Disclaimer: If I did I would be Goddess Supreme now wouldn't I?

Thanks to all my reviewers, and all those who've supported me and encouraged me to keep writing. You know who you are, this is for you. Used the sources listed before and a documentary on Spain "La Familia Real Del Rey" (The Royal Family of the King) where one of the key presenters is Fernando Bouza who published the famous letters Philip II wrote to his two favorite children, Catalina Michaela and Isabel Clara Eugenia (daughters of his third wife, Elizabeth of Valois).

~VXLP

Chapter #64: Time Will Tell

"The King and Queen are fluctuating sources of power"

~Earl of Surrey; Katherine of Aragon episode, Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970)

1575, July 22th

Spain, Guadalajara

Felipe Diego sighed. This would be the day his grandfather decided whether or not he wanted to send troops to rescue his uncle, Fernando or leave him there in custody. There was so much he wanted to tell Fernando before he left to Bolougne, now because of his capture he would never get to see him again.

It was highly unlikely he would get to see him. There was too much bad blood between the French and Spanish monarchy, primarily from what his great grandfather, Charles V did.

He pressed his grandfather to do something. "You would look good if you send troops to France. They would think twice before capturing one of us."

"If only it could be so easy. I am a King and not easily dissuaded by sentiment my grandson. Your uncle led himself into this broil, there is little I can do but negotiate. Half our forces are already being wasted helping the English, and I am considering on taking the Duke of Alba's advice and pulling our forces to focus more on the Netherlands. They continue to give me more trouble and press me to hand over their Prince of Orange and then there is your other grand-uncle to consider."

"I thought he was on our side."

"Was. Maximilian could care less about war on the Western part of the continent."

"He promised to help us."

"He promised to help the English but my stepson rejected his marriage offer of his sister to his younger son. Clearly" his tone became condescending "the little man believed his sister was too good for your cousin Rudolf"

She could have been Holy Roman Empress for Christ's sake but no, his stepson had to had that shrew Elizabeth Bathory, whispering in his ear along with Cecil what benefited him more. They were leaning to a more Protestant marriage and while Russia was not Protestant they represented a great advantage for trade to the English. His stepson was not as foolish and childish as Philip would like him to be but he relied too much on his wife and his Secretary of State's advice.

"There must be something else" Ligo tried but his grandfather shook his head. "You can't let Fernando there. That is enough declaration of war, any other King-"

"Any other King" Said Philip warningly "but I am not any other King. I will not wait more expenditure on unnecessary wars. If the King of France does so much as touch one of my son's hair he will have to deal with the consequences of my wrath." He sat on the bench and picked a red rose from the ground and cut it with his dagger. "The Kings of Europewant to kill each other, let them. We do not owed them anything, we have no alliance with either of them."

"But your marriage to the Queen Dowager ..."

"Is long and gone. Annie is dead" His eyes turned to sorrow but it quickly disappeared and his face turned serious and cold, becoming the strong and pragmatic ruler that Ligo knew and admired, and aspired to be. "There is nothing you and I can do to renew our friendship. If my stepson however wishes to help Fernando it will be greatly appreciated."

"But if he does not ..." He trailed of unable to finish his sentence. Fernando had suffered a lot of unspeakable horrors at the hands of Henri III, his secretary had told his grandfather. Surely, he thought. You will not leave Fernando to rot?

His unspoken thoughts were easily read through the cold blue eyes of his grandfather he shared.

He gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I never forget my family." his tone hit on a stronger note. "I will make sure he is well-cared for during his visit in France."

Visit, well-cared, his grandfather was skillfully substituting old terms to appease Felipe Diego, but they did not work. "Help me walk the maze Ligo, I want to appreciate the beauty of nature."

An odd request from a man who had just condemned his son to death but Ligo was silent and did as his grandfather told him.

Philip smirked. His grandson thought him cold. Good. It was better to be thought as cold. Annie ... her death, had only brought him misery. He much preferred to be detached and find solace in the beauty of nature, his gardens, his letters, affairs of state, things that he could control. He was foolish to think he had the power over life and death. Annie was a testament to that. The four caballeros who carried the canopy on where her sarcophagus stood noticed the look on the King's face where he stared from the window and Philip swore from that moment on that he would never cry again.

He cared for his son, Fernando but Fernando had gotten himself in this new broil and there was nothing he could do. Philip wanted to go there personally and rescue him and smite the King of France in the process but too much blood had already been shed for his half brother, his stepson and his ambitious cousin.

He was going to withdraw his troops and he was not going to have anymore regrets for it. He was tired of having regrets.

Juana watched her older sister, Isabella and her aunt, Catalina, embroidery. She would never knit as neatly as they. She left her embroidery and tip-toed out of the room. She felt the pain that Fernando was feeling. And it was strange since they were not even twins. Isabella should have felt this pain. She was a bit jealous that she did but Juana explained to her it was the Lord's will and she let the matter rest.

She hid behind one of the bushes of her father's maze. He had changed from the loving, caring father she knew after her mother's death and her brother and uncles. He was no longer loving and caring but cold and distant and it was odd, but Juana loved him more that way. She felt better when she was alone. Now she had one thing in common and it brouht her closer to him.

She listened attentive to what he had to say when she heard the name "Fernando".

Her face fell and she ran back to the palace. Court had been transferred from the cozy unfinished and luxurious rooms of the Escorial to the Infants Palace in Guadalajara. Even if they ran after her they would be too slow, her father relied on Ligo and was too weak from his gout and Ligo could not leave his side.

