BLOODLINES
— 39. Treachery

    At a secret chapel in France, Charlie and Kathy stood in front of each other, smiling lovingly at one other as the priest spoke their vows. "We stand here in God's sight to witness the marriage of Charles Brandon, Viscount Lisle and Princess Katherine of England, Duchess of Bedford and Dowager Queen of France," He announced loudly as Charlie placed the ring on Kathy's finger.

"I love you, Kathy Brandon," Charlie spoke softly, and Kathy smiled up at him.

"Not as much as I love you, Charles Brandon," Kathy responded and Charlie shook his head at her.

"Not possible," He commented and stepped forward. He cupped her face in his hands, kissing her passionately before they walked down the aisle together to leave.

It wasn't long before they arrived at their rooms. The door to their room opened and Charles smiled as he turned to face her. "I'm never nervous," He confessed as Kathy walked over to him, both of them smiling.

It seemed as though neither of them could stop smiling after they married each other. It was official. They were husband and wife once and for all. Now, nothing could stop them from being together.

"Don't be," Kathy assured him, grabbing ahold of his hand.

Charles placed a hand on her waist, pulling her closer to him. He stared down at Kathy, a soft smile on his face. "You have no idea how much I love you," He whispered to her softly and Kathy smiled, "How much I've always loved you."

He leaned forward, cupping her face in his hands before he kissed her passionately. Charles removed his shirt, pressing a kiss to her forehead before he kissed her on the lips.

As he removed her dress, Kathy began to kiss his chest. Once she was rid of her clothes as he was, Charles lifted her off the ground, causing Kathy to quietly chuckle as he carried her over to the bed.

He placed her down before climbing onto the bed as well, both of them smiling.

However, as he went to climb on top of her, Kathy smirked and switched the position so that she was on top.

Charlie sat up slightly with Kathy straddling him, a smile forming on his lips. He stared up at her, his lips parted.

"What are you thinking?" Kathy asked him in a whisper, staring back down at him.

"That I am happy," Charlie confessed, leaning closer to Kathy until his lips brushed against hers.

"As am I," Kathy admitted, gradually beginning to smile, "For as long as I breathe."

  Charlie smiled up at Kathy. He wrapped his arms around her waist and Kathy cupped his face in her hands, kissing him passionately.

The entire night, Charles and Kathy remained in each other's arms. Of course, they were used to such things, but it had been nearly ten years since they had been last been together. It was different now. It felt almost relieving and Kathy felt as though she had felt nothing quite like it. She found comfort in Charlie's arms, a type of comfort she hadn't felt in years. He made her feel safe and secure, which was something she didn't experience often.

   As the night went on, the concerns and worrisome thoughts they once had of what Henry would do when he found out about what they had done behind his back had disappeared. All that mattered at that moment was each other.

His sister and best friend, married without his consent. There wasn't a chance in hell he would take it well and deep down, they both knew it. Kathy didn't care. She had been serious when she said she would start a war for Charlie. She loved him that much. After everything her brother had done, she would rather spend a life in exile with Charlie than be Henry's little servant.

_____

When morning came, Kathy was woken up by the feeling of Charlie running his fingers along her bare chest. She began to smile happily, opening her eyes. She turned her head, seeing that Charles was wide awake and by the look of it, he had been awake for quite a while.

"Thank God for you being given a castle here in France as a widow's jointure, a castle filled with servants and people to cook for us," Charles commented, leaning closer to her with a wide smile on his face, "I'm starving to death, you wanton woman."

"Well, if you'd kindly let me out of bed, I could fetch some food for us—" She began to say, only to be cut off by Charles.

"But then you'd have to leave me," He confessed, a pouty look on his face, "I couldn't spare you. Not when I don't know how long we'd get to remain like this."

"You are not helping," Kathy confessed, giving Charles an annoyed look.

"I'm not trying to help," Charles bluntly commented and Kathy couldn't help but laugh at him, "We have a month, give or take, before Henry sends men to search for you."

"Well then, let's make the most of it," Kathy suggested with a large smile on her face. She turned her head, smiling as she leaned forward to press a kiss to Charles' lips, "Husband."

____

   At Hampton Court, Henry was sitting in a room with Wolsey, playing a game of chest when Catherine entered. She curtsied to Henry and Wolsey immediately stood up. "Henry, your sister Kathy writes to me with news from France," She informed him and tried to hide her uneasiness.

