Disclaimer: I own no one of the characters mentioned in the story.
Touching your face
Invading your space
They're a part of the list
Things that I miss
Things like your funny little smile
Or the way you laugh
Or they way we kiss
~Part of the List, Ne-Yo
Anne Boleyn sits by the window, the afternoon sky framing the beautiful countryside. She's surprised her father and uncle haven't sent anyone for her yet. Maybe she wouldn't be in trouble for leaving like she thought she would be and Mary won't be punished for helping her. But somehow she wished someone would come to take her back to court. She didn't care whoever was it, as long as that person said that she was being summoned by the King.
"Aunt Anne," Catherine Carey has been standing near Anne for a long time and yet Anne was still startled when she heard Catherine's voice. "Is our mother coming?"
"No," Anne said.
"Then perhaps grandfather?" Anne shook her head. "Surely someone's coming. You've been staring outside for a long time now. You must be expecting someone," Catherine said.
Anne stood up, getting away from the window for the first time since that morning. "No one's coming."
"My mother used to tell me that a knight in shining armor always comes for a lady in distress," Catherine recalled. "You seem to qualify for that category, I'm sure someone will come for you."
"A knight maybe, but a King, never," Anne murmured as she walked away from her optimistic niece. She reminded herself to tell Mary not to fill Catherine's head with such nonsense.
Henry looked up the afternoon sky, letting his horse walk slowly towards Hever Castle. At their current speed, they would not reach Hever Castle before the sun sets – they were still very far away. He looked around, his companions clearly not happy about their trip but are not saying it to the King.
"I am doing the right thing, right Charles?" Henry asked as he maneuvered his horse next to the Duke of Suffolk's.
"Of course, my lord," Charles said hesitantly.
"Surely, Lady Anne will be happy if she sees us," Henry added.
His friend simply nodded.
"And Katherine, she's carrying my child." When Charles didn't respond, the words of the Moorish doctor flashed back to Henry's mind, Above all, her Majesty must be free from stress.
"My lord, may I speak frankly?" Henry nodded to Charles and he continued. "Do you remember when we were children and you would tell me how you hated seeing the Queen, your mother, sad while the King, your father, danced with the prettiest ladies at court?"
"Yes of course," Henry nodded, his face deep in thought. "Back then I was a Duke of York. I wasn't to become a King; I didn't know the ways of a King. Also, people corrected me back then."
Charles Brandon gathered up his courage. He didn't want to see Queen Katherine being replaced by Anne Boleyn. Katherine of Aragon is the best queen England could have. "With all due respect Your Majesty, I believe we should turn back."
Henry raised a brow at his friend. He needed someone to support him in his pursuit for Anne; he needed it because he himself wasn't sure that he's doing the right thing.
"I believe it is best for the future of England if we go back to the palace," Charles said bravely. "I believe it is best for a King to go back to his Queen."
King Henry ignored Charles and kept moving forward. For a couple of yards, silence ate them. It shocked everyone when Henry jumped off his horse and ran towards nothing. He picked up a rock from the ground and raised it for the rest of his companions to see. "Do you know what this is?"
It was Charles who answered, "My lord, it is a rock, obviously," he smirked a little.
Henry ran back to his horse, "It is not just a rock, look at its shape," everyone stared. "Pomegranate-shaped rock," Henry smiled at it. "Katherine would laugh when she sees this." And I should have never journeyed to Anne.
Henry smiled at the memory of him giving Katherine a pomegranate-shaped wood. He carved it himself, but having no talent at carving, it didn't look like a pomegranate. Katherine laughed so hard when Henry presented it to her. It was definitely the most awful looking pomegranate in all of England but Katherine liked it anyway, just because it was from Henry. She loved receiving simple things from Henry. If she received jewelry, she would thank him; if she received a simpler, more thoughtful gift, she would smile brightly.
"Let's go back to the palace," Henry ordered. "I want to put a smile on the Queen's face."
The next morning, even though still very tired from his uneventful and discontinued journey to Hever Castle, Henry was filled with energy when he entered the Queen's apartments. He caught Katherine sewing his shirts. She nodded slowly towards her husband. "I am glad to see you in high spirits."
"As I am glad to simply see you, my Queen," Henry walked slowly towards her, smiling. "You will never believe what I saw – " he can't say to her that he was going to Hever Castle " – what I saw lying along the road." He took the rock from his pocket, watching Katherine's face as she realized what it looked like.
