AN: Welcome to the last installment of A Chance Not Worth Taking. Can you believe that the story is over? Well I can because I wrote it but in truth time has flown by so fast. This was my first ever fanfic so I would like to thank everyone that has supported this fic along the way. There are a lot of you that have been constant reviewers throughout the story but I wouldn't want to name you all because I am pretty sure I would forget some of you but in any case you know who you are and I dedicate this 'epilogue' to you. I would also like to thank anyone that has reviewed at all and has reviewed or alerted. It really does mean a great deal to me.
I won't leave you much longer as you probably want to get on with the story so just one last thank you before the lasy installment starts.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or The Tudors, never have and never will.
Epilogue: The Renaissance
7 February 1538
Queen Jane's death had hit the King hard. He had just come out from his seclusion and during the time he was in seclusion, the only questions he would ask upon the outside world was how his son, his sweet Jane's son, Edward was doing.
Edward was said to resemble his mother. He was fair skinned with blue eyes, just like his mother. He was also said to be a sweet boy, a prince that never cried. Rosalie had to feel pain for the boy as he would never know his mother; much like Elizabeth would never remember hers. Mary at least had one up on them. She would always remember her mother as she was far older when she was separated from her. Rosalie wasn't quite sure what would be best. The two younger Tudors would not be blamed for whatever their mother's did not remember what they did to rally support towards them but Mary would and Rosalie was afraid that she may even try to capitalize of her mother's good name.
Rosalie was walking with Lady Ursula in the gardens. "I have just been walking with the King," said Ursula. Rosalie turned her head to face the young woman. "He has asked for one more night and I agreed to it. I am honouring the Queen's wish."
Rosalie nodded. She didn't know what to say. "Well at least you can do something. In any case, I will be leaving court; I may be leaving the country."
Ursula turned to towards Rosalie, shock placed across her face. "The country is fine as I will be leaving for it to soon, to live once again with my mother but leaving the country is a bit drastic don't you think. You could live the simple life of an English gentlewoman in the country with Emmett, have children together. God knows you deserve that after all you have witnessed here at court."
Rosalie looked away know and if she could cry she would. "It is best this way," said Rosalie faintly, losing the confidence she usually carried so well. "In any case, Emmett is going to the court of Cleves and as I love him I will follow him there."
It was time for the Cullen family to move on and Rosalie was now part of it, she was part of the family she never truly had. Her real parents had used her with Lord Royce, trying to gain power, prestige and wealth through their only child and heiress. It was time to leave the country she had been born in. It was time for her to have a new beginning, a renaissance and she knew that.
It was funny in a way what Ursula was saying. She had seen a lot of the court and not just Henry's court during the lives and marriages of Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour but she had been at the English court before, before she had turned into a vampire.
It had been in 1463 and she had only been a girl of fifteen years then, still ready to see the world and settle down to a loving husband and at least a handful of children. She had been placed as a lady-in-waiting to the new Queen, the Queen of the much hated Richard III. Her name was Anne Neville and she was a quiet thing but was generous to her ladies.
Her family had been thrown into exile once King Henry VII had won at the Battle of Bosworth field in 1485 and to try and gain back the friendship that had with the crown, they had tried to pawn off Rosalie onto Lord Royce who was a man who had thought with the then King Henry Tudor but it ended with drastic consequences.
Not that her family knew what Royce and his courtier friends had done to her.... no... they thought that their beloved daughter and fallen into the Thames and drowned.
In any case, her mind wandered back to Ursula standing beside her. She smiled at the woman. "You don't need to worry for me. I am in need of a change in scenery anyway," said Rosalie. She then chuckled. "In any case, who else would I have looking out for Elizabeth anyway? You must write to me."
She smiled at the woman and before Ursula could reply she walked off. She didn't want to say goodbye. Ursula was to be the one person that she knew to not erase her memory of her from their mind, well except for two other people. She had to erase everyone else's if she was ever to come back to England.
She knew that by doing this she would erase herself from history.
He watched her sleeping form for one last time. He knew that it was odd and strange to be doing this but he couldn't help it. For one that did not sleep, the act of sleeping was highly entertaining.
He watched her as she peacefully slept. Looking angelic all the same. The next time he would ever see her, she would probably be an older woman, maybe even dead. But he hoped that she would be happy. Marry a man that would love her.
He knew that he had never put forward his interest and he knew that he never would. He was only a Master, she was a Princess. Nothing would have happened and nothing ever will.
