Forever and Always

One Year Later

"Thank you, it's beautiful! Will you put it on me, please?"

"Certainly," Robert told his wife. He fastened the beautiful sapphire necklace around Elizabeth's neck. He had just returned form a visit to North England and brought the necklace back as a gift. Sapphires were her birthstone. He had decided to wait until they were going for a walk in the garden to give the necklace to her.

"You give me so many presents, Robin, but what do I ever give you?"

Robert smiled warmly. "You've already given me the most precious gift of all: yourself."

"Forever and always, Robin." Elizabeth slipped her hand into his.

"Forever and always, Bess, my heart belongs to you." Robert squeezed Elizabeth's hand and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

The sweetness of the moment was suddenly interrupted by a wave of dizziness which caused Elizabeth to swoon.

"It's all right. I've got you." Robert caught her before she fell. "What happened?"

"I...don't know. I just suddenly felt...so weak." Elizabeth frowned. "I think I'd best head back now."

Robert gathered her into his arms and carried her back inside the palace in haste. "Fetch the court physician immediately," he called as he whisked Elizabeth to her bed, where he gently laid her down.

"It's all right. Everything's going to be all right," he whispered, clasping her hand as he gently swept damp hair back from her forehead.

"Don't leave me, Robin," she begged.

"I'm right here, darling. I'm not going anywhere," he assured her.

"I'm so cold." Elizabeth shivered, and her teeth chattered. Robert quickly fetched a blanket and tucked it snugly around her.

The court physician arrived and gave a grim diagnosis. "Smallpox."

Over the day, Elizabeth's condition worsened. Robert never left her side.

"Promise me one thing, Robert." Elizabeth's voice was very weak.

"Anything, my love."

"Promise that you'll always keep me alive in the memories of our children. Raise Robert and Rosie to take pride in their Tudor and Boleyn heritages. When you remarry, above all, search for someone who will treat them kindly. And when Robert becomes a great King, as I know that he will someday, remind him that his mother will be watching proudly from above."

"No, Elizabeth, please don't talk like that. You will survive this. You'll see. Everything's going to be just fine."

Elizabeth knew that he was trying to be brave and strong for her sake, but he wasn't able to hide the tears coursing down his cheeks. She gently wiped them away with her fingers.

Later, when Robert thought she was asleep, she heard him praying.

"Dear Lord, You've already taken one wife from me. I knew that it was Your will and I never questioned it, but I beg of You, please, please don't take Elizabeth. She is my life, and I don't think that I can live without her..."

Elizabeth placed a gentle hand on his arm.

"Robin?"

He raised his red, swollen eyes to look at her. "What is it, my love?"

"I'm thirsty. Will you please bring me something to drink?"

"Of course, darling."

He brought her a cup of cold water and helped her to sit up and drink it. As he did so, he noticed that her skin felt cool to the touch.

"Do you feel any better, my love?" he asked.

"A little bit."

"I believe your fever has broken. Thank God!" Robert laughed softly and embraced his wife.

Soon the pox began to appear on Elizabeth's body, even on the insides of her eyelids and in her throat, which made both blinking and swallowing extremely painful. However, that was not her main concern.

"How numerous are the pox on my face?" she asked Robert. "Please tell me the truth."

"I wouldn't lie to you, my love. Your face has many pox, but they will be gone soon."

"They sometimes leave quite extensive scarring."

"Yes, they do," Robert said softly. "But not always."

"Will you still love me, Robin, if my face is left horribly disfigured by this disease?"

"How can you even ask such a question? Regardless of your appearance, you are still my darling Elizabeth on the inside, and nothing will ever change my love for you. Did you ever seriously doubt that?"

"Perhaps not. But it's always nice to be assured of that."

Robert smiled and hugged her.

Within days, all Elizabeth's pox had dried and formed scabs, and to her tremendous relief, the resultant scarring wasn't nearly as severe as she had feared that it might be.

When all the scabs had fallen off and she was completely healed, Robert walked with her back to the garden. He seated her and told her that he would soon return. A short time later, Robert emerged from the palace carrying his son and accompanied by Kat Ashley, who carried Rose.

"My babies!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "How I've missed you!" She took one child, then the other, into her arms, embraced them tightly, and covered them with kisses.

"Mama! Mama!" shouted the twins excitedly. They had both recently learned to walk and toddled about the garden curiously.

"It was but a short time ago that I doubted I would ever see my darlings again," Elizabeth said.

Robert patted her hand and squeezed it comfortingly. "Thanks be to God that He has seen fit to spare you," he said.

That night, Robert embraced Elizabeth warmly and kissed her tenderly on the lips as he wished her a good night.

"Love me, Robin," she pled. He did, ever so gently and sweetly. Afterwards they fell asleep in one another's arms for the first time since Robert had given her the necklace in the garden.