*unedited*
The two pregnant women were seated next to each other, across them, their husbands. Jane had attempted to keep the conversation civil enough to keep Henry from losing his temper, but, with the King, there was no knowing what would set him off definitely.
Jane decided to broach the subject of Anne's daughter, Elizabeth Tudor. This was a mistake on the poor Queen's part. Henry had been keeping the child away from Anne in an attempt to hurt her. Anne had tried time and time again to see her child but Henry had been adamant that she be kept away from the princess. Over time, Anne had learnt to cope with sending letters and dresses to her child, although she still ached, as a mother would do when separated from her babe.
In fact, Henry was quite fond of his daughter. She was him, through and through. He knew she would have great strength when she grew up. Alas, she still wasn't a son. No one would want a Queen on the throne, well, at least not Henry, out of fear that the Tudor lineage should cease after his death. That being said, he still refused to let her within distance of her mother.
Anne stiffened, and Edward gazed at her reassuringly.
"I assume Elizabeth is well, of good health, excelling at her studies and is growing up to be very promising. But I have seen her not since the time of my imprisonment." Anne retorted. She hated the separation between her and her babe. She could only imagine what the princess looked like now, at four years old.
"Is her hair still an offensive head of violent rouge? Have her freckles faded or do they still linger upon her youthful face? Has she grown much taller?" She yearned.
She needed to see her daughter.
"Your Majesty," Edward started, hoping he could convince the monarch to allow his wife to see the princess, "may i request you have the Princess Elizabeth brought down from the Tudor Manor? My dearest wife pains each and every day without being able to visit. She has not seen the princess for almost half an annual."
Henry out his jewel encrusted chalice down, licking his lips. By allowing Anne contact with their child for only a short period, he'd have the upper hand. The former Queen was very evidently suffering apart from Elizabeth. He hoped it would be enough to make her desperate...to make her desire to do whatever he asked for her to do, deny not one of his reauests...anything, as long as it permitted her to raise her own child.
Then again, he didn't want the child growing up under Edward Seymour. He loved his daughter enough to desire a paternal relationship with her. He didn't want the common viscount vying for a paternal role in Elizabeth's life.
Edward had already taken Anne from him. He didn't need his child taken, too. But Henry wasn't blind to the truth. His lack of care for his wife had wedged distance between them. Their relationship, after all their hard years, had become bitter, the fruit from the trees the King himself had planted.
He had caused Anne great suffering. She had become frantic - desperate, even - to fall pregnant. After her first miscarriage, the King had left her to her own devices in disgust that she couldn't bear him a son. Day in and day out the Queen had been filled with panic. And it slowly wained in her mental well-being, as well as physical health.
He had broken his Queen.
No longer did she dance, no longer did her smile reach her eyes.
And he killed her character. Stolen her strength.
All throughout their marriage she had been burdened with birthing him an heir. Each time she fell pregnant she stopped having fun. Now he was taking away her child.
"Selfish...that is my nature. God, forgive me! Anne...forgive me..." The Tudor thought.
He commanded a servant to request the Princess Elizabeth be brought down to the castle. "Make sure to bring the Princess Elizabeth down at once! As soon as she makes her arrival, send her in to my throne room."
With a snap of his fingers, the servant hurried away to pass on the message to the appropriate party. "Lady Anne, you must eat a little more. This feast was specially prepared in honour of my brother, you and your babe." Jane meekly chimed in. She decided it best to keep her mouth shut afore she started any trouble again.
Anne smiled, thanking her.
"Anne, you must stay for the duration of your desire. Our daughter shall reside here until you depart, where she will return back to the Manor in order to resume her studies." The royal informed.
Henry wouldn't let Elizabeth go, not until he was sure of what exactly he wanted to do.
"The babe of yours, Sister Jane, you are to deliver it in the next month?" Anne cleared her throat, composing herself and relaxing once more. She was ever grateful that she would be allowed to spend time with Elizabeth, although worried her babe would forget her.
