SECTION ONE

SCENE ONE: The Royal Play

She gazed at her own reflection in the beautifully decorated mirror. Her slightly parted lips were as red as the berries in June. Her long dark hair flowed down her back. Her eyes glistened like the sun and there was an aureoles shine about her. Her cheeks were as red as roses, she brought her delicate fingers up to them; giving them the most graceful sensitive touch.

Then they moved to her silken tresses and ran between the thin strands. She remained doing this for a moment before clipping her hair back into a perfect bun. Her fingertips traced the line of her jaw and her deep brown eyes were focused on herself in the mirror. She let out a helpless sigh. Her own body felt like a stranger to herself.

When the other ladies in white passed her she stood up and joined them. She was like a rose in a thorn bush; obviously the most beautiful maiden in the crowd. Her white dress trailed behind her and she bowed her head to avoid eye contact with the others.

They stepped out into the hall and immediately the audience began to clap and cheer. She climbed up the stairs of the cardboard castle set gracefully like a queen, and joined another similar looking lady at the top of the middle tower. The only difference between the two ladies was that the other was Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII.

Slowly the clapping and cheering died down and automatically turned into boos as a crowd of ladies dressed in black strolled into the hall. The booing rose in pitch and echoed around the hall. The ladies dressed in black joined the ladies dressed in white in the castle. Now the graceful, merciful white ladies were prisoners of these wretched, evil black ladies.

From their hands the ladies in black threw rose petals at the audience and hissed at them. A horn began to play and the audience began to clap and cheer as a group of men dressed as knights marched towards the castle, led by an extremely excited man dressed in red with his left hand grasping a sword.

He turned to the black ladies in the castle and raised the blade of his sword to them.

'Wretched ladies!' He called out to them. 'I demand you to release your prisoners.'

'As a 'wretched lady', I laugh at your desires,' replied one of the ladies in black and the audience booed quietly.

'These men with me are noble Lords!' He spread his arms out wide and gestured to the men behind him.

'No,' disagreed a lady in black. 'They're just men dressed up.'

The audience chuckled and laughed and King Henry, who was hidden among the small crowd of noble Lords, allowed himself a quick smile.

'I say it again,' the man in red began. 'Release these fair women that you keep so cruelly.'

'Never!' Cried a lady in black and the audience booed once again.

'You give us no choice, but to attack and breech your defences.'

A lady in black smirked and leaned forward, her lips slightly parted before responding.

'No knight shall ever breech mine,' she said with a lewd grin.

Henry, whose back was bent, looked up at his sister on the top of the middle tower. His intentions were to rescue her and take her as his prisoner. His eyes adverted to the beauty with the aureoles shine and the almond shaped mouth next to her. Although her eyes were hidden behind the golden mask she wore, he could tell they would be just as beautiful and yielding as the rest of her.

'Ladies,' grinned the man in red. 'Desire overcomes all… ATTACK!'

With that the noble Lords stood up to their original height and charged at the castle. When they clashed into the gates they burst open and the ladies in black threw rose petals at them. Henry shoved past all the others in his way. His desire was to get to the top first.

With a jump he heaved himself up onto the highest tower and reached out his hand in order to grab his sister's. Instead he found himself grasping the wrist of the beautiful maiden next to her.

For a moment it felt like there was no one else in the room apart from those two. His eyes met hers and were caught in their depth. Their faces remained mere inches away from each other, breathing in short, quickening breaths. His fingers spread out upon her arm and he pulled her closer until there was only a tiny space between their slightly parted lips.

'You are my prisoner now,' he managed, still under her spell. Although this was just a play, it felt real to Henry. Her lips curved into a beautiful smile and she slipped her arm out of his grasp before leaving the tower she was prisoner in. Henry replaced her in the tower and watched her run down the steps. Her beauty had bewitched him and he knew what it felt like to be truly in love. For she was Anne Boleyn, and yet he may not know it, she was to be his queen later on in life.

SCENE TWO: His Majesty, Charles Brandon, Princess Margaret and Lady Anne Boleyn go horse riding

Snowflakes fell from the misty sky and covered the ground below, leaving an icy sheet of snow. This icy sheet of snow was then invaded by horses' feet, destroying the crystal snow and replacing it with dirty horse shoe footprints.

Princess Margaret trotted slowly behind the group of three on her white stallion. Her light brown wavy hair flowed gracefully down her back. Her gaze was focused on the flowers, with their petals briefly covered in snow.

