FRAGMENTS OF A DYNASTY
Summary: as Henry dies he ponders on his faults, the reality of the world, and his dreams and what could have been.
Pairings: Henry/all six wives, Katherine/Arthur, Katherine Parr/Thomas Seymour, Charles/Margret, Katherine Howard/Thomas Culpepper, Anne/George/Henry Norris/ Thomas Wyatt/Mark Smeaton, mother/children.
He has become too old.
He can no longer care about sons and heirs. He had heard Mary maliciously tell his sweet Kate that he will divorce her because she is not with child. He did not care about that anymore. He loved Kate deeply, it wasn't romantic or brotherly love but more of a deep attachment to a friend, and the wounds of his other wives have made it unbearable to think of sons. He no longer cared if his wife was barren or pregnant with a whole little. He no longer cared if she was catholic or protestant either. All he cared about was that she remained loyal until he died.
He has always been careless.
He never cared for finances and now his son will inherit a bankrupted country. He never cared for politics and now his son shall inherit a country ridden manipulative lords and knights. He never cared for religion when it didn't suit his needs and now his son shall inherit a country divided.
His first crime in life was always that he did not care.
He was always jealous.
He envied his dear friend Wolsey who was like a father to him. He envied him for his wealth and beautiful home Hampton Court, he envied his influence and hated it when it was not enough, he envied his shrewd mind and envied at how it run the palace and country with ease. He envied Thomas More for his sons and daughters and kindness and principals. He envied Bishop Fisher for having so much bravery. He envied Cromwell for his shrewd mind and manipulative ways – everything his father and grandmother was.
He was jealous of whom his wives loved. Katherine loved the church and her Spanish relations and possibly Arthur more than him. Anne had sexual intercourse with Wyatt, Norris, Smeaton, and her own brother, her heart devoted to the French course and their daughter. Jane loved Mary, the imperial alliance, the church, her brother more than him. Anne of Cleves loved her home and English fashions and his children more than him. Katherine Howard wanted to be Mistress Culpepper. Katherine Parr watches Thomas Seymour with hungry eyes.
He hates how his daughters love their mothers more than him. He hates that Edward is closer to Katherine and his uncles than him. He hates that Mary preferred to be a dutiful wife than a dutiful daughter. He hates that Elizabeth clings to her governess and her household staff more than him. He hates that Edward prefers his tutor and companions to him.
But most of all, the one person who he was always jealous of, who he hated the most...
...Was his brother Arthur.
He was prideful.
He would never admit he was wrong. He would never admit that it was his choice to marry Katherine – no he was forced to, she manipulated him, he was innocent – just as he would never admit he chose to rid off her – it was Anne whispering in my ear, it was God nudging my conscience, it was my confessor. It is endless on how many things he refuses to admit.
He would never accept a bruise on his pride. Francis defeats him in a wrestling match then France shall never have his alliance or daughter as a queen. Mary will not obey him. Then she shall be a servant to Elizabeth, have poor clothing, and no husband. Charles and Margret marry in secret. Then they shall live in debt and in the countryside resenting one another.
His pride and ego were more important than his family and friends.
He was a glutton.
He loved his food. Rich food. Sweet food. Any food that was not rotten or tastes dreadful. He wanted pies, meat, cake, anything. It is no wonder his wives began to find him repulsive as he began to grow wider and wider each passing year.
He was a pig.
There is so many crimes that he could think of. Crimes that he had committed to his wives, to his daughters, to his friends, to his sister, to his father's memory, and more importantly to himself and his kingdom.
That was the cold hard reality of it all.
He dreams now.
He is dying and he knows it so he focuses on a dream world. Each day he imagines how things could have been different if this happened or that didn't happen.
One day he dreamt about his seven children with Katherine surviving. He reckoned three sons – Henry Prince of Wales, Edward Duke of York, and Ferdinand duke of Clarence – and four daughters – Katherine, Isabella, Elizabeth and his precious pearl Mary – and how happy they all are. The many grandchildren they shall produce. The peaceful nation. The Catholic Church still present. It is a utopia of some sort.
Another he dreams of Anne. If those two children survived and more were to come. For some reason he dreams of his jewel Elizabeth having a sister first – Eleanor- and then an Edward, and then maybe an Edmund and so on. An E family for some godforsaken reason (he is dying so he has right to be a little insane). He dreams of beautiful passionate Anne only looking at him and their passionate lovemaking going on to the very last minute of his life. He would die in her arms against her naked bosom and be the happiest man in the world.
He rarely dreams of Jane because he cannot see her being more precious than that moment when she gives him Edward. Perhaps a little girl also called Jane. And then maybe another boy and then two or three more children. He can see her sweet smile as she holds each and every one of them. But he cannot imagine a life with her like Katherine or a sexual bliss like Anne. Just never-ending sweet.
How much would change if he never married Anne or Jane or Anne of Cleves or Katherine Howard or Katherine Parr.
He dreams he is the second brother still. Archbishop of York with his secret mistress the Lady Anne Boleyn. Katherine and Arthur rule peacefully with their many children. Margret is laughing and resting her head against Charles, Mary has returned from Scotland for a visit and presents the future king of Scotland, their mother is still alive and happy, their other siblings – Edmund, Elizabeth, and Katherine – were alive and beautiful and healthy and living wonderful lives.
He dreams that his name is immortal throughout history for good reasons and not bad.
But unfortunately cold reality proves otherwise.
He dies seeing cold glares of reality instead of soft smiles of dreams.
Back Home Miscellaneous Television Fanfic Page Next