Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Dmitry Danilovich
Note: Jane Seymour is based on Anita Briem's portrayal where she said in an interview she plays her as an eighteen year old.
Anne Boleyn was sitting in her private rooms with her brother George. She was so glad he was with her, she needed comforting. Her ladies were scattered around the room and she wasn't sure if they were eavesdropping on her and so she kept her voice at a whisper. George had to lean in to hear what she was saying.
"The King's eye is wandering, George. What if he replaces me?"
"He won't. He loves you. He tore his kingdom apart just for you"
"But I haven't kept my side of the deal. And now he is looking for a wife who will give him a son"
"And who is this so called woman?"
She turned her head towards the window where a young blonde woman sat in the corner doing some embroidery. The lady felt eyes staring upon her and her lifted her head up, revealing her beautiful porcelain face. She smiled kindly at her queen and bowed her head to acknowledge her, before she buried her head in her embroidery once more.
"Mistress Seymour" she almost spat, her mouth curling up into a snarl at the mere thought of the girl.
"Mistress Seymour?" George smirked at his sister, and then let out a loud roar of laughter which startled some of the ladies close by.
Some of these ladies raised their eyebrows at him and what he found so amusing. A few of the braver ones discreetly moved closer to the siblings to try and listen in on their conversation. Madge decided she would move some of the royal gowns to the other side of the room so she was within earshot of her cousins.
"She won't hold his interest for long, Anne, trust me. Just charm him like only you can and you will soon find yourself carrying his son" he reassured her, tucking a stray piece of his sister's raven hair behind her ear and stroking her cheek before he kissed her on the forehead.
Madge's eyes widened and she looked up and about the room wildly to see if she was the only one who had seen this encounter. She wasn't, and a couple of the ladies in the room all exchanged looks of shock and bewilderment at seeing this strange encounter between the Queen and her brother. It looked very suspicious.
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The King was holding one of his many royal banquets and everyone was merry and dancing. Anne was with child and this boosted her confidence. She held her head up higher, looked smugger than usual and let her tongue get too carried away with itself again.
They were both sitting at the head table and watched the courtiers dancing in the middle of the room. Henry was watching the ladies and trying to suppress his lust whilst his wife was sat next to him. Anne was oblivious to this because she was on such a high.
"Darling, have you made any more enquiries about a marriage for Elizabeth yet?" she asked him as he set his golden goblet down on the table.
"Lets not talk about this now, sweetheart" was his reply. He wasn't in the mood to talk about politics, particularly with her. He didn't even really want to sit with her. She was irritating him so much. Even her voice made him sigh angrily in annoyance. But Anne persisted.
"But it is an important matter. We cannot rely on France and we need to make an alliance. And do not forget, my love, we need to secure our daughter's future"
Henry snapped. He turned his head to her and gave her such a harsh look that this in itself frightened her a little. He spoke to her with great coldness,
"Why do you speak to me as if I do not know of these things? And if it will quieten you, I have been negotiating for a marriage with the Grand Duke of Moscow and expect an envoy to come to court within months. Now cease your nagging"
Anne experienced a mixture of joy and sadness. The Grand Duke of Moscow! He would be a great choice. He was already the sovereign, but his mother was ruling as regent until he came of age. He was only three years older than her Elizabeth, and the duchy was growing in size every year, becoming more and more powerful. The only problem that could arise was the matter of religion. Russia was Orthodox whilst Elizabeth would be Protestant. This could be worked out eventually though. But Anne couldn't understand why Henry was being like this towards her? What had she done that was so wrong?
She nodded her head at him in thanks and then looked back towards the dancing couple. She saw Mistress Seymour there dancing with a young man, looking all angelic in a cream coloured dress. She hoped she would spill wine down it and ruin it, or someone would stand on her train and rip it! But out of the corner of her eye she saw Henry looking intensely at someone, and as she followed his line of vision, her heart broke when she saw it was Mistress Seymour he was staring at.
Calm down, Anne. Just wait until you have your son and then he will get bored of her and you can get rid of her, she told herself.
She kept repeating it all night but it didn't make her feel any better. Especially when she saw Jane in her chambers later on in the evening and wanted to smack her and her perfectly sweet face.
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Henry was right when he said that he expected an envoy from the Duchy of Moscow to come over to their court quite soon. They had sent a young man who was kin to the Grand Duke himself. His Aunt Elena, mother of Prince Ivan, sent him because she felt that he was the only man she could trust with the life of her precious son. The Russian court was full of treachery, especially within their own family. She needed this alliance desperately, and having such an alliance with England would make them virtually untouchable. At least she hoped so.
The envoy arrived at court and was set to be introduced to the King with other ambassadors of various foreign countries, most of them from central Europe. Master Cromwell beckoned him forward when it was his turn and announced his name as he bowed to the majestic King of England.
"Majesty, Dmitry Danilovich , cousin to the Grand Prince of Moscow"
Henry's eyes lit up at the name and he sat forward in his chair to get a good look at the man who he would be negotiating an alliance with. A young, exceptionally good looking man stepped forward, and paid his respects to the King. Henry couldn't work out whether he should feel threatened about him or not. He was extremely handsome but in a boyish way. He had golden brown hair and big doe eyes, and his smile was playful and showed a hint of mischief about him. He looked non-threatening, but it was these sort of people you have to look out for even more because their appearence decieves you.
"Ah, it is a pleasure to meet you master Danilovich. I hope we shall become better acquainted during your stay here. I trust you are comfortable in your accommodation"
"Majesty, you are so gracious and I am most comfortable. I thank you for your hospitality"
The whole court was in awe of the young man. He had a strong accent which was very unfamiliar to them. Most of them had never met anyone from the Eastern part of Europe before and found the way he pronounced his words strange yet amusing. A few of the ladies found it rather attractive, especially when it was combined with his good looks.
"We are holding a royal banquet tonight, and I would be most honoured if you would attend"
"Majesty, it is I who would be honoured" and he bowed so low that his nose almost touched the floor. When he came back up again, Henry smiled at his theatrical behaviour and mannerism, and then nodded his head at him in sign that he should move on so he could greet the next envoy.
