A/N: Stephanie Meyer is the Queen of Twilight and I do not own any recognizable characters. All I own is my own plot and interpretation of my own research, and an old ass Ipod mini (it still works!) Love to Project Team Beta!

Brink of Madness Chapter One: Joust

May 1515

(Note: the Cullen Family and the Swan family and all included titles are fiction. The rest of the characters are based on actual noblemen and women in Tudor England)

I waved my fan in front of my face, taking in the heat of the English spring. I was thankful for my position as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Katharine that allowed me to enjoy the shade of her box. It was a bright May Day and the tournament was to celebrate the start of spring; however, the day brought joy to me for another reason. England was at peace and we would have a strong alliance with the Hapsburg Emperor that would hopefully deter war with France and keep our borders safe.

I loved my life in the court of King Henry the Eighth. It was a joyous time with only one dark cloud in the sky-my beloved queen had yet to produce a living son. According to my father Charles Swan, Earl of Derby, the King was growing impatient with the Queen. However, today was a day of celebration, a day to be merry. I was only sixteen, heiress of an Earldom and Lady Isabella, Countess of Derby, with prospects and everything to play for. I was meant to be merry, no matter how difficult I found it to be.

"Lady Derby?" a familiar voice called from behind me.

"Why, if it is not Lady Alice Cullen!" I exclaimed in joy at seeing my friend of my younger years in the French court. "How is it that you are here? I thought you were at the court of France in the service of Queen Rosalie?"

Her eyes began to dance. "You have not heard? It is such a scandal."

I sighed. I detested gossip. "Well, tell me quickly then so we can move on from the foolishness of others and enjoy the day."

"As you know, my lady, King Louis was nearing the end of his life when he married Princess Rosalie. He died eighty-two days after their wedding, apparently after enjoying his bride more than his health would allow."

Shocked at my dear friend's speech, I felt my eyes narrow. "My dear Lady Alice, I fear that you have spent a great deal too long in the French court. Things of that nature should not be discussed."

Alice laughed. "Well, my dear Lady Isabella, I trust that you have spent a great deal too long out of it if you cannot handle the thought that a man may enjoy the company of a beautiful wife. Do you want to hear the rest of the story?"

"Very well, pray, continue."

"Before her Highness Queen Rosalie returned to court, she married in secret Emmett Brandon, the newly created Duke of Suffolk."

I couldn't help myself; I gasped in shock. "King Henry's dearest friend was foolish enough to secretly marry the King's sister? How is it he still has his head?"

"He is not without punishment; they have both been banished from court for a time and must repay her dowry to France in increments of four thousand pounds annually."

"Punishment indeed. The Duke not only has endured the King's wrath but also must now endure the anger of Queen Rosalie; being away from court will not be easy on either of them. We must pray for them. It is not an easy way to start a marriage. "

"Oh pish posh, they married for love; they have a finer start than most. Besides, all they really need is the King's forgiveness, and he is likely to give it sooner rather than later out of love for the both of them." Alice's grey eyes turned to mine. "What of your marriage? Has your father picked out a husband for you yet?"

I turned my eyes from the sympathetic gaze of my friend. "You know I do not wish to be married. If it weren't for the death of my brother, Seth, I would be an abbess instead of an heiress. But as that does not seem to be God's will, I will have to content myself with serving in marriage as I am called. But I tell you, Alice, I fear it. The choice will by my father's, the Cardinal's, and the King's. I look amongst the men of the court and I do not see many God-fearing men who would treat me with the same kindness as our fathers have shown our mothers."

Alice kept her eyes on mine. "I was sorry to hear of your brother and your mother's death. Seth was a dear friend of my brother's, and I always admired the late Countess."

"The sweating sickness is an evil disease. But worse still is the fact that now I am Countess Derby. Whenever I hear someone call me the name to which Renee Swan once answered, I feel as if her ghost is behind me. I am not as joyful as I was in France, I'm afraid," I said despondently.

"Well, then we must find ways to keep ourselves merry in the future. Do not fear my friend; God brings us joy in where he calls us."