"She insults me and demands her own choice in marriage, I imagine," Henry commented as he rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"She has married Charlie Brandon," She suddenly stated, causing Henry to laugh in amusement.

He hoped that she was lying, but in truth, he shouldn't have been surprised. It was bound to happen. He knew that better than anyone.

"Is that a joke?" He asked her as he chuckled in amusement. He turned, only to see the serious look on Catherine's face, "What, is this a bloody joke?" He asked again and when he saw the looks he was being given Henry found himself consumed with anger.

"Damn them both to hell!" He roared out angrily as he knocked all of the pieces off the chessboard, causing Catherine to jump in fright, "They'll both hang for this! There will be no mercy for them! They'll both be executed!"

"She is well-loved in England, Henry. It would not end well if you did such a thing. You know this," Catherine reminded Henry, knowing if they executed Kathy, it risked a rebellion far greater than any started in the name of Nora of Lancaster, "Kathy is a loving sister and loyal subject. In fact, there is none more loyal to you and England more than her. She only did what you had promised was her right."

"And Charlie?" Henry asked Catherine with an attitude, "What promise I made him compelled him to betray his best friend and king by marrying my sister, who I've told him for years was off-limits?" He continued to explain in an angry tone, "But why am I not surprised? I'm not a fool. I've seen their puppy eyes for each other since we were all children. This is treason. Charlie is betrothed here in this court."

"To a child to whom he was promised for politics," Catherine reminded him in a calm tone, "Henry, read this letter," She insisted as she held out the letter, which Henry snatched from her, "They write to beg for your forgiveness"

Henry scoffed at Catherine's words and shook his head, "I will not grant it to them. I will not have another woman slip from my command, especially when it is yet another one of my sisters," He explained and turned to her with a suspicious look on his face, "Is this your work?"

"I told her you would break your promise, that Wolsey sought to marry her to the highest bidder France could find for his own gain," Catherine explained as he glanced between the two men, "I told her she should make her own decision. But did I bid her marry Charlie Brandon? No, I did not. But are you surprised? You knew they loved each other since they were children and you knew Kathy was bound to disobey your command. Yet you sent Charlie, of all people, to fetch her anyway. They betrayed you out of love," She explained, causing Henry to look up at her, his eyes widening slightly, "We were those lovers once. Perhaps you have forgotten."

Henry turned away from Catherine and sighed, staring down at Kathy's letter.

_____

It was nighttime and Charlie laid in bed with Kathy's head rested on his chest. They laid in bed together, reading a letter Catherine had sent her.

Dearest Kathy,

I write with joy, if some surprise, at your news. I am glad you have found happiness with the man you love, but it has come with come consequences.

  As you expected, the king is angry. You should not return to England, either one of you, until his blood has cooled.

I myself have trials of my own.

Your sister,
Catherine

Kathy sighed as she finished reading the letter. She turned, exchanging an uneasy look with Charlie. They knew that sooner or later, Henry would forgive them, but when?

____

It wasn't long before the spread of plague in London passed. When it did, the people at Hampton Court began to pack up their belongings to return to Westminster.

However, in the process, Marie had gone into labor, forcing her to have to give birth at Hampton Court. What pained her the most is that her husband had already left with their children for Westminster Palace, which left her entirely alone.

She laid in bed, screaming in agony as Lina, Mary Boleyn, Henry's sister Mary, and countless other women helped with the birth.

Mary held her friend's hand, an uneasy look on her face. She had been there for Marie's other births, but none seemed to have been quite like this one.

"Deep breaths, Marie," Lina told Marie in an assuring tone. She turned and exchanged an uneasy look with Mary, knowing something was wrong.

"What is wrong? What is wrong? It is never like this!" Marie cried out, a fearful look on her face, "What is wrong?"

"You have to push now, Marie," Lina encouraged her, looking underneath Marie's gown to see something was wrong.

"What?" Marie asked, frowning in concern, "What is it? What's wrong?"

"Just keep pushing," Mary Boleyn encouraged her and Marie nodded, beginning to force herself to push once more.

Just then, Lina and Mary turned, their eyes widening at the sight of Catherine walking into the room. Lina sighed, quickly making her way over to Catherine. "The baby's head crowns then goes back inside again," Lina informed Catherine in a fearful tone, "She cannot squeeze the baby out. You should not be in here."

