BLOODLINES
—16. Betrayal

Moments later, Harry arrived at Marie's room and wasted no time entering the room. She was standing at the window and didn't bother turning to face him, already knowing it was Harry.

"She tried to seduce me," Harry admitted truthfully, causing Marie to turn to face him with a shocked look on her face, "But I refused her."

"Prince Harry, refusing the offer of bedding a woman?" Marie sarcastically asked as she turned to face him, "This girl you're in love with must be special."

"She is," Harry replied as he began to walk toward her with a small smile on her face, "She means everything to me and there's nothing in this world that will ever ruin what we have."

Marie smiled up at Harry, who was now standing in front of her. Harry grabbed her by the waist, pulling her closer to him before he kissed her passionately.

He began to kiss down her jaw and neck, only to stop when he felt Marie's hands drop to his breeches. He gradually began to smile and pulled away from Marie to give her an amused look. "What do you think you're doing?"

Marie began to blush, looking down at the ground, embarrassed. "What do you think I am doing?" She retorted, causing Harry to give her a nervous look.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked her in genuine concern, "If you're not ready, we may wait until we are wed—"

"Harry," Marie cut Harry off, a serious look on her face as she cupped his face in her hands, "I love you and I want you. All of you."

Harry smiled slightly, nodding his head in understanding. He wasted no time leaning forward, smashing his lips against hers as he began to untie the back of her dress.

_____

The following day, Harry found himself in the Palace gardens with his sister, shooting arrows.

As he released his arrow, he suddenly stopped, turning his head to see Joanna smirking at him as she walked by.

"What was that about?" Kathy asked, a genuinely confused look on her face.

"What would do if I told you Marie and I bedded each other?" Harry responded, causing Kathy to turn to him and give him a disapproving look.

"I'd call you the biggest fool of them all, especially after what happened with Joanna," Kathy replied with an attitude and Harry scoffed loudly.

"Nothing happened between Joanna and I. I refused her," Harry argued and Kathy nodded in agreement.

"Exactly. You refused her and told Marie about it. The poor girl probably felt like she was obligated to give you what you didn't give to Joanna," Kathy explained and Harry turned to his sister, giving her a weird look, "Tell me, brother, when was the last time you refused a girl, even when you realized you loved Marie?"

Harry sighed in defeat. He didn't respond. Instead, he looked down at the ground in shame.

"Exactly," Kathy continued on as she nodded her head, "She felt obligated to let you have it and you were foolish enough to do it."

"You sound stupid," Harry retorted with an attitude.

"There's only one stupid one here and it isn't me, brother," Kathy replied, a small smirk on her face.

_____

That day, Harry brought Marie to a field away from court, hoping to speak to her alone without anyone listening in.

"Not my father or my grandmother, nor the council," Harry began to explain to Marie in a determined tone, "I did not budge an inch, Marie, not with any of them. I swear it. I made it very clear to everyone that I loved you and that I've never loved another and I never will," He continued on, only looking almost pleading when it seemed as though Marie was only half-listening, "You must believe me. You must believe I love you. You must."

"I do," Marie replied as she stopped walking and turned to face him with a small smile on her face, "Why else do you think I gave myself to you?"

"Do you regret it?" Harry asked worriedly, recalling what Kathy had said to him.

"Should I?" Marie questioned curiously, a nervous smile on her face.

"No, of course not!" Harry argued in a desperate tone as he shook his head.

"But I also do know that you only came to me after what happened with Joanna," Marie pointed out, causing Harry to sigh in defeat.

"Oh, I care not one jot for her," Harry scoffed loudly, sounding annoyed by the mention of the Spanish girl he found himself despising more than anything.

"I also know that I should not have slapped her. It was wrong of me. She is my brother's wife," Marie confessed, a disappointed look on her face.

"It doesn't matter," Harry argued, an assuring look on his face, "Don't even give her the satisfaction of thinking about her."

"I was upset, Harry, about what she said about Nora," Marie confessed in a saddened, "Nora was the only mother I ever had and I idolized her. She had a warrior's heart and she fought for the people she loved until her dying breath. I will love her until my dying breath. I will not have her name besmirched, especially by someone who didn't even know her."

Marie sighed in defeat, slowly looking up at Harry. "Joanna was right about one thing, though. They tried to stop her from leaving Westminster."

"My father wants his enemies returned, Edmund of York and Lizzie Plantagenet," Harry informed her in a calm tone, "Phillip's father, your father, has him. My father and my grandmother want a deal to have him handed over, so they'll stop your sister and her husband leaving until they get it."

