Chapter 1
Well, I am on my second Tudors story and I am so excited! A Change For The Better was my favorite to write so far, so I hope you all like The Golden Years. So, we will be picking up in the summer of 1547. I will update you on everyone, since I ended the previous story with some loose ends in my opinion. So, any suggestions are still welcome. Any questions regarding the story, feel free to message me. This will probably be my main project, since I'm also thinking of doing a story where Arthur lives:) So please Read and Review! Enjoy the first chapter of The Golden Years!
August 22, 1547
Hampton Court
King Henry IX's Privy Chamber
King Henry IX, formally known as Prince Harry, had been King of England now for seven months. His joint coronation with his wife took place on February 16 and he had resided at Hampton Court ever since. Harry could not believe all the things that had changed over the last half year. Most of his father's old advisors had been dismissed or decided to leave, due to disagreements with the new King. At only thirty-three years old, most of the old men expected Harry to be exactly like his father, which he was not.
Suddenly, Edward Fitzroy walked in and bowed.
"Your Majesty." he said.
Harry smiled at his illegitimate brother. At twenty-seven years old, Edward was a very handsome young Duke. Many women of the Court wished he would take them to his bed. However, King Harry made it perfectly clear that sexual shenanigans was not going to be tolerated in his Court. It would result in immediate expulsion from the Palace. Besides, Edward Fitzroy was very faithful to his wife, Katherine Howard, the mother of his two young daughters.
"What can I help you with, dear brother?" Harry asked.
Edward cleared his throat.
"The Queen wanted to know if you would be dining with her tonight." he said.
Harry laughed
"You can tell my lovely wife, the Queen, thst I shall dine with her, as I always do." he said with a smile.
Edward handed Harry some letters.
"These are some letters. The first is from Ludlow Castle. The Prince of Wales seems to be settled in to his own little Court. The attendants say he loves exploring the Palace and praying in the Chapel." he said.
Harry smiled. He and his wife had been blessed with five healthy children. His children were currently were currently fifteen, twelve, ten, eight and four. Harry didn't know if more children would be born, but he knew he already secured the succession with his three healthy sons. He honestly didn't mind if one of his daughters had inherited England, but God blessed him with more sons.
"That is wonderful. He is the heir to the Throne. I want him educated in all things." he said.
Edward nodded his head.
"Also there are the marriages arrangements for Prince Edward, Prince Owen, and Princess Eleanor that still have to be discussed." he said.
Harry exhaled deeply. One thing that he hated deeply was trying to arrange marriages for his three youngest children. He already accepted that William would be marrying Mary, Queen of Scots, when she became of age and Matilda would be leaving for Sweden at sixteen to marry the heir to the Throne.
"I'm not sure what to do with them. I do not want to make an alliance with France. I don't trust them. I can look at Austria, Poland or even Italy. Maybe I can also make alliances with Portugal, since my sister is Queen there and Spain, since my aunt is still the Monarch there." he said.
Edward nodded.
"Alright. I'll make sure I'll tell the Council that." he said, as he bowed deeply.
Harry sat back down on his chair and began to write more things down.
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Royal Palace of Èvora
Èvora, Alentejo, Portugal
Queen Maria of Portugal was walking around her Bedchambers.. Her husband had decided that they needed to move Palaces. Mary had to admit that she liked the Palace. Since Carlos was planning on going to Africa very soon, this Palace was better to reside for the Royal family, which Mary was anxious to expand. She was now thirty-one years old and had successfully given birth three times, but had lost a pregnancy two years, which resulted in a stillborn son. Mary had recovered well since then, but she was anxious to get pregnant again, while she still could. Her children were growing quickly.
Suddenly, Mary's thirty-five year old husband, King Carlos I of Portugal, walked in and kissed his wife.
"Are you all settled in, sweetheart?" he asked.
Mary smiled and nodded her head.
"Yes. The journey was here was also very smooth. I just hope you aren't nervous about going away soon." she said.
Carlos took a deep breath.
"Well, you know that both of my late brothers plundered the Royal Treasury that my father worked many years to fill. I intend to do different than they did." he said.
Mary touched her husband's arm, affectionately.
"You're not Manuel or Diego. You are Carlos. A wonderful man and a brilliant King. God blessed me greatly when he let me become you're wife twelve years ago." she said with a smile.
Carlos smiled and kissed Mary passionately.
"I know that God sent you especially for me. I love you so much, Maria." he said.
Mary caressed his face.
"I love you too, Carlos." she said.