It was time for her renaissance and for his.
8 February 1538
There was a family meeting between all the Cullen Clan. They had everything ready to move to the court of Cleves. Cleves was a small Duchy is Germany and nobody would know who they were. As well as Rosalie, Jasper was to join their family on the move to the Cleves court even though he was still a relative new comer to court, though he had been here for over a year now.
All in all, it made Edward feel like a real third wheel.
Feeling Edward's tension about the matter, Alice squeezed his hand. "Don't worry Edward," she said confidently. "I have seen a girl in your future, you will eventually find the one. Bella I believe her name to be but you may have to wait around um... four to five hundred years to meet her unless of course you end up screwing it up completely as the future is subjective."
Edward smiled faintly. "If I can hold out for a few years, I am pretty sure I can wait five hundred more," Edward said sarcastically.
Alice nodded, not caring whether Edward believed her or not because she knew that eventually he would meet his one, his one Bella. And at the time they would meet, man will the fashions change! Women wearing pants! Alice still couldn't believe what her mind was telling her.
In any case, for Rosalie, everything was basically set to go. She had three people left that she truly needed to deal with. Firstly, she needed to deal with Mister Cromwell. She was the last one left out of the Cullen family to resign from their post within the Royal household and Rosalie intended to have a few words with him when she did.
Secondly, she needed to say goodbye to Henry. It wasn't like she needed to, especially when she was going to erase her from his mind but she felt that something personally needed her to say goodbye to him. It was to ease her own conscience.
And lastly, she was going to have to make a trip to Hatfield. She needed to say goodbye to Elizabeth. That was the one thing she was truly feeling guilty about, it was leaving little Elizabeth all on her own in England. She had promised her mother, the doomed Queen Anne Boleyn that she would look after her. She would have to now do it from afar but she would do it none the same.
Carlisle suddenly snapped her thoughts. "Rosalie, are you sure you want to go and talk to all of these people," he said concerned that her famous temper might get the better of her. "I understand Elizabeth but Cromwell and the King are not that necessary. I wouldn't want them to cause you any pain."
Rosalie's laugh interrupted the room. "You know that they cannot hurt me. I am far too powerful for them to ever hurt me." She could see that Carlisle's face was not that reassured about the situation. "Don't worry Carlisle, I will be fine. I will leave immediately after I have finished speaking to the King and I will meet you outside of Hatfield. Is that understood?"
Carlisle nodded and Rosalie was off to see Mister Cromwell. She had never truly told Cromwell her true thoughts on the matter of Anne Boleyn's death. She knew that he had some part in it, how could he not have? He had even given the Seymour family his chambers.
She knew that karma would eventually come around to get him.
She walked a steady pace but she still walked with determination. She was soon there standing in front of him as he looked through some papers concerning something to do with the kingdom.
As she looked at the other men in the room, they immediately left, intimidate by her presence in the room. When they all left she knew that it was the perfect time to speak as Cromwell still hadn't noticed that she had entered the room. "Aren't you glad that all the Cullen's will soon be gone?"
He looked up startled. "Mistress Hale," he said with a nervous tone to his voice. "I did not see you there, please accept my apologies."
Rosalie laughed. "I will not accept your apologies Mister Cromwell for your sins are too great." She knew that she had prepared more to say to him but the words didn't seem to make sense anymore. She didn't think anything would be as powerful to the man as a blow to the neck with an axe. "I am leaving court, I have been here long enough and I see that it is time that I leave."
Cromwell nodded his head, knowing that he would be able to find another vampire to fill her void once she had left. Lady Tanya was looking a good choice, a woman the King was surely to like. "I am sure that you will be missed at court."
Rosalie looked away and smiled. "Not that I will be remembered. In any case, I am sure that you will be remembered, remembered for bringing about the fall of an innocent Queen and leaving a child motherless. Are you happy to face this as your legacy?"
Rosalie didn't want to hear his answer, she didn't like his excuses nor did she want to have to speak to him any longer.
She abruptly turned and left the room, leaving a stunned Cromwell standing there.
Henry had been feeling lonely, isolated in a crowd as he grieved for his dearly beloved Jane. He had not truly respected her and now that she was gone, he wanted her more than ever, wanted to hold her in his arms and truly tell her that he loved her.
Suddenly his darker thoughts were snapped when one of his grooms opened the door. "Your majesty, Mistress Hale would like an audience with you," said the young man and as he addressed the King. Henry nodded and the young man welcomed her into the room before leaving the two of them alone.
