Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Royal Wedding.
15th of June 1531 - London, England
The tolling of the bells did little to ease Anne's mind, they seemed to have been riding since before dawn and her heart pounded in her chest knowing what it meant; today she would be married to the King of England. It seemed like such a long time ago that she had caught the King's eye and this entire thing had begun; she had never believed that her refusal to become his mistress would led her here.
Her father and uncle might have pushed her down this path but Anne knew that she could only relay on herself; it had been her that the King had fallen for and her views. Katherine was gone now and from what Anne knew had retired quietly to the estates that Henry had all but banished her too as the Dowager Princess of Wales; her daughter would be in attendance today at Henry's insistence. Her beloved was kind to his daughter now that her mother was no issue for him, though Anne was certain that the girl held no love for her and would happily see her displaced so that Katherine may return as Queen.
"You shouldn't frown," Mary Boleyn tutted while she worked on the sleeves of Anne's dress, she smiled at her younger sister most pleased for her and knowing that Anne would make the most beautiful Queen. The room was filled with chatter and the other ladies in attendance didn't seem to notice how their lady had soured slightly while they talked about who would be attending.
It seemed like invites had gone out across the kingdom, there had been talk of people gathering in celebration of the wedding but Anne wasn't sure that she believed that just yet. Katherine had been well loved and Anne doubted that would change right away when it came to some folk; even if the other woman had been found guilty of her crimes.
Anne took a deep breath and looked down at the gown that she had chosen to wear for her wedding, she had spent months preparing it once it became clear that she would be free to marry Henry and their betrothal was announced. They were currently at the Palace of Whitehall and her marriage to Henry would take place in the Queen's closet followed by celebrations that would take place well into the night.
Stepping into the room, Elizabeth Boleyn couldn't help but smile at the sight of her younger daughter; finally, all three of her surviving children had been married off and while Mary might have been a widow now, she could marry again in time. Anne looked resplendent in the deep maroon gown that Elizabeth had helped her make, there was no denying how lovely her daughter looked and she seemed every inch a Queen.
Waving her hands to dismiss the ladies, Elizabeth moved towards her daughter wishing only to speak to her for a moment; her life would not be the same after this and she wanted her to be prepared. The wedding would happen no matter what Elizabeth said to Anne, she very much doubted that the King would allow her to back out now especially with the entire country watching.
"Are you ready?" Elizabeth asked moving to her side, her fingers gently brushing against the gown and she couldn't help but think of her own wedding day when she had married Thomas. It felt like such a long time ago, a day which would be very different from the one that Anne would now partake in especially given the fact that she was to marry a King.
"Of course, I have waited long enough for this day," Anne replied turning to smile at her mother, she had done her waiting and she would not allow anything to ruin her big day; she wanted nothing more than this part of her life to be over. Smoothing down her dress, her hands came to pause by her stomach for a moment knowing that she would certainly do her duty to the King; she had not forgotten what had occurred while they were in France.
"We must not keep the King waiting, it is time," Elizabeth Boleyn stated, she did not think Henry would be pleased if he were kept waiting by his bride. Today was a matter of importance and with the coronation set to follow next month, Elizabeth had no doubts that Anne's role as Queen would not be an easy one but she hoped that she would be secure in her position.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Charles Brandon asked quietly, his eyes peering around the Queen's closet where Henry would be married to the Boleyn whore; he could not believe that this is what it had come to. He had never thought that his friend would allow such a woman to govern him, he had cast aside a woman that he had once claimed to love and the daughter that he had called the pearl of his world for her.
This would be his last chance to talk him out of his decision to marry her, he had tried to warn Henry about the fact that there were whispers that his bride had carnal knowledge of Thomas Wyatt. However, his warnings had only gotten him banished from court last time, his friend would not hear anything against the woman that he was infatuated with.
"I have waited long enough for this moment," Henry told him, he offered only a look of warning against whatever he had to say; he did not wish to hear Charles's misplaced concern not when he was about to be married. Dressed in his finery, Henry turned back to Cranmer who would marry him soon to his beloved Anne; he could not wait for the moment that he could finally call her his wife and Queen.
Their wait had been a long one and Henry could not imagine how much longer he would have been forced to wait if the truth about Katherine's actions had not been revealed to him. The sounds of trumpets interrupted his thoughts and he turned to see his beautiful bride with her father; she looked every inch the Queen that he had imagined her to be.
Walking down the aisle on her father's arm, Anne couldn't take her eyes from Henry and the smile that he wore on his face making her feel like the only person that mattered; her heart beating faster with each step that she took towards him. Everything that they had wanted was within reach, it felt like finally things were falling into place when for so long she had thought that this day was never going to happen.
Standing within the crowd, Lady Mary watched as the harlot made her way towards her father; her face devoid of all emotion, her every move being watched and no doubt reported to the King. She had managed to reframe from spending time with the woman that had ruined everything for her, Anne was the witch that had led her father away from his true wife.
