28th January 1547
The king lay dying. The slender, athletic figure of his youth had all but disappeared; only his spirit now hung on to his past vigor and energy. The wound in his leg had destroyed his ability to hunt, but not his hunger for it. His many wives had destroyed his faith in love, but not his desire for it. He was overweight and bad tempered. He longed for the days of his youth, when he could ride carelessly through the woods of his kingdom, Charles Brandon at his side. But now Brandon was dead. Cromwell, too, was dead. Wolsey was dead. More was dead. Everyone was dead, and only he was left. Of all his closest advisers and friends, he had outlived them all.
His children sat gathered around his bedside. His eldest Mary, her silken hair the exact same shade as her mother's. And Elizabeth, his youngest daughter. The daughter he had sacrificed almost everything for hoping she would be a son. He regretted treating her so terribly for the most of her childhood, and blaming her for the actions of her mother. And finally his son, his darling Edward, Prince of Wales. His eyes were those of his mother, the most kind hearted and goodly wife the king had ever had. Mary's hand grasped his cold one, and as a solitary tear rolled down her cheek, her father smiled.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZPuQJW0oo
"Do not weep for me Mary. Pray for me, but do not weep." He said, his voice thin and worn. She nodded silently. In her other hand she clutched her rosary, (such an obvious display of Catholicism, and yet her father, who had tried so hard to abolish the Catholic church in England, did not seem to mind) praying already for his soul.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5SZ8PqYn1
All too soon, he was gone. He had said goodbye to his wife Katherine, and kissed the hands of both of his daughter's. His son, still a young boy, looked at his father with fearful eyes.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPwOhDxH9m
"You are to be king, my son."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMjvOejWYD
"Yes, sir." He said bravely.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uZe04FN6i
"I was not much older than you, when I came to the crown. I have faith that you will govern England well. You shall be a just and honorable king."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeaDEahzqR
And then, his eyes had closed, his breathing had stopped and his grip on his daughter's hand loosened.
One.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAHBi09QM2
The first he heard was the sound of rain hitting the window. When he opened his eyes, the room was dark, save from the light of a few candles. Henry saw her before she noticed he was awake. She was sitting in a rocking chair by the fire, mending one of his shirts. He recognized her instantly.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvkWnk7hn9
"Katherine?" He asked, his voice hoarse.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuPHHTXhgi
"Husband." She said, beaming.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugQz9cMwjz
"I thought I was..." He began.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2m10jaoD5
"You are. I am too." She said simply, with a shrug. "Consider this as your path to the afterlife." Before he could respond, she began to speak once more.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2y0p935bm
"I trust you have raised our daughter well? I was always proud of her."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ2aYyqzcL
"She is much like her mother." Henry said with a smile.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUl0b4ZGlL
"Then I hope you have not treated her in the same way that you did me." She said coldly. Henry remained silent. "I was your lawful wife, Henry. You know that as well as I. Was the Boleyn girl worth it? Did she give you the son I could not?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY43WqFwxiN
"I regret bitterly my actions towards you. If I could but return to the past..."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJUgEkEd1i
"I will forgive you. All I ever wanted was an apology."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXAnSWdfdT
"Then I am sorry Katherine. I am sorry that I took Mary from you, and I am sorry that I humiliated you, I see now that I was wrong. I see now that I was misled."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE46FlxGkg
She did not reply, and a small smile formed at the corner of her mouth.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6SJAnHVh3
"All I ever wanted." She repeated. She nodded to the door. "You may go."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyleJnJqQoi
"Go? Go where?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiTgwjAJHo
"I am sure there are others waiting for you." She said simply, turning back to her sewing.
