Hey guys,

I know it's been a long time since I updated and I apologize, life kicked me in the lady balls and I'm just getting back on track.

Hope you guys like this chapter!

Love you all,

BlackRose999

The Legacy of Queen Anne

Chapter Three: The Consequences of one's actions.

Mary arrived at court a week before the celebration of Henry's son, now called Little Harry by all, and was shocked to find she wasn't welcomed like a royal. The court moved around her as though she weren't visible, nobody bowed or curtsied, and no one even acknowledged her presence. Nobody but the unpleasant Lady Bryan had even escorted her inside.

'It's that witch's fault…' She snarled inwardly, gritting her teeth together to force a pleasant disposition. 'Father would never have banished me had she not been allowed to gain power. I'm his pearl. She is nothing compared to the true heir to the Tudor Throne.'

Still, she had to admit it stung quite a bit to be ignored. She had no ladies, no companion other than the ever-watchful eye of Lady Bryan which had been fixed on her since she'd arrived, and she had no influence or power at court other than her name.

Her mother still held power at court, though even she could see it was waning in the light of the birth of the prince. Anne had given the king what her mother could not, and in the eyes of the court, she was now more of a queen than Catherine had been.

"The queen!" Yelled out a page. Anne strode into the room, heavily pregnant and flocked by white and gold Ladies. Mary bristled but feigned a smile. "Lady Mary, Henry will be pleased to see you back at court. You'll have another sibling here soon…" She said with a soft smile. Mary wished it had been smug, at least then she could see it as a snub. Anne stepped forward and away from her Ladies, coming to a stop directly in front of Mary's anxious glare.

"Would you like to see your brother? See how much he's grown, he's the spitting image of Henry that one… But he has my eyes and my temperament at the moment." She gently laid her hand on her belly, then slowly reached out and took Mary's hand. "I want peace, Mary. Truly. You need not call me mother, or anything other than Anne. But you must acknowledge me as queen."

Mary bit her lip, took a deep breath, and looked Anne in the eye. "I acknowledge no one as the queen but my mother." She watched Anne's lips tighten and the color rises in her cheeks, but it was quickly dampened. "I'm sorry to hear that Lady Mary…" Anne shifted her eyes to the side in a very clear 'you may leave now' gesture. Mary inclined her head in a respectful manner and headed toward her designated room. She felt Anne's eyes on her as she quit the room, and heard her call Lady Bryan over to her. She didn't hear what was said, but she could very easily guess.

She straightened her shoulders and held her head high, Anne would get nothing from her.

Anne eyed her daughter-in-law as she walked away from her, she was mildly annoyed, but she wasn't worried about Mary making things difficult for her. She had Elizabeth, little Harry, and the ever-growing love of her husband the king. As Mary walked away she called after Lady Bryan, who immediately changed direction and headed toward her, and inclined her head toward a more private setting.

"Your Majesty?" Lady Bryan asked quietly, realizing that this must be of great importance if Anne had pulled her aside. "I want to know everything Mary does here. Who she writes to, who she visits in private, and where she goes when she thinks nobody is looking." Anne thought of little Harry and Elizabeth, and the new babe ready to be born any time now. "I don't think she'd do anything to harm the children but with Catherine leading her… I don't know what she could be capable of now."

Henry's unpredictable temper came to mind then. "And I fear what Henry would do to her if she pushed him farther than she already has. I may not be her mother and I may not be overly fond of her, but I hold no desire to see a child beheaded…" Lady Bryan nodded, daring to take the hand of the worried queen. "I'll see to it she doesn't overstep herself, you mustn't worry in your condition your Majesty, let me take the reins from here."

Anne didn't take her hand away like any other queen would, Lady Bryan was trustworthy and a masterful governess, she valued her opinion on all things related to a child's upbringing. "Do what must be done. But come to me, and only me, if you need to take actions that don't require His Majesty's approval."

Lady Bryan nodded resolutely and hurried after Mary, intent on keeping that willful child under her keen observation.

Anne took a deep breath and returned to her Ladies before heading out to the palace gardens. She liked walking among the roses, her favorites were the pale blue ones, she loved the way the petals changed hues in the sun. She barely had time to look at them before a squeal of delight pierced the air, turning around just in time to catch the blue streak of a child leaping into her arms.

"Mama!" The little child yelled happily in perfect French. "My word! I seem to have captured a bluejay in flight!" Anne giggled and spun around with her daughter in her arms, her nursemaid catching up breathless. "Forgive me your Majesty, the little darling darted away when you came into view. I had barely a moment to realize what had happened before she was halfway to you!"

