Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
First I want to give thanks to SSLE who helped me as before, ages ago, to write this chapter, so the credit also goes for her. I thank everyone who's reviewed, read, favorited, or put this fic on alert. Really appreciate it.
Chapter #29: A Queen rises
"I was equal to Gods except for the mortal part"
~Euripides
Eustace almost chocked on his drink when he heard the news. Diana avoided the odd stares and ran faster than her uncles and aunts as she reached for her mother's bed chamber. It was not crowded. There was only the royal physician and the guards who were outside all too shocked as well that she eluded them without any trouble.
"Mama!" She cried and launched herself to her mother whom she was unaware because of the wave of happiness that invaded her, was demanding that they let her see her son.
"Whe-whe-where i-is m-my boy?" Her voice was all raspy and she was still pale, her eyes she could barely opened them but she felt something heavy land on her chest and it made her cringe in pain.
"Mama! Mama it is me Diana your Princess, your sweet pea! Mama" Anne finally looked down and despite her blurry vision she could recognize her daughter's tall form -whom Edward always remarked surpassed that of the average child including the boys- anywhere.
"D-Diana?" She said slowly. Diana nodded and buried her head in her mother's chest hugging her waist tighter. "Ah" Annie who attempted to sit up once more flinched in pain and it didn't help her daughter was on top of her.
"Your Highness your mother needs to rest she needs to be well" The physician explained to the little girl.
"Mama I am here can't you see me?" The little girl demanded ignoring the physician's counsel.
"Diana I need you to release me"
"No mama I won't" She was adamant loosening her grip on her so her mother could breath. "I missed you mama, I was here by your side every day. My grand uncle, His Grace, was by my side too, he said that if I praid like lady grandmother that you would get well"
She forgot all decorum. She had been her Princess, her heir, her little huntress for so long but today she was simply Diana. A poor and helpless little creature who sought refuge in her mother's arms but her mother was by no means prepared to yield her Queenly role in place of motherhood just yet.
There was a more important and defenseless creature that needed her attention. And no matter how much she loved Diana, a son came first. Security and tradition would prevail. This was not a time to be sentimental. Diana had to understand that.
"Where is my f...Chapuys, where is he?" Annie whispered
Before the doctor could answer Annie heard the ringing voice of her daughter who kept holding on to her mother. "His Grace is in the reception, remember mother the one for Aunt Kathy's marriage, she is going to marry Philip of Spain, he is here and he was nice he wished you well. Mother don't leave again"
Diana must have been crying so hard, Annie thought since her vision was still blurry. Annie felt the part of her nightgown in her stomach all wet.
"Y-our brother, your brother, your ...s-sister" she asked best as she could, "where a-are they?" It was costing her a lot of trouble to speak.
"They are not important mother, you are here that is all that matters"
"They are...Diana … where is Chapuys?" She asked her
"I am here" He whispered at the door step as he closed it and Annie stopped hearing all the voices outside the door that were silenced by the door
"F-Chapuys I-I can't see you very good come into the light" She whispered coughing afterward very hard.
The physician implored her to drink more water, but Annie was not that exhausted to know what had gone all this time she was asleep.
"Mama lets be just you and me and grandma, she took care of me and Margaret, William His Majesty he has been named King mama, he is safe you don't have to worry about those two" she said with big indifference for her siblings. "All I care is you." She said hugging her tighter.
"Diana you must go now" Chapuys said "Your mother must rest"
"No I don't want to, I want to stay here with you mama, please mama let me stay here with you I missed you I came here with you please mama I deserve to stay here as my granduncle, please mama" She begged hugging her tighter, Anne attempted to smile but flinched in pain.
"I don't want to leave you" the little girl said.
"He is right" Annie said softly "I am feeling better now but you are too excited my love. You must go and in a few hours when everything is calmer, I will call you"
"But mama" she complained "can you let me come just me and grandmother, it can be just me too please, I want to watch over you" She said getting down from her mother and letting her breath at last.
"No" Annie insisted "You are to go, I need to talk with Chapuys and then I need to rest. And you must put an end to that idea of me and your grandmother. Please, Diana. I'm asking you to obey me"
"But she took care of me and even Margaret who all she does is cry I think she does it on purpose, when you were not there she and grandfather finished reading to me all those bedtime stories just as papa told them to. They said you were going to be alright and ..." she lowered her voice and whispered in her ear "His Grace Chapuys also did, he said that you were going to be alright, he was here too with you mama. We all missed you" Diana said lastly kissing her mother's cheek.
