After getting dressed, Elizabeth and James then made their way to the throne room where the rest of the court was. The royal couple were both dressed in bright yellow and wore their crowns. The chamberlain announced, as the couple walked into the throne room, "Their Royal Highnesses, Princess Regent Elizabeth and Prince James of Wales and France!" The courtiers turned and bowed and curtsied to the royal couple, shocked at their appearance. Elizabeth smiled brightly and said, as James held her right hand, "The Prince of Wales and I bring good tidings for our appearance. I understand there must be concern for my fainting episode but there is a reason for that. In a few months time, His Royal Highness and I will bring forth another addition for the Tudor and Valois line." The courtiers then gasped, happy about the news, and applauded the royal couple. Mary rushed over to her sister and pulled her into a tight embrace. Even though she already knew about the announcement, she was still happy for her sister. In only a couple years of marriage, Elizabeth had given James two children, one of them who would be the heir to both France and England one day. And Elizabeth was still young, being only twenty-four since she and James were both eighteen when they were first married. Elizabeth 2nd gracefully walked over to her half-sister and brother-in-law and said, smiling brightly, "I shall pray that you shall have an easy pregnancy and birth, dear sister." Elizabeth 1st smiled softly and replied, "Thank you, Lizzy." Edward Seymour walked up to the royal couple and said, bowing to them with a smile on his face, "Congratulations, Your Royal Highnesses. I do hope that this birth will be a easy one for you, Princess Regent." Elizabeth chuckled and replied, "Thank you, Lord Seymour. How fairs my brother?" Edward said, as Mariana came over to him, "He's well. His tutors tell me that he excels in his education and loves reading." Elizabeth grinned and replied, "Maybe he'll be a scholar." Mariana smiled and said to her mistress, "There was something we'd like to ask you, Your Royal Highness. We'd like to have your blessing to marry." Elizabeth gasped happily and replied, "Really?" Edward nodded and said, "Yes, I proposed to her just a couple days ago but we've been meaning to get your blessing first." Elizabeth smiled and replied, taking Mariana's hand into hers, "Of course, you have my blessing. You'd needn't worry, I shall make sure that you have the best wedding ever imagined." Mariana smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness. I still hope to be your lady-in-waiting even after we're married." Elizabeth nodded and said, "Of course, Mariana."
Then, Katherine Howard walked into the throne room where the chamberlain announced her arrival. Her eyes slightly narrowed at Elizabeth who was being congratulated by other court members. She wanted to make the princess' life miserable for the humiliation she caused her but she knew that the princess would have the favor of the court and the people. However, she also knew that Henry wouldn't like it if his heir was tempered with. Katherine walked over to Elizabeth, with a sickly sweet smile on her face, and said, "Congratulations, Your Highness. I heard the news." Elizabeth turned to Katherine and curtsied to her, as did her friends bowed and curtsied and husband who bowed to the Queen. Katherine said, "We should throw a celebration for the glorious news." James stood next to his wife and replied, "We were going to wait until the King returned to have any such celebrations. We both agreed that it would be unfair if we celebrated without the King, our children's grandfather." Katherine let out a soft scoff and said, "Then, we shall have a feast in honor of your third child." Elizabeth sighed and replied, "Of course, Your Majesty." Katherine smiled brightly and turned to get started on the preparations. Elizabeth turned to her husband and said, "I shall return to my chambers to rest. Could you oversee the council meeting in my stead?" James nodded and replied, "Of course, my love." The couple shared a soft, passionate kiss before pulling away after a couple seconds. Elizabeth gave her husband a soft smile and walked off, with her ladies behind her. Mariana was the last to follow since she was in an embrace with Edward. James' eyes followed after his wife until she was fully out of his view. Many of the noble ladies watched the prince, envious of his love for his wife. When he had married Elizabeth, James vowed to never take a mistress even if there was a day they would be King and Queen. His heart and soul belonged to Elizabeth and Elizabeth only. And that's the way it was going to stay.
