Title: Joint wives.
Author: PrinceBrennonTudor
Summary: What would have happened if someone made it their mission to save Anne and told Henry just to have two wives? What would happen to England with two royal wives? Will there ever be an heir?
Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors. But the story idea is mine.
Author's Note: Thank you to all who reviewed and I hoped everyone liked the last chapter. And oh my God I would like to thank you all for giving me OVER 100 REVIEWS! I can hardly believe it you guys are amazing! If you are a fan of my story Modern Royal I promise to have the next chapter up soon, it's just talking longer than I thought it would. And if you haven't please check out my new story The Kings Consorts.
Chapter 13
6th March, 1537
Whitehall Palace
Queen's Apartments.
Anne awoke the next day to the sun shining in her face. She opened her eyes and bashed in the warm light for a moment. She could believe that she was safe. She did her duty and gave Henry a son. And not to mention another daughter who can be used to make a much needed alliance with a foreign country. She pushed back her sheets and climbed out of bed even though she was supposed to be on bed rest. Anne but on her robe and walked out into her outer chamber. All her ladies froze and dropped into deep curtsies. Nan step forward to address Anne. "Your Majesty should still be in bed resting. You had a very hard labor." Anne just shook her head and walked to the middle of the room were a giant wooden cradle was placed. As she got closer Anne could hear little noises being emanated from it. When Anne reached the cradle she looked down too see her beautiful babies staring back at her. Prince Arthur stared at Anne with his big blue eyes like he was trying to figure out who was this woman staring back at him with the same eyes. Princess Eleanor on the other had glared at Anne as if to say. "Who dares stare at a princess of England?"
Anne picked up Arthur and cuddled him in her arms. Part of this still felt like a dream to her. Like any might now she'll awake and find out she didn't have a son and Henry was leaving her for Jane. Anne sat in the chair next to the cradle and started to rock. "Has the king come by today Nan," Anne asked?
"Yes my lady he came by early this morning to see the prince and princess."
"Early this morning," repeated Anne? Anne looked outside to see the sun was high in the sky. "Nan what time is it?"
"It is a little past noon my lady."
"Oh I slept really late," Anne remarked while still rocking Arthur who was slowly starting to fall asleep.
"You were very tired after the birth my lady. It is quiet understandable, you needed to rest." Nan they went to back into Anne bed chamber with another lady and started to make the bed.
Anne turned to her sister who was working on some needle work and asked her if she had seen her daughter little Annie in a while. "Oh, I haven't seen Annie in about two days. But that's ok you needed me." Mary returned to her needle work but Anne wouldn't drop it.
"Oh Mary, I'm giving you the rest of the day off please go see you daughter."
Mary was hesitant, not wanting to seem eager about leaving her sister chambers to see her daughter but she finally gave in and headed to Elizabeth's apartments.
"Any news about the christening yet ladies," Anne asked no one really in particular?
One of her ladies a new girl named Margaret Hudson spoke up. "I heard it will be in two days' time Your Majesty." She said keeping her eyes lowered the whole time, still not sure how the Queen felt about being stared at by ladies she didn't know that well.
"Thank you Mistress Hudson," Anne said. She rose and put Arthur safety back in the cradle. Anne turned to her ladies "And now I will get dressed. Just because I have to be insulated in my apartments till I churched doesn't mean I'm going to stay in bed all day."
King Henry's Apartments
"All must go well my lord Cromwell. I want this christening to be the most elaborate event England has ever seen." King Henry started to pace his rooms trying to come up with new ideas for the christening.
Mr. Cromwell who stood by and agreed with everything the king said. "Of course Your Majesty. How often is a country blessed with the birth of three royal babies in one day?"
"Exactly, that is why I must show England that the monarchy is strong, and the succession secured." King Henry continued to pace. "The Princess Mary will be godmother to the new prince and princesses. She will also carry Prince Arthur during the christening procession. "Henry thought for a moment before he spoke again. " While I'm glad Mary has come to accept the truth, I want the people to know that Elizabeth still comes before Mary in the line of succession. So I have decided to give Elizabeth a title. A title that will continue to be bestowed upon the first born daughter of a king," said King Henry.
"What title did Your Majesty have in minded?" Cromwell asked, wondering what the king had in mind.
"Princess Elizabeth will be known as the Princess Royal, A title which will be hers till she dies."
"Your Majesty is most kind," Said Cromwell. Cromwell walked over to the king's desk and started to write down the entire plan the he and the king discussed. "And who will be Godfather for the babies, Your Majesty?"
"King Francis has volunteered to be Godfather to the babies, but so has Emperor Charles. So I was thinking Francis will be Godfather to Arthur and Eleanor and Charles will be Godfather to Princess Cecelia."
Cromwell made a note to summon the French and imperial ambassadors. "Oh, and one more thing Your Majesty, I have received a number of offers for marriage for Princess Mary. I was wondering how you would like to proceed?"
King Henry thought for a moment, Mary was twenty-one years old now; it was time she was married. "Leave me all the proposals and I will look over them." Cromwell made a bow to the king and left the room.
8th March, 1537
Whitehall Palace
The Royal chapel was full of courtiers, all waiting for the christening procession to start. All the rich nobles wore the best outfits and jewels to make sure the king saw their loyalty to the new baby royals. In the very front were the Boleyn's, Howards and Seymour's honored for their blood ties to the king's wives. Thomas Boleyn and Thomas Howard were all smiles. Anne had succeeded and gave the king a son. Her position was now secured and they were the top family at court. Beside they stood the Seymour's looking less than cheerful.
