Imagines

Tudors- Twin of Aragon 2

Isabella Tudor sat with her cousins as to the side of the throne. All of this was moving along very fast. She knew that as soon as the Pope suggested it that it would be the inevitable outcome, she had come to far to turn back now and not reclaim her family name and inheritance, she was a true heir of  England. The  Pope would all but declare her father mad and unfit to rule and in the eyes of the church would declare her Queen. Other countries would back her in favour of her father.

"Your Highness." a man bowed before her and her family "I am Phillip Duke of Bavaria, I was hoping you would grant me the honour of  a dance?" Isabella looked to her cousin who assessed the man in front of him but gave a nod. Isabella rose to her feet and Phillip offered her hand, she took it. The two took to the floor for the next dance.

Isabella deciding to take this course of action to restore all that her fathers relationship and marriage to Anne Boleyn had essentially taken away. When she returned she wanted to be able to say to the people, I am the rightful heir with the power of several countries behind me and a husband to boot. Even better I am able to give the country stability it craves.

Isabella to her to much controversy ends up marrying Phillip, Duke of Bavaria who is a Lutheran which is a branch of Protestantism. Despite his religion, Phillip is very supportive of his bride and her faith, a lot of historians believe that Philip was very much in love with his wife, the big things that would have kept them apart he fought for. So while he would support his wife he would never publicly say anything against the Pope or Catholicism, he practice his faith in private. He publicly conformed to her social norms, he sacrificed for love as she did. After spending a week with him, she refused any other hand. She loved Phillip despite how it would not go in her favour like with her father. Yet the difference between Phillip and Anne Boleyn, is that Phillip was never recorded to have tried to change England or his wife loyalty to the Pope.

Isabella danced happily with Phillip as her  Charles watched them. his wife Isabella glance between her husband and her cousin in law before speaking.

"I think they're a good match." she commented towards her husband.

"How so? He is a Lutheran.|" he grumbled back not happy about his cousins choice, especially after all the trouble she had been through with the temptress. "She has acted out like her father has done marrying someone out of the true faith."

"She may have married a lutheran but he is a far cry from her. Their marriage is different from her fathers. Besides, I believe he loves her beyond his understanding  that he will be different. She is happy and he did promise never to turn her against her faith. He married for love not politics." Charles hummed still thinking it was a mistake but Isabella had gotten the bit between her teeth and insisted on the match. She did this for herself an no one else.

August 1537. A month after Isabella marries Phillip and mere months before Queen Jane is about to give birth, she announces she's pregnant. It is a now or never moment, there is a small window she has to take the throne before the chance of Jane giving birth to a son. She has no time to wait to see if she is carrying a male heir, she needs to move. Like her maternal line before, she armours herself up and both her and Philip head for England their sights usurping Henry.

Her father knows she's coming, her daughter is about to return and in attempt to control the situation he has Mary under constant guard, nothing she does will not get back to him. As was the Spanish ambassador. The two main allies of the approaching woman.

"I am scared Phillip. What if we fail, our child, my sister who is risking everything as well by siding with me, even when she is back in favour with our father. Or what if something happens with our child, it's so early and with what happened to my mother...." Phillip cut her off resting his hands on her shoulders.

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"Be of good cheer my love. All will be well, you are not your parents, you are Isabella Tudor the future Queen of England. " he soothed his wife.  Isabella took a deep breath listening to her husband.

Loyalists to Isabella and the Catholic faith had began to gather in secret as well as the army that has slowly been trickling over to England over the past months, slowly gathering momentum. By the time Isabella and Phillip arrived with the last of the soldiers for the army, it was much bigger and deadlier than The English Forces.

General Luis Aleverz of the Spanish Armada, met Isabella and Phillip with the rest of the forces. He bowed to the couple.

"Your Majesty." he greeted them

"General. It pleases me that you reached here safely." she smiled kindly at the man "Tell me how do our forces gather?" they walked with him.

"As you know we have been secretly docking up and down the country where your sister and Ambassador Chapusys have told us loyalist to yourself lie. We wait on your command to assemble." The General answered 

"Once the command is given how long before we can march as one?" Isabella wondered

"Within hours." Isabella nodded in understanding

Have a messenger brought to me, he will be taking a note to my father. Also have people sent ahead to Bosworth field, have a tent for negotiations set up. I won't have it said that I never tried to settle peacefully. " The General nodded in confirmation.

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Henry was given the letter by the messenger and opened it. He read over the words of his second eldest daughter.

Dearest Papa,

I wish for you to know that it saddens me that times have come to such means. I understand that my actions have given such rage but I plead with you to understand that it hurt me that you threw Mary and I aside like we were not even a thought, you who raised us and gave us such a grace of Kings love thrown into the dung heap of horses because of your desperation for a son and lust for the harlot who swayed you so easily.

Many a night Mary and I sobbed praying to know what we had done wrong, why you treated us so cruelly until I could take it no more.

Papa, you are no longer trusted by the country you were raised in, that you became king of. That is the harsh truth I must deliver. I wish to discuss it more with you in person. Negotiations to remedy the past I propose to be on the felid where it began for our family. Bosworth Field.

Your Loving Daughter

Isabella.