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That evening, the feast began without a hitch and Katherine busied herself with dancing among the nobles and mingling with them. James stood with Nathaniel and Mary, along with Elizabeth 2nd and Edward Seymour in a corner of the room. Elizabeth 1st had yet to make her appearance, which was to be expected. James didn't think his wife was going to show since she was exhausted the last time he checked on her. Edward turned to James and said, looking for Elizabeth out of concern, "When is the Princess Regent going to show, Your Royal Highness? I hope all is well?" James replied, "I don't think my wife will attend. She was exhausted when I last saw her." Mary sighed and said, "Maybe it will do her some good to get time away from court. Maybe take her to France?" James replied, "As much as we'd love to, Elizabeth is determined to wait until any decision making till His Majesty returns. She is wants to show him how she did with her time as Princess Regent." Elizabeth 2nd said, "Of course, I can go check on her if you'd like." James turned to the young princess and replied, "If you want to." Elizabeth 2nd nodded and left the throne room, with her two ladies-in-waiting behind her. As she passed, nobles bowed and curtsied to her, muttering 'Your Highness'.
Elizabeth 2nd made her way to her older half sister's bedchambers and stopped when she came to the door. Inside, she heard soft noises that seemed to be of pain. She bursted into the chamber, gasping at the sight of her sister on her pain, clutching her stomach. Elizabeth 1st whispered, before shouting, "No, no, no, no! Help!" Elizabeth 2nd rushed over to her sister and turned to see Eleanor coming in. Eleanor gasped and said to Mariana, "Mariana, fetch Dr. Linacre now!"! Mariana's eyes widened and rushed out of the room, calling out for the physician. Elizabeth 2nd gently rubbed her sister's arm in comfort and said, "It's going to be alright, Lillibet. I promise." Soon enough, Mariana returned with the physician and rushed to her friend's side. Dr. Linacre raced over to the princess and said, as he grabbed a vial from his medicine bag, "Quick, she's loosing blood. If we move fast enough and administer this tonic, she may yet be able to keep the baby in her belly! Roll her on her back!" Elizabeth let out a sob as her sister and ladies rolled her on a back, yelling in pain. Dr. Linacre leaned over and said, his voice filled with sympathy for the princess in pain, "You must take this now, Your Royal Highness. You may be able to save your child if you take this." Elizabeth looked at the physician with painful eyes and instantly opened her mouth, willing to take the medicine. Dr. Linacre nodded and poured the tonic into the princess' mouth. Once she took the tonic, Elizabeth sighed softly as the pain subsided. Elizabeth the 2nd then pulled the physician aside and whispered, "What happened?" Dr. Linacre whispered, "I think that whatever stresses the princess, it seemed to have stressed the child in her womb. But, with the tonic, she should be able to keep it. I should go tell the Prince." Elizabeth 2nd nodded and watched as the physician bowed to her before leaving. She turned her attention back to her sister who was now laying on her back on the bed, now falling asleep. Her heart ached for Elizabeth 1st, she had lost one child and almost lost this one. The young princess didn't know if her sister's heart could take another loss.
In the dining hall, James stood of to the side as he watched his sister-in-law and brother-in-law dance with each other among the courtiers. Dr. Linacre came into the dining hall, searching for the Prince of Wales. Spotting him, he made his way over to him and bowed. James looked at the physician with confusion and said, "Dr. Linacre? What brings you here? I hope all is well?" Dr. Linacre sighed and replied, "May we speak privately, Your Royal Highness?" James nodded and pulled the physician aside. Dr. Linacre turned to the prince after making sure that they were alone, and whispered, "I just came from seeing Her Royal Highness, the Princess Regent. She nearly had a miscarriage but I was there just in time to give her a tonic before it took a turn for the worst." James' eyes widened in concern and whispered, "Is she alright?" Dr. Linacre nodded and whispered, "She is now, thank God. After this, she may need to be confined sooner rather than later." James sighed and whispered, "Of course. Could we wait until the King returned? My wife would want to see her father beforehand and be apart of the celebrations." Dr. Linacre nodded and whispered, "We can but as soon as the festivities are over, Her Royal Highness should be confined immediately." James nodded and turned to return to the feast, causing the physician to bow to him.