Sorry you guys, I know I haven't written in weeks. I guess I never really found the time. To make up for the long time, this is a pretty long chapter. I really hope you guys enjoy. Review and tell me what you think. :)

The next morning, Katherine packed her bags and went to Hatfield to serve the Princess Elizabeth. Katherine didn't know what to expect. She was hoping that the king would escort her there but he was already hurt over Katherine of Aragon's death. She didn't want to irritate him even more. As she passed Princess Elizabeth smiling with wide eyes at her, she noticed many things about her niece. She had her mother's eyes but she did possess some Tudor traits. She looked like an angel. Instantly, she felt guilt; guilt over all of the things that she had done to her mother. Though, her mother was her very own cousin, she was bedding her husband. Katherine didn't know Anne as well as her siblings knew her. But she did know what was behind the front that Anne always put up. Though, she acted like a proud, strong woman, inside was a fragile little girl who was deprived from her father's love; a girl who was hardened for the fights that she had battled in order to please both of her parents. But that never worked. No matter how much Anne would try, her and her sister would only be a pawn for the Boleyn family to gain wealth and power. It may seem that the only reason she married Henry was because of her ambitions of being someone adequate, but the truth was Anne was growing feelings for Henry. She hated seeing Henry with his mistresses, and she was the only woman brave enough to tell him. But to Katherine, her needs came before. No matter how much guilt Katherine felt, she knew clearly that her ambitions came before anyone else's and anyone who stood in the way was bound to get burnt, even if it was her blood.

Katherine picked the little infant up, but as soon as Elizabeth entered her aunt's lap, she started crying. Hearing her baby sister's cries, Mary rushed out of her room, to see what her sister needed. Mary was stunned to see an unfamiliar, pretty face. She didn't know that there'd be a new lady-in-waiting. Princess Elizabeth reached out her hands to Mary. Although Elizabeth was really young, she could sense that Mary was a clean soul and she truly felt the most comfort with Mary. Mary took her little sister in her arms and rocked her up and down. Another group of ladies-in-waiting came and they were in shock over the scene that stood before them.

A lady-in-waiting took Elizabeth away from Mary and said "You should clean the floors. I can see for quite awhile you haven't been putting yourself to use. Lord knows who you're with when you roam around outside. Besides, I do not think that the King would desire his disgraceful bastard to be anywhere near his princess."

For Mary, that hit a nerve. She was in shock. No one had ever spoken to her like that for as long as she remembered. Her words hurt her like a razor. She was fighting back tears. She didn't have any defence. She knew her words contained the harsh truth. She was only but a mare bastard and her father probably would never want Elizabeth to be accompanied by someone like her. Mary just entered her room, sat down on her bed, with her cheeks flushed and tears escaping her eyes.

Katherine didn't know what to think. She remembered herself as a child looking up to Mary as her father picked her up and showed her off to the entire kingdom. Today, she was treated worse than a servant. She was always envious of Mary as a little girl. What didn't she have? Every time she would enter the room, all the attention would be on her. She would wear the best gowns and had the wealthiest and most powerful man as her father. She was also exceedingly adorable. It was hard for her not to grab anyone's attention. Even today, Mary had grown up to be a gorgeous young woman. Even calling her gorgeous would be an understatement. She had such intense beauty that it was hard for one not to stare at her. It was to no surprise that the other ladies-in-waiting were jealous of her. Her eyes were the most beautiful pair of eyes that Katherine had ever seen. They were almond with a rare sapphire blue color. She had porcelain skin with thick waves of chestnut hair descending to her waist. But unlike the last time Katherine had seen her, Mary didn't look happy. Despite her rare beauty, she looked like the most unfortunate woman that she had come across that it was hard not to feel pity for her. In other circumstances, she would've felt jealous of a girl that possessed such beauty but all she felt was sympathy for her. She was cast aside by her father and her whole world was turned up side down in such short time. Mary definitely beat her in terms of beauty but she never enjoyed the real pleasures of life like Katherine did and with her current status; it seemed as if she never will. Katherine had every single man at her feet, trying to win her over with every chance they had. She had the King in her favour and before she became his mistress, she received many proposals. She truly was the most sought over woman in England. But Mary was like a curse. She was alluring to the eyes, but if anyone would get too close, they'd get burnt. With her current status, no one noble was willing to marry her and lusting her out of question because after all she was the daughter of the King. If anyone ever thought about having an affair with her, the King would surely have their head. Mary was sheltered for all of her life, going from one boarding school to the next. Surely, she didn't know how pleasing a man's affections were. To Katherine, Mary was only but a beautiful bird whose wings had been clipped.

