26th of March 1535 – Spain

Climbing off the back of his horse, King Ferdinand of Bohemia and Hungary could not help but frown as he pondered the reason that he had been summoned by his brother. 

The last place that he had ever wanted was to return to this place, he had spent years establishing himself in the lands that his brother had sent him to. 

Having been brought up in Spain by his maternal grandfather and namesake, Ferdinand had never known anything else until Charles had come into his life and sent him away. 

He had always done everything that his brother had told him but those days where number, he feared the plans that Charles informed him of and he knew that the Habsburg empire that his brother desired did not include him. 

Making his way up the steps of the palace, Ferdinand kept his face clear of his emotions as he approached his brother and sister-in-law; his every move watched by men that his brother trusted. 

Men that Ferdinand knew would happily turn on him if they had the chance, they would whisper dark words in Charles ears and turn him upon his own blood if they could. 

His brother had always been a suspicious man, he had never trusted Ferdinand and that was what had led him to send him to Austria when he had become King after the death of their grandfather. 

It had not mattered to Charles that Ferdinand did not speak the language or know the customs as long as he was not in his way of becoming King or trying to undermine him. 

"My dearest brother," Charles greeted stepping forward to embrace Ferdinand, a charming smile upon his face as if all was well in the world despite his recent defeat at the hands of the alliance. 

The death toll from the battle had been shocking on the Spanish side from what Ferdinand had heard, yet his brother showed no trace of such a defeat in his demeanour. 

Isabella stood back watching the two brothers embrace, a slight frown on her lips and she almost wished that Ferdinand had not come to them; she feared for her husband especially knowing that he did not take defeat well. 

Already his thoughts turned to revenge and Isabella knew that if something was not done then Europe would not recover from what her husband had planned.

"I hear I have a new niece," Charles stated stepping bac from Ferdinand to admire his younger brother, a part of him envious that his brother had chosen well for his bride; his wife had birthed eight children so far in their fourteen years of marriage. 

While his own royal nursery was rather sparse, he loved his wife dearly and wished she could further secure his rule with more healthy sons that could follow him. 

"Yes, Eleanor for our beloved sister," Ferdinand replied watching carefully for any sign of emotion from Charles, he was not sure what he was expecting from him especially considering what he had done to the sister that had supported him so. 

It had been Eleanor that had come with him to Spain when their grandfather had passed so that Charles might claim his new throne. 

It had been Eleanor that had made so many sacrifices for Charles at the cost of her own happiness, and how had Charles repaid that; he had called her insane and locked her away with their mother. 

A frown formed slightly on Charles' face for the barest of seconds before he forced a smile to replace it; it did not reach his eyes and Ferdinand knew that the name would irk his brother. 

Shaking off the mention of Eleanor, Charles turned to enter the palace knowing that his brother would follow him; there was much for them to discuss and little time for them to do so. 

The last thing that he wanted was for the alliance to get a stronger foothold in Italy, news that Francis had wed the sister of the Landgrave of Hesse had already reached them and Charles knew what was to come next. 

Stepping forward to link arms with Ferdinand, Isabella shared a look with her brother-in-law before the two of them followed after her husband. 

Pleasantries exchanged between them that could be heard by those around them, innocent inquiries that would put at ease those who feared Ferdinand's arrival and what it might bring until there was time for them to speak freely. 

***

"I never quite thought that I would ever have to do this," Isabella whispered softly, her hands clasped in front of her against her swollen stomach and she prayed that her child would never have to see the monster that her husband had become. 

As much as she did love Charles, she could not allow his acts against others continue not when they stood to lose so much; people hated them and now they were uniting against them. 

Her love for her children drove her to act now, Philip, Maria and Ferdinand were her main concerns and she feared what might happen if she did not act in their best interests. 

Charles was blind to everything that was around him, in his quest for revenge and to spread the Habsburg empire, he seemed to have forgotten about his kingdom and his family that were being left unguarded while he lead his armies. 

"I love my husband, he has been the light of my life... I would do anything for him, but I cannot continue to turn a blind eye to his faults," Isabella continued quietly. 

She had dismissed all but her most loyal ladies from her service and she knew that her actions were always being watched; if her actions were discovered now then it would have all been for nothing. 

Never had she considered that she was going to be in this situation, she had acted against her husband and committed treason against him to make all of this happen. 

Charles would not forgive her if he were to learn what she had done, that she had conspired with his enemies and those who he called family against him and his rule. 

"Then we are agreed in what needs to be done," Ferdinand murmured leaning back in his seat, he had been surprised when Isabella had reached out to him when Eleanor had been sent away to be imprisoned. 

He had been about to write a letter to Charles stating his displeasure at his actions against their beloved sister, who had been nothing but loyal to him since the day that he had been crowned King. 

It had been the letter from Isabella that had opened his eyes and the two had conspired for months to ensure that Charles would never be able to do as he had planned. 

His Habsburg empire would die with him, Ferdinand would make sure of that and he would set about righting the wrongs that Charles had committed.

"As much as I wish there was another way, I am committed to our cause," Isabella told him, the grief of her actions clear on her face and she wished that she could believe that he would forgive her for what she was about to do. 

Isabella was resolved to put her children and her Kingdom first, she would do what she must to protect them from her husband and his foolish, greedy actions. 

"I have sent a diplomat to state my case with the alliance, we shall strike when they move to take Naples," Ferdinand informed her quietly, it would not be fast but he knew that there was much to be negotiated. 

His decision to side with his brother's enemy would not sit well with others, he was betraying his family but Ferdinand knew that his decision was not a light one nor was he making it for the wrong reasons. 

"And what of Eleanor?" Isabella asked thinking of the poor woman that had been imprisoned for many months now, she used to write often until Charles had informed her through their mother that Frederick was to be wed. 

No matter how many letters Isabella sent, there was no reply and she wished that she could tell Eleanor that help was coming for her but it was not possible. 

"I am working to free her, I have spoken with Frederick, Elector Palatine and he is most eager to marry her," Ferdinand stated recalling his talks with Frederick and how furious he had been with Charles when he had arranged for him to marry Dorothea of Denmark. 

It had been the spark that the man had needed to completely turn away from Charles, who he had once served so loyally; only for the other man to turn on him and deny him the one happiness he wished for. 

Frederick was more than happy to help Ferdinand in his plans, he understood the need for patience and what they were doing could not be discovered or they would be executed. 

"It shall take time, our actions cannot be discovered or else we shall find ourselves facing the sharp end of the axe by Charles' own order," Ferdinand noted and he hoped that he got to see Charles' face when he discovered that his own brother had betrayed him and everything, he had worked for was lost.