Finally she turned to leave and Chapuys made a small caress on her head. When she closed the door behind her, Annie extended the hand to her father. "For how long I have been in coma?" She asked him as he took her hand softly.
Chapuys kissed it, "For a month more or less"
"My s-son is ... king then? W-who is his protector?" she asked blinking her eyes were bloodshot, some of her vision returned but she was too weak to have them fully opened.
"I am" He whispered "You must not concern yourself. The children are fine, they are healthy both of them."
She lowered her head and gave a small smile. "I am happy then." She looked back up again "Why ... if you are Lord Protector and I suspect they had to make governor my aunt, was ... mother" she could barely speak that word, the memories of her fall and the insults throughout all their lives returning "why was she ... made head of my daughters household hmm?" she inquired. Why else would her daughters be placed in that woman's care? The only thing that gave Annie small comfort that they were fine was that her mother was not stupid, she had won Diana's affection and of course it was all her late Edward's doing because he wanted to avoid rumors of her illegitimacy. The second thing that perhaps gave her the most comfort was her middle half-sister Isabella -that young woman loved everyone and despite her young age and being raised by their mother and Philip did not possess a single bone stained with malice unlike their younger sibling.
"She insisted. In any case, once you're better you can take charge of them. Diana...well we shall talk about it later."
Annie knew her father would not say anything for he was too worried. Then she asked "The King of Spain is here?" She whispered.
"Yes. Mary is trying to arrange a marriage between him and Katherine. However I must say that I don't think he is very excited about that"
"Diana said...she said he was nice"
"I met his father he was a man who knew how to behave himself in front of anyone, this king also wants to keep up appearances, in any case yes he offered his best wishes for you to Diana"
Annie nodded, she had missed a lot. The last thing she remembered was push Your Majesty push and then it had all gone black. She was surprised and outraged to hear that her mother had nursed her, fed her from her own breast and cared for her in a way she never showed for her children especially Annie.
"Is Margaret with her now? Wh-where is my boy?" She asked quickly as she carefully grabbed the goblet of water the doctor had left for her.
"They're with her. But you must not worry about that now. Once you're better you will take them back with you. Furthermore, Elizabeth visits them every day. You must not worry"
"I am sorry that our last talk together ended in discussion, I know Alexei still had feelings for me b-but Diana whispered in my ear that he told you" she smirked "I was in a coma and my daughter now blames him for it. She has always had that terrible Tudor temper I hope Alexei or his aides if they were with him don't feel offended, Diana you know how she is"
"She is giving him a tough time...but he is a kind boy he understands"
On that moment there was a knock on the door. Amazingly it was the King of Spain. He placed his head inside and whispered "My lord...I've managed to send everyone away. They were lining up at the door...Especially Lady Mary...I convinced them to leave. I hope that's alright"
Then he made a small bow to Annie "You Majesty. I am glad you are much improved"
"You're...the King of Spain...?" She asked
He gave the same short smile she had given her father earlier and bowed once again this time taking his feathered hat off.
"At your service it is an honor to meet the woman who challenged my father's Imperial troops" Of course he was referring to Commander Sepperus and his navy fleet who had threatened Edward after their marriage Annie remembered, when he refused to give in the Emperor's demands of letting go of Marie of Guise and the Scottish borders.
It was until Annie that Edward who with the help of her father was sent away to conduct negotiations in their French territory of Calais; while she -she hated to admit- with the help of her mother, Aunt Bess and England's best generals managed to repel all Imperial forces off all the Isles including Scotland.
"No hard feelings Your Majesty? It was strictly business I-I ..." she coughed very loudly surprising them when they saw the blood in her hands, she however did not feel or took notice "I am sure Your Majesty would have done the same if it was your country"
Philip swallowed. He decided to enter, extremely upset with the sight of blood. He took off his handkerchief and cleaned her hands "I don't think we should be discussing this now. As your..." father he thought "Lord protector said when I came in, you should rest"
Philip had always believed it but Ruy always made him doubt, his skeptical friend. Now he had proof they were father and daughter. Their height, she was taller than the average English rose and her eyes though not fully opened were the brightest blue he had ever seen in his life, no other except a Chapuys like his sons and her brothers, had them. Her daughter was taller than every girl or boy in this country, her father was reported to being tall but not so given his history of poor health. She had beautiful wavy red hair like every other Tudor, but her face though not as white as her father was whiter than her two so called full blooded sisters, Lady Isabella and Lady Katherine whom he was supposed to marry for both their nations' sake.
