Empire of Dreams

*40*

By the time we reached the palace, the sun had begun rising. It had taken quite some to plan and pack for this big move. On reaching the palace, I was immediately surrounded by courtiers and ministers, trying to understand what I had planned. They asked for the coronation date, some asked if I was to abdicate. Finally, when they wouldn't leave my side even after I reached Edward's door, I cried out, "I am only Edward's sister right now, as I enter the room. Be patient. When I will leave the room, remember to bow because then, I will be the Queen of England".

On opening the door, I was flooded with the foul smell of various medicines and pastes used as a last-minute resort to comfort the dying king. I was informed by a sobbing Libitina that my mother was on the way along with my father, sisters and brother-in-law. Catherine and Anne were already at Edward's bedside. Elizabeth, Mary and I rushed to him too. His body was swollen beyond imagination and most of his hair had been chopped off for the sake of plastering. His skin had a slight greenish tinge but the reason of his death was still debated. 

"I remember the maids bringing him in, just a few days old, after Queen Jane died," Mary said softly. 

They had been fighting the last time they met but today her eyes held only love for a brother lost so early to a cruel disease. 

"I remember him too. He was a playful child. Kind, but always finding ways to trouble me" Elizabeth said with a small laugh.

"He was a lovely child. So sweet like his mother, so cunning like his father" Queen Anne said.

"I will miss him deeply. He was my son. He was my only son. He lost his mother just sometime after his birth and now I have lost my son when he should've been learning, growing and ruling" Aunt Catherine choked out between her terrible sobs. Frequent losses had haunted her these past few years. 

We mourned Edward, remembering his childhood days and all that he had just lost. The sun was shining above the kingless kingdom of England now and Queen Anne was the first to recover from the loss. 

"I know this loss is big and tough but it is now time we move on. When I first met you three, I knew you all had a chance of becoming Queens. I still believe so, but I want you all to remember, you are still sisters. I know you all have your duties. Mary and Elizabeth, I know you both have the duty and the right to challenge Jane's throne for what is rightfully yours and Jane, you must dutifully step into the role of the queen. But it does not need to involve bloodshed and it does not need to end up with one of you imprisoned in the Tower of London. What happens now though, depends on you, Jane, for you are the Queen now." Queen Anne said, curtsying deeply. 

On cue, Mary, Elizabeth, Aunt Catherine and Little Mary all followed. I was startled at how odd it felt, yet I knew I had no time to get used to it. This was my fate, my reality. I finally had the throne and I would fight for it. 

I hugged Mary and Elizabeth close. "Thank you for always being by my side. The moment we leave this room, you both will be title-less and I'll be the queen but for this moment, right now, we are sisters and I promise you, I will not treat you unfairly. I cannot hand the throne over to you but I will let you exercise your right freely if you let me use my power and right lawfully. Let us remember that our utmost duty is and will always be, to England".