Alice nodded, turning her eyes to the tilt-yard as the pages made ready for the joust. There were many noises of horses being mounted, the sound of lances gathered at the ready, and the satisfying clang of armor as it was placed on the knights of the Kingdom to keep them safe. The field was surrounded by the noise of the talk of the people of London as they lined up to watch the men of the Kingdom prove their worth.

"Have you been introduced to Her Majesty, the Queen yet, Lady Alice?"

"My father, the Duke, asked for my place in the Queen's service. I was actually hoping that you could make my introduction before the tournament begins."

"Of course. Come, let us be quick lest we miss the start of the joust," I said as I turned to lead Lady Alice to the Queen's throne.

Queen Katharine was a beautiful queen of twenty-nine, but she was beginning to show signs of age and sorrow. She had to bury her second infant Duke of Cornwall in December after just one month of life, and her eyes had all the sadness of bearing four children and seeing none survive. Every year that the Queen failed to produce a son, the King became increasingly disenchanted with his wife. He was no longer Sir Loyal Heart as he was four years ago at the birth of the first Duke of Cornwall. His eyes had started to stray to the ladies of the court; occasionally I had even felt them on my own form. Queen Katharine's sadness only resolved my wish to never marry. Men were all the same no matter what station and no matter how in love they were to begin with. Their eyes all turned eventually.

Kneeling before the Queen was a young knight with dark brown hair. His face was known to me but his name was not. I heard the quiet murmur of his pleas for favor intermixed with the high tinkle of her laugh as I stood aside waiting to be noticed.

Queen Katharine caught my eye and crooked her finger to bring me forward. "Ah, Lady Derby, I do not know if you have met our young Sir Jacob Black, newly returned from the Crusades."

"No, Your Majesty, I have not. Welcome, Sir Jacob; it is not often I meet one of the soldiers for Christ. May I ask why you have stopped putting your sword to good use and instead use it for play today?"

Sir Jacob laughed out loud. "My Lady, even war against infidels is still war. A man can grow tired of spilling blood and wish for the peace and joy of home. I am happy to play war amongst my fellow Englishmen and friends today."

"The peace in England is something every man should count as a joy and a blessing. I am pleased that you have found your way home for a time," I said, meeting his brown eyes. He had a kind face that looked ready for laughter. It was hard to believe that this was a hardened solider, a killer of infidels, when he seemed so at peace.

"As am I, Lady Derby. Pray, I dare not ask for more good fortune, as Her Majesty has already bestowed her blessing on my joust, but may I carry your favor on the tilt-yard? I am used to fighting for a cause, and your honor would be a worthy one."

I allowed myself to smile up at him through my lashes. "I think you will find, Sir Jacob, that I am not easily persuaded to give my favor for just a few pretty words. I only trust a man by his deeds. Besides, I promised my father that I would give my favor to the man riding under his standard."

"Well then, Your Majesty, I must take my leave of you so that I may prove my worth to my Lady Derby. My only hope is that next time when her favor is her own, she may deem me worthy of it," Sir Jacob said with a sweeping bow to the Queen.

"God be with you, Sir Jacob," Queen Katharine said before Sir Jacob began retreating back towards the lists. "Lady Isabella, I believe you have acquired a new admirer," she whispered to me with a glint in her eye. She knew of my distaste for marriage.

I sighed. "If I have, your Majesty, it is through no fault of my own. Your Majesty, may I present to you a dear friend of mine from my days in France as a child, Lady Alice Cullen, daughter of the Duke of Grafton." As I spoke, Alice stepped forward, dipping into a low curtsy, dipping with the fashion of the French court.

"Of course. Lady Alice, welcome to my court. Your mother, the Duchess, was a good friend to me when I first came to the English court. I hope that you have acquired at least some of the humor and elegance of Her Grace."

Alice lifted straight up from her curtsy with a soft smile. "I hope that you will find that I have, though I must confess to not having quite the same imagination for practical jokes as she."

Alice's confession made me laugh out loud. "I think you will find, Your Majesty, that Lady Alice has quite the imagination. I fear that she is trying to lull you into false security."

The Queen's eyes lit up with the jest. "Well then, Lady Alice, if what Lady Derby here says is true, I will thank you for making court a little more interesting."