'The flowers are so beautiful in the winter,' Anne commented when she saw Margaret gazing at them. The Princess nodded her head slightly in agreement. It was no secret that Margaret disliked Anne ever since she arrived at Hampton Court and attracted the attention of his Majesty, the King. She saw her as another desperate woman, waiting to become one of Henry's whores.

'As beautiful as you,' Henry said to Anne in a flirtatious manner. Margaret rolled her eyes in disgust as Anne giggled with sheer delight.

'And like your sister,' Charles added, his attention focused on Henry although the words he spoke were meant for Margaret. Margaret noticed this and looked up almost immediately to meet Charles' eyes.

'Thank you,' she replied as she blushed. There was something beautiful about the way he smiled, something aureoles.

'What point are you trying to make, Charles?' Henry hissed with a hint of jealously in his voice when he realised that his closest friend was flirting with his sister.

'Only that the Princess is as radiant as you say Lady Anne is,' Charles replied, hoping to ease the King's discomfort. Henry wrinkled his nose and decided not to make a great deal of it.

'Good, because she is engaged to the King of Portugal,' Henry replied, almost pleased with the fact.

'I am aware of that fact, your Majesty,' mumbled Charles as he pictured Margaret's future husband.

The King of Portugal was a terrible, ugly, old man with serious heart conditions. After viewing a portrait of the Princess Margaret, he decided he wanted to take her as his wife. Henry had nothing against this, for the marriage would create an alliance between the two countries at a time Henry needed one the most.

Margaret shivered at the thought of her future husband. She never wanted to marry him, yet her brother had forced her and now they were engaged.

'Have you told Princess Margaret who will be escorting her to Portugal, your Majesty?' Charles asked with a slight smile on his lips.

'Ah yes!' Henry exclaimed when he had remembered. 'Charles shall be escorting you to Portugal for he has my complete trust.'

Margaret and Charles eyes' met for a split second. Margaret had secretly hoped for someone more...female. But then of course it had to be a close ally of the King, someone who was important enough to represent his Majesty. All Margaret did was remain silent, lost in a different world until she was interrupted from her reverie.

'What are your views of your escort?' Charles had asked.

'Oh, it is comforting to know that a trusted member of court will be there with me every step of the way,' Margaret said although her voice were not as expressive as the words she spoke.

'Along with your ladies, of course. To help you with your daily activities,' added Henry after hearing her remark.

'I wish you every bit of luck on your journey,' Anne's voice was so graceful when she spoke, she hoped to melt the hatred in Margaret's heart for her. It did not seem to work; Margaret shot such a look at her which was deadly enough to kill. However, she managed to cover it up with a quick smile and a bow of her head. There was a moment of silence between the group of four.

'I should return to court and prepare myself for the feast,' Charles stated, breaking the silence.

'Feast? What feast?' Margaret questioned curiously, her gaze bouncing between her brother and Charles. 'I was never told about a feast...'

'I was going to tell you, dearest sister. A feast will be held to honour the arrival of Lady Anne,' Henry replied as he brought Anne's hand to his lips and kissed it. The young maiden's cheeks blushed rosy red and the handsome King smiled at her response to his action.

'How wonderful,' Margaret muttered under her breath sarcastically.

'I hope to see you all at the feast tonight,' Charles said before bowing and galloping back to court on his dark brown stallion. Margaret glanced between Henry and Anne and gripped the reins of her horse. She no longer wished to stay in the Lady Anne's company. She couldn't stand their flirting and secret kisses when no one is watching.

'I suppose I should go and get ready for this 'feast',' she told them before bowing her head and galloping back up the path they had just trotted down; leaving Henry and Anne alone in the glistening snow.

SCENE THREE: A feast is held to honour the arrival of Lady Anne Boleyn.

'Good evening! This feast is to commemorate Lady Anne's joining here and to bid farewell to my dear sister, Margaret,' Henry announced to the assembled crowd in the feasting hall. Whispers fell among the crowd, many of them saying 'a lot of ladies have joined court, why is this feast only held for Lady Anne?'

Anne's gaze dropped sadly and she let out a sigh. She knew it would take a while for them to accept her and allow her to fit in with the rest. Lady Nina Müller was among the crowd of ladies new to court. Her eyes met the Queen's, who sat on her throne devastated by her husband's words, and smiled to comfort her. Catherine returned her smile, although she felt herself tearing apart inside. She needed to see support like that from her ladies in-waiting.

'Why does everyone have to question my decisions?' Henry whispered furiously to himself. Anne decided to change the subject for both of their benefits and curved her lips into a beautiful smile.

'Thank you for the fine dress you sent me, Majesty. I am very fond of it,' Anne whispered sweetly in his ear. Henry smiled to hear her kind gracious words.