Princess Diana however only had her eyes, Eustace Chapuys' eyes the rest of her was an exact copy of the other and late queen dowager Jane Seymour whose portrait hanged in the wall next to where the present dowager queen's bed was.
"Thank you" Annie whispered making an effort to look up at him "You are very kind, Your Majesty"
"B-but I am fine as you can see I am in one peace" she smiled shyly.
"You should get better Your Majesty...your daughter, she is extremely distress. It is a sad thing when we lose a parent...especially when we're so young" He said his own mother springing to mind.
"A-Your Majesty is right milady, you are entitled to rest, Her Majesty has been through a lot" Eustace said memories of the parent he lost in his adolescent years came to his mind as well. He had never been the same afterward.
Annie's eyes kept focused on Philip though. He stood to leave "Your Majesty your handkerchief"
"Keep it...let us see it as...peace offer" He said and smiled, for the first time, gaving someone a full smile since he set foot in England. It was beautiful precisely because it was so rare.
She gave a meaningful thanks by giving him a full smile, it was too her first since had woken up.
Mary could not believe her bitter luck. "You think she will talk?" Philip asked once they put everyone to bed, Mary was rocking her granddaughter to sleep, unlike her bastard daughter, Margaret was a quiet and adorable child-like Diana. Margaret always cried when she was away from Mary's arms, the child only had eyes for her grandmother.
"I have her daughters"
"We have her daughters" Philip corrected taking softly Margaret from his wife's arms. This child was so much different than that poor pauper's daughter, she was nothing like her mother. Like Diana she knew when to obey and her presence was one of peace not one of chaos and disappointment like that Chapuys bastard.
"All they know is that we were there for them, you read to Diana, you tucked her in bed, Margaret only knows me, I nursed her back to health. Her Majesty did not"
Philip smirked and handed the peaceful sleeping child back to her grandmother.
The next day as promised Diana was called to her mother's presence, she wanted to bring her grandmother but Mary told her it was best not to upset her. "Maybe another time" She told Diana before the child left.
Diana was disappointed to see Alexei and her uncles there, the latter the same men who refused to let her see her mother before she went into labor.
The Duke and Mary were left alone in their chambers where they thought they were safe from being spied, all the attention was driven to her daughter. "I am worried Mary" He said
"Forget it!" She said in a high whisper "She doesn't remember anything, if she did we would know already. They would have come to arrests us. Chapuys would make sure of that"
Her voice was rising making Philip nervous and unfortunately for them on that very moment Ruy Gomez, Philip of Spain's companion was passing by.
He had gotten lost in the halls of the great palace and he stopped in his tracks as soon as he heard the Lady Mary's voice and her husband' stopped when he heard those voices.
"If they know you pushed her..."
"They won't know because she won't remember!"
"Are you really that certain she won-"
"She WILL NOT. And that is final, we could be the first family in England, be the man and woman we were always meant to be, I need you on this Philip, I need you to support me, Annie, William and his Lord Protector and Governess are the only things standing in our way ..."
Ruy's eyes widened "Oh Christ" He whispered to himself.
"We are going to be alright, Philip" She said taking his hand "Besides ... Annie is only Queen dowager. How long will she last my love before she chokes in her own blood?" She said to Philip kissing his lips.
Ruy left as slow and as he could and when he was out of ear-shot he started to run towards the King's chambers.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
Philip who had been reading quietly in his bed calmly
"What on God's name? You look like you have seen a ghost"
He was breathless "You won't believe what happened!"
"No, but I have a feeling you're going to tell me"
"It's Mary...and that idiot husband of hers Philip"
"What about them?"
"They...it were they who pushed the Queen Dowager's down the stairs, thus provoking her accident"
"Que dices?"
He hissed in Spanish, Ruy nodded his head vigorously and told him all about it, "Her own mother pushed her, Philip did the rest the bruises she could not have the stomach so she let that poor excuse of a duke do her dirty work"
"But she was carrying the twins" Philip said remembering how indeed the dowager queen was as her mother wished choking in her own blood. "She could have miscarried"
"I think that was the whole point!"
