Letters To My Betrothed

12th of July 1549

To My Betrothed,

         

            France.

A lot of doubts and worries flooded me along the way.  Betty once asked me what if in this long journey, you're not waiting in the end of the rope?

How will I adjust on this new country with no one else besides me?  Can I adopt quickly to your culture?

Funny how these worries and questions vanish when we reached the borders and saw the castle.  Still a long ride ahead but we are now breathing on the same air, my love.

            My mother said France will be my new home, I should treat all the people as my own because someday, I will rule it beside you.

            We met a young lady in our way.  Her name is Rosemarie and she's with a child.  She is a French who moved to outskirt of England to be with her soldier lover but sadly, the soldier died in the battle.  I hope you will not get angry with me because I will bring her back to her country, soon to be our country.  Rosemarie told me about their love story.  Yes.  What happened to them is a tragic love story but what I will treasure is what Rosemarie told me. She told me that she never regret loving Cedie because he gave her the utmost happiness and priceless blessings.  People may leave and go but the love didn't need to disappear.  This love will give you light and hope in the darkest time of your life.  That's she's been doing for the past month without Cedie. 

Her story made me realize that love isn't rainbows and unicorns.  I've been always idealistic about love since my mother and father has been epitome of it.   That's scared me a little because I have realized my love for you has been my source of hope and happiness these past years, despite of distance. I don't know how to start if my dreams of our future won't happen.  But I quickly erase these negativities, I am looking forward to starting our life together. I wish you would look at me like my father looked at my mother like she's the most precious one and only woman in his eyes.  I hope we can have a marriage like them. I know we'll face a lot of obstacles in our life, I hope we'll have the strength to overcome it.

  The journey to my new home, France, is not as smooth as I expected.  We have faced a lot of bumps and delays in our way.    I don't mind the long journey as long as on the end, I get to see you, I get to hold you.  I keep picturing your smile and your gray eyes in my head.  I hope you're patiently waiting for me there.

          See you soon, my beloved Betrothed. I wish I could make time move too fast so I could see your face and smile again.

Yours,

Elizabeth Tudor