Out of all the people to make a historical fiction about, King Henry the 8th may not be a person's first choice, but trust me, this is needed. Henry the 8th was the only member of the Tudor family to not be buried in Westminster Abbey for a reason...
11 June 1509, in the year of our Lord, we commemorate and officially unite the kingdoms of Spain and England through the holy matrimony of Henry, 8th of his name of England and Catherine of Aragon.
Catherine was 23 as she walked down the aisle to marry Henry, who was then 18 years old, and already had a lustful appetite. Their marriage was conducted only 7 years after Henry's older brother Arthur died, who was Catherine's first husband.
Across the Irish Sea, Rhiannon, only 13 years old, was still playing in the courts of her parents Riona and Cadell. "Máthair!" Rhiannon called out as she was running through the courtyard with a young maiden trailing behind her, trying to catch up. "Hurry, Anne!"
"Well, if you wouldn't run like a man on the battlefield, I'd be able to keep pace with you, Rhia!" Anne shouted out of breath. The two finally meet Cadell and Riona in the garden.
Riona and Cadell turn and smile brightly as they bend slightly and open their arms to signal the girls are welcomed into an embrace. Rhiannon dashes into her mother's arms, "Mathair! I want to come with you when you take Anne back to France! I've only been once! I can barely remember the place!"
"Rhia, you must stay here and keep training. Besides, we both know how terrible you are with goodbyes, especially to Anne." Riona rubbed her nose with Rhiannon's in a motherly nuzzle, "You have much to learn, dearest one."
"And who will look after me while your mother is gone?" Cadell runs his fingers through Rhiannon's hair and gives her a fatherly embrace.
Rhiannon chuckles, "I'll always take care of you, Father." Cadell and Rhiannon walk Riona and Anne to the docks as the servants load their belongings onto the ship.
Rhiannon and Anne run aboard the ship ahead of Cadell and Riona. The ship's captain calls out, "Well, I'll be damned! Do that be pirates I see boarding from the starboard bow!" The girls run about the ship's deck, running from the captain and screaming obscenities.
"Please be careful, you know the channel is rough this time of year, my love." Cadell holds his wife as he runs his fingers through her strands of hair that dangle by the sides of her face.
"I know, Cadell." Riona smiles into a sweet kiss and embrace. "I love you and I'll see you soon. Now help me round up our daughter!" The family separates for the seemingly short journey.
Eight days pass, Riona should be arriving soon. Cadell is in his study when the doors fly open. "Your majesty!" Cadell jumps up from his chair as the messenger falls to his knees, bearing a message no one ever wanted to report...
On this day, 19 June 1509, we lay to rest our beloved Queen Riona of Ireland, now dwelling in the heavens with our Savior. "Go ndeonódh Dia suaimhneas dúinn agus an cumas chun dul ar aghaidh le dóchas," (May God grant us the ability to move forward with peace and hope). Today begins process of the coronation of our new High Queen of Ireland, young Rhiannon...born of Cadell, Prince Consort of Wales and now passed Queen Riona of Ireland. With Rhiannon, we are rising with a new era of Ireland's future. May God smile on your reign, Queen Rhiannon.
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