Ruy continued "Her mother is not lost yet, a woman with a man as foul as she always have cards under their wing ... Felipe it is no secret she is the closest Diana has besides her mother and now Her Highness Margaret barely a baby is inseparable from her grandmother. She won't settle for little William in the throne she is either wishing he shares his father's poor health which it seems he doesn't or she is planning to usurp the throne with Diana as her puppet -the same thing her great uncle Richard did with his nephews and exactly the same La Beltraneja wanted to do with your great grandmother"
Philip said nothing "Our priority should be to protect the Queen Dowager" He whispered "If she dies then her children will stay influenced by Mary and by that idiot who hates Spain. We must not let that happen."
Ruy nodded "And should we tell the Lord Protector and Lady Elizabeth?"
"No." Philip said "We have to proves of this. It would be our word against theirs. And if the Queen indeed does not remember, we can't do nothing "
Ruy wanted to agree but he had to remind him of something important. "England needs a desperate alliance with us as we do with them. You need a wife and you can look elsewhere but you know the Lady Elizabeth is also conniving and though more practical and wiser than her sister, she does not like the Spanish unlike her husband either, if you marry another woman from a Catholic country the English will take it as an offense. Already your uncle and yourself we have had enough rebellions in the Netherlands as at home."
"You are asking me to keep up appearances" Philip said putting in short Ruy's words, he grinned. "Finally Ruy you are thinking like a politician"
"Are you going to do it?"
Philip sighed deeply. God this was hard, he couldn't for one side...to be married to a woman who had a mother such as that. And furthermore Isabella's words sounded inside his head. Would Katherine be the same as Mary?
"We should wait...Stall a little. I will keep entertaining Katherine"
"And what are we waiting for?"
"For a sign. I trust God will give me a sign"
"Did you see the Queen?"
Philip nodded silently
"What did you think?"
"She's...strong." Philip whispered
"Very" Ruy agreed then something came up to mind "I believe Lady Isabella may not be as astute like her parents or your betrothed but she certainly does feel love for the dowager queen and she warned you."
"She might be the only honest soul in that lot" Philip also agreed "But for now I have to pretend as you put it Ruy to like that wench. I am going"
Ruy rolled his eyes "Don't tell me you are going to see the queen dowager?"
Philip answered with a smirk. "I knew it" Ruy said following his friend to the Queen dowager's chambers.
Diana kept telling her mother how much she prayed for her, how much she dreamed that this day would come.
"I had horrible dreams and that girl made it worse"
Annie sighed and let her daughter hop in the bed next to her "She is your sister so is William your brother. You should take better care of them as your gr-uncle told you" She almost got too careless, she quickly rephrased. It was the better part of her that wanted to tell her the truth but she knew she couldn't.
"Granddad says the same so does grandmother but they are the reason you fell asleep"
She smiled at her child's innocence; her mother had her under her spell. "Your Majesty" she suddenly said surprised by Philip's visit again.
"I am very sorry to interrupt such a moment" He said with a smile "Your Highness, you must be very happy"
Diana smiled at him "Yes. And your Majesty was right. Your prayers, they did help"
Philip smiled at her. "Forgive me but I would like to speak with your mother, the Queen Dowager"
Annie kissed her daughter's forehead "Why don't you give us a minute darling? We will talk more later." Diana smiled and dismounted from her mother's legs, she said they was no longer hurt and followed the King of Spain's friend after she gave Philip a curtsy.
"Come this way Your Highness" Ruy led the Princess out of the room leaving his friend and the Queen alone.
She didn't know why but she liked Philip his smile made her like him and he had been to her and it was thanks to his prayers that her mama had awaken.
Maybe grandfather is wrong and not all Spaniards are alike.
"What is it you wish to talk to me about Your Majesty?"
"Philip, please it is Philip and I am afraid I bring sad tidings, you will not like what I have to say nor from what I ask but I beg you be patient"
Annie's eyes widen but only for a little while before returning neutral. She had lived through and saw a lot in her young years, nothing surprised her anymore but what the King of Spain had to offer he promised would.
"What is you wish to talk to me about Philip?" She asked courtly. Misfortune had few friends. The Queen surrounded herself by family and her trusted advisors and that is where lay the misake. A monarch, a wise one trusted no one. For all her wisdom the Queen remained a woman, no different than any other who sought comfort.
Yet, he found himself longing for her. An unusual reaction from Philip who would go down in history as the "Black Prince" and be accused of the greatest mass genocide in history, fraticide, regicide would be among the many crimes that would follow his long sorrowful path.
