I don't own Tudors.
Chapter 4
1521
Lady Ariel Tudor duchess of York and Gloucester is residing in Court with her husband. News came swiftly that the Spanish party and King Charles were coming to court to gain a new alliance with King Henry.
The young Plantagenet princess knew that it was the queen's doing and wanted her only daughter Mary to be the queen of Spain.
'Thou, there is an issue that if there is no son from our king. Discord and war could start with the issue of having only one child. And that child is Princess Mary.'
She may not understand much politics.
The only thing she was taught was that she was a Plantagenet, which means danger.
Her lady mother always warns her that her existence is dangerous.
'My little lioness, we, Plantagenet have stronger claims than all the kingdoms of Europe. The Tudors only managed to claim the crown of England through combat and marriage to Elizabeth of York whose Plantagenet was to double his children's claims. That is why we need to have a good match to not only protect you but pass on the blood of the next royal prince.'
Her lady mother taught her children that and herself.
Always find a match to not only secure but to protect you.
The reason why her father King Louis allowed her to marry her lord husband at the promise of not killing her and the French royal would be tied to Tudor's blood.
However, that change Francis took the crown and Queen Catherine of Aragon insisted that the French royals were her enemies all because they fought against Spain and the Roman Empire.
'Thou, now I must be on guard right now.' Lady Ariel rubbed her small swollen stomach which shows the good progress of the baby.
She had written to her husband with the news that they had been blessed with a bundle of joy. Ariel gave her husband a hint that they were baby blankets and small shoes.
Her letter spoke: "My darling husband, this gift shall give us the blessing of the news that should be shared with our dear king and his court. Tis my way of breaking the news."
Edmund Tudor looked confused over why his wife would send such an odd gift to him.
Most men thought it was a harmless joke.
Others like the King believed it was some kind of riddle.
The king and his closest friends tried to figure it out. Thou, they knew it wasn't about Henry Fitzroy since she always gave the boy the last time of his birth.
Could it belong to members of the court who are having a child? They argued about which lord and lady was having a baby.
Some argue it could be one of their members of families but deny it as they never heard such news. Some pointed out it could be an unknown bastard of Charles Brandon or some of the other lords.
Many deny that notion. Who could it be?
Everyone, even Thomas More is thinking hard. Who has blessed this couple?
King Henry looked down at the gift and letter. He moved them around and saw the symbol of the Tudor rose on them, but notion the coloring of royal blue for Valois.
'Who would wear the color only a Valois royalty can wear?' Henry looked closer at the letter. He will solve this riddle somehow.
Then it clicked!
His face beamed with happiness.
The King had figured it out with what his sister-in-law was saying. Edmund looked at his brother in confusion.
"Brother? GAH!"
He grabbed hold of his brother with a bone-breaking hug.
"Rejoice, brother! God has blessed you with a little Duke of York!" All of them looked closely and Thomas pointed it out. "Yes, this is Valois colors of royalty. Tis, the royal duchess Ariel. Who else do we know has the Valois bloodline?"
They all looked and marveled at such detail and fine fabrics. The men smiled and laughed to themselves. They applauded the Tudor brothers.
*A clapping noise sounded in the room.
They had forgotten that Prince Edmund Duke of York has a young wife. They were so used to him not having a woman in his life before.
All the lords with the king started to cheer and patted the Duke on the back.
Finally!
There is hope for the Tudor dynasty!
The news spread from the court and all of England. Many cheered their cup to the Duke from estates and taverns. Food was given to the people to share the joyful news.
The Duchess of York and Gloucester is pregnant. This is good news indeed.
However, some are displeased by this.
Throughout the court, some nobles are fierce Tudor loyalists and are cautious about the babe in the duchess's womb which could shift the King's power. Others who are secret York supporters wonder if this child could be their new monarch and bring back York's power.
Catherine of Aragon has her supporters. Many said that the duchess was still a bastard which would hinder any offspring from claiming the throne. Some whispered that they could make sure they would get rid of the child from ever being born, but they disappeared the next day. No doubt that it was the doing of someone else in power to protect the duchess.
In the absence of her presence at court. Kneeling in front of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus Christ is Catherine of Aragon who furiously prays and fasts.
The former princess of Spain was upset.
How was this fair?