Suddenly I heard the heralds call, "The King! The King approaches!" At once, the crowd of the men and women of London cheered, and every lady in the Queen's box began adjusting her hood and smoothing her skirts. The Queen and I shared a glance at the ridiculousness of some of the ladies of the court. The King was her husband and no one but God could change that. I did not understand some of the women's desire to become a royal mistress; I, for one, did not see that as a position for an honorable woman.

At the sight of the King, I bowed my head and dipped into a low curtsy with Lady Alice at my side while the Queen remained on her throne. He was known as the most handsome prince in Christendom, and having seen King Francis of France and Charles of Castile from my time in the French court, I knew it to be a fact. King Henry was at least a head taller than most other men, with broad shoulders and a young face. Just a man of twenty-four and in the glory of youth, the man was the flower of chivalry. However, I had always thought that there was something frivolous and spoiled in the King.

Those thoughts should not be spoken of, however; I was a courtier. I was there to please my mistress the Queen and her husband the King.

As the King bowed over the Queen, he dutifully ignored the ladies around her preening like peacocks. "My Lady, I have come to sit with you as the men of the court begin the tournament and invite you to start the joust on your signal."

The Queen nodded her head and allowed the King to lead her off her chair to the front of the box, all the while smiling and waving to the common people as they called blessings and praise to the royal couple. Down below the box on the tilt-yard were two knights with horses and lances at the ready, waiting for the Queen to give the signal to ride. The Queen raised her arm, holding an embroidered handkerchief by the very tips of her fingers and then let the white piece of silk float to the ground.

At once, the two men and their war horses charged at one another, their lances aimed to hit where it would hurt their opponent the worst. There was a moment when all that could be heard was the furious beat of the horses' gallop. As the two men raced forward, I said a silent prayer that none should be hurt. In a split second, the stronger of the two knights edged his lance straight into his opponent's breastplate, knocking him from his horse. My gasp was not heard over the cheers of the crowd and nobility alike.

The King had apparently noticed my silly reaction and nodded me closer as he retired to the throne to the left of the Queen's.

"Lady Derby, do not fear; Sir William is an Englishman! Englishmen always get up after a fall," the King said kindly. "Is your father contending this afternoon?"

I shook my head. "No, Your Majesty, I think he is too afraid of what may happen if he should take a fall. He is not as young as he used to be. He has asked Peter Stafford to charge under the Swan banner today in his stead."

The King looked pensive. "It is a heady thing to bury your son, to see the possibility of the end of your line. It is even worse when death cuts down a man as strong as Seth."

I suspected he was speaking more of his own losses than the death of my brother, so I decided to just nod my agreement.

The tournament was spectacular. The Master of Horse had arranged for each of the lower knights in the tournament to come prepared with some passages to read when they won, some dedication to the Queen or an address to the people of England. I found myself getting lost amidst the cheers of the crowd and becoming enchanted with the displays in front of me. Lady Alice was at my side making jokes and taking bets on the different tilts with the other ladies. I happily lost five crowns to her on a joust and was the merrier for it.

At once, the herald of the tournament announced Mister Peter Stafford who entered the tournament under the Swan banner. I knew that my part in the play of the day was coming up. I watched as Mr. Stafford rode up to the Queen's box to address me.

"My Lady Derby, it is my honor to ride under the patronage of your father, but I was hoping that I might have your favor and blessing on my ride. Pray give me your favor so that I might ride with an uplifted heart and bring honor to your family." Peter Stafford's elegant words were definitely not his own; he had stumbled through his entire speech. I had known him practically my whole life, so I was assured that it was not I that made him tongue-tied, it was the memorization of the Master of Horse's words.

I tried to smile brightly, but I'm afraid I appeared as if I were sucking on lemons. I wish that I had had the opportunity to give my favor to have someone fight for me, for my heart, instead of the hollow honor of my family's patronage.

"Mr. Stafford, you already have the confidence of my father, therefore I cannot let you ride without my favor. I give it to you gladly," I said with an air of confidence that I truly did not possess. The crowd roared as I tied my blue scarf around his lance. As he rode to the ready position, his challenger rode in on a majestic grey steed with armor that seemed to reflect the light as if it were a looking glass.

The day's crier shouted, "The Marquess of Townshend challenges Mr. Peter Stafford."