Two886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznvqHDP4Mj
Henry stepped through the door. He should have been in a hallway, dark and cold. Instead, he was in the grounds of his favourite palace. It was summer, and the sun was blinding. His eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, and he saw another woman. She was dark, much like Katherine. She was wearing a deep green that had always suited her. The pearls at her neck hung just as they always had. Her neck itself was as slender as it had always been. There was no scar across it, there was no indication... no notion that he had... that she had been condemned... there was nothing to suggest she had died so violently.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg7A8rHrCm
"Henry." She said smoothly. Her voice was like melted butter and all at once, he was transported back to a time when he loved her.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbcgiWDHXj
"Anne." He said curtly. He had forgotten what she had looked like. Forgotten the sound of her voice, forgotten the curve of her hips and the soft skin of her cheeks.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdQyPAr7WQ
"We were here, do you remember? When I told you I was expecting Elizabeth? You were so happy." She looked towards the castle behind them. "Does she remember me? Henry please, tell me that she has been told how much I loved her."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzlmqP01ef
"She knows why you are not with her today."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb4w5pzKO3
"I am not with her today because of Cromwell." She said coldly. Her eyes were dark, her face had lost any trace of good humour it had previously possessed.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwckMVHors2
"Cromwell gathered evidence I could not argue with, Anne."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvwEX0Edcc
"Did it occur to you that the evidence was false? Did it occur to you that murdering me was not the only option?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UlG3JxBqu
Henry was about to protest, to insist that it was not murder, that death was the penalty for treason and it was not murder. He found himself weak, too weak to argue.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe085AaYJYN
"I wanted to see her grow up, Henry. I loved her so, so much. Maybe I could not have given you a son, but you robbed me of my daughter."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tXCEyVOss
"If it is any consolation to you, Cromwell is dead. He was executed." He said, fighting back a hysterical laugh. Anne however, did laugh.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgte7jAuRs
"You sign the death warrant for everybody, don't you Henry? I am amazed you did not execute yourself."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd0jSvlM4Y
He had always admired her sharp tongue, her bold wit.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KBoz4beQg
"I am sorry, Anne. For taking away your chance at being a mother." He looked into her eyes, those deep, dark eyes that once promised everything he desired. All at once, he was on his knees before her. "I beg you Anne, forgive me."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhCYyIzTjx
She grasped his hand and kissed the back of it.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NrE4tEeET
"I shall always love you, my king." She whispered. "You can continue, now."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUVlSRYhug
Henry faltered.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasH06bLfKu
"If I could stay, if I could make things right, I would do it."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCow75lcmM
"I would have you stay. I would have us go back to how we were, when I was carrying your child and the both of us were so hopeful that it would be a son and heir. I would have us go back to those days and never leave, but I have a feeling that you have others to see." She said, taking a step back. He nodded, and bid her good day, leaving her alone in the grounds of their summer home.
Three886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99C2P6kfyn
This time, Henry was in the Queen's chambers at Richmond. They were empty, devoid of all furniture. But she was there; her golden hair still as bright as he remembered.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSAvCbr3H7
"I was starting to think you would never arrive." She said.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8Zrsds5MO
"Jane." He said, breathing a sigh of relief. Of all his wives, she had never betrayed his trust. She had given him a son.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4ZmFR9FL7
"Were you with her? With Anne?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5htP3B2ku
He nodded. She smiled.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQeqNxzNtY
"I do not mind. But I do not wish to speak of her; forgive me, for I know not how long we have, and I must ask you about our son. Is he well?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhszU8vJaFQ
"He is king." Henry said softly. Jane's face warmed.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO1dwHcrJA
"He shall be a wonderful king. Is he strong? He is not sickly? And he is kind and generous and fair and honest?" She said, her words rolling into one another. Henry laughed.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bng08Er1b
"He is perfect. He will be a remarkable king. I have complete faith in him, he is your son, after all."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYd6Qo6Tdxa
"Indeed he is." Jane said, smiling at the floor. "You have nothing to apologise for here, Henry. You need not stay."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmuvqVeUeE
"I love you Jane. Of all my wives you were the most true, the most kind, the most beautiful. You died giving me my son, and every day I thank you for it. You were the most selfless woman I ever knew. I stay not because I want to apologise, but because I do not want to leave."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkucuj9IfHi
Jane blushed, a soft pink colour that Henry had always enjoyed. She was a true English rose.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMKR2YnXPu
"What lies beyond this, Jane? Katherine mentioned an afterlife. When I go through that door, what will I see? Who will I encounter there?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eMEzCH6tE
Jane shrugged.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYpWcCaVB5
"That is up to you. The afterlife will be waiting for you, and I with it. We will see each other again, husband."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhlCVBvH3n
"If I will see you again, does that mean I am to see Katherine again? And Anne?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsRmIwkaz9
Jane bit her lip.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11ZYhMGsxG
"I do not know, husband. That too, is up to you."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFINdUz6BzY
"Then I shall see you, and only you, again Jane." He kissed her cheek softly, longing to stay.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyCJe1di5K
"You must go, continue with your path Henry. The sooner you reach the end, the sooner we shall be reunited."