"We are come here together, before God and these witnesses, to join in holy matrimony Henry VIII, King of England and France, Defender of the Faith and the Lady Anne Boleyn, Duchess of Pembroke," Cranmer spoke, his words carrying around the room as his eyes focused on the couple before him.
Standing not far behind her father, Mary couldn't help but frown a little at the fact that he still used the title of Defender of the Faith when he had started to turn away from it. It was not a secret that Henry was investigating the clergy, having the Church investigated for it's misuse of power and wanting himself declared head of the church here in England.
There were whispers that her father intended to break from Rome and declare himself the supreme head of the church here in England. Mary clutched at her rosary, she would not bow to her father in regards to her religion; she could not believe that this was her father's will when he had original defended the faith against attacks.
The starting of the ceremony making Mary frown slightly, she stared at the woman that had usurped her mother's place; she still prayed that her beloved father would see the light and return her mother to her rightful position. She didn't believe for a moment the stories that were now told about her mother, she did not believe that she was capable of lying to the Pope nor would she risk the damnation of her soul on earthly titles. The words spoken by Cranmer did little to offer Mary comfort, she found little that she recognised in the ceremony; the heretic ways of the harlot already corrupting her father.
"And if there be any among you who may imagine some impediment as to why they should not be married, let them now speak out or forever hold their tongue," Cranmer stated nervously, his eyes peeking around the room to several notable Katherine supporters in the room. There was a nervous pause at his words, almost expecting someone to speak out at the marriage but Henry smiled when not a word was spoken in defiance of his marriage to Anne.
"I thank Your Majesty for your gifts," Anne stated leaning towards Henry, their hands joined as they were seated on their thrones together; it was hard for her to believe that the deed was done and they were now wed. The entire wedding seemed like a blare to her, it had all taken place so quickly and now she could hardly believe that she was indeed wed to the man that she had long to be with for so long.
"I am pleased you like them sweetheart," Henry stated admiring the beautiful necklace that he had gifted her that she wore now, she looked every inch the Queen that he imagined her to be. Now all that remained was her coronation and Henry imagined a ceremony as lavish as this one for her crowning; in a month's time she would be Queen in fact and not just in name as his wife.
"Shall we dance sweetheart?" Henry asked smiling to her, everything had gone as planned and celebrations had been thrown across the capital for his wedding to her. In all truth, Henry cared not what the common people thought of his marriage to Anne but it had been pointed out to him that it would do him and Anne well to invite the people to celebrate their King's marriage to their new Queen.
Anne's own actions in winning herself the support of the people had not gone unnoticed and they seemed to have rallied to her; it seemed like the tide had finally changed in their favour. Rising from their thrones, Henry and Anne paused by clapping from the crowd causing them to pause for a moment; smiles on their faces as they took to the dance floor.
This was the start of a new age for them, Henry was sure of it and he knew that this time God would grant him the heir that he desperately needed; he would secure the Tudor dynasty and not fail. It was through Anne that his dreams would be realised, he would break free of his chains to Rome and then nothing would stop him from making his mark on history and his son would led in a Golden age for England. He could just picture him now, his little Prince of Wales who would change things for the better and ensure that England would not fall into another war like the Cousins' war.
Sitting by the fire, staring down at her needle work Katherine tried to ignore the whispers of her ladies around her knowing just what was happening today; she did not wish to think of her once Loyal Heart marrying the Boleyn whore. It stung to think that this is were it would end for her, she was banished to this castle with no visitors and she could not recall the last time that an ambassador had graced her presence. She seemed to have been forgotten despite the fact that she had been Queen of England for twenty something years; it was like she had been wiped off the map because of some mistakes that she had made.
"Your Highness," Lady Elizabeth Darrell whispered interrupting Katherine's thoughts, only those who remained loyal to her had followed her to this place; not many wished to remain in the service of a woman that had been revealed to be a traitor to the crown. Lifting her eyes to meet with her loyal lady, she frowned slightly spotting an unfamiliar woman beside her and she set aside her needle work to focus on what Lady Darrell had to say.
"May I present the Lady Jane Seymour, Your Highness. She is to be your new lady-in-waiting," Lady Darrell stated peeking to the young woman at her side, she had been surprised by the arrival of the newest lady. It was not often that they found themselves with a new lady, it had been months since they had lived in this place which had been made comfortable for Katherine and her household but it was no less a prison.
Katherine stared at the Lady Jane, she recalled the girl's mother who had been in her service for some time in the early years of her reign; she was middling in stature and very pale compared to her other ladies. If she didn't know better then she would say that the lady was ill, she waved her hand dismissing the two knowing that Lady Darrell would show Lady Jane around.
Katherine watched them walk away, she did not know why the Seymour girl would have come to serve her instead of finding herself a place in Anne's household like everyone else would do now. It made no sense why she would come to a place where she would have no prospects of a good marriage.
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