'Why didn't god bless me with a prince? Why was that French bastard blessed with a possible son?' Catherine is frustrated!
Catherine of Aragon had longed to have the King's son, but God decided to take their children away from them who desperately needed an heir to protect their country.
Now the King could announce at any time that his brother's son could be King. Catherine won't allow that.
Mary is the true legitimate heir even if the king doesn't see it.
Mary could be Queen of England. She has her blood and the blood of Isabella of Castile, a warrior queen.
Catherine is confident that the Spanish ministry will come, and Mary will become the queen of Spain.
'Mary is her father's daughter and mine. She has the blood of Castile and Aragon. Once she is the queen of Spain, she could become a queen in England too.'
Catherine can guarantee it.
The entire court whispers and hears the good news.
Some came to congratulate the Duke and the King demanded that his sister-in-law be brought to court to live with them and prepare for the birth of a future duke.
Lady Ariel gave a smile and curtsy to those who wished to congratulate her on becoming a mother.
Private chambers are clean and peaceful for the royal duchess to sleep with her husband. Edmund is greatly pleased, but she can see that he is nervous about being a father. Ariel, however, assured her husband that he would be a good father and she would be by his side no matter what.
Thou, now she is pregnant with a son of her own, but the possibility the heir to the English crown.
Her husband made sure to send extra guards and even food tasters to protect his wife and their unborn child.
"Your grace," her lady-in-waiting Mary Courtney came forward to give her lady the news.
"Yes, lady Mary?"
"The Spanish envoys have begun entering the courtyard." Ariel nodded and gestured for her maids to undress her and ordered Mary, "Bring me that blue dress."
The dress is a French color with pearls and a small pink stitches pattern tied with dark green vines embroidery all over her dress.
This is Valois color popular for royal French, but tis a gift that her cousin King Francis insisted that she wear.
"My dear La cousine, it is with a great heavy heart to hear that our brother King Henry had decided to ally with our enemy Emperor Charles the Holy Roman Empire, and the King of Spain. Par Dieu! I cannot imagine what goes on in our brother's head. Perhaps I was hard on him because of my foolish arrogance over our summit. Please tell King Henry to forgive me. If by chance we can truly be brothers as our children will rule the kingdom in God's name.
I shall await your letters and love to you.
Also, I received news from the English court. I wish you congratulations on conceiving. This dress is not only beautiful but gives an easy body weight to carry your child with grace and beauty. Tis similar to clothing that my wife Queen Claude, my sisters, and my mother alternate styles from lévite gown that helps loosen but makes it comfortable to carry your child with a corset that only straightens the back and leather lifts the belly free underweight.
I shall continue praying for your safe delivery and that God bless you with a son whose blood flows not only to the Tudors or Valois but to Plantagenet.
It was noted that this letter must be burned immediately.
With all my love, Francis I king of France, Burgundy and Milan.
À bientôt!"
Ariel did as she was bidden by her cousin King Francis. She burned the letter quickly before anyone saw it.
She put on her best dress gifted by the King of France.
After all, this dress does give an excuse from her young body to feign innocence.
Ariel came out of her chambers with her ladies to stand by her husband to greet the Spanish ambassadors, as they watched this play for their guests.
Eustace Chapuys bowed his head to Catherine of Aragon and then to Edmund who then introduced his wife, Lady Ariel.
She could tell that Chapuys would play it cool since she is a Plantagenet and is endangering Queen Catherine's line of succession. However, anyone could see that he is calculating to approach this manner.
Eustace replied, "My lady." He kissed her hand which sighed relief from everyone in court.
Now onto the next stage of the game.
They are entertaining the Spanish envoys in this play.
This amuses Ariel.
Lately, it has gotten quiet in court since traveling to France to meet King Francis has not gone well.
'At least, this will give the court a lighter mood.' Ariel felt her hand being touched as if it belonged to her husband.
He affectionately held her hand to his.
Ever since her pregnancy, her husband has been more affectionate even in public. Perhaps it is true what they said.
Arranged marriage can develop a friendship between partners, but children can bring them closer as lovers.
As the music began to play, everyone cheered because the play was about to start.
The play is about saving the white-dressed maidens from their imprisonment and being rescued by these brave men.
