Disclaimer: I own no one of the characters mentioned in this story.
You can't see my heart beating
No you can't see it through my chest
That I'm terrified but I'm not leaving
I know that I must pass this test
So just pull the trigger
-Russian Roulette, Rihanna
Anne Boleyn was walking in the gardens of Hever Castle with her brother George. She hasn't been at court for months since she departed unexpectedly. She was sad and lonely. Though she wouldn't show it in her eyes, her brother know her well enough that she is sad, and that she wants her old life back – the time when she was loved by King so much that he wants an annulment from the Queen.
"What are you thinking, Anne?" George asked.
Anne sighed. "I'm thinking about the letter that the King sent me. It says that I should go back to court."
George smiled at this. "Then you should be happy sister! The King is still in love with you. This time, all your dreams will come true."
"What do you know about my dreams?" Anne asked sternly. "I don't want to be the King's mistress and I will never be one."
"Don't make harsh decisions Anne," George told her.
Anne continued to walk. "I've been thinking about my reply. And I hope, as my older brother, that you will support me because I choose not to go back to court."
"Sister, papa will be mad at you for doing that," George commented.
"Papa would never know, would he George?" Anne said, her eyes pleading.
George looked into his sad sister's eyes. The answer was simple – of course he would somehow tell their father, it is his duty to their family. "I can't guarantee that. I'm sorry."
Anne hustled back to the castle, dragging her dress through the grass. It was wrong for her to trust her own brother, she should have known beforehand. But now, she is sure that her father and uncle would do everything to get her back to court, just like the King wanted.
"Do not be silly Anne!" Thomas Boleyn shouted. "You know what the Queen's chances of delivering live baby boy are! After this pregnancy, the King will want another woman again and you would want it to still be you."
For the time that Thomas Boleyn has been in Hever Castle, he and Anne were having a confrontation. His ambitious daughter is gone and he is determined to get her back.
"I don't want to be his mistress!" Anne fought back.
"Who told you that you'd be one? The King loves you!" Thomas Boleyn reasoned.
Anne simply shook her head. "I know perfectly well that the King loves no one. He will only love a woman if she gives him a son."
"And you will be that woman," Thomas Boleyn hugged his daughter. "I know you are destined to great things. Give it another try; I know he'll come back to you."
"And what is the Queen's child is a boy?" Anne asked, scolding herself for partly believing in her father.
"It won't be," Thomas Boleyn said with a smile.
Princess Mary was staring at her book, a book she was supposed to finish by that time. "Your mind is wandering Princess," Lady Salisbury commented.
"In a couple of weeks I shall be the happiest princess, Lady Salisbury," Mary couldn't help but grin like a small child. "I received a letter from my mother, the Queen."
Mary looked at Lady Salisbury with hopeful eyes – she wanted to tell her the whole content of the letter. Lady Salisbury seemed to notice this, "Good news from her Majesty?"
"Certainly!" Mary said, excited. "She writes that she is confident that she will carry the child to term but will go to confinement earlier just to be sure. She also writes that my sibling is so strong that it tires her very much, much more than I did when I was in her womb. And, Lady Salisbury, the best part is that from her letter, I should think that I will be summoned to court these days. I should be there when mama gives birth."
"I am happy for you Princess," Lady Salisbury smiled. If the Queen does not deliver a healthy baby boy, there will be lots of people disappointed. She will be sad for Princess Mary, for it puts her in a difficult position again and for Queen Katherine, for too many reasons she can think of.
It was Queen Katherine's last night before going into confinement. Usually, she would delay going into confinement as much as she could, wanting to minimize the possibility of Henry taking mistresses but now, she realized that there is no point of staying at court much longer. It could only bring much more stress to her and to her child. Sitting beside Henry, she looked around court, touching her belly as she does so.
"Are you well, Katherine?" Henry asked her. Henry didn't think that Katherine would be able to carry the child as long as she did and now, she is nearing term. There was nothing wrong with hoping that Katherine delivers a healthy baby boy but Henry restricted himself from planning jousts and festivities for the birth of his child. He won't be able to take that pain if the pregnancy ended badly and yet he can't help but be excited.
"A bit tired but yes, I am well," Katherine responded. She couldn't count how many times a day Henry asks her if she is well. In fact, she tries her best to look well. She did regain her color but she is always easily tired. She is still looking around court and felt her child kick when she saw Anne Boleyn. "Why is Anne Boleyn back at court?"
"She is one of your ladies, isn't she?" Henry told her.
"She went away without my permission," Katherine said. "I do not like that attitude from my ladies." She looked at Anne Boleyn and saw that she was looking at them. Anne curtsied and gave a soft smile to Henry, which Katherine noticed. "I shall not have her with me in my confinement."
"Fine," Henry simply said.
Anne Boleyn was chatting with her sister, catching up with the latest news at court. Mary started telling her the latest gossip but Anne wasn't listening. "Anne, it's rude to stare," Mary said. Anne was only able to take her eyes off the Queen for a few seconds since she first saw her.
"How can she be so huge?" Anne asked.
"Well the baby inside her is strong, that's how," Mary said, defending Katherine.
"I bet it's not even a boy," Anne mocks.
Mary clutched Anne's elbow. "You do not speak with such disrespect about the Queen. You should know how much she takes care of herself and of her child."
