I don't own Tudors.
Chapter 3
1519–1520
King Henry announced a new treaty between France and England. It was known in history as the "Field of Cloth of Gold."
Ariel Plantagenet is happy to return and see her beloved French compatriots again. She recalled her short time in the French court as she was only a child, and her mother was placed as her father's most prized and favorable paramour.
A queen without a crown. That was what they called her mother when she was alive. She remembers how her brothers were handsome young men who looked fit enough to be royal prince of France, and she was a princess.
Edmund had escorted Ariel on the walking path to greet her cousin.
King Francis wears the most riches and beautiful color, blue. Golden jewels are pine to him. He stood himself as if he were Adonis.
"Greetings, your majesties." Ariel curtsies before both cousin and brother-in-law.
"La cousine Ariel!" (Cousin Ariel!) King Francis happily stood up and gently lifted her to hug and kiss his cousin on the cheeks.
It has been too long since she had to leave the court to recover in the countryside. Then news came that she had to leave France to marry the Duke of York as she had a long overdue marriage contract.
"Mes chers parents, ça fait trop longtemps." (My dear kinsmen, it has been too long.) Ariel spoke in fluent French as she greeted her king.
"Oui, oui. Trop long en effet. Je crois que mon frère, le roi et votre nouveau mari vous traitent bien." (Yes, yes. Too long indeed. I trust my brother, the king and your new husband are treating you well.) Francis held her hand gently. He has been worried that the English won't treat her kindly since she came from the bloodline of York and Plantagenet, who challenged the Tudors many times, and even worst, that she is part of the Valois royal family bloodline.
"Ils m'ont traité avec le plus grand soin. Maintenant, revenons à l'anglais. (They treated me with utmost care. Now let us go back to English.) Ariel answered and said in English. "For now, we are reminded that both France and England are brothers!"
Everyone applauded her announcement. Francis smiled, kneeled on the floor, and kissed her hands in the most affection gesture. For a king of France, he willingly kneels before his beloved kin.
King Henry is impressed that she smooths over the discord. 'Perhaps, that is why my mother knew her way around the courtly life.' Everyone knows that if anyone can counsel the king, it would be his mother, Elizabeth of York. The way he saw her, it was like Elizabeth of York came to life again.
Catherine of Aragon keeps her face calm in public, but inside she is seething. Not only about her daughter, Mary, to be engaged to Dauphin of France, but here Ariel had upstaged both her as queen and her daughter's presence. To her, that is the greatest insult.
They all be merry with each other as they watch a mock battle between Henry's chosen swords guards to fight Francis.
Ariel looks happy at this mock fight, and Edmund, who doesn't believe in playing knights as fun simply amused by this display. His lady wife likes it, so he prefers not to say anything.
Henry applause as others follow.
They placed their hand and said their oaths. Francis gave a rather extravagant jewel gift to King Henry. And King Henry had given him pie full of live birds flying up in the air.
Ariel looked at the sight gleefully
Edmund Tudor knew this would be a long night and hopefully peaceful.
How truly wrong he is.
"Are you sure?" Henry challenged Francis during the wrestling match.
Henry was aggravated by something Francis said.
"What?"
"I said, are you sure all your wrestlers are better than mine? Do you wanna prove it?"
Francis, ever the cautious one, played the fool. "What are you suggesting?"
Henry became very blunt. "I am challenging you to a wrestling match, brother."
"No."
"You're a coward."
"Peace, brother," Edmund rushed to Henry's side and whispered. The last thing they need is war, and they don't have much money for it.
The entire court was silent.
"The French honor is at stake. I accept your challenge." They stripped off their tops and moved into the middle of the room.
Ariel stood worried if the alliance would be in shreds. Edmund tries to convince Harry to stop this, but he ignores his brother.
"Majesties, rules are as follows: The first man to throw his opponent to the ground shall be declared the winner. Are you content?" The man placed his arm between the two monarchs.
"Yes." Francis just nodded, a sly grin on his face.
"Then fight on."
"What bet will you lay?" Anthony asked William as Charles cheered Henry on.
"Two kings, two queens, and a fool."
"I don't know yet, but it's a full house." He stood up, and I did the same. "Come on, Your Majesty."
More said to them. "Whatever happens, he's not going to win." True to his words, Francis threw Henry down on the ground, causing Henry to hop back up.
Edmund winced for her brother. "Henry, get up."
"I want a rematch. I want a rematch. Are you afraid? Are you afraid of a rematch?" Henry angrily taunted Francis.
"Are you calling me afraid? Of what am I supposed to be afraid?" Francis looked back at Henry.
"Of me!" Henry shouted as their men were holding back both Monarchs.
"Let's have it then."
