Disclaimer: the prince, Higgins and the children belong to me, everything else is history.

Hey everyone thanks for the reviews. This chapter has something you may recognise but I will let you see if you can guess.

Please enjoy.

Chapter XI

Hampton Court Palace

To me life was excellent; I had a wonderful wife in Anne of Cleaves and two wonderful children I didn't think my life could get any better.

Today, Anne was coming out of the birthing chamber and was to be churched. I was waiting outside the birthing chamber waiting to escort Anne to the Chapel Royal. The door opened and Anne stepped out, I was stunned at how beautiful she looked, not as though she had given birth to twins so recently. She looked amazing.

"Husband." Anne said with a little curtsey.

"Wife." I replied with a bow.

I went to her side and presented my arm, Anne placed her hand on mine, her ladies formed up behind us. As I led Anne through the corridors we talked.

"Anne, you look wonderful!" I said.

"Thank you, Henry." Anne replied.

"I can't wait to sleep with you again. I have missed your company in bed." I said.

"Henry!" Anne exclaimed blushing.

I couldn't help but chuckle. Soon we reached the Chapel Royal, I wanted to walk in with her but tradition stated that Anne must enter alone. I still had Anne's arm and so I bent down and kissed her hand and whispered.

"See you soon."

Anne didn't reply but gave me a smile. I turned and entered the chapel. Everyone was here. Archbishop Fisher stood in front of the high Alter. As I reached the Royal box I gave a bow to the alter and went to my seat next to my father.

A few minute later Anne entered the chapel followed by her ladies and midwives who had helped with the birth. Anne wore a simple dress with no adornments and a simple headdress and veil. She stopped at the alter steps and gave a curtsey then kneeled in front of Archbishop Fisher.

"In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen." He chanted.

"Amen." We all replied.

"We have come here to welcome back into the church, Princess Anne." Fisher said.

Anne was blessed by having Holy Oil sprinkled over her in the form of a cross and blessing and then Archbishop Fisher chanted.

"Almighty, everlasting God. Through the delivery of the blessed Virgin Mary, Thou hast turned into joy the pains of the faithful in childbirth; look mercifully upon this Thy handmaid, coming in gladness to Thy temple to offer up her thanks: and grant that after this life, by the merits and intercession of the same blessed Mary, she may merit to arrive, together with her offspring, at the joys of everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord."

Another sprinkle of Holy Oil and Anne was churched. Later we were sitting in the great hall enjoying a feast in honour of Anne's churching. Anne had changed into a pale blue dress with a headdress to match, she wore the sapphire neckless my father had given her and I realised that he had given her a set of earrings to match. The lords and ladies were presenting gifts to Anne and I. Some were very extravagant and must have cost a fortune.

My father in his day was a great jouster and would sometimes joust the whole day and not feel tired. With the jousting tournament approaching to celebrate the birth of my children, my father wanted to relive his youth and joust again. I had advised that this wasn't a good idea but my father was adamant that he was going to joust again. No-one could persuade him otherwise and so the tournament day arrived.

All the noble lords were participating and even I was taking part. I had learned to ride when I was young and had been taught to joust when I had reach the age of 15 by my father's loyal friend Charles Brandon but had yet to take part in a tournament, this was my chance to prove myself.

As I suited up in my armour Charles Brandon paid me a visit.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Yes, I think so." I replied nervously.

"I know how you must be feeling. My first joust was against the king and inside my head I was a jumble of nerves, but I knew I had to prove myself to my family and my king." He said.

I knew this story as I had heard it from both Brandon and my father but I was still nervous. Brandon realised that and said.

"Don't worry; you are only taking part in two jousts. The first is against me and I will try and go easy on you (he said with a chuckle) and the second is against the king, I'm sure you will do fine."

"I know, but Anne will be watching and I do not want to disappoint her." I said.

"I'm sure you won't." Brandon replied. "Besides this is in honour of the birth of your children, even if you lose this will be a day to remember."

"Thank you Charles, it means a lot coming from you." I replied.

"Your Highness." Charles said bowing.

After Higgins had put on the last piece of armour, I went outside the marquee where my horse, Black Beauty stood. He was a black Courser with white socks on all four hooves and had a white diamond on his forehead, He was magnificent.

Mounting him I felt a wave of calm come over me and so I wheeled him around and made my way to the tournament ground. Trumpets sounded as I entered the ground and the announcer shouted.

"His Royal Highness has entered the lists and will now joust with the Duke of Suffolk."

I made my way to the royal box. Stopping in front of the box I looked at Anne and asked.

"My lady wife, will you do me the honour of letting me wear your favour?" And lowered my lance.

Anne nodded and rose from her seat; she unlaced the piece of ribbon she had tied to her wrist and tied it to the tip of my lance.

"My lady." I said bowing from my horse.

"My lord." Anne replied with a curtsey and then returned to her seat.

I wheeled Black Beauty and made my way back to my end of the tilt yard. I could see down the other end Brandon was ready so I got my helmet on and gave a signal that I was ready, Brandon replied with his signal of readiness. I put my visor down and grabbed my lance from the page and held it vertically and then waited for the flag.

The joust master who held the flag had it steady and then swung it to the floor. As soon as the flag hit the floor I kicked my horse and went galloping down the tilt yard. I could see Brandon on his horse coming towards me. As the gap got smaller I could feel my grip on the lance failing and I started to doubt if I could pull this off but I could see Brandon coming towards me and I only had a split second to make a decision so I tightened my grip on the lance and braced myself for the impact.

My lance hit Brandon's shield and splintered and I felt the blow through my hand and pain went up through my arm. I held in the cry of pain and concentrated on bringing Black Beauty to a stop.

"Two points to His Highness." The announcer shouted.

Once I had I opened my visor and turned around in the saddle to see if Brandon was fine, I saw him on his horse with his lance still in intact. He saw me and signalled that he was willing to go again.

"LANCE!" I shouted and closed my visor.

A page handed me another lance. The flag dropped and I spurred Black Beauty back down the tilt yard. We met and both of our lances met each other's shield and broke, once again pain shot up my arm and I held in the cry of pain. Pulling Black Beauty to a stop the announcer called.

"Another point to His Highness. His royal Highness wins the match."

I breathed a sigh of relief and spurred Black Beauty into a canter to make a circuit of the tilt yard as the crowd clapped and cheered; as I reached the Royal box I gave Anne a bow from my horse and left the tilt yard.

Back in my marquee I started freshen to up and relax but then I heard a horse neigh and a crash back out at the tilt yard, I knew my father was riding at the moment and so without taking any of my armour off I rushed outside to see what had happened. Little did I know that what I was about to see would change my life forever?

Can you guess what has happened? Please review to tell me.