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La Mota Palace
Valladolid, Castile, Spain
Isabella, Marquess de Moya's Bedchambers
Isabella was looking out the window, watching her seven year old daughter Maria and two year old son, Fernando, run and play. Isabella was very proud of her small little family. She didn't mind that she was kept away from the Spanish Court, she loved it here.
Suddenly, a small cry from a crib by her bed caught her attention. She walked over to the cradle and picked up her three month old baby girl. Little Catalina de Cabrera was born on May 28, 1547, exactly four months after the death of her English grandfather, Henry. She was a very beautiful child, who was the spitting image of her mother, with auburn hair, though Catalina's was slightly darker than her mother and hazel brown eyes.
Isabella began to soothe her baby daughter.
"It's alright, darling." she said.
Andres walked in.
"I heard our little one cry. Is she alright?" he asked.
Isabella smiled.
"Yes, she just needs to be fed." she said.
Andres walked forward and kissed little Catalina's forehead. Isabella noticed that he was more attentive to their daughter than to their son. Andres loved his son, but he craved a daughter more. The reason was that his first wife died in childbirth and their child, a daughter, died as well.
Isabella looked at her husband.
"How was Court?" she asked.
Andres, as the Marquess of Moya, had to report to Court very often. However, since Isabella had made a scandal by marrying the late King Diego of Portugal and produced s child, without a dispensation from the Pope, since Diego and Isabella were first cousins, Queen Juana made it clear that Isabella was to stay in Medina del Campo, so she could be watched carefully.
Andres shrugged both of his shoulders.
"It was alright. Just business as usual." he said.
Isabella gave a hopeful look.
"Is there any chance that on your next visit to Court, that I may accompany you as well?" she asked.
Andres smiled, but shook his head.
"Lo siento, but la reina Juana was adamant. She doesn't want you at Court. She wants you to remain here. That was one of the condition of our marriage." he said.
Isabella nodded her head.
"I know, but I didn't think that what I did years ago would be affecting me now. I also thought that Queen Juana would show me mercy, since she is my aunt." she said.
Andres shook his head.
"I think that is why she is hard on you. You are her blood. She never really handled horrible mistakes well. Some of the old courtiers sat she is very much like your grandmother, Queen Isabel of Castile, but more strict. She raises her children lovingly, but with an iron fist." he said.
Isabella looked away.
"I'm surprised that she never remarried also. I mean, her husband died over forty years ago." she said.
Andres looked at his wife, in shock.
"Queen Juana would never remarry. Many tried to have her remarry and she always declined. She always said that she had her heirs and she was satisfied. Also, many believe that Queen Juana doesn't trust many men, outside of her son. Her father, King Fernando de Aragon tried to block her her from claiming the Throne of Aragon by marrying the French Princess, Germaine de Foix and produce another son to inherit the Throne. However, she bore a daughter and King Fernando had no choice but to accept Queen Juana as Aragon's heiress." he said.
Isabella kissed a squirming Catalina.
"Well, she is the Queen so I must do as she says. She has been very kind to me." she said.
Andres kissed Isabella's lips.
"You're strong. This isn't going to break you." he said.
Isabella smiled.
"Never" she said.
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August 28, 1547
Hundson House
The Royal Gardens
Princess Christina was walking in the Gardens with her eldest daughter, nineteen year old Bianca and her thirteen year old son, Peter. Christina was still wearing black gowns. She really missed her brother, the late King Henry.
Suddenly, Peter looked at his mother.
"Mother, why are you do melancholy? Uncle Henry is with God now." he said.
Christina smiled and touched her son's arm.
"Yes he is. I promise that I'll wear brighter colors." she said.
Peter smiled.
"Thank you." he said, as he hugged his mother and ran off.
Christina smiled. Peter was her only son. One thing that Christina hated was she had to struggle to have children. She hated to admit it, but she had her late brother, Henry to blame. While she was heavily pregnant with Bianca, he accidentally threw her down a flight of stairs at Hampton Court during a heated argument. Bianca was born later that day, but it was very difficult. It took her five years to fall pregnant with Peter after that. She got pregnant again shortly after, but miscarried twin girls. Finally, when she was thirty-nine years old, she gave birth to her youngest child, Melanie. Now that she was forty-four years old, she knew that little Melanie was going to be her last child.
Christina walked over to her oldest child.
"Is something bothering you, Bianca?" she asked her daughter.
Bianca looked at her mother and nodded.
Christina took her daughter by the hand and sat her down on a nearby bench.
"What is it?" she asked.
Bianca took a deep breath, before turning to her mother.