Anne stared at her sister with such disbelief. "If I were in her position, with a belly so huge and the King beside me, I will be able to give England a son."
Henry decided that the court should stay at Whitehall Palace until after Katherine has delivered her child. They are not expecting the child to be born until the next week. The Queen along with her ladies and midwives stayed in the dark and gloomy rooms intended for the confinement of a queen. They would let their days pass by embroidering, praying, and watching the Queen sleep. The ladies could not wait to get out of the rooms, wanting to be immersed once more in the court life.
Rumors are spreading around court that King Henry is once again enamored by Anne Boleyn. He would dance only with her, and they would exchange glances just like the ones they used to before the Queen became pregnant. The ladies decided that the best thing they could do for their Queen is to not say a word. Everyone's goal is to have the royal baby delivered safely.
Days before Katherine would finally carry her child to term, she woke up full of energy. She was able to finish the book she was reading and she and her ladies finished sewing a quarter of an altar cloth.
Just as she was ready to keep away the things she used in sewing, she felt it – the sweeping pain starting from her back that signals the start of the birth of her child. "Please help me get to the bed, I think my child is coming," she said to no one in particular.
Before the actual time of the Queen's labor, her ladies are told what to do and what not to do. But no labor ever goes smoothly, Katherine should know. The ladies are all panicking, running around like chickens in a coop, afraid as if they are the ones who are going through the process of labor. "Someone tell His Majesty!" "Get the fresh linens and some clean water." "Is the royal crib alright for the child to sleep on?" "Isn't the child not to come out yet until next week?"
Katherine could care less about the bickering of her ladies. She can feel the child trying to come out and all she can do is push and pray for a quick and safe delivery.
Anne stayed outside the King's presence chamber, waiting to be summoned inside. She was about to be announced when a pageboy came running quickly, whispering something to the herald.
"Your Majesty, the Queen is now in labor, and Lady Anne Boleyn asks for an audience."
Henry's eyes widened. At last the time he has been waiting for is now here. He can have a son. But he can also have a daughter. Nevertheless, he is not anticipating the time that the Queen shall come out of her confinement. Katherine will soon find out the he has once again expressed his desire for Anne Boleyn. He wanted to be loyal to Katherine but he can't when there is a huge chance that she does not deliver a healthy baby boy. "But the child is not due until next week. Fetch me Charles Brandon; I need his company in a time like this."
"And what about Lady Anne, my King?"
"The Duke of Suffolk shall accompany me," Henry simply said.
They have been drinking ale. Henry has been drinking ale and Charles doesn't have any choice but to follow suit. Henry has been drinking ale to keep himself from worrying too much and being anxious.
"What if it's a girl?" Henry asked absentmindedly. "But what if it's a boy? What shall I name him? Maybe I should not name my son Henry."
"My Lord should be calm, wait for news, and then decide what the right thing to do is," Charles commented.
"Maybe I ask too much from God," Henry said. "I should be content that Katherine is well after the pregnancies she had. Is it too much for me to wish for a son?" He took another gulp of ale. "Let us have a mock announcement, first, I shall practice hearing that I have a daughter and then, I shall practice hearing that I have a son."
Charles looked at Henry bewilderedly. "Are you sure?"
"Go on, deliver the news to me."
Henry is drunk, and anxious. But Charles thought that it is better than Henry having no emotion at all. His current reaction just shows that he still hopes for the best outcome, but will be disappointed if the contrary happened. "The Queen has delivered a healthy baby girl."
Henry forced a smile. "Tell the whole court and let them rejoice. There shall be free wine in the streets of England." His smile faded, realizing how foolish he is. "I was so happy when Mary was born."
"Let's try the other one, shall we?" Charles said. "The Queen has delivered a healthy baby boy."
Henry smiled softly, his eyes suddenly filled with a sparkle of hope. "How I wish Charles, how I wish."
"The head is coming Your Majesty; push!" the midwife instructed. The labor was short compared to Katherine's other pregnancy but the pain was not lessened. Katherine's head was covered with droplets of sweat, holding on to a rosary in one of her hands, her young ladies traumatized at the sight of a woman in labor.
"One more big push," the midwife said. Katherine pushed her hardest, not wanting the child to die inside her. Then, she heard satisfied gasps from the women around. A cry suddenly filled the room.
Katherine rested her head on the pillow, exhausted. "Your Majesty has given birth to a healthy baby girl."
Anthony Knivert, given clear instructions to tell the King of the condition of the Queen and her child immediately after birth, ran to the King's private chambers. When he entered the room, he was out of breath and Henry stood up, ready to tackle him if he delivered grave news. "Her Majesty has given birth to a healthy baby girl."
Henry dropped his glass of ale on the carpeted floor. Breathing hard, he swallowed a lump in his throat before saying, "All of you leave."
"My King…"
"I SAID LEAVE!!!" Henry bellowed.
Katherine figured she'll have to be strong, not just for Mary's rights but also so her baby daughter's. She doesn't have time to rest because every minute of her rest would be Anne's time to rise again. She screamed in pain, feeling something she has never felt before after delivering a child.
This chapter actually required me to read Pillitteri's book. She writes about Maternal and Child Nursing. Reviews for this chapter will be well loved.