Chapter 22: Chapter 19

The Tudor Rose (Completed)Words: 5954

Soon after the announcement of the soon-to-be wedding, Henry sent Catherine away. He was then granted his annulment and was granted the title of Supreme Head of the Church. After the annulment, Henry and Anne were married with a child along the way. Now, they were preparing for another royal wedding, James and Elizabeth's wedding. Elizabeth stood in her bedchambers as her ladies-in-wedding rushed to get her ready for her wedding. She stood in front of her mirror in a beautiful white dress. There was a knock on her door and she turned to see her father entering with her now new stepmother. Henry smiled lovingly at his daughter and said to her, "You look beautiful, my jewel." Elizabeth smiled at her father and replied, curtsying, "Thank you, Papa." Anne walked over to her stepdaughter and said to her, "You look absolutely gorgeous, Elizabeth. I just know that His Highness will fall to his knees when he lays his eyes on you." Henry said, "Yes, this shall be a wedding that will be remembered for years to come. Nothing shall compare to my daughter's wedding." Elizabeth replied, "Oh, Papa. What about Mary? And Mama?" Henry said, "Your mother is no longer welcomed in the castle, darling. She lied about her marriage with my brother. The only title she has now is Dowager Princess of Wales. Your sister may return only if she recognizes Anne as the new Queen of England. You are my only heir, Elizabeth." Elizabeth said, "But, Mary is my sister, my twin. Surely, you can reconsider this......for me." Henry replied, getting angry, "As I have said before, your sister will only return if she recognizes Anne as Queen of England. This is the end of this discussion." Elizabeth only sighed and nodded, not wanting to anger her father more. She didn't want her wedding to start out like this.

With James, James stood in his bedchambers as his valet and grooms got him ready. He could imagine what Elizabeth would look like when they would finally be with each other after a few days apart. Just days before this wedding day, he was comforting a distraught Elizabeth when they learned that Henry had annulled his marriage with her mother and was going to marry the harlot who was pregnant with Henry's child. A knock on the door interrupted the prince's thoughts and he turned to see his parents and siblings walking in. He smiled to them and said, bowing to them, "Mother, Father. Sisters and brothers." Claude came up to her son and replied, with sadness in her voice, "Oh, my precious boy. I wish this day would come later, not sooner." James said, "Oh, Mama. It will be alright. I'm happy. I'm marrying the one I love, even though it was an arranged marriage." Francis replied, "It will be a good benefit for both of our kingdoms, my son." Charlotte came up to her brother and said to him, with a glare, "Just don't do anything stupid, dearest brother. I like this one." James chuckled and replied, "You won't have a problem with that, my dear sister. I love her with all of my heart and I intend to make her happy." Charlotte whispered, smirking, "Good. Keep it that way. Or I'll slice that manlyhood of yours off." James only stared at his sister with fear in his eyes until a pageboy came and told them that the escort party was ready. James waited for his parents to exit the room, since they were ranked higher than him, then exited the room with his siblings after him.

Back with Elizabeth, Elizabeth was in a conversation with her new stepmother while her ladies-in-waiting continued to get her ready.  A knock on the door interrupted them and a pageboy came in and told them the escort party was ready for them. Anne stood then exited the room but not before glancing at Henry. Henry gave her a smile and turned to his daughter, giving her his arm. Elizabeth had a look of fear in her eyes and whispered to her father, "Please, don't let me fall, Papa." Henry whispered, kissing his daughter's forehead, "Never, my precious jewel." They soon joined the escort party where they would ride in a carriage to Westminster Abbey, where Elizabeth and James would be married. The precision was almost fit for a wedding of a King and Queen. Henry made sure that he went all out for his daughter, with a helping hand from Anne. The only thing that seemed to be missing for Elizabeth was her beloved mother and sister and her godfather. She didn't blame her father for mistreating her mother and sister, she blamed Wolsey. She was delighted that Cardinal Wolsey wasn't around to spill evil whispers in her father's ear, seeing now that he was dead. Her godfather took Wolsey's place as Lord Chancellor but soon saw that the power was consuming him and decided to stay away from court. Elizabeth's thoughts were interrupted when she entered the chapel with her father and saw James down the aisle with two of his friends and brothers as his best men.

His parents were already sitting in the thrones with two thrones next to them, with Anne already in one of them. Friends and family, as well as the French and English courtiers, joined the wedding precision. Even kings and queens from neighboring kingdoms came to see the union of two great kingdoms. However, once the couple were wed and came out of the chapel, they were greeted by angry shouts and jeering that was directed to Henry and Anne. Elizabeth could only look at her now new husband with fear in her eyes as the people shouted at her father, telling him to go back to her mother and break off contact with Anne. James only gave his new wife a comforting smile and whispered, "All will be well, my love. Don't let this ruin this wonderful moment." Elizabeth only nodded and escorted to the carriage by a royal guard. James turned to his father and whispered to him, glancing around, "Father?" Francis only nodded and whispered, "It will be alright, my son. Be with your wife, she is your priority now." James nodded then joined Elizabeth in the carriage and rode off to Hampton Court.