A/N: Here is the new chapter and I hope you all enjoy it. Sorry for the more than delayed reply, I have been beyond busy what with starting a new job, working on on several stories, one of my cousins having a new baby, another's graduation, and several other things that I'm not going to bore you with here. Thank you all for enjoying the story as much as you have, and I hope you will continue to do so. Thank you to princessElizabethtudor, hateme101, Guest, Sy94, Guest, suns and stars, QueenAnneTudor, jamestudor, Robin4, Guest, Lady Eleanor of Slytherin, Lizairy Cullen, xshynenstarx, shame and shame, jamestudor, tricorvus, Mari Wollsch, Sakura, Stephanie, sander9876, samanthafelix, Vwchick, and Guest for all of the fantastic reviews. Enjoy this update!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors or any of the characters, Showtime does.
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July 23rd, 1543
When his formidable and highly-respected mother Queen Elizabeth of York had died, Henry had grieved. When his darling Anne died giving birth to their little miracles that were the twin princes, he had mourned.
Now, one of those princes lingered between life and death, and Henry was beside himself with worry. He had lost one son before when little Henry Fitzroy had died, he didn't think he could bear to lose his first true-born son.
With nothing else to do, he had all but locked himself away in the chapel, praying ceaselessly for his son's survival, as was all Dr. Linacre had said could be done now, for the young prince and whether he would survive or not was in God's hands now.
Just like Anne's had been...
And so Henry prayed, pleading not to lose his son as he had lost his wife. But he was not the only one doing so...
...
"Would you mind if I pray with you?"
Phillip's voice startled Mary and she finished her prayer before turning to him, a look of confusion on her delicate features.
"What did you say?" she asked, certain that she had somehow misheard the Bavarian duke.
"Would you mind if I pray with you?" Phillip questioned once more. "I have no doubt you worry for your brother and pray for his recovery. I do as well and if it is any consolation to you, my lady..."
"But you are a Lutheran," Mary stammered. "And I am a Catholic."
"There is but one God, Mary," Phillip smiled gently as he placed a hand on the once princess's trembling shoulder. "The rest is over trifles. Catholic or Protestant, I believe He will hear your prayers as well as mine."
This took Mary aback. And yet, she found herself nodding.
"Very well," she said before kneeling once more with Phillip following suit.
As she prayed for her brother, and the rest of her family and the others whom she held dear, she pondered Phillip's words.
...
Little Geoffrey was inconsolable.
The boy had hardly slept or eaten since his brother had been poisoned and he certainly had no intention of leaving the older prince's side.
"What if he dies and I'm not here?" he had cried when Lady Bryan had tried to coax him into getting some rest, lest his own body become weakened. "He would die believing I abandoned him! I can't leave him!"
And so, despite all efforts to convince him otherwise, he would not leave Harry's bedchamber. He now sat, as he had for the last two days, beside Harry's bed, clinging to his twin's hand.
"Please don't go," he murmured softly, holding Harry's palm to his cheek. "You can't go yet. You can't leave me, Lizbeth, Edward, Margery, and Mary. Please, Harry. Please come back to us."
Suddenly, Harry's hand twitched.
Geoffrey's eyes widened as he glanced down at his brother, hardly daring to believe it...
Blue eyes met blue as Harry blinked slowly and a small but tired smile climbed his lips as he regarded his brother.
"Geoffrey..."
...
...
Yes, I know it was short, but I promise the chapter that will be out on Monday will more than make up for both the shortness of this chapter, as well as the long absence. I promise. Until then, everyone!