She laughed softly. That laugh proved to Henry that it he did the right thing by going back. "Did you really find this along the road and not did something to a rock to make it look like this?"
Henry smiled. "I shall leave for Ludlow Castle tomorrow. I wish to visit our daughter Mary."
"Then I shall come with you," Katherine stated.
Henry touched her hand. "No my love, you must stay here. The journey may tire you."
"But I also wish to see our daughter. You have no idea how much I miss her."
"I miss her too," Henry kissed her in the forehead. "I shall tell her how much you love her." He wanted to tell Katherine that he wants Mary present during the Christening of their child. But the odds are there won't be any Christening. Henry could still not be optimistic, so he tried to be less pessimistic as he can be.
After a long journey, Henry VIII and his courtiers arrived at Ludlow Castle. They were welcomed by Princess Mary's small court. Mary was very much glad to see his father. She wanted to ask him permission to return to court. She decided that a good time would be later that evening, in the middle of the festivity prepared for the arrival of the King.
Mary curtsied low to the father.
"Mary, my pearl," Henry said, motioning Mary to stand up and then he kissed her on both cheeks. "You've grown taller and much more beautiful."
Mary smiled at the compliment. "I have also mastered my lessons."
"So I've heard," Henry said, very proud of her daughter.
Later that evening, the festivities begun. Mary, along with her ladies, danced, much to the delight of Henry. Henry also took the time to dance with his daughter, who is more graceful than the last time he danced with her.
After the festivities, Henry summoned Mary to his privy chamber.
"Lady Salisbury, do you think he wants me back at court?" Mary asked excitedly. "Mama's pregnant after-all; I should be there to support her."
"Then I shall be happy for you if that happens," Lady Salisbury replied.
Princess Mary went on to his father's privy chamber. She saw him near the fireplace, reading a book. She curtsied and sat at the chair opposite his.
"You wished to see me, papa?" Mary asked.
Henry closed the book and placed it on his lap. "Yes, I have an important matter to tell you."
Summon me to court, summon me to court, Mary kept repeating in her mind.
"As you may have heard, the Queen is with child," Henry started. "Mary, I hope you always remember that I love you, and you will always be my pearl."
Mary could understand the hidden meaning in his father's words. It means that if her mother miscarries or delivers a stillborn or even a girl, he could go on with his annulment. She would be a bastard. "I always pray that mama delivers a healthy baby boy, so my greatest fears won't come true."
"What are these fears, Mary," her father asked.
"That I shall be a bastard," Mary said, doing a great job at no letting her tears fall, "and that I shall acknowledge someone else as queen."
That night Henry could not sleep well. The sadness in his daughter's voice still pierces through his heart. He kept on stirring in his bed, trying to find a comfortable position without him hearing Mary's words. Finally he fell asleep, and when he woke up, he was in the gardens.
He could hear her laugh. It was so distinct that he could recognize it miles away. He turned around and saw Anne Boleyn – twirling around the blooming flowers and picking up some of them along the way. She smiled at him and a cool breeze went by – Anne vanished like dust with the breeze.
Henry looked at his right and found a full-length mirror. He couldn't see his reflection clearly and so he moved closer. When he could finally see his reflection, he realized it was him – and he was a child. He turned around and saw Catalina – it was their first meeting. She smiled at him and he tried to touch her hand. When he did, they started dancing.
He looked at Catalina's face and she was now more grown-up – she was now Katherine. He realized it was one of the many feasts for their coronation. He kept on dancing with her, staring at her beautiful face and when he tried to kiss her, the image melted with his kiss.
Henry opened his eyes to see Katherine on the bed, cradling a baby in her arms. She looked tired but happy. He stepped forward and realized it was their son, Henry, Duke of Cornwall. He looked longingly into his son's face, tears welling up his eyes. He blinked for a second and he was in a different place.
That place was different from the previous ones – it was filled with sadness. He saw Katherine, sleeping but white as marble. He moved closer and touched her hand – there were as cold as snow. Then, he heard someone sobbing from behind him and a baby wailing. He turned around and saw Mary, carrying a baby – Katherine was dead.
A/N: Thanks to those who have read this story so far! This is a very great week. Monday, we don't have Pediatrics (our professor is still in the USA). Tuesday, we don't have Obstetrics (our professor has diarrhea). Wednesday, we're chillin' in the Nursery. Thursday, we don't have Pharmacology. Friday, we don't have Logic and Critical Thinking. Wooot! A good way to start the New Year. Anyway, please review. Reviews are very much appreciated!