The Tudor Rose: A New Age

Chapter 8

Soon after the divorce between Anne and Henry, Anne was known as the Dowager Princess and the King's Most Beloved Sister. And not too long after, Henry was calling for Cromwell's death. So, he sent Charles and Elizabeth to deal with it. Elizabeth gracefully followed her uncle into the tower where they were led by a guard. It seemed too good to be true to see Cromwell behind bars, soon to be executed. In Elizabeth's eyes, he has caused people so much pain and was the cause of the death of so many innocent people. He had whispered poison into her father's ear, just like Wosely had done. In that moment, she made the vow that if she was to become Queen one day, she would rule with a kind but heavy hand. She would bring an ever lasting peace to England and France, with people whom she trusted with her life. Elizabeth shaked away her thoughts and said to Cromwell, "The Duke of Suffolk and I have come for the paper you have wrote upon the divorce between my father, the King, and the Princess of Cleves." Cromwell bowed to the princes respectfully and replied, giving her the paper, "Of course, Your Highness." Elizabeth took the paper then nodded at her uncle. Charles gave his niece a soft smile. Elizabeth turned to leave and said, turning back to Cromwell, "Guard! Oh, my Lord Cromwell. I do hope that all of the achievements you have made during your climb to power was worth it. I do have to ask though. How does it feel knowing that you are leaving your son, who recently became a father himself, fatherless? He will have to fend for his family from the pack of wolves because of your crimes. You are most certainly lucky that I will be gracious enough to welcome him into court when the time comes for me to be Queen. I wish you a good eternal life, Master Cromwell. May God rest your soul." With that, Elizabeth turned her heel and left, with the paper in hand. Charles and Cromwell both bowed to the princess, shocked by her words.

The next day, Cromwell was sent to be executed for his crimes of treason. Elizabeth, James, Nathaniel, and Mary all attended the execution in the place of Henry who was in the arms of his new lover, Katherine Howard. Elizabeth stood next to James as she watched the crowds jeered at Cromwell as he made he way to the executioner's block. She made eye contact with Francis Bryan, the son of her former governess, and he nodded at her, bowing to her. Elizabeth bowed her head at him, knowing that the task was done. The night before, she has called Sir Francis Bryan to her chambers and had asked him to make the executioner drunk. She wanted the death of Cromwell to be a painful one. As much as it pained her to do so, the princess wanted Cromwell to feel the pain he had caused others. Time seemed to slow down when Cromwell started to make his way through the crowds. The crowds were jeering at him with anger and hostile. Elizabeth's heart slightly broke when Cromwell's adult son ran out of the crowd to his father. Cromwell only placed one of his shackled hands on his son's shoulder, with a look of sadness on his face. His son looked heartbroken and horrified that his father was going to be dead in just minutes. Waiting to get this over with, a guard urged Cromwell forward, breaking him away from his son. The clock tolled, slightly startling Elizabeth who was in the arms of James. Cromwell had finally made his way onto the executioner's block and began to say his final words. Elizabeth barely got a word in from Cromwell since the crowds were literally screaming at him. After he said his final words, Cromwell knelt before the block and placed his head on it. The executioner swung his axe then went through Cromwell. It didn't go through, causing Cromwell to scream out in pain. Elizabeth gasped in horror and turned into her husband's chest, as did Mary with Nathaniel. Another guard took the axe since the executioner was struggling and quickly ended Cromwell's life. Another corrupted person's life was ended.

That evening, James and Elizabeth were in their bedchambers as they were getting ready to retire for bed. James noticed a change in his wife's mood and said to her, as his valet helped him change into his night clothes, "Are you alright, sweetheart?" Elizabeth replied, as she stepped out of her dress, "I suppose so. That was my first execution I have ever attended. I suppose that just feel unease." James was in his night clothes and made his way over to his wife with a look of sympathy. Elizabeth now in her nightgown turned to her husband and raised her eyebrow. James said to Elizabeth, placing his hands on her shoulders, "Cromwell was a very corrupted and powerful individual and needed to be stopped. Your father gave you his orders and you carried them out, as his heir apparent. You were doing what you were supposed to. No one can blame you for that, my love." Elizabeth sighed and replied, "I know but I cannot help but feel guilty that a man was taken away from his family. His son was there and he was heartbroken. When I saw them, I thought of you, myself, and Nicholas. A thought came through my mind when I saw Cromwell with his son. What if someone very powerful became too dangerous and wanted to take advantage of our statuses? And we would take the price?" James said, sighing, "That would never happen, my love. They will have to deal with the kingdoms of England and France and so many more. *A cheeky smirk appeared on his face* Now, allow me to take those worries off of your mind." Elizabeth rose her eyebrow but grinned deviously. The couple had dismissed their servants and told them that they weren't to be disturbed. For the first time in months since Elizabeth's miscarriage and other matters, James and Elizabeth made love with great passion.