A/N: A/N: As promised, here is the new chapter and I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you to princessElizabethtudor, Guest, williamvalois, Ella174, Frog1, the dark euphie, markandcleo, Guest, suns and stars, QueenAnneTudor, gabbygrl247, jamestudor, Lizairy Cullen, Robin4, and KitKassie for all the reviews on the previous chapter, and do hope you all enjoy this one as well.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors, Showtime does.

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May 25th, 1543

Princess Margery sat with her sister Elizabeth, both girls hard at work on their respective tasks, Margery on her needlework and Elizabeth deeply immersed in her latest book.

The book had been a gift from their father and was written in German, which Elizabeth herself was currently studying under the watchful eye of her tutor Master Ascham.

Since the Duke of Cleves had agreed to an alliance with England, he had announced he would be sending an envoy to Henry's court, his cousin Philip, Duke of Bavaria. And Henry did not want to miss the opportunity to show just how intelligent his children were, and so they, particularly his eldest sons and daughter, were being taught the language of their new ally.

Margery herself had been learning a few basic phrases, though it was clear that she did not posses the same tongue for languages as Elizabeth, who could now engage in conversation in French, Italian, Latin, and now a bit of German.

"I wonder if the Duke is handsome," Margery said thoughtfully as her needle slid through the material, leaving behind a trail of neat, nearly invisible stitches. "I can't wait to meet him. Lady Catherine says I'll have a new gown for the occasion."

"Kat told me I would as well," Elizabeth replied, finally looking up from her book, biting back a frown as she did. Margery's governess was none other than Catherine Brandon, the Duchess of Suffolk, with whom Elizabeth did not especially get along. The woman always seemed to be very bitter and cold toward the eldest princess, mostly due to her being the daughter of the departed Queen Anne.

Elizabeth's own governess, Mistress Champernowne, had once mentioned something about the failed Pilgrimage of Grace several years ago, and how her great-uncle Norfolk and Charles Brandon had had a hand in quelling it, the latter of whom had endured a tumultuous relationship with his wife as a result.

The pair had not ended their marriage, but after that, along with the loss of what would have been their second child, Catherine had separated from her husband, taking their sons Henry and Charles with her.

It amused Elizabeth to think of how many of her relations, both by blood and by marriage, shared the same names and the princess resolved that should she ever mother children of her own, she should like to give them more unique names.

She hadn't thought much of children, even though the Anglo-French alliances was still going strong and so it was very likely she would be married to King Francis's son, Prince Charles. After which, she knew she would be expected to give her husband children, just like her mother had done before her.

A part of her wasn't sure how she really felt about marrying Charles, but knew it was her duty as a princess to do so.

Margery, at the tender age of five, would not really be of marriageable age for some time, but she already had quite a penchant for romance. She had once confided in Elizabeth her fantasies of marrying a handsome, chivalrous prince and live happily ever after. Unlike her older sister, she did not know that being a princess, or even a queen, did not guarantee a happy marriage.

Elizabeth knew from the stories of her mother and father, coupled with the significantly cooler relationship between her father and stepmother, that royal relationships had their own turmoils, particularly as women were much put upon and some, like Jane, chose to deal with their circumstances as best they could. Others, like Anne, tried to stand against it, for all the good it had done Anne.

Though a part of her loved and respected her noble father, Elizabeth also resented his treatment of her mother, and though she didn't want to admit it, she knew that had Harry and Geoffrey been lost, or they had been daughters as well, Anne would have been possibly cast aside and forgotten as Mary's mother had been, and her children declared illegitimate.

Kat had not assured her this was not the case; the woman had known her young charge would not be easily swayed by obvious lies, and so she had privately agreed but warned Elizabeth when she was younger and less in control of her tongue to never utter such things lest unfriendly ears hear them and she could get into trouble.

Jane was no longer regarded by the king as his sweet, golden-haired angel, Elizabeth knew that, but she did not discuss this with her younger sister, who it seemed was better off continuing in her blissful ignorance of the situation, doing her embroidery and prattling on about her romantic notions.

...

Little Edward sighed as he glanced out the window of his chambers, watching as Harry and Geoffrey ran together through the courtyard.

Even if he had not been recovering from his recent bout of illness, Edward would not have been permitted to run about outside with his brothers and the other boys. His father had always been protective of him, and thanks to his falling ill mere days ago, his mother had become more protective as well.

While his brothers were out learning to ride a horse, archery, and a number of other things that boys of their age and station would partake in, he was left to his books and studies.

He had overheard Harry and Geoffrey's governess Lady Bryan telling Mistress Luttrell that Edward was the less important prince, but his father the king still insisted on keeping him safe. But Edward thought that that didn't mean his father had to keep him from having fun too.

The visits from his sisters Mary and Margery, made it bearable at least. Whenever his lessons became too dull for him to continue, Mary always found a way to make them more entertaining, and Margery loved to tell him stories.

Harry sometimes visited him too, but Geoffrey did not. The younger twin was still angry with Edward about what his mother had said.

Edward wished he had not said anything, maybe then Geoffrey would come see him too.

He knew the twins were closer to one another than anyone else, but when it came to him they had argued fiercely. He had not been present for the conflict, but Margery had told him that Geoffrey had gone to his own rooms and refused to speak to anyone, even Harry, for the rest of the evening.

And yet, here the two were, playing as though nothing had transpired between them. But Edward, even as young as he was, knew Geoffrey would not be so forgiving toward him.

...

Mary was horrified. How could her father do this?

She knew he had pondered the idea of sanctioning an alliance with the German Protestants, but she could not believe he was actually going through with it.

This had to be the work of Cromwell, the overreaching heretic. Just because he had done a form of service for the king, now he had the king's ear just as Wolsey before him.

A part of the former princess smirked as she remembered for all his service to the crown, it had not saved Wolsey when the king wanted his head.

Ambassador Chapuys came to see her less frequently after the incident with him and the queen being overheard referring to Anne's children as the bastards they were.

Mary did love her little half-siblings, but found that she still could not apply their pretended titles to them.

She had visited Edward not long ago, and found the child very distressed. He had had an argument with Geoffrey, who had still not spoken to him.

Mary loved Geoffrey, who had once told her she was like a mother to him and Harry, but she couldn't deny that the younger twin was a great deal like his mother had been and she hoped it would not cause him misery. The harlot had deserved what she had gotten, but Geoffrey was still innocent. For now.

Elizabeth however, was on her way to becoming a heretic as well. The girl was being raised a Protestant, and she was looking forward to the arrival of the German envoy, the Duke Philip and his cousin, Princess Anne of Cleves.

All Mary could do was have faith that all would be well.

...

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Well, I do sincerely hope that you all enjoyed that. The next chapter will be out on Monday, February 18th. Until then, everyone.