Edmund went to his brother as, knowing Henry, he was throwing his tantrum.
"I won't sign it. I won't! That coward had insulted me!" Henry shouted as Thomas More had enough.
"Enough, Henry!" Thomas More shouted at the king.
Whatever words happened is between Thomas and King Henry VIII until Henry feels he needs to secure what's left of his pride.
"Brother, I need you to bed your lady wife."
Edmund stuttered about this. Never had the kings given anyone orders to bed their partners before, and most kings would be asked to bed other nobles and their wives for wealth and status.
"Your majesty, she is still young…." "There had been talks. About the Tudors had no heirs. You need to bed her, and no exceptions." Henry looked paranoid.
"Brother," Edmund was cut off by Henry.
"No exceptions. This is an order from your king." Henry hissed. "You need an heir, and I know if anyone can have the throne, it is your sons that I would gladly hand over my crown." Henry almost left before he made his final decisions. "Do it tonight."
Edmund bowed and left.
This is bad.
However, Edmund knows it needs to be done.
He went to see his lady wife in their private tent. Ariel was pacing and praying with her rosary that there would be no wars.
"My lord," Ariel saw him enter the front as he entered the tent.
Edmund says nothing as he looks at his young bride.
'Damn you, Henry. You would put me up as a stud to mount my wife.' He cursed his brother, but what could he do? He knows that he would want proof that they consummated their marriage.
"Is his majesty alright?" Ariel shyly questioned her husband.
Edmund says nothing as he takes a goblet and pours himself wine. He drinks it like the men at the tavern, like a commoner or guards there.
He sighed as he rubbed his face with his free hand and looked at her.
"My lady, if I want to say we must be bedded because my brother the king ordered us to do so?"
She was just stunned. What?
Did her brother-in-law, the King order her husband to bed her despite the protests that she is to be nineteen to give birth to children safely?
"The King had no patience for us anymore." Edmund sighs as they look down at the loss of what to do next.
However, Ariel concluded. Deep down, she is happy to do her duties to her husband, but she feels disappointed that it was the king's order. So true to her beliefs that she must be a good, dutiful wife to her husband.
"My Lord," Lady Ariel went towards her husband and clasped her hands onto his. "I would beseech you to obey your brother, the King. Surely, it must mean he showed great patience and love for you. For us. You saw what happened there, and I fear that he would not get any sleep if something happened to both you and the king."
Her heart is happy that her husband, Lord Edmund Tudor, Duke of York, wished to lay with her as husband and wife. In her head, that would mean trouble ahead of them if they conceived; it was a boy. Many upstarts and powerful men would try and grab their hands on her son.
Edmund solemnly nodded at his wife's words.
Part of her words spoke truly and honestly. Edmund knew that Henry would be worried if no male Tudors were left. He has Mary, his only legitimate daughter, but she is not a son England needs. They all remember their first attempt to place a woman on the throne, which did not end well. Empress Matilda was an example of why Henry refused to name his daughter as the heir, and she was Queen of England for a short time in 1141. The feud between Matilda and Stephen ended when Matilda's son, Henry, was named by Stephen as his successor. This was at the Treaty of Wallingford in 1153.
"Very well."
Ariel orders her maids to prepare a matrimony bed to have their marriage consummated.
The maids were surprised until she answered, "It is his majesty, King Henry of England, order that it must be done tonight."
Quickly, they changed the blankets and sheets into white with an extra thin sheet for the bleeding as evidence that she is now his true wife.
The red rose petals are scattered onto the bed. As Ariel is dressed in her white nightgown, her husband is dressed in his night clothes. She asked King Francis to bring his Priest, Louis-Francis, Priest of Valois, to bless the couple.
"Amen."
The Priest announced as he blessed the couple. The maids close the curtains for the couple as they must wait for the deed to be done.
Ariel is nervous. She is practically shaking in her sheets. 'They said it hurts, but they assured me I will get used to it.'
Edmund being a good husband, reached to hold her hand and said, "It's okay. We will take it slow."
It was awkward, and Edmund tried not to hurt his wife. Ariel had learned from one of the court ladies in her King Francis court about finding pleasure in their partners. Ariel had explored his body as Edmund decided to follow his wife's example. It wasn't until they gained confidence and eased their movement that they came together.
The Priest opened the current as both royal couples were under the blanket.
"A-t-il accompli son devoir?" (Did he perform his duty?)
"Oui." (Yes) Ariel answered.
The holy man sighs in happiness and blesses the couple as the witness claps.
Henry's page boy delivers the news to the king. Henry smiled and said, "Excellent. Surely, God will bless our family."
Back in England, King Henry had signed his new peace treaty with King Francis was made, and Mary, his daughter, would one day wed to the dauphin of France once they were in age.