Although now he remained simply Philip the wanton mman who wanted nothing more than to tell her of his own trials, to reveal to her a side that very few knew of this obscure King. So she would see that he understood.
"Your fall ... It is a subject that requires the utmost delicacy however I am inclined to ask out of my own personal matter if you remember anything else? Something peculiar?" He proded.
She cocked her head. What could be peculiar "No" she answered "There is nothing left to tell. I fell" End of story. Philip was no easily convinced there was more there.
She dreamed of her fall; she pressed her hands to her forehead suddenly hearing the voices of a grave female pleading with the male next to her to abide her wishes. Annie closed her eyes and pressed them very hard, the pressure was too much she eventually opened them and they looked completely bloodshot. Her head felt like it had been hammered.
"I am sorry" she did not know why she was being so congenial to this foreigner, this inquisitor whose ideals stood against the very principles she fought against when her father was the Emperor and King of Spain. Nevertheless she answered him further adding that "It is like this all the time. I have been asleep a long time, maybe it is the confusion"
"Let us pray that's all it is. Your country has need of wise people like you" Philip answered placing his hand on top of hers in a gesture that surprised them both yet he didn't withdrew.
"England has wise people. Parliament would not be if they had not chosen His Grace, the good Earl, Eustace Chapuys as my son's Lord Protector with me as his regent and his wife as Lady Governor"
He grinned.
"What?"
"It is a lot of trust you place to a man who is barely of any relation to you." Annie's eyes hardened at the mention but whether Philip noticed or not it was inconsequential as he went on "He is related to you only through his marriage to your aunt, your mother's half sister. There is hardly any blood between you. Yet you keep him closer than any advisor, any politician, including your own parents. I wonder why that is?"
"I grew up in his house. My mother left me under the tutelage of my Aunt. They are very dear to me"
"With all due respect it is too much endearment with an Ambassador and your eyes-"
"What about them?" She interrupted her tone brusque.
He smirked and decided it would work better to be blunt with this Queen. "I see no trace of the Duke of Bavaria in you. In fact the only piece of your parents, your true parent, the Lady Mary I see in you is her hair and your skin and your voice yet you have a softness to her that my aunt was never taught or was but failed miserably" The last sentence brought a smile to Annie's lips she quickly surpressed as she met his eyes and heard his chuckle "There is only one explanation for this change"
"Which is?" She asked casually hiding her dismay.
"Your father is really Eustace Chapuys"
"Very good" she said as he neared and could smell the perfume of his neck and feel his hot breath on her cheeks.
She was exactly everything he dreamed her to be when she would appear in his dreams chasing after her.
She took a step back and leaned further back against her pillows. It only made it worse as he leaned forward "You are trespassing your boundaries Philip ... I gave you a house, food, clothes. Watch yourself my lord what I give I can easily gave"
"You should watch yourself Anne Elizabeth ... I am King of Spain not an easy man to be intimidated by a simple woman"
She sat up, their faces touched for a second and then pulled apart. She was half thankful, half disappointed it had only been the tip of their noses that touched and not their mouths. Why am I even feeling this way? That knave to have the courage to inquire of my heritage? Me! A Queen of England! Her thought raced wildly to the implications of his comments.
"I am no simple woman"
"You are. The daughter of a former Princess of Wales, bastardized by her father and a former Ambassador. In fact you are the former daughter" He teased
She pushed him away, but that only made him laugh harder "Go back to Spain Your Majesty, this is no lupanar where you can bed any woman you want. Only decent people live here"
He covered his chuckles with his hands. When he was done he turned half-serious and re-addressed his former point "Excuse me for my blunt behavior but I am trying to help as an ally as any ally should to a friendly nation. People talk and I am sure I am not the only who sees the similarities between you and your true father"
"There are no similarities"
"With all due respect it is lot of respect you have for the former Ambassador, more than any person would to a common subject"
"He is very dear to me"
"Indeed but before we move further I must ask you about Lady Katherine."
"What about her?"
"I need to know more about my betrothed."
"Is she not of your liking? She is a fine lady and would make a fine Queen"
"She may not be what my country is looking in a future country. We are a people who love tradition and Lady Katherine just doesn't fit that role. Spain expects a lot from their Queens the first which is knowledge, diplomacy, and courteous behavior matched only by her piety. Out of these four your sister only possesses the first."
