Can't Pretend // TSP

prologue

27th of September, 1507
Isabella of Castile awaited her sister Catherine of Aragon's arrival. It had been a long while since she had seen her sister and she had counted the days. Isabella had been raised in England by Elizabeth of York and her husband Henry VII of England. While Isabella was seven when she came and it had now been eight years, she awaited on her sister. Catherine would marry Arthur Tudor. The Prince of Wales and heir to England while Isabella had been sent to England on a treaty. Once her sister had given Arthur an heir, Isabella would be called back to Spain by her parents. She was the ward to Henry and Elizabeth until then. Meaning she couldn't be married off or leave England until Catherine had a son. How she could be a maid forever.

"Morning Ella." Harry smiled at the young girl

She was a year younger than him. The sixteen year old Harry was shining brightly. He had been made presentable for the Princess of Spain while Isabella wore what was given to her. Being fifteen meant she was obviously already afraid of the world. Ella was a nickname given to her by the English people and she didn't mind it. But kept it hidden when the Spanish advisors came. They all called her Isabella, Infanta or Izzy. No one ever called her anything English.

"Good morning Harry." He slowly placed his hand around her waist but out of eye sight.

Harry had a way of getting into trouble when there was no trouble to make.

Ella had blonde hair, pale skin from England and green eyes. She was not too tall but not too small. She was slim and a perfect girl with a good education. She prayed often and listened and observed to meetings.

Elizabeth of York had been proud of sculpting Ella to who she was today. The perfect English bride.

"Harry." Ella warned him in a shushed tone.

Her accent was English and soft. Her accent had changed from the rich Spanish she once knew when she was a little girl and only just arrived in England.

Elizabeth of York had been terribly kind to her and raised her alongside her children. Besides Harry, Ella saw the rest of the Tudor children as her siblings. And Henry had been more of a father to her than her own.

"What? You don't like my touch." Harry knew well enough that she desired him. But she could never have him. Not while Catherine had Arthur.

"I burn for you." Harry whispered in her ear.

"Shut up." She scolded

One person who didn't 100% like her was Margaret Beaufort. The mother of Henry VII and grandmother of Arthur and Harry. Not many were excited for Catherine but they all adored Isabella. But Margaret was ready to pounce if she found Isabella not being up to standards.

Another who wasn't 100% sure of her was Maggie Pole. She didn't even hide her disgust when Isabella had first arrived but grew to like the scared little girl. She however didn't like Catherine she either.

—————

4th of October, 1507
It had felt like forever since the arrival of Catherine and Isabella still hadn't seen her sister. Today was the day she'd lay her eyes on Catherine as she would finally marry Arthur officially. And she'd be able to greet her sister as the Princess of Wales and hug her again.

"Ella?" Harry whispered as he opened the door

"What is it?" Ella snapped trying to get ready

"I just wanted to say how excited you must be to see Catherine again." He smiled

"What are you up to?" Ella spied a scheme behind his eyes, "and his Eleanor and Charlie involved?"

"Never" he winked and left her alone before she could investigate his plans for Catherine or Arthur.

—————

The wedding had been beautiful. Catherine had smiled at her sister when she saw her. The two instantly recognised each other from all the times they dreamed of each other and huber eyes. However, Catherine still felt off that Izzy looked so English rather than Spanish.

"Izzy?" A very rich Spanish woman asked

It was Lena. She was Catherine's lady but an old friend of Isabella's too. Next to her was Rosa. She was originally Isabella's lady before she left.

"Rosie! Lena!" She hugged them but stopped when she was Elizabeth looking at her.

"How are you, majesty?" Rosa asked her

"Don't call me that." Ella snapped, "if they hear you'll they'll torture you."

The girls giggled before Ella finally found someone touching her softly. It was Harry.

"Come see Catherine!" He exclaimed

"We will see each other soon ladies" and with that Ella followed Harry to where Arthur and Catherine sat. The room went quiet and all eyes were on Catherine and Ella as the sisters saw each other again for the first time in eight years. Everyone watched closely. The music stopped and people stopped dancing. It all halted.

"Princess Catherine" Ella bowed

"Princess Isabella." Catherine stood and walked over to curtesy to her sister

Before Ella knew what was happening Catherine embraced her and whispered something Spanish in her ears.

"Como te he extrañado mi pequeña reina."
"How I have missed you my little Queen."

Ella replied back with her quote "Como te he extrañado mi dulce reina."
"How I have missed you my sweet Queen."

The people cheered and clapped as the sisters took the dance floor and danced to a Spanish song. The people cheered by Margaret Beaufort told Elizabeth of York what she truly felt about Catherine and Isabella.

"We now have two Spanish scum in our midsts. We must tread lightly before war outbreaks between us and Spain. They would do anything for Catherine."

"For Isabella?" Lizzie asked

"She is England. They do not care for her anymore. She may be useful to us, still." Margaret slyly smiled.

Harry watched with admiration for Ella but Catherine only kept her eyes locked on him and Ella noticed. She started to worry as Harry's gaze shifted to Catherine.