Isabel

Isabel has written a letter to the king asking him to respect her decision.

She swears loyalty until death, as she did in Guisando.

But the king is angry.

You can't meet Fernando at Aragon.

It would be impossible for Fernando to cross the border unnoticed.

If I can't go to Aragon and he can't come to Castile, what's the solution?

Cárdenas will go to the Aragonese court.

- I thought you were in Catalonia. - So does everyone else.

Except my father, Peralta, and the men who will accompany me to Castile.

I made it very clear that no one else know how I'm getting there.

Where is he then?

I don't know, Your Majesty. But allow me to say this.

Send troops to Valladolid before it's too late.

Don't you think I have enough fronts to cover already?

By God, watch the borders! You only have to stop one man!

I fear the consummation, Father.

You must give in to your husband. You're to become his woman.

And you must agree to his marriage rights every time he asks to fulfill them.

I don't care how proud or determined she is.

As my wife, she'll do as I say.

If we don't stop this wedding, soon none of us will be who we are.

I have no luck with Rome. Nothing I've requested has been granted.

But this time you must get the bull signed.

- What is the safest path? - Through the Port of Bigornia.

Between Berdejo and Gomara.

We're the Archbishop of Toledo's men.

So you don't need to take out your weapons.

You only had to prevent one man from crossing our border and you failed!

- I told you to send troops to Valladolid. - And I said no!

Isabel won't marry King Alfonso.

I see.

- That's why I dare ask-- - I'll think about it.

It couldn't have been done without you. I owe you so much.

Your future and that of Castile will be golden with the Lord's help.

And I want to know if I'm in or out of that future.

In it.

What I'll get is more than anything we've ever dreamed.

I'll be the king without having to sit on the throne.

That's him.

Your Highness, this is Fernando of Aragon. Your Majesty, this is Isabel of Castile.

That marriage won't happen. Ever.

But you won't be the one stopping it. It'll be the Holy Father.

Enrique is a key ally of Rome.

I'm sorry, but there is no bull.

Isabel

We'll celebrate the wedding in the hall of Vivero Palace at sunset.

At night we'll have a grand banquet.

With hundreds of guests?

Yes, nobles and dignitaries and people of varying status.

I've sent word all throughout Castile.

This is a wedding for a princess and a king.

The festivities must match the occasion.

And for the people?

They'll celebrate with popular games.

Isn't this a big expense, Carrillo?

Don't think about that now, Your Highness.

Perhaps we should. Aragon's coffers can't pay for parties.

If only I could tell you about ours.

You shouldn't worry.

The groom and the bride should be getting to know each other better.

Chacón, Cárdenas, and I will handle it.

In that case...

let's go take a walk.

- Have a nice morning. - Thank you.

Is something wrong?

Don't you think this is quite a big expense?

Yes, and Aragon is not fulfilling its financial obligations.

Relax, gentlemen, relax.

The King of Aragon and I agreed that I would take care of the expenses.

And if need be, I'll ask a banker in Toledo for a loan.

The important thing is for Enrique to see our strength.

The more nobles show up, the better we'll see who supports us.

You seem worried.

It shows that much?

Calm down. You're the prettiest worried woman I've ever met.

Don Fernando of Aragon!

- Who is it? - Someone who shouldn't be here.

Alonso Fernandez de Palencia, the court chronicler.

A pleasure meeting you, Your Majesty.

From which court?

Enrique's? He can't be too happy about our wedding.

I'm not Enrique's chronicler, I'm yours.

We must look to the future, and there are only two names there.

Fernando and Isabel.

I'm sorry, Palencia, but Fernando and I have matters to which we must attend.

Of course, forgive me.

He seems loyal and eager.

He won't be a challenge, I assure you.

Any news from Rome?

Not yet, Your Majesty. Perhaps we should plan other strategies.

- Like what, Pacheco? - France.

- I could-- - Enough!

Pacheco.

Rome will refuse Isabel's request and there will be no wedding.

- But Your Majesty-- - For once, forget about plotting!

Your plans have only made fools of ourselves in front of Portugal and France.

We only have Rome left.

Let's wait for the pope's decision.

I only ask for one thing right now.

Don't do anything.

Understand?

I heard your wife is ill.

That's right, Your Majesty.

Go to her.

You have more to do there than here.

I'll send my best physician to see her.

Thank you.

He will be welcomed at my house.

Watch Pacheco, Cabrera.

See how excessive ambition can end a person.

And learn from it.

Don't you miss your home?

Very much.

But there are duties to attend.

And don't speak of Aragon as though it were only mine.

It will be yours too when we're married.

As Castile will be yours.

And you? Do you miss anything?

Of course.

Arévalo, my mother, my friend Beatriz...

my brother Alfonso.

You're braver than many men.

You refused to marry someone you didn't want.

And you defend Castile, as I do Aragon.

We're very much alike, Isabel.

- Even our lives have been similar. - What are you talking about?

I also fought my older brother for the rights

he wanted to take from my father and me.

The same blood runs through our veins.

My father wanted to arrange our marriage when we were three.

Can you imagine if he had succeeded?

How long we would have been married by now!

Finally! Finally a smile!

I must go back.

Isabel!

She needs me. My daughter needs me.

My Isabel will marry alone.

My husband is there, Cárdenas is there...

she won't lack any support.

Perhaps not as a princess...

but as a woman she'll need another kind of support.

You know this very well.

I want you to go to Valladolid.

My daughter needs advice.

Wouldn't it be better if you went? You're her mother.

No.

You know my health won't let me.

Besides, if I went...

who would look after Alfonso?

The king will send his own physician.

He's an expert.

I beg you, I don't want to see any more physicians.

- You don't look well. - Enrique is turning on me.

I always said this would happen some day.

He's stubborn.

He thinks that Rome will prevent Isabel's wedding.

As if that could stop the coming storm.

I assume you're already planning something as a way out.

Yes, but he won't listen to me.

I gave Cardinal Yufrá a letter to give to King Louis of France.

I did it on my own, in secret.

The only solution is to marry Juana...

the daughter of the king, to the Duke of Guyenne.

Have France on our side.

Always plotting something.

That's how we amassed our fortune.

What good has it done?

We haven't even enjoyed an outing together lately.

When you're better.

There won't be any more outings, Juan.

It's too late.

You complained about Don Álvaro de Luna's ambition.

Now you're making the same mistake.

Be careful.

Don't lose your head like he did.

Two thousand guests.

Everyone who was anyone in Castile were witnesses of--

Excuse me, Palencia, but there won't be that many guests.

Let's say three thousand then.

It will lend grandeur to the ceremony

and those who read my chronicles in the future will believe it all.

Ultimately they won't be here to count the number of guests.

I love your way of retelling history and recounting the number of guests.

- Go on. - Three thousand guests.

Castile's highest nobility witnessed the birth of a new era...

thanks to the support of Don Alfonso Carrillo...

the Archbishop of Toledo and the High Chancellor of Castile.

A new dawn enlightens Castile with the lives of Fernando and Isabel.

- Aragon and Castile join forces. - Excuse me.

You have a visitor.

- Does anyone know he's here? - No, Monsignor.

Good, leave us alone.

- Did the pope grant the bull? - No.

There's no bull.

I knew he wouldn't give it! I knew it!

It was to be expected.

The pope doesn't want trouble with Castile, France, or Portugal.

I know. Now Isabel needs to see reason.

Going against the pope would be too much for her.

And a huge mistake, if I may say so.