"You are suggesting we cut our negotiations short because of a simple fear?"
It rancored him when people thought him to be afraid. This was not a simple fear, people were expecting a lot of him back home. And this would not be any foreign wife he'd be bringing but a woman from a heretic country. Who was to say her mind had not been contaminated to spread her heresies in her new country. He couldn't have that.
"Spain must remain as it is. I will marry because it is my duty but I need to know your thoughts on this marriage. Not as King to King but confidant to confidant"
Annie pondered on this.
"You are a King, I am a Queen, our duty is to our countries and to our peoples. We are chosen by God not because of our knowledge, our skills. We do not choose to be in this position in pursuit in our happiness, we are in this position because God chose us and our first duty is to the people God commended us to guide. Our desires fall short of our duties"
Philip's gaze fell. He thought poorly she'd been able to help him.
He put his hat back on, rose and turned on his heel and made for the door.
"Wait!"
"Your Majesty?"
"I am sorry for my behavior it is just that it has been long since I have been in private company with ..." she added slowly "another man"
"Duly noted and don't worry about your secret"
"It is no secret I am the Duke of Bavaria's daughter and Lady Mary-"
He held a hand up silencing her. "My lady you do not need to lie to me I can see the truth right in your eyes. Only two other people in this court have eyes like yours"
Feeling defeated Annie had no choice but to explain to him the importance of her secret.
"When Edward began courting me many began to question including your father on why was he pursuing a young girl whose legitimacy had always been questioned. Like his father, my grandfather Henry VIII, Edward did not think and against all odds we two got married. I learned to love him; I loved him too much that I did not question his decision when he inclined toward letting Diana close to her grandparents. You have to understand how hard he worked to put aside the matter of my parentage. We have enemies,Englandwill always have enemies lurking at every corner, my son is a baby -if my legitimacy is brought to question again so will his right to the throne. Regardless of whether Diana or he look like their grandmother or Edward."
Philip was silent during her whole speech. Then, after a pregnant pause, he whispered "I will not say anything. And no else but me knows"
"I will expect it be it so" she said, unlike the woman who had given birth to her but could not stand the sight of her, she behaved regally and like the queen she was.
Many weeks passed, the king was prolonging his stay inEngland and appearances were as deceiving as they ever were. People did not question his interest in Katherine, they bought the lie and they wanted to believe, especially her family, that he yearned for her, to make her his next queen. Annie saw past the smiles and stares, she knew they were meant for her and not for her meddling youngest half sibling. She got back walking but her recovery came with a high cost to pay. Her legs had not been healed completely and she would always bear the scars of her "fall". Now I am truly a Chapuys.
She snorted. She was broken.
She must be laughing right now. Annie thought picturing her mother's devilish smile when she'd made her reappearance at court. It had been so long she did not know if she could do this again. But I must. Parliament, Privy council, government was her life. She swore to Edward on his grave that she would not leave their son defenseless against the conspiracies of their Machiavellian courtiers.
Her son was nothing but a baby, young, innocent, pure. She did not want the same fate that befell on his young predecessors to befall on him. Henry III had inherited the crown from his tyrannical mad father when he was barely a boy. His mother had not been strong enough to rule by her side and Edward Prince of Wales, the ill fated son of Margaret of Anjou and Henry VI, had been left even more defenseless with the shifting of power and allies going over to his uncle, the Duke of York.
Philip of Spain gave her a quick look of reassurance when he and his long life companion, the Prince of Eboli –Ruy Gomez da Silva- came in to inquiry about her health.
The physician had given her a cane to use, she said she didn't really need it, but she discovered that long walks came extremely hard for her and had no choice but to listen to the physicians.
Yes, it could have been worse. The smile the King of Spain gave her stuck with her and she found herself muttering his name in her sleep, dreaming of him. Would he think of her the same way when he saw Katherine in her wedding gown? Would he imagine her instead of her sister? Who would be the face that came between them? Or would he be past any familiarity to her at his leave.
Shaking these thoughts aside, she had more important things to worry about. This was not the time for fantasizing about lost loves and old heroes from the era of the troubadours. This was the modern age, she was a modern Queen and he a modern King, they needed to behave as such.
She had formed part of the illustrious Plantagenet and Tudor Dynasties by her mother's side and while she shared no royal lineage through her father, he claimed his mother descended from the low nobility, so all the same royal and noble blood flowed through her veins.
