Catherine looked straight into Maria's eyes and murmured "Promise me… Promise me to take care of little Arthur"
Tears welled up in her eyes and Maria nodded, not able to emit a single sound. Catherine smiled and took her final breath before her soul could take flight. The baby began to cry louder as if knowing that his mother had passed away. Maria blinked her tears away and solemnly picked up the young baby boy still encircled in his mother's arms.
"God bless 'er soul" sighed the midwife, crossing herself. "It was a difficult birth but she's in god's hands now"
Maria wanted to yell at the woman, telling her who the woman she was tending wasn't just an ordinary noblewoman but the rightful Queen of England. But Maria managed to keep her mouth shut and handed the little boy over to the newly hired wet nurse.
Charles Brandon stood outside the entry way, his handsome face in a grim expression.
"May she rest in peace" he said, eyeing her bloody white apron and red swollen eyes.
Maria did not reply but continued to stare right into his green eyes as if challenging him to a glowering contest.
"A boy was it?" he inquired.
"Yes, A boy" she snapped. He didn't seem fazed by her anger and continued asking questions.
"A healthy boy?"
"Yes he is, my lord" she said, wondering what the man was planning.
Charles smirked and reached into his coats pockets, retreating a bag of coins.
"Take good care of him" he said, handing her the bag bulging in fat coins.
"I don't need your money… I would raise Arthur regardless" she stated, glaring holes into the man.
Charles Brandon laughed "I know you would. Your loyalty to Catherine is quite strong. No matter, you will need the money sooner or later to support the young lad. Babies are quite expensive"
Maria thought of his words and saw meaning in them. Gingerly she took the fat bag of coins.
"I shall be returning to court. Good night to you, my lady" and with that he was off.
RIP Catherine of Aragon! Sorry to all of you who didn't want her to die but it was expected at her age, she was too weak and old to give birth. It was either the baby's death or hers.
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