Son of Hope

Chapter Nineteen - Pain

Laughter and Giggling filled my ears as I searched around for the source. a mist of a figure went pass me and I chased them. The comforting and welcoming tones of happiness grew louder.

"Chase us Papa! Chase us!"

"I'm coming to get you!" I call chasing after the figures and scoop one up into my arms. "There you are, my little Hope."

"Not fair, Papa. You always catch me." she pouted

"Well I must always hold onto Hope. Now come let us find your brothers and sister." She giggled as I let her down

"I can find one easily. Aaaah Sebastian!" she cried out

"I help you sissy!" and out came scampering a raven haired boy who stopped "Sissy why must you do that." Little Hope snickered

"Because I am Papa's little girl." she ran over and hugged him

"Are you teasing your little.....Henry! Henry!" Catherine came out smiling but her voice turned to anguish.

I woke from my dream by Catherine moving out of my arms. Sitting up a little dazed beside her.

"Catherine." I came around looking to her and seeing her heartbroken gaze "You dreamt he was crying." I assumed

"It is not the sound of crying that brings a terror, but the sound of his silence." she leant her head on my shoulder

"Be at ease, my love. He may not be with us but he is with your mother and my parents. They will keep him safe and loved till we see him again." she lift her head up and I kissed her as we lay back down.

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We attended another council meeting, the mourning period was over and more men flocked to be soldiers. The councillors banged on the table in agreement with my line of thought.

"The time to strike is now. We'll give Pope Julius back Bologna, Lombandy, and Genoa stolen by the French and to add we shall retake our own lands in kind."

"And the Holy Roman Emperor supports this campaign. He calls you the most Christian king." Boleyn added

"So he should." Catherine replied "This is a Holy War. My cousin Charles is with us and so is his father Maximilian."

"But we'll leave your father out of it this time." Stafford commented

"My fathers betrayal only makes us stronger. We must look to ourselves...to England." I smiled at her and offered her my hand, which she took.

"Gentlemen the Queen is tireless is she not?" Bolen complemented

"And if i may venture, she's never looked stronger." Harry added "You are blessed brother." my gaze shifted to him.

"General Howard. Do you need a cushion or do you have something to say?" Catherine inquired and all attention turned to the general who had been quite throughout today's proceedings.

"It's a mistake for you to lead the army, Your Grace. You will leave the country without an heir, and the kingdom will be exposed." he voiced making me sigh

"You suggest the King stay here and what? Embroider something?" Charlie defended which make me smirk a little

"When the King leads his men, he increases their strength tenfold." Wolsey interjected

"And tenfold is the calamity..."

"Enough." i stop them "That is enough. I will make this clear, in lieu of a son should anything happen to me. Harry is the next in line as my brother and as Duke of York. I see it in your eyes, most of you think of the traitor Edmund de la Pole. But his rebellion was three years ago and there are none to rally to him."

"There are always rebel pockets."

"Yes, pockets. Wolsey, not armies or masses." I stood letting go of Catherine's hand "England was at war with its self for decades, before I or my parents were born. Rebellion and usurpers are what keeps men like us alert and not laying about fattening ourselves on the finest of meat. Without the danger or threat I would become too comfortable."

"But if the realm is left without a son...your son..."

"But his son is here, Chaplain." Catherine interrupted "within me." I gave her my full attending turn to her and took her hand

"I waited to be sure. Now I am." I cupped her face and gave her a gentle kiss.

"Thank you Catherine." I whisper then turn to the men "my queen carries my heir just as I shall carry the banner of England into France and we will be victorious." they clapped and i dismissed the Council though some still wanted to talk as we walked

"Congratulations again. I was wondering if i may raise the notion of bringing my family closer to court" Boleyn spoke

"Edward." Catherine stopped me and i turned to her. She looked to the council members silently asking for privacy and they bowed before leaving the two of us alone.

"Surely Edmund de la Pole is not a threat as they make him out to be." she stressed

"Catherine ease your mind, please." I took her arms "You are ever the wonder, shouldering so much pain and coming through. You truly are my warrior Queen." I say to ease her

"I meant what I said about keeping alert but I will do what I must to protect you. Both of you." I rest my hand on her stomach "And if finally dealing with De la Pole and finishing my parents work is how I must do it then i will. The two of you are my top priority." i kiss her and leave

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On my way to speak with my brother I bumped into Maggie, who was clearly upset.

"By your expression, i take it you've heard." I sighed

"Your Grace, I beseech you."

"Please, don't it will get you nowhere. He should thank God that he has lived this long. He would have killed me in a heartbeat and my father." I retort "Why do you still support him? Your cousin seeks something which is not his and a time that has long past."

"He is family."

"But I am your family too, as was my mother. There was a time where there was no bad blood between us. Mother saw you as another sister, I saw you as another mother. The mistakes of your fathers seemingly gone within both of you. She took you and Uncle Teddy in, nurtured you, loved you when it was your father who called her mother a witch. A wish who took the life of a mother you didn't get to know. She could have taken that resentment but she didn't.

She gave you no reason to turn on her. Yet you did, you broke her heart and you broke mine. Yet you call us Tudor the monsters. She and my father stopped the war and united the houses. It was a time for unity and to make better decisions than our ancestors. You support and defend that would plunge us back into civil war."

"Edward...I never...I never thought you..."

"felt that way? I didn't think so, because from what i have see is you only concentrate on how we are in the wrong. How it is us Tudor who ruin you when you did it to yourself. De La Pole will die and if you have any self preservation you will do as you have done and keep your head down or I will be only to happy to remove it. Just on principal for hurting my mother." I storm past her and carry on about my day.