"Your majesty," said Rosalie as she bowed low before him.
He tried to stand up but his leg was giving him pain – it was always giving him pain. "Mistress Hale, please come closer," he said through gritted teeth. As she moved closer, he watched her intently but for some reason he didn't have the same urge for her as he used to. It was more of an appreciation. "Why do you want an audience with me Rosalie?"
Rosalie smiled. "I am to leave this court your majesty," she said almost regretfully. "I am leaving to the court of Cleves and I wished to say my farewell to you before I leave."
Henry nodded and smiled. "I give you my blessing Mistress Hale." He said it sadly. Everyone that he had cared for was gone, only his children, his three children would be left for him now and Charles as he was a dear friend.
She knew what she had to do. He wouldn't be allowed to remember her. It was better this way. History would always remember that Jane was the only one that Henry ever wanted during the downfall of Anne Boleyn. Nobody would remember Rosalie Hale.
She walked up closer to him and he just stared at her, watching her mesmerising beauty coming closer towards him. She leaned towards him and kissed him gently on the lips. She then whispered in his ear and said ironically, "Remember me."
And with that he fell asleep, looking somewhat peaceful which was something Rosalie had never seen before.
She started to walk towards the door and then with one last look at him she turned and left. Henry VIII was just to be another chapter in the saga that was her life and yet he would never remember her.
There was one last stop that she had to make and this one was the most important. It was to the Lady... no Princess Elizabeth.
She had snuck into the young girl's chambers and had asked the child's new governess, Kat Ashley, to give her a moment with Elizabeth. Kat obliged and now the young child was being brought before her.
Elizabeth smiled at Rosalie who she now knew well and ran over to her. Rosalie dropped down to her knees and hugged the red-headed girl while Kat left the room to give the two of them some privacy.
"My you have grown again," said Rosalie, still crouched down on the floor holding the young girl's hands in her own. Elizabeth nodded. "Elizabeth, I am to go away for awhile and may not be back for some time but I promise that I will be back, one day when you are great and powerful. My friend and your former maid-in-waiting Alice has seen it in your future."
Rosalie could see tears forming in the young girls eyes. "You cannot leave," said Elizabeth pleadingly. "Mama said that she was to go away for awhile and that she would be back on day but she never came back. I know what happened to her Rose, don't tell me that will happen to you as well."
Rosalie shook her head and hugged the crying girl. "No, I am to be leaving the country but I will return one day and when I return, I will still look like this but I do not want you to be frightened."
Elizabeth nodded, wet tears still falling down her face. "I will miss you Rosalie," said Elizabeth and as she hugged Rosalie again she whispered in her ear, "I love you Rose."
Rosalie smiled. She kissed the top of Elizabeth's forehead. "And I love you and will always think of you Elizabeth." She then placed a small locket in Elizabeth's hand. As Elizabeth opened it up she could see that it was she could tell that one portrait in it was of her real mother – Anne Boleyn – and the other was of Rosalie.
"Thank you, Rose."
Rosalie smiled. "I must be off now but I will try to write to you to tell you all about Cleves."
She let go of Elizabeth's hands and could see fresh tears welling up in Elizabeth's eyes. And with one last look at Anne Boleyn's Princess, she walked out the door. If she could cry, this would be one of those moments that she would.
She knew however that she would be back one day.
She would be back to see the reign of Gloriana.
She would be back to see Elizabeth's own renaissance.
THE END
AN: I can't believe that it is now all over! Oh well, a sequel is in the eventual works if you guys still want more. Also, when I do write it... if you want to know when it is released I can send you a personal message. Mention it in the reviews if you want me to. In any case I would like to thank once again everyone that has favourited, alerted and reviewed this story. It does mean a lot and I am not just saying it and it truly makes me want to continue you writing for you guys.
As for what is next for me, I do have a few Twilight stories in the works (including the back story to Jane & Alec as I have my own theory on that one [involving Tudor England of course]; though this will probably be a one shot; A one-shot for Victoria/James because I really want to write some FF for them and a Renesemee/Jacob story as I have my own theory on how that relationship works out as well). Of course, I also have this sequel. For my Tudor readers I have a lot of stories in the works and currently available to read but the list would be too long if I talked about all them and I will be venturing into new fandoms such as Merlin, Robin Hood BBC, Greek Mythology, True Blood etc....
Until the next adventure......