Just then, Catherine pushed past Lina and walked closer to Marie. She looked down at the younger girl and sighed. It was her own fault for Marie's pain and suffering. She had ill-willed Marie and the baby, not thinking it would actually happen. Now, she felt guilty.

"Your Highness, he will die. As will I," Marie spoke up, beginning to cry, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for all the pain I've caused you. But you must understand it's not my fault. I swear it. There is so much you don't know."

"Shh," Lina told Marie, grabbing hold of her, "We are here to help you, Marie. You are not going to do."

Just then, Catherine rushed over to where the surgical utensils were being kept. She picked up a knife and rushed over to the bed. She climbed onto it, causing Lina's eyes to widen in alarm, "No, no, Highness!" Lina demanded, clearly thinking the worst.

"No, no. Get off me!" Catherine snapped at Lina sternly, pointing her finger at her.

"No, no, no, no!" Marie screamed hysterically, not knowing what was happening. However, she let out a small scream in pain when Catherine sliced a part of Marie's low regions to allow the birth to continue swiftly.

"Now, push!" Catherine shouted out loudly, "Push!"

Marie nodded and screamed out in agony, pushing as much as she could.

It wasn't long before a baby's cries filled the air and Marie sighed in utter relief as she finally relaxed.

"What do you think I meant to do?" Catherine asked as she glanced between Mary and Lina, who stared at her in disbelief, "Slice the child in two?"

"Let me...Let me see," Marie pleaded as Catherine wrapped the baby in a blanket after cutting the umbilical cord.

"A boy," Catherine suddenly spoke, causing Marie to freeze in place.

"No!" She exclaimed, tears filling herself as she frantically shook her head, "Please, no. Not a boy. Not a boy," She cried out, knowing what it meant.

Despite her initial reaction, Marie held her hands outwards. She would not get to be with her youngest son as she was with her others, but she hoped she could at least hold him before he was taken away from her. "Please..." She trailed off, looking heartbroken as she stared up at Catherine, "Please, let me have him. Let me hold him. Even if it's just once. Please."

Just then, Catherine stood up, holding the child. "What are you doing?" Marie asked, frowning as she watched Catherine move away from her while holding the child.

"I will take him to the king," Catherine argued, causing Lina and Mary to frown in concern while Marie desperately shook her head.

"No, Your Grace. No, please don't do that. I beg of you. Your Grace..." She trailed off, beginning to shake her head frantically, "Your Grace, I beg of you! Don't! Please!" She screamed out as she tried to climb out of bed, only to have Lina and Mary Boleyn force her back down, "No! Please! Give me my son!"

Henry's sister Mary walked closer to Marie and sighed. She hugged Marie tightly as the girl sobbed, her child taken from her before she even had the chance to hold him.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

LOL NOT ME MAKING ANOTHER SHITTY EDIT OF ONE OF MY FAVORITE OTPS OF THIS BOOK 😭😭 (CHARLES AND KATHY)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

(IMPORTANT: READ)

Okayyyy anyways, I've made up my mind about how tf I'm going to tie this book in with what occurs in the Tudor's book.

I'm going to almost completely get rid of the first part of Tudor's Curse, which takes place in season one and has stuff occur that happens in part two of this book (Kathy and Charles' marriage, Henry Fitzroy's birth, meeting with King Francis I, the birth of Margaret Fitzroy, the birth of Kathy's first two daughters and her son etc.)

Then when this book is finished, I will go and rewrite the second part of Tudor's Curse (season two of the tudors) and I will rewrite Broken Crown entirely. But stuff like Eleanor's marriage to Prince Charles Valois, Margaret's affair with Edward Seymour, and Marie and Henry's marriage will still occur. (though Marie and Henry's marriage ofc won't be loving like at all.)

I will also fix the ages up for the children because I completely fucked them up in the books that take place in the Tudors LMAOOO

Also something BIG I'm gonna fix up is wtf I did to Edward Fitzroy's character. Idk what the hell I did, but I screwed up his character so bad. 😭😭 Like there was so much about it I never put into the story and if I had, I bet you'd like him as much as I do, which is a lot. (he is one of my favorite male ocs of this series)

He'll have a bigger role in the next few chapters and soon Margaret will appear too. After all, out of all Marie and Henry's children together, Edward and Margaret are the most important.

I'm also making Margaret's birth a bit earlier to fix the timeline and have her ACTUALLY be 16 in the beginning of Broken Crown.