About a year and a half later, a now nineteen year old Elizabeth was horseback riding around a open clearing with her parents and the rest of the court watching. Henry stood with a proud smile as his daughter's horse jumped over a fallen tree and landed gracefully. Catherine turned to her husband and said to him, "Our daughter is doing well with horseback. Sir Thomas tells me that she is a natural. You must be proud of her." Henry held back a groan and replied, "I am......I am very proud. She is my precious jewel, the Tudor Rose. What of our other daughter, Mary?" Catherine said, "She is well. Her tutors write to me, saying that she excels in Latin, Spanish, French, and in music. Much like Elizabeth." Before Henry could reply, a messenger came running over to Elizabeth who slowed down her horse. The King and Queen only watched their eldest daughter with concern and interest. Elizabeth's face lit up and she rode back to the castle, with her ladies, who got onto their own horses, behind her. With the Boleyn family, Anne watched the girl in concern. George leaned over to his sister and whispered to her, "I wonder what has gotten into Her Highness." Anne whispered, "Whatever it is, it has made her happy. She hasn't smiled since she received the letter from the Dauphin. Henry has confessed to me that he was worried about Her Highness." The same messenger ran over to the King and Queen and whispered something into their ears. Their faces also lit up and they soon went to join their daughter.
With Elizabeth, Elizabeth rode to the palace and didn't stop until she saw James standing with his family. Elizabeth jumped off of her horse and made her way to James, slowly. James was speaking with Charlotte, his sister, until he noticed that his sister was looking behind him and he turned to see Elizabeth coming towards him. James smiled in relief and ran towards his lover. Elizabeth broke into a run and didn't stop until she was in James' arms. Once the lovers were at an arms length, James wrapped his arms around Elizabeth's waist and spun arms her around, with her arms around him. After a few moments, James placed Elizabeth back in the ground and kissed her, placing his hands on her cheeks. Elizabeth smiled in the kiss and felt tears roll down her cheeks. James released from the kiss and said, noting the tears on his lover's cheeks, "What are these tears?" Elizabeth replied, chuckling, "They're happy tears, my love." James smiled at his lover and said, wiping the tears from Elizabeth's cheeks, "All will be well, my darling. For the war is won and I am here for you......for good." Elizabeth smiled at her lover in relief then brought him into another kiss. The moment was interrupted by the sound of the horns blaring.
The couple turned to see Elizabeth's parents and the rest of the court coming towards them. Henry VIII and Catherine came up to their daughter and future son-in-law after jumping off of their horses, with bright smiles on their faces. Henry walked over to the French royal family and said to Francis, "Ah, my friend! I commend you on your victory against Spain!" Francis replied, bringing the English King into a embrace, "Brother! Why, thank you! *He turned to look at his son with a bright smile* We wouldn't have won the war if it hadn't been for my son!" James only smiled and bowed to his future father-in-law who grinned at him, still holding Elizabeth's hands in his own. Henry said to the teenage boy, "Well done, Your Highness. I hope that you are ready to be wed to my daughter soon." James bowed to the English King and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty. I am ready and ecstatic to spend the rest of my days with Her Highness. If you and Her Majesty allow it to be so." Elizabeth smiled brightly at her father then at her lover who smiled lovingly at her. Henry said, turning to the others and his wife then back at the French King, "There shall be a festival in honor of the King of France's victory against Spain. And soon, in a years time, we will have a wedding to unite both England and France through my daughter, Princess Elizabeth, the Princess of Wales and heir to my throne and King Francis' eldest son, Prince James, the Dauphin of France!" Both the French courtiers and English courtiers cheered for the thought of their two kingdoms finally being united. While they held hate for one another, they hoped there would be a wedding to unit their kingdoms and end the rival they held.