Five886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxwYlDsqQU
He was in the country. It was not a house he had been to before.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkqODcuJvT
"This was where I grew up, Henry."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6DfaTE8WK
Her voice encouraged his anger, her face made him resentful of her.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3Gjipoerh
"Katharine Howard. I hoped I would not find you here."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU74UxBlYz5
"You had me executed Henry, where else would you expect to find me but in the land of the dead?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxx0ag8QDuH
"You were guilty."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ397DR66W4s
"Perhaps it runs in the family. Anne was my cousin after all..." She said venomously.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxkzZSLVxt
"You go too far." He said, turning to leave.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dPR2qYCj5
"You won't be able to leave. Your business here is not finished."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZofPICmtRz
He stopped with his back to her. He said nothing, waiting for her to speak.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rY6FWojJM
"I was a child when we met Henry. A girl, not a woman. I was not ready to bear children, to be a wife. You expected too much of me."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnq7gPGqo1K
"Perhaps I did, but I am not the guilty party. You admitted to adultery with Culpepper yourself. Our marriage was a lie, just like so many of my marriages."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB39Lcn90S
"I was a young girl, Henry. A young girl in love. I made a mistake. You could have sent me to a nunnery, had the marriage annulled. Cutting my head off, was it necessary?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHprqDACDvu
"Then I apologise, I made a rash decision. I was angry."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPunu61yEzm
Katherine's expression softened.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM26lU8tfIC
"Do you remember what you called me? Your rose without a thorn."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJCDhPGcML
"I was wrong." Henry said.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQgCLVe2aC
"Aren't we all?" She said lightly. "Aren't we all dreadfully wrong about something? I was wrong thinking I could never be caught."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFiRAUFFgD
"I have been wrong on many counts." He said despairingly, sitting on the small bed in the center of the room. "I had More executed, my oldest and most honest friend. I drove Wolsey to death, and I had Cromwell executed. I exiled Charles from court when he married my sister, and I treated my daughters terribly. I fear I shall be forever remembered as a tyrant."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEOYnQHumQ
"No Henry. I do not think you shall be remembered as a tyrant. I think you shall be remembered for having so many wives. Most men only have one, you know? Not five."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSYziT9BTq
"Six." He corrected her.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmZE5eY3f1
"Six. Of course you married again after me. Who is she?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ991Bi2vqiR
"The lady Catherine Parr."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuRrNb6fpU
Katherine nodded her head slowly.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PHhvOLzL0
"I am sorry Henry. I was a foolish child. I do not doubt that your faith in marriage is shattered all together?"886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU6bvL1G47
He nodded. "Apart from Jane. Jane was my one true wife."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDKfwA4MDq
Katherine smiled slightly. "Then go to her. I am sure she's waiting for you."886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQinwCWKyK
He looked towards the door and she nodded in encouragement. He rose from the bed, bid her farewell and opened the door into a bright, white light.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQmtafH3j2
He knew that the wives he had wronged so woefully would never forgive him fully. He knew that he had been wrong. He could see that now, now that the troubles of living no longer weighed heavy on his shoulders. His leg no longer bothered him, he was healthy once again. He regretted his actions in life, but knew that he had changed the face of England's landscape forever. He knew his name would never die, he knew his line would live on through his son.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FFO509Uxn
And so, Henry VIII passed into the halls of the dead, where so many of his predecessors had gone before him. He had been king on Earth; he was king once more in the land of those that will live forever.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt1nhtZ35M
The afterlife was not a physical location. The afterlife was not a cloud on which the saints danced. The afterlife was an idea; the afterlife was the guarantee that his memory would live through the ages. The afterlife was memory. The afterlife was knowing that hundreds of years from now, people would remember his name. And with that, King Henry, the eighth of that name, stepped into the afterlife.
Authors Note: I have not included Anne of Cleves or Catherine Parr in this, purely because they were still alive when Henry died. I wrote this because in life, his wives never got a say, never got to protest. In death, they were equal. I feel that if they could have met, his wives would have been much more blunt and forward with him. I would also like to think that Henry would have realised his mistakes (although this is probably unlikely!) and asked for forgiveness from his wives. Also, personally, I do not think that Jane was the wife he truly loved, but for the purpose of the story I have gone down that route. 886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8708TKWKDL
Also, I hope the end makes sense. I wanted to get across the point that kings do not need an afterlife, for they are still very much alive in memory; but to get to that point, Henry needed to let go of his tyranny and rash behavior in order to be worthy of such remembrance.886Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1U6eo7Igfy
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