"Ah not to worry Lady Marie, she's safe and quite happy." Anne smiled at her warmly, petting her daughter's hair. "However," she added seriously, "you must keep a better eye on her. The king, nor I, will forgive any harm to her." Lady Marie nodded and led the child away, telling her they were late for her lessons and that she'd give her a sweet if she finished her reading today.

Anne smiled, her hand migrating to her belly, rubbing the swell and watching her daughter. "Majesty." She turned and saw Henry's page, Reginald she thought, bowing before her. "The king requests you to be present to receive the former queen in the throne room, she has insisted on an audience with you."

Henry was angry. No… Angry wasn't the right word for it. Perhaps furious? Enraged? 'Yes… That's the word. Enraged.' He growled in his mind, only to relax as the page shouted 'The queen!' and his beloved Anne entered the room. He noticed immediately she wore a purple gown, a color she rarely wore, and an assortment of precious gems around her neck. Her hair was woven into an intricate braid with seed pearls adorning white ribbon, and a light golden crown featuring diamonds gleamed on her head.

She had gone for elegance and simplicity, she needed no heavy crowns to assert her rank. She sat beside him, her hand gently taking his. It was enough to cool his flame.

"Catherine of Aragon!"

Henry tensed his jaw, leveling her with a furious stare. Even to him she looked awful, her cheeks were pale and nearly gaunt, and her steps were aided by a jeweled cane. Had Mary known she was here, she'd likely be right beside her.

She looked overjoyed to see him, but his look of rage made her want to cry. Anne made no move. No word or sound of the mere knowledge of her even existence, instead keeping her cold eyes locked on Catherine's without a shred of mercy.

"Hen-..." The snarl forming on his lips silenced her. "Your Majesty… I have come in the hope to congratulate you on the birth of your son, Prince Harry. I am happy you saw fit to receive me." Her voice was once again hopeful, her eyes searching for any speck of his former affection for her.

Anne bit back a smirk when the hope in her eyes immediately died.

"Dear Catherine," Anne said with a sickly sweet voice, making Henry snicker slightly. "We wish you only the best in your final years. And we are very glad you have come to accept your new status and your new queen." At this the entire court tried to hide their chuckles, very few succeeded. Catherine looked furious and refused to speak, trying to bite back her temper before she infuriated the king again.

She did not succeed in that matter.

"The queen just spoke to you, Catherine." Henry growled warningly. Again, a shiver of rage visibly shook her pale skin. And then it happened, the world slowed as Catherine screamed at Anne in perfect French "I'll not have some scheming whore declare herself Queen of England while I still live!"

Henry stood, his eyes wide and feral, but he wasn't the one to act first. Anne was up in an instant, backhanding Catherine as hard as she could. She was not angry, but to everyone that was worse than her anger. Coldly she leaned in close and calmly snarled "You're going to die, alone and soon. You've given Henry nothing but heartbreak and a single living daughter. I have given both Henry and England an heir."

Catherine looked venomously at Anne, but didn't try to speak another word. Henry motioned for Norfolk and Brandon to have the servants escort her out and turned his back on her while he led a violently shaking Anne away with a gentle hand, he ignored Catherine trying to call his attention back to her with a voice full of pain and instead focused on Anne's panting.

"Anne?.."

Her panting increased and she came to a sudden halt, her hand clutching his arm and her face pale. "Anne?" She fell against the wall clutching her belly, groaning in pain.

The last thing Catherine ever heard in the Royal Palace was Henry calling for the midwives.

Time passed by Anne like a river flowed between stones, hours had eventually turned into days. She could hear Henry sometimes, demanding an update, furious he wouldn't be admitted to her rooms. She couldn't move really, her body was too weak after giving birth, and to twins!

It was a few days before the physician and midwives all agreed she could be allowed visitors, Henry came first, abandoning a council meeting once he'd been given the news. "Anne!" He cried, bursting into her rooms and cupping her face in his hands, "Anne? How do you feel, my love? Are you well enough to see our newborn sons?"

"Sons?" She questioned curiously, her voice cracking just a bit and prompting one of her closer Ladies to give her another drink of water and dab her head with a cooling cloth. "Yes, son's Anne. Two more boys. I've named them Charles and Edward." She smiled and giggled, placing her hand on her beloved's cheek.

"Rest my sweet, rest and come back to us." He kissed her forehead and then her plump lips, his hand running down her face before leaving to go back to his meeting.

'Son's…' she thought with a relieved breathy laugh, her hands touching her face and pushing her hair back. 'I've given him three sons!'