Henry wanted to go to Hatfield and perhaps reconcile with his daughter. He didn't know whether Mary knew the news of her mother but he did want to reach out to her in any way that he could. Last night, Henry couldn't sleep at night thinking of his past memories and how things were. He was missing Katherine more than he could imagine and he was aching to see her. One glimpse of Mary assured him that Mary had a clear resemblance of her mother and he was willing to settle for anything that reminded him of Katherine. He wanted to change circumstances of his former wife's death and if he couldn't do that, he wanted to be assured that Katherine was alive in some form, even if it was through their daughter.

As Henry came to Hatfield, he was surprised to find Katherine unpacking in a room. She was truly obedient to him and that pleased Henry more than anything.

Katherine curtsied at her beloved's sight and said "Your Majesty, I wasn't expecting you here."

"I simply came to see the Princess Elizabeth. I am glad to find you here. I see you have taken my advice"

The King's motives were different when coming to Hatfield but Henry would never admit it. He never behaved fatherly to Mary. He thought that if he acted as if things are the way they once were, people who still sided with Katherine of Aragon, his former wife, would take advantage of his fatherly love and convince him to legitimatize Mary and put her back on the line of succession and he couldn't let that happen no matter what the cost.

"Of course, I have taken your advice your majesty. I am glad I did. My niece is the most adorable little girl and I am glad to serve her."

"Katherine, call me Henry"

Henry was becoming infatuated with the young girl. Her remarkable features were so intriguing. He was drawn to her from the first time, he saw her. Of course she was beautiful but it was her personality that had kept his interest. It was her carefree and fearless personality that made Henry young again. He loved how she listened to her heart above everything and was never fearful of the consequences. At times, Henry would find himself wishing that he had done that as a child. He wished he would've been so carefree. But he was always in the shadows of his older brother so instead of living an innocent, careless childhood, he always tried to win his parents' favour and worked to exceed his parents' expectations. Henry was getting tired of the strong-headed, mature women in his life and what he really needed was to live again; to laugh again.

Henry remembered memories from a few days ago with the beautiful woman in front of him as his lips curved into a smile.

Henry woke up as he heard a thud on his door. As he opened the door, he glanced at a pale face in the midst of silky hair in the form of curls, beautifully complimenting her marked features. Henry's lips curved into a roguish smile and he gave into temptation as he trailed his thumb against the smooth skin of his beloved's chin. Her cheeks flushed and in an instant she trailed her fingers through Henry's rich dark-brown hair and crushed her lips with his.

If there was anything that Katherine had in common with her cousin, it was that they both possessed the skill of dominating men and luring them in their trap. Giving into the amusing assault, Henry grasped her waist, not wanting to let his wife's nymph of a cousin go.

As they both broke free from the kiss, Henry said "You came."

"I had come here with much difficulty, Your Majesty. It was difficult hiding from Anne"

"I hope she hadn't troubled you too much, my love"

"No your grace, but you have for staying away from me," Katherine replied as she devoured his lips.

They devoured each other at the comfort of Henry's bed. They sunk into the love making as they gave into the passion that was captured inside. Henry lost himself in the arousing, newly-blossomed youth that she possessed and Katherine just loved being at the midst of the protective arms of England's most powerful man. As Katherine lay there naked, Henry got up and lowered himself to her feeble body.