Alice cheered loudly, after all the Marquess of Townshend was her brother Edward. "Ah, so the battle between our families commences! Ten crowns says that Edward beats your Peter Stafford by at least six points."

I laughed out loud, "My Lady Alice, I will take that bet! To not believe in the man that holds my favor would be the lowest form of disrespect."

Alice laughed and we held hands and waited with bated breath for the men fighting for our families' honor. A flag was waved, giving the signal for the men to charge. Lord Townshend was bit quicker than Mr. Stafford and seemed to have more control of his horse as he charged forth with his lance aimed dead center. For a moment all I could see was him; fast, strong, unstoppable. All the while knowing that I was likely to lose ten crowns to Alice, I was grateful that I was present to witness such a showing of power.

Finally, Lord Townshend's lance found its mark square into Peter Stafford's chest, throwing him from his horse. It was only the second unhorsing of the day, but it seemed more brutal than the first one. Sir William was moving after his fall, and Peter appeared still as stone. Immediately my father's men rushed to get him off the field and to a doctor. My fear for Mr. Stafford was momentarily distracted by the glory of the Marquess of Townshend's victory lap. He had taken his helmet off, and I saw his face for the first time since my childhood.

He had grown into a fine man.

As he rode up to the Queen, I took a closer look at his features. He had cropped reddish brown hair and piercing green eyes that were currently lit up as he smiled in his victory. His face was chiseled as if a sculptor had created him after one of the Greeks. I found myself admiring him, and to my shock, lusting after him.

I felt myself begin to blush. I had never desired a man in that… way. I was a maid untouched with no desire to be married. But if I could marry this man… If I could, maybe I would learn to love my life instead of enduring it.

Lord Townshend leapt off of his horse and made his way to the Queen. He swept a low bow to her, and when he raised his head, he was wearing a smile that hinted at mischief.

"Your Majesty, I am pleased to be in your presence again. You are truly the Queen of hearts, for mine has just been found now that I am face-to-face with you again."

Queen Katherine chuckled. "I have heard from your father that you have come home to be married. How ever will you love your wife if your heart is ruled by me?"

"God willing, she is as loyal as I and understands that love for your sovereign comes before all other loves."

The Queen smiled. "I see that none of your battles in Spain have caused you to lose your spirit. That pleases me."

Lord Townshend smiled at the Queen. "With your Majesty's permission, may I speak to two of your ladies-in-waiting?"

Queen Katharine's eyes lit up. "That depends on which ones, Lord Townshend."

"I would like to speak with my sister, Lady Alice, and her friend, Lady Isabella Derby."

"Of course; ladies, come and greet the Marquess."

I was trembling as I walked up to Lord Townshend. The closer I got, the more I was able to appreciate his beauty. His eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment I felt he could see the lust in mine. It was just as well, for if my eyes did not tell what I was thinking, my blush certainly did. I saw him smirk at my traitorous reddening.

He turned to address Alice first. "Sister, I am glad to be reunited with you. I am happy your time in France and my time in Spain have come to an end."

Lady Alice beamed at him, her forehead crinkling with her smile. "Edward, it is just me, no need to stand on ceremony, I can barely contain my joy of seeing you unharmed. If it wasn't for your armor and the presence of the Queen, I would hug you right now."

The Marquess sighed. "What are we going to do with you, Alice? You are far too free-spirited for life at court."

"Oh, I think you'll see I'll make it along just fine. Mother has found her place in court, and I trust that I will find my way in a similar fashion. The Queen has already said that she thinks I will make life more interesting." She said this all very fast and matter-of-fact.

Lord Townshend smiled an almost half smile; the smile finally reached his eyes as he turned to me.

"Lady Derby, I must profess my sincerest apologies about Mr. Stafford. I know that you had given him your favor, and I hope that you do not have hard feelings towards me."

I must confess that I was far too dazzled to do much more than smile, which must have looked very odd to Lord Townshend, because he just looked a little stunned.

I finally found my speech and replied, "Lord Townshend, I think you will find that I do not have it in me to bear any grudge against any person. I gave him my favor out of duty; however, I hope to be able to give you my respect as I grow to know you again."

His eyes lit up and I felt the blush in my cheeks rise again. "Just as I hope to prove myself worthy to you. In the interest of getting to know you better, I hope that I may call upon you to dance later this evening, if it pleases you?"