"That's it," Marie suddenly spoke up, her eyes widening in realization, "Joanna can persuade him. It's her who wears the crown, not Phillip. She is the one my father will have to trade and make a treaty with, not my brother. I can have the rest of Catherine's dowry given to your father in exchange for Joanna's escape."

"You would talk to her. After what she tried with me?" Harry asked Marie in concern as she let go of his hand and began to walk toward his horse with him following after her.

Marie paused briefly, turning to send Harry a smile. "I'm not the type to hold grudges nor will I ever be," She confessed and with that, she climbed onto her horse.

_____

"Joanna," Marie called out as she walked up to Joanna, who was standing alone in one of the hallways at Westminster, "I have a way for you to free yourself from here. I will even tell you how, but it comes at a price."

"What price?" Joanna asked Marie, narrowing her eyes at her.

"Catherine's dowry," Marie answered in a stern tone.

"No," Joanna replied simply as she turned her back to Marie without another word said.

"Joanna," Marie sighed in defeat, moving closer to the girl, who turned to face her once more in annoyance, "I know what you said was true. You're right. I'm not innocent. Nor will I ever be. People don't seem to realize that. None but you."

"How do I free myself from here?" Joanna finally asked, a stern look on her face.

"I won't tell you anything until you give me your word that you will pay my dowry," Marie demanded in a calm tone.

Joanna didn't answer. Instead, she simply nodded her head in response.

"You must write to my father and tell him to return the two Yorks, Lizzie Plantagenet and Edmund of York," Marie instructed the woman calmly, "Your husband will try to stop you because he means to take your power, but you are the sovereign, not him. The power is all yours. Start showing it."

_____

Just moments later, Kathy was sitting in the Privy Council room with the rest of the council. However, their conversation was suddenly cut short when Joanna entered, causing everyone's head to turn.

"I have come to trade with you," She announced in a calm tone, "You want Edmund of York and Lizzie Plantagenet returned? My husband has misled you. His father will do nothing for him, whereas I am the queen of Spain, and Maximilian needs to keep his treaty with me."

Margaret smiled with satisfaction, wasting no time with standing up from her seat. She moved out of the way, allowing Joanna to sit there instead.

____

After she was done talking with Joanna, Marie walked out into the courtyard, only to stop and frown when her eyes locked on Maggie.

"Maggie?" She called out, causing Maggie to turn to face her, "You are here at court?"

"I have come to see the king," Maggie informed the girl as she hugged her.

"I pray that you received my letter," Marie told the elder woman, a sympathetic look on her face as she pulled away from the hug, "I heard of your husband's death and it deeply saddened me. I know how much you cared for him."

"I did care for him," Maggie replied, smiling sadly at the thought.

"My brother Phillip is here, at court," Marie informed Maggie, whose eyes widened at the revelation, "And he is the biggest pig I have ever met. Can you believe it?"

Maggie laughed at the thought, finding what Marie said amusing.

"I have missed you, you know," Maggie confessed, grabbing ahold of the girl's hands before she squeezed them affectionately, "I worried you weren't doing well without a companion like me around."

"Well, at least I have Kathy," Marie confessed, a small smile on her face.

Maggie chuckled, placing a hand on Marie's shoulders. "And Harry, I'm told," She commented, causing them both to quietly laugh before their conversation was cut short by Lord Stafford walking over to them.

"Lady Pole," He greeted the woman, just before gesturing for her to follow him inside, "This way, please."

Just as Maggie was beginning to walk away, Marie grabbed Maggie by the hand, which caused her to turn to look at her. "I hope our paths may cross again," She spoke up, causing Maggie to smile back at her before she was forced to walk away.

_____

"Maximilian is a Christian man," Joanna continued to speak to the privy council as she sat with them at the large table, "And the reason why he will not hand Edmund of York and Lizzie Plantagenet over to you is because he thinks they'll lose their heads upon your block like his other good friend, Nora of Lancaster and her son George of York."

Margaret and Henry turned their head, watching as a small wooden box was placed in front of them.

"Swear on this splinter of the one true cross that his life will be spared, and I will see to it that your request is granted," Joanna continued on in a calm tone.

"This is playacting," Margaret complained as she pointed to Joanna, "You don't believe in God."

"But you do, and Maximilian knows that, so he will trust it," Joanna replied in a determined tone.

Slowly, Margaret turned to her son, nodding her head in encouragement.

Henry smiled slightly, wasting no time with placing his hand on the piece of wood. "I, Henry, King of England and Lord of Ireland, do swear on this most holy relic stained with the blood of Our Savior, that no harm shall befall Edmund of York and Lizzie Plantagenet on their return to England, so help me God."

