Chapter 3

                                    

                                          
After Elizabeth learned about her betrothal to the Dauphin of France, she had to prepare for her meeting the Prince. The meeting would be held at the summit where her father and the King of France would sign a treaty for their two kingdoms and the betrothal between Elizabeth and James. However, just a couple weeks before the summit, the six year old girl fell ill. One night, Elizabeth laid in the large bed in her bedchambers. She was on her side, panting from her fever. One of her ladies-in-waiting was picking up the floor when she heard her young mistress' panting and quite groaning. Concern and fear overcame her and rushed over to the girl, placing her hand on the girl's forehead. The lady-in-waiting let out a gasp at how warm the princess felt and called for the governess, Lady Margret Bryan. Lady Bryan rushed into the room upon hearing her name being called. Seeing the distress on the lady-in-waiting, she ran over to the bed and placed her hand on the princess' forehead. She turned back to the lady-in-waiting and said to her, "Call for the physician! Report this to the King and Queen! Go, now!" The lady-in-waiting curtsied to the governess then ran out of the room. Lady Bryan turned back to the princess and whispered, "Get well quickly, my princess. You are to meet the Dauphin of France, your betrothal. We can't have you or him missing this opportunity, now, shall we?" She was only answered with the painful groans from the princess. Lady Bryan's face showed concern and pity. 
Queen Catherine of Aragon, clad in her nightgown and robe, rushed to her eldest daughter's bedchambers with her ladies-in-waiting struggling to keep up with her. She was certain that after the illness her daughter had, when she was a babe, would be gone but now she was afraid for her daughter's life. The Queen entered the bedchamber but was held back by Thomas Moore and Cardinal Wolsey from going any further. She stepped back and said to the two men, with a firm and stern voice, "You will let me pass, gentlemen." Thomas bowed to his Queen and replied, "Forgive me, My Queen, but the physicians aren't sure if the Princess' illness is contagious. It is best if she isn't visited." He figured it would be best if it would come from him and not the Cardinal, seeing that the Queen and the Cardinal didn't get along well. Catherine, however, stood her ground. Nothing was going to keep her from seeing her baby girl, who could be in pain and wanting. Elizabeth called out, calling for her mother, "Mama!!!!" The Queen had heard the girl calling for her and turned back to the men. Catherine glared at the men and said to them, "If you shall not let me pass, I will see to it that you are given the most painful and slow death befitting you." When the men didn't respond, Catherine took the chance and pushed the men aside. The sight of her daughter's state terrified Catherine. Elizabeth was thrusting herself around the bed, pain written all over her face, and tears were coming down her cheeks. Catherine rushed over to her daughter and said to the girl, gently brushing her hand over Elizabeth's cheeks, "I'm here now, my darling. Mama's here. Everything will be alright." 
Soon after Catherine's arrival, Henry arrived into the bedchamber, concern and fear written on his face. He could hear the sound of his daughter's painful cries and Catherine's soothing words coming from the other side of the bedchamber. The King turned to his trusted friend and said to him, "Thomas, what happened?" Thomas replied, "Well, from what Lady Bryan has told me, the princess fell with a fever. One of the princess' ladies-in-waiting was cleaning the bedchamber when she heard the princess' groaning and panting. She placed her hand on the princess' forehead and it felt warm. That was when she called for Lady Bryan and Lady Bryan sent for the physician and had someone send for you and the Queen." Henry sighed and said, "Catherine and I were so sure that the illnesses Elizabeth had would go away when she was a babe. We had hoped her immune system would be stronger." Thomas replied to his friend, "We mustn't give up hope, Harry. Elizabeth is a beloved and strong girl. She will pull through, as she always had." He wasn't about to give up hope on his prized pupil, he couldn't. The young princess had a bright future ahead of her. The physician then came out of the bedchamber and bowed to the King. Henry turned to the physician and said to him, fear on his face, "Well?" The physician replied, "Well, we can be certain that Her Royal Highness does have the fever. We are lucky that the notice of the fever was found quickly. It will be a week before she can truly get well again. It is not life threatening at the moment If all goes well, the Princess Elizabeth will be back on her feet and running around the palace again. All the care she needs is cold rags applied to her forehead and rest." He bowed to the King then he was dismissed by Thomas. Cardinal Wolsey started to say a prayer, in thanks to God. 
Henry only dismissed the two men and walked over to where his wife and daughter were. Catherine sat on the bed, with her arm around Elizabeth, and gently patted Elizabeth's forehead with a cool towel. Elizabeth was nestled into her mother's side, panting from the fever, her eyes closed. It was clear that the poor girl was in pain. Henry sat next to his daughter on the bed, taking the girl's hand into his own. Catherine smiled sadly at her husband and whispered, "She's in so much pain. You should've seen her when I came in. The poor thing was thrusting herself on the bed, as if she was possessed. Not even my calling to her would sooth her." Henry sighed and whispered, "We can only hope for the best, Catherine. I have sent a messenger to give the message of her illness to King Francis 1 and Queen Claude." Catherine only turned her attention back to her daughter. Elizabeth turned on her side, in her sleep, and nuzzled into her mother's side. The Queen said to her husband, "I wish to be by her side, Henry. I feel she will only get better by my care." Henry looked at his wife and replied, "Very well. Has Mary been told yet?" Catherine smiled happily at her husband then frowned and said, shaking her head, "No, not yet. I will let her sleep before I go and tell  her about her sister's illness." That night, Catherine and Henry sat with Elizabeth as she slept, that is until Henry left the bedchamber. Catherine stayed by her daughter's side, claiming that it was the best thing for Elizabeth.