She was proud of such lineage as she was proud of what she and Edward had accomplished. He had foolishly isolated England and would it not been by she it would've remained isolated. He knew his duties but he was often blinded by his passions and his devotions to this new religion. Annie knew that if they wanted to live in this country in peace both factions, the conservatives, the reformists and even the moderates who were nothing but an opportunistic bunch, had to start by making concessions and sacrifices. There was no middle ground in this. You were either for the stability of the country or you weren't, simple as that.
"Nothing in this world is without sacrifice my lords" she had said strongly when she opposed Northumbeland on the Parliament floor through her representative who knew her well enough as a sister but most importantly as her subject to give the same answers as she would, had she been there.
"Your Majesty has been absent from court appeals for over a month. Your son is not passed the age of majority" The Earl mentioned staring at his compatriots, his friends and then shifting his gaze to the old negotiator. The man responsible behind the Queen Dowager's true bastardry.
"Surely you agree" The Earl told him.
He had gained more supporters during the Queen's long absence, enough to counter the Duke of Sicily, the Earl of Hertford, and his wife, indomitable Bess, Marquess of Pembroke in her own right, influence over their young charges.
But where the Earl of Northumbeland ambitioned he was obstructed by the greater ambitions of an even more cunning foe. The Lady Mary's faithful dog (as he was known to Bess) countered the Earl's pleas to Parliament. The other bishops naturally went along with Gardiner. Their best ally in the heretic government was the moderate Queen who without knowing was one. Bastard or not, true heretic or not, she was the only royal friend they had on this council. The Earl with his high pretensions could not be trusted and the Lady Marques distrusted them above all her enemies.
"His Grace has stipulated before the Queen Dowager's wishes that no such agreement shall be taken unless her permission or in her absence appealing to the Lord Protector first"
"You would have this turn into a bureaucracy"
"Better a bureaucracy than an autocracy like your lordship pretends" Spat the Marques of Pembroke in all her might arriving ten minutes late to second parliamentary session since her niece's awakening, clad in a purple gown with silver brocade and a green and purple hat with a feather falling on the left side of her face. She did not take it off even as she addressed the Earl. Tudor colors the observers carefully took note. The woman whose mother would once dream her to be Queen now had high pretensions herself. They knew why she was here.
Much more was in play now than the Lady Marques and the Earl of Northumbeland's pretensions however. The Duke of Sicily and Earl of Hertford stepped forward and in a dramatic bow that nearly cost him his limbs he declared that the council must hold no more objections to the marriage contract between the Lady Mary Tudor's daughter and the King of Spain. "If we let this slip by our fingers the more countries that will leave England and bar us from trading"
Elizabeth mentally rolled her eyes at her husband. Kat Ashley by her side understood her former Princess' reluctance to agreed to such a (humiliating) deal. If the Lady Marques had a daughter as she and her mistress had prayed for, this would be her daughter's future. Kat Ashley had not know Anne Boleyn but her mistress had told her that before she was driven from her chambers, Elizabeth had been there witness to it, by the palace guards she embraced her teenage daughter and whispered in her ear "Never let them take your throne" Whether three, ten years or many decades the throne of England would be hers. It was only a matter of time. Her husband needed only to convince these courtiers that their plans were the more logical and the only solutions to the big problems England was facing because of her brother's isolation.
Annie had a son and two daughters. It was her dream that one day the two quarreling countries of Scotland and England would be united. One country under God, indivisible, a single identity, a single language, a single dialect … such were her ambitions that she confessed to Kate that in the next century with the son or daughter that her son begot from that Queen of Scotland would be vital in uniting the two countries and solidifying an Empire which greatness would be decided in this century by the women behind the men, she and Annie.
"What if you have more than one granddaughter by the Queen of Scots and more importantly what if William has only one son and he has only one Scottish Princely cousin?" Kat put in as Parliament session ended and the majority gave a vote to approve of the Scottish marriage and the Spanish one.
"What if the sky suddenly turns green? All in good time, I have prayed for this many years. I know in my heart that the young King William shall have a son and that George shall have a daughter and from their union from mine and Annie's grandchildren Scotland and England will be united"
Her ambition did not surprise her chief lady in waiting, but rather the way she hoped her power would be cemented.
Elizabeth saw through her confusion and chuckled as she sat on the couch in her parlor "Annie is my daughter when I said my family will get the throne I meant it Kat. Annie is my daughter"
Kat knew her mistress was serious and decided to ask no more.