"Where were you?" Isabella demanded in her high pitched voice that reminded Juana of their mother and older sister, Diana, when they got mad.

"Nowhere" She answered.

Isabella rolled her eyes, not believing her, but she returned to her knitting showing off her stitches to her Dueña. Juana's own Dueña was not pleased with her work and told her to go pray but Juana did not heed her advice and picked up her mother's favorite book "Utopia" and closed her bedroom door.

August 1st

England, London Borough: Greenwich Palace

Beth's belly was becoming very large by the end of her first trimester. She boasted she was carrying twins and the people of England wherever she passed, believed she was and saw her as their substitute for the old Mother. Their admiration became a new kind of worship, Beth was a skilled actress and able to please the crowds. And whenever William had something new to show, she would be the first one to know. The nobles at court tried to push their daughters in his path but William only had eyes for the alluring Elizabeth Bathory.

It became highly annoying in Northumberland's opinion who was fast dying and could not stand anymore of court intrigues and the young King's hypocrisy who was ever inch like his mother and had a bit of that sadistic side of his grandfather, old, merry, bluff Henry VIII.

On his way back he bumped into Jane Grey. She had taken her family's last name after his son Guilford died. Not even a year after he died and she dropped the black clothes and was back at the Princess Margaret's service. She petitioned the King, dropping to her knees, letting the tears flow, making a mess of her dress, not to let her go that she loved England too much and her sons needed her.

"Lord Grey" Her voice was innocent and melodic but John knew a long time ago not to trust a Grey.

"Milady." He said shortly moving past her when her voice made him spun around.

"You have not visited your grandchildren My Lord. My oldest son, John asks for you all the time."

"I bet he does." He said chuckling. He could almost fall for her spell if not for the ring she had on her left hand.

Jane followed his gaze and said steadily, "A gift I am sure you remember from your son. May God rest his soul."

"May God rest all of my grandchildren. Send my blessings to your sons Lady Grey." He did not even bother to keep with the hypocrisy anymore, ten years ago he would have given anything to be a player in this Kingly game but he had seen so much, experienced so much loss and the ring she carried, the color of her sons' eyes when he first saw them ... he knew they could not be his son's.

Jane did not let his grunt affect her and she turned on her heel back to her chambers. On the way back she met another dissatisfied individual.

Ana was glaring at her with a deep hatred that was enough to send chills down her spine but she did not let that affect her and did not show Ana weakness. It was not her fault that Anthony did not love her. If she learned to be more amiable and kind to him and converted to the true religion and not force her pagan symbols on their daughter, he would learn to love her. Ana had too much of that stubborn, staunch Hapsburg blood. She warned Anthony she would not be easy to handle but Anthony was a worldly man who believed he could take on everything. She worried for him now that he was risking his life for yet another Hapsburg. She prayed daily for him.

Ana squeezed her fists, one step of this woman and she was sure she would hit her. Then she remembered Jesus' primary gospel, to love they enemy and she sent an apologetic smile to Ana, that did more harm to good and only increased the woman's hatred for her, and went to her chambers locking the doors tight.

William fiddled with the pages of his book. Eustace could do little to cheer up his grandson's mood, he felt glad that he was called to his chambers at such late hour, it showed that he still considered him and valued his advice.

"What is on your mind?" He asked, no formalities, no nice words, just straight to the point as he used to be before he became Duke and Earl.

William stared at his grandfather, his eyes showed uncertainty but the rest of him did not. "I am afraid. Afraid what will come after the war is over" Which was due to be any day now. His cousin's forces had been cornered and surrendered, "Will England stand strong after such victory? Will I?"

Eustace's brow furrowed. "What do you mean William? You are King undisputed of England, after this victory you will definitely be undisputed King of England, France, and Lord of Ireland. No one will stand in your way. What do you really fear so much? Is it Albert? Your conscience does not need to be troubled. William will get what he deserves ..."

"No" he cut him off "It is not Albert, I mean ... it is not so much the end of this war that I fear as much as the outcome. Before this war our position was secured, alliances were formed, promises were made, we were all so young, so sure of what the future will bring us. Now that we have so much I wonder if this one death will outset another war."

"How can it? Your enemies will be no more and peace will finally reign."

"Will it? I am starting to regret that this is coming to an end."

"William, Albert's death is not something you should regret, he will get what he deserves, you are the son of Edward VI, the true King of England ..."

"It is not my cousin's death I fear but my mother. Her shadow looms over all on us and after this is over there will be no reason for me or for my stepfather to keep our promises."

Eustace sighed. He wanted to protest but William was right. Their whole friendship was based on the marriage between Annie and Philip and her cousin to Carlos. They had done their duty, they had brought Spain sons and heirs. With Annie's death the alliance was no longer needed.

"I think my grandfather and father were wise not to form alliances, they knew they were precarious at best and no telling whether when they would change."

"Your grandfather and father by not making alliances they upset the scale of English trade. You made the right choice, if not for your alliance, you would not have met Beth and she would not have given you one healthy boy and probably two more on the way, God be praised."

"Yes" he smiled at the thought. Beth was certainly a blessing. His face became serious. "I do not regret the choices I ... well ... we've made but I often ask myself if the cost will be more than what we have gained?"

Eustace had no clear response for that. "Only time will tell." He merely said and his grandson echoed with a grim face "Time will tell"