"I don't want to wait until I am twenty-five to get married. The person I am due to marry is only nine years old. He's ten years younger than me. I want a husband closer to my age or I shall join a nunnery." she said, as tears rolled down her face.
Christina looked at her daughter, in shock. She had never known that her daughter had such a problem with her marriage. It was still six years away, but she thought Bianca was content being with her family for an extended period of time.
"Sweetheart, I am sorry. I didn't now you wanted to be married so quickly." she said.
Bianca nodded her head.
"I would love it. Please forgive me, Mother, but I want to know what it is like to be loved by a man." she said.
Christina looked at her daughter, sharply.
"Your maidenhead belongs to your husband and no one else. Do I make myself clear, Bianca?" she asked.
Bianca, shocked at her mother's words, nodded her head.
"I know that, Mother. But I do want a husband and to have children. If I wait, I'll be an old maid before I bear my first child." she said, as she cried.
Christina, he face softening, hugged her daughter and kissed her.
"You will be married and your children will be the most beautiful little angels thst you have ever seen. I promise you that." she said, with a small smile.
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Somerset Castle
Edmund, Duke of Somerset's Bedchambers
Forty-nine year old Edmund Tudor was lying in his bed, nude and sweaty after making love to his second wife, Catherine. They were still passionately in love even after four years of marriage. Their was only one thing missing. Catherine was still very determined to become pregnant with Edmund's child. Now that Edmund was home more since his brother's death and his nephew became King, they had more time to actually try to conceive a child. Catherine knew that at thirty-five, time was running out of time for her.
Edmund kissed his wife.
"You are so beautiful, my love. I hope that we will get to see the outside of this Bedchamber, before winter." he said jokingly.
Catherine laughed.
"I hope so. thst I am pregnant by Christmas." she said.
Edmund gave another kiss.
"I am sure you will." he said.
Unlike Catherine, Edmund already had five children with his first wife, the late Anne Boleyn. His sons, George, Mark and John were twenty-one, twenty and eleven respectively and his daughters, Charlotte and Mary were seventeen and fourteen years old, respectively. Anne had never had trouble conceiving their children, so Edmund didn't know why Catherine was not already on their second child, but he didn't mind if they never had children together. He lived Catherine, because she was a wonderful woman and wife.
Catherine sat up and climbed on top of Edmund and began to kiss him.
Edmund was shocked. He knew what Catherine was trying to do. He climbed back on top of her and inserted himself into her.
"Aaahhhhhhh!" she cried out, as he began to thrust inside her
Edmund felt his wife wrap her legs around his waist and he trusted harder.
"Yes! Oh, Edmund!" she screamed.
Several moments later, both came together and fell asleep together.
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Edinburgh, Scotland
The Royal Palace
Dowager Queen Margaret was filled with fear. She was the eldest surviving Tudor child now and she had to stay alive now, since the Queen of Scots, her granddaughter, Mary, was nearly five years old and was not ready to rule on her own. Margaret had reason to be worried. She was nearly fifty-eight years old and had to live at least thirteen more years before her granddaughter could rule on her own.
Suddenly, the ambassador to England walked in.
"Your Majesty." he said, as he bowed.
Margaret nodded her head.
"Let me guess, someone else is dead." she bluntly said.
The ambassador was shocked.
"No, My Lady. I just thought that you should know that the betrothal between the Queen and Prince William of Wales has been finalized. The marriage shall take place when she is fifteen years old, instead of sixteen." he said.
Margaret smiled.
"Excellent. I would have her married at twelve years old, but I do not want her life out at risk. I believe fifteen is old enough. Maybe she'll be a mother at sixteen. This is perfect." she said, with a sly smile.
The Ambassador looked at the Dowager Queen.
"My Lady, why are you so fixed on England? You haven't seen it it for over forty years." he said.
Margaret looked at the man.
"Because my Mary is going to do something that I should have been a long time ago. When my brother Arthur sadly died, we all thought it was the end of the world. However, my late brother, Henry became the heir. Look at all the things he has done. My Mary will be a great ruler one day." she said.
The Ambassador cleared his throat.
"Madam, she will be the Consort. She can never inherit the Throne." he said.
Margaret smirked again.
"That's what you believe." she said cunniabout
A/N Duh Duh Duh! Well, that's the first chapter of the sequel. I hope you all enjoyed it. Now, if there are any questions, please ask them and I'll try my best to answer them. This chapter was pretty basic. The next chapter will catch up on more people, was was in the first story. We will also get to know more about Harry's children. The Golden Years we will see the maturity of the next generation and the older generation guiding them. I hike you all like the first chapter. Please Read and Review! The Sequel is here!