Authors note: So I know I have left all of you hanging for YEARS and for that I am truly sorry and apologize. There were things going on in my personal life that left me no time for writing and honestly little to no time for myself.

I have very, very recently been bitten by the writing bug again and hope (and pray) that some people out there are still reading this and would like to see it come to a conclusion. This didn't turn out as long as I would like, but I at least wanted to get something published so I can move this story forward.

Twists of Fate: Chapter Eight

February 10th, 1530

Richmond Palace

Henry had paced for hours in the receiving room of the Queen's apartments, just outside of her bedchambers. The physicians, including his own personal one, had been in there with Anne for a few hours now. It was after midnight in the palace, and the court was quiet. The silence was beginning to wear his already fragile nerves even closer to the fuse. He contemplated his treatment of Anne of late. It hurt his ego to think he had not exactly treated her warmly lately, but she had not exactly been welcoming to him either.

Only a few ladies remained in the queens bed chamber, while the rest were still up and busying themselves about her rooms. They were supposed to be departing back to Greenwich tomorrow. That was all in doubt now. Henry had always had bad feelings towards Richmond Palace, and Anne's turn in health renewed those feelings. He almost died there in a fire when he was just a boy of six, his youngest baby sister was stillborn here causing his mother to lose her life to childbed fever, his father died there, and his first born boy had died there after such a short life. The poor ladies tried to stay out of the King's way, and out of way of his anger. It had been no secret around the court that his majesty had been even more quick to anger than usual the past few months.

Henry paid them no mind for the most part, lost in his own thoughts and fears of the past. Seeing Edward during the yule season, growing so strong, made him think back to the baby boy that was lost in this very palace. Those bitter thoughts always left him back to thoughts of Katherine. He hated to think about her, even though their life together had not always been unpleasant. All of the children, the sons, lost during their marriage made him even more obsessive over Edward's care and upbringing. He knew that he was no longer being punished by God for taking his brother's wife as his own, but after so many losses he could not be more careful.

Anne sat upright in her bed, her closest lady in waiting have fluffed her pillows up for her. She had never recalled once having lost consciousness in her life until now. Thankfully she had not been out of it for long, but had indeed given quite the scare not only to her husband, and ladies, but the court physicians as well. Both of the physicians had thoroughly examined her and determined that she was in good health.

"Your Majesty, you are in perfect health and given the nature of what happened and the fact that your womanly courses have been absent since December, you are most definitely with child." Doctor Linacre, the King's personal physician, stated his facts with certainty.

"Yes, your Majesty, I am in agreement with his Majesty's physician. You are most definitely with child. We both conclude that a new babe will be joining the royal cradle no later than October. And this frightening occurrence that happened means we must take every care with your condition. Your delicacy is paramount to ensuring a healthy heir" The court doctor concurred with Doctor Linacre.

Anne felt a sea of emotions roll over her at once. She was finally pregnant again, after so many months of disappointment and false hope. She felt elation, contentment, and fear. She knew she had already given Henry a healthy son and that her position as Queen would never be called into judgement. The people of England had finally started to accept her, especially as Edward was growing and remained in perfect health. The fear she felt was knowing the dangers again of pregnancy, of the childbed itself, and the fact that this new babe could very well be a Princess instead of a Prince.

She sat silently still, her heart warm with the thought of becoming a mother again and this time a true mother. As Edward was the heir and would be invested as Prince of Wales, his household would always be separated from hers. Edward would be a child of England; this child would be a child of hers.

"Thank you gentlemen for your great care of me, and of England's newest blessing." Her words were strong, not once betraying how weak she felt. "May you please admit his majesty to the room? I would be the one to share this happiest of news."

Both men nodded almost in unison as Doctor Linacre moved to open the door.

Henry heard the door open and his head snapped towards the creaking noise. Without a word or invitation to enter, he rushed directly into the room. The two doctors stood off to the side to give the King space to reach the bedside of his wife. The ladies in waiting for Anne stood off to her bedside, silently watching the encounter between husband and wife.

He took one look at her and her beauty still took his breath away at times. Even though she looked tired beyond belief and was dressed in a simple white gown, her long brunette hair was arranged around her abundantly down her face and over her shoulders. The candlelight and firelight made a golden halo appear around it, so Anne looked quite ethereal.

"Henry." Her voice broke the silence just as he reached her bedside, very gently sitting next to her. He reached for her hand and brought it up to his mouth, placing the softest of kisses upon it. She smiled at him a genuine smile, the dimples in her cheeks on display. No matter how strained things had been between them, he still made her heart flutter. She thought back briefly to their first real encounter, during a court theatrical performance. She played the role of Persistence and oh was she ever so persistent. She would never forget the way he looked at her then, the way he was so enthralled with her.

"It pleases my heart to see you well sweetheart," Henry spoke softly, not wanting to betray the fear he felt outside the doors. "You've given everyone quite a scare this evening."

"For good reason, your Majesty" Anne teased him, using formal titles.

Henry raised an eyebrow at her playful tone, seeing the flush come to her cheeks. "Oh?"

"Your majesty, we are with child." She let the words hang there for a moment, letting them sink directly in.

Henry was speechless for a moment. A child, another child. Another son. How he would appear to the other great monarchs now that his legacy would assuredly be secured. He felt relief wash over him, before returning his wife's smile. He then looked over to the physicians. "You are sure?" He asked them directly.

The court physician opened his mouth to speak before Doctor Linacre cut him off, "Of course your Majesty. We are most assured that the Queen is with child. It is our belief that the babe will be born in the fall, October most likely."

"This incident this evening with the Queen, will it have any affect towards the child?" Henry asked out of concern.

"No, your Majesty. I feel quite confident that if we can continue to keep the Queen in good health and in good spirits, that the babe will be perfectly formed. I would, however, greatly advise against the Queen moving with the court until safely delivered. The condition is just too delicate to be risked." Doctor Linacre was sure of his reply.

Anne squeezed Henry's hand that was still entwined with hers. She most definitely did not want to stay at Richmond, especially if the court would be moving without her. That would leave Henry open to anyone's influence, especially leave room for Cardinal Wolsey to force his way back into the influence she now occupied. She would do what was necessary of her though, what was necessary of a Queen to ensure that this babe would have every chance to be born.

Please be another boy, she spoke her thoughts into her mind and willed them to the child growing within.