"Your Majesty, I-I would like it if I stay a virgin. I do not wish to mother bastards"

Henry simply looked at her with hungry eyes. This girl was as enchanting as she was unpredictable. She had given herself to him. It wasn't the other way around. She had aroused a deep passion inside him and he could not help but dangerously lust her as he gripped his eyes on her body. Her thick and glossy curls lay spread-out on the bed itself framing her gorgeous face. He couldn't even think straight as he caught glimpse of her exposed body. Her breasts were plump and full and her nipples were fully erected. He ached to touch them. They were just the perfect size; not too big and not too small. They were of a blossomed girl who was still in the early years of her youth. They were in every way intoxicating. As she lay there trembling, she looked all the more attractive to him. He wanted her; he wanted what lay between her legs very badly.

"Your Majesty, say something. Stop looking me like that" Katherine said as she giggled.

Henry loved her laugh. It was like a melody sung by the most exquisite sirens to him. It was so feminine and child-like. It was alluring but it was also very adorable.

"I cannot help it. You torture me, my little butterfly"

"Your butterfly?"

"Yes, you're as beautiful and bright as a butterfly. You shine brighter than any girl I have ever met.

Henry lay in bed beside her. Katherine lay her head on his chest as her breast stroked his body which was yearning with desire. Henry loved the feeling of her beside him. Yes, she was alluring in every single way. But he also felt an ironic sort of completion and a sense of freedom with her. He felt as if he could spend hours with her, caressing her and feeling her porcelain, smooth skin as it felt like the softest thing he had ever touched. He would love to just listen to her talk about the petty things in life and listen to the melody of her soft giggles. He could do it all day if given a choice.

"You really think so? You have no idea how happy you have made me."

Katherine looked up at Henry and the smile on her face just left Henry starstrucked. Without even waiting for a reply from Henry, Katherine got up and looked through the window.

"It's raining," Katherine said excitedly.

"Your Majesty, have you ever danced in the rain at night?"

"You want to dance in the rain?"

"Why not, your grace? I promise you, you will be left amused"

"Is that so?"

"Of course"

Katherine would prefer to dance in the rain naked and feel every part of the delicate, refreshing droplets of rain crushing against her skin but she would have to do otherwise out of the outcome of someone seeing her. She didn't want to be called a harlot, even if she did fit in the definition of one. She put her thin, delicate, white corset and lightly grabbed Henry's wrist hinting that he should come with her.

Henry didn't want to say no to her but if anyone caught them together, there would be a scandal and he would have to witness his wife's tantrums. He would never let that happen.

"You go my love but I shall watch you from up here"

"Please, Your Majesty"

"No, my love I do not wish to have other people see us together especially your cousin the Queen Anne."

"Alright your majesty," and with that remark, Katherine snuck down stairs.

At the midst of the rain, Katherine felt every single droplet on her exposed bits of skin. She felt the shivers rushing through her body and she never felt any livelier. She devoured the moment and started spinning around with her arms wide open. She glimpsed at the figure she saw through the window of the room she had formerly been in. Instantly, she giggled at Henry's sight as her cheeks flushed.

Henry was enjoying his view. Her delicate corset was drenched in the rain and had exposed the shape of her breasts. Her nipples were visible through the corset as the thin layer of fabric lay tightly on her body. Her drenched hair combined with the look of heavy droplets lying at the midst of her smooth skin as well as the melody of her giggles allured Henry more than anything he had ever seen. He instantly knew that he loved her.

Henry snapped back to reality as he still could see a glimpse of the vivid memory still playing in his mind.

"Of course, Henry" Katherine said as she emphasized Henry, giving him a smirk.

Henry finally realized why he had come to Hatfield in the first place. He had come to meet with Mary and perhaps other days he would let this beautiful nymph lure him away from his duties, but not today. He felt a streak of generosity today. He also felt curious. He was curious to know how the daughter he hadn't seen in many years had turned out to be. Was she anything like her mother that he missed so much or was she more like him? Henry also wanted closure. He wanted to ease the guilt he felt for abandoning her and her mother. He had destroyed his family; his daughter's beloved family with his own hands.