"Then I will tell the emperor he must send him back to England or lose all trade with Spain," Joanna informed the group in a confident tone.

Just then, the door opened, causing Margaret to turn her head to see Lord Stafford gesturing for her to follow him out. After excusing herself, she left the room and soon enough, she entered the room that Margaret was standing in.

"Lady Margaret," Maggie suddenly greeted Margaret after bowing, her eyes wide in shock.

"You thought I was the king?" Margaret asked, an almost amused look on her face, "Most letters come through me, and I didn't see fit to pass yours on to him. It seemed to me a woman's matter."

"I only want to save my children," Maggie confessed, a saddened look on her face, "They are small. They're innocent. None of this is their fault. Please. They are starving."

"And they shall receive," Margaret replied, smiling slightly as she nodded her head, "All their mother has to do is confess her sins."

Maggie remained silent, trying not to look uneasy as Margaret walked closer to her. "Unburden yourself, Lady Pole. The weight must be immense. The Spanish Princess and Prince Arthur performed their marriage duties. They knew each other. All you have to do is say it in the face of God."

"The face of God?" Maggie asked, a look of disbelief on her face.

"And then your children will be saved, and they will grow to live full, happy lives," Margaret continued on, a fake smile on her face.

"Nora was right," Maggie suddenly spoke up, earning a frown from Margaret, "There is no depth you will not sink to, no evil you will not peddle, no cruelty you would spare."

"I would warn you, Lady Pole, to watch your words," Margaret practically growled at Maggie, speaking in a stern tone.

"No," Maggie argued back coldly, "I have watched my words and deeds my whole life, and tell me, how far has that got me? You Tudors killed my brother in cold blood and the woman who was the only mother I ever really had. You crush anyone and anything in the path of your foul power lust, one of which happened to be her and where did that get you? More than half of England wants you all dead, even if they do not show it," She ranted, continuing to glare at Margaret coldly, "Well, maybe hunger has made me mad, but I will not be an instrument of yours, my lady."

With that, Maggie began to storm off, Margaret yelling at her as she did so.

"That was my last olive branch," Margaret called out to her, "You and your spawn can die in the gutter, where you belong!"

Several moments later, Margaret returned to the privy council room, having an idea. "Your Highness, I have a second matter to discuss that would ensure a pact between Castile and England for all the years to come," Margaret informed Joanna as the Spanish Queen was on the verge of leaving the room, "Will you hear it?"

Joanna smiled, nodding her head as she walked back over to her seat and sat down.

___

That afternoon, Marie and Harry sat outside in the gardens together, playing a game of chest.

Marie made her next move and Harry made his, smiling mischievously at her. "There's no need to look at me like that," She spoke up, an amused smile on her face, "You will not win this game."

"I think I already have," Harry confessed in a whisper as he grabbed her hand from across the chest board.

However, the duo ended up turning their head to see Joanna walking toward them, causing them both to be forced to stand up to bow to her.

After bowing to her, Harry was quick to walk away, leaving Marie with Joanna. "Is it done? Did you succeed in what you hoped to accomplish?" Marie asked, a kind smile on her face.

"We came to terms, so Phillip and I will leave tomorrow, and their traitors Lizzie Plantagenet and Edmund of York will soon be shipped back here," Joanna informed Marie, smiling almost mischievously.

"Which means you will pay your sister's dowry so that I may marry Harry?" Marie questioned, a curious look on her face.

"You were right that an alliance between Spain and the Habsburg Empire, and England keeps me safer in my reign, but it's stronger if the alliance is between my children and this crown, not the sister of my husband, so I have made a marriage between my son and Princess Mary," She explained, smiling as she did so, "It was proposed by Lady Margaret. We do not need you, Marie. No one does. And soon enough, Harry will tire of you as well and you will be left with nothing."

"How could you?" Marie asked softly, a look of betrayal on her face as Joanna smirked at her, "You told me I would—"

"People lie, especially people like me. You're just too young to realize it. People enjoy claiming you are Nora incarnate, but in truth, you are nowhere near as clever as she was. You're still naive and easily beguiled. That is your one true weakness, Marie. Perhaps this will be a lesson," She explained, beginning to walk toward the girl, "Trust no one and that head of yours will stay right where it is."

Joanna pressed a soft kiss to her sister-in-law's cheek, just before walking away without another world said.

Marie watched her leave, beginning to tear up as she did so. She gave herself to Harry and now, she couldn't even have him.