I'm sorry for my lack of updating. A few of you know that I struggle with mental illness. My recent bout of therapy didn't go as well as I, or my family and friends, had hoped. Writing is difficult for me during these dark periods. Sometimes I get it out and sometimes I just can't write anything that doesn't make me cringe. For those interested I suffer from severe clinical depression, social phobia and anxiety disorders. None of these are new, I've passed a decade on and off. Thank you for your support and reviews, they light up the darkest moments and makes me smile, which is quite a feat!
September 19 1525
As the crown was lowered on Mary's head she suppressed an urge to pinch herself. This should not be possible. However the coronation continued around her as she was frozen in near chock. The ceremony had pomp and grandeur but Mary felt desperately out of place as she was crowned Queen. She had been Queen for a few months now. As soon as the papal bull had been seen in parliament and the former Queen, the good and gracious Catherine of Aragon, had fully joined a nunnery the King had married Mary and their children had become legitimate. Mary had been adamant that the wedding would be small and quite. For all that is holy, Mary had spent the last years as a mistress and now he wanted people to honour her as a Queen!
Somehow most didn't seem too disturbed. The court hoped for a new mistress to influence the king and Mary had seemed to be a permanent fixture years ago. The court found this a good solution to find a new way to influence the King since this now opened up for new young women in their minds. Besides, Mary had been the second lady at the court, only after to Queen Catherine, for years anyway. She didn't dabble in politics so the noble men didn't fear her enough to let pride get in way of ambition. If Mary stayed out of politics and their intrigues, they all could stomach bowing to a woman who had been a mistress. After all most of these men had mistresses and these were women they and not their father writing up a contract had chosen.
People in general appeared to feel that two princes made up for anything. With two Princes and hope for more the desperate fear of a new civil war, as bloody and devastating as the last, diminished. No one cared if another man could claim more royal blood than the King, or if the Kings children had been born from a woman not at the time his wife and Queen. The most important thing was security. Besides Queen Catherine had retired, she was not shamed by a divorce and she and the new Queen had always seemed to be friendly. At least this was the reasoning at the many pubs in the country.
The security was the most important thing for the people not only at court but across the country. However people more intimately linked to the matter felt more significant shifts. Mary's eldest had become Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall in addition to his earlier titles and the youngest Duke of York. Mary still had not become accustomed to the grandeur of the position as Queen and felt very hypocritical admonishing her ladies for proper behaviour. Anne and George had become siblings of the Queen with even higher standing. Anne was, along with Catherine Parr and their Howard cousins, Mary's confidants and rulers of her household.
One of the biggest changes and the most potentially problematic was the different status for the young Princess Mary. The little Princess would always remain a Princess and the eldest daughter of the King, but she now had two half brothers suddenly in front of her in the line of succession. Catherine and Mary had always treated the children similarly, but this could be difficult. The little Princess missed her mother dearly and despite seeing her mother more as a nun than as a Queen, the little Princess was still confused. So far there had been no problems just confusion. Princess Mary didn't care for the throne; Catherine had not yet spoken to Mary of the throne since she was still so young. At one time Catherine had considered if she would tell her daughter she would one day be Queen, but then hope for a son had not been over. The birth of three illegitimate half brothers raised to the peerage had tempted Catherine, but she had decided to wait, but give Mary the education needed. Now at nine Mary was a kind and very intelligent young Princess who still hugged her new stepmother and all had breathed a small sigh of relief.
Henry of course had not been worried. In his mind, women could never rule and no matter how much he loved his daughter god had intervened, in Henry's humble opinion. Princess Mary would marry the emperor one day and thus a foreigner would rule over England if she would inherit. In his mind it was only right that the Pope had legitimised his children and that Mary Boleyn was now his Queen. He would of course make sure that his Pearl and Catherine would never be truly separated. As royals they had had separate households and settlements anyway. He had only done what had been needed to be done anyway. The succession was important and no one Henry thought had been hurt. He was sure that Catherine truly wanted to join a convent; after all she was even more devout than he was! He was sure if was only her concern for their daughter and himself that had stopped her. He would of coursed make sure she was never slandered or shunned. She had been his wife and even if she had not been able to give him a living son, one of the boys had lived for weeks and she had given him their Pearl. Some hotheads had wanted more but he had quickly put them in their place. He was certain however that he had done the right thing.
His daughter would be safe as well, Henry thought. After all, the new Queen had been like aunt or second mother to the girl. He was sure that this would go smoothly. While his love had been uncertain and apprehensive he was sure that this would pass and she would be as good of a Queen to his people as she was a mother to their sons. Henry breathed a sigh of relief every time the thought of his two Princes. His dynasty was safe. England was safe. God did work in mysterious ways. Henry made sure to not be announced as he worked his way up to the hidden balcony and watched his Marys next to each other. He had done the right thing and God had rewarded him, Henry thought.
In another part of London Henry's love had a difficult time to focus as she smiled and waved during the procession. How could people cheer for her? She was not Catherine and not as charming or charismatic as her younger sister Anne. The new Queen of England, Ireland and France managed to get thought the procession and into her rooms before collapsing. Anne was their quickly and took Mary's hand. She stroke Mary's palm soothingly.
"It's done now, big sister. Now you are Queen of us all." Seeing Mary's overwhelmed look a teasing glint entered Anne's eyes and her lips curled upwards.
"Of course I shall be there to remind you of all of your mistakes and embarrassing incidents in our childhood, so that you remember the past. I did promise you to keep you grounded and to never let hubris consume you." Anne rose and kissed Mary's forehead as the King swept in to kiss his wife before the new Queen steeled herself and walked out to her banquet, that by tradition the King did not attend. Anne and the other ladies backed away and let the royal couple have their moment. No one could miss the King's love as he kneeled by Mary's side and kissed her hands and wrists before kissing her on her mouth, whispering words to her.
Later entering the hall none of Queen Mary's reservations or fatigue showed as she was danced and laughed with her ladies. As Mary watch from her throne as Anne danced with her husband giggling and blushing as he whispered something before he twirled her up, her cousin Margaret dancing with her husband, little innocent cousin Kitty dancing with one of her brothers, George later thieving Kitty away to dance with her and Princess Mary dancing with the Duke of Suffolk before running up to now Queen Mary to sit by her side before almost falling asleep and curling up into the Queen's lap, Mary felt determined. If she was going to be Queen she would be a good Queen. She would help people; she would be there for them. She would try to do Catherine justice. Not only to honour Catherine but also for the sake of the people of England. She would honour her promise and be as good a mother to Princess Mary as she could. She looked at her sister who smiled back at her. Mary knew exactly the person to help her achieve all of this.
A very big THANK YOU to all of you who has read this story and encouraged me. I can't describe what all of your reviews, alerts and favourites have meant to me.
If there is anything you want me to expand on, a loose thread to be fixed, please review and request it. Otherwise I'm ending this story that was only supposed to be a one shot. I might do an outtake or follow up one shot later, but only if you want me to.