'Thank you, for looking so lovely in it,' he replied and turned to the crowd. 'Ignore them, they do not yet know of your elegance.' Anne blushed uncontrollably and smiled, but her smile slowly vanished from her lips when she noticed Catherine glaring at her with eyes full of fury.

'Brother!' Exclaimed Princess Margaret as she entered and greeted Henry. She wore a long dark green dress with clear jewels sewn into the corset.

'Dearest Margaret, you look lovely,' Henry replied as he scrutinized her sister's dress. He recognised it and was trying to remember where he had seen it before.

'Indeed you do, where did you get that outstanding dress from?' Anne commented, trying to create conversation with the Princess. Surprisingly, Margaret shot no negative looks or glares.

'It was my mother's,' Margaret answered positively as she twirled in it.

'It does look beautiful on you,' Charles appeared behind Margaret and she instantly knew who the voice belonged to.

'I am glad to see you here, Charles. You look ravishing for the ladies tonight!' Henry laughed. 'Have you got anyone in mind?' Charles glanced around the ladies in the feasting hall, his attention focused on the group of ladies new to court.

'You know me too well, your Majesty,' Charles laughed with a grin on his face. 'I should go make myself known to the new ladies.' He bowed before leaving them and venturing towards the ladies.

Margaret looked back at him and watched every step he took towards them. For some reason she felt a sudden pain strike in her chest; jealously invaded her heart. No, she thought, why do I feel like this? Margaret heard herself let out a quiet gasp, and she feared that Henry and Anne may have heard it too.

'May I be excused, brother? I wish to go and get myself a drink,' Margaret said to him. Henry didn't reply for he was too interested in Anne, and Margaret went anyway without his permission. A maid gave her goblet as soon as she saw the Princess approach her.

'Are you enjoying yourself?' Henry asked Anne as he briefly stroked her cheek.

'With you I always am!' Anne exclaimed, she resisted herself from kissing him passionately. The two of them were after all in public and the Queen was in the same room. In fact, the Queen was coming towards them.

The smile disappeared from Henry's face. 'Catherine.' He bowed his head and Anne almost fell into a courtesy. She stared down at her feet as she did, trying to avoid eye contact with the Queen.

'A wonderful feast it is, your Majesty,' Catherine told him without glancing at Anne.

'Thank you,' He replied uncomfortably. 'I am glad you made it.'

'I am after all the Queen of England and it is my duty to attend feasts thrown by his Majesty.' Catherine shot a look at Anne which upset her deeply.

'There has been no serious trouble with the French yet,' Henry said, changing the subject.

'How comforting,' Catherine replied as she began to walk away.

'My husband,' she added and she glared at Anne before returning to her other ladies.

Music began to play and Henry and Anne didn't get a chance to discuss what just took place before the floor was invaded by excited guests. They took their dance partners and stood in their positions. The hall was filled with laughter and joy as the guests danced with each other. Henry was delighted to see them having a good time.

Margaret stood not far from her brother and watched the guests dance happily. She noticed Charles dancing with one of the new ladies of court, she believed that she was a new lady in-waiting to Catherine. Her name being Lady Nina Müller. Margaret forced herself to advert her eyes and told herself to stop being foolish.

Suddenly a messenger boy ran in and handed Henry a scroll. The music died down and the guests turned to see what was going on. Henry ripped open the scroll and began to read, his eyes began to turn bright red.

'What is this?' He yelled furiously. 'The Spanish have withdrawn from the treaty?' Henry glared at Catherine with rage and stormed out.

'Henry!' Anne cried, the King had already left the feast. Catherine's gaze dropped sadly and she tried her best not to let her tears escape her eyes. Lady Nina Müller approached the distraught Queen.

'Majesty, are you okay?' She asked, her voice as gentle as a song of a mockingbird.

'I don't know...Nina,' Catherine gasped, refusing to believe what had just happened. 'I'll go see how my daughter is.' With that, she left the room.

Margaret joined Nina and Anne.

'I don't know why the King of Spain did that, I think we all need peace,' sighed Nina.

'Nor do I,' agreed Margaret. 'But I do know that I will miss you all very much when I leave.'

'Princess Margaret, you'll be missed too.'

'Thank you, Lady Müller. You have always been one to speak kind words. I only think others will not miss me as much. I shall retire to my chambers, good night,' Margaret stated before leaving the hall in silence.

This story I will be writing is based on an RP called: The Tudors roleplay on msn. Feel free to join us if you want. Please review and tell me what you think of this and help me decide if I should carry it on. Thank you!