Henry and Vicki took a cab out to the cottage. When they arrived, they were surprised to find that is was still in good shape, althought it was obviously empty.
When they approached, they discovered why.
FitzRoy Cottage, boyhood home to bastard son of Henry VIII, Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond.
Preservation provided by the Music/Davies Foundation.
They looked over at Elaine. Did they have to put "bastard" on there ...?
"What?" Elaine acted innocent.
"You preserved my home?" Henry was shocked.
"Of course, we knew that one day, or we hoped, that you might come back." She said it matter-of-factly then began to walk in.
When Henry walked through the doors, it was as though he had gone back to his childhood here with his mother. It was a very simple cottage, three rooms. The living area, with a fireplace made of rock, a stew pot hanging over it for cooking, a dining table, much like the one they had as a boy, stood next to the front window, just as it had before, one bedroom that he and his mother shared and one small closet. The closet held the secret room. Henry remembered that much. Over the fireplace, there was replica of the sword Henry's father the King had given to him, right before he was turned. It was to be used at Henry's coronation. He did not know what had happened to the original. Henry was moved by all of this. Vicki held onto him tightly, also moved by what they had done for Henry.
There was portrait of his mother and him over the fireplace, above the sword. The irony of it was that Henry himself had painted it from memory later in his life.
"Where did you get it?" he managed to whisper out, as he gently ran his finger over the edge of the frame.
"Oh, we picked it up at an auction about fifty years ago. We've been keeping close tabs on you Duke."
Elaine started toward them, Vicki defensely pulled Henry back, she still wasn't as trusting as Henry was.
"Don't be afraid, Vicki, I want you two to take my hand, we are going to travel back somewhere together."
They took her hand, Vicki and Henry still held hands while Elaine took their free one. They felt as though they were on a carousel, they were spinning, or maybe it was the room, they weren't sure. Suddenly, they stopped. They were still in the same room, but it was different.
There was a fire in the fireplace, the sword and painting were gone and you could hear voices.
A woman was singing, softly while rocking a small boy.
Henry realized she had taken him back to a time in his own childhood.
Elizabeth was singing and rocking a young Henry, stroking his hair. He looked so much like Ward that is was as if Vicki was looking at her own son.
"You sucked your thumb?" Vicki asked quietly, enjoying this tender moment.
"I guess I was always a little orally fixated," Henry smiled at her. He looked back to the scene, leaving Vicki to wonder if it was hurtful for him. He was smiling though, he was remembering that moment.
Then, just as suddenly, they were a few years later, Henry was older maybe ten or eleven.
"Mother," the young Henry asked with his English accent," will I be King one day, like my Father?" Henry was busy painting as he talked.
"My dear boy, you are King, this is our castle remember? You'll always be my prince. Henry remember, you must always treat a woman with respect, she is not your slave, she is your equal." This statement sealed it for Vicki..she wished she had been able to know Henry's mother. Henry's hair was starting to darken, it was more of a dark blonde at his age, curly and shoulder length.
"Yes, mother, I know." He rolled his eyes, normal kid. Henry smiled at that memory too.
"We have to go, we can't stay.." Elaine touched their hands again and they were back in their own time.
Henry was trying to contain his emotion, as was Vicki. Henry was clenching his jaw, trying to clear his throat to speak.
"Thank you will never suffice Elaine." Henry finally managed to get out.
"Oh, dear, you don't owe me thanks. We love you like our own family." She pinched his cheek again, took Lars and was gone.
After she left, Vicki turned Henry to face her. He had a tear slipping down his cheek, she wiped it away with her palm.
"Did that hurt you to see that?" She asked with worry in her voice.
He shook his head no.
"I loved the times we had here," he smiled kissing her on the cheek. "It was just nice to share it with you too."
He took her by the hand, taking her to the secret room, no longer able to wait.
You could not tell by looking at the closet that there was a false wall, but Henry knew right where it was. He had played in it many times, pretending he was in the castle's dungeon, escaping torture, defending his mother's honor, normal kid things..
After opening the door to the room, Henry hesitated.
"What's wrong?" Vicki asked.
"Nothing, it's nothing. What if I find out something else bad? I'm so happy right now, I don't want to spoil it." Henry, the vampire, the hunter, was nervous.
"Cowboy up man! Now come on. A lot of people have busted their asses to get you this far." Cowboy up had brought a sudden image of Henry in nothing but a cowboy hat and boots..whoa!! Where did that come from..she shook her head to clear it, maybe later she thought to herself.
Henry sighed, Vicki had such a way with words. He had to duck to enter, when he did he was pleasantly surprised.
There in the corner, sat his original sword, the one given to him by his father. And there in the middle of the room was a box. A very old box, wooden with ivory decorations. It had the crest of King Henry on it. That was it.
Vicki went immediately for the sword. She picked it up and had she not had more than normal strength, she probably wouldn't have been able to lift it.
She ran her hand along the shaft, feeling the cold steel, looking at the handiwork on the hilt. It was beautiful in her eyes.
"Having fun with that love?" Henry had been watching her in amazement. What other woman would go for a sword instead of what's in the beautiful hand crafted box?
Vicki.
"This is the most beautiful sword I've ever seen." She slashed the air with it, then twirled it in her hand with a flick of the wrist.
Henry jumped.
"Hey, be careful with that, I don't want the Anne treatment." he said playfully grabbing his neck.
"Sorry, sweetie, you're not getting away from me that easy.." Vicki smiled at him and took a look around the room. An electric light had been installed which was very helpful. Vicki was noticing the drawings and words on the walls.
She ran her hands over them knowing they were done by Henry as a child, almost five hundred years ago.
"You were a little graffiti artist huh?" Vicki asked him.
"What can I say, I started doing everything young." he answered her back.
"Hmm I'll bet."
"Oh, that, I was twelve." Vicki shot him a look.
"TWELVE!?" She just knew he must be exaggerating.
"Yes, concubines, the council wanted royalty to be, experienced." Henry smiled at the thought of what Vicki must be thinking.
"If I EVER catch our children doing anything like that at that age, so help me.." she still had the sword and was shaking it in the air.
"Vicki, may I have the sword before we discuss anything else that might disturb you?"
Vicki handed it over, reluctantly. It was time to open the box...