Edmund Tudor had recently heard about Buckingham's plot to steal the crown from Henry and make himself King of England. They held a trial against Lord Buckingham as more of his former allies had turned against him.
Edmund told Ariel about the events that took place, and worst if Ariel is with child, she would have to flee with Queen Catherine, and princess Mary should Buckingham succeed.
Ariel had prayed for the downfall of Buckingham, and God should bless her with a child. They had been trying for days, and Ariel was weary from being impatient.
Though, she has been making items of clothing and blankets. She has been making Tudor roses since her future children will be Tudors.
"My Lady," the Head nun Mary-Rose Neville came with a letter in her hand.
"What is it?" Ariel feared the worst.
"Your husband…" Ariel clenched her fist as she tried not to fear the worse. But her fear is unfounded.
"gave his good news that Lord Duke of Buckingham is found guilty of treason, and his titles and lands are stripped from him and his kins. He had been publicly beheaded, and his head was placed on a pike. Also, it seems that your brother-in-law King Henry has a son."
Ariel sighs in relief now that she knows he is dead. She never trusted herself with Buckingham as his eyes terrified her.
'Wait, he has a son?'
Ariel questioned her. "Did Queen Catherine give birth?"
"No, your grace." Mary-Rose shakes her head negatively. "It is from his mistress. Lady Elizabeth Blount has given the king a son, and he is described as a healthy boy."
Ariel is pleased but surprised. King Henry has a son with his mistress, but what would Catherine feel about this?
Ariel recalled her time in court that her father, King Louis, always dubbed her his favorite daughter and his prized jewel in his court. Despite that, she knew she was a bastard as her mother explained their status to her and her brothers.
She never had the honor of seeing the queens/consorts of her father, but she recalls that Louis XII's second wife, Anne of Brittany, was a kind and thoughtful woman who educated her in womanly arts and books she shared with the child.
Anne of Brittany has suffered many losses of children who were stillborns or cradles death. Ariel remembers Anne of Brittany was shrewd, proud, and haughty in manner. Thou, she was a motherly figure when her birth mother was forbidden to come to court with the queen's permission. Her brothers were brought up as if the queen had given birth to them. Upon her death, it hurt Ariel so much since years had not been kind to anyone as if one by one, she lost her brothers and mother in the following years.
"Perhaps, we should send something for the king's son."
"My lady," The head nun protested lightly, but Ariel rebuked her, "It is natural to send a gift to one king's child for another. Queen Anne of Brittany once told me, 'No matter what circumstances, they are still part of the King's legacy. As we are to show that we are humble servants who love the king, so, we must show that love to any of his offspring.'"
That was her lesson in case her husband or kings sired any wedlock children.
Mary-Rose Neville nodded as she understood that no matter what, they must show that they love the king by loving any of his sons.
News spread like wildfire. Henry had sired a son.
No, it wasn't a son that Catherine and Henry had long waited for. This son was born from one of his mistresses, and lady-in-waiting, Lady Elizabeth "Bessie" Blount, had sired his son. The king is thrilled.
It was like he needed proof or a sign from God that it wasn't his fault that there was no son of his own.
Edmund had come to celebrate his brother's illegitimate son.
Henry FitzRoy.
Of course, Henry would want a son named after him.
Edmund went to greet Lady Blount and said, "Congratulations, my lady."
"Thank you, your grace." She notices a page boy carrying a bundle that looks like linens of clothings and blankets.
"My lady wife also sent her compliments and wished to present your son her gifts." The page boy came forward and showed Lady Blount such beautiful linen shirts and blankets with Tudor symbols.
Bessie is happy and asks, "Will you tell her grace that I will never forget her generosity and love for my son?"
Edmund nodded and left to greet his brother.
"Congratulations, Henry."
Henry looked happy as he said, "God is with us, brother. I knew it wasn't my fault." Edmund nodded and said, "Aye, my king."
It was better to let bygones to bygones. His brother is happy, and that is all Edmund could hope for. He, too, is praying that Ariel will have a baby once God deems it fit to bless them.
The party went quiet when it was announced, "Her Majesty, Queen Catherine of Aragon!"
Edmund looked at the queen and Henry.
Catherine of Aragon is a woman who prides herself as a good and dutiful wife yet does not upset her husband. She silently raises a toast to Henry, to which he nods his head in gratitude.
The royal couple had no words exchanged as she left. Henry made another toast and boasted about the fact he had a son.
"To my son, Henry FitzRoy!"
Everyone cheered again that the King had a son. Illegitimate boy perhaps, but a son nerveless.
Next Chapter Anne Boleyn's appearances in court. King Henry fire identifies his desire to divorce Catherine and to sweat sickness. A lost family and changes in history.