Edmund would have done it, but he finds it an embarrassment. Ariel holds in her laughter as she finds it adorable that her husband can make such an excuse. Ariel is being kept watching herself to make sure this pregnancy is going smoothly.
She watches as her brother the king is in one of these masked men ready to charge into the castle.
Her smile slowly disappeared as she witnessed Henry stop for a moment and whisper something that made the maiden smile.
Ariel isn't sure what happened but judging from her husband. He looked dreaded as if Henry was out hunting for another lady to be the mother of his next illegitimate bastard.
When the maiden removed their masks, Edmund recognized her as Anne Boleyn. He heard good reports that she was the lady in waiting for Margaret of Austria and Queen Claude of France. They said she had refused to bed the men in the French court and tended to avoid King Francis's lust for her. Thou, her outspokenness and intelligence do give men a harder time to try and impress Anne Boleyn.
Thou, Mary Boleyn was said to serve the French court and was already mistress of King Francis during her stay.
The English mare.
Edmund was upset because it was a mockery of England and their women in court.
'(Sighs), Harry, you already bed one Boleyn girl. Must you go after the other one?'
Edmund had already dealt with Mary Boleyn's children Catherine and Henry. The daughter and son of Willaim Carey, thou people whisper that they are the King's children. Edmund had to be the one to deliver the sad news that the King could not claim these children as his own. William Carey was a good man and welcomed Catherine and Henry as his own.
Though Edmund did try to see if they are Henry's or Willaim Carey's, their features are hard to distinguish whether or not they are his niece or nephew. He gave Lady Mary Carey the gold to live off, but that was a brief cold gift from the King.
Mary Boleyn will simply be a shadow the King will never call to his bed again.
The sound of soothing music snapped Edmund from his mind and watched them dance.
'But I shouldn't worry. After all, the king will have women on the side to ease up his lusts.' Edmund shrugged off as Anne Boleyn was another distraction for the king.
But that will become a later mistake of what kind of Anne Boleyn she truly is.
Ariel watches as Princess Margaret Tudor is trying to get herself out of the arranged marriage. Edmund simply told his lady wife that their sister Margaret disliked the idea of marrying the old King of Portugal.
Ariel couldn't understand it.
Margaret can become the queen of Portugal. A woman of a powerful position can influence the court and people as Ariel has seen the accomplishments of her father's wives.
Most women would gladly jump at the chance to wed a king and have the crown. They won't even care if he is old enough to be their father or grandfather.
Ariel could understand that marrying an old man disgusts Margaret, but at least he would treat her with kindness.
'However, I supposed not all of us are that lucky.' Ariel showed a loving look to her husband as she leaned to him and laid her head to touch his shoulder. Edmund leaned his head gently on hers.
People discreetly eyed the couple.
Some are calculating the chance of their offspring marrying the Duke of York's child.
Many are hopeful that it is a son which means they need their daughters close of age to marry into their line.
Thou, some men like Boleyn and Howard group are whispering.
Thomas Boleyn and his brother Duke of Norfolk whispered, "I noticed the glow her royal duchess is having. No doubt that is the sign of being pregnant made her feel proud."
Norfolk answered, "What can you expect, a bastard daughter of a king perhaps, but our king would glad to make sure the Tudor line have some French claim to France."
Thomas then whispered, "As you said, but any chance the king could claim his brother as the heir or the inborn child to succeed his grace." Thomas is a diplomat, but he hears stories that Kings would choose nephews to succeed them if there is no son.
"Maybe, but I doubt Queen Catherine would allow herself to step aside."
Eustace Chapuys spoke in Spanish with his friend Ambassador Inigo Lopez de Mendoza.
"Así que esta es la famosa chica Plantagenet. Nieta de Ricardo III e hija del rey Luis XII."
"Sí, Chapuys. A nuestro amo le preocupa que su querida tía no haya dado a luz un heredero para Inglaterra." Mendoza nodded as he could see the beauty in this girl.
"Tal vez, Dios trajo a la chica Plantagenet a Inglaterra por una razón." Chapuys has spoken true. For all they know if Catherine failed to produce an heir. Then Spain would have no choice but to find another alliance to make with the English crown.
"¿Para hacer la guerra?"
"Para atar a los Tudors su derecho divino a la corona inglesa." Chapuys firmly nodded in his belief.
If not with Princess Mary, perhaps they can make do with the unborn child, which could seal an alliance.