My modesty got the better of me as I cast my eyes to the ground. "You may."

I felt I could almost hear his smile. "Thank you, milady. Now if you will excuse me, I must prepare for the next joust. Lady Derby, Sister." He bowed and we responded with curtsies befitting his station as a Marquess.

No sooner than he was out of earshot did I hear my dear friend giggle. I looked up to see her holding her gloved hand to her mouth and trying to smother her laugh. I raised my eyebrow in silent question to which she just grabbed my hand to pull me farther way from the rest of the Queen's court.

"What on earth has you laughing as such, Lady Alice?" Personally, I did not find anything funny about my conversation with the Marquess.

"Oh, my dear sweet friend, I am not laughing at you. I am laughing at my brother as he is as subtle as church bell," she stated through giggles.

"I still do not see what you are getting at, Alice."

Alice stopped laughing and looked at me questioningly. "You didn't see it, did you? Well, then I must tell you plainly that I have never seen my brother look at another woman with so much affection, and I look forward to the day when I can call you sister."

I gasped. I looked into her eyes, and I saw that she believed everything she said. I dared not let myself hope. I could not deny that I desired to get to know him better, but I knew that the Cardinal, at least, would never let me go to Lord Townshend. As an heiress, I was worth too much to give to someone who was already set to inherit a dukedom.

As if Alice could read my mind, she leaned into me to whisper into my ear. "Have no fear, I am not saying this because it is my wish; I have heard my father talking to yours. I believe I shall call you sister before winter. I do not even need to be the great-granddaughter of the Lady Rivers to know that certainty."

I looked to her shocked. "Why hasn't anyone told me? If it is as certain as you say, I wonder why my father hasn't said anything."

"I'm sure there are other factors. Be that as it may, I have seen you marrying Edward since we were children together."

I was shocked that she would even hint at something like a vision. "Alice, it is one thing to be her great-granddaughter, but it is a whole other to claim that you have inherited any of her powers! Please tell me that you do not do anything to seek out these…"

"Shhhh! I say it to you because I know I can trust you and you must know, not for you to worry about me. I cannot help what I see and certainly do not wish for most of it to come true. You and Edward are a happy vision amidst many that are unwelcome. Come on, let us go back to enjoying the joust before anyone misses us," she said as she patted my hand soothingly.

Once we were again in the shade of the tent, we joined the festivities like nothing had happened. Alice immediately joined in on some bets for the upcoming jousts, and I struck up conversation with some of the other ladies. Truthfully, I do not think I could recall a single thing the two ladies were saying, I was so lost in my own thoughts. Alice believed I would marry her brother. I knew my father was talking to men at court and that my marriage was imminent, but I couldn't believe that I would be as lucky as to get to marry Lord Townshend.

Edward. I shivered as I thought his Christian name. I remembered back to when Alice, Seth, Edward, and I had spent a summer in Kent together before the boys went back to the tutors and we went off to France. Edward had taken it upon himself to teach me to ride that summer, taking great pride in an eight-year-old girl's progress in horsemanship. At sixteen he was quite a bit older than me, but he had always spoken to me with quiet affection, sometimes even referring to me as Bella, as my mother always did. He was the first man to tell me that I was beautiful.

I shook my head clear of thoughts of eight years ago. I doubted Lord Townshend even remembered me from that summer. If he were interested in me, it was probably because of my inheritance. That's the only reason any man was interested in me. I was to inherit over three hundred thousand pounds, along with titles and land. It was enough to make any man think I were beautiful. Certainly the word did get worn out in my presence to the point where it held little meaning. The men of the court were quick to compliment me and to talk to me, but very rarely did they ever say anything of substance or expect me to say anything in return. I was deluding myself if I thought that the boy who taught me to ride had grown up to be any different.