"Have you seen the Lady Mary anywhere, Katherine?"

"No, I haven't your majesty. I-I mean Henry"

Mary could no longer take being trapped in the four walls of her room that leaked the dirty gossip that the ladies-in-waiting spoke about. She didn't care about what the other girls thought. She had to go out. She felt like she was going to suffocate if she stayed here any longer. She went out of her room and she made it clear to the girls of what she was doing. She wasn't a coward and she'd make sure that the other ladies knew that. Her father couldn't control her so who were these ladies?

As she left the building, she could hear the whispers from the ladies and she suddenly got an anxious feeling in her stomach. But she kept on going. It was strength that defined her mother and her grandmother Queen Isabella, and it was going to be strength that was going to define her as well. She wouldn't be like other girls who would shed tears over petty things. She wasn't a princess nor would she ever be queen but she was royal. She was the daughter and granddaughter of queens and kings and if she ever did get married and have children, she'd make sure that she instilled in them the virtues of kings and queens.

Outside, she heard the thudding noise of horses nearby. As the first two horses came forward, she saw her father talking to the duke of Suffolk. With his head turned sideways, she made a quick escape. The other men might've seen her running towards the other end of Hatfield but they didn't know that she was the Lady Mary. She didn't want to see her father, not now and not ever. If he'd come to give his consent of allowing Mary to meet her mother, then he would tell Lady Bryn.

Mary was waiting at the back of the Hatfield building for her father go inside. Then she would quickly go through the gates of Hatfield. Mary was thrilled at thought of meeting with John. Just thinking about him made her stomach flutter.

As Henry entered Hatfield, his daughter entered outside the gates of Hatfield. She was glad to know that there would be nobody that she despised in the outside world victimizing her despite no fault of her own.

Then she saw a well-built figure holding a little girl in the distance that made her stomach flutter with excitement. Mary brushed her chestnut hair with her fingers making sure that the tangles were free and hoped that she looked the least bit desirable. It was true that no man had ever made her feel like this. He made her feel in a way that was indescribable. It wasn't only his words that made her flush into redness, it was simply his presence.

John was examining Mary from the distance and noticing how nervous she was, how her cheeks flushed with redness or how she brushed her hair to make sure that she looked her best. He chuckled at the scene. He was quite content that he made her feel this way simply by his presence. She blushed so sincerely and as he said earlier, the redness did enhance her beauty. But he knew that what she was feeling was not the nearest bit close to what he was feeling. She had his heart at the first moment that he saw her. It wasn't only the outer beauty that intrigued him. It was the way that she held Layla so lovingly like a mother would hold her child. He always dreamed of a woman that not only possessed outer beauty but beauty that comes from the inside. Mary happened to have both which was incomparable to any other woman that he had ever met. As he got to know her even more, he had spent nights when all he would ever think about was her.

Even Layla had grown fond of her. He remembered that when Mary came into their lives, that was when Layla stopped asking him about Caroline. Caroline was a mother figure to her. Of course she was kind, but was her kindness really genuine when she had given them both up for one night of affection from the king? The next day the King would get tired of her and throw her away like any other mistress that he kept. Caroline was a mistress. That's all she was now. She was the king's mistress. And in John's eyes, she was a harlot and he didn't want anything to do with her.

Mary smiled at the sight of Layla playing with John's hair. But her pleasure wasn't long-lasting as a group of men stood right in front blocking her way.

A well-built man with a few grey freckles of hair at the midst of his faded blond hair stopped Mary from moving forward. He was surrounded by five men all who looked very frightening to Mary. The man with blonde hair said "We've been noticing you for quite some time? What's your name sweetheart?"

He trailed down her cheeks flushed in fright with his index and middle finger feeling the sensation of her smooth skin beneath his fingers.