Anne Elizabeth was opportunist and bewitching woman that was the equal of her Lady Marques' mother, in all but blood. Naturally Elizabeth supported however her lady in waiting did not see that her love for Annie went beyond the memory of her mother, but the bond she formed with her the moment she'd came into this world. It was Elizabeth who first held her before her mother or her supposed father. It was Elizabeth who rescued her from bondage, and it was thanks to Elizabeth that Annie owed all her education and all her rise.
She would never tell her sons this but she had grown to love and see Annie more as her child than her own.
"But" Kat Ashley added before she finish her tale of what had transpired during and after the last Parliament session "your lady Aunt went to great length to propose another marriage"
Her eyebrows arched. "Who is left to wed? Anthony?"
"No Your Majesty but yourself"
"Me?" She pointed to her chest clearly surprised. "Why me? I am my son's regent in the absence of the Lord Protector and our Lady Governor"
"It is complicated" Answered Kat well understanding Her Majesty's confusion. She herself had not seen it until now as she called on the name Philip and how a Queen Dowager was a better gamble than a simple Duchess's daughter. Her cheeks flushed and Kat smiled to herself. Her lady was right, she was always right. Annie had developed feelings for His Majesty, she'd felt something more than friendship and gratitude for his kind words to their Highness Diana. It was only natural, she was a widow and widows were prone to strong desires for companionship "My lady however refrained from putting your name she merely said as your father Lady Mary's remaining unwed daughter"
"Me" Annie said realizing the game her surrogate mother was playing. She sighed and left her cane resting on the arm of her chair.
I am not one to submit. She was tired of submitting to the will of men. She was nobody's Queen but her son's, and her son needed her.
But Kat told her son had her father and aunt to be looked after.
"It is not enough Mistress Ashley" she argued with her Aunt's loyal lady. "I am a Queen Dowager, a Regent, a politician, I am my father's daughter and my Aunt's, but I am a mother first. My duty is here with my son"
With the Queen's permission she sat next to her "Duty aside why don't you think with your heart for once Your Majesty?" She dared to express.
"My heart belongs to my son"
"What about Their Highnesses Diana and Margaret, is your heart now with them?" She teased.
Because she was her loving aunt's lead lady, she allowed her these liberties "My heart is with all my children but William is the King of England, he needs my guidance. I promised Edward I would guide our son if anything should happen" which it did, she thought bitterly, and he left her a poor widow with a crazed, power-hungry mother and a crazed, power-hungry court.
Nowhere was safe.
"Who guarantees me that my children's legacy, my William's legacy will be well protected here in my absence and I know my mother. She is ambitious, she will not forget this affront" Anymore than she had the others that in her lunacy she attributed to her.
"It does not have to be, you could always have your sister, the Lady Katherine wed the King's heir"
She roared with laughter "Wed Don Carlos?" Her mother would never let one of her own marry that mad man. "Even my mother's ambition would not go that far"
"How do you know? Your mother wants to be the grandmother of Kings, she could be if Lady Katherine were to give a son to the mad Prince, of course who is to say her grandson would be heir above yours?"
"I know what you are suggesting and you know better than to say that. It is treason"
"You are the Queen, you are above the law that the rest of us mortals are subject by. Nothing is beneath you. Sky is the limit, think about it. Your Majesty" she rose and bowed to the Queen Dowager and left.
This was much harder than she initially thought. I bet sleeping beauty did not have to trouble herself with this. Why would she trouble herself with this? All she had to do is stand still while the handsome Prince took her and claimed her as his Queen.
Annie walked to her chambers and examined herself. She was not haggard even after a long month of sleep, her hair remained red-gold and her locks flew freely past her waist as she took her snood and her flat hood off her hair. She was desirable, she had to admit but the wince of pain caused by her leg reminded her of her disability. Desirable but not complete …
Yet he smiled at her as the physician gave her a black but more stylish cane than her father's. He'd seen past her crippled self and she'd looked away when she noticed the glimmer in his eyes when she lifted her skirts to check the state of her leg.
This chapter gave a small flashback into the missing scene of Parliament, as you can see England is not yet united, it has many factions and Annie is no longer trying to unify everyone but finding a common cause for everyone to agree. Since her fall she has grown a lot so if she seems like a different person she is as a matter of fact since the miscarriage and her husband's death plus the fall have made her mature a lot.
Thanks for your attention.
~C