I looked up to the jousts and saw that Lord Townshend was preparing for a second challenger. His hands ran through his locks as he looked down from his horse for something. I held my breath as his green eyes met mine. I blushed as he nodded his head towards me in acknowledgement. He finally looked away as his page commanded his attention to give him his helmet and lance, his jaw setting in determination as the crier announced his opponent. I found I could not tear my eyes away as he sat on his horse at attention, waiting for the flag to drop. I missed the movement but watched raptly as the Marquess charged towards his rival and landed his lance in the center of the other's shield, causing the other knight to get knocked off balance enough that he dropped his lance and almost became unhorsed all before he could even touch the Marquess. It seemed as if the sound came back to the world as the people of London cheered along with the Queen and even the King, who was standing ready to join the lists. After the Marquess freed himself from the saddle, I watched as he tucked his helmet under his arm so that he could greet the King.

It was often commented how much they looked like the other, both with reddish hair, although the Marquess' was more of a bronze to the King's copper, and both at similar heights at over six feet tall. Supposedly they were quite close, the King trusting him before all men his age to do business abroad and lead his armies. I wondered that now that he was back at court and Emmett Brandon the Duke of Suffolk was banished, what the King would do to show favor to his loyal friend. Would he support a marriage that he otherwise would not? Would the King allow his friend to marry me?

Long ass author's note:

A bit about myself: I have my BA in English Literature where I specialized in Seventeenth Century British Literature (Milton, Donne, and Shakespeare) and Minored in British History and Religious Studies. Henry the Eighth and his Six Wives have fascinated me since I was a little girl. I've read countless books and biographies, and have wanted to be a historical fiction writer for a long time. I'm currently working on a book of original historical fiction, based off my interpretation of Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas Wyatt. I've wanted to write a whole continuous story on the Six Wives from the view point of someone in the court and voila here I am.

On British Peerage:

A Marquess is someone below a Duke and above an Earl, and is used most often as a subsidiary title of a Duke (a.k.a. a title he gives his son). It is the equivalent to the French Marquis but it is just spelled differently in England. There is a marquesstate of Townshend but it was not created until the year 1787. It has no relation to the Grafton dukedom which was created in 1675. There was an Earl of Derby at the time and if you recognize the name it is because the sixth Earl of Derby is one of the "claimed" writers of Shakespeare's works, and I thought making Bella an ancestor of him would be fitting to her character. The Swans are not based on the Stanley family (which was the family that held the title at the time).

On History and the Story:

If you are wondering (like one of my Betas) why I spell Katharine with a K and not a C like Wikipedia; go back to Wikipedia and look at the sample of her signature. She writes her signature spelling it with a K. Katharine of Aragon was actually born Catalina, Infanta of Spain. When she came to England to marry Henry VIII's brother, Arthur Prince of Wales, she wanted to become as English as possible, changing her name to the very English Katharine. Catharine was considered a European spelling of the name. Since most of the primary source documents that still exist today are ambassador's notes they often spell her name with a C, it all gets very confusing. When Katharine herself used it, she used a K; in her signature and all of her monograms.

Emmett and Rosalie are based on the real life Duke of Suffolk and Queen of France: Charles Brandon and Mary Tudor. Believe me when I say their real life personalities called me to combine the fiction with the historical, they will be following pretty close to history. The scandal that Bella and Alice talked about at the beginning of the chapter is close to fact. Louis XII did in fact die of too much sex with his English Queen, he was 53 and his heart couldn't take it. And if I get any reviews about how her name was Margret and she married the King of Portugal and she killed him with a pillow; I'll scream. The Tudors was an excellent show but like any work of fiction they took liberties. Don't get me wrong I loved the show, but I hated how they showed that marriage. If you want my rant on that I'll give it to you, otherwise I'll leave it alone.

Also if you're wondering why Bella is Countess of Derby, it's because that title usually goes to the first female relation of a English Earl, usually a wife, but if the Earl is unmarried or widowed it could go to an unmarried sister or daughter. Also, I know that Earldoms cannot pass through a daughter to a husband, call that artistic liberty. I'll be taking some liberties because this piece is just for fun.

Just go with me and enjoy it, I'm hoping to take this through most of Henry the Eighth's reign (FYI this fic is going to be LOOOOONG, just warning ya). If the artistic liberties bug you, get out now, don't flame me. Really big deviations from fact in historical fiction really annoy me, which is why the majority of the Twilight characters don't follow historical figures. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to look myself in the mirror. This is just for fun. Remember that.

Okay so I've done my part; now you do yours. Ready? Set. Review!