Mary felt a pinch in her stomach, her heart started racing and she realized that she had never felt so much fear in all of her life. She quickly flinched at the vile man's touch and stood erect in fear. Mary was taught many things but how to respond to a group of tough guys harassing her was something her teachers thought was never necessary due to the fact that she was the king's daughter and former princess.

"Pretty and feisty, she'll do, don't you think boys?"

"Leave me alone," Mary yelled. Mary was raging with anger. She had become from a princess to a girl who every other girl picked on; a girl who will always fall prey to groups of men like the ones in front of her. She was nothing; she had no value anymore. Mary tried to make her way out of the crowd of men but the man who talked to her earlier grabbed on to her arm.

His nails pierced through her skin and he grabbed her close to him. They were so close that only a centimetre set them apart. Tears rushed through Mary's face and she trembled in fear. Someone can only put on a strong front for so long.

John left Layla with a peasant that he knew, inside a shop. He knew what was going to happen would mean danger for the little girl. He was raging with anger. John would've helped any girl in need but even over the short span of only three days of knowing her, he had grown protective over Mary.

John pushed the men who were blocking Mary to step forward. "Stay away from her," he roared.

The blond man stepped away from Mary "Look what we've got here?"

"Let her go"

John stepped toward Mary and pushed her behind him and twisted his arms onto her back.

"Look at this, Lover boy here thinks he can save his little harlot. How sweet. You really think you can fight us. There's five of us and only one of you. What do ya say boys. I'll be kind. Lover boy, let us engage in a battle. If you I win, she's mine and I can do what ever I want to and with her. If you win, she's all yours Romeo."

Mary was trembling in fear at the scene that lay in front of her. She was afraid of her fate; of John's fate. But she knew that if anything happened to John, Layla would suffer the consequences. She'd be alone like she is now. Mary didn't want a child to suffer because of her. She knew that if she'd go with the men, her father would come looking for her. He was the king and Mary, bastard or not was the king's daughter. Her father would come looking for her sooner or later and give these rogues what they deserve later on.

Mary watched as John, out of rage punched him really hard in the eye. The blond man grabbed his hair and smacked his head against a wooden barrel. Mary stepped forward and said "I'll go with you, just let him go"

"Look who chose to save her beloved," said the blonde man with sarcasm oozing from his voice.

"Stay out of this Mary," yelled John. "I'm going to kill this bastard."

John punched the blonde man when he was out of guard and slammed his head against the wooden barrel. At his rage, he kept on going and didn't stop until Mary stepped forward. "Let him go John."

John stopped and looked at Mary. His head was swollen and his eyes vivid with guilt. John looked at the unconscious body that lay before him. Drops of blood were dropping on the ground beside him. Crowds of people were now surrounding them trying to get a glimpse of the situation. Mary was frozen in anxiety and was unable to think straight. John used his hands to push his chest at a fast pace hoping that he would open his eyes.

Mary screamed out for anyone who had water and luckily someone stepped forward.

As Mary sprayed water at the unconscious man, she was crying. John had killed a man because of her and it would be him who would suffer the consequences afterwards. Mary would never forgive herself if that ever happened. This man needed to be alive for John's sake; for her sake.

Fortunately, the man opened his eyes and a smile formed on Mary's face. She felt a sense of relief and couldn't wait until this was all put behind her. The man realized that not only did he lose the fight with John but Mary, the same girl he harassed earlier had come to his aid when his life was in danger. He simply got up and ordered his men to leave with him. The man had intended to apologize and thank Mary not only came to his aid but had wounded his pride as well.

Mary didn't mind. She was just happy to be safe. Seeing John's wound, Mary dipped a part of her dress on the pot of water and wiped it on John's forehead hoping it would take the pain away.

John simply looked down at Mary's sapphire blue eyes as she looked up to his. He had never felt such triumph in his life. Not only did he rescue the girl whom he lost his heart to but he had also won her affections.

Mary couldn't believe that a man that stood in front of her had risked his life for her. He could've gotten killed by the group of men and Layla could've lost a father but despite the consequences he had chosen to come to her rescue.