"Well at least Jane had a living child. She has proven she is fertile and can have living children." Baron Thomas Seymour remarked, to his brother and father.
Edward turned to his brother with a grimace on his face. "A girl is of no use to us. She should have had a boy and she is lucky she didn't lose the kings love."
Thomas was about to say something back to his brother when he was cut off by a cry. "Here comes the baby prince and princesses!"
The whole crowd turned to see a huge procession of people making their way down long chapel aisle. Princess Mary was in the front carrying her baby brother Prince Arthur. She wore a gown of ivy silk that complimented her skin tone. She was followed by Ambassador Jean de Bellay, who carried Princess Eleanor. Ambassador Chapuys followed behind them carrying Princess Cecelia. Princess Elizabeth also had a part in the christening and carried the oil that would later be used on the babies. She was carried in the arms of her uncle George who couldn't keep the tears of joy out of his eyes.
As the approached the courtiers all dropped into deep bows as the past. Most of them had genuine smiles on their faces finally glad they were safe from the threat of civil war. But the few who faked their smiles we huge Seymour supporters and hope Jane would have had a son. As the party approached the christening basin a hush fell over the crowd. Archbishop Cranmer started the service. He started to pray in Latin and he took Arthur from his sister's arms and splashed the baby with holy water. He in turn did the same to the two princesses. They children were then taking to the side and redressed in their grand christening robes. Since twins were not expected the seamstresses were made to rush to make Princess Eleanor's robe. Once they were dressed the garter of arms took his place at the front of the procession as they made their way to the royal apartments.
"God, of infinite goodness, send long and prosperous life to the High and Mighty Prince and Princesses of England, Arthur, Duke of Cornwall, Eleanor and Cecelia!," H cried with passion.
The first stop was to the queens rooms where Anne and Henry were waiting. Princess Mary stepped forward and placed Prince Arthur in Henry's awaiting arms while Jean did the same and place Eleanor in Anne's. "Congratulations, Your Majesty." He said in French low enough that only Anne could hear. Anne thanked him in French and him and Mary backed up and joined the crowded. Princess Elizabeth on the other hand demanded her uncle put her down and ran to join her mother on the bed. Anne and Henry looked away from their children to signal that the procession make continue on to Jane's rooms. Henry moved to the bed and looked down at his daughter.
"She a beauty," he declared. "We shall soon have many offers from great princes around the world begging for her hand in marriage."
Elizabeth looked at her father when he said that. "Hey, what about me, won't I get offers for marriage Papa?"
Her parents laughed at that. "Your already betrothed sweetheart, remember. You're going to marry Prince Charles, Duke of Orleans."
"Oh yeah I forgot." Elizabeth said giving her parents a sheepish smile.
He walked around the room with his son for a moment before handing him to his nurse. "Well I better go she Jane and Cecelia." He kissed on the lips, kissed Elizabeth on the forehead and left.
As he left Anne couldn't help but feel betrayed, since he still loved Jane.
Princess Mary's Apartments
Since doing as the king ordered, Mary has enjoyed the privileges she hadn't had since she was eleven. All but her father, step-mothers and siblings had to bow to her. She was able to buy many new gowns and jewels. And being added back to the line of succession she was receiving multiple marriage proposals daily. She received them from Spain, France and ever as far away as Denmark and Italy. There was a rumor going around court that her father was considering to marry her to the Prince of Portugal. From what she heard, Mary knew that marriage to the prince wouldn't be displeasing to her at all. Mary stood in the mirror as one of her maids dressed her in a gown of dark blue silk with small diamonds and pearls encrusted all over the skirt. The bedroom door was thought open and her father was announced.
Mary dropped into a deep curtsey and waited for her father to signal that she could rise. He then signaled for to sit in a chair in the corner of the room and he took the one beside it. Mary turned and ordered her maid to bring refreshments; the she turned her attention back to the king. "Papa, what do I owe the joy of this surprise visit?"
"Mary I have come with some news." Henry picked up a goblet as soon as the maid brought them. He took a sip before he continued. "I'm sorry to tell you daughter but the Prince of Portugal is to be married."
For a long while the two sat silence till finally Mary spoke. "So I shall never be married." She turned from her father so he wouldn't see her wipe away.
"Don't say that Mary I will find a man for you."
"But who will have me? The Prince of Austria is too young for me. All the French Princes are married or promised!"
Mary started to breath heavily; she had never spoken to her father like that before. And now she was afraid her father would yell at her. But her didn't instead her stood up and walked over to Mary and took her hands into his. "Mary, I will find you a husband, I promise you that. I had come to tell you that I had received a message from the king of Bavaria. He has asked promise for his son and heir Prince Philip to come and court you."
"Philip of Bavaria, I know nothing about him," said Mary.
"Well he is Twenty-three years old; he has brown hair and beautiful brown eyes. Is of course of the Lutheran faith, but I hear he is sympathetic to the catholic faith." Said King Henry slightly smiling the whole time, as he told her the same information the Bavaria ambassador told him.
"A Lutheran you say father? I could never..."Mary was going to say be courted by such a man when she realized that she just returned to her father's good graces and shouldn't risk making him angry again. "Very well send for him. But father I can make no promises."
Hey, guys how are you? I hope you guys liked this chapter, I'm sorry it took so long to write. Life just got so crazy with school starting and other things. So I want to think my fans who hung in there. So a few things I will have Mary be staying a princess and Elizabeth will be getting a new title next chapter. I made Philip of Bavaria a son of a king because if I have Mary marry him I want her to become a queen.