Following week… 1521
Emperor Charles of the Holy Roman Empire and King of Spain.
The sound of trumpets brings up the noise of his arrival.
"His excellency, imperial highness Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor." Ariel watched as the Queen greeted her nephew with open affection and said, "I have given you my blessings Your Excellency."
Ariel and Edmund dressed finely in Tudor clothing. They are dressed in fine doublets and dresses with Tudor symbols on them. Thou, Ariel has the royal blue shawl to show her Valois bloodline.
Emperor Charles saw Mary. Ariel finds the girl such a lovely child. She rubbed her womb gently. Already think of many children she and her husband will name and produce.
Mary presented Charles with horses.
Ariel could tell it was a kind gesture gift, but she wondered does he truly liked them.
Does he not see England as inferior compared to the might of Spain and the Empire?
She recalls in her lesson that Spain is the center power of Europe and Christendom. Spain was a powerful enemy that France had struggled to take back Burgundy and Milan away from the Spaniards.
Now that Charles had become emperor, he held all the power of the Holy Roman Empire and Spain.
'Yet why can't he bring his mother out of the nunnery.'
Ariel heard stories of Joanna I of Castile and the queen of Spain was mad. There were whispers that she was declared mad to take away her power. Others said that she inherited that madness from her mother, Isabella of Spain.
No one knows for sure.
Ariel felt sympathy for the poor woman. She lost her mother, brothers, and husband while her father Ferdinand of Aragon, and her son Charles kept her away from the kingdom.
It served as an example that women must be cautious and take a slow step in not only having power, but it can be taken from them under the guise of loyal lords of their court.
Snapped out of her mind as they danced and played music to celebrate their new alliance with Charles.
She rubbed her pregnant womb to ease up her rumbling stomach. Ariel smiled down as she knew that she was hungry.
'Wonder if they served lamb here?'
She looked around to see if they served lamb. Ever since her pregnancy, she has been craving nothing but lamb nonstop.
Edmund said in humor, "I didn't know our child going to be a wolf." Edmund waved to the lady to serve his wife lamb.
Then she saw her.
The dark-haired beauty wearing the French fashion came forward to serve the lamb. Ariel looked at her.
She is curious.
"Excuse me, my lady. Who are you?"
The dark-haired woman curtsy and said, "Anne Boleyn, your grace."
"Is this your first time back in the English court?"
Anne Boleyn gave a feigned smile which Ariel believed that she was fooling everyone.
'I suggest mistress Anne that you need to practice more. Cause you are showing too much amusement.'
"Yes, your grace."
Ariel hummed and nodded. Playing along with her, Ariel could tell she was someone they needed to watch out for.
"Then welcome home, mistress Boleyn." Anne thanked her and left to serve others.
Ariel decided to check her lamb. She knew what the French court had taught Anne Boleyn. After all, she is French herself. She was tutored by the French court thanks to the previous queens who gave her the necessary skills to seek and take what you could.
She knew how women back in France can be coy hiding their desire to entrap men they target for security and power.
'Although,' Ariel looked at the faces of their majesties. It looks like Anne had already taken her sister, Mary's place, not in bed, but in his mind.
It is already too late.
Slice!
She cut her lamb diligently.
"Mistress Boleyn is playing with fire." The Duchess of York plainly said so.
Stab!
The screen turned black and end credits appeared.
Hi everyone. This is a two-piece chapter of what happens next.
Notes: Translation
Par Dieu! =By God
À bientôt=See you soon.
{"Así que esta es la famosa chica Plantagenet. Nieta de Ricardo III e hija del rey Luis XII."
"Sí, Chapuys. A nuestro amo le preocupa que su querida tía no haya dado a luz un heredero para Inglaterra."
"Tal vez, Dios trajo a la chica Plantagenet a Inglaterra por una razón."
"¿Para hacer la guerra?"
"Para atar a los Tudors su derecho divino a la corona inglesa."}
[So, this the famous Plantagenet girl. Granddaughter of Richard III and daughter of King Louis XII.
Yes, Chapuys. Our master is concerned that his beloved aunt hasn't given birth an heir to England.
Perhaps, God brought the Plantagenet girl to England for a reason.
To make war?
To bind the Tudors their god-given right to the English crown.]