What If Henry Loved Anne Of Cleves
Anna von Jülich-Kleve-Berg or better known as Anne Of Cleves had never been so excited in her life. The initial meeting was a disaster. Anne wasn't accustomed to the English ways of living, and didn't even know who Henry was when she first met him. Now the two of them have gotten to know each other a bit more, Henry had grown to love her.
She was no longer in fear of disgracing her family nor in fear of losing her head. She felt that she had become the new mother that Mary and Elizabeth. She was granted the title of The King's Soulmate. Henry may not praise Anne like he praised Jane Seymour, lusted like he did to Anne Boleyn or triumphed like he did with Catherine Of Aragon. She was different to them; much different.
Anne woke up that Christmas with a smile on her face. She was finally free. God had brought her to England to keep the peace. She had heard many things about Henry before the marriage, but it didn't stop her from going. She was petrified of what could happen if she refused her family's honour. Even to this day, the marriage was not consummated, but Henry's declining health had stopped him from doing all the things he enjoyed in his youth with the exception of feasting.
They had been married for seven years and she had a feeling that that she would become a widow very soon. Mary and Elizabeth were allowed to be called princesses again and were no longer declared bastards. The work of Jane Seymour was now complete. Henry was prepared to let his only son become King of England. He had hoped that Anne would have provided him another son, but he knew it was too late.
"I married two of the best women to grace the earth," Henry whispered on his deathbed. Henry had sent his family away, but Anne as gentle as she was, refused to leave. She remembered the wedding vows as if she had only said them yesterday. "I asked you to leave," Henry croaked to Anne.
"In sickness and in health... till death do us part!" Anne muttered. Despite the pungent smell, Anne could never leave Henry.
"That hour of my death is upon us," Henry whispered. "I don't want you to see me like this. So weak, old and ugly."
"That is not true," Anne said. "God says you are beautiful." Anne placed her hand on Henry's forehead and smiled. "Beauty does not come from the face and strength doesn't come from the muscles, it comes from the heart."
"Bless you," Henry spat out tears all over his face. Henry died peacefully in his sleep and Anne was there to support all of Henry's children until her death because Mary, Elizabeth and Edward were her children too, just not by blood.