Prologue.
A soft, yet firm knock on the door disturbed His Majesty King Henry VIII from his thoughts. The subject of his thoughts were his sweet and pure Lady Jane Seymour, and the disturbance had been the only obstacle in him courting Jane: Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, France and Ireland, and moreover, his wife.
"Anne."
The name came out annoyed and tired, even though the raven-haired queen with the swollen belly had not even uttered a word.
"Your Majesty."
He frowned when he heard her unusually calm, almost meek voice. It was unlike her, unlike the passionate woman she used to be.
"How is my son?"
He saw her close her eyes while a joyless smile appeared on the lips he had once been addicted to. He observed her closer, and found dark circles of fatigue colouring her once pale skin, making those ever-dark eyes less intense. Anne was wearing a rather simple dark green dress. Her hair was in a simple plaid, and the only thing that hinted she was a royalty was the crown.
"He is kicking and well, I believe. Dr Linacre said he will be born in early July. But that is not why I came here."
"Well, what is it then? If it is about Elizabeth's betrothal..."
Annoyance crept up in his voice again. He understood her concerns, he even shared them, but he refused he, the King of England, would be told what to do by a mere woman. A woman who has not even given him the son he needs.
"Your Majesty, after I have given birth to this child, I would like to retire to a convent and leave Court."
Chapter One: An announcement of made decisions.
Retire to a convent and leave Court.
Retire to a convent and leave Court.
"Anne, what is this? You are my wife and Queen by law and it is your-"
"I have not been able to keep my promises and I can't live like this anymore."
He looked at her, ridiculed by her reason. Indeed, they had no sons *yet*, but both were young and by God's mercy...
"You can't live like this? Explain yourself, madam."
He had stood up out of rage, but remained behind the desk he had been working at. She closed her eyes again and swallowed, then inhaled deeply and looked him directly in the eyes.
"I can't depend on someone's favour much longer. I can't and I refuse to."
"WHAT?"
"Henry! All my life I have been depending on someone's favour. In my youth it was my father, whenever my sister Mary lacked to get him his desired titles and honours. During our courting and marriage it has been you who I have been depending on. And when I am in your favour, your sweet love colours my world. Your Majesty's love is most precious and enriching. With your love I *live*! But when I am out of your favour, I pain away. I hurt. My pain is similar to pain experienced dying, especially when whole court copies your behaviour. I have given up *EVERYTHING* to be with you. I made enemies, the people of England hate me for replacing Katherine and that all for a man who keeps returning to the bed of others. Who keeps giving his *heart* to others! YOU are all I have and you continuously desert me!"
She stopped, catching her breath from her passionate speech, quickly wiping away the tears that had escaped her eyes. Henry was shocked by her speech and stood there frozen, only moving to her when she grasped her belly all of the sudden.
"Anne!"
She held up her hand, guarding herself from him as he tried to get a hold on her.
"NO!"
"Anne!"
"I am fine! You go back to that wench of yours! Tell her! Tell her you will make her Queen within five months, when this child has arrived!"
Tears were now running over her cheeks freely, and she made no attempt of wiping them away. Henry reached out for her once again, but she scared away, reaching for the doorknob.
"Now you know, Henry. Go to that harlot. I shall remain in my chambers."
With those words she left the King's office and an astonished and vaguely guilty King.
Anne leaving Henry voluntarily...oh yes I did! Like, hate, disgusted or adoring? Let me know by leaving a review and thank you for reading.